9 Incredible Places to See in Eastern Europe

Here are nine must-see places in Eastern Europe that will whet your travel appetite—and maybe inspire your next trip. 

1. Riga, Latvia

Oleg Pokrovskiy, Tripadvisor

Home to the world’s largest collection of Art Nouveau architecture, Latvia’s capital is a culture lover’s dream. A walking tour of the cobbled alleys of the Old Town will take you past nearly 800 buildings in the style, from Riga Art Nouveau structures complete with goddesses and gargoyles to pastel facades with wood trim. Soak up the atmosphere at the 38-room Hotel Bergs , which occupies two buildings dating back to 1895 and is just a stone’s throw from Riga’s trendiest restaurants and coffee shops. Be sure to stop by locals’ favourite, Innocent Café , just around the corner.

2. Albanian Riviera

Rozafa, Tripadvisor

The umbrella-lined beaches of Albania’s Ionian coast could easily be mistaken for the south of France or Italy’s Amalfi Coast. There’s one big difference, though: The so-called Albanian Riviera remains a secret destination for beachgoers looking to escape the crowds and steep prices. Start in Saranda , the region’s unofficial capital, home to a 16th-century castle, a 5th-century synagogue, and a stunning beach. Then head to lesser-known, cosy towns: Ksamil , near the Greek border; Borsch , a quiet area of ​​olive-grove-dotted hills; and Himara , where the Soleil Village on Jal Beach overlooks turquoise waters and the Mediterranean-style Folie Marine beach resort.

3. Dubrovnik, Croatia

You’ve probably seen Dubrovnik’s cobbled paths and medieval fortifications on screen: the walled city played the role of King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. In person, it’s even more stunning. The Old Town is full of shops selling traditional lace and embroidery, but if you’re looking for a break from the crowds, head to the Tristen Arboretum , a Renaissance garden filled with exotic plants and trees. Rest your feet at the Hotel Excelsior , which has hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Elizabeth Taylor and has a private beach on the Adriatic coast.

4. Lake Bled, Slovenia

A 40-minute drive along a picturesque serpentine road takes you away from the cobbled lanes of Ljubljana to the rocky shores of Lake Bled, a tranquil spot that seems straight out of a fairy tale. Surrounded by the Julian Alps, the lake is in all its Tyrolean splendour: cliffs embrace a castle, and a picturesque church sits on a tiny island in the middle of the lake. Vila Bled is always busy with honeymooners and romantics, but there’s plenty to do for the adventurous, too. Put on your hiking boots and hike through the forest trails of Triglav National Park or to Slovenia’s largest waterfall in the Vintgar Gorge.

5. Krakow, Poland

Often overlooked in comparison to Warsaw, Poland’s second city is also one of its oldest, with a historic centre to rival many in Western Europe. The Gothic St Mary’s Basilica looms over the continent’s largest square and atmospheric cobbled streets and medieval structures dating back to the 13th century. Head south to see Italian Renaissance paintings at Wawel Castle , a former royal residence converted into a museum in the 1930s. Just outside the city, the Wieliczka Salt Mine features underground lakes and intricate salt sculptures, while the ruins of Auschwitz and Plaszow serve as reminders of the Holocaust the country endured.

6. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

  Nauris Pūķis, Unsplash

Croatia’s oldest national park is also its most impressive, with 16 crystal-clear waterfalls tumbling into emerald-green lakes and ponds. Boardwalks allow you to explore them all, or hike through the dense forest that surrounds this UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit in autumn to avoid the crowds, as the park attracts up to 15,000 visitors. Just a day’s drive from the Croatian capital Zagreb , it’s also home to an Art Deco gem: the Esplanade Hotel , built in 1925 and a host to Ella Fitzgerald, Sophia Loren and Orson Welles. Drop your bags and head to the lively restaurants and cafes of Tkalčića Street.

7. Bay of Kotor, Montenegro

Croatia has hogged all the tourism limelight in the last decade, and Montenegro’s pink-sand beaches and ancient villages have gone largely unnoticed. Head to the Bay of Kotor coast to see some of the country’s best, from pristine mountains and forests to cobalt-blue waters and stunning architecture. The town of Kotor , at the foot of Mount Lovcen, is 2,000 years old and boasts traditional ceramic roofs, historic walls and Venetian palazzos that are hundreds of years old. Tiny Perast , a 15-minute drive north, impresses with its ruins and churches, two of which are on islands just off the coast. Dramatic Tivat is an old naval base recently converted into a yacht marina in the style of Monaco – and equally as fun to people-watch.

8. Wine-growing regions of Hungary

While European wine lovers continue to make pilgrimages to Italy, France, and Spain, dedicated oenophiles have added Hungary’s wine regions to their itineraries. The tiny village of Eger , just a two-hour train ride from Budapest, boasts not only cobbled streets and a 13th-century castle, but also its red wine, Eger Oxblood. Sample the region’s finest from the cellars of the Valley of the Beauties , then drop your bags at the Grof Degenfeld Castle and head further west to Tokaj , famous for its sweet Aszú wines.

9. Tatras, Slovakia

Alexandra M, Tripadvisor

If the Alps or Dolomites are off-limits to you this ski season, head to the slopes of the Slovak Tatras in the Carpathian Mountains. They may never compare to the luxury of Gstaad or Megeve, but Jasna , a small resort in the Low Tatras, offers modern ski lifts, well-kept grounds, and 42 kilometers of pistes lined with snow-covered pine trees, not to mention a lack of tourist crowds. Something akin to Tyrolean hospitality awaits at the Grandhotel Kempinski in Stary Smokovec in the High Tatras. Visitors who prefer to travel in the summer can enjoy alpine meadows, caves, and ancient pine forests in four of Slovakia’s nine national parks.