About This Experience
This is a cruise for one night of the year. It runs on 31 December and lasts around six hours: you board in the early evening, sit down to a five-course gala dinner with table service, watch live music and a folk dance show by the Rajkó Ensemble, then stay on board through midnight for the party and a late buffet. The listing describes two hours of actual sightseeing cruising, split into two one-hour sections, with the dinner, the show and the party filling the rest of the night.
You choose one of three menus, red meat, poultry or vegetarian, and the operator asks you to send your choice after booking. The sample menus on the listing are the 2025 versions, so treat them as a guide to the style. The red-meat menu that year ran from a duck breast starter and a beef broth with potato dumplings to whole roasted veal and a pulled strudel selection. The midnight buffet included Korhely soup with smoked turkey, crispy sausage with mustard and horseradish, and a lentil stew.
The bar is open all night. The includes list names unlimited beer, wine and prosecco, and the description adds draught beer, mineral water, soft drinks, tea, coffee and mulled wine, with a glass of sparkling wine as you set off. While you cruise you pass the Chain Bridge, the Parliament, Fisherman’s Bastion, the Citadella, Erzsébet (Elisabeth) Bridge, Liberty Bridge, the Bálna and Margaret Bridge, all lit up. There is a raffle as well. Bring a warm coat if you plan to toast midnight out on deck.
On 31 December 2026 the price was $404 per person. That covers the dinner, the drinks, the show and the midnight food, and you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours ahead, with a reserve-now, pay-later option if your December plans are not fixed yet. Transfers are not included, so work out how you will get back to your hotel after the party before the night itself. If you would prefer an ordinary dinner cruise on another evening of your trip, compare the dinner cruises.
The rating is 4.1 from 52 reviews, so set your expectations with the weaker reviews in mind as well as the good ones. Plenty of guests come away happy, praising generous food, attentive waiters, the folk dancing and the music, and the soups and sausages served late in the night. The complaints in the sample are specific: main courses arriving cold, tables near the entrance and the bar that were chilly with people passing all evening, and one guest who found the food unrefined and the atmosphere flat for the price. Asking for a table away from the door is a sensible request.
Highlights
- Midnight on the Danube on 31 December
- Rajkó Ensemble music and folk dance show
- Three menu choices, including vegetarian
- Chain Bridge, Parliament and the Citadella lit up
- Erzsébet (Elisabeth) Bridge, Liberty Bridge and the Bálna
- A New Year's toast out on deck
What's Included
- ✓ Two one-hour sightseeing cruise sections during the six-hour evening
- ✓ Five-course gala dinner with table service (red meat, poultry or vegetarian menu)
- ✓ Unlimited beer, wine and prosecco; the description also lists mineral water, soft drinks, tea, coffee and mulled wine
- ✓ Live music and a folklore dance show
- ✓ Special midnight menu
- ✓ New Year's party and a raffle game
Not Included
- Transfers to and from the pier
Good to Know & Caveats
- Runs on 31 December only
- Send the operator your menu choice (red meat, poultry or vegetarian) after booking
- The sample menus on the listing are the 2025 versions, so the 2026 dishes may differ
- Boarding is in the early evening; check availability for the exact starting time
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, with a reserve-now, pay-later option
Meeting Point
Boarding is at the Akadémia 2 pontoon; check your voucher for the boarding time.
What Travelers Say
Rated 4.1/5 by 52 verified GetYourGuide travelers.
Wonderful! A unique experience, a great get-together with friends! Lots of food and drinks, but I have one small detail to mention. Ask for separate seating areas from the entrance and the bar, where it's simply very cold and there are a lot of people passing by. Otherwise, the cruise is a 10 out of 10!
— Rodolfo, January 5, 2026
Wonderful. Good, plentiful food. Very good live Hungarian dances and classical music. Not overwhelming for those of us who are foreigners. Good atmosphere. Re-dinner around 1: soups, sausages, mashed potatoes, everything delicious. Open bar with good red and white wines, water, etc. The 6 shots per person are unnecessary: better to change them for 1 proper glass. The experience is totally worth it.
— Lola, January 6, 2025
Very good food and a cozy boat for the celebration. Very good service from the waiters, and Mr. Valentin was attentive to everything we needed. One detail to keep in mind for the main dishes is that they arrived cold, which is why I give them one star less. Both the meat and the chicken were cold, it is understood that with so many dishes it is complicated, but a touch of heat before delivering it would be ideal.
— Javier, January 1, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose my menu?
There are three menus: red meat, poultry and vegetarian. After booking, you contact the operator to say which one you want. The menus on the listing are the 2025 samples, with dishes such as roasted veal, sous vide turkey breast and camembert in a herb crust, so expect the 2026 menu to be similar in style.
How long is the cruise, and when does it start?
The whole evening lasts about six hours. The description says you board in the early evening, and the exact starting time appears when you check availability. Only two hours of that are sightseeing cruising, split into two one-hour sections, and you stay on board through midnight for the party and the late buffet.
What drinks are included?
The bar is open all night. The listing includes unlimited beer, wine and prosecco, and the description adds draught beer, mineral water, soft drinks, tea, coffee and mulled wine, plus a glass of sparkling wine at the start.
What do the weaker reviews complain about?
It averages 4.1 from 52 reviews. Most guests enjoyed the food, the waiters and the folk dancing, but some reviews mention main courses arriving cold, chilly tables near the entrance and bar, and one felt the food was unrefined and the atmosphere flat for the price. Asking for a table away from the door can help.
Are transfers included, and can I cancel?
Transfers are not included, so plan your journey to the Akadémia 2 pontoon and back to your hotel after midnight yourself. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the cruise, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your plans for New Year are still uncertain.
