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Budapest
Welcome to Budapest, the ‘Pearl of the Danube.’ Hungary’s capital is a city of breathtaking beauty, with a rich history, grand architecture, and famous thermal baths. From the majestic Parliament Building to the historic Buda Castle, our guide to the best luxury hotels in Budapest will help you find the luxury escape you deserve in these dream hotels.
Welcome to Budapest: The Pearl of the Danube
Welcome to Budapest, the ‘Pearl of the Danube’ and the magnificent capital of Hungary. A city of breathtaking beauty, Budapest is defined by its rich history, grand and eclectic architecture, and its world-famous, healing thermal baths. From the majestic Hungarian Parliament Building that dominates the riverbank to the historic, fairytale-like Buda Castle perched on its hill, our comprehensive guide to the best luxury hotels in Budapest will help you find the luxurious and enchanting escape that you truly deserve in one of these many dream hotels.
1. Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest
The Place: An iconic Art Nouveau masterpiece located at the foot of the Chain Bridge on the banks of the Danube. This meticulously restored palace is arguably the grandest hotel in the city. It offers breathtaking river views and a palpable sense of history, the undisputed crown jewel among all luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The magnificent Peacock Passage lobby lounge, with its stunning Zsolnay tiled floor and spectacular glass cupola, is an unforgettable architectural masterpiece.
1. Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest: An Art Nouveau Masterpiece
The Place: An iconic and truly breathtaking Art Nouveau masterpiece, the Four Seasons Gresham Palace is perfectly located at the foot of the historic Chain Bridge on the banks of the Danube. This meticulously restored palace is arguably the grandest and most beautiful hotel in the city. It offers breathtaking river and castle views and a palpable sense of history and occasion, making it the undisputed crown jewel among all luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The magnificent Peacock Passage lobby lounge, with its stunning, original Zsolnay tiled floor, its soaring, spectacular glass cupola, and its ornate ironwork, is an unforgettable architectural masterpiece and the true heart of the hotel.
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2. Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest
The Place: A magnificent and beautifully restored Belle Époque palace, a designated UNESCO world heritage site. Located in the heart of the city, this hotel masterfully blends its rich history with a modern, sophisticated design. It has quickly become a culinary destination, a vibrant and glamorous new addition to the finest luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The Duchess, the hotel’s secretive rooftop sky bar, offers incredible, panoramic views of the city, the Danube, and the Gellért Hill citadel.
2. Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest: A Reborn Belle Époque Icon
The Place: A magnificent and beautifully restored Belle Époque palace, the Matild Palace is a designated UNESCO world heritage site that stands proudly in the heart of the city. This historic hotel masterfully blends its incredibly rich history and imperial grandeur with a modern, sophisticated, and culturally immersive design. It has quickly become a premier culinary destination, a vibrant and glamorous new addition to the finest luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The Duchess, the hotel’s secretive and incredibly chic rooftop sky bar, was inspired by a clandestine rooftop movement started by an Archduchess. It offers incredible, panoramic views of the city, the Danube, and the Gellért Hill citadel.
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3. The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest
The Place: Housed in a historic 20th-century building in the very heart of the city, just steps from St. Stephen’s Basilica. The Ritz-Carlton offers a perfect blend of classic elegance and contemporary luxury. It is celebrated for its sophisticated design, its beautiful indoor pool, and its impeccable service, a true standout among modern luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The stunning indoor swimming pool, set beneath a beautiful glass roof, is a serene and light-filled oasis perfect for relaxation in the city center.
3. The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest: Modern Elegance in the City Center
The Place: Housed in a historic and protected 20th-century building in the very heart of the city, just steps from St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Danube, The Ritz-Carlton offers a perfect blend of classic elegance and contemporary luxury. It is celebrated for its sophisticated, modern design, its beautiful indoor pool with a glass roof, and its impeccable, legendary service, making it a true standout among modern luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The stunning indoor swimming pool, set beneath a beautiful and dramatic glass roof, is a serene and light-filled oasis that is perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation in the absolute heart of the bustling city center.
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4. Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel
The Place: A breathtakingly opulent hotel housed in a magnificent 19th-century eclectic palace on the Grand Boulevard. The hotel is most famous for its legendary New York Café, often called the most beautiful café in the world. This property offers a truly grand and historic experience, distinguishing it from all other luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: Having a coffee and cake in the impossibly ornate and gilded New York Café, with its magnificent frescoes and chandeliers, is a truly unforgettable experience.
4. Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel: A Gilded Age Dream
The Place: A breathtakingly opulent and historic hotel, the Anantara is housed in a magnificent 19th-century eclectic palace on the grand and bustling Grand Boulevard. The hotel is most famous for its legendary and jaw-droppingly beautiful New York Café, which is often called the most beautiful café in the world. This property offers a truly grand and historic experience, distinguishing it from all other luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: Having a coffee and a slice of cake in the impossibly ornate and gilded New York Café, with its magnificent ceiling frescoes, Venetian chandeliers, and buzzing atmosphere, is a truly unforgettable and quintessential Budapest experience.
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5. Aria Hotel Budapest by Library Hotel Collection
The Place: A unique and stylish, music-themed boutique hotel located next to St. Stephen’s Basilica. The Aria is celebrated for its four distinct wings, each dedicated to a different genre of music. It offers a vibrant and playful atmosphere, a fantastic spa, and a stunning rooftop bar. A top choice among boutique luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The High Note SkyBar is one of the city’s best rooftop bars, offering spectacular, 360-degree panoramic views, including an incredible close-up of the Basilica’s dome.
5. Aria Hotel Budapest by Library Hotel Collection: A Musical Masterpiece
The Place: A unique, stylish, and vibrant, music-themed boutique hotel, the Aria is perfectly located right next to the magnificent St. Stephen’s Basilica. The hotel is celebrated for its four distinct and beautifully designed wings, each dedicated to a different genre of music: Classical, Opera, Jazz, and Contemporary. It offers a vibrant and playful atmosphere, a fantastic spa, and a stunning rooftop bar. A top choice among boutique luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The High Note SkyBar is consistently ranked as one of the city’s best rooftop bars. It offers spectacular, 360-degree panoramic views of the city, including an incredible, almost eye-level close-up of the Basilica’s magnificent dome.
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6. Kozmo Hotel Suites & Spa
The Place: A stunning and sophisticated hotel housed in a beautifully restored historic building near the city center. The Kozmo is celebrated for its dramatic, contemporary design that respects the building’s classical heritage. It is known for its exceptionally large rooms and its beautiful, serene spa. A true hidden gem among luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s magnificent, grand historic staircase and the stunning, light-filled central atrium create a truly spectacular and dramatic sense of arrival for every guest.
6. Kozmo Hotel Suites & Spa: A Hidden Gem of Design
The Place: A stunning and sophisticated hotel, the Kozmo is housed in a beautifully restored and imposing historic building that was once the city’s main telecommunications center, located near the city center. The hotel is celebrated for its dramatic, contemporary design that beautifully respects the building’s grand, classical heritage. It is known for its exceptionally large rooms and its beautiful, serene spa. A true hidden gem among luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s magnificent, grand historic staircase and the stunning, light-filled central atrium, which soars through the center of the building, create a truly spectacular and dramatic sense of arrival for every one of its guests.
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7. Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest
The Place: A modern and sophisticated grand hotel located in the heart of the city, offering a contemporary take on European luxury. The Kempinski is celebrated for its central location, its spacious, light-filled rooms, and its impressive culinary offerings, including two Michelin-starred restaurants. A consistently excellent choice among luxury hotels in Budapest for its service.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s central location on Fashion Street makes it the perfect and most convenient starting point for exploring the city’s best shopping, dining, and sights.
7. Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest: A Modern Grand Dame
The Place: A modern and sophisticated grand hotel, the Kempinski is located in the very heart of the city, offering a contemporary take on classic European luxury. The hotel is celebrated for its unbeatable central location, its spacious, light-filled rooms, its impressive contemporary Hungarian art collection, and its outstanding culinary offerings, including two Michelin-starred restaurants. A consistently excellent choice among luxury hotels in Budapest for its world-class service.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s prime and incredibly convenient location on Fashion Street makes it the perfect and most central starting point for exploring the city’s best shopping, dining, and historic sights, all of which are just steps away.
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8. Mystery Hotel Budapest
The Place: A unique and eclectic, magic-themed luxury hotel housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century palace. The Mystery Hotel offers a whimsical and immersive experience, with design elements inspired by myths, legends, and optical illusions. It is a truly unique and playful choice that stands out from all other luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The Secret Garden Day Spa, with its beautiful Baroque-style garden and jacuzzi, is a stunning and truly hidden oasis in the hotel’s courtyard.
