Budapest or Prague

Prague is charming and delightful - a terrific compact walking city (at least, in the core most tourists would want to visit). It truly feels like a trip back in time with the huge churches and old buildings and imposing main square and even a castle on the hill that makes it feel almost like a fairy tale town.

Budapest is much larger and more spread out and - to me - felt a little more intimidating. There is certainly charm and delight to be found in Budapest, but I think it's a little deeper down, not quite as obvious. On the upside, Budapest isn't nearly as touristy as Prague. Prague in parts feels like Disneyland with the literal mobs of tourists from the Charles Bridge through the narrow streets leading east to the big old town square. Although there are certainly tourists in Budapest, too, I think it's easier to have a more "authentic" experience in Budapest less spoiled by the hordes of tourists.

The issue of crowds may call for Prague this year-- coronavirus effect on travel

To some degree, crowds are an indicator of what to see. More people go to Prague because it more worth visiting than Budapest.

Been to both 3-4 times over the last 20 years. The problem with Prague is that it is a slow place to see. Every time we go back, we start out by repeating favorites from previous trips, things we have already visited several times and end up with limited time expand visiting new, and always rewarding, places. Not so much in Budapest (and never in the truly boring cites like Paris).

Many of Prague's famed attractions-- The Royal Way, Old Town Square, Jewish Cemetery-- are not unique. Every street in Mala Strana, Old Town, and the Jewish Quarter is a repeat of the Royal Way, and generally deserted because everybody's guide book told them to walk the Royal Way. The New Town offers another collection of attractive streets and squares in a different style. There are attractive squares all over the place not just Old Town Square.

Is the Jewish Cemetery mobbed? (and I think there is a fee) When we visited the Baroque Cemetery on a holiday, there was nobody there but us.

You are likely to read in inept guide books that the name of the city, Praha, means "Golden City' or 'Golden spires'. When I spent a day skiing with the team physician for the Czech Olympic Ski Team, a resident of Praha, I asked him what Praha meant, he said, 'Noting. Its just the name of the town'. I asked him about the guide book stated golden meaning. He said, "I never heard that. The closet other word in Czech would be a small door stoop.'

Economics is one Praha's advantages over Budapest. Czech Republic was one of the first ex-USSR nations to stage a post Soviet economic boom. Hungary was years behind. Praha finished cleanup point up fix up weeks years age, but its just getting started in Budapest.

With a few more visits, I can see getting enough of Budapest, but never of Prague.

I just feel better in Budapest than in Prague. The young adults there are sharp, and there's not so many U.K. revelers coming in on weekends. and the food agrees with us too. With some 250 museums, Budapest is a 4 day city minimum.
We'll be back in Budapest in 3 weeks for our third trip in 4 years.

Why not ask the actual visitor centers?

https://www.budapestinfo.hu/

https://www.prague.eu/en

I.p.eberson - We’ve visited those sites. We like to hear people’s personal opinions and travel experiences. Thanks

I loved both, but I think I loved Budapest a little more. I was surprised. I added Budapest mainly because it was a stop on river cruises. (We had opted not to do a river cruise, but, instead, spend twice the time for half the money doing our own, similar, itinerary.) Also, it sounded exotic. We really didn't know much about it. However, we loved it and learned a lot. Budapest was really at a crossroads throughout history. From the Romans to the Mongols to the Turks to the Communists, with the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Nazi invasion in between--there are a lot of influences and history in Budapest. And the thing I noticed about Hungarians--they are very proud of their history, and they work hard preserve it. Even statues from the Communist era have not been destroyed, for instance. Instead, they have been moved to Memento Park.

We loved visiting the Chain Bridge, Buddha Castle, the Matthias Church, the Fisherman's Bastion, the Opera House (the finest in all of Europe, I've heard), Heroes' Square, the Parliament Buildings, the Cave Church, the Market, the Great Synagogue, St. Stephen's Basilica, a ruin pub, Andrassy Avenue (and all the beautiful architecture there and in the vicinity), the Museum of Terror (very well done and not at all cheesy, as the name suggests), and the National Gallery, among other places. The food was excellent and reasonably priced. Transportation was easy. People were courteous and friendly. Best of all, we loved the baths and went to one every second day. There are many, but we visited the Szechenyi Baths, the Gellert Baths, and Veli Bej--all very different, and all wonderful. This made the holiday a wonderful combination of history, culture, and relaxation.

