Luxury Hotels I Love: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest

The holiday season is upon us, and I can’t help thinking of one of my favorite luxury hotels in a city with one of the best Christmas markets in the world. Budapest is a city filled with history and culture that is sure to wow you with its beauty and amazing food.

The Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest is a landmark hotel built in 1827, near the Danube River. The building is an example of Art Nouveau architecture and it’s located in the city center and close to everything including the best shops, restaurants, and the famous Christmas markets in Vörösmarty Square, the St. Stephen’s Basilica Market, and local favorite, Óbuda Christmas market.  

From the moment you enter this luxury hotel, you feel as if you are transported back to the Golden Age of Budapest. In the lobby, guests will find the beautiful Muzsa Bar, where bartenders serve handcrafted cocktails. 

Led by executive chef Árpád Gyorffy, the casual but elegant Kollazs Brasserie is where I ate amazing food like the delicious Hungarian scrambled eggs filled with onions, peppers, sausage, and paprika. I ate it for breakfast every morning!

The rooms and suites at the property are decorated in a classic style and feel very comfortable and homey to return to after a long day of walking, shopping, and sightseeing. If you are lucky, you may get a room with a view of the famous Chain Bridge, which crosses over the Danube River. The bridge also links the Hungarian capital’s two cities, Buda and Pest.  

You may want to relax and enjoy the beautifully appointed indoor pool and spa open all year round. The Spa offers local Hungarian Moor Mud therapy. I always suggest trying the local experiences in a Spa when traveling. 

During the holiday season, the hotel offers several experiences that lend to this city’s wintertime magic. The unique holiday experiences include the Santa Brunch and traditional dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On New Year’s, the hotel offers a New Year’s Eve Champagne Countdown at midnight ­– where everyone is dressed in their best – as well as a special New Year’s Eve dinner, and New Year’s Day brunch with local musical artists.

Experience the holidays in grand European fashion and stay at the Four Seasons Gresham Palace. Enjoy all of its offerings while you explore the traditional Christmas markets, take in the Budapest thermal bathhouses, and eat yourself through a city with many Michelin-starred restaurants such as Costes Downtown, Essencia, and Stand25 Bisztró, a spot serving skillfully cooked Hungarian classics.

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For advice on how to plan your trip to stay at the Four Seasons Gresham Palace Budapest, consult travel designer, Keith Wein, at 127 Travel.