A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bucharest vs. Vienna for Old Town, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Bucharest or Vienna?

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 Vienna. 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 historical, less touristy, and undiscovered city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Vienna

Vienna is a classical, traditional, and artistic city. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the live music, food, and shopping.

Bucharest and Vienna: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bucharest or Vienna?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Vienna than Bucharest, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Vienna is better known for its museums, food, music, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Bucharest is more popular for its big city activities. Vienna is more touristy than Bucharest and is popular for its strong classical music roots including being home to both Mozart and Beethoven. Also, Vienna is famous for The Imperial Schönbrunn Palace. Bucharest is well known for its wide avenues and longstanding religious institutions.

The Imperial Schönbrunn Palace

How is Bucharest different from Vienna?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Vienna 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 Vienna?

Vienna is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Vienna. Filled with palaces, museums, and parks, there are many things to see around town. Make sure you check out the Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg, and Kunsthistorisches Museum.

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 Vienna? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Vienna is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Vienna. The city's cuisine has been influenced by many different flavors. Pastries are ubiquitous so make sure you try the apfelstrudel and kaiserschmarrn. Other common dishes include wiener schnitzel and goulash.

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 Vienna Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Bucharest and Vienna.

Bucharest has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Vienna has a few options to choose from. The music and dance scene is diverse and fun. There are clubs that cater to different crowds and personalities.

Is Bucharest or Vienna Better for Music?

Vienna is renowned for its live music scene. However, Bucharest is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Vienna On the surface, the city seems locked in the past, with ballet dancing and classical concerts filling the evenings. But the city also has a famous jazz scene, as well as techno, hip-hop, and rock all having a strong presence.

Bucharest is not a live music destination.

Is Bucharest or Vienna Better for its Old Town?

Vienna is renowned for its old town. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town charm.

The old town of Vienna is one of the most recognized in the world. Innere Stadt, as it is known, is encircled by Ringstrasse and filled with many shops and cafes. Head to Kärntner Strasse and Graben for popular pedestrian streets.

Bucharest has an old town worth visiting. 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Bucharest or Vienna?

Vienna is renowned for its shopping opportunities. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Vienna make it a world-class shopping destination. The city is filled with pedestrian streets that are lined with designer shops, jewelry stores, and art galleries.

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 Vienna Better for Families?

Vienna 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 Vienna. Families enjoy taking carriage rides or dressing up in costumes at Schönbrunn Palace. The city also has children's museums, parks, and playgrounds where you can let little legs run around.

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 Vienna Better for Couples?

Vienna is renowned for its romantic activities. However, Bucharest is not particularly known for couples.

Vienna is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. With it's Baroque architecture and classical concerts, this city is filled with romance. Explore the palaces, take a carriage ride, or enjoy a meal at a nice restaurant.

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 Vienna Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bucharest and Vienna are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers 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.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Vienna. The city flies under the radar for many backpackers, but those who visit will be rewarded with beautiful buildings, charming cafes, and fun hostels.

Is Bucharest or Vienna Better for Students?

Vienna is renowned for students. However, Bucharest is not popular with students.

Vienna is a very popular place to visit for students. The city is a popular destination for international students who are interested in art, architecture, and music.

Bucharest is not popular with students.

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

Vienna is renowned for its public transit. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Vienna has a great public transit system. The system includes buses, trains, trams and underground lines.

Bucharest offers a very effecient public transportation network. Public transit options include trams, buses, and trolley buses.

Is Bucharest or Vienna a more walkable city?

Vienna is renowned for its high level of walkability. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around Vienna on foot is easy. The city center is particularly walkable with pedestrian areas and low traffic zones.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Vienna or Bucharest?

How long in Bucharest or Vienna?

In either Bucharest or Vienna, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Vienna than Bucharest because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bucharest, and 2-5 days is enough time in Vienna.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Vienna 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 Vienna.

One day in Bucharest or Vienna?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bucharest. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

You'll find nightlife and live music around the city of Vienna. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Vienna?

Bucharest is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find live music and food around the classical destination of Vienna. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Bucharest or Vienna?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bucharest. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find food and shopping around the ritzy city of Vienna. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Bucharest or Vienna?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the less touristy destination of Bucharest. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Vienna is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. 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 in Austria, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bucharest and Vienna, we can see that Vienna is more expensive. And not only is Bucharest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bucharest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bucharest 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 Vienna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vienna than you might in Bucharest.

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

Which is Bigger, Bucharest or Vienna?

Bucharest has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Vienna. When comparing the sizes of Bucharest and Vienna, 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 Vienna?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Bucharest or Vienna in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bucharest as well as Vienna. Many visitors come to Bucharest in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Vienna for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Bucharest is around the same temperature as Vienna in the summer. The daily temperature in Bucharest averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Vienna fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vienna. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bucharest this time of the year. In the summer, Bucharest often gets more sunshine than Vienna. Bucharest gets 289 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vienna receives 255 hours of full sun.

Bucharest usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Vienna. Bucharest gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bucharest or Vienna in the Autumn?

Both Vienna and Bucharest are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bucharest for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Vienna because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Bucharest is around the same temperature as Vienna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bucharest in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Vienna averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Bucharest usually receives more sunshine than Vienna during autumn. Bucharest gets 177 hours of sunny skies, while Vienna receives 140 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bucharest usually receives less rain than Vienna. Bucharest gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bucharest or Vienna in the Winter?

Both Vienna and Bucharest during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Bucharest because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Vienna this time of year.

It's quite cold in Vienna in the winter. The weather in Bucharest can be very cold. In January, Bucharest is generally much colder than Vienna. Daily temperatures in Bucharest average around -1°C (29°F), and Vienna fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

In the winter, Bucharest often gets more sunshine than Vienna. Bucharest gets 71 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vienna receives 65 hours of full sun.

Bucharest usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Vienna. Bucharest gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bucharest or Vienna in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bucharest and Vienna. The activities around the city are the main draw to Bucharest this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Vienna for the natural beauty.

Bucharest is around the same temperature as Vienna in the spring. The daily temperature in Bucharest averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Vienna fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vienna this time of the year. Bucharest usually receives less sunshine than Vienna during spring. Bucharest gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Vienna receives 202 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bucharest usually receives less rain than Vienna. Bucharest gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Vienna and Bucharest