Driving through the East Europe

A journey in the deep east of Europe, from north to south, to discover an enchanted territory, full of contrasts and yet wonderful. Lands of mountains, lakes, castles.
And hospitality. We start from Bratislava and then head to Belgrade. From here we go straight to Bucharest and we end up with Chisinau.
A route that can be done safely by car, even if it is not easy. But certainly feasible.
Our journey starts in Bratislava

The capital of the Slovak Republic, following its entry into the Euro area, is rapidly growing economically and is now an excellent destination for tourism.
Orderly, clean, quiet, full of things to see, lots of young people and a nice nightlife, Bratislva is definitely a first class destination. The center is a large pedestrian area and is certainly the most interesting part of the city.
The bronze statues representing various characters, the Church of St. Elizabeth, also known as the Blue Church, the New Bridge, the Castle of Bratislava, the Gate of Bratislava, the Cathedral of St. Marino, are all located in the city center and easily visited. Treat yourself to a nice walk.
The Castle of Bratislava, with its unmistakable silhouette that constantly scrutinizes the city, dominates from the top of a hill and is also the seat of the Slovak Parliament. From here, walking along Zidovska street, you reach the New Bridge. The Nový Most, built about thirty years ago, has a futuristic appearance, very similar to a UFo, as the locals call it. Climbing to the top of it, you can admire a beautiful view of the city.
Walk through the old town (Staré Mesto): around the main square (Hlavné namestie) you will find, in addition to the Town Hall, a myriad of restaurants and bars. A little further on, through alleys and alleys, you will reach Hviezdoslav Square, which houses the National Theatre and the Philharmonic Theatre.
The entire old town is dotted with bronze statues, depicting the most diverse subjects, from Napoleon to a photographer, from girls sitting on a mailbox to a man coming out of a manhole.
Bratislva is perfect for a visit of a couple of days.

From Bratislava we continue in the direction of Belgrade. By car is a journey of about 580 km of which 340 on the highway. The total cost is about €80 including the cost of the motorway toll. Beware of the numerous speed cameras on the E60.
From Bratislava, the capital of Serbia can also be reached:

1. Bus 260, N260, N910 to Györ. Every 3 hours, cost 7€ - 9€ , takes 1h. ---> Train 345 to Beograd Central, once a day, costs 85€ - 120€, takes around 11 jours
2. Direct bus Eurolines FR nr. 279, costs around 45€, takes 9h
3. Bus to Vienna: Bus n.901 every 30 minutes. 45 min journey. Costs between 2€ and 8€ and plane to Belgrade, 1h and 5m, costs max 250€ with Air Serbia or Austrian airlines.
4. Train to Budapest: 2h 23m, hourly, to Budapest-Nyugati, then 23m, every 15 minutes to Ferihegy, costs around max 15€. Plane to Belgrade with LOT, 45m max 270€.

Arriving in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, one could have the impression of decay, which could be legitimate considering the fact that the city was marked by the recent war.
But this is only the impression: the city, in fact, struggles tenaciously to get out of this dark past.
Here you will find places of historical and cultural interest, a wild nature and, of course, also the nightlife.
The main attraction of the city is certainly the Fortress of Belgrade and its beautiful park Kalemegdan. Located at the confluence of the rivers Sava and Danube, the fortress offers remains of ramparts and walls from the Byzantine, Ottoman and Austrian periods, as well as the clock tower.
The park is ideal for wonderful walks, but if you want you can also cross it with a small train.
In the city center you will find the Temple of St. Sava, which is the largest Orthodox church in the world, with its 70-meter-high dome, entirely decorated in travertine. Also in the center, visit the district of Stari Grad. Here you can admire the Old Palace, the Museum of Belgrade, the Temple of St. Michael the Archangel and much more.
Ah, don't forget to admire the Art Nouveau palaces, such as the palace of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences.
At nightfall, we suggest a visit to Ulica Skadarlija, the bohemian quarter of Belgrade. A cobblestone street crosses a cluster of houses with red bricks, painted walls and flowers on the balconies and terraces.
Always in the historical center, absolutely to visit the museum dedicated to Nikola Tesla, the great scientist father of countless and important discoveries, especially in the field of electricity. Interactive rooms will make you appreciate the genius of the scientist.

