Even though tourism has been gaining popularity in recent years, the majority of countries in Eastern Europe are still considered to be mostly undiscovered destinations.

Which is too bad, because there are so many cool things to do, see, and eat across this region! I’ve traveled extensively through most of the countries listed here and many of them, like Georgia and Hungary, have made it to my list of favorite countries.

Many people might hesitate to travel to Eastern Europe because they see it as an unknown land full of ~~bears with vodka playing the balalaika~~ hundreds of years of stormy history, with a language different from their own, all wrapped up into Soviet-style gray buildings.

But nope! If you do venture out to Eastern Europe, you’ll be met with friendly locals who will curiously ask why you’ve traveled so far to their home country, delicious food, beautiful architecture, and budget-friendly prices. That’s not so bad, isn’t it? ;)

If you’re ready to travel to this colorful and bustling region, I’m sure you might be looking for some useful travel tips for Eastern Europe. You’ve come to the right place! I’ve collected the most important things to know before visiting Eastern Europe. From tap water to currency, dealing with taxis, local food, and what not to do — it’s all here!

P.S. — For all intents and purposes, I define Eastern Europe as the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and Ukraine. Pretty much the majority of ex-USSR countries and its neighbors. :)

I know that sometimes the Balkans and the ‘Stans are grouped together with countries in Eastern Europe, but they’ll have their own separate posts soon!

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LANGUAGE

1 – Memorize A Little Bit Of Russian Before You Go

If there’s one good thing that came from the USSR, it’s the fact that there was a common language between all the countries.

Nowadays, 30-something years after the Soviet Union fell apart, many people still speak the most popular language back from those days, which is Russian. Of course, the younger generation is slowly phasing out and learning the local language, but many adults and older locals still speak it fluently.

Before you travel to Eastern Europe, I recommend learning a few key phrases in Russian, such as Hello, How are you, where is X, and so on. If you have enough time, learning the Cyrillic alphabet will be a huge help because it’ll help you navigate around cities (most street signs are only in Cyrillic!), read menus, figure out which bus goes where, and ask locals questions. In addition to Russian, I recommend learning some phrases in the local language (Ukrainian in Ukraine, Georgian in Georgia, etc.) if you really want to impress people and make new friends.

TIP: I recommend this book (Teach Yourself Russian Grammar) if you want to learn Russian – it does a great job of explaining Russian, as well as grammar and conversational phrases.

STORY TIME: I’m fluent in Russian and had no problem exclusively speaking it when I traveled through Moldova, Russia, Belarus, Georgia, the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), and, of course, my motherland Ukraine.

One interesting exception was Romania, where it was a little trickier. My friend and I were trying to buy a bus ticket but couldn’t figure out when the next bus left. I tried asking the local students in both Russian and English, but they didn’t understand. One went off to fetch an older gentleman (I guess he liked to chill out with his buddies near the bus station) who spoke perfect Russian and led us to the correct bus stop (and even gave each of us cookies) :’)

Learning Russian may also be useful in order to avoid sticky situations, which I’ll explain in the next tip…

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TRANSPORTATION

2 – Learn The Price Of a Taxi Beforehand

Taxi scams are extremely rampant in Eastern Europe (both for tourists and locals!), which is why it’s crucial to learn the price of a taxi beforehand. You can do a quick Google search for “How much does a taxi cost in ____” and make a note of the price per kilometer, price per hour, and price from the airport to the city center. Also check if your destination has a taxi app like Uber, Bolt, Yandex Taxi, iTaxi, or 579 (Ukraine).

STORY TIME: My Hong Kongese friend and I were in Tbilisi, Georgia, and needed to grab a taxi from the center to the hotel on the second day. We already took a few taxis beforehand (from the airport, around the city, etc.) and we had a good idea of how much to pay. Large cities in Georgia also have Yandex Taxi, which shows travelers the exact price they need to pay in cash when they reach their destination.

Anyway, we order a cab through Yandex, get in the back, and start to chat about our day. The driver probably thinks we’re tourists because we’re speaking in English …and don’t really look like Georgians. When we reach our destination, the taxi app tells us the ride was 2 GEL (about 0.70 USD) and we hand it over. The driver stops, frowns, and tells us it’s actually 12 GEL ($4 USD), thinking that we’re naive and clueless tourists that don’t know the actual price. After giving him an earful in Russian (that may or may not have contained some swear words *cough*), he quickly accepted the 2 GEL and sped off.

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3 – Watch Out for Cars

I’m shaking my head as I type this, but be careful as a pedestrian in Eastern European countries. When I moved back to Ukraine I had to learn this the hard way, as I was dodging cars almost every time I walked outside.

In some countries (like Romania), drivers are friendly and will wave you to cross the street, while in others it feels like you’re playing GTA and running across the crosswalk as fast as possible. To make it easier, look for pedestrian underpasses.

