Tours in Bremen

Start in the Market Square, because everyone in Bremen does at some point. The Town Hall faces the cathedral across open cobbles, and between them stands the stone figure of Roland, looking out as if he has seen every visitor come and go. Stand there for a few minutes and you will understand why the square works as the city's front room.

Then look for the animals. The bronze Town Musicians of Bremen, the donkey, dog, cat and rooster stacked on one another, stand beside the Town Hall. Locals have a habit of holding the donkey's front hooves while making a wish, which is why they shine. It is a small thing, and you will probably take a photo of it whether you planned to or not.

Walk on into the Schnoor, a tangle of narrow lanes where the houses lean close and the shops are tiny. It feels like a different town from the square, quieter and slower. Böttcherstrasse is the other short detour, a brick lane with an odd, dramatic character that you will not mistake for anywhere else. Down by the Weser, the riverside path is where people stroll when the weather allows.

This is a city that photographs well, especially in autumn light and again when the Christmas market fills the square with lamps and the smell of roasted almonds and mulled wine. That is why we have a photo shoot with a local photographer here, starting right on the Market Square. If there is a church, quarter or corner of Bremen you would rather see with a guide, ask, and a local can plan it with you.