3 Best Hotels in Budapest, Hungary

Tucked into a calm side street in Pest's up-and-coming 9th District, this Hungarian-owned budget hotel is just a few blocks from the Museum of Applied Arts and busy Ferenc körút. The tiny rooms in the Sissi wing are a bit cheaper than the Corvin, but just as nice. Decorated in cheery blue and yellow, with Scandi-style blond-wood furniture and blue-and-white checked tiles in the bathrooms—some with shower stalls, some with tubs—everything is sparse but functional. You will have more room options in the Corvin wing. Booking a room overlooking the hotel's quieter courtyard space is recommended.

The older, much more attractive next-door neighbor of the Danubius Health Spa Resort Margit-sziget was built in 1873 by Opera House architect Miklós Ybl in neo-Renaissance style. It was here that the Hungarian writer János Arany, a regular guest in the late-19th century, composed some of his greatest novels. Ceilings are high, and rooms are decorated in Empire style, with red- or blue-upholstered antique-looking wood furnishings. Guests have free admission to the thermal's well-equipped spa facilities, directly accessed by a heated, underground walkway.

A funky three-star hotel located in the Jewish District, Roombach offers trendy colorful design with a homey touch. Front-facing rooms have a view to the gorgeous 1872 synagogue designed by Otto Wagner, while guests in the back escape the nightly bustle of partygoers. Complimentary breakfast is served in a bright café and bar facing the street. While this place may not have everything, what it does have is a central location at an affordable price.