How to get to Passau in 2025 – your transport guide in Germany

Table of Contents:

When to travel to Passau

How to get to Passau

How to get to Passau from Munich

Where to stay in Passau

What to see & do in Passau

I have travelled around Southern Germany a lot and I was absolutely amazed with the combination of natural and historical attractions here. The local towns such as Passau kept their authenticity and can boast great architectural and historical sites. Being charmed with towns of Southern Germany, I have decided to put together information I have previously discovered and create a series of guides on how to organize a holiday in Bavaria. Based on my research, I found out how to get there, where to stay & what to see. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Passau.

When to travel to Passau

Passau is a wonderful Bavarian town with great architecture and a long history. Besides, you can see the confluence of three rivers here – the Ilz, the Danube and the Inn. If you look at the confluence from above or from the side, you can notice how three rivers flow without merging with each other, and each of them has its own shade. Such an amazing natural place has become one of the main attractions of Passau.

You can visit Passau at any time of the year, but during the winter time the rivers can be frozen so you won`t be able to see the confluence. On the other hand, the winter time is also known for its bright Christmas markets and festive illumination, where you can taste traditional mulled wine and local food.

In general, the climate of Bavaria is rather mild and the local weather most often lets tourists enjoy sightseeing, strolling around and hiking in the countryside. During the springs and summers, the weather is mostly warm and sunny. During the autumn time the weather can be a bit rainy and cloudy, but also colorful and romantic so don`t hesitate to visit Bavaria this time of the year too.

How to get to Passau

How to get to Passau from Munich

Based on my map research, Passau is located on the border with Austria, 172 km away from Munich, in the region of Bavaria. You can get to the town by public transport and by car.

By train: Regional trains run from Munich to Passau throughout the day. Travel time by train is about 2,5 hours. Trains run almost every hour until midnight. You can check the train schedule from Munich to Passau on the Raileurope booking service. I can totally recommend this service as I use it very often for planning my own trips.

By renting a car: If you have chosen to travel by car, the shortest route is along the highways No. A94 and B12. The travel time is about 2,5 hours (see on the map). You can rent a car in Munich. Rental offices are open in all areas of the city, as well as at the airport. You also can book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. I use both services extensively to compare different available options and choose the best suitable for me.

⇒To register a car for rent, it is enough to have a passport (or ID Card), a driver’s license and a bank card to pay for the services. Car rental in Munich is a very popular option among tourists, since the price is relatively inexpensive and the roads are of excellent quality. I travelled a lot via autobahns in Germany so I can confirm they are pretty much comfortable and it is often the fastest way to get to the desired destination.

Where to stay in Passau

Passau, being a relatively small town, is often visited by tourists. That is why the town has a lot of accommodation options. If necessary, you can stay in hotels of any star category, as well as at the guest houses or at B&B`s hotels. If the main purpose of your visit to Passau is sightseeing, then it makes sense to stay in the town center, or close to it, so you can save time and money on public transport.

If you come to Passau by car, you should look for a hotel with parking. In Passau you can find hotels with breakfast included in the price, with the parking area and with a restaurant on site, etc. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that the following hotels gets high ratings from the guests:

Hotel Passauer Wolf 4* – the hotel is located near the historical center. There is a bar on site. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Depending on the type of the room, breakfast may be included or paid separately. Wi-Fi is available and is free of charge. Private parking is possible nearby at an additional cost. Luggage storage services are offered at the front desk;

Hotel Konig 4* – the hotel is located on the bank of the Danube River, in the historical center of Passau. The hotel has a bar. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfasts are included in the price. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking is possible on site upon reservation and at an additional cost. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and provides luggage storage services;

Altstadt Hotel Passau 4* – the hotel is located in the “heart” of Passau, within the walking distance from the main historical attractions. The hotel has a gym and a bar. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel and is free of charge. Breakfast is included in the price. Private parking is possible on site at an additional cost. Luggage storage services are provided at the front desk;

Hotel Residenz Passau 4* – the hotel is located in the town center, 100 meters from the main attractions. The hotel has a bar and a terrace. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfasts are included in the price. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge. Public parking is provided nearby at an additional cost. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and offers luggage storage services;

Hotel Atrium Garni 4* – this hotel is located 500 meters from the historical center and close to the Danube embankment. There is a bar on site. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. Depending on the type of the room, breakfast may be included in the price or paid separately. Wi-Fi is available and is free of charge. Private parking is possible on site at an additional cost. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and provides luggage storage services, if needed.

What to see & do in Passau

The old town in Passau is located on a peninsula. The cape of the peninsula is the point where confluence of the three rivers is observed the best. Here you can find an excellent observation deck. The main historical attractions of the town include the Upper and Lower Passau Castles, which have been preserved since the Middle Ages almost untouched. They have a picturesque location on the rocky cliffs, overlooking the Danube River.

I also recommend visiting the Mariahilf Monastery with a gallery of more than 300 steps. Climbing on the top, you can find another observation deck and see the Old Town from a bird’s eye view. In terms of architecture, the Baroque St. Michael`s church looks interesting. Against the line of the Gothic medieval buildings of the old town of Passau, this church looks surprisingly airy with its light colors and baroque decoration.

There are also buildings with Italian motifs in Passau. This is due to the fact that many architects who were engaged in construction of Passau were invited from Italy. So, for example, it is impossible not to notice the typical Venetian features in the old Town Hall of Passau, which is decorated with a 38-meter tower. The interiors of the Town Hall are no way less interesting than the exteriors; it is definitely worth going inside.

The central composition of the old part of Passau is the Cathedral Square and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The cathedral is made in the Baroque style, and is decorated with two 68-meter towers. Inside you can see that the cathedral is decorated with stucco and a number of sculptures and paintings. This is another place in Passau that is definitely worth seeing from the inside. The interiors of the cathedral make a truly fascinating impression.

Strolling around Passau usually ends at the Residenzplatz, which is the square of the New Residence. This is perhaps one of the newest buildings in the Old Town. The construction of the residence dates back to the beginning of the 18th century. Typical baroque is guessed in its features. In the middle of the square the Marienbrunnen fountain can be found. It is small but very elegant; it completes the architectural composition of the New Residence square.

To my mind, in general, one day is enough for viewing the main attractions of Passau, however, if you want to visit the interiors of the listed attractions, as well as ride local water buses along the three rivers of Passau, then it is better to stay in the town for at least a few days. Passau has its own unique vibes, which can only be found in small Bavarian towns located at a considerable distance from the large cities. Authenticity has been preserved here both in architecture, and in traditions.

If you want to go from Passau to the countryside, then 80 km from the town, halfway between Passau and Regensburg, the Bavarian Forest National Park can be found. The park is a mountain forest, where spruce and fir trees grow, as well as rare species of birds and animals live. The park has many hiking trails that allow you to explore all the iconic natural monuments of the park, including mountains, cliffs, forests, rare plants, water ponds and even animals. Tourist centers are located in the towns of Lusen and Falkenstein.

Passau is considered to be a “pearl” among the small Bavarian towns where natural attractions are combined with architectural ones in a most gentle way. The town centre is rather small, but attractive with its medieval, baroque and Italian-stylized buildings, fountains and squares. A few observation decks also can be found in Passau. You can see from the top of them both natural and architectural sights. In my opinion, Passau is a nice destination to travel for one or a couple of days from Munich in case you would like to feel the vibes of a small town which has preserved great architectural monuments.

Photo above the article: Jen Hunter