How do we get there without a car?

Travel to Bremerhaven Hauptbahnhof and take a city bus to Havenwelten, checking the current connection before departure. During the harbour bridge closure, follow the zoo’s approach via the glass bridge and Mein Outlet & Shopping-Center, then the dyke or the route through Parkhaus Havenwelten to H.-H.-Meier-Straße.

Where is the entrance, and can we park nearby?

Use H.-H.-Meier-Straße 7, 27568 Bremerhaven. Paid public parking is available opposite the zoo and in Parkhaus Havenwelten. Allow extra time for the signed harbour diversion.

Dogs are allowed on a short lead with a dog ticket, but dog groups are not admitted. Dogs cannot join the guided zoo tours.

Can we book a guided visit in English?

Yes. The zoo offers English-language tours by advance arrangement. The one-hour animal tour or behind-the-scenes tour is a good option for a group that wants more explanation; tour charges are additional to admission.

ZooBremen, Germany

Zoo am Meer Bremerhaven

Visit Zoo am Meer Bremerhaven to watch polar bears and seals above and below the waterline, with the Weser estuary just beyond their enclosures.

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About

Visit Zoo am Meer Bremerhaven to watch polar bears and seals above and below the waterline, with the Weser estuary just beyond their enclosures. This is a compact, rocky zoo on the dyke in the Havenwelten district. At the entrance, check the feeding board before wandering: it helps you choose when to be at the pools and when to explore the quieter corners.

The changing viewpoints are a big part of the pleasure. Watch an animal resting on land, then try the underwater windows to see a different side of its movement. Floor-level glass also gives young children a view without needing to be lifted over a wall. Arctic foxes and snowy owls bring the northern theme onto land, while Humboldt penguins and South African fur seals show that water-loving animals also come from the southern hemisphere.

Leave time for the Nordsee-Aquarium, tucked beneath the polar bears’ land enclosure. Its displays bring the nearby sea into focus, from the Weser estuary and seagrass habitat to the rocky waters around Helgoland. Above ground, the shipwreck playground gives children a lively finish, with climbing, balancing and a slide. Planning to visit? Download the Snappit app to identify the wildlife you spot in real-time.

The zoo began with an aquarium in the Strandhalle, opened on 1 August 1913 as part of a waterfront development serving shipping passengers. The outdoor Tiergrotten followed on 24 June 1928, already featuring polar bears and seals. Locals still use the old name. A complete rebuild between 2001 and 2004 made room for exhibits on several levels; the renewed zoo opened on 27 March 2004. The present Nordsee-Aquarium followed in 2013, returning an aquarium to the zoo and giving visitors a substantial indoor space beside the polar-bear underwater window.

What to do here

Start with a slow look at the polar bears, then spend time at the seal pools rather than trying to see every enclosure at the same speed. Ask children to compare the animals’ outlines and the way they turn in water. A resting animal is worth watching too; if a favourite is out of sight, return later instead of waiting at one window for the whole visit.

Make the penguin pool a separate stop. Humboldt penguins come from Peru and northern Chile, a useful surprise for anyone expecting every penguin to live among Antarctic ice. Watch the contrast between walking and swimming. At the northern gannets, look closely at the long beaks and read about their plunge-diving: in the wild these birds catch fish after diving from high above the sea.

In the aquarium, choose a bottom-dweller, a swimming fish and a small invertebrate to compare. Scan the harbour-themed tank’s floor for flatfish, then look for the octopus and the separate seahorse display. Finish at the playground, where the overturned ship’s bow doubles as the rabbits’ shelter. The raised ship’s cabin and suspension bridge give another view towards the keas; use the lower visitor route if steps or climbing do not suit your group.

Seasonal info

The zoo opens daily at 09: 00. Closing is 19:00 in April–September, 18:00 in March and October, and 16:30 in November–February; ticket sales end 30 minutes earlier. On 24 and 31 December, opening is only 09:00–12:00. Check the dedicated opening-times and current-notices pages before travelling. Pack a windproof layer for the waterfront; the aquarium provides a warm indoor break, but much of the visit is outdoors.

Accessibility

Most visitor areas have step-free access, including views of all animal species, but the upper viewing terraces cannot be reached with a wheelchair, walking frame or pushchair. Ask staff to open the swing gate beside the entrance turnstile. Broad paths, low windows and frequent seats help make the visit manageable. Accessible toilets are provided at the entrance and in the grotto area. A loan wheelchair can be reserved through the ticket office on 0471 30841-45. If you need a completely step-free approach from Havenwelten, ask about the current harbour diversion before setting out.

