Budapest After Vienna: Architecture, Art, Music, Food!

Pest is definitely where you want to stay. Close to the river isn't essential as 2 trams or a metro line will get you there and there are more livable places than the river ... although it's beautiful.

Mercure Budapest City Center is on Vaci utca, which is as close to a Disneyland tourism as you can find here. But the location is convenient and it looks like a nice hotel

Hotel Nemzeti Budapest is on the 4/6 tram and in more of a real part of town. It is fairly conveniently located thanks to the tram. It's not the prettiest or the worst area. It's not real walkable, but the tram is well connected. Not much interesting there except the NY Cafe. You aren't walking to Buda from here, but you don't have to.

NH Budapest City Hotel, the best on your list. In District XII which is nice, few tourists, nice architecture and the hotel is reasonably close to the 2 Tram and the 4/6 Tram so you are well connected. Still not walking to Buda, still don't have to (there is a bus or take the 2 tram half the way)

Now look for a hotel witjin a block of Andrassy ut. And the M1 metro line.

Mr. É has already given you links to see what is on music-wise. But as he said, move quickly on tickets.

There isn’t the art in Budapest that there is in Vienna but you can check out the
Museum of Fine Arts in City Park and Hungarian National Gallery. I also like the Ráth György-villa

But you can’t go anywhere in the center of the city without stunning architecture. You won’t be able to resist taking pictures as you walk around. Good food is plentiful. Be sure you take Tram 2 along the river both daytime and nighttime.

I like the Opera House, the Great Synagogue, the House of Terror, Parliament, the Shoes on the Danube, the Roth Museum, St. Stephen’s, Margrit’s Island, and Fisherman’s Bastion. There are still plenty of places on my list that I haven’t seen yet, after my 5 weeks there.

Now considering these hotels due to their proximity to the river...though I keep reading many recommendations here for Moments Hotel.

Hotel Prestige, though most rooms face the inner courtyard. I prefer to see the weather & city :)
Aurea Ana Palace Hotel, the spa looks convenient as a bonus.

Thoughts on the properties and locations?

Thanks!
Lee

Aurea Ana Palace Hotel is closer to the Parliament so there are some places for visual interaction with the river. But that part of town pretty much rolls up the streets at night. Other than the Parliament and beautiful architecture none of the other top 10 or 20 are out that way, so you will have to ride a tram, or the metro (both near) see anything in town.

Hotel Prestige, not terribly far from the 2 Tram so you have some connection to get around town. Yes, near the river, but not near a part of the river that is good for interaction (ie, there isnt much more there than a road). But also not too far from the pedestrian area in front of the Basilica which is pure tourist (see my correction below) but is a source of good eats and drinks and a lovely setting in the evening. Of the two, I chose this one because it’s closer to the things to see and do in town. And a couple stops down on the 2 Tram will get you to a nice place on the river front, the "Corso".

The River, especially in the evening is stunning. I dont blame you for wanting to be close. But the place to be for that will be between the Intercontinental Hotel and the Marriott Hotel; the "Corso". Thats the sweet spot for viewing and dinner and strolling and just about anything relative to the river. But not much immediately in that location other than those two hotels $$$ If you dont stay on the river that sweet spot is best accessed by the end stop on the M1 and about a 300m walk.

PURE TOURISM in Budapest definition: The city has about the same number of tourists as does Prague, but the area frequented by tourists is about 15x greater than in Prague. The tourism here is so dispersed that there are only a few places in town where the tourists outnumber the locals after working hours. In parts of District V, mostly along Vaci utca, the tourists outnumber the locals. In the pedestrian area in front of the Basilica the tourists at least equal the locals. Same with the ruin pubs and two party streets in District VII but the rest of the city, for the most part, the tourist remains the minority in the restaurants and bars in the evenings.

I am cheap, so I have to say that both of those are past my price point unless I have no choice (however there is just one of me). But they both look really nice. I would probably choose the Aurea Ana - it feels less “closed in” to me and so close to the river and a 2 Tram stop.

It puts you a little further away from a multitude of restaurants that Hotel Moments would be closer to but still with some decent choices not far. And there’s nothing wrong with a little late night stroll or tram ride back to the hotel after a late evening (or night) dinner or drink. It’s a beautiful area.

I know it’s District 5; but for 5-7 nights, of these 3, choose the feel that calls you. Any of the three would be a good stay. For 2-3 nights, location becomes more important. (Mr. É may not agree but we are all unique. Lol. Edit: I see he already did…. Ha!)

