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Bremen blog — the fullest bremen travel guide for a great budget trip for first-timers.

Located in the northwestern Germany, Bremen is also known as a beautiful ancient merchant city with the gentle river Weser flowing through. Back in time, Bremen was part of the Hanseatic League, was an alliance of trading cities along the Nordic coast in the late Middle Ages. Traveling to Bremen you will experience of a peaceful life with charming, gentle alleys and street corners. So, what to do and how to plan a perfect budget trip to Bremen, the little charm city of Germany for the first-time? Let’s check out our Bremen travel blog (Bremen blog) with the fullest Bremen travel guide (Bremen guide, Bremen tourist guide) from how to get there, best time to come, where to stay, best places to visit and top things to do to find out the answer!

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Perhaps few tourists know that Bremen is home to the Brothers Grimm’s short story “Town Musicians of Bremen”. And, of course the famous “Grimms’ Fairy Tales” attached to the childhood of many of us such as “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Snow White”. Joining us to explore Bremen’s history and culture and experience the famous tourist attractions of the city.

Bremen blog: When to visit?

Due to the city is located in the north and quite close to Hamburg, the Bremen climate is quite similar to Hamburg. Spring is the best season to visit Bremen, not too cold and more sunny and service prices are not too high. Summer is the peak tourist season in Bremen with beautiful sunshine and bustling, crowded everywhere. If you plan to go in winter, you should probably go only during the Christmas time, the streets are beautifully decorated. However, the daytime will be very dark and cold.

Bremen blog: How to get to Bremen?

There are many ways to get to Bremen from other German and European cities. As the smallest state in the federal, you can easily take a train from other cities to Bremen. Bremen is just over 1 hour from Hamburg by ICE high speed train, 3 hours by train from Berlin and more than 4 hours from Frankfurt.

Self-driving to Bremen is also quite easy, you can rent a self-driving car and experience Germany’s famous Autobahn highway. Bremen Central Station is not too far from the city center, from here you can easily take a tram to the hotel.

Regarding on how to travel by train in Germany you can refer to this article . In general, to travel from a European city to Bremen, for example Paris, you will need to change 1 or 2 trains. From Paris you will have to take a train to a big hub transport in Germany is Frankfurt, then continue to change trains from Frankfurt to Bremen. In order to avoid much researching, you should book train tickets through Trainline.com , it will outline the optimal routes and schedules for you.

You also can getting to Bremen by air. Bremen Airport Hans Koschnick is located just 3.5km from the city center and it takes about 10 minutes to get to there. Outside the arrival hall of the airport has a tram stop, from there to the Domsheide stop is only 9 minutes, or stop at other stops such as Blumenthalstr/Bremen Exhibition Center which takes only 15 minutes of riding.

Bremen travel guide: Getting around the city

Bremen is a relatively small-sized city, so it has no subway system but only bus and tram. The bus network spreading throughout the city and surrounding areas while tram mainly operating in the city center. Normally, in the central area you can completely walk because the attractions are quite close to each other. With a radius of about 1 km there are many attractions such as square, cathedral, Old Town, Marktplatz and other shopping places.

The company BSAG (Bremer Straßenbahn AG) operating tram and bus networks. Tram system has 4 lines and 46 stations, single ticket price for a single tram / bus trip is €2.80. You should buy unlimited travel day pass for €8 / day and 7-day pass for €22.80. Pass can be purchased at BSAG ticket counters. Ticket vending machines are usually only available at airport and major stations.

Bremen blog: Where to stay?

The most convenient place to stay in Bremen is Old Town. This old quarter is centrally located in the city and easy access to major attractions. The central district of Bremen is Mitte, you can book hotels in this neighborhood on Booking.com or Agoda.com . If you have an abundant budget, you can consider to stay at the Parkhotel Bremen (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ) which was designed as a splendid palace with the standards of a top luxury hotel in Bremen.

Of course, the hotel room rates here are also more expensive than other areas, so to saving more you can stay a little bit far for better price and really it’s not too far from the center because the city of Bremen is also quite small. You can refer to the a&o Hostel Bremen Hauptbahnhof (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ) that I stayed during my visit, it’s quite close to the central station, convenient to travel. A&O hostel chain is present in many big cities in Europe, so you can rest assured about its quality.

My room at A&O Bremen was very spacious, located on a high floor and overlooking the city with train tracks running through. In general, the room was very clean, nice and fully equipped, the first floor was a spacious hall for common activities. Walking to the central station was only about 10 minutes, but if you have a lot of luggage, consider taking a single bus trip.

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Dorint City-Hotel Bremen ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Steigenberger Hotel Bremen ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Atlantic Grand Hotel Bremen ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• prizeotel Bremen-City ( Booking.com )
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Bremen ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )

Bremen blog: What and where to eat?

Traditional food.

Similar to Hamburg because of the same geographical region, traveling to Bremen you can experience some traditional North German cuisine. Below we suggest some traditional Bremen dishes you should try.

Kale and Pinkel: Bremen people love kale and this is a popular ingredient in many dishes here. The most popular dish served with kale is pinkelwurst , a smoked sausage made from pork, bacon, oats and onions.

Labskaus: This is dish I ate in Hamburg, consisting of salted meat or corned beef, potatoes, onion, pickled herring and fried eggs, served with some pickled radish. Enjoy this dish and sipping a glass of German beer is great.

Knipp: Another type of sausage made from mixing minced such as liver, beef, or pork then seasoned with salt, allspice, pepper and then fried.

Aalsuppe: A traditional eel soup like the Vietnamese eel soup. Eel is a quite popular food in the Weser river region and is loved by local people.

Real experience at some delicious restaurants in Bremen

Visiting Bremen you can not help but experience some restaurants with traditional German dishes. In the Town Hall area where there are many famous and delicious restaurants, I found a restaurant right next a road with a quite unique design. This restaurant is located under a small, cozy basement.

The Bremer Knipp dish I chose has a strong traditional flavor of Bremen, served with bread, two pieces of pork bologna and added potatoes and pickled vegetables. Its taste is a bit bold, the pork bologna is mainly meat, its taste is quite similar to the grilled clam worm (alitta succinea, ragworms, pile worm) of Vietnam.

Markthalle Acht: This place can be known as a culinary center of Bremen with 20 food stalls offering a full range of traditional dishes prepared from the best chefs of Bremen.

Address: Domshof 8-12, 28195 Bremen, Germany Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday: 11AM–7PM/Thursday, Friday,Saturday: 11AM–10PM/Monday, Sunday: Closed

Bremen blog: What to do and where to go?

Bremen is a small city, its tourist attractions are also concentrated mainly in Town Hall area – the Old Town. This city owns gentle, tranquil, quaint alleys and street corners and has a long-standing of history and culture. I was strolling around just in the deserted old town for many days without getting bored. The films and photos from here must be said to be beautiful.

Bremen City Hall / Town Hall

Located in the heart of Bremen Market Square, this City Town Hall was built in 1412 and has undergone many ups and downs, many remodeling and renovation. Just standing outside and walking around the building was enough to make me amaze at its intricate carvings, architecture designs with statues have recognized as UNESCO World Heritage in 2005. You can book a walking tour to visit the interior of the building and learn more about the development of the city through the time.

Address: 232 Tallapoosa St, Bremen, GA 30110, United States Hours: 8AM–5:30PM/Saturday, Wednesday: 8AM–12PM/Sunday: Closed Admission: €6.50 / adult, free for children under 12 years old accompany an adult.

Bremen Market Square

The typical Gothic architecture here is quite similar to the Town Hall in Brussels with many old buildings surrounding a large square. Coming here during the Christmas season, I could feel the festive atmosphere at every corner. The Christmas market was set up in the middle of the square with stalls selling food, souvenirs, and decorations. There are many tram routes running here, so it is very convenient to travel from the square to the different points in the center.

St. Peter’s Cathedral Bremen (St. Petri Dom Bremen)

St Peter’s Cathedral is located the Bremen square which was built in the 11th century and upgraded from the 13 to 16 century. From a distance, the church stands out in the middle of the neighborhood with two iconic Gothic-style towering bell towers at 98m high. The atmosphere inside of the church was really quiet, you can access here for free, but if you want to go to the top of the tower, you will have to buy a ticket. The church’s museum (Dom-Museum) is also very interesting because it also preserves 8 mummies from the Middle Ages.

Address: Sandstraße 10-12, 28195 Bremen, Germany Hours: 10AM–6PM/Sunday: 2–6PM

Böttcherstraße and the Glockenspiel House

Böttcherstraße is a small street with stores and shops selling all kinds of goods on both sides of the street. The walls here are built of red bricks similar to the main color tone of the old town of Bremen. In the early 20th century, Ludwig Roselius – an investor who bought all houses here and rebuilt as a structure connecting the Weser River and the large square in the center.

Haus des Glockenspiels – The Glockenspiels House is located at the end of Böttcherstraße street with 30 Meißener porcelain bells painted in blue on the outside and gilded inside. If Bremen has a large square, the outside area of the Glockenspiels can be seen as a small square, decorated under splendid lights during the Christmas season.

Schnoor Quarter

Bremen tourist place that I like the most. I spent 2 mornings here, especially an early morning with a light sunny dawn. This oldest neighborhood in Bremen was once the poorest part of the city, right next to the River Weser, but now it’s Bremen’s most beautiful place.

The narrow alleys are just enough to walk to see the old houses on both sides. The highlight is the colorful streets, sometimes stopping at small corners with full of vintage look, with rows of chairs, flowers and plants along old walls. You can take pictures here all day without getting bored and also could not to visit all the beautiful little street corners.

Town Musicians of Bremen

This statue can be considered as a symbol of the city of Bremen that depicting characters in the famous Grimm fairy tales. These animals including donkey, dog, cat and chicken have fled from their owners and become artists of the city. The statue was not too big, located right outside of the city hall, the animals standing on top of each other.

Universum Science Center

The Universum Science Center stands out with its futuristic architecture. From a distance you see it like a large seashell protruding out of the water but many people mistake it for an alien flying saucer. This science museum has more than 300 exhibition areas covering all topics about technology, people and nature. In addition, there is a 27m high tower where you can see the whole city.

Address: Wiener Straße 1a, 28359 Bremen, Germany Opened: September 9, 2000

Wallanlagen Park

In addition to the above attractions, you can consider to visit Wallanlagen Park, it’s also near the old town and Town Hall. This park has lush green grass, walking paths and a small river running through. The special feature of this park is that on a not too high mound is a beautiful windmill, very suitable for virtual live photography on sunny days.

Address: 28195 Bremen, Germany

Bremen travel guide: Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Bremen you can refer to

• Bremen: Walking Tour in German with Night Guard
• Bremen: Walking Tour of Historic Schnoor District
• Bremen: Night Watchman Guided Tour for Children (in German)
• Tour of Bremen’s Underworld
• Bremen: Old Town 2-Hour Tour with Costumed Performer
• The Dark Side of Bremen: Killers and Criminals
• Bremen: In the Steps of the Bremen Town Musicians

Are you looking for more guide and top things to do in famous destinations in Germany: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here .

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Best of Bremen in One Day Itinerary + Map

Exploring the best of Bremen, Germany, just a quick train ride from Hamburg, feels like stepping into a page from a storybook. This idyllic spot is absolutely perfect for a one-day trip!

After immersing myself in the city’s enchanting charm, I’ve crafted a quick list of the highlights that capture the essence of Bremen’s magic.

Whether you’re strolling along quaint streets or basking in the rich culture, every moment here promises an unforgettable experience!

Human-written content, by me, and nearly all original images, unless stated. Posts could have affiliate links to help offset the cost of maintaining this blog. When you click on a link, we receive a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you. See Our Affiliate Policy and Advertiser Disclosure for more info.

Is Bremen Worth Visiting?

Bremen is absolutely worth visiting! It is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany with years of history to explore. Truthfully, I liked it better than Hamburg!

The city is quite a gem for a quick trip since it’s small and easy to explore in a day. It’s super close to Hamburg, making a short visit a breeze.

The best part, aka my favorite part? Bremen’s has a unique Nordic flavor to its tasty eats, especially the seafood.

Pro Tip:  Even though I found Bremen to be super safe, I ALWAYS recommend getting   travel insurance  to avoid any mishaps. Lost luggage or getting sick can happen at any time.

Is One Day Enough In Bremen?

You can absolutely see all the best that Bremen has to offer in one day . But staying for 2 full days is optimal in my experience.

Don’t worry if your time is limited to a single day, arriving early will allow you to discover a substantial slice of what this city has to offer.

Where is Bremen Located & How To Get There?

Bremen is located in Northwest Germany , just southwest of Hamburg. It is situated on both banks of the Weser River, near its estuary into the North Sea.

Bremen is also a port city, with access to the major waterways of the Weser River that crisscross Europe. With a population of 550,000, it is one of the most important economic hubs in Germany.

The closest airport to Bremen, Germany is the Bremen Airport (BRE) which is located about 4 miles from the city center. Another popular way to visit Bremen is via train coming from Hamburg .

The train takes around 45 minutes from Hamburg and runs about every hour or so.

When you arrive at the main train station, you walk a few minutes to the “ Altstadt” city center of Bremen .

Here you are met with the most beautiful and fairytale-like architecture. Northern Germany is much different than southern Germany (Bavaria), both incredible for different reasons.

Here in the north, you will feel the influences of the nearby Nordic neighbors of Denmark.

What is Bremen Known For?

Bremen is a Hanseatic city and served as a major center for trade and commerce and was a member of the Hanseatic League . This league was a powerful trading alliance of merchant guilds from the 13th to 17th centuries.

Founded by cities including Lübeck, Hamburg, and Bremen, formed to protect their economic interests.

It was disbanded in 1669 but its legacy as a key trading post is still relevant today.

Things To Do In One Day In Bremen

When you only have a day, you want to hit the most popular attractions first!

I have included a Google map below so that you may save it on your phone for your visit. These locations were my favorite things in this most idyllic German town .

TIP: One way to ensure you will see the most important sites in Bremen is by booking a walking tour .

What I love most about a guided tour is the history you will learn on your journey .

Unless you are Googling each site as you stand there, and who wants to do that, you don’t learn anything.

📲 Downloadable Map of Bremen Germany

📍 Download my pre-pinned Google map of all the best locations in this post!

My favorite restaurants, bars, hotels and top sights are all saved and ready to use!

👩🏻‍💻 Need Help Planning Your Trip? Get a customized itinerary !

Top Sites in Bremen, Germany

Visit the bremen town hall.

Am market 21, 28195 Bremen, Germany

The Bremen Town Hall is an iconic symbol of the German city of Bremen. The Renaissance town hall was built in Gothic Style during the 15th century and has been the crown jewel of the city for centuries!

This most impressive building along with The Statue of Ronald has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Bremen city hall is home to several art galleries and museums where visitors can view a variety of medieval artifacts, including armor and weapons from the Middle Ages!

The Bremen Town Hall also hosts concert venues and markets throughout the year. The beautiful baroque hall with intricate stucco ceilings and frescos is the perfect setting for the town’s musicians to rejoice.

You will find the Bremen city hall in the market square along with the Bremen Cathedral and Bremen town musicians statue.

The Statue of Roland

The Roland Statue , one of the top attractions in Bremen, Germany, was erected in 1404 and can be found in the heart of Bremen in the market square.

Various cities have the Roland statues as a symbol of the city of civic liberty and freedom.

This former Holy Roman Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire was deemed the hero of the Battle of Roncevaux Pass.

The Roland Statue is a symbol of the city’s freedom. Bremen, Germany will remain free and independent as long as the bronze statue of Roland stands to protect it.

The Statue of the Brothers Grimm

The Brothers Grimm Statue in Market Square depicts Wilhen and Jacob Grimm, the brothers who wrote the beloved fairy tales such as Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, and Rapunzel.

This is the town musicians’ statue of Bremen, Germany. Located between the Bremen cathedral and the town hall.

The bronze sculpture created by Gerhard Marcks in 1953 stands over 12 feet tall!

You will notice the donkey’s legs and nose are now gold from tourists and locals grabbing the legs for luck.

Night Tour: Walking Tour with German Night Guard

Beck’s Windmill (Mühle Am Wall)

am wall 212, 28195 Bremen, Germany

Another famous site and must-stop is to visit the Bremen Windmill (Mühle Am Wall) . This iconic building in Bremen was built in 1898 and is open to the public.

The Bremen Windmill is one of the oldest working windmills in the world and has been in operation since 1540. Visitors can typically climb to the top for a 360-degree view of the city. *Check the official site for details.

The windmill is one of the reasons Breman has a whimsical reputation as a fairy tale town.

You don’t have to travel far to reach the windmill, which is located in the city center.

Check here for Directions .

St. Martin’s Church

Martinikirchhof 3, 28195 Bremen, Germany

St. Martin’s Church is a large 12th-century Luthern Church. It is the oldest church in Bremen is St. John’s church, but St. Martin’s church is one of the most important for its history and elaborate architecture.

The church was originally constructed as an abbey for Benedictine monks who resided in the church until the year 1803.

Enjoy the building’s Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance features and its beautiful stained glass windows.

Inside the church, you can find various sculptures dedicated to the saints and many great relics including the seven Bremen bishops and four archbishops.

Climb to The Top of St. Petri Dom (Bremen Cathedral)

Sandstrasse 10-12, 28195 Bremen, Germany

St. Petri church (St. Peter’s Cathedral) is a Lutheran church located in the city centre of Bremen that you can’t miss. The church dates back to the late Middle Ages and was built during the 15th century.

It is one of the few remaining churches in Northern Germany that have maintained some of its original Gothic design elements.

If you have the stamina to climb to the top , I would highly recommend it. While I visited on a very cloudy day, the views of Bremen from the top of this church were still breathtaking.

For more information and hours of operation, check the website here.

Small Shops in Bremen

Böttcherstasse 28195 Bremen, Germany

Nothing like a little shop till you drop on your trip to Bremen. You can stroll around the market square to explore everything this town offers.

Don’t miss the shops on Böttcherstasse, Obernstrasse, and Sögestrasse, located in the old town, containing unique souvenir shops and locally made goods.

These boutique shops are where you will find more unique souvenirs and gifts.

If you are looking for more traditional shopping like a mall, there is a MEIN outlet, Columbus Center, Weserpark, and Lloyd Passage to keep you busy.

The Schnoor Quarter

The Schnoor Quarter is Bremen’s oldest district and it gives the city the most fairytale-like vibes. If you don’t know where this little pocket of magic is, you could miss it!

I read about the Schnoor in another blog about Bremen and was incredibly grateful I did!

This medieval center of Bremen gets its name from the old handcrafts that are associated with shipping. These narrow streets and adorable cafes will have your heart.

It is one of the oldest parts of the city dating back to before the 13th century.

The traditional brick buildings and half-timbered houses create a unique atmosphere where the town musicians of Bremen come to life.

Enjoy a little coffee or cocktail outside one of the many restaurants that line these winding streets, it was by far one of the best things I did. You can not leave Bremen without adding this hidden gem to your itinerary.

And don’t forget your camera , I couldn’t get enough pictures of the architectural styles of these gorgeous buildings!

Tour Idea: Walking Tour of Schnoor

Museums to Visit in Bremen

There are several museums in Bremen! If the weather isn’t great, it is the perfect way to spend some time indoors.

• The Kunsthalle Bremen is an art Gallery with various artworks from the Renaissance period to the modern day. Located close to the Bremen Old Town on what is referred to as the “Culture Mile.”
• Übersee Museum located next to Hayptbanhop is the Ethonolfical Museum founded in 1875. It holds a wide range of artifacts and art objects that have been collected from around the world.
• The Universum Science Center in Bremen is the best place to explore the wonders of science. It is an interactive museum with many exhibits and activities that fascinate and educate its visitors.

Where to Eat in Bremen

One of my favorite things to do in Bremen, Germany, was eat!

The cuisine has influences from other cultures, such as the Nordic. It is easily identifiable with the cuisine of Bremen.

You find a lot of fish and pickled herring, much like in Nordic countries.

Beer lovers shouldn’t miss Beck’s Brewery – Get a guided tour!

Best Restaurants Bremen

• Bremen Ratskeller is one of the oldest and most beloved restaurants in Bremen! The restaurant is decorated with historical artifacts from all over Europe. I don’t eat meat, so if you are a vegetarian, options are limited, but there are menu items for you.
• Spizen Gebel is a bar and restaurant located in the old city center. It has been around since 1854 and it’s one of the oldest pubs in Bremen. It is a casual spot where I enjoyed the best dark bier.
• Ständige Vertretung serves up traditional Bremen and Rhenish specialties. Its English country-style house combines original Hanseatic elements. For a casual menu in a historic setting, try this place!

Do you consider yourself a wine lover? If so, check out the wine capital of Germany !

If you are visiting in the summer months, head down to the Weser River just before the Wilhelm Kaisen Brücke (bridge) and enjoy Beck’s beer in the many restaurants along the water.

Where to Stay in Bremen

If you are making your one day more than just a day trip, I recommend staying in the city center of Bremen’s historic old town.

Best Hotels In Bremen

• East Village No. 5 A 14-minute walk from Bremen Central Station, this is an affordable apartment option in the center of Bremen. It features a kitchen and washing machine, and some units have a terrace. This is the perfect spot to stay for your weekend in Bremen!
• Dorint City-Hotel Bremen Dorint City Hotel Bremen is just 5 minutes from the central train station. An ideal location for a weekend stay. The hotel features a spa, an onsite restaurant, and a bar. The private rooms all have air conditioning and are pet-friendly!
• Designhotel ÜberFluss Designhotel ÜberFluss is a fabulous 4-star hotel that features an indoor pool and spa! Many of the rooms come with a lovely view of the Weser River. Just 650 feet from the Modern Art Museum and steps away from Bremen’s old town.

Where To Go After Bremen?

After spending the best day in Bremen, there are lots of places to jet off by train or by renting a car!

If you want to continue your exploration in Germany, make your way to Southern Germany! I spent an incredible day in Nuremberg!

From Nuremberg, you can visit 2 of the most idyllic villages, Bamberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. These destinations are all easy day trips from Nuremberg by train!

Christmas Markets: The Most Magical Berlin Christmas Markets

FAQs For Visiting Bremen

The months of June, July, and August are lovely times to visit Bremen, Germany. The weather will be its warmest.

Bremen, Germany covers an area of 325 km2 (125 sq miles) and has a population of around 547,000 people. It is the 11th most populous city in Germany.

The time of year you visit will be a factor in how expensive accommodations are in Bremen. During the winter months, it is more affordable. Consider taking public transit and seek out budget-friendly pubs and street food vendors to keep costs lower.

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Melissa Byron, a seasoned solo traveler since 2009, is the founder & visionary behind A Solo Woman Traveling. Drawing from her extensive personal experience globetrotting solo to over 40 countries, she has dedicated herself to a mission: crafting invaluable guides and itineraries for women who embark on solo adventures.

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I love Bremen. It is such as beautiful city. This article made me wish I could go back and visit again. The Bremen Rathaus is one of my favorite buildings. If I remember my history correct, it isn’t nearly as old as it appears as it was reconstructed post-WWII.

Hi! I’m Vera from Portugal and I loved your article about Bremen! What a beautiful and useful article! 🙂

I have just booked a trip to Bremen and I´m going to stay at the Best Western Hotel Bremen City.

May you help me with some doubts? Do you think it’s safe to travel alone to Bremen? Is the hotel in a good location? Is it safe for a girl to be on the streets at night?

I hope you will be able to reply before I go (April 22nd) and thank you so much!

Hey Vera! I am so excited you are going to Bremen! It is one of my all-time favorites in Germany!

I did feel very safe on my own walking around in the evening. Mind you I don’t stay out very late, maybe 9-10 pm.

With regards to the hotel, I am going to send you an email, so look out for it. Check your junk mail if you don’t see it : )

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Germany Footsteps

22 Top Things To Do In Bremen [Don’t Miss Them!]

Going on a Bremen trip and want to know all the best things to do in Bremen? We have you covered! Below you will find our guide to all the best attractions in Bremen Germany to plan your ultimate trip.

When we were looking for places to visit in Northern Germany on our way to Denmark, somewhere jumped out at us pretty quick – Bremen. I found it on lists of Germany’s prettiest Old Towns and, once I looked it up myself, I was sold.

Located at the end of Germany’s Fairy Tale Road, Bremen is a reasonable sized city with over half a million people. It also lives up to its reputation with a gorgeous Old Town on the Weser River and there is a great collection of places to see in Bremen.

From fairy tale statues to museums to churches to wandering the riverside walk and Old Town, Bremen is an easy, vibrant, fun and beautiful place to visit.

Not far from Hamburg, it is possible to visit Bremen on a day trip. However, this is a beautiful place that is worth your time if you can spend longer. We spent a few nights and I wish we had more time to continue to soak it all in.

Bremen is a great destination at any time of year. It has what is reputed to be one of the best Christmas markets in Germany and there’s plenty to explore in summer too.

Below, you will find our Bremen travel blog with everything you need to know about the best Bremen things to do, what to do in Bremen surrounds as well as the best places to stay for your ultimate vacation in Bremen!! There is also a handy map of the things to do Bremen offers.

So let’s start so you have as good a time in Bremen as we had!

Traveling to Germany?  Click here to download your free Germany Trip Planning checklist .  We’ll help you get ready for your trip!  

Table of Contents

An Introduction To Bremen

Settlements in the Bremen area date back to 100AD. At its beginning, it was known as the “Rome of the North” and was used as a base for bringing Christianity into Scandinavia.

It shed its religious background becoming an Imperial City in 1186 and then joining the Hanseatic League in 1260. Starting with a few towns in northern Germany, the Hanseatic League grew to be a confederation of nearly 200 cities in 7 modern-day countries. This league was a powerful policital trading block with arrangements like free trade, protection against pirates and bandits and diplomats among its members.

Over time, they even developed a common legal system and armies to keep the area safe and flourishing. This lead to mutual prosperity in the region.

You can read more about the Hanseatic League here .

Bremen’s location on the Weser River enabled it to be a key trading post in the league with much international trading taking place here. It thrived and, in fact, stayed in the Hanseatic League right until it ended in 1862 as Germany was being founded.

Even today, Bremen is known as the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen and forms its own state (the smallest in Germany).

Top 21 Things To Do In Bremen Germany

Here are the best Bremen attractions. Read through and select the ones that fit your interests and timeframe. If you only have one day to visit Bremen tourist attractions, find our one day Bremen places to visit itinerary below.

Bremen’s Old Town

If there is one place you will absolutely want to head when you visit Bremen, it’s Bremen’s Old Town. This is definitely #1 on our list of Bremen top 10 tourist attractions and you can’t go wrong wandering around this area.

In fact, many of the places below are in the Old Town so you can enjoy the Old Town as you visit your pick of the top things to do in Bremen.

This Old Town is 1200 years old and is located on the banks of the Weser River. It’s a joy to walk the cobblestone streets surrounded by history. It’s compact and easy to walk around.

I recommend you take your time, have a leisurely meal in the streets in warmer months and really soak it in.

Rathaus (Town Hall)

The heart of the Old Town, Markt Platz (Market Square) is a great place to head on your Old Town wander. This is where you will find Bremen’s UNESCO World Heritage listed Town Hall.

Over 600 years old, its known for its mix of Gothic and Renaissance features thanks to originally being built in 1410 in Gothic style and then having a Renaissance facade added in 1612. This actually makes it the only European town hall built in the late Middle Ages that has survived in its original form for this long.

It’s a well preserved, gorgeous building which helps celebrate Bremen remaining largely autonomous for centuries. The inside is just as fabulous with the Upper Hall being a fantastic ceremonial venue where the council used to meet.

