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Exceptional Eastern European sights
The region's best architecture, ancient ruins and thriving natural habitats
 | The summer residence of Peter the Great sits on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, 29 kilometers (18 miles) outside St. Petersburg. Its extensive lands are divided into four distinct parks—one with a majestic vista over the Sea Channel. Palaces and gold fountains decorate the 18th-century landscaped gardens. |
Interfoto Pressebildagentur / Ala |
"Madama Butterfly" at the Vienna State Opera too pricey? Avid operaphiles might want to head to Ukraine for a just-as-magical yet much cheaper experience at the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater. But act fast, as you soon might not be able to reserve a seat at this Eastern European hot spot.
That's because travel to the region is brisk. The recent strength of the euro and a number of countries easing visa requirements have more tourists trekking east in search of architecturally, historically and culturally significant sights that for years had been practically overlooked.
The region's popular spots also include Nebet Tepe in Bulgaria, Prague's Old Town Square in the Czech Republic, and Lake Bled in Slovenia.
"People go where their currency is strong," says Julia Glozman, manager at New York-based Complete Travel and Visa Center, a visa-passport agency specializing in luxury travel to countries of the former U.S.S.R. Ticket and visa sales to Eastern Europe, she says, have soared in the last five years.
"Since the euro was introduced," Glozman says, "individuals began seeking new historic places to travel to, and thus the gates were opened to Eastern Europe, with budget-minded tourists flocking to see Baroque influences in countries like the Ukraine and the Czech Republic, and the grandeur of Italy's Renaissance in Bulgaria. And then, word-of-mouth spread like wildfire."
Russia—specifically St. Petersburg—recently became her clients' most desirable destination because of its expanding number of relatively inexpensive luxury accommodations and its architectural similarities to France.
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Nebet Tepe, known as one of the best places in Bulgaria for sightseeing, is another landmark gaining tourist attention. Part of a three-hill range, Nebet towers 203 meters (666 feet) above sea level and offers its visitors a stunning panorama of the Balkan Mountains, the Bulgarian Renaissance-style architecture of Old Town Plovdiv, and multiple ancient ruins dating back to the third century B.C.
Increased travel to Russia and Bulgaria has affected their gross domestic products. In fact, last year Bulgaria, Latvia, Romania, Croatia and the Czech Republic experienced the highest growth in tourism, according to Clement Wong, travel and tourism manager for Euromonitor International, a global market research firm. In 2007, Latvia's GDP exploded by 10.3 percent, Bulgaria's by 6.1 percent, Romania's by 5.9 percent, the Czech Republic's by 5.7 percent and Croatia's by 5.6 percent, according to the "CIA World Factbook".
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Catarina Leal / Alamy Part of a three-hill range, Nebet, towering 666 feet above sea level, is considered the best for sightseeing. It overlooks Old Town Plovdiv and features the remains of a Thracian fortress, built in the third century B.C. Gaze at the mesmerizing panorama of the Balkan Mountains or at the Bulgarian Renaissance architecture dominating Old Town. Note the preserved Roman city walls and gates, still standing in parts of the town. |
"There will be more people from India and China traveling to Eastern Europe over the next five years," predicts Wong. “The expansion of the Schengen Agreement [will allow] them to travel throughout Europe without the hassles of having additional visas. Also, it's more cost-efficient to travel to Eastern Europe than to Western Europe.”
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