Best Dinner Cruises in Prague

Do you want to get to know Prague like never before and also enjoy a delicious dinner? Then don't hesitate to book a dinner cruise on the city's river, from where you can savor the Prague nightlife.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

12 min read

Best Dinner Cruises in Prague

Prague, Czech Republic | ©Felix Mittermeier

One of the plans that more and more people are signing up for during their visit to Prague is a dinner aboard a river cruise. When evening falls in the Czech capital, few things can compare to boarding a luxurious cruise and start plying the waters while Prague lights up and you enjoy dinner.

There are several alternatives depending on what kind of food you want to taste, your budget or with whom you are going to share this experience, because if it is with your partner you will surely be looking for more intimacy and an even more romantic atmosphere. As I know that right now you are eager to know more, I have investigated which are the best options for you.

Cruise Prague's river while you dine and listen to music

Aerial view of the Vltava River| ©Anthony Delanoix
Aerial view of the Vltava River| ©Anthony Delanoix

If you are looking for a unique (and very romantic) plan during your trip to Prague, I have a proposal that might interest you: a river cruise accompanied by live music and a delicious dinner. I assure you that there is no better way to visit the most emblematic places of the city than sailing through its waters while you fill your stomach and an orchestra puts soundtrack to the tour.

This kind of activities depart every day of the week just when the afternoon falls, so you can go to the pier and ask for availability. To ensure your place, I recommend booking in advance, as it seeks to maintain the intimate atmosphere, something that is achieved with the careful and luxurious decoration of the boat and the illuminated silhouette of Prague, among which stand out its castle and theCharles Bridge.

The price (approximately 60 €) includes the three-hour tour, a welcome drink and dinner, with which I assure you that you will be satisfied as it usually consists of several dishes to choose from (cold, hot, desserts and side dishes). However, additional drinks, especially alcoholic ones, must be paid separately.

Key facts:

  • Price: 60€ approximately
  • Duration: about 3 hours
  • What's included: river cruise with dinner and live music
  • Recommended if: you want to spend a lively evening in good company.

Book your Prague dinner cruise

Relax on a dinner cruise with transfers included on the river in Prague

Vltava River Cruises| ©Thomas Depenbusch (Depi)
Vltava River Cruises| ©Thomas Depenbusch (Depi)

Do you want to live an exclusive experience in Prague? Nothing compares to having a private vehicle pick you up at your hotel and take you on a dinner cruise. The only thing you will have to worry about is to be at the agreed time at the reception of your accommodation for your driver to take you to the pier and embark on a unique experience that as a backdrop has one of the best views of Prague.

If you want to enjoy dinner on board the cruise and have a drink (be careful, only the welcome drink is included, the rest you will have to pay for separately), you will not have to drive or take public transport back to your hotel. Luckily, you always have the option of booking an excursion that, although a bit more expensive (around 100€) will pick you up and bring you back to your accommodation.

This way, not only will you have the opportunity to see the unparalleled views of Prague at night from the river or pass under the imposing Charles Bridge, but during the round trip you can also relax in the car seat while watching the streets of the Czech capital go by through the window.

Key Facts:

  • Price: about 100€
  • Duration: about 4 hours
  • What's included: river cruise with dinner and transfers to the hotel
  • Recommended if: you don't want to worry about transportation all night long

Book your Prague dinner cruise

Enjoy a great buffet dinner on board of a Prague dinner cruise

Dinner Cruise| ©Jenni Douglas
Dinner Cruise| ©Jenni Douglas

Do you like to be spoilt for choice during dinner? Then you have to sign up for a buffet dinner cruise on the Vltava River in Prague. I assure you that you won't be short of options of great dishes, many of them from international cuisines, so you can taste them while the night falls over Prague's buildings like the National Theater or its medieval towers.

The cruise tours that include buffet dinner are quite economical (30 € approximately), especially considering that you can eat and repeat as much as you want. Of course, there is only one drink included, so you will have to count on that extra expense or wait to disembark to have a beer in the center of Prague for a lower price.

Key Facts:

  • Price: about 30€
  • Duration: about 3-4 hours
  • What's included: river cruise with international buffet dinner
  • Recommended if: you want to make sure you have a variety of dining options.

Book your Prague dinner cruise

Learn about the history of Prague while dining on a Prague river cruise

View from the Cruise| ©R Boed
View from the Cruise| ©R Boed

Although it is clear that one of the main attractions of a Prague river cruise is to enjoy a tasty dinner, we cannot forget that we are sailing the waters of a city with a lot of history. For this reason, I recommend booking an itinerary that includes an English-speaking guide.

