Best Budapest Boat Tours

I took this Budapest boat tour. I made sure to choose the last time slot, in order to enjoy the golden hour on the Danube.

We had a lovely time, so I’d recommend it as the best Budapest boat tour in terms of value for money. Scroll down to the end of this article to see some of the photos I took on this Budapest river cruise.

I enjoyed all of the 70 minutes spent on board and I took some beautiful photos of the Parliament and of the other buildings on the shores. If you want to have a cruise with dinner or a night cruise to enjoy the lit buildings, you’ll need to pick a more expensive Budapest boat tour.

This is what you’ll see on a Budapest boat tour just before the sunset. I took this photo on my Danube cruise in July

A Danube river cruise is the perfect method to take amazing photos of the Hungarian Parliament building

 

Types of Budapest Boat Tours

Budapest offers a variety of boat tours to suit different interests, budgets and time frames. Here are the main types of boat tours in Budapest and the top tours to consider:

Daytime Sightseeing Cruise

– The most popular type of tour, these 1-2 hour trips showcase Budapest’s top attractions like the Parliament Building, Buda Castle, Margaret Island, and more. Great for first-time visitors.

Option 1 – Least Expensive: Budapest one-hour sightseeing cruise

This cruise includes a glass of welcome drink and free on-board wi-fi

The meeting point is Portum Lines, Budapest, Dock 42 port (Carl Lutz rakpart), Szent István park.

Click here to see more details and to book your cruise at the price of today, [todaysdate].

Option 2 – Best Value: Legenda City Cruise Budapest

This 70-minute Budapest boat tour is one of the top activities on Viator.

It includes the option to disembark on Margaret Island and catch the next boat to resume the cruise.

The onboard commentary will help you learn more about the various objectives on the Danube shores.

Click here to see the available time slots and to book your seat at the price of today, [todaysdate].

Pros: comprehensive overview, flexible timing, good value

Cons: can feel rushed, often crowded

Evening or Night Cruise with Dinner or Live Music

Typically 2-3 hours in length, these Budapest boat tours showcase Budapest’s illuminated attractions. Most of them include dinner or live music.

Option 1: Dinner & Cruise on the Danube with Folklore Dance Show & Live Music

This Budapest river cruise starts at Akademia 3 ponton, at Szechenyi rakpart 2.

You’ll get welcome drinks and a tasty buffet dinner with traditional Hungarian cuisine dishes.

Gróf Széchényi ship is roomy enough to host up to 300 guests.

Click here to see the dates and the available options for this Budapest boat tour.

Option 2: Halloween cocktail and booze cruise

This is a 2-hour Budapest river cruise that will scare the hell out of you!

Click here to book your cruise and kick off Halloween with a scream

Pros: romantic atmosphere, see sights at a different time

Cons: fewer sights, can be pricey

Danube Bend Tour

Longer full-day excursions north to picturesque towns like Szentendre and Visegrad.

This 6-hour boat tour includes wine tasting and lunch.

You’ll also get private city tours of Szentendre and Visegrad. There will also be time for souvenir shopping.

Click here to see more details and to book your spot now.

Pros: see areas outside Budapest, flexible timing

Cons: more expensive, exhausting for some

Private Boat Tour

Hire your own private boat and guide for a customized experience.

Pros: flexible timing/route, exclusive experience

Cons: by far the most expensive option

Hop-On Hop-Off

All day ticket to hop between piers and attractions at your leisure.

Pros: flexibility, good value

Cons: may have to wait for boats, less guided commentary

Photos from My Budapest Boat Tour on the Danube

Many of the photos I took while on boat suffered from motion blur. Nonetheless, I’ve got some beautiful ones. I’m happy to share these cruise photos with you.

The Danube was full of boats, as sunset is one of the best times of the day for a cruise

Here’s another boat cruising the Danube in front of the Hungarian Parliament building

This is the Parliament Point by the Danube. You can see the equestrian statue of Ferenc Rakoczi and the 1956 memorial exhibit featuring the iron shoes

Another Budapest bridge looking great in the mellow light of the golden hour

Related articles:

• What Is the Difference between Budapest and Bucharest?

• Szechenyi Bath, the Best Thermal Spa in Budapest?

• Quotes about Budapest | Inspiring Budapest Quotes and Instagram Captions