City Of Three Rivers: 10 Best Things To Do In Passau, Germany

1. Marvel at one of the world's largest pipe organ at St. Stephen's Cathedral

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is found in the Old Town or Altstadt of Passau. Established in 1668, its construction was finished by 1693. The church however was the site of other churches which were either destroyed by war or natural disasters. Remnants of the old gothic church can be seen on the eastern side. The church is built in the baroque style, designed by Carlo Lurago, interior decoration by Giovanni Battista Carlone, and its impressive frescos by Carpoforo Tencalla.

Aside from being an architectural gem, the church also prides itself for having the largest pipe organ that can be found outside of the United States. Being the largest cathedral organ in the world, it has 17,774 pipes and 233 registers, producing a magnificent sound when played.

St. Stephen's Cathedral

Address: Bischöfliches Ordinariat, Residenzplatz 8, 94032 Passau, Germany

How To Access: If you are staying near the town center, the Old Town where the cathedral is located is a quick walk or a quick ride on a rented bicycle

Website: St. Stephen’s Cathedral

2. St. Paul's Church, the oldest parish church in Passau

The grand St. Stephen’s Cathedral is not the oldest church in town. This title goes to the nearby St. Paul’s Church which is also located within the Old Town area. According to records, it was established in 1050 with St. Paul as its patron saint. When the old church structure was destroyed by fire in 1662, a new structure was built starting in 1678. Built in the baroque style, its altar is of black and gold which contrasts very well with the church’s light colored walls.

St. Paul's Church

Address: Dsteinweg 15, 94032 Passau, Germany

Contact Information: +49 8512372

How To Access: By foot or by bicycle

Website: St. Paul’s Church (in German)

3. Fortress on a mountain: Veste Oberhaus

The Veste Oberhaus is a fortress on top of a mountain that was built during medieval times, in 1219. Its main purpose was to show the military strength of the Holy Roman Empire as embodied by the prince-bishop of Passau. Its location is strategic because it gives a good vantage point of the city, and the three rivers where possible enemies may enter.

The fortress and its structures reflect the different architectural influences throughout time, with gothic, renaissance and baroque parts. Today, it houses a museum which showcases the history and art of Passau. You can also explore the complex and its other structures. There is a shuttle bus from the Old Town to the complex at about 2.25 USD per person. Admission fee to the museum is about 6.75 USD for adults.

Veste Oberhaus

Address: Oberhaus Museum Passau, Oberhaus 125 94034 Passau

Contact Information: Telefon: +49 851396800, Fax: +49 851396810

Operating Hours: 9am - 5pm, Mon to Fri; 10am to 6pm, Sat to Sun, Holidays; Note: open from from March 15th to November 15th only

Website: Veste Oberhaus

4. Admire Wagner's art at Alte Rathaus

The old town hall, otherwise called Alte Rathaus, is located right on the banks of the Danube River. Aside from its beautiful Neo-gothic tower, another interesting feature of the town hall are the water marks or measures near the entrance of the hall. These marks show how high the water levels were during floods. The town hall dates back to the 14th-century.

Once inside the building’s Great Assembly Room, guests can marvel and admire the beautiful stained windows that show different historical events, as well as the huge paintings of German artist Ferdinand Wagner.

Alte Rathaus

Address: Rathauspl. 2, 94032 Passau, Germany

Contact Information: Phone: +49 8513960

Operating Hours: Easter-September: 9am - 12nn, 12:30pm - 5pm, Mon to Fri; 10:30am- 3:30pm, Sat, Sun, Holidays; October to Easter: 9am - 12nn, 12:30pm - 5pm, Mon; 9am - 12nn, 12:30pm - 4pm, Fri; 10:30am - 3:30pm, Sat; Sun and holidays closed!

Website: Alte Rathaus - Old Town Hall

5. Glass art through the ages at Passau Glass Museum

Containing the world’s largest collection of European glass, the Passau Glass Museum showcases the evolution of the art of glassmaking throughout the years. With over 30,000 exhibits, guests can appreciate the different designs and techniques of the different periods, from baroque, Rococo, Empire, Biedermeier, historicism, art nouveau and art deco, up until the modern styles and designs.

Opened in 1985, the Passau Glass Museum is housed in the building of Hotel Wilder-Mann. It is located in the area considered to be part of the Old Town of Passau. Admission fee to the museum is about 8 USD per person.

