A picturesque, laid-back city with good budget airline links, Bremen is an increasingly popular destination for budget travelers. While the city´s medieval architecture is dramatic, the city has not yet attracted the tourist hordes that head out to Berlin. Bremen has yet to become overpriced and overpopulated by foreign visitors, so head to the city now, before word gets out about this hidden German gem and the hotels and restaurants become filled with tourists and prices spiral upward.

Cheap Flights to Bremen

Budget travelers heading to Bremen can now take advantage of low cost, no-frills flights from budget operator Ryanair. The airline flies from Bremen to 18 destinations in Europe, and there are some real bargains to be found if booking in advance and with flexible dates. 

Cheap Accommodations in Bremen

Visitors to Bremen will find the city awash with upscale hotels set in handsome old buildings, but just one night in many of these chic spots would blow the travel budget sky high. Happily for travelers on a budget, there are some more cost-friendly options to be found among the medieval streets and squares of Bremen. Although there are not yet any backpacker hostels here, there are two very good value hotels. Hotel Horner Eiche, located just outside the city center, offers private rooms with private bathroom and television starting at as little as US$35, while the Hotel Deutsche Eiche is a couple of dollars cheaper and has a nice bar and garden terrace-- as well as comfortable rooms. While prices at both hotels start at under US$40 per person, many of the rooms are pricier, so book well in advance to get the best bargains. Alternatively, many budget travelers opt for apartment rental, which can work out to be excellent value for couples, families and groups of friends sharing. The web at: http://www.cinema-rooms.de/ offers smart, well-located apartments with kitchen facilities starting at around US$50, and the kitchen facilities mean guests can also save on the cost of eating out.

Cheap Eats in Bremen

There´s plenty of opportunity to fill up on good food in Bremen without spending a fortune. The fashionable Das Viertal neighborhood in particular offers many good restaurants serving delicious food for very reasonable prices. Stiff competition between the many restaurants here means it´s possible to enjoy two courses and a glass of wine for around 10 euros, and it´s not all sauerkraut and sausages--there are lots of Italian, Spanish and Turkish restaurants to be found here, all offering tasty dishes at a fraction of what would be charged in many European cities.

Bremen Sightseeing on a Budget

Bremen is a small, compact city, which can be easily explored on foot. Happily for the budget traveler, this means it is more than possible to save money on taxis and public transport because many of the city´s main sights are within easy walking distance of each other. The Aldstadt, Bremen´s historic center, is not more than 20 minutes´ walk from any other spot in the city, and it costs nothing to stroll the cobbled streets of this medieval district and take in the imposing architecture. Similarly, the ornate squares such as Marktplatz and Bremen´s Markt cost nothing to visit and make great photo opportunities. There are lots of pavement cafes offering inexpensive beers and snacks for weary tourists. The enormous statue of 15th century freedom fighter Roland is another free must-see. The river, with its bobbing boats, is pleasant to stroll along, and is a nice place for a picnic. And the city has plenty of supermarkets and delicatessens offering hungry visitors a chance to fill up at a low cost.

Nightlife on a Budget

Bremen does not yet have a nightlife scene to rival that of Berlin or other European cites such as Prague, and much of the entertainment comes from sitting at a pavement cafe at one of the city´s attractive squares, enjoying a glass of wine or beer and just soaking up the atmosphere. Street markets often continue well into the night, and there are regular, free, live music performances during the summer months of July and August. The few nightclubs to be found here tend to be quite expensive, so budget travelers would be wise to avoid them.