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
All you need to know
Removed from a protected Nouveau building in 2010, the superior 4-star Continental Hotel of Hungary offers guests a truly unique experience. This luxurious hotel was made for guests to leave stress behind and relax away from the noise of the city. When and if guests decide to venture out, there are lovely attractions such as the Hungarian National Museum, Hungarian State Opera House, St. Stephen’s Basilica and Szechenyi Chain Bridge nearby.
Guest can choose from standard, executive and deluxe suites, which all reflect an art deco style that combines fine elegance and serene harmony with modern conveniences. They were constructed and decorated to cater to business and leisure travelers. Each room category comes with free WiFi, soundproof windows and air conditioning along with an en suite bathroom with free toiletries. There is also a minibar, coffee and tea making appliances and a laptop-sized safe.
The hotel is home to the exceptional Araz Restaurant which offers a wide selection of dishes combined with fashionable international delicacies. Friday nights get even more spectacular as guests can enjoy the Hungarian night program with a Hungarian buffet selection, folk music and a music show. The Gallery Cafe with its corporate lounge is ideally located near the restored main entrance and feeds the needs of more business-oriented guests.
Hotel Details
— 272 rooms
— Open in 2010
— Art deco style
Hotel Features
— Free WiFi
— Restaurant
— Express check in and check out
— 24-hour front desk
— Rooftop terrace
— Coffee Areas
— Elevator/ lift
— Heated indoor pool
— Valet parking
— Daily housekeeping
— Air conditioning
— Buffet breakfast available
— Tours and tickets assistance available
Additional Info
— Check in begins at 2:00 PM
— Check out ends at 12:00 PM
— Minimum check in age is 16 years old
Address
Budapest, Dohány u. 42, 1074 Hungary.
Hotel deals & lowest price guarantee
We partner with Booking.com and Agoda. Both booking websites offer the lowest price guarantee so you can be certain you will always get the best deal for this hotel. If you have seen a better price elsewhere, all you need to do is contact the booking website and they will refund you the difference immediately. You can price match right up until the day before check-in.
Location
Recent guest reviews
2 July 2025
Exceptional
Fantastic hotel in a great location (practically every major tourist attraction is a few to a dozen minutes walk away). Wonderful, extremely helpful service. I recommend it with all my heart. I didn't notice John Wick anywhere ;)
2 July 2025
Special thanks for super early check in ( 7am!) - after a long flight it really made our day:-)
Great breakfast- everything from typical english breakfast, hungarian delicacies to sweet treats.
everything was great
30 June 2025
İt was good
Very much
Nothing
29 June 2025
Fabulous
Great location and facilities
28 June 2025
Great location, comfortable hotel.
Great location, close to metro.
28 June 2025
Overall a great place to stay, clean, active and full amenities.
Location, location, location. From the outside, it didn't seem like much of a property, but once you walked through the front door, the modern and massive lobby felt first-class.
In our first room, the AC was not working. They sent someone up to look at it, and they claimed it was working perfectly. We were already in the room for 90 minutes, and it was still at 84 degrees. The repairman finally agreed that it was too warm in this room. The hotel moved us to a new, upgraded room where the AC was working perfectly. They had an issue and corrected it. They were very strict on check-in time. We arrived early, having come off a riverboat cruise. We got there at 10:00 AM. They told us there were no rooms ready, which we understood, but the rooms weren't even assigned to reservations, and we were at the property. They advised us to check back later to see if the room was ready, We asked if they could text us once the room was ready, and they stated they don't do that (we travel a great deal, and other properties would text/call to let you know the room is ready.) We dropped off our luggage and explored the city. Our room was ready when we returned at 3:00 PM, but our friends decided to wait. They waited and waited, and their room was ready at 2:45. Why am I sharing this story, as all this was taking place, there were several people (non-Americans) checking in early, and their rooms were ready many hours before check-in time. Not sure if it was the gentleman at the desk or the hotel's approach.
