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.

The Best Places to Stay in Budapest

In Castle Hill

• Simple on the outside, but contemporary chic on the inside, the Buda Castle Fashion Hotel has 25 generously proportioned rooms arranged around an interior courtyard. Originally built in the 15th century, you really wouldn’t know it, aside from some of the elegantly arching ceilings. There’s a bar onsite, and you’re really close to many other bars and restaurants as well as being close to several major attractions.

In District V

• The Corvinus is a large and luxurious hotel on the Pest side of the river, with 349 smart, contemporary rooms and suites. There’s also a huge range of options onsite when it comes to eating and drinking, including Budapest’s Nobu, to choose from, as well as a spa with a Finnish sauna, and a heated indoor pool.
• If you prefer somewhere smaller consider the Aria Hotel, which is also five stars, and in a fantastic central District V location, but has only 42 rooms and suites. The decor is a kind of contemporary neoclassical, with art and music as the themes, but what we really love about this hotel is the rooftop, which has incredible city views, especially of St. Stephen’s Basilica, which is only 100 meters away. We also like the subterranean pool and spa.

The Best Hotels in Terézváros, District VI

• The Hotel Moments occupies an elegant building in a central spot in the heart of historic Budapest. It has 99 rooms and suites, in a range of sizes, but all are cleverly designed so that it feels as if there’s plenty of living space. There’s a complimentary buffet breakfast, which is one of the reasons why we think this is also one of the best value places to stay in Budapest, plus there’s an onsite restaurant and bar too.

The Best Hotels in Józsefváros, District VIII

• Brody House is one of the hippest hotels in Budapest, sort of Budapest’s answer to Soho House, and well loved by creative types. There are regular local music and artists events, a grazing menu at the bar, and meals Thursday to Sunday, and 11 chic, beautifully designed rooms and apartments. As well as local art of the walls, expect parquet floors and well chosen antiques.

For a city break

• For somewhere smaller consider the Casati Hotel, a contemporary, 25 room boutique hotel with four different room themes to choose from: Heaven, Natural, Classic and Cool. Arranged in a beautiful old building with central atrium, which is where breakfast is served, all the rooms have plenty of natural light, and comfortable features. There’s no restaurant, but there is a bar, and you’re offered a complimentary welcome cocktail. Great location close to many of the main sights
• If you want to be based on the Buda side of the river, near the castle then consider the Baltazar Hotel, a retro-styled boutique hotel with just 11 rooms and suites, themed on artists as varied as Keith Haring and Vermeer. All have beautiful floors, large beds and elegant furnishings, plus all the mod. cons., and lit in a sultry way, with lamps and drapes. It’s romantic as well as convenient, really, with a fantastic restaurant serving classic Hungarian street food. It feels trendy too.
• The Hotel Rum is moments from the Central Market, the Gellért Thermal Baths and the Danube, so it ticks some boxes with its location, but what we really like about it is the building itself, an elegant, classical edifice, with industrial chic interiors. There’s a real boutique feel and a super hip fine dining restaurant. Get a room as spacious as you need it to be, they’re all stylish.

For luxury

• The Corinthia Hotel is an historic grande-dame of a property, oozing luxury and class. Its elegant interiors are a stylish blend of period features complemented by state of the art facilities. There are a couple of superb dining options on site, but the piece de resistance is the stunning Royal Spa, an art-deco masterpiece where you'll find a 15 metre indoor pool, jacuzzi, saunas, steam bath, fitness centre and wide range of ESPA treatments and massages.
• A wonderful dream of an Art Nouveau landmark, the Four Seasons Gresham Palace is also known for having some of the best hotel views in Budapest, allowing you to see the river and the Old City with its elegant architecture. There are 179 rooms and suites, all beautifully decorated, but the suites are something special, with vaulted ceilings, private balconies and numerous unique features. The facilities are excellent, and the location, opposite the river and the Chain Bridge, is convenient for sightseeing too. Don’t miss the millefeuille in the Kavehaz, apparently it’s one of the best in town.
• Smaller, with a smaller price tag too, but in a similarly excellent location, and with an extremely elegant façade, the Prestige Hotel isn’t the sort of place to be considered a second choice. This is a grand palazzo style hotel, with huge chandeliers, and opulent, contemporary decor, in bright colours. Everything is fresh and vibrant, from the sauna and jacuzzi, to the burnt orange velvet in the hotel’s lobby. There are 85 rooms and suites. And the Costes Restaurant has a Michelin star.

For families

Budapest is a great city break choice for families, not too busy, not too big, and the history is really dramatic!

• When planning a family trip we like the Art'Otel, Budapest for family friendly accommodation. It’s right on the water, and has 165 rooms and suites, including family suites, which are probably the best option for families. Contemporary, colourful and fun, yet nice and simple, this is the sort of hotel with an easy appeal, plus it's got a good restaurant serving local delicacies, and a gym and spa.
• We also like Pest-Buda, in Buda, which is a small hotel with plenty of charm. It’s got ten rooms, including several family-friendly configurations, all with exposed wood, industrial-chic furniture and large tasteful bathrooms. There’s also a great Hungarian bistro, which is popular with locals too.
• For a real home-from-home feel we like the Anabelle B&B, which is a smart conversion of a beautiful, traditional building, into a collection of five boutique rooms and suites, and a self-catering penthouse, which is the one we recommend for families. The rooms come in triples and quadruples too, so they’re also worth considering. The decor is smart and simple, and it’s all very comfortable.

For great value

• On the Pest side of the river, in a good spot for sightseeing, the Hotel President makes our list of favourites because of its incredible roof terrace restaurant, which has phenomenal city views. This hotel’s 75 rooms and suites have decor that varies from classic, to kitch-y modern, to quite opulent, and there’s an underground pool, spa and gym, and a garden. They also have hotel bikes you can borrow.
• If you’re hunting for somewhere chic and affordable you might love the Magazine Hotel, which is a 16 room property intentionally decorated in the style of an urban life magazine. They love white, boxy furnishings, witty art and monochrome flooring. 12 of their rooms are rooms, and four are apartments, so this is a great choice for an affordable family stay too. The location is great and while there’s no restaurant, there is a shared kitchen.
• The Hotel Parlament (spelling correct) is a boutique style hotel with modern interiors, think egg-style chairs, bright orange features, and 60s-chic lighting. The façade is much older, though, a white wedding cake of a creation, in a boxy, but beautifully decorated style. All in all this is a cosy place to stay in an excellent location, and with a lavish buffet breakfast.

Prefer an Apartment?

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• Want to fly to Budapest?

• Budapest Airport, or Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, is the largest airport in Hungary, as well as in Budapest. It’s 16kms outside the centre of town, to the southeast, and it takes about 35 minutes on the bus/airport shuttle to travel in from the airport. It’s certainly possible to arrive by train too, into Kelenfoeld Station in the centre of town.
• If you’re thinking about hiring a car we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• Budapest has four distinct seasons, with winters that many of us would consider harsh, temperatures have been known to go below -20ºC, and summers that many of us would call hot, with daily maximum averages of 26ºC in July and August. It snows every year, which is lovely if you love seeing a city under snow, it’s regularly quite rainy in November, May and June, and summer gets a bit of rain too, though you can also expect about ten hours of sunshine a day. Summer is the most popular time to visit, but it’s probably not the best time. The Hotel Guru consenus is that the ‘Indian summer’ months of September and October, and the late spring months of April and May are our favourites weather-wise.

Still Not Sure which to book?

• You could refine your search to just the best places to stay in Castle Hill, the best places to stay in Downtown Budapest or the best places to stay in Terézváros for example.
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.

Weather

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