8. Mystery Hotel Budapest: A World of Whimsy and Wonder
The Place: A unique and eclectic, magic-themed luxury hotel, the Mystery Hotel is housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century palace that was once the headquarters of the Hungarian Freemasons. The hotel offers a whimsical and immersive experience, with design elements inspired by myths, legends, and optical illusions, such as flying carpets and secret rooms. It is a truly unique and playful choice that stands out from all other luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The Secret Garden Day Spa, with its beautiful and lush Baroque-style garden setting and a large jacuzzi, is a stunning and truly hidden oasis located in the hotel’s quiet and atmospheric central courtyard, perfect for relaxation.
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9. W Budapest
The Place: A vibrant and stylish hotel housed in the magnificent, historic Drechsler Palace on the prestigious Andrássy Avenue. The W masterfully blends its protected heritage with the brand’s signature bold, contemporary design and lively social scene. This is one of the most exciting and fashionable new additions to the roster of luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The stunning and speakeasy-style underground bar, which is located in the beautifully restored historic vaults of the palace, is a truly unique and atmospheric venue.
9. W Budapest: A Historic Palace Reimagined
The Place: A vibrant and incredibly stylish new hotel, the W Budapest is housed in the magnificent, historic Drechsler Palace on the prestigious and UNESCO-listed Andrássy Avenue. The W masterfully blends its protected, rich heritage with the brand’s signature bold, contemporary design and a lively, see-and-be-seen social scene. This is one of the most exciting and fashionable new additions to the roster of luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The stunning and atmospheric speakeasy-style underground bar, which is located in the beautifully restored historic vaults of the original palace, is a truly unique and sophisticated venue for enjoying a craft cocktail in a historic setting.
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10. Dorothea Hotel, Autograph Collection
The Place: A magnificent new hotel comprised of three beautifully interconnected historic buildings from different eras. Located in the heart of the city, the Dorothea masterfully blends historic character with a sophisticated, contemporary design by Piero Lissoni. It offers a unique architectural journey and is one of the most significant new luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The magnificent, historic, and beautifully preserved central staircase is a true architectural masterpiece and the stunning, historic heart of the entire hotel property.
10. Dorothea Hotel, Autograph Collection: An Architectural Journey
The Place: A magnificent new hotel comprised of three beautifully interconnected historic buildings from different eras, located in the very heart of the city’s 5th district. The Dorothea masterfully blends the distinct historic character of each building with a sophisticated, unified, and contemporary design by the acclaimed Italian architect Piero Lissoni. It offers a unique architectural journey through time and is one of the most significant new luxury hotels in Budapest.
My Top Pick: The magnificent, historic, and beautifully preserved central staircase is a true architectural masterpiece. With its ornate details and sweeping grandeur, it serves as the stunning, historic heart of the entire hotel property, connecting the past and present.
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Bonus: Corinthia Budapest
A beautifully restored 19th-century grand hotel on the Grand Boulevard, the Corinthia is a true landmark of classic European elegance. It is celebrated for its magnificent, historic ballroom, its grand central atrium, and its spectacular Royal Spa. This is one of the most classic and historically significant luxury hotels in Budapest, offering a true sense of old-world grandeur.
Bonus: Corinthia Budapest: A Grand Boulevard Icon
The Place: A beautifully restored 19th-century grand hotel on the bustling Grand Boulevard, the Corinthia is a true landmark of classic European elegance and a pioneer of the hotel industry. It is celebrated for its magnificent, historic ballroom, its grand, six-story central atrium, and its spectacular and expansive Royal Spa, which has been beautifully restored to its original splendor. This is one of the most classic and historically significant luxury hotels in Budapest.
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Expert’s Opinion: One to Choose?
Here’s our recommendation to help you choose the perfect luxury hotel in Budapest for your trip:
- For iconic, palatial grandeur: Four Seasons Gresham Palace is the undisputed architectural masterpiece of the city.
- For a unique, historic experience: The opulent Anantara New York Palace with its famous café offers an unforgettable journey into the past.
- For the best rooftop views: Aria Hotel Budapest or the new Matild Palace provide spectacular, panoramic vistas.
- For modern luxury and convenience: The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest or Kempinski Hotel Corvinus are perfect choices in the heart of the city.
1. Best Time to Visit Budapest
- Spring (April-June): An ideal time to visit, with pleasant, mild weather and the city’s parks and gardens in full bloom, perfect for strolling and sightseeing.
- Autumn (September-October): Also a great season for a visit, with comfortable, cool temperatures and beautiful fall colors, making it a romantic time to explore.
- Summer (July-August): Can be hot, but the city is alive with numerous outdoor festivals, and its famous ‘ruin bar’ gardens are in full swing with a vibrant atmosphere.
