3 Best Dinner Cruises in Budapest in 2023 — Hungaria Koncert vs. Legenda vs. Silverline

If you're looking for the best dinner cruise in Budapest, you're in the right place.

I tried out cruise #1 on this list and can wholeheartedly recommend it.

For the rest, I used my extensive experience with boat tours and research to give you an accurate picture.

I hope it's helpful in making the right choice!

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Watch this video to get an idea what to expect on a dinner cruise.

‍Summary

Number #1 on the list is Hungaria Koncert’s dinner cruise. This is a unique dinner cruise with live folklore music and dance performances. There's an unlimited buffet of various Hungarian dishes and a vibe that’s comparable to being on the Titanic.

About Hungaria Koncert

Hungaria Koncert is a cruise operator and organizes different touristic activities. They've been operating since (at least) 1995.

Detailed Breakdown

What's included:

• ‍You get access to a buffet libre of a variety of Hungarian dishes. Meals include goulash soup, stuffed cabbage, beef stew, somlói Galuska, a variety of strudels, and more. The quality of the food is good but isn’t Michelin 2-star grade. Even so, it’s a great way to try out a variety of Hungarian dishes at once.
• You get to enjoy the show of award-winning music and dance performers who are going to give you an amazing time.

Cruise duration:

• This cruise lasts about 1.5 or 2 hours depending on which cruise you choose (7 pm or 10 pm). This gives ample time to enjoy the delicious food, the unique musical performance, and explore the ship.

Price:

• The price of this cruise is the best in the dinner cruise category at 55€ a pop. However, you need to book the 72€ option if you want to see the dance performance.  There's nothing stopping you from going over to the other side for a sneak peek, though.

Folklore and operetta performance:

• On the top deck, there are simultaneous folklore dance and music performances for dinner guests only. The music gave the trip an early 20th-century vibe as if I was on the Titanic.

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.
• There are two symmetrical dinner sections on the top deck and a total of four outdoor areas - two on the sides and two at each end of the ship.
• The outdoor side areas 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 obstruct the view.
• The lower deck 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.

Summary

A romantic candlelit evening dinner cruise for couples - with live music, a 4-course catered dinner, and gourmet food. No traditional Hungarian vibes, food, or folklore music.

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

‍What's included:

• They serve a 4-course catered dinner. It's gourmet food - so it's high quality, but the portions are small. The food menu is available here.
  

• There's live lounge music played during the cruise. If you looking for authentic Hungarian music - I recommend Hungaria Koncert's cruise.
  

Cruise duration:

• It lasts 2.5 hours - starting at 7 pm. This gives ample time to enjoy the food, the music performance, and see the sights.
  

The ship:

• Legenda seems to alternate between two different dinner cruise ships. In any case, both have a high-end, elegant, and luxurious vibe. You'll feel like a cherished guest.
  

• See the ship for yourself (virtual tour)!
  

• The top deck (on both ships) has an open-air dining area. It's coverable in case of bad weather on one of the ships. It's a 360-degree view - great for sightseeing and taking photos.
  

• Tables are couple-sized - there are no larger group-sized ones. The views are magnificent.
  

• Photo takers take heed - the windows are prone to fogging up and also reflect the light. Happens on every ship in winter and in bad weather.
  

• If you're unlucky, you may be seated in the middle row. Aka not with the greatest views. Come early to avoid this happening.

Summary

Another unique dinner cruise with live folklore music entertainment with 3 or 6-course catered gourmet dinner.

About silverline

Silverline is a solid company operating since (at least) 2011. They have a decent range of cruise offerings, and run popular cruises in the sightseeing category.

What's included:

• They serve a 3-course or 6-course gourmet dinner prepared on-site, so the food is as fresh as possible. See the menu here (3-course) and here (6-course).
  

• You also get to enjoy the show an excellent folklore music performance.
  

Cruise duration:

• It lasts for 3 hours. This gives ample time to enjoy the food, the music performance, and see the sights.

The ship:

• Silverline's ship is small to medium-sized and has no distinctive features or advantages, but it's not a deal breaker.
  

• The show and dinner take place on the main/bottom deck where you're seated at 2 or 4-person tables. The folklore music show takes place on a small stage.
  

• The top deck layout isn't ideal because of the small leg space,  tightly placed seats, and insufficient free space to move around. The roof and its support columns partially block the view. (source: Been on a different cruise offered by Silverline).