Hungary Boat Hire | Boating Holidays

Take a boating holiday in beautiful Hungary. No previous experience or licence is needed, the boats are easy to drive and there are no locks to negotiate on these waterways, making these self-drive boating holidays ideal for beginners.

Although Hungary is still relatively unknown to many as a boating destination, this hidden paradise has a lot to offer. The waterways in Hungary are calm and the surrounding landscapes are natural and unspoilt – perfect for fishermen, nature and bird lovers and enthusiasts of the great outdoors.

Watch the bloom of Tisza! Every year, between the end of May and beginning of June, millions of dragonfly-like long tailed insects rise in clouds on the Tisza River. This unique event, which lasts only three-to-four days, is one of the most fascinating natural phenomena found on European rivers.

Route Information

Holiday Routes Routes in a Google Map

Area Highlights

Highlights of Hungary

The Puszta – open grassland area with herds of buffalo, oxen and wild horses
Lake Tisza – perfect for watersports like canoeing, water-skiing and sailing
Vineyards of Tokaj – famous for the golden Tokaj wine
Zemplén Kalandpark theme park – take the whole family and enjoy a summer bobsleigh run, zip line and much more
Rakóczi Palace in Sárospatak – fabulous Renaissance architecture

Useful Information:

No licence is required to cruise these waters
Make sure you pack your swimming costume as this area is ideal for swimming and watersports
With both bases around a 2-hour drive from Budapest, why not hire a car to get to your base

Suggested Cruises from our bases in Hungary

Boat holidays from Kisköre

Cruise from our Kisköre base into the heart of the legendary Hungarian Great Plain and Hortobágy National Park, on the Tisza River and Lake Tisza. Explore the Puszta, a region of large open grassland unique in Europe, where herds of buffaloes, oxen and wild horses mingle, guarded by csikos (mounted horse-herdsmen) in traditional dress.

There are no big cities in this area, just pretty villages with pastures, orchards, farms with thatched roof buildings, wildlife and unspoilt nature. For the more energetic, try your hand at canoeing, bike rides, water-skiing, jet-skiing and sailing on Lake Tisza.

Boat holidays from Tokaj

Alternatively, take a boating holiday from the base at Tokaj and cruise along the Bodrag River and the Upper Tisza to a region that’s famous for producing Tokaj wine. Pass through landscapes of vineyards set at the foot of the Zemplén mountains and ancient volcanoes covered with forests.

Starting at the town of Tokaj and heading towards Sátoraljaújhely on the border of Slovakia, your boating holiday on the calm waters of the Bodrog River passes the Zemplen mountains, which are former volcanoes covered with forests. The vines planted on the foothills have made the region world-famous for wine-making. For families, a must-see place to visit is the Zemplén Kalandpark theme park with activities such as a summer bobsleigh run, zip line and much more.

Heading south, visit the Rakóczi Palace in Sárospatak to see the fascinating Renaissance architecture. The waters of the Upper Tisza are calm and perfect for swimming so take advantage of your boat’s onboard deck showers and swim ladder to get in and out of the water.

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Boating Holidays in Hungary