With tourism taking a huge hit in the wake of the measures in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus, major hotels in Budapest remain open for business – with stricter focus on hygiene and limitations on restaurant opening hours. Greater flexibility concerning reservation cancellation is also in place.

With Hungary’s borders closed by land and by air, and visitor numbers dwindled, a number of hotels, particularly in the provinces, has closed their doors for the time being.

Here in Budapest, hotels in the higher bracket are still in operation and adapting to the new normal. The Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, an Art-Nouveau landmark overlooking the Chain Bridge, continues to welcome guests, increasing its already stringent practices around food, sanitation, and the cleaning of guest rooms and public areas. Anti-bacterial hand sanitisers have been placed around the property, and face masks are available for guests. Employees are well trained in social distancing. Given the general restrictions on world travel, the Gresham has new policies on reservation cancellation – for details see here.

The InterContinental Budapest is also keeping its doors open, ‘room service, a clean and disinfected room and friendly staff awaiting those seeking refuge in these new times’. The hotel is also encouraging everyone across the Danube to take in the view of the Pest embankment – and the heart now in place on the side of its building, to bring a smile when most needed.

Up in Buda itself, the Hilton Budapest remains open, again with the proviso that its LÁNG Bistro & Grill must close at 3pm. Back in the city centre, the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest and Budapest Marriott Hotel are still in operation, while the huge Corinthia Budapest on the Grand Boulevard has kept open its residencies (which can be booked for one, two or more nights), but closed its guest rooms and spa. Although its restaurants are closed, a kitchen is still in operation, providing a 24-hour room service for guests. More details here.