Europe’s second longest river meanders through a total of ten European countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine.
It officially starts its marathon journey in the stately grounds of Donaueschingen Castle where the statue of Mother Baar points the way east to her child, the Danube. Almost 3,000km later, the mighty river drains into the Black Sea.
Whether following the Danube by car, bike or boat, wind your way through fairytale landscapes of dark forests, steep-sided gorges and historic settlements. Some of Europe’s most enchanting cities are found along the way: Passau, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade. to name a few. But there’s so much more to the Danube than these popular tourist destinations. Here are some of the Danube’s best-kept secrets...