If it's worth it for you to visit Bremen is something that depends on a lot of parameters. It's not one of those cities that you should try to visit at least once regardless of the circumstances. But it's still a city that does have something to offer, and I had a great time there personally. In short, I would say that the defining parameter is how well a visit to Bremen fits into the rest of your itinerary. If you're in Hamburg and are looking for a day trip then it's definitely worth going to Bremen for a day to do some sightseeing. If you're already in Northern Germany, or the Netherlands, for other reasons and want to find somewhere unique in the vicinity then I would also be able to recommend Bremen.

However, I wouldn't recommend anyone to travel across the globe with the sole, or main, intent of visiting this city. It has some interesting sights and a lot of history, but we also have to remember that it is a city of just 566 000 within the city limits and only the 11th largest city in Germany.

For me, the defining parameter was that going on a road trip from Stockholm will put you in Northern Germany after around ten hours. And I wanted to visit somewhere I hadn't before without going too far down south into the European heartland, so I looked at options along the Northern coast and found Bremen. Other options included Lübeck (which I've been to), Hamburg (which felt too complicated to visit by car), and Hannover (which was slightly too far away).

The conclusion can be read like this: Don't plan your trip around Bremen, but if your travel itinerary can accommodate it - Do it!

So if you're in Northern Germany and have the opportunity to visit Bremen, which are the reasons why you should do it?

As with many cities in Germany, and Europe overall, there's a lot of history to be found and old architectural gems can be adored throughout the city center. The most prominent examples include the 13th-century Bremer Dom (Bremen Cathedral) or the Böttcherstraße, a whole street famous for unusual architecture. Around Marktplatz (Market Square) there are several noteworthy buildings. The Schütting House was originally a guild house for the city's merchants and tradesmen. The building is noted for an abundance of gold on the facade, has roots back to the early 1400s. The current building was built in 1538.

Across the square from the Schütting House, you'll find the City Hall. This building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and while you stand on the Marktplatz staring at its beauty you will undoubtedly understand why it has that status! The, probably, most famous symbol of the city is also found on the Marktplatz. It's the Roland statue, from 1404, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you're not so much into looking at buildings and sightseeing, you might be interested in spending your day at the Weserpromenade instead. It's a, rather tourist, pedestrian street along the Weser River lined with restaurants, cafés, and bars. Spend an afternoon having some drinks and people spotting and just relax.

Also, don't forget to take a stroll down to Schnoor. The oldest part of the city and the only remaining quarters of the original medieval Bremen. As you can see, there is a lot to see and do in Bremen if you give it a chance.