Hungary continues its growth momentum as a must-visit European destination for culture, gastronomy and natural beauty. With multiple hotel investments in the pipeline, new attractions such as Europe’s largest urban cultural development—the Liget—and Michelin star accolades, Hungary invites visitors to experience what’s new and refreshed in 2023.
Here are a few highlight:
The W Hotels brand has made its debut in Hungary with the opening of W Budapest this year. Located in Andrássy Avenue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, opposite the recently renovated opera house, the 151-room luxury hotel will be housed in the fully renovated Drechsler Palace.
Also on the luxury front, the Klotild Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will be converted into The St. Regis Hotel Budapest. Situated in the city center in Ferenciek Square, the hotel will have 102 guestrooms and suites, a spa facility, restaurant, café, bar and a conference facility.
The Dorothea Hotel, Autograph Collection is set to open in July 2023 on Vörösmarty Square in central Budapest. Situated among three connected historical buildings, it features 216 rooms, four F&B outlets, a wellness area and business premises.
D8 Hotel will operate under the name voco Budapest but will remain under the ownership of BDPST Group. Located next to Vörösmarty Square, a few steps from the Chain Bridge and Váci Street, the 137-room property is within walking distance of the Buda Castle, the St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Fisherman’s Bastion. Further improvements will be made to the hotel until December 2023, and the hotel will remain open during the transformation.
In addition, the recently opened 50-room hotel, Verno House, will join IHG's Vignette Collection. Guests can enjoy an onsite spa, restaurant and bar. It will continue to be owned and operated by the BDPST Group and there will be no changes to the daily operations of the hotel under the BOTANIQ Collection brand.
Liget Budapest Project, Europe’s largest urban cultural development, envisions the complete renewal of the iconic public park with a 200-year-old heritage. The renewed Városliget will offer leisure and cultural experiences for visitors and locals alike. The Museum of Ethnography, also part of the Liget Budapest Project, opened its doors to the public in May 2022. Other attractions include The House of Music showcasing a range of events; the Budapest Opera House in Andrássy Avenue, renovated for nearly five years and reopened in March 2022; the National Hauszmann Program highlighting the renewal of Buda Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and St. Stephen’s Hall, an important stage of the Castle District reconstruction, located inside the Buda Castle. It was completely destroyed in World War II and has been restored and open to public since late 2021.
For the first time in the history of the Hungarian rating of the Michelin guide, the country’s rural restaurants received a Michelin star, with Platán Gourmet in Tata winning two stars, besides the one-star 42, located in Esztergom. In Budapest, the Stand is the second restaurant in the country with two Michelin stars. Alongside it, six restaurants in the capital retained one star, while Rumour won the accolade for the first time. In total, Hungary has a couple of two-Michelin-star restaurants and seven one-star restaurants, making it a noteworthy gastronomic center in Central Europe, ahead of the Czech Republic, Poland and Croatia.
For more information, explore www.visithungary.com.
Related Stories
Awash in Maritime Heritage and Salty Charm, Bergen Beckons
Hyatt Announces the Opening of FirstName Bordeaux