Although the mythical “Grand Budapest Hotel” isn’t an option when deciding where to stay in Budapest, there are countless hotels in Hungary’s vibrant capital that earn the Gustave H. stamp of approval. Widely considered one of the coolest cities in Europe, days in Budapest are spent encountering landmarks, meandering along the riverside, and curing all ailments by “taking the waters” at a thermal bathhouse. Evenings start with rooftop sundowners and end in buzzing ruin bars. Fusing golden-age hospitality with bohemian charm, these luxury Budapest hotels give you the grandest experience.
Photo: Expedia
The Top Budapest Hotels Include a Wes Anderson Inspo and an Art Nouveau Showcase
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The Ritz-Carlton Budapest Hotel
- Address: Erzsebet Ter 9-10, 1051 Budapest, 1051, Hungary
- Rates from: $395/night
Located in Erzsébet Square and right around the block from Vörösmarty and St. Stephen’s Basilica, you can’t get more central than the Ritz-Carlton Budapest Hotel. Commanding a heritage building, the interiors mix bygone elegance with contemporary amenities. Some overlook the leafy plaza while Club suites have the perk of a balcony and skyline views.
This 5-star hotel in Budapest has a luxe spa complex with a heated indoor pool and Jacuzzi. Although you’ll be drowning in options for where to eat nearby, Kupola Lounge is a classy spot for a casual Sunday brunch or traditional afternoon tea.
Hotel Corinthia Budapest
- Address: Erzsebet krt 43-49, Budapest, 1073, Hungary
- Rates from: $196/night
When it comes to spa hotels in Budapest, it’s nigh impossible to top the Corinthia. The pool at the Royal Spa even gives the Széchenyi a run for its money with its Art Deco tilework and Wes Anderson-worthy symmetry. It’s no surprise that this Budapest hotel played a starring role in the creation of the 2014 comedy caper.
Furnished with coffee-makers and marble en suites, understated rooms are styled with an emphasis on comfort. Ensure your reservation covers spa use otherwise a surcharge per visit will apply. Orfeum hosts cabaret shows while the atmospheric Le Bar keeps a resident pianist.
Mystery Hotel Budapest
- Address: Podmaniczky utca 45., Budapest, 1064, Hungary
- Rates from: $125/night
Besides being convenient for the key District V sights, the Mystery Hotel is one of the most unique Budapest hotels. Eclectic decor sees rooms flaunting larger-than-life replicas of paintings while others channel a classic French look. Exuberant suites are dressed with Persian carpets, reading nooks, and free-standing tubs.
If the playful aesthetic doesn’t cut it, the Sky Garden is the crowning glory at the Mystery Hotel Budapest. This seasonal rooftop bar serves craft cocktails and Hungarian nibbles with views skimming Fisherman’s Bastion and Gellért Hill. On chillier days, find refuge at the glass-covered Jacuzzi in the Garden Spa.
Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel
- Address: Vaci Utca 36, Budapest, 1056, Hungary
- Rates from: $377/night
One of the best hotels in Budapest near the popular ruin bars, Matild Palace consists of glamorous suites and epic lofts. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the hotel was originally designed as a place for artists and the elite to mingle. The recent renovation has brought a bold color scheme to the rooms – check out the glitzy sapphire bathrooms inspired by Gellért Thermal Baths.
Cabaret acts, acrobats, and musicians make regular appearances at the historic Belle Epoque Matild Cafe. This Belle Epoque coffee house was the first to reopen after the end of World War II. Thermal therapy and hammam rituals are available at the hotel spa.
Hotel Moments Budapest
- Address: Andrássy út 8., Budapest, 1061, Hungary
- Rates from: $193/night
Located on the UNESCO-listed Andrássy Avenue, Hotel Moments Budapest is an evocative urban hideaway that ascends around an ornate atrium. Beyond the rooms, the lobby lounge is a lovely place to plot out your day or tune into the occasional live piano recital. Before its transformation into a luxury hotel, this building housed Budapest’s first movie theater.
Ninety-nine domains are accented with mulberry and gold hues with superior rooms on the higher floors drenched in sunshine by skylights. Only the St. Stephen’s Basilica Suite supplies landmark views from its private roof terrace and soaking tub.
Budapest Marriott Hotel
- Address: Apaczai Csere Janos u. 4, Budapest, 1052, Hungary
- Rates from: $255/night
One of the best 5-star hotels in Budapest with Danube views, the Marriott is a stone’s throw from the walkable riverfront. Entry-level deluxe rooms grant a peek at the water while select suites feature private balconies with arresting aerial perspectives. All units are bathed in natural light courtesy of picture windows and outfitted with premium linens for a comfortable night’s sleep.
Provisioned with connecting rooms, a business center, and a spa, the Budapest Marriott Hotel is the perfect all-rounder. Traveling families can rely on trusted childminding services while all guests will appreciate the panoramic Sky Lounge.
Prestige Hotel Budapest
- Address: Vigyázó Ferenc utca 5, Budapest, 1051, Hungary
- Rates from: $152/night
Minutes from the Hungarian Parliament Building and St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Prestige is one of the more traditional Budapest hotels. Spacious rooms overlook the chandelier and skylight-lit atrium courtyard where guests are welcome to unwind on velvet couches as the concierge team goes about their business. All units are richly appointed with deluxe upholstered beds and fluffy bathrobes.
It’s on the compact side, but the Prestige Hotel has a hot tub, sauna, and gym on the first floor. A buffet breakfast and evening tasting menu are available at the hotel’s restaurant partner, the Michelin-starred Costes Downtown.
