Traveling to Countries With Bad Reputation in Europe

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You're Living in the Past its a New Generation

Where do bad reputations come from? And why are we hesitant to visit some countries in Europe? I am starting to think that it comes from the East/West divide, the Communism/Capitalism ways of thinking that fueled the Cold War. After 26 years, you would think that these prejudices would go away, but apparently they're still there. I notice them when I say that I will visit a country and everyone worries about my safety or questions why I would even want to visit that country.

Prague, Czech Republic

Countries like Hungary and the Czech Republic seem to have broken the mold of the bad reputation curse. Tourists flock to these cities, forgetting about the communist past that was present for so many decades. Poland is slowly joining this group of countries, but many people are still hesitant to go to Poland. But why is there that hesitance? The people are nice, everything is cheap, and there is so much history and culture to be discovered. Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary are great places for families, friends, and solo travels.

Bled, Slovenia

Other countries like Croatia and Slovenia are also becoming more popular, but what I have noticed is that it is mostly popular among Europeans. People are choosing to visit Croatia by cruise ship, meaning that they spend only a few hours in the city. It seems that they are still a bit hesitant to stay in the city for an extended period of time. But thanks to Game of Thrones, more people are making the journey.

Budapest, Hungary

But what about the other countries? These countries seem to be forgotten or avoided except by daring travelers. Countries like Romania, Bulgaria, and some of the Baltics and Balkans attract tourists, but not in high numbers. Is it because they don't necessarily fit into the Central European mold? Or is it because we have not forgotten their histories?

Krakow, Poland

These Eastern European cities and countries are much safer than some of the Western European countries. There is less harassment for women, less petty theft in the street, and people are willing to try and get to know you more. I always feel safer in these countries. So what are you waiting for? Forget what you learned in school and visit Eastern Europe!