Bremen

Bremen is a city of contrasts: UNESCO world heritage town hall with Roland statue, Weser embankment, Schnoor quarter - and a centre of science for more than ninety years. Shipbuilding, aircraft construction, space stations and rocket stages have cemented Bremen's reputation as the home of high-tech industry.

Cheap flights and accommodation for city breaks and holidays to Bremen, Germany

Bremen's attractions include the Weser-Renaissance-style town hall, the Schnoor – Bremen's oldest quarter, the unusual architecture of quaint little Böttcherstrasse, the cathedral and the venerable figure of Roland on the historical market square. And last but not least, the Bremen Town Musicians from the Brothers Grimm fairytale.

Have a good look around, take your time... Shopping in Bremen is a sheer delight because the city centre is so compact yet manages to have countless boutiques, fashion shops, department stores, restaurants and a strong sense of culture. If you enjoy a good browse, head for the malls with their acres of glass or wander around the picturesque squares. With a choice this wide, there is every chance you will pick up something really special.

Bremen is a city of culture, with the Bremen Theatre and Shakespeare Company, Bremen Kunsthalle art gallery and the New Weserburg Museum. Bremen has everything, from musicals to drag shows and even a theatre ship.

Bremen has plenty to offer in the way of green spaces and nature. Set within the rhododendron park is the "botanika" green science centre with its unique take on the world of plants. Bremen's Bürgerpark ("people's park") is Germany's best-maintained country park.

Together, Bremen and Bremerhaven form the smallest of Germany's sixteen federal states. Its official title is the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. Bremen's long and illustrious history has for the most part been shaped by its pursuit of political and economic autonomy. It is the second oldest city republic in the world still in existence, after San Marino.