The city of Bremen is officially known as the Hanseatic Free State of Bremen, the City of Bremen is the smallest and least populated sub-federation in Germany. It actually consists of two territories: the Hanseatic city of Bremen, which is the 11th largest city in Germany, and the separate seaport of Bremerhaven. Both Bremen and Bremerhaven are completely surrounded by the state of Lower Saxony. This page focuses primarily on the city of Bremen.
City of Bremen
Despite its outward-looking industrial side and trading history, Bremen is home to more than its fair share of cultural attractions. As well as dozens of museums and galleries, the city has some of the country’s most charming medieval architecture, a touch of fairytale magic and the oldest coffeehouse in Germany.
A brief history of the City of Bremen
Archaeological finds prove that the marshlands surrounding the City of Bremen have been inhabited since at least 12,000 BC. Their location at the crossroads of two historically important trade routes made them an advantageous location. Over time, this geographical position aided the transformation of the City of Bremen into a major economic power.
Christian Missions in Europe
Before it was primarily a commercial city, however, Bremen was a religious center. After Emperor Charlemagne decreed that all Saxons must convert to Christianity on pain of death, in 848 Bremen was established as a diocese from which the Christianization of Northern Europe could be carried out.
Royal Free City of Bremen
In 965, the city was granted free market rights ? including the right to mint its own coins and make its own laws ? and its significance as a commercial and religious centre began to grow. These privileges laid the foundations for Bremen’s eventual elevation to the status of a Free Imperial City. The young city became even more influential in 1260, when it joined the Hanseatic League, one of the most powerful trade associations in Germany.
Federation & Empire
The drive for autonomy for the City of Bremen continued into the 19th century, when the city was able to negotiate its independence after Napoleon withdrew his troops from Germany. In 1867, the City of Bremen joined the North German Confederation along with Hamburg as a Free Hanseatic City, and four years later it became an autonomous state within the newly formed German Empire.
City State City of Bremen
After World War II, the mayor of Bremen traveled to the United States to reestablish the statehood of Bremen and prevent the former city from being annexed by Lower Saxony, which was under British occupation. Ultimately, it was agreed that Bremen ? 60% of which had been destroyed by Allied bombing ? would remain separate, and in 1947 it became an American-occupied enclave in the middle of the British zone. It was joined to its former port, Bremerhaven.
City of Bremen
To this day, Bremen’s proud history of autonomy and global trade is reflected in the city’s architecture, traditions and social life, creating a diverse culture that makes anyone feel at home ? and the statue of Roland, a symbol of citizenship and freedom, still stands proudly on the city’s main square.
Bremen City Weather
Due to its proximity to the North Sea, Bremen has a temperate oceanic climate, making extreme temperatures rare. The weather varies throughout the year, but seasonal variations are not as extreme as in other parts of Germany.
The warmest months are June, July and August with average high temperatures of 20 to 22 degrees Celsius and the highest rainfall of the year while the coldest months are December, January and February. In winter, the thermometer usually drops to around 0 degrees.
What to Do in Bremen: Attractions & Activities
This compact city is packed with sights and attractions. Be sure to check at least a few of these off your list:
Rub the donkey’s feet
You can’t go through Bremen without visiting the city’s pride and joy: the Bremen Town Musicians is a small bronze statue of a donkey, dog, cat and rooster that set off from Bremen in the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Notice the donkey’s shiny front legs? Touching them is supposed to bring good luck? but make sure you don’t brand yourself as a foreigner by rubbing one leg with just one hand. Bremeners say it’s just a donkey shaking hands with another!
Becks Brewery Tour
Around 3,000 bottles of Beck’s Beer are opened around the world every minute ? and in the City of Bremen you can visit the place where it all began. Tour the brewery founded by Master Brewer Heinrich Beck in 1873, learn all about the brewing and fermentation process and ? most importantly ? enjoy the taste of world-famous German beer.
