Nine dinners in Budapest you will remember for a long time!

Are you looking for suggestions on places to eat in Budapest? Here we have compiled a list of nine dinner opportunities that for sure will give you many memories and experiences to remember for a long time.

We don’t expect you to consider all nine suggestions just as good, but, we are sure that everyone will find some of the ideas to be brilliant. And based on our own experience, we can clearly say that these are awesome experiences that will be stuck in your mind for a long time after the actual dinner.

Are you ready to go? If you find something you like, click the links to fix your reservations and to read more about the different restaurants and programs.

Nine fantastic dinner options in Budapest

Let us start with two gourmet restaurants that will give you a culinary experience to remember. These are not the cheapest experiences in Budapest, but considering the quality you get, the prices ain’t that bad at all!

Onyx Budapest – A two-starred dinner

Onyx was the first restaurant in Budapest to receive a Michelin star and was later the first restaurant ever to receive a second Michelin star. In other words, this is the only restaurant in Budapest with two Michelin-stars, and it is food and ingredients at the highest level. You will for sure remember your meal here for a long time, but be aware of the fact that you should reserve a table months before arrival if you want to be sure to get a free seat.

Gourmet dinner in Onyx Budapest

Onyx Budapest
Address: 1051 Budapest, Vorosmarty ter 7-8
Reservation: +36 30 508 06 22


Aszu Budapest – A gourmet dinner without stars

If you want to experience a Budapest dinner in high class and with the best ingredients, but without paying for the Michelin stars, Aszu is a perfect option. The restaurant is located in the heart of Budapest, not far from St. Stephen’s Basilica. Here you will often find free tables if you book a few days in advance, making it perfect for a very fine dinner in Budapest booked quite late. Aszu is also the name of the most famous wine produced in Hungary from the Tokaj region, making the restaurant a perfect place for a wine dinner where you combined the best ingredients with some of the best Hungarian wines.

Aszu restaurant in Budapest

Aszu Budapest
Address: 1051 Budapest, Sas u. 4.
Reservation: can be done here.


After two gourmet restaurants, it is time to change to some different restaurants in other interesting categories.


Dinner at the Danube River

The dinners you are served on the Danube might not be the most exclusive, but they will still give you memories to remember for a long time. What is better than enjoying a delicious meal (either served at the table or taken from a buffet), and then eating it while watching the beautiful city of Budapest outside the windows of the boat? Many of these boats also have live music in the background, giving you an even nicer experience during the trip.

There are river cruises with food available both during the daytime and nighttime, but if you want to see Budapest at its most magnificent, make sure to book a cruise in the evening!

Dinner at a river cruise in Budapest

Budapest River Cruises
More information about tours and booking opportunities here.


Eat a lot in Trofea Grill

Are you one of those who simply want to eat it all and taste it all? Maybe it is hard to choose only one main course from the menu? Go to Trofea Grill and enjoy food from a giant buffet. Here you can eat without stop and without limitations and taste a whole lot of variations of Hungarian food. There are soups, main courses, salads, desserts, fruits, vegetables, grill bar, and so much more to choose from, and besides eating a lot, you can also drink without limitations as everything is included in the price.

Buffet dinner in Trofea Grill Budapest

Trofea Grill
Address: Kiraly utca 30-32 , Margit Korut 2
Reservation: fix it here

There are a total of six Trofea Grill restaurants in Budapest, but the two addresses above are to the best two restaurants in the category.


A fantastic wine dinner in Budapest

Hungary is a nation of wine production, and what can then be better than to enjoy a large wine dinner while in Budapest? We have two awesome wine dinners available to our guests and they are both arranged in central Budapest, not far from the Ferenciek square. At both dinners, you will be served traditional Hungarian courses combined with 100% authentic Hungarian wines. Neither of the menus should be considered gourmet dinners, but they are still in high quality and should be satisfying to most people out there looking for dinners with good drinks and high-quality food.

wine dinner in budapest

Wine dinners in Budapest
Arranged in BorLaBor and Karolyi restaurant in Budapest
More information and booking can be done here.


