Romantic candlelit dinner along the Danube with Legenda cruise
Did you know?
The section of the Danube in the center of Budapest was the first in Hungary to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status.
It already gives you the main reason why to visit it. The Danube, ‘’the most international’’ river connecting 10 European countries, could be probably called the most beautiful part of Budapest and also what made me personally fall in love with this often underrated city.
One of the nights I spent in Budapest, I decided to make it a bit romantic so I hopped on Legenda cruise.
Throughout the year Legenda offers both sightseeing cruises – Duna Bella and Danube Legenda evening cruises with 30 languages audio-guide (20% off with Budapest card) and restaurant cruises – lunch cruise, coffee and cake cruise and candlelit dinner cruise (10% off with Budapest card). There are two options for all three restaurant cruises – a la carte or inclusive package and I personally think you should get the package straight away as it will cost you less than paying for all the courses separately.
I opted for Legenda candlelit dinner cruise with meals included.
Legenda cruise ready to leave Vigadó tér Dock 7
After a walk along my favorite Danube Promenade, I arrived in Vigadó tér Dock 7 around 7pm. The cruise leaves from there at 7.45 pm.
After a hostess showed each one of us our table, we could choose a welcome drink – champagne, juice, water etc. As usually, I asked for a bottle of still water.
everyone enjoying the cruise
It was all nicely prepared. I was sitting just next ti the window so in between the delicious meals I took a bunch of photos and videos. All the other people there were couples as it was a very romantic dinner with live music, candles all around and perfectly lit famous buildings along the Danube.
choosing from the menu
But who said a single person could not go for a romantic dinner too? Especially one who loves cruises, boats, ships, sailing and everything that has to do with it … and food :)
During 2 hours and a half of the night river cruise we slowly went below a few bridges of Budapest, such as Elisabeth Bridge, green Liberty Bridge, Petőfi Bridge, Rákóczi Ferenc Bridge and back below Chain Bridge until Margaret Bridge. Every single bridge is very different to the others. For example, Chain Bridge – the first bridge connecting Pest and Buda is a symbol of the city with its lion statues on both sides of it. It was also the second bridge built along all the Danube river.
Liberty Bridge
The saying goes that each time your cruise/boat goes underneath a bridge on the Danube, you should wish for something that you want to happen. Which means you can have up to 9 different wishes in Budapest as together with the railway bridges there are 9 bridges in the city. Unfortunately, during our Legenda dinner cruise we did not pass under each one of the 9 bridges, but still I was able to make some wishes under the 4 bridges.
impressive Parliament building
Parliament in different colours
On the way we saw a few times the impressive Parliament building, Royal Palace in Buda, Matthias Church, Calvinist Church, St. Anna Church, St. Francis Church, Margaret Island, University of Economics, National Theatre, Palace of Arts, Citadell … let’s say the main buildings along the Danube.
Royal Palace
Parish Church and Elisabeth Bridge
Together with the great night sightseeing and making wishes, the cruise was also about 4-course dinner which was included in my exclusive dinner package. For each course I could choose from the menu in between a few options.
let’s start with salad
soup
I got all the vegetarian options as usual :)
mushroom risotto as main course
yummy brownie with strawberries
I also climbed the stairs up to the deck to get a different view.
on top of Legenda cruise, what a view!
After the marvelous time on the cruise, I returned more than happy back to my room in Golden Park Hotel :)
In summer months Legenda cruises are fully booked in advance, so don’t just try your luck going there just before the cruise. Get your tickets before. You can even purchase the tickets online on Legenda website where you find more information. Or connect with Legenda on facebook.
My Legenda dinner cruise was a press trip organized by Visit Hungary tourism board and Legenda. Many thanks for this romantic time! As always, all the thoughts in this article are my own.
