The town of Vilshofen is situated at the entrance to the Lower Bavarian-Upper Austrian Danube gorge from the west, at the point where the rivers Vils, Wolfach and Pfudrach flow into the Danube. Wedged in tightly at the water's edge, the old part of the town with its closely-built houses stands out on a pointed piece of headland between the Danube and the Vils, giving the impression from the opposite bank of a floating island. The imposing twin towers of the Bendictine abbey Schweiklberg reign over the town. The official information centre for the Danube Valley Tourist Association was founded here in the year 1998.