Happy in Hungary: Hotel Moments Budapest Review

Where should you stay in Budapest? Read our Hotel Moments Budapest review to see why it makes great travel memories.

Isn't the headboard incredible?

Hotel Moments Budapest is an ideal mix of everything we look for in a hotel - unique, memorable, comfortable, well thought out, and well positioned to explore. There are abundant architectural features from centuries past which remind you with every turn that you're in one of the world's most beautiful cities  - but the hotel doesn't skimp on modern touches that make even the fussiest of travelers feel at home. If that isn't enough, it's also just steps away from the incomparable Hungarian State Opera House. In short, it's the perfect hotel to make the most of a first time visit to Budapest.  Read our Hotel Moments Budapest review to see what our experience was really like... 

Hotel Moments Budapest: light and bright.

We loved the dramatic curtains.

Hotel rooms in Europe have a tendency to lean towards cozier sizes, especially from a North American point of view. It is a testament to their decorator that the rooms at Hotel Moments Budapest were organized to make their compact size feel completely uncluttered. The high ceilings and huge windows gave our room a bright, airy appeal.

​Natural light flooded the our space and it was enhanced by plenty of other sources, including bedside lights, floor lamps, and built in illumination along the frame of the headboard. (You'd be forgiven for wondering why the fireplace wasn't included in this list - because it's not a fireplace at all! That's a flat screen TV and it was seamlessly integrated with all the regal features of the room.) Come night, the heavy curtains covering the huge windows made the room effortlessly dark and quiet.

Our small hotel room in Budapest had big personality. 

The mirror and the lighting made all the difference.

Everything was elegant.

The perfect spot for getting organized.

Our happy home for two nights.

If you like ornate headboards, you'll be thrilled because Hotel Moments does them on a grander scale than any we've seen. It was an incredible piece which evoked the feeling of an antique tapestry and served as a dramatic focal point of the room. The amazing headboard was a wonderful, bespoke alternative to small hotel rooms that put undersized, bland art on the walls in an attempt to infuse some personality. THIS was personality towering over six feet high! 

A phenomenal headboard wasn't the only unique feature in our Hotel Moments Budapest room. The snug entryway was separated from the sleeping area by a long, multi-strand curtain. You'd think this cascading waterfall of texture would impart a bohemian vibe but in reality it was the opposite. It felt quite grand to swoop them to one side and make an entrance with flair! (And having the strands down at night gave the illusion of being in a cozy, intimate space, without the abruptness a wall or a door).

Clean, crisp lines in the bathroom.

See through shower walls feel spacious.

As did a long, narrow sink.

Behind the curtain was a small foyer with a very clever mini refrigerator and bench combination, which was the perfect spot for placing our bags and sorting out our gear. The room also featured a small desk and chair, accented with a wall mirror. The space was functional without feeling cramped, and it was well laid out. 

The bathroom featured glass shower walls, a long, lean sink with clean lines, and modern, horizontal, light colored tiles. It felt very spacious even if there wasn't room for a bathtub. If bathtubs are a must for you (and I do understand - I love them!) some are available in the larger rooms.

Based on our searches, this category of room is consistently priced under $200 a night (and sometimes under $170). Considering that it's a four star hotel, in a great location, with so many bespoke touches, we consider this to be a very good value. 

History and service: The other things we loved at Hotel Moments Budapest. 

No stuffy hallways here.

Everything is bright and well lit.

The large, airy atrium of the hotel let in plenty of light and it was easy to forget that this charming, romantic property had a more conservative past. It was built in the 1880s by a wealthy tobacco merchant. Over the years, the building also served as a bank and an insurance company - not typical businesses to inspire travel dreams. Thankfully, these prosaic past roles are nothing compared to the building's real claim to fame - it was very first movie theatre in all of Budapest! The recent remodel made it difficult to imagine the building as anything but a hotel yet it was still nice to think of excited movie patrons seeing a moving picture for the first time all those decades ago. 

What else did we love about Hotel Moments? That the big, bright lobby offered round-the-clock free coffee, herbal tea, and mineral water - a lifesaver after a busy day of exploring! And it was just a few steps to the restaurant for a yummy breakfast each morning. We definitely appreciated starting our day with delicious Hungarian pastries. 

While we know that you trust our Hotel Moments Budapest review (we'd never lead you astray!), you can see what other travelers had to say about it by reading more on Trip Advisor. And should browsing turn to booking, you can compare current prices on Hotels Combined and Expedia.  (As always with affiliate links, the price you pay is unaffected but a small commission is returned to our blog to help with its operational costs.)

Hotel Moments Budapest: The perfect base for visiting the Hungarian State Opera House.

Outside the Hungarian State Opera House - Billy Elliot was playing while we were there.

Even the gardens are great.

The ornate interior.

Exploring our street.

Hotel Moments Budapest was perfectly positioned for a jaunt to the spectacular Hungarian State Opera House. Even if you're not necessarily a big opera fan, this beautiful building is well worth a visit and it's just 250 meters from the hotel!

​We had the opportunity to take a memorable behind the scenes tour of the Opera House (you can read all about our tour of the opera house here.) It was so nice to stroll there in just one minute. Best of all, the Opera metro station lies between the Opera House and the hotel (and other metro lines were just a 5-10 minute walk away). And close to the station we also discovered convenient small shops and even a flower vendor. Hotel Moments Budapest really was the perfect base for exploring Budapest both near and far. We felt so connected and it was so easy to get around the city.

We were steps away from the "ruin pub" district. 

So charming at night!

A loaded plate.

This is definitely one of the most popular spots in all of Budapest.

Nearly as close but in a different direction, Budapest's famous 'ruin pubs' were just a two minute walk away from the hotel. According to Lonely Planet Budapest, the ruin pub district tops every list of things to see and do in the city and we found the area to be the perfect spot for a great meal or an afternoon of drinks with friends. It's also one of the locations where we fell in love with Budapest's yummy chocolate desserts - just in case you need another delicious reason to check it out.

It was easy to get to Elizabeth Square and Parliament. 

Beautiful public spaces in the city center.

A gorgeous view across the river.

Whimsical public sculpture.

And moving pieces as well.

A slightly longer walk (15-25 minutes - or just a metro hop) took us into the heart of Budapest and to all the most popular "must see" spots, including evocative public art, the river bank (with great views!) and the Parliament buildings. We made the walk often and enjoyed it each time - it was wonderful for a relaxing stroll. (We've got a great walking tour to help you get the most of this part of the city if you like to explore on foot as well!)

​Fun fact: We encountered people hanging out around Elizabeth Square who had signs saying "Free Hugs". We totally took them up on the offer! And when we asked what they were doing, they said they were doing it just to be nice. How great are Hungarians?

We're hooked on Hungary. 

Yep, that's us in the back of a tuk-tuk - definitely a unique way to see the city!

Clearly, Budapest had us grinning - we couldn't have been happier with where we stayed and everything we did. We absolutely would stay at Hotel Moments Budapest again and there's no other neighbourhood we'd rather be in. 

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