We loved Prague, too, but Budapest stole our hearts.

Oh, and I'd suggest a bare minimum of 5 days, 6 nights for Budapest.

I just feel better in Budapest than in Prague. The young adults there are sharp, and there's not so many U.K. revelers coming in on weekends. and the food agrees with us too. With some 250 museums, Budapest is a 4 day city minimum.

I have heard about the "U.K. revelers" issue in Prague, but I never encountered any of them on my two visits to Prague. I'm not a big museum buff, so the museums weren't a big attraction in either city. I was taken in by Prague's easy old world charm, and I just didn't want to leave. It could be argued that Budapest is more interesting, but I just didn't fall in love with it like I did with Prague.

I enjoyed both cities. I don't care for dense crowds and can enjoy Prague for a few days at a time - finding ways to escape the crowds, such as enjoying the view of the Charles Bridge from the next (less crowded) bridge over. I can enjoy Budapest for longer.

If I only had 3 or 4 days for a first visit to one or the other, I would go to Prague and (with a 4th day) take a day trip. With more time, I would go to Budapest.

I liked Prague a lot but disliked the hideous waves of people--very compact so everything you mainly want to see is in one little area. If you go, give it 4 full days at least.

Budapest is a different story--heading there in May for my 6th visit in as many years. I LOVE Budapest and will continue to visit annually as long as I am able. The food, the friendly people, the stunning Danube views from either side, plenty to do and see and not be overwhelmed with people at every turn--and for me, personally, a chance to see the nesting storks on Margit sziget and visit the wonderfully funky flea market, Ecseri piac. I'm half Hungarian so it speaks to me in a very personal way, obviously. First trip, allow 4-5 days.

Prague and Budapest are both beautiful and if you are in the region, you must see them. Prague tends to be a bit more superficial. I dont necessarily mean that in a bad way. You can walk the beautiful squares of Prague and really enjoy it; and you can enjoy it without knowing a thing about what you are seeing. There is the party issue and the crowd issue. Both apparent when I was there, but it didn't spoil it for me. Still Disneyland is a good comparison and I like Disneyland too.

Budapest has as many check the box sights as does Prague; probably more, but they are spread out. Prague you will mostly walk, Budapest you will rely on walking and on what I think is a fun tram system. But public transportation, even in a 60 year old tram can intimidate some people.

What I found more accessible in Budapest was the second layer down. Because you have to so deeply interact with the city to view the city you become more familiar with the culture and the day to day aspect of life. For me that has been fascinating. There are still plenty of somewhat hidden great sights. As an example someone mentioned the crowded Jewish cemetery in Prague. There are several in Budapest, most more impressive than the one in Prague. You will rarely find a tourist at them. https://vanishedworld.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/dscf2927.jpg?w=1200 There is a very profound lesson in that photo.

Prague is more ancient and beautifully so, Budapest is the world my father lived in as the majority dates to 1880 to 1940; and most buildings still function today as then did then. Something that is less possible with ancient buildings. So you can imagine life 100 years ago. Especially for my generation this creates a very relevant experience.

Across the street from where I stay is an apartment block constructed about 1930; one of the few brick buildings in town (most are plaster over masonry). Around two of the windows on the second floor are bullet holes, dozens of them. My guess is 1956. The history is that obvious, but you have to look for it and know about it. In other words it isnt superficial. I can walk you to the point on the street about a block away where the ghetto wall once stood (and I can show you some old remaining pieces of it hidden in corners or in a courtyard). I can hold up a photo of the refugees entering the ghetto and you can imagine what that line looked like 75 years ago; and you can touch the stories you have known all your life.

You can visit the prison where political prisoners were held, tortured and murdered by the Russians during their occupation. You can see the change in the ceiling structure in an otherwise unimpressive building and know that it was rebuilt after a bomb was dropped by the Americans or English in support of the Russian "liberators". Find a photo of Andrassy ut on the internet from 1956. Compare it to today, without the Russian tanks and the destruction. You can still touch these things.

So while Budapest and Prague are both stunning in their own ways, I have just found it easier to touch history, history I can relate to, in Budapest.

I first came to Budapest in 2001, I have been back every year since, generally twice a year and often three times a year. I am still discovering things and am yet to get bored there. Can the same be said about Prague? Maybe so. If there is someone out there with whom the city speaks to as Budapest did to me, then probably so.