Should you visit Cologne or Bremen?
Should I visit Cologne or Bremen? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
Bremen
Located in northern Germany, Bremen stretches along the River Weser. It has a population of over half a million and was once a member of the medieval Hanseatic League. It is a long and narrow city that runs along both sides of the river. It's about ten kilometers long, but is rarely more than two kilometers wide. With sites such as the Cathedral of St. Peter and Rathaus (the town hall), Bremen has a very historical atmosphere. The city itself dates back 1200 years. The sights are concentrated around the city's old town, Altmarkt and the main square is home to the Roland statue among other old and famous architectural gems. While visiting Bremen, try some of the city's famous candy, Kluten, and wash it down with some Beck's beer, which is also local to Bremen.
Which city is cheaper, Bremen or Cologne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cologne is €126, while the average daily cost in Bremen is €117. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Cologne and Bremen in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €70. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Cologne the cost is €140 on average.
Bremen's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is €122. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is €61.
Food
In Cologne travelers spend around €40 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
On average, meal and food prices in Bremen cost around €29 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €12.
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Food
Meals for one day
Cologne €40
Bremen €29
Typical Food prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner
€14
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Donner Kebab
€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
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Traveling Spoon French Quiche Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Private Gourmet Cooking Class in the Heart of Cologne:
$129
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Private Market Tour and Gourmet Vegetarian Cooking Class in the Heart of Cologne:
$183
Typical Food prices in Bremen
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bremen are as follows:
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Croissant & Cappacino
€3.90
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Fish and Chips
€3.20
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Pizza and Cola
€7.00
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Chinese Food Lunch
€8.00
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Vietnamese Soup
€5.00
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Sandwich and Coffee
€8.00
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Pastry and Coffee
€4.00
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €15 per day to get around in Cologne.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €36 per day to get around in Bremen.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
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Private Arrival Transfer from Cologne Airport to Cologne City:
$30
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Private Departure Transfer from Cologne City to Cologne Airport:
$30
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Private Airport Transfer: from Cologne to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN):
$36
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Private Airport Transfer: Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne:
$44
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Private Business Transfer from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Hotel in Cologne:
$46
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Private Business Transfer from Hotel in Cologne to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN):
$46
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Private Airport Transfer: Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn:
$50
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Private Cologne Airport - Cologne City Round-Trip Transfer:
$61
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Cologne Bonn Airport to Cologne City - One Way:
$69
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Round Trip Transfer Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne City Center:
$70
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Arrival Private Transfer Cologne-Bonn Airport CGN to Cologne City - Business Car:
$73
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Departure Private Transfer Cologne-Bonn Airport CGN to Cologne by Business Car:
$73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bremen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bremen:
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Bremen Airport to Bremen City - One Way:
$42
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Premium Private Transfer From Bremen City to Hanover City:
$142
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Private Airport Transfer: Bremen Airport (BRE) to Bremen:
$40
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Private Airport Transfer: from Bremen to Bremen Airport (BRE):
$32
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Private Arrival Transfer Bremen:
$75
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Private Transfer from Bremen Airport to Bremen City Hotels:
$153
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Private Transfer from Bremen City Hotels to Bremen Airport:
$153
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Private Transfer from Bremen to Hamburg:
$391
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €16 per person, per day in Cologne. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €27 per person, per day in Bremen. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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English guided tour (other languages offered):
$6.22
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Experience KölnCard:
$11
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1-hour Rhine River Panorama Cruise:
$12
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Panorama City Cruise Options:
$13
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Cologne Sightseeing round-trip Cruise:
$15
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Skip-the-Line Ticket to Chocolate Museum in Cologne:
$23
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Skip the Line: Hard Rock Cafe Cologne:
$24
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Cologne Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour and Rhine River Sightseeing Cruise:
$30
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Cologne Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$38
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Cologne All-inclusive Evening Cruise:
$87
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Cologne Walking tour of Old Town:
$200
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Private tour of the best of Cologne - Sightseeing, Food & Culture with a local:
$249
Tours and Activities in Bremen
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bremen are as follows:
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Tour of Bremen’s Underworld:
$18
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Marketplace and Dom Tour:
$25
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Bremen Schnoor Area Tour:
$27
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Bottcherstrasse Tour:
$27
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Bremen Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$38
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Bremen Private Walking Tour:
$179
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Bremen - Guided walking tour of city center:
$304
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Bremen - walking tour with Nightwatchman:
$304
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Cologne may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €18 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about €27 on alcoholic beverages in Bremen per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
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Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots:
$24
When comparing the travel costs between Cologne and Bremen, we can see that Cologne is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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