The Ultimate Gay Travel Guide
The Gay Passport is your complete Gay Travel Guide. Looking to Drink, Play or Sleep we have reviews to help. Award-winning & Updated 2023.
Budapest is one of Europe’s most up-and-coming destinations. It offers grandiose culture on the scale of Paris or London and trendy gay nightlife to rival Berlin, all at a fraction of the price of any of these other cities.
The savings extend to hotels to a certain point, but during peak season the rates are likely to be similar to what you would find throughout Europe. That said, bargains can still be found in the down season and in budget accommodations.
Gay visitors should not have any trouble booking any room in Budapest, and all accommodation will generally be gay-friendly. Hungary is relatively legally progressive in terms of gay rights, with discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation being illegal.
However, socially, the country can be less tolerant at times. Right-wing groups have long clashed with LGBT activists including at Budapest Pride.
Most gay visitors prefer to stay in Pest, since it is closer to all the main attractions and to the city’s gay nightlife. Budapest’s name comes from the two cities that formed it: Buda and Pest, on each side of the river.
If you want to experience Budapest as the gritty, cool nightlife hub that it is, you’re better off staying in Pest. That said, there are plenty of upmarket gay-friendly hotels in Pest, including several on our list. The most booked hotels are all around the city center in District V, VI and VII. From here it’s easy with most of the gay bars, clubs, and nightlife being centered around Districts V, VI, and VII in Pest.
Stay in Buda for grand, leafy boulevards surrounded by palaces and grand houses. Cheap and convenient public transport links make it easy for you to get around no matter where you are, and the city is also pleasant and easy to explore on foot.
♥ Scenic location right next to the Chain Bridge
♥ Insta-perfect floor-to-ceiling windows
♥ Incomparable views from the rooftop restaurant
♥ Fun facilities – gym and free E-bikes
Hotel Clark is located on the Buda side of the Danube, right on the Chain Bridge. This places it just next to the beautiful Buda Castle but within easy walking distance of the exciting nightlife and attractions of Pest. Popular gay bars and nightclubs like AlterEGO and Habrolo are about a half-hour walk away, but you can easily reach them by taxi or public transport.
It is a stylish hotel, featuring sleek modern decor throughout and large windows that make the most of the incredible location. It is also brand new, having opened in 2018. All of the spaces look great, but the roof terrace restaurant with panoramic views is a highlight.
As well as being beautiful and spacious, all rooms come with great amenities like a Nespresso machine with a daily coffee pod selection. Go for a Danube View room to really make the most of the location – the Deluxe Danube View, with floor-to-ceiling windows in the room and bathroom, is incredible.
The gay-friendly hotel has a small but well-equipped gym with great views over the Chain Bridge, which all guests have complimentary access to. Another nice perk is free E-bike rental, especially given Budapest’s increasingly bike-friendly layout. Hotel Clark is one of the most booked gay hotels in Budapest.
♥ Gorgeously decorated multi-level suites (very Insta-friendly)
♥ Near gay saunas, gay cruise clubs and gay bars
♥ Best location to walk to main attractions
♥ Unique approach to room service and creative services
Stories Hotel is a boutique hotel located right in the middle of Budapest’s downtown area. The Danube riverbank, District VII’s trendy bars, and District VI’s hipster clubbing scene are all about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. This makes it an ideal place to stay for gay nightlife.
The hotel features spacious, beautiful suites, most of which are set over two or three open-plan floors. The decor is bright and colorful, but impeccably tasteful. Every room unique, and most rooms are furnished with chic designer pieces.
There are plenty of exclusive services available, from in-room barber and hairdressing to breakfast in bed, massage, and even tattooing. Little perks like welcome chocolate in the room and popcorn at reception keep you delighted and surprised throughout your stay.
Hotel Zenit Budapest Palace is stylish and centrally located, and a favorite gay-friendly hotel in Budapest. The whole place, from the skylit lobby to the spacious and comfortable rooms, features beautiful, minimalist decor with plenty of natural light and relaxing neutral tones.
There is a lovely on-site cafe and cocktail bar, which serves a very good buffet breakfast with freshly prepared items. Another plus is the gym, which is pleasantly spacious and well-equipped for a boutique hotel of this size.
The hotel is extremely well located in the city center, close to most major sights and landmarks as well as most gay bars and clubs. VIBE, Oops @ Anker’t, HELLO @ Toldi Mozi, AlterEGO, Habrolo, and Coxx cruise bar are all within a 20-minute walking radius of the hotel. With this location and value is not surprising that Hotel Zenit is one of the most booked gay-friendly hotels in Budapest.
Continental Hotel opened in 2010 on the site of an Art Deco bathhouse, and it has preserved the beauty of the original building. The curved stained glass ceiling of the lobby is a remarkable example of this, as are the polished marble floors and gorgeous main entrance.