A Medieval dinner with belly-dancing

It might not sound so attractive, but the Sir Lancelot restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in all of Budapest. It is crowded on all evenings (almost), and here you can enjoy giant plates of food served to you and your companions. But, that isn’t all. The restaurant is furnished with medieval furniture, there is live middle age music in the background, you can experience sword-fights and belly-dancing, and it is an experience people come to experience over and over again while in Budapest. A really authentic and awesome experience for those who want a somewhat different restaurant experience in Budapest.

Medieval dinner in Sir Lancelot Budapest

Sir Lancelot Budapest
Address: 1065 Budapest, Podmaniczky u. 14.
Reservation: fix it right here.


Brewery dinner for those who love beer

Are you in love with beer? Do you want to eat a lot, and at the same time drink and enjoy beer brewed at the actual restaurant? Our brewery dinner might be exactly what you have been looking for. The restaurant/brewery is located near the Kalvin square and here you will combine a four-course dinner with a brewery visit, accompanied by four beers and four Hungarian fruit spirits (Palinka). You will for sure not leave the restaurant hungry, but you might walk a bit shady after getting quite a lot of alcohol into your blood during your time at the place.

The four courses served are quite traditional Hungarian courses, and the portions are like you expect them to be in Hungary – BIG!

Beer dinner in Kaltenberg Budapest

Brewery dinner Budapest
Address: Kinizsi utca 30-36 (Kaltenberg)
Reservation: This program is made for us and can be booked here.


Juicy steaks in La Pampa / Pampas

Do you like the sound of a juicy steak, or maybe a Kobe steak while in Budapest? At both La Pampa and Pampas Steakhouse, you have the chance to eat steaks in all sizes and with all sorts of side dishes. Both restaurants are known for their high quality, and they are both located in the heart of Budapest. La Pampa is close to the St. Stephen’s Basilica and has a beautiful interior, while Pampas is next to the Grand Market Hall and might look a bit rustier on the inside. The menu is, however, identical in both places, so the only difference between the restaurants is the waiters and the interior.

Ready for a steak in Budapest?

Pampas Steakhouse
Address: 1053 Budapest, Vámház krt. 6
Reservation: Fix your reservation here.

La Pampa
Address: 1065 Budapest, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 23
Reservation: Fix your reservation here.


Eat your dinner at an outdoor market

The last option might sound strange, but if you want a dining experience in Budapest that you might remember for a long time, why not find an outdoor market and eat there? It might be the Easter market or one of the Christmas markets, but these are perfect places to taste very authentic and tasty Hungarian food. Here you will find Hungarian sausages, lots of pork, fresh salads, hot soups, and of course, lots of traditional Hungarian spirits and drinks.

This might sound boring, but it isn’t. At these markets, you will find lots of meals that you don’t find in average restaurants, and just take a look at the following picture from the Christmas market at the Vorosmarty square in 2019 to see what was served.

Rooster Testicles Stew

Do you see what was served here? Rooster Testicles Stew! It might not sound delicious, but it will for sure give you an experience that you will remember for a long time. And maybe you will even enjoy the taste? This is just one of many examples of what you can taste and eat at these outdoor markets in Budapest


Are you ready to eat your Budapest dinner?

We hope these nine suggestions will inspire and help you out. If you have further ideas or suggestions, write them down in the comment field beneath. Have you been to any of the places described? Feel free to write some feedback and tell us all about your experience!

The only thing that remains after this is to wish you GOOD APPETITE!

Hungary in the Euro 2020 in Handball!

The European Championship in Handball is currently arranged in Austria, Sweden, and Norway, and the Hungarians surprised us all and won their initial group. That was a giant surprise, especially considering that they have to play against the Danes, the team considered to be the best in the world currently.

After the initial stage, Hungary went on to the next stage in the tournament together with Iceland. The Danes were left behind together with the Russian team. The Hungarians have played very well, far better than expected, and especially the second half against Iceland during the group stage was magical. But, can they keep the tempo up in the upcoming matches?

Hungarians in Euro 2020
Picture made by: Nebojsa Tejic / kolektiff (Source: https://men2020.ehf-euro.com/ )

On January 17th, Hungary will play against Norway

Norway has been an awesome team so far in the tournament, and they have gotten to the final in several large tournaments recently (however, they never managed to actually win the final). Sander Sagosen is the big star of the team, but they have highly-skilled players at all positions. The way we see it, this is probably the toughest of all the matches during the upcoming stage of the European Championship in handball!

