Seafaring has been an integral part of Bremerhaven since the early 19th century. Today, the city preserves a great deal of Germany's maritime heritage as a shipbuilding centre, international port and home to important museums, research institutes and cultural organisations.

Originally designed as a sea port for the Hanseatic city of Bremen, which is situated 60 kilometres upriver, Bremerhaven soon grew to become a city in its own right with a major port for fishing and international shipping. Millions of emigrants hoping to find better lives in the USA and South America once boarded huge vessels here. Visitors to the city today, however, often find themselves not wanting to leave. There are very few places elsewhere in the world where tourists can find maritime flair combined so masterfully with culture, cuisine and unique shops.

In the Haven Worlds that reach as far as the banks of the geest, visitors can learn and be entertained in style at the German Maritime Museum, Bremerhaven Zoo, the Local History Museum and German Emigration Center. The Klimahaus Bremerhaven 8° Ost museum also wows visitors with its architecture. The Brinkamahof lighthouse is also situated in the Fischereihafen district. The city's most famous landmark, it also houses Bremerhaven's smallest pub. The old fishing port, by contrast, is a vibrant spot with plenty going on, making it the perfect place for a stroll. And if you have any spare time, you should definitely keep an eye out for the mythical Klabautermann, a legendary maritime figure who has found his home here.

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