Updated Budapest Hotel List

We recently spent 5 nights at the Queen's Court Hotel, and we loved our stay here. Beautiful hotel in a convenient location. The included breakfast buffet was the best of our 3-week trip. The buffet selection is wonderful and varied with all delicious fresh food. You can also order from a menu: fried eggs, omelets, eggs Benedict, pancakes, and a ham and cheese sandwich.

kmkwoo, exactly what I was hoping for. I live here so its rare I stay in a hotel, so I cant recommend anything more than location. Thank you.

Queen’s Court Hotel @263€/night...includes nightly mints on pillows? If no, then struck from my list.

Well, if it is a 5-star ... not too bad a price. I checked on Dec for the Christmas markets, and it's about $200 a night. Still, you can get a dang nice 4 star in a great location for under $150. An equivelent 4 star in Vienna would be $250.

This may not last long. The Hungarian Forint is growing in strength against the EU and the Dollar. Prices for tourism have to rise.

We got chocolates upon arrival, vouchers for 2 non-alcoholic beverages, and a small bottle of scented oil. The hotel has a spa and pool. They also serve complimentary wine, pastries and tiny sandwiches in the lobby starting around 4PM (I think) until 5pm.

I live 5 blocks away and I might check in for the night! Thank you!

The location is maybe an 8 in my book. But thats not bad. A short walk to the 4/6 Tram but a bit inconvenient to getting to the 47/49 Tram. The restaurant got good reviews too. Odd place I walk past it and on the outside it doesnt look like what you would expect from a 5-Star in Budapest, but the interior is a different world. Thank you for mentioning it.

Has anyone tried something that they liked a lot?

Collect Residence. We had a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with good kitchen. A hotel, so a 24 hr desk. Fabulous staff. Walkable to trains station (just) and Andrassy ut, as wells bus and metro options. Bakery/coffee next door. We were there in early October.

Jennie, thats a great location and a great looking hotel: https://www.collectresidence.com/ .

Its not far from Andrassy ut and the M1 metro stop at Kodály körönd. Werent the apartment blocks near Kodály körönd beautiful. I wish I lived in one. https://studiokvarc.hu/images/portfolio/01_korond/KVARC_Kodalykorond_dron.jpg
As for walking to the train, well, first you really dont have to, but the Nyugati station (trains to Prague) is only about a 15 minute walk. Keleti (trains from Vienna) is a bit further but I did that walk almost to the exact location in the rain a few months ago (with a RS type), and it takes every bit of 30 minutes. But like I said, you dont have to walk because the 4/6 Tram goes to Nyugati and most of the way to Keleti.

This one is getting added to the list. Thank you!!

A few weeks ago we had someone else looking for exactly what that hotel has.

We left Budapest to Vienna and caught a bus about 5 mins walk from Collect Residence to Keleti or was it t'other station? ( came in to one and left by the other). We arrived from Krakow and walked to the hotel. It was a still night and little traffic so easy enough. As usual the first time one walks a route it seems so much further than subsequent walks. But it was about 30 mins all up. Long train trip, so the walk was good.

By george, you are correct, there is a trolleybus that goes point to point to Keleti (where you left from). 15 minutes.

If someone were to look at the hotel location on a map, they might think naaaaaa out in the middle of nowhere and not near anything. Budapest, as I am sure you noticed, is a continious almost unbroken fabric of 1880 to 1940 architecture. So every location is surrounded with some pretty amazing architecture. Whats not to love: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5QGqXbA3wevH5xAV9 (hotel street). Because the city is so pretty, the surface public transportation is like a tourist bus taking you past all the good stuff. So riding transportation isnt a chore, its part of the experience. No, you chose well with that hotel. Especially for the prices.

We were delighted with it and the attentive delightful staff. Were there for 6 days and rode the transport with glee as 2 of us are seniors. My son and his partner walked for miles each day. The autumnal weather was perfect for walking too.

Well, I’ll put in my plug for the Hotel Medosz, mention above under three star hotels. I would not hesitate to stay here again. The location was one of the best I’ve ever stayed at in terms of convenience and easy access to many of the sights in Budapest.

Plus there are lots of wonderful restaurants and cafés within a very short walking distance. And if you’re going to the opera, it’s only about 2 to 3 blocks away.

The staff was great and the rooms, while not fancy, were very clean and quite large and they had a wonderful breakfast buffet. For a little under $100 a night, it really can’t be beat.

Nothing I am familiar with compares to the location and the price on these two. (Except the K45 Residence where my son is staying in a few weeks) So, the competition is on. The dates are 15 April and out ono 18 April.

Collect Residence (Google 4.8, Booking.com 9.5) Constructed (maybe renovated into a hotel) 2023.

