Highlights for a city trip to Hamburg and Bremen

If you're keen on a trip to Northern Germany, Hamburg and Bremen should definitely be on your bucket list. Even a weekend is enough to immerse yourself in the history of these two Hanseatic cities – while also experiencing their modern, creative urban culture. Here, we reveal the highlights and the best places to stay in both cities.

Are you looking for central and affordable accommodation for your city trip? Then the MEININGER Hotel Hamburg City Center or the MEININGER Hotel Bremen Hauptbahnhof are just right for you. MEININGER currently operates a total of 36 hotels in Europe, including 15 in Germany. All hotels boast central locations or close proximity to public transportation and offer excellent value for money.

MEININGER Hotels combine the service of an international budget hotel with the flexible nature of a hostel – and offer extras that make your stay particularly pleasant. These include common areas such as a well-equipped guest kitchen with laundry facilities, an in-house bar, and a game zone with billiards, table football, arcade and board games, as well as a children's play area.

Typical of MEININGER: Each hotel is individually designed and reflects the character of its respective city, true to the motto "Step out and explore." Rooms range from classic double rooms to family rooms and beds in shared dormitories – perfect for solo travelers, families, groups, and backpackers. A 24-hour reception ensures maximum flexibility for early check-in or late check-out. A rich breakfast buffet rounds out the offerings. High-speed Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout.

Game Zone at the MEININGER Hotel Hamburg with table football, pool table and seating area

The Game Zones at MEININGER Hotels offer fun for all ages.

Source: Wolfgang Scholvien Photograph, MEININGER Hotels

MEININGER offers attractive benefits for families when booking directly: a 15 percent discount on the room rate for children up to 12 years old, free breakfast for children up to six years old, and a 50 percent discount for children between seven and 12. Family rooms offer three to six beds, and free baby cots are available upon request. Pets are welcome for a small surcharge.

Elbe in Hamburg with boats and the Elphi as well as the skyline of Hamburg

In Hamburg, a boat tour is a great option, whether through the harbor, the Speicherstadt or on the Alster.

Source: IMAGO/BREUEL-BILD

The phrase "Hamburg, my pearl" originates from a song by Lotto King Karl, but it has long since become a motto for many Hamburg residents – who greet each other in typical Hanseatic style with a simple "Moin." Many are convinced that the "Gateway to the World" is also the most beautiful city in the world. The sights are diverse, and some highlights are not to be missed.

The city's landmark is the Elbphilharmonie, or Elphi for short, which opened in 2016. Its glass facade rises 110 meters above the rooftops of HafenCity. Those who want to experience a concert should secure tickets early. But the view from the plaza on the eighth floor is an experience in itself. Equally spectacular: the 360-degree view from the 123-meter-high tower of St. Michael's Church.

You can immerse yourself in Hamburg's commercial history in the world-famous Speicherstadt (Warehouse District), the world's largest historic warehouse complex and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015. A boat tour through the narrow canals between the red brick buildings is particularly impressive. A harbor cruise through Germany's largest seaport is equally exciting. Many tours depart from the Landungsbrücken (landing bridges) in St. Pauli. The entrance to the Old Elbe Tunnel – one of the city's most popular underground attractions – is also nearby.

If you want to party in Hamburg, you can't miss the legendary Reeperbahn, known as the "most sinful mile in the world" with its bars, clubs, and the red-light district. After a long night of partying, a trip to the Hamburg Fish Market, which opens every Sunday at 5:00 a.m., is worthwhile. Hamburg is also ideal for families. Parks, water sports, and boat trips await you around the Inner and Outer Alster Lakes. An absolute highlight for all ages is the Miniatur Wunderland in the Speicherstadt, the world's largest model railway according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Family room at the MEININGER Hotel Hamburg with a double bed featuring harbor cranes on the headboard, as well as wardrobes with colorful squares and a bunk bed

The MEININGER Hotel in Hamburg enchants with its maritime flair.

Source: MEININGER Hotels, Wolfgang Scholvien

At the MEININGER Hotel Hamburg City Center, you'll stay just 400 meters from Hamburg-Altona train station. The fish market and Reeperbahn are within easy walking distance. The hotel captures the atmosphere of Hamburg's harbor: Scandinavian-inspired design, plenty of wood, maritime flair, and lovingly selected souvenirs create a Nordic coziness. For guests arriving by car, the hotel offers an underground parking garage with parking spaces, which can be used for a fee.

Statue of the Four Bremen Town Musicians on the Town Hall Square in Bremen

The Bremen Town Musicians are known worldwide and the symbol of the city.

Source: imago images/Westend61

Bremen is inextricably linked to the Bremen Town Musicians. Although the donkey, dog, cat, and rooster never arrived in the Hanseatic city in the Brothers Grimm's story, they remain its most famous symbol to this day. Perhaps you, too, will first be drawn to the bronze sculpture of the Town Musicians, which has stood on the west side of the town hall since 1953. Tip: Touching both of the donkey's front legs at the same time is said to bring good luck!

Bremen's town hall itself is a true gem and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. The Gothic building was built between 1405 and 1409, with the Renaissance façade added in 1608. Directly adjacent to it stands the famous Roland statue, and just a few steps away stands the imposing St. Peter's Cathedral. Those who climb the 98.5-meter-high south tower are rewarded with a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.

Another highlight is Böttcherstraße: At just 108 meters long, it is one of Bremen's most famous streets. Its ornate architecture, the Glockenspielhaus (Glockenspiel House), small shops, and cafés make it the city's "secret main street." Also worth seeing is the Schnoorviertel (Schnoor Quarter), Bremen's oldest district. Here, historic half-timbered houses from the 15th and 16th centuries are lined up like a string of flowers. Craft shops, galleries, and cozy cafés invite you to stroll and linger.

Bremen offers exciting alternatives for northern German "shitty weather": The interactive science museum Universum Bremen brings technology, humanity, and nature to life. Art lovers will find their money's worth at the Kunsthalle Bremen, with an impressive collection of European works from the Middle Ages to the present day. And nature lovers shouldn't miss the Rhododendron Park—one of the largest of its kind in Europe, complete with an interactive nature experience center.

Double room in the MEININGER Hotel in Bremen with design elements such as black dog-ears behind the headboard

The design of the MEININGER Hotel in Bremen refers to the Bremen Town Musicians.

Source: MEININGER Hotels, Wolfgang Scholvien

The modernly designed MEININGER Hotel Bremen Hauptbahnhof is just a three-minute walk from the main train station. This central location allows guests to easily reach famous attractions such as Bremen's Market Square, the UNESCO World Heritage City Hall, the Roland Statue, and the Schnoor Quarter on foot or by public transport. Bremen Airport can be reached in approximately 25 minutes by public transport.