With a post-communist and increasingly cosmopolitan vibe and plenty of artistic creativity mixed in with historic sites and pockets of conservative attitudes, what was formally known as Eastern Europe has some extraordinary places to visit, and I can’t get enough of them! I’ve always been a massive fan of hipster districts worldwide, and I always make it my mission to scout them out wherever I go. Here are a few of my favourite hipster-friendly spots…
1. The Praga District, Warsaw, Poland
Poland has seen a sharp rise in both local and visiting hipsters; it is the only country with two of its cities that have made it onto my list of Eastern European meccas!
When visiting the country’s capital city of Warsaw, travellers are in for a whole host of cultural delights that would make any indie-loving individual’s eyes widen with excitement, and I loved it on my visit!
Although the whole city has a lot to offer my favorite area is Praga, which can be found in the North East of the city centre.
This is a gritty but fun and vibrant area filled with cool bars, eateries and trendy nightlife. It also has museums and awesome parks to hang out with, although, in my opinion, the stand-out attraction is the eclectic farmer’s market otherwise known as Bazar Różyckiego.
The Bazar Różyckiego is the oldest existing market in the city, steeped in history as an important social meeting place in WWII and an area to buy everything from medical supplies to ammunition. This market has now swapped war supplies for clothes, food to accessories.
Although the average traveller often overlooks this market as a dull and dark place, I personally think more creative types can appreciate its charm and atmosphere!
My other favorite hangouts in the area include the Solec 44 restaurant for modern cuisine and catching up with friends, Warszawa Powisle for drinks and socialising, Bar Warszawa for as they say ‘shots, music, fun’ and the Powisle district in summer for open-air gatherings places.
I would also recommend just wandering around and viewing the incredible street art here!
2. Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany
In recent years, this city has become a hub of indie culture and everything surrounding it. With streets lined with vegetarian restaurants, coffee shops and scarf-wearing bearded men on fixie bikes, I love that this place is a hipster’s dream!
Similar to Warsaw, Berlin has a standout area of interest in Kreuzberg. Straddling both East and West Berlin, this area is of historical importance, including Checkpoint Charlie as one of the sites of interest. Once one of Berlin’s poorest areas, it won’t take you many strides into the area to realize its appeal with street art on every corner, bustling bars and coffeehouses.
Although this area has a handful of ‘attractions’, I highly recommend browsing the vast array of second-hand stores, many of which double up as coffee or juice shops. If you want to be in the know when chatting with your friends on your return, I highly recommend taking the Berlin Graffiti and Street Art tour around the city.
3. Floreasca, Bucharest, Romania
The capital city of Romania offers a chaotic but brilliant experience for the hipster traveller. Although the city’s old town used to serve as the heartbeat for the hip crowd, it now attracts so large a crowd of tourists that it no longer serves its purpose. Instead, the insiders are slowly migrating out to the Floreasca area north of the city.
Floreasca is becoming increasingly popular with those who wish to explore the unpopular, and I’m here for it! With an eclectic mix of individuals walking the streets, everything from families to supermodels can be found enjoying this space’s culture, which is why I loved it so much!
I suggest heading to the wide open spaces of bars such as E3 and venues such as Gradina Floreasca, which offer live music and an open-air pool. The number one hipster haunt in the city remains A1, a bar and restaurant that is open all day and night!
4. Miera Iela (Peace Street), Riga, Latvia
Riga, Latvia, is one of the rising stars of the hipster must-visit list, and I was a massive fan of this intriguing city. The tick-sheet of indie-owned locations grows yearly in this city, and there is always a gem waiting to be found around the next corner.
I recommend getting a trim in the uber-hip and retro-styled Wood Religion Barber Shop, where a young, tattooed, and super stylish creative will restyle your hair to ensure you don’t look out of place! Once your do is sorted, I suggest getting down to the Humana Vintage Butik to browse the trendy second-hand clothes to complete the look!
One of my favourite areas in this cool city is Miera Iela and it’s filled with trendy modern art galleries, retro vintage stores, independent shops and hip little cafes which I love just sitting in and people-watching!
5. Kazimierz, Krakow, Poland
Krakow is a worthy addition to my list! Not least because of the growing population of young hipsters and cultural elite flocking to the city.
Krakow may be infamous for its unsettled past, but it is growing popular with hip youngsters, despite its conservative nature compared with Warsaw.
Personally, I think this is down to its large number of cultural venues, independent shops, quirky cafes (see above!), and festivals throughout the year.
Firstly I would recommend attending the International Festival of Independent Film Off Camera. Once you have had your fill of watching indie films, then I suggest visiting the Polish Poster Gallery where I could spend hours browsing and appreciating film posters from history as well as buying copies to take away.
For hipster hangouts, I highly recommend heading to the old Jewish district of Kazimierz, which has bustling bars and eateries.
