What to do in Bremen - 17 tips for the city of musicians

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | After a few days in Hamburg, we drove on with the camper to Bremen, the next stop on our road trip through Germany. Here we were greeted by a magnificent historic center, fairy-tale alleys and of course the famous Bremen Town Musicians. We quickly fell in love with the city – and here we have collected our best tips for things to see and do in Bremen.

Bremen

Strolling through the city's streets, you'll discover everything from magnificent squares to alleys so charming they could be straight out of a fairy tale. Here you'll find historical sights and UNESCO heritage sites, as well as art, delicious food and craft beer.

For example, did you know that Bremen is considered the coffee capital of Germany and that Beck's beer comes from here? The city has a long tradition of shipping and global trade connections via the Hanseatic League, which means that people here are used to new impressions and have always been open to new flavors and exotic delicacies.

What can you do in Bremen?

So what can you see and do in Bremen? All kinds of things, actually! We've put together a list of our top tips here.

1. see the City Musicians of Bremen

'The City Musicians of Bremen' is a classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, about four animals: a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster. The animals, who are a bit old and in some cases at risk of slaughter, escape from their farms to become city musicians in Bremen.

On the way, they find a hideout for robbers, and by climbing on each other's backs and making noise, they manage to scare off the robbers. After that, they no longer want to be town musicians. But at least they have a statue in the centre of town, and the statue is very popular!

As well as the classic statue, there are millions of variations on the theme. You can find the state musicians in other statues, in carousels, in toys, in shirts and well... just about everywhere. And they are charming!

2. Discover the beautiful Marktplatz square.

Although Bremen is a fairly small city, the central square, Marktplatz, feels incredibly powerful. The buildings here are impressively beautiful and it's easy to get caught up in the excitement. very many photos.

On the square you will find, among other things, the "Schütting" building, which originally served as a guild building for traders in the city and later, in 1849, became a chamber of commerce.

On the square there are several restaurants with outdoor seating, which admittedly feel a bit touristy, but nevertheless have a fantastic location. Here we had a lunch (rösti with cold smoked salmon) and we really enjoyed the sun and the location.

3. Impressed by the Unesco heritage Town Hall and the Roland statue

The Marktplatz in Bremen is a Unesco World Heritage Site, with the Town Hall and the statue of Roland. The old town hall was built in Gothic style in the early 15th century, after Bremen joined the Hanseatic League. The building was renovated in the so-called Weser Renaissance style in the early 17th century.

The Roland statue in Bremen is a UNESCO heritage site and a symbol of the city's independence. The statue is 5.5 metres high and dates back to 1404.

4. see Bremer Dom

Bremer Dom, or St Peter's Cathedral, can be found just off the Marktplatz in Bremen.

The cathedral, built from the 11th to the 13th century, was originally dedicated to the Apostle Peter and is very impressive.

5. Step into the Bleikeller

When visiting the Bremer Dom, you can also take the opportunity to look down into the "Bleikeller", which is located at a separate entrance to the right of the main entrance. Here you will find a crypt with a row of coffins, containing mummified corpses.

The mummies were accidentally discovered around 1698 by the journeymen of organ builder Arp Schnitger, who were working in the crypt. Why were the bodies mummified? It is said to be a natural process, related to humidity and the absence of cadaver flies.

6. Check out the Church of Our Lady.

If you want to check out another church in Bremen, check out the "Kirche Unser Lieben Frauen". This church is located in the centre of the city and is worth seeing. In addition, you can experience a beautiful light show from the colourful church windows.

7. check out Böttcherstrasse

Just off the Marktplatz, Böttcherstrasse is one of the city's major attractions. The street is not very long, but the architecture is fantastic and offers one surprise after another. Take your time! There are also several charming shops here, selling things like tea, sweets and handicrafts.

8. Listen to the chimes

Several times a day, on Böttcherstrasse, you can listen to the city's carillon (Glockenspiel). You can see the bells between the two roof tops in the picture below. To the left of these houses you see a picture in the wall that rotates during the carillon. Different!

