The present invention relates to a process for preparing 3-alkoxypropan-1-ols of the general formula I by catalytic hydrogenation of esters of the general formula II, where the radicals R1 and R2 and R3, R4 and R5 are each, independently of one another, a straight-chain or branched C1-C20-alkyl radical which may optionally be substituted by one or more C1-C20-alkoxy radicals or interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms in the chain, C6-C20-aryl, C7-C20-arylalkyl which may optionally be substituted by one or more C1-C20-alkoxy radicals or interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms in the alkyl chain, C7-C20-alkylaryl which may optionally be substituted by one or more C1-C20-alkoxy radicals or interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms in the alkyl chain, a C1-C20-cycloalkyl radical which may optionally be substituted by one or more C1-C20-alkoxy radicals and R2, R3 and R4 can, independently of one another, also be hydrogen, over chromium- and nickel-free catalysts.