There’s also a cellar underneath which is home to Germany’s oldest cask of wine.

It’s possible to go on a guided tour of the inside which takes about an hour and helps explain the magnificent history of the building. It’s also possible to eat a meal in the restaurant, Ratskeller , in the wine cellar.

Roland Statue

The Roland Statue is located outside the Rathaus and was erected in 1404 after its wooden predecessor was destroyed. It is part of the Rathaus’ UNESCO World Heritage listing.

Roland is a symbol of freedom and trading rights and, while there are Roland statues in many German towns, this one is considered one of the most beautiful and oldest examples.

It’s over five and a half metres tall and when you add in the baldachin, it’s over ten metres tall. I was surprised by the height of this impressive statue – photos don’t do it justice.

It’s a popular item on the Bremen things to see list and you won’t want to miss it.

Town Musicians Of Bremen

After our journey along the Fairy Tale Road to get to Bremen, we certainly weren’t going to miss an opportunity to see this statue of the Town Musicians of Bremen which comes from the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale, the Bremen Town Musicians (Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten) published in 1819.

You’ll notice images around town of a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster and they come from this fairy tale.

The best way to celebrate this past is by visiting this statue and rubbing the donkey’s nose or hooves. It’ll ensure you have good luck and visit Bremen again!

You can also find a circle plaque and coin slot where you can pay to hear the animals make sounds.

This statue is also located in Markt Platz to the left of the Bremen Rathaus. It was created by Gerhard Marcks and you can learn more about his work below.

Dom St Petri (And Bleikeller)

The Bremen Cathedral, Dom St Petri, is also located at Markt Platz. This protestant church was originally built in 789, although much of the current building dates to the 13th century.

This cathedral is quite large and it’s worth venturing inside. There are many organs, tombs and crypts with some famous Germans having been buried here. It has a silent beauty that I really enjoyed.

In the warmer months, you can also climb 265 steps to the top of the south tower for great views of the Old Town. However, this does seem to be closed randomly as it was shut the days we were in Bremen with no explanation or sign of when it would open again. Next time!

There’s also a small Cathedral Museum located in the Bleikeller (cellar) which shows the history of the cathedral as well as religious artefacts from a 1970s dig. It’s also home to eight well-preserved mummies which are the remains of medieval archbishops.

It’s free to enter (as is the church).

Kirche Unser Lieben Fraue (Church Of Our Lady)

This smaller church was also built around the 13th century on the remains of an older building. The crypt is from 1020 which makes it the oldest built space in Bremen.

The Church of Our Lady is behind Bremen Rathaus and easy to visit as part of your exploration of this area. Inside are beautiful murals and as well as the old crypt and many beautiful painted glass windows.

I didn’t find many people in here despite the crowds outside, and it was a great way to escape exploring for a moment to relax and reflect in a beautiful space.

It’s another of the Bremen Germany things to do to appreciate and learn more about this city.

Böttcherstraße 

Once you have finished exploring and enjoying Markt Platz, another great part of Bremen’s Old Town is Böttcherstraße. It’s just to the south and connects Markt Platz to the river so at one point, it was very important.

Today, this 100 metre long medieval lane is a great example of expressionist architecture (although there is a mixture of architectural styles) after it was transformed in the 1920s by the coffee merchant, Ludwig Roselius.

The red-brick houses have a mix of facades and there are fountains, statues and more. There are also some great Bremen attractions on this street which are described more below. There are some great shops, bars and cafes. Have a seat and enjoy the atmosphere.

But whether you have time to visit these attractions or not, it’s well worth the time to wander down Böttcherstraße.

Haus Des Glockenspiels

One of the things to do around Bremen that you’ll find on Böttcherstraße is Haus des Glockenspiels (Glockenspiel House). This is the place to be just before the hour between 12 – 6pm in the warmer months.

At this time, thirty porcelain bells ring playing the tunes of old folk songs lasting over eight minutes!

While the building already existed, the bells were added in 1934. Ten expressionist panels were also added of important German and other voyagers like Robert Fulton, steamboat inventor, and Christopher Columbus.

I must say that I was a little underwhelmed. The bells weren’t as loud as I expected and they didn’t move or anything. Add in the small space and big crowd and I wouldn’t say this is a must hear.

Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum

Also on Böttcherstraße is the Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum. Paula Modersohn-Becker was an artist (1867-1907) who was an early expressionist. This is the first gallery in the world that was dedicated to the work of a female artist.

Here, you can find some of her work as well as photos and documents relating to her as well as works by other artists.

The building itself is a great example of Brick Expressionist architecture.

Ludwig Roselius Museum

Another art museum on Böttcherstraße, the Ludwig Roselius Museum is where you can find the private art collection of Ludwig Roselius. As stated above, he is the one who is responsible for transforming this street.

This building is the oldest on the street, dating back to the end of the 16th century. Roselius added the crow-stepped gable when he developed the street.

He has quite an art collection as well as many ornaments. The most important pieces are Lucas Cranach’s Portrait of Martin Luther and his wife, Katharina von Bora and the Group of Mourner, sculpted in 1515 by Tilman Riemenschneider.

Schlachte Riverside Walk

After you’ve enjoyed Böttcherstraße, why not enjoy a riverside walk. This riverside walk is on the banks of the Weser River in the Old Town. It’s a pedestrian zone with a wide range of restaurants, bars and biergartens.

This area started off as the city’s original port and harbor. When railways were introduced and freight size increased, much of the harbour traffic moved to the coast and this area stopped being used.

After rejuvenation efforts, this area was transformed into a great area to spend some time. It’s also a popular choice of the things to do in Bremen at night where you can enjoy a meal and a beer.

There’s also many boats where you can take for a cruise on the Weser. It’s a nice place to take a walk.

The oldest neighbourhood in Bremen, you won’t want to miss a wander around Schnoor (or Schnoor Quarter as it’s often referred). This area is gorgeous with classic winding alleyways, wooden houses (some of which date back to the Medieval Ages) and many shops, galleries and restaurants.

This used to be home to Bremen’s fishing community and was one of the poorest parts of the city. This is where much shipping equipment was made and Schnoor refers to workshops where rigging was manufactured.

Luckily, this area was largely undamaged during the World Wars and there’s some great preserved buildings.

Wandering around here is one of my favourite answers to what to do in Bremen Germany thanks to all the pretty houses. It’s really a very special area.

Wallanlagen Park

The perfect way to add some green in your day (especially if you are looking for free things to do in Bremen) is Wallanlagen Park. Simply head north of the Old Town to find this beautiful part of Bremen.

This park dates back to the 18th century when it was built on the site of Bremen’s old city walls. Next to it is a moat. Thanks to this, it’s an odd, zig-zagging shape but it does make for a great park with fountains, flowers and sculptures.

It’s also home to a picturesque windmill, originally built in 1699, although today’s windmill was built in 1898.

There’s a restaurant inside if you want to dine at one of the more unusual things to do in Bremen.

It’s a great green escape from the city and it’s interesting how in just a moment you can go from the hustle and bustle of the city to a great relaxing expanse of green.

Weserburg Museum Für Moderne Kunst

The Weserburg Museum Für Moderne Kunst (Weserburg Museum of Modern Art) is located on an island in the Weser River just a short walk from the Old Town. Over five floors, it showcases work from German and international artists with pantings, sculptures, photography and videos.

There are no permanent exhibitions here so the works on display are regularly changing and come mainly from private collectors.

Modern art lovers will definitely want to add this to their list of things to do Bremen Germany.

Another one of the attractions Bremen offers for art lovers is Kunsthalle located on Bremen’s “Culture Mile”, a short walk from Markt Platz.

Kunsthalle has been home to art for over 150 years and contains an overview of European art starting at the 14th century. It promises visitors that they’ll take a journey through 700 years of art history.

This is an impressive collection with masters of the German Renaissance such as Albrecht Dürer and a focus on French and German art in the 19th and 20th centuries. There are masterpieces by Masolino, Monet, Van Gogh and more.

There are also contemporary art exhibitions and regularly changing exhibits.

This is definitely one of the first places to head if you love art.

Gerhard Marcks Haus

Bremen is not short of art attractions and here is another one for fans of the Bremen musicians sculpture. Gerhard Marcks is one of Germany’s best sculptors and you can find more of his work here.

Born in Berlin in 1899, Marcks was labelled a “degenerate” artist by the Nazis in the 1930s and couldn’t display his work until the end of World War II. In 1966, a foundation was established in Bremen to preserve his works. In1971, this museum was opened with over 400 of his sculptures, 1,200 prints and 12,000 drawings.

It also displays works from other modern and contemporary sculptors.

Gerhard Marckts Haus is moments from Kunsthalle and the building that it calls home was built with the Wilhelm Wagenfeld Haus (more below) in 1825 to operate as a gatehouse and prison.

Wilhelm Wagenfeld Haus

Wilhelm Wagenfeld Haus opposit Gerhard Marckts Haus is the place to go to examine questions about design and culture.

Wilhelm Wagenfeld was an important German industrial designer. This museum explores his work.

Universum Science Centre

This science museum is perfect for families and space fans plus anyone will enjoy the unique archictecture of its home.

Over 4,000 square metres of interactive science exhibitions wait for you here from learning how a polygraph machine works to learning about wind and water in the outside spaces.

Bremen is home to a strong aerospace industry, and this is the place you can make a virtual trip to the stars or the ocean floor.

Universum Science Centre is an easy light rail ride from the centre of Bremen.

Beck’s Brewery

Perhaps Bremen’s most famous export, Beck’s beer calls Bremen home and you can visit the Beck’s Brewery while you are here.

Established in 1873, around 3,000 bottles of Beck’s beer are opened every minute!

You can visit this Bremen Brewery on a 3-hour guided tour as long as you are aged 16+. The tour includes a walk through their museum, the raw materials room and the brewhouse. You’ll also see silos, fermentation tanks and their laboratory.

Naturally, the tour finishes with beer tasting.

Click here for more information and to book a tour.

Weser River Cruise

Bremen wouldn’t exist without the Weser River and a cruise is the perfect way to see and learn more about Bremen.

There’s a variety of cruising options with a good choice being a 75-minute Weser and harbour tour which leaves a few times a day by Halöver departing from Martini Pier in the Old Town.

Click here for more details.

Bunker Valentin

For something completely different, head to this one of the best things to do near Bremen.

Located about half an hour drive northwest of Bremen is this fascinating submarine factory built during World War II.

In 1943, the Nazis started building this massive concrete bunker where they hoped to safely build submarines. This huge bunker is around 426 metres long, 97 metres wide and up to 27 metres high. The walls are 4.5 metres thick. Sadly, it was built by up to 12,000 POW and slave-labourers from concentration camps and many died during construction.

Allied bombing damaged the bunker before it was completed and then the war ended before a single submarine was ever built here.

Despite this, it makes for one huge thought-provoking site representing the futility of war.

There is a 1.5 kilometre path around and through the bunker and you can take a self-guided tour while you learn about the site and hear the story of the survivors via an optional audio guide. There’s also information boards around the site. You can also join a tour on request.

You can read our full review of visiting Valentin Bunker here.

Bremen Things To Do In December/Winter

While most of the things to see in Bremen Germany listed above are just as possible in winter time, there is also an extra fun thing to do in Bremen which is especially for December.

Bremen Christmas Market

When it comes to the best things to do in Bremen Germany in December, there is an easy stand out for the absolute best place to head – the Bremen Christmas Market.

Running from the end of November to the end of December, the area around the Town Hall, which is already a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to the Bremen Christmas Market, one of our favorites in Germany.

Over 160 stalls call this market home and it’s in a gorgeous setting in the Old Town. So grab some roasted almonds and a glühwein and soak in the Christmas atmosphere.

What To Do In Bremen In One Day 

Only have one day in Bremen? What a shame! But it’s ok, it’s still worth going to Bremen if you only have one day.

With one day, I recommend you stick to the Old Town and immediate surrounds. You can visit most of the Bremen best places to visit mentioned above in this area except you’ll have to work out which art museums most interest you as you won’t have time for them all.

I recommend you head straight to the Old Town and explore the following on foot:

• Start at Markt Platz at the Rathaus
• Visit the Roland and Town Musicians Of Bremen statues
• Go inside the Dom St Petri and visit its museum if it interests you
• Visit the Church Of Our Lady
• Head down Böttcherstraße picking one of Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum and Ludwig Roselius Museum
• Either eat lunch around here or find a place as you stroll the Schlachte Riverside Walk
• Choose between Weserburg Museum Für Moderne Kunst, Kunsthalle, Gerhard Marcks Haus and Wilhelm Wagenfeld Haus
• Finish the day falling in love with the Schnoor Quarter

Places To Visit In Bremen Germany Map

Best Place To Stay In Bremen

When it comes to where to stay in Bremen, there is a great range of hotels and other accommodation options. You won’t have any problem finding somewhere to stay.

Below I’ve listed a few different places to consider depending on what type of accommodation you are looking for.

BEST – Designhotel ÜberFluss Review

Just a few minutes walk from the Old Town, 4-star Designhotel ÜberFluss is perfect for anyone who wants a top, trendy hotel in a fantastic location.

Spacious rooms are designed with décor by Charles Eames and Tom Dixon and range from double rooms to suites including family suites which sleep up to four. All rooms include kitchenettes with refrigerators, flat-screen TVs with streaming service and toiletries. They are beautiful.

Some rooms have river views.

Facilities at the hotel include a spa with indoor pool and sauna, gym, wifi and French-Italian restaurant. Parking is available at an additional charge.

Click here to see the latest prices now.

VALUE –  Select Hotel City Bremen Review

This contemporary hotel is just a short walk from the Old Town and Wallanlagen Park.

While it doesn’t have a ton of facilities, the rooms are modern, clean and a great price. They range from double rooms with desk area to superior rooms with seating area to a deluxe room which adds in a balcony. There are also single and quadruple rooms.

There’s a restaurant on site which serves breakfast. Parking is available for an extra charge.

Click here to see the latest prices.

FUN – Segelyacht Bremen City Review

I couldn’t help but book this accommodation option after I saw it on Booking.com on our recent trip with our three kids. Staying in a yacht at Bremen’s Marina was too fun an option not to do it!

This boat is well equipped with three (tiny) bedrooms which sleep two each, a kitchen, bathroom with toilet and sink and a living/dining area. There’s TV and wifi.

As you would expect, it’s squishy for five and everything is small, but the fun factor makes up for that! Besides, there’s plenty to do in Bremen so you won’t be spending so much time here.

The downside is that the shower is in the Marina building.

It’s about a 30 minute walk into the centre of the Old Town or you can catch a light rail. It’s not far from the start of the Schlachte Riverside Walk.

Find more of the best hotels in Bremen here or our full review of the Best Western Bremen City here.

How To Get To Bremen

We have travelled to Bremen by both hire car and train. It’s simple by car if you are in the area. It’s at the end of the Fairy Tale Road and it’s easy to find.

You can hire a car to get you there by clicking here.

There are regular trains and buses here. You can find timetables and all your options here.

Or you can find all the train timetables here and discount train passes here.

We took an ICE train from Hamburg and were here quickly and smoothly. In fact, we even had our own area at the front of the train!

There is also an airport in Bremen with flights to other destinations in Europe and Germany. Hamburg is also not far away and has a bigger airport.

Click here to look up flights to Bremen.

Once in Bremen, we found it easy to use the light rail, although most of the time, we explored on foot. We drove out to Bunker Valentin. Look out for day trip tickets which get cheaper the more people in your group.

Bremen With Kids

Bremen is an easy and fun place to visit with kids. We visited with our three kids aged 6-12 and had a great time. We made sure we watched the Town Musicians of Bremen on YouTube before visiting and the kids had fun looking out for the animals as we wandered around.

The Universum Science Centre is particularly a winner with kids, but really my kids just enjoyed soaking up the Old Town as much as I did. It’s a pretty place to visit!

Final Words

Bremen is a beautiful and fun place to visit. It’s Old Town is just gorgeous and it’s easy to want to spend hours just having a drink soaking it all in.

While I wouldn’t say Bremen is packed full of must-visit attractions, there are tons of things to do and enjoy in Bremen.

If you are lucky enough to visit in December, the Christmas Market is definitely the place to head. Otherwise, wander the Old Town and Schnoor, visit the attractions that interest you and enjoy.

You can check out all the best hotels in Bremen here for your great stay and read more guides to visiting Northern Germany here. Don’t miss our one week itinerary for Northern Germany here which includes Bremen . Or read this guide to Hameln – we visited Hameln (of Pied Piper of Hamelin fame) on our way to Bremen. It’s another great Fairy Tale Road stop!

Looking for something else fun to do nearby? Read our review of the German Tank Museum here. You can also find our guide to Lübeck here and all the best places to visit Northern Germany here .

Related Articles:

By Sharon Gourlay

Sharon first fell in love with Germany back in 2000 on her first visit. She loves the long history, the picturesque Old Towns, the castles, the food, everything really! Since then, she has visited many times and loves writing about Germany here so you can enjoy it too. In fact, Sharon loves German culture so much that she sent her kids to a German primary school in Australia. She especially loves Berlin and towns with charming Old Towns like Celle and Quedlinburg. Sharon also has a Certificate III in International Travel Sales and understands the nitty gritty of travel planning. Through this site, she'll help you have the perfect trip to Germany whether it's your first or tenth time!

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Arzo Travels

Solo Female Travel – Switzerland, Europe and Beyond

26 BEST THINGS TO DO IN BREMEN – TIPS BY A LOCAL

WHAT TO DO IN BREMEN – BEST THINGS TO DO AND SEE

Table of Contents

Are you planning your Germany itinerary , but not sure which German city should be at the top of your list? Allow me to help! Bremen is an absolute must-see – it’s full of historic architecture and attractions, and beautiful parks perfect for picnics or strolls in the sun.

All this means one day in Brmen isn’t enough; 2 days in Bremen should do justice but if you can stay 3 days in Bremen – even better. So plan ahead accordingly and find out about the best things to do in Bremen! However, even with only one day in Bremen, you get to see the main sights and I am sure, you will be smitten!

After  discussing  the best things to do and see in Bremen, I am sharing some essential travel tips for your Bremen trip.

Read: South Germany: A Travel Itinerary for Germany

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. THIS MEANS I MIGHT EARN A SMALL COMMISSION WHEN YOU BUY A PRODUCT/SERVICE (AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. MORE ABOUT IT  HERE . 

BEST THINGS TO DO IN BREMEN IN 2023

Let´s start with the most beautiful places and best things to do in Bremen in 1, 2, or more days.

1 Bremen Market Square

Ready to explore Bremen? Why not start at the bustling heart of it all – the city center of this vibrant city center? Welcome to the market square of Bremen.

If the weather is good, you will find musicians and artists here – spending some time here is a wonderful pastime! But the market square is also home to some of the best sights and attractions in Bremen – which I will talk about now.

2 Bremen Town Hall

Not only can you find the wondrous Rathaus  (town hall)- a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Germany ‘s most stunning city halls.

The Town Hall of Bremen is a gorgeous architectural masterpiece. Built in the Gothic style, it is one of the oldest town halls in northern Germany and stands as an imposing symbol of the city’s rich history.

To get the full experience, take part in one of the Rathaus guided tours offered by the Bremen Tourist Information Office for a fascinating insight into the city’s history – and see the  elaborate chambers, including its two-story high main hall , decorated with intricate wall designs and carvings. 

Tourists flock from around Europe just to get an inside look at this majestic place. No matter how often I come here, its beauty never ceases to amaze me– trust me when I say ‘it’s worth it’!

3 Roland Statue

Not to be missed is the impressive statue of Roland that stands in front of the building – a symbol of freedom and justice from medieval times. The Roland Statue  has been standing there for more than 600 years now and is the protector of the city and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

4 St.Peter´s Cathedral

Next to the Rathaus  is the 1200-year-old   St. Peter´s Cathedral . Looking to explore one of the – once – most mightiest Archbishoprics in northern Europe? Then, you should definitely check out St. Peter’s medieval church while on your visit!

Not only can you purchase art and organ guides from their “Dom-Shop,” but they also give visitors a chance to take an adventure into their own cathedral museum. And don’t forget – if all that exploring makes you feel daring enough, why not climb the tower? The steps are narrow but it is surely one of the best views of Bremen you have from there – overlooking the market square and more. 

• Entry to the cathedral is free. There is a small entrance fee of a few € for getting up the tower.

5 Schütting

Here is another beauty located on the market square – The Schütting, a stunning historical building located in the heart of Bremen’s bustling Marktplatz. Originally built as a guild house for the city’s merchants and tradesmen, it later became a chamber of commerce in 1849, playing a vital role in Bremen’s business community.

This building has been under monument protection since 1973, preserving its unique architecture and rich history. Come and explore this iconic landmark, filled with stories of the past and ready to inspire the future. We can’t wait to share it with you!

6 Bremer Loch

Looking for a fun and unique way to donate some money? Say hello to the Bremer Loch! This playful donation box is located on the market square and lets you toss in some coins while hearing the sounds of Bremen’s most beloved animals – from a donkey, a dog , a cat, or a rooster.

Plus, your donation goes to a great cause as the money is collected once a year and given to charity. So why not add a little fun to your philanthropy and check out the Bremer Loch today?

7 Bremen Town Musicians

Next to the Rathaus (but on the other side), you will find the worldwide famous Bremer Stadtmusikanten (The Bremen Town Musicians ) – probably the most famous landmark. Some of you might remember the fairy tale of the four musicians (thanks to Brother´s Grimm). Well, in Bremen you can visit them.

The Bremen Town Musicians is one of Germany’s most beloved folk tales. It tells the story of an old donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster who team up to become town musicians in the city of Bremen. On their journey, they come across a house filled with robbers, and scare them away! 

However, I know that some people are a little disappointed because they are smaller than expected. It´s easy to overlook them.

TIP: For some extra luck in your life, rub the donkey’s feet (or the nose). This makes sure you will have some luck in the future, so do not forget to do so :).

Alternatively, take a stroll through the city center and you’ll find statues of the four musicians spread around town.

8 Böttcherstrasse

Another main attraction in Bremen is the Böttcherstrasse. It is right opposite the Town Hall, so if you are standing on the Market Square, turn away from the Town Hall and walk towards the Böttcherstrasse.

The Böttcherstraße  is a hidden world within Bremen – an extraordinary and unique cityscape! This “city-in-the-city” has been enchanting visitors since 1931 with its intricate architecture, art exhibitions, and impressive handicrafts…not to mention irresistible regional food & drinks made from only the freshest home ingredients.

Drop by any time for an unforgettable experience – each visit will bring something new to this tucked-away gem of Germany.

The Glockenspiel  might be one of the best surprises to watch and listen to!  There is a little app to download for free for further information on the buildings. 

The Casino  is also here in the Böttchertstrasse – though it is quite small compared to other casinos, at least we have one here in Bremen. I have not made it inside yet, but make sure to dress fancy if you want to visit.

The Böttcherstrasse is small, yet houses some of the most unique attractions in Bremen.

9 Himmelsaal

Another attraction, which I have just discovered, is the Himmelssaal  ( Sky Room)  inside the Radisson Blu Hotel Bremen – though popular, it is still a hidden gem in Bremen. If you are in one day in Bremen, I would probably skip it, though.

It is a beautiful salon where you can celebrate parties and weddings. If you book a tour (Böttcherstrasse Tour) or ask at reception, you can also visit (please ask in advance if your tour covers visiting the Himmelsaal ).

10 Gewerbehaus / Handelskammer

Welcome to Bremen, where history and beauty intersect! Among the many stunning structures in this magnificent city, the “Gewerbehaus” is undoubtedly a standout. Serving as the headquarters for the chambers of commerce, this 17th-century gem has been restored to its full glory after being largely destroyed during World War II.

Situated in the city center, the details of this building are nothing short of breathtaking. So make sure to marvel at its gorgeous features and soak up the rich history that surrounds it!

Welcome to the lively and bustling Domshof town square in Bremen, where history and modernity blend seamlessly. This vibrant square is not just a hub for markets and May Day demonstrations, but also home to stunning architecture and cozy cafes, making it a perfect spot for a leisurely stroll or a quick bite.

Don’t forget to check out the farmer’s market, held every Monday to Friday, for a taste of local produce and culture. Join the fun and excitement at Domshof, where there’s always something to discover and enjoy!

12 Old Town of Bremen / Schnoor

The Schnoor or Schnorrviertel (Schnoor Quarter) is probably one of the best districts in Bremen. Visiting is one thing you have to do even when you are in Bremen for a few hours only.

I grew up, living in a city with one of the most beautiful old towns in Germany/Europe, so I always thought this is standard. Then I realized that it is not normal to have such an old town with cute little streets, old doors, lovely small cafes, many souvenir shops which sell lots of handmade products. I don’t know anybody who didn’t like that beautiful part.

There are cute little streets, old doors, lovely small cafes, many souvenir shops which sell lots of handmade products. The Schnoor is also home to the smallest hotel in the world and the most famous cafe might be the Katzencafe in one of the small side streets.

After visiting the Schnoor, you can either walk along the river Weser and enjoy the beautiful view. Or you walk along the busy streets of the Viertel.

13 The Viertel Quarter 1/4

The Viertel is one of the most vibrant districts, the hipster district in Bremen, and it is also not far from the Marktplatz .

As a kid, I was told not to go there because it is the “Redlight district,” if you can even call it like this. The drug addicts worried my parents worry, but actually, the 1/4 quarter, is a lively and vibrant neighborhood, full of colorful houses with oriel bay windows and more.

This district has become extremely popular, especially among students and other open-minded people, and it has become way less “scary.” I love the alternative lifestyle and the cafes, small restaurants, and shops and that you can do whatever you want to without anybody caring.

14 Weser Stadium

If you walk up the Viertel (no matter if you walk it along the river or the parallel streets), you will arrive at the Weserstadion   – at some point.

I would call it the heart (apart from the Marktplatz) of Bremen. It´s where our team Werder Bremen wins most of its games (unfortunately not this season) and where the big open-air concerts take place.

15 Alte Mühle/ Old Mill

Every summer, the Old Mill, the Alte Mühle, becomes a highlight for tourists when the front garden turns into a colorful flower bed.

The Alte Mühle is between the city center and the main train station, and there is a little cafe in the mill, which makes it a perfect place to soak in the view and relax. 

16 Cafe Sand

One of the best things to do in summer is to visit Cafe Sand.  At least f you are looking for an “authentic Caribbean” feeling, you should visit Cafe Sand, which is close, but opposite the Weser Stadion.

Well, you cannot really expect a Caribbean feeling at Cafe Sand, but Bremen has indeed a little beach (and by little, I really mean a little, but it’s nice to spend time at the water and have a drink or play beachball).

If you only have two days in Bremen, you will be busy enough to check out above mentioned-places. 

17 Schlachte

A top thing to do is visit the Schlachte. Visiting is great at any time of the year, especially on a warm day (when the Beer Garden is busy and lively) or when the Christmas Markets take place.

18 City Centre (Obernstrasse / Sögestrasse)

The  Obernstraße  in the city center is the main shopping street with the most prominent shops (mainly chains) and some cafes and restaurants. But it is not only this street. Several side streets are worth checking out and some smaller shopping malls (e.g., Katharinenpassage).

19 Bürgerpark

Not too far from the city center, you´ll find another beautiful park called Bürgerpark. The Bürgerpark is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit with kids.

Lazy days are well spent at the Bürgerpark. I spent many Sundays there when I was a kid and still loved it though I hardly visit these days. It has a big playground for kids. You can rent a boat and paddle, play mini-golf, and visit the little “zoo. “ You can have a drink in one of the few restaurants or just lay down and enjoy the sun.

I also spent, just recently, a beautiful evening at  Botanica  – a beautiful green park with a cafe and a Rhododendronpark.

