20 days in Eastern Europe Itinerary

Russia's political, economic, and cultural center, Moscow remains the most populous inland city in the world, famed for its colorful history and rich architectural heritage.

Your inner history buff will appreciate Red Square and Saint Basil's Cathedral. Museum-lovers will get to explore State Tretyakov Gallery and Art Center. Moscow. Explore Moscow's surroundings by going to Khimki Art Gallery (in Khimki), Kournikova Gallery (in Borki) and Lobnya Art Gallery (in Lobnya). Next up on the itinerary: explore the world behind art at Exhibition Halls of Russian Art Academy, appreciate the extensive heritage of Gostiny Dvor Arcade, get a taste of the local shopping with Red October gallery, and contemplate the long history of Lenin's Mausoleum.

To find where to stay, photos, reviews, and tourist information, read our Moscow driving holiday website.

Chandigarh, India to Moscow is an approximately 13-hour flight. Traveling from Chandigarh to Moscow, you'll gain 2.5 hours due to the time zone difference. February in Moscow sees daily highs of -2°C and lows of -7°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Thu) so you can travel to St. Petersburg.

Built on a desolate swamp as a showcase capital of Imperial Russia, this grand city has certainly lived up to the expectations of its founder, Tsar Peter the Great.

Kick off your visit on the 5th (Fri): look for gifts at Souvenir Shop in Hotel Vedensky, shop like a local with Tretyakov's Gallery, then admire the masterpieces at The State Hermitage Museum, then see the interesting displays at Saint Isaac's Cathedral, and finally get engrossed in the history at Kazan Cathedral. Here are some ideas for day two: take a stroll through Nevsky Prospekt, examine the collection at Russian Museum, steep yourself in history at Palace Square, then pause for some serene contemplation at Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, and finally see the interesting displays at The Kunstkamera.

To see photos, where to stay, maps, and tourist information, go to the St. Petersburg holiday website.

Traveling by train from Moscow to St. Petersburg takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or drive. Expect a daytime high around -1°C in February, and nighttime lows around -6°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 6th (Sat) early enough to travel to Tallinn.

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.

Start off your visit on the 7th (Sun): enjoy the sand and surf at Kakumae Beach, enjoy the sand and surf at Beach Klooga, identify plant and animal life at Eesti Vabaõhumuuseum / Estonian Open Air Museum, then enjoy the sand and surf at Stroomi Beach, then explore the galleries of Kadriorg Palace, and finally browse the exhibits of Kumu Art Museum. Here are some ideas for day two: wander the streets of Tallinn Old Town, take in the exciting artwork at Asuur Keraamika Ceramics, look for gifts at Town Hall Pharmacy, view the masterpieces at Koopa Galerii, then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Aleksander Nevski Katedraali, and finally make a trip to Toompea Hill.

For traveler tips, photos, more things to do, and tourist information, use the Tallinn vacation builder.

Traveling by combination of train and flight from St. Petersburg to Tallinn takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or fly. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from St. Petersburg to Tallinn. In February, daytime highs in Tallinn are 0°C, while nighttime lows are -4°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 8th (Mon) to allow time to 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.

On the 9th (Tue), take a peaceful walk through Dzintari Forest Park, get outside with Jurmala Beach, then get engrossed in the history at Latvijas Okupācijas muzejs, then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at St. Peter's Church, and finally browse the eclectic array of goods at Central Market (Centraltirgus). Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 10th (Wed): pause for some photo ops at Freedom Monument, explore the world behind art at Latvian National Museum Of Art, steep yourself in history at Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum, then see the interesting displays at Riga Motormuseum, then shop like a local with Doma Antikvariats, and finally shop like a local with Live Silver Museum.

Plan my day in Riga using traveler tips and tourist information provided by Inspirock.

Fly from Tallinn to Riga in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In February in Riga, expect temperatures between 1°C during the day and -3°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 10th (Wed) early enough to travel 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.

Shop till you drop at Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galeria) and Koller Gallery. Let the collections at House of Terror Museum and Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum capture your imagination. There's still lots to do: steep yourself in history at Fisherman's Bastion, test the waters at a local thermal spa, admire the landmark architecture of Matthias Church, and take in the spiritual surroundings of St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika).

To see more things to do, other places to visit, maps, and other tourist information, you can read our Budapest online vacation planner.

You can fly from Riga to Budapest in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and train. The time zone changes from Eastern European Standard Time (EET) to Central European Standard Time (CET), which is usually a -1 hour difference. While traveling from Riga, expect somewhat warmer days and about the same nights in Budapest, ranging from highs of 7°C to lows of -1°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 13th (Sat) early enough to 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.

Museum-lovers will get to explore Panstwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau and Muzeum Uniwersytetu Jagiellonskiego Collegium Maius. Shop till you drop at Kacper Ryx Historical Shop and Szyb Wilson Gallery. Step out of Krakow with an excursion to District of Culture (Strefa Kultury) in Katowice--about 1 hour away. Spend the 16th (Tue) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. Next up on the itinerary: contemplate the long history of Wieliczka Salt Mine, enjoy some diversion at Cracow Shooting Academy, get curious at HistoryLand, and appreciate the extensive heritage of Krakow's Rynek Glowny Central Square.

For reviews, photos, maps, and other tourist information, you can read our Krakow day trip planning tool.

You can fly from Budapest to Krakow in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 5°C in February, and nighttime lows around -3°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Wed) to allow enough 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.

Start off your visit on the 18th (Thu): view the masterpieces at GOF+FA/Gallery of Functional and Fine Art, appreciate the extensive heritage of Staromestske namesti, see the interesting displays at Gallery of Steel Figures, take some stellar pictures from Prague Astronomical Clock, then look for gifts at Manufaktura, and finally snap pictures at Charles Bridge. On your second day here, wander the streets of Lesser Town, view the masterpieces at Schwarzenberg Palace, admire the striking features of St. Vitus Cathedral, then take in the spiritual surroundings of Spanish Synagogue, and finally get a taste of the local shopping with DOX Centre for Contemporary Art.

Ask Inspirock to suggest an itinerary and make planning a trip to Prague fast, fun, and easy.

You can fly from Krakow to Prague in 4.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a shuttle. February in Prague sees daily highs of 5°C and lows of -1°C at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 20th (Sat) so you can travel back home.