Best District to Stay At In Budapest

Belvaros and District V are one and the same.

Generally speaking it's the most heavily touristed but not necessarily where the most tourist attractions are.

The key, no matter where you choose is to be close to the M1 metro or the 47/49 tram or the 4/6 tram; and in Pest.

Let's do this, you find some airbnbs you like and I will tell you about the neighborhood, street and public transportation serving them. Just PM me.

Keep looking in District V if that interests you, but also look a block or two each side of Andrassy ut and the M1 metro line. That would be District VI. And maybe along the 47/49 tram lines. One side is V but the other is VI or VII.

And there are some really interesting, reasonably priced hotels in town as well.

Thank you Mr. E for the good information. I can't give you Airbnb information because they don't give you an address until it is booked- just an area.
I prefer an Airbnb to a hotel because we can make breakfast and they usually have a washer that we can use. I will try to find one near the M1 and look at other Districts too. Thank you.

AirBnb is notorious for not listing addresses. I never really understood the logic.

I am a pro at tracking down Airbnb addresses. Give me a link. Better than 50/50 chance I can find it. (I live here and landmarks in photos and exterior views are not terribly hard to figure out .. most of the time).

It's important sometimes as a block or two can change the experience.

Also be sure they list the license number. Never do business with an illegal listing.

When looking at an airbnb I’ve always had success in getting it from the host by sending them a message and asking for it.

If I host will not disclose the exact location before I book, I walk away. I don’t trust their general area statements.

Just steer clear of address on Kiraly utca that are lower than about #35 and all of Dob utca as those are party neighborhoods.

Carol, I do the same. There are too many places to choose from and if someone won’t give an address I’m not interested in staying there.

Mr. E, We are booked at Elisabeth Apartments, 07 Erzsebetvaros.
The reviews are great but is this a convenient/safe area for a late 60's couple, kind of like the OP but just a tad younger? Thanks for any input!

07 Erzsebetvaros

07 is the District and Erzebetvaros is the name of the District. But I googled it: (districts are quite large and vary a lot depending on where in the district)

Is this the place? https://hu.hotels.com/ho2448392160/elisabeth-downtown-residence-budapest-magyarorszag/?chkin=2024-01-15&chkout=2024-01-16&x_pwa=1&rfrr=HSR&pwa_ts=1705309762228&referrerUrl=aHR0cHM6Ly9odS5ob3RlbHMuY29tL0hvdGVsLVNlYXJjaA%3D%3D&useRewards=false&rm1=a2&regionId=715&destination=Budapest%2C+Magyarorsz%C3%A1g&destType=MARKET&neighborhoodId=6058902&selected=76481005&latLong=47.49316%2C19.0556&sort=RECOMMENDED&top_dp=27552&top_cur=HUF&mdpcid=HCOM-HU.META.HPA.HOTEL-CORESEARCH-mobile.HOTEL&mdpdtl=HTL.76481005.20240115.20240116.DDT.0.CID.20254472609.AUDID.&mctc=10&gclid=CjwKCAiAzJOtBhALEiwAtwj8thQ8zaIViLge9eUMN0E1p0I06FmoWw53COuDbDCloA8L5mOC_whA1BoCgqQQAvD_BwE&userIntent=&selectedRoomType=316335409&selectedRatePlan=385859615&expediaPropertyId=76481005&searchId=f17dd454-5067-43c6-a5ef-5dfa4467da58

If it is, it is located on Dob utca 34-36 which puts it in the old Jewish Deportation Ghetto and sort of on the fringe of the new Party District.

Yes, it's safe. Convenient? Hmmm. Budapest is a big city and you will need the trams and metro to get around. For me they are part of the fun, so that's not an issue.

Your apartment is a solid 10 minute walk: (down my street, right past my home) to the M1 metro at the Opera, or 10 min. to two stops of the 47/49 Tram that serves the great Market Hall and the Great Synagogue and connects to the 2 Tram before crossing to Buda, or 10 min to the 4/6 Tram that connects to the M1 and the 2 Tram near the Parliament before crossing to Buda.

Good news is the walk to each of these metro stops will be very interesting with a lot of history and architecture, bad news is the distance but not absolutely terriable.

About a block away is an old market hall where i shop and a breakfast lunch place called Styka that sells palinka spiked raspberry lemonade that I love. You are also only about 5 min from my favorite wine bar Kadarka.

Oh, it appears to be new construction. So that helps to ensure nothing odd but you miss out on the interest of a classical building. Supplement by walking into as many courtyards as possible (just follow people in the door).

Hang on to that flat, because it isn't bad at all, but if you have time try looking a little closer to Andrassy in District VI. A lot of ViI is a party district and most of V is a tourist trap.

