By Mitchell Jones
Many of us, presented with suggestions of traveling to the best European cities, turn our minds to thoughts of the Eiffel Tower, the Spanish Steps, the Ramblas or St. Paul's Cathedral. We might say there's a certain western bias. This is likely a result all those years Eastern Europe spent shut off by the Iron Curtain.
Thankfully the days of totalitarian communism are all well behind us. And while the new gems in the crown of Europe's great tourist cities don't shimmer quite as gloriously as when they first became open to visitors, back in the 90s, the cities of Eastern Europe remain remarkable opportunities. They bring together breathtaking architecture, delicious food, ancient cultures, affordable prices and people who remain free from tourism-overload cynicism.
Our top three on the list of must-see cities are offered for your consideration:
BUCHAREST
If #3 takes you by surprised, we're not surprised. Its charms remain still widely unacknowledged in mainstream tourism. This fact likely contributes to its appeal. We offer fair warning, though, don't wait too long or this lovely gem could be swamped by the time you get there.
Dubbed little Paris as a result of its distinctive French influence, Bucharest is a great city that survived the bleakest of the bleak Iron Curtain totalitarians in far better shape than might have been anticipated. Back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, before the Communists got hold of it, Bucharest experienced a developmental flourishing.
These great achievements remain among the cities destination landmarks. Topping that list is Bucharest University, Grand Hotel du Boulevard, the Botanical Garden, the Atheneum, and Casa Capsa.
In general, the city's wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Epoque buildings and a reputation for high style, has provided it its well deserved little Paris moniker. A bustling metropolis, Romania's largest city and capital is an absolute must see if you're in search of the East's best European cities.
2. PRAGUE
True, our second on the list isn't quite the surprise as the #3 spot. Don't though make the mistake of letting its predictability put you off a truly remarkable experience. This may be among the best-known East European cities, but, make no mistake; it comes by its reputation honestly.
A city awash in dazzling architecture, it is replete with unending eye-candy vistas of bridges, cathedrals, gold-tipped towers and church domes. Perhaps most impressively it somehow is able to beautifully blend the old, medieval center characterized by cobbled lanes, walled courtyards, cathedrals and countless church spires, with the modern city, packed with excellent fine dining restaurants, and all the sublime music and art you could wish for.
It goes without saying, when you're visiting Prague there are certain venues you simply have to experience. At the top of that list are the Charles Bridge, the Prague Castle/St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Old Town Square, with its well-known Astronomical Clock. Goodness, though, don't stop there. There are too many other marvelous secrets to discover.
Take the ubiquitous cafe; Prague is rightfully famed for its grand cafes. Check out this hot tip though. When you go in search of your coffee break, turn your gaze upward. Little known to the average tourist, Prague's best and most refined, atmospheric downtown cafes are up on what they call the first floor.
It is amazingly that these are overlooked by most tourists. All the better for you. You'll be left speechless by the elegance and refinement of the period interiors. The coffee is dependably exquisite and the clientele always well appointed in the old European way. Top recommendations are the Grand Cafe Orient above the Cubist Museum and Cafe Louvre. The latter, I'm told, was once of haunt of both Kafka and Einstein.
1. Krakow
If you found the second place on our list a bit predictable, you probably won't think the same of our position of honor. Krakow though is indeed a precious find; it hides away some of the best kept secrets of Europe: beautiful architecture and old world charm are everywhere. Krakow's restaurants enjoy a deserved reputation for being quaint, atmospheric eateries with excellent food, for very affordable prices.
Don't, though, let its relative freshness on the tourist trail mislead you. Krakow is no longer undiscovered. Steven Spielberg's awarding film, Shindler's List, both shot and based on events that took place here, has changed all that. The tourism at this point, though, remains located in very specific parts of town. If you want to get away and see the real Krakow, it still can be done. The best tip we can offer is this: get over to Podgrze.