• Round trip Taxi to the airport: <12.783 Ft
• 2 Guests cheapest 20M2 = $92/night ($103 refundable)
• 4-Guests one room 54M2 (2 Dbl bedrooms with kitchen) = $175/night ($195 refundable)

Time to Reach

• Opera House (sort of the ground zero for a lot of restaurants, wine, etc) = 4-minute walk + 3-minute M1 Metro + 1 minute walk = 8 minutes (15 minutes if you walk the full distance).
• Tram 2 at Vigado Stop at the Danube = 4-minute walk + 6-minute M1 Metro + 4-minute walk = 14-minutes
• Széchenyi Thermal Bath = 4-minute walk + 4-minute M1 Metro + 1-minute walk = 9-minutes

Hotel Medosz (Google 4.2, Booking.com 8.5) Constructed in 1972

• Round trip Taxi to the airport: <12.991 Ft
• 2-Guests cheapest 18M2 = $92/night (refundable)
• 4-Guests one room 45M2 (1 Dbl bedroom, 1 Twin Bedroom and one on the sofa) = $162/night (refundable)

Time to reach

• Opera House (sort of the ground zero for a lot of restaurants, wine, etc) = 6-minute walk
• Tram 2 at Vigado Stop on the Danube = 3-minute walk + 5-minute M1 Metro + 4-minute walk = 12-minutes)
• Széchenyi Thermal Bath = 4-minute walk + 6-minute M1 Metro + 1-minute walk = 11-minutes

Mr E, I wonder if you can comment on this location:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13742037

It appears to be in District V. I've booked it for a week in early April. I can cancel for a full refund.

Thanks!

Lane:

Okay, well its at 13 Arany Janos utca [I got lucky and I recognized the building across the street in the photos ] https://maps.app.goo.gl/hjaz9kkikH2sqVW36 Not a bad place. The ground floor has a large Asian restaurant but better, around the corner is Terv Bistro https://maps.app.goo.gl/tJpVUQQbxints2cy7 try the ribs …. Naa don’t, they are way the heck to messy, but the atmosphere is fun and the beer is cheap.

It’s not too far from a stop on the river for the 2 Tram which connects the Parliament to the Great Market Hall and lots of good stuff in between. From the Great Market Hall, you can get to the Jewish district on another tram. Then it’s not a terrible walk to the Basilica or the M3 Metro near the Basilica. Working your way up Andrassy ut for evening food, wine and entertainment isn’t too terribly bad either.

The problem is that when District VI banned short-term rentals they best locations went away, so its hard to do much better than this. One exception might be K46 Residence. Really just short-term rentals but working under the hotel laws. I don’t know much about them yet, but I have an apartment rented for my son in about 2 weeks. I like the location a little better than what you have because its closer to the walking areas I enjoy most. But either are fine and I think you will enjoy what you found.

ADDED: And not even 10 years ago Arany János u. 15 was an un-restored street. One of the things that makes Budpaest better than some tourist cities is that its so big and when tourism pressure takes over like it did in front of the Basilica, they just go over a block and restore another street of fantastic old buildings. For me, if you up river towards the big park and the Parliament its very much office areas so very quiet at the end of the day (too quiet), if you move downstream from where that flat is you hit tourist central and its lacking some of the reality that makes Budpaest so special. But where that flat is is very pretty, well restored and a lof of good walking and good food. Maybe only second to the area on Andrassy ut near the Opera, but you can get there easily.

Lane, I just went and looked at the cost of that airbnb. There are places where an AirBnb gets you into areas where hotels arent available. Areas where you become more involved in something other than tourism. Here because of the density of housing the hotels are pretty well incorporated into every residential area. And there are a lot of hotels cheaper than that Airbnb you are looking at. Some with kitchens. Some in better locations. Just food for thought.

This whole air bnb ban in District VI is messing me up. 🤣

I love staying in the grand buildings with tall ceilings and courtyards (as long as they have an elevator). Prices have increased over the last several years, but I am usually willing to pay the same as a hotel room for the extra space of an apartment. And I want good arrival and departure transportation (if I am not leaving at 3:30am….ha!) Lane, I liked your apartment a lot - it’s just more than I would want to pay (for my dates later in April). But I thought it was gorgeous. If you stay there (and if it is 13 Arany Janos utca), I can recommend QUÍ Restaurant & Bar on street level. My young Hungarian foodie friend took me there last year.

While I admit I am cheap, I probably won’t stay at the Medos Hotel again. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it had no “atmosphere”. I actually felt almost like I was staying in a college dorm. Maybe one of the higher priced rooms would feel different. But the location is great - I do like the Oktagon, so maybe sometime I try the Hotel Oktagon. And I also like the K+K.

I just reserved an apartment near the 4/6 and 2 tram stops. Price was good, with lots of space. I will see what I think about that area - it will be new for me (as far as staying there). Might be noisy. I came very close to booking the Collect Residence and may some time in the future - so thank you, Jennie!

Mr. Ë, you put your son on Király u.??

