The Best Day Trips from Bremen, Germany

Wish to slow down for a day? Celle is your best bet. This 1,000-year-old town has effortlessly held onto its medieval charm and is best discovered at a slow pace. A perfect day in Celle would mean lingering over your coffee as you people-watch and take in the colorful, half-timbered houses, a visit to the Ducal Palace, and some quality time at Filmtier-Park.

Hamburg is a treasure trove of attractions. Fantastic museums, lovely beaches, stunning architecture, a rich art scene and music venues vie for your attention in the city that is often termed as the new Berlin. Make sure to catch the view that has come to be recognized as the most iconic in Hamburg: Speicherstadt, the largest warehouse complex in the world. Also, if you have time to visit one museum, let it be Miniatur Wunderland—a unique museum that is truly an extraordinary engineering feat.

If you are craving a generous dose of sun and sand on a sunny day, you don’t need to venture far at all. North Germany’s favorite beach resort, Cuxhaven, only around 100 kilometers (62 miles) away from Bremen, promises a day of powdery-sand beaches, water sports, mudflat walks, wellness treatments and a sprinkle of architecture.

A mere 45-minute drive or a short jaunt on public transport lands you in the small North Sea coastal town of Bremerhaven. Refer to this itinerary to discover the very best of Bremerhaven in a day. Here you’ll find great spots to enjoy breathtaking views of the region, delicious local cuisine, interesting museums and more.

The beautiful 12th-century town of Lübeck is packed with points of attraction, but the good news is that it’s small and very easy to navigate. So, if you’re prepared for a busy day, you can cover the highlights of this UNESCO city in a day. Here is an itinerary to spend a perfect day in Lübeck, that will take you past Holstentor (the icon of Lübeck), beautiful churches and two famous literary museums. Moreover, you’ll have time to treat yourself to scrumptious marzipan goodies (a local specialty), explore its romantic alleys, learn about the Hanseatic League and take photos against amazingly picturesque backdrops.

The world-famous Herrenhausen Gardens alone is reason enough to visit Hanover. Other than the magnificent ensemble of architectural wonders and landscaped parks that make up Herrenhausen Gardens, Hanover also has stunning buildings (the New Town Hall, Lower Saxony State Museum and Aegidienkirche), pristine stretches of nature and a beautifully maintained medieval old town.

The landscape of Lüneburg Heath is so surreal it gives you the distinct sensation of having been transported to another world. The heather starts to bloom with the arrival of summer, and by late summer it wraps the entire region in a dazzling purple hue. Nordheide Nature Park is the part of Lüneburg Heath closest to Bremen, and promises verdant deciduous forests alongside mile after mile of heather. As you explore, you will have flocks of adorable Heathland sheep keeping you company.

If you want to get out of the city and explore the nearby rural areas, have a look at the Teufelsmoor region. The landscape encompasses bogs and moorlands around the town of Worpswede and is traversed by cycling paths and hiking trails. You can also join a boat tour or rent a canoe and set off on your own. Recommended by Marion Kutter

Much of Oldenburg’s historic charm was destroyed by the 1676 fire, but the small city is left with a handful of noteworthy sights. Over the course of history, both Danish and German rulers claimed Oldenburg as their territory, and the city museum explores the turbulent past. Other highlights are a tour of the State Apartments and the Landesmuseum exhibition of the Renaissance Oldenburg Palace and the modern art exhibition at the Prinzenpalais palace. Recommended by Marion Kutter

Approximately 90-minutes east of Bremen is Luneburg. The town has come out of World War Two nearly undamaged and boasts a town centre of cobblestone streets and medieval gabled townhouses. Countless cafés, pubs, boutiques and restaurants have moved into the historic buildings and draw people to the Luneburg, but it’s worth looking past the city borders and explore the vast meadows and heathlands of the surrounding landscape if you have the time. Recommended by Marion Kutter