Dinner cruises are among the most common and popular boat tours among tourists here in Budapest. We have already tried quite a few of them, and on this page you will find our recommendations for the best dinner boat cruises you can find in Budapest.
Here are all our recommendations for dinner boat cruises in Budapest:
A dinner cruise in Budapest is the ultimate way to combine an evening and night cruise on the Danube when all the famous sights of the city are beautifully illuminated, together with a Hungarian meal on board. It is a wonderful and enjoyable experience, and it is no coincidence that this is one of the most popular and in-demand cruises among the many tourists in the city.
The cruises last between around 1.5 and 3 hours, with the duration changing from company to company or in the case of special events. Almost all dinner cruises also include a cultural part with a live band performance, a piano show or a traditional Hungarian folklore dance performance. In addition to dinner, most of them include a welcome drink of Prosecco or orange juice and also drinks that are included with the meal.
The boats depart from the main docking area on the Danube located on the Pest side between the Elisabeth Bridge and the Chain Bridge and they pass by all the well known landmarks of Budapest such as the Hungarian Parliament Building, the Chain Bridge, Buda Castle, the Bastion, Gellért Hill, the Müpa Opera House and the National Theatre.
The indoor section where you eat is a lit and air conditioned space with panoramic windows and tables and chairs neatly set with nice tablecloths and pleasant ambient lighting. All boats also include an open observation area that you can access and enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
The menu changes from company to company and ranges between a 3 or 4 course meal. Usually, the menu is served in a hot buffet style with classic Hungarian dishes such as goulash, paprikash, stuffed cabbage, hot sides and local pastry desserts. In most cases you will receive a welcome glass. Regarding drinks, some cruises include unlimited drinks, others include only one additional drink and everything else is paid separately.
In most cases, this is more or less the menu you will get on dinner cruises in Budapest:
Opening: goulash soup and vegetable soup.
Main courses: turkey breast in sauce, beef stew in red Villány wine, traditional stuffed cabbage, oven baked vegetables, vegetable couscous.
Sides: rice, nokedli dumplings, parsley potatoes.
Desserts: assorted strudel, Somlói galuska.
The portions are not very large but not small and definitely sufficient. On the dinner cruises we recommended, the food was very tasty and far beyond expectations. There is an excellent combination of traditional Hungarian food alongside all around food that suits everyone in the end. If you are with children, you will also find a variety of children's menus.
The price range of dinner cruises in Budapest is around 80 to 110 dollars per person, changing according to the menu and drinks. In cases of special events and holiday seasons, prices rise and can reach around 200 dollars per person.
