Central Europe

You won't regret visiting any of the countries in Central Europe as they all have something to offer. Whether you want to soak up knowledge, have the adventure of a lifetime, watch nature's magic, or relax, this should be your next vacation spot. Austria is known for it's natural beauty and classical music. It has given the world many famous composers like Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Liszt, J. Strauss, Mahler and Bruckner. Czech Republic has some of the most magnificent castles and natural reserves. Germany is famous for its museums, historical sites, and snow sports. Hungary is known for it's delicious cuisine and thermal baths. Poland has some of the most beautiful mountain ranges and castles. It has a rich history and a lot of historical sites that you can visit. Switzerland's unique cuisine and swiss chocolate is a must try. It is also famous for thrilling sports. From sports on land, to those in the water and even some up in the air, Switzerland has it all.

In order to choose the right accommodation option, you should book in advance. Cheap accommodation is difficult to find in the big cities. Although, Central Europe is packed with luxury and deluxe hotels. If you're not in a megalopolitan city, you can easily find a budget hotel. An alternative would be camping by renting a cabin.

Central European food is influenced by it's culture, ethnic diversity, and climate. Some of the common ingredients are mushrooms, sour cream, smoked bacon, poppy seeds, horseradish, and sauerkraut. The food is usually spiced with herbs like dill. Cheese and vinegar are often used in many dishes.Soups, stews, and pickled vegetables are some common foods. Coffee is widely consumed in this region. Pastries and cakes of Central Europe are a mustry try. Beef, pork, chicken, turkey and goose are some of the widely consumed meats.

Even though Central Europeans don't make much eye contact, they are friendly people. Music is an important part of the Central European culture. Most people in Central Europe are Roman Catholics or Protestants. West Germanic languages are spoken in this region. English is understood in most areas making it easier for tourists to communicate.

Carry a copy of your documents at all times. Keep your passport in your hotel safe. Beware of pickpocketers in crowded places. Wear a money belt.

There are plenty of things you can take back from your trip to Central Europe. There are many shops, boutiques, department stores selling a variety of items. There are even some flea markets in Vienna, Budapest, and Berlin. Some of the things that attract visitors are crystals, wooden toys, ceramics, pottery, coral necklaces, wines, porcelain items, textiles, ski equipment and leather goods. Bargaining is not common is the region but you can try hastling in the flea markets.

Central Europe is quite clean and the water is safe to drink. Before you travel make sure to be up-to-date on routine vaccines including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. Besides that, get vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Rabies.

Dress according to weather. People in Central Europe dress casually and are not too restrictive. Both men and women greet by shaking hands. Close friends kiss one another lightly on both cheeks, starting with the left cheek. You are not expcted to tip your drivers and tour guides. Although, a 10% tip in restaurants is appreciated.