The Best Hotels to Book in Budapest, Hungary

First opened as the Grand Hotel Royal in 1896, this Budapest landmark has a château-style façade and an interesting history. The Lumière Brothers screened the city’s first movie here, the hotel’s countless celebrity guests have included Mikhail Gorbachev and Gérard Depardieu, and filmmaker Wes Anderson researched its past for his movie The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). Oh, and today’s opulent, warm-toned rooms, art deco spa and glamorous bars and restaurants ain’t half bad either. Head to the Brasserie and Atrium to try classic Hungarian dishes or to the colourful bar for cocktails inspired by the hotel’s history.

From the plush three-storey suites topped with a sauna and jacuzzi down to the ground-floor Twenty Six café, Stories goes the extra mile. Enjoy granola and fresh redcurrants for breakfast or – later – labneh, roasted beetroots and candied pumpkin seeds in a gold-lit, palm-lined courtyard with a yoga studio at one end. On fashionable Király Street outside, the hotel is sandwiched between a design store and the Buddha Mini Thai bar, while, over the road, the tropical-themed Rumpus Tiki Bar offers live music, costume parties and OTT cocktails.

A gilt-framed mirror and purple velvet chairs, a lacquered screen or marble headboard, vintage furnishings or contemporary art… Every room is different at this boutique hotel in an ornate mansion. Netflix, a cutting-edge sound system and views of the peaceful, wicker-chaired courtyard or leafy garden square nearby come as standard. Every breakfast is different, too, as the hotel offers morning meals at a choice of four local cafés: you could try fresh juice, a Hungarian omelette and rye bread at the vibrant Gerlóczy or a traditional platter of smoked beef and salmon, duck liver, grilled sausage and spicy curd at the 132-year-old Centrál Coffee House.

Nearly 600 original artworks by American painter Donald Sultan brighten this modern hotel, with a Baroque wing, near the tree-lined Danube. Fruit, flowers, butterflies and colourful nature-inspired abstracts on tiles, striking sculptures and understated murals mean this art hotel lives up to the name. Vibrant rooms have views of the river or Buda Castle, and you can splash out on a suite with a separate sitting room or an extra-large room in the older bit of the building. In the late afternoons and evenings, the art’bistrobar offers international dishes and a chance to try pálinkas, Hungarian fruit brandies distilled from cherries, plums or apricots.

As a building, Párisi Udvar (meaning “Paris Courtyard”) has seen considerable change throughout the years. First built in 1817, the structure was a fashionable shopping arcade before becoming Budapest’s Central Savings Bank in 1906 and finally being designated a National Monument in 1976. In 2019, having been painstakingly restored to its former glory, Párisi Udvar opened its doors as a stylish hotel. It offers 110 rooms decorated to reflect the Art Nouveau architecture of the building and to work with its unique hexagonal structure while also incorporating elements from Arabic, Moorish and Gothic design. The crown jewel is the spacious Paris Residence, set on the hotel’s top floor and boasting incredible views over Budapest, while at street level, the hotel’s impressive, glass-domed atrium houses a café and pâtisserie.

Cool new kid on the block, Hotel Rum is located in downtown Budapest, just a short stroll from the up-and-coming Ferencváros (District IX) and attractions including the Hungarian National Museum. Designed by Budapest-based architects and designers, this contemporary boutique hotel features 40 rooms, ranging from the cosy, intimate Light Rum room to the more spacious Black Rum room; whichever you opt for, each offers modern amenities and a fun, quirky design. Hotel Rum is also home to the popular TOPRUM rooftop restaurant and bar, which serves up panoramic views of Budapest’s skyline as well as a menu of Instagrammable brunches, tapas and cocktails.

Standing on the Pest (eastern) side of Budapest and boasting a location on the banks of the Danube River, this luxury hotel is housed in a striking Art Nouveau building once used as a barracks by the Red Army, before acting as an apartment building under Communist rule. Today, it’s home to the Four Seasons Gresham Palace, which opened its doors in 2004 after a renovation that saw the restoration of many of the building’s original features. In addition to its Art Nouveau architecture, the hotel is known for its excellent location, luxurious rooms (many of which offer stunning views) and the in-house KOLLÁZS European brasserie.

