Ah, Bremen! A place where they’ve clearly run out of tourist attractions—so they’ve decided just to throw a beach in! Just imagine, you’re in a landlocked city and you think, “I fancy a swim!”—and off you go to Café Sand on the Weser beach. To be fair, the sunbathing and cake options there would probably get me to don my best beach attire, even if it’s more ‘Bavarian out of season’ than ‘Bikini Beach.’
Now, let’s dive into the fact that Bremen isn’t quite sitting on the coast, but boy, they’re doing their best to keep that holiday vibe alive! As if a casual dip in the Weser is going to make up for the fact you’re not in sunny Ibiza. It’s alright for the hardcore folks, apparently, who are brave enough to swim when it’s colder than your ex’s heart in winter!
And let’s talk about Bremerhaven. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from Bremen, it kicks up the beach vibes a notch with a city beach that offers a view of shiny buildings and a hint of North Sea flair—picking up romantic interests like, “Look at that impressive architecture, darling!” whilst being forever taunted by the “NO SWIMMING” sign. It’s like going to a party but being told you can’t dance! But hey, who doesn’t love a good ship-watching session? You could say it’s the maritime version of watching paint dry.
Moving on to ‘museum hopping’—because who doesn’t want to spend their holiday learning about the past? “Hey kids, let’s walk around a bunch of artifacts from people who’ve long since stopped caring about our excitement!” The Havenwelten features a zoo and climate house—where you can hike through climate zones—because nothing says a good vacation like feeling guilty about CO2 emissions while watching seals. Lovely!
And then, oh joy, we have the Bürgerpark: where children and parents can rejoice in a medley of grass, bored squirrels, and various activities designed to exhaust their little ones so they sleep through the trip back. Meanwhile, parents can relish the thought of grabbing a quick meal at a Swiss-style restaurant serving—what, fondue? That’s a delicious choice, although not entirely appropriate with the whole sweating-it-out-in-the-sun business!
For those who prefer a taste of the pastoral, Blumenthal and Blockland offer up quaint village life, just a stone’s throw from the city, with sights that make you think, “Look! A pretty thatched courtyard!” Nothing says relaxation like picturesque thatching! But throw in the Valentin submarine bunker, and suddenly you’re feeling quite adventurous—not your typical holiday, but I appreciate the diversity!
Now, if wellness and loungewear are more your speed, Bremen’s glowing reviews for spa experiences must sound enticing. You can rent your own spa suite—perfect if you fancy avoiding the kind of awkward encounters in the sauna where you realize the last time you showered was… well, irrelevant!
And for the night owls, let’s not forget the district—Bremen’s answer to a wild night out! Hundreds of pubs calling your name at all hours, like a drunken siren song. Just remember, while you can sip cocktails like a true socialite, everyone knows the real party begins when the pubs close and the regret sets in—right before breakfast!
Lastly, taking a stroll along the promenade sounds lovely… until you remember you’re doing it next to the river—with all its potential for last-minute dips and the overall aesthetic of a drunken reunion. Just try to avoid eye contact with the “NO SWIMMING” signs. That’s just a downer!
So, folks, if you’re looking for an adventure that combines learning, relaxation, beach trips that may or may not lead to frostbite, and a bar scene that promises to keep you entertained almost as much as it empties your wallet, then pack your bags for Bremen. After all, where else can you enjoy a slice of cake by the water while pretending you’re very far away from civilization? Bon voyage!
Most travelers choose Bremen as a destination for a classic city trip. The Old Town Hall, the Town Musicians and the beautiful Schnoor district are the city-state’s most famous sights.
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But there is more – Bremen also has relaxing sides: The travel reporter takes you to the places in the state where you get that holiday feeling, where you can unwind and just have fun.
