Eastern Europe Tours & Trips
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Table of contents
- The best Eastern Europe tour packages
- What people love about Eastern Europe Tours
- Travel Eastern Europe your way
- Best tour companies for Eastern Europe tours
- Discover Eastern Europe tours for every budget
- Eastern Europe tours for every type of group
- Top Eastern Europe travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit Eastern Europe
- Contact our Eastern Europe travel experts
- What our customers ask about Eastern Europe Tours & Trips
The best Eastern Europe tour packages
Compiled by
SteffEastern Europe travel expert at TourRadar
Eastern Europe Explorer
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Got a taste of a lot of places, and had a variety of experiences. The night out in the village was one of the highlights.”
Todd, traveled in July
The grand boulevards of Budapest mark the start of this Eastern European expedition. Highlights include Eger's wine cellars, Transylvania's medieval towns, and Bulgaria's ancient cities. The route features UNESCO sites like Viscri's fortified church and Rila Monastery before concluding in Istanbul.
Duration 18 days Destinations Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey Age Range 15 to 99 year olds Operator Intrepid Travel From $6,950
15% Off- NZ$5,908You save $1,042
A cultural odyssey from Krakow to Belgrade unfolds through Eastern Europe. Highlights include Holloko's traditional Paloc village, Subotica's Art Nouveau architecture, and Serbian wine tasting. Guests stay at the medieval Hotel Grand Viglas and visit UNESCO sites like Banska Stiavnica's historic center.
Duration 12 days Destinations Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia Age Range 15 to 99 year olds Operator Intrepid Premium From
15% Off- NZ$7,690
Castles & Capitals: Serbia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria in two weeks - SMALL GROUP
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers
Duration 14 days Destinations Serbia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria Age Range 1 to 90 year olds Operator Victor Tours DMC From $5,804
9% Off- NZ$5,282You save $522
Budapest to Istanbul
19 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“One of the best parts of this trip was that every person in the group was a non smoker. That was awesome!”
Kevin, traveled in May
A cultural immersion awaits at Budapest's thermal baths, Romania's Bran Castle, and Bulgaria's ancient Plovdiv. The tour includes stays at the Balla Géza Winery, visits to medieval Sighișoara, and shopping at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. 12 breakfasts and guided tours of rural Transylvanian villages included.
Duration 13 days Destinations Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey Age Range up to 90 year olds Operator G Adventures From $3,839
30% Off- NZ$2,687You save $1,152
Bohemian Highlights (End Berlin)
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“The hotel accommodations we sub-standard. The NH Hotel Chain rooms were dirty and so tiny.”
Sharon, traveled in September
Warsaw's reconstructed Old Town and Kraków's Wawel Castle showcase Eastern Europe's grandeur. The tour visits the Auschwitz Memorial Site and crosses the Tatra Mountains into Hungary. Cultural highlights include dinner at the Schieszl family winery in Budapest and traditional Polish cuisine.
Duration 13 days Destinations Germany, Poland, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator Trafalgar From $6,050
12% Off- NZ$5,324You save $726
What people love about Eastern Europe Tours
- Eastern Europe Explorer
Great tour, especially if you want to see Romania and Bulgaria. All the homestays were great with lovely hosts. The tour was a good mix of city and rural/countryside, and you take a mix of public transport and private transport. Just beware of your luggage weight and/or size because there are enough steps to go up and down at the train stations.
- Budapest to Istanbul
Great leader, interesting destinations. Would have never seen many of these places on my own.
- Mysterious Journey from Athens to Budapest via Transylvania - Small Group Tour
Really recommend this tour for everyone. It was a great experience for me and my wife and we had an amazing time. We visited a lot of places in a couple of days but it wasn't tiring at all. It was a great blend of organized tours, but also having time of our own to explore. Great experience overall.
Travel Eastern Europe your way
Sail along the blue Danube, explore Vienna's stunning Schönbrunn Palace, stroll through Bratislava's quaint old town, and unwind in Budapest's thermal baths. From Belgrade's buzzing streets to picturesque villages in Romania, you're in for an incredible adventure.
See all River Cruise toursOur Carpathian trails stand out as some of Eastern Europe's best hiking routes. The guides are great at reading their groups, adjusting the walks from easy village paths to proper mountain climbs based on fitness. A favorite route takes you up Poland's Babia Gora peak with fantastic valley views, then down through the winding Dunajec Gorge. Over in Romania's Transylvania, you'll walk between villages like Magura and Pestera, staying in local family homes where hosts prepare regional dishes each evening. Albania's Zagoria Valley offers something quite special - ancient paths connect tiny mountain villages that feel frozen in time, and you'll sleep in beautifully restored traditional houses along the way.
