Hotel
Aria Hotel Budapest
A five-star, music-themed hotel near St Stephen's Basilica with a spa and pool, a rooftop bar and a complimentary afternoon wine and cheese reception.
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest
A luxury hotel in the Art Nouveau Gresham Palace, completed in 1906, facing the Chain Bridge across Széchenyi István tér.
At a glance
- Type
- Luxury hotel in an Art Nouveau palace
- Area
- Lipótváros (Széchenyi István tér), Budapest, Hungary
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
- Official site
- fourseasons.com
Good to know
- Spa
- Lobby bar with afternoon tea
- Danube and Chain Bridge views
- Concierge
Why we recommend it
The Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace occupies one of the finest Art Nouveau buildings in Budapest, directly facing the Chain Bridge at the Pest end. The palace was built between 1904 and 1906 for the London-based Gresham Life Assurance Company, which had bought the site in 1880 and named it after Sir Thomas Gresham, the 16th-century English financier. Designed by Zsigmond Quittner and József Vágó, it opened in 1907 as offices and luxury apartments. After decades of decline, the building was restored and reopened as a hotel in June 2004, and Four Seasons has managed it ever since.
The restoration brought back much of the building's original Art Nouveau decoration, and simply walking through the public spaces is a reminder of the wealth of Budapest in the years before the First World War. The hotel has 179 rooms, including 17 suites, and many look out over the Danube, the Chain Bridge and Buda Castle on the opposite bank; it is worth paying for a river view if your budget allows, particularly for the floodlit view of the castle at night.
Facilities include a spa that draws on Budapest's long bathing tradition, a lobby bar, MÚZSA, which serves afternoon tea, and restaurant and bar options on site. The concierge team can arrange experiences around the city and beyond. The hotel is a popular choice for special occasions, and booking afternoon tea or a drink in the lobby is a way for non-guests to see the interior.
This is one of the most expensive hotels in the city, and it suits couples, honeymooners and travellers who want a central base with a strong sense of history. The suites are worth considering for families or for longer stays. Book well ahead for summer weekends and the Christmas market season.
The location is excellent. The Chain Bridge leads straight across to Clark Ádám tér and the funicular up to Buda Castle, the Danube promenade runs in front of the hotel, and St Stephen's Basilica is about five minutes' walk away. Vörösmarty tér on metro line M1 and Deák Ferenc tér on M1, M2 and M3 are both close, and tram 2 runs along the river nearby.
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest FAQs
Where is the Four Seasons Gresham Palace?
On Széchenyi István tér, facing the Pest end of the Chain Bridge.
When was the Gresham Palace built?
Between 1904 and 1906, for the Gresham Life Assurance Company; it became a hotel in 2004.
How many rooms does the hotel have?
179 rooms, including 17 suites.
Do rooms have river views?
Many rooms overlook the Danube, the Chain Bridge and Buda Castle.
Is there a spa?
Yes, the hotel has a spa.
Can non-guests have afternoon tea?
Afternoon tea is served in the MÚZSA lobby bar; contact the hotel to reserve.
What is nearby?
The Chain Bridge, St Stephen's Basilica and the Danube promenade.
How do you contact the hotel?
By phone on +36 1 268 6000.