Which river passes through the city of Budapest?

The Danube River passes through Budapest, dividing the historic districts of Buda and Pest.

The Danube is Europe’s second-longest river, flowing about 2,850 kilometres from the Black Forest in Germany to the Danube Delta on the Black Sea. It crosses or borders 10 countries, more than any other river in the world. Budapest is one of several major European capitals on its route.

The river helped shape Budapest’s identity and economy. Buda lies mainly on the western bank, with hills and the Castle District, while Pest occupies the flatter eastern bank. The two sides were formally united as one city in 1873.

A frequent mix-up is the Rhine, which flows through cities including Cologne and Rotterdam but not Budapest. The Danube also passes through Vienna, Bratislava and Belgrade, making it an unusually prominent capital-city river.