Take a walk down Bottcherstraße
This 100-metre-long street was rescued from ruin and transformed under the supervision of a local coffee tycoon into a stunning example of Art Deco and brick Expressionist architecture. In addition to admiring the remarkable buildings, it is well worth the time to browse the artisan shops and boutiques.
Explore at Universum
Perfect for a rainy day but fun all year round, Universum is a popular interactive science museum housed in a futuristic metal building that’s part boy, part spaceship. Over 300 exhibits include the chance to play ping pong with robots, wobble your way through an earthquake, and even experience what it’s like to be blind.
Play with deer at Bürgerpark
This 200-hectare park extends north from Bremen City University into open countryside and, with plenty of sheep, goats, pigs, wild boar, alpacas, guinea pigs and deer to see, makes for a great day out for the whole family. There’s also a lake where you can hire boats, a mini-golf centre and even a stage for theatrical performances in the summer.
City of Bremen
Travel around Bremen City
Trains and motorways connect Bremen with other major cities in the country, while the airport offers domestic and international flights. Public transport in Bremen, a network of rail, tram, S-Bahn and buses (but not U-Bahn), is managed by the transport association VBN.
Annual events in the City of Bremen
Bremen’s packed social calendar changes from year to year, but these regular events are constant.
Ice law
The “Ice Bet” is a somewhat bizarre Bremen tradition that dates back to 1829. On January 6, the Three Wise Men and a “tailor” meet on the banks to check whether the river is frozen. While the tailor tries to reach the other side without getting his feet wet (he usually has to rely on the help of a boat), the German Maritime Rescue Service raises ? usually around 450,000 euros a year.
Samba Festival
Far from the traditional German festivals you might witness in cities like Cologne and Mainz, the South American-inspired Bremen Samba City Festival takes place every February with an explosion of colorful costumes, masks, stilt walkers and drums.
On the street
This international circus festival sees established artists and newcomers alike take to the streets to showcase their talents, all for free! Expect plays, acrobatics and a vibrant summer vibe.
City of Bremen
This free five-day arts festival is held on the banks of the Weser River and offers a stimulating programme of live music, outdoor art, street entertainment, theatre, dance and poetry readings from over 100 performers ? as well as some delicious food.
Freimarkt
Held in the second half of October, Freimarkt is Germany’s oldest and third-largest fair. Over 300 attractions are spread across 100,000 square metres of fairgrounds, providing non-stop entertainment for the whole family. If roller coasters aren’t really your thing, there’s plenty of beer too.
A bustling, industrious city, Bremen retains a timeless charm. In the evenings and on weekends, residents congregate in the beautiful city centre, wandering along cobbled alleyways, browsing artisan shops and enjoying a coffee or locally brewed beer at one of the many sidewalk cafes and bars.
City of Bremen
Culture and Entertainment
Bremen’s Kulturmeile (Cultural Mile) in the heart of Bremen connects cultural gems including the central library, the Bremen City Theatre and the Kunsthalle. The latter houses a permanent collection of paintings, sculptures and engravings spanning 600 years. The Weserburg Museum of Modern Art showcases national and international artists with permanent and visiting exhibitions.
Most of the residents of Bremen are football fanatics and are loyal followers of SV Werder Bremen, one of Europe’s top teams whose home ground is the 42,500-seat Weser Stadium.
Every year, top cyclists come to Bremen to compete in the world’s largest six-day race, held in the city’s AWD Dome and attracting thousands of spectators. Bremen’s coastal location means that sailing and rowing are popular recreational activities, as are running and cycling.
Education in Bremen City
Education is considered a cornerstone of German life, and Bremen has a wide selection of private and state-funded schools as well as several higher education institutions, including Bremen City University, which has around 22,000 students and an excellent reputation for its digital media, engineering and science courses. Other institutions include Jacobs University and Bremen University of Applied Sciences.
