Budapest Evening Cruise with Drink Options
Badge of Excellence
Budapest, Hungary
- 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Go sightseeing along the River Danube on this scenic evening cruise with onboard live music from a folk orchestra. Choose from multiple packages to suit your preferences—including the option to include cocktails, wine, bottomless prosecco, and more. Along the way, take in views of top sights including Buda Castle, Parliament House, and the Citadel. A great start to a night out in Budapest or as a standalone activity.
- Admire the Castle District and Chain Bridge from the water
- Pick a drinks package to suit your preferences and budget
- A great way to go sightseeing and save tired legs
- Be entertained with live music from the Rajko Folk Orchestra
What's Included
- Drink depending on purchased option
- 90 minutes long Danube River cruise
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Restroom on board
- WiFi on board
- Outdoor observation decks
- Additional drink and a'la carte menu available for purchase on board.
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Akadémia 2 pontonBudapest, Id. Antall József rkp., 1051 Hungary
Akadémia dock 2. Second dock from the Chain Bridge towards the Parliament. Look for Gróf Széchenyi or Stadt Wien ships. If lost, contact us by phone or mail.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Begin your evening in the city center at an easy-to-find port. Head to the upper deck for fresh air or take a seat by the large viewing windows of the deck down below.
As you set sail on the river, take advantage of any drinks packages you have purchased—such as Hungarian wine, cocktails, bottomless prosecco, or even an open bar with beer and wine. Alternatively, drinks are available to purchase at the bar for passengers without a drinks package.
As you relax on the boat, listen to live music as you look out to enjoy the view of Budapest’s panorama. See the majestic domes of the Gellért Baths, the Parliament Building, and the regal glow of the Royal Palace. Snap some photos as you sail under the Chain Bridge, and spot additional landmarks including the arcade of Fisherman’s Bastion and the Citadel.
Then make your final toast as the boat returns to land at its original departure point.
As you set sail on the river, take advantage of any drinks packages you have purchased—such as Hungarian wine, cocktails, bottomless prosecco, or even an open bar with beer and wine. Alternatively, drinks are available to purchase at the bar for passengers without a drinks package.
As you relax on the boat, listen to live music as you look out to enjoy the view of Budapest’s panorama. See the majestic domes of the Gellért Baths, the Parliament Building, and the regal glow of the Royal Palace. Snap some photos as you sail under the Chain Bridge, and spot additional landmarks including the arcade of Fisherman’s Bastion and the Citadel.
Then make your final toast as the boat returns to land at its original departure point.
Budapest (Pass By)
1
Danube River
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Szechenyi Lanchid (Pass By)
Buda Castle (Pass By)
Varhegy (Pass By)
Matthias Church (Pass By)
Fisherman's Bastion (Pass By)
Gellert Hill (Pass By)
Hungarian Parliament Building (Pass By)
Margaret Bridge (Pass By)
St. Gellert Thermal Bath and Swimming Pool (Pass By)
Balna (Pass By)
Mupa Budapest (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 200 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Ben_T
The entertainment on board was really good. We just got the basic ticket with no meals and purchased drinks on board, which were reasonably priced. Beautiful way to see the city at night. All the staff where very nice. We had a fantastic time, would highly recommend this evening Cruise with this company. 10 out of 10.
Reviews
4.3
based on 1,335 reviews
Sercan_U, May 2026
Dear Viator Support and Hungária Koncert Team,
I am writing to request a full refund for our Budapest Evening Cruise booked for Friday, May 29, 2026, at 9:30 PM (Booking Reference: 1403752755). Due to gross incompetence, severe misdirection, and rude behavior by your on-site staff, my partner and I were completely denied boarding and left deeply victimized on our very last night in Budapest.
We arrived early and lined up at the correct location, Akadémia Dock 2, at 9:20 PM as explicitly instructed on our ticket. While in line, a female staff member approached us, checked our ticket, and insisted that we were in the wrong line. She forced us to leave our spot and directed us to another area.