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4 – Consider Ridesharing

If you’re traveling off the beaten path in Eastern Europe, you’re probably wondering how to get to smaller towns or villages. Or perhaps you want to travel from, say, Chernivtsi to Lviv to catch a flight, {{LINK}} but none of the busses work with your schedule. No worries – try ridesharing!

BlaBlaCar is an extremely popular method of getting between cities all across Eastern Europe. I used it extensively in Ukraine and Romania and had only good experiences. Plus if you’re a foreign tourist, you might get bombarded with questions from naturally curious locals and even make a few new friends.

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**5 – Marshrutkas Leave When They’re Full**

Marshrutkas are large minibuses that are commonly found in former USSR countries. They’re a great way of getting between cities on a budget and there are usually plenty of departures on any given day. However, if you’re planning on traveling on a marshrutka, there’s one golden rule to keep in mind: they don’t always leave on time.

Some countries’ marshrutkas (like Ukraine) might stick to a schedule, while others may not. Case in point: my story from Tbilisi to Borjomi below.

Don’t worry if you’re sitting in a half-empty marshrutka looking at the clock and wondering if the engine broke – it’s (most likely) just waiting for more passengers. ;)

STORY TIME: When we were traveling through Georgia, one of the quickest ways to get from Tbilisi (the capital) to Borjomi was via marshrutka. After missing the entrance, we frantically searched for our marshrutka that we thought had already left. It was 10:35 and the schedule said it departs at 10:30… Until we saw it, chilling in the middle of the parking lot and waiting for more people. in the end, we finally left at 10:50.

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FOOD & DRINK

6 – Don’t Trust Tap Water

Seriously, don’t. A good majority of water pipes in Eastern Europe are from the USSR and, judging from the fact that it fell apart almost 30 years ago, you can probably tell how old and rusty they are. Without going into too much detail, I recommend sticking to bottled water. They’re sold in every little corner shop and grocery store and can cost as low as 20 cents (USD) for a liter.

STORY: I learned this early on as a kid. In the city where I lived in the United States, tap water was perfectly fine to drink and was considered as one of the cleanest in the country (thank you, San Francisco ). When I was visiting my grandma in Ukraine one summer vacation, I did what I would normally do and grabbed a cup, poured some water from the tap, and drank it. Big mistake: I spent the next 12 or so hours hunched over in the fetal position, clutching my stomach, and wondering what I did to deserve this fate.

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7 – A Note About Drinks…

Now that we have the water situation out of the way, let’s talk about other types of drinks: beer and vodka. ;)

For those who like to try local drinks, here’s a popular lifehack to find the best thing to drink: if you’re closer to central Europe (i.e. Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland), then beer is more popular and therefore you’ll have more choices in finding a good craft or local beer. If you’re closer to Eastern Europe (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, etc.) then you’re in vodka/spirits territory and should try a local variety off the menu.

Psst… Don’t believe me? There’s even a Wikipedia article about it! Check out the Alcohol Belt of Europe here.

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8 – Where’s the Best Local Food?

This is going to sound like I’m Captain Obvious, but I promise it’s a good tip and you should try it!

For the most authentic and local food, just politely ask a local for their recommendations — they’ll usually have a few places that you can’t find in travel guide books, and as a bonus, they’re usually budget-friendly (since they’re not catered exclusively to tourists).

STORY TIME: I used this tip to find the best wine in Tbilisi, Georgia; a cool Soviet-themed restaurant in Chisinau; and an authentic bakery in Minsk, Belarus.

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9 – Eat Authentic Food At A Stolovaya

If you want to try local and budget-friendly comfort food, look no further than a stolovaya (столовая)!

To eat at a stolovaya, you simply grab a food tray and queue in line. You’ll slowly move past windows of food on a plate, where you can grab plates that interest you and put it on your tray. In some canteens, there are workers who plate the food for you. At the end, you add on drinks and pay for your food. Voila! Similar to tip #8 above, local canteens are budget friendly and are perfect if you’re in a rush for time since all of the food is already cooked.

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10 – What About Tipping?

Although it varies by country, a general rule to tipping in Eastern Europe is to either round up your bill (i.e. 241 Ukrainian hryvnia to 250) or to leave 5%. Be sure to double check the bottom of the menu, as sometimes the service charge is automatically added.

Looking for specific destinations in Eastern Europe?
Check out my entire list of Eastern Europe blog posts here!

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ACCOMMODATIONS

11 – Check Out Alternative Forms Of Accommodations

While there are plenty of hotels and hostels across Eastern Europe, there are also plenty of alternative forms of accommodations! ;)

For example, aparthotels (apartment hotels) are extremely popular in capital cities, especially in countries with a strong sense of hospitality. Before Airbnb came along, many grandmas and aunties would rent out a part of their apartment during the peak tourist season. After tech came along, some smart entrepreneurs bought out apartments, converted them into hotel-style accommodations, and rented them out. Now, the aparthotel business is booming in Eastern Europe. Aparthotels combine the best of hotels and apartments: most of the time, it’s either a single apartment or a group of small apartments that are serviced, but have apartment amenities such as kitchens.

