The Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is a city in northern Germany with a major port on the River Weser. The population is 567,000 (2020). It is also the name of one of the states of Germany which consists of two separated enclaves on the River Weser; the other enclave, Bremerhaven, is covered by its own article.
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Bremen was once a member of the medieval Hanseatic League and is still one of the most important cities in northern Germany. Together with the city of Bremerhaven on the North Sea it forms Germany's smallest state. Bremen has more than 1200 years of history, and was, for most of its existence, an independent city-state. 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.
Much of Bremen (or at least the part frequented by tourists) can be negotiated by foot - the best way to explore the old city and its surrounding districts. Members of the Cambio car-sharing network, whether in Germany or Belgium, can hire cars - Bremen is the company's headquarters. Most trains are operated by Deutsche Bahn and even the local trains that aren't can be booked through their website. In the west lie the cities Delmenhorst and Oldenburg and the Frisian islands.
1 Rathaus (Town Hall), Am Markt 21, ☏ +49 421 3612733. M–Sa 11:00, 12:00, 15:00, 16:00; Sun 11:00, 12:00. This is one of the finest in Europe and 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. €6.50. (updated Apr 2026) 2 Roland, Am Markt. 24/7. 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. Free.
Stroll around the city center and visit the Schnoor-Viertel with its old buildings - most were built between the 15th and 18th century. If you are interested in art, visit the Bremer Kunsthalle (museum of art) with one of North Germany's finest collections. Football: SV Werder Bremen play soccer in Bundesliga, the top tier. Their home ground is the multi-purpose Weser Stadion (capacity 42,000) on the north riverbank, 1 km east of city centre.
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.
The world-wide known Beck's Beer is brewed in Bremen. Guided brewery tours in English and German are offered Thursdays - Saturdays. The tour costs €10.50/person and lasts approximately 2 hours. The Ratskeller is a wine cellar and restaurant with a famous collection of wines and the oldest wines in Germany. There are many bars, pubs and cafes in Bremen: the Schlachte along the Weser and the Viertel, a young and lively quarter. If you like beer and pretzels, try the Schüttinger brewery house (next to Böttcherstraße) where several types of beer are brewed and served directly.
The area close to the railway station is rough late at night, and it may also be a bit spooky to cross the Wallanlagen park then. Therefore, if you have to go from the old city to areas to its west or northwest late at night, consider taking a tram or bus instead of walking.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Bremen typically sees ~23°C daytime highs and 18 rainy days.
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