9. Strolling in the Schnoor neighbourhood

Something you absolutely not Not to be missed in Bremen are the charming Schnoor neighbourhoods. These are old neighbourhoods where the less wealthy once lived. Today, the area has a fairytale feel, with small and slightly crooked houses, imaginative signs and shops selling crafts and toys.

Tucked in between some of the houses, you'll find a restaurant that looks incredibly charming.

In other parts of the area you will find 'the narrowest alley', 'the smallest house' and houses in all sorts of imaginative colours.

10. Take the small ferry across the river Weser

Are you staying with your motorhome at the "Reisemobilstellplatz am Kuhhirten" site? Or do you want to have a coffee at Café Strand? Then take the small ferry across the river Weser. The crossing doesn't take many minutes, and you have to pay a small fee, but it's charming!

11. Passing through the graffiti tunnel

In the same part of the city you will find the 'graffiti tunnel'. This is a pedestrian and bike tunnel between the river Weser and the city centre, where you'll find a lot of great paintings.

12. walk along the Schlachte

Another thing you won't want to miss in Bremen is the Schlachte, the promenade along the eastern bank of the river Weser. It's home to a bunch of restaurants and bars, and on a sunny day the atmosphere is great!

13. Photograph the Mühle am Wall mill.

One of the bridges in the centre of Bremen offers a view of the Mühle am Wall windmill. The mill, which dates from 1898, is beautifully surrounded by greenery and today houses a restaurant.

14. Enjoy the tranquillity of the Bürgerpark

At one end of Bremen is the beautiful Bürgerpark, where you can stroll among green spaces and water.

Here you will also find the exclusive Parkhotel, which is beautifully situated with a pond right in front of it.

15. See art in art museums

If you like art, you'll find a number of museums to check out in Bremen. You can check out the Kunsthalle Bremen in particular, but also the Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum and the Ludwig Roselius Museum.

16. Try a local restaurant

Trying local food is part of the experience in a city. In Bremen, for example, you can visit the Rathauskeller (Town Hall Cellar) or the Schüttinger brewery bar. We also tried, together with our local guide, a restaurant well frequented by locals.

The fish restaurant Knurrhahn, according to the sign outside, has a history dating back to 1620. Here we had classic cucumber salad, prawns and fish with potato salad. Very good!

17. Coffee at Café Sand

Is it summer and sunshine? Then you should definitely check out Café Sand! This café is located on a long sandy beach and offers a summer feeling.

More things to do in Bremen

If you have more time in Bremen, there is of course even more to discover. Here are some more attractions and experiences that may be worth adding to your visit.

Universe Bremen

Universum Bremen is an interactive science center where you can experiment and learn more about people, nature, and technology, among other things. A good tip, especially for families with children.

Beck's Brewery

The well-known beer Beck's comes from Bremen, and at the brewery you can take a guided tour and learn more about beer production and the brewery's history. The tour also includes a tasting.

Overseas Museum

The Übersee-Museum is located near Bremen Central Station and combines exhibitions about nature, culture and trade. Here you will meet people, animals and environments from different parts of the world.

Rhododendron Park and Botany

Rhododendron Park is a large and beautiful park that is especially worth seeing when the rhododendrons and azaleas are in bloom. The park also houses Botanika, an experience center with plants and environments from different parts of the world.

Bunker Valentin

Bunker Valentin in Bremen-Farge is a huge submarine bunker built during World War II with the help of thousands of forced laborers. Today, the site is a memorial and documentation center where you can learn more about the bunker's dark history.

Focke Museum

The Focke-Museum is Bremen's museum of art and cultural history. Here you can delve into the history of the city and region through historical objects, art and cultural history collections, among other things.

Where can you live or stay with your campervan?

There are of course many different hotels and other accommodation options in Bremen to choose from. We travelled to Bremen by motorhome and stayed at Motorhome site at Kuhhirten. This is a very nice and green place, with good service (albeit somewhat complicated information) and excellent location for visiting the city. If you are travelling with a caravan, you could try instead HanseCamping.

Things to do in Bremen - on film

More to see and do near Bremen

Of course, there is more to see and do near Bremen. Here you will find more tips and reports:

• Things to do in Hamburg
• Things to do in Hannover
• The castle gardens in Hanover
• Things to do in Celle