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AmaBella below the Praterbrücke in Vienna, sailing from Budapest, Hungary

Cruise Frog guide

Cruises from Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is the Danube's most popular river cruise port, with ships mooring along the Pest embankment below the Parliament.

Things to do in Budapest, Hungary

  • Buda Castle and Fisherman's BastionViews over the river and the Parliament from Castle Hill.
  • Thermal bathsSzéchenyi or Gellért, Budapest's grand spa halls.
  • Great Market HallPaprika, salami and lángos in a 19th-century hall.
  • Evening sail past the lit ParliamentMany cruises arrive or depart after dark for it.
  • Ruin barsBars in derelict buildings in the old Jewish quarter.

When to go

  1. Jan: low season
  2. Feb: low season
  3. Mar: low season
  4. Apr: shoulder season
  5. May: high season
  6. Jun: high season
  7. Jul: high season
  8. Aug: high season
  9. Sep: high season
  10. Oct: shoulder season
  11. Nov: shoulder season
  12. Dec: low season

River cruise season runs from April to October; December brings Christmas market cruises. Summer can bring low water.

Flying in and getting to the ship

Easy transferBudapest's Danube moorings are about 25 km from Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport, 30 to 45 minutes by taxi (Főtaxi has the airport contract) or the 100E airport bus into the centre. River lines usually include or sell a transfer from the airport to the ship; book it with the cruise, since river moorings can change with water levels.

Rental cars: Not needed; the city is compact and well served by trams.

The airport for Budapest, Hungary is Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD), with 5 lounges to wait in before you board.

