Enjoy a lovely dinner on the river Danube in the heart of Budapest while taking in the fascinating riverside attractions on the Budapest Nostalgia Dinner Cruise with Live Music and Folk Dance show. The sights are also part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
Budapest Nostalgia Dinner Cruise & Live Music
One of the most popular options to enjoy a relaxing evening in Budapest is to take part in the popular Budapest Nostalgia Dinner Cruise. The old world’s charm boat offers a tasty 4-course dinner cruise starting from the city centre, from the foot of the iconic Chain Bridge.
Booking Nostalgia River Cruise
Budapest Nostalgia Dinner Cruise & Live Music
- Sightseeing on the Danube in Budapest
- Evening Panorama Programme
- 4- Course Served Dinner
- Welcome Drink (Sparkling Wine or Juice)
- Live Music & Folk Dancers
- 1.5 hour Scenic Cruise in the heart of Budapest
- Central Dock by the iconic Chain Bridge
- Ship Bar with Alcoholic & Non-alcoholic Drinks (PAYO)
- Student / Child/ Senior discount available
- Free for children aged 0-5 years
- Wine Dinner option is also available on the same boat
- Group discounts are available, please inquire via email: info[at]budapestrivercruise.com
- E-Ticket via email (no printing needed)
- Seating on a first-come, first-served basis
- Available every evening all year round (Festive days: surcharge available)
Prices of Nostalgia Dinner Cruise & Live Music:
- 79 Euro for Adults with Dinner and Welcome Drink
- 75 Euro for Students with Dinner and Welcome Drink
- 75 Euro for Seniors (65+) with Dinner and Welcome Drink
- 45 Euro for Children (6-12y) with Dinner and Welcome Drink
- Children under 6 free of charge
- for group (15+) discounts please send your inquiry to info [at] budapestrivercruise.com
Dates & Hours Budapest Nostalgia Dinner Cruise & Live Music
Monday – Sunday, daily at 19.00 – 20.30. Boarding 30 minutes before the cruise begins
Cruise: 19:00 – 20:30
Boarding: From 18:30 (30 minutes prior to departure)
Menu on Budapest Nostalgia Dinner Cruise
You can see the detailed dinner menu on the following link:
Picture the fairy tale riverfront of Budapest you will see during your dinner cruise: the two banks of the river Danube are spotted with brightly lit churches, the Buda Castle on the Castle Hill, the neo-Gothic turrets of the Hungarian Parliament, the palm leaved Statue of Liberty on the Gellert Hill, the cupolas of the Art Nouveau Gellert Baths, the elegant curves of the Gresham Palace (Fours Seasons Hotel) and the soaring domes of the majestic St Stephens Basilica behind them. You will be cruising in one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites and one of the twinkling treasure boxes of the river Danube.
Budapest night views are charmingly romantic and breathtakingly beautiful as the city illuminates at night. Besides romance, the city is full of history, and telling tales of the faded glory, traces of the communist past. So your less romantic and more intellectual side can contemplate on the history of a nation, and of human fragility. But fate is the source of true beauty, isn’t it?
Dinner Cruise & Gypsy Salon Music Cruise & Folk Dance Show – Budapest
Guests can arrive 30 minutes prior to the programme, the dinner and live music will start at the scheduled hours. The cruise departs from and arrives at the same dock.
The nostalgia cruise with optional dinner runs every day, even on Hungarian national holidays. However, on some of the public holidays like on August 20, at Christmas or at New Year, there are special Danube cruises. Please check our event calendar for the timetable of Budapest cruises.
4 Course Served Dinner on Nostalgia Dinner Cruise & Folk Show
And the palate: the popular Budapest dinner cruise menus are composed by a one of the well-known chefs of Hungary.
Menu Options – selected after booking, submitted before cruise reservation
Appetiser Selection: Aubergine Dip (Vn, LF, GF), Paprika Dip (Vn, LF, GF), Pink Hummus (Vn, LF, GF), Fresh Bread (Vn or GF)
Soup: Hungarian Beef Goulash (GF) (LF)
Main course: “Széchenyi” Pork Tenderloin served with Onion Mashed Potatoes and Pickles
Dessert: Somlói Sponge Cake (V) – please note that no special dietary options are available
Paprika Mood Menu ‘B’ – Poultry Option
Hungarian Beef Goulash
Appetiser Selection: Aubergine Dip (Vn, LF, GF), Paprika Dip (Vn, LF, GF), Pink Hummus (Vn, LF, GF), Fresh Bread (Vn or GF)
Soup: Poultry Ragout Soup with Tarragon (GF) (LF)
Main course: Chicken Paprikash served with Gratin Potatoes, Fresh Salad and Pickles (GF)
Dessert: Somlói Sponge Cake (V) – please note that no special dietary options are available
Appetiser Selection: Aubergine Dip (Vn, LF, GF), Paprika Dip (Vn, LF, GF), Pink Hummus (Vn, LF, GF), Fresh Bread (Vn or GF)
Soup: Seasonal Vegetable Cream Soup (Vn) (LF)
Main course: Pasta Marinara with Parmesan Shavings and Olives (V)
Dessert: Somlói Sponge Cake (V) – please note that no special dietary options are available
We reserve the right to make seasonal adjustments to the dinner cruise menu and drink list based on the availability of fresh produce and the ongoing evaluation of customer feedback.