20 Wallanlagen

The Wallanlagen is a lovely green park that stretches over several kilometers and is between the city center and the central train station. Visiting is one of the best things to do in Bremen if you are looking to spend some time in a park.

Though the Wallanlagen is very central, it is rarely crowded, and the little river makes a perfect place for great strolls. Start your walk from the Old Mill and head towards the Viertel Quarter from there.

21 Freimarkt

We locals are very proud of the Freimarkt – this fun fair takes place once a year, and Bremen gets crazy.   For two weeks, all kinds of carousels and stalls are placed behind the Bremen Main Train Station – and that is where you will find all the locals and visitors.

Especially in the evening, it gets cramped – because who doesn’t love all the special food and carousels?

You might land up spending a lot of money, but if you are around at this time of the year, you don’t want to miss out as it is the better “Oktoberfest.“ And don’t worry, one of the biggest fairs in Germany surely has a lot of beer to offer, too.

Tip: If you visit during the second week, there is the big “Freimarktsumzug“ parade. The streets – stretching over several kilometers – are full of people and carriages with people in them, throwing sweets and more to the spectators. Kids especially love it, but also adults as there is music, alcohol, and more (and it is free to attend).

22 Breminale

If you visit Bremen in July, join the Breminale. It is a music festival spread out along the Weser River and is also free to attend. It takes place over several days with more than 100 bands playing and tons of food stalls and – of course – opportunities to drink German beer and other alcohol.

• The Breminale in Bremen takes place from 12 to 16 July 2023 .

23 Osterwiese

If you visit around Easter and are into fairs, visit the Osterwiese. It is much smaller than the Freimarkt, with fewer food stalls and fewer carousels, but it is also fun to visit. Like the Freimarkt, it is free to attend, and you only pay for rides and food/drinks.

• The Osterwiese in Bremen takes place from 31st March to 16th April  2023 .

24 Christmas Markets  

Bremen is known for its wonderful markets – there are two main markets in Bremen, but you will find food stalls basically all over the city center. The two main ones are at the market square and then at the Schlachte – so, if you visit around that time, make sure to visit both.

Whether you are vegan or not – there are tons of options to munch and drink – and there are even some carousels for younger ones. So, it definitely is the best winter activity in Bremen.

• The Christmas Markets in Bremen will take place from 27th November to 23rd December 2023

TRAVEL TIPS FOR YOUR BREMEN ITINERARY 

Here is some info for your trip to Bremen.

General Info

Bremen is maybe not the biggest city in the world but for sure one of the most charming. I don´t say that because I am from Bremen, it just is a fact :).

Once you have visited Bremen, you will agree with me – for sure. 

I know, Bremen is not as trendy as Hamburg , not as cool as Berlin (find out what to do Berlin here) , not as posh as Munich, and not so friendly as Cologne.

However, there are tons of other reasons for visiting this awesome city. With about 500,000 inhabitants, it is the 10th biggest city in Germany and one of the 16 states in Germany – yes, that is true. Bremen is not only a city but its own state (well, together with Bremerhaven).

First of all, Bremen is an extremely cosmopolitan city, and though people here don’t overdo it with friendliness, they are open-minded and totally relaxed.

How to Get Around Bremen

Bremen isn´t geographically huge, but the city is stretched, so it can take a while to get from Bremen-South to Bremen-North.

However, public transport is good during the day, and a day ticket is about 8€ (not that cheap). Still, if you stay close to the city center you probably might not even need a day ticket since many attractions and interesting areas are located close to each other.

• Distances: Main Station – Airport: about 5 km
• Main Station – City Center: 1 km
• Distance to Hamburg  is about 120 km – which makes Hamburg a great day trip from Bremen

Best Time to Visit Bremen

The best time to visit Bremen is from May- September as winter can be cold in Germany. There are many activities to do in summer including festivals, that are well-visited and very popular.

However, since the Christmas Market  in Bremen is considered one of the best in Germany, December would be perfect for those interested in Christmas Markets.

We are one of the few places in the world with 5 instead of 4 seasons. Each year in October/November, we celebrate the “Freimarkt” – one of the biggest fairs with tons of carousels, snack stalls, and fun activities. For these 2 weeks, Bremen is getting crazy and is in a state of emergency (in a positive way), and it is another great time to visit.

Where to Stay in Bremen

• Though Bremen´s public transport is not bad, I definitely recommend staying close to the city center. I would recommend the  Radisson Blu , a beautiful 4* hotel located in the city center. CHECK OUT RATES HERE
• Bremen has only one 5* hotel – if you fancy staying in a luxury hotel in Bremen, opt for Dorint Park Hotel . Located in a tranquil part, it is still close to the train station and city center. CHECK OUT RATES HERE

Where to Eat in Bremen

Bremen has many restaurants, and there is something for every taste and every budget.

My favorite restaurant (for more than 20 years) is  El Mundo . They have changed location a few years ago and are now located in Überseestadt. It is the biggest restaurant in Bremen (about 700 seats), and they have delicious food. They offer good vegetarian and vegan food as well, and decent portions. 

Schlachte , a promenade in the city center, is an extremely popular place in summer or winter. There are many restaurants and beer gardens. In summer, if you are lucky to get a nice spot where you can overlook the water. It is definitely the place to be seen, and I love their, almost, Mediterranean flair in summer. I used to work at Camarillo restaurant as a student, and I still enjoy eating there.

Ratskeller  is Bremen´s best-known restaurant and located on Market Square. It´s Bremen´s fine dining address, and it has an exceptional charm.

The best French Fries are definitely to be found at  CTK´s  in the Obernstraße.

The Viertel  also has many nice restaurants and is definitely a great place to dine (from fancy to fast food, you´ll get everything there). Die  Gemüseküche  (mostly vegan) is there as well as tons of other international delis/restaurants.

The most beautiful cafe is now in the city center (Sögestraße) and is called Creamlovers . It has just opened and has a lot of desserts and sweets and a cute interior design.

• Read more: The best Germany travel tips
• Would you like to visit more cities in Germany? Find out what to do in Dresden Germany

FINAL THOUGHTS ON BEST BRMEN ACTIVITIES

Bremen surely has a lot to offer – and while every German knows Bremen, it is still a hidden gem outside the country. From some of the most gorgeous historic sights to a lot of greenery – Bremen has all that and more.

Hopefully, this post has inspired you to visit the city, and also, you have now found out about the best things to do in Bremen – a beautiful hidden German gem! 

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Home » Europe » Germany » 13 Fun Things to Do in Bremen, Germany

13 Fun Things to Do in Bremen, Germany

By Author Laura Longwell

Posted on Last updated: January 25, 2024

Bremen, Germany, is at once a modern university town and a port city with more than 1200 years of history. Its Old Town reflects its medieval and Renaissance past, but many of the old merchant houses are now restaurants, and neighborhoods where tradesmen lived have the same charming exteriors but are boutiques and art galleries inside. When the weather is nice, residents spill down the banks of the river at outdoor cafes and markets.

Bremen is close enough to Hamburg that it’s easy to visit but far enough away to make it just off the main tourist route for many international visitors, which is one of the many things that makes it a great place to spend a couple of days. Here some of our favorite things to do in Bremen on a short visit.

Visit Town Hall

Wish upon the bremen town musicians, see the statue of roland and marketplatz, tour the bremer ratskeller wine cellar, visit st. peter’s cathedral, wander in schnoor, enjoy the schlachte embankment, try traditional food, visit am wall windmill, visit beck’s brewery, breathe deeply at the flower market, browse the böttcherstrasse, see the glockenspiel house.

Built in 1405, Bremen’s beautiful Gothic Town Hall (Rathaus) has witnessed six centuries of history in the Hanseatic City and is one of the top places to see in Bremen. On the outside, its detailed, red-brick façade made us feel like we’d stepped into a fairy tale. On the inside, we saw the vestiges of a powerful merchant city that hosted mayors, emperors, and other influential dignitaries beginning in the Middle Ages.

Somehow, this brilliant building—now a UNESCO World Heritage Site —survived the fighting that destroyed much of the city during World War II. That means that its structure as well as many of its works of art and decorations have been preserved for visitors today. From Wilhelm II’s marble cabinet to the ornate Golden Chamber, there is still very much to see inside Bremen’s Town Hall .

One of the top attractions is the Bremen Town Musicians statue just outside of the Town Hall. This quirky statue, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale of the same name, is essentially the symbol of the city.

The bronze statue features a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster—the band of musicians who set out together to make a living in Bremen. Touching the donkey’s front hooves is said to make wishes come true. You’ll find other statues and representations of the famous animals all over town (and even as far away as Bremen’s sister city, Riga, Latvia ).

Bremen’s Marktplatz (Market Square) is the heart of the city’s Old Town. With its historic merchant houses now mostly transformed into shops and cafes, it is one of the most picturesque places we’ve ever seen to meet friends or have a cup of coffee. Or you may just lose yourself in staring at the beautiful buildings like we did.

During certain times of the year—namely late October, November, and December— Marktplatz is lit up with the lively Freimarkt , an ancient fair with a 1000-year history, and Bremen’s Christmas market.

On the side of the Marktplatz nearest the Town Hall is one of the most important city sights, the Bremen Roland statue, which shares the UNESCO designation with the Town Hall. The 33-foot-tall limestone statue built in 1404 depicts an important figure from the time of Charlemagne as a symbol of civic liberty and freedom from the dominance of the church.

Bremen is home to one of the most prestigious wine collections in Germany. Housed in the 600-year-old wine cellar at the Bremen Ratskeller are hundreds of bottles from across Germany’s 13 wine-producing regions. A tour here will show you many of the current bottles, the special vintages kept in the cellar’s “treasure chest,” and the massive wooden barrels that used to be the primary storage vessels.

We opted for a wine tasting of a wine specially selected by the cellar master. The tasting is worth it for the setting alone—you’ll be sipping alongside barrels filled with some of the best and oldest wines in Germany, including a priceless vintage that was last tried by Queen Elizabeth II. A visit here is definitely one of the best things to do in Bremen.

Constructed in the 11th century, the medieval St. Peter’s Cathedral is an important city landmark. Partially destroyed during World War II air raids, the cathedral’s 320-foot-tall twin towers dominate Bremen’s skyline. You can visit one of them for great views of the city.

Major highlights of the cathedral include its striking choir, the organ, and the intriguing mummified bodies in the Lead Cellar.

Schnoor—a maze of narrow, winding streets a few minutes from Marktplatz—is Bremen’s charming medieval neighborhood. The oldest part of the city, Schnoor was once the fishermen’s quarter. Today, its 15th-to-18th century buildings are full of cafés, boutiques, and galleries. It’s the perfect place to have lunch or do a bit of souvenir shopping. Our favorite lunch spot was Teestübchen im Schnoor .

Once one of Bremen’s harbors, the Schlachte Embankment is now popular for its restaurants, beer gardens, and river boats. Stroll down to the promenade along the River Weser to enjoy some of the most fun places in Bremen, especially during the spring and summer. If you’re lucky, you might even catch one of the eclectic weekend markets here.

Thanks to its location near the North Sea, fish of all kinds are popular in Bremen. Since it’s Germany, beer (especially Becks) and sausage (especially a local variety called pinkelwurst) often make an appearance as do potatoes, kale, and cabbage.

There are also lots of international cuisine options, but trying the local food is a great way to get a sense for the place. We opted to try labskaus, a dish of pureed corned beef, potatoes, onions, and beets, topped with gherkin and fried eggs with herring on the side. Travel is nothing if not a culinary adventure!

Seeing windmills in a place like the Netherlands makes sense, but we didn’t expect to find them in Germany. Yet, walking from the train station to the city center, one of the first things to catch our eye was Am Wall windmill (Muhle am Wall). It’s one of the most interesting things to see in Bremen, especially if you haven’t seen one up-close before.

Located in the lovely Wallanlagen Park, the 19th-century windmill houses a restaurant and is open to tourists. The surrounding park is a great place to go for a walk or relax outside.

Just across the river from the old town, you can visit Beck’s Brewery. Brewing since 1873, Beck’s makes one of the most famous beers in Germany and around the world.

On Monday through Saturday, guests ages 16 and up can take a 3-hour tour of the brewery’s museum, the raw material room and the brewhouse to see the operation at work. Like all good tours, it ends with a tasting.

It wouldn’t be a proper visit for us if we didn’t find a market. From tulip bulbs and mums to roses and orchids, just about every flower on your list can be found at the daily flower market. Outside the Church of Our Lady, this spot is a fun place to browse the colorful offerings and watch locals go about their daily business.

Originally occupied by coopers, Bremen’s narrow Böttcherstrasse was transformed into a street of art in the 1920s. The project, commissioned by Bremen native and inventor of decaf coffee Ludwig Roselius, led to the creation of museums as well as sculptures and works of art lining the street. You can’t miss the huge gold sculpture at the street’s entrance, which will lead you past unusual expressionist architecture and unique galleries.

The most impressive feature of the Böttcherstrasse is the Glockenspiel House. Stretched between the peaks of two rooftops, rows of 30 porcelain bells ring at regular intervals. To the left of the glockenspiel, panels depicting explorers, seafarers, and aviators rotate with the music, which plays for an impressive 8.5 minutes.

January through March, the bells play at noon, 3pm, and 6pm. The rest of the year, they play every hour from noon to 6pm.

Where to Stay Radisson Blu Bremen : Modern sophistication with prime location Dorint City-Hotel Bremen : Business hotel in the real heart of the city Designhotel UberFluss : Ultra modern hip hotel with a cool roof garden Atlantic Grand Hotel Bremen : Sleek and sophisticated

We were guests of the German National Tourist Board . All opinions of the charming and historic are our own.

Laura Longwell is an award-winning travel blogger and photographer. Since founding Travel Addicts in 2008, she has written hundreds of articles that help over 3 million people a year get the most out of their travel. In that time, she has visited nearly 60 countries on 5 continents, often returning to favorite destinations over and over again. She has a deep love of history, uncovering unexpected attractions, and trying all the good food a place has to offer.

In addition to Travel Addicts, Laura runs a site about her hometown of Philadelphia—Guide to Philly—which chronicles unique things to do and places to see around southeastern Pennsylvania. Her travel tips and advice appear across the web.

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Ryan K Biddulph

Saturday 6th of March 2021

I love the architecture Laura. Beyond magical.

Carrie McClung

Sunday 15th of September 2019

This is my hometown and I'm about to go back for a week after 20 years in Texas. You have done an excellent job describing the charming beauties of my great city. Thank you!

Katelynn Dorn

Wednesday 30th of May 2018

Love your post about Bremen, Germany. What time of year do you recommend going?

Between April and September is your best chance to have warm and sunny days.

Home » Travel Guides » Germany » 25 Best Things to Do in Bremen (Germany)

25 Best Things to Do in Bremen (Germany)

In Medieval times the Weser River brought Europe to Bremen’s door, and the city grew in stature as a Free Hanseatic City from the 12th Century. Sea trade has always been in Bremen’s blood, and from the 17th century exotic products like coffee started arriving. Germany’s first ever coffee house opened in Bremen in the 17th century, while the Bremen-based coffee merchant Ludwig Roselius was the man who invented decaf coffee at the start of the 1900s.

In the 20s Roselius gave Bremen the Böttcherstraße, a whole street of “Brick Expressionist” houses and workshops, all still intact. Bremen also has quaint maritime neighbourhoods, museums of all descriptions on its “Cultural Mile” and UNESCO-listed Medieval and Renaissance monuments at the central Market Square.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Bremen :

1. Bremen Cathedral

St Peter’s Cathedral commands the central market square has 1,200 years of history.

Unsurprising given its age, the building is a mishmash of styles, with Romanesque, Gothic and bits of later Gothic Revival sprinkled in following restorations in the 19th century.

The cathedral’s pair of 89-metre towers break Bremen’s skyline, and you can go up the south tower for an exhilarating view.

In one of the chapels don’t miss the nine fragments of the cathedral’s choir stalls, which were carved with episodes from the bible in 1360. The crypt meanwhile is the oldest portion of the church, and goes back to the 11th century.

On the creepy side, there are eight mummies dating back 400 years and stored in glass-topped coffins, with panels explaining their identities.

Two are Swedish officers killed during the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century.

2. Cathedral Museum

After restorations in the 1970s and 80s, the artefacts unearthed during digs were put on show at an exhibition space inside the cathedral.

The museum is where you can also get to grips with the complicated, millennium-long architectural history of the building.

There are plans and models explaining the layout at different stages, complemented by art that decorated the interior long ago.

You can view statues, stone reliefs, the remnants of the Renaissance altar, frescoes and a painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder.

In the 1970s the graves of eight medieval bishops were discovered, and the finds from these excavations include rings, a staff, vestments and chalices.

3. Bremen City Hall

One of the most beautiful civic buildings, not just in Germany, but all of Europe, Bremen’s City Hall earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005. What began as a Brick Gothic hall in the 15th century was given an exquisite Renaissance makeover 200 years later when the rich reliefs and statues were carved.

You could lose a lot of time marvelling at the stonework and identifying all the figures on here, like Charlemagne and Bremen’s seven Imperial Electors.

Tours are given by Bremen’s tourist office and take place between 11:00 and 16:00. Don’t pass up the chance to go inside as there’s a great deal to see, like Germany’s oldest cask of wine in the cellar and the lavishly adorned Upper Hall where the city council used to sit.

4. Marktplatz

We’ve already mentioned the cathedral and town hall, which together could keep you on the central market square for half a day.

But apart from the historic gabled houses overlooking the square there are a few other monuments to look for.

One is the Gothic Roland Statue, erected in front of the town hall in 1404 and depicting a mythological knight who symbolises Bremen’s free city status.

The monument is encompassed by the same UNESCO site as the town hall.

If you come around to the west side of the city hall there’s a modern bronze sculpture of the dog, cat, rooster and donkey from the Brothers Grimm’s Town Musicians of Bremen fairytale.

5. Kunsthalle Bremen

On Bremen’s “Culture Mile”, this top-notch art museum has been run by the private Bremen Art Society for almost 200 years.

The collection is a complete overview of European art from the 14th century to today, taking in German Renaissance masters like Lucas Cranach the Elder and Albrecht Dürer.

But where the museum really shines is in its 19th and 20th-century art by Delacroix, van Gogh, Max Liebermann, Camille Corot, Andreas Achenbach, Max Beckmann, Franz Marc, Edvard Munch and Alfred Sisley, to name just a few.

The print and drawing department has hundreds of thousands of sheets from the 1400s to the 1900s, while the New Media department is for contemporary artists in a variety of disciplines.

You can peruse work by the installation artist Olafur Eliasson, video artist Nam June Paik and musician John Cage.

6. Böttcherstraße

Running towards the Weser from Marktplatz is a 100-metre street that was rescued from dilapidation and transformed by an architectural project during the 1920s.

The idea came from the Bremen coffee magnate, and inventor of decaf coffee, Ludwig Roselius, and he hired the Expressionist artist Bernhard Hoetger to oversee the works.

The outcome was a spectacular line of buildings and courtyards in what is known as the Brick Expressionism style.

This is a blend of Expressionist art, Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) and Art Deco, with constant hints to traditional Low German architecture in the houses’ gables and mullioned windows.

The entire street is protected and owned by a single foundation, while its buildings host chic independent shops, ateliers, bars, museums and galleries.

7. Haus des Glockenspiels

Maybe Berhard Hoetger’s most beautiful contributions to Böttcherstraße are the wooden panels that rotate in time to the carillon at the Haus des Glockenspiels.

If you’re in Bremen during spring or summer, try to time your visit for just before the stroke of the hour, between 12:00 and 18:00. Thirty bells made from Meissen porcelain and set between the house’s gables play the tunes of old sea shanties and folk songs.

Hoetger designed ten Expressionist panels for important German and foreign voyagers like Christopher Columbus, the crew of the first transatlantic flight, aviator Charles Lindbergh and Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat.

8. Schnoor Quarter

The oldest and quaintest neighbourhood in Bremen is the knot of little lanes around the Schnoor alley.

In the past this was one of Bremen’s poorest areas and was where Bremen’s fishing community resided.

The maritime theme survives in the name, Schnoor, as it refers to the workshops where rigging was manufactured for ships.

Schnoor has lots of pretty timber-framed houses from the 1400s and 1500s, now occupied by restaurants, galleries, cafes and handicraft shops for souvenirs.

On Stavendamm, make time for the Schifferhaus from 1630, which is an exceptional state of preservation and welcomes visitors for tours in German and English.

9. Schlachte

In Bremen’s Old Town the right bank of the Weser was turned into a pedestrian zone in the 1980s and 90s.

The promenade and restored houses are over what used to be Bremen’s main harbour, until increases in the size of freight and the introduction of railways moved a lot of the water-bourne traffic to Bremerhaven on the coast.

Now the Schlachte is all about having a good time, day or night.

You can relax at a biergarten in summer or choose from a wide selection of restaurants, both German an international.

You could also take a slow, leisurely walk beside the water, or board one of many boats here for a trip on the Weser.

At Christmas the Schlachte-Zauber market here recreates the atmosphere of medieval Bremen’s guilds, and the fragrance of baked bread and smoked mackerel fills the air.

10. Schütting

Coming back to the Marktplatz once more, you have to spare some time for Bremen’s guildhall, which was built in the Flemish Renaissance style in the 1530s.

For a bit of historical context the hall was a symbol of the power of Bremen’s wealthy merchants following an uprising by the lower classes earlier in the decade.

On the facade above the portal check out the merchants’ coat of arms, which sits beside that of the city of Bremen and depicts the Holy Roman imperial eagle, giving you an idea of the standing the merchants had in the city.

An interesting historical curiosity about the Schütting is that it had one of the first coffee houses in German speaking territories, opening in 1679.

11. Focke Museum

In the Riensberg neighbourhood to the east of Bremen’s centre, the Focke Museum reveals Bremen’s 1,200 years of history.

The attraction is based in several historic structures dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries, around a modern main building from the 1960s.

In the main exhibition you can view curiosities like the original head of the Roland statue and sandstone statues from the facade of the town hall, brought here for safekeeping.

There are also cars manufactured by Bremen’s Borgward brand and the Complimentarius, a strange, armour-clad automaton that used to welcome people to the great hall at the Schütting.

The side buildings are also full of interest, like the thatched Eichenhof, which explores the prehistory an ancient history of the Bremen region.

Or there’s the 18th-century Haus Riensberg, demonstrating the skill of Bremen’s furniture designers and master glassmakers in the hundreds of years ago.

12. Ludwig Roselius Museum

On Böttcherstraße you also have to call in at the Roselius-House, which displays the private collection of the coffee merchant Ludwig Roselius.

The house is the oldest on the street, raised at the end of the 16th century.

Roselius bought it in 1902 and added the crow-stepped gable as part of the street’s development.

He amassed a trove of curios and art from the early middle ages to the 17th century, made up of liturgical ornaments, Renaissance paintings and sculpture.

The essential work to see in the museum is Lucas Cranach’s Portrait of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora, his wife.

Among the abundance of religious statuary, find the Group of Mourner, sculpted in 1515 by the master Tilman Riemenschneider.

13. Universum

Just right for a rainy day, the Universum is a wildly popular interactive science centre in a futuristic metallic building that looks a bit like a mussel shell.

There are over 300 exhibits, all challenging young minds to solve problems and experiment in hands on ways.

The three main zones are Nature, Humans and Technology, filled with intelligently designed games, models and displays to make complicated concepts more digestible.

So that might be a table football game in which you play against A.I., a sofa which recreates the feeling of an earthquake and a room that simulates what it’s like to be blind.

Outside there are more experiments for water and wind, and a 27-metre tower crammed with more experiments.

14. Bürgerpark

The southern entrance to Bremen’s best-loved park is moments away from the Hauptbahnhof.

What begins as a narrow strip of lawns and trees in the centre of the city eventually broadens into a 200-hectare park that extends past the University to the open countryside north of Bremen.

If you need an affordable family day out in summer the Bürgerpark has animal habitats for sheep, goats, pigs, wild boars, alpacas, guinea pigs and deer.

Those enclosures are ringed by the Emmasee, a large, serpentine water feature where you can rent boats, while there’s also a mini-golf centre.

At the southern end, the serene Holler See lake is the setting for outdoor performances by the Bremer Shakespeare Company in summer.

15. Mühle am Wall

Heading from the Hauptbahnhof to the city centre you’ll pass the old earthworks where Bremen’s city ramparts and bastions used to be.

One of the sights that will catch your attention is a large windmill, which has become a treasured landmark in Bremen.

The mill “on the wall” is a “smock mill”, on an octagonal base constructed in 1898. It is the most recent of a succession of windmills at this very spot, going back to 1699. The mill now houses a restaurant, and there’s a terrace outside shaded by parasols.

16. Das Viertel

Bremen’s youngest and most colourful district, Das Viertel is cool enough to have a name that translates simply to “The Quarter”. Das Viertel was laid out east of the wall between the end of the 1800s and the 1930s, and regal villas and townhouses were erected in the Historicist, Neoclassic and Jugendstil styles.

The neighbourhood has a few of the Cultural Mile’s museums like the Kunsthalle, as well as the temple-like Thater am Goetheplatz.

But if you’re young and you need somewhere to eat and go out, the Viertel’s eccentric, one-of-a-kind bars, bistros, cafes and live music venues are dens for the Bremen’s hippest folk.

In the daylight day Das Viertel is a shopping quarter of vintage shops, fun boutiques and family-run businesses, without a chain store in sight.

17. Bremer Geschichtenhaus

Now open for more than a decade, the Bremer Geschichtenhaus (House of History) is a living museum in the quaint surrounds of the Schnoor quarter.

Historical re-enactors dress up in garb from the 1600s to 1900s and play out important scenes or little vignettes from Bremen’s past.

These performances are normally in German, but the attraction does accommodate English speakers if you book in advance.

Characters are brought to life, like the famous eccentric Heini Holtenbeen, or Fisch-Luzie an enterprising 19th-century fishmonger who built her own fish-trading empire in Bremen.

The exhibits are ordered chronologically, bringing you through plague outbreaks in the 17th century to the height of Bremen’s chocolate and coffee-trading days in the 1800s.

18. Church of Our Lady

Work started on this parish church on the north side of the Marktplatz in the 13th century around the same time as the cathedral.

But like the cathedral it was also laid over a much older structure.

The crypt is from 1020, and is the oldest built space in the whole of Bremen.

The Gothic vaults of the nave and choir have been stripped back to the bare stone, and have a stark beauty.

The church came through the war with minor damage, but 19 of its stained glass windows were destroyed.

The French modern artist Alfred Manessier was hired to design the replacements in the 60s and 70s, and these evoke bible passages with his trademark bright linear patterns.

19. Übersee-Museum

With 1.2 million exhibits in the fields of ethnology and natural history, the Übersee-Museum transports you to the ends of the earth.

You’ll come face to face with a massive diversity of topics and themes, and can find out what it’s like to walk through a rainforest at night, go underwater off a tropical island in Oceania and travel the Silk Road.

Zoology also has a big role at the museum, and there are thousands of animal specimens in dioramas, as well as genuine exotic plants.

An ambitious new exhibition investigates the phenomena that have made the greatest impact on human life on earth and the environment, like climate change, the Internet, global trade and human rights.

20. Rhododendron Park

If you happen to be in Bremen in May, this botanical garden on the eastern outskirts of the city shoots up the list of things to do.

In that brief window, the park’s collection of 1,000 rhododendron and azalea species bursts into flower.

The bushes produce blossoms in a kaleidoscope of colours from pure white to deep red.

Together the rhododendrons and azaleas make up the second largest collection of these plants in the world, numbering some 10,000 individual bushes.

