The bustling town of Passau, Germany straddles the Danube River where it meets the Inn and Ilz Rivers on the border of Austria, and is home to around 50,000 residents. Known for its baroque old town, Passau features a number of monuments, museums, and historical sites that make this charming city a staple part of any Danube River cruise. Passau also serves as the port of embarkation or departure for many European river cruises.
Hike, Bike, or Raft the “Three Rivers City”
Like most destinations in the rolling Danube River Valley, leisurely hiking and biking along the tranquil riverbanks is a popular activity and a relaxing way to spend some of your day in Passau. Due to its location at the confluence of three rivers (Danube, Ilz, and Inn), travelers can enjoy some time getting to know the town known as “Three Rivers City.”
In fact, the cycling path that originates in Passau extends all the way to Vienna.
Visit the Old Town & St. Stephen’s Cathedral
The curved stone forms of Baroque architecture hark back to the late 16th and 17th centuries in Passau’s old town. Quiet lanes and picturesque promenades are delightfully shadowed by intricate towers, like that of the Old Town Hall.
A favorite attraction of visitors to Passau is St. Stephen’s Cathedral, with its trademarked onion-domed towers and the world’s second-largest church organ, with an impressive 17,974 individual pipes.
Veste Oberhaus
Keeping a guardian eye over the town of Passau is the 13th-century Veste Oberhaus - a fortress founded in 1219 as a stronghold of the Bishop. Now, this imposing monument hosts a museum, a restaurant, open-air theater, and even a youth hostel.
