Eastern Europe — Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
Encompassing a huge swath of the continent, from the Baltic states in the north to beaches of the Black Sea in the south, holidays to Eastern Europe are as diverse as they are spectacular. From the Transylvanian castles of Romania to Mostar’s famed medieval bridge, a trip to Eastern Europe offers a wealth of attractions.
Tour Highlights
- Wonder at the magnificent ancient architecture of Krakow, Poland’s former royal capital, including the soaring heights of St Mary’s Basilica, the simply stunning sixteenth-century Cloth Hall, and Wawel Castle, one of Poland’s largest.
- Hike across Slovakia’s High Tatras Mountains, through unspoiled landscapes of crystal-clear mountain lakes, alpine pasture, and 2,500 m peaks in summer, or ski the same slopes in winter.
- Take a tour of the impressive gothic grandeur of Budapest’s Parliament building, taking in the most lavish of its 691 Danube-side rooms, and gaze upon the crown of Saint Stephen, the first king of Hungary.
- Relax on the surprisingly-fine palm-lined Black Sea beach resorts of Bulgaria, or soak up the sun on the untamed sands of the Istrian coast of Croatia before heading out on an Adriatic cruise.
- Stroll through the grand halls and secret passages of Bran Castle in Romania’s Transylvania region, best known to the world as Dracula’s Castle, a fairy-tale hill-top fortress offering amazing panoramic views across the Carpathian Mountains.
- Head to Riga, the capital of Latvia and delve beneath its reserved exterior to discover a friendly and vibrant city full of art nouveau buildings, modern gallery spaces, and ever-growing food culture.
Travel Tips
- Although Eastern Europe is home to a huge number of languages, English is widely-spoken, particularly by the younger generations who were brought up after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
- Much of Eastern Europe remains a cash society, so make sure you carry plenty of banknotes with you. Try and avoid receiving larger notes, for example when changing money from your home currency, as they can be difficult to break.
- ATMs can now be readily found throughout the region, taking away much of the stress of carrying large quantities of money with you. If you do decide to make use of them, avoid the option of converting the price into your home currency as this can add a huge amount to your bill.
- Much of Eastern Europe is conservative and deeply religious. Avoid inadvertently offending residents by being careful of what you are wearing, especially if you are intending to enter a church or mosque.
- Don’t be afraid to haggle! Though museums and most stores will have set prices, there’s plenty of opportunities to have a little fun haggling with taxi drivers and market stall holders, though do understand these guys need to make a living too.