21. Botanika

Attached to the Rhododendron Park is an attraction labelling itself as a “Green Science Centre”. In many ways Botanika is a green partner for Universum, answering questions about the inner-workings of plants in fun, creative ways.

In the discovery centre you’ll learn how the competition for light, nutrients, water and procreation has caused a wild inventiveness that allows sequoias to lift water 100 metres off the ground, or Venus flytraps to digest insects.

You can taste edible plants in the herb garden, and there are seasonal animal exhibits that include rabbits and a butterfly garden.

The large greenhouse recreates wilderness and landscaped gardens from the Himalayas, Borneo and Japan.

22. Beck’s Brewery

Something like 3,000 bottles of Beck’s Beer are opened around the world every 60 seconds, and in Bremen you can go to the place where it all began.

Beck’s Brewery was set up by the master brewer Heinrich Beck in 1873, together with a city merchant Thomas May and the master builder Lüder Rutenberg.

The brand’s iconic key crest is a reference to the Bremen Cathedral’s patron saint, St Peter who held the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

Tours of the brewery take place Monday to Saturday in German, and if you want an English tour come at 15:00 Thursdays to Saturdays.

You’ll be shown around the inventory, and the various fermentation and storage tanks in the brewhouse.

There’s a video presentation about the brand, and a tasting session at the end of the tour.

23. Valentin Submarine Pens

Downstream on the Weser to the northwest of Bremen is a submarine factory from the Second World War.

The Valentin Submarine Pens were never completed, and never assembled a single submarine, as progress was halted by air raids and the allied advance in 1945. But even so, the facility is only behind the famous pens in Brest for size and preservation.

Although they’re an interesting piece of war-time “blockhaus” construction, the pens are most of all a thought-provoking memorial to the wrongs of the Second World War and the Nazi regime.

It is believed that as many as 6,000 slave labourers died building the pens.

As you follow the self-guided tour, reminders of the human cost are interlaced with technical details about the factory and its historical context.

24. Bremer Bonbon Manufaktur

In the Handwerkerhof (Craftsman’s Courtyard) off Böttcherstrasse you might be distracted by a sweet fragrance.

This comes from the candy factory, which is run by the tourist board and makes traditional hard candy presented in cute packaging with Bremen’s animal musicians on the label.

Naturally, these make for a good souvenir or gift.

Best of all there’s a window that opens onto the kitchens where you can see artisan candy of different colours shapes and sizes being made by hand.

25. Weser River Tours

Once you appreciate the big hand the Weser River played in Bremen’s success as a Hanseatic Free City you’ll want to capture some of the magic on a cruise setting off from the former harbour at the Schlachte.

There are five tours a day and you’ll ride from the embankment to Bremen’s modern docks, finding out about trade with England and the Baltic in the Hanseatic days, and how the influx of goods like coffee and cocoa from the New World changed Bremen’s fortunes.

You’ll get a fresh view of the cathedral towers, the grand houses of the waterfront Osterdeich street and pieces of the city’s old fortifications.

25 Best Things to Do in Bremen (Germany):

• Bremen Cathedral
• Cathedral Museum
• Bremen City Hall
• Kunsthalle Bremen
• Böttcherstraße
• Haus des Glockenspiels
• Schnoor Quarter
• Focke Museum
• Ludwig Roselius Museum
• Mühle am Wall
• Das Viertel
• Bremer Geschichtenhaus
• Church of Our Lady
• Übersee-Museum
• Rhododendron Park
• Beck's Brewery
• Valentin Submarine Pens
• Bremer Bonbon Manufaktur
• Weser River Tours

Self-guided Walking Tour of Bremen (with Maps!)

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Bremen stands proudly among the top destinations to explore in Germany, offering a captivating blend of history, folklore, and enchantment. Stepping into this city feels like entering a realm straight out of fairy tales, where legends and heritage create a truly unique and magical ambiance. With its convenient airport located near the city centre, even a one-day visit allows you to immerse yourself in the wonders of Bremen without missing a beat. However, extending your stay to two days, a full 48 hours, is highly recommended to fully savour the essence of this captivating city and embrace the best of German traditions.

Indulge in the rich local culture by sampling the exquisite range of typical beers, each sip offering a taste of Bremen’s brewing heritage. And no visit would be complete without treating yourself to a classic German sausage, a culinary delight that embodies the essence of traditional flavours.

Bremen’s historical sites and landmarks await your exploration, beckoning you to uncover their stories. Lose yourself in the narrow streets, picturesque squares, and charming architecture that seem to have leapt straight from the pages of a storybook. Discover the tales of the famous Bremen Town Musicians, an emblem of the city’s folklore, and immerse yourself in the vibrant history that shaped Bremen into the captivating destination it is today.

Allow the captivating spirit of Bremen to enchant you as you embark on an unforgettable journey, where each moment unveils a new layer of its allure. Whether you’re captivated by the grandeur of the historic centre, enticed by the cultural offerings, or simply charmed by the warm hospitality of the locals, Bremen promises an experience that will leave an indelible mark on your heart. Embrace the magic, embrace the traditions, and create memories to last a lifetime in this extraordinary city.

Böttcherstraße

Böttcherstraße, located in the historic center of Bremen, Germany, is a renowned street that stands out for its unique architecture and holds great cultural significance. Despite its short length of only about 100 meters (330 feet), it has become a major attraction for visitors and is considered one of the city’s main landmarks. The construction of most buildings on Böttcherstraße took place between 1922 and 1931, thanks to the vision of Ludwig Roselius, a prominent coffee trader from Bremen. Roselius entrusted the artistic direction of the project to Bernhard Hoetger. The result is a remarkable architectural ensemble that showcases an expressionist style unique to the area. Many of the buildings exhibit characteristics of Brick Expressionism, adding to the street’s distinctive charm. Recognizing the cultural value of Böttcherstraße, it has been protected by the Monument Protection Act since 1973. This designation ensures the preservation and safeguarding of the street and its buildings for future generations to appreciate.

Der Lichtbringer or The Lightbringer is the title of a large, gilded bronze relief by Bernhard Hoetger from 1936 above the entrance to Böttcherstraße in Bremen.

One reason to start the tour here is the visit the city-centre Tourist Information office at Glockenspiel House (Böttcherstrasse 4). This is the starting point for many guided tours, and you can also hire audio guides for hire (in German, English, Italian or Spanish). Make sure you don’t miss this chance to hear the 30 Meissen porcelain bells of the carillon playing sea shanties and folk songs.

The Schutting, once a guildhouse for merchants in Bremen, now serves as the chamber of commerce. Constructed between 1537 and 1538 under the guidance of Johann den Buschener, the building reflects the Renaissance style seen in the architecture of Flanders. In 1594, as part of an ornamental restoration facing the market, the merchants’ coat of arms was incorporated above the entrance alongside the coat of arms of the city of Bremen. This emblem, featuring a crowned, double-headed imperial eagle, symbolizes the historical identity of Bremen’s merchants as imperial traders. Below the coat of arms, the motto of Bremen’s merchants, “Buten un binnen, wagen un winnen” (venture and win, both inside and outside), was added in 1899.

Bremen Marketplatz

Bremer Marketplatz has so much to see. Bremen takes great pride in its iconic town hall and Roland statue, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014. This magnificent ensemble is located on the north-east side of Bremen’s market square, captivating visitors with its symbolic representation of democracy and freedom. The town hall, constructed in 1405, has served as a symbol of municipal self-government and state administration throughout the centuries. Standing alongside it is the Roland statue, erected in 1404, which represents the rights and privileges of the Hanseatic city. Together, they form a remarkable testament to Bremen’s historical significance.

A visit to the town hall and Roland statue is highly recommended. You can capture a memorable photo with Roland, who stands proudly as a symbol of Bremen’s heritage. Moreover, the town hall itself is a visual delight, both from the outside and within. Guided tours provide an opportunity to explore the stunning interior and learn about the fascinating history of the building.

The town hall and Roland statue embody the essence of Bremen, representing its commitment to democratic values and the city’s rich cultural heritage. Their inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List is a testament to their significance and the pride that Bremen takes in preserving its historical treasures. A visit to this extraordinary ensemble is a must for anyone seeking to delve into the captivating history and vibrant spirit of Bremen.

Bremen Town Musicians Statue

From the Roland Statue head clockwise around the town hall.

The Bremen Town Musicians, consisting of a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster, have become an inseparable part of the city’s identity, much like the Weser River. Wherever you wander in Bremen’s historic city centre, you’ll encounter their presence. The iconic bronze statue, created by Gerhard Marcks, is situated on the western side of the town hall, and it’s hard to miss the crowds of visitors eagerly awaiting their turn to touch the donkey’s front legs. It is believed that this act brings good fortune, adding to the statue’s charm and appeal. The Bremen Town Musicians serve as a whimsical symbol of the city, embodying its rich folklore and captivating the hearts of all who encounter them.

Lookout for the unique Ratskeller, located within the town hall, where you can indulge in a memorable culinary experience.

Bremen Cathedral

Located on Bremen’s Marktplatz square, the Cathedral of Saint Peter stands as one of the city’s most magnificent architectural gems. Its construction spanned several centuries, from the 11th to the 16th, resulting in a captivating blend of romantic and Gothic styles. This historic cathedral is a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the artisans who worked on its creation. As you explore its awe-inspiring interior, you’ll be transported back in time, marveling at the intricate details and soaring vaulted ceilings. The Cathedral of Saint Peter is not only a place of worship but also a testament to Bremen’s rich cultural heritage and a must-visit landmark for anyone seeking architectural splendor.

The charming old town quarter of Schnoor is a captivating labyrinth of streets that has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the “coolest” destinations in the world. Its name, derived from the Low German word for “string,” perfectly captures the essence of this meticulously restored district. As you explore its enchanting alleys, you’ll be greeted by a string of small, vibrant houses and shops, resembling precious pearls on a necklace. The narrowness of the streets is such that you can almost touch both sides with outstretched arms. A visit to Bremen would be incomplete without a leisurely stroll through the captivating Schnoor.

The Schnoor offers much more than just picturesque scenery. It presents a treasure trove of delightful souvenirs, cultural experiences, and culinary delights. Each corner unveils unique motifs that beg to be captured in photographs, ensuring lasting memories of your visit. Whether you’re seeking a memorable keepsake, immersing yourself in local culture, or indulging in gastronomic pleasures, the Schnoor has it all.

Immerse yourself in the whimsical charm of the Schnoor, where history and modernity blend seamlessly. Explore its narrow streets, soak up the vibrant atmosphere, and discover the hidden gems that await around every corner. The Schnoor is a true testament to Bremen’s allure and should be a top priority on your itinerary, offering an unforgettable experience for all who venture into its captivating realm.

Indulge in the sheer delight of artistic expression at the Kunsthalle Bremen art gallery. This remarkable institution showcases a diverse collection spanning over six centuries, offering a journey through European art history from the 14th century to the present day. From exquisite paintings dating back to the Middle Ages to contemporary sculptures and captivating media art, the gallery presents a comprehensive exploration of artistic evolution.

Immerse yourself in the masterpieces of renowned artists such as Masolino, Dürer, Monet, van Gogh, Beckmann, Cage, and Paik, whose works grace the walls and halls of the Kunsthalle. The collection is a testament to the richness and diversity of artistic expression throughout the ages. Notably, the gallery’s copperplate engraving cabinet stands as one of the most significant of its kind, housing an impressive array of intricate prints.

The Kunsthalle Bremen continues to captivate visitors with its dynamic program of thought-provoking special exhibitions. These carefully curated showcases breathe new life into the tradition-rich institution, presenting fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to art. With each visit, the gallery invites you to rediscover its timeless treasures and experience the fusion of tradition and contemporary creativity.

Prepare to be enthralled by the Kunsthalle Bremen’s commitment to artistic excellence and its ability to engage and inspire visitors of all backgrounds. Whether you are a seasoned art enthusiast or a curious explorer, this cultural haven promises an enriching and ever-evolving experience, revealing the power and beauty of human creativity through the ages.

Weserburg Museum of Modern Art

Situated on the picturesque Teerhof peninsula along the River Weser, the Weserburg is a contemporary art museum in Bremen, Germany. Its doors opened in 1991 within the walls of a former factory building that had suffered severe damage during World War II. Originally named “New Museum Weserburg Bremen,” it proudly holds the distinction of being Europe’s first “collectors’ museum.” Rather than housing a permanent collection, the museum showcases rotating exhibitions of private collections, offering a dynamic and ever-changing artistic experience. With its expansive exhibition spaces, the Weserburg stands as one of Germany’s largest museums dedicated to modern art. It is a vibrant hub for art enthusiasts, fostering creativity and engaging visitors with thought-provoking displays.

Schlachte Embankment

The Schlachte, situated along the Weser River in the heart of Bremen, holds a rich history spanning over 800 years, showcasing its diverse and evolving nature. Once a bustling waterfront harbor, it has now transformed into a vibrant maritime promenade, known as the gastronomic hub of the city. Lined with a plethora of restaurants, bars, and pubs, it offers a delightful culinary experience. Take a leisurely stroll along the Weser River, savoring the scenic views and immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of the local beer gardens that dot the area. The Schlachte invites you to indulge in the vibrant spirit of Bremen’s waterfront, where the past meets the present in a delightful fusion of history and gastronomy.

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The Best of Bremen

By Jennifer Dombrowski 4 Comments

Bremen is a buzzing Hanseatic city on the Weser River, which delightfully feels like stepping back into the 15th century. Even on a gray day, the Altstadt (Old Town) glitters in all its glorious gilding and the Gothic Town Hall is beautifully baubled and blinged out. We really only scratched the surface, but these are the eye-catching landmarks and things we think you shouldn’t miss while visiting Bremen.

Take a Guided Tour of the Rathaus and the Roland

The heart of the Marktplatz is the 600 year old Gothic Town Hall and the stone Roland statue, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. The almost unchanged Rathaus (Town Hall) charms every visitor to the city and when you take a guided tour to see all its splendors, it’s no wonder.

There is a vast contrast to the lower and upper halls; the lower is simple and keeps secret the treasured jewels that await you in the Upper Hall. As the focal point of political life for centuries, the Upper Hall is filled with impressive wall paintings, epigrams, stained glass, and figures each with their own story of Bremen’s past.

The crown jewel of the Town Hall is richly ornamented The Golden Chamber. The wall covering is the finest leather in red and gold. But it doesn’t stop there; every single element in the room, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is a work of art. It’s here that Bremen’s most important guests, like Queen Elizabeth and Kevin Costner, are received when they visit Bremen.

In front of the Town Hall stands Roland. Roland statues can be found in many cities in northern Germany as he is a symbol a freedom, but Bremen’s Roland is the largest in Germany. His knees are also unique from any other Roland statue and the citizens of Bremen believe that as long as he stands, Bremen will always be free.

Guided tours of the Town Hall are at 11am, 12pm, 3pm, and 4pm Monday – Saturday and at 11am and 12pm on Sunday. Tickets are € 5 per person and children under 12 are free. The tour last 1 hour.

Indulge in a Wine and Chocolate Tasting

The beautiful Upper Hall and The Golden Chamber aren’t the only secrets the Town Hall holds. Below it is the Ratskeller, one of the oldest wine cellars in all of Germany. It was erected around 1405 and German wines were stored and sold in it. It still houses wine today, with around 12,000 labels including a barrel of the UNESCO protected Rüdesheimer wine from 1653.

Unlike the prestigious Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo Wine Cellar , which isn’t open to the public, the Ratskeller is with a guided tour. You can taste five high-quality German wines paired with chocolates like Riesling-filled truffles.

You, of course, won’t get to taste the Rüdesheimer wine. The last person to be offered a taste was Queen Elizabeth. The Mayor of Bremen also has the privilege of tasting the Rüdesheimer once in his life, though the last couple mayors have declined in order to preserve the heritage of the wine. Even Kevin Costner couldn’t secure a glass. Instead, he requested to enjoy a glass of wine while sitting in the chamber with the Rüdesheimer and was obliged.

We did get to see the barrel. It’s in a chamber all on its own, which you reach by walking through another very dark chamber aptly named the Apostelkeller because it holds 12 barrels named after each of the 12 Apostles. These are also very old wines, though none nearly as old as the Rüdesheimer. The caramel scent of a several hundred years aged wine hits you before the locked chamber door even opens. I imagine that the Rüdesheimer is incredibly sweet after all these years and almost syrup like. Since we’re not royalty, I’ll just have to take Queen Elizabeth’s word that it is amazing.

Guided wine and chocolate tastings can be booked on an individual or group basis and are € 30 per person. Call +49 0421 33 77 871 or email [email protected] to inquire.

Dine in the Ratskeller

The Bremen Ratskeller is also one of Germany’s largest wine restaurants. Even if you don’t want to do a wine tasting, you can still experience the atmosphere of the cellar while enjoying a delicious meal. There are also over 650 wines on the menu, so there’s sure to be a wine for every taste.

Find the Town Musicians

A donkey, dog, cat, and rooster all past their years of purpose on the farm decided to set out together on a journey to Bremen, because it was known for its freedom. On their way, they came upon a farmhouse that was being robbed. Standing one on top of each other, they made a strange sound and scared the bejeezus out of the robbers. They were successful in scaring the robbers away and, since no one was home, settled in for the night in the cozy cottage. They never technically made it to Bremen, but you can see the Town Musicians all around protecting the city.

Wander the Altstadt

Bremen’s Altstadt (Old Town) is shaped like a tear drop and stepping off the market square, you’ll find yourself in a maze of brick porticoes. Peer in the windows at the Bremen Bonbonmanufaktur as candy makers hand-make sweet treats like lollipops in a copper cauldron. Pop in to the chocolate shop for a tasty souvenir to bring home. Germans love their liquor filled chocolates and you can find an excellent selection of handmade truffles and chocolates at The Hachez.

Know Before You Go

• The 2-day ErlebnisCARD is € 13.50 per person and gives you free access to ride all the buses and trams in the city. You also get discounted entrance to many of Bremen’s museums and guided tours.
• Some other guided tours we would have liked to take: Eat the World Bremen culinary tour, Beck’s Brewery Tour , and the Night Watchman tour .

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more info click here . You can see all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites we’ve visited here .

Our UNESCO Natural Sites and Proud Cities trip was hosted by the German National Tourist Board in order to bring you this story. As always, all opinions about the places visited are entirely our own.

Loved this post? We love when you share our content! ~ Jen & Tim

About Jennifer Dombrowski

Jennifer Dombrowski is an independent travel publisher and an American expat who has lived in Bordeaux, France since 2016. She previously lived in Northern Italy in a small village near Venice for seven years where she fell in love with wine and wine tourism. She is an award-winning travel writer. She is also a travel correspondent on Traveling on the American Forces Radio Network. Luxe Adventure Traveler was named one of the top travel blogs to watch by the Huffington Post and TripAdvisor, and has been featured by top publications such as National Geographic, CNN, Buzzfeed, and Business Insider. Jennifer's photography has also been featured on publications such as USA Today and Travel + Leisure and on the Travel Channel.

May 29, 2014 at 8:22 PM

Nice post Jen, love those German cities. Kevin Kostner? I wouldn’t waste a good bottle of wine on him either… Frank

June 22, 2014 at 4:14 PM

Great article. I’m visiting Bremen in August, and now know what to look out for.

February 1, 2015 at 1:46 PM

As usual, an interesting article. I admit I’d fancy chocolate tasting and listening to local musicians 😉 (apart from visiting famous places and off the beaten path streets).

Norma Fletcher says

April 7, 2016 at 2:24 PM

Bremen is not a hard place to travel around, once you have an eye for the place and know a couple of local landmarks it should become pretty simple. You can cover a lot of the city as a pedestrian but ensure not to venture into unknown territory at night. If you wish to cover larger distances across Bremen there are a few more options. There are safe and reliable buses where passes can be bought to include multiple trips on more than one day. There is also the alternative to use Bremen Taxis, but be aware of slow moving traffic at rush hour. What ever method you use to explore Bremen make sure you see as much of the city as your can.

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11 Things to do on a City Trip to Bremen

When people think about a city trip in Germany, most of them will come up with Cologne , Berlin, Munich or Hamburg . But Germany has more to offer and one of her hidden gems is the city of Bremen. During my stay I had the feeling that most tourists haven't discovered Bremen yet, which makes it the perfect get away for a city trip in Northern Germany. Therefore I came up with the idea of writing a travel blog about visiting Bremen showing you the best places to visit, things to do and more travel tips to get you started.

I stayed in Bremen for 2.5 days (3 nights). The city center is not so big and very easy to explore by foot. But on this small surface is already so much to see and so much to do! Therefore I came up with a list of my ten favorite things to do during a city trip to Bremen.

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1. Hang out in the beer gardens on the boulevard along the Weser River

When you think of Germany, you'll probably think of beer. Germans love their beer and their favorite way of drinking it is in the biggest glasses while sitting at long tables with lots of friends. Along the boulevard of the Weser are multiple beer gardens located where you can enjoy the sun while chitchatting with your friends and sipping your pint. You can find here all the locals on a sunny afternoon after a day of work, or during the weekends. Close to the boulevard is the narrow “Böttcherstrasse” with multiple art studios. You can walk in this alley on your way from the boulevard to the central marketplace.

2. Walk in the city park

The city center is surrounded by water with a nice green park to walk in. The canals are located where the city wall of Bremen used to be. You can also find here the old windmill. It takes around 30 minutes to walk from one side to the other.

If you walk from the westside of the park to the southeast side, you can extend your route by adding the neighborhood Schnoor to it.

3. Stroll through the narrow alleys of Schnoor

Schnoor is in many opinions the most cozy neighborhood of Bremen. It still has preserved a medieval character. The Schnoor developed in the 10th century as a district of fishermen and was one of the poorer areas of Bremen. Nowadays, you can stroll through the narrow alleys and visit the tiny shops and cafes that are spread over the neighborhood.

From one of the poorest neighborhoods of Bremen, it has been transformed in one of the most favorite parts of the city for many people.

4. Admire the famous "Bremer Stadtmuzikanten" statue

Every city has its own touristic hotspot and for Bremen it is the Bremer Stadtmuzikanten statue (musicians of the city Bremen). The statue is about the fairy tale of the Grimm brothers. You'll find references to this statue in a lot of other places in the city. Get in line for a picture with this famous statue of a donkey, dog, cat and rooster which is located at the grand marketplace. It is said that you can make your biggest wish come true if you hold the donkey’s legs.

5. Admire the architecture at the Grand Marketplace

The marketplace is considered as the heart of the center of Bremen and besides the statue it’s also worth a visit because it’s surrounded by historical buildings, such as the city hall.

It has a lot of terraces to drink a beer and to watch other tourists visiting Bremen and admiring its architecture.

6. See Bremen from the top of the Bremen Cathedral

On the same marketplace as the statue is the beautiful Bremen Cathedral. Entrance of the cathedral is free, but for a small fee it is possible to climb all the way to the top of one of the towers to get a view over the city center.

The spiral staircase is narrow and consists of 266 steps, which makes the climb a strenuous activity.

7. Enjoy a culinary world tour at Markthalle Acht

Just around the corner of the marketplace and the Bremen Cathedral is the food hall Markthalle Acht. On Tuesday till Saturday you can try here food from all over the world.

I can tell you from my own experience: the Ghana food stand will not let you down. It’s a place for encounters and for an original, sustainable and conscious food culture, with regionally and seasonally fresh manufactured products. The perfect location for a date, to hang out with friends or to find shelter from the rain.

8. Find shelter from the rain in one of the museums

Just like basically all northwest European destinations, there is a big chance you’ll not have the odds in your favor as for the weather. Besides the food hall, Bremen luckily has museums that are worth a visit, such as Kunsthalle, Overseas Museum and Focke Museum. I have to admit that the weather was too good during my visit, so I haven't been to any of the museums. If you have any tips or recommendations about the best museums in Bremen, please leave us a comment below!

9. Get away from the hustle of the city in the Botanical garden

Botanika is just outside the city center but easily accessible by tram/bus and definitely a recommendation to visit! Walking in this huge park is free, but you need to pay an entrance fee if you want to visit the butterfly garden and greenhouses.

The greenhouses are an adventure facility dedicated to the protection of biological diversity with mostly Asian landscapes.

10. Day trip to Bremerhaven

In 45 minutes by train you'll be in the harbor area of Bremen. A completely different atmosphere, but with also very nice things to visit, such as the zoo, the Submarine (U-boot) Museum and the Klimahaus Museum.

You can also walk along the coast to see the arriving ships or the waterfowl searching for food during low tide.

Zoo am Meer

The zoo looks small, but is very practically built, making it home to polar beers, see lions, polar foxes, pumas, penguins and many other animals.

Klimahaus Museum

This museum is a meteorological center with interactive exhibitions about weather and climate.

U-boot Wilhelm Bauer

At the time (1960), this submarine was the workspace for 57 men on board and is now an open for public museum ship and the only surviving version of this type of submarine.

11. Combine your city trip Bremen with Hamburg

Just 120 kilometers away from Bremen is the second largest city and main port of Germany: Hamburg. You can go there by bus or train in just 1.5 hours. In my opinion it's the best itinerary to stay 2-3 days in Bremen (3 if you want to add Bremerhaven as a daytrip) and 3-4 days in Hamburg. Traveltomtom team member Ashley wrote a blog about the best thing to do in Hamburg .

Best way to get to Bremen

Bremen is located in the north of Germany. It has its own airport, train station and international coach station, which makes it easy accessible. Another option is going by car, but the city center of Bremen is designed for pedestrians and bus/tram, so you'll need to park your car outside the city center. The train- and international coach station are located just outside the city center of Bremen, but on a 5-10 minutes walking distance. The airport is located 30 minutes away by public transportation, or 15 minutes by car.

This travelblog was written by Traveltomtom team member Margot van der Linde . Bremen was one of the stops during her 1.5 week city hopping to Bremen, Hamburg, Copenhagen and Malmö using international coach services. If you want to know more about this itinerary, you can read the blog she wrote about it.

I hope all the above tips are helpful for your visit to Bremen! I’m sure there is way much more to explore in this city, but at least you’ll know where to start now. Thank you so much for reading! May you have any questions please leave us a comment below.

Enjoy your trip to Bremen!

• bremerhaven

Germany Travel Guide

Bremen Germany: 2-day Itinerary and Map

Bremen is a city-state in northern Germany . It is one of the largest seaports and maritime trade center of the country.

Besides being an important industrial and commercial center, it is also an important cultural center.

How to spend 2 days in Bremen Germany

In this 2-day itinerary in Bremen , discover the main attractions of the city.

Day 1 in Bremen

Start your first day in Bremen by visiting Marktplatz , located in the old city center. In the square are located several attractions such as the City Hall ( Rathaus ) and the Statue of Roland .

Bremen’s Liebfrauenkirche , located near the Rathaus , is the oldest church in the city. Bremen Cathedral , known as St. Petri Dom with its 98-meter towers, is another must-see in the old town.

Head to Böttcherstrasse , a narrow street with numerous unusual examples of expressionist architecture. It is one of the most popular attractions in the city.

Also visit Wallanlagen , a park located 500 meters (0.3 miles) from Marktplatz . End the day by visiting Schlachte , a boulevard along the banks of the Weser River , known for its restaurants and beer gardens.

Things to see

• Bremer Marktplatz
• Bremen Roland
• City Hall (Rathaus)
• Liebfrauenkirche
• Bremen Cathedral

Böttcherstrasse

• Wallanlagen

Day 1 Itinerary Map

Day 2 in Bremen

Day two in Bremen start by visiting the Universum Bremen , a modern museum with 250 exhibits located near the University of Bremen .

