Moldovan Wine is Great

Moldova is known for its wine industry and the Moldovan wine is excellent. The Mileștii Mici underground wine cellar holds the Guinness World Record for the biggest wine cellar in the world.

Not Many Tourists

Moldova is one of the least visited countries in Europe. Five years ago it was the #1 least visited country in the continent. Ironically, that’s what makes it increasingly popular with tourists who want to avoid crowds and see something different, so it lost its infamous title.

National Dish

Moldova’s national dish is porridge, locally known as mămăligă. It’s made from yellow maize flour and traditionally served as a side to stews and meat dishes. It’s often topped with cottage cheese, sour cream, and even pork rind. It’s humble but very tasty and satisfying—a perfect comfort dish. You can even find it in the fancy restaurants, as well as in any Moldovan home.

The post 3 Things You Didn’t Know About Moldova appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

The Bulgarian language is very similar to Russian, meaning Russian speakers will be able to speak and understand quite freely. Most of the signs are not in English, but you can get by with a good language translation app.

Bulgaria is a relatively safe country, but of course it is recommended to wear a money belt (especially on bus trips and crowded places).

In the big cities, you can find places in hostels relatively cheaply, and in the summer you can stay in a tent in designated camping sites.

In Bulgaria, there is a convenient bus network. In more remote places you might have to hitchhike. Trains are much slower than buses in Bulgaria and are not recommended.

The best time to travel Bulgarian mountains is between the end of May and the end of October. September is considered the driest month of the summer months and October is already starting to get very cold in the high places and most places are already at end-of-season prices.

The post Useful Information For A Backpacking Trip In Bulgaria appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Riga, Latvia

Riga connects Eastern Europe to many tourist destinations in the West. It is a charming city that deserves a couple of days to explore rather than being used as a quick stopover.

Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn is Estonia’s capital city and walking through the Old Town is like stepping into a fairytale. It’s the perfect stopover if you are heading to the Baltics and is one of Europe’s most underrated picturesque towns.

Bratislavia, Slovakia

Bratislava is located between Vienna and Budapest. If you are interested in exploring Eastern Europe away from the tourists, this charming city has plenty to offer.

Krakow, Poland

Krakow offers stunning natural beauty in addition to vibrant city nightlife. It is also a place to learn about Poland’s dark past and educate oneself about the horrors of the Holocaust.

Brasov, Romania

Brasov is home to Dracula’s Castle and boasts terrific Gothic architecture. If you are intrigued by the historical and are looking for a budget vacation, Brasov is one of Europe’s finest choices.

The post 5 Magical Eastern European Cities You Probably Skipped When You Went Interrailing appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Novi Sad

Head around 100km north and you’ll find Novi Sad, the second-largest city in Serbia. It’s much more relaxed than Belgrade and not too big in size, which makes it perfect for walking around. Find many cafes, shops, and bars in Dunavska, one of the oldest streets in the city. Don’t miss Petrovaradin Fortress, also known as “Gibraltar on/of the Danube.”

Sremski Karlovci

Sremski Karlovci is a town close to Novi Sad where you can see incredible architecture and one of the most important buildings in Serbia—the Karlovci Gymnasium, the oldest secondary school in the country.

Tara

Mountain and national park Tara is something you shouldn’t miss while visiting Serbia. Tara is proof that Serbia has incredible nature. Just one look at the lake Perucac will make you forget about the rest of the world. Another mountain and a popular tourist destination Zlatibor is close to Tara, so you can check it out, too.

The post 3 Great Places in Serbia Outside of Belgrade appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Check out these under-the-radar Eastern European destinations if you are looking for a new and unique experience!

Lviv, Ukraine

Ukraine might often be perceived as being a monolithic place, but Lviv proves that this simply isn’t true. The combination of Polish, Austro-Hungarian, and Ukrainian influences have made Lviv into a cosmopolitan small city with a huge variety of influences to make it unique.

Tallinn, Estonia

It’s such a shame that more people don’t take the chance to visit Tallinn. This capital city, located on the Baltic Sea coast, has one of Europe’s best-preserved and most beautiful old towns. Here, you’ll find a Town Hall dating back to the 13th century as well as Kiek in de Kök, an imposing defense tower.