See all Hiking & Trekking toursTrek Bulgaria's Pirin National Park, where striking mountains and serene lakes await, explore Prague's old town and majestic castle, relax in thermal spas after a day of wandering through Budapest, or sample fine wines in Moldova.
The Danube offers excellent cycling routes that blend active travel with cultural discovery. Popular rides flow from Vienna through Slovakia and into Hungary, covering comfortable daily distances of 65-75km on mostly flat ground. Our cyclists appreciate how the routes mix riding with cultural stops - you'll pedal past Roman ruins at Carnuntum and medieval Devin Castle. The itineraries include smart rest days in key cities, perfect for exploring Bratislava's old town or soaking in Budapest's thermal baths. The guides get consistently high marks for adjusting the pace to match the group and sharing deep local knowledge along the way.
See all Bicycle tours
More travel styles:
Best tour companies for Eastern Europe tours
From what our travelers tell us, Intrepid really shines through their tour leaders - they know their stuff and keep things running smoothly even when plans need adjusting. They've got this way of making the whole experience feel both organized and relaxed at the same time. G Adventures offers solid value with their tours, giving you a nice mix of group time and space to do your own thing. Their prices make sense for what you get. That said, a few of our customers mentioned they sometimes had trouble getting quick responses from the main office, and the hotels could be hit or miss with basic cleaning standards. Europamundo does well with their Imperial Capitals route - their guides really know the local history and culture, and the hotels are comfortable. Just keep in mind that some accommodations might be a bit far from where all the action is in city centers. Still, the well-thought-out daily plans and professional guides more than make up for any minor hotel location issues. Each company brings something different to the table - Intrepid with their exceptional guides, G Adventures with their flexible approach and fair pricing, and Europamundo with their solid European routes. They all have their strong points though none are perfect, which is pretty normal in travel really.
View Eastern Europe operators
Discover Eastern Europe tours for every budget
Budget-conscious travelers get solid value from our Eastern European group trips, particularly the routes connecting Budapest, Prague and Krakow. These well-planned journeys mix the big capitals with quieter spots like Mikulov's wine country and the rugged High Tatras. Our customers tell us they love having both guided walks and free time to wander. The cultural touches make these trips special - you'll make pierogi in Krakow, visit a community-focused café in Budapest and share wine with local families in small villages. Most budget tours run 7-14 days with comfy hostels or 3-star hotels, public transport links and select regional meals that give you a real taste of local cooking.
Our luxury tours through Eastern Europe focus on refined experiences - think private classical concerts in Vienna, exclusive castle access and carefully chosen hotels. You'll move between grand capitals and intimate settings, perhaps enjoying a private recital at Budapest's Liszt Academy before dining at restaurants putting modern spins on traditional dishes. The most popular luxury trips include extras like learning to waltz in Vienna, private evening visits to Schönbrunn Palace and dining in historic venues. The guides bring deep local connections, arranging private collection viewings and meetings with artists and noble families.
Eastern Europe budget tours- Eastern Europe luxury tours
16 tours
Starting from
$370
per day
Eastern Europe tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Group
475 tours in Eastern EuropeEastern European group tours really shine at building friendships while exploring the region's best bits. Popular routes mix city visits with countryside activities - rafting through the Dunajec gorge, hiking Slovakian mountain trails and tasting wines in Mikulov's family cellars. Our customers often mention how sharing experiences like cooking classes and folk evenings leads to lasting connections. These tours usually have 12-25 people and balance guided activities with independent time. Guides get praise for managing group dynamics while letting everyone follow their interests, from photographing Prague's buildings to finding Krakow's best dumplings.
Small Group
285 tours in Eastern EuropeWith just 8-16 people, small group tours offer a more personal way to discover Eastern Europe's cultural mix. These intimate settings let you visit family wineries in Tokaj, share home-cooked meals in Hungarian villages and explore hidden gems like Slovakia's wooden churches. Our travelers love how the smaller size allows for unexpected stops - maybe joining a village celebration or taking time for perfect photos in Český Krumlov. Guides can adjust the pace based on what interests you, whether that's extra hours in Vienna's museums or another trail in the Carpathian mountains.
Private / Personalized
212 tours in Eastern EuropePrivate Eastern European tours give you full control while keeping expert guidance. These flexible trips often connect Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, letting you set the pace and focus. Our customers really value being able to linger at places they love - maybe spending more time in Český Krumlov's old town or taking an extra day for Vienna's music scene. Private guides set up special visits like after-hours castle tours, meetings with local craftspeople and meals in historic cellars, all working around your schedule and interests.