1. Beach vacation in Bremen and Bremerhaven
The city of Bremen is not located directly on the sea, but you still don’t have to miss out on visiting the beach during your short vacation. There are some swimming opportunities on the Weser for warm days or for the hard-core people on not so warm days: but you can also just treat yourself to a sunbath on the Weser beach at Café Sand. There are also beautiful beaches in Raiblinghauser Weseruferpark and at Lankenauer Höft.
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In Überseestadt you will find the Waller Sand beach, where you can not only swim and chill, but also play volleyball. The beach at Werdersee, which is close to the city center, is also particularly popular as a swimming area.
Holiday feeling in Bremen: On the Weser beach you can not only sunbathe and swim, but also eat right by the water. The Café Sand offers cakes and tarts, but also hearty snacks and dishes.
Quelle: imago stock&people
You are already closer to the sea in Bremerhaven, where the Weser flows into the North Sea. There you can enjoy the sea air at the Weser lido, just a few minutes’ walk from the Havenwelten. This city beach offers a view of the impressive buildings of the Havenwelten and exudes a little North Sea flair with its beach chairs.
Relaxing and watching ships is possible there, and swimming is, according to the portal bremerhaven.de but not allowed for safety reasons.
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2. Museum hopping in the Havenwelten Bremerhaven
They are one of the most popular excursion destinations in the state of Bremen: The Havenwelten in Bremerhaven invite you to visit several exciting exhibitions. In the emigrant house you travel through 300 years of emigration history. In the climate house you hike through the world’s different climate zones and learn a lot about climate change.
Things get animal-friendly at the zoo in the sea, where you can visit seals, penguins and polar bears. In the Havenwelten you will also find the German Maritime Museum, the Bremerhaven Historical Museum and the submarine “Wilhelm Bauer”, a maritime technology museum.
The harbor district in Bremerhaven: In addition to water and ships, there are mainly museums and modern residential buildings here. Left in the background: The “Atlantic Hotel Sail City” and the Climate House.
Source: IMAGO/Jochen Tack
In Bremerhaven you can treat yourself to a fun educational short break. If you need a change from the museums, you can stroll through the “Mein Outlet & Shopping Center”, which is also located directly in the harbor area. Or you can take a walk along the Weser dike. The Havenwelten are a beautiful, educational destination for a weekend.
There are also some hotels close to the old town and the harbor, such as the “Haverkamp”, the “The Liberty”, the “B & B Hotel Bremerhaven”, the “Im-Jaich-Hotel” or the spectacular “Atlantic Hotel Sail City”.
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3. Fun hours in the Bürgerpark
A nice destination for a family short vacation in Bremen is the big one Citizens Park. Nature, relaxation and entertainment – there you will find everything that young Bremen travelers in particular want when they have lost their desire for city tours and museum visits.
You can go for long walks, but you can also experience a lot: In addition to meadows and water, there is a wide range of leisure activities there – four large playgrounds, a mini golf course, an animal enclosure, a rowing boat rental and a nature and adventure trail.
Pure idyll in the Bürgerpark Bremen: Here you can relax in the green or get active and rent a rowing boat at Lake Emma in the middle of the park.
Quelle: IMAGO/Action Pictures
You can find the entrance to the Bürgerpark near the Parkhotel am Hollersee. The Parkhotel also has its own restaurant. Other restaurants in the Bürgerpark include the restaurant, café and ice cream parlor “Emma am See” and the “Meierei”, built in the Swiss house style. The Bürgerpark has existed since 1866. It is adjoined by another green area, the city forest.
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If you would like to spend your short vacation in Bremen in the countryside and near the public park, we recommend that you stay in the beautiful Schwachhausen district or in Finndorf.
4. Village life in Blumenthal and in Blockland
In Bremen and around Bremen there are some tranquil places that you can go to if you prefer to live outside the city center on your short vacation. For example, there is the northernmost district of Blumenthal, which is divided into two parts by the Weser. Blumenthal has a village center and is largely familiar and manageable.
But there are also some sights there: the Valentin submarine bunker, Blomendahl Castle, pretty thatched courtyards in the Farge district and the Eispohl/Sandwehen nature reserve.
