Having traveled extensively in the former Soviet World myself, I’ve said numerous times on here that Eastern Europe is the most underrated region on the planet, and I stand by it.
The hearty, unashamedly meat-heavy cuisine that would send your average vegan Valley girl into a tailspin, the crowd-free towns yet to hit your typical Instagram travel influencer’s feed, and even the friendliness of locals—Slavs may have a reputation for stoicism, but once the ice thaws and you’re two or three rakijas in, you’re basically best mates for life.
Some clichés are true, but let’s face it, some travel blogs have gone above and beyond lately to paint the entire region as some sort of unspoiled fairytale land that barely exists in reality.
There are hints of your typical storybook European life here, sure, but for the most part, you’d better get used to the endless rows of uninspiringly-gray, communist apartment blocks, and in Russia-friendly spots, the occasional Lenin statue.
To keep it plain and simple, Eastern Europe is no France, so if you don’t know where to tread or how to manage your expectations, you might end up getting the next flight out earlier than you planned.
From someone who’s tried a gazillion different versions of goulash and pelmeni in a dozen different countries, here are 5 lesser-known destinations out East that are actually worth the detour:
Karlovy Vary, Czechia
Having been pretty much everywhere in Europe at this point, I’m rarely mesmerized by your average cobblestone town with a hilltop castle, but boy, was I awestruck when train finally reached Karlovy Vary from Prague:
Known alternatively as Carlsbad, this is a renowned spa town in the western Czech Republic only Czechs seem to be familiar with. Even better: none of the usual Chinese crowds, and elevated capital prices that don’t necessarily reflect the actual cost of living in the country.
The most striking feature here is the ornate buildings, coming in every pastel color you can name, and complete with decorative cornices, delicately-carved pilasters, and romantic windowframes. You know, 19th century city-building at its best.
What truly took my breath away, however, is the UNESCO-listed riverside colonnades and their accompanying natural springs. There are over 80 water sources around town, and in some spas like Alžbětiny Lázně, temperatures can reach as high as 86°F.
Perfect for some springtime bathing.
Needless to say, Karlovy Vary is a noticeably-different experience than Prague. None of the crammed itineraries and endless sightseeing tours: your usual day here consists of hitting up different milk bars, idly admiring the impressive façades, and hitting a thermal bath in the afternoon for some of that long-due relaxation.
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Before we proceed, I must tell you Eastern Europe is not for everybody. Yes, it can be dirt cheap, and it’s arguably become a lot safer to travel in than most Western European countries, but you better know exactly where you’re sticking your feet.
Bulgaria is one of those love-it-or-hate-it destinations that’s hardly an unanimity—even within our own Travel Off Path crew (sorry, Sam).
My colleague may have not been exactly charmed by Sofia’s grayed-out apartment blocks and Roman ruins in need of upkeeping, and to be fair, the Bulgarian capital can be a bit of a hot mess. If it’s the quaint, idyllic side of Easter Europe you’re after, head straight for Plovdiv instead:
A smaller city with a comparatively-rich history, it has the picture-perfect Old Town, with plenty of cobbled lanes to explore and traditional Bulgarian houses, which typically include a prominent upper floor with a covered balcony, and are painted in light pastel hues.
That, plus the plethora of local eateries dishing out tarator soup and Bulgarian moussaka for under $10 should be enough to appease both the culture buff, and the foodie that live in you, but wait until you’ve seen Plovdiv’s magnum opus:
Bestriding one of the city’s seven hills, the 2nd century Roman theater is one of Bulgaria’s best-preserved ancient landmarks: built from marble, and with an orchestra and a stage backdrop still standing, it feels like it’s very own time capsule.
Budva, Montenegro
Balkan mania isn’t over. If you love the sun and some quality beach time, and exploring Roman ruins don’t exactly get your heart racing, there’s always a laid-back Budva, in the tiny coastal nation of Montenegro to save your spring.
Occupying a craggy peninsula, with Venetian-built walls licked by a turquoise Adriatic, and Romanesque belfries rising above a maze of tiled stone houses, it is how we imagine Dubrovnik in Croatia was before Game of Thrones ruined it for everyone else.
Key sites include the Citadel, the town’s main fortress, the proper ancient Church of St. John, originally built all the way back in the 7th century, and of course, for the beach bums out there, you’ll want to check out Mogren and Slovenska beaches.
Both are pebbly strips along the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic, and because Budva sits in a sheltered bay, the seas rarely get rough or chilled by cold currents. It’s simply one of Montenegro’s prime spots for swimming and sunbathing if you’re asking me.
Plus, it’s half the crowds you’d be getting in a now-spoiled Kotor.
By the way, if you happen to be looking for the best pasta in town, check out Trattoria Basilica, only a few steps from St. Ivan Church. You know, the prominent bell tower you can’t miss no matter where you are in the medieval maze? That one.
Take a seat on one of the street-side tables overlooking the pedestrian lane, order a glass of local Montenegrin wine, and savor your €15 seafood linguini slowly. That’s how you know you’ve peaked in life.
Bardejov, Slovakia
Look, I haven’t been exactly kind to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, though I do have my reasons.
Being a 45 min train ride away, it’s just too close to an imperial Vienna to leave any true lasting impression, it’s hardly a place you’d want to linger in for longer than a few hours, especially after you’ve checked off the main sights, and overall, it’s too small of a city for me to care to revisit.
That doesn’t mean you should give Slovakia the country a miss, especially when it lays claim to what’s perhaps the quintessential European medieval town:
Nestled in the verdant hills of northeastern Slovakia, Bardejov is a UNESCO-listed gem, with a permanent population of around 32,000 inhabitants, very limited tourism, and the kind of fairytalish Historic Center that would make Walt Disney himself drop his sketchbook.
I mean, just take a look at this gorgeous Old Town square: with a solitary, Gothic Radnica (Town Hall) sitting right in the middle of a rectangular, cobble-surfaced square, ringed by the cutest, colorful burgher houses, it gives storybook gives through and through.
Dating back to the 14th century, the Basilica of St. Giles sits on the square’s north side, and its intricate frescoes and solemn interior are worth a quick glance.
On the edge of the Old Town, you can explore old medieval gates, towers, and bastions that have survived into the contemporary era, and whenever you’re craving Slavic grub, of the kind that comes in huge portions and won’t hurt your wallet, Reštaurácia Dolina is the place to go.
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