Hungary · DANUBE RIVER CRUISES

The 15 Best Danube Cruises in Budapest

60 tours  ·  from $12 a head

The city was built to be looked at from mid-river, which is why there are forty boats doing it. These 15 sort the one-hour sightseeing runs from the dinner sailings and the unlimited-drinks crowd, with prices, durations and what the welcome drink actually is.

Budapest: City Highlights Cruise with Welcome Drink - Boarding at Dock 42
City Tours, Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest

Budapest: City Highlights Cruise with Welcome Drink

1.City Highlights Cruise with Welcome Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 35,610 reviews · from $14Our pick

Sail from Dock 42 on a one-hour, unguided Danube cruise with a complimentary alcoholic or non-alcoholic welcome drink. You’ll pass Parliament, Buda Castle, Várkert Bazár, Gellért Hill, Vigadó Concert Hall, and several bridges. Choose an indoor seat or open deck, then buy more drinks from the onboard bar.

“The views of Budapest are simply amazing. This is an activity you must experience while in the city.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest: Unlimited Prosecco, Beer and Aperol Spritz Cruise - Boarding and choosing your seat
Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest

Budapest: Unlimited Prosecco, Beer and Aperol Spritz Cruise

2.Unlimited Prosecco, Beer and Aperol Spritz Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 25,310 reviews · from $28Top rated

Spend 75 minutes on the Danube with Budapest’s Parliament, bridges, and riverside landmarks in view. Choose a seat indoors or on the open-air terrace, listen to an English audio guide, and enjoy unlimited sparkling wine, spritzer, or lemonade. Beer and focaccia with dips are available with selected options. The 9 PM departure is a strong pick for illuminated city views.

“We were a group of 9 friends who enjoyed the cruise, the prosecco experience and over all Budapest scenes to the top ! It was fun, well guided and we felt comfortable and good served and welcome by the crew.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest: Nighttime or Daytime Sightseeing Cruise - Finding Dock 1/B on the Buda side
Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest

Budapest: Nighttime or Daytime Sightseeing Cruise

3.Nighttime or Daytime Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 21,062 reviews · 1 hour · from $14

Cruise the Danube for one hour from Dock 1/B on the Buda side, passing the Chain, Elizabeth, and Liberty bridges, Parliament, Gellért Hill, and the Royal Palace. Choose daylight, sunset, or evening. The covered boat has indoor seating, an upper deck, onboard drinks, screens, and a free audio guide app.

“It was okay. The city is beautiful. The boat has seats for everyone but not good seats”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest: 1-Hour Evening Sightseeing Cruise with Drink - Choosing the right departure time
1-Hour Experiences, Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest

Budapest: 1-Hour Evening Sightseeing Cruise with Drink

4.1-Hour Evening Sightseeing Cruise with Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8,330 reviews · from $28

Board Legenda City Cruises at Dock 7 for a one-hour evening ride between Buda and Pest. You’ll pass Parliament, Chain Bridge, Margaret Bridge, Buda Castle, and Elisabeth Bridge while listening to a multilingual audio guide. One champagne, wine, beer, soft drink, or mineral water is included. Indoor seating and free Wi-Fi make it easy in cool weather.

“Cruise was excellent, only small issue would be the cobbles on the quayside very uneven and dark.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest Danube Cruise and Dinner Options, Live Music and Dance - What you pass on the nine-sight route
Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest

Budapest Danube Cruise and Dinner Options, Live Music and Dance

5.Budapest Danube Cruise and Dinner Options, Live Music and Dance

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7,428 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $54

Board at Akadémia 2 ponton for a roughly two-hour evening cruise past Parliament, Buda Castle, the Chain Bridge, and the city’s glowing bridges. Choose a buffet dinner, gulyás with mini lángos, or a Wine&Dine option. Live folk music and dance provide the entertainment, with outdoor decks for photos.

“Fabulous night, food was amazing & entertainment really good and made everyone feel a part of it. Very well organised & seeing the landmarks of Budapest all lit up on the banks of the Danube a plus. Amazing!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest: Historic Cruise with Welcome Drink - Parliament after dark
Danube River Cruises, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest

Budapest: Historic Cruise with Welcome Drink

6.Historic Cruise with Welcome Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 6,512 reviews · 1 hour · from $12Best value

Spend one hour on the Danube aboard the historic Kisfaludy or Hableány paddle steamer. You’ll receive a premium Tokaj Frizzante or orange juice, follow Budapest’s landmarks with a phone-based audio guide, and enjoy indoor warmth, outdoor views, blankets, Wi-Fi, and restrooms. Seating is guaranteed but unassigned, so arrive early for the best spot.

