East Europe

Steeped in architecture, history and culture, Eastern Europe exudes a soft charm that’s entirely its own. The heady vibes of its cities like Prague & Budapest, the abundance of natural charm in its lakes, hills and coastlines, the majestic architecture of its castles and opera houses, all ensure that this part of the world doesn’t have to try too hard. We’re head over heels in love already.

Not to be missed

Geothermal Spas
Budapest
The ‘city of spas’, is fed by 118 hot springs, complete with historic bath houses from ancient times.
It’s always BAU in Budapest – Bathing As Usual. Public bathing is a practice that dates back to Roman times. Blessed with mineral rich, underground hot springs, every citizen, conqueror, tourist and passer-by has enjoyed a soothing dip, over the centuries.
Budapest has a choice of public and private baths. The buildings themselves are of significant architectural value. Many date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Turkish conquerors started taking the whole idea of bathing seriously! Try the Széchenyi Baths, one of the largest bathing complexes in Europe. The baths themselves are situated in a Neo-Baroque structure built in 1913. The Rudas Bath is another great place, known for its Ottoman influenced interiors. The Gellert, the Lukacs and the open air strands that operate in summer like the Római, Paskál, Palatinus on Margaret Island, Csillaghegyi, and Pünkösdfürdői are just some of a long list!
Hungarians are really inclusive, many baths are child friendly with features like whirlpools, slides and wave pools. And in summer, night long ‘Spa’rties are held at various locations, with laser shows, smoke machines, fire eaters, DJs, dancers, water ballets and acrobats as part of the mix!

Must Dos

Czech Republic:
Drink the beer. Prague is the home of Pilsner.
Bump into the famous cackling witch puppets in Prague.
Stroll through the Old Town in Prague & snap a pic of the Astronomical Clock.
Stay put in Wenceslas Square, Prague.
See the neo-classical Spanish synagogue at Prague.
Unravel the story of the shoe monument at Letna Park, Prague.
See human bones in the subterranean Ossuary at Sedlec.
Hungary:
Pick up Hungarian paprika, it’s called ‘red gold’.
Try Hungarian specialities like paprika infused chicken and strudel.
Forget the politics, admire Budapest’s grandiose Parliament house.
Take a walk down Andrássy Avenue, the iconic boulevard, dating back to 1872. Lined with spectacular Neo-renaissance mansions and townhouses, it is a World Heritage Site.
Soak in a thermal bath, the Hungarian national pastime.
Climb up hilly Buda for breathtaking views of the city, especially by night.
Cruise the river Danube (Hungary) or the Vltava (Czech Republic).
Sip on Bikavér – Bull’s Blood – Hungary’s local wine!
Go on a running tour in Budapest.
Chill out on the shores of Lake Batalon.
Croatia:
Rub the big right toe of the statue of Grgur Ninski in Split, Croatia, it's supposed to bring you luck.
Head for Krka National Park, Croatia, to admire a stunning series of waterfalls – the Skradinski buk.
Marvel at the acoustics of the Pula Amphitheatre, Croatia, the best preserved monument in the country and the stage for eclectic concerts.
Hit the coast, there are plenty of chic resort towns in the country.
Slovenia:
Walk the medieval walls of Bled castle.
Ride a Happy Johnny, Ljubljana’s cheerful tour buses.
Confront the stone dragons guarding Ljubljana’s bridge.
Spot the three Titans of the Robba bridge.
Foodies and wine lovers, head to Maribor, named European Capital of Culture in 2012.
Be part of Slovenia’s quirky festival scene. How do you like the sound of National Cabbage Day?
Stay in fortified Dubrovnik, one of the earliest resort towns in Europe.
Rugged limestone cliffs, the 15th century Rector’s palace, the quaint old city and cloistered monasteries give it unbeatable atmosphere.
Poland:
Eat black bread.
Spend enough time in Kraków, it has plenty of ancient buildings, miraculously undamaged by World War II.
Visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine, with its subterranean galleries carved from rock salt.
Party in Warsaw.
Hike in the Tatra mountains, the scenery is magical.

Part of the plateau from where the word ‘karst’ itself originates, the Skocjan Caves are a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site. The 11 cave complex has huge underground halls, gorges, natural bridges and the River Reza rushing through it. Want more reason to make the stop? It is the largest known underground canyon in the world!