A working-class area being slowly revitalized by Krakow's boho set, seeking refuge from the tourist influx into the town center and Jewish district, Podgrze is surprising easy to access. Simply cross the Laetus Bernatek footbridge. It's easy to do, but most tourists just don't venture across it. Once you're into Podgrze, you'll find a vibrant area with plenty of bars and cafes, for all tastes. You'll have to choose what the right flavor is for you.
One venue we'd highly recommend is Klub Drukarnia. This happening jazz club offers spectacular sunset views over the Wisla River. The club's basement is the local for frequent concerts and DJ nights. Its features include a saloon-style smoking room and a smarter side with velvet seats and a long bar with expansive windows issuing out over the river. Hang with the cool kids of Krakow.
Much as you might enjoy the music and food of Podgrze, the real attraction on this side of the river is Liban Quarry. This place is something else. It's a must-see. Honestly, the term surreal may get overused, but it's perfectly chosen for this place. Originally the quarry of a 19th century Jewish owned limestone company, the Nazis converted it into a forced labor camp. Perhaps they felt there was some irony. The price of this irony was many people's lives; forced labor, when enforced by those as serious as the Nazis, meant worked to death.
After the war Liban Quarry was made a memorial to the victims of Nazi atrocities. Strange sense of memorial, though: the subsequent decades have seen the city essentially turn its back on the place. Consequently, it has been reclaimed by nature, transforming into a spontaneous wildlife sanctuary. It is now home to waterfowl, birds of prey, pheasants and various other animals - including the occasional apparently wild horse. Rusting refinery equipment and memorial gravestones have been swallowed up by intermittent ponds and increasingly dense vegetation, all solemnly overseen by the looming limestone cliffs that started it all. Interpretation of the rather pressing symbolism is left to you.
If a visit to Liban Quarry, as it often does, leaves you feeling a little melancholy, maybe even spooked, I suggest you finish off your day with a heart warming nightcap. Coming back across the bridge from Podgrze you'll discover two delightful cafes just on the city side. These are Mostowy Art Cafe, a large and elegant gallery cafe, and its next door neighbor, the more modest Po Drodze. The latter is a cosy old kitchen cafe where they'll spice up your coffee with a vodka shot. That's the way to end your day.
Thankfully the days of totalitarian communism are all well behind us. And while the new gems in the crown of Europe's great tourist cities don't shimmer quite as gloriously as when they first became open to visitors, back in the 90s, the cities of Eastern Europe remain remarkable opportunities. They bring together breathtaking architecture, delicious food, ancient cultures, affordable prices and people who remain free from tourism-overload cynicism.
Our top three on the list of must-see cities are offered for your consideration:
BUCHAREST
If #3 takes you by surprised, we're not surprised. Its charms remain still widely unacknowledged in mainstream tourism. This fact likely contributes to its appeal. We offer fair warning, though, don't wait too long or this lovely gem could be swamped by the time you get there.
Dubbed little Paris as a result of its distinctive French influence, Bucharest is a great city that survived the bleakest of the bleak Iron Curtain totalitarians in far better shape than might have been anticipated. Back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, before the Communists got hold of it, Bucharest experienced a developmental flourishing.
These great achievements remain among the cities destination landmarks. Topping that list is Bucharest University, Grand Hotel du Boulevard, the Botanical Garden, the Atheneum, and Casa Capsa.
In general, the city's wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Epoque buildings and a reputation for high style, has provided it its well deserved little Paris moniker. A bustling metropolis, Romania's largest city and capital is an absolute must see if you're in search of the East's best European cities.
2. PRAGUE
True, our second on the list isn't quite the surprise as the #3 spot. Don't though make the mistake of letting its predictability put you off a truly remarkable experience. This may be among the best-known East European cities, but, make no mistake; it comes by its reputation honestly.
A city awash in dazzling architecture, it is replete with unending eye-candy vistas of bridges, cathedrals, gold-tipped towers and church domes. Perhaps most impressively it somehow is able to beautifully blend the old, medieval center characterized by cobbled lanes, walled courtyards, cathedrals and countless church spires, with the modern city, packed with excellent fine dining restaurants, and all the sublime music and art you could wish for.
