What to expect: Restored and re-opened in 2003 after years of neglect, the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal provides the focal point of Erzsébet Avenue , with its imposing Neo-classical façade flanked by two glass atriums. Inside is an opulent marble lobby, dominated by a large marble staircase decorated with gold-coloured statures and ornate plasterwork. Conference guests and tourists gather on deep sofas to chat and plan excursions.

Amenity highlights: The hotel’s spa, first opened in 1886, was earmarked for redevelopment as car park. Luckily, public interest led to the spa being refurbished instead. It contains over 1000 square metres of pampering space, including a 15-metre pool, jetted spas, Vichy shower, eight massage rooms, Ayurveda care table, Niagara bathtub and dry floating bed for deep relaxation. Trained beauticians use Algotherm in a wide range of face and body treatments.
Please note that the spa centre is open to guests 16 years and older.

Insider tip: The hotel's ballroom was converted into a cinema in 1915 and hosted Budapest’s first screening of a motion picture by the Lumiere brothers. It was converted into a Soviet cinema in the 1950s, which closed in 1997, and the ballroom has since been restored using 72 tons of inlaid marble and acres of gold leaf. Now this Rococo hall is resplendent with rich gilt white walls, ornamented with fresco portraits of Hungarian artists, as well as three chandeliers weighing a ton each.