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Where to stay in Budapest – Best area’s guide

As you are planning to visit Budapest in Hungary, let me give you a brief history of this city. The Hungarian capital was once two separate cities, Buda and Pest, divided by river Danube.

It was made into one city in 1873 and the two names joined together to be Budapest, the river still runs between the city. This city is divided into 23 districts.

View of the Budapest Castle by Chain Bridge at night By Wilfredor – Wikimedia

Most of the population in the city reside on the other side of the river Danube, the Pest side. This area is considered to have a more urban feel, has tall quixotic buildings styled with decorative art and architecture.

This side of town has Gothic churches, Castle Hill and the Royal Palace that are much older compared to Buda side.

The city, in general, has been voted among the best and most tranquil cities in Europe. There are a ton of activities that one can do in this city; wine tasting, castle and museum tours, exciting nightlife just to name a few.

Now let’s look at the next important thing that will make your vacation complete, accommodation. These are the areas to stay while in Budapest.

1. Palace District

A street in Palace District By Shortengregg – Wikimedia

The Palace District is in the inner part of Pest on the eastern side. It is an area that many visitors to this great European city choose to stay. This area has many university students and its therefore artsy with the hipster vibe to it.

This area got its name from the numerous Palaces that are here, at least six of them, the National Museum is here too and it has a beautiful lush garden perfect for photos.

A common chilling spot in this neighbourhood is Mikszáth Kálmán tér square where one can find plenty of cafés, eclectic pubs, murals and other artistic designs.

The student population in this area makes it less touristy and brings with it a bohemian and trendy ambience.

There are several historic and beautiful libraries that a bibliophile would not hesitate to access and spend some quality time reading. There are well-manicured parks perfect for a warm day to spend outdoors.

You can take a tour of the museums in the area and learn their history, view beautiful art displayed in the independent galleries, relax with friends at the coffee houses. One can also walk to the city centre from this neighbourhood.

Accommodation in this area is affordable, there are several boutique hotels available. Some of the hotels available here include; Hotel Palazzo Zichy, Brody House, Central Hotel 21, Ring Avenue Apartments, Museum Hotel Budapest, Budapest bubble Hostel, Mandala Hostel among many others.

2. Castle District-District I

View of the Matthias Church in Castle District by Varius – Wikimedia

This is an upscale neighbourhood in District I in the Buda area. It has tons of places that showcase amazing Hungarian culture and would please those that love to learn and discover more about other cultures.

Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church are just some places one can visit. One also gets the best view of Budapest skyline from here. The charm of this area attracts tourists and is also where the change of guard ceremony takes place. The government offices are here too.

During the day, this area is busy with tourists and is the opposite in the evening and at night. This is especially perfect for those that love quiet, peaceful evening and nights.

This area is therefore suitable for families with young children or older travellers that would love to recharge in peace for the next day. The nightlife here is almost non-existent.  Accommodation in this area is costly and there isn’t a range of options to choose from.

Another thing to note about this area of the city is that one would be required to take public transport or taxis for ease of movement around.

More places to visit in Castle District include the Gellert Hill for a magnificent view of the sunset, and relaxing thermal baths at Ruda, this rooftop facility gives one a panoramic view of the city and River Danube.

3. Belváros- Family-friendly and centrally located neighbourhood

Belvaros By Teemeah – Wikimedia

If you are looking for a lovely neighbourhood to stay in while in Budapest then Belvaros is the place for you. This area is full of life day and night, unlike Castle District.

The cobbled streets are branded with cosy cafés, restaurants and boutique stores. There are designer brands strategically placed in these streets that luxury shoppers can indulge in.

Most of the buildings in this area date back to the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The streets that once saw automobile traffic now have been converted to pedestrian-only walkways, making them safe and less crowded.

This district has several luxurious hotels as well as budget hotels hence suitable for all travellers.

The cafés and restaurants range from fine dining, wine tasting and cheeses among other elegant spaces to fast food joints. There are attractive street markets that sell homemade pastries among other delicacies. Christmas market is held here every December.

Its central location and proximity to several attractions make this area most preferred as well as entertainment joints that are here.

Top attractions here include The Shoe on Danube Bank a memorial to Jews killed on the riverbank during World War II, St Stephen’s Basilica and the 19th-century Szechenyi Chain Bridge.

4. Terezvaros- perfect when one is on a budget

Terezvaros By Verőczi Zoltán,-Wikimedia

This area is in District VI and is very diverse and great for travellers on a budget. It has the most sophisticated streets and the Andrassy Avenue was named as UNESCO World Heritage site.

The air about Terezvaros is a mix of both upper-class and middle-class living offering touristy places to visit as well as comfortable and affordable abodes.

One can experience fine dining at the posh restaurants in the neighbourhood as well as enjoy a night out in one of the many nightclubs and bars in the area.

Staying in Terezvaros gives one the day to day living experience of the locals in the area. The south end of this neighbourhood is where the upmarket hotels and expensive fashion stores are while the eastern side has budget hotels and hostels.

The places to visit in this area include; Andrassy Avenue, The Opera House, the Music Academy, the Operetta Theatre, The House of Terror, Millennium Monument, Heroes Square, the Vajdahunyad Castle, Varosliget park and many other museums.

5. Jozsefvaros-District VIII coolest neighbourhood

Last on the area to stay while in Budapest is Jozsefvaros in District III. It is one of the chicest neighbourhoods to stay in. it is an upcoming area around the city and has a huge public square. Rakoczi Square, many art galleries, bars, and thrift shops.

This area was once upon a time, not the safest and many visitors to the city avoided it. The turn round in the place came after security was instituted and trendy pubs and restaurants started popping up. It is advisable to avoid this place if you are a first-time traveller.

It is popular with students and other locals making it one of the most populated districts.

Other than the many eateries and pubs, the area has hospitals, public libraries, art galleries, museums and higher learning institutions.

Places to visit while here include: the 19th-century Neo-Baroque Wenckheim Palace, the Hungarian National Museum, the city’s oldest cemeteries.