“Very nice cruise on the Danube with fabulous views of the city. For families this is highly recommended!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest By Night Sightseeing Cruise - Choosing the right departure time
Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest

Budapest By Night Sightseeing Cruise

7.Budapest By Night Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 5,835 reviews · from $16

Cruise the Danube for 50 minutes from Vigadó Dock 5 or Batthyány tér Dock 1, passing Parliament, Chain Bridge, Buda Castle, Liberty Bridge, and the National Theatre. Choose an indoor seat or open terrace, buy drinks onboard, and time your departure for the city lights, which usually appear 15 to 20 minutes after sunset.

“Quick and easy. Night time is better as see all the buildings lit up. Such great value for money”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest: Evening Cruise including Drinks and Live Music - The live music: Hungarian strings, cimbalom, and requests
Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest

Budapest: Evening Cruise including Drinks and Live Music

8.Evening Cruise including Drinks and Live Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 5,512 reviews · from $24

Board the Gróf Széchenyi ship at Akadémia 2 ponton for a 90-minute evening cruise beneath Budapest’s main bridges. Sip your chosen drink, listen to a Rajkó Folk ensemble trio with cimbalom, and watch Parliament, Buda Castle, Gellért Hill, and the Chain Bridge glow along the river.

“Brilliant experience, the musicians were incredible and the dancers were great. A beautiful view and excellent service. (I only rate low on the guide as there is no tour guide within this experience- I don’t want to mislead others.)”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest: Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise - The Welcome Drink and Onboard Comfort
Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest

Budapest: Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise

9.Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 4,215 reviews · 1h 10m · from $23

Sail between Buda and Pest from central Budapest, passing Parliament, Buda Castle, Chain Bridge, Elisabeth Bridge, and Margaret Island. You get a welcome drink, Duna Bella lemonade or seasonal tea, Wi-Fi, and a 30-language audio guide. In summer, you may leave the boat at Margaret Island and return on a later departure.

“A fantastic trip and excellent value for money. The staff were friendly, and there was a great selection of drinks. The island provided a pleasant walk, and the flexibility of no strict schedule was a real plus.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour & Danube River Cruise - Buda Castle and the riverfront
Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Budapest

Budapest: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour & Danube River Cruise

10.Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour & Danube River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 3,794 reviews · from $40

Use a 1, 2, or 3-day Big Bus Budapest ticket to tour both sides of the city, then add the included Danube cruise and English walking tour. You’ll pass Parliament, Buda Castle, Chain Bridge, Heroes’ Square, and more, with audio in 16 languages. Plan the cruise between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

“A great way to view the city and fantastic value. We used this over two days and was able to explore and see so much. Highly recommend”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest Danube River Sightseeing Night Cruise with Drink - The first drink sets the relaxed mood
Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest

Budapest Danube River Sightseeing Night Cruise with Drink

11.Budapest Danube River Sightseeing Night Cruise with Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,553 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $30

Cruise Budapest’s Danube for about one hour aboard a glass-topped boat, with views of Parliament, Buda Castle, the Chain Bridge, Liberty Bridge, and Margaret Island. Choose beer, wine, sparkling wine, soda, or mineral water, then follow recorded commentary in 30 languages. Indoor and limited open-air seating make this a practical year-round evening outing.

“Nice organised trip, boarded quickly and given a welcome drink. Boat and windows were clean, with the option of listening to an audio guide. Only reason it’s not 5 stars is there were quite large TV screens around the boat that weren’t turned off during the trip which reflected on the windows, making photos had to get.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest: Unlimited Prosecco, Beer & Aperol Spritz Cruise - Boarding at Carl Lutz rkp.
Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest

Budapest: Unlimited Prosecco, Beer & Aperol Spritz Cruise

12.Unlimited Prosecco, Beer & Aperol Spritz Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,371 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $29

Meet at Carl Lutz rkp. in central Budapest for a 75 to 90-minute Danube cruise with lounge music, recorded English commentary, panoramic-window seating, and an open-roof upper deck. You receive unlimited Paulus prosecco, fruit spritzers, and homemade lemonade, with beer and food platters available to buy onboard.

