The Continental Hotel Budapest is a fascinating piece of history hidden right in the city’s vibrant Jewish Quarter. Before it was a luxury hotel, the site began as the Gamperl Iron Bath in 1827, which was later destroyed by a massive flood. Reborn in 1910 as the legendary Hungária Bath, the stunning building was designed by architect Emil Ágoston, who gave it a magnificent, flowing Viennese Art Nouveau look.
What makes the property truly unique is how it reflects different eras. While the hotel fell into complete ruin and neglect during the late 20th century, it was saved by heritage protection laws and masterfully restored. Today, the design seamlessly blends Ágoston’s original Art Nouveau architecture with sleek, geometric Art Deco interiors, giving guests a sense of stepping back into the glamour of the 1920s.
Perhaps the most unexpected feature is its clever transformation of space. The hotel’s lush, green inner courtyard serves as a quiet sanctuary right in the middle of a bustling downtown district. Furthermore, the dining room and the striking, glossy domed roof of the Gallery Café pay direct homage to the building’s watery past, channeling the grand aesthetic of Budapest’s golden age of coffee houses and thermal spas.
Expert reviews
“Located in the Jewish Quarter, in its previous life the Zara was an elegant bathhouse. The 272-room hotel has art deco touches throughout, and offers great amenities for business travelers as well as for tourists.”
“With 272 large and beautifully furnished rooms and a huge atrium lobby retaining some of the original 19th-century building’s features, the major draw here is the wellness centre on the top floor and the panoramic garden with swimming pool.”
What guests liked
- Friendly staff
- Swimming pool
- Great breakfast
- Comfortable beds
- Excellent Wifi
- Top location
Location
Recent guest reviews
21 June 2026
Excellent location, great amenities and staff. Good stay.
Location for a city break is excellent
Being very picky, the breakfast wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped
20 June 2026
Generally a good hotel, we had a good stay.
The location of the hotel is exceptional, you can reach by foot almost anywhere in the main center.
The breakfast was good, staff very welcoming, and in general a very clean room.
I can specifically mention the handyman that did a quick and good job fixing a malfunction in our sink.
The towels weren't replaced one day, even though we asked it, and they didn't provide enough towels, but missed one this was on our last day of stay.
The toilet paper is so abbrassive, that one can remove paint with it. I would expect from such a hotel to provide a better quality in the toilet.
19 June 2026
Fantastic, central location 😊
The hotel was amazing, thank you
Nothing
19 June 2026
Excellent hotel in a great location
Great location and stylish interior. Good breakfast
Pools were very small
18 June 2026
A flawless experience and highly recommended
Overall, we had a delightful stay. The hotel excels in every area: the breakfast was amazing, the design is beautiful, and the spa and sauna facilities provided the perfect place to unwind. Furthermore, the reception team was remarkably attentive, addressing all of our requests immediately.
As a frequent traveler, my 6-year-old daughter is used to nice resorts, but this hotel completely won her over—so much so that she didn't want to leave. The bear-shaped room key and the lovely plush bear gift at checkout were incredibly thoughtful details. Thank you to the wonderful staff for making our stay so memorable.
Everything was amazing
18 June 2026
Great hotels are definitely worth revisiting.
The location is conveniently located near both the MRT station and bus stops. The staff were friendly and polite, proactively providing information about the hotel and its surroundings. They also offered to store luggage for early arrivals as well as after check-out, which added a great level of assistance and convenience. The room was a good size, tidy, and clean, featuring excellent air conditioning and a soft, comfortable bed. The breakfast was plentiful and varied, quite delicious, and offered excellent value for money.
The shower room is a bit small, which is a slight drawback.
9 June 2026
Highly recommended! A perfectly relaxing stay in a gorgeous, well-appointed hotel.
Loved the architecture, relaxing atmosphere, and great ambience. A gorgeous smell greets you right at reception! The breakfast area was lovely and well-decorated. The room was very comfy with high ceilings, and the bathroom had a separate bath and shower—something not many hotels offer.
8 June 2026
Excellent Value and a Good Night’s Sleep
I recently stayed at the Continental Hotel Budapest for three nights and overall had a very pleasant experience.
The hotel’s location is excellent, making it easy to explore Budapest’s main attractions, restaurants, and public transport options. The room offered great value for money, with a very comfortable bed that ensured a good night’s sleep. I also appreciated the blackout curtains and effective soundproofing, which helped create a quiet and relaxing environment despite being in a busy part of the city.
