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

Should you visit Budapest or Girona?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Budapest and Girona can help you decide which place is right for you.

Budapest

Budapest is a authentic, bustling, and cultural city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Girona

Girona is a beautiful, colorful, and medieval city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food.

Budapest and Girona: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Budapest or Girona?

You'll generally find more things to do in Budapest than Girona. Budapest is bigger than Girona, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Budapest is better known for its nightlife and big city activities, while Girona is more popular for its food, historical sights, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere. Budapest is more touristy than Girona and is popular for its thermal hot springs, European spas, rich culture, and wild nightlife scene. Also, Budapest is famous for The Hungarian Parliament Building. Girona is well known for its ancient ruins, colorful old town, grand cathedral, and impressive local cuisine.

How is Budapest different from Girona?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Budapest or Girona?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Budapest and Girona.

Many visitors head to Budapest specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Famous sights include the Buda Castle and Castle Hill, the Hungarian Parliament Building, and St. Stephen's Basilica.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Girona can be an interesting and educational experience. Wander the ancient city walls, explore the beautiful Girona Cathedral, and learn about the Church of Sant Feliu. There are also some interesting museums in town including the Museum of Jewish History, the Archaeology Museum, and the Film Museum. Also make sure you walk across the famed Eiffel Bridge.

Is the Food Better in Budapest or Girona? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Girona is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Budapest is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Girona has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The small city is filled with cafes and restaurants that spill out into the street. There are also markets such as El Lleó Marketplace where you can check out fresh, local items. Many restaurants also have Catalonian style tapas, seafood such as octopus, and garlic shrimp. For breakfast, there are many pastry shops where you can enjoy a European breakfast.

Budapest may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Traditional dishes tend to be heavy on the meat and bread. They make good comfort food and are very filling meals. The city also has many great pastry shops. Make sure you check out the stuffed cabbage, goulash, and chimney cake.

Is Budapest or Girona Better for Nightlife?

Budapest is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. However, Girona is not a good city for its evening party scene.

Budapest offers plenty to do in the evening. The city's active nightlife includes dance clubs, local pubs, and cultural festivals throughout the year.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Girona. It's a surprisingly quiet town, especially compared to other nearby party cities, but there are some nightclubs, bars, and music venues that are worth checking out.

Is Budapest or Girona Better for its Old Town?

Girona is terrific for its old town. Also, Budapest is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its historic old town charm.

Girona has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. It's a beautiful medieval old town with many wandering streets that are lined with storefronts and classic European cafes.

Many visitors go to Budapest to see the historical old town. The city grew from the merging of two towns, Buda and Pest, which were divided by the Danube River. Buda is the more historical part of town and Pest is more modern.

Is the Shopping Better in Budapest or Girona?

If you're looking to go shopping, Budapest and Girona both offer plenty of high quality spots.

Budapest is well-known for its shopping. The city has a diverse shopping scene that you can experience by visiting the Central Market or Váci Street.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Girona. In and around the old town you'll find modern shops, local eateries, charming markets, and anything you might need to purchase. There's also no shortage of souvenir and trinket shops, but they have a bit of personality and character to them.

Is Budapest or Girona Better for Families?

Budapest is a good destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Girona is not a good city for its kid-friendly activities.

Budapest is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has the typical trampoline parks and playgrounds, but kids will also enjoy the baths and pools around town. Do take note that most of the museums are less hands on than kids prefer.

Girona is not always a place people visit with their families. While the old town is beautiful, with charming colorful buildings, the city itself doesn't have a wide number of activities for kids. There are ice cream shops where they can enjoy a sweet treat. There are also several museums and many restaurants have kid-friendly menus.

Is Budapest or Girona Better for Couples?

Both Budapest and Girona are high quality destinations to visit as a couple.

Budapest is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. With it's many beautiful neighborhoods, and unique entertainment options including the opera, this is a fun city for couples. The baths and spas also make for a great experience for couples.

Girona is a very popular place to visit for couples. The setting is both beautiful and romantic. Couples can enjoy wandering the streets, popping in the many shops, and soaking up the atmosphere. There are also many great restaurants that make for a wonderful night out. Head up the hills towards the cathedral for the best viewpoints, or wander along the river and enjoy the colorful atmosphere.

Is Budapest or Girona Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Budapest is an unbeatable place for backpackers. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Budapest. The city is more affordable than many large cities and it has a number of fun hostels to choose from. There's a good backpacker vibe around town with many places to meet and hang out with other travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Girona. Prices aren't too crazy and it's not hard to find a place to stay for an affordable price, but you won't find the lively backpacker scene that is common in many nearby cities.

Is Budapest or Girona Better for Students?

Budapest is an unbeatable place for students. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Budapest is a very popular place to visit for students. The city has a great international vibe with several good universities that are welcoming to international students that are studying abroad.

Plenty of students visit Girona. It's a smaller city with affordable accommodation and many great restaurants. It has a quintessential European atmosphere that makes it a fun place to spend some time as a student

Is Budapest or Girona Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Budapest is an unbeatable place for its public transit. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors in Budapest can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The metro, trams, and buses make it easy to get around town.

Girona has some public transit options. The town is small enough that you can likely walk anywhere you want to go, but if you need transit, there are 10 local bus routes.

Is Budapest or Girona a more walkable city?

Budapest and Girona are first-rate when it comes to walkability.

Budapest is a very easy city to get around on foot. Pest is very flat, making for an easy stroll, while Buda is more hilly.

It is easy to get around Girona on foot. Everything is easily accessible on foot and its best not to bring a car into town.

For even more information, also check out Is Budapest Worth Visiting? and Is Girona Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Girona or Budapest?

How long in Budapest or Girona?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Budapest or Girona to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Budapest than Girona because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Budapest, and 1-2 days is enough time in Girona.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Budapest than Girona 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 Budapest.

One day in Budapest or Girona?

Budapest is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The beautiful city of Girona offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Budapest or Girona?

Budapest 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.

Girona is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Girona, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Budapest or Girona?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Budapest. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Girona is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Budapest or Girona?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural big city of Budapest. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Girona is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Budapest or Girona?

Budapest has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Girona. When comparing the sizes of Budapest and Girona, 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 Budapest or Girona?

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 Budapest or Girona in the Summer?

Both Girona and Budapest during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Budapest in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Girona for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Budapest is cooler than Girona in the summer. The daily temperature in Budapest averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Girona fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Girona, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Budapest. In the summer, Budapest often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Girona. Budapest gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 279 hours of full sun.

Budapest usually gets more rain in July than Girona. Budapest gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Girona receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Budapest or Girona in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Budapest and Girona. Most visitors come to Budapest for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Girona because of the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Budapest is cooler than Girona. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Budapest in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Girona averages at about 16°C (61°F).

Budapest usually receives less sunshine than Girona during autumn. Budapest gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Budapest usually receives less rain than Girona. Budapest gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Girona receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Budapest or Girona in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Budapest as well as Girona. The winter months attract visitors to Budapest because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Girona this time of year.

The weather in Budapest can be very cold. In January, Budapest is generally much colder than Girona. Daily temperatures in Budapest average around -1°C (31°F), and Girona fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the winter, Budapest often gets less sunshine than Girona. Budapest gets 61 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 148 hours of full sun.

Budapest usually gets less rain in January than Girona. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Girona receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Budapest or Girona in the Spring?

Both Girona and Budapest are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Budapest this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Girona for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Budapest is around the same temperature as Girona in the spring. The daily temperature in Budapest averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Girona fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Budapest usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Girona during spring. Budapest gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Budapest usually receives less rain than Girona. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Girona receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Girona and Budapest