The verdict
Prague wins for 16 of 16 traveller profiles. Check your own row though: for some people the other city is still the right call.
Who wins, profile by profile
| Travelling as | Prague | Budapest | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anyone | 73 | 69 | Prague |
| Solo woman | 76 | 74 | Prague |
| Solo man | 70 | 68 | Prague |
| Gay man | 67 | 59 | Prague |
| Lesbian woman | 70 | 63 | Prague |
| Bi/pan person | 67 | 59 | Prague |
| Trans person | 67 | 48 | Prague |
| Non-binary person | 67 | 48 | Prague |
| Over 50 | 77 | 74 | Prague |
| First time | 77 | 75 | Prague |
| On a budget | 73 | 68 | Prague |
| High end | 73 | 71 | Prague |
| Digital nomad | 71 | 68 | Prague |
| After a breakup | 73 | 71 | Prague |
| On my own | 79 | 75 | Prague |
| Single parent | 78 | 76 | Prague |
The nine components
- Safety
- 93 · 91
- Safety for women
- 83 · 83
- LGBTQ+ inclusivity
- 59 · 34
- Trans recognition
- 55 · 10
- Social life
- 50 · 54
- Ease
- 82 · 83
- Cost for one
- 77 · 63
- Nightlife and events
- 60 · 70
- Singles demographics
- 63 · 63
Money and seasons
| Mid budget per day | ~78 € | ~103 € |
|---|---|---|
| Best season | May–Sept | Aug–Oct |
| Month | Prague | Budapest |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4° | 4° |
| Feb | 6° | 8° |
| Mar | 10° | 12° |
| Apr | 15° | 17° |
| May | 20° | 21° |
| Jun | 25° | 27° |
| Jul | 26° | 28° |
| Aug | 26° | 28° |
| Sept | 21° | 23° |
| Oct | 15° | 17° |
| Nov | 8° | 10° |
| Dec | 5° | 5° |
Prague
Yes, especially for a first solo city break: the centre is walkable, transport is cheap and Numbeo users rate it safer than Budapest. The real problems are pickpockets on the trams to the Castle and street money changers. If you want quiet at the weekend, stay in Vinohrady or Holešovice rather than the Old Town.
Read the guide →Budapest
Yes, if you want a cheap capital where company comes to you: hostels in District VII run something most nights and a transport ticket costs 500 forints, about £1.15. It works less well if you want a quiet centre on a Saturday night. LGBTQ+ travellers should know that the 2021 and 2025 laws have only partly been rolled back.
Read the guide →