Dramatically split by the wide, graceful Danube, and beautifully reconnected by a series of elegant bridges, the twin cities of Buda and Pest are still distinctly different. The majority of our recommendations for the best places to stay in Budapest are located in Pest (today's city centre), the bit with the majority of the museums, galleries, headline sights and sites, and where most of the people are. But smaller Buda has a lot to offer in the way of charming hotels too, and this atmospheric part of the city has the castle and Castle Hill, complete with a wonderful funicular, so some travellers will definitely find the best places to stay in Budapest on this side of the famous Chain Bridge.
One of the things that makes Budapest such a favourite in the Hotel Guru office is its architecture, a glorious collection of neoclassical, baroque and art nouveau beauties, with most of it built during Budapest’s ‘golden age’ at the end of the 19th century, which gives it a fin de siècle magic, and just a touch of sadness. Many of the boutique hotels we recommend in Budapest have been converted from these elegant buildings, and we love the hotels that are traditionally elegant throughout, and the ones with the historic façades, and contemporary interiors to surprise.
But Budapest today is lively, coming back into its own, as far as its cuisine goes, and this is a fantastic city for coffee and cafe culture too. And for hot springs. The public transport system is excellent — don’t miss a trip on the charming yellow line along Andrassy to Hero Square.
Best of all for visitors, most hotels in Budapest represent incredibly good value. There are lots of hotels on our list of recommendations that we could call luxurious, and would have the associated price tag, if they were in another city, but here they’re ‘great value’. Really great value.
Where to Stay? Which neighbourhood?
- Budapest’s historic centre, where you’ll find the former Royal Palace, the Matthias Church and the National Gallery, is Castle Hill, a kilometre long UNESCO Heritage Site. It’s ideal if you’re looking for charm and quiet, for cobbled alleyways and atmosphere, and for proximity to the main sights. We think this is the best place to stay in Budapest for families. The Royal Palace, area is where the original castle was built, and the buildings here are particularly grand, while the Old Town, is the bit once inhabited by commoners. It’s all gloriously beautiful architecturally, though. One, particularly charming, way of navigating this part of town is on the Sikló, a funicular railway built in 1870. Castle Hill is also where you’ll find the Fisherman's Bastion, reminiscent of something from a Disney film with its with turrets and pointed towers, this is a lovely spot to visit - and you can also take in stunning views of the city from its hilltop location. Castle Hill is the only area we’re recommending in Buda, which is typically more residential, and less convenient than Pest.
- Crossing into Pest, and District V, or Downtown, is where many of Budapest’s best hotels and restaurants are located. It’s also where you’ll find plenty of this town’s main sights, including the boutique haven, Vörösmarty Square, St Stephen’s Basilica, the Chain Bridge, the Shoes on the Danube Memorial, Liberty Square and the Parliament Building. Inspired by the British Houses of Parliament, the Hungarian Parliament Building is grandiose neo-Gothic structure, set on the banks of the Danube, is utterly stunning inside and out. St Stephen's Basilica is another architectural beauty, a 19th century parish church with a 3,500 foot neo-Renaissance dome. District V is also very walkable, and has good public transport connections, and it’s beautiful, with wide boulevards and elegant grand cafes.
- Terézváros is the next district across, number VI, and has the city’s main road, the Great Boulevard, and UNESCO listed Andrássy Avenue, running through it, between Heroes’ Square and the City Park. So it’s lively, with plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants, and upscale shopping. Head out of the centre of town, and this district can become quite residential too. Terézváros is also where you’ll find the Budapest Zoo & Botanical Gardens.
- District VII is Erzsébetváros, or Elizabeth Town, now a trendy nightspot, but once favoured by craftsmen and artists, and once a Jewish ghetto. So this is where you’ll find the Great Synagogue. Erzsébetváros is also a great place to stay or visit, if you’re interested in this city’s history, as it’s home to the House of Terror, a museum converted from the headquarters of the dreaded ÁVH secret police, and telling the stories of the atrocities committed between WWII and the 1956 Uprising. And it’s bohemian and hip: if you want craft beer, food trucks speakeasies and hipster cafes, this is the part of Budapest for you.
- District VIII, Józsefváros, or Joseph Town, has the National Museum and the peaceful and grand Kerepesi Cemetery. It’s the last of the central Budapest districts to be re-developed, and much of it is still happening now — keep a look out for the pockmark bullet holes dating from both WWII and the 1956 Uprising. There’s a burgeoning cafe and bar scene, and an arts scene too. This is a good choice if you’re looking for the best value places to stay in Budapest.
Wherever you choose as the best place to stay in Budapest for you, there’s a great public transport system of trams, underground and buses, so it’s not hard to get around. Saying that it’s very walkable too.