Bremen is a hidden gem in North Germany. Perfect for a culture filled weekend break. It oozes history, from the UNESCO listed Rathaus to bustling water front. Packed with cute streets, interesting museums and a zig zag moat. It is easy to get to with direct flights from London Stansted and a swift rail connection to Hamburg and Hannover. Add to that fairytale lustre with the Bremen Town Musicians , one of the Grimm Brothers most beloved tales. Come with me to discover why a weekend in Bremen is a must for culture lovers.
I visited Bremen as a guest of German National Tourist Board on a press trip discovering the Fairytale Route
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What to see in Bremen
One of the things I especially love about Bremen is that her medieval boundaries are very obvious. A zig-zag moat with steep sides embraces the city in a semi circle with the river Weser providing the remaining boundaries. You can stroll along the banks of the moat or even take a rowing boat out in the summer. Once inside you know you are in the Altstadt.
Marktplatz
Let’s start right in the heart of Bremen. In the Market place. Here you will find the UNESCO listed Rathaus (Town Hall) and statue of Roland, along with St Petri Dom and the statue of the four musicians of Bremen. When I visited one side of the market was host to flower market and the rest was getting ready for the Freimarkt with rides and stalls. At other times of year you will find Christmas markets, general markets and fairs.
Bremen Rathaus or Town Hall
Bremen was and still is a free city and has a town hall to reflect that exalted status. So good is the flamboyant Weser Renaissance building that ii is UNESCO listed, along with the Roland Statue outside. You can visit inside to see an ornate carved staircase and an impressive collection of model ships but only as part of a guided tour.
Rathaus Cellars
Deep below the Rathaus are a warren of ancient cellars. They are now home to two businesses. One a restaurant and the other a wine cellar. You can go on tours of the wine cellar, home to widest selection of German wines in the world. Book via the Bremen Tourism website.
Knight Roland Statue
Outside the Rathaus stands a massive wooden statue. This is Knight Roland. He was a 12th century knight in Charlemagne’s army, immortalised in the Song of Roland. Around 50 city states were so taken with the Song of Roland that they erected Roland statues. 20 or so remain but Bremen’s is the biggest and most famous.
Stadtmusikanten or Town Musicians statue
Grimm’s tale tells of a Donkey, Dog, Cat and Rooster who are all too old to work and earmarked for death. They decided to runaway to Bremen to be town musicians (yep, makes no sense to me either). On the way they come across a house in the woods in which robbers are eating and drinking. The dog stands on the donkey’s back, the cat on the dog and the Rooster on the cat and as they look into the window they all begin to bray, bark, meow or crow. The robbers are so scared they run away. Then the four animals go into the house, eat a nice a dinner and decide to stay. So they never actually get to Bremen. Tradition has it that if you hold the Donkey’s front legs and make a wish it will come true. Or for more Four Musician fun lookout for what looks like a drain cover nearby, put a coin in it and the animals will make their noises.
Böttcherstraße
Down an alley leading away from the Marktplatz, your eye will be drawn by a large golden wall. Head toward it and you will find the Böttcherstraße, a narrow lane lined with fantastical art deco, art nouveau and Expressionist buildings. Based on the ideas of Ludwig Roselius the inventor of Cafe Hag. Nowadays the alleyway is lined with tempting gift shops and cafes. Make sure not to miss …
Glockenspiel performance
Try to time your visit to the Böttcherstraße for the top of the hour to catch a performance of the Glockenspiel high on the roof tops. Tiny porcelain bells play folk tunes whilst images of noteworthy scientist are revealed via a mechanical mechanism hidden in the wall.
Himmelsaal
The Himmelsaal or Heaven Room is room with a blue and white glazed ceiling which seems to glow. Nowadays the building in which in it can be found is a Radisson Blu hotel. To gain access go to the hotel reception and ask to see the Himmelsaal. If the room is not being used for a function (be warned, its beauty makes it very popular to book) then you can go in and see it. You will be asked for a small deposit for the key, which is returned when you return the key. Sadly I didn’t manage to see the room and it will be one of the many reasons why I will return to Bremen.
St Petri Dom or St Peter’s Cathedral
There has been a church on the site of the St Petri Dom since 787. Make sure not to miss the crypt by the entrance that dates from the 11th century. Round Norman arches and stone carvings of lions are everywhere. In the centre of the room is a magnificent metal baptismal font dating from the 13th century. Up in the main building the architecture is mainly 16th century. What catches the eye is magnificent wall paintings and stunning black and and white window glass.
Weser Schlachte Embankment
Follow the Böttcherstraße down to River Weser. The wide embankments were once awash with ship cargoes being loaded and unloaded. Now to the port has moved down to Bremerhaven the Schlachte Embankment is a place to gather and socialise. In the summer bar’s line the rivers edge.
Sail down the River Weser
I love a river trip. You get to see the place you are visiting in a different light. Bremen was, still is a thriving port, but now the biggest ships don’t come this far down the river. On journey down the Weser you see the old docks. Cruise past the old Kelloggs factory that is now a cool hotel. See wind turbines fresh from the factory ready for export. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the Beck’s Brewery. My tour tour took about 1¼ hours and cost €19
Meander around the Schnoor quarter
Tucked away in the west of the Altstadt is the Schnoor area. A maze of tiny streets that used to house fisherman and are now home to cute shops, bars and cafes.
