Budapest Paddle Steamer Danube Cruise with Tokaj & Audio Guide
Recommended by 92% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Budapest, Hungary
+26
- 1 hour (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Journey down the river in style on this Budapest cruise experience. Hop aboard one of two vessels with period-accurate designs evoking the historic paddle steamers of the era. Grab your complimentary welcome drink and enjoy an audio guide—available in 30 different languages—as you take in views of the city. Around sunset, the route is adjusted to showcase the Parliament building at its best light.
- Budapest river cruise aboard an authentic 19th-century paddle steamer
- Learn more from your audio guide than you would sightseeing alone
- Boats have a heated area, so you can enjoy the cruise in all seasons
- Includes a complimentary glass of Tokaj Frizzane wine or orange juice
What's Included
- Welcome drink (a glass of Tokaj Premium Frizzante or Orange Juice)
- 1 hour panorama cruise in downtown Budapest
- Guaranteed seats - not assigned
- Online audio guide in 30 languages
- Free Wi-Fi
- Blankets, umbrellas and parasols
- Cash and card payment available at our bars
- Dogs allowed, but must be kept on a leash
- Restrooms
- Covered areas
- Onboard bar
- Hotel pickup or drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Budapest, Jane Haining rkp. 10, 1052 Hungary
Meet nearby the Elizabeth Bridge (white suspension bridge) on the Pest side. To get to the departure place take tram 2, get off at Március 15 square and walk to Dock 10. Look for Duna Cruises.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Inner City Parish Church Budapest (Pass By)
Szechenyi Lanchid (Pass By)
Gresham Palace (Pass By)
Hungarian Parliament Building (Pass By)
Margaret Bridge (Pass By)
Fisherman's Bastion (Pass By)
Buda Castle (Pass By)
Rudas Baths (Pass By)
Erzsebet Bridge (Pass By)
Liberty Statue (Pass By)
St. Gellert Thermal Bath and Swimming Pool (Pass By)
Liberty Bridge (Szabadsag hid) (Pass By)
Budapest University of Technology and Economics (Pass By)
Balna (Pass By)
Central Market Hall (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- No alcohol will be served to anyone under age 18. Proof of age may be required.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Stuart_B
This was a great cruise! It definitely is the most beautiful boat on the river as it’s modeled after a classic paddle steamer. They offer you orange juice or sparkling wine/champagne when you board. It’s chilly at night, but I definitely recommend the evening cruises because you see the sunset and everything lights up. The top deck was closed, but the front desk was open and I sat in the very front. They give out blankets. The view is outstanding and it’s just almost overwhelming to see how gorgeous Budapest is at night with everything lit up from the river. I went by myself and had a great time; people and staff are friendly. Definitely a must do if it’s uoir first time in Budapest..
Reviews
4.6
based on 409 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Patricia_C, Jul 2026
This was a beautiful trip down the Danube. We went on the 10pm boat to see the city at night. Gorgeous. Drink was an added benefit!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you, we are glad you enjoyed the experience!
Jeanette_K, Jul 2026
It's a hit or miss where you will be seating on the cruise. We got there 25 minutes early and there was already a long line. There were two boats. We ended up being the last in the first group and was seated in front of a pole in the middle of the boat where our view was quite limited. We asked the woman if we could go on the second boat and she asked us to wait a few minutes. She ended up bringing two chairs to the front of the boat outside and we had the best view! Great customer service and it made our trip worthwhile. A must do when visiting Budapest.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your kind review! We're really glad you let our crew know about the seating, as we always encourage our guests to speak to us on the spot if they have any questions or requests. That gives us the chance to help whenever we can. Thank you for reaching out, and we're happy that we could make your cruise even more enjoyable. We hope to welcome you again! 😊
Gay_B, Jul 2026
The experience was so much better in the evening as you see the Parliament Building all lit up, plus all the other attractions. Quite breath taking.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you very much!☺️
Chris_B, Jul 2026
Wonderful evening experienve 😃 lovely welcome, plenty of seating, drinks onboard, blankets available but request early if needed
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you very much!😊
HelenRudd, Jul 2026
We finished our trip with this cruise on the old fashioned paddle steamer and it was great! Took you past all the main sights on the river and offered great views of the parliament all lit up as we picked the 20:30 trip and it was good timing. The only thing was the thunderstorm that happened during the cruise, but if anything that added to night and nothing the cruise team could do about that, and it had covered areas! Crew was friendly and you could get bar service too!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you very much for your feedback!
