Car Hire in Bremen

About Bremen

Bremen is a city in Germany, more precisely in the German state of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. This is the smallest and most sparsely populated state in Germany. It consists of two cities, Bremen and Bremerhaven. Bremen is the capital of the state and the 11th largest German city. After Hamburg, Bremen is the second largest city in northern Germany.

The city was founded about 1200 years ago by the Holy Roman Empire on the banks of the Weser River, the longest river in Germany. Together with Oldenburg and Bremerhaven, it forms the Bremen/Oldenburg metropolitan region, home to about 2.5 million people. Bremen is an important commercial and industrial city, and the port of Bremen is the second largest port in Germany, just behind Hamburg. But Bremen is not only an important commercial and industrial centre but also one of the most important cultural and economic centres in northern Germany. There are many different cultural, historical and religious sights that are worth visiting. So, if you are going on a road trip through Germany, you should put Bremen on the list of cities where you will spend a few days because there are really many interesting things to see and do here. If you rent a car here, you will have plenty of opportunities to explore the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, but you can also explore all of Northern Germany. The roads are in good condition, so you will really enjoy driving through this beautiful country.

Many people know Bremen as a working-class or industrial city, but Bremen is actually much more than that. This city will really surprise you with its charm and beauty when you walk through the old town. You can visit many high-quality museums, galleries, etc. Besides, there are many street musicians in the streets of Bremen and much more. Of course, we should not forget to mention that there are many fantastic restaurants in the city, so you really have a comprehensive offer here in the city of Bremen. It's up to you what kind of activities you prefer on holiday, but one thing is for sure, you will definitely find something for yourself in Bremen. All you need to do is get well-informed and come here prepared. Buckle up and drive safely

Basic info and car hire in Bremen

• Location: Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Germany
• Population: 566,573
• Official language: German
• Currency: Euro
• Weather: Bremen has a moderate oceanic climate  
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Bremen are in good condition.
• Car hire in Bremen:  The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Bremen is at the Bremen Airport. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Bremen!

 Driving in Bremen

Renting a car is the best option in Bremen if you want to properly explore the city and especially its surroundings. The roads are in good condition, and the signalling is clear, so you just have to follow the rules and obey all the traffic signs to avoid problems while driving in Bremen. There is a lot of traffic in the city and especially during rush hours there can be traffic jams

If you want to explore the old town, it is best to park your car in one of the many parking lots outside the city and use public transportation or combine walking and public transportation. The city of Bremen also has a very well-developed car-sharing system, which is used by many locals to get around the city. Thanks to this solution, traffic in Bremen is not as heavy as it used to be. In addition, there are more parking spaces available because citizens no longer use so many cars

Bremen is also an ideal place to get around by bike. So there are many options, you just have to decide which one is best for your way of travelling.

Since Bremen, and actually the whole region, has a strong industry, the so-called environmental zones were introduced to maintain a healthy environment for the people who live here. An environmental zone in Germany is a zone where motorised vehicles are only allowed to enter with an environmental badge. In German, these zones are called Umweltzone, which translates as an environmental zone. As of 2021, there are 58 environmental zones in Germany, covering more than 70 cities. The obligation to possess the environmental badge applies to both German and foreign cars (M1), motor homes (M1), heavy caravans (M1), minibuses (M2), buses (M3), vans (N1), transporters (N2), trucks (N2) and heavy commercial vehicles (N3).

Vehicle registration and city government sell stickers. Local garages and vehicle inspection centres such as TUeV and DEKRA are also authorised to sell stickers. If you buy them directly from municipal offices, they cost €5. Online, they can cost more. And if they need to be shipped abroad, that can sometimes be a bit more expensive. The city of Berlin sells stickers online (in English or German) for 6 €. TUeV-SUeD offers stickers for 15 € in German, Česky, Français, English, Italiano, Polski, and Tuerkçe. TUeV-NORD sells stickers for 9,90 € if the vehicle is registered in Germany, and for 17,50 € if the vehicle is not registered in Germany.

Buy the stickers only on the official websites of the city or the TueV. Other websites are often much more expensive if you get a valid sticker there at all.

