BEAUTIFUL (& OVERLOOKED) CITIES OF EASTERN EUROPE

 Budapest, Hungary

Located on the banks of the Danube, Budapest is cited as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and attracts nearly 4.3 million people a year. Andrássy út is an elegant two-mile, tree-lined avenue populated with major attractions such as the Hungarian State Opera House, Heroes’ Square, Vajdahunyad Castle, and large shops.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to sightsee from the deck of the River Ride pleasure boat, escaping the traffic while enjoying the Danube.

2. Kraków, Poland

One of the biggest attractions in this Polish city is the Oskar Schindler factory made famous by Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster wartime movie, “Schindler’s List.”

The main square, Rynek Główny, is centered in the Old Town has a vibrant scene with florists, shops, biergartens, and more. Don’t skip on Polish cuisine either, visitors will be hard-pressed to resist trying an authentic polish sausage or taking a somber trek over to the notorious Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

3. Prague, Czech Republic

Travelers will find many points of interests in Prague including Prague Castle, Old Town Square and the Prague Zoo which Forbes Traveler dubbed among the world’s best zoos.

The city is a popular weekend destination because of its many museums, cultural sites, hearty cuisine and Czech beers; or plenty of absinthe bars. Traditional Czech fare consists mostly of pork or beef in a sauce and served with a side dish such as dumplings.

4. Tallinn, Estonia

In the past, not much was said about this coastline treasure which was crowned European Capital of Culture in 2011. This is truly one of the most magnificent cities in eastern Europe.

The Old Town, Vanalinn, is worth a visit for the gorgeous red-roofs, cobblestone streets, and the architecture like St. Olaf’s Church. Tallinn Passenger Port is one of the busiest cruise destinations on the Baltic Sea and worth a look. Enjoy Estonia’s ample cuisine based on a cold dish, soup, main course, and dessert; as they say in Estonia…head isu!

5. Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest has several cultural venues, shopping arcades, museums and plenty of recreational areas to offer its locals and visitors.

Travelers will get a glimpse of the budding Bucharest cultural scene through the visual and performing arts as well as their nightlife. Bucharest houses a slew of Romanian art museums, such as the National Museum of Art of Romania.

6. Belgrade, Serbia

For anyone who loves festivals, Belgrade is the place to be to soak in the various types of crowd pleasing entertainment. The barges on the banks of the Sava and Danube Rivers are popular riverclub scenes.

Due to the cheap drinks, friendly atmosphere and lack of restrictive night life regulation, Belgrade’s clubs and bars attracts weekend visitors from nearby Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia.

7. Ljubljana, Slovenia

A trip to Ljubljana would not be complete without a smooth sail aboard the Barjanka Tourist Boat where passengers will become acquainted with the history and sights such as the Triple Bridge. Enjoy a tasting session of Roman dishes such as Emona-style ham, libum bread and lemonade sweetened with honey.

This is a beauitful city with rich views and subcultures; a peaceful city in the day, vibrant and lively at night.

8. Kiev, Ukraine

Largely due to its two botanical gardens and numerous parks, Kiev is known as a green city.

The 100-year-old Kiev Zoo is alleged to have approximately 2,600 animals from 328 species. For those who love to keep up with historical facts, it should be noted that the World War II Museum is housed in Kiev.

9. Kotor, Montenegro

Mountain lovers will take great delight in Kotor. Near the peak of Sveti Iven (St. Ivan) is a path dedicated to passionate hikers. Nevertheless, anyone who loves the sea won’t be disappointed either.

Divers can experience the calm waters next to the channel of Bay of Boka Kotorska. Flat land lovers should not miss visiting the Old City of Kotor – Kotor Stari Grad, which is one of the best preserved medieval towns in the Adriatic.

The cuisine is mostly Mediterranean with traditional meals consisting of fish specialties such as a thick fish soup, smoked ham and cheese olives. Want dessert? A crunchy sweet cookie called frustula is highly recommended.