Off the beaten track: it's time to discover Eastern European holidays

When you think beach holiday, your thoughts probably turn to somewhere like Spain or Greece. But Bulgaria, Croatia and Montenegro all offer some of Eastern Europe’s best beaches, that can rival anywhere on the Mediterranean and are often far cheaper. Explore beach holiday destinations in Europe on both the Adriatic and the Black Sea until you find your favourite beach resort.

If you love a good city break, then Eastern Europe is the place to be. As well as the classic city break destinations of Budapest in Hungary and Prague in the Czech Republic, Poland offers you both Krakow and Warsaw, and Romania’s Bucharest is drawing increasing numbers of visitors. Tallinn, Riga and Bratislava are all well worth a weekend visit.

If you’re looking to stay away from capital cities, then places like Brno in the Czech Republic and Wroclaw in Poland are fantastic options.

If you’re a fan of all things Christmassy, then make sure you plan your visit for November or December, when all of these cities put on a spectacular festive show. But, they’re also perfect destinations both in late spring and early autumn, avoiding the crowds and heat of high summer.

Why not put together your own Eastern Europe trip and visit a few of these cities in one week in Eastern Europe, stopping in a few smaller towns along the way?

A fabulous beach destination in the summer, winter resorts in Bulgaria are popular with those who find prices in the Alps to be a bit exorbitant. Poland has some great ski resorts too, but there’s more choice in Bulgaria. Rather than taking your yearly ski trip to Italy or France, this year give Bulgaria holidays a go. There are some fantastic package deals for Eastern European holidays in the winter, and you’ll enjoy discovering a new culture and cuisine whilst you’re at it.

This part of the world is just begging to be seen on two wheels, and there are plenty of companies out there than run both guided and self-guided cycling tours. The south of the Czech Republic, bordering Austria, is a fantastic area for cycling. There are cycle routes linking lots of the big cities in the region, so you could even find yourself cycling from Prague, to Vienna, to Budapest, all whilst following some of the beautiful rivers that criss-cross these countries.

Whilst everyone flocks to the beach, why not head inland and escape the crowds in some idyllic mountainous settings? In Poland, try the stunning Masurian Lakes or the Tatra mountains, and if you’re visiting Albania or Montenegro, explore the Lake Skadar National Park. There’s also the famous Plitvice National Park in northern Croatia, with its legendary lakes, or you could make a beeline for the Julian Alps that lie on Slovenia’s border with Italy for some incredible mountain walking. Oh, and don’t forget to put the Slovak Paradise National Park on your list of some of the best Eastern European holidays for anyone who loves hiking.

If you’re a fan of dramatic castles, then the countries in this part of Europe won’t let you down. You can hop from one picturesque village with an ancient castle to the next. One of the best travel destinations in Eastern Europe, in our humble opinion, is the lair of Count Dracula, Bran Castle near Brasov, Romania, where you can discover the fascinating history of the region of Transylvania. Vlad the Impaler, who was the inspiration for Count Dracula, was born in the charming nearby town of Sighisoara.

If you have the luxury of time, then it’s always best not to plan your Eastern European holidays too strictly. The countries that make up this region are incredibly rich and diverse and when travelling here you continually stumble across amazing spots, so make sure you plan for a bit of spontaneity. Once you’ve had a taste of it, whether in winter or summer, you’ll keep coming back.