UPDATED FEB 2020. I have to say, I thought it would be easy to do a ‘where to stay in Budapest’ style post where I compared two different hotels. But, it turned out harder than I thought. I liked them both for different reasons and am a classic Libra who can argue both sides for anything. This post made me put my thinking hat on and challenged me as a blogger – which I think is always a good thing. Here’s my hotel hopping adventure in Budapest and pick of where to stay.
Where To Stay In Budapest – My Picks For A Relaxing Break
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
Where to stay in Budapest
In this post, I’ll be comparing Hotel Parlament and Hotel Palazzo Zichy.
Common features
The two hotels I am comparing today are sister hotels and have some features that are the same at both.
Each of them offers guests free WiFi throughout the hotel and free breakfast. The breakfast at both hotels was top notch! Fresh eggs, meats, juices, bread, fruits and vegetables all ready to help you start the day.
The staff at both were helpful and courteous. They even went above and beyond to map out grocery stores for me to get my snacks.
The extra special feature they both offer is a lounge area where you can make free coffee, tea or grab a bottle of water throughout the day. Both areas turn into a lounge bar at night, so if you want to enjoy a cheeky cocktail at the end of the day, this is your spot.
Both hotels also had a small office area where you could use a computer and printer which was another handy feature.
Hotel Parlament
Now we can look at what sets them apart to give a closer look at where to stay in Budapest. My first hotel experience was at Hotel Parlament.
What I noticed first about this hotel was the location. It’s named Hotel Parlament for good reason because it’s only a 5-minute walk to the famous Parlament building on the Danube River.
The sunrise along the river is gorgeous and I definitely enjoyed not having to wake up super early and walk a long way in the dark to enjoy it. Even if you’re not a sunrise person, it was very convenient to be able to walk around to this popular area and some of the other main sights easily.
What it’s like to work at Hotel Parlament
If you want to go behind the scenes and add a personal touch to your visit, pick up a copy of my latest book “Your Vacation, My Office
.”
It profiles people who work in travel around the world, including someone from Hotel Parlament, to take a peek inside their offices and learn what it’s really like to work in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Where to stay in Budapest? You can’t beat the location of Hotel Parlament.
The Budapest hotel with jacuzzi!
The second thing I liked about Hotel Parlament was the relaxing wellness area. It had a sauna and jacuzzi which was free for guests to use.
I mentioned this in one of Instagram posts, but one day I attempted to visit a local thermal pool but had no luck. In the end, I returned to the hotel and relaxed in the wellness area instead.
I am a huge hotel lover and, especially since traveling with Endometriosis, I love to have a place to relax my body at the end of the day. Being on the go and walking around all day with a backpack is a lot of fun but can take a bit of a toll on the body and this wellness area was perfect for relaxing.
The rooms were standard, with nothing overly unique about them but they were certainly quiet and comfortable.
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Jacuzzi at Hotel Parlament.
Hotel Palazzo Zichy
My second Budapest hotel for this trip was Hotel Palazzo Zichy.
Immediately, I noticed that this hotel oozed a more sophisticated, luxury feel. It’s no surprise since it was located in the Palace District and was, in fact, a palace in its former life.
The reception area was wide open with high ceilings, a large feature wall behind it and a floating reception desk. I preferred the design and feel of this hotel and if you enjoy higher-end hotels, then this would be a great choice.
Reception at Hotel Palazzo Zichy.
Gym and wellness
Hotel Palazzo Zichy also had a wellness area, though instead of a jacuzzi and sauna, there was a small gym and sauna.
I used the gym on the last night of my stay and was able to put together a lifting circuit workout with the equipment there, followed up with a relaxing sauna session.
By the gym is a fridge with complimentary bottles of still and sparkling water and lemon wedges, so that’s another nice treat that adds to the luxury feel.
Post gym sash at Hotel Palazzo Zichy
Relaxing in your room
There are so many things to see and do in Budapest that will keep you busy and make sure the Thermal Beer Spa is on your list. But, if you prefer to stay in and watch a movie at night, the rooms include a Blu Ray player. You can rent movies from the reception area.
As with the Hotel Parlament, the rooms had a basic set up with all the regular features you would expect from a hotel and were quiet and comfortable.
The lounge areas are a real treat.
Best Budapest hotel for a solo traveler
I preferred the blankets at Hotel Parlament because on the bed was one large blanket – perfect for snuggling up in. Hotel Palazzo Zichy had two smaller blankets – one for each side of the bed.
I am thinking that it might be nicer if you are sharing the bed with someone so that one person can’t steal all the blanket, but as a solo traveler, I don’t have to worry about that. I preferred the one large blanket for my snuggle cocoon.
Final pick
Like I said, it’s really hard to pick one as my favorite hotel. I loved them both for different reasons and truly enjoyed being a guest at both of them.
If I had to pick one as a favorite though, it would be Hotel Parlament. It only wins by a tiny margin because the location made it easy to watch a sunrise on the river and the snuggly blankets were great for a solo traveler.
No matter which one you choose, either one of these would be a fantastic choice for your Budapest hotel.
For more information:
Hotel Parlament website
Hotel Palazzo Zichy website
Other guides to help you plan a visit to Budapest
How To Spend A Weekend In Budapest – Local Gems & Touristy Spots
Thermal Beer Spa In Budapest – Unique Experience Or Touristy Scam?
Why You Should Visit Budapest If You Need A Relaxing Getaway
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