Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [591]
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Theatre & Music
Bremen’s main theatre company is Theater Bremen ( tickets 365 3333; www.bremertheater.com, in German; Goetheplatz 1-3; 11am-6pm Mon-Fri, 11am-2pm Sat), which performs across three venues. The main theatre, which stages opera, operettas and musicals, is Theater am Goetheplatz, where the famous 1970s film director, Rainer Werner Fassbinder honed his craft with the company. In the attached Neues Schauspielhaus you’ll find new interpretations of classics and avant-garde drama, while the Brauhauskeller, the smallest venue, is used for anything from Elvis musicals to Edward Albee.
Die Glocke ( 336 699; www.glocke.de, in German; Domsheide) Bremen’s concert hall stages classical concerts, opera and a large variety of special events, many by visiting performers, in a venue whose acoustics are considered to be among Europe’s very best.
Schlachthof ( 377 750; www.schlachthof-bremen.de; Findorffstrasse 51) Ethnic and world-music concerts, theatre, cabaret and variety are all complemented here by parties, art exhibitions and a cafe. Take bus 25 to Theodor-Heus-Allee.
Theater am Leibnizplatz ( 500 333; www.shakespeare-company.com; Am Leibnizplatz) Here the highly acclaimed Bremer Shakespeare Company mixes the Bard (in German) with fairy tales and contemporary works. Take tram 4, 5 or 6 to Leibnizplatz.
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Sport
The local Bundesliga team Werder Bremen ( 01805-937 337; www.werder.de) is less a football team than a sporting religion. Worship takes place at the Weserstadion (www.weserstadion.de; Franz-Böhmert-Strasse 1a), where a seat costs about €40; these are almost impossible to come by, so your best bet is to beg outside the stadium. Take tram 3 to Weserstadion, or tram 2 or 10 to St Jürgen-Strasse.
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SHOPPING
Reacquaint yourself with the Brothers Grimm fairy tale of The Town Musicians of Bremen (see the boxed text on Click here) via one of the many English-language editions. Otherwise, the most obvious buy in Bremen is sweets. Hachez ( 339 8898; Am Markt 1) is a good port of call, as the local purveyor of chocolate and specialities such as Kluten (peppermint sticks covered in dark chocolate).
Both Böttcherstrasse and the Schnoor Viertel are full of interesting jewellery, from antique silver and oodles of amber to modern designer pieces. Ostertorsteinweg, in Das Viertel, is the place to look for funky streetwear.
There’s also a renowned flea market on the Bürgerweide, north of the Hauptbahnhof (7am to 2pm most Sundays; check exact dates at the tourist office).
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GETTING THERE & AWAY
Air
Bremen’s airport ( 559 50; www.airport-bremen.de) is about 3.5km south of the centre and has flights to destinations in Germany and Europe. Airline offices here include Air Berlin ( 0421-552 035) and Lufthansa Airlines ( 01803-803 803). Low-cost carrier RyanAir (www.ryanair.com) flies to Edinburgh and London Stansted.
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Boat
Hal Över Schreiber Reederei ( 338 989; www.hal-oever.de, Martinianleger, Schlachte 2) operates scheduled services along the Weser between April and September. Boats from Bremen to Bremerhaven (one-way/return €14.80/23.80, 3½ hours), with numerous stops en route, depart at 8.30am every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, and 9.30am on Sunday. Shorter trips ending at Brake (€10.50/16.50, 2½ hours) depart on Tuesday at 12.30pm. Students and children pay half-price.
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Bus
Agentur Grajan ( 157 00; Bahnhofsplatz 15) inside the main train station sells Eurolines ( 069-790 3501; www.eurolines.com) tickets. Services run from Bremen to Amsterdam (one way €38, five hours), and other European destinations, departing and arriving from Breitenweg in front of the Hauptbahnhof. Check prices online as they are extremely variable.
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Car & Motorcycle
The A1