Hungary · DANUBE RIVER CRUISES

The 15 Best Danube Cruises, Day and Night

76 tours  ·  from $12 a head

Most cruises run the same loop between the Margaret and Liberty bridges, so the choice comes down to the hour, the drinks and the crowd. These 15 are compared on price, length and whether the boat sails after the floodlights come on.

Budapest: City Highlights Cruise with Welcome Drink - The river route, landmark by landmark
Budapest City Tours, Budapest Tours, Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Budapest: City Highlights Cruise with Welcome Drink

1.City Highlights Cruise with Welcome Drink

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

Board at Dock 42 for a one-hour Danube cruise past Parliament, Buda Castle, Várkert Bazár and riverside landmarks. You get one welcome drink, a choice of indoor or open-air seating, and an onboard bar. There is no live guide or audio commentary, so bring your own curiosity and aim for dusk if you want to see the city lights.

“It started late. But that wasn’t a bad thing. Just something to note. Gorgeous view, great price, must do.”

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Budapest: Unlimited Prosecco, Beer and Aperol Spritz Cruise - The Parliament, bridges and riverside views
Budapest Beer Tastings, Budapest Tours, Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Budapest: Unlimited Prosecco, Beer and Aperol Spritz Cruise

2.Unlimited Prosecco, Beer and Aperol Spritz Cruise

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

Cruise the Danube for 75 minutes past sights such as the Hungarian Parliament and Liberty Bridge, with an English audio guide, music and an open-air upper deck. Your booking includes unlimited refills of the selected drink: sparkling wine, spritzer or lemonade, with beer available on the relevant option. Focaccia with dips is an optional extra.

“the tape recording was a little quiet and the boat sort of smelled like diesel before it got going. but it was fun to sail down the Danube. they were generous with the prosecco too and that's all that matters. fun and easy tourist activity.”

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Budapest: Nighttime or Daytime Sightseeing Cruise - Boarding at Dock 1/B on the Buda bank
Budapest City Tours, Budapest Tours, Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Budapest: Nighttime or Daytime Sightseeing Cruise

3.Nighttime or Daytime Sightseeing Cruise

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

Board Purpleliner at Dock 1/B on the Buda side for a one-hour Danube cruise past the Chain Bridge, Parliament, the Royal Palace, Gellért Hill, and more. Choose daylight for architectural detail or dusk and evening for illuminated landmarks. You can view the city from covered seating or head outside for photos, with drinks and snacks available to buy.

“Definitely get your moneys worth. The boat didn’t look all that when we got on at the start, but it takes you on an hour or so tour up and down the Danube, with the option to sit down inside at river level, or go onto the top of the boat for a better view. Food and drink available on it, would recommend”

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Budapest: 1-Hour Evening Sightseeing Cruise with Drink - The Chain Bridge and the view between the banks
1-Hour Experiences, Budapest City Tours, Budapest Tours, Danube River Cruises, Evening Experiences, Tour Reviews

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 sail between Buda and Pest. A multilingual audio guide introduces sights including the Chain Bridge, Parliament, and Buda Castle, while your included drink can be champagne, wine, beer, a soft drink, or mineral water. Free Wi-Fi is available onboard.

“Good value for money and pleased the lights were dimmed to reduce photo glare. Outdoor seating would have been ideal (but freezing). A bit of a free for all when boarding, especially from other nationalities. Budapest looks stunning light up at night. Liked that it was only 1 hour.”

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Budapest Danube Cruise and Dinner Options, Live Music and Dance - Choose the meal option before you pay
Budapest Concerts & Shows, Budapest Tours, Danube Dinner Cruises, Danube River Cruises, Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, Tour Reviews

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

Spend an evening on the Danube with Budapest’s illuminated landmarks passing by, live folk music, and a traditional dance show. Choose from a buffet dinner, a wine-and-food pairing, or a soup-and-lángos option. The cruise lasts 90 minutes, with the full outing taking about two hours.

