Passau is where the Danube, Inn and Ilz meet, on the German-Austrian border. It has no major airport. Most Americans fly into Munich, about 2.5 hours away by train with at least one change.
Every way from the airport to the ship
Tap any way for step-by-step directions.
| The way | From | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise line transfer | MUC | Varies | Set by your line |
| Train (change at least once, for example at Landshut), then taxi | MUC | About 2.5 hours, plus taxi | Not verified, check bahn.com |
| Private car | MUC | Not verified | Not verified, get a quote |
Where Passau lies
PassauAmsterdamAvignonBarcelonaBaselBudapestRomeDoverGenoaIJmuidenLyonMarseilleNurembergParisPortoRavennaRegensburgRotterdamSavonaSouthamptonTriesteVeniceViennaA CoruñaAjaccioAmalfi and PositanoBariBastiaBilbaoCannesCherbourgCobhDublinDubrovnikFalmouthGuernseyHolyheadHonfleurHvarKoperKorčulaKotorLa SpeziaLe HavreLivornoMonacoNaplesOlbiaPortlandPortoferraioPortofino / Santa Margherita LigurePulaRovinjSaint-MaloSaint-TropezSalernoSèteŠibenikSorrentoSplitTarragonaToulonVigoVillefranche-sur-Mer and NiceWaterfordZadarZeebruggeFrom Munich Airport (MUC)
About 2.5 hours by train (University of Passau guide)
Cruise line transfer
- Book with your line.
- Meet the line's staff after customs.
The best choice for most first-timers.
Train (change at least once, for example at Landshut), then taxi
- Go to the train station under the airport (between Terminal 1 and 2).
- Take a train toward Landshut or Regensburg (the ÜFEX airport express serves Landshut and Regensburg; you may need to change at Freising).
- Change to a train to Passau Hauptbahnhof.
- Take a taxi to your dock.
Use the DB Navigator app to plan and buy tickets.
Private car
- Book ahead.
Door to door; costs more.
From the city or your hotel
Taxi from Passau Hauptbahnhof or old-town hotels
Docks are along the Danube near the old town and in Lindau.
Where to stay
Arrive a day or two early. A delayed flight on sailing day is the most common way travelers miss the ship.
Passau old town
Close to the docks and the cathedral.
Munich
More flights and sights; transfer the next day.
Sailing day
Terminals & docks
No single terminal. Examples: Viking lists five Passau docks (including Franz-Weismann-Straße, Ort 19 and Untere Donaulände 5); Uniworld lists Lindau, Franz-Weismann-Straße. Some lines start nearby instead, for example AmaWaterways uses Vilshofen on some itineraries. Check your documents.
Check-in
- River ships usually start boarding in the afternoon. AmaWaterways says boarding usually begins around 3:00 p.m., and you can drop bags earlier.
- Uniworld says to confirm your boarding address and boarding time 24 hours before you arrive.
- River docks can change at short notice. Confirm the dock address with your line the day before.
What trips people up
- No major airport. Munich is about 2.5 hours away.
- At least one change of train from Munich Airport.
- Low water: in fall 2026 Viking (Sept 30 notice), AmaWaterways (Oct 2026) and Uniworld all reported low water on parts of the Danube, Rhine and Main. Fixes include ship swaps, bus legs, or a different boarding town. Your line will contact you if your cruise changes.
Do this
- Spend a night in Munich, then take the train to Passau the next morning.
Leaving the ship: back to the airport
The same routes run in reverse. On the last morning everyone leaves at once, so lines for taxis and buses are at their longest. Book flights home for the afternoon or later, and arrange your ride in advance if you can.
| The way | To | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise line transfer | MUC | Varies | Set by your line |
| Train (change at least once, for example at Landshut), then taxi | MUC | About 2.5 hours, plus taxi | Not verified, check bahn.com |
| Private car | MUC | Not verified | Not verified, get a quote |
Before you leave
- No major airport. Munich is about 2.5 hours away.
- At least one change of train from Munich Airport.
Before or after your cruise
- St. Stephen's Cathedral organ concert
- Veste Oberhaus fortress
- Munich
- Salzburg
Sources & what we could not confirm · 7 sources · checked 2026-11
- University of Passau: Welcome Guide: arriving by train (PDF)
- Munich Airport: Public transport
- Viking River Cruises: Docking locations
- Uniworld: Port locations and boarding times
- Viking: Updates on current sailings (Sept 30, 2026 notice)
- AmaWaterways: Despite historically low water (Oct 2026)
- AmaWaterways: River cruise guide for first timers
- Train fares Munich Airport to Passau
- Car transfer time and cost
- Which itineraries start in Vilshofen
- US nonstop flights: not verified for this page; check airline sites