Brasov, Romania

Transylvania is waiting to be discovered, and the charming city of Brasov in central Romania is the gateway to this mysteriously charming region. Situated in the beautifully forested Transylvanian Mountains, the Bran Castle is a highlight of this charming and pedestrian-friendly city.

The post Eastern Europe’s Most Underrated Destinations appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

With more than 1.7 million residents, it is the capital city of Poland, but it’s also the economic and cultural center of the region. 

Positioned on the Vistula River, the city is famous for its architecture and beauty. The art and architecture of the city tells a visual story of the rich history and importance in the times past. Warsaw mixes three dominant styles – the classical, the soviet and the modern, creating a rather distinctive look. 

This is the perfect city to roam and walk, especially the historical old town that is located in the heart of Warsaw.

There are many sites that should be visited in the city center including the museum of the Warsaw Uprising, the Center for Modern Art and many more that we will leave to you to discover – wherever you go, you won’t make a mistake!  

Similar to the Czech Republic, Warsaw has a great drinking culture so visiting the local bars is mandatory for the more adventurous travelers.  

The post Warsaw – Poland’s Beautiful Capital appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik, on the southern tip of Croatia, is packed with history and art museums, great views and some of Europe’s most spectacular beaches.

It also has many affordable wine bars and a cable-car ride with magnificent views. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or not, you can’t help but feel a sense of awe when you see the beauty of the walled old town with its well-preserved buildings.

Krakow, Poland

Krakow’s Old Town and Main Market Square is full of modern bars, boutiques, cafes and restaurants.  It’s easy to walk or bike around Krakow and enjoy the public parks along the Vistula River.

A glimpse into the somber history of Krakow can be seen at the Schindler factory, museums and what remains of the Jewish quarter.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is a gem of a city. The city has two sides, linked by an iconic bridge over the Danube River.

The many bistros and cafes offer traditional food and a chance to indulge in one of Hungary’s rich, world famous tortes, cakes, and crepes. It is well-worth taking a walk over the 19th-century chain bridge with its stone lions.

The post 3 Must-See Cities in Eastern Europe appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Moldovan Wine is Great

Moldova is known for its wine industry and the Moldovan wine is excellent. The Mileștii Mici underground wine cellar holds the Guinness World Record for the biggest wine cellar in the world.

Not Many Tourists

Moldova is one of the least visited countries in Europe. Five years ago it was the #1 least visited country in the continent. Ironically, that’s what makes it increasingly popular with tourists who want to avoid crowds and see something different, so it lost its infamous title.

National Dish

Moldova’s national dish is porridge, locally known as mămăligă. It’s made from yellow maize flour and traditionally served as a side to stews and meat dishes. It’s often topped with cottage cheese, sour cream, and even pork rind. It’s humble but very tasty and satisfying—a perfect comfort dish. You can even find it in the fancy restaurants, as well as in any Moldovan home.

The post 3 Things You Didn’t Know About Moldova appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

The Bulgarian language is very similar to Russian, meaning Russian speakers will be able to speak and understand quite freely. Most of the signs are not in English, but you can get by with a good language translation app.

Bulgaria is a relatively safe country, but of course it is recommended to wear a money belt (especially on bus trips and crowded places).

In the big cities, you can find places in hostels relatively cheaply, and in the summer you can stay in a tent in designated camping sites.

In Bulgaria, there is a convenient bus network. In more remote places you might have to hitchhike. Trains are much slower than buses in Bulgaria and are not recommended.

The best time to travel Bulgarian mountains is between the end of May and the end of October. September is considered the driest month of the summer months and October is already starting to get very cold in the high places and most places are already at end-of-season prices.

The post Useful Information For A Backpacking Trip In Bulgaria appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Riga, Latvia

Riga connects Eastern Europe to many tourist destinations in the West. It is a charming city that deserves a couple of days to explore rather than being used as a quick stopover.

Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn is Estonia’s capital city and walking through the Old Town is like stepping into a fairytale. It’s the perfect stopover if you are heading to the Baltics and is one of Europe’s most underrated picturesque towns.

Bratislavia, Slovakia

Bratislava is located between Vienna and Budapest. If you are interested in exploring Eastern Europe away from the tourists, this charming city has plenty to offer.