Museums and Galleries in Bremen
Bremen Kunsthalle
Not to be missed. Works from Lucas Cranach to the present day. All displayed in a way that has you gasping at each new room. Each one has different feel and yet the collection feels cohesive. I see a lot of art galleries and this is up there with the very best. My favourite works? A rather wonderful interpretation of the Four Musicians of Bremen by Maurizio Cattelan and a light installation by Pilotti Rist, that might well be the most relaxing artwork ever. Open Tuesday – Sunday, admission €12.
Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum
Located in the Böttcherstraße and also the creation of Ludvig Roselius. This was the first museum in Germany dedicated solely to the work of a female artist. Paula Modersohn-Becker lived in an artists community just outside Bremen and created glowing Expressionist works. Open Tuesday – Sunday, admission €10
Factory Tours in Bremen
Bremen is Germany’s 10th largest city and home to an impressive array of manufacturing. As a former, business and economics journalist I am a firm believer that the source of a cities wealth is the key to its culture. That makes factory tours culture!. Sadly I didn’t get the chance to do any of these but they will be the reason why I will return with Mr CW..
Beck’s Beer
Famous the world over and brewed in Bremen, just over the river Weser from the Schlachte Embankment. Tours take about three hours, include tasting and cost €15.
Coffee and Bremen
Bremen was THE coffee importing port of Germany. The first coffee house in Germany was here. Cafe Hag was invented here. If you can understand German, you can attend a Coffee Seminar at the Cafe Hag building now owned by Lloyd’s Coffee, for €20. Or visit the Jacob’s coffee HQ. Or the Münchhausen Coffee Roastery. All over Bremen you will find tempting cafe’s in which to sit and sip coffee whilst eating cake.
Mercedes Benz
Electric cars are made in the biggest Mercedes factory in the world in Bremen. My first ever factory tour as of the Audi NSU plant in Regensburg in 1975 and a car plant tour is still my favourite. Tours take 2 hours and cost €22.
Airbus
Airbus fuselage for the A400M and wings for the A330 and A350 are made in Bremen. Keep an eye open for giant Beluga aircraft flying overhead. They are taking the wings and fuselage to other factories to be created into finished planes. Sadly tours are for groups only.
Festivals in Bremen
Music, funfair and Christmas are the themes of Bremen’s big three festivals.
Bremen Music Festival
Every year at the end of August and beginning of September orchestras, string quartets, choirs and like gather for the Bremen Musikfest. Performances take place across the region. Take a look at the Festival website and start to make plans.
Bremen Freimarkt
For two weeks at the end of October the Freimarkt comes to town, Northern Germany’s largest funfair. Rides, food and beer.
Bremen Christmas Market
Once the Freimarkt has left town the stall holders of the Christmas market begin to set up their stalls. Advent sees 170 or so festive stalls along with suitably festive rides.
Where to Eat in Bremen
Tempting cafes are dotted all around the Altstadt, espicially in the Schnoor area. These are the restaurants that I ate in:
- Bremer Ratskeller Beneath the Rathaus this is an atmospheric space with huge wine barrels. If you are dining in a small group ask for one of booths or small rooms which looked especially cute. Serves traditional German food.
- Alexander von Humboldt Ship – for a nautical feel you can eat (and indeed stay) on board the three masted ship moored up on the banks of the Weser.
- Beck’s Mühle – on the banks of the city moat is a windmill now owned by Becks. It makes a fine place to enjoy a glass of beer or to eat dinner.
Where to Stay in Bremen
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I stayed in the Hotel zur Post right opposite the train station, which was ideal as I arrived late night as a solo traveller. To increase your chances of visiting the Himmelsaal stay in the Raddison Blu . Hotels in the Altstadt will give you easy access to cultural hotspots and restaurants.
Getting to Bremen
Ryanair fly direct from London to Stansted to Bremen. From Bremen airport simply hop on a tram and you will be in the centre in minutes. Stansted is not convenient from Cultural Wednesday Towers and so I flew to Hamburg and then caught the train to Bremen which took about an hour and a half.
Bremen Travel Tips for Culture Lovers
- Best time to visit. I visited in early Autumn when the leaves the were beautiful and the Freimarkt was just setting up. Bremen in December is twinkly Christmas wonderland. In Spring the parks are beautiful to walk in and in early summer the bars and cafes spill out onto the streets and riversides.
- How to get around – I walked everywhere. If you were to venture further afield there is a good network of trams and buses.
- Tip: think about purchasing the BremenCARD. To be honest if you arrive by train and stay in the centre buying the card is more of pfaff than not. But if you arrive by plane to Bremen airport it makes lots of sense. You get access to the transport system for the day before and after the card as well as the days on the card. That makes getting to and from the airport a doddle – just tap you BremenCARD. Buy the card online. You also get museum discounts.
Bremen’s Cultural Magic
Bremen is my kind of town. It has a rich mix of art, history and industrial and trade heritage. All that trade and industry as resulted in some seriously cute buildings. Add in a richly decorated cathedral, historic coffee venues and a river trip. All of which means that Bremen is a worthy addition to your cultural travel bucket list. After Bremen I explored more fairy tales, you can read about my German Fairy Tale Route road trip here.
For other cultural travel destinations in Germany take a look at my guides to UNESCO treasures in Weimar. For industrial culture take a read about our visit to the Landschaft Park Duisburg Nord. Read about Chemnitz, formerly Karl-Marx Stadt for Ostalgie and great Expressionist art.
