Best things to do in Bremen
A relaxed small-scale city with a famously easy-going attitude, a medieval village, fantastical Art Nouveau street, fabulous town square and boisterous bar district all within a 15-minute walk of each other – what’s not to like about Bremen?
Viewpoints and panoramas
Best districts
Marktplatz: One of the finest squares in North Germany. From the Hanseatic Cross set in cobbles to the flash patricians’ houses, it is a paean to mercantile prowess in Rococo and Renaissance styles.
Schlachte: When up to 2,000 revellers descend on Bremen’s leafy harbourside promenade on summer weekends, packed with restaurants and bars, the vibe is more Mediterranean than North Sea.
Schnoorviertel: Both the oldest residential district in Bremen and an urban village, the Schnoor is a photogenic quarter of upmarket boutiques, galleries and restaurants – touristy, certainly, but charming nonetheless.
Museums
Weserburg: Housing modern art exhibits in former coffee warehouses, its niche is as a collector’s museum rather than a traditional art museum, with interesting interactions between private collections, generally from the 1960s, including Fluxus and Pop Art, to the cutting-edge present.
Beck’s Brauerei: Maintaining a half-millennium tradition of brewing in Bremen, tours of the Becks Brewery take in a museum, the storehouse and the brewhouse where Germany’s premier export beer is produced, all washed down with three brews.
Kunsthalle: Bremen hoards its art treasures in the Kunsthalle, whose real pride is a gallery of French and German Impressionism.
Parks and gardens
Historical monuments
Bremen Town Hall (Rathaus): The Gothic original, with trademark Hanseatic striped brickwork, is largely smothered beneath a flamboyant Weser Renaissance facade that makes this one of the prized buildings of North Germany.
St Petri Dom: An elegant sandstone organ gallery, Romanesque sculpture and a super little museum packed with treasures make this medieval masterpiece well worth an hour or so of your time.
Atlantis-Haus: Now the Radisson Blu Hotel, this has a spectacular, original Art Deco staircase that spirals up within blue glass bricks and bubbles in an approximation of the lost city; it ends at the strikingly blue Himmelsaal hall with its curved blue-and-white glass ceiling.
Day trips in the area
Hannover: One of the finest Baroque gardens in Europe, good art galleries and a couple of drinking districts that let rip at weekends – the state capital proves culture comes in bars as well as museums.
Lüneburg: Wonky red-brick buildings and beautiful squares in an idyllic small town that exudes provincial contentment.
Activities for families in Bremen
Bremen fares well when it comes to family entertainment, with plenty of activities that children will love. From interactive museums to parks and zoos, you’ll not struggle for options.
Boat trips: One of the most enjoyable family outings, Hal Över Schreiber and Weisse Flotte operate a variety of cruises on the Weser River: options include harbour tours and trips downriver to Bremerhaven.
Aquariums and zoos: In nearby Bremerhaven, the Zoo am Meer has penguins, polar bears and Arctic foxes, among other animals, plus a large playground; its small size makes it especially child-friendly.
Interactive museums: The Bremen Story House is the archetypal definition of an interactive museum, whereby actors bring Bremen’s history to life through performance and storytelling.
Free things to do in Bremen
Bremen has plenty of free activities for budget-conscious travellers, from parks and promenade walks to historical sites.
Promenade walks: The Schlachte Promenade is lined with cafés, bars and beer gardens, making it a great place to enjoy a leisurely evening stroll. You can also join a guided night walk (the Starwalk), where you’ll explore the city’s historic waterfront under the stars, learning about its history and architecture along the way.
Nature and outdoor activities in Bremen
Bremen’s blend of green spaces, water and reserves makes it a good destination for outdoor lovers.
Cycling: Bürgerpark is the starting point for the lovely 27km-long Blockland-Runde cycling route through rural meadowland; ask for the free map at the tourism office. For a longer ride, take the route along the Weser Cycle Path, which follows the river through idyllic villages and lovely landscapes.
Walking: Bürgerpark is also the perfect spot for a leisurely walk or a more energetic hike. With over 200 hectares of parkland, an afternoon exploring the park’s meadows, lakes and forested areas is time well spent.
