Top 10 Eastern European getaways

Jul 7, 2010 2:05:25 AM

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For years Eastern Europe was the undiscovered half of the continent, where architectural gems, wonderful landscapes and buzzing cities saw only a fraction of the number of visitors heading to Western Europe. Things have changed, with Eastern Europe now drawing travelers by the trainload, but the diversity and appeal of the region’s highlights remain the same. Whether you’re discovering them for the first time or coming back for a second dose, you won’t be disappointed. Here are our top 10 Eastern European getaways.

1. Julian Alps, Slovenia: The Julian Alps – named in honour of Caesar himself – form Slovenia’s dramatic northwest frontier with Italy. Triglav National Park, established in 1924, includes almost all of the Alps lying within Slovenia. The centrepiece of the park is Mt Triglav and our favorite spot within the park? Well that must be Vršič Pass. The scenery is incredible.

2. Sarajevo, Bosnia & Hercegovina: In the 1990s Sarajevo was on the edge of annihilation. Today it’s a cosy, vibrant capital whose humanity, wonderful cafe-scene, attractive contours and East-meets-West ambience are increasingly making it a favourite summer traveler destination. Meanwhile in winter it’s brilliantly handy for some of Europe’s best-value skiing.

3. Mljet Island, Croatia: Of all the Adriatic islands, Mljet (Meleda in Italian) may be the most seductive. Over 72% of the island is covered by forests and the rest is dotted by fields, vineyards and small villages. Most people visit the island on excursions from Korčula or Dubrovnik, but it’s now possible to take the ferry from Dubrovnik and stay a few days for hiking, cycling and boating.

4. Orheiul Vechi, Moldova: The Orheiul Vechi Monastery Complex, carved into a massive limestone cliff in this wild, rocky, remote spot is unquestionably Moldova’s most fantastic sight. The Cave Monastery, which overlooks the gently meandering Răut River, was dug by Orthodox monks in the 13th century.

5. Tallinn, Estonia: Today’s Tallinn fuses the medieval and the cutting edge to come up with an energetic new mood all of its own – an intoxicating mix of ancient church spires, glass-and-chrome skyscrapers, cosy wine cellars inside 15th-century basements, sun-filled town squares and bike paths to beaches and forests – with a few Soviet throwbacks for added spice.

6. Loket, Czech Republic: Nestled in a bend of the Ohře River, Loket is a gorgeous place with a chocolate-box-style town square. Loket even scored a cameo role in the 2006 James Bond movie, Casino Royale. Most people visit Loket as a day trip from Karlovy Vary, but it’s also a sleepy place to ease off the travel accelerator for a few days.

7. Toruń, Poland: The first thing to strike you about Toruń, south of Gdańsk, is its massive red-brick churches, looking more like fortresses than places of worship. The city is defined by its striking Gothic architecture, which gives its Old Town a distinctive appearance and its promotional slogan: gotyk na dotyk (Touch Gothic). The city has just the right balance between sightseeing and chilling.

8. Ždiar, Slovakia: Decorated timber cottages line long and narrow Ždiar, the only mountain settlement inhabited since the 16th century. Several sections of the village are historical reservations, including the Ždiar House Museum, a tiny place with colorful local costumes and furnishings. Cross over the main road from the museum and a green trail skirts the river through Monkova Valley for a 2½-hour hike loop.

9. Rīga, Latvia: Some call it ‘The Paris of the North’, others ‘The Second City That Never Sleeps’…we simply love it. For starters, the city has the largest and most impressive showing of art nouveau architecture in Europe. Nightmarish gargoyles and praying goddesses adorn over 750 buildings along the stately boulevards radiating out from Rīga’s castle core. The heart of the city – Old Town – is a fairy-tale kingdom of winding wobbly lanes and gingerbread trim that beats to the sound of a pumping discotheque.

10. Minsk, Belarus: Minsk will almost certainly surprise you. The capital of Belarus is, despite its thoroughly dreary sounding name, an amazingly progressive and modern place. Here fashionable cafes, wi-fi–enabled restaurants and crowded bars and nightclubs vie for your attention. Sushi bars and art galleries have taken up residence in a city centre totally remodelled to the tastes of Stalin. There are relatively few traditional sights in the city but myriad places of interest for anyone fascinated by the Soviet period, and plenty of cosmopolitan pursuits to keep you entertained come the evening.

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Start your Eastern European adventure today! Check out our comprehensive Eastern Europe guide and brand new guides to the Czech & Slovak Republics and Slovenia.

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Comments

4 August 2010 2:54PM sugik Report this comment
It's nice to see Eastern Europe, which, to some people, still seems to be hidden behind the Iron Curtain, finally promoted as an ideal holiday destination. I agree with the list (although Hungary should have been mentioned also!). Pkease write much, much more about Central Asia and Eastern Europe in the future, they are my favorite corners of this world.