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Germany is 18 years old. The minimum age to rent a car in Germany is 21 years old, however, some suppliers allow young drivers from 18 years of age to rent a car from them. A young driver fee can apply for drivers that are under 25 years of age. This information is visible in the search engine Orbit Car Hire.
• International Driving Permit: You are required by law to carry your Drivers Licence when driving. An International Driving Permit is required in addition to a National Driving License if the National Driving License you or any of the Additional Drivers hold is not clearly identifiable as a Driving License, eg, it is in a non-Latin alphabet (eg Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese). It can also depend on the country or car rental company you are renting with. If you have found a car on our website, you can press the rental terms link from the supplier for more information about driving license requirements. You will need to provide a copy of your driver's license when applying for the license. If you are mailing your application in, a copy of both the front and the back of the license should be included. You also must present two passport photos to get an international driver's license in Germany.  This is all that you need to obtain an international license for driving in Germany. 
• Additional papers:  A credit card in the name of the main driver needs to be presented. A security deposit may be required while renting a car so the credit card must have sufficient funds. You can find details about the security deposit listed while booking the vehicle as well as on your voucher. It is important to have a valid driving license with the name of the main driver as well as additional drivers when it applies.Identification(passport or ID), and valid proof of insurance. When you pick up your rental car you need to have your voucher with you. At Orbit Car Hire you can buy additional coverage so you can travel throughout Germany without worry. 
• Additional requirements:  It is a legal requirement that vehicles have certain safety gear, such as orange vests, caution triangles, and a first aid kit. Verify with your car rental where these are located in your car. You also need to check that you have additional light bulbs (are usually already in the car and are provided by the car rental company).Glasses (in case you need glasses, you must always have a spare pair in the car),
• Children in the car:  Everyone in the vehicle is required to wear a seatbelt. If a passenger is found without one, then the driver is held responsible with a high fine. In Germany, it is illegal to travel in a car with a child under 3 years old not strapped into an approved child safety seat. Children under twelve (and under 150cm) must have a booster or restraint system and be seated in the back. Ask when booking for a suitable system to be included when you collect your hire car.
• Driving side of the road: Right Hand
• Lights: You must turn your lights on any time you can't see at least 1000 feet ahead. Use your low-beam headlights whenever it is raining. 
• General speed limits: When driving in towns, the speed limit is automatically 50 km/h unless stated otherwise. When driving out of towns, the speed limit is automatically 100 km/h unless otherwise stated. NOTE: There will not always be a speed limit sign! Therefore, you need to know that as soon as you enter a village or “built-up” area that automatically means the speed limit is 50km/h! 65% of the highways in Germany (Autobahn) have no speed limit.

Popular day trips from Bremen

Egeskov Castle, Ærøskøbing, Svendborg, Schanzenviertel, St. Pauli, Rathaus, Hamburg, HafenCity...

What to see in Bremen

Bremen is a city where you can see many different cultural, historical and religious sights. There is really a lot to see and do here and it is up to you what kind of vacation you prefer, but one thing is for sure, Bremen will offer you many interesting and unforgettable experiences. Before coming here, you should do some research and make a good plan, because there are so many things to do and you need to be well organized to experience as much as possible.

St. Peter's Cathedral is undoubtedly one of the attractions you can not miss while walking around the city. This majestic church was built in the 11th century and is the main attraction in the central market square. This architectural masterpiece is a mixture of different styles (Romanesque, Gothic...). The cathedral was renovated in the 19th century and is still one of the main attractions of the city.

Another architectural masterpiece that you should not miss during your exploration of Bremen is the Town Hall. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and famous buildings in Germany. It was declared a World Heritage Site at UNESCO and is one of the most visited attractions in the city.

If you are looking for St. Peter's Church or the City Hall, then you certainly will not miss Market Square. Both of these attractions are located in this square. But besides these two monumental buildings, there are many other attractions in this square, which are very popular among locals.