From Belgrade, we move to Bucharest. Around 600 km by car and about 8 hours, also crossing Bulgaria. All this at a cost of 80/100 €.
From Belgrade, you can reach Bucharest:

1. Plane to Bucharest, 1h and 25m, costs max 200€ with Air Serbia or Tarom
2. By train from Vukov spomenik to Vrsac, 4€, 1h and 30min. Car from Vrsac to Stamora Moraviţa, 20 min. Train from Stamora Moraviţa to Bucureşti Nord via Tmisoara, 10h and 30min, costs 30€
3. By bus from Belgrad Central Bus Station to Bucharest via Timisoara, around 16h, costs 50€ - 150€

Bucharest, little Paris! The city and especially its inhabitants will welcome you with their joy, happiness, irony and honesty.
For years the victim of the destruction of the dictatorship, the capital of Romania has been able to rise and has begun, although not for long, to show its beauty. Huge tree-lined avenues that recall the most famous Parisian boulevards, beautiful residential districts, the palaces of the communist period, decadent and worn.
The visit to the city certainly begins at the Palatul Parlamentului, the palace of records, being the heaviest structure in the world and the second largest after the Pentagon.
Built by Ceausescu in order to show the world the greatness of his Romania, this huge palace was never completed and is still 60% complete today. A visit lasts about 1.5 hours and is extremely interesting, also because it shows an opulence that certainly did not reflect the economic situation of the country in those years.
Don't miss the opportunity to visit the Orthodox Church of Stavropoleos, a masterpiece of Romanian architecture, decorated with beautiful frescoes and a superb cloister. It should be remembered that in Bucharest the churches were moved from one part of the city to another to prevent them from being destroyed during the construction of the Parliament.
Throughout the city you will find hundreds of monuments and places to visit and perhaps the best thing is to book one of the many organized tours.
We would also like to remind you to go to the Bucharest spa, the largest in Eastern Europe: dozens of saunas, thermal pools, pool bars and two restaurants. Here the locals come to do the sauna and drink a couple of drinks while listening to good chill-house music.
At the weekend, the spa closes at two in the morning and welcomes DJ sets. Finally, head to the Lipscani district: a concentration of art shops, galleries, electronic music and jazz clubs, and clubs in general.

We leave for the last stage of our journey: Chişinău. 430 km by car about 7 hours. From Bucharest, the capital of Moldova can also be reached:

1. By plane with Tarom. It takes around 1h and 10 mins and costs 45€ - 200€
2. By train from Bucharest Nord to Chisinau with Romanian Railways. It takes 13h and 30min and costs 20€ - 30€
3. By bus from Bucharest - Gară Filaret to Chişinău Central Bus Station with S.C Mirtrans - Express S.R.L. It takes around 9 hours and costs 18€

The most populous city and capital of the Republic of Moldova is certainly rich in contradictions, but it preserves the particular charm of a place where the Russian domination of the past centuries continues to be evident.
In recent years the city, along with the entire state, has seen a rapid growth in tourism and although Moldova is still the "least visited country" in Europe, it is an interesting destination for low-cost tourism.
The first stop in the city is certainly Parcul Catedralei, in the city center. Lush and magnificent, quiet and well-kept, it is fully experienced by the locals for long walks, to bring children to play or just to have a drink at one of the many kiosks. Adjacent to the park is the Catedrala Nasterea Domnului, in pure Russian architectural style, which attracts with its beautiful frescoes and three magnificent altars. But there are many parks in Chisinau and all of them are very beautiful.
Also visit the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History in Chinisau, the most important in the city: impressive architecture and fantastic collections ranging from prehistory to the present day, with a very interesting section dedicated to the folklore and tradition of Moldova.
If you are a wine lover, but also for the sake of the simple curiosity, you can't miss a visit to the Milestii Mici, perhaps the most famous winery in the city. Moldova is very famous for its wine production and this cellar is the confirmation of this. With over two million bottles stored in a series of underground limestone quarries. At a depth of between 40 and 80 meters, with a constant temperature throughout the year between 12 and 14 degrees, it is impossible to resist even the tasting offered in the cellar.
A true paradise.