It goes without saying, when you're visiting Prague there are certain venues you simply have to experience. At the top of that list are the Charles Bridge, the Prague Castle/St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Old Town Square, with its well-known Astronomical Clock. Goodness, though, don't stop there. There are too many other marvelous secrets to discover.
Take the ubiquitous cafe; Prague is rightfully famed for its grand cafes. Check out this hot tip though. When you go in search of your coffee break, turn your gaze upward. Little known to the average tourist, Prague's best and most refined, atmospheric downtown cafes are up on what they call the first floor.
It is amazingly that these are overlooked by most tourists. All the better for you. You'll be left speechless by the elegance and refinement of the period interiors. The coffee is dependably exquisite and the clientele always well appointed in the old European way. Top recommendations are the Grand Cafe Orient above the Cubist Museum and Cafe Louvre. The latter, I'm told, was once of haunt of both Kafka and Einstein.
1. Krakow
If you found the second place on our list a bit predictable, you probably won't think the same of our position of honor. Krakow though is indeed a precious find; it hides away some of the best kept secrets of Europe: beautiful architecture and old world charm are everywhere. Krakow's restaurants enjoy a deserved reputation for being quaint, atmospheric eateries with excellent food, for very affordable prices.
Don't, though, let its relative freshness on the tourist trail mislead you. Krakow is no longer undiscovered. Steven Spielberg's awarding film, Shindler's List, both shot and based on events that took place here, has changed all that. The tourism at this point, though, remains located in very specific parts of town. If you want to get away and see the real Krakow, it still can be done. The best tip we can offer is this: get over to Podgrze.
A working-class area being slowly revitalized by Krakow's boho set, seeking refuge from the tourist influx into the town center and Jewish district, Podgrze is surprising easy to access. Simply cross the Laetus Bernatek footbridge. It's easy to do, but most tourists just don't venture across it. Once you're into Podgrze, you'll find a vibrant area with plenty of bars and cafes, for all tastes. You'll have to choose what the right flavor is for you.
One venue we'd highly recommend is Klub Drukarnia. This happening jazz club offers spectacular sunset views over the Wisla River. The club's basement is the local for frequent concerts and DJ nights. Its features include a saloon-style smoking room and a smarter side with velvet seats and a long bar with expansive windows issuing out over the river. Hang with the cool kids of Krakow.
Much as you might enjoy the music and food of Podgrze, the real attraction on this side of the river is Liban Quarry. This place is something else. It's a must-see. Honestly, the term surreal may get overused, but it's perfectly chosen for this place. Originally the quarry of a 19th century Jewish owned limestone company, the Nazis converted it into a forced labor camp. Perhaps they felt there was some irony. The price of this irony was many people's lives; forced labor, when enforced by those as serious as the Nazis, meant worked to death.
After the war Liban Quarry was made a memorial to the victims of Nazi atrocities. Strange sense of memorial, though: the subsequent decades have seen the city essentially turn its back on the place. Consequently, it has been reclaimed by nature, transforming into a spontaneous wildlife sanctuary. It is now home to waterfowl, birds of prey, pheasants and various other animals - including the occasional apparently wild horse. Rusting refinery equipment and memorial gravestones have been swallowed up by intermittent ponds and increasingly dense vegetation, all solemnly overseen by the looming limestone cliffs that started it all. Interpretation of the rather pressing symbolism is left to you.
If a visit to Liban Quarry, as it often does, leaves you feeling a little melancholy, maybe even spooked, I suggest you finish off your day with a heart warming nightcap. Coming back across the bridge from Podgrze you'll discover two delightful cafes just on the city side. These are Mostowy Art Cafe, a large and elegant gallery cafe, and its next door neighbor, the more modest Po Drodze. The latter is a cosy old kitchen cafe where they'll spice up your coffee with a vodka shot. That's the way to end your day.
About the Author:
Travel fans and aficionados need to follow the breaking news on European travel ideas at our Best European Cities blog. Mitchell Jones is a widely published travel writer, who provides the lowdown on the breaking travel trends. See his fascinating article on the wellness travel industry in India.
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