Imagine yourself sitting in a wicker type chair with yellow cushions. The shape of the chair resembling that of a crème-filled donut, the drink in your hand a light shade of pink that has been kissed by the strawberry that is slowly sinking to the bottom.
You thank the waiter and let your eyes wander to the view around you, realizing only then, that the whole of Budapest rests below your feet.
If you were to find yourself in this particular situation, you’d be sitting on the rooftop terrace of the illustrious Aria Budapest Hotel, watching the sunset over the city with the soft glow of the lights illuminating from the Basilica towers just meters from where you sit. Yes, magic like this really does exist.
I’ve been traveling for years now. I’ve been to many cities and countries all over the World. The longer I do this, the more I realize how important it is to choose the right location and accommodation in a new destination.
Mainly for the ease of access to the best areas of the city and the ability to capture photos of the main structures at all hours of the day and night.
We recently visited Budapest, Hungary for the first time as a starting point to our summer in Europe. There are obviously many options for places to stay in a big city and Budapest is no exception with 2 separate districts, separated by the mighty Danube River.
An invitation to stay at the Aria Budapest Hotel proved to be the perfect complement to our needs and so much more.
The Aria Budapest Hotel Location is Everything
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The location of the Aria Budapest Hotel is worth writing home about. From the entrance of the hotel, you have a clear view of one of Budapest’s most iconic sites, St Stephens Basilica.
In the other direction, a 2 block walk to the main metro station Deak Ferenk Ter. It doesn’t get much better than that.
In my opinion, Budapest is a walking city and you will miss a lot of the charm it exudes if you head underground during your stay. From this base location, you can get to just about anywhere worth seeing within 30 minutes on foot.
As photographers and adventurers, this proved key as we explored the city in all hours of the day and night, chasing light and avoiding crowds.
The Best Views in Budapest
Despite the impeccable service of the hotel and luxury amenities available, most of them complimentary, the best feature is the rooftop space of the hotel.
Featuring the High Notes Sky Bar, you have access to the roof of Budapest and unparalleled views of the Basilica just meters from the top of the hotel.
The open-plan structure features glass railings and comfortable seating options.
We spent every single night on the rooftop watching the sun leave the sky while the city lit up for the night, all to the tune of fine jazz and friendly staff.
I can’t say I’ve had that experience anywhere else in the World and it really made our visit to Budapest special.
Unique Rooms
The rule in comfort, the rooms at the Aria Budapest Hotel are beautifully decorated and spacious. Each room features a private balcony with a seating area, a large bathroom, and a seating area. In our opinion, every room here is a suite, but as the category of the room grows, so does the opulence.
We spent our days in one of their Luxury King rooms, which for this hotel is more or less the entry-level room, and it felt like luxury and class. Our room featured a king bed so comfortable that when you sat on it, you couldn’t help but slip into a peaceful slumber.
Each room is carefully designed with the influence of music. We stayed in the Jazz wing, so the theme of the room echoed that of slow, sweet Jazz.
A bright gold saxophone showed through the carpet on the floor and a book about a great jazz legend sat on the white marble table at the foot of the bed.
The seating area featured two black and white polka-dotted chairs and a small round table that suited me perfectly as a workspace when we weren’t exploring the city.
The TV was bigger than I am tall and as high tech as they come featuring several TV channels, overviews of the hotel features and movie options.
Daily Wine & Cheese
If you entered the main lobby between the hours of 4-6 pm, you’d be greeted by the sound of a popping cork, forks lightly hitting the porcelain of the plates and the aroma of rich cheese.
As guests of the Aria Budapest Hotel, we were treated to daily wine & cheese in the lobby.
While live music filled the space, we enjoyed a variety of 6 local kinds of cheese, bread, fruit, and nuts to the tune of your selection from 4 local wines.
The environment of this occasion was casual, fun and a chance to sample some of the richest cheeses I’ve ever had my hands on.
Fitness, Pamper & Relaxation
Budapest is all about spas and baths. No matter where you find yourself in the city, you will hear talks of the powers of the Hungarian Baths and how you cannot leave Budapest without having a soak or two.
If you’re not into public bathing situations, like me, you will be pleased to know you have a more private option at this hotel.
When we visit a new place, we put on the miles. In an effort to stay healthy and fit, this often means we’re on our feet all day, walking between sites and rarely taking time to rest.
There are only so many hours in a day after all. Taking the time to enjoy the spa services at the hotel was a treat for our muscles.
Our last afternoon was spent enjoying the spa, soaking in the baths and pampering ourselves with the products on offer.
I can tell you that after 3 days of hustling around the city, I stepped out of that spa feeling like a million bucks.
Would We Stay Again?
Hands down, yes. After 2 years of continuous travel, we have seen the insides of just about every accommodation type you can imagine and the Aria Budapest Hotel really delivers on not just ideal location but on traveler comfort too.
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- 10 Interesting Day Trips from Prague
- Ultimate Guide to Eurail Pass Train Travel in Europe
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Still enjoy your travel experiences!
Love,
Delores
Great to hear Delores!