Salzach

Turning away from the city toward the meadows and mountains, the banks of the Salzach River are a joy for cyclists, especially when the city is packed in summer. Rent a bike and ride south, admiring views of the jumble of domes and spires of the Altstadt, which slowly fades away as you pass the Volksgarten park. A bike ride here lets you escape the city crowds for a while. The Salzach River is a jade-colored waterway flowing through Salzburg, visible from various points in the city, including Hohensalzburg Fortress and the Winkler Terrace. Besides being a beautiful river for photography, it serves as a natural boundary between Salzburg's Old Town and the more modern parts of the city. The river is about 225 km (140 miles) long and originates in the Austrian Alps, where it flows through picturesque valleys and towns before reaching the city of Salzburg.