Budapest or Berlin

If you are only going to one city, I personally would pick Berlin. I like them both a lot, however, so whichever one calls to you more is the one you should go to. Both have lots to see and do, as well as day trip and overnight trip possibilities if you want variety.

Have you seen Rick's videos on these cities? That may help you make a decision. Here's his recent one about Berlin: http://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/season-8/berlin

And here's his older one about Budapest: http://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/budapest-the-best-of-hungary

I'd personally pick Budapest because I think it's a much more beautiful city architecturally. That ambience appeals to me and is one of the reasons I go to Europe. Berlin is more modern. Both have their draws though.

How old are you Bill? I am yet to meet a person under 30 who does not love Berlin.

...and some of us over 30 love it too. My vote - Berlin.

I was just in both last summer, 5 days in Berlin and 6 in Budapest, and loved both of them. I'm a senior and I don't think age has a lot to do with it, both of them are also very attractive to young people. If I was to go back and could only pick one of them I would have to toss a coin. If you tell a little more about what you like to see and do when visiting another city/country and why you have picked those two places maybe you can get more specific recommendations. I'm sure you'll enjoy either place.

Having been to both, I lean toward Budapest, as being less "Western" and hence, more "exotic". It's probably cheaper, the food is excellent, Hungarian wines are top-notch and cheap. Berlin's museums are superb, Budapest's are diverse and interesting, if not of the same classic quality.

Yes, Berlin ' s near total post WWII construction does combine the modern well with the near total reconstructions of the classic buildings while Budapest's original late 19th and early 20th century buildings show a lot of need for attention at times.

The answer to the question is of course Budapest; unless you disagree, in which case the opposite is absolutely true. One point you might consider is that the Berlin of today will most likely be the same Berlin in 10 years. Budapest in 10 years may be a very different place ..... or not.

Thanks everyone, real tough to choose. A little background on me, I'm 52, I have been traveling to Europe every year the past 32 years, I've been all over Europe, running trips for my students all these years, and solo trips. I've been all over Europe but never to Berlin or Budapest, I just returned from Vienna lady month. I know I will hit both soon, I have a short window this summer with travel buddies on a budget, so Budapest or Berlin, initial research shows cheaper Budapest, but I want bang for the buck, is there enough to cover Budapest in 4 full days? I'm a get up early and go full steam ahead as a traveler. Thanks.

More than enough.

You really can't go wrong with either, but I would probably favor Budapest between the two. It's a very underrated city. I was in Berlin on business about seven years ago, but had the time to see a lot of the local sights. The Gemaldegalerie art museum and Checkpoint Charlie museum were great, along with going up in the Reichstag building. I saw a show at the B Flat jazz which was a lot of fun. The people in Berlin seemed really nice especially for a big city. But, the people in Budapest are really nice too. There is a lot more that's relatively old and still standing in the way of architecture in Budapest. The Terror Museum and Memento park are very rewarding, plus the baths. I like the riverfront a lot, the bridges, castle hill. I find it to be a very picturesque city. Be on Castle Hill for the sunset, and even though the sun is at your back, watching darkness fall on the city and lights on the chain bridge is spectacular. You do not feel compelled to engage in goal oriented tourism so much because there are not that many things that you "must" see. My wife and I stayed five nights in Budapest on a 2011 trip, and another two nights in 2014 on the front end of a river cruise. To return for only two nights was really hard. There is a really good Greek restaurant Taverna Dionysos that we have eaten at multiple times. We stayed a Kalvin House rom Rick's book both times, and they even honored our request for the same room. We followed one of the walking tours in Rick's book which was great. If you go to the Gellert Baths, go early in the day because we found it gets grungy later in the day. (We visited late the first time and went back in the morning this last time, much better). Budapest offers excellent value, but I think for Germany Berlin is probably more reasonable than Munich. We will probably go to Berlin together before we go back to Budapest, but both are great. Once I get to visit Berlin as a tourist I think I will like it even better too.

Choosing those two would be like choosing between children for me. My number one (Berlin) and a very, very, very close number two favorite cities.

Have you taken weather into account? Budapest is much warmer in July than Berlin; if that affects you like it does me Berlin might take the edge.

Difference in cost is not as great as people make it out to be. Budapest is pretty inexpensive but for a city on Euro, so is Berlin.

You can't go wrong with either one. Whichever one you choose, I implore you to visit the other on another trip sometime soon.

I've been to both. I vote for Berlin. The change taking place in Berlin is amazing, and it a fabulous city with so much to see. I liked Budapest, too, but it would not be on my choice if I had to choose one. Do see it someday though.

If you have traveled that widely in Europe and not yet been to Berlin, I really would recommend that you go. It's an amazing city. The changes that it has seen in our life times, let alone our parents and grandparents is remarkable. And it's a lively city. And if you crave something older, take the SBahn to Potsdam and visit San Souci. It's a wonderful way to spend the day exploring the park. Do it on a day with good weather!

Pam

Bill, If you have been all over Europe, have you spent much time in Eastern Europe? Does that interest you at all. It is remarkably different than the West.

I think you'll not have enough time to see everything in Budapest in 4 days. But if you have a free day, there are some nice day trips out. Just ask James :-)

Spend a day on Castle Hill and include a wine-tasting in the bowels of the Hilton Hotel (don't know the name of the place) next to Fisherman's Bastion. Go to an evening concert at St. Stephen's. That's when the interior is well-lit and you can sit and let your eyes feast while you enjoy whatever music is on the program.

The fairly new Holocaust Museum is excellent. The ethnology museum was very interesting. The Parliament tour is worth the hassles to get tickets.

if you had four full days in Budapest, then taking the commuter up to Szentendre for a half day of sightseeing then the boat back into Budapest is a good thing. You've seen those Viking adds for their ships with the view from the ship to the Parliament and Buda. Pretty spectacular coming into Budapest on the water.

Thanks everyone, great advice, although I have to say it isn't making my decision any easier, but having been all over Europe I think I need to put Berlin ahead of Budapest and put Budapest on a short list. Thanks again everyone. Happy travels.