Maestly overlooking the Danube, the Hotel Gellért has been a symbol of architectural elegance and pride for Budapest for over a century. This wonder Art Nouveau, inaugurated in 1918, hosted among its real walls, artists and diplomats, becoming a witness of the turbulent history of one of the most fascinating European capitals.
A past of glory and decline
After decades of splendor, the hotel closed its doors in 2019, victim of the wear and tear of time and difficult years. Its sumptuous rooms have emptied themselves, leaving only memories behind dusty windows. Fortunately, the famous Terme Gellért adjacent continued to attract visitors from all over the world, keeping a part of this historical legacy alive.
A awaited rebirth
Now, more than a hundred years after its opening, the iconic hotel is experiencing a complete rebirth. In 2027 he will reopen under the prestigious management of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, promising to merge his rich past with modern luxury.
The acquisition by the Hungarian private investment group BDPST Group in 2022 kicked off an ambitious restoration project started in October 2024. The recovery follows rigorous principles of conservation of the historical heritage, with the aim of returning its place to the hotel in the heart of the city.
The project
Designed by the Hungarian architects Ármin Hegedűs, Artúr Sebestyén and Izidor Sterk, the hotel was at the forefront for its times: telephones in the room, canalized thermal water and even taps with sparkling water. In the 1930s he had become the beating heart of the High Society of Budapest, hosting personalities such as the Maharaja of Kapurthala, the mayor of New York Jimmy Walker, the Scià Reza Pahlavi, Richard Nixon, Jane Fonda and Elizabeth Taylor with Richard Burton.
The future respects the past
The new Hotel Gellért will offer 134 rooms, including 34 suite, designed to honor tradition while satisfying modern standards. The iconic spaces such as the lobby, the Danube Room and the Gobelin Room are meticulously restored using archival photographs and original projects.
During the demolition works, original elements hidden for decades emerged: under the layers of green paint, faded red decorative motifs resurfaced, and a drawer ceiling covered by the communist era has been brought to light.
A symbol for the future
The transformation goes beyond bricks and mortar. The revival aims to return its local relevance to the hotel: “We want our restaurants to be places loved by the locals, just like in the past. This hotel was once at the center of the social life of Budapest. We want to report that feeling.”
With the opening scheduled for 2027, the Hotel Gellért is preparing to write a new chapter of its extraordinary history, ready to welcome the world again with grace, size and a touch of audacity that has always distinguished him
