If you are thinking about venturing into the historic and beautiful region of Eastern Europe, check out our tips on the best things to see and do, and how to get around. We highly recommend interrailing as your mode of transport, as this is an affordable and fun way to travel the region while seeing a lot of amazing sights as you go. There are many amazing places to visit in Eastern Europe, among them the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Romania. We will discuss these countries and must-see sites. By the end of this guide, you will be ready to plan the trip of a lifetime!
Go Interrailing
First of all, if you want to make the most out of your Eastern European trip, we would suggest that you try interrailing. This is the best and cheapest rail pass in Europe and it allows you to see the continent as you travel across borders and through the countryside. Interrailing is flexible, as you can book train tickets on short notice, and you can make stops along the way to your final destination.
The benefits of rail travel over flying in Europe include cost saving and not having to arrive at the station hours early, go through security and check luggage, as you do when you fly. You can even interrail with kids! Some of the must-see destinations when interrailing in Eastern Europe include Krakow, Prague, Budapest, and Bucharest. Let’s look at these more closely.
Poland
There are several fascinating locations in Poland, including the capital, Warsaw. However, we are going to talk about the smaller Polish city of Krakow. Krakow has lots to offer, from lively beer halls to a nearly 1000-year-old cathedral and several synagogues in the former Jewish quarter. While you are in the beautiful and quaint city, you should try Polish pierogies, which are stuffed dumplings, and Żurek, a sour rye soup.
You can also take part in walking tours, which will teach you all about the dark history of the old ghetto across the river, the Jewish quarter, and the ancient city center. Moreover, you can take a day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau and the salt mines.
Czech Republic
From Krakow, it is a roughly 6-hour train ride to Prague in the Czech Republic. This ride will give you time to sleep or take in the lovely Eastern European countryside views. Once in Prague, you can visit the castle, walk across Charles Bridge and make the most of the abundant and affordable nightlife.
Prague has become known for bachelor and bachelorette parties across Europe, due to its cheap drinking options, beauty, and potential for fun. So, book your castle tour tickets in advance at www.hellotickets.com to ensure that you can enter during busy tourist seasons. Once you have explored this well-loved capital, you can jump on a train to Budapest. This journey is a little longer, at 8 hours, but this means you can save on a hotel room for the night and sleep en route!
Hungary
No trip to Eastern Europe would be complete without a visit to the gorgeous and majestic city of Budapest. The Hungarian capital offers affordable but delicious local food and drink, including great beer, lángos, which is a fried bread served with cheese and sour cream, and goulash, meat, and paprika stew. Check out Gozsuda Udvar, a busy and super fun street full of eating and drinking options and a great ambiance.
Budapest is split down the center by the Danube river, on which you can take boat trips and enjoy the scenery. While you are in Budapest, don’t forget to visit the ruin bars, such as Szimpla Kert, the Citadella, and the Castle.
Romania
To get to the capital city of Romania from Budapest, you can hop on the Hungary-Romania night train and pass through Transylvania on your way to Bucharest. Take a stop at Brașov en route and visit Dracula’s Castle, otherwise known as Bran Castle, where Bram Stoker’s Dracula is supposed to have lived.
Once in Bucharest, you should visit the communist-era Palace of the Parliament, which is famed for being the heaviest building in the world, at 9.04 billion lbs. There is also a 15th-century palace where Vlad the Impaler once ruled. Bucharest also offers delicious sarmales, which are cabbage rolls and ciorbă de fasole, bean soup.
Hopefully, this brief guide to traveling Easter Europe has given you some inspiration and you are now ready and eager to start planning your trip. Remember, as well as our recommendations, there are countless other fabulous cities in this region to visit. The great thing about interrailing is that you can take as many stops as you like and travel comfortably and easily across the continent. Eastern Europe is also famous for being affordable and rich in history. Enjoy the local delicacies, such as pierogies, goulash, cabbage rolls, and bean soup, drink cheap and tasty beers, and visit world-famous sites like Dracula’s castle and Charles Bridge. Have a wonderful trip!