And a little of where to stay has to do with how long you are staying and the time of year. If it's 2 or 3 nights closer in would be better. Christmas, closer in is better.

We were in Budapest at the end of December. Due to the New Years Holiday hotels were expensive, so we stayed in District XII, at the Adina Apartment Hotel. It was a 20 minute walk to St. Stephens Basilica and the Parliment building. It is a 10 minute walk to the M-1 line. We stayed 3 nights in a 2 bedroom 1 1/2 bath condo. It had a washer in the condo. A washer and a dryer are located in the building's laundry room. There is a kitchen. It was immaculate.

We didn't see the Central Food Market as we got there after it closes. It currently closes at 3:00 PM.

Thank you, Mr. E for the reply. Yes, that's the place we have reservations. I will hang on to it but keep looking around for something closer. One of my hesitations was the modernity of the building- I do prefer something with more character.We will be there 4 nights, April 20-23, and may add a 5th. Budapest looks so interesting and we have some flexibility at this point. Thanks again for your guidance.

The Adina Apartment Hotel is in District XIII (XII is in the outter stretches of Buda) and its a lovely district. I think if I were to move it would be there. But to get from the the Adina Apartment Hotel to the Basilica or a stop on the M1 in under 30 minutes on foot would require a very brisk walking style. Too much good to see inbetween the two to walk that fast.

CW, just know that District VII during the day is facinating and historic, at night its party central. But there are some good corners for staying. District V is where all the river boat tourists end up so its sort of expensive, but again, there are some nice corners for staying. District VI has Andrassy ut. The French copied Andrassy ut when they came up with the Champs-Elysees and the M1 metro runs directly under Andrassy ut the full length.

Sort of the Ground Zero for tourism in Budapest is Deak Ferenc ter (ter = square). Physically it about center to most that is in Pest but it is also the hub for three metro lines (1, 2 and 3) and one tram (47/49) and one major bus route (9). So there is no place you can not reach on foot or on public transport in an efficient manner. Trouble is that point is not the prettiest so I say stay close to Andrassy and the M1 which both run right into it.

I think you get more out of a "classic" building as well. I am hoping that some that have stayed in short term rentals in Budapest will chime in.

We will be visiting in a few weeks. I'm wondering if anyone has feedback in Leo Boutique?
We have 6 days and planning day trips elsewhere as well.

Leo Boutique Rooms - Adults Only. On Kossuth Lajos utca in the heart of District V. Probably the most expensive district in town.

Very safe and somewhat pitcureesque location.

A few minutes walk to a M3 Metro stop.
Less than 10 minute walk to the 47/49 Tram or the 2/2B/23 Tram or the M2.
A couple minute walk to the tourist He!! of Vaci utca (but everyone should walk it once while in town).
Not much in the immediate surroundings that really calls me. I would be walking up to VII or VI for dinner and evening strolls. But eveyone is different.

It is located in the courtyard of the is building which is pretty neat https://www.google.com/maps/@47.49324,19.055908,3a,77.9y,343.65h,107.94t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sca1NX2iXPzuLVXriH5BoQQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Dca1NX2iXPzuLVXriH5BoQQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.share%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26yaw%3D343.64558116843324%26pitch%3D-17.93712465186765%26thumbfov%3D90!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&coh=205410&entry=ttu

What someone did was buy up a few flats and rent them out as a hotel. Nothing wrong with that.

If its the "Adults Only" aspect that attracts you then look at Cortile Hotel as well.

Thank you so much! I'll check that out and your recommendations from another post as well

If you see something interestin, list it here. Lots of RS types have been they might know somehting about it. Or PM me and if I know anything I will try and help. Also keep in mind that every AirBnb is "adults only" if thats all that you bring.

We are probably looking to stay in, or very near, District V during our trip this fall. Is taking the airport shuttle the easiest way to get there, or should we opt for a taxi (or Uber? - I haven’t checked if they are available in Budapest)?

AIRPORT EXPRESS BUS: District V is about 1km x 3km in size. Taking the Airport Express bus depends on where in District V you are staying and if that is far from the two Bus Stops, how you feel about carrying luggage on a second bus or tram or metro if your .... or as much as a 20 minute walk. About $6 for the Express Bus. Any connections to other public transporation are covered by the 72 hour or 15 day public transportation TravelCard you bought at the airport.

UBER: Uber isnt present in Budapest. Maybe later this year. But they will do to it what they did to Bolt. They are all licensed taxis with licensed commercial drivers, in yellow cars with a light on top and a meter.

TAXI: The airport taxi service is good and about $30. You get it at a kiosk on the left as you exit the Arrivals Hall.

