Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace

The historic and luxurious Four Seasons boasts a central location and strong sense of place that transports guests to the city's golden age.

• The friendly staff, exquisite surroundings and central location
• The spa with its bevy of pampering treatments
• The magical atmosphere upon arrival through the property’s peacock gates
• Breakfast on the private balconies of the river-view rooms

The Four Seasons Gresham Palace, is not only the most luxurious option in Budapest, it’s one of the most glorious properties in the hotel company’s entire portfolio. Located in an Art Nouveau palace, it was built in 1906 for the British Gresham Life Assurance Company and painstakingly restored with the help of 100 artisans and craftsmen. The lobby is a folly of stained glass, lofty domes, delicate wrought iron, walls lined in handmade tiles and cream-colored mosaic floors accented with swirling black arabesques.

The 179 rooms and 19 suites are spread across five floors, and the best have Danube and Buda views. The Gresham Palace, which has a fancifully adorned white stone façade that is recognizable from miles away, sits at the foot of Chain Bridge, with unrivaled views of Castle Hill. Many of the palace’s original details were left intact, including soaring vaulted ceilings and heavy Art Deco–inspired wooden doors, but the overall design scheme has a light, modern touch, with a neutral color palette, honey-wood furniture and spacious marble-clad bathrooms. While the rooms feel slightly more generic in design than the immaculate public spaces, the Four Seasons is still the undisputed top hotel in the city.

There’s a luminous wellness facility on the top floor, including a lap pool and an exercise room that overlooks the rooftops of Budapest. The petite spa offers superb treatments for those not wishing to visit one of the city’s famous bathhouses. Meanwhile, Gresham’s bar on the ground floor, which spills into a glass-domed passage off the lobby, is a nice place to meet for afternoon tea or an aperitif. The restaurant, Kozacz, serves French- and Hungarian-inspired cuisine.

First-time visitors and travelers who cannot do without five-star luxury. The Four Seasons is also a great choice for families.