10 Best Budapest River Cruises
Review and comparison guide to the best Budapest cruises and boat tours
- things to do
- July 23, 2024
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Looking for the best river cruises and boat tours in Budapest? You’ve come to the right place.
We’ve compiled the top 10 Budapest river cruises for 2024, sourced from Viator and GetYourGuide. We compared similar offerings between providers, selecting those with higher ratings or, when the cruises were the same, better prices.
In this article, you’ll find detailed information on these Budapest cruises and boat tours, including ratings, prices, durations, and our own insights. All of them will take you to see the most scenic places in Budapest, like the Hungarian Parliament, the Chain Bridge, Buda Castle, Margaret Island, etc. However, as you’ll see below, they vary greatly in how that’s done.
Happy readings…and cruising!
Table of Contents / Quick links:
1. Budapest Night Cruise
2. Nighttime or Daytime Cruise
3. Evening Unlimited Prosecco
4. Candlelit Dinner and Live Music
5. Széchenyi Spa & Dinner w/Music
6. Full-Day Cruise to Szentendre
7. Budapest Booze Cruise
8. Floating Bus Tour
9. Buffet Dinner Cruise with Music
10. River Cruise & Guided Bus Tour
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1. Budapest Sightseeing Night Cruise
Best for: 1-hour night cruise
Duration: 1 hour
This Budapest night cruise is perfect for those wanting to see the main highlights of Budapest glowing in the Danube at night for a very reasonable price. You’ll understand why Budapest is called the “Paris of the East” while you watch a film onboard and an audioguide to know more of that you’re seeing outside (you’ll be given headphones for that). So, even if you’ve visited the main sites of the city already, this is cruise is a great way to end your trip, as you’ll learn more about both sides of Budapest. It usually has plenty of room to sit down, so you won’t feel tight, and it’s a good budget-friendly way to learn more about Budapest and enjoy its beauty for 1 hour. Oh, and you get a free drink.
✔️ Free cancellation
✔️ Reserve now & pay later
✔️ Pay in your currency
✔️ Audioguide
✔️ Welcome drink
❌ Food
2. Nighttime or Daytime Sightseeing Cruise
Best for: Low-cost cruise
Duration: 1 hour
If you’re looking for a low-cost cruise alternative, Purpleliner has a great option. While these cruises do not include drinks or a guide, you’ll still get to see the same iconic sites within the same 1-hour duration, all for roughly considerably less money of the more premium options. But there’s more: with Purpleliner, you can also choose your departure time. So, to make the most of your experience, check the sunset time in Budapest for your booking date and try to schedule your cruise during that window. It’s one of the best moments for a Danube cruise.
✔️ Free cancellation
✔️ Reserve now & pay later
✔️ Pay in your currency
✔️ Visual guide on screens
❌ Welcome drink
3. Evening Sightseeing Cruise with Unlimited Proseccos
Best for: Open bar cruise
Duration: from 1h15 to 1h30
Want a bit more than just sightseeing? Try it with on a Duna-Wesser evening cruise. While you see the beauty of Budapest, you can also enjoy unlimited Hungarian sparkling wine, mixed prosecco spritzers, or homemade lemonade. This cruise is slightly longer than others, it’s not expensive, and besides the drinks you also have food options. Definitely a great way to end the day.
✔️ Free cancellation
✔️ Reserve now & pay later
✔️ Pay in your currency
✔️ Audioguide
✔️ Unlimited prosecco
✔️ Snacks and food options
❌ Music
4. Candlelit Dinner Cruise with Live Music
Best for: Romantic dinner cruise
Duration: 2h30
If you’re looking for something more special, this Budapest cruise can hardly be topped. There’s a 4 course dinner included, there’s live Hungarian music on the Danube, and — of course — you’ll be see all the glowing version of Budapest at night. It’s the perfect cruise, whether you’re planning a romantic occasion or you just feel like treating yourself. Just bear in mind that the dinner doesn’t have vegan options.
✔️ Free cancellation
✔️ Reserve now & pay later
✔️ Pay in your currency
✔️ Food
✔️ Welcome drink (wine, beer, champagne)
✔️ Live music
❌ Guide
5. Széchenyi Spa & Cruise with Dinner and Live Music
Best for: Combo with another activity
• Duration: 2h (cruise)
This Danube river cruise in Budapest is for those wanting a treat. It combines Széchenyi Thermal Baths with a dinner cruise, and you can add more on top. First, you can enjoy a Full-Day Admission ticket to Széchényi Spa, and — trust us on this — it will be difficult to get a more local and relaxing experience than this. You even get a massage option, if you’re all-in to pamper yourself. After that, you get to enjoy a 2-hour candlelight buffet dinner with live music from Rajko Folk Orchestra. Perfect to share with someone special.
