ibis Budapest Castle Hill Hotel

The room was cleaned daily and well maintained, and breakfast had a delicious, varied selection each morning. I felt secure throughout my three-day stay in Budapest, and the hotel made a great base for exploring the Buda side. Getting to train services for Vienna was easy, and public transport also connected us to the main sights. Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion were close enough to walk to, which let me enjoy the historic atmosphere without needing transport. The Zugliget Chairlift was another convenient outing, and a unique activity for a family with small kids.

The beds were cozy, and I booked here again because it works well for a short stay. It’s handy for the metro, restaurants and the famous castle district. The bathroom is the letdown: there’s no ventilation, so it gets stuffy, especially after a hot shower when moisture covers the walls and door. I also had to ask for extra towels on both stays. It’s a three-star hotel, so keep expectations in check.

The worst part was getting around the hotel itself. The lifts often took ages, then stopped at almost every floor. Breakfast was poor, with coffee we couldn’t drink and low-quality ingredients; after trying it twice, we ate elsewhere. Dinner choices were limited and not worth it either. The hotel is in residential Buda, which isn’t very convenient for visiting attractions in Pest, and the nearest metro is about 400 meters away. Our room was okay, but the sofa bed wasn’t comfortable for a third person over four nights. The bathroom was tiny, with nowhere to put even a toothbrush, and there were no amenities.

The rooms themselves are beautiful, and the views are lovely. I slept much better after the friendly staff moved me from the first-floor room I had on my first night. From there, the bar music sounded like it was next door, and I could hear every restaurant chair being moved when it opened at 6:30. You can hear everything from the hallway in all the rooms, though. Better doors would make the stay much nicer.