When we moved to the second location, another female staff member there looked at our ticket and claimed that this was not our boat either. Even though I explicitly pointed out that our ticket clearly stated "Dock 2", she refused to listen and firmly directed us to Dock 1.
We followed her instructions and waited in line at Dock 1. However, when we reached the front of the line, the staff there told us that this was the wrong boat and that we belonged back at Dock 2.
By the time we rushed back to Dock 2 and explained the situation, the staff member who had initially misdirected us flatly denied her mistake and claimed she never said such a thing. Instead of helping us board the cruise we had rightfully paid for, the staff told us that we could not get on the boat and that we had to write an email to request a refund.
They then tried to force us to buy new tickets on the spot to be allowed on board. They even suggested that we pay the price difference to upgrade to an unlimited drinks option, but they ultimately refused to let us board at all. I explicitly explained to them that it was our last day in Budapest, we had budgeted our money accordingly, and we did not have the extra funds to pay twice for the same tour. Despite this, we were left behind on the pier.
We paid for a service that we were actively prevented from using solely due to the conflicting and incorrect instructions given by your own employees. This completely ruined our final evening in the city.
I demand a full refund for this booking immediately. I expect a prompt response regarding the actions that will be taken concerning the staff at the pier and the processing of our refund.
Sincerely,
Sercan Uslu
Stella_P, May 2026
The views were incredible. A beautiful city. Great service on board. It's a great way to get to know the city. This city had so much history and it is worth learning about it.
himanshu_a, May 2026
Night cruise tour was awesome. Much recommended to everyone. Cruise was big and comfortable. We enjoyed that experience.
Elizabeth_F, May 2026
The evening prosecco cruise is a wonderful and enjoyable way to see the skyline and river views of Buda and Pest. The staff is very friendly and service is prompt. Just be aware that this particular river cruise boat is not visible from shore as it sits behind a large river cruise boat. And you must board through the first boat to get to the correct boat. The process and where to queue are not well marked and it is quite chaotic with many people and large groups all boarding at the same time on two boats.
Mary_P, May 2026
Fun experience with Music and entertainment. Views were beautiful! We chose a drink package. Food was soso
Felice_S, May 2026
Great way to see all the buildings! Relaxing way to spending a few hours. Get there early to get a good seat outside.
Barry_H, May 2026
A short 50 minute cruise at 9pm that was the perfect time to see Budapest so nicely lit up with a welcome drink
Laura_S, May 2026
We did the cruise at sunset and enjoyed the amazing buildings being lit up at night. Spectacular views. We also did the all you can drink prosecco. We sat on the outside deck since the inside was reserved for dinner guests.
Melinda_R, May 2026
Can’t believe we didn’t go past the Parliament with the lights/after sun down. Very disappointing!!!!
Michael_W, Apr 2026
Very fun ride on the river! Great drinks on the boat. No issues at all. Enjoyed the experience a lot. Got to see the whole city.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you very much for your review, we are glad to hear that you enjoyed the experience!
Karen_L, Apr 2026
A lovely, gentle cruise on the Danube. Make sure you sit on the ship's rails so that no one blocks your view (we did..phew!). Reasonably priced. Nice welcome and shown to seating area in a very efficient and polite way.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your kind review! We’re glad you enjoyed the cruise and the views, and that our team made you feel welcome. Hope to see you again soon!
Geoff_E, Apr 2026
Very relaxed evening cruise with free flowing Prosecco, no delaying tactics to limit your access to the Prosecco, full bottles put on your table and replaced as soon as they were empty. Great opportunities to take photos as the buildings were illuminated as the sun set.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the relaxed cruise, the views at sunset, and the Prosecco service. Hope to see you again soon!
Barry_G, Apr 2026
I was able to bring my own alcohol onboard along withthe free drink. Be prepared for evening chill depending on tome of the year.
judith_a, Apr 2026
The service was great, very friendly. The food delicious, and the views from the boat at night was stunning.
