Spend a magical night on the Budapest Christmas Day Dinner Danube River Cruise on Dec 25 with Live Music and Entertainment. The festive paddle boat, Count Szechenyi, is the perfect picture postcard charming ship for Christmas festivities! The event features live music, a delightful 2-hour programme with 1.5 hour cruising on the scenic Danube. While the evening of December 25th is mostly serene in Budapest, as many locals in Hungary keep celebrating Christmas at home with family member, you can have a lovely festive time with international travellers who visit the city just to experience the fascinating winter sights and Budapest Christmas Markets.
Christmas Day Dinner Cruise Budapest Dec 25 2026
Budapest River Cruise Dec 25 – Photo by Dana Sarsenbekova
Christmas Day Dinner Cruise Highlights
Celebrate Christmas Day on Dec 25th with a scenic cruise on the river Danube. The evening includes a buffet-style Christmas Dinner, Live Music by award-winning Hungarian musicians, and a lively Folk Dance performance in traditional attire. As you sail, enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage sights of Budapest illuminated at night.
- 2-Hour Festive Cruise with a 1.5-hour sailing time
- Select start at 7pm or 10 pm (Board 30 min before that)
- Buffet-style Dinner with diverse options for all preferences
- Unlimited Drink Selection included (Wines, Beers, Soft Drinks) for 2 hours
- Live Music by Hungarian Gypsy musicians
- Folk Dance Performance
- Old world Charm historical Paddle Boat
- Spacious ship with about 300 passengers
- Ship Bar for further Drinks (pay as you order)
- UNESCO World Heritage sights, and many more beautiful historical attractions illuminated at night await you during the city cruise on the Danube
- Note: guide is not included (there will be no live or audio guide on this cruise)
- Note: Buildings are illuminated until approx. 10 pm
- E-Ticket via email (no printing required)
- Highly popular event – advance booking recommended!
- Late Night Xmas Day Boat: 10pm – 11.30 pm Cruising time on the river Danube: 2 hours of programme with 1.5h cruising, from north to south in Budapest, then back to the pier.
Prices – Christmas Day Dinner Cruise Dec 25
- Adults: €159 per Adult
- Students: €139 (11 – 25 years, with valid student ID)
- Children (3- 10 years) €90 per Child
- Children (0 – 2 years) Free
- Window upgrade: kindly note that on this cruise there is no option to book a window seat for a surcharge.
- Group discount – the cruise will be sold out at the normal price, so we cannot offer a reduced price for groups. However, you can request private tables (we will do our best to accommodate this request) For group inquiries please send an email to info [at] budapestrivercruise.com
Cancellation Policy Christmas Dinner Cruise
Bookings are non-refundable. In case of cancellations due to Covid at least one week before the date, we may issue a one-year open voucher. The voucher is transferable with prior email approval.
Buffet Dinner Cruise Live Folk Dance & Music
Schedule for Christmas Cruise
- 6.30 pm – Boarding at Academy 2 Dock by Chain Bridge (City Centre, Pest side of BudaPest)
- 7.00 pm – Xmas Day Programme begins
- 7.30 pm – 9.00 pm – Cruise along the Danube (1.5h)
- 9.00 pm – Disembarkation / Xmas cruise ends
Or, if you prefer a late night schedule:
- 9.30 pm Late Night Dec 25 Dinner Boat Boarding – at Academy 2 Dock by Chain Bridge
- 10.00 pm Late Night Xmas Day Programme begins
- 10.30 pm – 12.00 am – Late Night Cruise along the Danube (1.5h)
- 12.00 am / 00.00 – Disembarkation / Late Night Xmas cruise ends
Buffet Dinner Menu
Starters:
Hungarian Goulash Soup (LF) (GF)
Vegetable Soup (V) (LF)
Salad:
Mixed salad with Pesto (GF) (Vegan)
Pasta Salad with Yoghurt (V) (GF)
Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream (GF) (V)
Main:
- Traditional Beef Stew “Pörkölt” with home made Dumplings (GF, LF) – confusingly, this is referred to as ‘goulash’ in English but Hungarians use the word ‘Porkolt’
- Roast Chicken Thigh with Parsley Potato
- Hungarian Stuffed Cabbage (GF, LF) Minced meat in Cabbage leaves with Sauerkraut – hearty winter food with plenty of healthy fermented veggies
- Vegetable Casserole with Rice and Peas (GF, V)
- Vegetable Couscous (LF, Vn)
Strudel selection on Cruise
Side dishes:
- Rice (GF) (LF) (Vegan)
- Homemade Dumplings “Nokedli” (LF) (V)
- Roast Potatoes with Parsley (GF) (LF) (Vegan)
Salads
- Mixed Salad with Pesto Sauce (L, G, Vn)
- Cucumber Salad (L, G, Vn)
- Pasta Salad with Yoghurt Dressing (L, G, V)
Desserts
- Strudel Selection (LF) (V)
- “Somloi” Trifle (V)
- Beigli with Walnut or Poppy Seed – Traditional Christmas Yule roll style festive cake
- Fruit Bowl (only upon request for vegan guests, min 72 h before date)
- GF: Gluten-free
LF: Lactose-free
V: Vegetarian
Vegan: Vegan
Please inform the cruise staff of any dietary concerns at least 72h before the event to ensure your utmost satisfaction and safety. We reserve the right to change the menu without advance notice based on customer feedback.
Special Dietary Needs
Kindly note that ‘Free from’ foods (GF, LF, V) are prepared in a kitchen where food containing allergens, such as wheat, milk, soy, nuts and seeds, etc. are prepared. There are ‘free from’ options as a response to customers request, but we cannot ensure that cross contamination of ingredients does not occur in the kitchen despite the staff’s best efforts. If your allergy tolerates traces of elements as part of a desensitisation process, you can request a special ‘free from’ option while being aware of a potential cross contamination.
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.
Budapest River Cruise on Christmas Day
Sights & Lights
Admire the iconic Budapest skyline from the heated cabin or the open deck. Enjoy views of Buda Castle, Parliament, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and more.
Last updated Oct, 2025