On January 19th, Hungary will play against Slovenia

Slovenia has been a big surprise themselves so far in the tournament, but how they will enter this match will in large also depend on their result as they play against Portugal on January 17th.

On January 21st, Hungary will play against Sweden

Handball has been greatly influenced by the Scandinavian nations, and this will be the third Scandinavian nation against which Hungary will play in the tournament.

On January 22nd, Hungary will play against Portugal

This will be a tough one, not because of the incredible skills of the Portuguese team, but because the Hungarians will not have a rest-day in front of the match. Well, neither will Portugal, but it will still create a large pressure upon the players who will for sure be tired by then after playing so many matches in such a short time.

Hungary in the Handball European Championship
Picture made by Anze Malovrh / kolektiffimages (Source: https://men2020.ehf-euro.com/ )

Can Hungary make it to the semi-final?

Hungary has a little advantage considering that they enter the group stage with two points already. These might be very useful when things get tight. However, if the Hungarians can keep up the fighting from the earlier matches, and if they manage to keep their heads calm, this team might make it to the semi-finals. It would for sure be considered a major surprise to everyone if they do, but there is one thing we can know for sure, the Hungarians will be cheering for their team with everything they have!


If you want to cheer for the Hungarians or simply watch the matches online, check the following streaming guide or the following YouTube video for further information!


Are you looking for a place to watch the matches from the European Championship in Handball in Hungary? If you live in a hotel or an apartment with a TV, then look for the channel Sport1. They broadcast all the Hungarian matches and quite a lot of other matches as well.

Another option is to find a sports pub or bar, and they will for sure stream all the matches in which the Hungarian team is involved!

Kazimir in Budapest – Worth a visit?

If you get hungry while walking the streets of the seventh district in Budapest, often referred to as the Jewish ghetto of Budapest, you might bump into a restaurant named Kazimir. Is it a place worth visiting? Is it a kosher restaurant?

The restaurant named Kazimir is located in the Kazinczy street in Budapest, just opposite an orthodox synagogue, and very close to some famous kosher restaurants. Based on the name, one would expect Kazimir to be a typical Jewish restaurant as well, but that isn’t the case. This is a quite traditional Hungarian restaurant, though with more of a cultural and artistic atmosphere to it. There are often live events taking place, so this is more the place for a laidback cultural evening in a Budapest restaurant.

It is easy to believe Kazimir to be a Jewish ghetto restaurant, especially considering that the Jewish district in Krakow is known as Kazimierz, but still, this is just an ordinary restaurant!

The bar in Kazimir Budapest

A great place for lunch

If you stroll the streets of Budapest and want to find a good place for lunch you can safely pay Kazimir a visit. They have daily menus available, and a three-course version will still cost you less than 2000 HUF (6 Euro). This is ideal, and you will then get to taste some freshly made food, instead of picking traditional courses from the menu (that you can be served in most other restaurants as well).

In other words, if you want a nice lunch at a good price, then this is a perfect place. And since these are daily menus, the food is almost ready when you arrive, which means that you can eat quickly (if you are in a hurry). I actually managed to eat myself through a daily lunch menu in less than 20 minutes (from I arrived until I left). Of course, that isn’t to recommend eating in such a hurry, but if you have to, then it can actually work in this place.

An example of a daily menu main course in Kazimir Budapest.

An interesting place for dinner!

If you are tired of the traditional gypsy music in many of the typical restaurants in Budapest, then the cultural programs in Kazimir will be a breath of fresh air. Here you will find jazz concerts, literature evenings with loud book reading, and so much more. And of course, you will find a menu with traditional Hungarian courses (including the Goulash soup), but also with the special pulled pork sandwich of the house, different sorts of hamburgers, salads, beef, and special courses prepared for those under 12 years. The price of a main course is normally between 2000-4000 HUF, but the most expensive meals cost around 5500 HUF.

Kazimir BUdapest

More information about Kazimir

Address: 1075, Budapest, Kazinczy utca 34.
Tlf: +36 20 354 5533
Opening times: 10.00-04.00

Pay especially attention to the opening times. Here you can have a good time, until early in the morning, just before you wake up to go to work! It is also important to notice that the restaurant is in the middle of the ruin-pub area of Budapest, meaning that the area is full of life and party-people until early morning!