Bremen University of Applied Sciences
Established in 1799, it offers more than 60 degree programs in engineering, natural sciences, economics and social sciences. More than half of its students are required to complete study or internship programs abroad. The University of Applied Sciences offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. It also has cooperation agreements with 270 partners worldwide.
Jacobs University Bremen
Jacobs University Bremen is an independent, internationally oriented private university offering courses in English. Its students are prepared to become international leaders and global citizens through the faculties offered in: 22 Bachelor’s programs and 19 Master’s/PhD programs.
International School of Bremen
The International School of Bremen is a relatively new co-educational private university preparatory school. English speaking and convenient for international students in the City of Bremen.
Bremen City University
Bremen City University is ranked among the top ten universities in Germany, offering 12 effective study programs. In addition, it offers outstanding research quality from many research organizations located on the university campus.
City of Bremen
Bremen University of the Arts
A fantastic environment for creative young people to further develop their artistic interests and talents. Offers degrees in both visual and performing arts. Offers a range of interdisciplinary programmes combining music, art and design. Offers cross-faculty workshops and seminars for large-scale artistic and academic projects.
Cost of living in Bremen
Bremen is a bit more expensive than other smaller cities although there are plenty of options for every budget to find a suitable provider. It mostly depends on your personality, whether you are good with money or not.
A meal for one at an inexpensive restaurant will cost you around €10. If you are looking to impress a date or treat a friend at a mid-range restaurant, expect to spend around €60 for a three-course meal and drinks, preferably wine. On a night out with friends, you can spend €3.50 on a 0.5-litre glass of domestic draught beer, preferably Beck?s. Imported beer is €3.75.
Sitting by the Weser River on a sunny morning, a €2.50 coffee and a €1.70 bottle of water will set you back around €5 in total.
But when it comes to shopping at the market and cooking, you will definitely save a lot of money because the prices are much lower than eating at restaurants outside.
Here are the basic food prices you will see in the markets:
Milk 1l – less than 1€
Bread – less than 1 €
12 eggs – 1.60 €
Apple – 70 €
Tomatoes – 1.50 €
Water 1.5l – 0.70 €
Most fruits and vegetables cost around €2-4. A pint of local beer in the market costs less than €1 while a mid-range bottle of wine costs around €4.
Monthly transport costs around €55 – including student discounts. A gym membership will set you back around €30 a month. If you want to see a movie at the cinema, you’ll pay €11 for a ticket. Clothing items depend on your taste and available budget, but there are some really good items you can buy in chain stores.
City of Bremen
Living in halls of residence is always cheaper, however many students prefer to live alone and prices vary depending on location. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs around €460 while outside the centre it is cheaper at around €320.
Meanwhile, students prefer to share apartments between roommates because it is difficult to afford a single apartment. A three-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around €1,200 or €500 outside the center.
Utilities such as electricity, heating, water and garbage for an 85m² apartment cost around €150.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: Cost of living in Bremen
Answer: Bremen is a bit more expensive than other smaller cities although there are plenty of possibilities for every budget to find a suitable provider. It mainly depends on your personality, whether you are good at managing money or not.
A meal for one at an inexpensive restaurant will cost you around €10. If you are looking to impress a date or treat a friend at a mid-range restaurant, expect to spend around €60 for a three-course meal and drinks, preferably wine. On a night out with friends, you can spend €3.50 on a 0.5-litre glass of domestic draught beer, preferably Beck?s. Imported beer is €3.75.
Question: What is the weather like in Bremen?
Answer: Due to its proximity to the North Sea, Bremen has a temperate oceanic climate, which makes extreme temperatures rare. The weather varies throughout the year, but seasonal variations are not as extreme as in other parts of Germany.
The warmest months are June, July and August with average high temperatures of 20 to 22 degrees Celsius and the highest rainfall of the year while the coldest months are December, January and February. In winter, the thermometer usually drops to around 0 degrees.
