Apaczai Csere Janos Utca 12-14, Budapest, Hungary | (888) 240-0568
Great views of the Danube
Cozy rooms have large flat-screen TVs and fresh decor
Excellent on-site restaurant is popular among guests and locals
Indoor pool is a rare find in the area
Decent gym and wellness center includes modern equipment and chic treatment rooms with deep soaking tubs
Seasonal terrace features views of the Buda Hills
Nightly live music in the lobby
Fee for Wi-Fi (except for IHG Rewards members)
Breakfast is not included in all room rates
No balconies, and windows only open a few inches
Pool is relatively small and dark
The four-pearl InterContinental Budapest is housed in a behemoth
block of a building covered in gray glass. However, the interior certainly is an
improvement, and has 402 air-conditioned rooms, a spa, pool, fitness center, restaurants, and lovely Danube views. Rooms are generic but pleasant enough, with clean
white linens, red accents, wooden furniture, and basic shower/tub combos, as well as large flat-screen TVs. Some
parts of the hotel are gloomy and could do with updating -- especially the indoor
pool, which is small and lacks natural light.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Floor-to-ceiling windows show off the Danube river.
The whole of the ground floor
of the Intercontinental has beautiful views of the Danube, Castle Hill, and riverside walk. The lobby area is elegant and classically decorated with velvet
button-backed sofas, Biedermeier-style cherrywood furniture, and bowls of
flowers. Off to one side is a bar and a white baby grand piano, where a professional pianist plays in the evenings. The artwork around
the lobby includes abstract paintings in gold, rust, and black as well as carved
wooden friezes by the elevator. The hotel attracts business travelers and tourists alike, and couples and families will feel at home here.
Location
Right on the Pest side of the Danube, near the chain bridge and shopping
The InterContinental is located right in the center of Pest, a 10-minute walk from St. Stephen's Basilica and a three-minute walk south of the famous Chain Bridge. On the opposite side of the bridge is Castle Hill, accessible by foot or funicular. At the top are many of the palace's old buildings which today house galleries and museums. Here you can also find Saint Mathius Church and the Fisherman’s Bastion, known for fantastic views across to the Hungarian Parliament Building. The Szechenyi Thermal Baths, the largest
medicinal baths in Europe, are an 18-minute metro ride away
from the hotel. The tram connects the hotel to the Hungarian Parliament Building in about six minutes; alternatively, the sight can be reached in about 15 minutes by foot. From here, guests can take Margaret Bridge to a park-covered island with outdoor swimming pools. Other nearby attractions include Andrassy Ut, a
long boulevard lined with designer brand shops, as well as the House of Terror, a
fascinating, but locally controversial, museum that explains the darker side of Hungary's 20th-century history under the Nazi and Communist regimes.
Rooms
Comfortable rooms, with spectacular views but generic decor
The rooms are classic and elegant, with light-wood
headboards and furniture, beige bedspreads bordered with red trim, and patterned carpets in soft shades of mauve. Each room comes with a desk, flat-screen TV, minibar, safe, and ironing board. Wi-Fi is available for a fee, but is free for IHG Rewards members -- signing up for the loyalty program is free and instant membership can easily be obtained online before a stay. Modern prints of the Budapest Castle
district, which pick up on the deep-red color scheme, hang on the walls. Rooms are lit entirely
by the side and floor lights, with no ceiling lights, which can make them feel a little dark in the evening, although there are desk lamps to brighten up workspaces if need be. The bathrooms are compact but
chic, with wooden vanity units and black marble sinks, creamy marble wall tiles, and Agraria toiletries. Standard Rooms have walk-in showers but Superior Rooms and Suites have shower/tub combos.River-facing rooms have stunning views across the Danube with the dome of the Royal Palace rising from Castle Hill in the background. After sunset, lights twinkle on Castle Hill and the Chain Bridge, reflecting on the water to create a beautiful, magical scene. Note that no rooms have balconies and windows only open a few inches.
Features
On-site restaurant with river views, lounge for business travelers, and a gym
The Corso Restaurant and bar has brilliant
views of the Danube and the food gets great reviews from guests. The Corso Bar and Terrace's seasonal outdoor terrace
has Buda Hill views and is one of the hotel’s definite plus points. The hotel's Club Lounge, free for Intercontinental Priority Club and Ambassador members of the chain's loyalty program and available for a fee for everyone else, is a relaxing spot, with velvet armchairs,
glossy coffee-table books about Hungary, and views out towards the Danube and
the Chain Bridge. The lounge also has computer terminals, free Wi-Fi, and
international newspapers, with free drinks and snacks served throughout
the day. There is also the option to eat breakfast in the lounge as a quieter
alternative to the main dining room. There are two private
treatment rooms at Intercontinental Budapest, and the spa uses Hungarian
Kaviczky products which incorporate natural, organic agents, including the waters
and mud of the thermal lake at Heviz. The spa often runs
seasonal promotions such as couples' massage with Champagne for Valentine’s
day and Mother’s Day packages.
There is also a medium-sized gym with modern equipment, but the pool disappoints with its lack of natural light and modest size.