Prague is said to be a city of bridges and towers, as they are counted in hundreds. Especially noteworthy is the Charles Bridge, which will leave you open-mouthed when you cross underneath. Navigating through the city without understanding the value of the buildings that appear on the banks is a shame, so it is better to look for a tour with a specialized guide on board who will explain the secrets and legends of places like the Prague Castle or the House of Dance.

In total, it will be almost three hours of tour for about 35 € in which you will taste not only the dishes on the menu, but also the history of Prague.

Key Facts:

  • Price: 35€ approximately
  • Duration: about 2 hours
  • What's included: river cruise with dinner and guide on board
  • Recommended if: you are interested in learning about the history of Prague while dining and sailing on the Vltava.

Book your Prague dinner cruise

Savor Czech gastronomy on board a Prague river dinner cruise

Eating Koleno| ©Luke Porwol
Eating Koleno| ©Luke Porwol

Do you want to live an experience that brings you closer to Czech culture? Make sure you book a traditional dinner cruise on the Vltava River. In addition to tasting typical Czech dishes, you will also taste the Becher liqueur, a drink made with a secret formula based on herbs, spices and roots. Be careful! It is quite strong, so you will have to fill your stomach afterwards to get over it.

What can you expect from Czech cuisine? Quite a lot of meat and very curious dishes, but full of flavor. One of the best known is koleno, i.e. pork knee marinated in dark beer and herbs. The smell is incredible and in the mouth you will like it even more, as it is crispy but at the same time melts on the palate.

Another dish you have to order is the tatarák, whose ingredients (fresh minced meat, egg yolk, spices and sauces) are served separately so that you can mix them as you like. To complete the Czech experience, nothing like the city of Prague being illuminated as the sky gets darker.

Key Facts:

  • Price: about 40€
  • Duration: about 3 hours
  • What's included: river cruise with traditional Czech dinner.
  • Recommended if: you feel like tasting traditional Czech dishes.

Don't miss a thing thanks to the cruise ship's glass ceiling.

Cruise Ship Glass Ceiling| ©Pixabay
Cruise Ship Glass Ceiling| ©Pixabay

Are you worried about being on a cruise, enjoying dinner but not being able to appreciate the views? In that case, my advice is to make sure you book one with a glass roof. Whichever way you look you will be able to see Prague but not be cold, as the inside of the ship will remain warm and protected, something you will appreciate if you are traveling in winter in Prague.

If you want to make sure the views are even better, book in advance to request a table by the window. This way you will see everything in detail and without the danger of getting dizzy, as the glass is designed to avoid noise and vibrations from the outside.

In case your visit is during the summer in Prague, the roof may open so you can feel the gentle evening breeze while you dine. If you are up for it, when you finish you can order a drink which, although not included in the general price of approximately 50€, is the best companion to go out on deck and contemplate the lights of the city from there before the end of the trip. Don't forget to bring your camera up! You can imagine the incredible panoramic views that you will be able to see and photograph.

Key Facts:

  • Price: 50€ approximately
  • Duration: about 3-4 hours
  • What's included: river cruise with dinner on a boat with transparent roof and outside deck.
  • Recommended if: you want to have the best views of Prague at night.

Choose a gourmet dinner during your Prague river cruise

People eating on the boat| ©meg solomon
People eating on the boat| ©meg solomon

If you are traveling to Prague with your partner and want to treat yourselves to a special dinner, for example for your anniversary, have you thought about a cruise on the Vltava River? You will spend a lovely, intimate evening with a delicious meal that you can choose from a gourmet menu. What's more, these special cruises include wine - what could be more romantic?

Another aspect to keep in mind is that you will have a table to yourselves, you will not have to share it, so you will have space and time to relax during one of your evenings in Prague. On the other hand, you won't have to worry about booking a Prague restaurant and you will also have the privilege of dining with the illuminated city in the background.

Although the price of the whole experience can be a bit high (around 100€ per person), I assure you that it is worth it. Beyond how delicious the dinner is, which consists of three exquisite dishes and drinks, the boat is a luxury, full of lamps and with a crew (and even a pianist) that manage to create an even more exclusive atmosphere.

Fast Facts:

  • Price: 100€ approximately
  • Duration: about 3 hours
  • What's included: river cruise with gourmet dinner
  • Recommended if: you feel like tasting a gourmet menu in an exclusive way.

Discover Prague by day and night on a dinner cruise

Prague day cruise| ©MoToMo
Prague day cruise| ©MoToMo

A dinner cruise while night falls in Prague is a luxury, but if you want to see the city by daylight as well, there are excursions that combine both tours.

