Budapest has to be one of my favourite cities I’ve been to – Beautiful, friendly, clean, affordable… it had everything I could ask for. I loved the way Buda’s hills lit up at night; the way cobblestone streets wound through intricate neighbourhoods scattered around the iconic Danube River; the way people gathered at thermal spas to bask in the sunshine and each other’s company; and how every twist and turn through the city centre led to just one more beautiful adventure. Sounds dreamy, right? I mean, the city has its own “Castle District” for goodness’ sake! But this particular post is not about the city itself – it’s about the hotel which we called home for the weekend, during our Hungarian getaway.
The reason I wanted to preface this post with the above is because the Aria Hotel Budapest was the perfect complement to such a dreamy and inspiring destination. Without providing too much detail in the intro, let’s get to the meat of this post which will help to explain exactly how this hotel left such an impression on us, and positively impacted our time in Budapest, Hungary.
Location
First things first, I don’t know that the location of the Aria Hotel Budapest could have been more ideal. Located beside the St. Stephen’s Basilica on the Pest side of the Danube River, the Aria Hotel is located in the heart of the city. Walking distance from the majority of major sites and a quick 4-minute walk to the metro, it was incredibly easy to navigate the city, and pop back in throughout the day to drop off items, change clothes, or freshen up. Oh yeah, and the shuttle that takes you from the BUD Airport to the city centre? That stop is only a 5-minute walk from the Aria!
Address: Budapest, Hercegprímás u. 5, 1051 Hungary
Rooms
The Rooms at the Aria were luxurious, cozy, and creative. As the Hotel is musically themed (hence, the “Aria”), each individual room celebrates the work of a different Musical Legend. There are four wings in the hotel that are each individually inspired by the musical genres of Opera, Jazz, Classical, or Contemporary music. We stayed in the Classical wing, in a “Grand Luxury Room with 2 Full Beds”, and enjoyed the gorgeous interiors, luxurious furnishings (including a marble fireplace mantle, uhmm what), and comfortable beds (which are customizable btw, with the option of adding or removing the pillow top).
Our room also came with next-level amenities like an in-room iPad, a docking station for iPhone and Android, an Interactive Multimedia Entertainment System, a Home Theatre Sound Projector, and access to the Hotel’s Digital Music Library. I’m telling you, if you’re a music lover or appreciator, or musician yourself – this hotel experience is a unique one I haven’t seen anywhere else!
There are many other options for rooms and suites which include city views or private terraces overlooking the Music Garden Courtyard. Click here to check them out.
Hotel and Amenities
All guests of the Aria Hotel Budapest are offered plenty of complimentary amenities and services during their stay, including the following:
Daily complimentary breakfast (7 am – 11 am)
Who doesn’t love breakfast? Being my favourite meal of the day, I greatly appreciated the variety of options available, including a buffet of cold cuts, cheeses, croissants, and fresh fruit, in addition to an a la carte menu – all-inclusive. Due to the proximity of the hotel, we even went out for sunrise one morning and then returned to have a proper sit-down breakfast before heading back into the city for further venturing.
Afternoon wine & cheese reception (with beautifully presented live entertainment from 4 pm – 6 pm)
The hotel’s afternoon wine and cheese reception is offered daily between 4-6 pm. Again, due to the proximity of the hotel, we found this to be the perfect time to stop back in at the hotel to have a mid-afternoon break from walking the city, to relax, and maybe also change our clothes for the evening’s activities. This was also a lovely opportunity to taste a selection of Hungarian wines — yum! But, not only was the wine and cheese a lovely touch, the accompanying live entertainment was too. The musicians were very gifted and so lovely to speak with. Overall, I would recommend not missing out on the wine and cheese reception here!
Hotel Harmony Spa and Wellness Centre
At Aria, I was blown away by the attention to detail displayed throughout the spa amenities and wellness centre. I truly wish we had had more time in Budapest because I would have loved to have spent an entire evening basking in the spa alone. Open daily from 7 am-10 pm, guests can relax and rejuvenate with the following:
Heated indoor swimming pool
Jacuzzi
Aromatic Steam Room
Finnish Sauna
Aqua bicycles
Infrared Sauna
The wellness centre also includes a small gym with cardio machines and free weights.
Music Library
The music library is where you can find the hotel’s Musical Director, Kornel Magyar. Kornel is a “performing artist, composer, music critic and scholar of ethnomusicology”. Kornel is available to share his passion for music and Hungarian culture with guests, and can also help you to develop a soundtrack to enjoy in your room through their extensive music library!
Dining
Now, I already discussed the breakfast and wine and cheese reception, both of which can be enjoyed in The Music Garden. But, what I have yet to discuss is the High Note Skybar. This Skybar is available to both guests of the hotel and visitors. So, let me say this – even if you are not staying at the Aria Hotel during your time in Budapest, the High Note SkyBar is well worth the visit! With absolutely breathtaking 360-degree views of the city, it is the perfect place to enjoy one of their signature cocktails and a light lunch or snack from their bar-food menu.
Tip: While the views are amazing during all hours of the day, I highly recommend going for sunset/nighttime. Viewing the Buda side of the river from this rooftop was truly a jaw-dropping experience, one cannot show through a photograph. Each major monument sitting atop the rolling hills was lit up, sparkling across the water… and I simply did not want to leave.
You can visit the High Note SkyBar website here.
Overall…
The hotel was incredibly private, warm, and welcoming. It truly provided an experience that made us feel at home, with the added benefit of absolute luxury and top-notch service. My favourite parts about the hotel (outside of the already mentioned impeccable service from the staff) were the incredible attention to detail, especially when it came to incorporating the passion of music into every aspect of a guest’s experience, the spectacular views from the High Note SkyBar, and the highly convenient location.
If you have a passion for music and the arts or are looking for a luxurious experience, with an emphasis on privacy and comfort, the Aria Hotel Budapest is the place for you.
The Aria Hotel Budapest is part of the Library Hotel Collection, sister hotel to Hotel X Toronto. To read about my experience and review of Hotel X Toronto, please click here.
Click here to book your stay at Aria Hotel Budapest.
Note: All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. Although I was hosted by Aria Hotel Budapest, all opinions are my own.