Car-free excursion tips
baroque city Schärding
The baroque pearl of Schärding am Inn is a special kind of town. It breathes history at every turn, but never seems dusty or old-fashioned. Quite the opposite: if you wander through the maze of historic alleyways, squares, promenades and parks, you will feel the liveliness of Schärding. Anyone who has ever been a guest has experienced what it means to be away and yet at home.
The town of Schärding is therefore the ideal starting point to explore many attractive excursion destinations in the surrounding area without a car. Where the car has a break on holiday - get inspiration now and really enjoy your holiday in Schärding am Inn.
Starting point: Upper Schärding town square, Silberzeile, A-4780 Schärding
Accommodation in Schärding
Schärding offers a wide range of charming accommodation that guarantees visitors an unforgettable stay. Discover the variety and charm of these unique establishments in Schärding.
½- or day trip: Schärding 2025 State Garden Show
Means of transport: on foot
The Upper Austrian State Garden Show Schärding 2025 - an unforgettable experience for all nature lovers and garden enthusiasts. Under the motto "INNsGRÜN", Schärding blossoms into a unique garden paradise. Immerse yourself in a colourful splendour of flowers, aromatic herb beds and a newly staged landscape concept. Nine impressive themed gardens, stepping stone biotopes and numerous events organised by musicians and artists make for a unique provincial garden show that delights visitors with its creativity and the blossoming, multi-faceted grounds.
Opening hours: 25 April to 5 October 2025, daily from 9 am
½- or day trip: shopping & enjoyment in Schärding
Means of transport: on foot
Schärding - Baroque shopping town with charm on the River Inn
You can find out which places in Schärding should definitely be visited as part of a leisurely stroll through the town, with great tips for recommended restaurants and attractive shopping opportunities at:
48h in Schärding
Shopping and restaurant tips in Schärding
Regional shopping in Schärding
Numerous regional specialities can be found in the farm shops and markets in Schärding:
- Dahoam
- Innviertel nature market
- Farmers' and weekly market on Schärding town square
- Hanslauerhof farm
- Pramtal Alpaca farm shop
½-day trips for cycling enthusiasts
Means of transport: bike or e-bike
Feel the elemental force of the currents
Starting from Schärding town square, you cycle to the Inn area, where the Inn-Danube circuit begins. River cycling along the Alpine river Inn and the mythical river Danube. A relaxed ride through the last breakthrough valley of the Inn and the Upper Danube and Aschach Valley European nature reserve. The tour takes you to cultural treasures such as the baroque town of Schärding and the three-river town of Passau. On the way back, you cross the rural Sauwald high plateau with a magnificent panoramic descent to Wernstein.
Length: 43.7 km
Duration: approx. 3 h
Elevation gain: 383 m
Highlights along the route
- Baroque town of Schärding (Austria's most beautiful baroque town)
- Cultural jewel Passau (city of three rivers, royal seat of the "Danube East" ...)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Roman Museum Fort Boiotro
- Vornbacher Enge with nature reserve
- Panoramic descent to Wernstein
From the baroque jewel to the treetops
This tour also starts on the Inn riverbank in Schärding. From the magnificent baroque town, you cycle through lively farmland to the highest accessible treetop path on the Sauwald high plateau. Through a mosaic of fragrant fields and rustic farm hamlets. Almost flat in the Pramtal valley, hilly ascent from Andorf. A cycle tour full of natural treasures! Please note: this is not a circular tour, the same route must be cycled back.
Length: 38.2 km
Duration: 2.50 h
Elevation gain: 409 m
Highlights along the route
- Baroque town of Schärding
- Living farmland (farm hamlets, wayside shrines, ...)
