As a new year begins, there are several reasons to start making travel plans for 2009. Many European cities have been featured on various top ten lists of worldwide hotspots to visit this year.

Here’s a sampling of some affordable destinations that are also easily accessible with a Eurail Pass.

Berlin: city of history

Frommer’s recommends Berlin in Germany as an authentic destination that offers something for almost everyone. The historic city is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, making 2009 the perfect year to visit the German capital. Those interested in European history can expect special exhibitions, memorials, tours and walks. Berlin is well connected, and nearly 350,000 train passengers pass through the newly-built, highly-modern glass Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) daily.

Bulgaria: budget destination

In these difficult economic times, the focus is on more affordable travel deals. The UK’s Herald newspaper recently released a report on the best budget destinations to visit in 2009. Included in this list is Bulgaria, which has just become a Eurail One Country Pass member.

Situated in southeastern Europe, Bulgaria offers a picturesque and varied landscape ranging from towering mountain ranges to coastal towns situated on the Black Sea. Bulgaria’s passenger railway network covers over 6,200 kilometers (3,850 miles) and offers convenient domestic and international routes. Direct trains run from major cities such as Budapest, Bucharest, Thessaloniki and Belgrade. The Bulgarian railways serve 34 million passengers annually.

Czech Republic: top ten destination

Another popular destination in Eastern Europe is the Czech Republic, which became a member of the Eurail Global Pass and Eurail Select Pass packages in 2009. The Czech capital Prague is ranked among the top ten tourist destinations in Europe, according to Euromonitor International.

Traveling by rail is popular in the Czech Republic. Of the more than 6.5 million tourists visiting the country annually, nearly a quarter travel by rail. The dense railway structure, which is continuously being modernized, links Prague to many other interesting cities and villages within the country, and boasts excellent international connections. Other European capitals like Vienna and Berlin can be reached directly in less than five hours.