Category
Three Rivers in Passau
Danube, Inn & Ilz - the Three Rivers Corner, promenades and boat trips
Three rivers make Passau unique. At the Three Rivers Corner, on the very tip of the old-town peninsula, the broad Danube, the greenish Inn from the Alps and the dark, moor-stained Ilz from the Bavarian Forest meet. When the water levels are right, the three colors remain visible side by side for a while, a natural spectacle that has given the city its nickname, the City of Three Rivers.
Along the banks run promenades that count among the city's finest walks. The Inn promenade leads beneath old trees to the confluence, the Danube quay opens the view onto the Veste Oberhaus and the landing stages, and the Ilz offers an almost romantic stillness. Seen from the water, Passau unfolds even more impressively, for instance on a three-rivers cruise by boat.
This category gathers everything connected with the three rivers: the Three Rivers Corner, the riverside paths, the boat trips and the viewpoints. To understand Passau, begin at the water, for here lie the origins of the city's setting, its trade and its character.
Which three rivers meet in Passau?
Passau is where the Danube (Donau), the Inn and the Ilz come together. All three meet at the Dreifluesseeck (Three Rivers Corner), the pointed tip of the old town peninsula, which is why locals call Passau the Dreifluessestadt, the City of Three Rivers. The Danube arrives from the west, the Inn from the south out of the Alps, and the dark Ilz from the north out of the Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest). Downstream of the junction the river continues under the name Danube toward Vienna and, eventually, the Black Sea.
Why the water at the Dreifluesseeck shows three colors
The effect that draws visitors to the Dreifluesseeck happens because each river carries water out of a completely different landscape. The Inn runs a pale green to turquoise, because it brings finely clouded, lime-rich meltwater down from the Alps. The Danube reads blue to brownish depending on the weather and the water level. The Ilz looks almost black-brown, because it drains the peat bogs and forests of the Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest). That color is why the Ilz is nicknamed the Schwarze Perle, the Black Pearl.
When the water is calm, the three shades run side by side for a good stretch below the junction before they finally blend. The show is clearest from above, and the classic spot is the Veste Oberhaus (Oberhaus Fortress) on the hill across the Danube. One quirk surprises most first-time visitors: at the confluence the Inn sometimes carries more water than the Danube and is the wider of the two, yet the combined river leaves Passau under the name Danube and flows on toward Vienna and the Black Sea. The Ilz is by far the smallest of the three.
The best viewpoints over the Dreifluesseeck
You can watch the Danube, Inn and Ilz come together from several spots, from the panorama terrace high above the rooftops to the gravel path at the very tip of the peninsula, right down at water level.
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Veste Oberhaus (Oberhaus Fortress)
The best overview by far. From the fortress and its Batterie Linde lookout, high above the old town, you look straight down onto the spit of land where the three rivers merge. This is the postcard view of the City of Three Rivers.
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Ortspitze at the Dreifluesseeck
At street level, the Fritz-Schaeffer-Promenade runs along the Danube side of the old town all the way out to the Ortspitze, the outermost point of the peninsula. Stand here and you are exactly where the Inn and the Danube meet, with the mouth of the Ilz just upstream on the opposite bank. The path is flat the whole way, an easy stroll from the cathedral.
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Wallfahrtskirche Mariahilf (Mariahilf pilgrimage church)
From the far bank of the Inn, a covered pilgrims' stairway of several hundred steps climbs to the Mariahilf church. The hilltop opens a wide view across the green Inn, the old town peninsula and the towers of the city, and it stays noticeably quieter than the fortress.
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Innpromenade and Donaulaende
The riverside paths are viewpoints in their own right. The Innpromenade leads beneath old trees down to the confluence, while the Donaulaende, the Danube quay on the other side of the peninsula, frames the Veste Oberhaus and the landing stages where the sightseeing boats tie up. Walking out along one and back along the other is the simplest way to see both rivers on foot.
Attractions
Old Town
Three Rivers Corner (Ortspitze)
The outermost tip of the old town, where the Danube, Inn and Ilz flow together in three colors - the natural spectacle that gives Passau its name.
Free entry
Innstadt
Inn & Danube Promenade
Idyllic riverside paths along the three rivers - from the green Inn Promenade to the lively Fritz-Schäffer Promenade on the Danube.
Free entry
Restaurants
Old Town
Peschl Terraces
A popular beer garden run by the Peschl brewery, with terraces above the old town and freshly tapped Passau beer.
Old Town
Stiftskeller Heilig Geist
An upscale foundation cellar with regional cuisine, fish from the three rivers and selected estate wines.
Innstadt
Innsteg Café
A charming cafe right on the bank of the Inn with views of the old-town skyline and homemade cakes.
Old Town
Diwan Rooftop Bar
A stylish rooftop bar high above the old town with panoramic views of the three rivers and cocktails.
Ilzstadt
Bruckwirt
An idyllic excursion inn on the Ilz with a beer garden by the water and regional cuisine.
Ilzstadt
Restaurant Veste Oberhaus
A restaurant inside the Veste Oberhaus fortress with magnificent views of the old town and the confluence of the three rivers.
Travel planners along the three rivers
Passau's three rivers: frequently asked questions
Which three rivers meet in Passau?
The Danube, the Inn and the Ilz. They join at the Dreifluesseeck (Three Rivers Corner) at the tip of the old town. The Danube comes from the west, the Inn from the south out of the Alps, and the Ilz from the north out of the Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest).
Why does the water at the Dreifluesseeck have three colors?
Each river drains a different landscape. The Inn shimmers green from alpine meltwater, the Danube looks blue to brownish, and the Ilz runs dark because it carries peaty water out of the Bavarian Forest. When the water is calm, the three shades stay visible next to each other for a while below the junction.
Which of Passau's three rivers is the largest?
At the confluence the Inn sometimes carries more water than the Danube and is the wider of the two. Even so, the combined river leaves Passau under the name Danube. The Ilz is by far the smallest of the three.
Where is the best place to see the Three Rivers Corner?
The finest overview is from the Veste Oberhaus (Oberhaus Fortress) high above the city. At ground level, the Fritz-Schaeffer-Promenade leads out to the Ortspitze, the actual Dreifluesseeck. The bank of the Inn and the Wallfahrtskirche Mariahilf (Mariahilf pilgrimage church) also open up fine views of the three rivers.
Can you see the three rivers on a Danube river cruise in Passau?
Yes. Sightseeing boats depart from the Donaulaende, the Danube quay below the old town, on three-rivers cruises that run past the Dreifluesseeck and show the Danube, Inn and Ilz from the water. A classic round trip usually lasts about 45 minutes.
Tours & Tickets · GetYourGuide
Boat trips & experiences on the three rivers
Experience the Danube, Inn and Ilz on a three-rivers cruise - the most popular boat trips and water experiences around the City of Three Rivers, Passau.
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