Budapest Fireworks Cruise with Dinner/Drinks

The festive Budapest Fireworks Show takes place on 20th August (St. Stephen’s Day) every year, celebrating the foundation of the Hungarian state and canonization of its first king: St. Stephen.

The best place to watch the show is from a ship on the river since the fireworks are launched from:

• Three bridges (Liberty Bridge, Elizabeth Bridge and Margaret Bridge), as well as
• Several barges and pontoons on the Danube in front of the Parliament

• 18.00 – Boarding at Dock 1/b, Address: Batthyány tér Dokk 1/b, Budapest 1011 (Buda side)
• 18.30 – Departure – 1.5-hour cruise along the Danube
• 20.00 – Return to Dock 1/B
• 21.00 – Start of fireworks
• 22.00 – End of fireworks & tour

Attractions You’ll See On the 1.5-Hour Cruise:

Batthyányi square – Matthias Church – Fishermen’s Bastion – Buda Castle/Royal Palace – Castle Garden Bazaar – Elizabeth Bridge – Rudas Bath – Gellert Hill – Gellert Bath – Petőfi Bridge – A38 concert ship – Palace of Arts – National Theatre – The “Whale” Building – Central Market – Chain Bridge – Shoes on the Danube Memorial – Parliament – Margaret Island

• 17.30 – Boarding starts at the Dock: Address: Jane Haining rakpart Dock 3/a, Budapest 1051 (See map above!)
• 18.00 – 1.5-hour cruise begins
• 20.00 – Return to Dock
• 21.00 – 21.30 – Watching the fireworks
• 22.00 – End of fireworks & program

Attractions You’ll See – Cruise Itinerary:

• Vigadó 6 Dock
• Margaret Island
• Elizabeth Bridge
• Chain Bridge
• National Theatre/Palace of Arts
• Gellért Hill
• Buda Castle: Matthias Church, Fishermen’s Bastion
• Parliament
• Back to Vigadó 6 Dock

• 18.00 – Boarding at the Dock (please be there 18.10 the latest)
• 18.30 – 1.5-hour cruise starts
• 20.00 – Return to Dock
• 21.00 – Watching the fireworks
• 22.00 – End of fireworks & program

Attractions You’ll See – Cruise Itinerary:

• Dock 11
• Margaret Island
• Elizabeth Bridge
• Chain Bridge
• National Theatre/Palace of Arts
• Gellért Hill
• Buda Castle: Matthias Church, Fishermen’s Bastion
• Parliament
• Back to Dock 11

• 18.30 – Boarding starts at the dock next to A38 ship (Egyetemváros A38, 1117 Budapest, see map above))
• 19.00 – 1.5-hour cruise starts, buffet dinner
• 20.30 – Return to Dock at A38 ship
• 21.00 – Watching the fireworks
• 22.00 – End of program

Attractions You’ll See – Cruise Itinerary:

• Starting point: port near Petőfi bridge
• Gellért Hill
• Liberty Bridge
• Elizabeth Bridge
• Chain Bridge
• Buda Castle: Matthias Church, Fishermen’s Bastion
• Parliament
• Margaret Island
• Returning to port at Petőfi bridge/A38 ship

• 18.30 – Boarding starts at the Akadémia port (Akadémia Dock 1-3. 1052 Budapest, Id. Antall József rkp. | Gróf Széchenyi Ship, see map above)
• 19.00 – 1.5-hour cruise starts, buffet dinner
• 20.30 – Return to Akadémia 2 Dock
• 21.00 – Watching the fireworks
• 22.00 – End of program

Attractions You’ll See – Cruise Itinerary:

• Akadémia 2 port next to the Chain Bridge
• Margaret Island
• Elizabeth Bridge
• Chain Bridge
• National Theatre/Palace of Arts
• Gellért Hill
• Buda Castle: Matthias Church, Fishermen’s Bastion
• Parliament
• Returning to Akadémia 2 port at the Chain Bridge

Soup:

• Hungarian goulash soup
• Seasonal creamed vegeatbles soup

Main Course Options:

1. Turkey meat stuffed with fruits with gravy on top (L, G)
2. Traditional beef paprikash stew with dumplings called nokedli (G, L)
3. Hungarian stuffed cabbage (G, L)
4. Vegetable casserole with Rice and green peas (G, V)
5. Vegetable couscous (L, Vn)

Side dishes:

• Rice (G, L, Vn)
• Dumplings (L, V)
• Roast potatoes seasoned with parsley (G, L, Vn)

Salads:

• Mixed salad with pesto dressing (L, G, Vn)
• Cucumber salad (L, G, Vn)
• Pasta Salad with yoghurt dressing (L, G, V)

Dessert Selection:

• Strudel selection – cottage cheese, sour cherry and apple filling (L, Vn)
• Somlói trifle dessert (V)
• Fruit bowl (only on request for those unable to eat other desserts)

L – lactose free
G – gluten free
Vn – vegan, vegetarian
V – vegetarian

Option 01:

• Welcome drink
• Appetizer: Duck liver paté with Tokaji ice wine infused golden raisins
• Soup: Chicken soup Újházi-style with vegetables
• Main Course: Veal stew with egg pasta
• Dessert: Somló style layered cake

Vegetarian Option:

• Welcome drink
• Appetizer: Créme d’aubergine with garden vegetables
• Soup: Green pea cream soup, dumplings
• Main dish: Grilled goat cheese with sweet potatoes and raspberry vinegar salad
• Dessert: Gundel pancake

• 16.30 – Boarding starts at the dock (Jane Haining rakpart Dock 3/a – near Vigadó Hall between Elizabeth Bridge and the Chain Bridge)
• 17.00 – 2-hour cruise starts, dinneris served
• 20.30 – Return to Dock 3/a
• 21.00 – Watching the fireworks
• 22.00 – End of program

Attractions You’ll See – Cruise Itinerary:

• Starting point: Dock 3/a between Elizabeth bridge and the Chain Bridge
• Chain Bridge
• Buda Castle: Matthias Church, Fishermen’s Bastion
• Parliament
• Margaret Island
• Gellért Hill, Gellért Bath
• Liberty Bridge
• The Whale/Bálna building
• National Theatre & Palace of Arts
• Rákóczi Bridge
• Returning to port Dock 3/a

• 17.30 – Boarding starts at the Dock 11: Address: Jane Haining rakpart Dock 22, Budapest 1051 (See map above!)
• 18.00 – 2-hour cruise starts, Dinner is served
• 20.00 – Return to Dock 11
• 21.00 – Watching the fireworks
• 22.30 – End of program

Attractions You’ll See – Cruise Itinerary:

• Dock 11 next to Elizabeth Bridge
• Margaret Island
• Elizabeth Bridge
• Chain Bridge
• National Theatre/Palace of Arts
• Gellért Hill
• Buda Castle: Matthias Church, Fishermen’s Bastion
• Parliament
• Returning to Dock 11 at Elizabeth Bridge

Starter:

• Caponata Schiacciata (it combinees two Italian dishes: caponata: a traditional Sicilian relish or salad made primarily of chopped, fried eggplant and other vegetables like celery, tomatoes, and onions. It’s characterized by its distinct sweet and sour (agrodolce) flavor, often including ingredients like olives, capers, and sometimes raisins or pine nuts, all seasoned with olive oil and vinegar. Schiacciata: is a flatbread from Tuscany that is similar to focaccia but typically thinner and crispier

Soup:

• Creamy Chicken Dumpling Soup with Tarragon
• Seasonal Soup

Main Course Options:

1. Porcini and Wild Mushroom Gnocchi with Cod Fillet baked in a Mushroom Crust
2. Pesto Chicken Roulade with Risotto Bianco
3. French Pork Loin served with DijonMustard Jus and Potatoes au Gratin,
4. Vegetariann option: Goat Cheese, Zucchini, Dried Tomatoes, Basil

Dessert Selection:

1. Coriander Lemon Curd, with Mascarpone andSweet Crumble, or
2. Avocado Chocolate Mousse

• 4 barges and a pontoon on the Danube between Kossuth Sqr. and Garibaldi utca
• 3 barges and a pontoon on the river between Eilzabeth Bridge and the Chain Bridge
• From the Liberty Brigde, Elizabeth Bridge and Margaret Bridge

That’s why a ship anchored on the river provides an excellent viewing point.

Several bridges (the most obvious choices as viewing venues) will be closed – Liberty Bridge, Elizabeth Bridge, Chain Bridge, Margaret Bridge for sure – so the best viewing spots will not be accessible.

The Petőfi and Rákóczi Bridges are good choices though if you can stand in crowd for an hour or more.