SUP Budapest: Sunset tour

So close!

This slow and relaxing paddle tour is the best way to see Budapest. It is so close to being perfect. The tour guide was helpful and set a good pace for everyone. Yet you should know some of the boards were a little under inflated or worn and the Danube is at a historic low which makes exiting a bit more interesting at the finish. Also, the end point is not the safest place to cross in the dark and just having a few extra water bottles in the pickup car would have been outstanding! That said, none of that feedback detracts from a terrific experience that teenagers loved and simply the best way to see Parliament House. At the end grab a quick bite and then walk up to Buda castle at night.

via Viator

Great way to see the city

Great trip with SUP Budapest, really good to see the city from the water. Good to start on the calm waters outside the city centre and before moving on to the bumpier, but still manageable bits. Good quality equipment and friendly guide.

via Tripadvisor

Beautiful setting

Positives: the lady that took the tour was friendly, pleasant and polite. The Danube is an awesome place to be on the water. Wildlife - I saw a beaver by the island. The Parliament buildings and bridges in the last part make the trip. Negatives: no real tour guidance from the instructor apart from very brief information at the beginning. There was no information about what we were seeing and no tips on how to improve your technique if you already have experience (only commenting on this as when I've been on other tours when on holiday, this is what I've experienced). As there is a current moving you forward, to stay with the group who were moving incredibly slow I pretty much had to stop paddling which made it really frustrating for a lot of the tour. I know it says for beginners but it felt more like a float down the Danube than a paddleboard. (Again when I've been on trips with mixed abilities, the instructor made an effort to engage with everyone and push everyone to improve their technique, it felt kind of encouraged to basically sit down on your board and float). There were no leashes on the paddle boards which made me feel very wary - particularly taking beginners out, maybe that's why they encouraged people to sit! The paddles also weren't the best, really stiff to adjust and we were told if we fell off to get them first as they would fill with water. Every paddle I have ever used floats so that you can get back on your board and then retrieve it, fortunately no one fell in as I can imagine it would be a nightmare without a leash attaching you to your board and having to get the paddle first. I would recommend taking wet shoes as the end point is really slippy rocks and saw a few people slip with bare feet, plus there was glass everywhere (appreciate that is out of the tours hands as a public place).

Response from the operator: Dear Michaela! Thank you very much for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We are always happy when our guests enjoy the beauty of the Danube and its wildlife, and we are glad you appreciated the friendliness of our guide and the unique views of Parliament and the bridges. We would also like to kindly address some of the points you raised. Regarding safety, we have been running tours for over 8 years with hundreds of participants, and we have never had a single safety incident. For us, life jackets are the number one priority. We do not recommend leashes on the river as they can stuck different objects (Altough we do have, so if someone insist we give it.) This choice is deliberate, as we find life jackets to be the most effective and safest solution for both beginners and experienced paddlers on our section of the river. As for the group pace, when we have a larger number of participants, it is important for us to adapt to the slowest paddler to make sure no one is left behind. This sometimes means that more experienced guests feel the trip is calmer or slower than they expected, but it ensures the whole group enjoys the Danube together safely. Similarly, our guides put their main focus on safety and supporting beginners. With a larger group, it is not always possible to have extended one-on-one discussions with everyone about sightseeing or technique. That said, we always aim to strike a balance and take all feedback into account for future improvements.

via Viator

Sup Budapest

Really lovely experience. We were a bit nervous at first because of how busy the river looks with ships going by but we felt safe the whole time and enjoyed a calming relaxing experience.

via Tripadvisor

Great Paddle

Great experience to Paddle the Danube river , The team were excellent with good ratio and back up crew on land. They proved to be very knowledgeable about the currents / weather etc.

Response from the operator: Thank you :) Hope to see you again!

via Tripadvisor