Night Cruises on the Danube

The Danube River is the soul of this European city, as well as being the point from which travellers locate themselves in the Hungarian capital, as the river separates Buda and Pest, the two symbolic buildings of the city.

Taking a cruise in Budapest, both during the day and at night, will be the perfect opportunity to see the city and delight yourself with its beautiful postcards. Here are my favourite options to enjoy the river and the sights of the city after dark.

Booking a Danube cruise with dinner and music is one of my favourite options, as I consider it very complete. Gastronomy is undoubtedly one of the most important aspects to get to know the history and tradition of a destination, and with this activity you can discover it while you see the beautiful city from the waters.

Many of the Danube cruises offer dinner included, with a haute cuisine experience, as a perfect complement to the panoramic view along the river. And this is considered one of the best tours in Budapest.

If you feel like sharing an evening full of flavours while enjoying a cruise through this UNESCO World Heritage city, you can't miss this option.

Useful information

• Duration: between 1 and 2 hours.
• Price: from €70 per person.

When night falls in Budapest, some of the city's sights come alive and offer you another perspective of this immersive destination. That's why booking a night cruise on the Danube can be an excellent alternative to welcome your evening, which can then continue with a delicious dinner in the surroundings.

On this quick cruise option you will take a night sightseeing tour and witness the magic that awaits you at night in Budapest. You will also enjoy the colours of the sunset and appreciate the night illumination of the Parliament and all the magic of the night.

Sites you will see during the tour

• The famous buildings along the river. The beautiful banks of the Danube are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Margaret Bridge.
• Buda Castle.
• Hungarian Parliament building.
• Pesti Vigado.
• Castle Garden.
• Gellert Hill.
• Citadel
• The Whale.

Useful information

• Duration: 1 hour.
• Price: from 21€ per person.
• What's included: audio guide in different languages and welcome drink.

Budapest's thermal waters are without a doubt one of its greatest attractions, specifically those of the Széchenyi Spa. This public bath is the largest in Budapest with 18 indoor and outdoor pools as well as steam baths and saunas under baroque style domes.

Although you can visit it on your own, I suggest something better: book a spa day at the Széchenyi Spa with an evening dinner cruise in Budapest in a package.

A complete and relaxing option that you can enjoy on your last day in Budapest, after having toured the city and explored all its nooks and crannies. The best thing is that in many cases it includes a massage service.

Useful information

• Duration: the cruise lasts 2 hours and the massage 20 minutes, but you can stay in the spa longer.
• Price: 101€ per person.

You will probably want to visit some of the best ruin bars in Budapest, but how about doing this on board a cruise ship and enjoying the amazing night sights of Budapest?

This type of cruise is an option for those looking for a more lively night out and of course for lovers of wine and other beverages such as beer.

Interesting information

• Price: from 12€ per person
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Capacity: approximately 200 people maximum.
• What's included: wine tasting, 5 different speciality beers, signature cocktails and other drinks.

If you like walking this can be a good and very complete option. This type of cruise starts with a walking tour of Budapest and ends with a cruise on the majestic Danube.

In most cases it includes an English-speaking guide who will show you the best of the city. This is a comfortable alternative that is organised for groups of no more than 15 people, which guarantees you quality time and the chance to get to know the city better with an expert guide.

I find it a tempting option if you are visiting Budapest for 1 or 2 days, as you will have the opportunity to get to know the city on a privately guided tour and end your day in awe at night.

Useful information

• Duration: approximately 2 hours for the walking tour and 1 hour for the cruise.
• Price: from €40 per person.

Without a doubt, booking a night cruise on the Danube allows you to see the main sights of the city from a unique perspective and see places that may come alive at night. With so much to see and do in Budapest, a night cruise is an excellent alternative.

If you plan to visit Budapest's Parliament, you won't want to miss its beautiful illumination at night either. A night cruise on the Danube offers that, plus delicious dinners, wine, live music and the company of other travellers who, like you, want to explore one of **Europe'**s most beautiful cities.

It depends on which cruise you choose. Also, the night tour may change depending on the day. Generally the cruises take you on a tour of the most famous bridges of the city, such as:

• The Chain Bridge
• The Liberty Bridge
• And the Elizabeth Bridge.

What I do guarantee is that from any boat you will be able to enjoy the night illumination of the Budapest Parliament. The sightseeing also includes Buda and Pest, the two ends of the river with its two landmarks, the Buda Castle in Buda and the Hungarian Parliament on the Pest side.

It will also depend on which option you choose, as in some cases you will have the alternative of being picked up from your accommodation and not having to travel to the cruise departure point.

In many cases the departure point is between the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and the Parliament (near the Shoe Monument). You will receive all the information at the time of booking, in case you have to travel to the departure point on your own.

In any case, don't worry, mobility and distances in Budapest will not be a problem for you.

If you choose the dinner option, the Budapest night cruises start at 19:00. The last night cruise in the city is usually scheduled for no later than 22:30.

Keep the times in mind when booking a Danube night cruise so that you can co-ordinate your itinerary for the day and have no problems being at the appointed time and place for your night cruise.

• Book in advance and check the departure times of your chosen cruise. This will allow you to better schedule your itinerary to be on time at the departure point.

• Budapest's Parliament is not usually illuminated on Sundays, so it may be best to book a night cruise on the Danube on a different day so you don't miss out on the wonderful postcard views.

• If you have the time and feel like it, book the Danube cruise during the day as well, so you can get both perspectives of the city.

• Enjoy the sights instead of spending your time taking pictures. Then you can go to places like viewpoints to capture those pictures you want to take back home.

There are many Danube cruise options available to you. Choose yours according to what you like best and what kind of entertainment and activities you want on board. This tour is sure to leave you with amazing travel memories that you can come back to again and again.