6 Beautiful European Capital Cities To Visit Along The Danube

As you already know from my article on waterfront cities around the world, I like a metropolis — the larger, the higher — set by the water, be it an ocean or a grand river. And it doesn’t get a lot grander than the Danube. The second longest river in Europe after the Russian Volga, the Danube springs within the Black Forest in Germany, and it crosses 10 European international locations alongside its 1,770 miles till it flows into the Black Sea. Not surprisingly, it’s fashionable for river cruises.

There are 4 magnificent capital cities positioned on its riverbanks: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade. So as to add to this spectacular checklist, each Bucharest and Sofia lie inside a brief distance from the banks of the Danube. They’re so shut, certainly, that river cruises alongside the Danube cease and permit passengers to go to each capital cities, in addition to tourism boards providing day journeys from every metropolis to the Danube for river journeys to the estuary. So I took the freedom of including these two cities to this checklist of fantastic capital cities alongside the Danube.

Whereas every of the cities has the Danube in widespread with the others, these capitals couldn’t be extra completely different from one another, every providing distinct historical past inside a singular setting, and every having its personal language, delicacies, and environment. Having visited each, I discover it not possible to decide on a favourite, as I like all of them for particular causes.

Learn my checklist of cities, beginning within the west and shifting east to search out out what they’re and what they’ve to supply and see if you’ll find yourself with a favourite.

1. Vienna

Austria

Vienna barely wants an introduction with its imperial buildings, superb church buildings, fairly and really well-behaved Lipizzaner horses, well-known cake, and a lot artwork and tradition.  For artwork lovers, the Museum of Utilized Artwork and the Hundertwasserhaus are a should, for music and palace fiends, a concert at Schönbrunn Palace is fantastic, and free annually, whereas meals lovers want to come back ready. 

From the famed Sachertorte to the creamy coffees, from Wienerschnitzel to the Naschmarkt (snack market), an enormous meals market, there’s something scrumptious at each nook. Finest convey outfits with elasticated waists or work a few of it off strolling alongside the Danube. However do take be aware that that you must take the metro line U1 to Alte Donau and stroll from there, because the Danube just isn’t truly proper within the metropolis middle of Vienna.

Professional Tip: On my first go to to Vienna, I used to be a poor pupil and couldn’t afford excursions or guides. As an alternative, I purchased myself a day ticket for the public transport and hopped on each tram I noticed, using it from starting to finish, having fun with the views, listening to the locals chat, and hopping off each time I noticed one thing fascinating. It nonetheless works very nicely at this time, particularly since Tram 1 is worth it using.

2. Bratislava

Slovakia

Lower than 50 miles from Vienna, within the southwestern nook of Slovakia lies its capital Bratislava. With a inhabitants of lower than half 1,000,000 and an ideal little previous middle, Bratislava is ideal for a weekend or a 2-day journey. With most of its points of interest positioned inside the previous medieval middle dominated by the principle sq. surrounded by Gothic and Neo-Baroque buildings, you may get all over the place in Bratislava on foot — even as much as the fortress. Though if you wish to keep away from the meandering and simple, however fairly quite a few steps uphill, take bus quantity 203 or 207 to the highest.

The previous city middle is strewn with numerous quirky sculptures: a man peeping out of a manhole, a paparazzo taking an image across the nook, a soldier sitting on the principle sq.’s bench, and lots of extra. Good for posing for foolish footage.

Stuffed with cafes and eating places, artwork galleries, little shops, and the prettiest blue church, Bratislava is a delight to find.

Professional Tip: Amidst the previous sights, it’s also possible to go tremendous fashionable with a experience up the UFO Bridge throughout the Danube. This space-age tower permits for fabulous views throughout town and surrounding mountains and has a somewhat good restaurant on the high as nicely, (with bogs with a view!), however e-book forward.

3. Budapest

Hungary

Roughly 125 miles additional east of Bratislava lies the fantastic Budapest, providing two cities in a single: Buda on the west facet of the Danube and Pest on the japanese riverbank. That is, with Vienna, the grandest metropolis alongside the Danube, with magnificent structure (the Parliament Constructing alone, the world’s largest, is value a go to) starting from Baroque to Artwork Nouveau to Socialist Classicism, and much extra. 