Head to the Focke-Museum , a museum covering 1,000 years of Bremen’s history .

Be sure to visit the Rhododendron , a park located 1.9 km (1.2 miles) from the Focke-Museum . It’s a wonderful place to explore.

• Universum Bremen
• Focke-Museum
• Rhododendron

Day 2 Itinerary Map

Sights in Bremen

1. altstadt and the schnoor.

Bremen old town is an oval area surrounded by the Weser river and medieval walls.

The Altstadt oldest part starts at Marktplatz ending at the Schnoorviertel .

Schnoor is a neighborhood in the medieval center of Bremen . In the Middle Ages, the craftsmen and the fishermen used to live in the Schnoor quarter.

2. Marktplatz

The Marktplatz is a square in Bremen home of the Bremer Rathaus and the  Roland Statue .

The Rathaus ( Bremen City Hall ) was built in 1410 and had its Weser Renaissance facade added in the 17th century.

The building was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Am Markt 21, 28195

4. Bremen Cathedral

The Bremen Cathedral ( St. Petri ) is a Protestant/Lutheran church.

The cathedral is located between the town hall and the State Parliament .

Sandstraße 10-12, 28195

5. Böttcherstrasse

The Böttcherstrasse is one of the most popular attractions of the city. The street has about 100 m long.

 It contains several art museums, restaurants, shops.

6. Liebfrauenkirche

The Liebfrauenkirche is an Evangelical Protestant church dating from the 11th century.

It is the oldest parish church in Bremen .

Unser Lieben Frauen Kirchhof 27, 28195

7. Rhododendron Park

The Rhododendron Park was established in 1933. It is a wonderful place to be explored if you love nature.

It has a major collection of rhododendrons and a Botanical Garden .

Deliusweg 40, 28359

8. Universum Science Centre

The Universum Science Centre is a museum close to the University of Bremen . It is a modern museum that opened in 2000.

It has more than 200 exhibitions and receives many visitors every year.

Wiener Straße 1A, 28359

9. Kunsthalle

The Kunsthalle Bremen was built in 1849. The museum is located close to the old city center.

The museum is home to a collection of European paintings from the 14th century to the present day.

Am Wall 207, 28195

10. Schlachte

The Schlachte is a boulevard along the banks of the Weser river. It is now famous for its restaurants, beer gardens.

11. Wallanlagen Park

The Wallanlagen Park is located 750 meters from the Bremer Marktplatz . The Restaurant Kaffee Mühle is located in the park.

Wallangen, 28195

Where to stay in Bremen

1. courtyard marriott bremen.

The Courtyard Marriott Bremen is located close to the main station.

Rooms are equipped with a safe, minibar, coffee maker.

Theodor-Heuss-Allee 2, 28215

2. Swissotel Bremen

The Swissotel Bremen is located in the heart of the city.

The hotel has 230 elegant rooms equipped with a flat-screen TV, safe, coffee maker.

Hillmannpl. 20, 28195

3. Radisson Bremen

The Radisson Blu Bremen is located in the heart of the city.

Rooms are equipped with flat-screen TV, safe, coffee machine.

Böttcherstraße 2, 28195

Shopping Streets in Bremen

The streets of the historic center have several shops, cafés, and bars.

Malls and Department Stores in Bremen

1. karstadt bremen.

Karstadt is a German department store chain with many stores in Germany .

The company features brands like Cacharel, Clarins, Coach, Desigual, Estée Lauder.

Obernstraße 5-33, 28195

2. Galeria Kaufhof Bremen

Galeria Kaufhof is a German department store chain with many stores in Germany .

The company features brands like Esprit, S. Oliver, Tom Taylor, Gerry Weber, Tommy Hilfiger, Bugatti, Olymp.

Papenstraße 5, 28195

3. Waterfront Bremen

The Waterfront Bremen is located 6 km from the  cathedral .

Brands: Eterna, Marc O´Polo, Adidas, Esprit.

AG-Weser-Straße 3, 28237

4. Ochtum Park Bremen

The Ochtum Park is located 8 km from the  cathedral .

Brands: Adidas, Nike, Fossil, Puma, Lacoste, Vero Moda, Tommy Hilfiger.

Bremer Str. 107, 28816 Stuhr, Germany

Plan your Trip

Bremen has easy train access from various cities in Germany . Famous cities nearby: Hamburg , Hannover , Lübeck , Schwerin , Kiel .

Hamburg – 126 km (78.1 miles)

Hannover – 127 km (79.2 miles)

Lübeck – 187 km (116 miles)

Schwerin – 229 km (142 miles)

Book a Train Trip

Bremen Germany Map

Book your trip, book your accommodation.

Book your hotel with Booking.com as they consistently provide the cheapest and lowest rates.

Book Your Flight

Find cheap flights to Germany by using  Momondo . Momondo is a flight search engine that searches a lot of different airlines, including many budget carriers.

Book a Train Ticket

Check the train routes and schedules with Omio . Omio is an authorized Deutsche Bahn ticket seller, which compares and combines transport options for complete flexibility.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, and cancellations. It’s a protection in case anything goes wrong. You can book your travel insurance with Travelexinsurance.com .

10 Suggested Itineraries for Germany + Top Destinations

Outlets & Department Stores in Germany: Shopping Guide

40 Popular Train Routes in Germany

German States Map

German States and Regions

lifestyle | family | travel

Bremen – one of the top Holiday Destinations

Things We talk About in This Post

• 1 24 hours in Bremen – tips for a one day visit
• 2.1.1 Yellow Bird Coffee
• 2.1.2 Harbour Coffee
• 2.1.3 Piano
• 2.1.4 Ratskeller
• 2.1.5 Markthalle 8
• 3.0.1 Schnoor Viertel
• 3.0.2 Bremen Marktplatz
• 3.0.3 das Viertel
• 3.0.4 Zur Boettcherstrasse
• 3.0.5 Kunsthalle Bremen
• 4.0.1 Have a look at our Instagram Stories, where you will spot the Ostheimer toys in our apartment.
• 4.0.2 Sieben-Faulen-Laden
• 4.0.3 Holtorfs Heimathaven
• 4.0.4 Boettcher 8
• 5.0.1 Curious to see more tips for traveling in Germany? Here is a link to our other posts about Germany.

24 hours in Bremen – tips for a one day visit

Are you traveling to Bremen and know nothing about the city, except for the Town Musicians of Bremen? In this post we are sharing our tips for a one day in Bremen – how to make the best of your trip.

Being a huge fan of Brothers Grimm fairytales at the age of 12, I could have never imagined that 20 years later I will actually be in a city which gave the name to my favourite stories – Bremen . 

The trip was short, but I still got to pet the bronze donkey which stood patiently under the weight of its partners in crime and with its shiny nose as a result of tourist rubbing affection.

We had only 24 hours to discover Bremen which is regarded as one of the best places to visit in Germany. 24 hours is not a lot of time, but it is enough to get an impression.

So let me share with you what I stumbled upon these 24 hours in case you find yourself in Bremen, which to our opinion is one of the best places to go on holiday and experience less travelled Germany.

Follow us on Instagram to see our travel stories from Germany and the World.

What makes Bremen one of the best places to visit on a day trip?

Bremen is such a wonderful city to visit. Irrespective of how long you spend there, the city is crammed with events, meals, and places all designed to provide you with an awesome experience. Below are few reasons why I see Bremen as one of the best places to visit .

Eat and Drink in Bremen

Finding great food in Bremen is not so difficult – the city has quite some traditional and modern cafes and restaurants. If you are staying in Bremen longer than one day, you need to visit the traditional Becks brewery for the beer tasting. This world known beer brand comes from Bremen.

Yellow Bird Coffee

Yellow Bird Coffee is a lovely coffeeshop which serves coffee and snacks in a nice and cozy atmosphere.

Harbour Coffee

In case you like us love a good cup of coffee be sure to check out the Harbour Coffee. It is a lovely tiny hip cafe with delicious coffee on offer.

Cafe Piano has very simple interior, however don’t get discouraged by the looks. That is to say, cafe Piano in Bremen gets very busy during breakfast and dinner times and for a reason! Good selection of breakfasts and baguettes at a very reasonable price.

Ratskeller is located underneath the city hall. Just to clarify, that is exactly what the translation of the word ‘Ratskeller’ means. This traditional cellar is where the city locals come for a beer or for a family gathering and tourists come for traditional food.

Our tip: if you only on a one day trip in Bremen – this is the place where you should head to.

Traditional Bremen style “Seemannslabskaus ” made of corned beef and mashed potatoes with pickled herring, two fried eggs, beetroot and strips from gherkin is a good way to start your acquaintance with northern German food.

Ratskeller is a bit pricey, but the food selection is great. If you want to spend less – go for a daily menu.

Markthalle 8

If Ratskeller is too snobby for you, then you could check out the food stalls in Markthalle 8.

It is similar to Markthalle 9 in Berlin, where small vendors sell food and products inside a covered market.

The selection of products and the atmosphere are great, therefore making it one of the best places to go in Bremen.

Sightseeing in Bremen

Schnoor viertel.

Schnoor Viertel (‘Viertel’ means quarter) is the oldest city area of Bremen. It is a small neighbourhood full of cute shops, cafes and restaurants in preserved medieval character.  

Our tip : if you only on a one day trip in Bremen – you shouldn’t miss on visiting the Schnoor Viertel.

Bremen Marktplatz

Market Square or main square is touristy and busy, but beautiful all the same. It is lined with historical buildings made mainly out of sandstone and bricks. Some say that this is the most beautiful square in Germany.

The main highlight of Bremen – the bronze statue of The”Town Musicians of Bremen” – is also located next door to the market square, next to the city hall.

As the name promised, the market square hosts farmers and Christmas markets. The part of the square with the Rathaus (City Hall) belongs to the UNESCO Heritage site since 2004.

das Viertel

Das Viertel literally means ‘are’ in German. This are in Bremen is full of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. It’s great for spotting local vibrant life and for having breakfast/dinner/drinks.

Zur Boettcherstrasse

Zur Böttcherstraße is a narrow red brick street right behind the main square. It hosts small shops, ateliers, a museum and Glockenspiel (ringing bells).

It is worth a stroll and is great for those on the hunt for unique souvenirs.

Kunsthalle Bremen

Kunsthalle Bremen is a lovely and compact art museum perfect for a one day trip.

The art museum belongs to the most powerful ones in Germany. In short, Kunsthalle Bremen has a great permanent collection and also hosts interesting exhibitions.

Shopping in Bremen

One of the most common gifts to get in Bremen are the “ Town Musicians of Bremen ” in all possible colours and forms – as a towel, small figure, on a t-shirt or on a coin. You will find them in every shop that sells souvenirs.

Our tip : Ostheimer craft very cute and sustainable wooden figurines, which come pricey, but are worth the investment.

Have a look at our Instagram Stories, where you will spot the Ostheimer toys in our apartment.

Sieben-faulen-laden.

Sieben Faulen Laden is located at the Böttcherstraße and has a wonderful choice of all things about the “Town Musicians of Bremen”. A great selection of books, postcards and toys.

Holtorfs Heimathaven

Holtorfs Heimathaven is a cafe and a shop where tradition meets modern. IT is great for those in search for unique gifts and products.

Boettcher 8

Boettcher 8 is a lovely shop with a beautiful choice of household items and soap. They also sell cool towels with the “Town Musicians of Bremen” figures.

Other useful tips for a visit to Bremen on a one day trip

• Even though the North Sea is far away, its cold wind still reaches Bremen and it’s not to joke with. Pack yourself warm !
• For best photos get up early – the Schoor quarter gets very busy during the day, so be sure to be there before crowds arrive to have it all for yourself

Curious to see more tips for traveling in Germany? Here is a link to our other posts about Germany.

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Going Awesome Places

Detailed itineraries + travel guides

Things To Do in Bremen in 48 Hours

Last Updated April 26, 2023 William Tang

You are here: Home » Attractions & Experiences » Things To Do in Bremen in 48 Hours

When we think about Germany, we often think lederhosen, unnecessarily large beer steins, castles, cuckoo clocks, and sausages but the country is so much more.  Those that are seeking for something equally as beautiful, culture filled, but at the same time incredibly approachable, and easy to explore, make sure to add Bremen to that list.

With this list of things to do in Bremen in 48 hours , you can easily add this as one of your destinations for day trips from Hamburg.  Read more to find out what you can add to your trip itinerary as you plan your trip through Northern Germany.  Let’s dive into the best things to do in Bremen!

Read more about Germany

• Bremen and Bremerhaven 4 Day Itinerary
• 1 day Hamburg itinerary
• Germany travel guide

How to get the best deals in travel

• Hottest deals  – Bookmark the  travel deals page .
• Car rentals  – stop getting ripped off and  learn about car rental coupon codes .
• Hotels  – Use  corporate codes  or get  Genius 2 tier  with Booking.
• Flights  – Have you ever heard of the  “Everywhere” feature ?
• Insurance  – Make sure you’re covered and learn more about  where to buy the best travel insurance .

In This Article

#1 – Bremen City Hall/Town Hall

#2 – viertel, #3 – beck’s brewery, #4 – böttcherstraße & haus des glockenspiels, #5 – town musicians of bremen, #6 – schnoor quarter, #7 – guided walking tour, #8 – universum bremen, #9 – markthalle acht, #10 – craft bier bar, #11 – bremer ratskeller and cellar tour, a quick bremen travel guide, things to do in bremen, germany.

You might not know too much about Bremen but this is a city that played a pretty significant part in European history.  As a Free Hanseatic City from the 12th century, in Medieval times, this was a booming port city.  The Weser River was the lifeblood of trade that brought in trade from all corners of the globe.

Today, it might not be as prosperous as it once was, but there are still a lot of remnants of that history and a fascinating contrast of pre-war, post-war rebuilding, and modern developments to discover.

Now if you only have 48 hours in Bremen , here’s what I recommend that you try to tackle in the limited time that you have.  Hey, if I was able to do it, so can you!

This is the centrepiece of Bremen’s Market Square and one of the most beautiful civic buildings in all of Europe.  Built in 1412, the Bremen Town Hall is over 600 years old and has since gone through its own evolution.  It started off as a brick Gothic hall and 200 years later, the Renaissance reliefs were added to give it its beautiful facade. Finally in 1910-1911, an extension was added to the rear of the hall.

Standing outside and walking around the entire building is enough to get you marvelling at all the intricate carvings, gables, arcades, and statues that achieved UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005.

However, what most people miss out on are all the details inside and outside that are truly exquisite and fascinating.  Highly recommended is the daily walking tours run by the city that take you inside to the Upper Hall, “secret” Golden Chamber, secret escape staircase, and ballroom.  It’s through this tour that you truly get an understanding of the city’s innovation when it came to government, and the relation between church and state.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Hours:   Mon-Sat 4PM and Sun 12PM.  1 hour length.

Price:  €6.50 per person, free for children aged 12 or under accompanied by an adult.

Meeting point:   Meet at the Town Hall entrance nearest the cathedral, next to the statue of the knight on horseback (small door on the left, next to the display case)

• Are cameras allowed?   Yes they are but flash is not allowed.
• Is there a cloak room/coat check? – The foyer has a place for your jackets and bags.  In fact, backpacks and shopping bags aren’t allowed os you will have you leave them behind.  It’s unattended but this is in quite the secluded part of the city hall so it’s pretty safe.
• What language is this in?   English.

Book the tour

A neighbourhood with spunk, attitude, and no f*cks given.  While you have the old part of town for history, culture, and architecture, locals spend most of their time here to eat, drink, and live.  In that, there’s an unbounded energy to this area that’s grounded by the corner street where you’ll find my favourite cafe, Coffee Corner which I talk about in my Bremen and Bremerhaven itinerary .

Other things you’ll find in this neighbourhood is the awesome alley that I’ve coined “graffiti alley”, perfect examples of townhouse construction, Bermuda Triangle bar district, classic shops featuring art deco design, and the invention of the local favourite “rollo”.

In other cities, you’d call Viertel hipster but I think the locals would like to think of this spot as home.

I hope I’m not the only ignorant one that had no clue that Beck’s originated from Bremen, Germany.  This was certainly one of the big surprises of my visit and having done many brewery visits over the years, this is by far one of the best executed I’ve been to.

What makes this a great brewery tour is that unlike the Heineken tour in Amsterdam, this is not a theme park experience.  To gain entry, everyone has to wear a reflective work vest, and once you’re learning about how Beck’s makes their beer, you’re on the real production floor, with real beer being brewed, and real beer being bottled to be sold.

The other part that always makes a brewery tour fun is the end where you get to sample all types of beers that they make including the local Haack-Beck, and special variations that often never make it out of Germany.

Hours:  Mon-Sat 3PM, except holidays.  3 hour length.

Price:  €13,90 per person

Meeting point:  Beck’s and Haake-Beck Visitors’ Centre  ( Am Deich 18-19 ,  28199 Bremen, State of Bremen,  Germany )

• Are photos allowed?   They are only allowed in the museum and tasting room.  Once you’re in the main facility, no photos are allowed.  The main reason given is because there are real people working.
• How many beers can you sample? – You get to sample 4 types of beer.  You also get pretzels to cleanse your palette.
• Can you buy souvenirs?   The visitor centre has a selection of Beck’s souvenirs you can purchase.

Tips: 

• You can save 10% if you have an  ErlebnisCARD
• Reservations are required.

This small street may not be very big or long but this is the most unique part of the city that’s packed with so many little odds and ends in terms of stories, stores, hidden secrets, and architecture that almost feels out of place.

Let’s start with the architecture.   At the turn of the 20th century, it was Ludwig Roselius, the inventor of decaf coffee who bought all of the houses in this rundown street and rebuilt it to be this architectural masterpiece to connect the market square and the Weser river.  What makes  Böttcherstraße unique is that it is primarily constructed out of red brick and assembled in an ornate art-deco fashion. What makes it almost whimsical here is that there are no specific rules that the design follows.  Bricks protrude out from the wall to create shapes that are meant for your own interpretation, you have domes, triangle roofs, concave indentations, and sculptures.

If you’re strolling, there’s a lot to see too with a mix of souvenir shops, boutique stores, big brands such as Le Creuset, a wonderful candy shop, museums, and a big glockenspiel near the end of the street.  Haus des Glockenspiels consists of 30 bells made of Meissen porcelain and play old folk songs.  If you pay attention, there are wood panels that rotate to the tune of the bells to show important voyagers of the past.

When it comes to secrets, the big one is the giant golden relief that you see at the entrance to the street.  While it innocently depicts a god-like figure slaying a dragon, this was actually a piece of work commissioned by Nazi’s that actually shows a representation of Hitler slaying down his enemies.  This became obvious when I zoomed in on the little people doing the Nazi salute.

If you’re looking for a guided tour of this street specifically, take a look at this Bottcherstrasse Walking Tour .

If you want to catch the Haus des Glockenspiels in action, make sure you come at the right time.

Hours:   Winter (Jan-Mar) at 12PM, 3PM and 6PM and Summer (Apr-Dec) every hour between 12PM to 6PM.  The show lasts 8.5 minutes.

Location:  The building which houses the glockenspiel is located at No. 4 Böttcherstraße.

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Get the ErlebnisCARD

Whether you have 1 day or 3 days, this is a city pass card that gets you unlimited access to the local transit and also discounts for everything from tours, shows, souvenir stores, and restaurants.  The great part is that the free public transportation starts 6PM the day before the starting date.  Note: Single ticket bus/tram rides are 2.80 EUR in Bremen.

This fairy tale by the Brother’ Grimm follows 4 aging domestic animals who run away from their masters to become town musician in the city of Bremen.  They don’t actually make it to the city because of a chance encounter with a band of robbers but they eventually live happy for the rest of their days.

They’re the mascots for the city and it’s quite a fitting one because it’s a story that follows the theme of “strength in unity”, and “living a life of no regrets”.

Just outside of the Town Hall is this copper statue that has the rooster, cat, dog, and donkey on top of each other.  It’s smaller than you think but one of those sights in the city you have to stop by for a photo.

TIP:  When taking a photo with the Town Musicians of Bremen, make sure to touch both legs of the donkey to make sure your wish is granted.

This is the oldest neighbourhood in Bremen and as such is full of character and winding and narrow cobblestone streets that are begging to be explored.

You might be surprised to hear however that this wasn’t always a charming place to be.  Situated right by the river, this was where the fishing community resided and was one of the poorest areas.  Here, you’d find maritime businesses that focused on making parts for the ship such as the rigging.  It was really the Toolbox of Bremen.

Today, classic timber-framed houses from the 15th and 16th century have survived and are occupied by galleries, cafes, bars, restaurants, and handicraft shops.

There’s a beautiful courtyard that has patio seating for the nearby cafes but if you pay attention, in the middle is a statue of literally a threesome in a bath.  This goes back to the seedy nature of this area back in the day and how city officials would take secret underground tunnels to access the “red light district”.

When you’re in Schnoor, also make sure to try to find the most narrow part of the neighbourhood at 53 cm.

If you have time, there’s a House of History museum (Bremer Geschichtenhaus) that’s quite interesting.  For a guided tour of Schnoor, there’s an easy 1 hour walking tour that you can book.

Here’s a little more about the House of History museum.  Learn about the city’s colourful historical characters including Gesche Gottfried, the mass poisoner.

Hours:   Mon 12PM-6PM, Tue-Sun 11AM-6PM.  Last tour always at 5pm.

Location:  Wüstestätte 10, 28195 Bremen / Schnoor

Price: 

• Adults €7.20
• Children aged 6 and under free of charge
• Family ticket €14.90
• Seniors €6.80

Book online

I know this isn’t exactly a specific attraction or place but to truly get a full appreciation of the city and to hear all the little anecdotes and stories from its storied past makes all the difference when it comes to

This walking tour is run by the tourism office so you know that all of their guides are legitimate and well-trained.  I was lucky enough to be guided by Pierre who not only had excellent easy-to-understand English but was incredibly knowledgable and full of energy.

The tour takes you through all the main areas of old town including the market square, Bottcherstrasse, and Schnoor Quarter where your guide will point out significant points in history, changes that have occurred, and things that look more than meets the eye.

If you’re looking for a different type of tour, take a look at Bremen Night Watchman Tour which is really good.  Just note that this tour is in German only.

When:  Daily at 1:30PM May – December, Saturday at 1:30PM from January – April.  2 hours in length.

Price:  €8.50 per person.  Free for children under 12 years accompanied by an adult and persons with wheelchair are free of charge.  Save €1 with the ErlebnisCARD .

Location:   Meet on the right side in front of the Tourist Information, Glockenspiel House, Böttcherstraße 4.

• Are reservations required?   Yes.

I was attracted to this museum because of it’s futuristic structure.  Scaled with metallic tiles, it resembles a clam shell jutting out from the water that could also be easily mistaken for a flying saucer.   At night, lights shine on it which makes for really interesting photos.

Universum Bremen by day is a science museum with over 300 exhibits and designed in a way to be very hands on and challenge young minds to solving problems.  The three subject areas are Technology, Humans, and Nature.

There’s also a 27 metre high tower that offers great views of the city and more surprising exhibits to try and explore.

This is the perfect spot to go to on a rainy day or if you’re travelling with kids.

Hours:  Mon-Fri 9AM-6PM and Sat-Sun 10AM – 6PM

• Children, students, seniors €11
• Evening ticket (1.5 hours before closing) €5
• Family (2 adults, 1 child) €40

Directions:  Wiener Straße 1A, 28359 Bremen.  Take Tram #6 to Universität-Süd stop.

Parking:  There isn’t specific parking for the museum but there are car parks in the vicinity.

• Is there a cloakroom? – There is a cloakroom that can be used. In addition, there are also lockers available (for € 1.00 or € 5.00 deposit).
• Is there English? – All of their exhibit and panel texts in the permanent exhibition are also in English.

Buy tickets online

If you’re the kind of person that doesn’t know what they want to eat until they see it or if you love food halls, Markthalle Acht is the place you want to be at.  With up to 20 food stalls at any given point in time, they’ve brought the collective geniuses of chefs and restaurateurs in one spot to highlight some of the best food from around the world.

You’ll find the market near the heart of the centre of the city and just a little off from Market Square.  I love the youthful vibe the space as, reclaimed from what used to be bank.  A lot of the materials used are reclaimed and reused which I love seeing.  A ton of light comes into the courtyard which has a transparent canopy that covers it all.

Hours:  Tues-Wed 11AM-7PM, Thurs-Sat 11AM-10PM, Closed Sunday and Monday.

Location:  Domshof 8-12, 28195 Bremen, Germany

Okay yes I know craft beer and bars are all over Europe and really all the rage around the world but this one was such a great hidden gem of a find that I had to add it to the list.

Featuring 40 taps in total, there’s something for everyone here.  With an overwhelming number of labels to read, I just let the bartender know that I wanted something light and on the sweeter end of things and she recommended one from Cologne that turned out to be amazing.

What really rounds out this bar is the lounging space that they have here.  From high tables, to sit down corners, shuffle board, and an eclectic mix of giant pillows on big wooden steps, you’ll love being able to drop everything down and curl in a corner, sipping an epic pint.

 Location:  Am Wall 175, 28195 Bremen, Germany

Hours:  Tues to Fri 5PM -1AM and Sat at 5PM – 12AM

If you read the 4 Day Bremen and Bremerhaven Itinerary , this was the first spot I got to go to for lunch.  The Bremer Ratskeller  ( the reviews ) is a highly regarded restaurant located underneath the famous Town Hall.  Here, you can have truly traditional German fare from the region.  In addition, what makes it truly famous is its largest collection of German wines in the world

It’s a bit more of a formal setting but here but this is your chance to try dishes such as Labskaus and Bremer Knipp.  They’re not the prettiest of dishes but you won’t be able to have them anywhere else.  Don’t forget to try their wines as well.

The Town Hall’s splendour extends beyond its upper floors and down into the vaulted cellars that are over 600 years old which is more reason why the whole site has UNESCO World Heritage status.

Beyond the restaurant, I highly recommend that you take a guided tour  of how wine made its way into Bremen and what makes the Ratskeller so special.  This is your chance to walk into the historic Apostle Cellar where you’ll be greeted by a candle-lit room and you’re instantly surrounded by the aroma of Germany’s oldest barrel of wine that dates back to 1653.  Delve deeper underground and you’ll be able to get a rare glimpse into the Ratskeller treasury of wines.  During the tour, your guide will tell you untold stories and you’ll also be able to sample a small glass of wine.

The restaurant information is easy to find but if you’re interested in the Ratskeller Cellar tour here are the details that you need to know.

Hours:  January 4 – November 15 Friday at 4PM. 1 hour length.

Price:  €15 per person. Save 1 EUR with the ErlebnisCARD .

Location:   On the right side in front of the Tourist-Information / Glockenspiel House in Böttcherstraße No. 4.

• Are drinks included?  Yes you get a glass of wine (grape juice for children).
• Are reservations required?  Yes.

Money – Euros are welcome but credit card is widely accepted throughout the city.  You’ll also find ATM’s scattered around so you can withdraw money using your debit card in a pinch.

When is the best time? – High season is during the summer between June to August.  As with other destinations, shoulder seasons are always the best so think about going in the Spring (April – May) or Fall (September – November).

Getting here – Bremen has an international airport (BRE) that welcomes 30 non-stop flights from many countries in Europe and North Africa including London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Istanbul.  To put alerts on the flights and find the best deals, I recommend using Skyscanner .  If you’re already in Germany or neighbouring countries, the easiest way to get to Bremen and Bremerhaven by rail.

 How do I get around Bremen? – It’s really not necessary to rent a car in Bremen since it’s such a small city and there’s a good transit infrastructure of trams and busses.  I highly recommend that you pick up an  ErlebnisCARD  which is primarily a single-day or multi-day unlimited-use transit card with local discounts.

