What to do in Bremen
Hannah
While you're still in a metropolis and even in an independent state (or in German "Bundesland") to live in Bremen feels cosy and never rushed.
Did you know that all the Bremers have a shared living room? It’s not exactly a “room” but the main market square in Bremen is also known as the “living room of the city” because everybody knows and enjoys it. Sooner or later you’ll meet everyone there.
While you’re still in a metropolis and even in an independent state (or in German “Bundesland”) to live in Bremen feels cosy and never rushed. And the beloved market square is a perfect example of that feeling.
But that does not mean the city has nothing to offer! If you plan on taking a day off and doing something more exciting than studying, here is what to do in Bremen:
Since the “Altstadt”, the old buildings in the city centre are basically a part of your living room, they are a familiar sight. And even the typical old Bremer houses in the “Viertel” or the “Neustadt” might be part of your daily life. So, it is on you to discover more of Bremen’s beautiful scenery. In the district of “Vegesack,” you can dive into a maritime atmosphere that feels a bit like a holiday at the sea. And if that is not enough you can visit the northern sea itself in Bremens second part “Bremerhaven”. Sit at the beach, get your feet covered in mud at the “Wadden Sea” and eat a fish roll. If you are lucky it doesn’t even rain. 😉
In case it should rain, Bremerhaven has to offer interesting museums. Though they are popular tourist destinations the “Klimahaus” and the “Auswandererhaus” are worth a visit! The “Klimahaus” or “climate house” lets you travel around the world in just a few hours, experiencing all climate zones from tropical jungles to icy cold north. In the “Auswandererhause” on the other hand you can travel through time and accompany the people who left Germany throughout history. Find out about their story starting a new life elsewhere in the world.
Another special thing in Bremen is the German word “umzu”. It is used to refer to the area around Bremen which officially belongs to the state of “Niedersachsen”. Some smaller villages are so close to the city that they have tram lines connecting them to Bremen. Therefore, it feels a bit like they are a part of the city and are included in the term “Bremen und umzu”. And if there is an extra term for these places, why not paying them a visit? Especially, if they are beautiful cities with half-timbered houses and magical alleys like “Lilienthal” or old art villages surrounded by nature like “Worpswede”.
If we are already talking about nature: Even if there aren’t any mountains near Bremen, the surroundings offer some beautiful hiking paths. Especially the primaeval forest “Hasbruch” with one of Germany’s oldest trees or the stone graves near the village “Dötlingen” are waiting to be explored! But who said, you need to get out of the city to find yourself surrounded by nature? Bremen has to offer quite some variety, except for the mountains of course.
On the hot summer days, the “Werdersee” invites you to swim, stand-up paddle or just relax at the beach right in the city. Not far from the lake, the Weser beach and the restaurant “Café Sand” also spread some holiday feelings. When the sun is a bit gentler, the conditions are perfect for a tour in the “Blockland”. There the dike leads through a nature reserve of wet meadows and along the small river “Wümme”. This trail is perfect for bikes, roller skates or skateboards.
If you are planning your route the right way it’ll lead you to the “Hof Kaemena”. There you can discover, besides the garden, the cows and the exhibition about their biological dairy production, the absolute best ice cream in the city! And for rainy days there is the “Botanika”, located in Bremens botanic garden. It tells about Azaleea from all around the world and looks into many biological themes like photosynthesis, ecology and farming.
Okay, enough of the greenery, back to cultural activities! The first locations that come to mind in Bremen are the “Kunsthalle” or the big theatres. But after some visits, you’ll need some new addresses. Try out the “Schwankhalle” in the district “Neustadt”! This little theatre-like establishment focuses on the performing arts. They present everything from music and acting to literature, discussions and learning, always with a passionate tether to currently important topics in the community. You could also pay a visit to one of the events of the “Kukoon” in Bremen. The “Kukoon” is a cultural centre presenting readings, creative workshops, discussions and a shared lunch on specific days. For more detailed info just take a look at their websites!
And since museums are quite an important part of cultural activities, I have some alternative tips in contrast to the popular “Kunsthalle” or the “Universum”. I’m sure you have heard of the “West Side Gallery” in Berlin well, Bremen has the “Weser Side Gallery”. To be honest the gallery is located in the city of “Lemwerder” and therefore belongs to the “umzu” in “Bremen und umzu”. But that does not make it less interesting! For free you can admire one kilometre of street art, displayed on the flood protection barriers right at the shore of the Weser River. Also close to the River is the “Weserburg”. This gallery presents different exhibitions on modern arts throughout the year, right in the city centre.
For the history aspect of museums I want to propose a really small museum in the district of “Burgdamm”. The “Köksch un Qualm” is a historically accurate museum about 19th-century woman and their work at a cigar factory. They take you on a time travel through their daily life. In addition, the museum runs lots of events from making your own soap workshops to storytelling evenings. While I’ll have to admit that many events are oriented on children it is still worth a visit. Their dedicated way of storytelling creates a unique atmosphere and brings history to life.
With all of these ideas and things to see, I can only say: Enjoy your day in Bremen!
All photo rights by International Campus GmbH.