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Planning a Europe trip this summer and I've been to most of the cities I've wanted to visit in Western Europe but have never been to Eastern Europe..
I've pretty much narrowed my choices down to Prague and Budapest but having a tough time deciding. I do enjoy museums/arts/culture etc but also just enjoy walking around the streets of a place and taking in the architecture and street life. Nightlife is a consideration but certainly not a major one. Food is also a consideration along with value for money.
I welcome any insight posters have regarding both or even one. Any details about the place, the people, vibe, energy, value for dollar and just anything you want to convey about it or both would be appreciated!
I haven't been to Budapest but I have heard good things.....Prague, I HAVE been to, and it is absolutely amazing! It's jaw-droppingly beautiful, the people are so nice and open to tourists, it's totally a walking city, and when I was there about 5 years ago it was very affordable. We were there in March and it was COLD, so you still had that winter feel. The beer from U Fleku brewery was good (we were at the Best Western, literally 20 steps from the brewery door) and we found some delicious Italian food. I'm not too fond of German/Czech food but we did not starve. :-) The Colonel saved us for free bathrooms, because we found more paid toilets in Prague than anywhere else in the world...so we went into Kentucky Fried Chicken, bought a snack, and used the bathroom.
It IS hard to figure out things in the Czech language, however, because it's not intuitive for us English speakers! When we got off the train from Berlin, we looked around and said "Okay. What now?" because there was no English and you couldn't figure out the words! We grabbed a map, located our hotel and the nearest subway stop, and then found a police officer who pointed us in the right direction in the train station. Luckily he spoke enough English to understand, but we did find that English wasn't as widely spoken there as in other places. But that makes it fun and adventurous!
Watch out for pickpockets at Prague Castle, Old Town Square, and in Wencelas Square. I wore a Pac-Safe crossbody with slash-proof straps and held it tightly to me, but I was still intentionally bumped hard at the castle in what I think was a pickpocket attempt. I bumped back. :-) Friends of ours, there a year before, had stuff stolen out of their backpack at their feet and out of cargo pants pockets that were zipped at the castle, so the pickpockets are good.
I would go back in a heartbeat, so I don't think you would be disappointed at all if you chose Prague!!!!
Been to both and out of the two, I'd definitely go for Budapest in a heartbeat. Prague is simply overrun by hordes of tourists. It's like a less prettier Venice (still pretty though) sans the waters.
Besides, Budapest is far cheaper than Prague. Prague is cheap by Western European standard but since the Czech Republic is quite more developed than Hungary, it's naturally a lot more expensive than Budapest, and there are a lot of tourist traps, thanks to the gazillions of tourists. Budapest is so cheap that I was just bombarded by the low prices during the whole time I was there.
Both cities have vibrant nightlife scenes though. They both receive tons of alcoholic college students from Western Europe annually.
Prague is stunningly beautiful but like mentioned, it is excessively touristic 365 days of the year, which is a bit annoying. Summer would be the busiest season and I would choose somewhere else.
Among all the cities I have visited, Prague and Venice feel most touristic and least real (as a city for people to live in). They are like zoos.
Hmmm all great information and thanks everyone!... Ultimately I will visit both cities but I think timing is important so thinking Prague would be better off peak season, so this time around leaning on Budapest.. Any further info however is welcomed so by all means keep it coming
Budapest is an amazing city with tons of stuff to do, plus it really isn't that far from Prague if you decide to do both (the train ride is about 11 hours). Anyways if you are going to Prague I would suggest visiting it in the off-season which is basically around winter since you avoid most of the crowds.
I've been to both. Hard to choose between the two. Two of my favorite European cities. I did like Budapest more, but I think there was more to do in Prague. Enjoy both if you do that!
I'll run counter to most folks and say that I liked Prague more. But it's hard to really compare as I visited them 9 years apart and in very different stages in my life as well. And I enjoyed both quite a bit just thought Prague had a little more to offer. (Yes it was extremely touristy when I went, but I don't mind that too much anyway)
[quote=RooCeleste;46586489].....Prague, I HAVE been to, and it is absolutely amazing! It's jaw-droppingly beautiful, the people are so nice and open to tourists, it's totally a walking city, and when I was there about 5 years ago it was very affordable..
QUOTE]
Ohhh I'm so happy to see this because I'm going to Prague in May of next year!!!
Just stopping in to say I have been to both as well, and it would be a tough choice for me. They were both so great so worth visiting.
I think that Budapest was more different though and in that respect I might vote for it.
But truly , either or both you won't be sorry at all.
enjoy
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