Bremen

This article is about the city of Bremen only, the city of Bremerhaven belongs to thestate of Bremen but not the city and has its own article

The free Hanseatic City of Bremen is a city in northern Germany with a major port on the River Weser. The population is 548,000. It is also the name of one of the states of Germany which consists of two separated enclaves on the River Weser.

• Bremerhaven geographically separate form the city of Bremen but administratively part of the state of Bremen.

Bremen was once a member of the medieval Hanseatic League and is still one of the most important cities in northern Germany. Together with the city of Bremerhaven on the North Sea it forms Germany's smallest state. Bremen has more than 1200 years of history, and was, for most of its existence, an independent city-state.

The Bremer Stadtmusikanten (Town Musicians of Bremen) perhaps the most well known figures associated with Bremen are characters from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale of the same name. Their image adorns many of the souvenirs in the city. Next to the Town Hall is a much photographed statue of them.

Bremen is a rather long and narrow city, lining both sides of the river Weser. Along the north-west/south-east axis it stretches about 10 km, but across only 2 km. The entire city is located on flat plains.

• Rathaus. This is one of the finest in Europe and has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Building work started in 1410 and it is seen as an important display of the wealth and freedom of the city. Tours of the interior are conducted by the Tourist information office at 11:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 16:00.
• Roland, Marktplatz. This statue on the main square, in front of the town hall is of the Knight Roland who was a protector of trade. He appears in many European cities especially those involved in the Hanseatic league. Bremen's is considered one of the finest and is included with Town Hall on the World Heritage List. The standing figure is 5.47 m tall.
• Dom St. Petri. Over 1200 years old, its huge towered façade dominates the main square. The interior is impressive with some fine painted details on the ceilings. There is a treasury displaying the collection of the cathedral. Entrance is free, for €1 you can climb the Southern Tower offering nice views over the whole city.
• Böttcherstraße. An incredible Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) street that runs from the main square towards the river. There are many fine façades and courtyards all with large amounts of design detail. There is an impressive Glockenspiel that chimes at regular intervals. There are lots of shops and several museums, including the impressive Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum. Haus Atlantis (now the Hilton) has an impressive spiral staircase just inside, at the top of which is the staggering Himmelshaal (it is not normally open to the public).
• Am Wall. A lovely park next to the former defensive moat which offers a place to sit and relax.
• Schnoor. This area of twisting lanes is a lovely place to wander aimlessly looking at in the many shops and also at the world smallest hotel (see Sleep).

• Überseemuseum, Bahnhofsplatz 13 (near central station, +49 421 160 3810. Tu-F 09:00-18:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00. Children €2.50, adults €7.50.
• Focke Museum, Schwachhauser Heerstraße 240, +49 421 6996000. Tu 10:00-21:00, W-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 10:00-18:00. A good overview of the history of Bremen City with a wide range of collections. permanent exhibition €6, children €2, and special exhibition €8, children €4.
• Universum Science Center, Wiener Straße 1a, +49 421 3346. M-F 09:00 - 18:00, Sa Su 10:00 - 18:00. Science museum with plenty of interactive exhibits as an earthquake simulator. The main building is a huge steel shell designed by the Bremen architect Thomas Klumpp. Adults €16, children €11, family card €40.
• Hafenmuseum Speicher XI, Am Speicher XI 1 (In the Überseestadt. Bus line 20 from railway station or tram line 3, +49 421 3038279. Tu-Su 11:00 - 18:00. Housed in a former cotton warehouse. Models of ships used during the past. €5.
• Wuseum, Franz-Böhmert-Straße 1c (inside the Weserstadium, +49 421 434594350. The sports museum shows the history of the football club SV Werder Bremen. You can see photos, jerseys, trophies and more. 4€.
• Kunsthalle, Am Wall 207, +49 421 329 08-0. Tu 10:00 - 21:00, W-Su 10:00 - 17:00. Free entry for children, adults €9.
• Gerhard-Marcks-Haus, Am Wall 208, +49 421 9897520. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, Th -21:00. The contemporary art museum shows the work of Gerhard Marcks the sculptor of the statue "Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten", a city landmark.
• Wilhelm-Wagenfeld-Haus, Am Wall 209, +49 421 3399933. T 15:00 - 21:00, WE-Su 10:00 - 18:00. Founded as a design museum but also used for exhibitions in modern art. The museum is named after Wilhelm Wagenfeld, an industrial designer born 1900 in Bremen. 5€.
• Weserburg, Teerhof 20, +49 421 59839-0. Tu-Su 11:00 - 18:00. Modern art museum located on the Teerhof peninsula. €9, children under 18 €5.