Other attractions you should visit in Bremen:  Cathedral Museum, Kunsthalle Bremen, Böttcherstraße, Haus des Glockenspiels, Schnoor Quarter, Schlachte, Schütting, Focke Museum, Ludwig Roselius Museum, Universum, Bürgerpark, Mühle am Wall, Das Viertel, Bremer Geschichtenhaus, Church of Our Lady, Übersee-Museum, Rhododendron Park, Botanika, Beck's Brewery, Valentin Submarine Pens, Bremer Bonbon Manufaktur, Weser River Tours...

Drive your rental car beyond Bremen

Germany, or the Federal Republic of Germany as the country's official name, is located in Central Europe and is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia. Germany borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west. The country's capital and largest city is Berlin, and Germany's financial centre is Frankfurt. In many ways, Germany is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most developed countries in the world. It is the country with the largest economy in Europe and the fourth-largest economy in the world. It is a world leader in several industrial, scientific and technological fields and is both the third-largest exporter and the third-largest importer of goods.

But of course, Germany is not just an industrial and financial giant. It is a country with many opportunities in many different fields. From arts, education, tourism, sports, etc. Germany has a long and turbulent past with all kinds of events and among these events, there are some that Germans are not very proud of, such as the World War. There are many monuments, museums and places that commemorate these events and send a warning to the world that this kind of event should never happen again.

Germany consists of 16 states (Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Bremen, Brandenburg, Berlin, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria), and each of them has something different to offer and is really worth visiting. The country lies between the Baltic and North Seas in the north and the Alps in the south. So there really is a lot to see and do here, from the south to the north. One of the great advantages of this country is the fact that the road infrastructure here is really well developed and among the best in Europe. It is an ideal country for a road trip. You should probably do more than one road trip through Germany if you want to explore it properly, but you can be sure that you will have a great time no matter which part of the country you want to explore. You can either opt for the bigger cities in Germany, as there are a large number of cities in this country and there are really countless interesting things to see and do in most of the cities. Also, there are many festivals that take place throughout the year. So you just need to research well and make a good plan before coming here, because you really need to be well organized if you want to see and do as many things as possible.

In Germany, there are also many great options for those who prefer a more active type of vacation. For those who love the mountains, there are many great mountain trails and routes that you can explore either on your own or with a guided group. In the Alps you can also do many other activities, from climbing to mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, skating on the many great lakes, etc.

If you are not interested in the mountains, you can always visit the lakes and rivers or even try rafting or kayaking. The countryside in Germany is also beautiful and worth experiencing. You can also drive around and visit many romantic little villages where you can learn more about the German culture and traditions, meet the locals and try some local specialities. If you decide to explore the German countryside, you can also be prepared to see some amazing castles. Some of them are abandoned and only ruins remind us that the castle was here in the past, but some castles are still alive and are being renovated to house museums, galleries, etc. and are spectacular tourist attractions. An interesting fact about Germany is that it is the country with the third largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Besides castles, there are fascinating churches and other majestic architecture all over the country that will simply take your breath away.

For technology freaks and lovers of the automotive industry, there are some of the most famous brands from this country whose factories and museums you can visit, e.g. BMW, Mercedez, and Audi...

The country is also famous for its gastronomy and it is important to highlight two traditional German flagships in this field. The beer is undoubtedly one, with the Oktoberfest, one of the most famous festivals in the world, where record-breaking amounts of beer are sold every year, and then of course the sausage, as it is called. If you are in Germany, you should definitely try the sausage and the beer. This is German tradition and pride.

Where to eat, drink, and party in Bremen

If you come to Bremen, you can be sure that you will have a great culinary experience. Many dishes here are based on meat, but of course, there are also many restaurants where you can find all kinds of menus, from traditional German to more modern German cuisine, and of course menus from all over the world.

Here are some dishes that you should try when you come to Bremen: Fried smelt (small silvery sea fish), Labskaus (meat stew), Kohl und Pinkel (kale and sausage), Knipp (sausage with groats and meat), Kükenragout (poussin stew)...

Best restaurant in Bremen

Muchos Mas

Fisherman's Seafood Bremen

Kleiner Olymp

Teestuebchen im Schnoor

Edel Weiss

1885 die Burger