Learn About Amazing Danube River Destinations

The Danube is Europe’s second-longest river. It continues to run through most of Central and Southeastern Europe, from the Black Forest to the Black Sea. The Danube was once a long-standing Roman Empire frontier and is now the world’s longest river, passing through most countries. The Danube flows southeast from Germany for 2,850 kilometers, passing through or bordering Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine before draining into the Black Sea. Its drainage basin encompasses nine additional countries. Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, and Bratislava, all capitals of their respective countries, are the largest cities along the river. The Danube goes through four capital cities, more than almost any other river in the world. If you will be experiencing these places alone, it is better to read top tips on solo traveling to enjoy more your trip. Fish species such as pike, zander, huchen, Wels catfish, burbot, and tench can be found in the Danube river basin. It also supports a diverse population of carp, sturgeon, salmon, and trout. The Danube Delta and lower river are home to a few euryhaline fish species such as European seabass, mullet, and eel.

The Danube has been a traditional trade route in Europe since antiquity. Only 2,415 kilometers of the total length are navigable today. The Rhine-Main–Danube Canal, which connects the Danube at Kelheim with the Main at Bamberg, connects the Danube to the North Sea. The river also serves as a major source of hydropower and drinking water. The Danube’s stream also defines many European borders, particularly in the Balkans. Some of the listed places below are definitely counted as the best urban backpack-friendly locations in the world. Rest assured, the trip will be fun and worthwhile.  

1. Germany

The journey starts with a guided tour of Nuremberg’s beautiful medieval city, where you’ll see the Imperial Castle, the famous town wall, and the Market Square’s legendary fountain. A guided tour of the city’s most important WWII sites, including the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the Nuremberg Trials Memoriam and Courtroom 600, is available for history buffs. Following that, you can sample traditional Franconian fares such as Nuremberg bratwurst, rotbier (red beer), and lebkuchen (gingerbread). You will travel through the man-made Main-Danube Canal on your way to the next destination, Regensburg.

A guided walking tour of Regensburg, one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities, is included in your ticket. The Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria are two of Regensburg’s architectural highlights. If all that walking makes you hungry, there’s beer, sausage, and pretzels to fill you up.

2. Austria

Austria, Hd City Wallpapers, Hills

Continuing down the Danube, you’ll arrive in Melk, a picturesque town known for its magnificent Benedictine Abbey. The abbey houses Saint Coloman of Stockerau’s tomb as well as the remains of several members of Austria’s first ruling dynasty, the House of Babenberg. If you want to do something more active, join a guided bike tour through the Wachau Valley, which is protected by UNESCO, or take a walking tour through Dürnstein’s cobblestone streets to the famous Baroque church tower, Stiftskirche. Later in the day, set sail through the Wachau Valley, which is known for its vineyards.

No trip to Austria would be perfect without a break in Vienna, The City of Waltzes. Vienna is a treasure trove, and your tour highlights its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral at the end of your tour in the designated historic city center. Take a guided bike ride to Klosterneuburg Monastery for more active exploration.

3. Hungary

Budapest is known as the Danube’s Queen, and your tour starts with a visit to the Great Market Hall. The rest of the tour will take you to both the Buda and Pest banks of the Danube. Alternatively, climb Castle Hill for spectacular views of the city. An illumination cruise is a great way to end the day. Puszta is a good place to stop on your way through Hungary. Tour a genuine Hungarian csárda driven by world champion carriage drivers on the Great Hungarian Plain. After that, be treated to an unforgettable horsemanship performance, followed by a traditional lunch complete with authentic goulash and Hungarian hospitality. 

Set sail from Puszta to Mohács for a scenic morning cruise through a town dotted with magnificent churches, including the 18th-century Baroque Protestant church, the Roman Catholic church, the Serbian Greek Orthodox church, the votive church, and the Avas church with its bell tower. Then you’ll cruise to Pécs, a city founded by the Romans over 2,000 years ago. The Christian Necropolis, St. Peter’s Basilica, the city’s main Catholic cathedral with its catacombs, and Széchenyi Square, the heart of Old Town Pécs, are among the city’s historic architecture. For wine connoisseurs, there’s the Szekszárd wine region, which dates back over 2,000 years and is one of Hungary’s oldest red-wine-growing regions.

4. Visiting Croatia on a Danube river cruise

Vukovar is a beautiful Baroque Croatian city located on the banks of the Vuka and Danube Rivers in the Srijem/Syrmia region. The Ovara Memorial and Eltz Castle, which are recognized as the “hero town” for the valor of brave Croatian civilian populations and volunteer groups during the 1991 war with Serbia, will be included on your city tour. You can also go wine tasting in Ilok, a wine-producing center since Roman times, where you can sample the region’s famous Grasevina, Traminac, and Frankovka wines. Join a guided biking or hiking tour if you prefer a more active exploration. Visit Petrovaradin Fortress in the evening.

5. Serbia 

On a city tour of Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, see the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. After that, pick one of three exciting excursions. Visit the Royal Palace, the Serbian Royal Family’s official residence, and then the House of Flowers, the mausoleum of Marshal Tito, Yugoslavia’s first President. At the Quburich Distillery, sample Serbian plum brandy, slivovitz, and delicious local delights for a taste of the region. Join a guided bike tour for those looking for a more active adventure.

6. Romania

Pass through the Iron Gates, one of Europe’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders, for a full day of scenic cruising. The Danube narrows at the Iron Gates as it winds between the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains, passing through a series of magnificent gorges.