Best Danube River Cruise

The Danube River dividing the historical capital of Hungary into two parts, offers some unique perspectives to view the city landmarks.

You must include a scenic Danube River cruise to soak in Budapest’s splendor while enjoying a boat ride.

On the boat cruise, you will find notable buildings on both sides of the river, such as cathedrals, bridges, castles, and the Hungarian parliament.

There are several distinct architectural styles and eras represented in the buildings.

The neo-gothic Hungarian Parliament Building and Matthias Church to the richly Renaissance Church St. Stephen’s Basilica are structured from different periods.

A Danube River Budapest cruise will make you love this city and its diverse architecture. 

If you are wondering which Danube River cruise is best, this sightseeing cruise is one of the best-rated Danube River Cruises.

If you are wondering which Danube River cruise is kid friendly, you can try the Daytime sightseeing cruise with your family.

But selecting a cruise might take a lot of work due to the abundance of possibilities.

The best cruise depends on a few factors:

• The time and money you are willing to spend
• The place you are staying 
• The activities you want to engage in along with your cruise. 

So let’s examine these variables in depth to help you choose the perfect Budapest Danube River cruise for yourself.

Danube River cruise duration 

Danube River sightseeing cruises typically take around 70 minutes in total.

However, some cruises last for up to three hours.

Some features live music or dance performances in addition to dinner, lunch, or brunch.

For those looking for only an hour of exploring the city on the Danube, the one-hour cruise is the best choice.

You can observe various Budapest landmarks lit up in the evening with a welcome drink on one of the most popular and economical boat cruises. 

A slightly longer, 1.5-hour cruise with unlimited prosecco and an optional audio guide is also available for people seeking a night or evening with calling views, drinks, and music.

Another option is the two-hour dinner cruise with live music and a folk dance show. 

Browse popular cruises according to their lengths to learn more about how long they continue here.

Danube River cruise starting and endpoint

Before selecting a cruise, make sure to check the starting point location.

Most cruises have a meeting point on a docking station near one of the many bridges on the Danube River.

A dock on the Pest side of the Chain bridge, Elizabeth Bridge or Margaret Bridge, is a common starting point for cruising.  

You would want to pick a cruise that starts near the place you are staying in Budapest. 

While some cruises end at the same point they started, such as the Margaret Bridge, in the case of the popular one-hour sightseeing cruise, other cruises begin at one place and stop at another. 

If you stay near the Elizabeth Bridge, the one-hour cruise with drinks and an optional audio guide starting and ending at Elizabeth Bridge is the most convenient option. 

Danube River cruise with other activities

Another thing to consider while picking the right cruise is if you want to combine the cruise with other outdoor activities.

To explore Margaret Island on foot, choose the sightseeing cruise with a stopover at the island. 

A candlelit dinner river cruise with live music is perfect if you want to spend a romantic evening with your partner.

If you want to bike to a nearby village Szentendre, you can return via a boat cruise with this self-guided bike tour, including a boat ride back to Budapest.     

You can go wine tasting on a private boat with your family or small group while enjoying beautiful views of the Hungarian Parliament, Buda Castle, Gellert Hill, and Budapest bridges.

If you are wondering which Danube River Cruise is best in December, you can try the Christmas and New Year special cruise.

Audio guide

If you want to learn more about the rich cultural heritage of the UNESCO Heritage-listed city, you must opt for a cruise with an audio guide option in your preferred language.

The evening sightseeing cruise with unlimited prosecco offers English audio guidance.

For a guide in other languages, opt for the one-hour multilingual audio guide cruise with a drink.

Individual vs. Group  

The best cruise for you will also depend on your traveling companions.

If you are with a small group of friends or family, you can opt for a quieter one-hour private yacht cruise with a tour guide to make the most of your visit and enjoy the city view in peace.

This is also a luxury Danube River cruise. A less expensive private sightseeing cruise is also available.

If you are wondering which Danube River cruise is best for families, try the fireworks show dinner cruise.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about which cruise is the best for seeing the Danube River.

Featured Image: Uniworld.com