Unlimited Sightseeing Cruise in Budapest, Almost Free of Charge

If you want a special, unforgettable experience, let’s board a boat and have a Danube sightseeing cruise.

The view of Buda and Pest will certainly be gorgeous in the daylight and after sunset as well. And all this almost for free! The opportunity of this Budapest river cruise is gladly taken not only by tourists, but locals as well, provided that they know about it…

What do you Need for Unlimited Sightseeing Cruise in Budapest?

Briefly: a pass or travelcard for public transport. For more details read this article. So, the key to the almost free Budapest river cruise is a pass or a travelcard, which you would probably buy anyway for public transport.

Fares without a Travelcard or a Pass

We can, of course, take the boat without a travelcard or a pass as well, and even on weekends. Besides, all this for an affordable price.

• Children under 6 can travel free
• Ticket for children (under 15) 550 HUF
• Ticket for adults 750 HUF

For which Cruise Routes can I Use my Travelcard and Pass?

Luckily, the travelcard and the pass can be used on all three lines, from which one unique line operates from the northern part of Budapest to the southern tip of the city. The boat also departs in the evening, after dark, so we can enjoy a magnificent Danube sightseeing cruise at night too.

Which Boat can I Board?

The boats can be boarded by the marked piers. Look for the D2, D11 and D12 marks! Passengers need to wait on the riverbank until the boat has fully docked, the passengers have got off, and the new passengers have got the permission to step on the dock.

Public boat line D2: operates by the most spectacular part of the city, between the beautiful Széchenyi Chain Bridge and the Parliament. This is the shortest, but the most amazing part. If we have a ticket to the Parliament, we can take the boat to get there. Let’s face it, it is quite cool.

Public boat line D11: operates on the longest route, but it has fewer stops.

Public boat line D12: I recommend this line for everyone because it has many stops. Take a photo of the timetable, so that if you take the boat back you can know when it departs. Take a warmer sweater or some clothes with you because it is quite chilly on the boat, especially in the evening.

Free sightseeing cruise on Danube Route

Both D11 and D12 lines depart from Kopaszi-gát, which is a popular green area with plenty of restaurants. You are going to glide across Buda and Pest, and altogether you are going to pass under 7 bridges, which will be definitely fun for everyone.

Route of boat line D12, and tourist attractions and famous buildings nearby the stops:

1. Kopaszi-gát Rakoczy Bridge – BudaPart
   We can see the second newest Duna bridge, the Rákóczi Bridge, and the building of Eötvös Loránd University, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious institutions of higher education in the country.
2. Müpa – National Theatre
   Nearby the boat stop we can find the National Theatre of Budapest and the youngest cultural center, the Müpa.
3. Boráros square – Petőfi Bridge
   Boráros square is also a stop of the suburban railway.
4. Szent Gellért Square – Liberty Bridge
   We can see the famous Gellért Thermal Bath, and we pass under the Liberty Bridge.
5. Petőfi square – Elisabeth Bridge
   Here is the Main Parish Church of the Assumption, a Russian Orthodox chair church in the 5th district, which is part of the World Heritage Danube view, and we pass under the Elisabeth Bridge, which connects the 5th district with the 1st district of Buda.
6. Royal Gardens (Várkert bazár)
   Royal Gardens are special monuments and are parts of the UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. They are located in the 1st district on the Ybl Miklós square.

Route of boat line D11, and tourist attractions and famous buildings nearby the stops:

1. Batthyány square
   Here is a stop of metro line 2 (Batthyány square), the St Anne’s Church and also a market hall.
2. Kossuth Lajos square
   We will see the Parliament from afar, which is one of the most famous public buildings in Budapest, the seat of the Hungarian National Assembly and some of its institutions. If we have a visitor’s ticket to the Parliament, we can arrive in style by boat!
3. Jászai Mari square
   We pass under the Margaret Bridge, and nearby there is one of the most popular theatres in Budapest, the Vígszínház.
4. Margaret Island – Centenary Memorial
5. Margaret Island – Hotels
   Margaret Island is also called the green heart of Budapest. It is an island in the middle of the Danube that provides numerous free time activities and sport programs for everyone. It’s worth taking a trip here.
6. Népfürdő street – Árpád Bridge
7. Óbudai Island
8. Római beach
   Római open-air bath is a huge green area, ideal for a quiet retreat, where we can not only swim, but we can also taste several Hungarian foods and fishes. We can admire almost all the sights of the Buda and Pest banks of the Danube! The last stop is Római Part (“Roman Embankment”), which is a favorite dining place of many locals, including me, where we can find many restaurants and delicious fish dishes.

At the last stop everyone have to get off from the boat, even when you take the same boat back. It usually departs in every 20-30 minutes, except when it is the last line. Be prepared and try to board the boat first and find a good seat. The whole route is about 1 hour long, so it’s better to find a seat on the deck.

Q&A

Is it really that cheap?

Yes! The only condition is that the pass and the travelcard can be used for a Budapest river cruise only on weekdays, but then it is unlimited.