Overall, I would recommend the Continental Hotel Budapest to travellers looking for a comfortable, well-located hotel at a good price point.
The breakfast buffet was nice and offered a reasonable selection of hot and cold items. However, compared to other hotels I’ve stayed at, I found it fairly average and not particularly memorable.
31 May 2026
It was an amazing stay and I don’t think we could have stayed at a better hotel. The executive room was good size and ve
It’s a very understated but amazing property with an excellent location in district 7 of Budapest. If one is looking to party in the nearby places then this is the right hotel. The hotel doesn’t look very large or exude glamour but the facilities are fantastic - indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fitness centre and saunas - it has it all. A big plus is its excellent breakfast.
The cappuccino is surprisingly not very good - they can improve it with better beans.
30 May 2026
Well done to stay in the centre
Great breakfast, kind staff
Cold colouring
29 May 2026
Fantastic all round ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Amazing location and facilities - best Hotel I have stayed in through bookings.com
25 May 2026
Excellent location and facilities.
Fantastic facilities and lovely breakfast.
19 May 2026
Superb location, great facilities; including pool/sauna, for an enjoyable stay in Budapest.
Location and facilities are both excellent.
Bed was a bit too soft.
18 May 2026
An amazing few day’s in budapest
The hotel was fabulous the staff especially the reception staff huge shout out to Mate went above and beyond to ensure our stay was so enjoyable would recommend the hotel to anyone visiting Budapest
There was nothing I didn’t like about the hotel
10 May 2026
A very nice hotel. We will come back!
We had a spacious room, a very good breakfast and the pools and sauna were fine. The staff was very friendly
Everything was fine.
3 May 2026
Perfect for a weekend away
Friendly and helpful staff, lovely rooftop spa and spacious clean rooms. Was in good distance of everything
3 May 2026
Very nice hotel conveniently located & reasonably priced
Very convenient location close to the Metro & sights. Nice art deco lobby and large comfortable rooms. Breakfast was good & concierge helpful & friendly. Would recommend.
Nothing
24 April 2026
Brilliant stay, would highly recommend!
Great breakfast, and facilities. Staff were friendly and helpful.
Aircon in the room wasn’t the best and the room felt hot at night.
23 April 2026
Good but rooms were quite expensive
The location is great.
Felt it was quite expensive.
22 April 2026
Great breakfast. Great Rooms. Everything was as advertised.
Great location and the breakfast was terrific. Not as many options as some other places but it was definitely quality over quantity.
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Breakfast in the room
- - Special diet menus (on request)
- - Kid-friendly buffet
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Fruits (additional charge)
- - Coffee house on site
General
- - Room service
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Family rooms
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Soundproof rooms
- - Car hire
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Designated smoking area
- - Shuttle service (additional charge)
- - Airport shuttle (additional charge)
Business facilities
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
- - Business centre
- - Fax/photocopying (additional charge)
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Express check-in/check-out (additional charge)
- - Tour desk
- - Luggage storage
- - Concierge service
- - Private check-in/check-out
- - Invoice provided
Activities
- - Sauna
- - Fitness centre
- - Spa & wellness centre
- - Massage (additional charge)
- - Indoor pool
- - Indoor pool (all year)
- - Open-air bath
- - Spa facilities
- - Spa lounge/relaxation area
- - Fitness
- - Fitness/spa locker rooms
- - Themed dinner nights (additional charge)
- - Happy hour (additional charge)
- - Live music/performance
Outdoors
- - Garden
- - Terrace
- - Outdoor pool
- - Sun terrace
- - Outdoor pool (seasonal)
- - Outdoor furniture
Entertainment & family services
- - Babysitting/child services (additional charge)
Cleaning services
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
- - Ironing service (additional charge)
- - Trouser press
- - Daily housekeeping
Parking
- - Electric vehicle charging station
Accessibility
- - Wheelchair accessible
- - Toilet with grab rails
- - Raised toilet
Pool and wellness
- - Rooftop pool
- - Heated pool
- - Sun loungers or beach chairs
- - Swimming pool
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key card access
- - Security alarm
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Breakfast takeaway containers
- - Delivered food is securely covered
- - Access to health care professionals
- - Thermometers for guests provided by property

More photos

22 June 2026
Superb location, comfort and hospitality