Comparison · Belgrade vs Bucharest · Serbia / Romania
Belgrade vs Bucharest
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ZlatanJovanovic, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Belgrade for Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park; choose Bucharest for Palace of the Parliament and Romanian Athenaeum. Belgrade is generally less expensive, and the two are about 449 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 449 km
- Less expensive
- Belgrade
- Best time for Belgrade
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Bucharest
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Belgrade | Bucharest | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Serbia | Romania |
| Known for | Belgrade Fortress, Kalemegdan Park and Nightlife and river clubs | Palace of the Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum and Old Town nightlife |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $90–$160 | $100–$180 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 30°C (86°F) | July, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 5°C (41°F) | January, 3°C (37°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | BEG | OTP |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Belgrade for…
Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park. Serbia's capital stands on a ridge where the Sava flows into the Danube, crowned by the Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park. From there the pedestrian Knez Mihailova street leads to Republic Square, the bohemian kafanas of Skadarlija and the huge domed…
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Choose Bucharest for…
Palace of the Parliament and Romanian Athenaeum. Romania's capital mixes Belle Époque mansions and the Romanian Athenaeum along Calea Victoriei with the enormous Palace of the Parliament and the socialist boulevards built around it. In between, the Old Town's lanes around Lipscani hold the 18th-century…
Top sights compared
| # | Belgrade | Bucharest |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park | Palace of the Parliament |
| 2 | Knez Mihailova Street and Republic Square | Old Town and Lipscani |
| 3 | Skadarlija | Stavropoleos Monastery |
| 4 | Church of Saint Sava | Cărturești Carusel |
| 5 | Nikola Tesla Museum | Romanian Athenaeum |
Food compared
| Belgrade | Bucharest |
|---|---|
| Ćevapi | Sarmale |
| Pljeskavica | Mămăligă |
| Burek with yogurt | Mici |
| Kajmak | Tripe soup |
Which is cheaper?
Belgrade is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $90–$160 per person there, against $100–$180 in Bucharest (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Belgrade on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Belgrade and Bucharest are about 449 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Belgrade and 3 in Bucharest.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Belgrade or Bucharest cheaper?
Belgrade is usually less expensive: about $90–$160 a day mid-range against $100–$180 (estimates).
+Is Belgrade or Bucharest better for a first trip?
Pick Belgrade for Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park, or Bucharest for Palace of the Parliament and Romanian Athenaeum.
+How far is Belgrade from Bucharest?
About 449 km in a straight line.