Where To Travel In 2020: Why Eastern Europe Should Top The List

Maybe you've already strolled along the romantic canals of Venice and biked your way around Copenhagen in rush hour. There's no reason to stop exploring Europe once you've hit the most popular destinations—all you have to do is look east. Social media has introduced us to destinations with people regularly using Instagram for travel inspiration, increased infrastructure (like Tallinn, Estonia's future transit hub) means certain places will be more connected than ever and, of course, the internet has undoubtedly made travel to farther-flung countries more accessible. With a growing tourism industry, there has never been a better time to explore the wonders of Eastern Europe.

Jay Ternavan is the Founder and CEO of JayWay Travel, a tour company specializing in semi-independent travel with expert, local guides across Central and Eastern Europe. He says that tourists sometimes worry about travel to these regions because of troubled recent histories, like with Bosnia and its conflict from the 1990s. Also, in many countries in Eastern Europe, visitors struggle with language barriers—the most commonly spoken foreign language in Georgia is Russian. Don't let these things deter you, though, because what awaits in these destinations is spectacular cuisine, stunning architecture, inspiring art and a warm and welcoming culture.