Bremen Travel Guide

The best time to travel to Bremen

The most eventful season in Bremen is summer. The best highlight of the program is the Breminale - culture festival on the Weser river, which includes open-air shows and international specialties. The expected date for the 33rd Breminale is July 21-25, 2021.

On the first weekend in June, Vegesack Harbour Festival takes place in Bremen. Theater buffs might be interested in La Strada - international street performance festival or outdoor theater festival Shakespeare in the park, held at the end of August. If you are traveling in winter, you’ll definitely be enchanted by the shining Christmas market.

Average temperatures in summer are around 21 °C - 23°C and in winter -1 - 4 °C.

Interactive Map of Bremen

Top sights

The market square is one of the oldest and broadest squares in Bremen. It hosts annually the Bremen Christmas Market as well as Freimarkt Fair at the end of October.

Townhall and the Roland statue are listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The gothic town hall dominates the cityscape and houses lots of unique pieces of art. Roland is considered as the patron of Bremen, so his 5,5 m tall statue symbolizes liberty. The legend says that Bremen will be free for as long as Roland keeps guard over the city.

Bremen town musicians are the main touristic magnet of the town, so you can’t oversee the statue of 4 fairytale animals standing one over another on the Market square.

Tip: On Sundays, you can enjoy free concerts by Bremen Town Musicians which take place in the square in front of the Liebfrauenkirche.

St. Peter’s Cathedral, also located in the market square, is the Gothic building erected in 11. century. During the Thirty Years War, the south tower was destroyed and rebuilt in the 19th century.

Shnoor Quarter is the loveliest quarter of Bremen with its narrow medieval alleys. The name of this city’s part in German (Schnur) means string, and it’s said that the quarter was called in such a way since the ancient buildings remind pearls on a string. Here you can find plenty of pretty cafes and boutiques.

Bremen Ratskeller is a restaurant under the town hall that houses the most extensive collection of German wines in the world. It provides an intimate and authentic atmosphere. But you should note that you can close the doors of the separate booth only if there are more than two people inside. It’s a local tradition explained by the fact that if two persons get into a fight, a witness is required to figure out who was right.

Böttcherstraße is only 100 m long but is known as a historical heart and an embodiment of the Expressionist style in Bremen. It impresses the visitors deeply with outstanding architecture ensembles.

The Schlachte Embankment is an excellent choice for promenade and chilling out along the river Weser on sunset. Here you can find numerous open-air cafes and bars which provide this place with a relaxed and cozy atmosphere.

The Maritime Mile in Vegesack - here, you can learn the roots of the first man-built harbor in Germany as well as explore the German seafaring tradition.

The Stadtwaldsee - if you want to enjoy a barbecue on a summer day accompanied by the cheerful students’ atmosphere - it’s the right place to chill out.

The Universum Bremen is a significant museum, which exhibitions will give you the most important questions concerning humanity, space, and the earth. Its steel construction reminds a whale or a mussel and impresses not only inside but also outside.

Cuisine and specialties

The Bremer cuisine is defined by the proximity of the city to the sea, so numerous fish and seafood dishes are incredibly popular here.

Aalsuppe is a typical Bremer soup cooked with eel, vegetables, and other ingredients such as dumplings and fresh herbs.

Kale and Pinkel is another local dish consisting of Kale, accompanied by Pinkel Wurst made with oatmeal.

Knipp is a sausage made with pork or beef, oats, onions, allspice, salt, pepper, and various herbs. It’s traditionally served on a slice of toasted white or wholemeal bread.

Labkaus is a local dish of finely chopped meat and vegetables, which was considered as a meal for seamen. This meal can also be served with pickled herring.
Among desserts, it’s necessary to mention Rote Grütze, a savory mousse with different red berries.

Concerning the beverages, the favorite drink of Bremners like other Germans is beer. Nevertheless, the coffee tradition in Bremen dates long ago, since Bremen was the first town in Germany where coffee-house was opened.

Arrival in Bremen

If you are traveling by plane, it'll be great for you to know that Bremen Airport is located only 10 minutes away from the heart of the city. You can catch tram no. 6 from right outside the terminal. The duration takes only 9 minutes.

Tip: With ErlebnisCARD, you'll get free usage of buses and trains as well as a 50% discount to the museums, guided tours, theaters, etc. One-day card (for one adult plus two children up to aged 14 and under) costs 10,50 €.

You can also achieve Bremen by bus or train from Hamburg, Hannover, or even Berlin. Bremen's central train station is accessible on foot, so it'll take approx. 10 minutes to reach the market square.

Since Bremen isn't a big town and is well equipped with cycle paths, it's advisable to rent a bike and check one of the cycling tours in Bremen.

Hotels and accommodation

The most popular areas of the city of Bremen are Mitte, Neustadt (New Town), and Hemelingen.

Mitte is the historical heart of the city. Depending on location, you can find here an inexpensive one-bedroom flat or a pricey luxury apartment.

The most significant advantage of the Neustadt neighborhood is that it’s located between the airport and the river Weser. Typical for this city area are lovely old houses. It also has its own “little Roland” sculpture on the south end of the Neuer Markt in Old Neustadt that isn’t surrounded by the crowds of tourists.

If you enjoy leisurely strolls and rural atmosphere, Hemelingen will be a great option for you. Its parks and lakes will provide you an idyllic atmosphere.

On HotelFriend, you’ll find plenty of hotels and accommodation offers according to your taste and financial preferences. We’ll be glad to assist you in exploring the charming city of Bremen.