 Where should I stay?  – The most comprehensive platform for accommodations based on personal experience is  Booking.com .  They have everything from hotels, hostels, and guesthouses and you’ll easily find the perfect place to stay based on your style of travel and budget.  As an alternative, there’s also Agoda and VRBO .

Here are my recommendations for where you should stay in Bremen.

I STAYED HERE

TOWNSIDE HOSTEL

Located in Viertel, this is a low-key hostel that comes with a fully equipped kitchen, and a mix of shared rooms and private rooms that are all newly furnished and renovated. A comfortable stay.

TripAdvisor

Booking.com

FERIENWOHNUNGEN HANKENSTRASSE

Newly renovated in 2016, this apartment has one bedroom with a double bed and another one with two single beds. Note that this is on the third floor with no elevator.  Great property for an affordable price.

MOTEL ONE BREMEN

A brand that you can depend on – this is centrally located in Bremen’s Old Town.  Free wifi is included  and all rooms are furnished in a contemporary style.  An excellent buffet breakfast is served but at an added cost.

SWISSSÔTEL BREMEN

Located in a quiet location in Bremen city centre, it is also only 500m from Market Square.  Rooms are elegantly furnished, spacious, and cozy.  Free public transportation and wifi are included. Buffet breakfast is amazing.

Do I need a visa?  – The easy answer is that if you’re part of the EU, no visa is required.  If you’re not in the EU, visitBerlin has a handy list of countries that don’t require a visa if you’re staying less than 90 days and those that need a visa regardless.

Do I need travel insurance? – As always, travel insurance is highly recommended. My philosophy is that you want to make sure you’re covered in case the unknown happens.  Make sure to read our guide on choosing the right travel insurance for you. Overall, World Nomads has the best balance of price and coverage.

How about you?   What are your top favourites from your travels in Bremen?  Do you have a question planning your upcoming trip?  Drop a comment down below.

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About William Tang

William Tang is the Chief of Awesome behind the award-winning Going Awesome Places which is focused on outdoor adventure, and experiential travel. His true passion lies in telling stories, inspiring photography and videos, and writing detailed itineraries and travel guides. He is a member of Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC), Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), and Travel Massive. He has also been featured in publications such as Reader's Digest, Entrepreneur, Men's Journal, and Haute Living. Make sure to learn more about William Tang to find out his story and how Going Awesome Places started.

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Things to do in Bremen, Germany – the perfect weekend destination in every season

• Cultural Travel
• Things to do in Bremen,…

I have lived in Bremen, one of the most beautiful cities in Germany , for five years and this is my list of the best things to do in Bremen. We have all been there – searching for a weekend city escape that is not too big to be strenuous, not too small to be boring, not too expensive, not too crowded; it should have noteworthy landmarks and an interesting history, beautiful parks, plenty of open-air cafés, good bars and restaurants, affordable spa hotels, and a body of water nearby. All accessible within the time frame of a weekend or a prolonged weekend. For me, the first city that comes to mind that literally fulfills all of the above criteria is Bremen in Northern Germany. Serviced by a good airport, the city on the river Weser is the capital of the oldest autonomous political entity in Germany and there are plenty of things to do Bremen. Besides its rich history as a center of free trade, it offers its multitude of facets to visitors in a relaxed, warm atmosphere, perfectly suited for a weekend getaway in every season. A destination for culture addicts, couples, and families alike that should be mandatory on every Germany itinerary . Here are 12 reasons why. 

For your convenience, we have inserted a few friendly affiliate links in this article. Shall you make a purchase through any of them, we get a small commission at no extra cost for you! Thank you!

What to read about Bremen

There aren’t many books to recommend that are set in/ about Bremen, so I’ve added to the list my personal favorite illustrated guide, the famous Brother Grimm story about the Bremen town musicians, as well as an evocative portrait of the city during one of Germany’s darkest hours!

We’ll talk about the small artist town of Worpswede in a little while, but for art aficionados, there are several good reference works pertaining to the life and work of Paula Modersohn-Becker, its most famous inhabitant.

Where to stay in Bremen – luxury hotels at affordable prices 

We all want to be pampered every now and then, and we strongly suggest you do this in Bremen as it is more affordable in comparison to other touristic cities. For example, right in the city center are three wellness hotels with room prices between 70-80 euros ( the Radisson Blue and the Atlantic Grand Hotel ). If you are looking for a hotel on the river Weser, the northern suburb of Bremen Vegesack (a half-hour train ride from the city center) offers beautiful options such as the  Atlantic Hotel Vegasack , the  Strandlust Vegesack , and a bit further away the  Ringhotel Fährhaus Farge .

Where to eat in Bremen – a famous wine cellar and many other great restaurants 

The  Bremen Ratskeller  (literally – cellar of the city council), is one of the oldest in Germany, holding the world’s largest collection of German wines. It hosts a tavern and a gourmet restaurant, and it is an absolute must-see for all wine lovers visiting Bremen. The word is that Johannes Brahms was among its famous guests, probably on the occasion of his debut as a pianist in 1855, or after the premiere of his Deutsches Requiem in the Bremer Dom in 1868.

For a more cozy atmosphere, one could try the  Beck’s in’n Snoor  or the  Concordenhaus , both in the historic Schnoor district. Alternative traditional locations are  Spitzen Gebel (located in the oldest townhouse of the city) and  Kleiner Ratskeller , both on the way from Marktplatz to Böttcherstraße, as well as  Knurrhahn , Bremen’s oldest fish restaurant.

What to drink in Bremen – visit the Beck’s brewery

A local and national symbol as well as one of the best beers in the world, Beck’s has become synonymous with Bremen. Get a fascinating insight into the art of beer brewing and learn more about the well-known brands produced here while sampling 3 different beers in the guest room. Additionally, this knowledge is guaranteed to make you a few local friends as there’s nothing more they’d rather talk about than beer….and Werder Bremen !

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR 3 HOURS TOUR OF BECK’S BREWERY

What to drink in Bremen – a city that has known coffee long before Vienna

The first coffee house in the German-speaking world opened in Bremen in 1673. Since then, the city established itself as a main hub for the coffee trade and freshly roasted coffee is a trademark of Bremen. Taking a break from sightseeing, one can enjoy a cup of coffee at the  Kaffeemühle , a restaurant located in a 100-years-old mill in Wallanlagen park (photo).

Coffee merchant and arts patron Ludwig Roselius established the process to obtain decaffeinated coffee in Bremen, at the beginning of the 20th century. Part of his business is now run by  Lloyd Coffee , a company that still uses traditional methods for coffee roasting and offers public seminars and tours that are worthwhile for coffee aficionados.

The city’s landmarks, including UNESCO world heritage sites, can be explored on foot in half a day

Every visit to Bremen should start in the Marktplatz, the center of the city since the 8th century.  The Renaissance Town Hall  and the  Roland Statue  (symbol of free trade), both erected in the 13th century, are included on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. The Bremen Cathedral ( Bremer Dom  – a masterpiece combining Romanesque and Gothic elements) can also be found here, as well as the  Statue of the Bremen Town Musicians , famous characters of the Brothers Grimm fairytale. Whereas most people are aware of the tradition to grab the front legs of the statue’s donkey for good luck, not so many know that, on their birthday,  unmarried men that reach the age of 30 are pressed by their friends to sweep the steps of the cathedral until a virgin kisses them.

Beautiful artistic impressions of the Bremer Marktplatz by © Jens Hagens Fotografie (www.facebook.com/Jens.Hagens.Fotografie)

For those inclined to spend some money, several  shopping streets  branch off near the Marktplatz, and you can also find a flower market and a produce market in the area.

The best way to see Bremen is through the eyes of a local. That is why we wholeheartedly recommend booking a private tour with a local !

The magical Böttcherstraße (photos 1-3) and the  fairytale-like Schnoor district (photo 4) by © Jens Hagens Fotografie (www.facebook.com/Jens.Hagens.Fotografie)

From the Marktplatz, one can walk towards the Weser river through the  Böttcherstraße , a medieval street restored in the 1900s in the expressionist style under the patronage of the coffee magnate Ludwig Roselius (owner of HAG and the inventor of decaffeinated coffee). Turning left at the end of Böttcherstraße, walking along the Martinistrasse and the Weser, and then turning left on Stavendamm one will soon discover the  Schnoor , a medieval neighborhood of narrow streets with 15th-to-18th-century houses, which has preserved its unique character. Here you can find coffee houses, artisan and souvenir shops.

Things to do in Bremen – several interesting museums for an afternoon outing 

Right on Böttcherstraße is the  Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum , the first museum in the world dedicated to a woman, displaying the works of the early expressionist painter who lived in the artists’ community in nearby Worpswede.

The  Kunsthalle Bremen  art gallery has an impressive collection of pieces from the Renaissance to the modern day, including works by famous French and German Impressionists. It also houses temporary exhibitions of great quality.

The  Übersee Museum  (left photo below), next to the main train station (Hauptbahnhof), is home to the Bremen Ethnological Museum, one of the most emblematic cultural institutions in Northern Germany. It displays ethnological and natural history artifacts, taking visitors on an unforgettable journey across the globe.

The  Universum Science Center  (right photo below) allows visitors to understand scientific phenomena by experiencing them up close through demonstrations and daily science shows (reachable via Tram 6 from Hauptbahnhof – Stop Bremen Universität-Süd).

Things to do in Bremen – excellent acoustics concert venue for music lovers

The  Bremer Glocke  (The Bell) is a concert hall with out of the ordinary acoustics standing on the site of an octagonal bell-shaped building from the Middle Ages. Besides concerts, it hosts jazz events, readings, and cabaret performances, and it is definitely an authentic thing to experience during your visit. 

Things to do in Bremen – the Freimarkt in autumn

Ask any local, and they will tell you that Bremen has five seasons – winter, spring, summer, autumn, and Freimarkt season. Rooted in the centuries-old tradition that allowed the city of Bremen to hold a free market, the nowadays display of color and activity is the biggest festival in Northern Germany, attracting tourists and locals alike with its festive atmosphere. For the last two weeks of October there is nothing else to do in Bremen than enjoy and the correct local greeting is: Ischa Freimaak!  

Things to do in Bremen – the Christmas Market in winter

As soon as the Freimarkt is over, locals look forward to the next big event on the Marktplatz, the Christmas Market. Due to the characteristic fairytale atmosphere of the city center, this is one of the most beautiful and magical Christmas markets in the world, and to be very honest, my all times favorite. And I do say this after living in Vienna for 10 years. Alongside the  Schlachte Magical Christmas Market  on the Weser embankment, the Bremer Weinachtsmarkt will transport you to a world where miracles are possible.

The magic of Christmas in Bremen wonderfully captured by © Jens Hagens Fotografie (www.facebook.com/Jens.Hagens.Fotografie)

Things to do in Bremen – the Rhododendron Park in spring

Christmas is not the only magical time in Bremen. Wonderfully maintained gardens are the pride of all house owners, especially in spring during the blooming season. Distinctive for Northern Germany, the rhododendron blooms in a variety of colors and arrangements everywhere, making a walk along the street feel like a memorable thing to do in Bremen. One of the city’s most famous parks is dedicated to this special plant, an unforgettable experience for those who visit Bremen in May.

A walk in Rhododendron Park in May

Bremen – a perfect base for day trips  

Connections from the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) to neighboring cities are very good. If one has enough time, day trips to  Munster ,  Hannover , or  Hamburg , Germany’s second-biggest city, and a Lonely Planet recommended destination for 2018, are all worthwhile. For those wishing to explore the countryside, a visit to the artists’ villages of  Fischerhude  or  Worpswede  is highly recommended. Worpswede can also be reached by a Weser cruise via Vegesack. The North Sea towns of  Bremerhaven and  Cuxhaven  are also easily accessible from Bremen. For a thoroughly authentic experience, plan ahead to visit the Neuwerk Island by horse-drawn carriage from Cuxhaven when the tides are low.

Bremen is a place I dearly come back to with every opportunity, one of my dream destinations. Here are some impressions from the Bremer Marktplatz during one of my mother’s and my many visits

If you are still not convinced or need a bit more help planning your weekend escape to Bremen, I will let you in on a little secret. I actually lived there for five years during my university studies, thus I pride myself with being almost a local. The  contact button  is there for you to use – drop me a line and get your own personalized itinerary with things to do in Bremen on a weekend getaway! 

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Bremen Tourism: Visit the Hanseatic City

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The Town Musicians of Bremen are not only known world-wide. Their plan of travelling to Bremen is still a really good idea today. Bremen's urban diversity, vibrant culture and laid-back, tolerant atmosphere is what makes the city so fascinating. Bremen is always ready to welcome visitors with open arms, with its almost infinite variety of arts, music, experiences, gastronomic delights and scientific wonders, against the imposing backdrop of a World Heritage site!

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Let's go to Bremen!

Let yourself be carried away by the emerging wanderlust and plan your trip to Bremen to experience the Hanseatic city live and in colour. We have adapted our cancellation conditions for you to facilitate a risk-free booking of your trip and corresponding experiences. Package deals can be cancelled free of charge up to eight days before arrival. Our city tours can be cancelled free of charge up to one day before arrival. Additionally, various hotels even offer free cancellation of bookings up until the day of arrival. Let's go! Start planning your trip to Bremen now!

Take an exciting tour with Augmented Reality

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Bremen for Every Occasion

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Bremen for...

Tips for planning your visit.

Bremen's always worth a visit, no matter whether you're travelling with your best friend, your partner, the family, a group or on your own. In addition to its multitude of tourist attractions, this vibrant city in the heart of north-west Germany offers cultural and culinary delights, a laid-back Hanseatic atmosphere and an exuberant variety of activities and shopping opportunities. You'll find a wealth of insider tips and useful information to help you get the very best from your trip to Bremen here

Discounts and special offers

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Give Bremen as a gift

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Mobility and traffic

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Experience Bremen in a Sustainable Way

Spend eco-friendly and sustainable days in Bremen.

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Advice and Useful Information for your Bremen Trip

Would you like personal advice for your trip to or your stay in Bremen? Are you looking for concrete or inspiring tips? Then we from the Bremen Tourism Team are here for you. Whether in conversation or with various publications - here you are always well advised.

ArtPeeks – ART'N'WALK through the City

Take a walk around and discover Bremen's art in public spaces

Bremen Travel Guide

Top 8 Things to Do in Bremen

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Bremen, Germany’s smallest state, is located in the north of the country, around 75 miles southwest of Hamburg . The city is often associated with the four animals riding piggyback – characters from the Brother’s Grimm fairy tale “ Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten " (The Bremen Town Musicians). An iconic bronze statue on Bremer Marktplatz (Bremen’s main square) is one of the city’s most photographed attractions.

But Bremen, stretched on both sides of the river Weser, offers much more. The city, once a member of the medieval Hanseatic League, is home to a unique street built completely in Art Nouveau style, there is a medieval quarter and magnificent Bremer Rathaus (Bremen Town Hall) which is one of the most important examples of brick Gothic architecture in Europe.

Discover the best of Bremen.

The Bremen Town Musicians

TripSavvy / Faye Strassle 

Bremen’s most famous mascots are a rooster, cat, and dog riding piggyback on a donkey. These characters from the Brother’s Grimm fairy tale “The Bremen Town Musicians” (Bremer Stadtmusikanten) have been immortalized by the German sculptor Gerhard Marck’s, who created a bronze statue of the fairy tale animals.

Located next to the Town Hall ( Rathaus ), the Bremen Town Musicians are the city’s most photographed attraction and the donkey’s nose is shiny golden from all the visitors who touch it for good luck.

Beck's Brewery

The world-famous Beck’s beer is brewed on the riverbanks in Bremen. Beck’s and its local version, Haake Beck’s , have been crafted here since 1879.

For a glimpse behind the scenes of the brewery, take a tour which includes access to the brewing rooms, malt silos and fermentation tans, and then educate yourself in the Beck's beer museum. Of course you can't leave without sampling the beer, too! There is a bar and bottles to take away as a souvenir .

Bremen Town Hall

TripSavvy / Faye Strassle

In the heart of Bremen, you’ll find the striking Marktplatz (market square) in the center of the city. It is dominated by the opulent Bremen Town Hall. The building, which is part of the of the UNESCO World Heritage List , dates back to the 15th century and is one of the most important examples of brick Gothic architecture in Europe.

Wine connoisseurs should check out the restaurant of the Town Hall. The Bremer Ratskeller has been offering German wines for over 600 years, and one of the oldest German wines, dating back to 1653, is still stored in its original barrel in the basement of the restaurant.

Bremen Roland

Another famous citizen of Bremen is Knight Roland, the city’s century-old protector. Charlemagne’s knight was immortalized in 1404, and his towering 10-meter statue, holding a sword and a shield decorated with the Imperial eagle, stands guard for Bremen and its people.

In 2004, Roland was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List , and you can find him on Bremen’s main square facing the impressive cathedral.

Böttcherstraße

Bremen’s most famous street is Böttcherstraße , a unique street built completely in Art Nouveau style. Walk through the spectacular golden entrance and you’ll find a narrow lane lined with red brick and sandstone buildings that are adorned with intricate facades, reliefs, colorful windows, and the city's Glockenspiele . Running from Bremen’s main square to the river Weser, Boettcherstrasse is home to arts and crafts shops museums, as well as the Hilton Hotel, which is set in the historic Atlantishaus.

Schnorr Quarter

Filled with well-preserved medieval houses, the small Schnoor quarter is a great place to stroll around. Its crooked lanes are home to old fisherman houses that have been transformed into cafes, specialty shops as well as art galleries. Look out for the Hochzeitshaus , which claims to be the smallest hotel in the world.

Hachez Chocolatier

For a sweet souvenir, check out Hachez, a traditional Bremen chocolatier. Located close to Bremen’s main square, the shop offers everything from pralines and cocoa truffles, to the famous Bremen Kluten (peppermint sticks covered in chocolate).

Christmas Market in Bremen

If you arrive in the city for Christmas, you are in fro a treat. Bremen hosts an excellent Christmas market with traditions like a massive pyramid and nativity scenes along the waterfront promenade. There is a medieval market, steaming cups of Feuerzangenbowle and delicious food right from the sea.

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15 Top Attractions & Things to Do in Bremen, Germany

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 28, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Officially known by the rather lofty title of the "Free Hanseatic City of Bremen" (Freie Hansestadt Bremen), Bremen is situated on Germany's lower Weser River an hour's drive west of the major port city of Hamburg .

Itself one of the largest seaports and centers of seaborne trade in the country, this vibrant port city is one of the best places to visit for an authentic northern Germany vacation.

The greater Bremen area also includes the important port of Bremerhaven . Just 60 kilometers north of the city of Bremen, it's here that the River Weser flows into the North Sea. Both cities are also popular places from which to embark on sightseeing boat trips and river cruises of the dramatic scenery to be found in this part of the country.

Bremen has also long been an important cultural center, boasting numerous top attractions and plenty of fun things to do. Key events in the city's cultural calendar include the Freimarkt, the country's largest funfair, and one that has taken place here almost continuously since 1036. Also fun is catching a concert by the International Youth Symphony Orchestra of Bremen.

Other memorable experiences for tourists include exploring the historic Old Town (Altstadt) on foot. It's a very pedestrian-friendly city, ensuring that a leisurely stroll through Bremen's many fine parks and green spaces is never noisy or crowded.

To help you find the best places to visit in this exciting corner of Germany , check out our list of the top attractions and fun things to do in Bremen.

See also: Where to Stay in Bremen

1. Explore Bremen's Historic Marktplatz

2. experience an authentic german christmas market, 3. take a tour of bremen town hall, 4. wander through bremen's medieval schnoor quarter, 5. see the cathedral of st. peter, 6. take a stroll along the böttcherstrasse, 7. enjoy a boardwalk stroll along the schlachte, 8. get your art fix at kunsthalle bremen, 9. see the blossoms at rhododendron-park and mühle am wall, 10. get smart at universum bremen, 11. explore the overseas museum, 12. learn about bremen's history at the focke museum, 13. visit the german maritime museum in bremerhaven, 14. take a drive to the valentin submarine pens, 15. see the views from the zarm drop tower, where to stay in bremen for sightseeing.

There's no better way to get to know a German town or city than making a beeline for the community's old marketplace, or Marktplatz. Located in the Old Town (Altstadt) and very much the beating heart of this historic city, the picturesque Marktplatz is home to many of Bremen's top attractions.

Here, you'll find the lovely old Town Hall (Bremer Rathaus), one of the most iconic buildings in Germany for its mix of Gothic and Renaissance designs.

Equally famous is the five-and-a-half-meter-tall statue of Germany's most famous knight, Roland. Erected in 1404, the statue, the oldest of numerous such monuments dotted around the country, remains a symbol of the city's freedom and independence from the church. Stop for a look and you'll notice the statue in fact faces the city's main church defiantly.

Address: Am Markt 2, 28195 Bremen

If you're planning on visiting Germany in winter , Bremen's Marktplatz is also the site of the city's popular Christmas Market (Bremer Weihnachtsmarkt) . This spectacular celebration of the season lasts for a whole month in the lead-up to Christmas.

It's a great excuse for a visit to Bremen, especially for couples seeking romantic things to do in winter, and is especially fun at night due to the many festive light displays.

Bremen's historic Marktplatz is also where the city's famous Freimarkt , or "Free Fair," is held. This ancient fair has taken place here for almost 1,000 years. Attracting over four million visitors a year, this two-week-long event culminates in a colorful parade that's well worth seeing.

As you explore this large public space, you'll likely stumble across Bremer Geschichtenhaus . This fun "living history" museum uses costumed characters to tell many fascinating stories from the city's history from the 17th to 20th centuries and is well worth the cost of admission.

Read More: Top-Rated Christmas Markets in Germany

Bremen Town Hall (Bremer Rathaus), also sometimes referred to as City Hall, is a beautiful brick Gothic structure located in the city's Marktplatz. Built in 1410, it's famous for its sumptuous Renaissance facade added later in 1612. Now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the building boasts one of the most elegant banqueting and reception halls in Germany.

Measuring an impressive 40 meters in length, 13 meters across, and eight meters high, its most notable feature is a large painting of the Judgment of Solomon dating from 1537. Also of note is a richly carved spiral staircase, just one of the many features that can be seen up close when you join in one of the regular and extremely informative guided tours.

Regular free concerts are held at the old Town Hall, too, including vocal soloists and organ recitals. You'll also notice, located under its northwest tower, an eye-catching yet unusual bronze sculpture of a rooster standing on a cat standing on a dog that's standing on a donkey. Known as the Bremen Town Musicians , these fascinating characters are straight out of the pages of a famous local folk tale.

Adding to the fun is a unique manhole cover in the road that doubles as a collection box. Drop in some change, and you'll be rewarded by a call from one of the Town Musicians themselves by way of a thank you.

Address: Am Markt 21, 28195, Bremen

The charming medieval district of Schnoor, most commonly referred to as the " Schnoor Quarter ," is named after the traditional rope-making trades that once flourished here. The oldest part of Bremen, it was also once the poorest part of the city.

These days, though, Schnoor is now the haunt of artists and other creative types and is an amazing area to explore for its many well-preserved 15th- to 18th-century homes. In addition to the many cafés and craft shops that now dot the district, highlights include the Schifferhaus, or Shipper's House . Built in 1630, it's now a private museum.

Also worth a visit is the lovely Landherrnamt . Dating from 1856, it was once home to the state government and notable for its well-preserved Neo-Romanesque façade. Nearby St. John's Church , a 14th-century brick-built Gothic place of worship, is also worth a visit.

Address: Hutfilterstraße 16-18, 28195, Bremen

The Cathedral of St. Peter in Bremen , known locally as St. Petri Dom, dates from the 11th century, with later additions being made in the 13th and 16th centuries. The exterior, with its twin 98-meter-tall towers, was restored in 1898, while its richly decorated Baroque pulpit was a gift from Queen Christina of Sweden in the 17th century.

A must-visit is the fascinating Cathedral Museum (Dom-Museum), located in the Bleikeller, or Lead Cellar. Here, you'll have a chance to see eight well-preserved mummies, the remains of medieval archbishops, along with displays of other items related to their tombs. A nominal admission charge is required to visit the cathedral's tower, but it's well worth it for the views.

Address: Sandstraße 10-12, 28195 Bremen

Bremen's narrow Böttcherstrasse , transformed between 1926-31 into a street of museums, is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. Although only 100 meters long, its many examples of unusual expressionist architecture make it tremendously fun to explore.

Fortunately, you can't miss the entrance to this interesting neighborhood: simply look for the "Light Bringer" (Lichtbringer). This impressive gold sculpture is located above the not-so-secret archway entrance. While strolling, be sure to pop into some of the street's unique shops and galleries, as well as the famous Glockenspiel House with its thrice-a-day chime.

Another must-see here is the wonderful Paula Becker-Modersohn Museum . The museum is the world's first gallery dedicated to the art of a single woman and is housed in a specially designed expressionist brick building. Highlights of the collection include photos, paintings, and documents relating to the artist, as well as displays of work by her contemporaries.

Also of interest to art lovers is Roselius-Haus. Built in 1588 and home to the Ludwig Roselius Museum , it contains many fine examples of Low German art from the Gothic to Baroque periods.

Address: Böttcherstrasse, D-28195, Bremen

Another of Bremen's must-visit districts is the Schlachte. This pleasant Old Town pedestrian zone follows the River Weser's east bank and can trace its history all the way back to the 13th century. Named after the wooden piles driven deep into the ground to support the riverbank, this charming boardwalk area started off as the city's original port and harbor.

However, as the shipping industry changed, with larger vessels becoming the norm, it fell into disuse. After a great deal of rejuvenation, the Schlachte is now a wonderful place to spend time. In fact, one of the top-rated things to do in Bremen at night is to simply spend time strolling the promenade or stopping in at one of the many cafés and restaurants housed in the old warehouses.

You'll also enjoy seeing the many old historic vessels docked here, some of which now serve as unique hotels and restaurants, alongside their more modern cousins. Others are set up to offer tourists fun riverboat cruises.

The Kunsthalle , located in the center of Bremen's Old Town, opened in 1849 and contains numerous fine 17th-century Dutch paintings, as well as many old German masters dating as far back as the 14th century.

Other highlights include its collection of French and Dutch paintings of the 19th and 20th centuries, works by painters from the famous Worpswede artists' colony, and more than 220,000 drawings and prints, one of the largest such collections in Europe.

The museum also houses a sizeable collection of notable sculptures, as well as a collection of works in modern media. Guided and audio tours are available in English, and a first-class restaurant with a terrace is located on-site.

Fans of modern art will want to also include the Weserburg Museum of Modern Art on their itinerary. One of the country's largest modern art galleries, the Weserburg hosts frequently changing exhibits of artwork from artists around the world.

Address: Am Wall 207, 28195, Bremen

Bremen's 114-acre Rhododendron-Park (Rhododendron-Park und Botanischer Garten Bremen) was established in 1933 and is a wonderful place to explore, whether you're a nature lover or a gardener. In addition to its huge collection of rhododendrons and azaleas, it's also home to the eight-acre Bremen Botanical Garden.

Created in 1905 with plant species from alpine regions, Asia, Australia, and the Americas, the park is also home to more than 1,000 native plant species, some of them endangered. Also located within the Rhododendron-Park is a lovely old windmill, the Mühle am Wall, built in 1888 and now a heritage building, which houses one of Bremen's top restaurants.

Another garden-related attraction worth visiting is Botanika Bremen , a pleasant botanical garden, which also offers fun things to do for kids, including a playground.

