Eurail Eastern Europe

What’s the best way to travel around Eastern Europe if you really ant to get a taste of the culture?
Are guided tours something to avoid? Should I just get a eurail pass have a lot of freedom to go where I feel like next?
Buy point-to-point train and bus tickets. Eurail passes are a waste of money in Eastern Europe.
I would also give guided tours a big berth, but that is me personally. I hate travelling with guided tours, they bore me out of my skull and frustrate me with their restrictions on what I can see and do. The only possible nice thing is that the guide gives you lectures. But since the quality of that commentary varies wildly I rather save my money and read things up on my own.