From cave-fed hot springs in Art Nouveau bathhouses to fairy-tale castles, Hungary’s capital – the convergence point between ancient Obuda, cosmopolitan Pest and the royal city of Buda – is packed with three cities’ worth of things to see, eat and do. Read on to discover our guide to having the best time in Budapest.
Kozmo Hotel Budapest is a beautiful, elegant hotel set in a stunning historic building that has been renovated with great care while preserving its original character. It has a classy atmosphere and feels luxurious without being over the top.
The spa area is beautiful and a great place to relax. The only downside for us was that the sauna is textile (with swimwear), which is common in Hungary but not our personal preference.
We stayed in a suite, which was spacious and very comfortable. There were a couple of issues on arrival: one of the toilets hadn’t been cleaned properly, and drinks we ordered to our room never arrived. However, after we shared our feedback with the manager, the response was exceptional. The management was genuinely grateful for the feedback and clearly appreciated the opportunity to improve. We were invited to enjoy two complimentary massages and a fantastic dinner, which was a very generous and professional way of handling the situation.
The breakfast was excellent, with a great selection of high-quality food.
Overall, this is a stylish, high-quality hotel with plenty of character. While there were a few service hiccups, the way the management listened, appreciated our feedback, and resolved the situation showed genuine care for their guests. We would happily stay here again.
10.0
Lisa T.
This hotel has a first class service, with the most welcoming of staff. The ambience of the hotel and the interior are amazing. We like the Penhaligon accessories in the bathroom. I was very lucky it was my birthday and they gifted me a fantastic bottle of wine awaiting in our room upon returning being tourists in Budapest! The hotel itself is further out from the main tourist areas/attractions, but we like that, as it's in a much quieter area for sleeping. I would highly recommend anyone to visit Budapest to stay in this small luxury hotel. 😊
10.0
American U.
Five Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We had an excellent three-night stay at Kozmo Hotel Suites & Spa. The hotel is located in a quiet area, yet all major sights are easily reachable by public transport.
The building is stunning, the rooms are spacious, spotless, and beautifully designed, and the overall atmosphere is calm and elegant. The staff were exceptional—friendly, professional, and genuinely helpful from the moment we arrived.
We also enjoyed the spa area, which was very clean and relaxing. The Bistro restaurant is a nice option for a quiet dinner, with good food although the menu is limited.
Highly recommended, and we would definitely stay here again on our next visit to Budapest.
10.0
Logan W.
Had a great 4 night stay at the Kozmo! Our room was gorgeous, clean, comfortable beds/sheets, the shower was excellent, huge closet, etc.. the breakfast in the morning is wonderful, staff at the kitchen/bar/restaurant rocked- so friendly and thoughtful! About a 20 min walk from the main things but I loved that it was in a neighborhood. Would absolutely stay again!
1. Soak in a Budapest thermal spa
Hungary is blessed with more than a thousand thermal springs, with over 120 located in Budapest, aptly known as Europe’s ‘City of Spas.’ The city’s love affair with hot springs dates back almost two millennia, shaped by the thermal culture of Celtic tribes, Roman legionnaires and Ottoman invaders, with many of the latter’s spectacular sunlit hammams remaining today. Most baths operate year-round, and many are architectural masterpieces – Gellért Baths’ Art Nouveau stained-glass windows, marble columns and vivid mosaics make for a breathtaking backdrop.
2. Cruise the Danube River
Europe’s second-longest river ambles through Budapest, offering the perfect chance to sail through the capital at night, beneath historic bridges and past the city’s illuminated monuments, including the Hungarian Parliament Building and Buda Castle. Day cruises offer a convenient, unobstructed way to see the city’s twin faces, the royal walled city of Buda and once-independent Pest, formally divided by the waters of the Danube.
The best experience and Ricardo and Julia made our trip memorable.
Big thanks to everyone from Clark’s team
10.0
AnonymousIM
Amazing hotel, great view, exceptionally clean, staff very friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend and we will definitely stay again
10.0
AnonymousUS
Hotel and its staff were outstanding. Great location, it was magic
10.0
AnonymousVN
Lovely staff and lovely hotel in a great location!
10.0
AnonymousSG
The staff were all terrific and very nice. Hotel is the best I stay in my Eastern Europe holiday!
3. Explore caves in the Buda Hills
Budapest’s western hinterland offers picturesque walking trails, grand castles and a vast network of caves, sculptured over centuries by thermal spring water bubbling to the surface. For first-time explorers, Szemlőhegyi Cave is a must-see: easily explored in about an hour, the cave dazzles with its brilliant crystals and unique, flower-shaped mineral formations.
4. Admire the riverside Hungarian Parliament Building
Big, bold and beautiful, even in a city as jam-packed with spectacular architecture as Budapest, the Hungarian Parliament Building stands triumphant. Still the largest building in the country, this Gothic Revival masterpiece sits on the bank of the Danube river and is well worth seeing in person (especially from the comfort of a river cruise). Inside, you’ll find the Holy Crown of Hungary, used in coronation ceremonies for almost a millennium.
The best reception team I have experienced in a while
10.0
AnonymousSG
Movenpick Budapest has made us feel home. The cold days during our stay meant nothing with the hotel’s amenities, services and staff. Cleanliness is superb and linens are comfy and soft. Definitely coming back and will recommend
10.0
AnonymousSG
Great location next to subway and tram stop, clean room with comfy bed.
