the country’s most popular attraction (established through a survey by the German Tourism Board), Minatur Wunderland, can easily fall into this category. The Hamburg-based collection of model cities may be slightly unconventional, but that hasn’t stopped more than 16 million visitors coming through the doors since it opened in 2001.

The same can be said for Bremerhaven, home to its own quirky attraction in the form of the Klimahaus (Climate House). Whilst very different to the other things to see and do in the region, it’s definitely worth a visit if you find yourself exploring this part of the country.

Getting There

Bremerhaven has grown from simply being the harbour for Bremen to a city in its own right. Located just up the River Weser from its neighbour, it has maintained plenty of its maritime charm but also heavily developed its waterfront to create a great entertainment district for locals and tourists alike.

Whilst you can always rent a car and drive the 37 miles, the easiest way of getting to Bremerhaven is by train from Bremen. You may choose to do this as part of a day trip during your Bremen city break or you might like to spend a few days solely in Bremerhaven. Either way, it’s a lovely place to discover.

From the Hauptbahnhof, you can climb aboard the 505 bus until you reach the Bremerhaven Große Kirche stop (roughly six minutes) or take a 25-minute stroll. The latter will give you the chance to see more of this harbourside location but the former allows you more time to experience the attractions.

What To Expect

The Klimahaus is located within a modern shopping mall that features an Italian-themed parade of restaurants, cafés and local stores. After going through the turnstiles, you’ll be asked to remove any bulky items of clothing, as well as rucksacks, and leave them in the cloakroom. And then you’ll be off on a journey around the world.

The idea is to experience a vast array of climate zones found on our planet without ever leaving Germany. Following a route called ‘8° Ost’, you will travel through nine different locations that are connected by a straight line drawn around the globe from Bremerhaven. Feel the heat of the desert in Niger, walk along a Samoan beach, experience a Sardinian breeze blowing through your hair and shiver in the frozen landscapes of Antarctica.

Each themed area has various interactive exhibits that help you to learn about what life is like in that particular part of the world. You’ll meet some of the people that live there via videos and voice recordings, and get hands-on with some of the cultural activities they enjoy.

It’s a fascinating adventure that also shrinks you to the size of an insect, asks you to navigate a rainforest in the dark and poses questions about how we can protect our climate in the future. You could spend anything from one to four hours looking at the various exhibits and it’s a great educational encounter for children.

Key Information

Tickets cost €17 for adults, €12 for children aged five and over and it’s free for kids up to the age of four. There are also concessions for students and disabled visitors, and families can save money by purchasing a combined ticket.

From April to August, the Klimahaus is open as follows:

Mon - Fri:             9 am - 7 pm

Sat - Sun:             10 am - 7 pm

Holiday:                10 am - 7 pm

Opening times change slightly between September and March:

Mon - Fri:             10 am - 6 pm

Sat - Sun:             10 am - 6 pm

Holiday:                10 am - 6 pm

24th, 25th and 31st December: Closed

1st January:        Closed

You don’t need to worry about dressing for all types of weather. The various climate zones won’t make you feel uncomfortable and there are transition areas to help you cope with the changes.

If you would like to plan your own trip to Bremerhaven, we can tailor-make your holiday. We can also help you book rail tickets to be used during a Bremen city break. Call 0800 988 3369 or contact us via the website.