Here's a not-so-veiled attempt to get this to show in the Austria forum as well (no one is ever in the Hungary one).

This fall we are starting our trip to Austria with three days in Budapest. The question is, which side of the river is best for a hotel. We are thinking of either the Watertown area in Buda or basically anywhere in Pest. If Pest is best, is there one particular area that we should concentrate in?

Thanks for any information.

~gnr~

two years ago stayed at the hilton up from the castle and loved it. it is exactly like you would find a hilton in a major US city. I did not think it that problematic to get to the other side to eat, shop, sightsee, etc.

last time we were in Budapest we stayed at the Gellert on the buda side of the river. This time we'll be at the Astoria on the Pest side near Vaci Utca. I think the new location will afford us more options for close sightseeing, restaurants and shopping.

I wouldn't want to stay on the Buda side - it's perhaps more olde-worlde & atmospheric, but there's basically nothing there except the Hilton and the castle, plus it's quite a hike uphill. I'd recommend staying on the Pest side but as close as possible to the river - ideally one of the riverside hotels like the Marriott. These are closer to the "downtown" area - shopping, most restaurants and the opera house. (BTW we got the concierge at our hotel to arrange *very cheap* opera tickets for us, for the same night.)

I too recommend staying on the Pest side. If you do get a riverside hotel, pay extra for a river view. At night, with everything lit up on the Buda side, it's amazing--one of my favorite things about Budapest

Thanks for the information. Your input made me want a Danube view more than I did at first so we booked a room at the Marriot where <b>all</b> the rooms have Danube views. It's right in the heart of Inner Pest so it should be perfect (other than the fact that its exterior is an architectural monstrocity - based on all the reviews. But hey I won't be looking at it, just through the windows. )

~gnr~

I think you have made a good choice. We stayed on the Buda side at the Hotel Victoria which we loved. We had a huge picture window (wall to wall and almost floor to ceiling). It was wonderful to wake up in the early morning and see the beautiful parliament buildings to the left or the chain bridge at night.

You are close to the dock where we took an evening cruise on the Danube. It was great seeing the lights on all the buildings, sipping complimentary champagne.

We thought Budapest was terrific and would love to return someday.

Incidentally, there are no separate forums for each country. Everything posted is shown on the left in the Europe Forum. In other words, whether or not you highlighted Austria/Hungary, your post would have appeared where it did, in the Europe Forum.

Hope you enjoy Budapest as much as we did!

Have stayed at Opera Hotel, on Pest side. Next door to Opera, near metro station and boulevard to get to various places. This hotel part of the K chain known as fairly good, moderate hotels in various cities. Room was very nice. breakfast good and overall a good hotel. Not to be confused with Hiltons &amp; Marriots.

<b>picky</b> - Our initial response was to stay in a non-American hotel. But after further research, most of the hotels are part of some sort of chain, be it American or European. Plus, most of the smaller guide book recommended hotels were sold out for our dates.

<b>Giovanni</b> - I wasn't sure if most people do it the way I do and search for a country to narrow everything down. For my first thread though, I did manage not to break the Fodor's cardinal sin of posting - <i>Please Help!!!! Need hotel information!!!!!!!</i> LOL

~gnr~

I also stayed at the Hotel Victoria and can't say enough good things about it. Ask for a room on the 9th floor (it's the highest floor and mine had a balcony with a great view of the river at the Pest side. It's easy walking distance to the Chain Bridge and the Metro station.

Good choice, I have stayed at the Marriot and the Intercontinental and the Hyatt (now Sofitel) All have wonderful views of Buda and very convenient for shopping transport etc.
I prefer the Intercontinental for it's service- the concierge especially helpful, but the Marriot has the advantage of balconies.

I lucked out via Priceline and stayed at the wonderful Art Otel on the Buda side for the price of $80 a night including breakfast. It is a new hotel with a wonderful view of the Danube, Parliment and the Chain Bridge. I was lucky enough to be there on May 1st and watched the parade from my window as Hungary became part of the EU.