Nature
Drava
The Drava or Drave, historically known as the Dravis or Dravus, is a river in southern Central Europe. With a length of 710km, or 724km, if the length of its Sextner Bach source is added, it is the fifth or sixth longest tributary of the Danube, after the Tisza, Sava, Prut, Mureș and likely Siret. The Drava drains an area of about 40,154 square kilometers. Its mean annual discharge is seasonally 500m³ per second to 670m³ per second. Its source is near the market town of Innichen, in the Puster Valley of South Tyrol, Italy. The river flows eastward through East Tyrol and Carinthia in Austria in...
What it is
The Drava is a major river of the eastern Alps, and near the Dolomites you're seeing it right at its source area: it rises close to Innichen (San Candido) in the Puster Valley of South Tyrol before flowing east through Austria toward the Danube. This upper stretch is a modest alpine river rather than the broad waterway it becomes further downstream — worth a stop for a walk along the water and the valley scenery, not for river sports or dramatic gorges.
Getting there
Access is via Innichen/San Candido in the Puster Valley. There's no single "city centre" for this natural feature — it runs alongside the valley's towns and cycle paths, so you'll typically reach a stretch of it by car or bike rather than heading to one fixed point.
Time to allow
A short stop of 30–60 minutes is enough to see the river and its immediate surroundings, longer if you're walking or cycling a section of the valley path alongside it.
When to go
Morning or late afternoon light suits photos along the water. Summer is the busiest season in the Puster Valley generally, as it's peak hiking and cycling time; spring meltwater can make the river fuller and faster.
Combine with
- Puster Valley (9.1km) — the wider valley the river runs through, with towns and the long-distance cycle path.
- Dürrensee (10.4km) — a lake worth pairing with a river stop for a half-day of easy walking.
- Dreischusterspitze (7.7km) and Helm (10.3km) — for those wanting a mountain view or hike to round out the day.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