Krakow, Poland

Krakow offers stunning natural beauty in addition to vibrant city nightlife. It is also a place to learn about Poland’s dark past and educate oneself about the horrors of the Holocaust.

Brasov, Romania

Brasov is home to Dracula’s Castle and boasts terrific Gothic architecture. If you are intrigued by the historical and are looking for a budget vacation, Brasov is one of Europe’s finest choices.

The post 5 Magical Eastern European Cities You Probably Skipped When You Went Interrailing appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Novi Sad

Head around 100km north and you’ll find Novi Sad, the second-largest city in Serbia. It’s much more relaxed than Belgrade and not too big in size, which makes it perfect for walking around. Find many cafes, shops, and bars in Dunavska, one of the oldest streets in the city. Don’t miss Petrovaradin Fortress, also known as “Gibraltar on/of the Danube.”

Sremski Karlovci

Sremski Karlovci is a town close to Novi Sad where you can see incredible architecture and one of the most important buildings in Serbia—the Karlovci Gymnasium, the oldest secondary school in the country.

Tara

Mountain and national park Tara is something you shouldn’t miss while visiting Serbia. Tara is proof that Serbia has incredible nature. Just one look at the lake Perucac will make you forget about the rest of the world. Another mountain and a popular tourist destination Zlatibor is close to Tara, so you can check it out, too.

The post 3 Great Places in Serbia Outside of Belgrade appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Check out these under-the-radar Eastern European destinations if you are looking for a new and unique experience!

Lviv, Ukraine

Ukraine might often be perceived as being a monolithic place, but Lviv proves that this simply isn’t true. The combination of Polish, Austro-Hungarian, and Ukrainian influences have made Lviv into a cosmopolitan small city with a huge variety of influences to make it unique.

Tallinn, Estonia

It’s such a shame that more people don’t take the chance to visit Tallinn. This capital city, located on the Baltic Sea coast, has one of Europe’s best-preserved and most beautiful old towns. Here, you’ll find a Town Hall dating back to the 13th century as well as Kiek in de Kök, an imposing defense tower.

Brasov, Romania

Transylvania is waiting to be discovered, and the charming city of Brasov in central Romania is the gateway to this mysteriously charming region. Situated in the beautifully forested Transylvanian Mountains, the Bran Castle is a highlight of this charming and pedestrian-friendly city.

The post Eastern Europe’s Most Underrated Destinations appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

With more than 1.7 million residents, it is the capital city of Poland, but it’s also the economic and cultural center of the region. 

Positioned on the Vistula River, the city is famous for its architecture and beauty. The art and architecture of the city tells a visual story of the rich history and importance in the times past. Warsaw mixes three dominant styles – the classical, the soviet and the modern, creating a rather distinctive look. 

This is the perfect city to roam and walk, especially the historical old town that is located in the heart of Warsaw.

There are many sites that should be visited in the city center including the museum of the Warsaw Uprising, the Center for Modern Art and many more that we will leave to you to discover – wherever you go, you won’t make a mistake!  

Similar to the Czech Republic, Warsaw has a great drinking culture so visiting the local bars is mandatory for the more adventurous travelers.  

The post Warsaw – Poland’s Beautiful Capital appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik, on the southern tip of Croatia, is packed with history and art museums, great views and some of Europe’s most spectacular beaches.

It also has many affordable wine bars and a cable-car ride with magnificent views. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or not, you can’t help but feel a sense of awe when you see the beauty of the walled old town with its well-preserved buildings.

Krakow, Poland

Krakow’s Old Town and Main Market Square is full of modern bars, boutiques, cafes and restaurants.  It’s easy to walk or bike around Krakow and enjoy the public parks along the Vistula River.

A glimpse into the somber history of Krakow can be seen at the Schindler factory, museums and what remains of the Jewish quarter.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is a gem of a city. The city has two sides, linked by an iconic bridge over the Danube River.

The many bistros and cafes offer traditional food and a chance to indulge in one of Hungary’s rich, world famous tortes, cakes, and crepes. It is well-worth taking a walk over the 19th-century chain bridge with its stone lions.

The post 3 Must-See Cities in Eastern Europe appeared first on Traveler Dreams.