✔️ Free cancellation
✔️ Reserve now & pay later
✔️ Pay in your currency
✔️ Food
✔️ Welcome drink (+ 1 drink)
✔️ Full day ticket at Széchenyi
❌ Guide
6. Full-Day Cruise from Budapest to Szentendre
Best for: Longer cruises (out of Budapest)
Duration: 7.5h
For those wanting to explore more than just Budapest, this is a great option. With this cruise, you’ll go on a round-trip from Budapest to Szentendre and back, exploring the this beautiful town. Known as the town of living art, Szentendre is famous for its 18th-century architecture, artist colony, museums and galleries. There, you can enjoy permanent and temporary exhibitions, visit the Szamos Marzipan Museum, and explore the House of Folk Art, while the town’s well-preserved Baroque houses and cobbled streets will certainly catach your eye. Even though there’s no guide, this is a very pleasant trip, and you get to know a smaller but beautiful town. The morning cruise departs from Budapest at 10:30 AM from Vigadó Square ship station. You’ll have free time to explore Szentendre before the return cruise departs Szentendre at 5 PM, arriving in Budapest at 6 PM.
✔️ Free cancellation
✔️ Reserve now & pay later
✔️ Pay in your currency
❌ Food
❌ Welcome drink
❌ Guide
7. Downtown Budapest Unlimited Booze Cruise
Best for: Party Cruise
Duration: 80 minutes
Want to party in an amazing setting? This might be for you. Relax and enjoy a variety of drinks from the open bar as you cruise along the Danube River, soaking in the beautiful sights of Budapest. With house wines, draught beer, champagne, soft drinks, coffee, etc., you’re set for a great time. You’ll hear popular party songs, and, if you want, start your night with some shots. Choose your preferred cruise, daytime or nighttime, for an 80-minute party boat experience, and kick off your evening with unlimited drinks, lively music, and stunning views of the city.
✔️ Free cancellation
✔️ Reserve now & pay later
✔️ Pay in your currency
✔️ Drinks (open bar)
✔️ Music
❌ Food
❌ Guide
8. Floating Bus Tour by Land and Water
Best for: Adventure cruise
Duration: 55-90 minutes
Looking for something different? Then come on board, and see the major sights of Budapest from the comfort of a coach, just before it goes into water! That’s right—this unique tour lets you explore the Hungarian capital as you bob along the river. For a minimum of 55 minutes (with a longer option available), you can experience Budapest by land and water without changing vehicles, guided by a live tour guide. You’ll start your tour on a normal bus, move on to the water, and later continue sightseeing from the deck of your bus.
✔️ Free cancellation
✔️ Reserve now & pay later
✔️ Pay in your currency
✔️ Guide (English and German) & audioguide
❌ Drinks
❌ Food
9. Buffet Dinner Cruise with Music
Best for: Local food
Duration: 2 hours
Meet Budapest and Hungarian culture aboard a lively cruise with a folk music and (if you wish) a dance show, while trying the local cuisine. The menu includes Hungarian favorites such as goulash soup, beef stews, strudel, dumplings, turkey fillet, stuffed cabbage, or Somlói sponge cake, and you can also have the option to taste Hungarian wines. All of this is accompanied by live music and a folklore dance show, offering a delightful introduction to the local culture. You have several options to choose: dinner with wine tasting, 3-course dinner with live music (but no dance show), and a 12-course dinner (with and without hotel pickup).
✔️ Free cancellation
✔️ Reserve now & pay later
✔️ Pay in your currency
✔️ Drinks
✔️ Food
✔️ Live Music / dance show
❌ Guide
10. Danube River Cruise & Guided Bus Tour
Best for: Land and water
Duration: 4 hours
With this boat tour in Budapest, you can discover the city both on land and water. Start with a comfortable ride in an air-conditioned bus, exploring the historic castle district on the Buda side, with a guide that will share fascinating insights about Budapest’s history. You’ll have the opportunity to disembark for a short walk. Then, cross over to the Pest side and board a boat for a cruise along the Danube River, taking in the best views of Budapest and learning more about the city.
✔️ Free cancellation
✔️ Reserve now & pay later
✔️ Pay in your currency
✔️ Guide
✔️ Extra tour by bus
❌ Drinks
❌ Food
❌ Live Music
Best river cruises in Budapest: comparison
More tours & activities in Budapest with our partners
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