Bremen Travel Forum

I'm thinking of visiting Bremen soon but wondered what it was like for a female travelling alone that doesn't speak German? Will I get by do you think or should I visit elsewhere?

Most Germans speak at least a little English, but it's always a good idea to buy a phrase book.

Just like in any other German city, you'll find lots of Germans who speak decent to excellent English, especially those under, say, 50-55. You'll get by.

As for travelling alone, there is no need to worry. At nighttime the usual city center precautions apply like anywhere else in the world. You could ask at your hotel if there are any areas to avoid in the surroundings to be sure - all city have some red light areas and some meeting points of folks you won't want to meet. These spots are well known among locals (your hotel receptionist will know for sure) and will be very limited. All the rest of the city is fine.
Germany's city centers are inhabited, people live there, so they'll never be completely deserted.
Females travelling alone, going out alone, doing things alone are the most normal thing here. You won't be hassled in restaurants and normal pubs; I would hesitate about entering a beer pub full of rowdy noisy drunk men at a late hour, though. The noise is a good indicator to identify this unpleasant type of pubs that's better avoided.

You'll be absolutely fine. As Katrin says, most German people speak at least a little English. Just use normal common sense about travelling and your behaviour.

You will need a small phrasebook/dictionary with you to help with signs, menus and so on.

And it is courteous to learn at least the words for 'please', 'thank you', 'sorry', 'where is?', 'how much is that?', numbers to 10 and so on. German is not a difficult language to use or to pronounce at a basic level.

This page gives you some basic German phrases:

http://german.about.com/library/anfang/blanfang01.htm

Also:

http://www.freewebs.com/germantranz/index2.htm

Fabulous, thanks very much folks for the great replies - Bremen here I come :-)

be sure to visit the Schnoorviertel (Schnoor quarter) -- wonderfully atmospheric!


http://www.bremen-tourism.de/k1-rubrik_unter.cfm?index=7

The only place I have ever felt uncomfortable was at railway stations, I would avoid that at night. Yes, ask the Hotel reception, I always do that and they can often point you to good places to visit which has been my experience.