Going on a river cruise in Budapest is a must. But with so many options available, it can be tough to choose the best one. That's where I come in!

I've tried out eight of the top boat tours in the city and spent hours researching and comparing them.

From my trips, I've selected the 5 best river cruises that offer a fantastic experience.

Be sure also to check out my top 10 tips for maximizing your enjoyment during the cruise.

Disclaimer: This website uses affiliate links. I get paid a small commission if you purchase anything through my links. It costs you nothing and makes my job financially sustainable. Cheers!

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It's simple, really. The best way to marvel at the city’s beautiful sights is via a river cruise.

‍On most river cruises, you’ll see the following major sights and attractions:

• Hungarian Parliament
• Buda Castle
• Matthias Church
• Fisherman’s Bastion
• Gellert Hill/Citadella
• Gellért Spa
• Budapest University of Technology and Economics
• A host of historic bridges, including the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, Margaret Bridge, Liberty Bridge, and Petőfi Bridge

On two cruises (Legenda and Hungaria Koncert), you’ll also see these less famous sights:

• Margaret Island
• Palace of Arts
• National Theatre

In addition to sightseeing cruises, Budapest offers a variety of other fun cruise options to choose from, including:

• Dinner cruises: Enjoy a catered 3-6 course meal or buffet dinner while being entertained by unique Hungarian music or operetta performances.
• Party or booze cruises: Have a blast on a cruise with unlimited drinks or a dedicated party atmosphere.
• Lunch, brunch, or pizza cruises: Satisfy your foodie cravings with these cruises, although the quality of the food may be mediocre compared to restaurants.
• Beverage-tasting cruises: If you're a fan of craft beer, cocktails, or wine, these cruises offer the chance to sample a variety of options.

Bonus: For something a little different, try the Amphibious Bus Tour, which combines land and water sightseeing.

Summary

A standard evening sightseeing cruise with one welcome drink and an audio guide via headphones. You can also go during the day.

About Legenda City Cruises

Legenda is the oldest and most reputable cruise company in Budapest. They’ve been operating since (at least) 1990 and are still going strong.

Detailed Breakdown

Cruise duration:

• The cruise lasted about 60 minutes, and the pacing felt just right.

The ship:

• The Gondola was modern, large, and spacious, with excellent overall amenities.

The top deck:

• Has a spacious layout with tables and chairs that made it easy to move around.

• There was nothing blocking the view from any side, making it perfect for photography and taking in the city.
• Blankets were available upon request.

The lower deck:

• The lower deck had a small bar at the back, near the stairs to the top deck, as well as spacious rows of seats with ample space to move around.
• The large windows provided excellent views.

Audio guide:

• This was the only audio guide could actually be heard, thanks to the headphones (other ships have loudspeakers).
• The audio quality was excellent, and the narration was available in 30 languages.
• However, about 50% of the sights mentioned were irrelevant to the riverside attractions, and the content of the guide was superficial, covering trivia, myths, and legends.
• I encountered some issues with the headphones - the first set was defective, the second set had a cable that was too short, and the third set was uncomfortable and hard to wear.

💡 Tip: Immediately put on the headphones once you sit down - so you don't miss parts of the narration as I did.

Summary

A standard sightseeing cruise with a welcome drink.

About Portum

Portum Lines is a solid company operating since (at least) 2014. Their offerings are pretty slim compared to others but still superb in quality.

Detailed Breakdown

Cruise duration:

• This cruise lasts 60 minutes as well, but it felt rushed, with poor pacing.

The ship:

• The ship is similar in size to Legenda's sightseeing ship and is spacious and well-maintained.

The top deck:

• The top deck is divided into three areas - the front, middle, and back.
• The front and back areas are open-air, with perfect 360° views - these are the best places to go.
• The middle part is a spacious indoor area with tables and chairs on each side next to the windows. The views here are decent, but it's better outside, especially for taking photos.

The lower deck:

• It is similar in appearance and feel to the middle area on the top deck, with ample space to move around.
• It is heated/air-conditioned and well-maintained, making it a cozy place to spend the cruise on rainy or cold days.
• There is also a small bar available.

Other observations:

• The ship features tables with chairs rather than rows of chairs like on other ships.

💡 Tip: You must arrive early to snatch the best seats.

Summary

A unique evening cruise focused on a live folklore music trio performance rather than sightseeing. Drinks included, but food or an audio guide are not.

