First, why Passau?
Some towns sit on a river. Passau sits on three. The Danube, the Inn, and the Ilz meet right here, all different colors, shoving into each other until they finally give up and blend. Stand at the Dreiflüsseeck (Three Rivers Corner) and you’ll literally see the green Inn, blue Danube, and dark Ilz refusing to mix like kids at a school dance.
That’s why Passau is the City of Three Rivers, and also why it’s one of the busiest river cruise hubs in Europe. The big luxury ships? They start here. The quick sightseeing loops? They run all day in summer.
The city itself doesn’t scream “Bavaria” in the way you’d expect. After a fire wiped most of it out in 1662, Italian architects rebuilt half the town in Venetian style — pastel facades, baroque churches, wide piazzas. People still call it the Venice of Bavaria. It actually feels right.
Types of Cruises in Passau
From 45-minute loops to two-week odysseys. You’ve got everything.
Classic Sightseeing: The Three Rivers Panorama Tour
This is the bread-and-butter cruise.
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Route: past St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Oberhaus Fortress, and the river confluence
- Runs: Apr 26 – Oct 5, every 30 minutes (10:00–16:30)
- Price: €15 adults / €7.50 kids (under 5 free)
👉 Honestly? If you’ve only got one hour in Passau, this is the move.
Specialty Experience Cruises
| Cruise | Duration | Season | Price | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Ship Adventure | 2 hours | May–Oct | €16–25 | A literal floating crystal palace. Swarovski everywhere. Themed rooms like Neptune’s kingdom. Pure spectacle. |
| Barefoot Boat (Til Schweiger design) | 75 mins | Jun–Oct | €18.50 adults / €9.25 kids | Relaxed, wood + linen interior, more lounge than cruise. |
| Barefoot Lock Tour | 4 hours | Jun–Oct | €29.50 adults / €14.75 kids | Passau → Engelhartszell (Austria). Includes Jochenstein lock — watching the mechanics is oddly fascinating. |
Multi-Day River Cruises (The Big Ships)
Passau is the launch pad for most Danube itineraries. Over 30 ships a week dock here in peak season.
| Itinerary | Duration | Price Range | Stops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passau → Vienna → Bratislava → Budapest | 8 days | €1,170–1,460 | Classic “Danube capitals” |
| Passau → Wachau Valley → Vienna | 4 days | €398–548 | Short but scenic |
| Passau → Iron Gates → Danube Delta → Black Sea | 15 days | €2,500+ | Hardcore river odyssey |
Companies to check:
- Wurm & Noé — local, runs the Crystal Ship & Barefoot Boat.
- A-ROSA — premium multi-day itineraries.
- Amadeus River Cruises — classic luxury routes.
- Nicko Cruises — modern ships, flexible dining.
What You’ll See on the Water
- Dreiflüsseeck (Three Rivers Corner): the meeting of the Inn, Ilz, and Danube. No filter needed.
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral: white and gold baroque masterpiece with the world’s largest cathedral organ (17,774 pipes).
- Veste Oberhaus Fortress: medieval fort looming over the city.
- Maria Hilf Monastery & Niederhaus Castle: visible on longer routes.
- Passau Old Town: pastel streets, Venetian drama, postcard stuff.
Schedules & Departure Points
Summer (peak):
- Three Rivers Tour: every 30 mins, 10:00–16:30
- Crystal Ship: 10:30, 13:00, 15:15
- Barefoot Tour: 11:00
- Barefoot Lock Tour: 12:30
Seasonality
- Peak (May–Sept): daily, busy port.
- Shoulder (Apr, Oct–Nov): weekends only.
- Winter (Dec–Mar): Christmas markets + New Year specials.
Where to Board
| Dock | Location | Used By |
|---|---|---|
| A7/8 | Central promenade | Three Rivers tour |
| A11 | Downstream | Crystal Ship, Barefoot |
| Fritz-Schäffer-Promenade | Old Town edge | Most sightseeing departures |
👉 Always check your ticket. Different vessels = different pontoons.
Onboard Experience
- Climate-controlled cabins
- Open-air decks (wind in your face mandatory)
- Refreshments: Bavarian pretzels + beer (what else)
- Multilingual audio guides
- Toilets (seems obvious, but not always guaranteed in smaller boats)
Special extras:
- Crystal Ship: Swarovski overload, themed areas
- Barefoot: natural design, wellness vibe, sun deck
- Electric boats: silent, eco-friendly
Accessibility & Families
- Wheelchairs: yes on new vessels, limited on older.
- Strollers: fine everywhere.
- Service animals: allowed with advance notice.
- Kids: under 5 often free; kids’ pricing usually half.
Pro tip: little ones get bored after 30 minutes. Go for the short panorama cruise unless they’re obsessed with boats.
Prices at a Glance (2025)
| Cruise Type | Adults | Kids |
|---|---|---|
| Three Rivers (45 min) | €15 | €7.50 |
| Crystal Ship (2h) | €16–25 | €8–12 |
| Barefoot Tour (75 min) | €18.50 | €9.25 |
| Barefoot Lock Tour (4h) | €29.50 | €14.75 |
| Multi-Day Cruises | from €398 | varies |
Best Time to Go
- May–June: perfect weather (19–25°C), flowers blooming, not yet crowded.
- July–Aug: hottest (25–27°C), busiest, most expensive.
- Sept–Oct: golden landscapes, crisp evenings, cheaper fares.
- Dec: magical Christmas market cruises (yes, mulled wine onboard).
⚠️ Water levels: spring (snowmelt) = high, late summer (drought) = low. Operators adapt routes.
Practical Info
- Boarding: arrive 15 minutes early. They don’t wait.
- Cancellations: 24h in advance = refund. Same-day? Nope.
- Group discounts: usually for 8+.
- Getting there:
- Train: Passau Hauptbahnhof connects to Munich, Vienna, Prague.
- Air: Munich (2h), Linz (1h). Cruise shuttles available.
Final Thought
If you’ve only got an hour, do the Three Rivers panorama. If you’ve got half a day, the lock cruise to Austria is worth every cent. And if you’ve got a week? Start your Danube journey here and let the river carry you past castles, capitals, and wine valleys.
Passau isn’t just a stopover — it’s where the Danube cruise adventure really begins.