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) on Lounge Frog

Ships sailing from Budapest, Hungary

All ports
4.2 ★AmaWaterwaysAmaSofia2026 · 152 guests · Danube · RhineAmaSofia is AmaWaterways' newest European ship, christened on the Rhine on March 14, 2026, during the ASTA River Cruise Expo, with ASTA executive Sarah Little as godmother. She…AmaBella below the Praterbrücke in Vienna4.0 ★AmaWaterwaysAmaBella2010 · 160 guests · Danube · RhineAmaBella is a 135-meter AmaWaterways river ship for 160 guests in 80 staterooms, many of which pair a French balcony with a step-out balcony. She entered service in 2010 and was…AmaLea in Bamberg, 20234.0 ★AmaWaterwaysAmaLea2018 · 156 guests · Danube · RhineAmaLea is a 135-meter AmaWaterways ship from 2018 whose design took cues from luxury yachts, with interiors in soft pink and blue. She carries 156 guests in 78 staterooms, most…AmaMagna on the Danube, 20214.0 ★AmaWaterwaysAmaMagna2019 · 196 guests · DanubeAmaMagna, in service on the Danube since 2019, is about 22 meters wide, twice the width of a standard European river ship, and the largest cruise ship on that river. The extra…4.0 ★AmaWaterwaysAmaMora2019 · 156 guests · DanubeAmaMora is a 135-meter AmaWaterways ship from 2019 and a sister of AmaLea and AmaKristina. She carries 156 guests in 78 staterooms; all suites and many standard rooms have the…AmaReina at Melk on the Danube, 20254.0 ★AmaWaterwaysAmaReina2014 · 162 guests · DanubeAmaReina is a 135-meter AmaWaterways ship from 2014 with room for 162 guests in 81 staterooms, most with twin balconies and marble bathrooms. She has two restaurants, a Main…AmaSonata on the Rhine, 20184.0 ★AmaWaterwaysAmaSonata2014 · 162 guests · DanubeAmaSonata is a 135-meter AmaWaterways ship from 2014 carrying 162 guests in 81 staterooms, most with twin balconies. Besides the Main Restaurant and The Chef's Table she has an…AmaVerde in Budapest, 20244.0 ★AmaWaterwaysAmaVerde2011 · 160 guests · DanubeAmaVerde entered service in 2011 and was redesigned in 2021 with bold artwork and refreshed staterooms. The 135-meter ship carries 160 guests in 80 rooms, many with twin…Riviera Radiance on the Danube in Budapest, Hungary, September 20254.0 ★Riviera TravelRiviera Radiance2025 · 178 guests · DanubeRiviera Radiance is the first of Riviera Travel's newest generation of river ships, a 135-metre vessel completed in 2025 with 89 cabins for 178 guests and a crew of 44. She…S.S. Beatrice moored on the Danube in Budapest, 20244.0 ★Uniworld Boutique River CruisesS.S. Beatrice2009 · 148 guests · Danube · RhineS.S. Beatrice is a 148-guest river ship, 430 feet (131 m) long, that entered service in 2009 as River Beatrice and was remodeled and renamed as one of Uniworld's Super Ships in…S.S. Maria Theresa in Vienna, 20244.0 ★Uniworld Boutique River CruisesS.S. Maria Theresa2015 · 150 guests · DanubeS.S. Maria Theresa is a 150-guest Super Ship, 443 feet (135 m) long, built in 2015 and named for the 18th-century Habsburg empress. Its decor follows her era, and the public…4.0 ★Viking River CruisesViking Gymir2022 · 190 guests · Danube · RhineViking Gymir is a 190-guest Viking Longship, one of the 135-meter sister ships that make up most of Viking's European river fleet, and it entered service in 2022. Gymir, its…4.0 ★Viking River CruisesViking Honir2025 · 190 guests · DanubeViking Honir is a four-deck Viking Longship for 190 guests that joined the fleet in 2025. Honir, its namesake, is the god who gave the first humans inspiration and understanding…3.8 ★Riviera TravelWilliam Wordsworth2018 · 176 guests · Danube · RhineWilliam Wordsworth is a 135-metre Riviera Travel ship from 2018 with 88 cabins for 176 guests and a crew of 44. Riviera calls her a classic river ship, with a bright lobby…Avalon Expression in Cologne, 20243.7 ★Avalon WaterwaysAvalon Expression2013 · 166 guests · Danube · RhineAvalon Expression is a 135-meter Suite Ship from 2013, renovated in 2018, carrying 166 guests mostly in Panorama Suites. On board are the Panorama Bistro, a fitness center…Avalon Illumination, 20193.7 ★Avalon WaterwaysAvalon Illumination2014 · 166 guests · Danube · RhineAvalon Illumination is a 135-meter Suite Ship that entered service in 2014 with 166 guests, most in 200-square-foot Panorama Suites. She has the Panorama Bistro, a fitness center…Avalon Imagery II in Cologne, 20163.7 ★Avalon WaterwaysAvalon Imagery II2016 · 128 guests · Danube · RhineAvalon Imagery II is a 110-meter Suite Ship from 2016 carrying 128 guests, most in Panorama Suites, and she has an elevator. Light meals are served in the Panorama Bistro or, at…Avalon Impression in Cologne, 20143.7 ★Avalon WaterwaysAvalon Impression2014 · 166 guests · Danube · RhineAvalon Impression is a 135-meter Suite Ship from 2014 carrying 166 guests, most in Panorama Suites with window-facing beds. She has the Panorama Bistro, a fitness center and a…Avalon Passion at Ruse on the Danube, 20243.7 ★Avalon WaterwaysAvalon Passion2016 · 166 guests · Danube · RhineAvalon Passion is a 135-meter Suite Ship from 2016 carrying 166 guests. Her Panorama Suites have a sitting area the line says can seat six, and the ship has an elevator, a…Avalon Tranquility II on the Rhine near Oberwesel, 20183.7 ★Avalon WaterwaysAvalon Tranquility II2015 · 128 guests · Danube · RhineAvalon Tranquility II is a 110-meter Suite Ship from 2015 for 128 guests, with an elevator and Panorama Suites whose sitting areas the line says can host six people. The Sky Deck…Avalon Visionary on the Rhine in Cologne, 20233.7 ★Avalon WaterwaysAvalon Visionary2012 · 128 guests · Danube · RhineAvalon Visionary is a 110-meter Suite Ship from 2012, renovated in 2017, carrying 128 guests mostly in Panorama Suites. She has the Panorama Bistro, a fitness center and a Sky…ms Esprit in Cologne, 20153.7 ★Tauckms Esprit2010 · 98 guests · Danube · Rhinems Esprit is a 110-meter riverboat built at the Vahali yards in Serbia and the Netherlands, which entered service in May 2010 as Vista Prima for the Cologne tour operator 1AVista…ms Joy moored near Liberty Bridge in Budapest, 20233.7 ★Tauckms Joy2016 · 130 guests · Danube · Rhinems Joy is a 135-meter Inspiration class riverboat built in 2016 and registered in Switzerland. Although hulls of this length often carry close to 200 people, she is limited to…ms Savor in Budapest, 20243.7 ★Tauckms Savor2014 · 130 guests · Danubems Savor was the second Inspiration class riverboat, following ms Inspire into the Tauck fleet in 2014, and was renovated in 2020. The 135-meter boat carries up to 130 guests…Viking Aegir on the Danube, 20143.