The Danube, Budapest

As recently as 1873, Budapest was not one city but two: Buda and Pest, divided by the Danube River. Now the river serves as a point of unification, and walking the banks offers some of the best views of the cities that were. Begin on the Buda side at the Church of Saint Anne (Batthyány Square; 06-1/201-6364)—one of Budapest’s most beautiful baroque cathedrals—and walk south toward the famed Chain Bridge. Crossing the bridge offers a panoramic look at the city, and on the Pest side you’ll find the Hotel Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge (Széchenyi István tér 2; 36-1/235-1234; sofitel.com), where guests and visitors alike sip cocktails while admiring views of the water.