This magical city on the River Danube is as welcoming as it is beautiful. A long list of attractions will lure you from place to place, along cobbled streets and via tree-clad hills, with promises of art, music, amazing food, lively nightlife, exquisite architecture, great shops and those famous steamy bathhouses.

How do you like your city break? Are you enthusiastic shoppers or gourmet eaters, or do you consume as much culture as possible? Do you like to totally unwind before gearing up for a night on the tiles? Or perhaps it’s the history of a place that consumes your every waking hour. Whatever it is that makes a perfect city break for you, Budapest delivers.

River cruises are hugely popular, and the wide gentle waters of the Danube are the perfect place to get your bearings on the city. Castle Hill is home to a trove of architectural treasures, while Belvaros and Lipotvaros deliver on both sights and public squares packed with cosy cafes. Shop for pretty linens and beautiful lace in the central areas of Pest and don’t miss the Great Market Hall if you are looking for a bargain or two.

There is simply no end to the ways in which you can enjoy a break in Budapest and you might find yourself coming back again and again. That’s why it pays to find a great hotel at the lowest possible price. Read on to find out where to stay in Budapest and then use the TravelSupermarket search tool to compare prices on the hotels in your preferred area. Using our price-comparison tool is also the best way to find cheap flights to Budapest and low rates on car hire in Budapest.

The twin cities of Buda and Pest make up the Hungarian capital. To the west of the river is Buda, which is generally cleaner and quieter than downtown Pest, which is directly across the river from central Buda. The best four- and five-star hotels in Budapest are in Buda. If you are looking for a luxury break with easy access to some of the most-visited tourist attractions, you cannot go wrong with a hotel in the Castle Hill district.

In downtown Pest, which is also packed with tourist sites as well as restaurants, cafes, shops and bars, are many cheaper hotel options. This area has a great selection of luxury hotels too, if you want an upmarket hotel at the heart of the action. Big brands with hotels in this area include Four Seasons, Sofitel and InterContinental. The central district of Belvaros is a good starting point for your hotel search if you want to be close to the main attractions and facilities of Budapest.

Budget hotels can be found in these central areas and they fill up fast. Cheap hotels are easy to find in districts a little further from the city centre, though the excellent network of public transport in Budapest will whisk you into the central core of the city in minutes.

Wherever you choose to stay, be sure to book hotels as soon as possible to secure the room you want at a low price. Many visitors choose to fly into Budapest around Christmas and in the summer months, so it’s advisable to book well in advance during these peak holiday times. 

Top five attractions

Castle Hill

The Royal Palace is the big lure in this central tourist district of Buda, though visitors should also consider some time at the Fisherman’s Bastion (Halaszbastya) and the National Gallery.

Tour the bridges

Split by the mighty Danube, it is inevitable that Budapest has a host of bridges – but what bridges they are. Take a walking tour over the river, and if you only see one, make it the Chain Bridge.

Shoes on the Danube

This moving memorial on the west bank of the river consists of 60 pairs of iron shoes. It honours the men and women ordered to remove their shoes before being shot and falling into the river during the Second World War.

Andrassy Avenue

Alternatively known as Andrassy Boulevard, or Andrassy Ut, it is a lengthy and elegant tree-lined street in Pest that is home to galleries, museums and other attractions, including the State Opera House.

Book a spa day

Whatever the weather, spend some time in the hot waters of one of the famous baths of Budapest. There is no way of labelling one as ‘the best’, as they are so different, but Szechenyi Baths in City Park is large, Gellert boasts Art Nouveau style, while Kiraly Baths is soaked in history. There are many more to choose from. 

Budapest Spring Festival; March-April: This is one of the biggest cultural events in the city and thousands gather for performances of dance, music, opera and much more.

Sziget Festival; August: Hajogyari Sziget, or Shipyard Island, is the venue for this hugely popular music festival featuring international artists. Located a little way north of the central parts of Budapest, you could hop along for a day of song and dance or make a week of it.

Christmas Fair; November-December: One of the most beautiful festive offerings in Europe, the markets and fairs of Budapest should not be missed if you go gooey at the thought of Santa Claus. Vorosmarty Square is the main destination for fans of Yuletide, though there is much going on around Buda and Pest.