In the rooms, the decor is more modern and subtle, with small nods to the Art Deco aesthetic. All rooms are extremely comfortable, with the Deluxe and Executive categories being particularly luxurious. The suites are also excellent, each with their own private balcony.
Continental Hotel is a popular gay-friendly choice, especially since it is just a couple of doors down from Coxx cruise bar. Most of the other popular gay Budapest venues are also easy to reach on foot, as are city’s unmissable “ruin bars”.
There is a good gym, containing a selection of weights equipment as well as the usual cardio machines. The hotel also features both an indoor pool and an outdoor rooftop one, the latter being quite rare in Central Europe.
Eurostars Budapest Center offers great value for money in the heart of the city. The decor is simple but considered, and every room features large windows and extra-comfy beds. Combine this with friendly, attentive service and a generous, tasty breakfast spread, and you have all the elements of a great city stay.
The hotel is located in the Inner City, close to everything you may want to see during your time in Budapest. Habrolo, a low-key gay cafe bar with regular themed nights and karaoke, is just across the street, so you never have to look too far for a great gay night out.
There is an onsite bar and cafe as well as a gym, although the latter is quite sparse and basic.
Novotel Budapest Centrum is housed in an Art Deco building, which gives it a particularly grandiose air, especially in the common areas. The rooms are decorated in a simpler, modern style, always with large windows and comfortable furnishings. As with many Accor hotels nowadays, there is a selection of special themed rooms based on specific interests.
The Palace Restaurant is a highlight, with beautiful old-fashioned decor and truly delicious dining. In the mornings, the grand restaurant area serves a fresh, high-quality buffet breakfast. There is a fitness area with a jacuzzi, sauna, and a small but well-equipped gym.
Novotel Budapest Centrum is located in bustling District VII, close to Budapest’s legendary “ruin bars” and the city’s best nightlife. Most of the gay bars and clubs are about a 20-minute walk away, except for Coxx cruise club which is just 5 minutes from the hotel. There are both Metro and tram stations nearby, so you can easily get around when you don’t feel like walking.
Mercure Budapest City Center is one of the most popular gay-friendly hotels in Budapest, probably due to its great location close to the river and most gay venues. It also comes with the assurance of quality from a trusted international brand. The hotel is one of the most booked mid-range gay hotels in Budapest.
The hotel is modern and well-designed, with cool, colorful, contemporary decor. The rooms all pay homage to the city of Budapest with large wall-to-wall decals of city architecture and maps, which works well with the otherwise minimalist decor. This gives the hotel a boutique feel, despite its big brand name.
Great facilities include a high-quality breakfast with plenty of varied choices and a very well-equipped hotel gym. The staff is friendly, helpful, and reliable, and the standard of maintenance and cleanliness is impeccable.
Bohem Art Hotel is the result of a collaboration with young Hungarian artists to create an original, inventive hotel stay. Each room is completely unique, even within the same categories. Some rooms are on the smaller side, but the creative decor and well-planned design make up for this.
The facilities are limited, but the perks are not. The generous breakfast buffet has a sparkling wine option, and there is a daily happy hour at the lobby with free drinks and snacks.
The gay-friendly hotel is conveniently located between the banks of the Danube and Vaci Street, Budapest’s main shopping hub. It also happens to be about 2 minutes away from Why Not Cafe & Bar, an extremely popular gay meeting spot and the best place to start a gay Budapest night out.
Thanks to its great location, cool vibe, and high-quality service, Bohem Art Hotel is rated among the top 20 hotels in Budapest on TripAdvisor. It is also a very gay-friendly hotel in Budapest, with a bespoke gay map of the city being among its concierge offerings.
The Danubius Hotel Gellért is an iconic Budapest landmark, opened in 1918 and has hosted celebrities, politicians, and other influential European figured during its lifetime. It is housed in a striking Art Deco building on the banks of the Danube, and is home to the famous Gellért Baths.
There is a sense of faded glory to the hotel – the interiors have not been maintained as well as they should have, and the decor and amenities in the rooms can be bare-bones. However, the rooms are all comfortable and clean, and the hotel is efficiently run by a friendly team of staff.
The Gellért Baths are well-known for their grandiose elegance, and they definitely do not disappoint. Colorful mosaics, elegant domes, and an absolutely stunning central swimming pool all combine to make this hotel’s spa worth the visit. Hotel guests get 30% off admission price for the Baths.
The gay-friendly hotel is located on the Buda side, next to the Citadella and to a bridge crossing over to Pest. RUDA Thermal Baths, a traditional Budapest hot springs popular with gay men, is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, as is Why Not Cafe & Bar, the starting point to many gay Budapest nights. Danubius is the only most booked gay-friendly hotel on the Buda side of the river.
The Gay Passport is your complete Gay Travel Guide. Looking to Drink, Play or Sleep we have reviews to help. Award-winning & Updated 2023.