Located on the outer Weser in northwest Germany, Bremerhaven is a medium-sized town. Besides Hamburg, it has one of the largest passenger harbors in Germany. Don't let Bremerhaven's small size fool you; it is just as famous as any other German city. A visit to Bremerhaven is a worthwhile experience since it is a more petite but beautiful tourist destination. A remote destination like this offers a variety of unique activities and places to discover. Taking a break and relaxing in Bremerhaven might be something you would like to do someday again.
Take a tour of Bremerhaven and discover what it has to offer! You can check out these great highlights for your trip, whether you are a tourist or a local.
The Schaufenster Fischereihafen is Bremerhaven's revitalized fishing harbor, perfect for a cup of coffee or a bite to eat. It is a great vantage point to admire passing ships while enjoying a chilled pilsner from the boardwalk. It is centuries old and hosts a slick assortment of bars, cafes, and restaurants. There are several seafood restaurants in this converted fish-packing warehouse, including one featuring home-smoked halibut. The nautically-themed inns at the Harbor serve hearty comfort food in generous portions.
Bremerhaven is home to many stores, including undercover malls, high streets lined with brand names, and lifestyle stores. A pedestrian shopping district almost a kilometer in length, the "Bürger" is located in the city's center. It is also near two of the city's biggest shopping centers, Mediterraneo and Columbus, which sell local crafts and wares. Around 40 boutiques are offered in this outlet center, which is attractively designed in the style of Italian architecture.
Bremerhaven is an easy drive from Bremen, which is well worth visiting. It is a city with a rich history and a larger area than Bremerhaven. Market Square has many attractions, including the UNESCO-listed Town Hall and the Cathedral. The riverfront promenade is lined with bars and restaurants and is a great place to relax after touring the city. Exploring the Schnoor district is a must during any trip to Bremen. A sprawling labyrinth of pedestrianized streets connects Bremen's oldest quarter, characterized by timber houses from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Bremerhaven boasts an excellent seafood restaurant, naval-themed museums, and harbor cruises. Its connection to the sea is one of Bremerhaven's most unique attractions. Visitors can experience arid deserts, abundant reefs, the German Maritime Museum, the Atlantic Hotel Sail City, The German Emigration Center, and Klimahaus Bremerhaven (climate house). Bremerhaven's best spots are listed below in short descriptions.
A unique meridian-east climate zone and culture attraction, this attraction opened in 2009. Bremerhaven sits just west of this longitude line, which passes through the Mediterranean and Africa on its way to both poles. Each zone offers a multisensory journey with sounds, smells, and scenery, from the temperate North Sea Coast of Germany to the rainforest of tropical Cameroon. People's ways of living have been affected by climate change, for example, in the Swiss zone.
This museum focuses on German migration to the New World, the only one in Germany. Bremerhaven was the main embarkation point for 7 million emigrants between 1830 and 1974. People cross the Atlantic to trace their ancestors here thanks to the names and destinations recorded by emigrants during that time. Life on board the ships is portrayed through moving accounts, dioramas, interactive stations, and original documents on display. From Huguenot refugees in the 17th century to Syrian Civil War refugees, you can learn about migration down the ages.
U-Boats have an eventful career, even if they never see action. The Wilhelm Bauer, the only surviving example of its type, was commissioned in February 1945 but scuttled at the war's end without ever patrolling. It was converted to its Second World War configuration as a museum ship in 1984 after being salvaged and commissioned for the West German navy in 1957. The submarine design was revolutionized after the war by this piece of hardware. Plaques explain every compartment of the submarine in German and English and how the crew worked, slept, and ate (the galley is tiny).
There is a marine and polar animal attraction right next to the Maritime Museum, the Zoo am Meer. In the early 2000s, the zoo was given a complete overhaul and reopened in 2004, despite existing in some form since 1913. This port city has been home to chimpanzees for hundreds of years, along with polar bears, seals, gannets, and Humboldt penguins. In the North Sea Aquarium here, you can see zander, seahorses, eels, and sea trout, as well as rabbits and guinea pigs in the children's area.
Since 1855, the majestic Simon-Loschen-Leuchtturm on the new Harbor has served as a lighthouse and church tower. On Germany's North Sea coast, it is the oldest working lighthouse. The tower stands just under 40 meters tall. It is similar to Bremerhaven's Hauptkirche, the Mayor-Smidt-Gedächtniskirche, which the architect Loschen also designed around the same time.
You should visit Bremerhaven in Germany between May and September. There is little rainfall during this period, and the weather remains pleasant. Further, during late July, high temperatures are typically around 22 degrees Celsius, with nighttime lows rarely falling below 14.1 degrees Celsius.