Address: Deliusweg 40, 28359, Bremen

One of Bremen's newest attractions, Universum Bremen is also one of its most interesting architecturally. Built in 2000 and looking not unlike a large, partially opened clam or a grinning whale, depending on where you're standing, the building was made from more than 40,000 metal tiles.

This first-rate science center is home to some 300 fascinating hands-on exhibits focusing on human history, the earth, and the cosmos.

A recent addition to the attraction is EntdeckerPark, which includes the Turm der Lüfte , a 27-meter-tall tower with superb views of the area, as well as a restaurant, which runs interesting "dining in the dark" experiences, one of the more fun things to do at night in Bremen. A variety of educational programs, science shows, and workshops are also available.

Address: Wiener Straße 1a, 28359, Bremen

The Overseas Museum (Übersee-Museum Bremen) has many excellent collections related to natural history, trade, and ethnography, including displays focusing on the South Seas, Australia, and Asia.

The magnificent building itself is listed, and highlights of the museum include exhibitions related to Bremen's import and export trade. Free English-language brochures, educational materials, and audio guides are available when purchasing tickets, as are guided tours in English.

Address: Bahnhofsplatz 13, 28195, Bremen

For those with the time and the interest to learn more about the rich human and cultural history of Bremen, a visit to the Focke Museum could be just the ticket. Established in 1924, the museum complex covers an 11-acre site in a leafy neighborhood of the city and consists of a number of interesting structures built between the early 1500s and late 1800s.

Highlights of a visit include a permanent exhibit focusing on the city's 1,200-year history, which includes numerous antiquities along with more recent artifacts such as a fascinating automaton, a lifeboat, and unique collections of furniture, farm tools, toys, and glass. If traveling with kids, head for the attic of Haus Riensberg, where they can enjoy a variety of fun hands-on experiments.

Address: Schwachhauser Heerstraße 240, 28213, Bremen

Located in Bremerhaven's Old Harbor a little more than 60 kilometers north of Bremen, the German Maritime Museum (Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum) is a superb museum dedicated to the country's rich seafaring history.

Notable among its exhibits is a Bremen "kogge," an old Hanseatic merchant ship; a Mark XXI submarine from WWII; the four-masted tall ship, the Seute Deern with its on-board restaurant; and the old paddle steamer, the Meißen .

Also of interest is a 112-meter-tall radar tower with a viewing platform, as well as exhibits relating to European shipping from prehistoric to modern times. Afterward, be sure to spend time exploring Bremerhaven itself, in particular the harbor area with its busy fishing port.

Address: Hans-Scharoun-Platz 1, 27568 Bremerhaven

The Valentin Submarine Pens (Denkort Bunker Valentin) is another historic attraction that's of interest to war buffs. Located about halfway between Bremen and Bremerhaven, it was here that the Germans built and maintained many of the navy's U-Boats during WW2.

Once the country's largest fortified U-boat facility, this huge concrete structure still impresses with its vast dimensions and durability. Today, this huge structure can be visited and explored as part of a guided tour.

Another interesting science-related attraction that's well worth seeing in Bremen is the fascinating Zarm Drop Tower . Located in Bremen University and a 15-minute drive from the city center, this 146-meter-tall structure was built for zero-gravity experiments, something it's still known for to this day.

Built in 1990, it's well-known to researchers the world over. For those interested in science, there's also the occasional opportunity to watch experiments being undertaken. Among tourists, though, this tall, pencil-like structure is known for its superb views over Bremen .

English-language guided tours are available. Lasting up to 90 minutes, they take in the labs and research areas, with visitors being able to climb the tower itself afterward. Age restrictions do apply, with guests over 12 and up welcome to join the tours.

Address: Am Fallturm 2, 28359 Bremen

Luxury Hotels :

• Those seeking a high-class stay couldn't do much better than booking into the historic Hommage Parkhotel Bremen . This elegant five-star luxury lakefront hotel is unique for its peaceful parkland setting, classic décor, as well as its amenities, including a sauna and outdoor heated pool.
• Another good choice in the luxury hotel category is the chic ATLANTIC Grand Hotel Bremen, which offers upscale rooms and suites just a few minutes' walk away from the Old Town Hall and cathedral.
• The boutique-style Hotel Munte am Stadtwald is popular with families for its proximity to top attractions like the Universum science center, as well as its spacious rooms and world-class amenities, including a restaurant, spa, swimming pool, and four saunas.

Mid-Range Hotels :

• The modern-looking Dorint City-Hotel Bremen , located just a short stroll from the city's main railway station and overlooking a large park near the Old Town, is a great choice for those seeking a reputable mid-range hotel with comfortable rooms. It also has a spa and fitness center.
• Equally suitable is Motel One Bremen , a three-star hotel with modern and stylish rooms, comfortable beds, and bike rentals, which are very handy to get to nearby attractions such as the Marktplatz, as well as those a little further afield.
• Check availability at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Bremen , too. This quality four-star location offers clean, modern rooms, and is within easy walking distance of major tourist attractions such as the Old Town Hall.

Budget Hotels :

• A favorite place to stay for those seeking affordable accommodations, the B&B Hotel Bremen-Altstadt features budget rates and a sleek space-themed design, all in a convenient Old Town location.
• Another recommendation is INNSiDE by Melia Bremen . Although a rather plain-looking building and situated a few kilometers away from the downtown core, this hotel offers superb river views, as well as clean, comfortable, affordable rooms.
• Finally, be sure to check out Select Hotel City Bremen . While on the higher end of the budget scale, its clean rooms and great location just minutes away from the heart of the Old Town by foot make the slightly higher costs worthwhile.

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Trains Take away the Strain : Thanks to its fast, efficient, comfortable, clean, and extremely punctual railway network, Germany is a delight to explore by train. Just an hour away from Bremen by rail, the port city of Hamburg boasts plenty of fun things to see and do . Highlights include exploring its vast port area with its many fine tourist attractions. Be sure to make time for the International Maritime Museum, as well as its inner city lakes, the Inner and Outer Alster.

Also easy to get to by rail, lovely Hanover offers amazing historic architecture to explore, from the Old Town Hall and churches in the Marktplatz, to the elegant New Town Hall and majestic Opera House.

Although further afield, the three-hour train ride to the university city of Düsseldorf is worth it for the chance to stroll along the beautiful Königsallee, widely regarded as Germany's most elegant avenue.

Medieval Architecture : The Germans have done a tremendous job of preserving, or even rebuilding, the many fine examples of medieval architecture found within their borders. The beautiful town of Augsburg , for example, features many magnificent medieval-era buildings, one of the finest examples being its 11th-century cathedral.

Then, of course, there's Nuremberg , which boasts one of the largest collections of medieval structures anywhere in Europe, including its famous castle and Old Town Walls.

However, no destination in Europe quite matches Rothenburg when it comes to the sheer quantity of well-preserved medieval architecture. Here, you'll find everything from the beautiful 13th-century Town Hall (Rathaus) and the nearby 14th-century Council Tavern, numerous old churches, and many fine old half-timbered houses, which together make Rothenburg one of the prettiest of German towns.

Big City Escapes : Germany's many big cities have also done their bit to preserve their past. Some of the best examples, of course, can be found in the country's capital, Berlin , where in the space of a few minutes' walk you'll find the splendid Brandenburg Gate, the opulent Charlottenburg Palace, and the city's famous Museum Island, home to five of the country's oldest and most important museums.

Other big city destinations to consider visiting include Frankfurt , where you can wander one of the largest public squares in Europe while taking in its many beautiful half-timbered homes and merchant buildings, now home to great restaurants and boutique shops, and Cologne (Köln) , famous for its magnificent cathedral and well-preserved Old Town.

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• Destinations

Bremen travel guide

The old Hanseatic town of Bremen lies far inland up the River Weser and, together with the port of Bremer­haven, 57 km (35 miles) fur­ther to the north, com­pris­es Ger­ma­ny’s smallest state.

The city was found­ed in the 8th cen­tu­ry and was raised to the status of a bishop’s city in 789 by Char­le­magne. It was once known as the “Rome of the north” due to the fact that it was the departure point for the missionaries who con­vert­ed the Scandinavians to Chris­ti­an­i­ty. In 1358, Bremen joined the Hanseatic League and in 1646 be­came a Free Imperial City. The grandiose Rathaus is a wonderful example of Weser architecture. 

Today, Bremen is Germany’s second-largest port after Hamburg, important for the shipment of motor vehicles, cereals, cotton, wool, coffee and tobacco. 

Places to visit in Bremen

The grand rathaus.

www.rathaus.bremen.de

Overlooked by the twin-­towered St Petri-Dom, parts of which date from the 11th cen­tury, the city’s focal point is its sprawling square, at its centre the grandiose Rathaus (Town Hall), a splendid example of Weser Renaissance architecture.

A huge medieval figure of the knight Roland, the guardian of civic liberties, stands in the square, contrasting with a droll modern sculpture which has become a city emblem: the Bremen Town Musicians (Stadtmusikanten); a cockerel, cat, dog and donkey, come from a folk tale popularised by the Brothers Grimm. 

Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum - for art lovers

www.pmbm.de

The Weser waterfront with its bars and restaurants is reached from the square by the unusual Böttcherstrasse, a street laid out in the 1920s and 30s and flanked by brick buildings in Expressionist style. Among its shops and museums is the Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum, named after the best-known painter from the early 20th artists’ colony established in the nearby village of Worpswede.

Amble through the Schnoorviertel

Bremen’s other most attractive­ streets are in the Schnoorviertel, the picturesque and much-tidied-up former fisherfolk’s quarter. 

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• Visiting northern Germany? Try Germany's second city, Hamburg

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Never mind that the donkey, dog, cat and cockerel celebrated in the folk tale forgot all about their goal as soon as they had a roof over their heads, brochures and innumerable souvenirs cheerfully proclaim Bremen “die Stadt der Stadtmusikanten” (the Town of the Town Musicians). A more eloquent insight into what makes Bremen tick is that it is the smallest Land of the Federal Republic, a declaration of Bremeners’ independence that is a leitmotif of a 1200-year history. In the twentieth century alone, Bremen proclaimed itself a socialist republic in 1918, and in 1949 it was the only former Land except Hamburg to wrest back its city-state accreditation. Small wonder that Germans view it as a stronghold of provocative politics. Blame the medieval port.

Bremerhaven

Lower saxony, braunschweig, down the weser river, hameln (hamelin), hannover (hanover), the lüneburg heath, wolfenbüttel, brief history.

Bremen’s port introduced free-thinking attitudes as part and parcel of the wealth the city enjoyed after it received free-market rights in 965 AD, just two hundred years after Charlemagne’s Bishop Willehad planted a crucifix among the Saxons and Bremen was officially born. By the eleventh century, when Bremen was being acclaimed a Rome of the North, the grumbles of a merchant class about its ecclesiastical governors crescendoed until, emboldened by the city’s admission to Europe’s elite trading-club, the Hanseatic League, in 1358, they flared into open hostility. Its legacy is one-upmanship in bricks and mortar – the Rathaus and chivalric Roland statue, both on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, and the nearby Dom, are a squabble in stone.

Bremen today

Self-confidence and a university have made Bremen a liberal city free of conservative hang-ups. Few southern German cities would allow an architectural fantasy like Böttcherstrasse to be dreamed up in their midst. As appealing, Bremen feels far smaller than a place with a population of one million – only around half that number live within the confines of the city (as opposed to its municipal boundaries) – and the centre feels more like a large town than city-state. The majority of sights are within the Altstadt elongated along the north bank of the Weser, bound to the north by its former moat. When the city burst outside its defences in the nineteenth century, it created the Ostertorviertel , aka “das Viertel”, today the home of a lively bar district whose only rivals in summer are the riverside beer gardens on the Schlachte .

Bremen’s awesome foursome

It was the Grimm Brothers, during their collation of Lower Saxony folk tales, who popularized the age-old story of the Bremener Stadtmusikanten (Town Musicians of Bremen). The story goes that a donkey, dog, cat and cockerel, fearful of the slaughterhouse and cooking pot in their elderly years, journeyed to Bremen to seek a future as musicians. At nightfall they sought shelter in a house only to discover it was occupied by thieves. Undeterred, our heroes form an animal pyramid, the cockerel at the top and donkey at its base, and unleash their first performance – a caterwaul of brays, barks, meows and crowing. The robbers flee from the banshee outside the door and the four settle down to live happily ever after.

Decaffeinated coffee and degenerate art

Ludwig Roselius, who made his fortune through decaffeinated coffee, Kaffee Hag – the story goes he stumbled upon the secret using beans that had been soused in sea water – commissioned a team of avant-garde artists, notably sculptor Bernhard Hoetger , to jazz up the then-derelict Gothic houses of Böttcherstrasse with cutting-edge Jugendstil, Art Deco and Expressionist styles. Soon after the opening of his 110m “Kunst Schau” (Art Show) in 1931, the Third Reich condemned it as degenerate. Only Roselius’s wily suggestion that it should stand as a warning against further cultural depravity saved it from demolition.

As its port silted, Bremen petitioned the King of Hanover to acquire the land between the Geeste and Weser rivermouths and so was founded Bremerhaven in 1827. The largest working port in Germany after Hamburg, it’s no charmer – the centre was thrown up at rapid pace after 95 percent of the port was obliterated by air raids – and has long had a utilitarian air. This is, after all, the town that has the world’s longest quay (4.9km) and is Germany’s premier fishing port. Yet “Fischstadt” is raising its game. Central harbours have been renovated as a focus for two superb museums, the Deutsches Auswanderen Museum and Klimahaus Bremerhaven , and billion-euro architecture projects such as the Atlantic Hotel Sail City (viewing platform €3), modelled on Dubai’s signature Burj Al-Arab hotel.

If Lower Saxony is little known by foreign visitors, that’s probably because it lacks the sort of definitive city or landscape that helps to cement other German states in the mind. The second largest Land in Germany after Bavaria, it’s a neutral ground, sharing more borders than any other state. Scenically, it’s a region of rolling hills between low mountains and the plains at the Dutch border. Architecturally, too, it represents a middle ground that segues from the half-timbered country to a red-brick coast. It’s tempting to put this lack of identity down to history. Niedersachsen, as Germans know it, only came into being in 1946 through the redrawing of the map by the British military.

Yet Lower Saxony has deeper roots. Though misleading for a state that lies above, not below, present-day Saxony, the moniker is a reflection of the Saxon tribe that populated the region long before Germany existed as a defined entity. This was the stamping ground of mighty Saxon duke Henry the Lion (Heinrich der Löwe), a European powerbroker of the twelfth century, and the state would probably have retained the name “Saxony” had his humbling not led to the slow migration of the Saxon powerbase up the Elbe to the state that now bears its name.

The watchword when touring, then, is diversity – both of attractions and in scenery that morphs from brooding highlands in the Harz via the undulating Lüneburg Heath to the salty air and mudflats of the North Sea coast. While the state benefits from a low population density, its eastern half is the most urban, partly due to state capital Hannover , the hub around which all life (and transport) revolves. But even this city of gardens and art is small fry in national terms, with just over half a million people. The second urban centre is Braunschweig , which preserves the monuments from its era as the powerbase of Henry the Lion.

Yet this most industrialized part of the state defies easy categorization. Within half an hour in either direction of Braunschweig lie destinations as distinct as Wolfsburg , definitively modern as the wellspring of Volkswagen, and the daydreaming former ducal town of Wolfenbüttel . The latter is as good an introduction as any to the small historic towns dotted throughout the state. Places such as UNESCO-listed provincial town, Hildesheim , or Celle , whose picture-book, half-timbered Altstadt stands in contrast with the absurdly picturesque red-brick core in Lüneburg . Hameln , of Pied Piper fame, is another world again in an Altstadt characterized by Weser Renaissance styles as well as its hilly hinterland, the Weserbergland, which swoops south along the Fairytale Road. It’s a popular cycling (and canoeing) touring route, taking in such picture-book half-timbered towns as Hann. Münden, en route to Göttingen , the university town that stops the area south to Frankfurt from falling asleep in a surfeit of sunshine and small-town life.

Separated northwest on the flatlands where North Rhine-Westphalia bites a chunk out of the state is Osnabrück , the hub of western Lower Saxony state whose history of peace-broking may have contributed to its accreditation as the happiest city in Germany. The western half of the state above Osnabrück is the least interesting in terms of scenery – much of the sparesely-populated area incorporates East Frisia (Ostfriesland), which owes as much to Holland in landscape as it does in its dialect, Plattdeutsch. The reason to come north is Bremen , a splendid former maritime power which, with its North Sea port of Bremerhaven , represents a state in its own right – independent and fiercely proud of it.

After nearly a millennium of habit Braunschweig routinely tags itself “Die Löwenstadt”. The lion refers to Saxon duke Henry the Lion (Heinrich der Löwe), a giant of twelfth-century Europe who commanded the last great independent duchy of fledgling Germany. His territory comprised a great swathe north to Kiel – he founded Lübeck and Lüneburg among other towns – and much of present-day Bavaria; Munich is another of his creations. His capital, however, was Braunschweig, and the high points of the state’s second largest city after Hannover are intrinsically bound up with its founder despite an illustrious history that again flared into brilliance in the mid-1700s as a ducal Residenzstadt. However, Braunschweig is not the most instantly appealing destination in the state – as the epicentre of Lower Saxony’s industry, it was badly damaged in 1944. But as a major transport junction it is one you’re sure to pass through and there are a couple of appealing day-trips to Wolfenbüttel and Wolfsburg within half an hour.

Celle is just half an hour from Hannover but the distance in atmosphere is centuries. While the bombs rained on the state capital, this small town emerged unscathed, a charming miniature of the seventeenth-century townscape lost in Hannover. As one of the finest half-timbered towns in Germany, Celle gets more than its share of tourists; indeed it’s worth an overnight visit just to enjoy it free of day-trippers. However, it remains – just – more market town than museum piece. Either way, it owes its fame to the dukes of Braunschweig-Lüneburg. Banished from Lüneburg in 1378, the nobles crossed the Lüneburg Heide and made Celle an aristocratic Residenzstadt for nearly three centuries, encouraging the prosperity that built its streetscape. Celle is a testament that feudalism starts as a street plan: the ducal Schloss lies at the western edge of the Altstadt, whose parallel streets to the east run up towards it, a gesture of submission to the ducal yoke.

The Weser River, the arterial waterway of the Weserbergland, forges south of Hameln into countryside pillowed by woods and rolling fields. It provides a great excuse for touring, swinging alongside the Weser on the B83 for much of the way to Hann. Münden , swooping around broad meanders and hauling over wooded hills. Indeed, the journey is as much an attraction as the destinations en route.

Hann. Münden

As the marketing blurb mawkishly puts it, HANN. MÜNDEN , 40km south of Bad Karlshafen, is sited “where the Werra and Fulda kiss” to flow into the Weser River. Naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, who knew a thing or two about the world, having explored Russia and Latin America, declared it “one of the seven most beautifully sited towns in the world”. Never mind the scenery, it’s the Altstadt that wows in Hannoverisch Münden, to give it the full and rarely used title; a picture-book-pretty jumble of over seven hundred half-timbered houses clustered beside those burbling rivers and largely still girdled by its medieval fortifications. A tourist office booklet guides you around every carefully carved beam.

Göttingen calls itself the “City of Science” (Stadt die Wissenschaft); it has nurtured forty Nobel Prize winners and institutions such as the German Aerospace Centre and the Max-Planck-Institutes. But don’t let that put you off. For most visitors – and probably the majority of locals – the town is more about its café and bar culture than high culture. The root cause of both is the same: the Georg-August Universität . Founded in 1734 by Hannover elector Georg August, also known as King George II of Great Britain, the university grew into one of the intellectual think-tanks of Europe and boasted a roll-call of distinguished professors, among them Brothers Grimm, Jakob and Wilhelm. It also brings a city-sized vibrancy to a medium-sized town. One in five of the 130,000-strong population is a student, nurturing a free-thinking liberalism that harks back to the Göttingen Seven, an academic grouping that dared to question the authority of Hannover king Ernst August in 1837. Students and easy-going attitudes also mean nightlife – perhaps the primary reason to visit, whatever the value of the Hanseatic heritage.

Like Bremen with its town musicians, HAMELN must say a daily prayer in praise of fairytales. The rat-turned-child-catcher not only gave the small town international fame but a ready-made promotional angle. A Piper fountain gushes rodents and the tale is re-enacted weekly in summer. Even the Marktkirche has a Pied Piper window. Whatever the yarn would have you believe, the town has more than its fair share of children, too, because the ploy works. Such is its popularity – the town receives over 3.5 million tourists per year – that Hameln isn’t always the “pleasanter spot you never spied” as American Robert Browning describes in his poem of the tale. It is a good-humoured place, however, with few pretentions to greatness other than its historic Altstadt. It also serves as gateway to the lovely hill-and-river country of the Weserbergland south.

The Pied Piper legend

Hameln, June 1284 : a stranger in multicoloured clothes strikes a deal with the town council over payment to lift a plague of rats that has infested the town. He pipes the rodents to their deaths in the Weser, yet the council renege on payment. The stranger returns while the citizens are in church, and, dressed in a hunter’s costume, exacts his revenge – 130 children follow his pipe from the town and are never seen again. Just two boys remain, one lame, the other deaf. Germany’s most famous legend was recognized in a stained-glass panel in the church as early as 1300. Academics agree the yarn is rooted in history – it is surely not coincidence that Hameln town records commence with the tragedy, which is reported as straight news a century later in a manuscript and given a date – June 26, 1284 – but hard facts remain elusive. The most plausible theory proposes nothing more fantastical than an exodus of citizens, Hameln “children” all, during colonization of eastern nations such as Pomerania and Prussia – the finger is often pointed at Count von Schaumberg who moved to Olmutz, now Chechnya. In the Grimm Brothers’ account, compiled from eleven sources, the children found a town in Transylvania. However, the presence of rats has led some scholars to propose a mass migration during the Black Death, a baton taken up by a theory that suggests the tale remembers an early plague in which the piper represents Death.

“Is Hannover the most boring city in Germany?” news weekly magazine Der Spiegel once asked. In a word, no, although the capital of Lower Saxony can appear every bit a faceless modern metropolis. When five of the world’s ten largest trade fairs roll into town, up to 800,000 businesspeople wheel, deal, then disappear, the majority probably unaware that they had been in a state capital which, from 1815 to 1866, ruled a kingdom in its own right. Eighty-eight air raids reduced the city from elegant aristocrat to war-torn widow and, with ninety percent of the centre reduced to rubble, the city patched up where possible, but largely wiped clean the slate.

It was some past to write off, too. The seventeenth-century dukes of Calenburg revitalized the former Hanseatic League member, and Ernst August ushered in a golden age for his royal capital in the late 1600s. Court academic Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz wowed Europe with his mathematical and philosophical theories and the arts blossomed, as did a Baroque garden seeded by the regent’s wife, Sophia; Hannover’s prize, it ranks among the finest in Europe. More significantly for British history, Sophia’s parentage as granddaughter of James I of England saw her son, plain old Georg Ludwig, metamorphose into George I of Great Britain in 1714 to begin the House of Hannover’s 120-year stint on the British throne.

Hannover today

Even if the city’s EXPO2000 exhibition turned out to be something of a damp squib – it attracted less than half the forty million people hoped for – that it happened at all sums up a vigorous, ambitious city. It’s a place with the bottle to reinvent itself through street art, from the Nanas at Hohen Ufer to the wacky bus- and tramstops commissioned to cheer up drab streets before EXPO. Similarly, there are some vibrant art museums and a bar and nightlife scene that is anything but boring. What it lacks is a landmark. Wartime destruction, then postwar planning, conspired to erase the coherence of Hannover’s core. Instead, the city may be at its best outside the centre: around the Maschsee lake for its art galleries or in the celebrated gardens , to the northwest. And it’s at its most fun in outlying neighbourhoods: in gentrifying restaurant and residential quarter List , seedy bar strip, Steintor , or in multicultural hipsters’ quarter, Linden-Nord . It’s a fair bet Der Spiegel didn’t visit.

Hannover and the British connection

It was 1700 and the English were in a bind: Queen Anne was old and her last child sickly. Parliament had scoffed previously at talk of a link between the Crown and the House of Hannover. But the legitimate claim of exiled Catholic James Edward Stuart, “the Old Pretender”, had concentrated Protestant minds. In 1701 the Act of Settlement declared the crown to “the most excellent princess Sophia, electress and duchess-dowager of Hannover” on the grounds that Electress Sophia von der Pfalz was a granddaughter of King James I, adding a caveat that “the heirs of her body being Protestant”. No matter that her son spoke no English, nor that his slow pedantic manner was spectacularly unsuited to the rough-and-tumble of the contemporary English court. Georg Ludwig, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, elector of Hannover, became George I in 1714 to begin 120 years of joint rule by the House of Hannover.

Of the four Georgian kings of Great Britain, George III was the first to take any interest in his new territory. George I and II were content to appoint a “prime minister” to rule as their representative, accidentally taking the first step towards the modern British political system. Indeed it was only with English-speaking George III that the Hanoverian dynasty got hands-on, but by then it was too late. A now-powerful parliament and fate – social unrest, the loss of the American colonies, not to mention the king’s mental illness – got in the way. Those woes conspired to make him the most abused monarch in British history. Shelley wrote about “an old, mad, blind, despised and dying king”, and liberal historians of the next century competed in their condemnation of him. Yet it was not bad press that did for joint rule. Salic law forbade the accession of women to head the kingdom of Hannover, newly declared at the Congress of Vienna in 1814. So when William IV died in 1837, Ernst August took up the crown in Hannover while his niece, Victoria , settled on to the throne in London.

Hannover festivals

The highlight of the festival year is the largest Schützenfest (Marksmen’s Festival; hannover.de/schuetzenfest) in Germany, held over ten days over the end of June and into July. Similar but more restrained is the Maschsee festival over nineteen days from the last Wednesday in July. Late May to early June brings world-music beano, the Masala Festival (masala-festival.de).

For centuries HILDESHEIM , 30km southeast of Hannover, starred on the check-list of every cultured Grand Tour of Europe. It was medieval Germany writ large, its two Romanesque churches among the finest on the continent and its Altstadt a half-timbered fairytale. So a night of firebombs on March 22, 1945, which ravaged the centre as the Allies targeted prestige cities to sap German morale during the war’s end-game, struck particularly hard. The town salvaged what it could and erected typically monstrous postwar rebuilds until, in 1984, the council took the unprecedented decision to re-create the former townscape. Uncharitably, then, the architectural highlights of Hildesheim are conscious antiquarianism at best, glorious fakes at worst. Yet UNESCO deemed the efforts worthy of its World Heritage list, an unexpected fillip to a beautification programme that seems likely to continue. Aside from the architecture, Hildesheim is a relaxed university town, pleasant, certainly, but also fairly provincial.

Few small towns in North Germany are so improbably picturesque as LÜNEBURG . Almost anywhere you go in the Altstadt will be a small-town streetscape of film-set looks. Yet despite the richness of its architecture, the small town is founded on the prosaic. Local salt mines were already being worked by the monks of St Michaelis here in 956 AD, and when Lüneburg’s citizens wrested independence from the Guelphic princes in 1371 and signed up to the mercantile Hanseatic League, exports of its “white gold” via Lübeck catapulted the town into the highest echelons of affluence. In its Renaissance golden era, Lüneburg was Europe’s largest salt producer, only to shrink suddenly into obscurity as its Hanseatic market waned. Salt production ceased in 1980. The flip-side of stagnation is preservation, however. Without funds for building, Lüneburg has had to make do with an Altstadt full of Hanseatic step-gables and brickwork like twisted rope. Indeed, salt continues to shape the town – subsidence of underground deposits causes the Altstadt to lean at decidedly woozy angles. Lüneburg’s Altstadt is ordered around two squares: Am Markt , the civic heartland above its historic port, the Wasserviertel; and elongated Am Sande at its southern end.

