Istria's West Coast
The focus is firmly on quality at this rural retreat – whether that be the estate's top-notch wine and olive oil, the architecture of the guest blocks,…
Must-see hotels in Eastern Europe
St Petersburg
The long-established Rachmaninov still feels like a secret place for those in the know. Perfectly located and run by friendly staff, it's pleasantly old…
Budva
Stunning, breathtaking, luxurious: and that's just the views from the sea-facing rooms. This modern resort is a decadent delight, with a prime location…
Durmitor National Park
Consisting of a handful of comfortable wooden cottages with bathrooms (each sleeping five people), small cabins without bathrooms, well-equipped…
Tartu
Facing the main university building, of which it's a neoclassically styled, early-19th-century contemporary, this first-rate 27-room boutique hotel is…
St Petersburg
This historic building opposite the Nikolsky Cathedral dates back to 1826, and contains a beautifully designed guesthouse. Each of the 20 rooms are named…
Danube Delta
This family-run pensiune offers clean and comfortable accommodation just a few metres' walk from the town centre. Rates include half-board, which means…
Wallachia
La Strada offers a highly tempting mix (especially if you've been travelling through the countryside) of a great location and tastefully contemporary…
Pirin Mountains
The location and relaxing ambience of Hotel Rojena are hard to top. Tucked away on a quiet road 1.5km from Rozhen Monastery, the hotel complex is backed…
Transylvania
It's named for the guesthouse where Jonathan Harker stayed in Bram Stoker's Dracula, but this is a faultless business hotel rather than a forbidding old…
Vilnius
Consisting of just seven individually styled rooms in a 19th-century building, the Joseph has won many fans with its exceptional service and decor. Expect…
Presnya
This sweet spot offers stylish dorm rooms (if that's not an oxymoron), fully equipped with lockers, individual lights, orthopaedic mattresses and privacy…
Hunter Prince Castle & Dracula Hotel
Transylvania
The fanged face of Vlad Țepeș, beaming down from a stone wall, might not be the warm welcome you’d hope from a hotel. But it’s hard to resist staying at…
Chişinău
This small boutique hotel, a 15-minute walk from the centre, offers excellent value. The 13 rooms are individually and imaginatively furnished and come in…
Minsk
Housed in the converted remains of a Benedictine Monastery in the heart of Minsk's bustling Old Town, this 48-room gem cannot be beaten for location or…
Sighişoara
Stride past walls lined with medieval weaponry towards elegant rooms, some with rib-vault ceilings, within this 400-year-old building. In the citadel's…
Lviv
A hotel since 1914, the Astoria was given a stylishly moody retrofit in 2013, sending it back to the monochrome world of the 1930s. The seven floors are…
Podgorica
The elegant rooms displaying prints of the New York skyline only emphasise how un-Podgorica-like this slick design hotel actually is. The impression…
Sarajevo
After many years of restoration, this ornate 19th-century hammam (Turkish bath), founded in 1462, reopened with a hotel attached in 2015. The 15 rooms are…
Veliky Novgorod
This centrally located, modern hotel runs like a well-oiled machine, with nicely furnished rooms, pleasant English-speaking staff, laundry service and…
Zagreb
The oldest hotel in Zagreb (around since 1827) is a peaceful oasis, brimming with character. The 18 rooms are elegantly outfitted, with soft neutral decor…
Novi Sad
Sitting in the shadow of Petrovaradin Fortress, this excellent budget option is housed in a gorgeous yellow baroque-style building constructed in 1714…
Eastern Siberia
Well signposted from ul Olkhonskaya, SB’s best guesthouse maintains immaculate and imaginatively designed rooms in three buildings, providing glimpses of…
Northern European Russia
This friendly, centrally located hostel is perhaps the region's best budget option. Clean and bright rooms are equipped with bunk beds and shared toilet…
Western Estonia & the Islands
Named after a renowned Estonian opera singer, Gospa has modern rooms with wildly striped carpet, enormous king-sized beds and a warm but minimalist design…
Niš
Central and chic, this designer hotel takes its name literally, with original murals and paintings by local artists dominating every room. The modern feel…
Curonian Spit National Park
If you're looking a tranquil wood-panelled cottage retreat with a sun deck overlooking the tranquil lagoon and cosy attic bedrooms, you're in the right…
Lithuania
Overlooking the white-sand beach of Gavys Lake, this delightful boutique hotel is the area's loveliest. The hosts go out of their way to make guests feel…
Vilnius
Movie nights, pub crawls, beer pong, tank-driving tours, free waffles…this clean, well-run, centrally located hostel is justifiably popular among…
Klaipėda
With splendid views of the Danė River, this restored 18th-century warehouse has been turned into Klaipėda's most atmospheric hotel. There's an intimate…
Petrovac
These apartments offer possibly the best high-season value in Petrovac. The 10 apartments in two locations (in the centre beside the promenade, or by the…
Lviv
Occupying two floors of an elegantly fading tenement just steps from pl Rynok, this expertly run hostel, with period features and views of the Shevchenko…
Golden Ring
At this 'Birdhouse' you may not want to leave the nest. Six artfully designed rooms are fitted with natural materials (wood, cotton, Kostroma linen),…
Pristina
This small family-run hotel on a quiet side street gets pretty much everything right and is easily one of the best sleeps in Pristina. The understated…
Sveti Stefan
The only problem with Drago is that you may never want to leave your terrace; the views are that sublime. The super-comfy pillows and fully stocked…
Crystal House Suite Hotel & Spa
Kaliningrad
Sitting on a quiet slice of parkland overlooking the Lower Pond, Kaliningrad's first five-star, all-suite hotel is minimalist luxury at its best, with…
Jūrmala
This striking seaside hotel offers luxurious respite with a global flair. Its 11 rooms – each with terrace access and Baltic Sea views – are themed after…
Sarajevo
The six rooms at this friendly, family-run guesthouse are clean and spacious, and surprisingly quiet for such a central location. Breakfast is available…
Bucovina
A cheerful, well-maintained hostel with accommodation in three- and four-bed dorms spread out over half a dozen rooms. There's a shared kitchen and…
Plovdiv
Recreating National Revival–era grandeur is a labour of love at this charming little hotel, between the old town and Plovdiv's shopping streets. Its five…
