15 days in Eastern Europe Itinerary

A historic city with its eye firmly on the future, Tallinn blends medieval fortifications, gleaming skyscrapers, and charming boutiques with a spattering of Soviet relics.

Kick off your visit on the 3rd (Thu): see the interesting displays at Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour, get a sense of history and politics at Tallinna Raekoda, then don't miss a visit to Tallinna Raekoja Plats, and finally wander the streets of Tallinn Old Town. On your second day here, make a trip to St. Catherine's Passage, then surround yourself with nature on Traveller Tours, then take in the spiritual surroundings of Aleksander Nevski Katedraali, and finally steep yourself in history at Toompea Hill.

To find photos, other places to visit, maps, and more tourist information, refer to the Tallinn planner.

Brussels, Belgium to Tallinn is an approximately 5.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of train and bus. Traveling from Brussels to Tallinn, you'll lose 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Brussels in December, expect Tallinn to be a bit cooler, temps between 3°C and -1°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Fri) so you can travel to Riga.

Often referred to as "The Paris of the North," Riga offers thriving nightlife and some of the best collections of Art Nouveau architecture in Europe.

Kick off your visit on the 5th (Sat): make a trip to Old City Riga (Vecriga), take in the spiritual surroundings of St. Peter's Church, steep yourself in history at House of the Black Heads, pause for some photo ops at Freedom Monument, then examine the collection at KGB Building, and finally take in the architecture and atmosphere at Nativity of Christ Cathedral. Keep things going the next day: admire the landmark architecture of Alberta Iela, take in the spiritual surroundings of Riga Cathedral, make a trip to Riga Town Hall Square, get engrossed in the history at Latvijas Okupācijas muzejs, then hunt for treasures at Central Market (Centraltirgus), and finally take in panoramic vistas at Panorama Riga Observation Deck.

Before you visit Riga, use our trip planner to discover what you can do and see there.

Traveling by flight from Tallinn to Riga takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In December, plan for daily highs up to 3°C, and evening lows to 0°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 6th (Sun) so you can go by car to Vilnius.

The capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, boasts an impressive medieval quarter--one of the continent's largest and a World Heritage Site with almost 2,000 historical buildings.

Start off your visit on the 7th (Mon): get great views at PuckoriU Atodanga, get the lay of the land with Walking tours, wander the streets of Vilnius Old Town, then admire the landmark architecture of Vilnius Cathedral, then get engrossed in the history at Gediminas Castle Tower, and finally take in the spiritual surroundings of Church Of St Peter And St Paul. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: admire the striking features of Trakai Island Castle Museum, enjoy breathtaking views from Vilnius TV Tower, then take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Hill of Three Crosses, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at St. Anne's Church, and finally take in the spiritual surroundings of Gate of Dawn.

To see photos, other places to visit, more things to do, and tourist information, you can read our Vilnius day trip tool.

You can drive from Riga to Vilnius in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or take a bus. In December, daily temperatures in Vilnius can reach 1°C, while at night they dip to -2°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Tue) so you can travel to Krakow.

One of Poland's oldest cities, Krakow sits at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, its historical town center nestled on the left bank of the Vistula River.

Start off your visit on the 9th (Wed): surround yourself with nature on a nature and wildlife tour. On the 10th (Thu), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: make a trip to Krakow's Rynek Glowny Central Square, browse the eclectic array of goods at Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), learn more about the world around you at Rynek (Old Square) Underground, pause for some serene contemplation at St. Mary's Basilica, then relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas, and finally take in the spiritual surroundings of Wawel Cathedral.

For traveler tips, other places to visit, where to stay, and more tourist information, you can read our Krakow online tour planner.

Fly from Vilnius to Krakow in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. The time zone difference when traveling from Vilnius to Krakow is minus 1 hour. In December, daily temperatures in Krakow can reach 5°C, while at night they dip to -2°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Thu) to allow time to travel to Prague.

Prague lures millions of tourists each year with its World Heritage-listed medieval city center--a labyrinth of narrow lanes, bridges, cathedrals, and palaces overlooked by a thousand-year-old castle.

You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Nature & Wildlife Tours and Franz Kafka Monument. There's much more to do: get to know the fascinating history of Staromestske namesti, browse the exhibits of National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror, admire the landmark architecture of Kostel sv. Mikuláše, and visit Lesser Town.

To find reviews, photos, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Prague attractions planning tool.

You can fly from Krakow to Prague in 4.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a shuttle. In December, daytime highs in Prague are 5°C, while nighttime lows are 0°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Budapest.

You might consider the city of Budapest, divided by the Danube River into two distinctive cities--Buda and Pest--to be essentially one large World Heritage Site.

Kick off your visit on the 14th (Mon): test the waters at a local thermal spa, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika), admire the landmark architecture of Dohány Street Synagogue, then appreciate the history behind Shoes on the Danube Bank, and finally ponder the world of politics at Hungarian Parliament Building. Here are some ideas for day two: steep yourself in history at Fisherman's Bastion, steep yourself in history at Matthias Church, take in the views from Szechenyi Lanchid, then make a trip to Heroes' Square, then examine the collection at House of Terror Museum, and finally snap pictures at Liberty Bridge (Szabadsag hid).

For more things to do, maps, reviews, and tourist information, go to the Budapest trip itinerary builder website.

Drive from Prague to Budapest in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or fly. In December, daily temperatures in Budapest can reach 5°C, while at night they dip to -1°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Tue) early enough to travel to Belgrade.

The capital and largest city of Serbia, cosmopolitan Belgrade sits on the confluence of the Sava and the Danube rivers.

Start off your visit on the 16th (Wed): get the lay of the land with Walking tours, contemplate the long history of Kalemegdan, then visit Skadarlija, then shop like a local with Knez Mihailova, and finally pause for some serene contemplation at St. Sava Temple.

To find traveler tips, more things to do, reviews, and other tourist information, use the Belgrade online tour itinerary planner.

Getting from Budapest to Belgrade by flight takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a shuttle. In December, plan for daily highs up to 7°C, and evening lows to -1°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 16th (Wed) to allow enough time to travel to Ljubljana.

Sitting astride the Ljubljanica River, Ljubljana is marked with picturesque bridges and a marketplace, designed by the famous architect Jože Plečnik.

Start off your visit on the 17th (Thu): head outdoors with Outdoor Activities.

For maps, other places to visit, where to stay, and tourist information, read Ljubljana trip itinerary planner.

You can fly from Belgrade to Ljubljana in 4.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a shuttle. In December, plan for daily highs up to 5°C, and evening lows to -3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Thu) early enough to travel back home.