Überseemuseum, Bahnhofsplatz 13 (near central station, +49 421 160 3810. Tu-F 09:00-18:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00. Children €2.50, adults €7.50.

Focke Museum, Schwachhauser Heerstraße 240, +49 421 6996000. Tu 10:00-21:00, W-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 10:00-18:00. A good overview of the history of Bremen City with a wide range of collections. permanent exhibition €6, children €2, and special exhibition €8, children €4.

Universum Science Center, Wiener Straße 1a, +49 421 3346. M-F 09:00 - 18:00, Sa Su 10:00 - 18:00. Science museum with plenty of interactive exhibits as an earthquake simulator. The main building is a huge steel shell designed by the Bremen architect Thomas Klumpp. Adults €16, children €11, family card €40.

Hafenmuseum Speicher XI, Am Speicher XI 1 (In the Überseestadt. Bus line 20 from railway station or tram line 3, +49 421 3038279. Tu-Su 11:00 - 18:00. Housed in a former cotton warehouse. Models of ships used during the past. €5.

Wuseum, Franz-Böhmert-Straße 1c (inside the Weserstadium, +49 421 434594350. The sports museum shows the history of the football club SV Werder Bremen. You can see photos, jerseys, trophies and more. 4€.

Kunsthalle, Am Wall 207, +49 421 329 08-0. Tu 10:00 - 21:00, W-Su 10:00 - 17:00. Free entry for children, adults €9.

Gerhard-Marcks-Haus, Am Wall 208, +49 421 9897520. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, Th -21:00. The contemporary art museum shows the work of [[w:Gerhard Marcks|Gerhard Marcks]] the sculptor of the statue "Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten", a city landmark.

Wilhelm-Wagenfeld-Haus, Am Wall 209, +49 421 3399933. T 15:00 - 21:00, WE-Su 10:00 - 18:00. Founded as a design museum but also used for exhibitions in modern art. The museum is named after [[w:Wilhelm Wagenfeld|Wilhelm Wagenfeld]], an industrial designer born 1900 in Bremen. 5€.

Weserburg, Teerhof 20, +49 421 59839-0. Tu-Su 11:00 - 18:00. Modern art museum located on the Teerhof peninsula. €9, children under 18 €5.

Rathaus. This is one of the finest in Europe and has been included on the [[UNESCO World Heritage List]]. Building work started in 1410 and it is seen as an important display of the wealth and freedom of the city. Tours of the interior are conducted by the Tourist information office at 11:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 16:00.

Roland, Marktplatz. This statue on the main square, in front of the town hall is of the Knight Roland who was a protector of trade. He appears in many European cities especially those involved in the Hanseatic league. Bremen's is considered one of the finest and is included with Town Hall on the World Heritage List. The standing figure is 5.47 m tall.

Dom St. Petri. Over 1200 years old, its huge towered façade dominates the main square. The interior is impressive with some fine painted details on the ceilings. There is a treasury displaying the collection of the cathedral. Entrance is free, for €1 you can climb the Southern Tower offering nice views over the whole city.

Böttcherstraße. An incredible Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) street that runs from the main square towards the river. There are many fine façades and courtyards all with large amounts of design detail. There is an impressive Glockenspiel that chimes at regular intervals. There are lots of shops and several museums, including the impressive Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum. Haus Atlantis (now the Hilton) has an impressive spiral staircase just inside, at the top of which is the staggering Himmelshaal (it is not normally open to the public).

Am Wall. A lovely park next to the former defensive moat which offers a place to sit and relax.

Schnoor. This area of twisting lanes is a lovely place to wander aimlessly looking at in the many shops and also at the world smallest hotel (see Sleep).

