Many people would ask which side of Europe do I prefer?  Eastern or Western?  My answer to this question is Eastern Europe.  Reason being, Eastern Europe is more beautiful and also cheaper as compared to western Europe.

If you don’t have few months to explore you may want to consider taking the below summary itinerary as a reference.  It took me about 12 days but you can stay longer if you want to.

Below is a summary itinerary of the places in Eastern Europe.  Countries include :

Berlin Germany -> Dresden Germany -> Prague Czech Republic -> Krakow Poland -> Budapest Hungary -> Vienna Austria -> Salzburg Austria -> Eagle Nest Germany.

 

Eastern Europe – Day 1 & 2 – Berlin, Germany

1. Berlin’s Sony Center
2. Berlin Wall – famous grafitti “The Kiss” (picture above)
3. Brandenburger Gate
4. Berlin Cathedral Church
5. Pergamon Museum in Berlin
6. Reichstag Building – New German Parliament
7. Checkpoint Charlie

Please also look for these little icons while in Berlin!

• Ampelmann – little traffic light men – look super cute
• Trabi/Trabant Classic Cars
• Germany Sausage

Eastern Europe – Day3 – Dresden & Bestei, Germany

1. Dresden Frauenkirche
2. Brühl’s Terrace
3. Elbe River
4. Fürstenzug -the largest porcelain artwork in the world (picture above)
5. Zwinger mit Semperbau – old Palace Museum
6. Theaterplatz and the Semperoper – public square
7. Bastei Bridge – 1.5 hour from Dresden

Thing you should try :

• German Pork Knuckle Lunch

Eastern Europe – Day 4 – Prague, Czech Republic

1. Prague Castle – largest ancient Castle in the world
2. St Vitus Cathedral – most important Church in Prague, Czech Republic
3. Golden Lane – narrow street with colorful tiny cottages
4. Wenceslas Square – oldest Square in Prague
5. Statue of Wenceslas I of Bohemia, nicknamed the good king.
6. Prague Astronomical Clock – 3rd oldest astronomical clock in the world
7. Charges Bridge – a stone bridge crosses the Vltava river in Prague.
8. Saint John of Nepomus – most famous statue in Charges Bridge (picture above)

Things you may want to explore :

• Private Cruise Lunch – breathtaking scenery along the Vltara River
• Shopping – Luxury shopping at Parizska Street and local souvenirs shopping at Wenceslas Square

Eastern Europe – Day 5 – Krakow Salt Mine, Poland

“Wieliczka” Salt Mine in Krakow, Poland – Unesco site

1. Wooden stairs – few hundred steps below underground
2. Salt Mine Rehabilitation Clinic
3. Legend of the Salt Mines – Princess Kinga & Statue of King Casimir III (picture above)
4. Scary tunnels in the mines
5. Little salt statue dwarfs
6. Horses and Horse Stable
7. St. Kinga’s Chapel
8. Rock-salt statue of Pope John Paul II

Things you should not missed while in the Salt Mine Krakow :

• Salt for bath scrub in the Gift shop – must buy!

Eastern Europe – Day 6 – Krakow Poland – Part 1: Wawel Castle & Main Market Square

1. Wawel Royal Castle
2.        – -Inner Courtyard of Wawel Castle (Picture above)
   –Sandomierska Tower in Royal Castle – Fire Tower with dungeon
3. Ulica Kanonicza – Krakow’s Most Scenic Street 
4. Main Market Square
5. St. Mary’s Basilica Church – largest wooden altarpiece in the world
6. Cloth Hall, Krakow
7. Town Hall Tower -Focal Point in Main Square
8. Jaqiellonian University

Things to look for :

• Winged Hussars -Polish Warrior in Main Square

Eastern Europe – Day 6 – Krakow Poland – Part 2 : Jewish Quarter & Auschwitz Concentration Camp

1. Jewish Quarter – Jewish neighborhood
2. Auschwitz Concentration Camp – Death Camp
   – Gas Chamber (picture above)
   – Museum

Thing you may want to know before :

• Mentally prepared as not many people can handle the camp but it is a great tour to learn about the past!
• Watched these two movies if you have no background of the history – The Pianist ( true story) & Schindler’s List

Eastern Europe Day 7 – Budapest, Hungary

1. Highway from Krakow to Budapest 6 Hours drive
2. Orava Castle in Slovakia
3. Lunch at Donovaly Slovakia
4. A night of culture : Folk Dance Dinner
5. Budapest Danube River Cruise Tour
6. Budapest Parliament Building (picture above)
7. Beautiful Chain Bridge -connecting Buda and Pest

Things you should not missed :

• River cruise during sunset.  You get to see the sky turn dark and how the surrounding buildings changes and dress up with stunning lights.

Eastern Europe Day 8 – Budapest, Hungary

1. Hero Square
2. Millennium Monument -Unesco Site
3. Chain Bridge
4. Funicular ride to go up Castle Hill
5. Castle Hill Ruins near Buda Castle
6. Buda Castle/ Royal Palace
7. Beethoven Concert Hall In Budapest
8. Matthias Church
9. Fisherman Bastion (picture above)
10. Gellert Hill
11. St. Stephen’s Basilica

Thing you may want to try :

• Metro in Budapest – public transport

Eastern Europe Day 9 – Vienna, Austria

1. Schonbrunn Palace – Unesco Site – Summer Palace
   — go look for Empress Sisi
   –Rose Garden In Schonbrunn Palace (picture above)
   –The Gloriette in the Schonbrunn Palace Garden
   –Neptune Fountain in Schonbrunn Palace
2. Rathaus – Town Hall Vienna
3. St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna
4. Hofburg Palace – Winter Palace
5. Heldenplatz – Hero Square
   –The statue of Archduke Charles in Heldenplatz
6. Outer Burgtor – Historical Gate near Hofburg Palace
7. Kunsthistorisches Museum – Largest Fine Arts Museum in Austria

Thing you may want to see :

• Ballet and Opera Concert In Vienna

Eastern Europe Day 10 – Salzburg, Austria

1. Lunch with Alpine Surroundings
2. Mirabell Palace and Gardens – Sound of Music – Unesco
3. Makartsteg bridge (picture above)
4. Mozart’s Birthplace at 9 Getreidegasse
5. Mozart’s Residence
6. The Residenzplatz/Residence Square
7. Barogue Fountain at Residence Square
8. Mozartplatz & Mozart Monument

Things to observe :

• Trolleybuses in Salzburg
• Street performance

Eastern Europe Day 11 – Kehlsteinhaus, Eagle Nest Germany -Hitler’s Holiday Home

1. Kehlsteinhaus – Eagle’s Nest in Germany – Hitler’s Holiday Home

• Check out the view at Bavarian Alps (picture above)
• Tunnel leads to the elevator up Eagle Nest
• Restaurant with 360 degree of Alpine view

Things you should observe :

• The Gold elevator – experience the luxury atmosphere for few seconds while it brings you up to Eagle Nest & check out the mirror too.

Eastern Europe Summary Itinerary covering 6 countries and 9 cities.

Berlin Germany -> Dresden Germany -> Prague Czech Republic -> Krakow Poland -> Slovakia -> Budapest Hungary -> Vienna Austria -> Salzburg Austria -> Eagle Nest Germany.

You may like nearby other attraction 

• Western Europe Summary Itinerary
• Turkey Summary Itinerary
• UK Self Drive Summary Itinerary

I have affiliate program with the following booking website, so please click at your preference booking website here to check the hotels or airbnb you like to stay for your Eastern Europe trip.

Booking Resources :  

• Agoda
• Airbnb
• Booking.com
• Klook