27 June 2025
Fabulous
The best thing about the hotel was their exceptional breakfast. The facilities were kept very clean, the staff was professional and always willing to help anything we needed.
26 June 2025
Exceptional
Lovely hotel in a good location. The staff are very welcoming and professional. The breakfast was really very generous. The rooftop pool was a life-saver, with the hot weather. Close to plenty of local restaurants. A 15 minute walk down to the river. We would definitely stay here again.
There was nothing to dislike. The rooftop would benefit from a few more shade options. All in all a great find.
25 June 2025
Exceptional
Great breakfast and wellness area. Perfect location.
25 June 2025
Exceptional
It was our anniversary and they gave us champagne, chocolates and welcome drink😍we were given a discount for a massage
24 June 2025
Perfect stay
Location of the hotel was excellent, within walking distance of all the main attractions. Staff were friendly and helpful - especially Lehoy on the bar. Rooftop pool and lounging area is the icing on top.
Very little not to like.
22 June 2025
Very good
Location and room were excellent.
Unfortunately the spa section is very small compared with the size of the hotel and can get very crowded, the dry sauna can handle 2-3 people. The pool was ok considering it is on the rooftop but very few chaise-longues and places to stay at shadow. About the breakfast i appreciated the fact that the eggs were done in front of you but i waited for about 20 minute until I queued… also the juices disappointing.
22 June 2025
Exceptional
Amazing location, helpful staff
Everything was spot on nothing to dislike
22 June 2025
Lovely hotel in a good location with a great pool & outdoor terrace. Would recommend.
Beautiful hotel, nice breakfast. Lovely outside pool area & terrace. Very easy to jump on a tram or the metro. Able to walk to some sights.
Bed was quite soft but that’s being picky!
21 June 2025
Great city stay.
Nice hotel and well located for a city break. The room was small but well presented, modern and well equipped. Great pool on the rooftop but more attention needed to keeping it clean. We didn’t eat in the restaurant but breakfast was good with a nice selection. Parking under the hotel was very convenient and reasonably priced.
Nothing
20 June 2025
Fabulous
Great location and great hotel.
19 June 2025
Fabulous
Rooms good size and clean. Swimming pools lovely and out door areas Great location Excellent breakfast- great choices
More sun loungers available on roof top pool
19 June 2025
A wonderful place that I fell in love with from the first touch
The hospitality and courtesy of the staff is at a high level I was offered to spend time in the spa area before check-in. I am very grateful for this opportunity to go to the gym and pool after the trip. It's an incredible place to come back to.
18 June 2025
Good location, easy travel options and good food
Comfy bed, nice bathroom. For food, we only had the breakfast but the range and quality was top notch, fresh eggs and bacon on demand how you like them, and a good selection of other cooked breakfast / hams / cereals / fruit alongside various fruit juices and hot drinks! Pools on the roof were a nice treat. Very close to the metro and lots to do/eat in the surrounding area.
If we are being picky then a few degress lower on the A/C would be nice as 19 wasn't quite cutting the mustard
18 June 2025
Good location friendly staff everywhere
We had dinner at restaurant 2 evening The manager and staff where lovely friendly and no delay . They med us feel like home. The fish was so good i had it twice. And good value for money .
The swimming pools where too small To swim for more then 3 at times
18 June 2025
A comfortable and enjoyable stay in a great location
What I liked most about the hotel was its perfect location – in my favorite Budapest neighborhood, close to great restaurants and bars, yet quiet inside. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and check-in was smooth. Our room was comfortable, beautifully designed, and very clean, with a spacious closet. The breakfast had a lot of variety and was served in a lovely setting. I also appreciated the bar’s relaxed atmosphere and the wellness area, especially the pools and outdoor lounge space. Overall, it felt like great value for the price.
