Holiday in Passau

What makes Passau special as a destination?

Passau is located at the easternmost tip of Bavaria, directly on the Austrian border, and is known as the Three Rivers City — here, the Danube, Inn, and Ilz converge at a single peninsula. From the Veste Oberhaus, one of the largest preserved castle complexes in Europe, the natural spectacle of the three differently colored rivers can be observed: the blue Danube, the greenish Inn, and the dark Ilz merge in a fascinating play of colors. St. Stephen's Cathedral houses the largest cathedral organ in the world with 17,974 pipes and 233 registers — the daily organ concerts (May to October) are an unparalleled acoustic experience. The cathedral itself is a masterpiece of Italian Baroque, redesigned in the 17th century by Carlo Lurago and Giovanni Battista Carlone after a city fire. The old town on the narrow peninsula between the Danube and Inn impresses with pastel-colored Baroque facades, winding alleys, and a Mediterranean flair — Passau is often referred to as the most Italian city north of the Alps. The Residenzplatz arcades, the Old Town Hall facade with flood marks, and the artists' alley Höllgasse invite for a stroll. Passau is the starting point of the famous Danube Cycle Path to Vienna (approximately 330 km) as well as the departure point for Danube river cruises towards Budapest, Belgrade, and the Black Sea. The three-country region of Bavaria-Upper Austria-South Bohemia also offers wonderful day trips to the Bavarian Forest and the Mühlviertel.