Bremen’s most rural district is Blockland. Here the Wümme River, half-timbered houses and pastures characterize the landscape.
Which: IMAGO/Zoonar
There is also a holiday feeling in Blockland. The little piece of land belongs to Bremen, but looks like its own village. It’s not that far from the city center. It is located in the “Untere Wümme” and “Kuhgrabensee” nature reserves and is a popular destination for Bremen residents, especially for cycling tours. Meadows, water, half-timbered houses and excursion restaurants – in Blockland you get pure idyll close to the city.
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5. Wellness in der City
You can also spend relaxing hours in one of the spas in the middle of the city or on the outskirts. A popular address for anyone who wants to be pampered is the Badehaus Bremen near the train station. There you can rent a spa suite alone, as a couple or as a couple with up to two children, sweat in the sauna and treat yourself to a massage. The bathhouse is perfect if you like privacy and prefer not to share the sauna rooms with other people.
The Landsauna Lilienthal near Bremen is a classic wellness oasis. A large spa area with saunas, relaxation areas and a heated outdoor pool awaits you there. You can also book massages and cosmetic treatments there.
A relaxation area in the forest spa in the “Hotel Munte am Stadtwald”: Here you can relax in a large wellness area.
Source: Hotel Munte am Stadtwald
Also the “Mountain Hotel am Stadtwald” offers a spacious spa facility with several saunas, an infrared cabin and a steam bath under the starry sky. In the forest spa you can spend a short wellness vacation or a few hours as a day visitor. This requires prior registration.
6. Party nights in the Bremen “district”
“The Quarter” – that’s what the people of Bremen call the quarter behind the Weserdeich, which consists of the districts Ostertor and Steintor. There is always something going on in the “district”, especially at night. If you want to hit the bars during your trip to Bremen and sip a cocktail or two in the evening, the lively district is the perfect place to go. Over 300 cafés, pubs and restaurants are ideal for going out with your friends or best friends.
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But the “quarter” also has its charm during the day. Stroll through the streets with the small, colorful old Bremen houses, second-hand shops and hip boutiques. The district’s main street is Ostertorsteinweg, which runs through the entire district. Smaller streets branch off from there and lead you into one of the most beautiful residential and trendy districts in Bremen.
Ostertorsteinweg is the main street in Bremen’s “quarter”. During the day you can sit and stroll in cafés, and in the evening there is a party there.
Source: imago images/Schöning
The “quarter” also has a lot to offer culturally: just two – very different – highlights are the Lagerhaus cultural center, a center for innovative artistic work, and the impressive Theater am Goetheplatz, the largest venue of the Bremen Theater.
For example, you can rent rooms, small apartments and lofts in the “district”. Airbnb find. You can also stay overnight at the rustic “Turmhotel Weserblick Bremen”.
7. Promenades in Bremen and Bremerhaven
What could be nicer and more liberating than strolling along the water and along a promenade on vacation? In Bremerhaven you can enjoy this on the dike promenade between the harbors and the Geeste. You walk along the Weser, you can sit down on a bench every now and then and enjoy the view over the water.
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There is also a perfect place to stroll in Bremen City: the promenade at Schlachte in Bremen’s old town. The Schlachte is a popular meeting place on the Weser with a lively restaurant and pub scene. But you can also just go for a walk there, either towards Überseestadt or up to Osterdeich, where on warm days many people meet to drink beer or have a barbecue.
Stroll along the Weser, look at the water: the dike promenade is very popular for walking. The highlights of a walk along the promenade are the emigrant monument, the Simon Loschen lighthouse and the various harbor areas.
What: imago images / Westend61
Here, too, you get a holiday feeling on mild evenings when you let your gaze wander over the river or look at the ships lying there. In winter the Schlachte turns into a particularly exciting promenade: the Schlachte-Zauber, the maritime medieval market, takes place there.
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Travel reporter