Why Go There? The prices are hard to beat. In addition, there are many real finds off the beaten path with few crowds. A good example is Telc in the Czech countryside.
Where to Go: Central and Eastern Europe:
Top Solo Travel Deals-Central and Eastern Europe: Where to Stay:
Romania:
Bucharest:
Transylvania/Home of Dracula’s Castle:
Follow this link to Romanian Tourism for both cultural tours and adventures from horseback riding to paragliding.
Czech Republic:
Karlovy Vary: Hotel Diamant
Russia: Black Sea:
Things to Do-Central and Eastern Europe: The region is great for hiking, biking and exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Both the major capitals and smaller towns are filled with striking architecture from churches and cathedrals to synagogues and multiple castles. River cruises are a perfect way for solo travelers to have a ready made group for meals and sightseeing. However, if you like time alone, a solo state room is the way to go. The Danube wanders through much of the region, and it is a good place to start. It ends at last in Romania in the delta.
Czech Republic: Prague is at the top of every one’s list. However, do look at smaller towns like Telc and Trebic with UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If you ski or like to go to a spa, check out Karlovy Vary near the German border. As a result, you could fly to Frankfurt or Prague, and catch the train. This fabled town named for King Charles IV has Old Europe charm year round.
Budapest is only a train ride away from Prague. Its most famous building is the 19th century Hungarian Parliament Building. However, it looks more like a large Gothic cathedral than a government building. As it sits on the bank of the Danube at a wide bend, the best approach would be by boat. Other sights to see in Budapest include the Opera House, Budapest Castle and St. Stephen’s Basilica.
Croatia: From its spot on the Adriatic Sea, much of the architecture and area look like Italy. Dubrovnik is the top place for tourists to see in Croatia. The walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For the best view, take the cable car down from the hill top. Split is 2nd in size and is just right for beach lovers. It also is one of many towns in the country with film festivals, which include also Zadar, Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Pula.
Romania: They still have really good prices plus a wide choice of adventure tours or cultural ones. Dracula fans will find much to see in bucolic Transylvania with its ancient castle. In contrast, Bucharest is a large European city and the capital. Art museums and galleries can be found all over the city. Also there are some unique niche museums like the “Museum of old Maps and Books”.
Slovenia: This is the far north of the former Yugoslavia. To the north are the Julian Alps where you can ski at Graška Gora. I found the capital Ljubljana both friendly and easy to tour. The Old Town has a section that looks like St. Petersburg by the river front. The best known spa in Slovenia is at Bled and has been a vacation spot for 100+ years. Bled also has a great hill top castle and quaint church in the midst of a small lake reached by boat. I found out too late that meant no tours in the dead of winter when ice is really dense!
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For more information, click the following links: Czech Official Tourism Site, Budapest Official Site, Poland Tourist Guide, Romania. See also Slovenia.