Bucharest and Budapest are two capital cities in Central Eastern Europe. They are both known for having grand buildings and landmarks and for being extremely affordable compared to cities in Western Europe. If you are trying to decide between visiting Bucharest or Budapest, this is the ultimate guide to help you decide which city you should visit.
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Bucharest or Budapest Overview
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital of Romania and is also the largest city in the country with nearly 2 million people. It was once known for its beautiful architecture and grand buildings, even being referred to as the “Paris of the East”. Today, the city is has a blend of new and old styles of architecture.
When you visit Bucharest, you can expect to get a good bang for your buck because it is one of the cheapest cities in Europe. Bucharest is also growing in popularity with foreigners because it has not been overrun with tourists yet.
Budapest
Budapest is the largest city in Hungary with 1.75 million people living here. It is known for being a picturesque city with large palaces and beautiful architecture. The Hungarian Parliament building it one of the most incredible buildings in all of Europe.
The city is also known for its thermal baths scattered throughout the city. The city is split in half by the Danube River with Buda in the west and Pest in the east. The riverfront is one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Things to See
Bucharest
The Palace of Parliament is the second-largest administrative building in the world. It is the heaviest however.
Romanian Athenaeum is a concert hall that was built in 1888. It has an incredibly ornate interior.
The Arch of Triumph is a massive arch similarly modeled to the one in Paris.
The Royal Palace is home to the National Museum of Art of Romania.
Revolution Square is a historic part of Bucharest that is surrounded by some of the city’s most iconic buildings.
Budapest
Buda Palace is a large baroque palace overlooking the Danube River.
The Hungarian Parliament Building is one of the most magnificent buildings in Europe. Sitting directly on the water’s edge adds to its beauty.
St. Stephen’s Basilica was named after Stephen, who was the first king of Hungary. It is one of the largest churches in the country.
Szechenyi Thermal Bath is one of the most famous thermal baths in Budapest. It is also one of the largest baths.
Vajdahunyad Castle is right in the middle of Budapest’s largest park. The park is absolutely stunning in the warmer months.
Matthias Church is a Catholic church located on the same hill as the Buda Palace.
Food
Bucharest
Chiftele, or Romanian meatballs, is a mixture of meat, potato, and carrot and makes for an excellent dish if you are in the mood to try some authentic Romanian. Sarmale is a dish of rice and pork wrapped in cabbage similar to the cabbage rolls found in other Eastern European countries. For dessert you might want to get yourself some, Plăcintă cu mere which is an apple pie like pastry.
Budapest
Langos are a very popular Hungarian staple food. They are deep-fried flatbread with sour cream and cheese. Kürtőskalács, also known as chimney cakes, are Hungarian treats famous in Budapest. Sausages are a staple in the diets of Hungarians. You need to try some local sausage during your time in Budapest. One of the most popular forms varieties of sausages is the csabai kolbász, which is a spicy paprika sausage.
Getting Around
Bucharest
Bucharest is a large and fairly spread out city so you will want to use public transportation if you are trying to see many of the city’s landmarks. Public transportation here consists of buses, trams, trolleys, and the metro system. It must be noted that tickets for the metro are different from the other forms of public transportation. Do not hesitate to utilize these options for getting around the city because Bucharest has one of the cheapest public transportation systems in Europe. Bucharest has some of the worst traffic in all of Europe so you may want to think twice or plan ahead if you are planning on driving here.
*Uber might be the easiest (quite cheap too) way to get around the city.
Budapest
Budapest has a network of public buses, trolleys, trams, and the subway. The subway in Budapest runs on the honor system but be sure to buy your tickets anyway because they do random checks. If you want to go to the Széchenyi Thermal Bath or the city park, you will want to take some sort of p[public transportation. The metro takes you straight from the center of the city to Városliget (City Park). Walking the riverfront and the beautiful parks are excellent ways to spend the day here. I have never walked more in a single day than I did in Budapest (37,000 steps).
Nightlife
Bucharest
During the 2000s Bucharest has become a hub for great nightlife venues. Romanians know how to party any night of the week but the weekends are extremely vibrant here. There is an abundance of bars and clubs throughout the city. The area around Unirii Square, especially Selari Street and the area north of Unirii Square, is one of the best parts of the city to explore for a night out. There are nightclubs scattered throughout the city so pretty much where ever you stay in Bucharest, you will be able to find something to do for a great night out. Be sure to check the dress code for the clubs before going out.
Budapest
Most of the nightlife in Budapest can be found in the center of the city on the Pest side of the river. There are many different options for nightlife here. Ruin bars are some of the most unique places to party in Budapest. Ruin bars are old Soviet buildings turned in bars and clubs that can be found throughout the city. During the warmer months, people will bring their own booze and socialize in the area surrounding the Budapest Eye. Budapest has a nightlife is one of the most unique in the world and should be on anyone’s party bucket list.
Day Trips
Bucharest
Bran Castle, or Dracula’s Castle, is an impressive Gothic castle to the north of Bucharest.
Slanic Salt Mine is a massive salt mine north of Bucharest that has become a popular tourist attraction.
Sinaia is a town in the Bucegi Mountains that is home to Foisor Castle and Peles Castle.
Budapest
Esztergom was once the capital of Hungary. It is only 46km from Budapest and sits on the Slovakian border.
Godollo Castle was the favorite residence of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary.
Balatonfüred is a resort town on the largest lake in Central Europe. Lake Balaton is often referred to as the Hungarian Sea.
If you decide to visit Budapest, you might want to consider visiting Vienna or Bratislava. If you decide to visit Bucharest and have time to make the journey, you should consider Sofia or Belgrade.
Overall
Bucharest and Budapest are two of the largest cities in Central Eastern Europe. Many people get the two cities mixed up because, well, they sound quite similar. Bucharest is known for its massive communist/socialist buildings mixed in with an increasing amount of contemporary buildings. Budapest is known for its impressive structures like the Buda Palace and the Hungarian Parliament as well as its beautiful waterfront and thermal baths. Both cities have excellent nightlife. Budapest has more to see and most people would agree that Budapest is a must-see.