The most irresistible peoples in Eastern Europe

1Rovinj (Croatia) For many, Rovinj is the most beautiful town in Croatia. And also the main attraction of the Istrian coast because, despite the many tourists who visit this peninsula in summer, and that it does not offer many specific points of interest, Rovinj has a lot of charm. And it is one of those places where you just want to stroll through its streets and corners, stop at small craft shops or have a coffee in one of its little squares. It was a small island until in 1763 the narrow channel was filled to connect it to the mainland. The Stari Grad, the old town, is the most beautiful area and the one that best preserves the historical essence. Its steep streets and small squares occupy an oval peninsula, presided over by a bell tower at its highest point. The main residential area of ​​Rovinj stretches behind the old town on the slopes of the low hills that surround it, while the style hotelsresort line the coast to the north and south. When the bustle takes over the town, we can escape to any of the 14 islands in the Rovinj archipelago. Getty Images

2Kotor (Montenegro) The Bay of Kotor, on the Montenegrin coast, has a mysterious air. Its blue and dark waters are protected by the gray and rugged mountains that rise a few meters. And between them, the old stone houses in the alleys of Kotor cling to the shore, hidden behind walls. It is a timeless image: a fusion of cliffs and medieval houses in warm tones. Between its walls, the intricate alleys are full of museums, churches, Venetian palaces, pillory and squares (in the photo, the Plaza de Armas) lined with cafes. It is a spectacular and charming place where the past and the present coexist: the cobblestones resonate with the footsteps of the children who run to schools installed in centuries-old buildings, the clothes hanging hang from the wrought iron balconies and hundreds of cats loiter on the flagstones Of marble. As night falls, the walls light up and glow. Behind the bastions, the streets of bars are filled with live music (from soul to serenades) and the discotheques open their doors on top of the castle. repistu Getty Images

3Sveti Stefan (Montenegro) Of all the places where we can stop on a journey along the Adriatic coast, this is one of the most extraordinary; a small fortified island occupied by a handful of 15th-century stone houses, and connected to the mainland by a paved isthmus that leads to an impeccable beach of pink sand, bathed by a captivating turquoise sea. The island was nationalized in the 1950s and is now part of a luxury resort by the Aman hotel group, meaning it is only within the reach of a few. But viewing it is free and it is the most photographed site in Montenegro. Sveti Stefan also gives its name to the coastal village in front of the islet. From its steep slopes you can see the beautiful island. Marius Roman Getty Images

4Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic) From Prague, the most popular day trip is to Český Krumlov, a picturesque world heritage city, which is like a Prague in miniature. The most striking thing is its magnificent old town, although in addition to enjoying these labyrinthine streets, you have to leave some time to look out at its castle, on top. If we decide to sleep here, we can take a closer look at the medieval charm of its old town, dine at one of the restaurants on the Vltava riverbank or have a drink in its bars. And the next morning, why not, go rafting down the Vltava, explore the nearby meadows by bike or horse or visit other towns in the area. Cesky is one of the most beautiful places in the entire Czech Republic. Its central square is especially impressive, with Renaissance and Baroque architecture. A curiosity for lovers of contemporary art: here is the Egon Schiele Art Center, an excellent private gallery dedicated to the work of the controversial Viennese painter Egon Schiele (1890-1918), who resided in Cesky in 1911 and provoked the wrath of the neighbors by hiring young girls to pose nude, to the point that he ended up being expelled. JackF Getty Images

5Hvar (Croatia) Off the Dalmatian coast is the longest island in the entire Adriatic, Hvar, which in recent times has become a very fashionable destination for its beaches and climate. It is perhaps the most luxurious coastal destination in Croatia, but in addition, it is also recommended even if we do not set foot in the sand. In summer it is flooded with tourists, who stroll among its Gothic palaces, its marble pedestrian streets and its winding stone alleys enclosed in a 13th-century wall. The main square, rectangular, is impressive: 4,500 square meters that occupy an old entrance to the bay. From the top, the fortress dominates the town and gives it a certain medieval glow at night. In Hvrar it is not a problem to find good hotels, bars and restaurants, although it certainly will not be cheap. There are those who prefer to go to the neighboring Pakleni islands to do nudism but in reality there are offers for everyone. Maremagnum Getty Images

