TravelingGal

We are an older active couple planning a short vacation to Vienna and either Prague or Budapest, which of those two cities would offer more to see or do in three days in March?

nytraveler

Either would offer plenty for only 3 days - but I prefer Prague to Budapest because of the Old Town area/musical opportunities.

centralmainer

I have been to both Prague and Budapest (each for 6 days).

I prefer Budapest: easy metro system, inexpensive opera performances, thermal baths, overall reasonable prices, impressive castle district, and, I believe, just as many other sights to see.

Shirleyse

My husband and I (in our 40s) have visited both Budapest and prague and would recommend Budapest in preference to Prague. The Gelert Baths are magnificent(be brave and have a massage from one of the ladies upstairs), the scenery is stunning and we found Prague to be more 'touristy' than Budapest. We had dinner at the Four Seasons Cafe (not the much more expensive restaurant)and had a perfect dinner with a beautiful view of the bridge and Buda.

Fidel

Hi TGal, Budapest has "more to see or do;" you will barely scratch the surface in three days. I have spent some time there on my last two trips and it's still on my "travel list." Have a fantastic vacation.

Cimbrone

I like both cities, but Prague winds hands down for baroque splendor and a fairy tale like atmosphere in the old town. I think Budapest, while I enjoyed it very much, is a bit grittier and its charms a bit more under the surface. That said, I agree that the baths there are definitely worth doing.

teacher33

I am no expert. Two years ago spent 5 days in each. My pesonal favorite was Budapest. Both are on my want to return list but Budapest is slightly higher than Prague.

4everywhere

Travelling Gal:

Prague, hands down, is my favorite European city. It is spectacular, very very beautiful, charming, has wonderful architecture, wonderful people, beautiful gardens, museums, bridges, and river, and a lovely lovely picturesque castle.

STAY in Mala Strana (Lesser Quarter) just below castle. This side of river has some pretty strenuous walking though. Or stay in the Old Town near the square. The Jewish Quarter is also very nice.
You will be disappointed to stay outside of these areas.

I spent 10 days in Prague last summer (a month in 2001); and 4 days in Budapest last summer as well.
In Prague, I stay in an apartment very near the US Embassy, off of Nerudova. Every once in a while, the "haul" up Nerudova got tiresome, but I never tired of the cobblestone streets, and the proximity to all of the gardens!

Budapest has not had the opportunity to restore itself to the beauty of Prague, and simply is not as splendid. In fact it is a bit shabby and run-down. However, I do think it has a stunning castle area -- and beautiful Parliament, but otherwise it is just like other major Euro cities. Prague is like no other, East or West!

Happy Travels

4everywhere

TravelinGal:

One more thing, I'm over 45 or so. I stress that the Mala Strana area (below the castle) can have some steep areas "as you go up" towards the castle and the Strahburg Library.... The flatter areas are closer to the river, and the Charles Bridge.

I have always been to Prague during the peak of summer and Mala Strana seemed a bit "quieter" to me then. Charles Bridge in summer is belly to belly, but March should be much much less dense.

Fidel

These questions are kind of a popularity contest I guess; the first person will tell you this, the next will say that, and so on. But I don't get "putting down" one area of the world in order to give more value to your opinion of another area. Or in 4 travelers case, one whole continent: "(BUD) is just like other major Euro cities." Uh, I've done some traveling around Europe with I thought lots left to go, but I'm wondering now if I should just skip the rest?

LeighTravelClub

Have done both and have to say that Budapest just didn't do it for me, or my wife. We both loved Prague and will certainly return there.

4everywhere

Hi Fidel and others: The minute I pressed the "post my reply" button, I felt bad about the comment that Budapest was like other Euro cities... yikes, that was really bad.

It is a delight to visit any city, any country, an opportunity that I never take for granted.

You are so correct that it is a popularity contest... And how can we really "trust" one post over another? It helps to know a bit about the responding traveller - but good gosh, the posts would get long...

In the end, for me anyway, I end up "trusting" the posts that say what I want to hear. In other words, I end up trusting my own intuition, and accepting my own choices. I've been wrong a couple of times, but the assurances and advice I've found here have certainly reduced Pre Trip Anxiety a great deal.

I'm a visual person -- Prague stimulated my visual senses more than Budapest. For the past several years, I have concentrated my month long travels in Italy and in Prague. 4 days in Budapest was hardly enough to fully connect with the city and its culture, hardly enough period.

I haven't been to Vienna or St. Petersberg yet, and it has been 20 years since I spent any "real" time in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Munich. And oh my, there are so many other countries. So I really can not compare Budapest to other major cities.

Please accept my apologies if I offended those who have enjoyed and appreciated Budapest. One day, I will go back there.

Best of luck to TravelingGal.

Cimbrone

4 everywhere, I interpreted your post to mean that Prague is more singularly beautiful than Budapest, with spots that could only be in Prague. I would agree that much of Budapest could be in any large, central european city. That's something that, in a sense, I actually PREFER about Budapest!

I think it's a given that we are all just offering our opinions and those seeking advice must weigh all the opinions together, interpret nuances, see what speaks to them most clearly and go from there.

Some folks are just looking for trouble. I really don't think apologies were necessary.

TravelingGal

Thanks all for your input. I love traveling and there's always something special about each place I go to. You've all given me good recommendations so I might just have to flip a coin.
Bon voyage,
TravelingGal