Outside of the capital, it’s common to see guesthouses and pensions in smaller towns and villages. These are similar to bed and breakfasts, where you’ll be living in a smaller hotel and with a more homemade feel.

Speaking of accommodations: the most popular accommodation booking sites in Eastern Europe are Booking.com (where you can usually find the best prices) and TripAdvisor. Agoda is less known but has a variety of places with good prices.

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12 – Book Your Accommodation in the Center

There are two reasons for this. First, most cities in Eastern Europe are easily walkable, and booking a hotel in the center of the city means that you’ll spend less money on public transportation. When I write accommodations in the center, I don’t mean that you have to spend thousands of dollars and book a hotel with a panoramic view of the Kremlin (although that’s certainly an option!) — I just mean something that’s centrally-located.

Secondly, it’s best to book a central accommodation for safety. Back in the day, the outskirts of a city were usually known as the ‘bad’ parts of town where there was increased crime. Although this isn’t the case for all cities, a large part of places that I’ve traveled through Eastern Europe still have this stereotype to this day, such as Moscow and Kyiv. If you’re unsure, I recommend doing a quick check of your accommodation (or area) on TripAdvisor before booking.

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OTHER USEFUL TIPS

13 – Two Things You MUST Bring to Eastern Europe

A scarf – If you’re a woman traveler, don’t forget to bring your scarf! Many churches in Eastern Europe have a few rules for tourists: women are required to cover their hair, shoulders, chest, and wear skirts below the knees (some churches are okay with pants), and men are required to dress casually but modestly (i.e. no basketball shorts). You can take one of your old scarves or buy one on Amazon — my favorites are this cute Ukrainian-style scarf and this chic scarf.

A bag with zipper – Although the majority of cities in Eastern Europe are perfectly safe, there are still instances of petty crimes like pickpocketing. I recommend buying a small bag with a zipper and keeping one hand over it at all times. As long as you’re aware of your surroundings— especially in dense areas like train stations, bazaars/markets, and tourist attractions — you’ll be fine.

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14 – Don’t Be Afraid to Haggle

Throughout Eastern Europe, haggling is a way of life. Of course, you can’t simply walk into a mall and ask for a 50% discount on a Louis Vuitton bag — there are some rules that you need to follow. ;)

Don’t try to haggle in official stores and shops, where the prices are set and printed on the tag. Haggling is best done in (non-produce) bazaars and flea markets, such as the Dry Bridge Flea Market in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Start by asking a local how much the thing(s) you want really cost and use that as a base point. When haggling with a shopkeeper, take the price of the item, cut it by 20 to 50%, and go from there.

As always, be respectful. If you really want the item and start negotiating over the last dollar, don’t forget that the seller is doing this as his or her livelihood and probably has a family to feed.

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15 – Don’t Miss The Spas

No matter where you look, spa culture is huge in Eastern Europe. If you’re craving some relaxation when traveling, look no further than a traditional bathhouse in Georgia, a banya in Russia, thermal baths in Hungary, or even a sanatorium in Ukraine (part of my Ukrainian Bucket List post – click here!)

STORY TIME: Tbilisi is famous for their sulphur baths and is one of the most-do activities when visiting the Georgian capital. In fact, the name Tbilisi is roughly translated to “warm place” and comes from the story when King Vakhtang I was out hunting, discovered the hot springs, and was so impressed that he built a city. There’s an area of the city that has at least half a dozen sulphur baths scattered around, but you can’t go wrong with the classics: Orbeliani Baths (pictured above) or the Royal Baths! Make sure to reserve in advance, as it can get pretty popular.

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16 – Sundays Are Mostly Days Off

Since the majority of Eastern European countries are predominantly Christian, many establishments are either closed or have shorter hours on Sundays. In fact, Poland passed a law a few years ago that mandated all stores to be closed on Sunday.

Be sure to check your destination on Google Maps ahead of time so that you don’t accidentally show up and see a closed door!

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17 – Always Carry Some Paper Money

Traveling through Western Europe made me used to pulling out my credit card or Apple Wallet whenever it was time to pay. In Eastern Europe, it’s a completely different story.

I recommend travelers to always carry some spare change, because not every place will accept credit cards.In bigger cities, such as Moscow, Kyiv, or Tallinn, the majority of stores and malls take credit cards, but be prepared when you travel outside. In smaller cities, towns, and villages, as well as traditional bazaars or farmers markets, you can almost always expect to pay in paper money. When paying and taking your change back, make sure to count it – there are some unscrupulous sellers that might try to shortchange you!

STORY TIME: After having to pay a bribe to some Moldovan policemen, I arrived at my next destination in a village that could be described as located in the middle of nowhere. When I went to pay for my room at the front desk, my US-based card was too big and got stuck in the terminal (). The poor employee tried to run my card at least 30 times, but it kept giving him an error every time. Since I “donated” most of my paper bills to the policemen, another employee had to drive me to the nearest town 30 kilometers away to go to the ATM and withdraw cash to pay.