Down the Danube – Charming Cities to Explore

The mighty Danube, glittering, unpredictable and stunning. There are many ways to see the welcoming towns along this prevalent river, most notably with a river cruise. This is especially popular with the retired population as this is a very convenient way of travel catered to their demographic. A word of caution with this option is the height of the river can greatly impact the options of a river cruise and often many cruises are cut short due to high or low water along the river. Alternatively, if you are lucky enough to live in Europe like I do or just fancy a road trip for your itinerary then there are many options of fabulous places to see along your journey. Buckle up for my personal favorite Danube itinerary.  

Best time to travel to the Danube River region

Biased as I am there are two seasons to visit Europe as a whole (especially within Germany) and they are the off season and Christmas time. By off season I am referring to May/June or mid-September to mid-October while all the schools are still in session. German schools allow summer vacations to be on a rotating basis (except for two states) beginning mid-June until mid-September. This allows better flow throughout the country in the summer months and ideally doesn’t clog the highways too much for summer trips.

One of these states with the exception to this rule is Bavaria, which is home to a large portion of the Danube River. The Bavarian school system is out for summer vacation from August 1^st to mid-September so plan your trip accordingly. Christmas season is inexplicably the most magical time to go anywhere in Europe, but it is also one of the busiest with the hustle and bustle of Christmas markets in virtually every city across the continent.

My Ideal Danube River Itinerary

The Danube River stretches across ten countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. I will only highlight a portion of its route traveling via Germany, Austria and Hungary. It flows 2,850 kilometers (1,770 miles) across vast terrains and this portion of the river is near the start of its path. Many tours begin or end with Budapest and/or Nuremberg, to which I would also advise you the same. Due note, this travel route can be completed either forward or backward. These locations can be reached via river cruise routes, driving or via train.

Nuremberg

While Nuremberg is not exactly located on the Danube River, it is near to the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. Which allows river cruises to easily access the Danube River. If you are visiting during the Christmas season, Nuremberg has arguably the most popular Christmas Market to visit. As a local now, I would argue while nice, the Nuremberg Christmas Market is overhyped and touristy. Smaller markets such as nearby Bamberg or Fürth are more my style. Besides the lore of the Christmas market, Nuremberg has a rich history to delve into. From visiting the location of the Nuremberg Trials to the Nazi rally grounds there are plenty historic attractions to see as well.

When you are down exploring the city and diving into its history make sure to grab some iconic Nuremberg snacks. The most prominent (with several stores in the city center to sample from) is the lebkuchen. Or what we call gingerbread cookies though as American these are quite different to the gingerbread men at Christmas time you may be imagining. Lebkuchen is serious business here with the recipe guarded and kept under lock and key. While many countries consider gingerbread to be a holiday treat it can be found year-round in Nuremberg. When you stop in the afternoon to rest your feet from travel and participate in traditional kaffee und kuchen here in Germany make sure to sample a lebkuchen too.

Soaking up the sunshine in the old town square in Nuremberg.

Regensburg

The most preserved and magical medieval city in Germany is a must on this journey. Regensburg is also beautiful at Christmas time with an old town city center Christmas market as well as one on the grounds of a castle. Schloss Thurn & Taxis even offers their Christmas market usually on the weekend before most other markets in the area open (do note this Christmas market does require a paid entry ticket). I believe the warmer weather months are when this city shines. With many historic and charming alleyways with cute antique stores and a promenade along the Danube to explore, a sunnier time of year is optimal for enjoying this city.

A bonus if you are driving to Regensburg is to see nearby Weltenburg Abbey. It is a Benedictine monastery dated from around the year 600. It is the oldest monastery in Bavaria and claimed to be the oldest monastic brewery in the world dating back to 1050 A.D. Grab a ferry cruise here along the Danube to cruise through the gigantic rock formations along the river. After your river cruise, pop back up to the monastery for a bit to eat in their biergarten and try their famous beer.

My mom and I on the Stone Bridge in Regensburg.

