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

Should you visit Graz or Budapest?

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

Should I visit Graz or Budapest? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Graz

Graz is a medieval, cultural, and historical city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Budapest

Budapest is a bustling, cultural, and artistic 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. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Graz and Budapest: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Graz or Budapest?

You'll generally find more things to do in Budapest than Graz. Budapest is bigger than Graz, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Budapest is better known for its big city activities and impressive beauty, while Graz is more popular for its food and historical sights. Graz is well known for its many cultural activities, its impressive old town, and its beautiful Baroque architecture. Budapest is well known for its thermal hot springs, European spas, rich culture, and wild nightlife scene. Also, Budapest is famous for The Hungarian Parliament Building.

How is Graz different from Budapest?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Graz offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The old town is among the largest in Europe and it's filled with sights and museums. The Schlossberg and the Clock Tower are among the most iconic sights but other highlights include the GrazMuseum, the Mohren Apotheke's Theriak Museum, a Gothic Franciscan Church, and the Robert Stolz Museum.

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.

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

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

Graz has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There's a huge focus on sustainable dining in town, so you'll find many restaurants that use a farm to table approach. Local ingredients are heavily valued and it's fun to sample the many local flavors. Backhendl is a classic fried chicken dish that you must try.

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 Graz or Budapest Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is great in both Graz and Budapest.

Many people head to Graz for the nightlife scene. The large student population means that there's an active nightlife scene that is diverse and fun. There's a wide variety of bars and pubs with almost any music genre you could want. There are also dance clubs for those who are looking for a party.

Budapest has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The city's active nightlife includes dance clubs, local pubs, and cultural festivals throughout the year.

Is Graz or Budapest Better for its Old Town?

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

Graz has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The medieval city center is very well preserved and one of the largest in Europe. The city has a lot of hidden charm and quaint streets to explore.

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 Graz or Budapest?

If you're looking to go shopping, Graz and Budapest both offer plenty of great spots.

Graz is well-known for its shopping. You'll find a lot of shopping around both Jakominiplatz and Hauptplatz Squares. There are also a number of shopping streets in town including Herrengasse which is filled with shops, restaurants, and more.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Budapest. The city has a diverse shopping scene that you can experience by visiting the Central Market or Váci Street.

Is Graz or Budapest Better for Families?

Graz is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Budapest is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Graz is very family-friendly. Kids will love the fairytale train and there's also a 4D cinema that is fun for the whole family. In Schlossberg Hill, families should check out The Slide, which is the largest underground slide in the world. Other highlights include a Children's Museum, a Folklife Museum, and a Natural History Museum.

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.

Is Graz or Budapest Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Graz and Budapest make for a great place to visit.

Graz is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. It's filled with culture, history, and amazing food. Couples will appreciate the romantic old town and the many world class sights around town.

Budapest is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Is Graz or Budapest Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Budapest is renowned for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Budapest is extremely popular for backpackers. 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.

Graz is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are hostels and budget-friendly hotels around town that make this a nice town to explore as a backpacker.

Is Graz or Budapest Better for Students?

Budapest is renowned for its student-friendly activities. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Many students frequent Budapest. The city has a great international vibe with several good universities that are welcoming to international students that are studying abroad.

Graz is very popular with students. It's long been an education center in Austria and students make up a significant portion of the population. It's also a chill city with a relaxed and student-friendly vibe.

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

Budapest is renowned for times when you don't have a car. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

Budapest has a great public transit system. The metro, trams, and buses make it easy to get around town.

Graz offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are buses and trams that travel around the town.

Is Graz or Budapest a more walkable city?

Graz and Budapest are world-class when it comes to walkability.

Graz is a very easy city to get around on foot. You'll find everything you'd want to see in the old town, which is large, but still compact enough to explore on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Budapest or Graz?

How long in Graz or Budapest?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Budapest than Graz 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 Graz or Budapest?

The city of Graz offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Budapest is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Graz or Budapest?

Graz 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 Graz, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Budapest is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Graz or Budapest?

Graz 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.

Budapest is a historic big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Graz or Budapest?

Graz 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.

The bustling city of Budapest offers museums and nightlife. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Christmas Market Tours in Austria, The Best Bicycle Tours in Austria, The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Graz and Budapest, we can see that Graz 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 Graz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Graz 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 Graz Expensive? and Is Budapest Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Graz or Budapest?

Budapest has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Graz. When comparing the sizes of Graz and Budapest, 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 Graz or Budapest?

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 Graz or Budapest in the Summer?

Both Budapest and Graz are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Graz this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Budapest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Graz is around the same temperature as Budapest in the summer. The daily temperature in Graz averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Budapest fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

It's quite sunny in Budapest. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Graz. Graz usually receives less sunshine than Budapest during summer. Graz gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 278 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Graz. In July, Graz usually receives more rain than Budapest. Graz gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Graz or Budapest in the Autumn?

Both Budapest and Graz during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Graz for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Budapest in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Graz is a little warmer than Budapest. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Graz in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Budapest averages at about 12°C (53°F).

In the autumn, Graz often gets less sunshine than Budapest. Graz gets 139 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 152 hours of full sun.

Graz usually gets more rain in October than Budapest. Graz gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Budapest in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Graz and Budapest. Many visitors come to Graz in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Budapest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Budapest can be very cold during winter. Graz can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Graz is generally much warmer than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Graz average around 1°C (34°F), and Budapest fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).

Graz usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during winter. Graz gets 95 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 61 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Graz usually receives less rain than Budapest. Graz gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Graz or Budapest in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Graz as well as Budapest. Most visitors come to Graz for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Budapest because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

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

In the spring, Graz often gets less sunshine than Budapest. Graz gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 178 hours of full sun.

Graz usually gets more rain in April than Budapest. Graz gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Budapest and Graz