A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bucharest vs. Beijing for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Bucharest or Beijing?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bucharest and Beijing. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Bucharest

Bucharest is a less touristy, undiscovered, and cultural city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Bucharest travel costs.

Beijing

Beijing is a massive, jam-packed, and cultural city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. Beijing is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Beijing travel costs.

Bucharest and Beijing: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bucharest or Beijing?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Beijing than Bucharest, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Beijing is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Bucharest is known for its historical sights. Beijing is more touristy than Bucharest and is known for its rich culture, many historical landmarks, its long running history, and its world class cuisine. It is also home to The Forbidden City. Bucharest is popular for its wide avenues and longstanding religious institutions.

How is Bucharest different from Beijing?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Beijing and Bucharest. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bucharest or Beijing?

Beijing is renowned for its museums and landmarks. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Beijing are among the most recognizable in the world. The city is filled with iconic landmarks including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and The Temple of Heaven. It's also essential that you plan a trip outside of town to the world renowned Great Wall of China. The trip takes about an hour and you can organize a tour through almost any hotel or tour company.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Bucharest. The city is rich in landmarks and historical buildings. Popular sights include the Romanian Athenaeum, the Palace of the Parliament, Stavropoleos Church, and Curtea Veche.

Is the Food Better in Bucharest or Beijing? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Beijing is renowned for its restaurant scene. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eat your way through Beijing, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The city has a number of iconic dishes that have put it on the culinary map. The most notable dish is Peking Duck, which is a delectable crispy roast duck that is usually served with cucumber, scallions, sweet bean sauce and pancakes or other steamed buns. Hot pots are another must-try experience in the city, and, of course, you have to experience the dumplings. A huge part of a visit to Beijing is experiencing its long running culinary history.

Bucharest is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Many Romanian recipes have been passed down through the generations and they still use traditional flavors. You'll see some German or Hungarian influences, but the flavors are still uniquely Romanian. Popular dishes include ciorba (tripe soup), cabbage rolls, and mici (grilled meat rolls).

Is Bucharest or Beijing Better for Nightlife?

Beijing is well known for nightlife and partying. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Beijing is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. Live performances are popular in the city, and range from concerts to magic shows and acrobatics. There is also an active bar scene around town. Some of the most popular nightlife areas include Sanlitun and Houhai.

If you're looking for night time activities Bucharest has a few options to choose from. The city has come to life with its party scene, with many bars and clubs that you can choose from. There are rooftop bars, chic dance clubs, and cozy pubs where you can pass the evening. You'll find most of the upscale clubs in the northern part of the city, with a more casual scene found in the downtown areas around Universitate and Romanā.

Is Bucharest or Beijing Better for its Old Town?

Bucharest is a city with good options for its historic old town charm. However, Beijing does not have a historic old town.

Bucharest offers a nice historic old town area. The old town dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries, with much of the historical charm seen in the architecture. Many of the buildings have been restored, but others are still awaiting repairs. This gives the area a sense of authenticity that you often miss in other old towns.

Beijing does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bucharest or Beijing?

Beijing is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Beijing is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There are many unique handicrafts that you can purchase around town. Popular souvenirs include silk, pearls, and snuff bottles with pictures inside. The city has many shopping streets as well as markets and shopping malls that are worth visiting.

Bucharest has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The residents love fashion, and you'll find many shopping centers around town where you can find a good deal. In addition to the many malls, there are also antique shops, flea markets and boutique clothing stores where you might find a hidden gem.

Is Bucharest or Beijing More Beautiful?

Beijing is a good destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Bucharest is not a destination known for its beauty.

Beijing is a beautiful place to visit, too. The parks, gardens, palaces, and temples all offer a glimpse into the past, while also letting you enjoy the city and culture that exists today.

Bucharest is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Bucharest or Beijing Better for Families?

Beijing is a good destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Bucharest is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Beijing. The city offers a unique cultural immersion that kids and adults can enjoy. Wander through the Forbidden City or watch your kids be mesmerized by a Chinese acrobatics show. It's also fun to get lost in the Hutongs or test their culinary palates by visiting a snack street.

For families, Bucharest is not always the best place to visit. Kid-friendly activities include kid's play areas, museums such as the Museum of the Senses, and water centered activities like rowing in the park or visiting the wellness center Therme.

Is Bucharest or Beijing Better for Couples?

Beijing is a good destination for its romantic activities. However, Bucharest is not particularly known for couples.

Beijing makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The culture, history, and food all make this a stunning place to visit. While romance doesn't immediately spring to mind when you think of Beijing, there are shows and fine dining restaurants that couples will enjoy. There are also many luxury hotels with spas and other amenities.

