With over a millennium of storied history, tradition and openness, these words are synonymous with Bremen, one of Germany’s city states and once a member of the medieval Hanseatic League. As the smallest state of the Federal Republic, Bremen is a flat city and shares more borders than any other state. This goes some way to explain its outward-looking mentality, but the gregarious local population seems to revel in its proud, independent status and invite people to appreciate what this airy city has to offer.
Nature is always close by in this tiny city, scraping by as one of Germany’s largest 10 cities, but Bremen is known most for its incredible expressionist quarter and for one of Germany’s most exciting soccer teams Werder Bremen. The city is also best known for its town musicians, a donkey, dog, cat and rooster who all stand on top of each other, in that order. In Bremen, people come for the heritage and stay for the culture.
HAPPYCAR is here to help you find the best car hire Bremen has to offer so you can take full advantage of this historical city, and a direct car hire Bremen Airport is also available for extreme convenience. We check the prices of international and local providers so that you don’t have to check each website, and provide you with the best deals to make your money go further with a car that fits your specific travel needs and desires.
General Information
Bremen’s second-largest port in Germany helped introduce free-thinking attitudes as it received free-market rights in 965 AD and Bremen quickly became known as the Rome of the North. Out of hostility the stunning Rathaus, or Town Hall, was built in 1410 along with the Roland statue, both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the nearby Dom, cathedral in English, all of which makes for incredible tourist attractions.
This long history has also given rise to curious Bremen traditions. Every year, 15 dignitaries dress in top hats and tails and conduct the Ice Wager, traditionally walking along the river in 99 lbs of clothing to see if it cracks. The Schaffermahl, or Mariner’s Meal, is the world’s oldest fraternal banquet and drips with ritual each year.
And the food in Bremen is strange, even for German standards. Names like inkel sausage, pluckte finken stew, chick ragout and baked smelt, turn even the most ambivalent of heads, but they must all be tried, even Knipp, a thick blood sausage, and Klaben, a stolen-inspired Bremen oddity.
Alongside the must-see Bremen heritage such as the Böttcherstraße and the Maritime Mile is the city’s more modern offerings, particularly in the form of science. University Bremen showcases numerous exhibitions on science and technology, while Airbus Defence & Space provides an opportunity to see how astronauts on the International Space Station live.
Using a car hire in Bremen
The Town Hall in Bremen is one of the finest in Europe and is seen as an important historical display of the wealth and freedom of the city. The Dom is considerably older than the Town Hall, is a huge towering facade that dominates the main square, along with the imposing statue of Roland, the protector of trade.
The waterfront is also a strong asset of Bremen and the source of all the wealth further into the city. Germany’s last fully rigged sailing ship, the Deutschland, is open to visitors in nearby Vegesack, and the Schlachte Embankment, nearer to the center, offers fantastic markets that come alive around Christmas.
Thanks to Bremen’s excellent position in Germany,it means you can reach excellent destinations which include Hamburg which is situated just 80 miles away, and the A27 takes you straight to Hanover. Using a Bremen car hire is an excellent, convenient option to see more of this proud country. There is so much to see in this part of the world, and a car rental Bremen can help you uncover some of the many mysteries just waiting to be discovered.