If you are in Budapest for Erasmus, going on a Danube cruise is definitely something you should try. The city looks completely different from the river, especially in the evening when all the buildings and bridges are illuminated.
There are many different cruises to choose from, but if you are looking for something fun and not too expensive, an unlimited drinks cruise is probably one of the best options.
Here is the one we tried and why we liked it.
Bud By Boat
Bud By Boat offers a 75-minute cruise on the Danube with unlimited drinks. The ticket is currently around €24.80, which is quite reasonable for an Erasmus student, especially because you don’t have to pay for every drink separately.
The cruise goes along the centre of Budapest, so you can see some of the most famous places from the river, including the Parliament, Buda Castle, Gellért Hill and the bridges.
The best part for us was definitely the drinks. You can have unlimited prosecco and beer, as well as different spritzes like Aperol, Hugo, Rossini and Limoncello. There are also lemonade and water if you want something without alcohol.
What is the atmosphere like?
It is more relaxed than a normal boat party, but it is still really social. There is music on board and you can sit inside or go outside to enjoy the view.
We would definitely recommend going around sunset if you can. Budapest from the Danube is already beautiful during the day, but when the lights start turning on, it feels completely different.
And obviously, this is also a good opportunity to take a lot of pictures with your friends.
One thing we really liked is that you don’t have to choose between sightseeing and going out. You can see Budapest’s main landmarks while having a drink, and after the cruise you can continue your night somewhere else.
What drinks are included?
The unlimited drinks package includes:
- Prosecco
- Beer
- Aperol Spritz
- Hugo Spritz
- Rossini Spritz
- Limoncello Spritz
- Lemonade
- Water
There is also a bar on board where you can buy other drinks, but these are not included in the unlimited package.
So if you are going with a group of friends, it is quite easy to spend the whole cruise chatting, drinking and taking pictures without having to think about ordering another drink every five minutes.
Is it worth it for Erasmus students?
We think it is a really nice option if you want to do something different from the usual Erasmus nights in bars and clubs. The cruise lasts 75 minutes, so it is not too long, and the price is around €25. It is also a good activity to do when friends or family come to visit Budapest because you get to see the city from a different perspective.
If you are mainly looking for a big party with DJs and dancing, there are also other boat parties on the Danube. Some of them have unlimited beer, wine and spirits for part of the night and continue with an after-party in a club. But if you want something more relaxed, with nice views and unlimited drinks, the sightseeing cruise is probably the one we would choose.
Our Erasmus tip
Book the cruise around sunset if possible, because the views are much nicer when Budapest starts lighting up.
Also, bring a jacket even if it is warm during the day. It can get quite windy on the Danube when you are outside.
And maybe don’t drink too much too quickly just because the drinks are unlimited. You still have an Erasmus night to survive afterwards.
For us, the best plan would be: cruise at sunset, take a million pictures, have some drinks with friends and then go to a ruin bar or a club afterwards.
Honestly, not a bad way to spend an evening in Budapest.
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