Western Europe Heading East

The term “Eastern Europe” is a largely political and arbitrary designation: Prague is located farther west than Vienna, Greece is separated from the “West” by hundreds of miles of “East,” and most of Russia is, quite frankly, in Asia. With that in mind, it seems unsurprising that many countries that once lived on the same Bloc now have little in common and, in some cases, little to do with each other. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, the region has undergone an astounding political and cultural transformation, but the shift has been far from uniform. Perhaps all that can be said of the region as a whole is that the countries here are changing—and that the resulting aura of uncertainty, potential, and adventure makes the area a haven for budget travelers. Untouristed cities, pristine national parks, empty hostel beds, and absurdly cheap beer abound. Prague and Budapest have exploded onto the scene as destinations rivaling the great capitals of Western Europe, as-yet uncrowded Bratislava is on its way to joining them, and the Dalmatian Coast attracts travelers with azure waters and medieval towns.