Bremen's rich seafaring tradition on the Maritime Mile in the Vegesack district has a long history. The area boasts Germany's first man-made harbour, built 400 years ago, and the country's last fully-rigged sailing ship. The best time to visit the Maritime Mile is during summer evenings to watch the sunset.

Even the exterior of Universum Bremen was designed to astound: this science centre is housed in a futuristic-looking structure which looks uncannily like a whale. It is even situated on a lake. Visitors of any age will enjoy getting up close to natural phenomena, such as what it feels like to experience an earthquake, and having a go at experiments, such as stopping lightning bolts. Try out the interactive exhibits as you move through the permanent exhibition spaces dedicated to Technology, Humans and Nature and the ever-changing special exhibitions about socially important topics. There are also many exciting things to discover in the outdoor area at Universum, where you can conduct experiments in the open air.

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao only opened in 1997, but it has since become one of the most revered and celebrated buildings in the world. The museum's collection focuses primarily on 20th-century American and European art. Just like the popular saying, it's not just the outside that counts, but it's pretty important for this museum. Architect Frank Gehry designed the building with the vision of ''letting the randomness of the curves catch the light". After the opening of the museum, the building was said to be one of the masterpieces of the 20th century.