- Kopfing treetop path (longest treetop path in the world, nature experience world)
Schärding-Passau-Schärding
Schärding-Passau-Schärding
Easy cycle tour along the Inn Cycle Path R3 and Roman Cycle Path R6 from the charming baroque town of Schärding to the Three Rivers City of Passau and back again. From the Upper Town Square, turn right to the Old Inn Bridge over to the German town of Neuhaus am Inn. Cycle along the Roman cycle path along the river on the Bavarian side to the Ingling power station and on to Passau. From the old town, the cycle tour leads back over the Marienbrücke bridge. After crossing the Inn, turn right along Jahnstraße to the Boiotro Roman Museum. From Ingling, follow the Inn cycle path and from then on always within sight of the Inn to Wernstein and back to Schärding.
Passau - Schlögen - Passau
Passau - Schlögen - Passau
Take the train from Schärding railway station to the starting point of the route in Passau. On the Danube cycle path from Passau to Schlögen, carefree cycling pleasure awaits all two-wheel fans on both banks. The UNESCO World Heritage Danube Limes is particularly noticeable along the route and invites you to experience it in a very special way. Discover the Danube Limes World Heritage Site with Severinus, immerse yourself in the eventful history of the Danube Limes World Heritage Site and see what is still there today. Return from Passau by train in the direction of Schärding.
Schärding and surroundings
Schärding and surroundings
on the Inn Cycle Path R3 from Schärding - Reichersberg - Braunau - Schärding (approx. 100 km)
Highlight: Reichersberg Augustinian Monasteryon the Pramtalweg R21 from Schärding - Andorf - Schärding (approx. 37 km)
Refreshment stop: Landhotel Gasthof Bauböck
Day trip: tour of the old town centre of Schärding for those interested in culture
Means of transport: on foot
Old town tour through Schärding
Due to the large number of baroque town houses, the fantastic historic squares and the Silberzeile, which is known far beyond the city limits, Schärding even enjoys the reputation of being the most beautiful baroque city in all of Austria. Experience a picturesque tour of Schärding's old town and discover historic sights such as the baroque town square, the water gate and the colourful rows of houses on the Silberzeile.
Duration: approx. 50 min
Length: 3.2 km
½-day excursion: Inn river cruise with Captain Schaurecker
Means of transport: Ship
Enjoy the wild and romantic nature and landscape of the Lower Inn Valley between the enchanting baroque town of Schärding and the charming three-river town of Passau. Experience both the history and the dangers of the former rafting and salt shipping on the Inn on this stretch of river filled with old sagas and legends. Five different cruises and numerous group and special trips are offered.
How to get there: Starting from Oberer Stadtplatz, it is only a few minutes' walk to the landing stage on Leonhard-Kaiser-Weg.
Duration: approx. 2 hours
Start: from 14:00 except Mondays; on Sundays and public holidays the round trip starts at 11:00
Day trip for active people in Schärding
Means of transport: on foot
If you prefer something a little more sporty and would like to explore Schärding actively, there are numerous hiking trails and running and Nordic walking routes in Schärding and the surrounding area.
Directly along the Inn, you can head out of the city through the green Inn floodplains and into the beautiful surrounding countryside. The tranquillity and nature in Schärding can be enjoyed particularly well on the flat routes.
Hiking trails in and around Schärding
Running and Nordic walking tours
Day trip: City trip to Passau
Means of transport: Train
Discover the three-river city of Passau:
Where culture and joie de vivre come together
Information on travelling by bus:
From the town square, it is approx. 1.4 km and a 20-minute walk to Schärding railway station. The regional express train from Schärding to Passau departs from here several times a day. The journey takes approx. 15 minutes.
Note: please note the current journey times for the return journey.
See & experience Passau
In Passau you can explore sights such as St Stephen's Cathedral, which houses the largest cathedral organ in the world, or the Veste Oberhaus castle complex.
Tip: It's worth making a detour to the Rindermarkt to sample the finest chocolate specialities at our "Treasures & Delicacies"-partner Confiserie & Café Simon to taste the finest chocolate specialities.
