Where to Stay in Budapest, Hungary

Right next to Kossuth Lajos tér underground station and a few steps from the Danube, this elegant, early 20th-century art nouveau mansion has oak floors, high ceilings and striking sunset pictures of Budapest landmarks on the walls. These include floodlit shots of the Hungarian Parliament Building and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge – both a short stroll from the entrance. Tuck into the continental brekkie to prepare your sightseeing adventures: fresh berries, sweet melon and warm pastries with cream cheese, jam and honey.

Arrive in spring and you could find the pavement outside this hostel full of Japanese-style pink cherry blossoms. The stone walls of this converted family home overlook trees and roadside benches, a 20-minute walk from riverside parks and a short tram ride from the major sights. There are wood-walled curtained bunk beds with colourful rugs, a games room with pool and table football, and a leafy garden with deck chairs and a barbecue.

There are views of Buda Castle on one side and the tree-lined Danube on another. Outside, it’s a few steps to the 19th-century Széchenyi Chain Bridge, the art-filled castle and the ornate bronze fountain of King Matthias. Designs and ambience in the stylish rooms are inspired by innovative, international names in furniture and lighting such as Cappellini, Living Divani and Moooi. Through a glass floor in the lobby, you can see the ruins of a 14th-century tower that once supplied water to Buda Castle.

In the affluent Pest streets, Kempinski Corvinus wows from the minute you step into the towering smart lobby with tree-like pillars and glowing walls. The rooms are unflaggingly elegant with pale-gold accents, designer bathrooms and floor-length brocade curtains. Major sights are on your doorstep, but with a bistro, bar, luxurious spa and swimming pool, you’ll hardly want to step outside.

Wood laminate floors, bright colours and well-equipped kitchen-dining areas make for a great base, just steps from the Gothic-Revival towers and gables of St Elisabeth’s Church. There’s underground parking, or trams and trolleybuses are just a short walk away on Grand Boulevard where you’ll also find upscale eateries such as the Renaissance-style New York Café or the Beer Point pub, serving beers from around the world with hearty, alcohol-tempering bar snacks.

Glamorous marble bathrooms with giant tubs and shiny wood floors, double-draped long curtains, designer lights and big sofas – these apartments, with one to three bedrooms, overlook fancy Liszt Ferenc tér, home to a gesticulating bronze statue of composer Franz Liszt. Upmarket cafes surround the lime tree-shaded square, from the California Coffee Company, with seasonal drinks and fluffy paleo cakes, to Menza restaurant, serving hearty Hungarian faves such as beef stew with homemade spaetzle or crispy, twisted, forest berry jam-filled doughnuts.

Everything about the Párisi Udvar is impressive, from the gilded cathedral-like lobby to the warm, tranquil lines of the spa. The building was once a glamorous neoclassical shopping arcade, then a fancy early 20th-century bank HQ, and now the art nouveau architecture has been converted into a palatial hotel. Glass domes, turrets, gothic and Moorish details, original ceramics and metalwork mean the results have to be seen to be believed. Rooms are suitably stylish – orchid-pale in elegant greys and creams with views of the nearby Danube.

Walking distance from the city centre with a hot tub, sauna and gym, Bo18 will keep you glowing and ready to experience Budapest. Chic, modern rooms have coffee machines and full-length mirrors, and the breakfast bar downstairs can cook eggs as you like them to get you ready for the day. There’s even a chocolate fountain with fruit skewers. Stroll along the narrow lanes outside, through tall 19th-century apartments, to find gems such as the HungaRio cafe serving fresh coffee and Brazilian street food snacks.

Every room in this former doctor’s mansion is a work of art. The painters who lived and gathered here over the years have left their mark among the reclaimed wood and upcycled furniture, free-standing tubs and designer rain showers. And it’s more than a hotel; it’s a thriving culture hub with workshops and shows celebrating the best of bohemian Budapest. The bar serves seven Budapest-inspired cocktails, and the streets outside are full of creativity: the Hungarian National Museum is over the road, and a succession of stylish tea houses nearby offer everything from oolong to rooibos.

This eclectic palace was once a masonic HQ, while interior designer Zoltán Varró has taken the theme of secret grandeur to create a fantastical adventure of a hotel. Bedrooms take inspiration from orders of classical architecture: leafy Doric rooms, overlooking the spa garden, are soothingly green; Ionian rooms on the top floor have pale floral motifs and classic elegance; while Corinthian rooms sport gilt-framed replicas of old masters, dark velvet and baroque crystal. Among all the luxurious touches, there are themed details such as a free Mystery Library of suitably esoteric books and movies.

There’s nothing shabby about this boutique hostel and student hangout in the middle of the action and close to the Danube. Besides bargain dorms, there are private ensuite rooms with pristine minimalist decor. The huge 19th-century Central Market Hall is at the end of the road, so you can stock up on fresh veggies, smoked cheese and paprika sausages (or take a 45-minute tasting tour). Grab a gourmet picnic and cross the nearby Liberty Bridge with its mythical bird statues to explore the hilly forts and gardens on the Buda side of the river.

Although on a major Budapest boulevard, close to a metro station and iconic Heroes Square, it’s still easy to find peaceful streets nearby and sit to watch the world pass by. Try local specialities such as wild boar or chicken livers in the Paprika Vendéglő restaurant, a few doors down, or cook up a storm with local produce in the shared kitchen. The rooms are arty and individual, with wood floors, mezzanines and statement walls in turquoise or indigo; they might have abstracts, African animal prints or hats on the wall, but always look stylish.