Weekend
A weekend in Budapest: three hotels and a plan for two nights
Steam rises from the outdoor pool at the Széchenyi Baths, and the air is cold enough to see your breath. Around you, locals play chess in water at 38 degrees.
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In short: a weekend in Budapest
Two nights are enough for Budapest if you stay on the Pest side or right by the Chain Bridge. Spend Friday in the ruin bars, Saturday at the castle and by the Danube, and Sunday morning in the Széchenyi Baths. Our first choice is the Hotel Clark, with the Chain Bridge and the Parliament in the window.
Our first choice: Hotel Clark Budapest. Check availability and prices at Hotel Clark Budapest
Budapest only became one city in the 1870s, when Buda, Óbuda and Pest were joined together. The river still divides the two sides: Buda with the castle and the hills, Pest with the Parliament and the nightlife.
For a short break, stay where you want to be in the evening. The restaurants are on the Pest side, but the view from Buda is what you remember. Flights from London take around two and a half hours. The currency is the forint, though cards are accepted almost everywhere.
The hotels we choose for a weekend in Budapest
One for the view, one for a first visit and one with a story. All score highly with guests on Hotels.com.
Hotel Clark Budapest: a weekend with a view
The Hotel Clark is on Clark Ádám tér, at the Buda end of the Chain Bridge and right by the funicular up to the castle. Rooms facing the river have the bridge and the Parliament in the window, so choose one when you book.
The hotel is adults only, and from the rooftop bar you can watch the whole of Pest light up after dark. The rooms are not large but well thought out, and you can walk across the bridge to the centre in five minutes.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Clark Budapest
Music by the basilica
Aria Hotel stands next door to St Stephen's Basilica. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Aria Hotel Budapest: a first weekend in the city
The Aria is on Hercegprímás utca, next door to the basilica. The hotel is built around music, with a wing for each genre and a piano playing in the lobby in the afternoon.
From the rooftop bar the basilica's dome is close enough to count the stones. The rooms are spacious, and breakfast and the afternoon spread in the lobby are much praised. The Aria suits a first visit, with most of Pest within walking distance.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Aria Hotel Budapest
Mystery Hotel Budapest: a weekend with a story
The Mystery Hotel is on Podmaniczky utca, a couple of blocks north of Andrássy út, in the building that was once the Freemasons' lodge in Budapest. The interior plays on it, with dark colours and hidden doors.
On the roof is a small pool overlooking the rooftops, and prices are lower than at the grand palace hotels. The centre is a fifteen-minute walk, so the Mystery suits those who like the hotel to be part of the experience.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Mystery Hotel Budapest
More options are in our guide to the best hotels in Budapest, and the city is covered in our Budapest travel guide.
Friday: in from the airport and a ruin bar
The airport bus runs from the terminal to Deák Ferenc tér in the centre of Pest, and a taxi takes around half an hour. Book a taxi at the official desk in the terminal.
Friday night belongs in the ruin bars of the old Jewish Quarter. They fill abandoned apartment blocks and courtyards, with mismatched furniture and fairy lights. Eat first, because the bars fill up as the evening goes on.
Saturday: the castle and the Danube at night
Start at the Parliament on the Danube, one of the largest parliament buildings in Europe. Tours fill up, so book a ticket in advance.
Walk along the river to the Chain Bridge and cross to Buda. The funicular at Clark Ádám tér takes you up to the castle, and from the Fisherman's Bastion you can see across the whole of Pest.
In the evening the Danube is at its finest. Take a boat trip when the Parliament and the bridges are lit up, or walk along the Pest embankment before dinner.
The view from Buda
From the rooftop bar at the Hotel Clark you watch Pest light up at night. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Sunday: the Széchenyi Baths
Sunday morning is for the thermal baths. The Széchenyi Baths in the City Park are the largest and best known, with outdoor pools open all year. In winter the contrast between the cold air and the hot water is half the experience.
Go early, before the big groups, and bring a swimsuit and towel or hire them there. Afterwards, walk back towards the centre along Andrássy út, the city's grand boulevard.
Turn a work trip into a weekend
Budapest hosts many conferences, and the hotels in central Pest are used to business travellers during the week. If your meeting is on Friday, stay until Sunday and fit in the baths before your flight.
The Aria is in the heart of Pest, close to both the offices and the airport bus at Deák Ferenc tér. Ask about late check-out on Sunday, and check whether breakfast is included in the price you are comparing.
When is the best time for a weekend in Budapest?
April, May, September and October bring pleasant weather for walking. In December there are Christmas markets in Budapest, and hotels fill early.
January to March is cold, which is when the thermal baths are at their best. Book with free cancellation where you can, so you can secure the weekend early and still move it.
Our first choice for a weekend in Budapest
Hotel Clark Budapest
The Hotel Clark stands on Clark Ádám tér at the Buda end of the Chain Bridge, and the building is designed around the view. Rooms facing the river have the bridge and the Parliament in the window, and from the rooftop bar you watch Pest light up at night. The hotel is adults only. The funicular to the castle starts just outside, and the centre is five minutes away across the bridge.
Frequently asked questions about a weekend in Budapest
How do I get from Budapest Airport to the city centre?
Take the airport bus or a taxi. The airport bus runs from the terminal to Deák Ferenc tér in the centre of Pest, where three metro lines meet. A taxi takes around half an hour. Book it at the official desk in the terminal or through an app, so you know the price before you get in.
Is two nights enough for a weekend in Budapest?
Yes, two nights are enough if you stay central. You will have time for the ruin bars, the Parliament, the castle, a boat trip on the Danube and a bath on Sunday morning. If you also want the Gellért Baths, Margaret Island and the Great Market Hall without rushing, add a third night.
Which baths should you choose on a weekend in Budapest?
The Széchenyi Baths are the largest and best known, with outdoor pools open all year. They work well on Sunday morning before your flight. Arrive early to avoid the big groups, and bring a swimsuit and towel or hire them on site.
Which hotel is best for a weekend in Budapest?
The Hotel Clark is our first choice for its view of the Chain Bridge and the Parliament, and it is adults only. The Aria by the basilica suits a first visit with most of Pest within walking distance. The Mystery Hotel is for anyone who wants to stay in an old Masonic lodge with a pool on the roof.