6Korcula (Croatia) The island of Korcula, with its abundant vineyards, olive groves and small towns, is the sixth largest in the Mediterranean, almost 47 kilometers long. There are quiet coves and sandy beaches that dot the rugged southern coast, while to the north it is flatter and stony. But Korcula is famous above all for its wine (reputed to be the best in Croatia) and for the preservation of its traditions: ancient religious ceremonies, music and popular dances are still seen. And then there is the old town, with imposing defenses and Gothic and Renaissance buildings in its marble streets. The layout is reminiscent of a fishbone, and thus the refreshing master wind (from the northwest) circulates through its straight streets in summer, while the curved streets minimize the force of the mule (the boreas, cold wind from the north). The city embraces a port, dominated by round defensive towers and a compact set of houses with red roofs. Some of the best gastronomic experiences on the island can be found in the taverns of its small towns. The island has three main ferry ports, so it is very easy to get to from various points on the coast. Cherrys Picks Getty Images

7Szentendre (Hungary) A few kilometers from Budapest, this town breathes art through all its pores. Many creators have contributed to that special atmosphere and there are painters who work with their easels in the streets, as well as sculptors who expose their works to the view of the whole world. A kind of open-air museum. Szentendre (Saint Andrew, in Hungarian) is located on the route to the Danube meander, although it lacks the imperial history and monumentality of Visegrád or Esztergom. It is easily reached by train (it is only 20 kilometers from the capital) and it is worth it for its museums, galleries and churches, although it is recommended to avoid weekends in summer. In the center, around Fő tér (main square), there are many cafes and galleries, interesting Serbian Orthodox churches and avant-garde art installations like the Art Mill. Bert de Ruiter alamy

8Berat (Albania) Anchored in the center of Albania, Berat is a sufficient reason to visit the country. The best are the Ottoman houses that cluster on the castle hill and give Berat the nickname of the city of a thousand windows. It has been a world heritage since 2008 and although it receives many tourists, it maintains a simple atmosphere and a lot of charm. It is one of those places that have magic, especially when the clouds are entangled on top of the minarets. Behind the fortress walls of the hill that Berat presides over, we can stroll through the cobbled streets of Kala, an old village with whitewashed houses. Sooner or later we will find a private patio, a church or some ruins. An extra incentive: in the surroundings there are incredible gorges where you can go rafting. Gert Olsson alamy

9Gjirokastra (Albania) It is another of the charming towns of Albania, also a world heritage. It has an air similar to Berat, with a castle on top, limestone-paved streets, towering slate-roofed houses, and views of the Drin Valley. Gjirokastra is a magical city, which starred in the Stone Chronicle by the Albanian writer Ismail Kadaré. Although the place has been occupied 2,500 years, its main attraction is the 600 houses from the Ottoman period. A certain bad reputation still haunts the medieval castle, because it served as a prison under the communist regime. The views of the valley are magnificent and inside there are two interesting museums and lots of ruins to climb. But the most attractive thing about Gjirokastra's architecture is not any traditional structure, but the most modern one: a gigantic bunker built under the castle to shelter local leaders during the hypothetical invasion that obsessed the communist leader Enver Hoxha. Secretly excavated in the 1960s, it has 80 chambers and its existence was unknown to the population until 1990. Gosiek-B Getty Images

10Theth (Albania) This unique mountain village can boast the most spectacular scenery in Albania. The trip itself is already incredible, both on foot through the mountains from Valbona, and by car through the ports of Shkodër (pictured). More and more visitors come to Theth to enjoy its location, at the bottom of a valley between slate mountains, and the homonymous national park, with great alpine landscapes and excellent hiking trails. It was an almost unknown place until recently, so better to visit it soon before it loses its charm. A wonderful half-day excursion from the village is the route to the Blue Eye, a natural pool of turquoise waters fed by a waterfall high in the mountains, southwest of Theth. The steep path runs through forests and mountains, and at the end awaits the reward of a dip in its icy waters. Jan Wlodarczyk alamy

11Počitelj (Bosnia) This medieval fortress-town is one of the most beautiful parts of Bosnia. Located on a steep and rocky hillside, it is a maze of stairs that climb between pomegranates and ramshackle stone-roofed houses. In 1993, Bosnian Croat forces wreaked havoc here, and the beautiful Ají Alija Mosque became the main target of the attacks. The building, from the 16th century, has been restored but the paintings that decorated it could not be recovered. Nearby stands a 16-meter Ottoman clock tower, and up the hill you reach a partially ruined fortress, topped by the octagonal Gavrakapetan tower. You can climb the tower or save energy to enjoy even better views from the highest bastions of the wall. Počitelj is 28 kilometers south of Mostar. momo11353 Getty Images