Top Eastern Europe travel itineraries to fit your plans
Week-long routes across Eastern Europe offer great variety depending on your interests. Budapest to Prague takes you through medieval towns and wine regions - travelers tell us they especially love tasting wines in family cellars around Mikulov and exploring Bratislava's old quarter with local guides who know all the hidden spots. The Budapest to Berlin route mixes relaxation at thermal baths with meaningful history at sites like Auschwitz and the Berlin Wall. Our guides get consistently high marks for showing guests the best local restaurants and sharing stories you won't find in guidebooks. If you want to see four countries in a week, private tours give you room to linger - maybe spend extra time at Český Krumlov's castle or dive deeper into Vienna's coffee culture and classical music scene.
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The most popular 10-day Eastern European routes weave through the region's culture-rich heart, moving smoothly between grand capitals, tucked-away villages and local encounters. Our travelers book routes connecting Budapest through Romania's medieval sites to Sofia, with guided visits balanced against free exploration time. While touring family wineries like Balla Géza, watching craftspeople in Hollóko village, and wandering ancient Sighișoara, you'll get deep into local life. Another top choice takes you from Prague to Budapest by way of Vienna and Bratislava, where Habsburg grandeur meets hands-on cooking classes and medieval street wandering. Our guests often tell us how much they enjoy the active morning walks combined with cultural afternoons - perhaps exploring Bran Castle before a Hungarian cooking session, or walking Prague's Jewish Quarter before discovering neighborhood wine cellars. What makes these trips work so well is our guides, who know just the right local spots and share lesser-known stories, keeping groups intimate at 8-16 people for that personal connection.
See all toursDemographics
Our solo travelers really connect with the Central European routes linking Budapest, Prague and Krakow. The trips mix planned activities with plenty of free time to explore - you'll learn to make proper pierogi in Krakow's kitchens, check out social enterprise cafés making a difference in Budapest and dive into Prague's beer scene with your fellow travelers. We've set things up with overnight trains and central hostels or hotels, so you can easily hang out with the group but still have your private space when needed. The small groups of 12-16 people work really well - enough people to make friends but not so many that it feels crowded.
Eastern Europe presents wonderful couple-focused journeys, starting in Budapest where evening Danube cruises and thermal baths set a relaxed mood before venturing to Romania's wine regions. Our guests consistently praise the intimate tastings at family cellars like Balla Géza, where shared moments unfold naturally in historic settings. The routes balance grand capitals with tranquil spots - couples can experience private concerts in Vienna's classical venues, then settle into medieval Sighișoara where traditional guesthouses welcome visitors with local wines and home-cooked specialties. The Prague-Vienna-Budapest combination flows smoothly as well, letting couples drift between Vienna's refined coffeehouses, Prague's winding lanes and Budapest's soothing thermal waters. What makes these paths distinct are the personal elements - cooking workshops in Krakow's heritage kitchens, evening strolls through Český Krumlov and wine sampling in Mikulov's age-old cellars that date back centuries.
Our trips through Central Europe just click with travelers in their 20s and 30s. They love how we mix the nightlife of Budapest's ruin bars and Prague's beer halls with proper outdoor fun like hiking the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia. Groups usually have 8-12 people who share interests in good food, local history and getting to know the culture. The guides know exactly how to balance the big sites with local spots - you might spend your morning at Auschwitz then get tips on finding Krakow's best pierogi places that evening. Our travelers often mention how nice it is to have both planned activities and free time, letting them explore at their own speed while making good friends along the way.
Our older travelers particularly enjoy how we pace the tours through Central and Eastern Europe's historic capitals. We include nice hotels and well-thought-out activities - walking tours of Vienna's musical spots, visits to Prague's UNESCO sites and relaxing sessions at Budapest's thermal baths. Staying 2-3 nights in each place gives you time to really get to know the local culture and history. People especially like the local experiences: tasting wines in Mikulov's cellars, learning traditional crafts in Holloko village and exploring medieval towns like Cesky Krumlov. The guides get lots of positive feedback for how they adjust activities to different mobility levels while sharing deep cultural knowledge.
- Solo Travelers497 tours All tours for Solo Travelers
- Couples148 tours
- Young Adults (18 - 39)27 tours All tours for Young Adults
- Seniors (50+)166 tours All tours for Seniors
Best time to visit Eastern Europe
- Summer 2025
Summer's Best of Central Europe route balances city experiences with mountain activities perfectly. The hiking in Slovakia's Tatra Mountains works for different fitness levels, and our travelers love how well-planned the routes are. You'll get plenty of time in cities too - think jazz clubs in Prague and thermal baths in Budapest. The guides do a great job mixing scheduled activities with free time, so you can choose between exploring castles, taking river cruises and joining food tours. The medieval town of Cesky Krumlov is especially nice in summer evenings when the streets come alive with local energy.
