5 Best Dinner Cruises in Budapest in 2024 (Personally tested)

The Ship 🚢

• Legenda City Cruises has two identical dinner cruise ships, both offering a luxurious and elegant atmosphere.
• The upper panorama deck is closed to guests.
• Stroller accessible. Not wheelchair accessible.
• See the boat for yourself (virtual tour).
  

Live Music 🎵

• A pianist-singer and singer duo performs live on the boat, adding to the romantic dinner on the Danube ambiance. They sing a variety of contemporary songs.
• The female singer was exceptional, reminding me of my dinner cruise experience in Paris.

The Views / Itinerary 🔭

• The cruise covers 100% of what's worth seeing in Budapest on the Danube.

• The itinerary covers everything from the southern end of the Palace of Arts/National Museum through the Parliament, Buda Castle, and Gellért Hill to the northern end of Margaret Island.

Staff & Service 🧑

• The staff was extremely courteous, accommodating, and smiley. We felt welcome aboard this ship.
• The service at the table was swift, and we never had to wait too long.
• Don't arrive hungry as a wolf though, as they do leave some time between the courses. 😉

Seating 🪑

• There are mainly two 2-person tables aboard, with 1 large group table.
• Contact Legenda prior to the cruise for special arrangements or larger groups.
• Window seats are not guaranteed—people are seated according to the order of arrival unless special arrangements are made.

Food 🍴 and Drinks 🍷 

Appetizers

• There were six different appetizers. My partner had the cold goose liver (Foie Gras?), while I had a tartar beefsteak. Both were excellent.

Soups

• There are two different soups. We had the pumpkin cream soup. It was 4 out of 5, and the portion was generous.

Main Course

• There are six different main courses. We choose the scallop and the duck. 

Dessert

• There are three different desserts. We choose the cheesecake and the brownie. Both were yummy.

Legenda Dinner Cruise Menu 🍽️

• The menu has vegetarian, gluten and dairy-free options. They don't have any options for vegans, however.

Appetizers

• Great scallop with chili
• Cold goose liver
• Shrimp with garlic in white wine sauce
• Hungarian cold appetizers
• Tartar beefsteak with red onion and garlic cream sauce
• Breast of Chicken, strawberry, rucola, rhubarb, brie

Soup

• Pumpkin cream soup with toasted pine nuts and basil oil with ruccola
• Consommé with pork bone marrow and vegetables
• The online menu is outdated—the above is based on my trip in April 2024.

Main Course

• Roasted trout with lemongrass sauce and pink peppercorns, served with rice pilaf
• Shoulder of pork, kapia pepper purée, red onion, oyster mushroom, baby corn
• Rosemary duck breast with layered sweet potato, quince, and fig
• Beef confit, carrot purée with dijon mustard, parsnip-celery purée, fried brussels, bread dumpling
• Mushroom mix risotto with parmesan cheese
• Roasted red tuna steak served with caper butter, cold red onion purée, and fresh mixed salad

Dessert

• Panna cotta topped with forest fruit rose jam
• Sweet dream” chocolate cake with strawberry ragout
• Brownie with coconut foam and salted caramel  

A Review of My Best Friend (Proposed to Her Girlfriend Aboard Legenda's Dinner Cruise 💍)

"From the moment I contacted the company, their attention to detail was impeccable. They provided attentive and responsive service, making themselves available through both emails and phones well before the actual cruise. The professionalism they displayed left no doubt about their years of experience in handling guests from all over the world. Their approach struck the perfect balance, offering just the right amount of attention without being pushy.

Upon arrival, the crew warmly welcomed us with smiles and displayed professionalism in at least two languages. The food offered on the cruise was above average and perfectly suited for this kind of experience. While some dishes could be improved, certain courses truly stood out and would shine in any restaurant.

However, what I truly cherished was the enchanting atmosphere created by the glass boat, which felt like something out of a fairytale. The mix of international and Hungarian folk music added to the magical ambiance. Not only was the crew friendly, but the fellow guests were also kind and amiable, making the boat's vibe exceptional. The drinks offered were reasonably priced, providing great value for the experience.

During my visit, I was on a special occasion, a proposal, and despite the boat being full, I found discreet spots to enjoy privacy. The romantic vibes were palpable from the very beginning, which undoubtedly contributed to my wonderful experience. You'll likely feel the same way if you're seeking a romantic dinner.

A crucial aspect to note is that seating is based on the booking order, not the arrival time. However, even those with late bookings still get fantastic 360-degree views, and there's ample opportunity to move around the boat and capture some excellent photos.

The waitresses were both stylishly dressed and highly responsive, maintaining flexibility and punctuality throughout the cruise. While the boat isn't a party vessel, the music gradually energized the atmosphere, with guests swaying to the beat while seated, rather than dancing on the floor.

As the cruise reached its peak, the experience was truly at its highest point, making the stop all the more memorable.

In conclusion, the cruise provided a perfect and exceptional experience, one that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking a magical and romantic journey on the water."

What's Included

• Indulge in a delicious three or six-course dinner meal prepared on-site for maximum freshness (check out the menu below).
  

Folk Operetta Performance & Music Show

• Witness the vibrantlive performance of traditional Hungarian folk music and dance, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of this fascinating country.

Dinner Cruise Menu

• 3-to-6 course dinner for adults, depending on which tier you choose. Additional packages are available with drinks and window table.
• See menu: Silverline Gourmet 3-course Dinner Cruise Menu, Silverline Gourmet 6-course Dinner Cruise Menu)
• Also worth checking out are HQ photos of the gourmet meals courtesy of Silverline Cruises.
• Catering for special diets: gluten-free, lactose free and vegetarian/vegan options are available.
  

