Bremen City

The charming medieval coopers lane was transformed into a prime example of mostly expressionist architecture in the 1920s at the instigation of coffee merchant Ludwig Roselius. Its red-brick houses sport unique facades, whimsical fountains, statues and a carillon; many house artisanal shops and art museums. Its most striking feature is Bernhard Hoetger's golden Lichtbringer relief (Bringer of Light), which keeps an eye on the north entrance.

For art lovers, the highlight of Bremen’s Kulturmeile (Cultural Mile) is the Kunsthalle, which presents a large permanent collection of paintings, sculpture and copperplate engravings from the Middle Ages into the modern era – some of the masterpieces here are more than 600 years old. The collection includes work by van Dyck, Rubens, Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso, as well as 10 sculptures by Rodin. Rotating exhibitions display both classical and contemporary art.

In 1943, the Nazis started construction of a massive concrete bunker to build submarines in. At a planned production rate of 12 subs per month it was meant to be the German war machine's most important naval project. The largest free-standing bunker in Germany – around 426m long and 97m wide, up to 27m high and with 4.5m-thick walls – it was built by up to 12,000 slave-labourers from POW and concentration camps, under intensely cruel conditions; thousands died at the site.

This maze of narrow, winding alleys was once the fishermen's quarter and later a red-light district. Now its doll's-house-sized cottages contain boutiques, restaurants, cafes and galleries. Though mainly geared to tourists, it has some lovely corners to explore on a leisurely ramble.

The Das Viertel neighbourhood – home of the museum-laden Kulturmeile (Culture Mile) section – is a walk or short tram ride east of the centre and is one of Bremen's liveliest and most interesting areas, packed with cool shops, restaurants and bars. Head there for an entertaining evening.

Two-hour tours of one of Germany's most internationally famous breweries must be booked online through either the Beck's or tourist office websites. Expect a tasting at the end. The 3pm tour is also in English. Minimum age 16. Meet at the brewery's visitor centre; take the tram to Am Brill, cross the river, then turn right onto Am Deich.