"Three Rivers" city tour
Daily from 22 March to 9 November 2025
Every Saturday and Sunday from 29 November to 21 December and daily from 26 to 31 December 2025
Journey time: approx. 45 minutes
Peak season (26 April to 5 October 2025): every 30 minutes
Low season (22 March to 25 April 2025) and off-season (from 6 October 2025 to 9 November 2025): every hour
Enjoy unforgettable views of Passau from the comfort of the boat: the Italian flair of the colourful facades, St. Stephen's Cathedral, the mouth of the three rivers, the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers with their different colours.
Tip: the electrically powered convertible ship MS SUNliner operates in the high season!
Barefoot Passau XL - Sightseeing with a difference
Daily from 7 June to 5 October 2025
Trip duration: 11:00 to 12:15
During the round trip on the Barefoot Boat by Til Schweiger, you can explore the city on three rivers up close from the water - completely new perspectives open up.
Example: Ride on the Barefoot Boat lock tour (daily except Monday from 7 June to 5 October 2025)
- Departure at 09:58 with bus line 670 in the direction of Passau - arrival at 10:45
- Short walk through the town to the landing stage
- Departure Barefoot boat in Passau at 12.30 pm in the direction of Engelhartszell - arrival at 14:00 pm
- short tour of Engelhartszell, visit to the Schütz Art Museum or Mini Danube
- return to Schlögen with bus line 670 at 15:43 - arrival at 15:59
½-day trip to Wernstein am Inn
Means of transport: Bus or train
Whoever comes to the old shipping town is impressed by it! Wernstein's own romanticism magically attracts visitors. So it is not surprising that the famous artist and graphic designer Alfred Kubin chose this unique place as his home.
The landmark of Wernstein is the 17 metre high Marian column made of sandstone and granite, which was modelled on the Marian column in Munich in 1646. The two castles of Wernstein and Neuburg and the Kubinschlössl Zwickledt, the former home and workplace of the world-famous draughtsman Alfred Kubin, are particularly worth a visit.
The Kubinhaus can also be reached from Schärding via the art and nature trail. Following in the footsteps of Alfred Kubin, you hike along the Inn to Wernstein, where interesting displays allow hikers to immerse themselves in the world of the famous painter. A return journey is also possible with the OÖVV line 817 directly from Zwickledt to Schärding (duration: 12 min.).
Duration: 2h 31m
Length: 9.6 kilometres
Highlights in Wernstein am Inn
Art and nature trail from Schärding to Wernstein
Running and exercise park "Unterer Inn" (running & Nordic walking)
Refreshments at the Gasthof Mariensäule or Mosthäusl
Travelling to Wernstein
with the regional bus 817 or the REX.
Bus time: 10 min.
Train time: 24 min. incl. walk to the station
Family programme: fun for young and old
Means of transport: Bus or e-bike
High above the treetops on the treetop walk
On the treetop walk in Kopfing an impressive wooden construction stretches 15 metres above the forest floor and over a length of more than 1,000 metres through the treetops of the Sauwald forest. At over 30 adventure stations along the trail, you can explore the flora and fauna of the forest on a guided tour or on your own. In addition, 5,000m2 of adventure playground with a giant swing, low ropes course, 50 m long tunnel slide and much more will make the hearts of children and parents beat faster. Young and old forest explorers can let off steam to their heart's content in the nature adventure park and experience an unforgettable excursion.
Duration: 2h 50min
Length: 38 km
Travelling by bus
From Schärding bus terminal, take the OÖVV line 822 to Kopfing im Innkreis, duration approx. 40 min. Continue on foot for approx. 22 min to the treetop walk.
Note: please note the current journey times for the return journey.
Travelling by e-bike
The R1.02 Pram-Sauwald tour starts at the Innlände in Schärding and leads through the Sauwald high plateau directly to the treetop path.
Please note: not a circular tour, the same route can be used for the return journey.
½- or day trip: into the cool water by bike
Means of transport: by bike or on foot
The following public bathing facilities can be reached from Schärding:
- Stadtbad Schärding within easy walking distance
- Mittich bathing lake / Bavaria