SHUTTLE BUSSES (MiniBUD): And finally, there is a shuttle service that will take you to your door. Could be a 40 minute trip or 75 minutes depending on when they get a full shuttle and decide to leave, and what order they do the stops. Price to my address about $30 for two, but only about $25 each way if you buy a round trip ticket.

Look at the Budapest official airport page for more info. https://www.bud.hu/en/passengers/transport

Thanks for the great info Mr É!
We're now looking at perhaps staying at the Hotel Rumor Budapest.
It appears to be close to the end route for the 100E bus from the airport, and also close to the pickup point when we leave Budapest for Vienna via SideTripTour that we are planning.
Seems like a busy area, but hopefully not too busy?? :-)

The price is good. The location is good as far as getting around town. Sort of hard to beat actually. But do learn the public transportation. Out front you will find the 47/49 Tram that will take you past the Great Synagogue, Great Market Hall and on to the Gellert Bath House. Also out front is the M1/M2/M2 Metro. The M1 Metro which will take you up Andrassy ut. The M2 to the Parliament and Keleti Station. And you can walk the routes as well.

That little stretch of street that it is on isnt the shiniest in town, but not terrible either. https://www.google.com/maps/@47.498349,19.0548643,3a,90y,90.61h,108.02t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1stHF8T9lV7HS3jRWibZrSzg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DtHF8T9lV7HS3jRWibZrSzg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.share%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26yaw%3D90.61410899287648%26pitch%3D-18.018760568680662%26thumbfov%3D90!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&coh=205410&entry=ttu

The area has a lot of tourist foot traffic I guess is the worst i can say. Because its 18 rooms in a large building, my guess it someone purchased 18 rooms and converted them into a hotel. Not sure from the photos and description that it has its own entrance or you enter through the building courtyard. Very interesting. Maybe I go look at it tomorrow.

The website photos dont give much away, but there are a few better in the Google Maps listing.

One thing that always bothers me, but they all do it,, is exagerations with proximity. Their description is a bit misleading. But nothing so bad to be a deal breaker.

only a couple of minutes from the famous pedestrian street, Váci utca
(also known as the Fashion street of Budapest) and from one of the
most dynamically developing centers, the Gozsdu court, which connects
entertainment, gastronomy and attracts culture and more than 900,000
visitors a year.

If you like that hotel, then you might like the Hotel Moments. Larger, but a little nicer place to be with free evenings.

Not bad.

Enjoy

Hotel Rumors as promised (I live very near).

You will enter the building courtyard entrance that says Museum of Illusions which will take you into a courtyard with a glass roof at the first floor level. Right and left are what use to be a cafe ... no longer. At the end is the musem. On your right you will see a steel gate, enter and go up the stairs. The light will come on about a third of the way up. At the first floor level (our second floor) you will see the door to the hotel. What they did was to buy most of the first floor and covert it to a hotel.

Once thru the door you will find a bar (no one working at 5pm) and a kind woman named Apalonia (if she is on duty when you come). The public area consists of the bar and a hall. So I couldnt see much. All very clean, very modern, very attractive, very empty. Apalonia said if you will write the manager you can get a discount. [email protected] or [email protected].

From the front of the hotel, district V is across the street, the 47/49 Tram and the M1,2 and 3 stop at Deak Ferenc ter are also right there. So thats good for getting around. Between the tram and the metro or a walk, you can reach all the Top Ten sights in Pest in under 10 minutes. For that alone, this is hard to beat. The 16 Bus to Buda stops close by too.

One side of the building is District VII which is the old Jewish Deportation Ghetto. Interesting in the day time, full of drunk European Trust Fund brats at night. In the other direction is first Paulay Ede utca which still has a little Budapest charm left. On that street is Vak Varju restaurant which is pretty good and a few coffee shops and a breakfast place. Go a bit further and you reach my home. Beyond Paulay Ede utca about 3 minutes by foot is Andrassy ut the grandest street in town another 3 or 4 minutes and you are at the basilica. So, again, the hotel is well located.

The street in front isnt the nicest in town. Mostly because of the type of tourist that traverses it and the shops and restaurants that serve that kind of tourist. Nothing exceptional to eat and over priced for the most part. But you can take a walk or ride the M1 up Andrassy and in under 10 minutes be at better. Or take the 47/49 tram a stop or two and walk up a side street on your left and find a lot of simple local places to eat and drink. The same tram will take you to the Great Synagogue and the Great Market Hall.

Would I stay there? Sure, unless the Hotel Moments was within $25 of the same price.

Thanks again Mr É for some great info. Much appreciated!
I’ll keep an eye on prices at Hotel Moments before we make our final booking.