If price does matter, you could consider an apartment with the length of your stay, as long as it has its registration number. I find the best selection on Air BnB.

Travel planning is tough! I respect those who make it a career.

A co-worker recommended being on/near the river for both the views and to be close to both sides. The Intercontinental and Marriot were pricier than the two I mentioned. Many seem to favor Moments - which gets good reviews, it is about 100e or so more (total) than the two I mentioned.

I'm not set on anything at this point. (Wish I was past this challenging part!)

I've clearly not been to this area before, so I don't know the neighborhoods or the proximity to sites. Google Maps makes it look like a reasonable walk. When traveling I tend to have a full day with lots of walking, grab a nice meal before 7 then head back to my hotel to put my feet up or enjoy a drink in the lounge. Eating that early in Europe is frequently a challenge but I seem to manage. Wine, cheese, fruit, and bread make a nice hotel room picnic!

Feeling quite uncertain!

Thanks again,
Lee

It's all preference. There is no right and wrong. I enjoy late evening walks and the ocassiinal glass of wine in areas that are visually stunning. And my preferences tend to come out.

Where ever you choose, we help you make the most of it. By the way, Buda is a half day, then most never return. Keep that in mind.

"By the way, Buda is a half day, then most never return. Keep that in mind."

Mr E: that is quite good to know. I was planning on two full days there.
Now I understand the benefit of being up on Andrassy. I thought it was less "central" up there. I fear I have it all wrong :(

Thanks for straightening me out!
Lee

veryspecialquilts, in Buda a typical tourist visits the outside of the "castle" and the Fisherman's Bastion (another exterior walk) & Matthias Church (worth spending the few thousand it costs to go inside of).

The other significant attraction is the Hospital in the Rock which I think is worth the time if the subject interests you. https://www.sziklakorhaz.eu/

In the castle is the National Gallery and the Budapest Museum of History and with a little effort you can find a 13th century synagogue.

So, maybe if you were interested in all of it you could indeed spend a full day. The most significant problem right now is that the current government is determined to rebuild the Empire on castle hill and as a result there is construction everywhere.

Everything in the castle district is in very close proximity and you can walk it all fairly easily.

In Pest, the list of things to see and do is significantly longer and Pest is significanty larger and your life will be much easier if you become familiar with the tram system. Despite the size and how spread out things are the points inbetween the sight can be very interesting as well. The worderful architecture of this city just goes on and on and on..... https://youtu.be/0nd9DuDGCz0?si=FhA0oC_jQYeoTq1x

I spent a week at the Opera Garden Hotel west of Andrassy in July. My travel mate and I both liked the hotel and the area. Restaurant options abounded, including many recommended in threads in this forum. I usually stay in cheaper places when I'm by myself, and I could have been happy in a less-nice place, but the location was great.

To TTM's list of sights I'd add the tour of the Liszt Ferenc Academy, which has a lovely Art Nouveau interior. I don't know the schedule for English tours; although it may be on the website, I couldn't find it. As of 2018 the tour ended with a mini-concert. Ours was by a talented cellist.

Lee, it’s true about Buda for most people. But I stand by my opinion that any of your recent hotel choices would be fine IF you really like the place. If you are only choosing for convenience of location, that’s different.

And acraven, I haven’t toured the Lizt Academy yet (walked past half a hundred times) - maybe in October! I have been to the small Lizt Museum, which is interesting if you are a Lizt fan.

TTM, that’s why I generally only respond to how close this and that is. Everyone has a different goal with a hotel. Point of fact, for a hotel, Lee’s entire list is good. But we generally travel for more than a hotel. We have hopes and expectations and things we enjoy or don’t enjoy and styles of getting thru the day.

Lee was looking to the river because he was under the impression that it would be central to tourism. For that it’s really not. But the views are lovely, even if you are seeing them standing on the side of a road. Those two hotels on the river are not terribly convenient to “Buda” anyway because the sights in Buda aren’t directly accessible to either hotel; just the view. But that doesn’t make them bad, just contrary to his goal of being central to Buda and Pest.

My preference for along Andrassy ut, is just that, a personal preference. Having stayed in most every corner of the city at least once, Andrassy ut (or a few blocks off) is the area that fit my personality and tourism style. And for full disclosure, because I enjoyed it so much, its where I now live. I also think the Corso is great for short trips with large budgets. Vaci utca not so much. And there are good pockets in District V closer to the Basilica where I could be happy as a tourist.

But as its been pointed out I do indeed beat these things too much. Its what i do for my own trips too and I know its bit excessive. Bottom line, go in with the right attitude and you can have fun in any hotel in any city.