I can offer you the best comparison, as we traveled to Budapest and Bucharest within the same week in July.
July is the peak travel season in Europe, and it's also the hottest time of the year. Therefore, I'm sharing my unbiased and untainted point of view of these two cities.
TL;DR
This guide will help you compare both cities so that you can select the one that suits your travel needs.
Both are very contrasting cities, and actually, they don't have much in common.
More side-by-side comparisons in this area in Europe.
Comparing Bucharest and Budapest side by side
Here are the pros and cons of visiting either Budapest or Bucharest, with several points of interests.
| Bucharest | Budapest | |
| Location | Capital of Romania, Eastern Europe. | Capital of Hungary, Eastern and Central Europe (depending on whom you ask). |
| Getting There (Flight) | Bucharest has two airports. The large Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport just outside the city and the old, original, and much smaller Bucharest Băneasa - Aurel Vlaicu International Airport. Your flight will mostly fly into the Henri Coandă airport. The Băneasa airport is closer to the city, and a handful of flights land here. It appears to be a VIP airport. To get into the city from any of these flights, use a taxi service or bus shuttle. | You can fly into the Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, which is located just outside Budapest. The process is super straightforward in Budapest, and you can choose to travel to the downtown area either via taxi or public transport. Budapest's public transport infrastructure is one of the best in Europe, day and night. Hop on the 200E or 100E bus line and transfer to the Kőbánya-Kispest metro line to continue your journey to your hotel downtown (takes 30 minutes). |
| Top Reason to Visit | Bucharest is a budget destination in Europe. Most flights are super cheap, and accommodations, food and drink, as well as attractions, are very affordable. Most people visit Bucharest because it's a fairly inexpensive city, and many come to party in Bucharest. The city has strong communist aesthetics, and fans of Brutalism architecture will love the vibe here. One of the main reasons why I would travel to Bucharest is to spend time in the outstanding Bucharest Therme. I'd also use Bucharest as a starting point to other destinations in Transylvania and the Black Sea. | Budapest is a wonderful historical city that is comparable to Vienna and Prague. In fact, you might want to create an itinerary triangle, to visit all three capitals. If you have visited Vienna and/or Prague in the past, and if you loved them, you will surely adore Budapest as well. History lovers will enjoy Budapest. Plenty of historical attractions and top museums await you here. The Jewish heritage can be explored in Budapest in the Jewish neighborhood and a visit to the synagogues (see synagogues etiquette). People also come for the food and the Belle Époque thermal bath culture. The city is vast and consists of two areas, Buda and Pest. You will be busy in Budapest, and a minimum of 3 days is required. |
| Places to visit nearby | Bucharest is your starting point for two major tourist areas in Romania. It's also a better choice for other places to visit nearby compared to Budapest. Most major sights and towns are located in the historical regions of Transylvania and the mountainous region of Wallachia. People come to visit the famed castles of Romania. The most prominent of them all is Bran castle, which is associated with the Dracula novel. If you plan a road trip, do the Transfăgărășan road to encounter bears and true rural Romanian vibes. We also loved several towns in Transylvania. If you want to see the Black Sea, head to Constanta, which is a former Greek and Roman city. The Mamaima beach belt is nearby as well. In case, you need to pick between the Transylvanian mountains and the Black Sea, opt for Transylvania as it has more to offer. | Visitors to Budapest technically just visit Budapest and stop there. You can plan day trips from Budapest to Győr or Szentendre. In the case of Budapest, I'd focus my time on the city itself, as it has so much to offer compared to the rest of the country (unfortunately). Hungary has some terrific cities to visit, but they are much further away from the capital, such as Szeged and Pécs. |
| Bucharest | Budapest | |
| Museums | The most notable museums in Bucharest include the National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of Art in the old town, Museum of the Palace of the Parliament, National Museum of Geology, Museum of Senses and the residence turned museum of the former president Ceaușescu. | Some of the most renowned museums in Budapest include the Hungarian National Gallery, the Hungarian National Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts. That said, I think museumgoers will prefer the choice in Budapest. |
| Gardens and Palaces | You will find the landscaped "Dimitrie Brândză" Botanical Garden at the heart of the city. Bucharest doesn't have any castles, but some of the most stunning castles in Europe are found just a day trip away from Bucharest. This includes the famed Bran Dracula castle and the magnificent Peleș castle. | The Buda Castle, which overlooks the city, is also the National Museum. The castle district, with its iconic turreted, fairy tale-like towers, known as the Fisherman's Bastion, is mostly freely accessible. The Vajdahunyad Castle is surrounded by a lush garden on the Pest side of the city. Not to be missed! All in all, Budapest's castles and palaces are just more aesthetically pleasing. |