Leyla_A, Apr 2026
Tour was okey. They offer us a window seat but musicians ask for tip. After playing he stands and looks at us for tip. This was weird
Michael_B, Mar 2026
We just got the one drink option. You are on the lower level and all you can see is your partner across the table . They do not allow you to go to the upper observation level . Of all the things we did in Budapest, this is the one event I wish we had skipped. Just walk down to the River at night to view the Parliament Building .
rachelbull1980, Mar 2026
Went on this last night. Had a brilliant time. We only did the drinks package so sat outside for most of it but when we came in the entertainment sang happy birthday and gave me cake.
I was worried it would be hard to find but if you put the exact address in it will get you there and it stated dock 2 on booking so was easy. I would say get there early as the good seats outside soon filled up and inside not all are window seats. We met some lovely people on board which also helped the experience. Some looked bored ??
Only 1 negative is before we set off another boat unloaded right beside us. It was letting off smoke right in our faces - but yucky so took it in turns to go inside and wait for it to leave
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience, it’s great to hear you had such a fun evening and that the birthday surprise made it even more special. It’s good advice to arrive early for the best seats, and meeting fellow guests can really add to the atmosphere. Sorry to hear about the other boat and the smoke, but we’re glad it didn’t spoil your night too much.
Michael_B, Mar 2026
I’ll start by saying the service was very good. The boat was spacious and not overcrowded, which makes a change from other sightseeing boat trips I’ve been on.
However, as this is a sightseeing river cruise I was a little disappointed when the only two options to take a decent picture were from an inside seat where the lighting reflected off the glass making it very difficult to take a clear picture; or from the deck, which became a free for all as soon as the boat set off. The poor people (who had chosen to sit outside for the evening) had their view completely obscured by the indoor passengers coming outside to get their pictures. If you’re going to sell an experience like this, I believe you have to give everyone an opportunity to get a good photo.
I chose an option that provided drink tokens with a choice between wine or beer. I had beer and my friend had wine, the latter of which was, frankly, paint stripper.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your honest feedback, we’re glad to hear you appreciated the service and spacious boat. We’re sorry the photo opportunities weren’t ideal and understand how frustrating it must have been when views were blocked. We also appreciate your comments on the drinks and will take them into account to improve the experience for future guests.
John_R, Mar 2026
Highly recommended.. Siba was excellent guide and covered a huge ammount of history and architecture.. his knowledge and enthusiasm shone through
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your feedback, we are delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour. It’s great that the guide's knowledge and enthusiasm made the history and architecture come alive for you.
JOHN_M, Mar 2026
Fairly large boat so took a bit of time to board the 3 drinks offered as part of the package were the cheapest they could offer and it showed wine was very poor and beer was okay just didn't realize there was no choice so not a big hit regarding this. Music on board was not the best but the guys worked on it to get the best for everyone. We ended up in a separate location within the boat away from everyone else purely down to the volume of people onboard.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your feedback, we are glad you still enjoyed your time on board despite the busy boarding and limited drink options. We are grateful for your comments about the music and seating, and we will take them into consideration to improve the experience for future guests.
Yadi_B, Mar 2026
Amazing experience. You do have to pay for food and drinks. Traditional dance and live music on board. The whole experience is about an hour to an hour and a half. The city views as stunning from the cruise.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your feedback, we are glad you enjoyed the experience. The traditional dance, live music, and stunning city views really make the cruise special, and we are happy it left such a positive impression.
Rhys_C, Feb 2026
Great cruise, good entertainment and good on board prices. Able to walk around the boat and sit outside too
Henry_C, Feb 2026
The cruise was good. The boat was big and slow. It left the dock 15 minutes late. It covered all the major sceneries on the river. You need to go to on the terrace early to get the best seat to take pictures.
Kana_M, Feb 2026
The cruise was so nice!! We grabbed a free drink at first and enjoyed live music performance as well. The open deck was a little packed but the scenery was gorgeous.