“We had a nice dinner and cocktails. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Great night time views of the shore”

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Budapest: Historic Cruise with Welcome Drink - Choosing a time, a seat, and a place to stay warm
Budapest Tours, Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Budapest: Historic Cruise with Welcome Drink

6.Historic Cruise with Welcome Drink

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

Board the Kisfaludy or Hableány, two faithful recreations of 19th-century paddle steamers, for a one-hour Danube cruise past Budapest’s Parliament, bridges, castle, and riverside landmarks. Your welcome drink is Tokaj Frizzante or orange juice. Bring a charged phone and earphones to use the audio guide in 30 languages.

“Welcomed with sparkling wine to the boat. Boat ride was amazing with beautiful views all around. Inside the boat was also beautiful with wooden tables and chairs. Definitely gave the vibe of a vintage boat and since the boat is small, it’s not crowded as well.”

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Budapest By Night Sightseeing Cruise - Parliament, Chain Bridge, and the Buda skyline
Budapest City Tours, Budapest Tours, Danube River Cruises, Evening Experiences, Tour Reviews

Budapest By Night Sightseeing Cruise

7.Budapest By Night Sightseeing Cruise

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

Cruise the Danube for 50 minutes with Mahart Cruises, passing the illuminated Parliament, Chain Bridge, Buda Castle, and Liberty Bridge. Departures are listed from Vigadó Dock 5 or Batthyány tér Dock 1, depending on the option you book. There’s a bar on board, but no audio guide at present, so use the short history guide below to put the sights in context.

“It was a lovely cruise that highlighted the beauty of Budapest at night”

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Budapest: Evening Cruise including Drinks and Live Music - Boarding the Gróf Széchenyi
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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 at Akadémia 2 ponton for a 90-minute, non-guided cruise beneath Budapest’s main bridges. See the Parliament, Buda Castle and more from the river, with live Hungarian folk music by three Rajkó Folk ensemble musicians, including the cimbalom. Drinks depend on the option you book.

“Csabi was was very communicative, polite. He served us with traditional drinks and was always interested in our well-being. Recomand!”

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Budapest: Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise - Parliament, bridges and the Buda hillside
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Budapest: Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise

9.Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise

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

Cruise between Buda and Pest for 70 minutes, passing Parliament, Buda Castle, the Chain Bridge and Elisabeth Bridge. You’ll get a multilingual audio guide, free Wi-Fi, a welcome drink and Duna Bella lemonade or seasonal tea. In summer, some departures allow an optional stop at Margaret Island.

“Fantastic river cruise. The weather wasn’t great, but the experience and hospitality along with the great photo opportunities, made it an occasion to remember.”

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Budapest: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour & Danube River Cruise - See the bridges, baths, and Buda from the road
Budapest Tours, Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

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 pass to link 27 Budapest stops across two routes, with audio in 16 languages. Your ticket also includes a one-hour Danube cruise and a one-hour English walking tour through Pest. You can see Parliament, Margaret Bridge, Heroes’ Square, and more without planning every connection yourself.

“Bus was good but it was sometimes hard to find the bus stops. We enjoyed the walking tour. Claudia was fantastic. The cruise was pleasant in the sun but a commentary would be good”

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Budapest Danube River Sightseeing Night Cruise with Drink - Boarding at Jane Haining rakpart
Budapest City Tours, Budapest Tours, Danube River Cruises, Evening Experiences, Tour Reviews

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

Board a glass-topped boat at Legenda City Cruises’ central Budapest pier for an evening Danube ride past Buda Castle, Parliament, and the city’s lit bridges. The one-hour cruise includes one drink and recorded commentary in 30 languages. Choose an evening departure, then decide between indoor comfort and limited open-deck seats.

“It was a very pleasant evening cruise on the Danube. All the sights were clearly visible. Drinks were served and tasted good. Unfortunately, it was a bit cold on the boat; it could definitely be warmer. However, the waiting area was warm, and we didn't have to wait in the cold like at other docks. I would recommend this tour to everyone and would book it again anytime.”

