Bremen

The free Hanseatic City of Bremen is a city in northern Germany with a major port on the River Weser. The population is 548,000. It is also the name of one of the states of Germany which consists of two separated enclaves on the River Weser.

Understand

History

Bremen was once a member of the medieval Hanseatic League and is still one of the most important cities in northern Germany. Bremen has more than 1200 years of history, and was, for most of its existence, an independent city-state.

Bremer Stadtmusikanten

The Bremer Stadtmusikanten (Town Musicians of Bremen) perhaps the most well known figures associated with Bremen are characters from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale of the same name. Their image adorns many of the souvenirs in the city. Next to the Town Hall is a much photographed statue of them.

See

• ⊙Rathaus (Town Hall). this is one of the finest in Europe and as such has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Building work started in 1410 and it is seen as an important display of the wealth and freedom of the city. Tours of the interior are conducted by the Tourist information office at 11AM, noon, 3PM and 4PM.
• ⊙ Roland , Rathausplatz. this statue on the main square, in front of the town hall is of the Knight Roland who was a protector of trade. He appears in many European cities especially those involved in the Hanseatic league. Bremen's is considered one of the finest and is included with Town Hall on the World Heritage List. The standing figure is 5.47 m tall.
• ⊙Dom St. Petri (Cathedral of St Peter). is over 1200 years old, and its huge towered façade dominates the main square. the interior is impressive with some fine painted details on the ceilings. There is a treasury displaying the collection of the cathedral. Entrance is free, for €1 you can climb the Southern Tower offering nice views over the whole city.
• ⊙Böttcherstraße. Is the incredible Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) street that runs from the main square towards the river. There are many fine façades and courtyards all with large amounts of design detail. There is an impressive Glockenspiel that chimes at regular intervals. There are lots of shops and several museums, including the impressive Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum. Haus Atlantis (now the Hilton) has an impressive spiral staircase just inside, at the top of which is the staggering Himmelshaal (unfortunately it is not normally open to the public). 
• ⊙Am Wall. is a lovely park next to the former defensive moat which offers a place to sit and relax. (updated Jan 2016)
• ⊙Schnoor. this area of twisting lanes is a lovely place to wander aimlessly looking at in the many shops and also at the world smallest hotel (see Sleep).

Museums

• ⊙Überseemuseum (Natural History and Ethnographic Museum), 13, Bahnhofsplatz D (near central station),  ☎ +49 421 16038101.  
• ⊙Focke Museum, Schwachhauser Heerstrasse 240,  ☎ +49 421 6996000. a good overview of the history of Bremen City with a wide range of collections
• ⊙Hafenmuseum Speicher XI, In the Überseestadt (Bus line 20 from railway station or tram line 3),  ☎ +49 421 3038279. Housed in a former cotton warehouse. Models of ships used during the past. 

Eat

Several cafes and restaurants line the ⊙ "Schlachte" along the Weser river while other popular areas are the marketplace and the "Viertel" ("quarter") east of the Kunsthalle. Many traditional dishes from Bremen and Northern Germany are very satisfying. The region is famous for cabbage (Grünkohl- green cabbage), fish (smoked eel, herring, smelt in March), an old sailor´s meal called Labskaus (lobscouse) consisting of mashed potatoes, corned beef, onions, fried egg and beetroot or chick ragout (very fine) as well as red fruit jelly or Butterkuchen (cake with yeast and topped with lots of butter, sugar and almonds). You can find some fish restaurants in Böttcherstraße. "Knigge" is the name of a traditional coffee house in Bremen.

Bremen culinary specialties are Knipp (smoked sausage), Labskaus, (fried corned beef with onions and mashed potatoes) and Braunkohl (leaf cabbage)

Budget

• ⊙Gasthof zum Kaiser Friedrich, Lange Wieren 13,  ☎ +49 421 326429. Closed on Sundays. Slightly smoked cut of pork with cabbage and mashed potatoes (Braunkohlteller)

Sleep

Inside the range of 4 km:

• ⊙   Radisson Blu Hotel Bremen, Bremen, PC X

  "... Our garage is completely locked and only accessible to other users. There is a bicycle cage in the underground car park, which is also locked and can be opened with your room card. You also have facilities to charge your e-bike there."

• ⊙   Dorint City-Hotel Bremen, Bremen, PC VII - X

  "... We don't have a locked room, but we do have a separate bicycle parking space for our guests in the lobby, right next to the reception area. Our reception is staffed around the clock."

• ⊙   Best Western Hotel Bremen City, Bremen, PC VI - VIII

  "... separate locked room in the building."

• ⊙   GastHaus Hotel Bremen, Bremen, PC V

  "... Your bikes can be locked safely and dry behind two doors behind the hotel."

• ⊙   Hotel Bremer Haus, Bremen, PC IV - VIII

  "... We offer a bicycle garage in the inner courtyard. Access is initially through a gate through which only our guests can enter and then the bicycle garage itself is locked and only our guests with bicycles receive the key."

• ⊙   Jugendherberge Bremen, Bremen
• ⊙   Townside Hostel Bremen, Bremen, PC IV - V
• ⊙   Hotel Westfalia, Bremen, PC V - VII

  "... we have a large, lockable bike room where you can safely store your bikes."

• ⊙   a&o Bremen Hauptbahnhof, Bremen, PC V - VIII

  "... you are welcome to park your bicycles in our bicycle garage. You can get the key for this on request at the reception."

• ⊙   prizeotel Bremen - City, Bremen, PC V - VIII

  "... Your bicycles can be stored safely in our locked bicycle cage."

• ⊙   Alte Neustadt Hotel Garni, Bremen, PC VI
• ⊙   Hotel Zum Kuhhirten, Bremen, PC VII - X

  "... you can park your bikes in our secure bicycle depot. There are also sufficient charging facilities for e-bikes."

• ⊙   Hotel Munte am Stadtwald, Bremen, PC VIII - X

  "... We have covered bicycle racks in front of our house where you can lock your bicycles. The entire parking lot is under video surveillance.
  If this is too unsafe for you, you can store your e-bikes in our locked bike room free of charge."

• ⊙   Hotel Robben, Bremen, PC VII - VIII

  "... we can store your bikes in our garages."

Useful

Inside the range of 4 km:

• ⊙   Tourist-Information Bremen, Bremen