Dublin and Budapest are both classic stag destinations, and we organise weekends in both. Budapest is cheaper and bigger; Dublin has the pubs, the Guinness and English everywhere. Here is how they compare.
Dublin vs Budapest at a glance
€7 vs ~€3
indicative pint price (Numbeo)
€ vs Ft
euro in Dublin, forint in Budapest
36.4m
passengers at Dublin Airport in 2025 (Budapest: 19.6m)
~3 h
flight from Dublin to Budapest
2:30
when Dublin’s late bars close
How they compare
💶 Prices
Budapest is much cheaper: a pint is about 1,200 Ft (around €3) against about €7 in Dublin (Numbeo, indicative).
🍻 Nightlife
Dublin is about pubs and live music; Budapest about ruin bars and late clubs.
♨️ Daytime
Budapest has thermal baths; Dublin has Guinness, whiskey and laser tag.
🗣️ Language
Everyone speaks English in Dublin. In Budapest you will manage, but less easily.
💱 Currency
Dublin uses the euro; Budapest the Hungarian forint.
Which one to choose
Choose Dublin if
Pubs and Guinness
You want classic pubs, live music, Guinness, whiskey and no language barrier.
Choose Budapest if
Cheaper and later
You want lower prices, thermal baths, ruin bars and later nights.
Can’t decide?
We do both
We organise stag weekends in Dublin and in Budapest – ask for a plan for each.
Good to know
🕦 Pub hours
Dublin pubs close at 00:30 on Fridays and Saturdays; late bars and clubs at 2:30.
✈️ Getting there
Both have direct flights; Dublin Airport is the bigger hub.
🏨 Hotels
Dublin hotels averaged €174 a night in 2025 – a big part of the cost difference.
🚫 Street drinking
Drinking in public is banned in Dublin city.
🎯 Activities
Both cities have laser tag, paintball and nightlife packages.
Dublin stag favourites
FAQ
Is Dublin or Budapest better for a stag do?
Dublin for pubs, Guinness and easy English; Budapest for lower prices, thermal baths and ruin bars.
Which is cheaper, Dublin or Budapest?
Budapest, clearly. Crowd-sourced data puts a pint at around €3 in Budapest and about €7 in Dublin.
Do we need a different currency?
Dublin uses the euro. In Budapest you pay in Hungarian forints.
Do you organise both?
Yes. We organise stag weekends in Dublin and Budapest.
