Budapest vs Copenhagen

Budapest leads Copenhagen by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 72 to 71. Budapest grades better on 9 measures, Copenhagen on 11; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Budapest 72, Copenhagen 71
• OECD: Budapest 70, Copenhagen 71
• UN Tourism: Budapest 75, Copenhagen 69
• UNDRR: Budapest 70, Copenhagen 73

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Budapest 63, Copenhagen 75
• Economy and jobs: Budapest 92, Copenhagen 100
• Climate and hazards: Budapest 70, Copenhagen 75
• Water and environment: Budapest 75, Copenhagen 56
• Community and housing: Budapest 67, Copenhagen 50
• Access and continuity: Budapest 71, Copenhagen 75

Where Budapest is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 34.7 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4.
• Largest foreign market: 10 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (OECD, OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2026 (Hungary chapter), 2024). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 361.3 kg per resident per year (Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), Települések infrastrukturális ellátottsága, 2023, 2023). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
• Tourism intensity: 8.7 visitor nights per resident per year (Budapest Brand nZrt. & Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), 2024). Between 5 and 10: grade 3/4.
• Short-let density: 1.2 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (Inside Airbnb & Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), 2025–2026). Between 1 and 2: grade 2/4.
• Travel advisory: 1 stricter of the US and Canadian government advisory for the country, 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel) (country figure) (US State Department and Government of Canada travel advisories, 2026-09-29). At or below 1: grade 4/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Budapest Municipal Government / Hegyvidék Local Government, 2024–2025). Grade 2/4.

Where Copenhagen is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 36.9 % of nights by residents of the same country (Wonderful Copenhagen / Statistics Denmark, 2024). Between 35 and 45: grade 3/4.
• Recovery against 2019: 124.8 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (metro figure) (VisitDenmark, Destinationsmonitor 2024, 2024). At or above 110: grade 4/4.
• Average length of stay: 2.9 nights per visitor (Wonderful Copenhagen, Status on rail tourism 2025, 2024). Between 2.8 and 3.5: grade 3/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 75 % average annual occupancy (Annordia / Statistics Denmark, Hotel Market Update, 2024). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Income per head: 83,218 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
• Tropical nights: 0.2 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Country disaster risk: 1.5 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). At or below 2: grade 4/4.
• Green space: 30 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI), 2023). Between 30 and 40: grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (Wonderful Copenhagen, 2021). Grade 3/4.
• Government effectiveness: 98.1 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Hungary: #42 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Denmark: #16 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Budapest in full · Copenhagen in full

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