Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven is a medium-sized town in the state of Bremen, on the outer Weser in northwestern Germany. It is famous for its large harbour, one of the biggest in Germany for passenger traffic, apart from Hamburg. A political part of Bremen, Bremerhaven is geographically separated and surrounded by the federal-state of Lower Saxony.

Understand
Bremerhaven is about 50 km north of Bremen. It was founded in the 19th century as a new port of the hanseatic city. Bremerhaven means in English literally "Bremener Harbour".

Bremerhaven retains its function as an important international harbour covering large area north of the city, but Bremerhaven is also a city of modern science: several scientific institutions lead by Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research are based in Bremerhaven.

It has a fine selection of museums, galleries, family activities, events and shopping making it an increasingly attractive tourist spot at German North Sea coast.

Get in
Bremerhaven can be reached from Bremen and Hamburg.

By plane
You might find reference in older works to an which was shut down in 2016. The nearest bigger airport is in Bremen. A big international airport is in Hamburg and if you are flying across the Atlantic, you will most likely arrive there or have a layover in Frankfurt airport.

By train
The  is located in central Bremerhaven. Trains arrive from throughout Germany via Bremen with Deutsche Bahn as well as withEVB from Hamburg via Buxtehude.

By car
Bremerhaven can easily reached by car from Bremen, via the A27 northbound, if you take exit 10 from the A27 you can follow the road directly to the Fishdock (Fischereihafen).

By boat
A ferry Weserfähre serves the port from Nordenham.

Additionally, in summer season, numerous cruise ships dock...their passengers taking local tours of the city, or Bremen or Hamburg.

By camper
From the A27 take exit 10. There are two special parking areas for mobile homes in the town, both are very good, one at the Fischkai (fish wharf) and the other at the Doppelschleuse (double ship lock) a 10-min walk from the town centre. Both places are signposted.

By bus
Bremerhaven was one of the last German cities to lose its tramway and there are no plans of building one again, so for the most part you're limited to buses.

See

 * Overseas Harbour with its big ships and the huge container and car storages.

Do

 * Take a harbour tour.
 * Visit the Weser Lido which is located in the city center.
 * A trip with the Weser-ferry Bremerhaven-Nordenham, enjoy the city-panorama.
 * A trip with the Weser-ferry Bremerhaven-Nordenham, enjoy the city-panorama.

Drink
A lot of small bars are located at the Alte Bürger.

Go next

 * The numerous beaches around the town are worth a visit, especially the ones in Dorum Neufeld, or Wremen.
 * Go further north to Cuxhaven or explore the North Sea.
 * Bremen, the metropolis of the state consisting of Bremerhaven and itself, up the Weser river