I’ve been to QUI a few times. Earlier this week I was over there with an Asian friend and suggested we go in. She complained that it was Western People Asian Restaurant food. Which means I prefer Western Asian People Restaurant food over the real stuff. I went to a party a few nights later and one of the young ladies from China brought a box of https://image.made-in-china.com/202f0j00gEeodVhtJaql/High-Temperature-Cooking-Foil-Portable-Chicken-Feet-Food-Packaging-Vacuum-Bag.webp All the folks just started ripping them open and chomping down. Vacuum packed boiled chicken feet snacks! Noooooooo!!!

The Medosz serves a purpose. The cheapest clean accommodation located in the right location. I’ve only been in the lobby. Different people have different “wants” out of a hotel. Some, just a place to sleep, others an experience. This is apparently an excellent place to sleep. The Control Residence looks a bit nicer, but it’s still modern and it’s a bit further out but the rooms are larger.

I am guessing you meant your flat was in or near District XIII near Nyugati and not the other end? Although that could be interesting too. But District XIII is very nice. Just not in the center of the fun stuff. But you know you way around well enough that its not a big deal and you aren’t trying to reach all the tourist destinations in 3 days.
Some interesting food in the area

• You have been to Vak Varju, but not like this one: https://maps.app.goo.gl/A6h7jQDLhYpP8mWk7
• Outstanding Persian food: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Bjf3iHbL8KiYXxLL6
• This maybe you can relate to: Csevapivo | Kafana Balkan Grill & Beer https://maps.app.goo.gl/4yrxFKRYmyriWfeL8
• Zincenco Kitchen https://maps.app.goo.gl/tgH95pLz44JKVVfAA

Near the Oktogon, my favorite is probably the UP Hotel. But then since I never stay in hotels, how can I have a favorite.

But my point for Lane was that for what he is paying for a short-term rental apartment he can get a better located four star hotel room. Of course, no kitchen. For that there is the Control Residence which is a tad further out and not so much in the center of stuff like his flat is. It depends on interests, desires, and how long the stay is. Some people like the short term rentals so thats great. Nothing wrong either way, just pointing out the prices.

The K46 Residence is on Kiraly utca but it’s the second building further out from the Kadarka Wine Bar … in other words a 3 minute walk from my living room door. Once you get past Vasvari Pal utca, Kiraly utca isn’t bad. The price was right too. About 80 euro for an efficiency (about 30sm). They have larger, but he is only staying two nights. https://maps.app.goo.gl/NkCajqk2SR1JXVPQ9

It will be interesting to see the results of the AirBnb ban; not just in District VI, but across the city.

20 years ago, the average flat in the city center was in a sad state of repair, without adequate electrical service for a washer/dryer or air-conditioning and they were not compliant with modern life safety codes. In part the short-term rentals assisted in correcting a great many of those pitfalls, but there is still a lot of work to be done.

I dont have the stats, but I would bet a chunk of money that more than 90% of the flats in District VI are lived in by locals. After seeing what District VI did, are as many going to gamble on investing in upgrades in other districts? I don’t know, but I suspect not.

Some of the former short-term rentals will become long-term, some will be sold to locals possibly, but a substantial number are going to foreign college students and generating about the same income as short-terms did. The housing shortage is mostly for foreign students and for apartments in high end neighborhoods at low end neighborhood prices. In other words, I can’t afford to live where I want to live.

The elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss is that the campaign against the short-term rentals seems to be more ideological than it is one for solution. If not, a moratorium on converting housing to hotels would have been part of the legislation. The number of apartment blocks being converted to hotels is staggering in some neighborhoods. It may get worse now that housing prices are being pushed down and there is a new shortage of tourism accommodations.

While I admit I am cheap, I probably won’t stay at the Medos Hotel again. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it had no “atmosphere”. I actually felt almost like I was staying in a college dorm.

Ha ha, I can definitely see that, TTM. I think the open wooden shelving definitely contributes to that! I would stay there again, although when I go back, I will probably look for someplace else. It's always fun to try new places and I might even look for an apartment on my next trip.

Another interesting one, that has a kitchen and some two bedroom units is https://maps.app.goo.gl/UYBjps8qVu56NGvx7 It starts at about 125 euro to about 150 euro for a two bedroom unit. The location is very good.

And Mardee, I agree it was a perfectly fine hotel with a great location and a great price - and far better than some I have stayed in in other cities. Everything worked, it was clean, and the breakfast was decent. I think my mental hangup is how much I love the grand buildings (even with the inconveniences they occasionally come with) and I hold it against the Medos that it looks modern. Plus I was there a whole week. 🤣 But I have only stayed in one place more than once and all my saved District VI apartments aren’t an option.

Yes, Mr. Ë, I will be across the street from Jaszai Mari ter, I think. So just by the dividing line between V & XIII but in XIII. I have been to the Persian (it was indeed good) and I bet I go to the award-winning pizza restaurant over there. On my first 2 week trip, I stayed my first 2 nights at the Connections Guesthouse - lol. A safe and clean stay, but not one I am sending people to. Ha! I should also quit commenting on the hotel thread…..

and I hold it against the Medos that it looks modern.

1972 modern?

how much I love the grand buildings

Have you tried the W Budapest Hotel?