10.0
AnonymousRO
A quiet, clean, and nice hotel in a great location. Highly recommended!
10.0
AnonymousMY
Too much random review online makes me skeptical about booking it. But it turns out room is super clean and nice. Huge room for one people, comfy bed and shower
5. Head out to the Etyek-Buda wine region
Drive just half an hour west to see Budapest fall away, replaced by rolling hills and traditional villages. The region has been renowned for its red wine for centuries: today, sandy slopes, fertile loam soils and a cool environment make it a white wine powerhouse. Vineyards like Etyeki Kuria make for a wonderful place to sample the region’s abundance of remarkable chardonnays, pinot gris and rieslings.
6. See a real-life fairy-tale castle in Öreghegy
Architect and sculptor Jenő Bory is best known for his spectacular concrete masterpiece, Bory Castle, the result of four decades of tireless labour. While seemingly plucked from another time, the castle is an ingenious blend of traditions, styles and influences, with countless mythological and folkloric references peppered throughout. Less than an hour’s drive from Budapest, the castle and surrounding fortresses make for an enchanting day trip.
7. Explore Hungary’s largest Baroque palace
Gödöllő Royal Palace has seen a lot of history: built by a 16th-century aristocrat and presented to Emperor Francis Joseph I for use as a springtime royal retreat, it later served as Soviet barracks before restoration and conservation began in 1985. Today the palace holds permanent exhibits dedicated to the palace’s illustrious past, including its time under the German-Austrian Habsburg ruling family, its use as the country residence of Hungary’s Queen Elisabeth and its role during wartime.
8. Peruse art at the Hungarian National Gallery
Located within the massive Buda Castle, the Hungarian National Museum is the largest public collection of works on the development of the country’s fine arts. Exhibits range from 11th–century stone carvings to contemporary oil paintings and sculptures by Hungarian masters.
After traveling around Europe to 4 different countries, 4 different hotels and 2 Airbnbs.. This was the first hotel I arrived, with someone greeting me and my girlfriend as we stumbled out of the taxi. It was refreshing to have a warm welcoming staff, instead of a self check-in Ipad. It is the tiny things like this that makes a huge difference to a yeah good hotel to a yes this is what all hotels should be like. The location is a little out of the way compared to others, but the great thing about Budapest is that everything is in walking distance and for those that limited in walking, their public transport is amazing. This hotel is dripping in qwerkiness, around every corner. Elegant hallways makes you feel you're living in a palace. Rooms are clean, turn down of the room is quick and they leave a little chocolate every time. Staff are always happy to help with anything. They arranged a massage for me, within 2-3hours of arrival. As a advocate Gym Rat, gym is tiny, but it does the job. There are plenty of other gyms around that you can do daily passes or longer if you require more. Overall such a lovely beautiful hotel, would 100% recommend to anyone to stay here, you wont be dissapointed.
10.0
Mar D.
We had a wonderful stay. The hotel was beautiful, very clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful throughout our visit.
The beds were very comfortable, and the breakfast offered a wide and generous selection. We also enjoyed the à la carte restaurant, which served very good food. Almost all food can be made gluttenfree, all allergens marked.
We were pleasantly surprised by a room upgrade and a complimentary bottle of Prosecco, which was a very nice touch.
The wellness area was clean, included in the room rate, and available throughout the day without the need for a reservation. It is also possible to book massages. They are on the more expensive side, but the quality was excellent and well worth it.
The location is excellent as well. Most places are within easy walking distance, and there is a bus stop right by the hotel.
The only downside was the parking. The hotel parking is paid and relatively expensive, especially considering that there is a guarded parking lot just a short walk away for roughly one third of the price.
10.0
Whoever99999 W.
Excellent hotel for good price. Historic building nicely decorated with all the modern amenities, very clean, comfortable beds, excellent noise isolation. Service is friendly and accommodating. Location is also good – walking distance to train station and near trolleybus stops to get straight to the center. Absolutely would stay next time in Budapest.
10.0
Izzy D.
Wonderful hotel. The rooms are spacious and clean. All of the staff are friendly and helpful. When we ate at the Sky Garden bar one night, one of the staff members noticed I went to get a cardigan, and offered me a blanket to stay warm.
The location was perfect, we were within walking distance of many attractions on our list. Thank you mystery hotel for making our trip great.
9. Taste everything from traditional goulash to modern Michelin-starred cuisine
There’s more to Hungarian cuisine than goulash, though you’d be wise not to sleep on the country’s paprika-fueled national dish. Budapest’s position as an emerging culinary wonderland is backed by seven Michelin-starred restaurants, including Salt (one star), plating spectacularly minimalist takes on Hungarian classics. The bar scene is just as good, with marble-and-copper speakeasy Black Swan boasting its very own Vintage Negroni Room, filled with hard-to-find and unique spirits.
The riverside town of Szentendre – located just a 40-minute train ride from Budapest – offers the largest open-air museum in Hungary, and the rare chance to see how local villages lived centuries ago. A wealth of authentic buildings have been relocated from across the country to build the exhibit, including an entire market town from the country’s northern mountain ranges.
11. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hollókő village
The deliberately preserved old village of Hollókő is a startling example of life in Hungary before the agricultural revolution. The historical site features a medieval castle, orchards, vineyards and a church, with many peasant houses and old buildings now operating as shops, museums or restaurants (the artisan cheese shop and doll exhibition are must-sees). Admittance to the site – just a two-hour drive from Budapest – is free.