Have you been to Kazimir? Feel free to write a comment to share your thoughts and comments about the restaurant!

The neighborhood of Kazimir

As I have already mentioned, there are synagogues and kosher restaurants in the vicinity of Kazimir. Just beneath, you can see a picture of the largest synagogue of Budapest (and the third-largest in the world), which is less than 500 meters from Kazimir. But, this area is also known for its ruin-pubs, and in the same street, you can find the most famous of them all, Szimpla Kert. In other words, this is an area worth visiting and exploring!

Do not forget that you can read about lots of Budapest restaurants here in our Budapest Guide. We often write about restaurants in our blog, and then there are a couple of restaurants where we can help you book a table as well. Besides this, we can also help with fix wine-dinners in Budapest, a brewery dinner with lots of food, river cruises with food, guided tours and more.

Look around, be inspired, and enjoy your stay in Budapest!

When will the Sziget Festival be arranged in 2020?

The most popular music festival in Hungary every single year is the Sziget Festival. It is arranged in the start of August every year, and it brings about 500,000 visitors to the Hajogyari island, located in the middle of the River Danube in Budapest, a little bit to the north of the Margaret Island.

So far, we know little about which artists will come to Sziget Festival in 2020, but we do know when the festival will be arranged. That is ideal for those who are coming to Sziget in Budapest, not only for the artists, but because they love the festival, the atmosphere, and everything there is about the festival. So, if you are ready to go ahead and purchase your plane ticket to Budapest already in order to have everything in order for the Sziget Festival in 2020, go ahead!

Dates for Sziget Festival in 2019

The Sziget 2020 dates

The Sziget 2020 is arranged between August 5th and August 11th in 2020.

Once again, we do not have information about the artists coming to the festival yet, but we are promised to receive information about it shortly!

Who came to Sziget in 2020?

If you are a fan of music festivals, you don’t really have to worry when it comes to the Sziget Festival. There are awesome artists coming to the festival every single year, and in 2019, the festival brought artists such as Ed Sheeran, Foo Fighters, Florence and the Machine, Post Malone, The 1975, The National, Martin Garrix, Macklemore, Twenty One Pilots, and lots of other artists to Budapest.

Plan your stay in Budapest already

Every year, we help lots of people get from Budapest Airport to the Island on which the Sziget festival is arranged. If you want to book your Budapest airport transfer ahead, go ahead and fix it immediately. Would you like to experience Budapest outside the festival as well? We can take you on a guided tour in the Hungarian capital, let you experience what a brewery looks like inside the walls of a restaurant in Budapest, give you delicious Hungarian wines combined with a wine dinner, and lots of other programs.

Look around here in the Budapest Guide for more information, inspiration, pictures and more!

Experience The Witcher in Hungary (Netflix series)

The Witcher is the name of a brand new Netflix series that many believe can turn into the next Game of Thrones (when it comes to popularity). The series never managed to enchant us, but still, it is amazing to recognize lots of Hungarian locations as you watch the series on Netflix.

Henry Cavill is the biggest star of The Witcher, and he plays the role of a fighter who fights against trolls, magical creatures, and then takes a nice reward for doing so. There is much more to the story than this, but that is the main object of his life as we meet him in the first episodes of the show. But, there will of course be romance, action, wars, battles and so much more as you stream The Witcher on Netflix.

But, what is the very interesting thing about the show? A whole lot of scenes and parts of The Witcher are recorded in Hungary, and some of them even in Budapest. As a result, you might actually recognize some of the spots if you have a sharp eye. But, it isn’t easy, because often they have added effects to the pictures making it harder to discover the similarity, even if you have actually been to the place.

Some places used for the recording of The Witcher in Hungary

A fantastic place to visit when in Hungary is the Turul bird, raging over the city of Tatabanya along the highway connecting Vienna and Bratislava with Budapest. And, not far from this mythic bird, you can find the Szelim caves. And guess what, this is the home of a big dragon in The Witcher. In real life, the cave looks something like this.

From the Szelim caves in Tatabanya
From the Szelim caves in Tatabanya

But, in The Witcher, this is the home of a dragon, and there are at least a couple of scenes that have been recorded at this location. And it is not the only example.