12Nesebar and Sozopol (Bulgaria) The Bulgarian coast has almost 400 kilometers of coastline on the Black Sea, with a few hidden beaches and some historical ports such as Sozopol or Nesebar, in the photo, which has two faces: in high season, when it becomes in a huge souvenir market , and the rest of the year, when it's practically a ghost town. Nesebar is on a small rocky outcrop 37 kilometers northeast of Burgas, connected to the mainland by a thin artificial isthmus. It is famous for its numerous (and mostly dilapidated) medieval churches, which have earned it Unesco recognition. A few kilometers away is the old Sozopol, with its winding cobbled streets and wooden houses. With two good beaches and a pleasant atmosphere, it is a very popular tourist center, with intense cultural activity in summer. Three kilometers north of its old town stands Sveti Ivan, the largest island in Bulgaria, with a long history dating back to the time of Thrace and Rome, and a 4th century monastery. It is said that it was on this island that Saint John the Baptist was buried. Jan Wlodarczyk ALAMY

13Banská Štiavnica (Slovakia) Gold, silver and 140 other minerals brought enormous wealth to Banská Štiavnica, in rugged central Slovakia. Much of the city is world heritage. Much of its architectural splendor is concentrated in Nám sv Trojice (Plaza de la Santísima Trinidad) and its surroundings, in the old town. A tour of the Old Castle is like a history lesson; It is essential to climb the crunchy stairs of the Gothic bell tower. Many visitors come just to see the Kalvária (Calvary) (bottom of the image), a pilgrimage site and culmination of the Slovak Baroque, which stands on a volcanic hill two kilometers northeast of the old town. Lubos kovalik ALAMY

14Bled (Slovenia) One of the most beautiful places in Slovenia, and in all of Europe, is this small town on the banks of a glacial lake, and sheltered by the Julian Alps, with the Karavanke Mountains as a backdrop. Its most famous view and, surely, the most photographed, is a small island in the middle of the lake (pictured) presided over by a little church, like something out of a fairy tale. But in addition to this snapshot that everyone wants to take as a souvenir, Bled invites you to stroll through its streets to see its small houses and its castle. Here they come from honeymoon couples to backpackers for hiking, biking, water sports and canyoning. A dip in the lake, heated by warm thermal springs up to 22ºC, and a six-kilometer walk along its banks are a must. The best way to get to the insular church of the Assumption is by pletna (gondola) to the south side; which deposits passengers in front of a monumental 99-step staircase. Francesco Riccardo Iacomino Getty Images

15Piran (Slovenia) Piran is picturesque and also one of the most charming cities on the Adriatic coast, at the end of a narrow peninsula. Its historic center is one of the best preserved in the Mediterranean, a jewel of Gothic architecture, which in summer becomes a hotbed of tourists. But in any quieter time of year it is difficult not to fall in love with its alleys, its fish stalls and its sunsets. Piran stands around an oval plaza paved with marble (in the photo) that was the inner dock of the port until it was filled in 1894. Now it brings together the Town Hall, the Palace of Justice and the Tartini House, a museum in honor to the local violinist Giuseppe Tartini, from the 18th century. To get to the cathedral you have to go up a cobbled street. The baroque temple has a bell tower that makes a perfect watchtower for the best photos of the city. rusm Getty Images

16Prizren (Kosovo) Prizren, the most charming city in Kosovo, stands out with its minarets and church towers in the Bistrica river valley. Despite the bitter legacy of the war, today it is a happy and dynamic place; every summer brings a bit of international sophistication to the Dokufest, one of the best documentary film festivals in Europe. The rest of the year you can explore its rich heritage, with a fortress on a hill, grandiose mosques, churches and a display of street stalls. On the Costa del Sol (Slânchev Bryag), on the other side of the bay, you can practice all kinds of water sports. The new city, at the other end of the isthmus, has the largest and most modern hotels and the longest beach, but the points of interest are concentrated in the old part. In the photo, the stone bridge of Prizren, which gives access to the old town with the Sinan Pasha mosque in the background. Keren Su / China Span ALAMY

