Passau
A day trip from USAG Bavaria
Three rivers of three different colors meeting in one place, a Baroque old town, and the largest church organ in the world.
- Distance
- Approx. 90 mi from Grafenwoehr
- Drive time
- Roughly 2 hours from Grafenwoehr
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cost
- $
- Recommended time
- Half day to full day
Best for: Scenic Views, History, Architecture, Walking Tours
Passau sits at a genuinely unique geographic point: the only place in the world where three rivers, each arriving from a different compass direction, converge into a fourth. The Danube arrives blue-brown, the Inn (fed by Alpine glaciers) runs green, and the Ilz (draining local moorland) runs almost black -- and at the Dreifluesseeck ("Three Rivers Corner"), you can watch all three colors visibly mixing rather than blending immediately.
The old town itself, rebuilt in Baroque style by Italian architects after a devastating 1662 fire, sits on the peninsula between the Danube and Inn, earning Passau the nickname "Venice of Bavaria." St. Stephen's Cathedral anchors the old town with the world's largest church organ (over 17,000 pipes), with a 30-minute organ recital held daily at noon. Above the city, the 13th-century Veste Oberhaus fortress offers the best overview of the three-rivers confluence and the surrounding hill country.
Passau is a major Danube river cruise port, so expect real crowds, especially in the old town's narrow streets during peak season.
What to See
The Dreifluesseeck three-rivers confluence point, St. Stephen's Cathedral and its noon organ recital, Veste Oberhaus fortress, and the Baroque old town streets.
Food
Bavarian tavern food throughout the old town, including the historic Alte Braeuhaus near Bräugasse, in a former brewery dating to the 14th century.
Tickets
Old town and cathedral are free to explore; Veste Oberhaus fortress has a separate museum entry fee.
Best Time to Visit
Spring through fall for comfortable walking conditions and to see the fortress views clearly.
Local tip: Time your visit around the free noon organ recital at the cathedral if you want to hear it. Passau gets crowded with river-cruise passengers, especially midday -- an earlier or later visit is calmer.