Even though we know Budapest like the back of our hand, we are often amazed at how breathtaking our capital can be. This happens when you stroll along the Danube embankment or gaze down from Gellért Hill, or even cross Liberty Bridge. On the other hand, there is a spot from which you rarely see the city – from the middle of the Danube, you can admire Budapest from a very special perspective, as if rocking on a film set. You’ll feel like a movie star with a Captain’s Iced Coffee in hand, then the Danube Tonic as sunset glistens and, finally, floating in the evening lights, sipping a glass of Prosecco. Say goodbye to crowded sightseeing boats and try exclusive Duna Cruises, which operates as an intimate café by day and an elegant cocktail bar in the evening.

Floating cocktail bar & café

When you think of sightseeing in Budapest, crowded tourist buses and boats come to mind, but Duna Cruises takes cruising to a whole new level, making it a great experience not only for tourists but also for those who already know the city well.


We climbed aboard the Citadella on a cool March afternoon and felt like we had been dropped into the perfect combination of a pleasantly homely cafe and an elegant cocktail bar.

Renovated in modern, elegant style inside and out, the ship now features 18 private boxes for two and four people, which can be booked through the website. Looking through the huge windows, you can immediately see that there is a great view of the Danube and, thanks to the well-separated private spaces, you can enjoy sightseeing undisturbed, the four of you, three or even as a couple.

First class panorama

The view from inside the ship is stunning, but the panoramic deck brings the city up close. In the cool spring weather, we only ventured out for a while, as it was hard to leave the comfort of the intimate interior. As we learned from Dávid Berendi, Marketing Manager at Duna Cruises, they are planning to make seats available in the bow of the ship in the summer.


Dávid also revealed that the ship is a treat for the human senses – while your eyes will be enchanted by the wonderful panorama and you taste the fine drinks, your nose will follow the unique scent of the aromatic cocktails created for the interior.

The ship departs from and returns to Március 15. tér every 90 minutes daily between 10am and 8pm. You’ll spot the Duna Cruises’ elegant ship, the Citadella, right away at Dock 10. She travels along the most beautiful section of the Danube in Budapest, taking in the Gresham Palace, Buda Castle and Parliament. You can find a short description of the sights at the beginning of the drinks menu, and with the help of a QR code, you can find out more about the panorama unfolding before you.

Depending on the time of day, the cruise runs according to different themes. In the morning, there’s the Cappuccino cruise focusing on coffee specialties, followed later in the day by lemonades, Proseccos, desserts, Hungarian classics, wines and, finally, cocktails, depending on your cruise. You may take advantage of a 25% discount on the particular drinks related to each cruise.

Duna Cruises is always up to date with seasons and occasions. The cruise was a great success on Valentine’s Day, and don’t forget that Easter is also round the corner, something that can be a special experience for the long holiday weekend.


The cruise ship is the perfect setting for romantic rendezvous, and several wedding proposals have already taken place, but even a business meeting can benefit from this exclusive venue as part of a first-class, panoramic cruise. The ship can also be booked for private functions, it can accommodate weddings and corporate events and, thanks to the flexible team, you can throw any unique idea their way.

Fall in love with the city

If, like us, you want for nothing more than something enjoyable to do in Budapest and a good coffee in the afternoon, then you can let Duna Cruises take care of you. You can sample some of the coffee specialties, such as the Captain’s Iced Coffee, fooled with Turkish honey, and it would be a shame to miss the Boiler Master’s iced coffee liqueur. We also tried the Gundel coffee which, true to its name, is imbued with the walnut notes of Gundel pancakes thanks to its delicious walnut cream.

The lemonades are also hard to resist, the combinations of jasmine-and-blueberry and cucumber-and-lychee work perfectly. You may not have thought that sipping cool drinks could be an experience of itself, but rocking on the Danube with your tastefully artistic lemonades in a crystal glass is truly unforgettable.


And on this particular afternoon, we didn’t even sample the cocktails! Even watching the talented bartenders at work was fun, their hands lightning-quick as they fixed up a Danube Tonic with Persian rose petals and juniper berries, a Green Apple Mojito and a blue, floating Danube Breeze with vodka and lemon.

As the city begins to dim and the sun goes down against the pink-and-purple background, you feel like you’ve been dropped into a postcard. This is when you’ll fall in love with the city again and again.

With a glass of Prosecco in your hand as the evening lights of the city start to twinkle, you’ll feel like you’re starring in your own romantic movie...

You can find more information about Duna Cruises tours here and you can book one of the private boxes here.

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