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Eastern Europe

Experience an unforgettable European adventure with our custom-designed Eastern Europe vacations and insightful travel guide.

 

Discover the Hidden Gems of Eastern Europe and the Balkans

Eastern Europe and the Balkans offer luxury travelers a blend of captivating history, breathtaking landscapes, and cultural richness. Discover Romania, where you can explore the majestic castles of Transylvania and the vibrant capital, Bucharest. Venture south to Bulgaria, with its stunning Black Sea coastline and ancient Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest cities. Croatia’s Dalmatian coast is renowned for its crystal-clear waters, lavish yachts, and the historic city of Dubrovnik. Montenegro’s Adriatic coast features some of Europe’s most luxurious resorts and the picturesque Bay of Kotor and fairy-tale Lake Bled and the elegant capital Ljubljana await in Slovenia. Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, buzzes with nightlife and historical landmarks while in Macedonia, Lake Ohrid offers a peaceful retreat. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Sarajevo, a city marked by its fascinating blend of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian architecture, promises a unique cultural immersion.

Eastern Europe map 2024

Eastern Europe Highlights

Eastern Europe Countries

Personalize Your Eastern Europe Itinerary

Unlock the extraordinary experiences Eastern Europe has to offer with our custom itineraries tailored to your unique preferences, desired pace, and interests. Below are some samples, designed to inspire your Eastern Europe vacation.

Contact us to plan your personalized Eastern Europe trip today.

What our Happy Travelers Say

Kris SeegerKris Seeger
22:33 28 Oct 22
The Founder's Trip to Turkey this month was amazing in every respect. From start to finish, just perfection! Greg's personally curated outstanding itinerary set the stage for the best small group trip we have ever taken. From our greeting at the Istanbul Airport to our goodbye in Bodrum, everything was seamless ---first class hotel accommodations; fabulous guide; excellent drivers/vehicles; and wonderful dining venues. Every day was filled with history, joy and new friends. We cannot wait to travel with Exeter International again! Kris & Chris
Jennifer AndrewsJennifer Andrews
16:52 24 Jun 22
All my trips with Exeter have been amazing. I worked with Ala and Gwen for different trips and they go above and beyond to make the trip exceptional. They have access to places others don’t, they plan everything from the perfect hotel, experiences and even incredible restaurants. Even better, they communicate within so Ala was able to get with Gwen and tell her my likes and dislikes. You work with the person with the most knowledge of the area you are going and they genuinely know it inside and out. I totally trust Exeter with my travel planning. They are the best.
Nikki DavidsonNikki Davidson
20:31 23 Jun 22
This trip was as close to perfection as one can get.Ala and her team created the most perfect Croatian vacation trip for me, my husband and the other couple that we were traveling with this month. I've had the good fortune to have travelled all around the world and never have I experienced such an incredible team to ensure that literally every detail, every activity, every hotel we stayed at was top-notch.If you are even considering a vacation to this incredible country, I would highly recommend speaking with Ala and her team first. I know I will be recommending Ala friends and family that want to visit Croatia and I can do it with complete peace of mind knowing I am referring them to the best!Nikki Davidson
Nancy HutchisonNancy Hutchison
00:13 08 Jun 22
We just returned from a fabulous trip that included Stockholm Sweden, Helsinki Finland and Amsterdam Netherlands, all arranged by Leigh Landis at Exeter International. Leigh was amazing. She put together individual excursions in each country, arranged hotels, assisted with restaurant suggestions and reservations, purchased train tickets and the tickets for the Silja Line ship to cross the Baltic Sea. Leigh gave us the phone number of an Exeter contact in each city in case of a problem but we did not have to contact them. Still, it was reassuring knowing that we had someone to contact if needed. Each of them reached out to us when we arrived to let us know they were available. The itinerary, guides and tickets were all arranged in advance by Leigh. She spent a lot of time with us before booking anything. We communicated by emails or phone. It was clear to us from our first contact with Leigh that she wanted to make sure the trip had exactly what we wanted.The guides in each city were so fantastic. They each had a wealth of experience as guides, planned the routes well and asked about our interests when we first met so they knew what we wanted to see and do. They were all spot on time! The guides made the trip a truly special experience. They helped us to understand each city, its history, special characteristics and helped us with questions about how to navigate the city and use public transportation. The guides expedited getting into busy museums or other venues because our guides had passes to jump queues. They maximized our time so that it was spent enjoying the sights and venues instead of standing in lines and figuring out how to purchase tickets. They knew where to go and when to go there. Some venues required advance tickets and Leigh took care of that. Leigh arranged our very own private saloon boat tour of the canals of Amsterdam. Leigh checked in on us along the way on our trip and sent us special notes. She arranged to have a gift sent to my hotel room in Helsinki on my birthday.Leigh arranged really great hotel rooms with the best views possible. And our stateroom on the Silja line cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki had an amazing view so we saw the sunset and sunrise over the Baltic from our room and that was stunning. With Exeter involved in making the hotel reservations we were treated like special guests at each hotel by the staff.The drivers were all outstanding. They were polite, helpful, on-time and made all our connections and excursions seamless and stress free. We actually started our trip in Gothenburg Sweden at the Volvo factory. After that Exeter took over and we proceeded on our dream trip to Stockholm, Helsinki and Amsterdam. We did no driving. We used trains and boats all arranged by Leigh at Exeter. And in each city we used drivers arranged by Exeter for excursions outside the city centers, such as when we went to the delightful town of Porvoo, Finland.When we took the train from Gothenburg to Stockholm our train was over an hour delayed and it was late evening when we arrived in Stockholm. The driver who met us in Stockholm, arranged by Exeter, had waited for us. While waiting she arranged for the hotel to have food for us upon arrival. Also when we arrived at our room at the hotel Leigh had arranged for a lovely charcuterie tray to be sent to our room. So although we arrived late and were worried about being hungry, everyone involved made sure that was taken care of without having to ask.I can't say enough positive about Leigh Landis and Exeter International. I feel we got more than our money's worth. Without Exeter we would have wasted so much time trying to figure out what could be seen each day in each city, how to get tickets, how to find a good restaurant and figure out how to make reservations etc. We did not have to worry about any of that. All the details were taken care of in advance and all we had to do was enjoy it!We will be forever grateful for Leigh and Exeter!
Jonathan RosenbergJonathan Rosenberg
16:28 02 Jun 22
My wife and I completed our second trip with Gwen's team at Exeter last month. Our first trip a few years back included Vienna, Prague, Budapest. This trip was Amsterdam, Berlin and Munich. Gwen is absolutely terrific and does a fabulous job of listening to client interests and preferences ex ante and then presenting options and framing the trips. Gwen's advice on hotels and specific rooms in hotels and the Exeter private touring options was consistently spot on. And ALL the guides she uses are terrific which really makes the trip. I was very pleased with both itineraries before the trips started and like any travel experience, circumstances and weather changed during the trip. Gwen and her team were always on top of quickly making changes. They possess the unique combination of pliancy about the route taken coupled with an adamantine resolve to give the client the experience they want and get them to see the things they wish to see. The team also has access to private experiences that were amazing. A tour of a tulip farm, a visit to a closed museum and medieval library, a wine and cheese tasting with a local expert. Not only did we have two good trips, on the second trip, Gwen started with all her notes and preferences from our first trip which made things even easier. I have used many operators in my travels and my experience with Exeter and Gwen Kozlowski in particular was truly top notch.
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Eastern Europe Travel FAQs