About Hungaria Koncert

Hungaria Koncert offers a variety of cruises and they organize other touristic activities too. Nevertheless, they've been rolling since (at least) 1995.

Detailed Breakdown

Cruise duration:

• This cruise lasts about 90 minutes, providing ample time to enjoy the unique musical performance and explore the ship. The pacing was relaxed.

The ship:

• The interior of the ship has a classical and luxurious feel, including chandeliers, a teak wood interior, custom-made floor carpet, intarsia decorated walls, and more. It gave me the feeling of being on the Titanic, minus the sinking.

The top deck:

• The central indoor area has two symmetrical dinner sections. There are four outdoor areas - two on the sides and two at each end of the ship.
• Only the sides are available for sightseeing guests; the rest of the level is reserved for dinner guests. The sides have 180° one-sided views, while the front and back are 360°, but fences partially block the view.

The lower deck:

• It has the same look and feel as the rest of the ship. There is only one area accessible - immediately to the right of the entrance. This area is for people with non-dinner tickets. It includes a bar with reasonable prices, tables with chairs, and a folklore trio performance. I enjoyed being here.

Folklore and operetta performance:

• On the top deck, there are two simultaneous folklore dance/music performances for dinner guests only. They are inaudible from the outdoor side areas, but you can enjoy the lower deck music performance without any issues. The music gave the trip an early 20th-century vibe, as if I was on the Titanic.

Confusion on where to hang out:

• I was told I could stay upstairs, outside in the side areas for 90 minutes without the music show or downstairs with the music trio performance, but without the views. I'm not sure why aren't guests allowed to be in either location as they please.

💡 Tip: I recommend staying downstairs and "sneaking up" the main stairs to catch a glimpse of the views, then going back down.

Summary

It's a booze cruise with unlimited drinks. You can buy an optional food platter for $10, but I recommend skipping it.

About RubinGroup

Rubin Group is another solid company, operating since (at least) 2015. They specialize in gastro-themed events rather than standard sightseeing cruises.

Detailed Breakdown

Cruise duration:

• The duration of the cruise was 90 minutes, giving me and my girlfriend plenty of time to enjoy some drinks and relax (read: get plastered).

The ship:

• The ship itself was impressive, with a large and spacious design, with a cocktail party atmosphere. Passengers were seated at 2-person tables.

The top deck:

• The top deck offered stunning, unobstructed 360° views - just like Legenda's. It was the perfect spot for taking photos and enjoying the sights. This is the best place to be in during the warmer months.

‍The lower deck:

• There are two lower decks with plenty of seats and tables. The best spots tend to go to the first passengers to board, so it's worth arriving early if you want to snag a prime spot. Inside, the atmosphere was cozy and warm.

‍Audio guide:

• The audio guide (loudspeaker) was unfortunately inaudible due to the passengers crowding out the narration. They increased the volume upon my request, but I wasn't impressed by the audio guide quality either.

‍Drinks refills:

• The servers were very attentive, constantly refilling glasses with prosecco as soon as they were empty. There were also two types of self-service lemonades available, one of which had a strange cucumber taste.

Assorted food platter:

• There was also an optional food platter available for an additional cost of $10, but it was not quite what I was expecting. The platter was less gourmet than the advertised images, with half of the food consisting of ordinary fruits and vegetables, cheese and ham with two sauces, and a pastry dessert. The portion size was also on the smaller side. Save the money.

‍Update: This ride is unavailable from 2022 October until Spring 2023.

Summary

This sightseeing cruise is dirt cheap, but ranks lower in terms of quality compared to other options. If your budget is tight, this may be the right choice for you.

Note that this cruise does not have public reviews, as it is a quasi public service operated by a government-owned company (Mahart). Tickets must be purchased on the spot and cannot be reserved in advance.

Detailed breakdown

Cruise duration:

• 60 minutes, with a captain who kept a good pace.

The ship:

• It seemed old and in need of renovation.

Lower deck:

• The smell of gas/fuel, poor seat layout, dim lighting, mediocre views, and uncomfortable seat cushions.

Upper deck:

• Poor seat layout, crowded, partial view due to roof and side columns. It wasn't too crowded when I went, so it was acceptable.

5 stops:

• The ship makes 5 stops, which takes away from the experience, but allows for a drop-off at Margaret Island. The smell of gas intensified during docking.

No pre-booking:

• It is not possible to book this cruise in advance, but tickets can be purchased in person at the BKK-Mahart kiosk.