Not far from Tatabanya, you can find the beautiful city of Tata. It has a magnificent lake which is perfect for a stroll (7,5km to walk around the lake), and by the lake, you can also find an old castle which has been used in the series on Netflix. This is a must-see place in Hungary, so make sure to visit Tata and the castle during your stay in Hungary.

The Tata Castle can be seen in The Witcher
The Tata Castle can be seen in The Witcher

And, once you are in the area, make sure to travel on to Komarom. Here you can find an old fortified area, and the main gate of this fortress has also been used in The Witcher and can be seen in the final episode of season 1 on Netflix.


These are just some examples. Besides this, there is also a location called the “Fake castle of Eger”. This is located not far outside Budapest, and this has also been used in the recording process. Here you will see a big battle taking place, and even though it is hard to recognize, you might do so if you have actually been there and see it in real life.

Another location is the Jaki chapel. This is located in Budapest, as a part of the Vajdahunyad castle. This might be the easiest location to visit, and you can see it as The Witcher goes to talk with Stregobor in the first episode of season 1. Another close location is the Skanzen outside Szentendre. This is a open-air museum showing how Hungarians lived and what they did earlier. This has also been used for the recording!


Maybe it is time to go on a The Witcher hunt in Hungary? Or maybe you will be satisfied just joining us on a guided tour in Budapest? Or do you want to visit the city of Szentendre as well? Or maybe taste local Hungarian brew while enjoying large portions of food? We can help you with all of this!

Look around in the Budapest Guide for inspiration, cool programs, interesting tours, and so much more!


Can I watch The Witcher only on Netflix?

Maybe you have been to Hungary already, but you haven’t seen The Witcher yet. Where can you stream it? This is a Netflix original show, and the only place to stream it (legally) is on Netflix. So, you will need a Netflix subscription, and then you can stream it all across the world. There is no need for changing your Netflix region nor anything like that, because this is an original series that can be streamed in every single Netflix region out there.

Is it worth it? Is it better than Game of Thrones? To be honest, I am not the person to tell. I am not a big fan of The Witcher nor of Game of Thrones. But, if you liked one of them, there is a big chance that you will like the other one as well.

If you have comments or questions about The Witcher, the locations used for recording all around Hungary, or maybe you have discovered even more places in use, write a comment and let us know about it!

Budapest Wine Festival 2020

When will the famous Budapest Wine Festival be arranged in 2020? We have received the question several times already, and here is the answer!

Picture from the wine festival in 2018
Picture from the wine festival in 2018 – Zsolt Szigetvary

The annual Wine Festival arranged in the courtyard of the Royal Palace on the castle hill might be the most popular of all festivals in Budapest every year (if we do not include the Sziget festival). Here you can taste thousands of different wines made by large and small wineries in Hungary, and it is a fantastic place to learn more about the Hungarian wine culture. Would you like to check it out in 2019?

Budapest Wine Festival 2020 dates

September 10-13, 2020

Would you like to know more about the annual wine festival? Want to know more about entrance fees etc? Read our full article about the Budapest Wine Festival right here.

If you want to enjoy a nice wine dinner in Budapest instead, read more about our different wine tasting and wine dinner programs here.

More than 16 million passengers used Budapest Airport in 2019

Budapest Airport enjoyed a very good year in 2019. They have a higher rate of growth than most other airports in Europe, and it was the first year ever they passed more than 16 million passengers in one single year.

The total amount of passengers arriving and departing Budapest Airport was 16 173 489. The most popular destination from which people arrive and to which people fly is London, but it is also a fact that people arrive at Budapest Airport from all across Europe in large numbers. But, one of the biggest expansions in 2019 happened towards the Asian market, and there are now direct flights between Budapest and Asian cities such as Shanghai, Soul, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Sanya.

Budapest Airport is getting more and more popular'

More than 30 new flights were launched in 2019, and the total number of landings and takeoffs exceeded 122 000. If you divide that with 365 days a year, the average daily number of landings and takeoffs were around 330 in the number.

The increase compared to 2018 was more than 8%.

What about airport transfers from and to Budapest Airport? We did handle some of them, but there are many more drivers waiting for you as you arrive at Budapest Airport. If you want to know more about our airport transfer service in Budapest, click the link and book your low-cost airport transfer in Budapest immediately!

Look around here in our Budapest Guide for even more information and news about Budapest, pictures from the Hungarian capital, recommendations of restaurants and hotels, and so much more!

Don Vito Visegrad – Worth a visit?

Visegrad is a very popular destination among tourists coming to Hungary. Not only because of its delightful location along the Danube River but also because of the mighty castle on the top of the hill giving an even more stunning view towards the countryside and the Danube.

Lots of larger tourist groups join in on daily excursions from Budapest taking them to the city of Szentendre, to Visegrad, and to Esztergom. But, if you decide to visit Visegrad and want to grab something to eat, where should you go? Is Don Vite Ristorante a place worth visiting?

Don Vito Ristorante is an Italian restaurant in Visegrad. While most of the other restaurants in town are all about traditional Hungarian courses, this is one of the restaurants suitable for those who want to eat pizza and other Italian courses. But, what is the quality like?

Don Vito Ristorante Visegrad – Pictures and thoughts

The price level of Don Vito in Visegrad is nice. The pizzas cost around 2000 HUF (6 Euro), while the other main courses cost between 2000-4000 HUF (6-12 Euro). The service is quick and good, and we got our food served within 25 minutes from the time we ordered.

Childrens menu in Don Vito

Not only do they serve big portions of Italian food, but they also have children’s menus available, something that comes in handy if you arrive with smaller kids. Above you can see a picture of the traditional Hungarian Wiener schnitzel served together with friend and ketchup. Normally, there wouldn’t be any ketchup for this, but since it is a children’s menu, they serve it with this as a sauce.

Lasagne in Don Vito Visegrad

As an Italian restaurant, they need to have lasagne on the menu, and so we decided to test the Don Vito lasagne as well. It was actually quite good, and it was a nice portion of food. We wouldn’t travel to Visegrad to eat this lasagne, but if we first visit the village and eat in Don Vito, then this isn’t a bad choice at all.

pizza restaurant in visegrad

We had to taste some pizzas as well in Don Vito. They had quite a lot of different pizzas on the menu, and the price level is fair. The size of the pizzas is 32cm, which is the traditional pizza size in Hungary. Just like with the lasagne, the pizzas were absolutely fine. They were nothing special worth visiting Visegrad for, but if you are first there, this is a great and cheap option for a good meal.


Don Vito Ristorante is a good option for a meal in Visegrad. If you reside in Budapest, do not forget to read about all the restaurants in Budapest featured in our guide. We can also offer wine dinners and wine tasting options, and even a brewery visit with lots of food in Budapest.

Would you rather enjoy a meal in traditional restaurants such as Sir Lancelot, Aszu restaurant, or maybe a steak in La Pampa Budapest? Click the links for more information and the chance to reserve a table in these restaurants.


Have you been to Don Vito in Visegrad? Write a comment and let us know how you enjoyed your stay!

The Ten Best Hotels in Budapest in 2020

Where are you going to stay in Budapest during your trip to the city in 2020? Which is the best five star hotel in Budapest? Which hotel has the best panorama towards the Danube? Which is the best three star hotel in Budapest with a great location and cheap prices? The Budapest Guide presents to you the Ten Best Hotels in Budapest in 2020.

If you have read the introduction, you probably understand that we do not aim at listing the ten best hotels in Budapest, because then they would all be five-star hotels. Instead, we try to list the ten best hotels in Budapest that all are best within their very own category. Maybe you want to live in a super luxury hotel, but do not care so much about its location? Or maybe you want to live with splendor and luxury in the heart of the city? We have the best hotels for both of you.

Would you rather live in a great hotel that only has three or four stars, but still located in the city center? Or would you rather find a cheaper hotel that will give you great value for your money, and instead spend a few minutes every day using public transportation to get to the city center? Read on and find our recommendations!

Ten Best Hotels in Budapest in 2020

Here you have ten recommended hotels in Budapest. We hope you will find one suit exactly your needs and your travel desires.

Four Seasons Hotel Gresham – If all you want is luxury in Budapest

Is your only desire to live in the most luxurious hotel of them all in Budapest? You don’t care about price, nor location, but you just want gold and glory, and maybe even the chance to bump into Hollywood stars currently in Budapest working on a movie production (or something like that)?

The view from one of the nicest rooms in Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Budapest.
The view from one of the nicest rooms in Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Budapest.

The hotel you should stay in is the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham. This is located in the heart of the city, close to the Danube and with a splendid view towards the Chain Bridge. It is a glamorous hotel, and one of the most expensive places to stay in Budapest.

Danubius Health Spa Resort Margaret Island – If you want quietness, thermal water (SPA), and no noise

The next hotel we want to recommend is located at the Margaret Island in Budapest. It is important to notice that this isn’t a hotel ideal for those who come to discover Budapest. It is way too far from the city center (30-45 minutes on foot), and it is located on an island in the middle of the Danube. The island itself is gorgeous, and it is one of the nicest (if not THE nicest) recreational areas in all of Budapest. Here you can walk in a green area, lie down in the grass to relax, go for a nice walk (or enjoy a jogging trip around the island on the 5km track), or just lie in the SPA of the hotel enjoying real thermal water (with high temperatures) and some of the other indoor activities available at the hotel.

Health Spa Resort hotel at the Margaret Island in Budapest
A nice room in the Health Spa Resort hotel on the Margaret Island

Again, this is the number one recreational hotel in Budapest if your goal is to relax. But, if you are on a city-trip, go somewhere else.

Erzsebet City Center – if you want to enjoy a three-star hotel in the heart of the city with good prices

Would you like to live in the heart of Budapest in a quiet street, but still close to the walking street and the Danube? Don’t care so much about the number of stars, but you still want to live in a nice hotel where you can enjoy a clean room, nice surroundings, and everything you require of a hotel room and a hotel building in itself? Hotel Erzsebet City Center is without a doubt a great place to stay.

Erzsebet City Center in Budapest – nice and cheap with three stars

The prices are much lower than those of most other hotels nearby, but you get high quality and a centrally located hotel in return. One of the best choices if you want location and quality at a low cost.

Mercure Korona – If you come with a large bus and want to park a bus next to the hotel

If you do not live in Budapest, you might not understand this, but if you do – you will! It is often a nightmare for groups who arrive with large buses from the airport (or from their own country and city) to park next to their hotel. Often they will find themselves dropped off a 5-minute walk from the hotel (or more), and that isn’t very ideal if you carry a lot of luggage, if it is raining, or so on. If it is important to you to live in a hotel that can have a bus park just next to it (and also pick you up on the same location), Mercure Korona is the number one hotel to pick for you.

Mercure Korona in Budapest
Mercure Korona – a hotel ideal for larger groups

It is centrally located, only 3-4 minutes on foot from the Grand Market Hall and the shopping street Vaci utca. You will find lots of amazing restaurants in the vicinity of the hotel, and it is also extremely easy to reach from the airport, making sure that you do not have to spend lots of unnecessary time in traffic before you arrive to the hotel. And, it will also save you quite a lot of minutes as you depart from your hotel in order to get back to the airport. The hotel has four stars!

Aria Hotel – One of the most complete hotel experiences in Budapest

Would you like to visit a hotel that has a rooftop bar with a beautiful view over Budapest, freshly pressed juice for breakfast, floors, and rooms with classical music style and named after famous composers and just one of the nicest hotel experiences available in all of Budapest? Hotel Aria the hotel to pick.

Aria Hotel in Budapest
An amazing view and a fantastic interior at the Aria Hotel in Budapest

Hotel Aria is located next to the St. Stephen’s Basilica, one of the nicest areas in Budapest and very centrally located. From here you can reach all central locations in a short time, while enjoying a stay in one of the most praised hotels in all of Budapest.

7Seasons Apartments – If you want an apartment with space for more people together

It is always nice to stay together with friends and family in an apartment as you come to Budapest. Not only do you have more space to live in, but you can also cook your own food, make your own breakfast, and save quite a lot of money compared to living in a hotel. But, which apartment should you choose?

A fantastic apartment complex in Budapest, 7Seasons Apartments.
If you want to live in an apartment in Budapest, 7Seasons is the answer

There are lots of apartments available in Budapest, but if you want to go for one of the safest bets with a central location in Budapest, go for 7Seasons Apartments. It has a beautiful reception, and it almost feels like a hotel, but at the same time you will get very nice prices and big rooms with space for the entire family at the same time.

