If you’re one to check UNESCO World Heritage Sites off your travel bucket list, you’ll want to add a Danube River cruise to your calendar. This storied waterway winds through two capital cities overflowing with UNESCO destinations: Budapest and Vienna. The historic hotspots are certainly not limited to these two cities, however. There are so many UNESCO sites along the Danube River, in fact, that it was hard to narrow down my favorites for this article! Consider this a taste of the best and use this as a jumping-off point for your explorations.
Quick Primer
You may know you want to see them, but what exactly makes a UNESCO World Heritage Site? These designated sites are intended to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of a people’s culture and heritage. There are intangible UNESCO designations, too - think coffee culture in Vienna. The United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has created this list to protect these important places and monuments around the world in the hopes of driving awareness and conservation.
Danube UNESCO Sites
Fisherman's Bastion in the Buda Castle District is the perfect spot to get a full view of the Pest side of the city.
Budapest, Hungary
This lovely capital city has a string of UNESCO sites to visit, including a generalized one: the banks of the Danube River itself. Conde Nast Traveler has also ranked this as one of the most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the planet. The view of the Danube is splendid, with the actual UNESCO stretch lying between Margaret Bridge and Liberty Bridge.
Beyond the river banks, the city’s other two cultural heritage sites are Buda Castle Hill on the west side and Andrassy Avenue on the east side. Explore the medieval, Baroque and 19th-century architecture of Buda Hill, as well as the Buda Castle, which houses the Hungarian National Gallery. Also on the Buda side of the river, find Gellert Hill, with The Statue of Liberty and the Citadel, as well as the Gellert Bath. On the Pest side, don’t miss the Parliament building, the Neo-Renaissance Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and the Art Nouveau Gresham Palace.
I was fortunate to see the Vienna Opera House and then also have time to explore with a
break for the perfect cup of cappuccino all in the same afternoon!
Vienna, Austria
In addition to its convivial coffee culture, Vienna is home to an entire historic center that is protected by UNESCO. Don’t miss the Vienna State Opera, the Hofburg Palace (home of the Habsburgs) and the gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Snap photos of the Baroque-style Imperial Palace with its iconic cupolas, as well as the Museum of Fine Arts.
As for that delightful coffee culture, it embodies Viennese gemütlichkeit, a general sense of friendliness and geniality. You’ll feel it, too, as you sip your coffee of choice at Cafe Ritter, one of the city’s oldest and most elegant cafes.
The Old Stone Bridge and St. Peter's Cathedral in Regensburg are both protected by UNESCO.
Regensburg, Germany
Take a walking tour of the Old Town of Regensburg on the northernmost bend of the Danube River - it is the only authentically preserved large medieval city in Germany. Feel transported back in time as you stroll the pedestrian-friendly alleyways winding through this part of this Bavarian town. Marvel at historic structures that span two millennia, from Roman to Romanesque to Gothic styles. The market, city hall, cathedral and patrician residences and towers convey the rich history of the area, as one of the centers of the Holy Roman Empire that turned to Protestantism.
Next week, we’ll turn to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites you must see along the Rhine River, followed by a look at the Wachau Valley in Austria, which is worth a visit all on its own.
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