Plan your visit

Suggested duration: For a family visit, plan roughly 2–3 hours for the outdoor enclosures, aquarium, one feeding and a playground break. Around 90 minutes suits a shorter look at your favourites; a relaxed half-day leaves room for lunch and repeat stops.
Best time to visit: Arrive in the morning if you want time for both animal watching and a feeding. Penguin feeds are normally at 11:00 and 15:00, with gannets at 13:15; seal, fur-seal and sea-lion times vary and are posted at the entrance and sea-lion enclosure. Check that day’s notices, as animal-care needs can change the programme. A feeding is an opportunity to listen and observe, rather than a promise of a particular animal’s performance.
Location: Bremen, Germany
Species in this guide: 13

Best for

Families Who Enjoy Watching Animals CloselyMarine Wildlife And Northern Animal EnthusiastsA Half Day Stop In Bremerhaven’s Havenwelten

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Don't miss

Underwater windows

Watch the polar bears and seals from a different level, with time to notice how they move.

North Sea close-up

Explore the aquarium’s local habitats, including the harbour-themed tank and seahorse display.

Seabird stops

Compare Humboldt penguins at the pool with northern gannets and their very different fishing adaptations.

Shipwreck playground

Climb and balance around the stranded-ship design, with rabbits in its bow and keas nearby.

Wildlife and habitats

Visit the land and underwater viewing areas. Wait quietly at the window and watch how the bear changes direction if it enters the pool.

The harbour seal is labelled Seehund. Watch one animal through a full turn in the pool, then compare its outline with the fur seals.

Look for the Südafrikanischer Seebär label. These are brown fur seals; check the entrance board for the day’s feeding time before choosing when to return.

Scan the whole enclosure before moving on. If a fox is resting, compare its compact outline with the much larger polar bear rather than trying to make it move.

Look closely at the long beak. Gannets incubate their egg with their feet, a memorable detail to find on the species information while the birds rest.

Take a quiet pause at the snowy owls. Their wild habitat is open northern tundra and moorland; compare that setting with the wooded habitats you might associate with owls.

These parrots come from the mountains of New Zealand’s South Island. Watch the ground as well as the perches: keas spend plenty of time moving about on foot.

Let your eyes settle on the display before searching for arms and suckers. The common octopus can be withdrawn from view for care or other needs, so avoid making it the only reason for your visit.

Look along the bottom of the harbour-themed tank for shore crabs. Small animals are easy to miss when your eyes follow the fish above them.

Find the European oysters in the harbour-themed display. Their restoration in the North Sea is a project the zoo supports with the Alfred Wegener Institute.

Sources and useful links

Wildlife you might spot

Each card links to a full Explore page with photos, traits, and fun facts.

Polar Bear

Harbor Seal

Chimpanzee

Arctic Fox

Raccoon

Octopus

Seahorse

Northern Gannet

Snowy Owl

Kea

Snap map for this place

Start with the big picture, then zoom in to explore individual wildlife observations around this place.

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Good to know before you go

Harbour diversion

Both bridges over the channel between Alter and Neuer Hafen are closed to pedestrians and vehicles. Drivers should follow the signed diversion via Van-Ronzelen-Straße; Parkhaus Havenwelten remains reachable. Check the official arrival page for changes.

Ticket choice

Compare individual and family tickets before paying. Children under four enter free; family tickets have conditions covering your own children or grandchildren. Day tickets allow one entry, so finish the zoo before leaving for other Havenwelten sights.

Food break

Fry High serves food in the zoo, including fish and chips and fries. Check service availability on arrival if lunch is important to your plan, and bring drinking water.

Photographs

Turn off the flash at glass-fronted exhibits and look for an angle with fewer reflections. The zoo permits photography for private use; commercial use requires prior written consent.

Keep everyone safe

Children under twelve need an accompanying adult. Keep to visitor paths and leave barriers clear, especially when a feeding draws a crowd.

Frequently asked questions

: Travel to Bremerhaven Hauptbahnhof and take a city bus to Havenwelten, checking the current connection before departure. During the harbour bridge closure, follow the zoo’s approach via the glass bridge and Mein Outlet & Shopping-Center, then the dyke or the route through Parkhaus Havenwelten to H.-H.-Meier-Straße.
: Use H.-H.-Meier-Straße 7, 27568 Bremerhaven. Paid public parking is available opposite the zoo and in Parkhaus Havenwelten. Allow extra time for the signed harbour diversion.
: Dogs are allowed on a short lead with a dog ticket, but dog groups are not admitted. Dogs cannot join the guided zoo tours.
: Yes. The zoo offers English-language tours by advance arrangement. The one-hour animal tour or behind-the-scenes tour is a good option for a group that wants more explanation; tour charges are additional to admission.