On Bremen’s market square, the Town Hall and the Roland statue represent civic autonomy and sovereignty as they developed in the European Holy Roman Empire. Since 2004, they have jointly formed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From this political history, the view turns to narrow lanes, Expressionist architecture, science museums and experiences on the Weser.
History among lanes and architectural styles
The Schnoor quarter is Bremen’s oldest district: a maze of lanes winds between small houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The buildings on Böttcherstraße display a different architectural language; they are a rare example of Expressionist architecture and one of Bremen’s main attractions. The original sculpture of the Town Musicians of Bremen stands at the Town Hall. These places offer different starting points for exploring Bremen’s architectural and urban history.
Museums and plant worlds
At Universum Bremen, science becomes hands-on: the whale-shaped science centre explores people, nature and technology. The Übersee-Museum offers a broader perspective on the world. Covering more than 10,000 square metres, it presents cultural and natural regions, including Asia, the African savannah and the Americas. A museum with clearly defined subject areas and the great diversity of the world’s regions thus offer contrasting ways to explore.
Bremen’s Rhododendron Park is home to more than 10,000 rhododendron and azalea bushes across around 46 hectares. The 3.2-hectare Botanical Garden lies in the middle of the park. Its scientifically focused collection includes more than 6,500 different plants from Germany and around the world. The grounds and collections offer two different scales: the expansive park with its many bushes and the smaller garden with its diverse plant collection. At botanika, interactive stations and exhibits also bring visitors closer to the world of plants and animals.
Bremerhaven: a journey around the world, harbour and migration
The Klimahaus Bremerhaven offers a journey along the eighth meridian through five continents and nine places. The German Maritime Museum is set in the harbour area, directly on the dyke between the Old Harbour and the Weser. The German Emigration Center adds a historical perspective: its opening in 2005 laid the foundation for a migration museum in Germany. At first, the museum presented the history of 7.2 million German and Eastern European emigrants who left for overseas via Bremerhaven between 1830 and 1974.
Brewery, fish and routes on the Weser
On the brewery tour at Beck’s, the route passes through the museum, raw materials room and brewhouse, past malt silos and fermentation and storage tanks. It ends with a beer tasting in the guest room. In Bremerhaven, the Schaufenster Fischereihafen offers live fish smoking; at the Seefischkochstudio, you can get tips on how to prepare fish properly at home. These experiences offer different ways to learn about beer production and how fish is handled.
There are also different ways to explore the connection between Bremen and Bremerhaven. A 91-kilometre section of the Weser Cycle Route links the two cities. From May to September, you can travel on the MS Oceana along the Weser from Bremen to Bremerhaven and back. The route passes Martinianleger, Pier 2, Mittelsbüren, Vegesack, Blumenthal, Farge, Brake and Nordenham Unionpapier before reaching Seebäderkaje in Bremerhaven. A cycling route and a seasonal boat trip with named stops offer different options; check the timetable in advance for boat trips, as the season and details may change.
The Weser ferry operates within Bremen between Pusdorf and Überseestadt. As seasonal services may change, it is also helpful to check the current timetable here. For personal advice about your stay in Bremen, free information materials, tour tips and souvenirs, you can visit Bremen-Info on Böttcherstraße.
If you are looking for a hotel in Bremen, you can tailor your search to the themes you want to shape your stay: World Heritage and architecture, museums and plant worlds, or the routes between Bremen and Bremerhaven. That way, planning starts with the discoveries that interest you.
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Discover more destinations: Bremen, Bremerhaven, Bremerhaven, Baden-WĂĽrttemberg, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony, Thuringia, Rhineland-Palatinate.
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