3,500km+ · the Volga
Short answer: the Volga is the longest river in Europe, followed by the Danube, the Ural and the Dnieper. For a holiday along the water, the Moselle, the Loire, the Danube in Austria, the Dordogne and the Ardèche are popular choices.
Europe has a river for every kind of trip: to cycle along, to paddle, to cruise, or simply to enjoy from a terrace. Below you will first find the most beautiful rivers for a holiday, followed by the longest rivers in Europe and some famous rivers elsewhere in the world.
The most beautiful rivers in Europe
Ardèche (France)
The Ardèche flows through deep limestone gorges in southern France. Its best-known sight is the Pont d’Arc, a natural stone arch over the river. In summer it is one of the most popular canoeing rivers in France.
Danube (Germany to the Black Sea)
The Danube flows through ten countries. One of its most beautiful stretches is the Wachau valley in Austria, with vineyards, abbeys and small villages. The Danube cycle path and river cruises make it easy to explore.
Elbe (Czech Republic and Germany)
The Elbe Cycle Route follows the river past the sandstone rocks of Saxon Switzerland and cities such as Dresden.
Loire (France)
The Loire is the longest river in France. The valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes is a UNESCO World Heritage site, mainly because of its châteaux and historic towns.
Moselle (France, Luxembourg and Germany)
The Moselle winds through steep vineyards. The German stretch between Trier and Koblenz is popular with cyclists, hikers and wine lovers.
Dordogne (France)
The Dordogne flows past castles and medieval villages such as La Roque-Gageac. Canoeing and kayaking on the river are popular in summer.
Drôme (France)
The Drôme is a calm, clear river between the Alps and Provence, with pebble beaches for swimming and picnics.
The longest rivers in Europe
- Volga, over 3,500 km. It flows through Russia into the Caspian Sea. According to Britannica it is the longest river in Europe.
- Danube, about 2,850 km. It rises in the Black Forest and flows into the Black Sea (Britannica).
- Ural, which partly follows the boundary between Europe and Asia.
- Dnieper, about 2,200 km, through Russia, Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea (Britannica).
- Don, in Russia, which flows into the Sea of Azov.
The Rhine is considerably shorter at about 1,230 km. It rises in the Swiss Alps and flows through the Netherlands into the North Sea (Britannica). For a long time its length was given as 1,320 km, which turned out to be an error.
Famous rivers elsewhere in the world
- Nile (Africa): often named as the longest river in the world.
- Amazon (South America): by far the largest river by volume of water. Whether the Amazon or the Nile is longer depends on how you measure the source.
- Yangtze (China): the longest river in Asia.
- Mississippi (United States): known for its paddle steamers and the blues.
Final edit: Jan Willem Beumer, editor-in-chief of Mindbogglingmedia
