Travel to the not-so visited part of the world and see the best of Eastern Europe. In Eastern Europe, one can see historic structures, natural wonders, and religious vestiges which all create a different sense of culture and tradition. As soon as one steps on the land of Eastern Europe, one will immediately feel nostalgic and swept away by the romantic and scenic views of either an old town or a countryside. This article will help you plan your Eastern European itinerary which will take you to places which not-so many tourists have seen before.
Before you confirm your flight and hotel bookings, it is best for you to check if you need a Schengen tourist visa to be permitted entry to the Schengen area. If your passport is not exempted from the Schengen visa, you need to apply for a Schengen Visa. The application process is very easy to follow and the requirements are easy to complete:
- Valid passport and copies of the front and back pages
- A couple of passport-sized photos with white background
- Proof of Travel – Tourists may opt to get a Flight Reservation for Visa or Hotel Booking for Visa without having to pay the actual ticket or hotel reservation.
- Travel Insurance – Tourists may acquire a more affordable and reliable travel insurance from Visitor’s Coverage.
- Personal Covering Letter
- Financial documents, and
- Schengen Visa application form
The Best of Eastern Europe:
Not all countries located in Eastern Europe are members of the Schengen area, which means you just cannot exit and re-enter the Schengen area whenever you wish. To avoid any problems with immigration, this itinerary shall include Eastern European countries that are members of the Schengen area. Should you wish to include other non-member Eastern European countries, you will need to familiarize yourself to the different kinds of Schengen visas so you can apply for the correct one.
First Stop: Warsaw, Poland:
If you’re coming from North America, one of the easier ways to get to Eastern Europe is via Warsaw, Poland. With only one stop between North America and Poland, you can reach Eastern Europe in less than a day.
Start your Eastern European adventure in the capital city of Poland, Warsaw. This largest city of Poland is located near a great river known as Vistula which gives Warsaw an excellent scenic view. Being so near a beautiful body of water, your first destination in Warsaw must be the famous Lazienki Park.
Comparable to Spain’s Retiro Park, Warsaw’s Lazienki Park is a 76-hectare natural area filled with amazing structures like the Palace on the Isla, the Egyptian Temple, the Old Orangery, and the New Orangery. All these structures give a unique ambience to the lush park. The once “Royal Baths Park” is now one of the most romantic sites in Poland.
Second Stop: Kaunas, Lithuania:
From Poland, travel northeast to the second largest city of Lithuania, Kaunas. While most tourists go to Vilnius City, it is better to see the more historic part of Lithuania and see the development of Eastern Europe by visiting the many different museums and surviving ancient structures within the city of Kaunas.
See the best of Eastern Europe in Kaunas by visiting the city’s Old Town. Once inside Old Town, you must visit the famous Kaunas Cathedral Basilica. Built in the early 1400s and dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, this cathedral boasts its classic Gothic design with hints of Renaissance architecture. Even if the cathedral had gone through a series of reconstruction due to fire and war, the interiors of the cathedral still amazes every tourist that go inside it.
Third Stop: Sigulda, Latvia:
Travel further northeast from Lithuania and see the off-beaten town named Sigulda in Latvia. The town of Sigulda is located in the district of Vidzeme which is a short distance from the capital city Riga. The town of Sigulda is full of ancient medieval castles, one of which is the Turaida Castle.
Turaida Castle is a uniquely built medieval castle built upon the banks of the Gauja River. Built in the 1200s, the Turaida Castle or also known as Thor’s Castle is made from red bricks which resembles a large ship from a distance. This great structure has a main structure and a circular tower which still stands tall and proud for tourists to appreciate.
Last Stop: Tallinn, Estonia:
End the best of Eastern Europe travel in Tallinn, Estonia. Located at the easternmost part of the Schengen area, Estonia is a humble country that is bordered by the Baltic Sea which is opposite of Finland. Its capital city, Tallinn, is located at the northern tip of the country that faces the romantic Baltic Sea.
One of the must-see places in Tallinn, Estonia is its Old Town. The Old Town of Tallinn has been declared by UNESCO as a heritage site because of the many ancient structures built within it. Once you get to the Old Town, do visit the famous Town Hall located at the heart of this heritage site. Believed to have been constructed in the late 1300s, this structure is probably the oldest town hall in this part of Eastern Europe. Tourists can now visit this hall and see the classic tapestries displayed along the hall.
Apart from the Old Town of Tallinn, the next best structure to visit is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. This orthodox cathedral was built in the late 1800s following a Russian-style architecture by Russian architect Mikhail Preobrazhensky. After visiting old Gothic-style structures within the Old Town, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is such a breath of fresh air as its structure contrasts the old and has a theme of its own.
The Best of Eastern Europe – Plan Your Trip Now!
It is time to travel to a place that is totally underrated yet can blow your minds by its beauty and grandeur. Before you start packing your bags, make sure your visa application requirements are complete to secure a Schengen Visa. Should you need assistance is getting your flight itinerary or hotel booking, just contact us and one of our friendly agents will respond to your queries.
Invite your friends and loved ones and see the best of Eastern Europe!
