Bremen holidays

How to reach Bremen

Flight time: Flights to Bremen from London take around 1 hour 30 minutes.

Transfer time: Bremen’s international airport is 6km south of the city centre; tram #6 or bus #52 links to the Hauptbahnhof in 15 minutes.

Price:

• A single tram ticket from the airport to Bremen city centre costs around €2.80.

• A taxi fare will cost between €10 and €15.

Best time to visit Bremen

This will depend on what you want to do during your Bremen holidays; some events are seasonal, and the weather may also play a part in your decision.

April to June:

• Spring sees milder temperatures of around 10°C to 18°C, though expect plenty of rain, so bring a jacket.

• You’ll enjoy around 6–7 hours of sunshine a day.

July to August:

• High season, so expect marginally larger crowds and slightly higher accommodation prices.

• It’s warm and sunny, with temperatures around 22°C to 25°C.

• You can expect 7–9 hours of sunshine daily and limited rainfall (40–60mm).

September to November:

• Cooler but still very pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C.

• September is probably the best time of the year to investigate Bremen’s parks and cultural attractions.

December to March:

• Winters in Bremen can be cold, with temperatures ranging from -2°C to 6°C.

• However, the Christmas markets are a real highlight, lending a lovely festive feel to the city.

• Snowfall is likely, especially in January and February, so pack well.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: German is the official language, but English is widely spoken throughout the city.

• Local habits and customs: When tipping in a café, round your bill up to the next €0.50 or €1 and give the total directly to the waiter; at restaurants, you should leave around 10 percent of the bill. When you are in a group, you should wait until everybody has their drink and only start drinking after clinking glasses.

• Currency: Germany uses the Euro (€), with credit and debit cards accepted in most places.

• Getting around: For attractions outside the centre you may need buses and trams (three-stop Kurzstrecke €1.60; singles €3–3.80 depending on zone; Tageskarte day-card €8.50–10); the tourist board’s BremenCARD may offer better value.

• Electricity and plug types: Germany uses 220 volts, and UK travellers will need an adaptor for continental-style two-pin round plugs.

• Time zone: Bremen is in the Central European Time zone (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of GMT.

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

• St. Peter’s Cathedral (St. Petri Dom): Climb to the top of the cathedral’s south tower for breathtaking aerial views of the Markt.

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

• Bürgerpark: Over 2 sq km of landscaped lawns, cattle grazed meadows and woodland, the Bürgerpark is a lovely place to while away an afternoon.

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.

Local dishes in Bremen

Whether you’re enjoying fresh seafood by the river or warming up in a local tavern with a plate of Heidschnuckenbraten, you’ll find plenty of delicious food on your holidays to Bremen.

Some typical dishes

• Heidschnuckenbraten: Made from the meat of the Heidschnucke, a type of moorland sheep found in Lower Saxony, this dish is slow-cooked and served with a rich gravy, potatoes and vegetables.

• Sauerbraten: A marinated pot roast slow-cooked in a vinegar-based marinade and served with red cabbage and dumplings.

• Kartoffelsuppe: A creamy potato soup made with vegetables, bacon and sausage, this is a comforting winter dish.

Meat dishes

• Saxon bratwurst: The Saxon version of this famous sausage is made with finely ground pork and grilled to perfection.

• Schweinshaxe: A huge crispy knuckle which could have graced a medieval banqueting table, usually served with potato dumplings or sauerkraut.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Matjes: Pickled herring served with onions, apples and a creamy sauce, this has quite a tang.

• Scholle Finkenwerder Art: Pan-fried plaice, a flatfish that’s common in the waters around Bremen, cooked with bacon, onions and lashings of butter.

Street food

• Frikadellen: Patties made from a mix of minced meat, onions and spices, served in a sandwich or on their own but always with a dollop of mustard.

• Kükenragout: Poultry (usually chicken) served in a creamy sauce, invariably doled out at local markets and street stands.

Sweets and desserts

• Bremer Klaben: Similar to Stollen, this dense fruitcake is packed with raisins, almonds and a hint of rum, making it a festive treat.

• Eierschecke: A layered cake made with a yeast base, quark (curd cheese) and a custard topping.

Local drinks

• Beck’s Beer: Bremen is the birthplace of Beck’s. Try it at the source from Beck’s Brewery, where they also offer tours and tastings - the range includes Beck’s Original, Beck’s Gold and seasonal varieties.

• Bremen Punch: A hot, spiced drink made with red wine, rum and a mix of spices, this delicious beverage is best enjoyed wandering the stalls of Bremen’s Christmas markets.