• Stroll around the city center and visit the Schnoor-Viertel with its old buildings - most were built between the 15th and 18th century. If you are interested in art, visit the Bremer Kunsthalle (museum of art) with one of North Germany's finest collections.
• If you like football, you see one of the matches of Werder Bremen, a team playing in the Bundesliga (German premier league). You can also visit their stadium Weser Stadion for a few euros when there isn't a game going on.
• If you want to see green fields, cows, and birds, visit "Blockland" (site in German with some pictures) where thousands of local bikers and inline skaters go every weekend to enjoy the agricultural side of Bremen. It is located just north of the university, between the Autobahn and the meandering river Wümme. You can bike or skate along the dyke that contains the river, have traditional coffee and cake at Landhaus Kuhsiel or Gartelmann's Gasthof, or eat gourmet organic ice cream at Biohof Kaemena (they also sell organic milk and cheese). In winter there is no ice cream but there is ice skating on the river and many small canals. In warmer months it is also possible to rent a canoe or kayak to explore the nature preserve from the water.
• There is indoor ice skating at Paradice, the skating hall in Walle (, site in German). Paradice is opened from October to February.
• A good way to get in touch with the locals is to stroll along the river Weser on the scenic Osterdeich, where - in good weather - lots of little groups hanging out on the grassy hills may invite you to barbecue with them or have a beer.
• Don't miss the beautiful Bürgerpark either, a large, well-maintained park right in the middle of the city, which has a little Central Park vibe to it. Have a drink in the renowned "Emma" Café, rent a boat and row around the ring-shaped pond, play mini-golf, visit the petting zoo, or simply sit on the grass and enjoy some tasty ice cream.
• Stadtwaldsee (City Forest Lake). 24 hours. Free swimming at a public beach in a recreation area. There is also a separate nude beach. Fishing, windsurfing, and boating are all possible. Many locals simply enjoy walking or biking on the path that runs around the lake. Free.

• January 6: "Eiswette": a funny tradition where a tailor checks if he can cross the river Weser without getting wet feet.
• February: Carnival in Bremen, more South-American than Cologne style.
• April: Easter market.
• June: "Breminale" music/art festival along the River Weser.
• August: International Bremen Summer circus festival "La Strada". "Festival Maritim" in Bremen-Vegesack (in the northern end of Bremen).
• October (2nd half): "Freimarkt" (free market), one of the biggest and oldest fairground festivals in Germany, north of the railway station.
• November: International Cutter Race / "Kutterpullen" tournament (rowing contest on the Weser river).
• December: Christmas market around the town hall and Schlachte at the river Weser.

The monthly free event magazine MIX has hosts an event calendar online (German only) .

Stadtwaldsee (City Forest Lake). 24 hours. Free swimming at a public beach in a recreation area. There is also a separate nude beach. Fishing, windsurfing, and boating are all possible. Many locals simply enjoy walking or biking on the path that runs around the lake. Free.

• Kluten, are a traditional sweet from Bremen. They are cubes of peppermint, partly covered in chocolate. Hachez, near the Town Hall, is a traditional Bremen based chocolatier and their store is well worth a visit to buy the Kluten, though they are also available at many other places throughout the center.

Areas

• Schnoor is a den of tight lanes selling boutique style products including jewelry, African artifacts, paper models and a year round Christmas shop. There are also a lot of shops selling tourist souvenirs.
• Böttcherstraße, This wonderful Art Nouveau street has many outlets which cater to buyers of upmarket/high quality products.
• Weekly markets are held on most of the squares around the Town Hall .
• Lloyd Passage, Obernstraße, Sögestraße are the main shopping streets with all the main High Street chains.
• Waterfront Shopping Centre, Waterfront Bremen, AG-Weser-Straße (Motorway A27, Junction 17 (Dreieck Bremen-Industriehäfen) to the freeway feeder A281 (Überseestadt-bound) you will see the Waterfront Bremen on the right side after approximately 4 kilometres., +49 421 33 05 199. M-Sa 10:00-20:00. A shopping and leisure centre with a unique location directly on the banks of the River Weser. As its name and location suggest, there is always a fresh wind blowing through and around the Waterfront: shopping, feasting, cinema and events assure high spirits all year round. The centre offers more than 80 shops from fashion (Primark, Desigual, Tommy Hilfiger, Clockhouse and many others) to shoes, jewellery, athletic apparel and equipment to leather goods and gifts—nearly everything the heart could desire. To nourish visitors, there is a gastronomic selection of more than 15 different venues in the Food Court and on the outdoor terrace, with its Weser panorama. There are events held regularly in and around the Waterfront: fashion shows, exhibitions, concerts or activities for children—something for everybody. In the Food Court there is also a 25-m² screen where broadcasts of all Werder Bremen football matches and highlights of the German Football League can be viewed. Various prices.