とても素敵なクルーズでした。デッキは人が多かったですが、早めに行ったので景色は十分楽しめましたし、暖かい室内ではウェルカムドリンクと音楽の演奏があったのも嬉しかったです。真冬(1月上旬)で雪がかなり残っている状態だったのもあり、自力で川沿いを歩いて夜景を楽しむのは大変だったと思うので、寒くてもクルーズを選んで良かったなと思いました。特に国会議事堂の綺麗さは本当に素晴らしかったです。ブダペストに来たらぜひナイトクルーズは体験するべきだと思います。
SharonMarie_E, Jan 2026
You have to go through one boat to get onto another. Your told where to sit, there is men with instruments playing either end so it got a bit confusing. There was no commentary to tell you what you were passing. Everyone was going outside & standing on the benches where the life jackets are and blocking the view. The lights were left on so not a great view from the inside. I couldn’t wait to get off. Find a different boat trip with commentary.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for taking the time and writing us a feedback about your experience! The musicians are playing in the different parts of the boat so that everyone can enjoy the music. Regarding the commentary, there are QR codes on board to access an audioguide in many different languages. We are sorry that you had difficulties with the blocked view, but unfortunately, the life jackets has to be easily available during the cruise. However, we will do our best to make sure to make our cruise more likeable for our future guests.
Michelle_S, Jan 2026
The whole experience was wonderful. The entertainment was grest and the drinks were wonderful as well. It really is a memorable thing to do while visiting Budapest.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your lovely feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed the entertainment and the drinks, and that the experience became a special memory from your time in Budapest. We hope to welcome you on board again in the future.
Mary_W, Jan 2026
Fast and easy entry, shown to our seats by staff.
Our waiter for thr night had good English and was very attentive
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your kind words. We’re glad you found the entry smooth and enjoyed the attentive service from our staff. It’s great to hear that everything went so well, and we hope to welcome you back soon.
Laura_S, Jan 2026
Enjoyable boat trip. Helpful staff. It would be to good to offer a better glass of sparkling wine on entrance to the boat. It was flat and tasted not very pleasant.
Ketan_M, Jan 2026
Nothing exciting. Boring tour. Too much hype around doing the river cruise. You can pretty much see everything from the shore itself. All the lights were off before the end of the tour which was sad.
Laura_G, Jan 2026
Amazing service, views and entertainment! Unforgettable experience I would definitely do it again if I come back.
From $22.55
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Budapest Evening Cruise with Drink Options
1,335
2 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$22.55
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Budapest, Hungary
- Váci Street (Váci Utca) Tours & Tickets
- Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives (Magyar Zsidó Múzeum és Levéltár) Tours & Tickets
- Esztergom Tours & Tickets
- Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galéria) Tours & Tickets
- Visegrád Tours & Tickets
- Sándor Palace (Sándor Palota) Tours & Tickets
- Dohány Street Synagogue Tours & Tickets
- Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum (Sziklakórház Atombunker Múzeum) Tours & Tickets
- Danube Promenade Tours & Tickets
- Gellért Thermal Bath and Spa Tours & Tickets
- Lake Balaton Tours & Tickets
- Vigadó Concert Hall (Pesti Vigadó) Tours & Tickets
- Liszt Ferenc Square (Liszt Ferenc Tér) Tours & Tickets
- Shoes on the Danube Bank Tours & Tickets
- Budapest City Park (Városliget) Tours & Tickets
- Andrássy Avenue (Andrássy Út) Tours & Tickets
- House of Terror Museum (Terror Háza Múzeum) Tours & Tickets
More attractions near Budapest, Hungary
- House of Parliament (Országház) Tours & Tickets
- Buda Castle (Budai Vár) Tours & Tickets
- Budapest Danube River Tours & Tickets
- Széchenyi Thermal Baths (Széchenyi Gyógyfürdo) Tours & Tickets
- Matthias Church (Mátyás Templom) Tours & Tickets
- Chain Bridge (Széchenyi Lanchid) Tours & Tickets
- St. Stephen’s Basilica (Szent István Bazilika) Tours & Tickets