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Europe's second-longest river after the Volga, the Danube has served as a traditional trade route for centuries. Around 2,415 km (1,501 mi) of its total length are navigable. Major cities set on the watercourse include Vienna, Budapest, and Belgrade.
At 3,531 km (2,194 mi), the Volga is Europe's longest river. It flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia to drain in the Caspian Sea, and is generally regarded as the country's national waterway. Pictured is the iconic Kalyazin Bell Tower, a flooded belfry that stands in the river opposite the old town of Kalyazin.
One of Russia's largest rivers, the Don rises in the town of Novomoskovsk and flows 1,870 km (1,161 mi) south to the Sea of Azov.
Named for the mountain range it rises in, the Ural River is conventionally considered part of the boundary between the continents of Europe and Asia. At 2,428 km (1,509 mi) in length, the Ural is the third-longest river in Europe.
The River Dniester runs first through Ukraine and then through Moldova to complete a 1,362 km (846 mi) watercourse to the Black Sea.
The Pechora rises in the Ural Mountains to flow from Northwest Russia and into the Arctic Ocean, a distance of around 1,809 km (1,124 mi).
At 545 km (339 mi), the Moselle flows through north-eastern France, Luxembourg, and western Germany. Pictured is scenic Bernkastel-Kues, a town set on the banks of the Middle Moselle.
One of the most recognized rivers in Europe, the Rhine has its sources in Switzerland and flows 1,230 km (760 mi) in a mostly northerly direction through Germany and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea. Pictured are the two sister towns that form Laufenburg. The destination is shared by Germany and Switzerland after Napoleon divided the town over 200 years ago.
Another river synonymous with continental Europe, the Seine's entire 775-km (482-mi) watercourse remains within the national borders of France. The Seine cuts a smile through Paris, where no less than 37 bridges and footbridges span the river, connecting the Left Bank to the Right Bank.
Portugal's Douro River and the valley it flows through has the distinction of being recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in recognition as one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in the world. The river actually rises in Spain and flows west for 897 km (557 mi) to meet the city of Porto before draining into the Atlantic Ocean.
Rising in the Swiss Alps, the Rhône passes through Lake Geneva to run through southwestern France. Towns and cities lying on its 813 km (505 mi) route include Geneva, Lyon, and Avignon, where the incomplete Pont Saint-Bénézet is located. The landmark bridge was the inspiration for the song 'Sur le pont d'Avignon.'
One of the major rivers of Central Europe, the Elbe cuts through the Czech Republic and continues into Germany, eventually meeting the North Sea some 1,112 km (691 mi) later. Along the way the watercourse meanders under the famous Bastei rock formation (pictured), located near Dresden.
The longest tributary of the Rhine, the Main river rises in northeastern Bavaria and flows 525 km (326 mi) to meet the Rhine at Rüsselsheim am Main. Pictured on the river is the delightful medieval town of Miltenberg.
Joining the Rhône at Lyon in France is one of its tributaries, the 473-km (294-mi) long Saône river. The twin rivers have constituted a flood threat for centuries: Lyon has been soaked on several occasions.
At 1,006 km (625 mi) in length, the Loire is the longest river in France. Vineyards and châteaux are found along the banks of the river in the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An equally appealing but lesser-known section of the watercourse is in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, where you can admire the landscape of the Camaldules Peninsula, which is topped by an ancient castle (pictured).
The longest river in Poland and the country's most important waterway, the Vistula is 1,047 km (651 mi) in length and flows through Poland's largest cities, including Kraków (pictured).
The Guadiana river defines a sizeable stretch of the Spain-Portugal border, separating Extremadura and Andalucia (Spain) from Alentejo and Algarve (Portugal). The watercourse covers an impressive 829 km (515 mi), though it's only navigable from the Atlantic Ocean until the Portuguese town of Mértola (pictured), a distance of 68 km (42 mi).
Another river that forms part of an international border is the Oder, which defines 187 km (116 mi) of the frontier between Poland and Germany. The Oder itself is 840 km (520 mi) long and rises in the Czech Republic to empty north into the Baltic Sea.
The Garonne's headwaters are to be found in the Spanish Pyrenees where it flows to the Gironde estuary at the French port of Bordeaux—a length of 529 km (329 mi). The name Garonne incidentally comes from the Latin Garumna, a transliteration of the river's ancient name. It's one of the few waterways in Europe that experiences a tidal bore.
The Dordogne is 483 km (300 mi) long and is another river that exhibits the phenomenon of a tidal bore, known as a mascaret. Located in France, the Dordogne and its watershed are a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Spain's Ebro is the longest river set entirely in the country, at 930 km (580 mi) from its source in the Cantabrian Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea. It's pictured passing through Miravet, with the Serra de Cardo and Els Ports mountain ranges in the background.
Italy's Tiber river flows 406 km (252 mi) through Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio before snaking into Rome, which was founded on its eastern banks by King Romulus in 753 BCE.
The longest river in Italy, the Po flows 652 km (405 mi) eastwards out of the Cottian Alps in Piedmont to cross the country's northern region. It passes through several important cities, most significantly Turin (pictured).
Rising in Spain, the Tagus is the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula. The waterway snakes 1,007 km (626 mi) west to empty into the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon, the Portuguese capital. Over the centuries, the river has helped define Lisbon's character as a historic port city.
A tributary of the Rhine, the Neckar Valley flows through the especially scenic German state of Baden-Württemberg to pass a number of historic cities, including Heidelberg. The Neckar is 362 km (225 mi) long.
Rising in the Austrian Alps, the Isar cascades down towards Bavaria to be tamed at Munich before reaching the Danube, a distance of around 291 km (181 mi). In Munich, the banks of the river become a giant beach during hot, dry days.
On its winding path across western Russia, the Moskva River slices through Moscow to meet the Oka, a tributary of the Volga, and then ultimately drain into the Caspian Sea, a distance of 473 km (294 mi).
The longest river within the Czech Republic, the Vltava reaches its visual peak as it flows through Prague, to be spanned by 18 bridges, including the beautiful medieval Charles Bridge. Considered the country's national waterway, the Vltava is 430 km (270 mi) in length.
Scandinavia's longest river is the Klarälven, which flows 460 km (290 mi) through Norway and Sweden. The river is crossed at the Klarälven delta in Karlstad by a landmark 168-m (551-ft) long stone bridge with 12 arches.
Taking its name after Sionnan, the granddaughter of the Irish God of the Sea, the River Shannon is the longest river in the Republic of Ireland, and indeed on the island of Ireland, at 360 km (224 mi) in length. The river is pictured flowing between County Limerick and Country Clare.
Sources: (My Switzerland) (Paris Tourist Office) (UNESCO) (Perfectly Provence) (Euronews) (Viking River Cruises) (History) (Discover the Shannon)
See also: Britain's most scenic riverside towns and villages
Meandering across Europe like lengthy strands of blue-green ribbon are numerous rivers of grand dimensions and historic significance. These wondrous watercourses have served cities and communities for centuries, as trade routes, sources of water and recreation, and as a way of providing food. Some even act as national borders. But what are the longest, biggest, and broadest rivers on the continent?
Click through and embark on a virtual voyage to find out.
Exploring Europe's greatest rivers
It's time to travel!
TRAVEL Waterways
Meandering across Europe like lengthy strands of blue-green ribbon are numerous rivers of grand dimensions and historic significance. These wondrous watercourses have served cities and communities for centuries, as trade routes, sources of water and recreation, and as a way of providing food. Some even act as national borders. But what are the longest, biggest, and broadest rivers on the continent?
Click through and embark on a virtual voyage to find out.