World City Guide

Hotels

Prices quoted are per double room per night, and include all taxes. Breakfast is usually included in the price. The hotels below have been classed into four different pricing categories:

$ (under HUF15,000 per night)
$$ (HUF15,000 to HUF35,000 per night)
$$$ (HUF35,000 to HUF70,000 per night)
$$$$ (over HUF70,000 per night)

Business

Hilton Budapest
Located in the heart of the historic Castle District, and next to the Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion, the Hilton Budapest, which many will tell you is the classiest hotel in town, successfully incorporates a contemporary structure with 13th-century remains. The 322 rooms and suites (some non-smoking) have all mod-cons, and the facilities onsite include multilingual staff, fitness room, tour desk, babysitting, business center and three restaurants. The views from the hotel are fantastic.

Hess Andras ter 1-3
Tel: (01) 889 6600.
Website: www.budapest.hilton.com
Price range: $$$$

Kempinski Hotel Corvinus
A relaxing atmosphere, luxurious rooms, elegant restaurants, top service and state-of-the-art technology and equipment make the Kempinski one of the hotel of choice for business travellers. The 337 rooms come equipped with three direct dial telephones, fax/PC connections, large desk with office tools, newspapers and magazines. There is also a business center with fax machines, PCs, laptops and mobile telephones, as well as secretarial, translation and courier services (not to mention an Internet corner open 24 hours a day). A pool and fitness centres are also on site to help guest relax after work.

Erzsébet tér 7-8
Tel: (01) 429 3777 or 3375 (reservations).
Website: www.kempinski-budapest.com
Price range: $$$$

Luxury

Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal
Right in the heart of Budapest, the old Grand Hotel Royal has recently been refurbished and transformed into the superb, modern Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal. The majestic Art Nouveau building has a distinguished façade and a wealth of architectural details have been carefully restored and incorporated inside. The 414 spacious rooms and suites are all luxuriously appointed, and the hotel boasts excellent facilities, including three restaurants, conference and banqueting facilities for up to 2,200 delegates (including a 30-room conference and exhibition centre) and soon a state of the art spa.

Erzsébet körút 43-49.
Tel: (01) 479 4000.
Website: www.corinthiahotels.com
Price range: $$$$

Hotel Gellert
Built just after World War I, the Gellert is situated at the foot of the Petõfi Bridge in Buda. Art nouveau in style and with an extravagant spa/thermal bath complex attached, the hotel was made famous by restaurateur Károly Gundel in the late 1920s, quickly becoming the place to be seen for rich, well-heeled Hungarians. For tradition and charm, it's still hard to beat. Entry to the famous baths is free to hotel guests. Service and food are both very good.

XI, Gellert ter 1
Tel: 385 2200.
Website: www.danubiushotels.com
Price range: $$$$

Moderate

Kalvin House
This cosy pension in the historical downtown district, close to the Danube, has 24 comfortable rooms over three floors (as with many pensions in the capital, there are no lifts, so be warned). The rooms have a turn of the century feel to them and are tastefully decorated with period furniture. All are equipped with a minibar, telephone and TV.

Gonczy Pal utca 6
Tel: (01) 216 4365.
Website: www.kalvinhouse.hu
Price range: $$

Radio Inn
This apartment hotel, situated in the embassy district, is in a quiet neighbourhood but still near downtown, and a stonethrow from City Park. The spacious apartments and hotel (which is the official guesthouse of Hungarian National Radio, hence the name) provide comfortable, family-like accommodation for individual travellers and groups alike. All apartments have fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator, bathroom, shower-bath, bath-tub, colour television, satellite, and radio with alarm clock. There is also a safe, a bar and a laundry service available, as well as a cosy garden. Breakfast is extra.

Benczur utca 19
Tel: (01) 342 8347.
Website: www.radioinn.hu
Price range: $

Other Recommendations

art’otel Budapest
Budapest’s first boutique hotel, the stylish art’otel, situated on the Buda side of the Danube, affords splendid views of the river and the Parliament. The hotel, an interesting combination of old and new (think baroque townhouses meet contemporary architecture), was designed by Donald Sultan, the contemporary American artist, whose paintings and sculptures are on display throughout the building, decorating both the light, spacious public places, and the 165 well appointed bedrooms. Each of the latter includes modems, PC connection and voice-mail, as well as individually controlled air-conditioning, bath/shower, hair dryer, direct-dial telephone, satellite TV, radio, minibar and personal safe. The Chelsea restaurant (named after the butterflies on the paintings that adorn its walls) serves excellent food and is popular with hotel guests and locals alike. There is also a sauna, a small business centre, various meeting facilities, an in-house art gallery, a gorgeous breakfast room and convenient underground parking. Last, but not least, the staff are extremely friendly and helpful& making this one of our favourite hotels in Budapest.

Bem rakpart 16-19
Tel: (01) 487 9487.
Website: www.artotel.hu
Price range: $$$

Hotel Astra
Located in a 300 years old completely reconstructed historic building in a Buda Castle district, this small hotel (it has nine rooms, two suites and one family apartment) oozes charm and character. Five minutes from downtown, the hotel offers rooms with satellite TV and mini bar, while guests can also enjoy an evening drink in the cellar bar (with its own snooker table).

I, Vám utca 6
Tel: 214 1906.
Website: www.hotelastra.hu
Price range: $$