Eastern Europe is a diverse region with an interesting history. Many nationalities and cultures live in the area and some of the countries were formed relatively recently.
However, most countries in the area have a rich history. Many capital cities and other major cities in the region date back to the Middle Ages and even earlier.
There is a lot of historic architecture in Eastern Europe: castles, old bridges and medieval towns. The major cities in the region are also great destinations for shopping, nightlife or luxury weekend breaks.
The Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is sometimes considered more Central Europe than Eastern Europe.
One of the most visited countries in the region, the Czech Republic is most famous for its capital Prague. It is a city of historic architecture, art, culture, museums, and a vibrant nightlife as well as great shopping.
The Czech Republic boasts many other interesting destinations too; it is a good idea to get away from Prague to see the rest of the country. Many destinations attract especially those who love medieval history: castles, old towns and villages. There are also many great spas and spa hotels for luxury or health breaks.
Slovenia
Slovenia is an increasingly popular destination in Eastern Europe. It has not yet been discovered by mass tourism, but it is popular enough to have a wide choice of accommodation and other services for tourists.
The capital Ljubljana is an historic city with a picturesque old town and several interesting art galleries, museums and buildings. There are excellent restaurants, cafés, bars and night clubs in Ljubljana, and it is also becoming a great shopping destination. Outside the capital, Slovenia offers a wide range of nature attraction: countryside, mountains, lakes (such as the beautiful Lake Bled) and cycling or hiking paths.
The Baltic Countries
The Baltic Countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are all fascinating vacation destinations. The most popular with foreign visitors is Estonia and especially its capital Tallinn, but Lithuania and Latvia are receiving an increasing number of foreign tourists.
All countries have capital cities with medieval town centers, and a coastline on the Baltic Sea that is famous for its rugged and peaceful beaches.
Hungary
Hungary belongs to the best countries to visit in Eastern Europe and its top destination is its capital Budapest. With its beautiful architecture, castles, bridges and Gothic churches, Budapest is a romantic city with a lot of atmosphere.
Its health spas have been famous for centuries, and today Budapest is also a vibrant modern city that has a lot in common with Western European cities. Outside Budapest Hungary has some great places to visit, including its famous medieval castles and the picturesque Lake Balaton region.
Poland
Poland is another rising tourist destination in Eastern Europe. Although Warsaw is its capital and n interesting city to visit, Poland’s most popular destination is the smaller Krakow.
This city is full of history, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, medieval town squares, Gothic churches and castles. Outside Krakow, the Auschwitz-Birkenau World War 2 concentration camps are a must-visit site for anyone who wants to understand Europe’s recent history.
With so many interesting destinations, it is challenging to choose the best countries to visit in Eastern Europe. Fortunately traveling between the various countries is easy. Low-cost airlines operate in Eastern Europe, and train travel is comfortable and cheap.