Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [587]
Meanwhile, the Hafenmuseum Speicher XI (Harbour Museum Warehouse 11; 303 8279; www.speicherelf.de, in German; Am Speicher XI; adult/concession €4.50/3.50; 11am-6pm Tue-Sun) expounds on Bremen’s waterside history. Take bus 26 to Speicher XI.
For art lovers, Bremen’s Kulturmeile (Cultural Mile) boasts the Kunsthalle ( 329 080; www.kunsthalle-bremen.de; Am Wall 207; closed to late 2010/early 2011), which at the time of publication was being given two new wings and a revamped cafe. When it reopens, you can expect to find a large permanent collection of paintings, sculpture and copperplate engraving from the Middle Ages into the modern, as well as changing exhibitions. The nearby Gerhard Marcks Haus ( 327 200; Am Wall 208; adult/concession €3.50/2.50; 10am-6pm Tue-Sun) showcases sculpture, while Wilhelm Wagenfeld Haus ( 338 8116; Am Wall 209; adult/concession €3.50/1.50; 3-9pm Tue, 10am-6pm Wed-Sun) features household objects from this Bauhaus luminary.
On an island in the Weser River, across from the Schlachte promenade, you’ll find the Weserburg Museum für Moderne Kunst (Weserburg Museum of Modern Art; 598 390; www.weserburg.de; Teerhof 20; adult/concession €7/5; 10am-6pm Tue, Wed & Fri, 10am-9pm Thu, 11am-6pm Sat & Sun) with changing exhibitions of hot-off-the-press art.
Return to beginning of chapter
Other Attractions
The city’s typical Dutch Windmill (Am Wall) today houses a restaurant and adds a pleasant rural flavour to the parkland. Plant-lovers shouldn’t miss a trip to botanika ( 4270 6610; www.botanika.net, in German; in Rhododendron-Park, Deliusweg; adult/child €8/5; 9am-6pm Wed-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat & Sun Mar-Oct, 9am-4pm Wed-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat & Sun Nov-Feb) and its replicated Asian landscapes from the Himalayas to New Guinea. Admission to the rhododendron park itself, where you find 2000 rhododendron and azaleas, is free. To get here, take tram 4 to Horner Kirche.
Return to beginning of chapter
TOURS
Leaving from the Hauptbahnhof, a city bus tour (adult/child under 12yr/family €17.20/11.50/44; 10.30am Tue-Sun) run by the tourist office has English and German commentary. Otherwise, ask the office about its many German-language tours.
Hal Över Schreiber Reederei ( 338 989; www.hal-oever.de; Martinianleger, Schlachte 2; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri) operates a 75-minute Weser and harbour tour (adult/child €9.80/7.50) up to five times daily between April and October. It also runs the ferry across the river to Café Sand. The tourist office has a full schedule of candlelight cruises and boat trips to the islands of Helgoland and Sylt. Hal Över Schreiber Reederei also runs scheduled services along the river in summer (see Getting There & Away, Click here).
Return to beginning of chapter
SLEEPING
Budget
Camping Stadtwaldsee ( 841 0748; www.camping-stadtwaldsee.de; Hochschulring 1; per adult/tent/car €9/4/3) This rebuilt camping ground features modern amenities, a supermarket, and a cafe with a lakeside terrace. By car, take the A27 to the university exit in Bremen Nord. Tram 6 to Universität/NW1 is close, or change here to bus 28 to reach the doorstep.
Bremer Backpacker Hostel ( 223 8057; www.bremer-backpacker-hostel.de; Emil-Waldmann-Strasse 5-6; dm/s/d €17/28/46; ) This private hostel is simply furnished but spotless, with a kitchen, communal room and a small courtyard out front for soaking up the sun.
Jugendherberge Bremen ( 163 820; www.jugendherberge.de/jh/bremen; Kalkstrasse 6; dm under/over 27yr €23.50/26.50, s/d €36.50/63; ) Looking like a work of art from the exterior, with a yellow and orange Plexiglas facade and slit windows, this hostel has comfortable rooms, a rooftop terrace and a bar–breakfast room with huge glass windows overlooking the Weser River.
Return to beginning of chapter
Midrange
Hotel Bölts am Park ( 346 110; www.hotel-boelts.de, in German; Slevogtstrasse 23; s/d €70/90; ) This cosy family-run hotel in a leafy neighbourhood has real character, from the wonderfully old-fashioned breakfast hall to its well-proportioned doubles. A few singles with hall showers and toilets start from €50.
Turmhotel