Budapest after Avalon cruise

[RNCheryl]

Next October, we are on Danube Dreams with 2 days pre cruise in Prague (will likely add another day for jet lag reasons)  The cruise ends in Budapest with an overnight stay.  Definitely our one and only tour to this area.  Is there value in booking a hotel room with airport transfers for another day of sightseeing.  Avalon promises:  

•  
• Active Excursion

  Hike up to a magnificent viewpoint in Budapest with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Classic Excursion

  Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.
• This afternoon choose among a wide offer of Optional Guided Excursions or take in the beauty of Budapest while enjoying some free time exploring such famous sights as the Chain Bridge. Get to know the city’s cafés and pubs, or take a hike through the hills above the Danube.
• OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BUDAPEST

breakfastlunchdinner

While we include your choice of many excursions on your trip, you may wish to explore other options to enhance your free time. Below is a selection of excursions that may be available for purchase on your cruise.

• Art & Architecture of Budapest

  Travel back to the Golden Age of Budapest's Belle Époque on this captivating guided excursion featuring Andrássy Avenue where you will visit the crown jewel of Budapest: the incomparable Hungarian State Opera House!

  3h 0m

  price range: $$

• Wine Tasting in the Hungarian Countryside

  Travel into the beautiful Hungarian countryside for an

   

   

  What do you think? Is it worth another day's stay in Budapest on our own>

[JordanF]

Yes!  We recently took a Danube cruise with two nights pre-cruise in Budapest and the first night on the boat also in Budapest.  So, three nights in all, and between the tours, our own explorations and just having a nice time out and about, we had a great time and were never bored.  As long as you stay someplace central, you can walk to most places.  In fact, the bigger question to me is whether to add the one night, or two.  Also, taxis to the airport are easy and not that expensive.  Have a great trip!

[Daisi]

I'm not a city lover, but we did love Budapest. If you have the extra night, you can do the night time cruise if your cruise doesn't do it - we sailed a year ago from Budapest with 2 nights pre-cruise and we did our own as our trip didn't include it.

 

There is so much to see, we could gladly go back and do more. I have another Danube cruise picked out that will end in Budapest, and I'm probably going to add in an extra night or two.

[CDNPolar]

We only had an overnight in Budapest and that was NOT near enough.  Budapest is a beautiful city and deserves more time.

 

We are on our second river cruise that ends in Budapest and we are booking our own private tours this time because we did the ones of interest the first time.  Both cruises with Viking.

 

I would suggest that one or two additional nights in a city such as Budapest is something to consider.  You don't want to be like us and walk away wishing we had more time there.

[CCJack]

On 9/20/2024 at 3:29 PM, Daisi said:

you can do the night time cruise if your cruise doesn't do it - we sailed a year ago from Budapest with 2 nights pre-cruise and we did our own as our trip didn't include it.

Agree, for sure do a night time cruise with the government buildings lit up.  On our viking cruise (which did an overnight stay there), they indicated they might do an evening cruise, which they did but it seemed to be a late decision.  Plan on an independent evening cruise as a backup. I would think you don't need reservations ahead of time for a local evening cruise provider.

[Canal archive]

After an horrendous accident the cruises to see the lit beautiful Budapest buildings were cancelled but do now seem to have been reinstated. Take a camera! On this cruise everyone was on deck champagne in hand it’s well worth it. One year this one a special one off a previous cruise on our way to the first lock, the start of our journey to Amstradam.

[CDNPolar]

Absolutely do the night cruise.  This was one of the more memorable and stunning experiences that I have ever had river cruising.