The city has seen a variety of cultures throughout the ages. It started as a Celtic settlement called Aquincum, which later became a Roman capital. The land was taken over by Hungarian settlers in the ninth century, and was conquered by the Mongols in the thirteenth century. Eventually, Budapest became a center for Renaissance humanist culture. When it was unified in 1873, it became a global center of trade, transportation, and industrialization.
Budapest is known throughout the world as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and it is also one of the oldest. Even the Millennium Underground Railway is historic, as it's the second-oldest metro line in the world. Tourism is an important and thriving industry in Budapest, and there are about 4.4 million visitors every year.
When to Visit Budapest, Hungary
The best times to visit Budapest are March through May or September through November. The weather is beautiful during these months, with average temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 degrees in the spring and 45 to 70 in the fall. The city is not as full of tourists during these months as in the summer. The temperature throughout the year is comfortable, with lows staying above 20 degrees and highs rarely getting over 80. Precipitation levels range from just over an inch to nearly three inches per month.
When you're considering a trip to Budapest, keep in mind the events, festivals, and local happenings throughout the city. Spring brings Hungarian Macaron Day, Easter Festivals, and Spring Festivals. In the summer, you can experience Danube Carnival, Sziget Festival, and the Jewish Cultural Festival. In the fall, the Budapest International Wine Festival draws crowds from all over the world. The most prominent festival in the winter is the Budapest Basilica Christmas Market.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Budapest, Hungary:
Budapest by Star Rating
Below are 3 charts demonstrating mean nightly cost trends by star rating class in Budapest, Hungary. You can use these illustrations to calculate the least expensive time to book a room in Budapest for upcoming travels.
Luxury Hotel Options in Budapest, Hungary
4 Star Average Prices: £56.87
At a luxury hotel in Budapest, you'll get everything to make your trip especially comfortable. Rooms are beautifully appointed with comfortable bedding. Amenities are plentiful, so you can relax and enjoy your vacation. If you're looking for the best hotels in Budapest, make sure to check out these luxury hotel options throughout the city.
At Szechenyi Istvan Terrace 5-6, you'll find the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest. There are 179 rooms on five floors, as well as 17 suites. Rooms range from a classic single queen or two single bed room to one-bedroom suites in the tower. Pets are allowed, with a weight limit of 15 pounds. The hotel offers a restaurant, 24-hour room service, and breakfast in your room. Other amenities include a spa, wireless Internet, and childcare services.
The Corinthia Hotel Budapest is located at Erzsebet Krt 43-49. Here you'll find 414 rooms, including 31 suites. Pets are allowed, though a surcharge may be applicable. This hotel was originally opened in 1896, but has been renovated several times over the decades. The most recent renovation led to a re-opening in 2003. Amenities throughout the hotel include a fitness and health center, indoor swimming pool, and shopping areas. In addition, the hotel has an on-site restaurant and a spa.
The Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest is located at Erzsebet Terrace 7-8. There are a total of 349 rooms in the hotel on nine floors, including 33 suites and four handicap-accessible rooms. Pets are allowed. There is a restaurant on the property, and guests can also take advantage of the 24-hour in-room dining. There are a number of amenities, including an indoor pool and sauna, evening entertainment, and a fitness and health center.
Affordable Hotel Options in Budapest, Hungary
3 Star Average Prices: £39.39
Affordable hotel options throughout the city offer comfortable rooms with standard features. Many are near a variety of attractions, historical sites, and downtown areas. If you're traveling on a budget, check out these affordable hotels in Budapest.
The Rozsa Street Guesthouse, which offers 31 rooms on six floors, is located on Rozsa utca, District 7. There is a restaurant on-site as well as a snack bar/deli. You can get drinks at the bar/lounge area or at the coffee shop. Pets are not allowed at this property. Room styles vary from private single rooms to private suites. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and tour/ticket assistance.
Agape Aparthotel is located at Akacfa Street 12-14, 1st floor 111, with 40 rooms throughout the six-floor building. The hotel offers an airport shuttle for a surcharge. There is also a surcharge for air conditioning, which you'll need to keep in mind if you travel during the warmer months. Rooms come with either a king bed or two double beds, and amenities include a bar/lounge area, free Wi-Fi, and a multi-lingual staff.