While I had a good stay, there were a few things that could be improved. The bed was a bit too soft for my taste, and the air conditioning was somewhat noisy. The bathroom felt a little tight, and I would have preferred a shower instead of a tub. The sauna was very small—only enough space for two people, and you can’t lie down in it. The gym and outdoor wellness area are starting to show some wear and could use a refresh. Lastly, the breakfast setup could be rearranged to improve the flow, as some stations created bottlenecks.
18 June 2025
Super comfortable stay at the heart of Budapest
Super location, very helpful and welcoming staff, we were taken fully care of. Beds were very comfortable, food was great.
17 June 2025
Exceptional. Will highly recommend.
Manager Tomas was an enormous help to us. Excellent English and wonderful assistance.
Everything was great!
17 June 2025
Fabulous Hotel
Really clean hotel situated in a good location. Staff were friendly and helpful in assisting us with a baby. Will definitely stay there again.
17 June 2025
I would just repeat it‘s one of the best place I stayed. So I would recommend it for sure!
Very comfortable hotel with good bar and restaurant, clean rooms and very helpful stuff. Good location - you are close to almost anything in Pest part of the city.
Actually nothing.
16 June 2025
Great Location, Fantastic Staff, Lovely breakfast
Breakfast was excellent, the pools were excellent, hotel staff were fantastic. Great location for Tourist bits and for the Puskas arena for sport or concerts.
The room was lovely however the air con didn't work in the room which was frustrating considering the 30 degree heat.
16 June 2025
Overall a very comfortable base from which to discover Budapest
The savory part of breakfast was great and the staff at the front desk were super friendly and helpful
The breakfast pastries were industrial and tasted like it. Breakfast was a bit of a lash up as they had multiple stations that one had to jump between and this caused delays as people were confused as to where different foods were.
15 June 2025
Excelent
What impressed me the most was the barman guy. Awesome guy! Keep it that way
15 June 2025
I recommend it
Was everything good, the food , the room, the wellness era.
Everything was fine
15 June 2025
Super staff who helped me above and beyond with a medical emergency!
Friendly, glorious facilities very helpful concierges
It would be great over time to move away from instant coffee and kettle in rooms to Nespresso machines, little bowls for ham would be great at breakfast buffet which was excellent in choice
13 June 2025
Very good
nice hotel, good food, friendly staff, good location, nice litte spa, which can be crowded.
The rooms are a bit dated. The bar and lounge area have an odd setup—the tables are much higher than the chairs, so you feel like a toddler sitting at them. It’s a complete mismatch in design.
13 June 2025
Elegant hotel that is not too far from attractions.
The hotel is beautiful and was not too far from all the attractions. I appreciated that the hotel had large umbrellas for the guests because it did rain, and it was raining very hard.
The breakfast buffet was large and varied, but unfortunately the hot food was lukewarm and dry. The bathroom was a bit small but none of this was a deal breaker.
11 June 2025
Very good
Large comfortable bedroom with the largest most comfortable bed I've ever slept on.
Would have liked to be able to sit outside in the evening and have a drink. They could easily make use of the outdoor space used for breakfast.
11 June 2025
Very nice stay in a tactical location
This hotel is a true hidden gem in Budapest. It appears very simple and almost hidden from the outside but the interior design (especially of the main entrance hall) is stunning. Upon arrival, we enquired whether our room was ready (way before check-in times) and we were given the possibility to already check-in before lunchtime. The rooms are of a good size, have all basic equipment and beds are quite comfortable. What we liked the most was the location - easy to reach all the main Budapest landmarks by walk and surrounded by good restaurants. Breakfast was ok - a bit on the pricier side, albeit well organized and with plenty of space to enjoy a meal in peace. We were also allowed to keep our luggage stored at the hotel after checking out for no additional fee.
Walls were quite thin and it was possible to hear most happening in the other rooms and corridor. Complimentary toiletry offer was quite limited. Breakfast choices were good but limited for the price (EUR 15). There is no coffee machine but only powder coffee to mix in with water.
9 June 2025
A special mention to Janos, the concierge, who was friendly and advised on things to do in Budapest
Very good location, walking distance to the metro station to get to main attractions. Breakfast is good with wide selection.
