Top 7 Old Towns in Eastern Europe

Europe's beautiful architecture and the history it reflects is one of the main reasons people visit. Most tourists head to Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, and the other usual suspects without leaving any room in their itinerary for the more easterly destinations, although this is changing. Since I love eastern Europe with the fiery passion of a creeper writing Doctor Who fan fiction, I decided to compile a list of a few of my favorite old towns.

7. Sighisoara, Romania

Centered on the imposing Clock Tower and 12th century Citadel, Sighisoara's compact, brightly-colored old town is a delight to explore. What makes it most intriguing, though, is that it's the birthplace of Vlad Tepes, commonly known as Vlad the Impaler, who was the inspiration for Dracula.

6. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik sees a lot of tourists, but it's a popular destination for a reason: the old town is set on the sapphire waters of the Adriatic, with red tile roofs clustered inside the gleaming city walls. Despite the crowds, there are still alleyways, shaded by lemon trees, where it seems only the stray cats wander. I'll admit that I went to Dubrovnik not out of my own interest, but because so many people insisted it was wonderful. While I was there, I was a bit disgruntled by the high prices, as I'd just come from Bosnia, but I was glad I went, as it is truly a beautiful place. 

5. Tallinn, Estonia

A combination of laziness and love kept me in Tallinn for a week while I was backpacking in Europe. There are two parts to the old town: the upper and lower. The upper part contains various administrative buildings and churches, while the well-preserved lower part is a combination of busy squares and quiet alleyways, all of it pretty and atmospheric. There's also Depeche Mode Bar, a bar dedicated to Depeche Mode, if you can believe it. I love Depeche Mode, so the existence of this bar is very important to me.

4. Riga, Latvia

Latvia's capital has some of the most beautiful and unique Art Nouveau architecture in Europe. Like much of eastern Europe, it hasn't quite reached full tourist capacity, but there are still plenty of resources for travelers, like people who speak English and cheap hostels. What I really loved about Riga's old town was the multitude of pretty squares filled with lively beer gardens in the summer, when Latvia's northern position means it doesn't get dark until late. 

3. Kotor, Montenegro

This walled city in the Bay of Kotor is not only pretty and charming, but it's located in one of the most stunning places ever. It's an easy two-hour bus trip from Dubrovnik and has a fraction of the hordes, plus it's a fraction of the price. A hike up to the fortress on the mountainside above town is rewarded with gorgeous views.

2. Krakow, Poland

Krakow was spared the damage many other Polish cities saw in World War II, giving it one of the oldest old towns in the country. Yes, it's touristy, but the huge Market Square allows room for the crowds to disperse, and tourism hasn't ruined the ambiance. Cafes, beer, vodka, pierogi, beautiful architecture--all of my favorite things in abundance! All of everybody's favorite things! There's so much history to discover and so much present-day culture to absorb, which makes Krakow the sort of place you just want to hang out.

1. Berat, Albania

Albania doesn't see many tourists compared to the rest of Europe, but Berat is probably the most popular destination for those who do visit. Even so, the old town, declared a UNESCO heritage site in 2008, is still largely residential. Built on the side of a fortress-topped hill, winding stone paths snake between the Ottoman-style houses that overlook the Osum River. Its uniqueness, beauty, and lack of commercialization put Berat at the top of my list.