Located at Benczur Street 35, the Hotel Benczur offers 159 rooms on seven floors. There are many room types available, from single economy rooms to superior or suite rooms. There is a restaurant on site, as well as a bar/lounge area. Pets are allowed here in specific rooms, for a fee of EUR 20 per pet, per night. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, wedding services, and concierge services.
2 Star Average Prices: £24.83
Best Discounts in Budapest, Hungary
When you're looking for the best rate possible on your Budapest hotel, make sure you check out the available discounts, which vary depending on the property.
Several hotels offer special rates if you book your hotel online. These rates are generally 10 to 25 percent off, and require you to pay immediately upon booking. The Boscolo Budapest, Autograph Collection hotel offers a discount of up to 25 percent for online booking, and the Three Corners Hotel Bristol offers up to 10 percent discount for booking online.
Group discounts are also available when you book several rooms at the same time. The number of rooms required and the discount offered vary with the hotel. The Mirage Fashion Hotel has an average group discount of 3.8 percent, whereas the Mamaison Hotel Andrassy Budapest has an average group discount of 22.7 percent. It's important to contact the property you're interested in to find out their requirements and discounts for group rates.
Best Value Options in Budapest, Hungary
If you're looking for the perfect combination of reasonable rates and pleasant lodging, check out the best value hotels in Budapest. These hotels offer comfortable, spacious rooms as well as a number of amenities.
The Karma Boutique Apartments located at Liszt Ferenc tér 11 offers a total of nine apartments on five floors. One child two years or younger can stay free of charge in their parent's room. You can choose between one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, and there is a restaurant and bar/lounge area. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and tour/ticket assistance. No pets are allowed.
Bo33 Hotel Family and Suites is located at Szovetseg u. 33. There are 62 rooms on the property, which spans 10 floors. Rooms feature flat-screen televisions and minibars. Pets are allowed with a fee of EUR 15 per pet, per night. There is a free children's club in the hotel as well as babysitting services for a fee, and one child who is 12 or younger can stay free in their parent or guardian's room. Amenities include spa services on site, fitness facilities, and concierge services.
The Mamaison Hotel Andrassy Budapest is located at Andrassy ut 111, with 68 rooms on four floors. Pets are allowed for a fee of HUF 7,500 per pet, per night. Rooms range from a classic double room to an Ambassador suite. The hotel includes a bar/lounge area and restaurant. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi, babysitting or child care for a surcharge, and laundry facilities.
What to Do in Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is a cultural melting pot, with a variety of activities throughout the year. No matter when you visit, there's always something new and interesting to see or do.
There are several sight-seeing tours you can take of the city. Bus tours, bike tours, and even guided walks allow you to see the majesty and history of Budapest. You can find broad tours that take you throughout the city or specialized tours, such as Budapest by Night.
Check out some of the historic and interesting sites throughout the city, such as Central Market Hall, which is the largest indoor market in the city. The Millennium Underground Railway started construction in 1894 and is still a must-see today. See Shoes on the Danube Embankment, which is a world-famous art composition comprised of 60 pairs of metal shoes across the edge of the river.
A visit to Budapest Recapped
The thought of twin cities is enough to tickle anyone's fancy. This equates to twice the fun and a double load on adventure. Hungary's Budapest is the fusion of twin cities Buda and Pest, separated by a striking ribbon of the River Danube that illuminates much of the city. The Buda Castle dominates the banks of the river, looking towards the cruises along Danube. The Heroes' Square best embody the twin capital, with wine cellars and old inns within the vicinity. Although the Great Synagogue, Fisherman's Bastion, Royal Castle, Margaret Island and the Matthias Church are popular attractions, the true charm of Budapest lies in its music. After all, Budapest produced some of the best sonatas. Close your eyes, and discover how the city's feel inspired Beethoven to write Appassionata along Martonvasar, or eat a goulash dinner while listening to an accompanying live music. Listen to a wide range of traditional and classical folk music produced by the Rajko Folk Ensemble, including pieces by Liszt, Monti, and Brahms. Concerts are almost always held at a gorgeous venue along the Hungarian Casino, but it all that dancing and swaying become tiresome, you can always indulge at one of the Turkish baths, and enjoy Gundel's mouthwatering pastries afterwards.
'Getting caught is inevitable. You can't help it. Fate will catch up with you sooner rather than later. But what you can learn is how to escape once you are caught. Caught, cuffed, bundled, shackled, pinned and bound “ that's when I really rise up to the occasion. What drives me is that dash for freedom.