The busyness at breakfast. A bit chaotic.
8 June 2025
Exceptional
Lovely hotel in a great location. Our room was stylish, clean, and comfortable. Good breakfast and friendly staff. The rooftop pools were great.
7 June 2025
Very good
good location, good breakfast
small room
5 June 2025
Absolutely fine for what we want 4 star but not 5star.
We have stayed here before and will go back as we have family in Budapest. The hotel is exceptionally well run and the staff are charming and very helpful always.
The area is not great, but we stay in different areas when we visit.
5 June 2025
Excellent location and friendly staff
Perfect location with walking distance to some tourist attractions, restaurants and bars. The breakfast was really good and the staff at the hotel were very service oriented. The rooftop pool was great for the sunny days.
The rooms AC was working poorly, the room was steaming hot and it was hard to relax and sleep because of this. At breakfast there could be a bit more options when it comes to the bread selection. The bread was dry and boring. The rest of the breakfast was great 🤗
4 June 2025
Great place to see Budapest from
Very well placed in the centre of the city, amazing foyer and very friendly helpful staff
The rooms were absolutely fine but just a bit basic
2 June 2025
Perfect hotel to discover Budapest. Great location. Dip in the swimming pool in the evening.
Very clean all around. Great staff and concierge
The food for breakfast wasn't very good.
31 May 2025
Exceptional
Beautiful building, rooftop pool.
29 May 2025
Amazing
Beautifull stay. Swimingpool on the roof top was amazing.
Nothing
29 May 2025
A bittersweet experience
We absolutely loved the decor. Art Nouveau and art deco married perfectly. We chose it because of this and the central location. We liked our room- deluxe double room and the amazing view over the inner courtyard. We enjoyed the plentiful and varied daily breakfasts. The staff in the lobby were friendly and welcoming. The pool facilities were very much welcomed too.
The initial few hours of our stay were not great, unfortunately. We had paid more money to have a deluxe room, and we were given a standard one instead, claiming that this was an executive room. The day before we arrived, we received an email asking us if we wanted to upgrade our room, but we replied that we were happy with the deluxe one we had booked, but we would have loved a nice view. They told us that they would try to accommodate our request. When we arrived, however, we were taken to a room that was not a deluxe one but a standard one, and to add insult to injury, when we looked out of the window, we saw an ugly building site as our view. We immediately phoned reception to tell them that we were very unhappy and explained why. At this point, they took us to another room, which was our initial paid choice, and the view was magnificent - the room overlooked an inner, lush courtyard. Our question at this point is: Was this a genuine mistake, or was this a good try to misleading? Would a younger and more inexperienced traveller have remained silent? (A bit later, as we were resting, we had a couple at our door trying to get in, saying that this was the room they had been given. We told them to go down to reception to solve their situation, which they did.) So, to finish, we can say that the beginning of our stay was stressful, and we are still puzzled as to why all of this happened in the first place.
27 May 2025
Very good
breakfast was good. lobby of the hotel is lovely
Bed wasn't comfortable.
25 May 2025
Very pleasant stay
The room was very clean and comfortable. The staff is very helpful. The breakfast was nice but a bit crowded at times.
24 May 2025
Magnificent Hotel !!!
אהבו · An amazing hotel in the lively center of Budapest!! Magnificent rooms and excellent food served in the morning. The staff is professional, kind and super helpful... The food and service at Araz Restaurant was simply beyond excellent. definitely recommended and sure that we will come to Budapest again and we will return to the hotel !!!
22 May 2025
Great stay in Budapest
Very central to everything. We walked everywhere
Good facilities. Great location. Lovely staff.
21 May 2025
Perfect city break, fabulous hotel with great facilities
Excellent breakfast, lovely pools, great cocktails
Nothing
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 and 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 and 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
- - Higher level toilet
Pool and wellness
- - Swimming pool
- - 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
4 July 2025
Very good