Dalyssa_H, Jul 2026
Do this at night - it’s magical. Didn’t take advantage of the audio tour because no one spoke over the speakers nor did staff explain how to participate. So go with the expectation of a scenic ride and you’ll be more than happy.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review. We are very happy that you enjoyed the cruise and the atmosphere!
We would just like to clarify how our audio guide works. We do not have a live guide speaking over the speakers. Instead, we have an online audio guide that you can listen to on your own phone with your earphones. A simple setup guide is printed inside our drink menus, and our website also notes that you can always ask our staff for help if you have any questions. We are sorry that you missed the audio tour this time, as our guests usually really like it. We hope you will visit us again in the future to enjoy the full experience!
Nicholas_F, Jul 2026
A great cruise with incredible views for pictures of Budapest highlights on the Danube. Check when sunset is and book for sunset or later. You want to see Parliament and other buildings with the lights on! Our cruise was perfect as it began at dusk but was full night with all building lights on by the end of cruise. Awesome!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for choosing us!
Robin_M, Jul 2026
Definite must see evening activity in Budapest. The parliament in the pm is absolutely stunning. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your recommendation!
Olivia_M, Jun 2026
This was a great thing to do at sunset. The boat was nice and the views are great. I do wish there had been an opportunity to purchase another drink. It seems other boats had that but ours didn't.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your kind review. We are glad you had a great time! We are very sorry to hear that you were unable to purchase another drink during the cruise. We actually have a fully stocked bar and service staff on board all of our boats, so guests are always welcome to buy additional drinks throughout the trip. We take your comment seriously, so if you feel like sharing the details, we would be grateful if you could write to us via email (info@dunacruises.com) — referencing this review — with the exact date and departure time of your cruise so we can look into what happened. Thank you!
Jacob_W, Jun 2026
We took this river cruise at sunset. Budapest is such a beautiful city but seeing it from the Danube at twilight is amazing. The views of the parliament were alone worth the price. Highly recommend for a wonderful experience for great photos of both the Buda and Pest sides of the river.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you very much! We hope to see you onboard again!
Katherine_M, Jun 2026
Beautiful views highly recommend taking cruise post sunset for the full beauty of Budapest. The city lights make for a breathtaking view.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your recommendation!
Clare_H, Jun 2026
Great trip to view city at night.
Plenty of room, friendly staff on board.
The hour was just long enough to see all the sights.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you very much!
Douglas_S, Jun 2026
Excellent experience. Easily accommodated a large group of 12 people. Boat is very nice. Friendly staff. Good drinks. Amazing views. A must while in Budapest
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you very much!
Leah, Jun 2026
Very nice experience. The boat was small and not crowded, we got a nice glass of wine and they were very kind in giving me a bottle of water because i was dehydrated. I did the tour that started right at sunset so it was cool getting pictures in the light and the dark. We saw the parliament building after it got dark. The bathrooms on the boat were also very nice.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your detailed review! We look forward to welcoming you on board again!
Judith_M, Jun 2026
We loved the excursion---saw everything lit up beautifully on our last night in Budapest! Great views coming and going. Loved the option of a smaller boat and the length of the tour was perfect.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you! We are so happy that we made your last evening in Budapest special!☺️
Lisa_H, May 2026
I booked this tour vs other Danube cruises because of the proximity to my hotel, and I have zero regrets. It was a nice, 1 hr cruise of the Danube. There’s a QR code for the audio tour in multiple languages, which is self-guided (click on the next thing when you see it, essentially). I wish I had brought headphones/earbuds, but I didn’t have a problem just holding my phone to my ear.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you! We are happy that you enjoyed the cruise!