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest
- Address: Széchenyi István tér 5-6, Budapest, 1051, Hungary
- Rates from: $535/night
One of the most illustrious 5-star hotels in Budapest, rooms at the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace are outfitted with the chain’s legendary mattresses. Premium rooms overlook the Danube, Buda Castle, or the Széchenyi Bridge. Ideal for families seeking additional living space, the specialty suites have private balconies and fireplaces.
Occupying an Art Nouveau palace, the Four Seasons wears its grande dame status well with two million mosaic tiles adorning the lobby. Seize the opportunity to grab a pre-dinner drink at the lavish Múzsa where potent cocktails are served alongside posh bar snacks on bespoke china.
Cortile Budapest Hotel
- Address: Dessewffy utca 14, Budapest, 1061, Hungary
- Rates from: $140/night
One of the best hotels in Budapest for couples, the Cortile Budapest Hotel is an adults-only boutique hotel near the Hungarian State Opera. The interior design mimics the natural world, with rooms styled on earth, sky, jungle, or forest. All come stocked with a Nespresso coffee machine and bathrobes while management is committed to green practices.
Covered for year-round swimming, the rooftop infinity pool is provisioned with floating pillows. In reflection of the room decor, the four signature cocktails served at the adjacent bar take their lead from the four elements. The complimentary breakfast is an added bonus for those on a budget.
Aria Hotel Budapest by Library Hotel Collection
- Address: Hercegprímás utca 5, Budapest, 1051, Hungary
- Rates from: $389/night
One of the most romantic boutique Budapest hotels in District V, the Aria Hotel hits all the right notes with rooms capturing the spirit of opera, jazz, classical, or contemporary music. Some open onto a private balcony or a sunroom while all connect to the digital library where you can set your own playlist.
Available all year, artisan cocktails at the High Note SkyBar are dedicated to Budapest’s principal sights. A complimentary afternoon wine and cheese reception is hosted daily in the Music Garden and frequented by musicians. Down in the basement, a heated pool, Jacuzzi, and sauna will rejuvenate you between sights.
Ibis Styles Budapest Airport Hotel
- Address: Hrsz. 072 3, Liszt Ferenc International Airport, Terminal 2, 1185 Budapest, Hungary
- Rates from: $123/night
A crack-of-dawn flight to your next destination calls for a hotel near Budapest Airport. The solo in-terminal hotel at Liszt Ferenc International Airport, Ibis Styles comprises soundproofed rooms with blackout curtains. The cheerful decor features aviation motifs while runway view rooms are available.
Only five minutes on foot from departures, this Budapest Airport hotel offers a buffet breakfast and wake-up calls. The lobby restaurant serves cocktails and light bites with the option to request in-room dining.
Is the Grand Budapest Hotel real?
The titular Grand Budapest Hotel and its mountainside setting of Zubrowka are fictional. However, Wes Anderson’s movie was influenced by his visit to one of the storied hotels in Budapest, Hungary’s capital city. Originally called the Grand Hotel Royal, the Corinthia Hotel Budapest has a history with filmmakers – its ballroom-turned-cinema hosted the Lumiére brothers. Anderson also traveled to the Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary where the Grandhotel Pupp, the Hotel Imperial, and the Hotel Bristol Palace further kindled his imagination.
Where was The Grand Budapest Hotel filmed?
Much of The Grand Budapest Hotel was filmed in the East German state of Saxony, specifically in and around Görlitz and Dresden. The Sphinx Observatory in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland was used for the cable car scene. Although inspired by hotels in Budapest, Hungary, and Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, miniature handmade models were used to represent the facade of the pink hotel.
Which part of Budapest is best to stay in?
Budapest is divided into two parts: Buda and Pest. On the west bank of the Danube, Buda is where you’ll find Fisherman’s Bastion, Buda Castle, and Matthias Church. In terms of where to stay in Budapest, the Pest side on the east of the river is best. D Marked by Vörösmarty Square and Andrássy Avenue, District V is the heart of the city and where you’ll find the best hotels in Budapest. The nearby District VI (the Jewish Quarter) has a corker dining scene and laid-back nightlife.
Where is the best place to stay in Budapest for first-time visitors?
As a first-time visitor, Pest is the best part of Budapest to make your base. It’s easy to hop across to the Buda side and tour the historical sights by walking or taking a bus over Széchenyi Chain Bridge. Families or couples might prefer Buda for its quieter atmosphere but there is still a wider variety of hotels and restaurants on the Pest side suitable for all types of travelers.
What is the famous Budapest hotel?
The most famous Budapest hotel is the Corinthia, formerly the Grand Hotel Royal. Wes Anderson visited this hotel ahead of making The Grand Budapest Hotel. The Marriott Hotel is known for its Danube views while the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace is the definitive luxury Budapest hotel.
Are three nights in Budapest enough?
Three nights in Budapest will cover you for seeing the main sights on both sides of the river. Although if your itinerary allows, five to seven days will give you the chance to dig deeper into the history and culture of Budapest.
Which month is best for Budapest?
Budapest has a year-round appeal. Summer is the best time to visit Budapest for the hottest temperatures although the streets will feel busier. Early spring and autumn are ideal for spending time outdoors and exploring the hills with April bringing an eruption of cherry blossoms in Budapest’s parks. Although frosty winters see temperatures drop to 32°F, Budapest’s luxury hotels, festive markets, and thermal baths are good reasons to consider the Hungarian capital for a winter getaway. 