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InterContinental Budapest
Budapest, Hungary · InterContinental · Core Luxury
József Finta's Forum Hotel opened on 28 November 1981 on the Pest Danube bank after an Austrian-Hungarian credit deal, the second Budapest franchise hotel after the nearby Duna Inter-Continental. InterContinental bought it in 1996 and renamed it on 6 May 1997, then pushed it to five stars with a 1998-2000 renovation. The site sits where the Dunapalota-Ritz once stood: in 1944 Portuguese diplomats Carlos de Sampayo Garrido and Alberto Teixeira Branquinho issued visas that helped about 1,000 Jewish refugees escape. Chain Bridge and Buda Castle still fill the river-facing rooms.
- Opened 1981
- Neighborhood: Lipótváros
- Rooms from 248 sq ft (23 m²)
- Architect: Jozsef Finta
- Interiors: Laszlo Kiraly
About InterContinental Budapest
- HungarHotels owned the Forum at opening; the fifteen-year construction loan was reportedly repaid by the seventh year of operation.
- Interior designer László Király collaborated with architect József Finta on the original Forum Hotel fit-out.
- Guests over the decades have included Michael Schumacher, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Diana Ross, and Ferenc Puskás.
- After World War II bombing erased the old hotel row, the riverside's modern rebirth began with the 1968 Duna Inter-Continental, now the Budapest Marriott.
- Entry-level rooms start at 248 sq ft (23 m²).
History
The InterContinental Budapest opened in 1981 on the Pest bank of the Danube at Szechenyi Istvan ter, overlooking the Chain Bridge and Buda Castle. It opened as the Forum Hotel and is also historically known as the Duna InterContinental, designed by the Hungarian architect Jozsef Finta, a Ybl Prize winner for whom the building was an early major success.
The hotel became part of the InterContinental brand in 1996. Over the decades its Danube-front rooms and ninth-floor presidential suite have hosted a long list of dignitaries and celebrities, including George Bush, the Dalai Lama, Colin Powell and Michael Schumacher, cementing its status as one of Budapest's landmark riverside hotels.
Restaurants and bars
- ARZ Lebanese Restaurant — Restaurant · Lebanese
- Corso Bar and Restaurant — Bar
Experiences
- Pink October — Seasonal autumn dishes offered in support of breast cancer prevention and awareness.
- DiningCity Restaurant Week with ARZ Lebanese Restaurant — Culinary event from October 1 to 18, 2026 presenting authentic Lebanese flavours.
- Incredible Occasions — Curated experience packages for birthdays, anniversaries and a day in the city, with personal touches and local flavours.
Amenities
- Spa
- Indoor pool
- Sauna
- Steam room
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Recommended (2026)
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