Passau

Right on the border of Germany and Austria you must stop in Passau where the Danube, Inn and Illz rivers meet. Their meeting point is at the end of an island between the rivers which some of the city sits on. Uniquely, there is a clear line in the water where the rivers converge. This is contributed to the different sources and sediment characteristics of the three rivers coming together. Besides seeing the convergence of the rivers make sure to explore the old town with St. Stephan’s Cathedral and pop into one of the many local artist shops. We stopped her for lunch and had an afternoon stroll. We loved our lunch at Julis Spätzlerei with a variety of spätzle topped dishes to try.

The summer spätzle was delicious!

Vienna and Bratislava

There is so much to do in Vienna a weekend is simply not enough time to see it all. We had only two days here and that was merely enough time to see the main highlights. Top on your list for a visit to Vienna to see are its main palaces of Hofburg and Schönnbrunn – home to the infamous Habsburg family during their reign of the region. We utilized the Sissi Pass to see three of the main attractions and this was a great way for a quick overview of the Palaces and history. Be aware, the main attractions of the Vienna Boys Choir and the Spanish Riding School take a summer holiday for July/August. If you want to see these attractions and are visiting a window where they have shows do ensure you book tickets well in advance as they do sell out quickly.

Even though you could spend weeks in Vienna alone, I do recommend taking a day to cruise down the Danube to the neighboring country of Slovakia and see their capital, Bratislava. Slovakia has only been independent for my entire lifetime, gaining independence in my birth year of 1993. This small country has a rich history and welcoming population. This is a small and easily walkable city, which is the perfect day trip from Vienna. Highlights of Bratislava include Bratislava castle, the Blue Church, walk up Michael’s Tower, and exploring the quaint old town.

Budapest

Much like Vienna, there is so much to see and do in Budapest. A must do is an evening cruise along the Danube River with views of the parliament building, Buda Castle, Gellert Hill, Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church and various bridges. Make sure to take a culinary tour if time allows, to learn more about their love of paprika and pickling dishes. Ride the infamous tram number two which runs parallel along the Danube. This route allows you to soak up the Danube views to one side and the sprawling city views to the other. Surprisingly, Hungary has over 1,300 thermal springs across the country with 123 of them in the city of Budapest alone. After a long day of sightseeing, soak in one of the famous thermal baths such as Széchenyi Thermal Bath or Gellért Thermal Bath. My favorite activity here was going to a wine tasting in the cellars under Buda Castle with a local wine sommelier.

Evening dinner cruise with views of the Parliament building.

When I was in high school a family member went on a river cruise along the Danube and loved it. It’s all they talked about for years. Every time they discussed the magical wonders of their trip I always thought “I will never see the Danube that is way too far away to get to easily”. Now I live within driving distance of it and walking distance of its tributaries. Life can lead you in directions you truly never thought possible – even up and down the great Danube River. 

No matter where you go along the Danube, every time you see it and the cities which exist along it you feel the magic and pull of its presence. Many cities show on buildings along the river’s edge how high the water has risen over the years and yet many people still choose those cities as their homes. Soaking in the beauty of the river no matter the risk. Personally, I wouldn’t do the same, but I can see the appeal as you feel calm as you walk along the banks of “The Mighty Danube”. You feel more humbled as you watch its current flying by and more connected to nature.

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Meet Dara

Originally I am from the very first and second smallest state in America, Delaware. After achieving my masters degree I wanted to take a 'gap year' to work in Shanghai, China with Disney. I met my husband in Shanghai and somehow that 'gap year' turned into more than 8 years of living abroad! I have lived across three continents and four countries before I turned 30 and I wouldn't be surprised if those statistics change again before I am 40. I currently reside in the land of fairytale inspiration itself, Bavaria, Germany with my German husband. I love the thrill of visiting somewhere new and I am passionate about planning every single detail for all of our trips. I have always wanted to share my knowledge and expertise from this magical life abroad and thus this column was born. Join me as I take you from Delaware to Everywhere.

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