A Snowy Winter Stay: Our Cozy Airbnb in Budapest
The Airbnb I Loved Before I Even Stepped Inside
The Short Version
A beautifully designed, spacious apartment in the kind of worn historic building I love. I wouldn't hesitate to book it again, although I'd be tempted to try another one of this host’s properties next time.
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Sleeps: Up to 4
Layout: Two comfortable sleeping areas, one bathroom, a balcony over a quiet street.
Perfect for: Families, friend groups, and couples.
Highlights: Easy access to public transportation and the Christmas markets, unique design and vintage furniture, and a cozy place to return during the colder months.
By December 2023, I had fully caught the travel bug. I'd been to Paris in August and Vienna and Bratislava in October, but apparently that wasn't enough. I wanted to go somewhere for my birthday, and I'd heard great things about the Christmas markets in Budapest. So I booked a trip. My mom wasn't thrilled with the idea of me traveling to Budapest alone, so she decided to come with me. Personally, I think her concern was just a convenient excuse for another trip. She'd caught the travel bug, too.
After a long flight from Charlotte to Budapest via Munich, we stopped at a little pastry shop for coffee and something to eat before checking in. Our host had let us know that the cleaner wasn't quite finished but we were welcome to drop off our bags. So we headed down the street to find our Airbnb.
We walked up to this enormous, three-story stone apartment building with a crumbling exterior. I think most people would have looked at it and assumed it was abandoned. I was obsessed. I couldn't believe this was our building.
We went through a giant green wooden front door into a freezing-cold, unlit stone hallway that opened onto an interior courtyard. From there, we climbed these old, worn stairs with a wrought-iron railing that looked like it might fall off at any moment. And I loved all of it. I was already taking pictures before we'd even seen the apartment. When I showed people the photos later, the reaction was usually, 'You stayed there?' Yes, and I loved it.
We dropped our bags inside but didn't really look around. I didn't want to spoil the surprise, so we went out to explore the neighborhood while the cleaner finished up. There was still snow on the ground from the previous week's storm, but nothing falling from the sky. Yet.
Inside the Budapest Airbnb
When we finally went back and opened the apartment door, it was exactly the kind of place I'd hoped for. We had the street-facing apartment and the view was wonderful. Inside, there were sky-high ceilings, ornate moldings, huge green doors opening onto a little wrought-iron balcony, and the most beautiful warm lighting. It was completely different from the cold, crumbling building we'd just walked through.
You entered through the kitchen, with a small bathroom to the left. Straight ahead was a massive open room with a bed against the left wall and a living area on the right. The living area had two sets of enormous green double doors that opened onto the balcony, directly above the building's front entrance. To the right, through another set of French doors, was a private bedroom where my mom stayed. My bed was in the living room, but the space was so large that it never felt awkward. There was even a little desk between the bed and balcony doors.
The whole apartment was beautifully designed. Before our trip, I'd noticed the colors that kept coming up as I looked at Budapest: the golden yellow of the trams and thermal baths, the dark green doors on historic buildings. The apartment had those same golden-yellow and hunter-green accents, and I loved that. It felt like a reflection of the city we were in.
And then there was the furniture. They had this unique Brutalist leather couch-and-chair set that worked perfectly in the space. There was also wallpaper along the wall behind my bed that looked like distressed, crumbling stone. Clearly, someone had put a lot of thought into this apartment. One of my favorite little details was the wooden letter board in the kitchen, with tiles you could rearrange to leave a message. My mom changed it every morning and on my birthday, she left me a happy birthday message.
Outside, it was absolutely freezing. Inside, we had comfortable beds, big down comforters, great linens, heat, and this lovely golden light from the fixtures. We were very happy to come back to it every evening.
The Morning It Snowed
I had one request for my birthday that year: snow in Budapest. I'd imagined the Christmas markets, hot cider, a cozy Airbnb, and snow falling outside. The forecast was iffy, and I was starting to think that the snow left on the ground when we arrived might be all we would get.
On our second full morning, I woke up and noticed the light outside. You know how you can almost tell it's snowing without even looking? Everything is a little brighter and whiter than normal. I opened my eyes, looked through those big green doors, and there it was. Snow.
I was so excited. I got out of bed, wrapped myself in the down comforter, and walked onto the balcony to stand there while it fell around me. My mom woke up and came outside too, and we were both so excited. We got dressed as quickly as we could because we wanted to be out exploring in it.
We took a tram across the river toward Fisherman's Bastion, snapping pictures out the window the whole way. The other passengers were bundled up in black and didn't look particularly thrilled about the weather. Meanwhile, my mom and I were practically giddy. As the day went on, the snow got heavier and heavier until we were holding umbrellas in front of our faces just to see where we were going. Every time we got too cold, we found an excuse to stop for another hot cider or coffee.
That whole day was a birthday wish come true.
Would I Stay Here Again?
Absolutely. I loved the apartment, the design, and the neighborhood. If I went back to Budapest, though, I'd probably try another apartment managed by UandB. They have a portfolio of beautiful, design-forward properties, and after enjoying this one so much I'd love to see another.
Book your Budapest Airbnb here.