Eastern Europe is the cheapest part of the continent and it’s the location of most of its developing or newly developed economies. This region stretches from the Baltic Sea in the North to the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas in the south. It borders the Black Sea and encompasses almost 1/3 of Russia and the countries of the Caucasus. The winters can be long and cold, so people revel in the summers and the area’s beaches attract hordes of sun worshiping tourists.

Some of the tourist highlights in the region include: the captivating Polish cities of Warsaw and Krakow; the ancient city of Athens and Greece’s many islands; the beautiful city of Prague; and Croatia’s Adriatic coastline.

The links below are your gateway to our Eastern European travel directory. By clicking on the links you can find travel destinations in every Eastern European country. Once you reach an interesting country you can then choose to see travel information about the country in general or you can see a list of cities and destinations on which we provide more in-depth information.

For example, if you are interested in finding a ski resort in Bulgaria, you can click on Bulgaria and then select skiing. Once there you will be able to find a list of ski resorts and trip providers.

To find a specific location faster, use the search box in the right menu to type in your search term.

Albania

Located on the Adriatic Sea, Albania is not often visited by tourists due to its undeveloped infrastructure.

Albania is a small Muslim country located on the Adriatic Sea near Greece.

Belarus

Belarus is a partner state of Russia and together they form a loose political union.

Minsk is the riverside capital of Belarus, one of Europe's most reclusive states.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

In the early 90s Bosnia was the site of one of the most gruesome conflicts of the late 20th century. While the wounds haven’t entirely healed, Bosnia is now safe for travelers.

Despite its turbulent past, Sarajevo is now a charming and beautiful city.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a small country, with just 7 million people. It’s located in Eastern Europe, on the Black Sea, just north of Greece. It isn’t the most well-known country and even some Europeans would have trouble finding it on a map. But that is bound to change, as word gets out on just how great Bulgaria is as a travel destination. Though small in size, Bulgaria has a diverse landscape, fascinating cities, increasingly popular ski resorts and amazing beaches on the Black Sea Coast.

The Black Sea Coast of Bulgaria is an unexpected gem in a wonderful country.

Croatia

Tourists from all over the world flock to Croatia for its Adriatic coast and ancient cities. Croatia’s coastline is almost 2000 km long and a popular way to see it is from the sea via a yacht or sailboat. The city of Dubrovnik is particularly popular.

Dubrovnik, in Croatia, is one of the world's most beautiful towns.

Cyprus

Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea that is located south of Turkey and only 100 miles west of Lebanon. The island is divided into two parts, the Republic of Cyprus that is a member of the European Union and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The island of Cyprus, in the Mediterranean Sea, is an increasingly popular holiday destination.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic was once considered a hidden spot for travelers to Europe, that is no longer the case. Now its city of Prague receives a ton of international visitors and they come for the city’s stunning architecture and its great beer.

Not many cities in the world are more beautiful than Prague.

Estonia

Estonia is a small and developed country bordering Russia and located across the Gulf of Finland from Helsinki. The capital city of Tallinn has a historic center that is shockingly beautiful.

Tallinn's Old Town is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Greece

The contributions of the ancient Greeks to modern society is almost endless and a great place to learn about its history is in the city of Athens. Site of the Acropolis, Athens is the Greek equivalent to Rome. Another alluring part of Greece are its numerous islands. Noteworthy islands include Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu and Crete, the birthplace of Zeus.

The Greek Islands in the Aegean Sea are prime tourist hot spots during the summer months.

Hungary

Just a short train ride from Vienna is the Hungarian capital of Budapest. Located on the Danube River, Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Budapest is known as the Queen of the Danube.

Kosovo

Kosovo is a new country, declaring its independence from Serbia in 2008. The country is still recovering from the war in 1999 in which it fought against Serbia.

Pristina is the capital of the newly independent Kovoso.

Latvia

One of the Baltic States, Latvia is a relatively well developed country and its capital Riga is a charming city located a stone’s throw away from the Baltic Sea.

Riga, the capital of Latvia, is a beautiful riverside, historic city.

Lithuania

The first country to breakaway from the USSR, Lithuania is an interesting destination. Its attractions include castles and Baltic Sea beaches.

The castle at Trakai is a popular attraction in Lithuania.

Macedonia

Sometimes called the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to distinguish itself from the Greek region.

A mosque in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia.

Moldova

One of the most undeveloped countries in Europe, Moldova is not on the beaten path. A popular activity for the few tourists that do come here are is visiting its many vineyards.

Montenegro

Montenegro became independent from Serbia in 2006. Often overlooked as a holiday spot, Montenegro is a beautiful nation with a stunning Adriatic coastline.

Montenegro is home to stunning coastal landscape.

Poland

The Polish cities of Warsaw and Krakow are well known for their beauty, while the city of Gdansk on the Baltic Sea is one Poland’s hidden gems.

Krakow, in southern Poland, is a beautiful and historic city.

Romania

A visit to Romania isn’t complete without a trip into Transylvania, the mythical home of Dracula. This mountainous area has Medieval villages and plentiful castles.

The castle at Brasov was the residence of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for the character Dracula!

Russia

Russia, the world’s largest country, is a gigantic and for the most part, sparsely populated place. It stretches over 7,000 km from the eastern plains of Europe to the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Siberia. The climate of Russia is similar to Canada, with short summers and long, cold winters. It’s this size and unforgiving climate, together with a bureaucratic visa process and substantial language barrier that makes Russia an intimidating destination for travelers.

A visit to Moscow, home to the Red Square and Kremlin, is like a step back into the lore of the USSR.

Serbia

NATO fought two wars against Serbia in the 1990s and this clouds the vision most westerners have of this country. Serbia, however, has moved on from this part of its past and is now an up and coming destination for tourists.

The capital of Serbia, Belgrade, is a lively city with a happening nightlife.

Slovakia

Formerly in a union with the Czech Republic, Slovakia is the less well known member of Czechoslovakia. Its city of Bratislava is located only 60 km from the Austrian capital of Vienna.

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is located just a few miles outside of Vienna.

Slovenia

Slovenia is sandwiched between Austria and Croatia. It is a mountainous country that is well known for its lakes, castles and spas. Lake Bled is a highlight for tourists.

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is located just a few miles outside of Vienna.

Turkey

Turkey is a country spanning two continents and two worlds. Part of the country is in Europe, while most of the country is in the Middle East. Furthermore Turkey is a Muslim country and it has great mosques and a long history to prove as much, but it is also a secular country with strong constitutional traditions. Attractions in Turkey are endless and no matter which part of the country travelers visit, most return from their trips raving about the friendliness and charm of the Turkish people. Turkish food is another added bonus to any visit, with fresh bread and abundant tomatoes being a mainstay of any dish.

The beauty of the Turkish Riviera may surprise even the most ardent travelers. Pictured: Oludeniz.

Ukraine

The Ukraine is a large country with an interesting and long history. It was the birthplace of Russian civilization and the Ukraine only really became distinguished from Russia after the disintegration of the USSR in 1991. Some of the Russian language’s finest authors, like Bulgakov and Gogol, were in fact born in the Ukraine. Today the country is split into two linguistic groups, with 30% of the nation speaking Russian as a first language and the rest of the nation speaking Ukrainian.

The city of Kiev was the birthplace of Russian civilization.