Bucharest is not always the best place to visit for a couple. The city has some romantic settings such as wandering down Victory Avenue or exploring the historic Cotroceni Neighbourhood. There are also several gardens and a number of nice cafes to explore.

Is Bucharest or Beijing Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Beijing is well known for backpackers. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Beijing is a great city to visit for backpackers. The city has many hostels and budget-friendly options. There isn't the backpacker community vibe that you may get in other Asian cities, but if you organize an excursion through your hostel, you're sure to make a few friends along the way.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Bucharest. The city is affordable, but it's often overlooked by backpackers. Part of the charm for many is the sense of authenticity that can often be hard to find in travel these days.

Is Bucharest or Beijing Better for Students?

Beijing is well known for students. However, Bucharest is not popular with students.

Many students visit Beijing. Students will enjoy the culture, food, and academic opportunities that the universities offer. There is also a decent nightlife scene and affordable places where students can live.

Bucharest is not popular with students.

Is Bucharest or Beijing Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Bucharest and Beijing.

The public transit in Bucharest can get you around easily. Public transit options include trams, buses, and trolley buses.

Beijing offers a very effecient public transportation network. The system can be crowded and confusing at first, but it's one of the most convenient and affordable ways to get around town. There's a subway system as well as buses, trolleybuses, and suburban rail.

Is Bucharest or Beijing a more walkable city?

Bucharest is a city with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Beijing is a city with minimal options for its walkability.

Bucharest is a somewhat walkable city. Many of the tourist attractions are within a walkable area.

Beijing is generally not a very walkable city. While parts of the city are fun to explore on foot, the city itself is very large with long blocks that aren't pedestrian-friendly.

For even more information, also check out Is Bucharest Worth Visiting? and Is Beijing Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Beijing or Bucharest?

How long in Bucharest or Beijing?

Both Bucharest and Beijing have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Beijing than in Bucharest. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bucharest, and 3-7 days is enough time in Beijing.

Families should spend more time in Beijing than Bucharest. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Beijing, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Beijing than Bucharest. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Beijing that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Beijing than Bucharest if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Beijing.

One day in Bucharest or Beijing?

In Bucharest, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

People visit Beijing because there is so much to do. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Bucharest or Beijing?

In Bucharest, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bucharest has to offer.

People visit Beijing because there is so much to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Bucharest or Beijing?

Bucharest is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

People visit Beijing because there is so much to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Bucharest or Beijing?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bucharest. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bucharest. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Beijing is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Beijing, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Romania, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bucharest and Beijing, we can see that Bucharest is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bucharest is in Europe and Beijing is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bucharest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bucharest than you might in Beijing.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bucharest Expensive? and Is Beijing Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bucharest or Beijing?

Beijing has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Bucharest. When comparing the sizes of Bucharest and Beijing, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Bucharest or Beijing?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Bucharest or Beijing in the Summer?

Both Beijing and Bucharest are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bucharest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Bucharest is cooler than Beijing. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bucharest in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Beijing averages at about 27°C (80°F).

It's quite sunny in Beijing. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bucharest. Bucharest usually receives more sunshine than Beijing during summer. Bucharest gets 289 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 224 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Beijing. In July, Bucharest usually receives less rain than Beijing. Bucharest gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bucharest or Beijing in the Autumn?

Both Beijing and Bucharest during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Bucharest because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.

In October, Bucharest is generally around the same temperature as Beijing. Daily temperatures in Bucharest average around 13°C (55°F), and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Bucharest often gets less sunshine than Beijing. Bucharest gets 177 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 227 hours of full sun.

Bucharest usually gets more rain in October than Beijing. Bucharest gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bucharest or Beijing in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bucharest and Beijing. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bucharest this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Beijing for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Beijing. It's quite cold in Bucharest in the winter. Bucharest is much warmer than Beijing in the winter. The daily temperature in Bucharest averages around -1°C (29°F) in January, and Beijing fluctuates around -4°C (26°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. Bucharest usually receives less sunshine than Beijing during winter. Bucharest gets 71 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 201 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bucharest usually receives more rain than Beijing. Bucharest gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bucharest or Beijing in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bucharest as well as Beijing. Many travelers come to Bucharest for the activities around the city. Additionally, many visitors come to Beijing in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Bucharest is cooler than Beijing. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bucharest in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Beijing averages at about 14°C (57°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. In the spring, Bucharest often gets less sunshine than Beijing. Bucharest gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 247 hours of full sun.

Bucharest usually gets more rain in April than Beijing. Bucharest gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Beijing and Bucharest