Hotels in Budapest – our experiences and tips on accommodation

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Which hotel in Budapest should you choose? We have visited Budapest together several times and stayed in different hotels, from modern and central to grand and historic. Here we tell you about our own experiences, what has changed since our visits and which of the hotels we would choose today.

Hotels in Budapest – what to consider?

There are of course many hotels in Budapest and which one is best for you depends on what you are looking for. For us, location is one of the most important aspects. We appreciate being able to walk to restaurants, attractions and other places we want to visit, instead of having to start and end each day with transportation.

Budapest is divided by the Danube into Buda and Pest. The Buda side includes the castle area, Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion, while Pest is the livelier side with a wide range of restaurants, bars, shopping and attractions. We have stayed on both sides and enjoyed ourselves, but for those who want to be close to a lot, central Pest is a convenient choice.

Here are three hotels we have stayed at over the years. Two are still open, while the third has closed since our visit.

voco Budapest D8 – central and modern

When we stayed here, the hotel was called D8 Hotel. Since then, it has become voco Budapest D8 by IHG, but the address is the same: Dorottya utca 8 on the Pest side.

It was the location that caught our attention. The hotel is very central, close to Vörösmarty Square, the Danube and the Chain Bridge. From here it is easy to walk to many of Budapest's attractions, restaurants and shopping streets.

When we stayed at D8, we were greeted by a modern and youthful environment with lots of color and thoughtful design. Yellow appeared everywhere, and even though our room was quite small, it was smartly planned with good storage solutions.

There was also plenty of space in the lobby where we could sit down with our computers. For those of us who often combine travel with work, that was a big plus.

The breakfast on our visit consisted of a buffet with scrambled eggs, bacon, bread, cold cuts, croissants, yogurt and muesli. The hotel also had a bar and we found the staff to be both helpful and service-minded.

Today the hotel has changed its name and partly its appearance, so details such as breakfast and service may have changed since our visit. However, the central location is just as good.

Hotel President – our spacious accommodation in the city center

The first time we visited Budapest together, we stayed at the Hotel President. The hotel is centrally located on the Pest side, near Szabadság tér and within walking distance of the Parliament and St. Stephen's Basilica, among other places.

We felt like we had booked a fairly ordinary hotel room, but when we opened the door, something completely different awaited us. The room was enormous and contained no less than two sofa groups!

The bathroom was also very large and equipped with a whirlpool tub. And as if that wasn't enough, there was another sofa. We've stayed in many hotels over the years, but the sofa in the bathroom is still one of the more unusual interior design details...

When we stayed at Hotel President there was also a wellness area with a pool and other facilities, which we used during our stay. The hotel still exists, but as the range and availability of the wellness area has changed over the years, we recommend checking the current information directly with the hotel before booking.

READ MORE: Hotel President in Budapest – our accommodation in the city center

St George Residence – a hotel memory from Budapest

One of the most special hotels we have stayed at in Budapest is the St George Residence on the Buda side. The hotel was located in the middle of the historic castle district, just a few minutes walk from Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion, among other things.

Stepping in here was a bit like traveling back in time. We stayed in a very spacious room with antique furniture, large paintings and shiny fabrics. The environment was grand and felt very far from a modern standard hotel.

Breakfast was also served in historic premises, and the hotel included a restaurant, café, courtyard and wine cellar. It was simply the setting and atmosphere itself that made the stay memorable.

St George Residence has since closed and is no longer available for booking. We will still include the hotel here as a hotel memory from one of our previous Budapest trips, not as a current hotel tip.

Which hotel in Budapest should we choose today?

Of the hotels we have stayed at ourselves are: voco Budapest D8 the most obvious option for us today. Above all, we like the location on the central Pest side, where you can walk to a lot. When we lived here, we also enjoyed the modern and relaxed atmosphere.

Hotel President is still there and has a central location, while St George Residence has closed. At the same time, there are of course many more hotels in Budapest than we have had time to try, so before a new trip we would always compare location, price and current reviews.

For us, the location would still weigh heavily. Budapest is a lovely city to explore on foot, and it's nice to be able to step out of the hotel and be right in the middle of the city.

More to see and do in Budapest

Budapest is a city we love to return to and we have had many experiences over the years. Here you will find more of our guides and reports from the Hungarian capital:

• Things to do in Budapest
• Thermal baths in Budapest
• Caves in Budapest
• Restaurants in Budapest
• Cafes in Budapest