| Public Thermal Baths | What not many know is that Bucharest has natural hot water springs. The Bucharest Therme is a modern, budget-friendly, wonderfully maintained thermal spa that is set up with 3 major areas, and it comes with a vast outdoor beach space. We loved the Bucharest Therme so much that we compared it with other top Thermal baths in Europe. | Budapest is renowned in Western countries as the apparent capital of thermal baths, and most travelers come to Budapest to experience just that. The Belle Époque style baths are aesthetically stunning, no doubt, but they lack maintenance. Most are just frequented by tourists, and locals visit other places outside the city. They are suitable for newbies. As seasoned thermal bath and sauna goers, we honestly didn't enjoy them as much as we hoped for, and there are much better options in Europe for what you get for your money. |
| Shopping | We didn't encounter any major upscale shopping areas in Bucharest. You will find a couple of shopping malls in the city with the usual European store selection. I don't think Bucharest is a great out-of-the-box shopping destination. | The grand Central Market Hall (aka Nagycsarnok) might be a tourist trap, but we absolutely loved our time there. Here you can stock up on souvenirs and gift ideas. I recommend bringing cash to get discounts. From the central market hall, head straight across the road to the Váci U shopping lane in downtown Budapest. A good selection of high-end boutiques can be found near the state opera on the historic Andrássy Avenue. |
| Bucharest | Budapest | |
| Christmas Markets | If you find yourself visiting Bucharest in December, add the Christmas market held at the Constitution Square to your itinerary to discover local traditions, food, drink, and handmade regional items. | The city has two Christmas markets, one at St Stephens Basilica Square and one at Vörösmarty Square. They start in mid-November and go on until the end of December. |
| Food and Drink | The nation's best foods and drinks can be experienced in Bucharest. Try Mămăligă Polenta, Pork Goulash, Sarmale (stuffed cabbage meat rolls), Ciorba soups (sour soups), Mici (grilled ground meat kebab), and of course, don't forget Papanași, the doughnut you never knew you needed. | Budapest is a food capital in Europe and your entry point to Hungarian food. When in Budapest, try Lángos (fried yeast flatbread with a topping), Traditional Hungarian Beef Goulash, Chicken Paprikash, Pörkölt, Coleslaw, and Kürtőskalács (Chimney Cakes). |
| Walking Tours | The Communism history tour is the most popular tour offered in Bucharest. | You will find plenty of guided walking tours in Budapest. The most popular ones focus on the Jewish neighborhood and the Buda castle district. |
| Offerings for Families with Kids | Bucharest downtown isn't set up for family with smaller children. Only the Bucharest Therme offers family-friendly children's zones, which are great, by the way. I don't think the city is attractive for families with adolescents. | Budapest is more suitable for a mature Tourist age group. However, the area surrounding Vajdahunyad Castle is very family-friendly, as it is equipped with a fantastic playground adjacent to the House of music. |
| Hotel Room Prices | Budget accommodations start at $40, midrange at $60-100, and upscale rooms are priced at $100 onwards in Bucharest. | Room rates per night are comparable to Bucharest. You can compare prices to understand the cost of visiting Budapest. |
| Scams and Pickpockets | We encountered some in downtown Bucharest. Just don't engage with people who ask for help in English. | Pickpockets are not common in Budapest. Just take care that you don't get ripped off by one of the Market Hall sellers. |
| Best Time to Visit | Summers are extremely hot, and I don't recommend July and August at all. Pick any other month instead. | I suggest visiting in the spring or autumn. Summer is busy, and the weather is very hot. Winter is ideal if you are heading there for the thermal baths. |
| Getting Around | Public transport in Bucharest isn't that great. There is a lack of a coherent ticketing system for the subway, trolley, and bus system. They don't have a train connection from the airport to the downtown area. The drivers in Bucharest are mad. I don't recommend driving a vehicle in this city. Attractions are far away from each other, and walking around is boring. Getting around in Bucharest can be a challenge. | Budapest has one of the best public transport infrastructures in the world, and it operates day and night. Besides, the tram and metro lines are iconic and count as an attraction. |
Photographs to compare both Cities
Both cities were photographed in July.
Bucharest Photos
Budapest Photos
Videos to compare
We've made walking tour videos in each of these cities in 2024. Use the following video to compare and make your own assessment of what to expect.
My Tips and Thoughts
We travel to European capitals for culture, aesthetics, and food, and we value the ease of getting around, and we enjoy great views.
For that reason, we definitely preferred Budapest to Bucharest. Although, we enjoyed visiting the historical orthodox monasteries in Bucharest, they are stunning!
Bucharest has a vivid naughty party nightlife and people who seek this ambiance will feel at home in Bucharest. The old town is still sleeping at 10 am.
The city itself feels unfinished, and they need to do more for Tourism, but as a result, you will find that the city is more budget-friendly compared to Budapest.
We didn't like the high air pollution in Bucharest, which is due to the heavy traffic. Car-free areas are rare in Bucharest.
In Bucharest, you will find Communism aesthetics, in Budapest it's the old world charm.
Budapest is large, and we felt that we were never done exploring the city. The only thing that was apparently different from Western cities was the traffic in Budapest, which is still less compared to Bucharest.
That said, the people were much nicer and more welcoming in Bucharest; the natives in Budapest are cold and take time to warm up. The English language is more commonly spoken in Bucharest, whereas Hungarians in Budapest stick to Hungarian only.
Consider all the points that I listed here and pick the city that you think will serve you and your interests.
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