If you are looking for a long and fascinating cruise in Budapest and a full-day experience, you should definitely check out the Danube Bend Cruise. Departing from Budapest in the morning and returning in the afternoon, it offers a deep dive into the captivating history of Budapest and the charming towns surrounding it. This is one of our absolute favorite tours and also one of the most popular choices among many travelers here in Budapest. It’s an experience you simply can’t miss!
The Danube Bend is a unique stretch of the Danube River where it flows between the Börzsöny Hills and the Visegrád Hills, and where the river’s direction suddenly changes from “west-east” to “north-south.” It is one of Hungary’s most significant tourist destinations, home to several picturesque towns, the most famous being Szentendre and Visegrád.
The Danube Bend is located a few dozen kilometers from Budapest, making it a popular excursion area for visitors to the city. While it is possible to reach it independently using public transport, the most enjoyable and tourist-friendly way is by taking a day cruise that departs and returns from Budapest via the Danube. This way, you can combine the pleasure of a relaxing river journey with the charm of exploring these beautiful towns along the way.
The cruise is operated by Mahart Cruises and departs from central Budapest at the Danube piers. The exact meeting point address is Vigadó Square Ship Station, 1051 Budapest, Jane Haining rakpart.
Important note: the cruise runs only between April and November.
You have a few different options when choosing a cruise to the Danube Bend. First, you need to decide between a cruise that stops in Szentendre or one that stops in Visegrád. Each is different in frequency and duration. Here are all the details about both options:
If you choose the Cruise to Szentendre, you can pick between a cruise with a short stop of about 2 hours in Szentendre or a longer stop of 5 hours. The cruise with the short stop departs at 08:30 in the morning or at 14:00 in the afternoon. The cruise with the longer stop departs at 10:30 in the morning.
Szentendre is a wonderful town for walking and wandering. You can visit the main square (Fő tér) surrounded by many shops, restaurants, and cafés, the Szamos Marzipan Museum where you can see cartoon characters, castles, and sculptures all made of marzipan, or the Micro Miracle Museum which displays a collection of miniature figures.
We recommend getting away from the central streets of Szentendre to experience it in a more authentic way. It’s a super fun town, and we enjoyed simply strolling around without any particular plan.
If you choose the Cruise to Visegrád, this is a longer cruise that leaves Budapest at 08:30 in the morning and comes back around 19:00 in the evening. Visegrád is farther away than Szentendre, and the cruise to get there takes several hours. That’s why it is a full-day trip, not a short one.
The stop in Visegrád lasts about 5 hours in total, giving you plenty of time to walk around and get to know this charming town. We also did this cruise ourselves, and we highly recommend it. You won’t regret it!
Visegrád is very different from Szentendre. It offers fewer “attractions” inside the town itself but gives you amazing views of the most beautiful areas of the Danube and incredible green nature all around.
One place you must not miss is the Upper Castle (Citadel / Fellegvár) - a medieval fortress on top of a high hill with breathtaking panoramic views of the Danube Bend and the surrounding villages. If you are traveling with children, you should also try the Bobsled Track, which offers a long ride on metal sleds along rails. kids will absolutely love it.
Some people say that 5 hours might be too long of a stop, but in our opinion, it is the perfect amount of time to enjoy the castle, the bobsled, and a few other great attractions in town.
| Destination | Departure | Free Time | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Szentendre | 08:30 | 2.5 hours | 12:30 |
| Szentendre | 10:30 | 5 hours | 17:00 |
| Szentendre | 14:00 | 2 hours | 18:00 |
| Visegrád | 08:30 | 5 hours | Around 19:00 |
Vigadó Square Ship Station, 1051 Budapest, Jane Haining rakpart (central Danube piers).
Cruise to Szentendre:
Cruise to Visegrád:
Starting from €17 per person.
The unique Danube Bend region where the river changes direction dramatically
Szentendre:
Visegrád:
