Divided by the majestic Danube River, Budapest is a city of two halves, each with its own distinct character. Buda, with its historic castle and thermal baths, exudes an Old World charm. Pest, on the other hand, pulsates with a modern energy, showcasing vibrant nightlife and a thriving culinary scene. Whether you’re drawn to the city’s imperial past, its artistic spirit or its geothermal water treatments, choosing the right hotel elevates your experience even more. Let Forbes Travel Guide be your guide to the city’s finest accommodations.
Forbes Travel Guide’s definitive list is one you can trust — we have been rating hotels since 1958 using an objective and independent process. To find the best hotels in Budapest, our incognito inspectors posed as ordinary guests and stayed multiple nights at each property. The inspectors tested hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, which accounts for 70% of a property’s rating. The remaining 30% comes from the quality and condition of the facilities. FTG does not require a business relationship from the properties it rates, and it does not earn a commission if you book one of the following hotels.
Five-Star Hotel
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest
As one of the most beautiful hotels in the Hungarian capital city, Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest is an art nouveau masterpiece on the banks of the Danube River. Facing the iconic Chain Bridge head-on, with Buda Castle further in the backdrop, this historic luxury address has the best view in town. The building’s beauty is legendary, from stained-glass windows once hidden on the rooftop during World War II to the Zsolnay mosaic tiles accenting the arcades of the Zrínyi Passage in the lobby. See more.
Four-Star Hotels
Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest
Set in the heart of Budapest’s thriving downtown, with its terrace backing onto the road colloquially known as Fashion Street, Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest combines the luxury of contemporary design with the best in the city’s gastronomy scene topped off with its Zen in-house spa. This modern hotel connects to local history through the customized designs of its suites and an extensive and diverse collection of original Hungarian art. Its elegant rooms deliver all the 21st-century comforts that travelers expect, along with up-close views of the Budapest Eye. See more.
With vistas over St. Stephen’s Basilica and hints of the Buda Hills and the Hungarian Parliament in the background, The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest captures the pulse of the city in its central location just off the lively Erzsébet and Deák squares. While the Danube River lies a few streets away, its presence is echoed in the tones of undulating blues and grays seen throughout the historic property. See more.
Recommended Hotels
Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel
There’s a reason Budapest is called the Paris of the East. With gilded parliament buildings, 18th-century museums perched along the famed river, an iconic Chain Bridge that glistens at night and pedestrian streets lined with restaurants, cafés and markets, the city is a fitting home for Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel. Inspired by the city’s passion for art, culture and history, Anantara New York Palace radiates artistic charm. See more.
Set on the Grand Boulevard at the heart of the Hungarian metropolis, Corinthia Budapest blends the classic and the contemporary flawlessly. The original Neoclassical façade remaining on the historic 19th-century hotel merges nicely with the renovated rooms, suites and halls. While only the front of the hotel, a gilded ballroom and spa are original to the 1896 building, the Corinthia’s newer parts integrate well with the historic feel of the belle époque. See more.
Right on the banks of the mighty Danube and equipped with views of the Chain Bridge, the opulent Royal Palace and the museum-speckled hills of the Buda side of town, InterContinental Budapest is in one of the best locations in the city. It’s a great thing that coveted rooms overlooking the riverfront boast large, wall-length windows. See more.