(V): Vegetarian, (Vn): Vegan, (LF): Lactose Free, (GF): Gluten Free
Please inform the cruise staff of any dietary concerns to ensure your utmost satisfaction and safety.
Count Szechenyi Boat
Special Dietary Needs
Meals are prepared in a kitchen that handles a wide variety of ingredients and allergens. While every effort is made to accommodate dietary requirements, all dishes are prepared in a shared kitchen environment where there is a risk of cross-contamination.
Therefore, it cannot be guaranteed that any dish is completely free from specific allergens or ingredients, and traces may be present. The menu may not be suitable for guests with severe allergies.
Kindly note that the menu options are set as seen. This means that, unfortunately, no dessert varieties are available with gluten free or lactose free diets.
Nostalgia Boat with Open Deck (AC in summer, heating in winter time)
The nostalgia boat will take you on one of the finest dinner experiences in Budapest: the night river cruise is 1.5 hours, and you are guaranteed to enjoy every minute of the 90 minute cruise from the Margaret Island down to the Rakoczi Bridge in the south and back to the Chain Bridge.
This well paced boat trip will let you feel the beauty of the night lit Budapest on your skin: the dinner cruise is reported to be the highlight of many tourists’ Budapest visit. If you ask fellow tourists or read dinner cruise reviews, you will hear ‘it was incredible, awesome, fantastic, exciting, romantic, unforgettable’ and most would use the term ‘beautiful’. Beauty indeed.
Count Szechenyi Ship – Danube Cruise Route – Budapest
Embark on a refined river journey aboard the Count Széchenyi, departing from Dock Academy, gracefully nestled beside the iconic Chain Bridge. As the ship glides northward, guests are treated to sweeping views of the Hungarian Parliament’s neo-Gothic façade and the southern tip of Margaret Island, reaching as far as Margaret Bridge, where the vessel performs its first turn.
The cruise then turns south, unfolding a majestic panorama of Buda Castle Royal Palace, the romantic Fisherman’s Bastion, and the gleaming towers of Matthias Church and other panoramic sights of the Buda Castle Hill. The elegant arcades of the Castle Garden Bazaar come into view, followed by a procession of Budapest’s most celebrated bridges, each steeped in history.
As the Count Szechenyi event ship passes beneath the Elizabeth Bridge and Liberty Bridge, the verdant slopes of Gellért Hill rise into view, crowned by the Citadel. At its base lies the historic Gellért Spa, a jewel of Hungarian Art Nouveau. The cruise continues as far as the Petofi Bridge, where it gently turns once more.
On the return north, the skyline reveals the contemporary curves of the Whale Building (Bálna), followed by the stately Pesti Vigadó Concert Hall, a shining example of 19th-century elegance. As twilight deepens, the ship returns to Dock Academy, bringing this unforgettable Danube voyage full circle beneath the Chain Bridge’s luminous span.
Dinner Cruise with Gypsy Music
Booking the Nostalgia Dinner Cruise with Live Music Online
The 7 pm Dinner & Cruise Budapest night river cruise include a gentle ride on the river Danube right in the heart of the city, between Buda and Pest with many of the best sights Budapest can offer: the 19th century palaces, churches, residential houses, historical bridges, the turreted Hungarian Parliament, the green slopes of the Gellert Hill and the Castle Hill with the Buda Castle on top, the bustling bars along the river Danube, etc.).
When are the Budapest dinner river cruises?
Each night, Budapest offers a dinner river cruise of various programs and inclusions. Please check the full range of Budapest Dinner Cruises for further details.
Dinner cruises are air-conditioned in the summer, and heated in weather, so the popular river cruises are on programme all year round, including holidays.
Port of the Nostalgia Dinner Cruise
The meeting point of the Danube river cruise is close to the Chain Bridge, which you usually see on all postcards, just behind the Gresham Palace (the Art Nouveau palace of the Four Seasons Hotel Budapest).
Boarding time is approx. 30 min. before departing.
All the details are sent to cruise guests in the confirmation email. Please read it carefully.
How can I book my Budapest night river cruise?
You can book your Danube river cruise via our online booking forms (see on the left side). Please note that we can only accept registrations with payment, as seats are limited on the cruise ships.
Live Music on the Budapest Dinner Cruises
The performance also features a marvellous original Hungarian instrument, the famous “cimbalom”. The combination of string instruments and the cimbalom provides a uniquely Hungarian, unforgettable harmony and an outstanding atmosphere on-board.
Wish to hear your favourite popular song in a whole new adaptation?
During the performance, guests will have a chance to ask for their favourite songs from the artists to play.
Last updated: Jul 2, 2026