Cruise Duration

• The cruise lasts for 3 hours. This gives ample time to enjoy the food, the music performance, and see the sights. ‍

The Ship‍

• The show and dinner take place on the main/bottom deck where you're seated at 2 or 4-person tables. The folklore music show takes place on a small stage.
  

• The upper deck is designed for sightseeing and not for dining. However, the seating rows have limited legroom and can feel cramped if the area is crowded with passengers. Additionally, the views are partially obstructed by the roof and support columns (source: Been on a different cruise offered by Silverline).

• You get to enjoy the show of award-winning music and dance performers who are going to give you an amazing time.

• ‍You get access to a buffet libre of a variety of Hungarian dishes. Meals include goulash soup, stuffed cabbage, beef stew, somlói Galuska, a variety of strudels, and more.
• The quality of the food is good but isn’t Michelin 2-star grade. Even so, it’s a great way to try out a variety of Hungarian dishes at once.

• On the top deck, there are folklore dance and music performances for dinner guests only.
• The music gave the trip an early 20th century cabaret vibe.

• The interior of the ship has a classical and luxurious feel, including chandeliers, a teak wood interior, custom-made floor carpet, intarsia decorated walls, and more.

• There are two symmetrical indoor sections on the top deck and a total of four outdoor areas - two on the sides and two at each end of the ship.

• The outdoor side areas are available for sightseeing guests; the rest of the level is reserved for dinner guests.
• The sides have 180° views, while the front and back are 360°, but fences obstruct the view.

• The lower deck has the same look and feel as the rest of the ship. There is only one area accessible - immediately to the right of the entrance. This area is for people with non-dinner tickets. It includes a bar with reasonable prices, tables with chairs, and a folklore trio performance.

Dinner cruise menu

Soups

• Goulash soup
• Seasonal vegetable cream soup

Hot Main Course

• Chicken fillet cooked in gravy with ragout
• Beef stew with Villány red wine
• Stuffed cabbage from turkey
• Oven-baked vegetables
• Vegetable couscous

Side Dish

• Rice
• Dumplings
• Roast potatoes with parsley

Dessert

• Variation of strudel
• Somlói Galuska
• Fruit bowl (only on request for those unable to eat other desserts)

Salad

• Mixed salad with pesto
• Pasta salad with yoghurt

Extra Side

• Cucumber salad with sour cream

What's Included

• Indulge in a delicious three or six-course dinner meal prepared on-site for maximum freshness (check out the menu below).

Piano Music Show

• Enjoy a captivating piano "battle" performance where two skilled musicians compete in a thrilling display of musical talent along with a female singer.

Dinner Cruise Menu

• 3-to-6 course dinner for adults, depending on which tier you choose. Additional packages are available with drinks and window table.
• See menu: Silverline Gourmet 3-course Dinner Cruise Menu, Silverline Gourmet 6-course Dinner Cruise Menu)
• Also worth checking out are HQ photos of the gourmet meals courtesy of Silverline Cruises.
• Catering for special diets: gluten-free, lactose free and vegetarian/vegan options are available.
  

Cruise Duration

• The cruise lasts for 3 hours. This gives ample time to enjoy the food, the music performance, and see the sights. ‍

The Ship

• The show and dinner take place on the main/bottom deck where you're seated at 2 or 4-person tables. The folklore music show takes place on a small stage.
  

• The upper deck is designed for sightseeing and not for dining. However, the seating rows have limited legroom and can feel cramped if the area is crowded with passengers.
• The views are partially obstructed by the roof and support columns (source: Been on a different cruise offered by Silverline).

What's Included

• Enjoy a tasty three-course dinner meal catered to your taste buds, featuring authentic Hungarian dishes. They also cater to special diets, with detailed menu options provided below.

Gypsy Music and Dance Show

• Enjoy a delightful dinner cruise while being entertained by traditional Gypsy music and dance performances.

Dinner Cruise Menu

• 3-to-6 course dinner for adults, depending on which tier you choose. Additional packages are available with drinks and window table.
• Traditional Hungarian Menu 1: Goulash soup, Roast duck leg with oniony crushed potatoes and stewed cabbage, Apple, sour cherry strudel with cinnamon dressing
• Traditional Hungarian Menu 2: Clear chicken soup „Újházi style” with vegetables, Veal stew with egg noodles, Somlói galuska
• Vegetarian Menu: Green pea cream soup, with cilantro cottage cheese dumplings, Grilled goat cheese with sweet potatoes and raspberry vinegar salad, Traditional Gundel pancake
• SPECIAL Gluten free Menu: Goulash soup (of course without bread), Roast duck leg with oniony crushed potatoes and stewed cabbage, Chia Seed pudding with strawberry pith
• SPECIAL Lactose free Menu: Goulash soup, Roast duck leg with oniony crushed potatoes and stewed cabbage, Chia Seed pudding with strawberry pith
  

Cruise Duration

• The cruise will take 1.5 hours, which may seem shorter than other cruises that last 2-3 hours. However, in my experience, anything over 2 hours can be excessive.
• Nonetheless, 1.5 hours is enough time to enjoy the food, music performance, and beautiful scenery.‍

The Ship

• The show and gypsy music band is main deck, so choose your seats accordingly. Seating depends on the size of your group. Both decks have ample space to move around, and the upper deck offers a stunning 360-degree view.