Mercure City Center – If you want four stars in the shopping street with good prices

For those who want to live in the shopping street of Budapest in a nice four-star hotel, Mercure City Center might be what you are looking for. The hotel is super central, and normally they have very good rates available. Once you leave the building you can walk around in the shopping street of Budapest, and you can also eat in a very nice Italian restaurant located next to the entrance of the building.

The entrance of the Mercure City Center in Budapest
Leave the hotel and walk in the shopping street if you stay in Mercure City Center.

It is easy to get to the hotel with smaller cars (ideal for smaller groups), while larger groups might have trouble parking just next to the hotel.

This is still a perfect solution for those who want to live in the very heart of the best part of the shopping street in a four star hotel with nice prices.

Hotel Marriott – Five stars with a view towards the Danube

This is one of our favorite hotels in Budapest, at least if you want to live in a hotel where all rooms look in the direction of the Danube River. Here you can enjoy the view towards the Castle Hill, the Chain Bridge, the Gellert Hill, the Elisabeth Bridge, and see all the nice and romantic boats on the River Danube from the window of your room. The hotel also has an amazing fitness room which will let you enjoy this stunning view while doing your daily amount of exercise.

The Marriott Hotel in Budapest
Marriott is the hotel to stay in if you want a magnificent panorama towards the Danube.

Hotel Marriott is a nice five-star hotel and they also have a parking lot next to the hotel where you might be lucky enough to park with a big bus as well, making this an ideal hotel for those who want to live in luxury by the Danube in Budapest, or for groups who want to stay centrally in Budapest for their conference or trip to Budapest.

Hilton Buda – If you like retro and the Hilton brand

We normally don’t recommend the Hilton Buda hotel, simply because it is located on the Buda side and most people spend 85% of their time on the Pest side as they visit Budapest. But, if you want to live in one of the most interesting hotels in Budapest, Hilton Buda still might be the number one place to go.

This hotel is built on the ruins of an old monastery, making it a tourist attraction in itself. Here you can taste wine in an old wine cellar, enjoy a panorama view towards the Danube, and dine in a restaurant with view towards the Hungarian Parliament and other sights. Few hotels are located in such beautiful surroundings in Budapest, and as you can see on the picture beneath, it is located next to the Matthias Church and the Fishermen’s Bastion.

Hilton Buda is located at one of the most beautiful locations in all of Budapest.
Hilton Buda is located at one of the most beautiful locations in all of Budapest.

The district itself is peaceful, especially early in the morning and in the evening as most tourists leave the area to return to the Pest side.

Hotel Gozsdu Court – If you want a nice, modern, three-star hotel in the heart of the busy seventh district

The seventh district of Budapest is well known for its amazing life. Here you can find some of the most popular ruin pubs in Budapest, and here you will have things happening all around you from early morning till early morning (again). The Gozsdu Court is an amazing area, and here you can find lots of restaurants and street-food, small stores, and one of the busiest areas of the town for those who want to enjoy life, eat delicious food and have a good time.

Hotel Gozsdu Court in budapest
Hotel Gozsdu Court is perfect for those who want an apartment/hotel in the busy seventh district of Budapest.

The area is very close to the heart of the city, so it is only 5-6 minutes of walk from the hotel to get to the shopping street and, in a few more minutes, be by the River Danube. This place is ideal for families and larger groups as they have apartments available with as much as three bedrooms available.

Some things worth noticing about the list

As you might have noticed, almost all the hotels on this list are located on the Pest side. That is simply due to the fact that most people spend 85% of their time in Budapest on the Pest side. An average visitor will visit the Buda side to visit the Gellert Hill and the Castle area, but they will spend most of their time eating, drinking and doing their shopping on the Pest side. For that reason, we normally recommend our visitors to live on the Pest side, and rather just get across the Danube to visit the Buda-side whenever that is needed.

More programs worth checking out in Budapest

When you come to Budapest, it is important to stay in a nice hotel. But, it is just as important to book a table in the best restaurants and to make reservations for the important programs that you want to enjoy while in the city.

Did you know that we can help you out with several awesome programs in Budapest? We can, for example, help you out with some of these programs.

These are just some of the services we can help you with as you come to Budapest. Make sure to read more about the activities you are interested in, and contact us if we can help you out with any of the selected activities and programs.

If you have any further comments or questions about hotels in Budapest, use the comment field beneath and we will do our best to assist you with answers and help!