Best things to do in Passau

Passau Essentials

Passau, known as the 'City of Three Rivers,' sits at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz. This collection highlights the city's significant baroque heritage, centered around St. Stephen's Cathedral, which houses the world’s largest cathedral organ. The list features the 13th-century Veste Oberhaus fortress, the world's largest collection of Bohemian glass, and the historic Old Town Hall. These sites showcase the architectural evolution of the city from its medieval foundations to its transformation into a late baroque masterpiece under the prince-bishops.

Passau Essentials — Map

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A

St. Stephan's Cathedral

St. Stephen's Cathedral is a baroque church from 1688 in Passau, Germany, dedicated to Saint Stephen.

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B

Veste Oberhaus

Veste Oberhaus is a fortress that was founded in 1219 and, for most of its time, was the stronghold of the Bishop of Passau, Germany.

C

Dreiflüsseeck

A panoramic viewpoint at the tip of the peninsula marking the exact confluence where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers meet.

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D

Altes Rathaus

14th-century Gothic town hall featuring a 19th-century tower and ceremonial rooms decorated with large-scale murals depicting local history and legends.

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E

Passau Glass Museum

Located in the historic Wilder Mann building, this museum houses over 30,000 items, forming the world's largest collection of Bohemian glass.

Konrad Lackerbeck / CC BY-SA 2.5

F

Neue Residenz

A Viennese Late Baroque palace built between 1712 and 1730 for the prince-bishops, currently housing the Cathedral Treasury and Diocesan Museum.

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G

Alte Residenz

The former 13th-century seat of the prince-bishops located opposite the cathedral, now serving as the district court.

H

Schaiblingsturm

A prominent round medieval tower on the Inn riverbank, originally constructed in the 14th century to protect the city’s salt trade harbor.

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I

Domplatz

The highest point in the Old Town, this central square is flanked by the cathedral and features a 19th-century monument to King Maximilian I Joseph.

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J

Veste Niederhaus

A 13th-century castle situated at the rocky confluence of the Ilz and Danube, originally serving as a lower defensive outpost for Veste Oberhaus.

K

Prinzregent-Luitpold-Brücke

A 208-meter-long suspension bridge completed in 1910, providing a key transport link across the Danube between the Old Town and the northern districts.

Inngoo Latti / CC-BY-SA

L

Pfarrkirche Sankt Paul

The city's oldest parish church, featuring a striking pink baroque exterior and a high altar dating back to 1700.

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