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Aegir2012 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · DanubeViking Aegir is a 190-guest Viking Longship, one of the 135-meter sister ships that make up most of Viking's European river fleet, and it entered service in 2012. Its name comes…Viking Atla in Cologne, 20133.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Atla2013 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · DanubeViking Atla is a 190-guest Viking Longship, one of the 135-meter sister ships that make up most of Viking's European river fleet, and it entered service in 2013. Atla, the…Viking Baldur in Cologne, 20133.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Baldur2013 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · Danube · RhineOne of Viking's near-identical 135-meter Longships, Viking Baldur carries 190 guests and has sailed since 2013. It is named for Baldur, the much-loved god of light whose death…Viking Bragi in Cologne, 20153.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Bragi2013 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · Danube · RhineViking Bragi, a 190-guest Longship that joined the fleet in 2013, belongs to the large class of sister ships Viking introduced in 2012. Bragi, the namesake, is the Norse god of…Viking Egil near Passau, 20243.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Egil2016 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · DanubeViking Egil is a 190-guest Viking Longship, one of the 135-meter sister ships that make up most of Viking's European river fleet, and it entered service in 2016. Egil, its…Viking Embla in Cologne, 20153.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Embla2012 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · DanubeOne of Viking's near-identical 135-meter Longships, Viking Embla carries 190 guests and has sailed since 2012. Embla, its namesake, is the first woman of Norse myth, shaped by…Viking Gullveig in Vienna, 20243.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Gullveig2014 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · DanubeViking Gullveig, a 190-guest Longship that joined the fleet in 2014, belongs to the large class of sister ships Viking introduced in 2012. Gullveig, the namesake, is a seer whose…Viking Ingvi in Cologne, 20153.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Ingvi2014 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · DanubeOne of Viking's near-identical 135-meter Longships, Viking Ingvi carries 190 guests and has sailed since 2014. Ingvi, the namesake, is a god from whom early Norwegian kings…Viking Jarl in Cologne, 20133.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Jarl2013 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · DanubeViking Jarl is a four-deck Viking Longship for 190 guests that joined the fleet in 2013. Jarl, its namesake, is the son Heimdal fathered while traveling in disguise, the…Viking Lif in Cologne, 20153.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Lif2014 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · Danube · RhineViking Lif, a 190-guest Longship that joined the fleet in 2014, belongs to the large class of sister ships Viking introduced in 2012. Lif, its namesake, is one of the two people…Viking Skadi in Cologne, 20133.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Skadi2013 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · DanubeOne of Viking's near-identical 135-meter Longships, Viking Skadi carries 190 guests and has sailed since 2013. Skadi, the namesake, is the giantess of winter, hunting and skiing…Viking Tor in Cologne, 20143.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Tor2013 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · DanubeOne of Viking's near-identical 135-meter Longships, Viking Tor carries 190 guests and has sailed since 2013. Tor is a form of Thor, the Norse god of thunder and wielder of the…Viking Ullur in Cologne, 20223.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Ullur2019 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · DanubeViking Ullur is a four-deck Viking Longship for 190 guests that joined the fleet in 2019. Ullur, the namesake, is Thor's stepson and the archer-god of the hunt. Through 2027 it…Viking Var in Cologne, 20133.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Var2013 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · DanubeViking Var is a 190-guest Viking Longship, one of the 135-meter sister ships that make up most of Viking's European river fleet, and it entered service in 2013. Var, the…Viking Vidar in Cologne, 20153.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Vidar2015 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · Danube · RhineViking Vidar is a four-deck Viking Longship for 190 guests that joined the fleet in 2015. Vidar, the namesake, is the son of Odin who avenges his father at Ragnarok. Through 2027…Viking Vilhjalm on the Danube in Vienna, 20173.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Vilhjalm2016 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · DanubeViking Vilhjalm, a 190-guest Longship that joined the fleet in 2016, belongs to the large class of sister ships Viking introduced in 2012. Vilhjalm is the Norse form of William…Viking Vili in Cologne, 20153.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Vili2015 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · Danube · RhineViking Vili is a 190-guest Viking Longship, one of the 135-meter sister ships that make up most of Viking's European river fleet, and it entered service in 2015. Vili, its…

Ships that call at Budapest, Hungary

Ships based elsewhere whose Danube sailings regularly stop here. Calls vary by sailing, so check the itinerary.

And 22 more.

Quick answers

Which cruise ships sail from Budapest, Hungary?

On Cruise Frog, 41 ships sail from Budapest, Hungary: AmaSofia (AmaWaterways), AmaBella (AmaWaterways), AmaLea (AmaWaterways), AmaMagna (AmaWaterways), AmaMora (AmaWaterways), AmaReina (AmaWaterways), AmaSonata (AmaWaterways), AmaVerde (AmaWaterways), Riviera Radiance (Riviera Travel), S.S. Beatrice (Uniworld Boutique River Cruises) and 31 more.

Which cruise lines sail from Budapest, Hungary?

AmaWaterways, Riviera Travel, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Viking River Cruises, Avalon Waterways and Tauck sail from Budapest, Hungary.

What is the best-rated ship sailing from Budapest, Hungary?

AmaSofia (AmaWaterways), at 4.2 out of 5 in Cruise Frog's editorial ratings.

Which airport do you fly into for a cruise from Budapest, Hungary?

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD). Lounge Frog lists 5 open lounges there for the wait before boarding.

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