It may be 45km (28 miles) upriver from the North Sea, but that didn’t stop Bremen becoming Germany’s oldest seaport, and also the oldest coastal town in the country. It can trace its history way back over 1,200 years, and this rich heritage is reflected in its many fascinating old quarters and picturesque

Public Transport

Bremen’s tangle of medieval streets makes walking the best option, but there is also an efficient public transport network in the form of buses and trams. Night buses run on some routes at weekends. Services are operated by Bremer Strassenbahn (BSAG; tel: (0421) 55960, www.bsag.de). Buy tickets from bus drivers or from machines at stops.

Climate and best time to visit Bremen

Although Bremen is a place to visit year round, the best times to arrive are often late spring or early autumn, when the weather is usually warm, and the city is not overrun with visitors. Prices are also often lower. Winters can be bitterly cold, and summers hot, but it is best to come prepared for anything in all seasons. In October and November the Bremen Freimarkt fair transforms the city centre into a colourful two-week-long party, with street entertainers, music, beer and general revelry. The pre-Lent Carnival, usually in February, is also a big event in town.

Telephone
Country code:+49

Mobile telephony and Internet
Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-EU state do not benefit from the new arrangement.

Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking credentials entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.

Key Areas

The streets to the north and west of the central Marktplatz Square – Obernstrasse, Knochenhauerstrasse and Sögestrasse in particular – are lined with shops where you will find everything you need from chic designer label boutiques to simple high-street chains. The atmospheric old Schnoor district has become a magnet for artists, and numerous small galleries have opened up in the area. Böttcherstrasse is the place to find arts and crafts stores.

Markets

There’s a colourful daily flower market on the main square. An antiques and flea market sets up on the Schlachte promenade each Saturday morning, and reconvenes on Bürgerweide on Sundays.

Handshaking is customary in Germany, and it is considered rude to address people by their first name unless invited to do so. Normal courtesies should be observed. Before eating, it is normal to say “guten Appetit” to the other people at the table to which the correct reply is “danke, gleichfalls” (“Thank you, the same to you”). If you’ve been invited to eat at a German house, it is customary to present the hostess with unwrapped flowers (according to tradition, you should always give an uneven number, and it is worth noting that red roses are exclusively a lover’s gift).

In shops and other businesses, courtesy dictates that visitors should utter a greeting, such as “guten Tag” (or “grüß Gott” in Bavaria) before saying what it is that they want; to leave without saying “auf Wiedersehen” or “tschüss” can also cause offence.

Main emergency number: 112

Food & Drink

There’s nothing to mark out German products as particularly risky to general health (although it has a partly founded reputation for being high in fat). Tap water is safe to drink.

Other Risks

Tick-borne encephalitis is present in forested areas of southern Germany; vaccination is advisable. Rabies is present; look out for ‘Tollwut’ signs. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered.

During the summer months, sunburn can be a problem. The southwest generally has the highest temperatures. The usual precautions apply: Use a generous amount of sunscreen and be sensible about how long you spend in direct sunlight. Be aware that a breezy day can sometimes mask high temperatures.

If walking over a long distance in warm weather, it’s advisable to drink – and carry – plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing, including a sun hat. Blisters can be another problem for hikers. These can often occur if new walking shoes are being worn over a long distance. Ideally, footwear should be worn in before the trip.

IATA Travel Centre

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