Day Trip from Bremen?

I went to Lubeck last April from Bremen. You have to change trains in Hamburg on the way

http://www.luebeck-tourism.de

Oldenburg together with Bad Zwischenahn might fit the bill. Or a visit of the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, one of the best known ship builders in Germany. A few kilometers northeast of Bremen there is the historic Artists' Colony Worpswede (expressionists like Paula Modersohn-Becker worked there and temporarily also Rilke).

Lübeck was already mentioned and is a good choice. Bremerhaven you mentioned on your own. Also support idea of Papenburg and visit Meyer Werft which built world largest cruise ships.

How about Stade? https://www.stade-tourismus.de/en/100-activities

I like Lübeck, but it's a little too far from Bremen. I haven't been to Lüneburg, but online photos make it look attractive. I'd only mention Münster, because the train looks really fast, and there's a lot to see. You might find it more of a historic "city" than a "town", but I like to go home thinking I only saw "almost" everything! Besides historic quarters and churches, Münster is known for modern art and especially, sculpture. They have a sculpture festival every ten (?) years.

If you are willing to do a day trip within an one to two hour radius ( I certainly do that) by train, then you have a several towns to choose from where you can see historical museums if you're looking for something specific. Except for Celle I've been to all. You can expect to do a bit of reading regarding the German explanations.

Celle...the Bormann Museum on Hannover and its military history.

Munster/Órtze...the tank museum (Das deutsche Panzermuseum)

Warendorf/Westfalen ...the museum on West Prussia (Landesmuseum Westpreußens)

Minden ...the Prussian museum in Westphalia (Preußen in Westfalen)...lovely Zentrum

There is more in Hamburg, ie, in Pinneberg and Friedrichsruh.

Lüneburg is a great choice, not only seeing the Altstadt, am Sande and bei der Johanniskirche but also re history the East Prussian museum (Ostpreußisches Landesmuseum) is there on Ritterstrasse 10, ca 30 min plus walk from the train station into the Altstadt.

My favourite small town in Germany, Lüneburg, went there the first time as a day trip in 1971....an absolutely peaceful, lovely and relaxing place.

It survived the war undamaged, intact, wasn't bombed out, or raked by artillery fire in 1945 before the British reached it when they crossed the lower Elbe at Lauenburg. In 1945 the Germans surrendered 4 times, one of them took place just south of Lüneburg at the British 2nd Army Tac HQ.

Lüneburg is indeed a treat. A handy day trip guide to Lüneburg from one of my favorite sources: https://lifeslittleadventures.typepad.com/lifes_little_adventures/2009/09/l%C3%BCneburg-germany.html

I always sort through Fred's suggestionss and add something to my bucket list. He's seen so much. Thanks for all the great tips, Fred.

I loved Lüneburg. It was a delight to wander around in. It is on my list of places to go back to. As is Bremen.

Normally I would throw Cuxhaven into the mix, but in March it might be a bit chilly for what I would suggest. The part of Cuxhaven that interested me was watching the big sea faring ships leave the Elbe river and hit the North Sea. There was a voice (or a little man that I called him) announcing the ships and gave info about the ships. It is in German, but it was interesting. We saw a few hundred million dollar yacht go through when we were there. It was cold and windy and very wet when we were there in the end of May so, I can't imagine March.

Stade was also a cute little Hansa town that we enjoyed wandering around in.

You're welcome, Russ. Lüneburg is well worth it, to say the least, still "undiscovered." I hope your situation up there is improving, if only slowly. I follow the nightly news on those related developments. As the saying goes, "Das Glück kommt oft, ganz unverhofft."

Thanks to everyone for their responses. There are a lot of good options there. I looked at You Tube videos of the Meyer Werft shipyard. That's pretty amazing! All of the ideas looks great, but I think Susan, Russ, and Fred have reinforced Lüneburg. Sadly, I'll be there on a Monday when the East Prussia museum is closed, but I'm looking forward to seeing the town. I hope to be back to Northern Germany again in the next few years!

For the record, I gleaned Lüneburg from one of Fred's lists. :)

Glad that I could help. Well, having no day but Monday is a disappointment, has happened to me a few times too when the museum was closed.

The East Prussian Museum on Ritterstrasse has gone through renovation in the last few years. It not only shows history, omitted history as well, especially in anglophone historiography up to now, but exhibits on culture, art, daily life, and geography, flora and fauna, and war history, eg, it was the target of the Russian invasion in 1914, etc.

Before the introduction of audio phones, the entire museum (3 floors) was only in German, realia and explanations, no French, no English.

Behind the museum is a brewery ( Brauerei) where you can relax and order "ein kleines Pils" or "ein großes Pils"

Of the churches in Lüneburg, I find the Johanniskirche in front of the main drag, Am Sande, the most interesting...huge. The immediate area "Bei der Johanniskirche" is relaxing too.

Needless to say the town has changed since my first time there in 1971. When I saw Lüneburg in 1971, MacDonalds had not been set up there. The train station used to have as the main eatery, the Bahnhofsgaststätte. These don't exist anymore, minus a few examples, the word is hardly ever used anymore

In Lüneburg we took the elevator to the top of the Water Tower and walked down the steps. The view from the top was amazing. The displays on the way down were also interesting.

Part of the old town was built on top of an old salt mine. There was a church with a leaning pillar. It is nuts to see. It took us some time to find which church, but when you walk in you know it. Apparently the pillar has been leaning for over 100 years, so they were not worried ;)

Lüneburg is one of those towns that is just fun to wander around in.

Don't forget the Schnoor district in Bremen to wander :)

@ Dave...I don't know exactly where it is but if you're out and about and come to a park, something looking like that, look for the Ulanendenkmal. You can recognise it by the lance. The East Prussian Museum is a red brick building.

Susan and Fred,

Thanks for the additional recommendations. I think I'm going to get an early start that day -- maybe even arrive early enough to grab a relaxing breakfast there. I look forward to exploring the places you've mentioned (along with those in the resource Russ linked).