Whereas Budapest is most well-known for its bridges, fortress, and ice cream (sure, ice cream), I loved the previous Central Market Corridor with its nice meals stalls, the funicular as much as the fortress, and the Gellert Baths greatest. The baths provide a terrific take a look at and into the Hungarians, with swimming costumes non-compulsory within the showers, and massages being approached not with candles and whale tune, however in a no-nonsense method that scared me a little bit at first however felt good afterward.

Professional Tip: Eat at Hilda Restaurant, a surprising little place serving nice Hungarian delicacies — from goulash to paprika rooster — and regional wine. It’s not the most affordable however might be probably the most fashionable.

4. Belgrade

Serbia

Belgrade, some 235 miles from Budapest, is a type of European capital cities that’s barely on any abroad customer’s radar. Mendacity on the confluence of the Sava River and the Danube, town is filled with historical past, charming neighborhoods, and a few actually excellent eating places serving nice meals at — for guests — ridiculously low costs.

With its turbulent historical past (the final conflict solely led to 1999), town is a hotchpotch of buildings relationship to the Romans, the Center Ages, and every thing since. Right here is an imposing fortress to discover with the most effective views throughout the confluence and the encompassing countryside, whereas the previous city Stari Grad is an atmospheric quarter to meander, and Skadarlija avenue is an ideal cease for food and drinks.

To get probably the most out of the Danube, head to the completely beautiful city of Zemun within the northwest of Belgrade, after which stroll again into Belgrade alongside the Danube. There are many cafes and eating places, stalls, and sights alongside the best way.

Professional Tip: Simply earlier than you attain the bridge again throughout the Sava, pop into the fascinating Contemporary Art Museum.

5. Bucharest

Romania

These final two additions to the checklist of capitals alongside the Danube don’t lie on the Danube, strictly talking. However Bucharest is positioned lower than 50 miles from the Danube, and excursions on the river and towards the estuary, plus stops of the busy river cruises are all virtually on the doorstep. And Bucharest is a surprising metropolis with the moniker Paris of the East, and you’ll quickly uncover why it’s known as that. Not solely are the buildings grand and delightful, but in addition there may be an Arc de Triomphe (Arcul de Triumf), and the road indicators are of the identical blue and inexperienced enamel design as these in Paris. Stunning tiny church buildings (do pop into each single one, please, in any other case you’ll miss out) distinction with the imposing buildings of the Individuals’s Palace and the Athenaeum, and the Previous City is surrounded by inexperienced parks. An odd however worthwhile website is the Dimitrie Gusti Nationwide Village Museum, an eclectic however fascinating assortment of historic rural homes.

Professional Tip: Don’t miss Carturesti Carusel, one in every of my favorite bookstores ever.

6. Sofia

Bulgaria  

Lower than 100 miles from the Danube and really a lot linked with Danube tourism, Sofia is a small capital with a lot to see. Historic historical past, beautiful Russian Orthodox church buildings, fabulous artwork galleries, and even huge Roman ruins which historians — and I — stumbled upon by pure probability. There are wonderful eating places and bars, together with one which grew to become my native for the time I used to be there: The Cocktail Bar on Angel Kanchev Avenue, with backyard seating, the place you might sit exterior and simply take pleasure in being a part of Sofia’s folks.

Sofia is a really habitable metropolis, and whereas not large on apparent vacationer points of interest, there are such a lot of smaller issues to see, that this would possibly even be my favourite of the lot. Along with Bucharest. And Bratislava. And. Oh, by no means thoughts. Each single of those cities alongside the Danube is gorgeous in its personal proper and nicely value a go to.

To double-check, you’ll be able to “mop up” most of them in a single single cruise, after which add some extra, by crusing again from Sofia on the Danube to Prague, crusing previous — and stopping off at — Belgrade, Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, by means of Germany, however then turning off into the Vlatava to Prague.

Professional Tip: If you happen to keep within the Sofia Hotel Balkan, a Marriott Lodge, you not solely have the traditional St. George Rotunda out again, but in addition the principle procuring drag Vitosha Boulevard, and the beautiful Sveta Nedelya Church proper on the doorstep.