Budapest River Cruises – Aug 20, 2023

Enjoy a relaxing daytime cruise or a spectacular evening Fireworks Cruise in Budapest on Aug 20, and celebrate Hungary’s birthday!

Due to the preparations for the evening Budapest Fireworks Display, daytime cruising stops after 5pm so that everything is ready for the big show. The Fireworks Cruises in Budapest (with or without dinner) start at 7pm or 7.30pm. Please note that during the Fireworks Show (approx. 9-9.45pm) ships are not allowed to cruise by law.

Most Popular Cruises with Fireworks Show in Budapest – Aug 20

Budapest Dinner Cruises are popular all year round to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and corporate events, to enjoy the foods and local or fusion dishes on the floating restaurants of the river Danube. August 20 just adds more to the spectacular river sights with its majestic Fireworks Show in the heart of Budapest.

BUDAPEST FIREWORKS DINNER CRUISES

Some of the most popular dinner river cruises in Budapest include the Fireworks Evening Show on Aug 20, so if you want to enjoy your served or buffet dinner on this specific night, hurry up and book in advance:

A La Carte & Budapest Fireworks Dinner Cruise:

This river cruise on Aug 20 combines a 4 course served dinner cruise (a la carte) with live music, and the formidable Fireworks Show over the river Danube in Budapest. The Fireworks A la Carte Dinner Cruise is a popular choice for those who would like to enjoy a restaurant feeling with bar music, be comfortably served with a 4 course dinner of their choice (a la carte) and have the opportunity to enjoy the all window spectacles for a better view over the river sights and attractions. From the modern ship guests can enjoy the festive Fireworks Display usually set around 9 pm in the evening, after sunset (no boats are allowed to cruise during the Fireworks show, so this part of the event is stationary). When the Fireworks display has finished, you can make the evening longer by going to any of the great bars or clubs in Budapest nightlife.

Folk Show & Budapest Fireworks Dinner Cruise:

This river cruise on Aug 20 combines a 4 course served dinner cruise (a la carte) with live music and folk show (professional folk dancers and musicians), and the Fireworks Show over the river Danube in Budapest – popular choice for those who would like to see a lively Folk Dance Show, enjoy a vivid and vibrant atmosphere and wish to get served a 4 course dinner (a la carte) while taking in the breathtakingly beautiful light display offered by the Fireworks Show in the evening. After the Fireworks are over, you can stay on board and prolong the evening with more drinks, music and merriment.

Gypsy Band & Budapest Fireworks Dinner Cruise: this river cruise on Aug 20 combines an all inclusive buffet dinner cruise with live music (a professional Gypsy Band), and the Fireworks Show over the river Danube in Budapest – popular choice for those who like to served the food for themselves and enjoy the atmosphere created by live salon music.

What do Hungarians celebrate on August 20?

August 20 is the Magyar national holiday, the fireworks and all the Budapest events on this day are a triple celebration: we are here to celebrate the birth of the Hungarian State (our Constitution).

Secondly, this is also the day of the first Hungarian saint: the first Hungarian King, St Stephen (Szent Istvan), who turned the less civilised Magyar tribes wandering for many centuries into settled down Christians (with many bloody sacrifice, as you will see the Gellert Monument – Bishop Gellert was thrown from the Gellert Hill by the pagans…).

Thirdly, August 20 is also the day when we celebrate the birth of the new bread. Yes, and the new bread is consecrated with great promenades and festivities in the Buda Castle on the Castle Hill of Budapest (it is a must do to visit the Buda Castle for its special celebrations before your river Danube night cruise).

Budapest Fireworks Cruises are just as popular and overbooked as Christmas and New Year Cruises on the river Danube in Budapest. We would suggest making an advance booking when you have purchased your flight tickets to make sure that you have the cruise of your choice (and perhaps window seats too).

Groups – Discounts and Bookings on Budapest Fireworks Cruises

Groups – if you wish to make a group booking for a Budapest Fireworks Cruise please let us know via

email at info [at] budapestrivercruise [dot] com.

The cruises are booked up very quickly by early August every year. By mid August there is little chance that a whole group can be seated on a given cruise. Also, you may wish to book your private cruises ahead too (normally higher hourly rates for boat rental fees, docking fees etc. apply as this is the most celebrated day of Hungary’s history throughout the year.