Located in northern Germany, Bremen is, after Hamburg and Berlin, one of the most important cities in the country due to municipal and state functions. On the banks of the river Weser, Bremen is a very charming city with a medieval and Renaissance historic centre. Bremen was the destination chosen for our first pandemic trip (Mariana) and it couldn’t have been better! The city is small, which makes it perfect to visit on foot and avoid the crowds of public transport. In the streets you can breathe a tranquil air, far away from big crowds and confusions.
In this post, we will tell you about the places to visit in Bremen. We won’t give you an itinerary because Bremen is worth a leisurely visit and it’s worth getting lost in its friendly streets. As we said, the city is small, so the ideal is to visit it in one or two days. If you have time you can visit some neighbouring towns. You have plenty of options by train or bus. We chose to spend one day in Hamburg (a post about this city will be written soon).
Bremen can be visited at any time of the year. In spring and summer, the days are longer and invite long walks in the city parks and evenings on the terraces. On the other hand, in the autumn and winter months you can walk around the city with the smell of sweets and warm drinks. In December, you can visit the Bremen Christmas market, one of the most beautiful in Germany.
Also read: The best destinations to visit for Christmas
Places to visit in Bremen
Marktplatz, Rathaus, Schütting and Bremen Roland
In the city centre you will find Marktplatz, an impressive square surrounded by perfect facades of official buildings or simply buildings housing cafés or shops. The most impressive building is the Rathaus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a Renaissance style and a stunning façade. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the Weser Renaissance style in northern Germany. Still on Marktplatz, on the opposite side of the Rathaus you will find the Schüting, the town’s chamber of commerce, which also has a powerful façade. We can’t choose which is the prettier façade, Rathaus or Schütting?
At the heart of Marktplatz, the Bremen Roland statue symbolises the freedom of the inhabitants of Bremen. A five metre high statue that is protected by everyone in the city. Legend has it that if the statue is destroyed, the town will be in danger. The inhabitants take the legend so seriously that in the Second World War they kept it in a vault with maximum security. Today, it is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
St. Petri Dom Bremen
Next to the Marktplatz is St Petri Dom Bremen, the city’s cathedral and the oldest church in Bremen. Dating back to 789, it started out as a wooden church. Over time it was buffeted by a few fires and evolved into the building it is today. A Gothic style cathedral with two impressive ninety-nine metre high towers, which you can visit and climb.
Statue of the Bremen Musicians
Close to the Rathaus, you will discover the statue of the famous Bremen musicians, the tale of the Brothers Grimm that tells the story of four animals: a cat, a dog, a rooster and a donkey, who go to Bremen to seek freedom and whose moral is: with solidarity the weakest can be the winner. Legend has it that it is good luck to touch both legs of the donkey, so don’t be shy and grab your luck!
Bremer Dom
Bremer Dom is also located on one of the arteries of Marktplatz and is one of the oldest and most beautiful German cathedrals, built in 1041 in Gothic style.
Böttcherstraße
South of Marktplatz you will find Böttcherstraße, a street that mirrors typical northern German architecture. At the main entrance you are greeted by an impressive golden mural full of details. This is the liveliest street in the city, where you will find museums, art galleries, shops, restaurants or cafés.
River Weser
On the banks of the river Weser there is no shortage of entertainment, from boats that function as cafés, restaurants or even performance halls! If you are lucky enough to visit the city on a sunny day, enjoy a stroll along the banks of the river.
Schnoor Quarter
The Schnoor Quarter is a must-see on your visit to Bremen. For several centuries, this neighbourhood was home to fishermen, boatmen and traders. Today, it is where you can find streets and alleys with colourful houses and flowery facades, souvenir shops, cafés and restaurants. The Schnoor Quarter, like the whole city of Bremen, deserves to be visited without haste and without any set itinerary. If you like photography, there’s no shortage of places you can click a lot.
Wallanlagen
Bremen has many parks, but for us the most beautiful is Wallanlagen Park, a lush, flowery park located where the city walls once were. The main attraction of the park is a Dutch-style Old Mill, which currently functions as a restaurant and cafe. We popped in for a hot chocolate and it was delicious.
Did you like this post? Save it to your Pinterest!