“A great way to see some of the sights and was we were quite impressed with how the inside of the boat was warm, cosy and furnished like a nice bar. Despite the server spending most of his time on the other side of the boat chatting and joking with different tables of girls until he kept running out of Prosecco (we didn’t even get a polite smile out of him) we were still able to serve ourselves with other drinks at the bar, and it ended up being great value for money in the end. The night was almost ruined by a rude female staff member with a horrible…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest: Premium Sightseeing Cruise with Tokaj Frizzante - Finding Dock 10 near Elizabeth Bridge
Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest, Wine Tours

Budapest: Premium Sightseeing Cruise with Tokaj Frizzante

13.Premium Sightseeing Cruise with Tokaj Frizzante

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,510 reviews · 1 hour · from $12

Cruise central Budapest for one hour aboard Duna Cruises’ refurbished boat, with a welcome glass of Tokaj Premium Frizzante or orange juice. Use your phone and earphones for the 30-language audio guide, then move between the heated interior, open terrace, and onboard bar as Parliament, Buda Castle, bridges, and Gellért Hill come into view.

“It was lovely. The staff had a bit of a challenge on their hands as it started snowing about 1.5 hours before, which meant it was tricky underfoot, but the teams worked hard to clear snow and assist where it was slippery. My children and I enjoyed it and the extra glass of prosecco was only £3.50 which was unexpected!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest: Danube River Cruise with Dinner and Prosecco - Choosing between goulash and the buffet
Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest

Budapest: Danube River Cruise with Dinner and Prosecco

14.Danube River Cruise with Dinner and Prosecco

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,471 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $53

Spend 90 minutes aboard the historic Gróf Széchenyi paddle steamer, passing Parliament, Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, and the illuminated Danube riverbanks. You’ll receive a welcome Prosecco or juice, live Hungarian music, and either table-served goulash with lángos or a self-service buffet, depending on your booking.

“Lovely evening aboard a lovely boat. Plenty of food and drink. Musicians were amazing and played any requests. Staff were attentive and helpful. We arrived before 18.30 and went straight onto the boat, so not kept waiting even though trip starts at 7.00. Cruise is at a leisurely pace, so it didn’t feel like we were rushing.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Budapest: 1-Hour Highlights Cruise with Welcome Drink - What the one-hour route shows you
1-Hour Experiences, Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Budapest

Budapest: 1-Hour Highlights Cruise with Welcome Drink

15.1-Hour Highlights Cruise with Welcome Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2,388 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $18

Cruise the Danube for about an hour from Portum Lines’ Dock 42 near Szent István park. You’ll see Parliament, Buda Castle, Gellért Hill, the bridges, and riverside landmarks from the boat, with Wi-Fi and one alcoholic or non-alcoholic welcome drink. There is no guide or audio commentary, so arrive early for the best outdoor seat.

“Good well organised cruise the views are amazing especially in the evening. Would highly recommend if you are in pudapest”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Danube River Cruises

★ 4.2Lake Balaton & CruiseFrom $10035 reviews
★ 4.6Danube Cruise with Folk Dancing and DrinksFrom $5183 reviews
★ 4.0Budapest Széchenyi Spa with Danube Cruise and Optional DinnerFrom $155122 reviews
★ 4.0Budapest Danube Pizza Cruise with Welcome DrinkFrom $42134 reviews
★ 4.0Summer Danube Brunch Cruise in BudapestFrom $64116 reviews
★ 5.0Budapest’s TOP Sights Evening Cruise & Welcome DrinkFrom $2391 reviews
★ 4.5Full Day Private Budapest City Tour With Lunch and Cruise optionFrom $241133 reviews
★ 4.03-Hour Live-guided Bus Tour and 1-hour River CruiseFrom $51165 reviews
★ 3.5Sightseeing Cruise on the Danube with Audio Guide in BudapestFrom $14229 reviews
★ 4.5Budapest Night Walking Tour with Danube River CruiseFrom $94155 reviews
★ 4.010PM Budapest Danube Cruise with Live Music & Food or DrinksFrom $20223 reviews
★ 4.0Budapest Danube 1 Hour Sunset or Night Cruise with Audio GuideFrom $14204 reviews
★ 4.5Happy Hour Sightseeing CruiseFrom $24201 reviews
★ 4.2Summer Brunch & Cruise with Prosecco or CakeFrom $34193 reviews
★ 4.7Dinner Cruise with Live Music and Unlimited DrinksFrom $113153 reviews

Keep browsing

Folk Shows & Performances6Danube Bend Day Trips10Concerts9
Scroll to Top

Explore Hungary

Pick a riverbank, a bathhouse or a cellar.

On the Danube

Danube CruisesThe Danube BendDinner & Folk ShowsLake BalatonCity Tours

Hot water

Thermal BathsEntry TicketsCaving ToursEscape RoomsMuseums

Table and cellar

Food WalksCooking ClassesWine TastingsPálinka TastingsChimney Cake

On foot

Walking ToursBuda CastleJewish QuarterCommunist HistoryBike Tours