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Good morning, looking at a 3 night city break here in July. Looking at anantara and Corinthia hotels- has anyone any recommendations of where to stay/ eat and of course must dos?
I stayed at the IC and had an amazing view overlooking the Danube.
I’d recommend a walking tour to get your bearings – one that covers both Buda & Pest
Visit a ‘ruin’ bar – Simple is the most famous.
Gerbeaud cafe – coffee/cake/breakfast in historical surroundings
Thermal baths are great
Budapest makery – innovative DIY restaurant that is fun.I travel often there.
If you want views and no traffic the Hilton in the Castle is the best. Unless you have walking problems, it’s a nice walk to the Pest side, or you can take a bus that regularly goes past the hotel. Make sure you secure views over the Danube rooms. If you’re Diamond, they will give you those rooms. The rooms have gone through a major refurbishment just before Covid and they look very smart indeed, close to a Curio. The main restaurant can feel like a zoo for breakfast, very crowded in the summer, lots of cruise tourists. The lounge is one of the best in Budapest, if not the best. Food is decent enough for dinner and wine is free flowing of good quality.
IC is looking very tired, unless they’ve done it up during Covid. Rooms feel like you’re in the 1980’s. The Lounge is good though. Breakfast is similar to Hilton, big operation, very busy.
Corinthia, whilst a lovely hotel, is quite a schlepp from where you want to be. Still central, and walkable, but unless you get a good deal there, I would stay closer to the river. My favourite is Gresham Palace, part of Four Seasons. Even if not staying there, I would definitely have a few drinks at their bar, sitting outside and watch the people walk by. Parallel street, is one of the best restaurants I think, called Mak. Lunch is fantastic value.
Never stayed at the Ritz Carlton, but location is good, though doesnt come close to the views offered by IC and Hilton.
I stayed at the Corinthia about 7 years ago and couldn’t rate it highly enough. Big spa & pool in the basement, great breakfasts and their own taxis were always on hand at the front door. I didn’t find the hotel was out of the way, plenty of ruin bars nearby etc. I didn’t like the look of the IC, but each to their own.
After staying at half dozen hotels in Budapest, I discovered that the real answer is: book an AirBnB !
The overall experience, and value, is fantastic in places like Budapest – where you can get a full apartment, parquet floors, high ceilings, netflix, a/c, huge windows, and be in the middle of bustling districts (like district VII) for £40 – £80 per night.
Everything in Europe east of Italy, I now go to AirBnB first.
Reject the loft suite at the Castle Hilton, unless you are never going to be in the room except for sleeping
Will be going to Budapest next July for Guns n Roses (Yeah!!) Never been before.
Does the advice above still stand? What’s travelling around the city and getting to the stadium going to be like?
Restaurant and bar advice for the night that isn’t the show would be welcomed. Especially rooftop bars. Love watching the sun set over a new (to me) city.
Stayed in the Anantara NY in Budapest last Christmas and thoroughly enjoyed it. Our room was enormous, staff were great, breakfast exceptional in a beautiful space and its opposite a tram and subway stop. We found plenty of places to eat within walking distance.
It’s a beautiful city, largely unspoiled by the US/British horrors of crime, begging, visible addiction, graffiti (ruined Jewish ghetto excepted) or Brutalist post-war architecture.
The ugliest buildings in the city are the Intercontinental, Sofitel, Marriott and the back half of the Hilton overlooking the river. In fact, there are no other ugly buildings beside those. If you have any sense of history or style, avoid them. The Corinthia is splendid; it needs a little TLC in places but the pool and spa are fabulous and the tasting menu in the attached restaurant is glorious.
Go to an opera if you have the chance. The building is breathtaking, and the performances are surtitled in English. Otherwise, just walk around the city and enjoy. You’ll walk past plenty of places where you’ll want to stop for a coffee or to eat. If you want to escape the city, take a boat up the Danube to Szentendre, a charming old town that’s a lovely place to while away a few hours.
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