The most visited cave in Europe, Postojna Cave unfolds nearly 20 km of passages, galleries and chambers. A classic ‘karst’ cave, the topography is replete with speleothems: calcite formations, stalactites and stalagmites in all shapes, colours and age. The best part, you can take a train ride inside!

Tucked away between 1,600 & 1,900 mts above sea level, the five ponds of this post glacial valley are sights to behold. Named Great, Back, Black, Small and Front, they look like they’ve been painted into the landscape. The 70 ft Siklawa Waterfall leaping into the Roztoka valley is another bonus sight in the area!

Swathing large areas of the Poland-Belarus border, this is Europe’s oldest forest. Home to mighty oaks and majestic Wisents, the heaviest land mammal in Europe, even a small walk here should remind you of the transience of human existence.

National Geographic calls the UNESCO Heritage Town of Cesky Krumlov "one of the most beautiful historic destinations in the world” and we agree! And highlighting its splendour is the Castle, with live bears in its dry moat, the wonderfully preserved interiors and lovingly detailed collection of period furnishings, musical instruments, armour and art.

The largest ancient castle in the world, the Prague castle looms over the city. Inside it’s a world in itself with churches, gardens and royal residences. St. Vitus Cathedral is known for its stained glass windows and the tomb of St. John of Nepomuk. For an unforgettable experience, take a stroll roughly around midnight.

A fortification built as early as the 9th century, the spectacular Ljubljana Castle sits atop a hill, keeping an eye on the city. Take the funicular up, climb the viewing tower for sweeping views of Ljubljana, take a virtual history tour, see million year old rock fossils and admire the St. George’s Chapel with its 15th century frescoes. It’s the best of Slovenian history in an easy trip.

Admire Idrija’s beautiful collection of Bobbin lace worked napkins, bed linen, curtains, dresses, necklaces, earrings and more. Visit the Municipal museum Idrija, Lace School Idrija and the Interational Centre of Idrija Lace to know more about the origins of this exquisite art. And shop of course!

Bobbin lace from Bobowa has put this small village on the international circuit. Hit the Gallery of Bobbin Lace to see these intricate creations and watch lace makers ply their craft. Better still, come during the Festival of Bobbin Laces to see lace products from Slovakia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain, Russia, France, Austria, Germany, Hungary and Poland.

This site is emblematic of the systematic mass murder of millions of people. From the ironic inscription on the main gate “Arbeit macht Frei” (work makes you free) to the inhuman gas ‘showers’, the Auschwitz complex was intended to dehumanize and degrade prisoners at every step. Be prepared for gut wrenching stories, traumatizing displays of personal effects, soul crushing concrete punishment rooms and the odd display of spirit & courage. It is travel that opens your mind and bruises your soul. All the more reason to do it.

Make the most of limestone territory. Budapest has plenty of family friendly options to try caving. The easiest is the Szemlő-hegyi Cave show cave, which has concrete paths and good lighting. It is noted for its unique crystal formations.

The Pálvölgyi caves, with several levels under the city offers both easy and tough options. The more adventurous can tackle the natural sections of the cave, with a caving guide leading the way. It involves climbing walls and crawling through narrow passages; not one for the claustrophobics.

Ride on parts of the ancient ‘Amber Route’ that linked the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic. Pass beautiful countryside, medieval castles, wooden churches turned open air museums and soak up the local culture of rural Poland. Cross over to Slovakia after riding through the rolling hills of the Pieniny National Park. A typical tour starts in the Heritage city of Krakow and ends in Poprad, Slovakia.

Follow one of the most idyllic rivers in the world. The Hungarian Danube circuit passes the Danube bend, the lakes of Tata, the baroque towns of Szentendre & Győr, the Visegrád castle and Hungary’s largest cathedral at Esztergom. Unspoilt countryside, superb cuisine and relaxing thermal spas & massages are all part of the journey!

Take a family break from all the sightseeing and head to the Cetina River. Lush vegetation frames the river gorge where class 2 and class 3 rapids can be tackled by anyone, age 8 upwards. A convenient day trip where you paddle, swim and feast your eyes on the pristine Croatian countryside.

Join the Champions league and hit the wildwater canal on Vltava river; located outside Prague, the location of the World Rafting Championships. The canal has been specifically constructed to deliver Class 4 rapids to keep that adrenaline flowing. Once done, you can enjoy the picturesque countryside, sip a cold Pilsner and head back.

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