Harry Houdini, the most popular magician and escape-artist of all time, had these words to say when he was asked what motivates him to perform superhuman feats of escape. Houdini was born in Budapest, Hungary and this, by no means, is a meaningless or out of place trivial detail.
Budapest is known as the City of Freedom. It has always been a city that knows how to celebrate freedom. Stretching it a bit forward, it wouldn't be too inappropriate to say that Budapest is the Festival Capital of the World, a city that has often been called (famously by short story whiz Stephen Zweig) ˜the Heart of Europe'.
If you are making a trip to Budapest, for whatever reason “ personal or business, you can be sure to get wowed by this city that boasts of enviable history stretching way back to palaeontological times. Of course, not to mention is the beautiful architecture of renaissance times and grace with which noted artists have made Budapest their home, this is a truly cultural capital of Europe.
Cutting Back on Hotel Charges
Tourists around the world share a common worry “ turning their trips to distant corners of the world an economic but yet memorable affair.
Traveling to Budapest, tourists should keep in mind that this is one of the most politically active cities in the region, housing many important EU and UN offices. So, in the downtown, hotel prices can get a tad too uncomfortable for the liking of most tourists.
However, this is not at all to say that there are absolutely no cheap hotels to avail of in this capital of Hungary. If you are ready to compromise your comfort just a touch, and you do not expect fancy treatment from the hotel management (in-house golden saunas, for example), then you can find many good Budapest hotels for affordable prices.
Hotel Papillon is among the crowd favorites in this category. Located at a convenient distance from all the hubbub of the city, it offers a strange kind of solace to its guests, of course, at reasonable prices. Hotel Matyas is a good choice, as well, especially those who wish to travel to other European cities by train. Hotel Six Inn is another hotel in the similar price and quality category.
High-Europe in High-Style
Budapest is as European as it gets, and readers would know the old adage of when in Rome, do as Romans do.
So, if you are in a culturally gifted city like Budapest, it makes sense for you to want to live in a truly artsy, aristocratic hotel that, despite all the money it charges you, is definitely all worth it.
Well, if you really wish for that, Budapest has got you covered.
Home to some of the oldest hotel buildings in the world, Budapest hotels of luxurious class number in excess of 50.
Among this multitude of luxury hotels in Budapest, one name stands out head and shoulders above the rest. That is “ Four Seasons Hotel, located right in front of the famous Gresham Palace. A stately building that oozes elegance, style and class is home to over 100 regal suites that kings, queens, ministers, diplomats and world leaders have occupied quite frequently.
The Ritz Carlton Hotel in downtown Budapest is a grand affair as well, most famous for the huge ballroom. Budapest Marriott and Buddha Bar are two names worthy of inclusion in this splendid chain of luxury hotels in Budapest.
Seeing Around Budapest
The only way you can fail to make the most of your trip to Budapest is by not having enough time on your hands. There are, quite literally, dozens of sights that just cannot be ranked in the order of ˜goodness'.
If at all one has to make an order, then the Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest will rank on top in most lists. The magnificently built and decorated building is the holy shrine of Hungarian democracy, among the oldest in Europe. Also worth a visit is the Fishermen's Bastion, a uniquely eccentric trip attraction.
A quite morning and evening walk on the shores of Danube will also be etched permanently in your memories, and so will be a trip to surreally beautiful St. Stefan's Basilica.
Among many castles in the city, Buda Castle and Castle Hill are the most prominent ones. If you are going with kids, you shouldn't forget to add the famous Pinball Museum in Budapest to your roster, as well!
Hotels Near Budapest Airport
Budapest International Airport is located in the near vicinity of the city itself, and a drive from the airport to the city center won't take you more than half an hour.
Considering this short distance, there is little point in wasting your time looking for cheap hotels around the airport. For those who really wish to stay near the airport, some homestay and B&B units are available. However, they are usually overpriced and underequipped.
Budapest & Weather: All You Need to Know
The best time to visit Budapest, just like is the case with most European cities, is during the high summer. In a period starting from March and ending in late August, Budapest brims with cultural events, fashion shows, art exhibitions, food festivals and riverside celebration of many of Hungarian festivals. Quite understandably, hotel managements are forced to increase their nightly prices during these months, and a stay in Budapest during summer can be expected to cost you anywhere up to twice of what it would normally cost you.
But in the end, it's definitely worth it. Visiting Budapest in cold, bleak winters, just to avail of low accommodation prices would be akin to not enjoying Budapest at all!