Where to Stay in Budapest: Areas and Top-Rated Hotels

Budapest is made up of Buda and Pest on either side of the Danube. Pest is flat and busy; Buda is hilly and quiet. This guide covers the areas, getting in from the airport, and what to check when choosing a hotel. A list of top-rated hotels follows at the end.

Areas of Budapest

Belváros (District V): Vörösmarty Square and Váci Street; the city centre.
Lipótváros (District V): Around Parliament and St Stephen’s Basilica, by the Danube.
Erzsébetváros (District VII): The Jewish Quarter, the Dohány Street Synagogue and the ruin bars; lively at night.
Terézváros (District VI): Andrássy Avenue and the Opera; close to the centre with calmer streets.
The Buda side: The Castle District, Fisherman’s Bastion and Gellért Hill; scenic and quiet, but hilly.

Getting in from the airport

Ferenc Liszt Airport (BUD): The 100E airport express bus runs to Deák Ferenc Square in the centre. Bus 200E runs to the M3 metro at Kőbánya-Kispest.
Getting around: The metro, trams and buses are extensive; the riverside trams make for a scenic ride.

What to check when choosing a hotel

Tourist tax: Budapest charges a tourist tax on stays; check whether the price includes it.
Pest or Buda? Pest suits nightlife and restaurants; Buda suits a quiet stay with views.
Noise: The bar streets of District VII can be noisy at night; ask about the room’s side.
Currency: Hungary’s currency is the forint (HUF).

Budapest in numbers

Places to stay: Kolay Seyahat lists 5,294 properties in Budapest (hotels, apartments, guesthouses and more). See all Budapest hotels, or browse 5-star hotels in Budapest, 4-star hotels in Budapest, 3-star hotels in Budapest.

Top-rated hotels in Budapest

The “Featured Hotels” list below is built from data, not picked by hand: properties in Budapest with photos, at least 5 guest reviews and a score of 8.0 or higher out of 10, ranked by number of reviews (October 2026). Scores come from reviews by guests who stayed at the property. The top three are Continental Hotel Budapest (8.93 · 14 reviews), Hotel Benczur (8.26 · 14 reviews), Royal Park Boutique Hotel (8.28 · 10 reviews). Open a hotel’s page for current prices and availability.

Cover photo: Media Lens King / Pexels