Passau is known as the City of Three Rivers, standing where the Danube, Inn and Ilz meet close to the Austrian border. It is both a popular port of call and an important embarkation and disembarkation point for Danube cruises, with a compact historic centre shaped by Italian Baroque architecture.
Where river ships dock in Passau
Passau has numerous passenger landing stages. The most convenient are the Altstadt berths, marked with an A, along the old-town Danube waterfront. These extend from the Ortspitze and Römerplatz area to the Fritz-Schäffer-Promenade and put most central attractions within walking distance.
Some ships use Passau-Lindau, approximately 3 km downstream, or Racklau, around 2 km upstream. These are separate locations and should not be confused with the Altstadt berths. Cruise documents normally provide a letter, number and address; passengers should check these carefully before travelling to the ship.
Getting into central Passau
Passengers at an Altstadt berth can normally explore on foot. The Citybus also serves the waterfront, with Römerplatz convenient for berths A1 to A5 and Nagelschmiedgasse used for A13 and A14. From Lindau, local bus route 3 provides a connection towards the city. Racklau is served by routes 8/9 and 11 via Stelzhammerstraße, with approximately 500 metres remaining on foot.
Passau Hauptbahnhof lies near the city centre and has rail connections towards Munich, Nuremberg, Linz and Vienna, sometimes requiring a change. Passengers embarking in Passau should allow extra time and travel directly to the berth specified by their operator rather than asking only for the cruise port.
What to see during a cruise call
St Stephen's Cathedral dominates the old town and is celebrated for its Baroque interior and cathedral organ. From there, narrow streets lead towards the Old Town Hall and the Danube waterfront. The Ortspitze at the eastern tip of the peninsula offers the classic view of the three-river confluence.
Across the Danube, Veste Oberhaus overlooks the city and contains a museum and panoramic viewpoints, although its steep setting and limited accessibility require planning. Other possibilities include the New Episcopal Residence, the Roman Museum Kastell Boiotro, the Glass Museum and a sightseeing cruise around the three rivers.
Practical information
German is the official language, while English is commonly understood in tourism businesses. The currency is the euro. The old town is compact, but cobbles, slopes and steps can make some routes demanding for passengers with restricted mobility.
Water levels and navigation conditions on the Danube can affect arrival times, berths and itineraries. Passengers should retain the ship's contact information, note the exact gangway location and allow a generous margin when returning from the city, especially if the vessel is berthed at Lindau or Racklau.