Inspired by music, the boutique Aria Hotel lies in the heart of Budapest’s District V. It’s also within easy walking distance of the Opera House, for those wishing to combine musically inspired accommodation with an operatic performance. Rooms are individually designed around a musical genre – be that opera, jazz, classical or contemporary music – with many boasting private balconies overlooking the hotel’s peaceful inner courtyard. The hotel prides itself on its wealth of complimentary amenities, including wine and cheese served every afternoon in the hotel’s glass-topped Music Garden Courtyard. Meanwhile, Aria’s rooftop SkyBar is popular for its regular musical performances and striking views of the nearby St Stephen’s Basilica.

An artistic haven in the Palace District of Budapest, Brody House is named after Hungarian writer Sándor Bródy. Before becoming a boutique hotel in 2009, the house was a bustling hub on the Hungarian art scene, and each of its 10 uniquely decorated rooms is named and designed for an artist who has worked in or with Brody House since. In keeping with the hotel’s dedication to supporting the Hungarian art scene, pieces by local artists adorn the walls, with new additions made regularly. There’s also a comfortable lounge and an honesty bar serving a selection of soft and alcoholic drinks (including local Hungarian fruit brandy, pálinka), adding to the friendly home-away-from-home vibe.

Budapest is home to an increasing number of Michelin-star restaurants, one of which can be found in the elegant Prestige Hotel Budapest, just a few hundred metres from the Danube. This city-centre hotel in Budapest is set in an impressive 19th-century townhouse, with the Michelin-star Costes Downtown located on its ground floor, offering breakfast for hotel guests and fine-dining based on quality produce from local suppliers. The hotel’s vibrant yet stately rooms feature modern amenities, including Nespresso coffee machines, while luxurious touches throughout the building – such as teardrop chandeliers – add to the feeling of timeless elegance.

The family-run Baltazár Budapest is a quirky yet chic hotel located in Budapest’s Castle District, on the Buda side of the city. Set away from the city centre, this characterful boutique hotel remains within easy reach of the city’s top sights and attractions – the Fisherman’s Bastion, for example, is under a 10-minute walk away. Each of the 11 rooms and suites is uniquely designed and decorated, with inspirations ranging from Vivienne Westwood to Andy Warhol. A combination of vintage and contemporary furniture adds to the bohemian feel, while modern features such as LED TVs and mood lighting ensure a comfortable stay. While the hotel lacks the facilities of some larger hotels, such as a sauna or swimming pool, the Baltazár’s on-site restaurant comes highly recommended for its signature grills, classic Hungarian dishes and extensive wine list.

An opulent and grand hotel overlooking one of Budapest’s main boulevards, the Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel occupies a building rich in history. Once the headquarters of the New York Life Insurance Company, its façade features decorative elements by Hungarian sculptor Károly Senyei. The hotel is also home to the famous New York Café, packed with Belle Époque charm and formerly a popular meeting place for Hungarian writers and artists. New York Palace’s 185 rooms and suites await guests, with modern design and amenities complementing the building’s classic features and old-world feel. The hotel is also located next to the city’s well connected #4 and #6 tram lines, meaning easy transport across Budapest is just steps away.

Tucked away in Budapest’s historic Castle District, this welcoming design hotel has history on its side. It first opened its doors in 1696 as an inn. Since then, things have changed somewhat – Pest-Buda is now a contemporary, family-run hotel with traditional touches, providing design-led accommodation not far from landmarks such as the Fisherman’s Bastion and Buda Castle. There are 10 rooms, including cosy doubles and larger suites, all with bathrooms clad in local limestone. A mixture of modern and vintage furnishings adds to the quirky feel of this boutique hotel, while pieces by Hungarian graphic artists adorn the walls. Pest-Buda’s in-house eponymous bistro offers a varied menu of Hungarian and international dishes.

Located on the Buda side of the Chain Bridge, with Castle Hill providing an impressive backdrop, Hotel Clark is a great base from which to explore both Buda and Pest. The Castle Hill Funicular is just a few steps away, as is the Danube River, both of which can be seen from a good number of the hotel’s 86 rooms. The hotel has a rooftop bar and a fitness centre, both of which offer spectacular panoramas. Bedrooms are bright and colourful, offering modern amenities and quirky decorative touches – lion motifs, inspired by the iconic lion head statues at either end of the Chain Bridge, are featured throughout. Meat-lovers will enjoy Hotel Clark’s restaurant – Beefbar Budapest – which specialises in steaks and works in close collaboration with local farmers.