Rivers have always been the lifeblood of the great capitals of Europe, shaping their trade, defence and grandest architecture. From the Seine in Paris to the Danube in Budapest and the Thames in London, these waterways are woven into the identity of the cities they flow through. Here are ten rivers that flow through Europe’s capital cities.
Below is a list of 10 rivers that flow through capital cities in Europe
1. River Thames, London, England
The River Thames flows through London and London’s major attractions are situated right along the banks of the river, such as the Big Ben and Westminster Palace, the Tower Bridge and Tower of London and the London Eye
Pin It River Thames, London, England
2. The Seine, Paris, France
The Seine flows through Paris and a boat tour of the Seine River is considered one of the best attractions of Paris. A romantic activity in the most romantic destinations in the world. What else do you need? Another romantic activity is to put a love lock on the Pont des Arts Bridge over the Seine
Pin It The Seine, Paris. Picture taken from the Eiffel Tower
3. The Tiber, Rome, Italy
The history of Rome relates to the Tiber River which flows through the heart of the city, and very close to Vatican City
Pin It The Tiber and Vatican City, Rome, Italy
4. River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland
The Liffey river supplies much of Dublin’s water, and is also used for recreational purposes. The Temple Bar area lies on the south bank of the Liffey
Pin It River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland
5. The Danube, Budapest, Hungary
The Danube is the second longest river in Europe, after the Volga. It is 2,872 km (1,785 mi) long and flows through 4 capital cities: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade. Budapest is the largest city on the Danube and is actually the unification of two parts on both banks of the Danube – Buda on the west bank and Pest on the east bank. They were unified to a single city in 1873
Pin It The Danube, Budapest, Hungary
Pin It The Danube, Budapest, Hungary
6. Moskva River (Moscow River), Moscow, Russia
The Moskva river is 503 km (313 mi) long and flows through Moscow. The Kremlin is situated on the bank of the river
Pin It Moskva River, Moscow. Picture taken from within the Kremlin
7. The Amstel, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Amsterdam has countless artificial canals, but the Amstel river is flows naturally through the city
Pin It The Amstel, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
8. Spree River, Berlin, Germany
The Spree river flows through the German states of Saxony, Brandenburg and Berlin. It also flows through the Czech Republic. In Berlin itself, it passes very close to main attractions of Berlin in the heart of the city, such as Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag
Pin It Spree River and the Berlin TV Tower, Berlin
9. Vltava River, Prague, Czech Republic
The Vltava river is the longest river in the Czech Republic. In Prague, it flows under Charles Bridge – one of the most famous bridges in the world, and just a short walking distance away from the river is the Old Town Square in Prague, one of the most famous city squares in the world
Pin It Charles Bridge and Vltava river, Prague
10. Manzanares River, Madrid, Spain
In a way, the city of Madrid was founded thanks to the Manzanares river, as the city was first founded as a citadel overlooking the river by the Moors in the 9th century
Pin It Manzanares River, Madrid
Explore more waterways: the longest rivers in the world, the most important rivers in the world, and the largest countries in Europe.