Lynne_M, May 2026
Great views and comfortable boat. Easy to find and staff was very friendly. Was a highlight of the trip
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you very much!😊
Juliana_M, Apr 2026
Boat was easy to find and staff were friendly, especially the waitress. I didn’t get her name but she offered orange juice and coloring things for my child. The boat ride was great, took about 45min. There was an audio guide to follow at a specific sight or building, which was very interesting. It was so relaxing that felt too short. I would recommend it!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your recommendation!☺️
John_S, Apr 2026
This river cruise was worth every penny. 1 hour along the Danube at night seeing all the beautiful buildings lit up. I would book again if back in Budapest
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you! We look forward to welcoming you again!☺️
Ashley_C, Apr 2026
Most beautiful views! Very worth it! You can’t see views of the parliament just from walking… seeing it from the water gives you a whole different vantage point. I have recommended to my family and friends
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you, we are happy you enjoyed the experience!☺️
Brett_A, Apr 2026
Great way to see the beautiful city lit up against the night sky. Took the 2030 trip in April so darkness was upon us.
Paul_L, Apr 2026
Beautiful boat trip on the Danube, seeing all the main sights in Budapest. Excellent hosts great experience
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your feedback!☺️
Dmitri_B, Apr 2026
Best experience in Budapest!
One hour went like a minute.
The tour is brilliant especially in the night time!!!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for the wonderful feedback! We work hard to provide exactly this kind of experience for our guests. We look forward to welcoming you on board again in the future!😊
DAVID_S, Apr 2026
If you want the audio tour make sure you bring headphones with you. Nowhere do they mention they don't provide anything for the audio tour so if you are like us you just get to see the sites not hear anything. Not a deal breaker but seems like something they should put on their advertisement so you know.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your feedback! We would like to kindly point out that it is mentioned both here on TripAdvisor and on our website that headphones are not provided and guests are encouraged to bring their own for the audio guide. We are sorry if this information was missed, but we hope you still enjoyed the beautiful sights of Budapest!
Carolyn_K, Apr 2026
Look for codes on the tables to get the history recordings. We missed that but enjoyed the lights. Crew was pleasant.
May_B, Apr 2026
Relaxed lovely experience. Glass of bubbly and guide in English. Great value for the price we paid. Staff very friendly
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your kind feedback!
Stuart_B, Apr 2026
This was a great cruise! It definitely is the most beautiful boat on the river as it’s modeled after a classic paddle steamer. They offer you orange juice or sparkling wine/champagne when you board. It’s chilly at night, but I definitely recommend the evening cruises because you see the sunset and everything lights up. The top deck was closed, but the front desk was open and I sat in the very front. They give out blankets. The view is outstanding and it’s just almost overwhelming to see how gorgeous Budapest is at night with everything lit up from the river. I went by myself and had a great time; people and staff are friendly. Definitely a must do if it’s uoir first time in Budapest..
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you very much! We are so happy you enjoyed the experience!😊
Steven_P, Apr 2026
Lovely boat trip very friendly staff. Very nice experience with great views of the city.............
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you very much!😊
Emily_S, Apr 2026
Beautiful boat. I like that there was an app to listen to and the audio was not blasted throughout the boat. It was peaceful and beautiful. A highlight of our trip. My only issue was that we had no idea we should have arrived 40min prior to departure to get a good table. We arrived 20 minutes ahead of time and were at the very back of the line.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your feedback! We are very happy that we were a highlight of your trip even though you couldn't get the best seats this time. We hope to see you on board again!
Jana_D, Apr 2026
The night cruise was so worth it! It really showed how beautiful Budapest is at night. I highly recommend this cruise. This company is also very professional and the aesthetic of the boat is very charming.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your recommendation!
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