The Best Bed and Breakfasts in Budapest

This novel bed and breakfast is the epitome of high-end living, not least in terms of its setting on the top two floors of a condominium, overlooking the peaceful city rooftops. Owner and designer Bálint Merán kept the interiors of this B&B Bauhaus minimal, offsetting the elaborate architecture of the nearby Hungarian Parliament Building. His mother Madeleine is ready to help with any issues with self check-in, while breakfast gives you the opportunity to try Hungarian lecsó – a thick Hungarian vegetable stew – and mákos guba (poppy-seed cake). Snacks are on offer to help you unwind after exploring nearby havens such as Margaret Island, where a musical fountain presents an hourly light and music show on summer evenings.

A Hungarian-trained chef and former executive of a five-star hotel, Albert Marton transformed the top floors of a 19th-century building to create this enticing six-room bed and breakfast. The showpiece is a 56-sqm (600-sqft) private terrace. A 10-minute walk or ride on the M1 metro takes you to Heroes’ Square, the impressive entrance to City Park, where you will find the Széchenyi Thermal Baths, Budapest Zoo, the Museum of Transport and Vajdahunyad Castle – a replica of a Transylvanian castle.

The owner of House Beletage, Zsuzsa Bikkal, loves a challenge, as is evident from her career as a former executive of four- and five-star hotels. Bikkal wanted visitors to get a taste of how Hungarians lived in the past, a desire that led her to convert this century-old building into a modern 15-room guesthouse. “Our guests like the mix of old and new furniture, the big windows, high ceilings and original parquet floors,” she says. Guests’ birthdays and anniversaries are often celebrated with staff, while seasonal touches add to the homely vibe – expect hot mulled wine in winter and sangria in summer. Close by are the Central Market Hall and Gellért Thermal Baths, while the hotel’s street location is an attraction in itself – it served as a backdrop to the 2016 film Inferno.

This once spartan 300-year-old abbey, built by the Capuchin Order, has become a sanctuary for relaxation. The Monastery Boutique Hotel is notable for its distinctive archways, courtyard garden and excellent location close to the Fisherman’s Bastion and Castle District. Rooms are spacious and elegant, with white walls offset by splashes of colour in the bedding and furniture, while breakfast promises a generous selection of fruit, yoghurt, breads, omelettes and bacon. Top tip: take the two-minute walk to the Hungarian Heritage House to catch one of the frequent performances by the State Folk Ensemble.

Across the road from the bustling Grand Market Hall stands a stately apartment block overlooking the Danube and the Liberty Bridge. On the second floor of this restored art nouveau building lies the tranquil world of Butterfly Home, where owners András and Timea Szuhay have established eight spacious, tastefully designed rooms, some with river views and balconies. The diverse buffet breakfast is made particularly pleasurable courtesy of András, who is a skilled barista. In addition to the Grand Market Hall, nearby attractions include the Hungarian National Museum and the Gellért Thermal Baths.