hotel for 2 nights

I think the perfect location for 2 nights is the Marriott but that might be closer to $250.

The Hotel Moments has been getting good reviews and it's a very good location and I think under $200. You might also look at the Hard Rock, Medos and Casati; all pretty well located and under $200.

BUMP

Could use some help here. I rarely stay in hotels in Budapest so mu recommendations are based on location and second hand reports.

Quite a few RS folks visited in the last couple of years. Very interested in hearing where you stayed.

Mister É is going to have good information.

I personally have only stayed at the K+K, which was low-key and nice enough for me. I had a 1 night reservation for the Callas House in March, which appealed to my tastes, but didn’t end up staying there.

This had a list, based on perhaps different criteria, but it might help.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/help-me-decide-where-to-stay-in-budapest

I think the perfect location for 2 nights is the Marriott

Mister E, I’m curious why you recommend the Marriott or Interconcentental for a short stay, but the area around the Hotel Moments for a longer stay. Is one area easier to get to via public transportation?

I’m just starting to research for a March 2025 trip that would possibly include Budapest. In looking at some of the hotel recommendations on the forum, I noticed the recommendations for the 2 different areas and was just curious about the differences between the two. Thanks!!

Because 2 nights isn't enough to see much. Its a 4 night city if you want to get the most out of it.

Those two hotels will put you on the famous scenic 2 Tram that runs the river front from the Great Market Hall to the Parliament. Buda Castle is right across the river on the Chain Bridge for stunning view day and night and quick visit. A few nice cafes on the river front with great atmosphere thanks to the views
Behind the hotel is Vaci ut for local shopping and interesting shops and architecture. If you still have time after that, you can run up the M1 metro and visit Andrassy ut.

With more time I would suggest further up Andrassy ut which opens the other half of Budapest.

Thanks Mister E, This is very helpful. I am collecting info. and will add this to my notes.

Its a 4 night city if you want to get the most out of it.

Happy to hear this. I'm in the planning stages for next year and have Budapest down for 4 nights.

I stayed at the Hotel Moments in May and really liked it. Look under the tab "Offers" for some of their deals which can help save money. I found the location to be perfect for our visit. Their was one metro line nearby and about a 3 block walk to catch the scenic Tram #2.
If you have limited time then try to take a Guru Walks tour "Introduction to Historic Budapest". The tour guides work for tips and the tour showed us a lot and gave us a good overview. If possible, try to go to both sides of the River. We fell in love with Budapest and hope to return soon.

I stayed at the Hotel Moments in April. Very nice hotel. Ask for a quiet room. Breakfast is good and they have free coffee/tea/filtered water in the lobby 24/7. Great location.

I faced the side of the hotel and heard nothing from other rooms, the hallway or outside.

I want someone to be creative and try:
Eurostars Ambassador
Hotel Alice
Hotel Oktagon
MaMaison Residence Izabella
Mystery Hotel

Good locations, except maybe the Mystery. 4 star, except Mystery is 5. Great prices because they are in "Budapest" not "TouristPest" But touristpest is less than a 5 min walk, except Mystery.

We stayed in Hotel Ibis Heroes Square. It was $70 or so a night. Very pleasant room, great breakfast. We spend no time in the room save for sleeping. Just checked - $74-77/night.

Any recommendations for the Buda side? I was thinking it would be nice to wake up early and walk around castle hill. Also, are the views better from the Buda side looking over the river towards Pest?

Carrie, I bet your situation will be different, so you might want your own thread. The OP only has 2 nights with a cruise - which creates a different dynamic. I have only seen a couple of people post about staying on the Buda side and yes, if you find a hotel with a view of the Parliament at night, it could be gorgeous. I would factor in how long you have, what you want to see, and how long to get to and from.

Okay we will hijack it a tad.

The Buda Castle district is pretty much dead after dinner. But there are a few very nice places for dinner.
The Hilton has great views of Pest, down on the river bank there are a number of hotels with good views to Pest including a very interesting new five star.
If you do all the museums and tours in the Castle District you could spend two, maybe even three days there. If you did all the museums and tours in Pest you could spend a year there.
Realistically, plan on 45 minutes to get from any hotel in Buda to most of the sites in Pest.

Right now there is a lot of constrution going on in the castle district. The leadership of the country is rebulding the castle district to what it was prior to WWII. As the majority of the Buda side was bombed flat during the war, most of what is up there is a very substantial reconstruction; much like many German cities I suspect. https://live.staticflickr.com/2894/11725796204_48413c9184_b.jpg

Pest survived the war damaged but pretty much in tact so its pretty authentic.

I bet your situation will be different, so you might want your own
thread.

I’m sorry, it never occurred to me that asking a couple of questions about hotels in Budapest, on a thread involving hotels in Budapest, would be considered inappropriate. My guess is that some questions about the different areas of Budapest would be helpful to the OP as well as others reading this thread. I know I always learn a lot on the forum by reading both the answers and all the responses. They often prompt me to think about things I haven’t thought of.

Anyway 😊, I do appreciate your insight about staying on the Buda side.

Mister E, I appreciate your information. I’m starting to get a feel for the different areas which will help my research make more sense.

vijayramraj, I’d love to hear which hotel you end up selecting. Enjoy your cruise. 😊

Carrie, if you are staying 2 nights, then stay on the Pest side of the river. Currently 3 hotels to choose from. For 4 nights or more, then pick a hotel or a short term rental in Pest's District VI that rings your bell. You can spend $75 to over $600 a night in either location.

Just my humble opinion.

Carrie,

I’m sorry, it never occurred to me that asking a couple of questions about hotels in Budapest, on a thread involving hotels in Budapest, would be considered inappropriate.

It isn’t, by any definition. But your own thread will usually get you better answers.

TTM can be a bit aggressive.

That’s me - big and scary and mean… 🙈

Andrew, webmaster, you realize it's the RS family playing ...

Thanks all for the input which I find very interesting. I still have not decided as I felt that there are many options and I love the feedback I am getting so will not close this thread for a while. I will be there for 2 nights, however the first night I do not arrive till after 9 pm so i did not want to spend too much. I also do not want to be in a really noisy section - however I am aware it is a city. I was hoping also to be able to get breakfast at whatever hotel i stay, however i can happily go check out the great cafes for breakfast if I need to.

To avoid noise, stay out of District VII.

Otherwise I guess the usual holds true; higher floor and/or courtyard facing room (a lot of the hotels are converted apartment blocks and have interior courtyards).

A 9 pm arrival time means you might reach the hotel about 10pm (sooner if you dont have checked bags).

If you stay on the river then at least you get the spectacular views that evening, and maybe a bed time snack, Something like this: https://www.dunacorso.hu/gfx/content/galeria/3.jpg and for breakfast the Marriott and the Intercontenental both have nice indoor and out door places https://www.dnbbudapest.com/resourcefiles/gallery-images/dnb.jpg

If you had more than one day I would say, go here for breakfast: https://www.lockerbudapest.com/gallery

Or for breakfast before or after your Parliament tour (buy the tickets today) https://smuzcafe.hu/
Or breakfast before the Market Hall https://www.cafebrunchbudapest.com/cafebrunch-fovamter Oh, the market hall is closed on Sunday and closes early on Saturday.