Eastern European Newspapers
English-language and ex-pat publications give you background information and handy tips for your travels
Planning a trip to Eastern Europe or want to keep up with your favorite culture? Local English-language and ex-pat newspapers are perfect for up-to-date information.
After spending a year in Bratislava, the local English-language newspaper the Slovak Spectator was a key way for me to keep in touch with affairs around me. My Slovak skills were enough to buy some hotdogs (sometimes), but understanding politics or knowing exactly when that great new exhibition was opening would have been beyond me without access to an English-language publication. The same principle applies whether you’re living in a foreign country, planning a trip or just have a keen interest in it.
Why Read a Local English-Language Newspaper?
Do you think your nightly TV news tells you everything? Of course it doesn’t. And if you have a particular interest in the political career of Vladimir Meciar (in Slovakia) or want to learn more about what the experts do to maintain Lenin’s body in good condition (in Russia), you usually need to go closer to the source.
Chances are, though, your Slovak, Bulgarian or even just Cyrillic alphabet skills aren’t too hot. That’s where newspapers or magazines published in-country but in English come in very handy. Often aimed at ex-pats who live there, or foreigners wanting to do business in the country, not every piece of news is interesting for travelers, but you do get a much better feel for what’s happening in your destination and how the locals tick.
Getting the Eastern European News You Want
If you’re living or traveling in the country in question, then finding an English-language or ex-pat newspaper’s usually not too difficult. Ask around at the largest newsagents for a local paper in English and it shouldn’t be long before you can sit down and have a read.
But what if you’re only planning a trip, or just interested? Thanks to the internet, you no longer have to pay for an expensive and slow snail-mail subscription or hunt around the back corners of your local newsagent to find a niche newspaper. All Eastern European nations have English-language newspapers online, and sometimes more than one – either exclusively aimed at ex-pats or other interested foreigners, or a part of a mainstream newspaper that’s translated into English.
Not all content is completely freely available online: you might need to join up as a member (perhaps with a small cost, or be free as long as you agree to receive regular emails); other online versions of English-language newspapers publish all or most of their articles for everyone to read.
Where Can You Find Eastern European News in English?
Check our resource list for a selection of the best English-language newspapers and magazines in Eastern Europe. Another useful resource is the World Newspapers site, listing English-language newspapers the world over.
