Miljacka river and Latin bridge in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

If you’re looking to broaden the scope of your trips to include some less-talked-about places, with outstanding things to see and do. Here is our list of top ten underrated cities in Central & Eastern Europe.

Ceský Krumlov, Czech Republic 

Ceský Krumlov is located in the South Bohemian region of the Czech Republic. The city is famous for its Old Town, with 300 protected medieval buildings, and its castle complex, the second largest in the country. The cosy inns, coffee shops, and ancient taverns entertain a diverse international crowd. Being a world-renowned country for beer, Ceský Krumlov is also home to the Pivovar Eggenberg brewery.  

Pécs, Hungary   

Under the old communist regime, most of the government’s focus and money went to Budapest. As a result, foreign visitors rarely ventured beyond this city on the Danube River. However, there is a lot more to see within this charming country. Located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the south-west of the country, close to the borders of Croatia, is Pécs. This ancient city has a multicultural heritage that includes rich Hungarian traditions and a history dating to the Romans, who called it Sopianae. Historical buildings, famous works of art, Turkish mosques, cafes, and wine cellars are just a few of the best highlights.   

Kiev, Ukraine   

There is much more to Ukraine than news stories of political tyranny and military submarines. The country gained its independence from Moscow, in 1991. Today its bustling capital Kiev has over 3 million residents and is considered an important centre of Eastern Europe. With a skyline defined by the golden domes of numerous churches and monasteries, the streets of Kiev, one of Europe’s oldest cities, exude a sense of permanence. It has stood here for centuries, its fortunes rising and falling, and now exists as a striking modern city which preserves its past, to the delight of visitors.   

Torun, Poland   

Contrary to Warsaw, Gdansk and some other Polish cities, Torun suffered no damage during World War II, and has retained its authentic character. It has many monuments of architecture beginning from the Middle Ages, including 200 military structures. The city is famous for having preserved almost intact its medieval spatial layout and many Gothic buildings, all built from brick, including monumental churches, the Town Hall and many burgher houses. Its lively centre is full of diverse cafes and pubs, offering a refreshing stop to its visitors. Torun specialises in traditional gingerbread, which makes it a great place to visit during the Christmas season.   

St. Andrew's church in Kiev, Ukraine.

Ljubljana, Slovenia   

The capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana is a vibrant and diverse city. It consists of colorful squares, stunning architecture, quaint cafes and shops, and stone bridges. Ljubljana also boasts a thriving arts and culture scene, hosting countless musical, theatrical, and avant-garde events throughout the year. In the summer months, the Ljubljana Festival brings more than 50 cultural events and performances to the city. Furthermore, just outside Ljubljana there is skiing, water rafting, mountain biking and many outdoor pursuits.  

Zagreb, Croatia   

People often pass up this city in favor of Croatia’s sunny coastlines but Zagreb is worth visiting as well. It is home to more than 30 museums comprising of 3.6 million artifacts and exhibits. The historical part of the city to the north of Ban Jelacic Square is composed of the Gornji Grad and Kaptol, a medieval urban complex of churches, palaces, museums, galleries and government buildings. The city is also blossoming with modern shops, restaurants, bars, and other new businesses.   

Riga, Latvia   

Situated along the river Daugava, on the coast of Baltic Sea, Riga enjoys the status of being the largest city amongst the Baltic States. During the day, visitors can spend time walking through its windy cobbled streets in “old town” while admiring the grandoise architecture. Nightmarish gargoyles and praying goddesses adorn over 750 buildings along its stately boulevards. There’s also world-class performances of opera and theatre, many of which are very affordable. By night the city pulsates with life, offering a plethora of clubs, restaurants and bars.  

Sofia, Bulgaria  

Sofia is relatively unknown and unexplored by most travelers. It is a city with a rich past that features a combination of European and Communist-style architecture as well as many beautiful orthodox churches. Sofia has a many great attractions, excellent shopping and day excursions. Furthermore, it claims to be one of the few European capitals with a developed ski-resort so close to it – the Vitosha mountain.  

Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn is a picturesque city on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Once a medieval Hanseatic town and for long periods in history dominated by the Germans, Swedes and Russians, Tallinn today contain lots of influence from those days but still manages to retain an Estonian soul and identity. There are numerous historical buildings to explore as well as beautiful parks and sights. Twisting cobblestone lanes and ancient stone walls, Gothic spires and medieval markets make up Tallinn’s old town. For those travelers who are looking for an unexplored but civilizing and stylish destination, Tallinn is a perfect choice.

Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina  

Sarajevo is situated in the Miljacka River valley and is surrounded by the mountains which were host to the 1984 Winter Olympics.  The recent war in Bosnia devastated the city and its inhabitants, and although the scars are visible in the shell-shocked pavement and demolished buildings, the progress is substantial. There is much to to appreciate in this moving city from museums, theatres, parks, cafes, as well as cultural events throughout the year. Sarajevo is one of the few places in the world that has a mosque, synagogue, and a Orthodox and Roman Catholic church within walking distance of each other. A reminder that Sarajevo can have religious diversity and that people can coexist in peace. This is one city that will prove to be a very worthy destination in the near future.

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The Trabant 601 has become an iconic tourist attraction throughout the former communist states.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and what better way to go sightseeing around where the wall once stood than in a Trabant. Besides the many events and activities celebrating its infamous destruction, there is a unique phenomenon taking place in the region – the popularity of  Trabant tours.

The Trabant was produced by former East German auto maker VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau from between 1957 to 1991. The ”people’s car” with its two-stroke engine, famously known for its flimsy workmanship has become an icon of the past Communist era and the latest tourist attraction. Times sure have changed for this little car! Once scoffed at, it’s now trendy to drive. It’s become such a sensation that even Former Bulgarian foreign minister Solomon Passy made a point of taking visiting dignitaries, including the late pope John Paul II, for a spin in his Trabant. The nostalgic car was also featured in the 2003 international hit film “Good Bye Lenin“, which was a political comedy about the transformation of East Germany.

Now you can drive one yourself. Trabant tours are widely available throughout all of Central and Eastern Europe including in Germany where you can rent one from tour companies like “Trabi-Safari“ and drive through places like former East Berlin to see past communist landmarks.

In Budapest, “Rent a Trabant” offers eager tourists the option to drive a Trabant on a closed circuit track or engage in a Trabant treasure hunt through the city streets.

So, if you’re looking for a unique way to tour the region while learning about its turbulant past, you might consider throwing modern day driving sensibilities to the wind and instead rent a Trabant. Below is a listing of various Trabant tours throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

Happy motoring comrades!

Germany

Event & Touring AG
Trabant tours available in Berlin, Leipzig, Mühlanger, Müritz, and Greifswald.
http://www.trabant-mieten.de

Trabi-Safari
Offers daily Trabant tours in Berlin and Dresden.
http://cms.trabi-safari.de/opencms/opencms/trabi-safari/en/_main/home/

Hungary

Rent a Trabant
Tour company specializing in Trabant tours and rentals in Budapest.
http://www.rentatrabant.com

Poland

Cracow City Tours
Young tour company offering a variety of trips including 2 to 4 hour Trabant tours in Cracow.
http://www.cracowcitytours.pl

Crazy Guides
Specializes in “Communist tours” throughout Poland.
http://www.crazyguides.com/cars/

Ukraine

GoEast
Various adventure tours available in Kiev.

http://www.goeast.com.ua

Related posts:

1. Top Ten Underrated Cities in Central & Eastern Europe
2. Christmas Photos from Central & Eastern Europe
3. Website offers virtual tours of contemporary architecture in Budapest

When it comes to culinary vacations most people think of places like Italy, France, Spain, or even Morocco.

However, Poland is not a country that comes to mind but that’s all about to change.

Poland Culinary Vacations offers customized and intimate cooking vacations throughout the various regions of Poland. They want it known that Poland has everything a food lover would want and more!

Their upcoming vacations this year include 7-day/6-night custom tours in the regions of Lower Silesia and Lower Poland. Travelers will get to experience first-hand the traditional roots of Polish cooking as well as modern elements to the cuisine.

Visiting agrotourist farms, local markets, as well as the city’s best restaurants is all a part of the culturally enriched journey. Accommodation is provided in the picturesque 16th-century Zamek na Skale castle in the Polish countryside and at Tumski hotel in the city of Wroclaw. In addition, travellers will be able to sample local beers and vodkas.

Learning to prepare authentic hand-made pierogi

For those that don’t have time for a week-long culinary vacation, Poland Culinary Vacations also offers one-day cooking classes in cooperation with The Culinary Institute in Cracow. Classes are typically four hours long and include preparation of a three course Polish meal with drinks.

For more information and reservations, please visit the Poland Culinary Vacations website. You can also watch a short video with a glimpse into the tours. Best of all, there is a 20% discount available, when mentioning you saw this article from The Hungarian Girl.

The Flavors of Lower Silesia Culinary Vacation

July 12 – July 18, 2009
July 26 – August 1, 2009
August 9 – August 15, 2009
August 23 – August 29, 2009
September 6 – September 12, 2009

Cooking Your Way From Krakow to Zakopane Culinary Vacation

July 19 – July 25, 2009
August 16 – August 22, 2009
September 13 – September 19, 2009

One-day Cooking Classes

Monday – Friday
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Weekend classes are also available with optional lodging at the institute.

Poland Culinary Vacations
E-mail: info@polandculinary.com
http://www.polandculinaryvacations.com

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