Riga and Budapest are both classic stag destinations, and we organise weekends in both. Budapest is bigger and cheaper; Riga is smaller, uses the euro and has activities you will not find in Budapest. Here is how they compare.
Riga vs Budapest at a glance
€
Riga uses the euro – Budapest the forint
~590k
people in Riga (Budapest: ~1.7 million)
19.6m
passengers at Budapest Airport in 2025 (Riga: 7.1m)
€5 vs €3.3
indicative pint price in Riga vs Budapest
1997 / 1987
UNESCO listing of Riga and Budapest
How they compare
✈️ Flights
Budapest Airport is the bigger hub, with about 19.6 million passengers in 2025 against 7.1 million in Riga.
💶 Prices
Crowd-sourced data puts beer and food lower in Budapest – a pint at about €3.3 against €5 in Riga (Numbeo, indicative).
💱 Currency
Riga uses the euro. In Budapest you pay in forints; euros are only accepted in some places.
🏙️ Size and feel
Budapest is a big capital with thermal baths and ruin bars. Riga is smaller, with a compact Old Town where everything is close.
🎯 Activities
Riga has bobsleigh, ice drifting and the beer bike; Budapest is known for tank driving, thermal baths and the Danube.
Which one to choose
Choose Riga if
You want something different
You want the euro, a compact Old Town where everything is walkable, and Baltic activities like bobsleigh and ice drifting.
Choose Budapest if
You want bigger and cheaper
You want lower prices, a big capital, thermal baths, ruin bars and tank driving.
Can’t decide?
We do both
We organise stag weekends in Riga and in Budapest – ask us for a plan for each and compare.
Riga stag favourites
FAQ
Is Riga or Budapest better for a stag do?
It depends on the group. Budapest is bigger and cheaper; Riga is smaller, uses the euro and has unique activities like bobsleigh and ice drifting.
Which is cheaper, Riga or Budapest?
Budapest. Crowd-sourced data puts a pint at about €3.3 in Budapest and €5 in Riga.
Do I need to change money?
Not in Riga – Latvia uses the euro. In Budapest you pay in Hungarian forints.
Do you organise both?
Yes. We organise stag weekends in Riga and Budapest.