First, you will walk around the Czech capital with a guide who will point out the highlights, such as St. Vitus Cathedral, the Castle, the Jewish quarter or the Church of St. Nicholas. Just as dusk begins to set in, a coach will take you to the pier for a dinner cruise on the river.

If you are looking for a complete and economical alternative (approximately 75€) because you are only going to be in Prague for one day, this is my recommendation. You will be able to admire the city by day and by night, getting the best of two worlds that, although they may seem opposite, coexist in the same city.

Fast Facts:

  • Price: 75€ approximately
  • Duration: about 6 hours
  • What's included: walking tour and river cruise with dinner.
  • Recommended if: you are short on time and want to combine a walking tour with a dinner cruise.

Aperitif on board a Prague river cruise: a more affordable alternative

Prague by boat| ©a.canvas.of.light
Prague by boat| ©a.canvas.of.light

Short on time in Prague or looking for a more affordable option to cruise its river? It will not be for alternatives, because many river cruises make the tour for about 15 € and include an aperitif on board, so that, for about an hour, enjoy a small snack while on the banks of the river are appearing as famous places such as the National Theater or the Old Town.

Although these cruises, being shorter, depart more frequently, my advice is to check the schedules in advance and book the last leg. This way you will get on board when night starts to fall and then, at the end of the tour, you will have more than enough time to have dinner in one of the restaurants in the area. In addition, as this cruise is not focused on dinner, but on the visit, they usually have audio guides in different languages and with a lot of historical content.

Main facts:

  • Price: 15€ approximately
  • Duration: about 1 hour
  • What's included: river cruise with appetizer
  • Recommended if: you are on a tight budget but don't want to miss a special cruise on the Prague river.

Private boat trip on the Vltava river in Prague

Prague cruise| ©Michela Simoncini
Prague cruise| ©Michela Simoncini

Can you imagine plying the gentle waters of the Vltava River, Prague opening up before you, with the tranquility and intimacy of being on a private boat? It may not be the most affordable alternative (around 200€), but if you want to surprise that special someone with a unique experience, why not book a boat ride just for you? You'll be able to dine on board and have a relaxing conversation while watching the Polish city light up and get dark.

If you are thinking about how to make your trip to Prague even better, it is clear that a private cruise on the Vltava is a great option. Especially because, in addition to having an a la carte menu to taste during the crossing, you can ask all the questions you want to the crew, who will be happy to explain each new building that appears on the shore. It is a magical, exclusive and unforgettable experience.

Key Facts:

  • Price: 200€ approximately
  • Duration: about 3-4 hours.
  • What's included: private river cruise with dinner included.
  • Recommended if: you want to give a gift to someone special during your trip to Prague.

What is the route that the Prague night cruise follows?

View of the Bridge at night| ©R Boed
View of the Bridge at night| ©R Boed

Generally, the route followed by the cruises is always the same, since the objective is to navigate the Vltava River as it passes by the most important places and monuments of the city. At night they are all illuminated, so it is very special to contemplate them from the boat, thus obtaining a panoramic view that will remain engraved in your retina.

Undoubtedly, a fundamental part of the itinerary is to pass under the bridges of Prague, which despite the passage of time still retain their structure and beauty. Most of them connect the two banks of the river, so you can see them one by one during the tour. My favorite is undoubtedly the Charles Bridge, which is the most famous and today has its own museum.

In addition to the bridges, from the cruise you can see how the many illuminated medieval towers cut the night sky. It's a beautiful sight that can only be admired from the water - you won't want to miss it!

Do I have to book the cruise and dinner in advance?

On a boat in Prague| ©Emily Allen
On a boat in Prague| ©Emily Allen

Although there are many options and many types of cruises, it is quite a sought after activity because of how special and interesting it is. My advice therefore is not to wait until the last minute and buy the ticket in advance, especially if you are traveling with children to Prague and there are several of you. This way you will ensure not only a unique plan for one of your nights in Prague, but you will also be able to ask for a table by the window.

Any place is good to admire Prague at night, but I assure you that to do it at a table next to the window through which you can look out without having to get up during dinner, is a real luxury.

On the other hand, some cruise tables are shared with other people. Although it can be a good opportunity to meet people and share the evening with new friends, if you are looking for privacy it is best to indicate in your reservations that you want to be at a private table.

Have you gotten hungry thinking about dinner aboard a cruise in Prague? No wonder, but I hope that with my recommendations you will be able to remedy it quickly.