- Winter (November-December): The weather is cold but magical, with charming and festive Christmas markets that transform the city’s main squares into a winter wonderland. It’s also the perfect weather for visiting the city’s famous thermal baths.
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Travel Guides: Budapest, Hungary
A stay at a luxury hotel is just the beginning of your Budapest adventure. To make the most of your trip, here is a travel guide that complements the article on luxury hotels in Budapest.
2. Getting Around Budapest
- Public Transport: The city has an excellent and efficient network of trams (especially the scenic Tram 2), metro, and buses. The historic Millennium Underground Railway (M1) is a UNESCO World Heritage site itself.
- Walking: Many of the key sights on both the Buda (hilly) and Pest (flat) sides of the river are best and most enjoyably explored on foot.
- Taxis and Ride-Sharing: Taxis are available, but it is highly recommended to use reputable, app-based services like Bolt to ensure fair pricing and reliability.
1. When to Go?
- Spring (April-June): An ideal time to visit, with pleasant weather and the city in bloom.
- Autumn (September-October): Also a great season, with comfortable temperatures and beautiful fall colors.
- Summer (July-August): Can be hot, but the city is alive with festivals and its famous ‘ruin bar’ gardens are in full swing.
- Winter (November-December): Cold but magical, with charming Christmas markets and the perfect weather for visiting the thermal baths.
3. Must-See Sights in Budapest
- Buda Castle District: Explore this vast, historic hill, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is home to Buda Castle, the beautiful Matthias Church, and the fairytale-like Fisherman’s Bastion.
- Hungarian Parliament Building: Take a guided tour of this magnificent, Gothic Revival architectural masterpiece on the banks of the Danube, one of the most impressive legislative buildings in the world.
- Chain Bridge: Walk across the iconic and beautiful suspension bridge, guarded by its famous lion statues, that was the first to permanently connect the Buda and Pest sides of the city.
- St. Stephen’s Basilica: Visit the largest church in Budapest, named after the first King of Hungary. Be sure to climb to the top of its dome for incredible, panoramic city views.
2. Getting Around Budapest
- Public Transport: The city has an excellent and efficient network of trams, metro, and buses. The historic Millennium Underground Railway (M1) is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Walking: Many of the key sights on both the Buda and Pest sides of the river are best explored on foot.
- Taxis and Ride-Sharing: Taxis are available, but be sure to use reputable companies. The Bolt app is a popular and reliable ride-sharing option.
4. Unique Experiences in Budapest
- Thermal Baths: You absolutely cannot leave Budapest without visiting one of its famous thermal baths. Experience the grand, outdoor pools of the Szechenyi Bath or the stunning Art Nouveau Gellért Bath.
- Ruin Bars: Experience Budapest’s unique and world-famous nightlife by having a drink in one of the famous ‘ruin bars’ in the old Jewish Quarter, which are eclectic, artsy bars set up in formerly derelict buildings.
- Danube River Cruise: Take a boat cruise along the majestic Danube, especially at night, for breathtaking, glittering views of the illuminated Parliament Building, Buda Castle, and the city’s many beautiful bridges.
- Central Market Hall: Explore this magnificent, historic market hall with its impressive Zsolnay-tiled roof. Sample local Hungarian delicacies like langos and shop for souvenirs like paprika and Tokaji wine.
3. Must-See Sights in Budapest
- Buda Castle District: Explore this historic hill, home to Buda Castle, Matthias Church, and Fisherman’s Bastion.
- Hungarian Parliament Building: Take a guided tour of this magnificent, Gothic Revival architectural masterpiece on the banks of the Danube.
- Chain Bridge: Walk across the iconic and beautiful suspension bridge that connects the Buda and Pest sides of the city.
- St. Stephen’s Basilica: Visit the largest church in Budapest and climb to the top of its dome for panoramic city views.
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4. Unique Experiences in Budapest
- Thermal Baths: You cannot leave Budapest without visiting one of its famous thermal baths, such as the grand Szechenyi or the Art Nouveau Gellért.
- Ruin Bars: Experience Budapest’s unique nightlife by having a drink in one of the famous ‘ruin bars’ in the old Jewish Quarter, set up in derelict buildings.
- Danube River Cruise: Take a boat cruise along the Danube, especially at night, for breathtaking views of the illuminated Parliament and Buda Castle.
- Central Market Hall: Explore this magnificent, historic market hall to sample local Hungarian delicacies and shop for souvenirs like paprika.
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