Welcome to the happiest town in Germany. Last decade a nationwide poll found citizens of OSNABRÜCK , the largest city in western Lower Saxony, more content than those anywhere else in Germany, inspiring a marketing campaign in Stern magazine that declared “ Ich komm zum Glück aus Osnabrück ” (I’m lucky to be from Osnabrück). A friendly small-scale city of modest charm and with a university to prevent it stagnating, it has much to be happy about.

In 1648 after more than four years of negotiations here and in Münster 60km south, Catholic and Protestant signatures dried on the Peace of Westphalia and the political and religious inferno of the Thirty Years’ War was finally doused. Osnabrück has treasured its diplomacy of peace ever since. Her two great sons, Justus Möser and Erich Maria Remarque, dreamed of ennobled, free workers and railed against war’s insanity respectively, and today Osnabrück proudly declares herself “Die Friedenstadt” (Peace City), host of Nobel Peace Prize-winners Henry Kissinger and the Dalai Lama, home of the German Foundation for Peace Research and the national branch of child-relief agency Terre des Hommes. Perhaps it’s no surprise that its finest museum-gallery pays homage to a Jewish artist murdered at Auschwitz.

The poor swordsmiths and the Peace of Westphalia

Protestant factions met in Osnabrück’s Rathaus for over four years to broker their half of the Peace of Westphalia (the Catholics were in Münster) and unpick the knotted conflicts of the Thirty Years’ War that had brought German cities to their knees. Once signed by both, city fathers stood on the Rathaus steps on October 25, 1648, and proclaimed the carnage over, a declaration greeted at first with disbelief by the crowd, then by tears and a spontaneous outburst of hymns. As a contemporary pamphlet relates: “Osnabrück and all the world rejoices, the joyful people sing, Flags fly bravely … I am only sorry for the poor swordsmiths for they have nothing to do.”

Spread between Celle and Lüneburg lie the open landscapes of the LÜNEBURG HEATH (Lüneburger Heide). Minimally populated in pretty Lower Saxon farming villages of red-brick and beams, the area has been mostly drained of its original moors to stand as a gently undulating, minimally farmed landscape. The heath is famed for the heather that lays a carpet of dusty purple from mid-August, auguring in a month of village fêtes to crown a Heather Queen: the week-long Heather Blossom Festival at Amelinghausen from the middle Saturday in August is the largest. Being mixed with broom, gorse and juniper, the heather also produces excellent honey and adds flavour to the shaggy Heidschnucke lambs, which are grazed here year-round. Some shepherds don traditional floppy hats and waistcoats for tourists.

Legendary libertine Giacomo Casanova spent “the most wonderful week of my entire life” there and Wilhelm Busch, father of the modern cartoon-strip, declared the place “marvellous”. Yet still WOLFENBÜTTEL is not as well known as it deserves to be. Having escaped war and mass tourism, this small town, with an ensemble of over six hundred half-timbered houses, has an almost fairytale quality, a blend of aristocracy and an erudite mindset that sees its museums publish websites in Latin. Partly to blame is the ducal House of Braunschweig which declared Wolfenbüttel a Residenzstadt in 1432. Under the Guelphic dukes’ three-century tenure, high culture flowered and the royal town metamorphosed into the first planned town in Renaissance Germany. And when the dukes shifted back to Braunschweig in 1753 they sent Wolfenbüttel into a deep sleep from which it seems yet to awake – one reason to go.

Around 121,000 people live in WOLFSBURG , but make no mistake, this is Volkswagen’s town. The village of the mid-1930s was reinvented almost overnight when Hitler’s Ford-inspired dream of a Volkswagen (literally “people’s car”) was realized in 1937 as a sprawling factory that began churning out the “Beetle” designed by Ferdinand Porsche. Aided by the economic pick-me-up of a postwar British military contract, an exception to enforced de-industrialization elsewhere, Volkswagen thrived, a fairy godmother of the German economy’s rags-to-riches Cinderella story. Such was the bad press at a threat to reduce operations at the world headquarters, Volkswagen was forced to shelve the plan.

The vast plant known as Autostadt , spread beside a canal behind the train station, is a rev-head’s paradise. VW’s intended car collection centre has morphed into a futuristic theme park of museums and rides. The five-storey ZeitHaus celebrates milestones in gleaming automotive history (Karl Benz’s 1886 tricycle, a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost and Auto Union “Silver Arrow” racing cars or the VW W12 which set a record 24-hour run of 7750km, an average speed of 323km/h) and also its icons (an Art Nouveau Bugatti designed by Jean Bugatti himself, gorgeous Cadillacs and Chevys and the millionth Mini from 1965).

In futuristic pavilions behind, Volkswagen indulges in entertaining self-promotion for its brands: Bugatti’s bling; Lamborghini’s power; reliable Skoda; dynamic Seat; futuristic Audi; and the quality and safety of Volkswagen. If you have toddlers in tow, there’s a good motor-themed crêche, and, for older kids, a computerized driving course to complete in mini VW Beetles. However, Autostadt’s star attraction is the 1930s brick factory itself, which at 8.4 square kilometres is four times larger than Monaco; only from a footbridge before Autostadt do you sense its scale. The most popular tours are made by mini-train around a few sections. Others ascend the company’s landmark cylindrical glass tower in which shiny cars await collection; you can even drive up. Other hands-on attractions such as tackling a 4WD terrain course (GeländeParcours) in a VW Touareg or Tiguan are provided as “training” activities.

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If you encounter harmful or inappropriate content, please provide feedback, or report a concern by sending /feedback in the chat window of Copilot on Telegram. You can also report your concern here: https://www.microsoft.com/concern/bing   

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Computex 2024: Acer reveals latest Swift, TravelMate and Aspire C series

• Athima Chansanchai, Writer

At Computex, Acer announced select series models in its upcoming lineup of laptops – such as the Swift 14 AI – and will include new generation AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors and a free update to Copilot+ PC experiences when available.

Stacked with more CPU and GPU cores made available in this class of AMD-powered PCs, and equipped with an ultra-efficient  NPU, the AMD processors deliver speed and performance on Acer’s new wave of AI PC offerings.

Copilot+ PCs are the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever built. Powered by silicon running at over 40 TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second), they arrive ready to accelerate your productivity and creativity with the latest AI tools. There’s Recall, which you can use to find anything you’ve seen on your PC instantly. There’s Cocreator, which enables you to create artwork from text prompts. And there’s Live Captions, which can provide subtitles for any spoken audio in real-time, translated into English from more than 40 languages. It’s a whole new way to use a PC, and it comes equipped with all-day battery life and the highest standard of Windows security available to help you work and play longer and safer.

AI-enhanced TravelMate business laptops also shared the spotlight at the event, with the P6 14 leading the charge with the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processors with Intel vPro Enterprise. Built-in Intel Graphics and Intel AI Boost unlock new AI experiences, performance and power efficiency.

These new business laptops come with Copilot in Windows accessible through a dedicated hotkey.

The Acer TravelMate P4 series laptops include the 2-in-1 Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14 , as well as 14- and 16-inch clamshell models , all with new performance, security and device management features to support professionals and IT technicians.

The TravelMate P4 Series PCs are designed to withstand the rigors of daily wear and tear without impeding performance, thanks to military-grade durability compliance. Acer Dust Defender helps minimize dust buildup internally, while privacy shutters and fingerprint readers for secured logins extend device protection.

Acer also announced the Aspire C Series desktops , powered by Intel Core Ultra processors. These PCs include AI-supported features such as Copilot in Windows – which leverages the power of AI to boost productivity and unlock creativity – and Windows Studio effects. Another addition: the Swift series models with new AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors .

Head over to Acer’s Media Center and the Acer Press Room to find out more on these and other announcements the company made at Computex.

Injury-hit Richmond Tigers down Adelaide Crows by eight points in thrilling AFL upset

Sport Injury-hit Richmond Tigers down Adelaide Crows by eight points in thrilling AFL upset

Richmond has produced a third-term blitz in an eight-point upset win over Adelaide which snaps an eight-game AFL losing streak. 

The Tigers defied a lengthy injury list and the absence of rested megastar Dustin Martin to triumph 12.7 (79) to 10.11 (71) at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.

Richmond produced six-goals on end in the penultimate quarter to heap more misery on the Crows - touted as potential finalists pre-season, they have just four wins, two more than the Tigers.

Tiger coach Adem Yze snapped an eight-game losing streak despite having 14 players unavailable because of injury.

Richmond's Justin Koschitzke faces match review scrutiny for a behind-play elbow to the body of Mark Keane which felled the Irish-born defender.

The blow came during Richmond's third-term onslaught when the visitors turned a one-point halftime deficit into a 22-point three quarter-time lead - the Tigers kicked 6.1 to 2.2 for the term.

The advantage should have been greater: minutes after Koschitzke's contact on Keane, the recalled forward took a mark and lined up for a shot at goal.

But a fracas developed and the ball was given to Adelaide when Cumberland aggressively pushed Keane over.

Cumberland's act took some gloss of his polished display while teammates Kamdyn McIntosh, Seth Campbell and Rhyan Mansell booted two goals each.

Tiger stalwart Jayden Short (31 disposals), Tim Taranto (26) and Liam Baker (24, one goal) were also productive.

On a bleak night for the Crows, Darcy Fogarty kicked three goals, captain Jordan Dawson (32 disposals) was superb and Josh Rachele scored two majors.

Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.

• 2h ago 2 hours ago Thu 6 Jun 2024 at 12:06pm FT: Richmond complete an upset eight-point win over Adelaide
• 2h ago 2 hours ago Thu 6 Jun 2024 at 12:00pm Less than five minutes to go!
• 2h ago 2 hours ago Thu 6 Jun 2024 at 11:53am Ten minutes left to play

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Live updates

Richmond def adelaide by eight points.

By Dean Bilton

That's it from the blog tonight!

Richmond's night it is then, as the Tigers grab their second win of the year and distance themselves further from North Melbourne at the bottom of the ladder.

Adelaide are now only two wins and a draw clear of the Tigers, a position that members and fans are unlikely to accept. What happens at the Crows between now and the end of the year will be one to watch.

From Daniel Miles and myself, thanks for your company and we look forward to seeing you back here tomorrow night for a bit more footy and a bit more blog. Until then, have a great Friday.

No one's safe...

By Daniel Miles

Spare a thought for Richmond's poor social media staffer.

Maybe it was their first win with the club as well...?

Matthew Nicks will have questions to answer

This is not how Adelaide's season was meant to be going. The Crows really should have played finals last year and seemed to be primed to take that step this year. Instead it has proven to be a sizable step back, with finals well and truly out of the equation and hope for seasons ahead dwindling too.

Opinions on Nicks's performance is split in Adelaide, and after a loss like this you can be sure that he will be one of the chief topics of conversation. Is he getting the most of the talent in this Adelaide list? Or is it the quality of the list that is the underlying issue?

This one meant a lot to the Tigers

Gatorade was flying in the Tigers change rooms after the match as some young Richmond players sang the song for the first time.

You get the sense this one was important to the Tigers, their first victory on the road under coach Adem Yze.

And now attention turns to the MCG next week for the Tigers, who will celebrate Dustin Martin's 300th AFL game in front of stand packed full of Richmond faithful.

The Tigers have recorded their first win since March

It's been a long-time coming and a tense final quarter, but the Tigers have outlasted the Crows to record a season-defining victory for the embattled Richmond outfit.

It was the Tiges' lesser-known names that shone in attack.

Cumberland kicked three, McIntosh two, and Noah Balta in defence was as solid as a rock.

It's Richmond's first win since they knocked over ladder-leaders Sydney in round three.

FT: Richmond complete an upset eight-point win over Adelaide

The Tigers have their second win of the season! They have flown into Adelaide and well and truly extinguished the flame on the Crows' finals plans — and who knows what comes next for Adelaide — holding on in a professional last quarter to complete the win.

It was a win built from forward pressure and a strong clearance performance, with the small forwards and nippy midfielders proving too damaging for the Crows to handle. Tim Taranto, Shai Bolton and Dion Prestia all came back in for this game and all had a big influence on the victory tonight.

Being honest, it wasn't the prettiest game and it became a battle of capitalising on errors. Adelaide were one-dimensional tonight and I thought their defence struggled again, perhaps with the exception of Mark Keane.

Boos from the Adelaide crowd greeted the final siren, which probably says it all. It's a successful Richmond ambush tonight.

The Tigers are going to hang on!

It's going to be a massive win for Adem Yze and his young side, and it's going to be a piercing defeat for Matthew Nicks and his team.

Siren seconds away.

Billy Dowling puts it out on the full!

The debutant had a chance to be a real hero, but his set shot from directly in front shanks out on the full.

Moments later Dowling gets another half-chance, but his quick snap falls short and is rushed through. Eight-point game, 2:13 to play.

The Crows dodge a bullet there!

The Tigers had bust out on the counter-attack and had Shai Bolton out with the whole 50 to himself. But the ball somehow evaded him, bouncing at right angles away from the silky Bolton.

The Tigers trap it inside their attacking end with another stoppage. Four minutes to play. Crows rapidly running out of time.

Less than five minutes to go!

This game has definitely gone up a notch.

The Adelaide crowd's on its feet.  

Do these young Tigers have the legs and experience to hold on?

Billy Dowling kicks a big goal on debut! Crows still alive!

The Tigers stopped for a second as a holding the ball decision was paid on the wing, and in that moment the Crows sprung forward and were gone.

Still stacks of work for Dowling to do, but from 45 out on the run he steadied and absolutely split the middle. It's a nine-point game, and still right up for grabs.

Ten minutes left to play

The Tigers are shutting the game down with repeat stoppages and making it hard for Adelaide to get any real run on. Still stacks of time with the margin only 15 points.

Richmond have made their sub now, with Tyler Sonsie coming off for Kane McAuliffe. Looks like a tactical one for some fresh legs. McAuliffe is a natural ball winner too and a really tough kid, just what these last few minutes are calling for.

SUB MADE: Crows bring McHenry in

An injury has forced Matthew Nicks's hand here.

Kieran Strachan - fresh off his first goal in AFL footy - has been given the red vest.

The Crows say he's injured his groin.

Ned McHenry is brought straight into the action.

Seth Campbell with a special finish! The Tigers do respond!

They've been running forward in waves all night tonight, and that is yet another flowing move and brilliant finish from a small Tigers forward.

Richmond forced two or three turnovers with big tackles in the lead up, with the ball eventually falling to Campbell running clear about 45 from goal on a tight angle. The drop punt faded back to perfection and reinstated a 15-point lead for Richmond.

Darcy Fogarty boots another one and the Crows are making a move

Two goals in as many minutes for Adelaide, who are very swiftly back in business here.

Balta just lost touch on Fogarty as another ball came in deep, and the Big Darcy is in too good a form to be allowed a clear run at the footy. What do the Tigers have now?

Is Kosi in trouble?

This isn't what Jacob Koschitzke needed on his return to AFL football.

Mark Keane took a while to get back to his feet after this, right before the three-quarter time siren.

Josh Rachele gives the Crows the hot start in the last

Just as they did in the third quarter, Adelaide come straight out of the first centre clearance and put a goal on the board.

Rachele made some space for himself in the marking contest with a little shove on Vlastuin and held on to the grab. He has two now, and it's back to 16.

3QT: Tigers burst out to a 22-point lead

It was a fantastic quarter for Richmond, but it could have been even better. In the last minute Jacob Koschitzke took a big pack mark, beating Mark Keane in the process. After their little run in moments before tempers were hot, and Noah Cumberland came in hot and shoved the Crows' defender to the ground, turning the ball over and costing Richmond a crucial chance.

It's a missed chance for the Tigers, but one of their few blemishes for the entire night so far. They have seriously outhunted Adelaide tonight and in Baker and Bolton boast the most lively and dangerous players on the field.

This would be a damaging defeat for Adelaide, almost unfathomably so. They've got four goals to make up and a quarter to do it. The gauntlet has been thrown down.

Kamdyn McIntosh kicks his second for the Tigers!

He might not be in line for the votes anymore, but he's still having an influence! Bolton fed a quick handball out to McIntosh outside a stoppage and his drop punt split the middle.

Moments before that, Mark Keane was felled off the ball by a swinging Jacob Koschitzke elbow. It was a crude one and Keane was down in pain for quite some time.

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Travel tips for June 5-17: planned construction, sports & community events

Blog stats: 1,100 words | 6-minute read

At-a-glance:

• June is already here and we want you to stay in-the-know about our upcoming construction activities, professional sports games, and community celebrations taking place in the Seattle area, so you can travel with confidence in the weeks ahead.

SDOT construction, street closures, and travel impacts

Regional transportation agency work, major league sports home games.

• Community celebrations
• We also encourage you to follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @seattledot and @SDOTTraffic , and visit the websites of our regional partner agencies, including WSDOT , King County Metro , and Sound Transit .
• You can also visit our Project and Construction Coordination Map for a map of various construction projects taking place throughout the city.
• We’ll continue to publish these blogs throughout the summer to help you plan ahead and know what to expect when you travel.

Please note: our construction projects take place throughout Seattle. To stay informed about projects near you, subscribe to our email updates . You can select from a list of projects and subscribe to the ones you’re most interested in.

• McGraw Street Bridge is closed from 2nd Ave N to Nob Hill Ave N through fall 2024.
• East Marginal Way S is closed between S Spokane St and S Atlantic St to general purpose traffic into 2026. People walking, biking, or rolling and Port of Seattle-bound vehicles may still use East Marginal Way S.
• 11th and 12th Aves NE – Intermittent lane closures between NE 43rd and NE 67th streets into 2025. One travel lane is maintained during construction.
• 23rd Ave E/24th Ave E – Intermittent lane closures at E McGraw St, Boyer Ave E, E Republican St, and S Grand St. One travel lane in each direction is maintained during construction.
• N 130th St – Intermittent lane closures between Meridian Ave N and Corliss Ave N. One travel lane in each direction is maintained during construction.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

• Weather dependent, there will be a full closure of all lanes on both westbound and eastbound SR 520 between I-5 in Seattle and 92nd Ave NE in Clyde Hill from 11 PM Friday, June 14 through 5 AM Monday, June 17. The SR 520 Trail will also be closed during this time.
• Weather dependent, on weeknights during the weeks of June 3 and June 10, there will be lane reductions on both northbound and southbound I-5 between Boeing Field and Southcenter from 8 PM each weeknight until 5 AM the next morning as part of the I-5/Duwamish River to S Lucile St. Concrete Pavement Rehab . Typically, these reduce I-5 down to one or two lanes in each direction.
• Weather dependent, there will also be weekend-long lane reductions on southbound I-5 only during the weekends of June 8-9 and June 15-16. WSDOT will close up to three lanes of southbound I-5 around Boeing Field from 10 PM Friday to 5 AM Monday, during these two weekends.
• City of Seattle utility work will close the southbound I-5 off-ramp to eastbound Dearborn Street from 9 PM Friday, June 14 through approximately 8 PM Sunday, June 16.
• The SR 99 Tunnel will be completely closed from 10 PM Friday, June 7 through 6 AM Saturday, June 8 for routine maintenance.
• Two right lanes on eastbound I-90 between the Mount Baker Tunnel in Seattle and the Mercer Island Lid Tunnel in Mercer Island will be closed from 10 PM Friday, June 14 through 6 AM Saturday, June 15 for routine maintenance.

WSDOT will also complete work updating an attenuator along the southbound I-5 off-ramp to James Street later this week, which will involve nighttime lane and ramp closures in downtown Seattle.

From 10 PM Thursday, June 6, to 4 AM Friday, June 7, crews will close:

• The right two lanes of southbound I-5 from Yale Avenue to the James Street off-ramp.
• The southbound I-5 off-ramp to Union Street.
• The Yale Avenue/Howell Street on-ramp to southbound I-5.
• The left lane of the James Street off-ramp.

Seattle Mariners

Upcoming games at T-Mobile Park

• Monday, June 10 at 6:40 PM: Chicago White Sox
• Tuesday, June 11 at 6:40 PM: Chicago White Sox
• Wednesday, June 12 at 6:40 PM: Chicago White Sox
• Thursday, June 13 at 6:40 PM: Chicago White Sox
• Friday, June 14 at 7:10 PM: Texas Rangers
• Saturday, June 15 at 4:15 PM: Texas Rangers
• Sunday, June 16 at 1:10 PM: Texas Rangers

To learn more:

• https://www.mlb.com/mariners/schedule

If you’re riding the Link light rail, get off at the Stadium Station and walk a short two blocks over to the ballpark. If taking rideshare, there is a designated rideshare lot southeast of the stadium. If driving, the Mariners Garage opens 3 hours before game time. Biking, scooting, walking, or rolling to the game may also be great options, depending on your trip specifics. Find more information on navigating to T-Mobile Park here .

Seattle Storm

Upcoming games at Climate Pledge Arena

• Tuesday, June 11 at 7 PM: Los Angeles Sparks
• https://storm.wnba.com/schedule/

For all major ticketed events, guests receive a free public transit pass alongside their ticket. If driving to the arena, there are three parking garages available nearby. Find more information on navigating to the arena here .

Seattle Sounders FC

Upcoming games at Lumen Field

• Saturday, June 15 at 7:30 PM: Minnesota United FC
• https://www.soundersfc.com/schedule/

Seattle Reign FC

• Sunday, June 16 at 1:00 PM: Portland Thorns FC
• https://www.reignfc.com/schedule

Community events

Please note: We’ve highlighted several upcoming community celebrations below – but this is not intended as a comprehensive list of every event in the city. We hope you enjoy taking part!

June 8: Indigenous People Festival – Seattle Center Armory and Mural Amphitheatre

This festival is part of Seattle Center Festál , a program that’s been taking place for 27 years and holds a space for community members to connect and learn about the diverse ethnic communities of the Pacific Northwest. The event hosts a wide variety of cultural performers, delicious cuisine, and craft vendors. Find more information about the festival here .

Seattle Center can be reached by King County Metro bus or by taking the Seattle Center Monorail from Westlake. You can find a range of travel options to get to Seattle Center here .

June 6 and June 13: Spotlight on the Waterfront – Waterfront Park

Every Thursday from 6-8 PM from June to September, experience local music, art, and cultural performances at Waterfront Park, right here along Seattle’s central waterfront. Find more information about the event here .

Waterfront Park can be reached by King County Metro bus or Sound Transit light rail (the University Street Station is closest). You can also find a handful of nearby parking garages .

June 15: Columbia City Night Market – Columbia City

On the third Saturday of each month from 6-10 PM, the Columbia City Night Market features local vendors, artists, and food trucks accompanied with live music and a 21+ beer garden. The event is hosted at 7th Ave S, between S Hudson and S Edmonds streets.

The Columbia City Night Market can be reached by King County Metro bus or Sound Transit light rail (the Columbia City Station is closest). Or, depending on your trip, walking, biking, or rolling might be great ways for you to get to the market.

We hope this post provided you with useful tips and tools to help you travel throughout Seattle as these construction and community events all take place. Stay tuned for more blog posts like this throughout the summer. Thank you!

Editor’s Note: June 5, 2024: We updated this blog post to include more upcoming WSDOT work activities.

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• Policy & Compliance
• Updates To NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications

Updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications

This page provides details on the updates being made to NIH institutional training grant applications for due dates on or after January 25, 2025.

On this page:

• Application updates
• Peer review updates
• Notices, reports, and blogs
• Training, resources, and FAQs
• Contact information

NIH has made significant investments to develop, implement, assess and disseminate innovative, effective approaches to  research training and mentoring and to prepare trainees for a variety of  career paths in the biomedical research workforce. Additionally, NIH established the  UNITE initiative to identify structural barriers and promote equity in the NIH-supported biomedical research ecosystem. Through these initiatives, the research community has identified the need for:

• Broader outreach activities to foster awareness of research training opportunities for potential trainees from all backgrounds, including individuals from  underrepresented groups ,
• Targeted recruitment activities to diversify training program applicant pools, and
• Increased mentorship opportunities to facilitate trainee success (see  Re-envisioning NIH Supported Postdoctoral Training ;  UNITE Listening Sessions )

NIH will leverage the lessons of these initiatives to enhance institutional research training programs, including by enhancing opportunities to strengthen mentor training.

Applicability:

The updates will apply to applications that use the following activity codes:

• Institutional Training – T series, e.g., T15, T32, T34, T35, T37, T90/R90, TL1, TL4
• International Institutional Training – D43, D71, U2R
• Institutional Career Development – K12, KL2

Application Updates

The updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications include three key changes:

• The Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity will be its own attachment in the PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan Form.
• Mentor training expectations will be more clearly defined in the parent T32 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
• Institutional Training data tables will be updated to reduce burden and promote consistent information collection across training programs.

Updates to PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan Form

The “Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity” will be moved from being nested within the Program Plan attachment to being a separate attachment within the  PHS 398 Research Training Plan Form . The Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity Attachment will:

• Continue to be required for all training grant activity codes except U2R, and all D-series activity codes.
• Have a three-page limit, consistent with the page limits for “Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research” and “Plan for Instruction in Methods for Enhancing Reproducibility.”

Defining Mentor Training Expectations in Training Programs

The Parent T32 NOFO will incorporate new language outlining expectations for mentor training and oversight into the program considerations, application instructions, and review criteria.

Programs should consider the following, in addition to other evidence-informed curricula, as potential mentor training components and are encouraged to adapt to program and trainee needs:

• Aligning expectations
• Maintaining effective communication
• Fostering independence
• Assessing scholars’ understanding of scientific research
• Enhancing professional development
• Addressing equity and inclusion
• Articulating your mentoring philosophy and plan

Reviewers will assess the mentor training expectations included in the application.

Updates to Data Tables

Institutional Training data tables will be updated to reduce burden, focus on trainee outcomes, and promote consistent information collection across training programs. For example:

• Tables 1 and 2: Applicants will be expected to provide data only for the training stage(s) reflected in the proposed program.
• Table 5 (Publications of Those in Training) will be reorganized so that the first column is the trainee (instead of the faculty member), and applicants will be allowed to include  interim research products to which the trainee contributed.
• Table 6 (Applicants, Entrants, and their Characteristics for the Past Five Years) will no longer ask for trainee characteristics related to prior academic and research experience.
• Table 8 (Program Outcomes: Predoctoral and Postdoctoral)   will no longer include Part II “Those Clearly Associated with the Training Grant.”

Peer Review Updates

Institutional training awards will retain the five scored review criteria.  For example, for Training Grants (Ts), reviewers will continue to score Training Program and Environment, Training Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s), Preceptors/Mentors, Trainees, and Training Record when determining the overall impact score.   

NIH will now include “Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research” and “Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity” as items that contribute to the overall impact score.  These items will move from “Additional Review Considerations” and will be included as “Additional Review Criteria.”  As such reviewers will evaluate the “Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research” and the “Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity” while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact score.

Notices, Reports, and Blogs

• Updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications for Due Dates on or After January 25, 2025: NOT-OD-24-129 – May 31, 2024
• Updates to NIH Training Grant Applications - Registration Open for June 5, 2024 Webinar: NOT-OD-24-124 – May 8, 2024
• Open Mike Announcing updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant applications and required data tables – May 16, 2024

Training, Resources, and FAQs

Webinars and Videos

Learn more about the application and peer review updates for institutional training grants and have the opportunity to have your questions answered at our live events.

Slide Decks

Slide decks for use in public presentations.

Public FAQs

Answers to some of your most frequent questions

Contact Information

For those with questions, please direct all inquiries to: [email protected]

This page last updated on: May 28, 2024

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