exploring Bremen & its surrounding areas
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Cycling through Woltmershausen to Lankenauer Höft (2/2)
The excursion ship Gräfin Emma passes by
From the stairs, the path continues towards the Weseruferpark. Around this height, a cog was recovered from the Weser silt in 1962. After years of conservation treatment, interested parties can view the restored merchant ship at the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven.
The 22-hectare Weseruferpark was established on former floodplains in 1972. The highlight of this expansive park in Rablinghausen, with walking paths and benches, is the 300-meter-long sandy beach, which was inaugurated in September 2009. At least something - though modest - some older Pusdorfer residents might have thought, as the neighborhood had the longest sandy beach in the Hanseatic city until the construction of Neustädter Harbor in 1960. It attracted not only people from all walks of life in Bremen but also from surrounding areas for swimming and relaxation during the four decades starting in 1920. However, swimming outside official bathing facilities along the Weser was only permitted after 1930.
Beach at Weseruferpark with a view of Überseestadt
From the beach, you can see across the river to the Überseestadt, which emerged after the turn of the millennium. The district offers some interesting spots, particularly around Europahafen (Europe Harbor), and is definitely worth a visit. However, a spontaneous visit in swimwear directly from the beach is strongly discouraged, as swimming across the river is not a good idea due to the currents and ship traffic - it’s life-threatening. If you're lucky, you might spot a seal on the beach, as they have been seen here more frequently in recent years.
Between the beach and Lankenauer Höft lies the entrance to Überseestadt on the other side of the Weser
Shortly after leaving Weseruferpark, the kilometer-long journey along the water ends at the paved and partially asphalted path upon reaching Lankenauer Höft. The headland is situated between the Weser and the entrance to Neustädter Harbor. The name of the Höft recalls the agriculturally shaped village of Lankenau, where many workers later lived and which even had a regionally famous campsite from 1953. This had to close in 1962 and, like the entire village, make way for the harbor construction.
A glimpse into the Neustädter Harbor
For many years, a restaurant of the same name at Lankenauer Höft - offering views of the water from its terrace - was a popular destination for local residents and cyclists alike. However, that came to an end in late 2016, not without protest from the community. Efforts by those in charge to find an investor for the site proved unsuccessful for a long time; due to the proximity of the port facilities, residential construction was legally prohibited, which severely limited the options for use. Nevertheless, the property was never truly empty: after a period of issues with illegal waste dumping on the site, it served as a temporary space for creatives. Finally, in 2021, the excavators arrived, leaving only the iconic tower standing.
The iconic tower at Lankenauer Höft
Many hoped that something creative would emerge from such a prominent location, and indeed, it did. As early as 2024, "Restaurant Luun" welcomed guests into its new two-story building.
Grab a coffee from Union - they don’t just brew beer in Bremen; they can make a great coffee, too
The interior design successfully captures the maritime setting on the Weser and the history of the neighboring ports, recreating that classic "Bremer" sense of coziness. The outdoor area was partially designed as a beach bar complete with sand and beach chairs - the perfect place to relax while looking out over the water.
Beach Bar with Beach Chairs
To improve accessibility, bus line 24 was extended; it now ends directly at Lankenauer Höft at a turnaround point next to numerous parking spaces. Perfect.
What no one expected at this location were the numerous houseboats bobbing gently in the water of the entrance to the Neustädter Harbor, anchored to piles driven into the bed of the Weser. They have to bob; because of the tidal range of the Weser, a completely fixed mooring is not possible at this point. Well, in that case, they wouldn't be boats anymore!
Houseboats at Lankenauer Höft
The ferry connection remains - much to the delight of many people out on bike rides or on foot. It includes bicycle transport to the other side of the Weser, specifically to the Waterfront and the Molenturm in Überseestadt. The small boat primarily runs on weekends, but not year-round. You can check the schedule here.
Take a quick trip across the Weser between Lankenauer Höft, Waterfront, and Molenturm in Überseestadt on the small Pusdorp passenger ferry
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Bremerhaven Havenwelten
Since early 2008, Bremerhaven has not only had a new tallest building but also a new landmark in its Weser-side skyline with the ATLANTIC Hotel SAIL City, which rises 147 meters directly behind the Weserdeich. Architecturally, the structure perfectly embodies a maritime city - it stands like a powerful, rounded ship's superstructure. On the 20th floor, at a height of 77 meters, there is an observation deck (SAIL City) that is also accessible to non-guests.
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Überseestadt (Overseas City)
When the Overseas Port required renovation, the decision was made in 1991 to simply close off the basin instead. In 1998, the Overseas Port was finally filled with sand obtained from dredging operations in the Outer Weser. Alongside the also decommissioned but still existing Europa Harbor basin, this formed the foundation for the conceptual development and creation of today's Überseestadt (Overseas City).
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Stephani district
The Stephani district forms the western end of Bremen's Old Town and is considered the birthplace of the city, making it one of its oldest districts. As early as 1050, Archbishop Adalbert I founded a priory in honor of Saint Stephen. The priory, located on a dune, was called Steffensberg (mons sancti Stephani) in German translation. Adalbert's episcopal successors established a parish and built the first church in what was then also known as Steffensstadt (Stephen’s City).
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Vegesack
Storage facilities, museum harbor with ships, Utkiek with whale jaws and more are part of Vegesack's Maritime Mile, which extends for slightly over one nautical mile (about 1.8 kilometers) to the former site of the „Bremer Vulkan“ shipyard that went into insolvency in 1996. This also includes the Stadtgarten, which stretches almost from the ferry terminal to the former „Vulkan“ site.
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Water-based activities in Bremen
Given that Bremen is a city situated along a major river and surrounded by numerous lakes, it's only natural to extend sporting activities - or whatever one personally considers as such - from land to water. The most family-friendly activity on the water is undoubtedly taking a rowboat ride along the canals of the Citizens' Park (Bürgerpark).
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Cycling in Bremen and surroundings
The Free Hanseatic city of Bremen is connected to numerous neighboring towns via the Weser Bike Trail and the Unterweser Circular Route. On both sides of the Weser River, cycling routes lead, for example, to Brake with its Harriersand island or Bremerhaven and onward to Cuxhaven. In 2017, the Weser Bike Trail was named an ADFC-Quality Bicycle Route (4 stars) by the German Cyclists' Association (ADFC) at ITB. According to a travel analysis, it is the second most popular long-distance cycling route in Germany.
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Round trip: from the City Center to the Weser weir and back
From Tiefer or Altenwall, the section of the Weser riverbank in front of Schnoor and diagonally opposite the DGzRS (German Maritime Search and Rescue Service), the planetarium, and the observatory on the other side of the river, a beautiful path for pedestrians and cyclists runs directly along the water upstream toward the Weser weir. After crossing the Weser weir, the return route of the tour leads via Stadtwerder.
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A stroll through the Neustadt
The Old Neustadt was only properly established as part of the district in the 17th century. One reason for this planned expansion of the city was the increasing threat posed by advancements in weaponry. Remnants of the defensive walls built at that time still exist today as parks, but there is much more to discover, such as the Little Roland.
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Observatory & Planetarium
On selected days, visitors can also take a look through the large stationary and smaller mobile telescopes of the Walter-Stein Observatory, which are set up on the terrace. In the Olbers-Planetarium in the same building, members of the society give lectures on varying topics. The Olbers-Planetarium, opened in 1952, belongs to the small planetariums with its dome measuring 6 meters in diameter. A total of 35 seats (including accessible ones) are available for visitors.
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