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- popular 417 tours
- Fall / Autumn 2025
Autumn routes connecting Budapest through Romania and also Bulgaria really deliver something special. The Carpathian forests turn golden, making walks through traditional villages even more memorable. You'll visit unique spots like the colorful "Merry Cemetery" in Maramures and Bran Castle in Transylvania. It's perfect timing for wine experiences - try homemade varieties in rural Romania or visit established wineries in Bulgaria's Melnik region. The mild weather makes city exploration really pleasant, whether you're discovering Prague's Jewish Quarter or walking Budapest's grand boulevards.
- popular 427 tours
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- Winter 2025 / 2026
The Imperial Capitals winter tour really shines during the festive season, connecting Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava and also Prague. Our travelers often mention how much they enjoy ducking into Vienna's elegant coffee houses for traditional pastries when it's cold outside. Budapest's thermal baths feel extra special in winter, and the evening concerts in historic venues add something magical to the experience. You'll find fewer tourists crowding Prague's Old Town and Budapest's ruin bars this time of year, which means more genuine interactions with locals.
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- Spring 2026
Spring opens up Eastern Europe beautifully, with routes running from Budapest through Transylvania and into Bulgaria. The weather's just right for hiking in the Carpathians, and you can take your time exploring medieval towns like Sighisoara and also Veliko Tarnovo. In Bulgaria, you'll taste wines in centuries-old cellars and visit orthodox monasteries, while Romania offers authentic village homestays. Another route links Prague to Berlin through Krakow, mixing historical sites with modern culture. Food experiences really come alive in spring - you can learn to make pierogi in Krakow and sample Bull's Blood wine in Eger's rolling valleys.
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- popular 212 tours
Contact our Eastern Europe travel experts
Micaela
Expert in Eastern Europe at TourRadar
Micaela is one of our seasoned Eastern Europe Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Eastern Europe tours answered!
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+64 4888 0182What our customers ask about Eastern Europe Tours & Trips
When's the best time to visit Eastern Europe for good weather without massive crowds?
May through September gives you the sweet spot for exploring Eastern Europe — warm sunny days perfect for wandering through historic streets and taking in the sights. The weather's just right but keep in mind popular spots like Prague Budapest and Krakow do get pretty busy during these peak months. Still the pleasant temperatures make it worth dealing with some extra visitors.
What's the smartest way to get between Eastern European countries?
Trains are your best friend when traveling through Eastern Europe offering both comfort and efficiency. The rail network connects all the major cities and you get to enjoy some amazing views along the way. If you're heading to smaller towns or spots the trains don't reach buses are a solid budget-friendly option. On tours like the Eastern Europe Explorer you'll experience this firsthand taking the train from Eger to Debrecen then mixing train and private transport to reach Romania's stunning Maramures region.
How can I experience Eastern Europe's natural beauty beyond the cities?
Eastern Europe's got some incredible landscapes waiting to be discovered from Slovakia's dramatic High Tatra Mountains to Romania's Piatra Craiului National Park and Albania's breathtaking Zagoria Valley. These mountain regions offer everything from casual walks to serious hiking trails plus cable car rides with views that'll take your breath away. You can reach most spots by local bus or train or join organized tours. The Explore Eastern Europe tour includes an amazing cable car ride up to the snowy peaks of Slovakia's High Tatras and if you're into hiking the Zagoria Valley tour lets you explore some of the region's most stunning trails.
What local foods should I definitely try and where can I find them?
Eastern Europe's food scene is incredibly diverse and delicious. You've got to try Hungarian goulash — this hearty beef stew is comfort food at its finest. In Poland pierogi are the go-to these filled dumplings are absolutely amazing. Serbia's famous for cevapi grilled sausages that'll have you coming back for seconds. Find these at traditional restaurants local markets or better yet join a cooking class. The Premium Central Europe tour includes both a goulash tasting in Prague and a pierogi cooking class in Krakow. For something really special the Explore Eastern Europe tour includes lunch with a local family in Holloko Hungary where you'll taste authentic homemade Hungarian dishes.
Which lesser-known spots offer the best cultural experiences?
Check out Olomouc in the Czech Republic with its incredible Holy Trinity Column and historic astronomical clock. Banska Stiavnica in Slovakia is a UNESCO site with fascinating medieval mining history. And don't miss Subotica in Serbia — this border city's got some of the most beautiful Art Nouveau architecture you'll find anywhere. These places give you a really authentic experience without the tourist crowds. The Premium Central Europe tour stops in Olomouc while the Explore Eastern Europe tour includes Banska Stiavnica with a pretty fascinating tour of the Mining Museum.