The hotel we’d chosen (details below) was in a great location, just around an eight-minute walk. Crossing through Wallalagen Park, bypassing the Am Wall windmill, and we were in the heart of Bremen’s Altstadt and Christmas Markets. 

Gary and I instantly loved Bremen, we both immediately had a warm feeling about the city. The architecture all around the Marktplatz was incredible, it made it such a wonderful backdrop to the Christmas festivities.

After strolling around for a little while, we both agreed that Bremen is a perfect size for an introduction to your first German Christmas market. Or if you wanted a location that wasn’t too tiring on your feet, as the two main markets are within a short walk of each other.

We arrived around 5pm, so the sun had already set, and like all Christmas Markets, they truly come alive after dark. 

There was no holding the revellers back, the bratwurst & glühwein was flowing, and of course we didn’t want to stand out from the crowd, so thought we’d join in.

Bremen’s central market is the Weihnachtsmarkt, which meanders all around the Rathaus, Bremen Cathedral and across into the picturesque square in front of the Guild House (Schütting).

This market is beautiful, it has a really quaint quality about it, and full of all those wonderful gifts and decorations that we’ve truly come to love.

A German market wouldn’t be quite complete if it didn’t have the traditional Käthe Wohlfahrt cabin, selling the amazing soldier nut-crackers and smokers, for once we held back.

Of course, we had to have another cheeky glühwein and eierpunsch (egg-nog) and sample some schmalzuchen, which are little doughy pillows sprinkled with icing sugar. They are rather nice if not a little moisture-sapping.

Or, the medieval and swashbuckling market as we came to affectionately name it. 

And wander on a little further & potions are being mixed, blacksmiths are busy at the anvil, and medieval gifts are being crafted. What’s not to love?

Heading further through the Christmas market and all things medieval are left behind and you then stroll into a swashbuckling market with sawdust under your feet.

The pirate’s ship washed up in the middle, cunningly disguises a bratwurst stall. Buccaneers are racing up rope ladders, shanties being sung by the bars, and a grog or two being enjoyed. 

I really adore these themed Christmas markets, you can’t help but smile at all the costumes, antics and everyone enjoying themselves. And although they come into their own in the evenings, they are still really enjoyable to stroll around during the day and are usually a bit quieter.

It would have been rude not to sample the local brew, I know you can enjoy a Becks in a lot of places around the world, but surely it’s best to try it at its spiritual home. Or even one of its contemporaries Haake Beck.

Bremen is a lovely city and one we could easily visit any time of the year. Actually, with the Christmas markets taking pride of place in Marktplatz, you are often distracted by the amazing surroundings.

One of Bremen’s must-see sculptures is “The Town Musicians of Bremen” The sculpture depicts a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster the fairy tale was first published in Grimms’ Fairy Tales in 1819.

 By touching the Donkey’s front hooves, your wishes are said to come true. These characters have become a city emblem and can be seen in all different guises around Bremen.

Bremen’s cathedral is so colourful inside, I just didn’t expect it. As soon as I stepped in, the enormity of the interior just hit me, it so attractive.

It has beautiful arcades running through the central nave in Gothic style and incredible vaults above the cathedral’s main organ.

 This cathedral is certainly worth a visit in opinion.

We strolled down to the Schnoor district of Bremen, and although it was on our list to visit we had heard some lovely things about it. And, we certainly were not disappointed.

There were tiny cobbled lanes, quaint little homes and shops and some delightful architecture.

Schnoor is an area of Bremen you really don’t want to miss, it has wonderful character, charming architecture and some fun little sculptures dotted around.

Another area not to miss while in town is around Böttcherstrasse, just south off the main square and very quaint. Beautiful architecture and of course the cities’ Glockenspiel House.

The 30 Glockenspiel bells chime three times a day and the whole display last around 8 ½ minutes. While the bells are chiming a panel within the tower to the left of the bells rotates, and depicts pioneering seafarers and aviators.

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