Overview
Passau sits at the dramatic confluence of three rivers — the blue Danube, the green Inn, and the dark Ilz — on a narrow peninsula in southeastern Bavaria, just kilometers from the Austrian border. The Old Town is a masterpiece of Italian Baroque architecture, crowned by the magnificent St. Stephen s Cathedral, which houses the world s largest cathedral organ with over 17,974 pipes. Despite being a major stop on Danube river cruises, Passau retains an authentic Bavarian small-city feel with prices to match.
Daily Budget Breakdown
Budget travelers ($65/day): Stay in hostels or budget pensions, eat at bakeries and Bavarian beer gardens, walk the entire Old Town peninsula, and enjoy the free three-rivers confluence viewpoint, riverside promenades, and the stunning cathedral interior.
Mid-range travelers ($155/day): Book a river-view hotel, enjoy Bavarian and Austrian cuisine at traditional restaurants, attend the organ concert at St. Stephen s Cathedral, visit the Veste Oberhaus fortress museum, and take a short Danube cruise.
Luxury travelers ($380+/day): Stay at a premium Danube-view hotel, dine at Passau s best restaurants, book a private Danube river cruise, and take day trips to nearby Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic) or the Austrian lake district.
Where to Save
The Old Town peninsula is entirely walkable — everything is concentrated in a compact area. St. Stephen s Cathedral is free to enter and absolutely magnificent. The three-rivers confluence viewpoint is free and unforgettable. Bavarian beer gardens serve liters of beer and hearty meals at very reasonable prices. The Veste Oberhaus fortress above the city offers free panoramic views from its terrace. The Deutschland-Ticket covers trains to and from Passau. Cross the bridge into the Inn-side neighborhood for even cheaper local eateries.
Where to Splurge
The organ concert at St. Stephen s Cathedral — heard on the largest cathedral organ in the world — is a transcendent musical experience for a modest ticket price. The Veste Oberhaus fortress and museum, perched high above the city, offers sweeping views and excellent regional history exhibits. A Danube river cruise downstream toward the Austrian Wachau Valley is scenic and relaxing. The glass museum in the Old Town showcases Passau s Bohemian glass heritage. A day trip to Cesky Krumlov, the fairy-tale Czech town just across the border, combines perfectly with a Passau stay.