Passau, with its unique location at the confluence of three rivers, is a vibrant city full of history and atmosphere. Passau is a city with a history of 2000 years that goes back to a roman settlement and even before. The past millennia have shaped this small but surprisingly cosmopolitan and culturally active town significantly, so that today Passau can offer a diverse range of places of interest from its historical past.
The harmonious mixture of old architecture and new ideas is what makes Passau so special. Whether contemplative and romantic, or vibrant and modern, Passau offers its guests just the right mix to discover Passau's charms. A wide range of renowned galleries and museums round off the entertainment variety.
Whether Christmas market, festival weeks or Eulenspiegel old town festival, Passau is always worth a visit. It is not for nothing that Alexander von Humboldt titled Passau as one of the 7 most beautiful cities in the world.
Experience Passau - Sights, Museums, Galleries, Stages, Guided Tours, Boat Cruises & Bus Trips
City Tours for Individual Guests
This guided walking tour provides insights into the history of Passau. It leads from the Cathedral Square through the charming narrow lanes, baroque squares and the promenade along the River Inn of the historical Old Town and, whenever possible, includes a visit to the Bishop’s Residence and the old Town Hall.
Minimum number of participants: 5 people
No advance booking is required. The ticket is available directly from the tour guide.
Duration: 1 hour
Meeting point: Cathedral entrance)
May – October:
Monday to Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Sundays and public holidays at 2:30 p.m. only
November – April:
Daily at 12:45 p.m.
Glass Museum Passau
The Glass Museum Passau is located in the same historic building as the Hotel Wilder Mann. It houses the world’s largest collection of Central European glass, from Bavaria, Bohemia, Austria, and Silesia. More than 30,000 pieces of glass – 17,000 of which are on display – provide a comprehensive overview of the various periods of glass art from 1650 to 1950. The main focus is on the 19th century through to the Art Nouveau period.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the World’s Largest Church Organ
At the highest point of the Old Town rises the magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Passau. After the great city fire of 1662, it was rebuilt in splendid Baroque style by renowned Italian architects. Particularly worth seeing are the ornate stucco decorations and the impressive frescoes inside.
With nearly 18,000 pipes, the cathedral houses the largest church organ in the world.
An organ concert here is sure to be an unforgettable acoustic experience for you as well!
From May to September, daily from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., except on Sundays and public holidays.
Three-River Cruise: Danube – Inn – Ilz (Duration: 45 min.)
Departure from Passau Town Hall (directly opposite the Hotel Wilder Mann), at berths 7/8. Daily between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., every hour on the hour and half hour.
From March to November
Ortspitze – Confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz
At the “Dreiflüsseeck” (Three Rivers Corner), the so-called Ortspitze, at the end of the romantic Inn promenade, you stand in the midst of a unique natural spectacle – the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz. Enjoy the magnificent view of Passau, the “floating city,” also from the water, and take a three-river cruise with the excursion boats of Reederei Wurm & Noé.
Veste Oberhaus (Oberhaus Fortress)
History comes vividly to life at the over 800-year-old Veste Oberhaus. With a built-up area of 65,000 square metres, it is one of the largest preserved fortress complexes in Europe.
Experience fascinating exhibitions at the Oberhaus Museum, housed within the walls of this important European cultural monument, and soak in the unique atmosphere of its historic ramparts and fortified towers. Visit St. George’s Chapel, located at the heart of the fortress, with its beautiful Gothic frescoes, and enjoy the spectacular view from the Batterie Linde over the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers.
Museum Moderner Kunst Wörlen - MMK Passau (Museum of Modern Art Wörlen Passau)
The Museum of Modern Art Wörlen (MMK Passau) is located in a listed building complex near Passau’s Ortspitze. Following extensive renovation work in the 1980s by architect Hanns Egon Wörlen, the son of the painter Georg Philipp Wörlen, the museum opened in 1990.
MMK Passau manages the extensive art collection of the Wörlen Foundation. Its core consists of more than 1,500 paintings and graphic works by Georg Philipp Wörlen (1886–1954), as well as numerous works by his friends from the artists’ groups “Der Fels” and “Donau-Wald-Gruppe.”
The collection is complemented by works of Expressionism, New Objectivity, and contemporary art. Across two levels, the museum presents exhibitions ranging from classical modernism to contemporary art, while a third level features a permanent exhibition showcasing the highlights of the collection.
Römermuseum Kastell Boiotro (Roman Museum Boiotro - Roman Fort)
The history of Passau dates back to a Roman military camp. The excavated foundations of the Roman fort are open to the public as a museum in the Innstadt district.
The Roman Museum Boiotro presents almost exclusively finds from Passau. They range from the Mesolithic period (8th–6th millennium BC) to the end of the Roman Empire in AD 476.
A tour through the newly designed museum offers a varied experience: modern media such as a film featuring a virtual reconstruction of Passau in Roman times, touchscreens and audio stations, numerous models and figurines, clear explanatory texts in German and English, and more than 600 exhibits illustrate the 400 years of Roman rule on the northern frontier of the Empire. On the entrance level, a map and a timeline of historical events introduce visitors to the theme “Passau – Part of the Roman Empire.”
www.roemermuseum.passau.de
Großer Rathaussaal (Great Town Hall Hall)
The representative halls of the Town Hall, featuring the colossal painting of the Nibelungen saga and the history of the city of Passau by the historical painter Ferdinand Wagner, are well worth a visit.