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Budapest: Unlimited Prosecco, Beer & Aperol Spritz Cruise - A social cruise, not a quiet architecture lesson
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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

Board in central Budapest for a 75 to 90-minute Danube cruise with Hungarian prosecco, fruit spritzers and homemade lemonade on tap. Take in landmarks such as Buda Castle through panoramic windows or from the open-roof deck, while recorded English commentary and lounge music play. Extra drinks and a Hungarian food platter are available to buy.

“Had a lovely evening doing the river cruise on the Danube in Budapest unlimited presseco it was such a lovely evening, good value for the money”

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Budapest: Premium Sightseeing Cruise with Tokaj Frizzante - A refurbished boat with two ways to watch
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Budapest: Premium Sightseeing Cruise with Tokaj Frizzante

13.Premium Sightseeing Cruise with Tokaj Frizzante

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

Duna Cruises takes you past Budapest’s riverside landmarks on a one-hour sightseeing cruise, with a welcome glass of Tokaj Premium Frizzante or orange juice. Choose the open terrace or an air-conditioned cabin, then use the QR-code audio guide on your phone. Bring your own earphones, and arrive early if you want first pick of seats.

“Excellent value for money - truly relaxing - great views - comfortable and glorious weather for October - We couldn't have asked for better.”

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Budapest: Danube River Cruise with Dinner and Prosecco - Goulash, lángos and a choice of dinner styles
Budapest Tours, Danube Dinner Cruises, Danube River Cruises, Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, Tour Reviews

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

Board the historic Gróf Széchenyi at Akadémia dock 2 for a 90-minute Danube cruise past Parliament, Buda Castle and the bridges. Your ticket includes live entertainment and a welcome Prosecco or juice. Depending on the option you choose, dinner is goulash soup with fresh lángos or a self-service buffet.

“Me and my fiancé really enjoyed evening at the boat it was an amazing experience with good live music and food was good too. The dancers were amazing and the service too😊”

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Budapest: 1-Hour Highlights Cruise with Welcome Drink - The river route, landmark by landmark
1-Hour Experiences, Budapest City Tours, Budapest Tours, Danube River Cruises, Tour Reviews

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

Board at Dock 42 for a roughly one-hour evening cruise past Buda Castle, the Parliament Building, Margaret Bridge, and other Danube landmarks. Your ticket includes one alcoholic or non-alcoholic welcome drink and onboard Wi-Fi, but no guide or audio commentary. Seats are unassigned, so arrive early if you want a place on the open deck.

“Very nice expirience! I was hasitating to do IT in Winter, but it was ok - I had Jacket, gloves and hat on. Ship was Going Not that fast. No big difference with normal winter weather. I recommend to do that, in the evening. Your Trip to Budapest will BE Not full without it. IT Wörth IT.”

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New in Danube River Cruises

★ 4.51 hr Sunshine Booze Cruise with ProseccoFrom $1631 reviews
★ 4.42-Course Dinner for 2 on a Boat Restaurant11 reviews
★ 5.0Private Danube Yacht Cruise with Welcome Drink3 reviews
★ 4.6Wine & Dine Cruise on the DanubeFrom $14041 reviews
★ 4.9Private City Tuk-Tuk Tour & Boat CruiseFrom $15932 reviews
★ 4.4Sip & Sail Danube Cruise with Unlimited BeerFrom $2643 reviews
★ 5.0Night Walking Tour with Danube River CruiseFrom $868 reviews
★ 3.7Night Walking Tour with River Cruise and WineFrom $1115 reviews
★ 4.1New Year’s Eve Party Cruise with Food & Live ShowFrom $34152 reviews
★ 4.7BBQ Dinner Cruise w/ Live Music & Unlimited DrinksFrom $11329 reviews
★ 3.2Day or Night River Cruise on Panoramic BoatFrom $1731 reviews
★ 5.0Budapest Rafting – Sunset CruiseFrom $735 reviews
★ 4.6Castle District & Pest Driving Tour with Danube River CruiseFrom $6315 reviews
★ 5.0Stag Party Boat with Beer and Wine8 reviews
★ 4.81-Hour Private Boat Cruise45 reviews

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