Vidin River Cruises

About Vidin

Vidin is situated in north-western Bulgaria, close to the country’s borders with Romania and Serbia. The town lies on the southern bank of the Danube River, with the Romanian town of Calafat located on the opposite side of the celebrated waterway. Vidin boasts a rich history and heritage spanning centuries of occupation from the Hungarian and Ottoman Empires until 1878, when the region was finally liberated. Modern day Vidin however, is one of the safest locations in Bulgaria, with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere as well as a pleasant continental climate. The town is an excellent destination for river cruises along the Danube River, offering visitors excellent shopping and dining options alongside an impressive selection of historical and cultural attractions.

Exploring Vidin

Home to a range of fascinating buildings and monuments, Vidin offers visitors a brilliant cultural and historical experience. The region’s most significant historic structure is the magnificent Baba Vida medieval fortress, originally constructed during the 10th century. The fortress is amazingly well preserved and open to visitors of all ages who come to explore its extravagant chambers and historic architecture. The Baba Vida is a museum, as well as a preserved medieval fortress and as such houses a range of great historic artefacts including swords, bows and arrows.

Vidin prides itself on its religious diversity, and contains some fantastic architecture from the Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths. Vidin’s Synagogue, the Orthodox Cathedral of St Dimitar, the St Pantaleimon Church and the Osman Pazvantoglu Mosque are all situated within the same area to demonstrate the town’s religious diversity and each offers its own unique design and superb architecture to enjoy.

The town’s museums and galleries attract visitors throughout the year with their astonishing exhibits and works of art. Notable museums in the town include the Konaka Museum, the Krastata Kazarma, otherwise known as the Cross Shaped Barracks, and the Nikola Petrov Galleries situated in Danube Park, which houses exquisite paintings and sculptures from Bulgaria’s most prominent artists.

Aside from Vidin’s sight-seeing opportunities, the town also has a range of wonderful shops and restaurants selling a variety of authentic Bulgarian crafts and local delicacies.

Vidin tips

Vidin is big on festivals and if you find yourself there towards the end of August, you may be able to enjoy some of the Vidin Festival itself, when local pop and folk stars perform and locally-brewed beers are readily available.