Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven is a city at the seaport of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany in west central Europe.

Bremerhaven's harbour has many restaurants, cafes, waterfront pubs and nautical themed shops. It's a great place for a stroll but watch out for uneven cobblestones, sensible, flat shoes are recommended.

The Deutsches Auswandererhaus (German Emigration Centre), right on the harbour, tells the moving stories of some seven million German, Eastern European and Jewish emigrants, who sailed from Bremerhaven for the New World of America between 1830 and the mid 1970's.

Bremerhaven's Zoo am Meer Bremerhaven (waterfront zoo) is also at the harbour and features monkeys, seals, Arctic foxes and polar bears. (Open daily, Apr-Sept).

Bremerhaven's most famous landmark is its old lighthouse, built in 1853. It is the oldest mainland lighthouse on the North Sea coast still in service. View it from Columbusstrasse.

Nautical souvenirs are popular, especially model ships.

If you are heading to Bremen, highlights here include Uberseemuseum, Science Museum, St Petri Dom Cathedral, which was built in the 11th century and the old medieval quarter.

Salmon, eel, crab, herring fillets and catfish can be found on menus as well as ‘braunkohl und pinkel’ (cabbage and sausage) which is one of Bremen's best-known dishes.

Cruise ships dock at Bremerhaven port. The 2 level passenger terminal (Columbus Cruise Centre) has an information desk, toilets, shop, internet cafe and coffee bar.

The Port Authority runs a bus which departs from outside the cruise terminal to downtown.
Taxis can be called by the staff at the information desk.

Enjoy a stroll along the waterfront, with great views out to the North Sea.

All of Bremerhaven's main attractions are within walking distance, as the harbourside promenade runs in front of Columbusstrasse, where you will find shops and restaurants in the Columbus Center mall.

Hauptbahnhof train station is about a 10 minute walk from the Columbus Center. Trains to Bremen can be taken from here.