Kluten, are a traditional sweet from Bremen. They are cubes of peppermint, partly covered in chocolate. Hachez, near the Town Hall, is a traditional Bremen based chocolatier and their store is well worth a visit to buy the Kluten, though they are also available at many other places throughout the center.

Schnoor is a den of tight lanes selling boutique style products including jewelry, African artifacts, paper models and a year round Christmas shop. There are also a lot of shops selling tourist souvenirs.

Böttcherstraße, This wonderful Art Nouveau street has many outlets which cater to buyers of upmarket/high quality products.

Lloyd Passage, Obernstraße, Sögestraße are the main shopping streets with all the main High Street chains.

Waterfront Shopping Centre, Waterfront Bremen, AG-Weser-Straße (Motorway A27, Junction 17 (Dreieck Bremen-Industriehäfen) to the freeway feeder A281 (Überseestadt-bound) you will see the Waterfront Bremen on the right side after approximately 4 kilometres., +49 421 33 05 199. M-Sa 10:00-20:00. A shopping and leisure centre with a unique location directly on the banks of the River Weser. As its name and location suggest, there is always a fresh wind blowing through and around the Waterfront: shopping, feasting, cinema and events assure high spirits all year round. The centre offers more than 80 shops from fashion (Primark, Desigual, Tommy Hilfiger, Clockhouse and many others) to shoes, jewellery, athletic apparel and equipment to leather goods and gifts—nearly everything the heart could desire. To nourish visitors, there is a gastronomic selection of more than 15 different venues in the Food Court and on the outdoor terrace, with its Weser panorama. There are events held regularly in and around the Waterfront: fashion shows, exhibitions, concerts or activities for children—something for everybody. In the Food Court there is also a 25-m² screen where broadcasts of all Werder Bremen football matches and highlights of the German Football League can be viewed. Various prices.

Several cafes and restaurants line the "Schlachte" along the Weser river while other popular areas are the marketplace and the "Viertel" ("quarter") east of the Kunsthalle. Many traditional dishes from Bremen and Northern Germany are very satisfying. The region is famous for cabbage (Grünkohl- green cabbage), fish (smoked eel, herring, smelt in March), an old sailor´s meal called Labskaus (lobscouse) consisting of mashed potatoes, corned beef, onions, fried egg and beetroot or chick ragout (very fine) as well as red fruit jelly or Butterkuchen (cake with yeast and topped with lots of butter, sugar and almonds). You can find some fish restaurants in Böttcherstraße. "Knigge" is the name of a traditional coffee house in Bremen.

Bremen culinary specialties are Knipp (smoked sausage), Labskaus, (fried corned beef with onions and mashed potatoes) and Braunkohl (leaf cabbage)

• Bremer Ratskeller, Am Markt (The entrance is in the western corner of the city hall, near the Roland and the City Musicians, +49 421 321676. 11:00-00:00. Stunning classic wine cellar located in the basement of the historic city hall. Has stored and sold German wines since 1405. Large menu includes regional specialties and has English translations. €10-20.
• Gasthof zum Kaiser Friedrich, Lange Wieren 13, +49 421 326429. M-Sa. Slightly smoked cut of pork with cabbage and mashed potatoes (Braunkohlteller)

Bremer Ratskeller, Am Markt (The entrance is in the western corner of the city hall, near the Roland and the City Musicians, +49 421 321676. 11:00-00:00. Stunning classic wine cellar located in the basement of the historic city hall. Has stored and sold German wines since 1405. Large menu includes regional specialties and has English translations. €10-20.

Gasthof zum Kaiser Friedrich, Lange Wieren 13, +49 421 326429. M-Sa. Slightly smoked cut of pork with cabbage and mashed potatoes (Braunkohlteller)

The world-wide known Beck's Beer is brewed in Bremen. Guided brewery tours in English and German are offered Thursdays - Saturdays. The tour costs €10.50/person and lasts approximately 2 hours.

The Ratskeller is a wine cellar and restaurant with a famous collection of wines and the oldest wines in Germany.

There are many bars, pubs and cafes in Bremen: the Schlachte along the Weser and the Viertel, a young and lively quarter.

If you like beer and pretzels, try the Schüttinger brewery house (next to Böttcherstraße) where several types of beer are brewed and served directly.

• Hamburg
• Bremerhaven
• Oldenburg
• Verden

These are all accessible by rail; the Niedersachsen ticket is cost effective for a day trip.