Passau Glass Museum

Address: Schrottgasse 2, 94032 Passau, Germany

Contact Information: Telefon: +49 85135071, Fax: +49 85131712;

Operating Hours: 9am - 5pm, Daily

Website: Passau Glass Museum

6. Have your art fix at the Artists Alley, Hollgasse

On the street Hollgasse in Passau, guests will find what is called Artists Alley. As you walk along the cobble stoned street, you will see small shops and art galleries displaying the work of local artists. You won’t miss this street because some of the cobble stones have been painted on with a rainbow of colors. If the weather is fine, usually during summer, artists would hang their paintings and other art works outdoors for tourists and potential buyers to see. Even if you are not looking to buy, this street is still worth the visit if only for the great looking photos you can take.

You can find this street on your own by walking around the Old Town, near the promenade of the River Danube. Or you can join one of the many walking tours that the local tourism office organizes.

Walking Tours in Passau

Address: Bahnhofstraße 28, 94032 Passau, Germany

Contact Information: Phone: +49 851955980, Fax: +49 8519559830

Website: Walking Tours in Passau

7. Take a stroll along Inn River Promenade

Because Passau is where three major rivers converge, it is not difficult to find oneself in one of the many promenades in town. This section of town which used to be part of the city’s Old Town, is very friendly to pedestrians and bikers. The Inn Promenade is a popular place not just for tourists but also for locals. During summer, you will find many people walking along the promenade, or sitting on the green grass and having a picnic. Guests can do very much the same. Most hotels offer bike rentals, so you can bike your way to this area as well. The area is open all hours, but the best time to come is the morning, and late afternoon to sundown.

8. Roman Passau at RomerMuseum Kastell Boiotro

Catch a glimpse of the town when it was under the rule of the Romans at the RomerMuseum Kastell Biotro, also known as the Roman Museum. The site was opened to the public only in 1982, after it was discovered when construction was started in the area in 1974. According to archaeologists and scholars, the fort dates back from 250 to 450 AD, when Passau was part of the Roman empire.

The artifacts found on the site are currently being displayed in the museum. Nearby the museum, a playground for kids that features castles can be found. Admission fees are about 4.50 USD for adults, and 2.25 USD for children.

RomerMuseum Kastell Boiotro

Address: Lederergasse 43, 94032 Passau, Germany

Contact Information: Phone: +49 (0)851 / 34769

Operating Hours: 1 Mar - 15 Nov: 10am - 4pm, Tue-Sun; 2 Jan - 7 Jan: 10am - 4pm (daily)

Website: Roman Museum

9. Appreciate modern art at the Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art in Passau can be found in one of the many attractive buildings along the banks of the Danube River. The gothic style of the building belies what is within its walls - a collection of modern art by German artists and international artists as well. The museum was established by the son of artist Georg Philipp Wörlen, thus the bulk of the permanent exhibitions at the museum feature Worlen’s cubist and expression art work. From time to time, the museum also has temporary exhibits by local and international artists and architects. Admission fees of about 5.6 USD are charged for adults.

Museum of Modern Art

Address: Bräugasse 17, 94032 Passau, Germany

Contact Information: Phone: +49 8513838790, Fax: +49 85138387979

Operating Hours: 10am - 6pm, Tue to Sun, closed on Mon

Website: Museum of Modern Art

10. Cafe Diwan

After a tiring day out, treat yourself to good coffee at the popular Cafe Diwan. While the coffee shop serves up premium coffee from around the world, there is also a wide variety of cakes, pastries and pasta guests can choose from. The main selling point of this cafe however is its magnificent view of the Dreiflüssestadt, where the three rivers - Danube, Inn and Ilz - converge.

The cafe can be found on the 9th floor of the Kapfinger Tower. Be sure to get a table near the windows where you can get the best views of the city because of the high glass windows.

Cafe Diwan

Address: Nibelungenpl. 1, 94032 Passau, Germany

Contact Information: Phone: +49 8514903280

Operating Hours: 9am - 7pm, Mon - Sat; 1pm - 6pm, Sun

Website: Cafe Diwan in German

Take a walk back in time

Passau is a city that is best explored on foot. The Old Town itself has many architectural and cultural gems waiting to be discovered. Take your time when you visit, so you can take a walk back in time in Passau.

Tourist Information Passau

Address: Rathausplatz 2, 94032 Passau

Address: Bahnhofstrasse 28, 94032 Passau

Website: Tourism Paasau

Email: tourist-info@passau.de

Phone: +49 (0)851 / 95598-0