17Cesis (Latvia) With an impressive medieval castle, cobbled streets, green hills and manicured gardens, this charming Latvian town treasures much history: it was founded eight centuries ago, as a bastion of the Livonian Order, in a land of untamed pagans and witnessed bloody battles. Although it is easy to visit it in the day from Riga, Cēsis deserves a longer stay, especially since the proximity of the Gauja National Park. Cēsis Castle is two in one: the first fortification is made up of the gloomy dark stone towers of the old Wenden fort, founded by the Order of Livonia in 1214 and looted in 1577 by the Russian Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible. The other, more cheerful-looking fortress is the 17th century manor house that was the residence of some German counts. Yegorovnick ALAMY

18Ohrid and its Lake (North Macedonia) Ohrid, with its lake, is the most attractive destination in North Macedonia. It has everything to get a perfect photo and enjoy a pleasant stay: a sturdy medieval castle, an old town with stone alleys, a basilica with several domes, Plaošnik, traditional restaurants, cafes and, above all, a visit to the church from Sveti Jovan (pictured), in the fishing village of Kaneo, overlooking Lake Ohrid and its popular beaches perched on a cliff. It is the best place to contemplate, at a glance, the beautiful architecture of the city, the tempting image of sunbathers and the distant fishing boats, all framed by Mount Galičica to the southeast. Ohrid is small enough to see the monuments quickly and spend some time wetting our feet on its charming urban beach or during a walk by the lake. Sebastian Condrea Getty Images

19Perast (Montenegro) It is as if a piece of Venice had floated across the Adriatic to the mouths of the Bay of Kotor. Its heritage reveals the power it once held. Although it only has one main street, it has 16 churches and 17 large palaces. From other buildings, only the ruins are covered with fig and bougainvillea trees, with a charmingly enigmatic atmosphere. But the most attractive thing about Perast lies in the sea: two picturesque islands (Gospa od Skrpjela and Saint George), each with a peculiar history. Zoonar GmbH alamy

20Lądek Zdrój (Poland) In Lower Silesia, surrounded by the Golden Mountains in south-western Poland, Lądek-Zdrój is one of the oldest spa cities in Europe. But this tourist village has other charms: Baroque, Renaissance and Neo-Renaissance buildings, the Gothic bridge or the old mineral water spring. It is home to the Andrzej Zawada Mountain Film Festival. In the photo, the Town Hall and the market square. Piotr Borkowski alamy

21Loket (Czech Republic) They say that Loket is one of the best-kept secrets in the Czech Republic. The Czech King and Emperor Charles IV, was imprisoned during his childhood (in the fourteenth century) in his Gothic castle, but despite this he fell in love with this fortified wonder embraced by the meander of the Ohre River. It is in the middle of the mountains of Western Bohemia, and visiting it is like traveling to the Middle Ages. Its small historic center (pictured) appeared in the James Bond film Casino Royale (2006) (although it simulated being a Montenegrin villa in fiction). Kennymax ALAMY

22Botiza (Romania) Botiza is a town in the Maramures district in northern Romania, well known for its handmade wool rugs. It has its church and typical houses of the region, with tile roofs and huge doors carved with ornaments: suns, wolves, teeth and rolls of rope for the protection of the family. These characteristic houses house a peasant community that still cuts the fields by hand, with scythes, gathers hay with wooden forks and uses horses and carts as the main means of transportation. A postcard that invites you to experience a journey through time. Peter Adams Getty Images

23Bazna and Biertan (Romania) In the Transilvania region, north of Sibiu, we find Bazna, a thermal village created by Transylvanian Saxons (merchants of German origin) in the 13th century. You can visit its thermal centers, get to know its 14th century Protestant church, with Gothic bells, and then stop at its imposing fortified church, also in the Gothic style, with Romanesque elements and walls from the 15th and 16th centuries that originally rose to the eight meters (currently they are lowered). Bazna Park displays a commemorative obelisk honoring Romanians fallen in World War II. In the same area we can also approach Biertan (pictured), the most important of the Transylvanian fortified churches. Built between 1490 and 1516 following the prevailing late Saxon Gothic style, with its double line of walls, it is one of the seven temples founded during the Middle Ages by the Transylvanian Saxons and declared world heritage by Unesco. It is one of the most popular places in Transylvania, perhaps due to its special meaning and characteristic architecture (it forms an unmistakable protected enclosure, family farm type). Posnov Getty Images