Discover the rich tapestry of Eastern Europe and the Balkans, where every traveler finds their perfect adventure. From exploring vibrant cultures and embarking on private shore tours to tracing heritage journeys and Jewish interests, this region offers something for everyone. Experience family fun on the stunning Adriatic Coast, where Croatia and Slovenia promise unforgettable memories.

When traveling through Eastern Europe and the Balkans, you can choose between self-driving and hiring a private car with a driver, depending on your specific destination. We recommend against self-driving in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or North Macedonia due to various regional complexities. However, self-driving in Croatia, Slovenia, and Montenegro is generally more feasible. If your travels are limited to just the Dalmatian Coast and not the northern areas of Croatia, be aware that your rental car may spend more time parked than in use. as many attractions are accessible by foot or public transport.

Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia each utilize their own national currencies. In contrast, Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro have adopted the Euro as their official currency.

If you’re planning a trip to Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro, consider visiting between May and October. This period offers the most pleasant weather, perfect for exploring the diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage these countries have.

Keep Exploring Eastern Europe

Why Travel with Exeter?

Europe awaits. From hidden gems to classic cities, our experts have firsthand knowledge of the places you’ve been longing to go. For us, Europe is about experiences, not just ticking off boxes on a sightseeing “best of” list. We work with our in-the-know local experts to open doors to adventures that are often closed to the general public. For you – the discerning traveler – this means customized, impeccably planned vacations that go beyond the ordinary. Let’s start crafting your ideal Europe vacation today.

See Our Adventures Yourself!

Highly Personalized

Trips are planned around your specific interests, travel style and wishlists.

Peace of Mind

From booking and reservations to arranging activities and transportation, let us handle it all.

Extraordinary Experiences

We go beyond the ordinary to immerse you in authentic, "pinch-me" Europe experiences.

Unmatched Guides

Our hand-selected guides aren't simply hand-selected - they're our trusted confidantes in Europe.