Christmas Day in Budapest is a wonderful time to experience the city from the Danube. While many attractions operate on a more limited festive schedule, we invite you to enjoy a memorable Christmas evening aboard our Budapest Christmas Day river cruise with dinner, live music, and a beautiful 3-hour cruise on the River Danube!
The Budapest Christmas Day river cruise will run on Dec 25, offering an unforgettable boat ride surrounded by the festive lights and illuminated landmarks of Budapest.
Christmas Day Cruise in Budapest
Here are the details of the Budapest river cruise on Christmas Day (Dec 25). First of all, what does the Christmas river cruise include?
- 3 Hour Cruise: enjoy a festive 3-hour cruise on Christmas Day from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm (boarding at 7 pm). Sail along the River Danube through Budapest’s UNESCO World Heritage panorama and admire the beautiful historical sights illuminated at night.
- Christmas Dinner on the boat (served dinner with 4 options for the main course: Pork, Lamb, Poultry, Vegetarian). The 4-course served dinner includes a Starter, Soup, your choice of Main Course with Side, and a Dessert.
- Sparkling Wine: 1 glass of Hungarian Sparkling Wine (you can replace it with a soft drink)
- Live music performed by award-winning Hungarian piano players
- E-Ticket via email (no printing needed)
- Minimum age: 6 years old for children (please note that full-price tickets are needed for children)
Prices of the Christmas Day Dinner Cruise
- Price on Dec 25th with Dinner & 1 Welcome Drink: €195. Book via the online booking form
- Window seat upgrade is available for €95 per person
Booking 2026 Budapest Christmas Day Cruise
Christmas Day Cruises in Budapest: Day & Evening Cruises
Christmas Piano Cruise
The date of the cruise and the time of departure is the following:
- December 25: 7.30 pm – 10.30 pm (3-hour cruise)
Timing for the 7.30 pm Christmas Day Cruise
- Boarding the ship is from 7 pm to 7.30 pm (please arrive on time at the meeting point specified in your cruise ticket / confirmation email)
- Departure of the ship is at 7.30 pm from the city center, near Elizabeth Bridge
- Cruising time on the River Danube: 3 hours, sailing from north to south through Budapest before returning to the pier
- Arrival of the ship in the city center is at 10.30 pm.
Sights & Lights from the Xmas River Boat
Although the River Danube flows through or by many countries and even four capital cities (like Vienna and Bratislava), Budapest offers one of its most spectacular nighttime panoramas, especially when the city is glowing with festive lights. Are we biased? No, we are not. Our proof: the UNESCO World Heritage site appreciation. Budapest’s famous Danube panorama forms part of its prestigious UNESCO World Heritage site. A perfect Christmas gift during a Budapest winter holiday. While the Danube actually flows outside Vienna (but you can cruise the canal), and past Bratislava, in Budapest the river is the focal point of the city, dividing the Hungarian capital into the Buda side with the Castle and hills, and the Pest side with the Hungarian Parliament, the St Stephen Cathedral, the Gresham Palace, the Great Market Hall, etc. The boat is of course heated, but if you want to admire the Budapest winter panorama from the open upper deck of the ship, you can. However, for standing on the upper deck in the open air we recommend bringing a warm winter coat and hat, as winters in Budapest are quite cold, often going below the freezing point (0 degrees Celsius / 32 degrees Fahrenheit). Staying inside the warm ship while Budapest’s Christmas lights pass by outside is a special festive experience. We will do everything we can to make your Christmas Day cruise in Budapest a memorable part of your holiday.
Christmas Day Cruise in Budapest on December 25
Budapest Christmas Day boat tours offer a festive way to spend the evening of December 25, combining dinner, live entertainment and one of the most beautiful panoramas in the city. The illuminated Parliament, Buda Castle, Chain Bridge and other riverside landmarks provide a memorable backdrop for a Christmas celebration on the Danube.
Christmas Day Dinner Menu on the River Cruise, Budapest
4-Course menu
1st Course – Starter
- Pear & Burrata Panzanella (Gluten-free, dairy-free option, vegetarian)
- Goose Liver Pâté, Tokaji Aszú, mini croissant
2nd Course – Soup
- Beer-Braised Beef Ragout Soup (Gluten-free, dairy-free)
- Seasonal Soup (Gluten-free, vegan)
3rd Course – Main Course
- Walnut-Crusted Cod served on a bed of broccoli risotto
- Smoked Salmon & Pistachio Lasagne
- Pork Tenderloin with potato fritter, chive sour cream, and sausage crumble (Gluten-free)
- Curry-Spiced Lamb Rack with red lentil purée (Gluten-free, dairy-free)
- Oven-Baked Sweet Potato with seasonal vegetable ragout and pesto (Gluten-free, vegan)
- Oven-Baked Sweet Potato with Pesto Chicken Breast, seasonal vegetable ragout, and pesto (Gluten-free)
4th Course – Dessert
- Coriander-Infused Lemon Curd with mascarpone and sweet crumble (Gluten-free, dairy-free)
- Apple Pie Trifle
- Red Bean Chocolate Brownie (Gluten-free, vegan)
GF – Gluten Free
LF – Lactose-Free
V – Vegetarian
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.
Cruise programme updated Sep, 2026