Besides the holiday season that includes Christmas time and the summers, places to stay in Budapest are quite affordable. Visitors can stay in boutique or five star hotels for as low as 100 Euros per night. Apartments are available for less than 50 Euros per night.
Budapest is divided into different districts and the 5th district is regarded as the city center. It is the best place to stay in Budapest and is walking distance away from all the best tourist attractions, restaurants, cafes, bars, the public transportation systems, and the Danube River. The 6th and 7th districts are also good neighborhoods with convenient accommodation options. They also have great nightlife and fine restaurants. The 9th district is regarded as a fast developing area of the city, but still has a few rough spots. It is however popular as the ‘beer district’ and has the best craft beers.
Presented below are the best places to stay in Budapest as per the different districts/neighborhoods.
Downtown Budapest/City Center/5th-V district
The V district is the downtown area of Budapest and home to the best action in the city. Located all alongside the Danube, it is the economic and political center of the city and features the banking quarter, the Neo-Gothic styled Parliament building, St Stephen’s Basilica, the Great Market Hall, the Chain Bridge, and numerous cafes, bars, and restaurants. There is not much disturbance in the night and thus an ideal place to stay.
The 5th district is perfect for lunch specials and sightseeing. The streets are wide and lined with 19th century restored buildings and awesome Art Nouveau designs and architecture. Tourists can walk the Váci Street for pedestrians and check out varied boutiques selling jewelry and apparels, soak in the beauty of the majestic St Stephen’s Basilica, enjoy the vibrant atmosphere at Vörösmarty Square, and take the metro ride to nearby Szechenyi Baths.
A few good hotels in downtown Budapest are Hotel Parlament, Hotel Rum, Aria Hotel, the Kempinski, Bohem Art Hotel, and Prestige Hotel.
The 6th – VI district/ Theresa Town
The 6th district is quite small. It shares a border with the V district next to St Stephen’s Basilica and the VII district, alongside Andrassy Avenue, and overlaps the Great Boulevard. It is located close public transport options; tourists may also take a bus and visit Buda Castle or take the metro and enjoy wonderful sessions at the popular Szechenyi Thermal Baths.
The Andrassy Avenue, which runs bang through the middle of the district, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The wide and elegant road connects the city center to City Park and Heroes’ Square. It used to be famous for high-end luxury shopping, but most of the shops have now closed. A few attractions along the length of the road are the Budapest State ornate Opera House, Nagymezo utca with breathtaking architecture, the spooky House of Terror, and Liszt Ferenc Square with lively bars and cafes.
A few good hotels in district VI are Hotel Moments, Mamaison Hotel Andrassy, Brill Budapest Apartments, and Casati Budapest.
Elizabeth Town/The Jewish Quarter/7th – VII District
Budapest’s 6th district has the Jewish Quarter which is home to the second biggest synagogue on the planet, i.e., the Great Synagogue. It is great work of architecture and features Moorish minarets. Europe’s largest synagogue, namely, the Dohany Street Synagogue is also located here. Other synagogues in the area are the Kazinczy Street Orthodox Synagogue and the Rumbach Street Synagogue.
This area has become famous as a fashionable night spot. Tailors, goldsmiths, and other craftsmen still work here. The Gozsdu udvar complex with its many connected courtyards used to have the workshops of artisans in the past. It now has several vibrant restaurants and bars. The quarter has many Jewish bakeries, restaurants, and grocery shops as well as beer gardens, home ruin bars, and boutique shops.
The 6th district is a good place to stay in Budapest for those who want to party, are interested in knowing about Jewish culture or history, and/or desire cafes and bars right next door. Kazinczy utca and Kiraly utca are the main party streets and are home to fine eateries and bars like the popular Szimpla ruin bar. Visitors can opt for accommodations close to the party streets but not on them.
A few good hotels to stay in District VII of Budapest are Roombach Hotel, The Continental, BP Central Home, Boscolo, Heritage Home Apartments, and Corinthia Hotel
The Palace District/Joseph Town/ The 8th –VIII district
The 8th district has a bad reputation and there are certain areas which need to be avoided at night. It is however a big district and the neighborhoods near the Danube River side of Joseph Town/Joszef Korut are quite good to stay in. The area around Corvin Plaza is newly developed and relatively safe. It has many new, cheap apartments which can be rented for a short period.
The streets around the Hungarian National Museum are really beautiful. The National Museum is the biggest museum in the country. Tourists should visit the museum and get mesmerized by the frescoed interiors. This neighborhood was home to wealthy lawyers, aristocrats, and merchants in the past. A lot of former palaces of the 19th century located on these roads have been renovated and they look magnificent. Tourists can take a stroll and check out the wondrous Art Nouveau houses that dot the area.
The district also has great historical importance as a lot of ‘Hungarian Revolution’ government demonstrations occurred here. A closer look will allow visitors to see the many bullet holes that are present in several buildings in the neighborhood. The Kerepesi Cemetery and its chestnut tree lined, peaceful paths that wind across mausoleums are also full of history.
A few good hotels to stay in the 8th district are Brody House, Hotel Palazzo Zichy, and Vagabond Apartments.
The Castle District/Buda
The Castle District is located on the western side of River Danube high up on the hill. It can be reached using the funicular. It was the site of several battles over the past centuries and is of great historical important. It is home to several tourist attractions like the Royal Palace, the overstated Matthias Church, the Hungarian National Gallery, and fisherman’s Bastion. Visitors can enjoy wonderful views of the surroundings from the castle, check out gorgeous architecture, walk the cobbled paths, and have a great time.
The area is really beautiful, but can get overcrowded with tourists who flock in hundreds to check out its many attractions. Also, after dark, the area turns into a ghost town and it is quite difficult to travel from here to the places with great nightlife. Hence, it’s a wonderful place to visit, but not a good one to stay in.
People who choose to stay in Buda can opt between the Hilton Budapest, Pest Buda Hotel, Baltazár Budapest, Maison Bistro & Hotel, or Buda Castle Fashion Hotel.
The outer districts of Budapest
There are some good places to stay in the outer districts of Budapest, especially in the 13th and 9th districts which are near the Danube. However, they are really far from the city center where most of the action is. Tourists who are in Budapest for just a few days should avoid staying in the outer districts.
Good places to stay next to a Metro station
Budapest has a great public transit system. It has four metro lines, buses, and trams which can be used to get to all parts of the city, near and far. Tourists can purchase single-use tickets or multi-day passes to use the public transportation system.
When selecting a place to stay in Budapest, it is a good option to choose a hotel that is situated near a Metro station. The metro stops on the M1 are relatively centrally located. Deák Ferenc tér metro stop is the most convenient transport hub in Budapest. It is the only station where the busiest (M1 and M2) metro lines intersect for changes. The M4 and M3 lines intersect at Kálvin tér, which is one stop over.
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