Travelling to Bremen Airport from Hamburg

Ok, I asked a similar question on FRA Airport, thanks for your responses. I wondered if anyone travels to Bremen Airport regularly, I believe there is a bus/coach for €24 return - is it any good? Also what about the potential to drive, as it's only 120km I guess? Is the traffic bad in the afternoon, etc etc

Many thanks!

I've seen the bus collecting passengers - it looks modern. Is it possible however it is bound to the arrival times of particular (Ryanair) flights? Do check.

I drive between Bremen Airport and Hamburg most days. Takes about 1h 20 mins. Do be aware however that the A1 is being extended to 6 lanes and there will be 'Dauerstau' for the next 6 years. Bottlenecks at the moment are Bremer Kreuz, Bockel-Sittensen, and Hollenstedt-Rade. Where in HH will you be going? Cos' from Sunday for the next 3 years they're starting (again) on the Elbtunnel...

I will be travelling from work so, based pretty central near the Reeperbahn. I think the bus does correspond to the ryanair flight times. I will be driving up there every friday afternoon (to catch an 18:30 flight) and returning on a Sunday at 22:00. Am I likely to catch any severe traffic or bottlenecks? Just so I have an idea of what time to leave.

You will (touch wood) only have the single lane traffic to deal with on the Sunday, I wouldn't expect problems. On Fridays I wouldn't want to leave much after 15:30 and from the Reeperbahn I would go through the 'Hafen' and join the A1 at Veddel or Georgswerder, thus avoiding the A7 completely. There are some 'Vollsperrung' coming up at weekends for the A1, mostly Saturday til Sunday lunchtime. You can check the current state of the A1 ausbau and the building sites here.

A1Mobile

I've done the journey quite a few times and 1 hr 20 mins is a good average time. Once took 3hrs due to a major jam.

I've done the journey at those times as well when I flew to Manchester with Ryanair end of October. Left around 1530 got there at 1705 [137km from NW Hamburg]. Coming back cleared the airport by 2240 and got home at 2345. I would give yourself plenty of time on the Friday afternoon.

The train is also a good option, the IC/E takes 50 mins from Hamburg Hbf and you can get a tram direct from Bremen Hbf to the airport terminal, I think it takes around 20 mins.

Another thought. I do believe however if I had to travel at that time of day from central HH to Bremen Airport that I would take the train to HB and a tram. The Metronom service HH<->HB is great, 53 or 57 minutes, last train on a Sunday is 23:23.

Very useful advice guys, thanks. Doing the BRE-MAN journey weekly for a few weeks so will probably set off around 15:00 I think. Would take the train, but have to drive home to Norderstedt anyway, so will prob, stick with the car. Unfortunatley, I notice that my flight gets in just after 48 hours after in leaves on Friday...meaning that I have to pay 3 day parking charge instead of 2! €38 per weekend it looks like.

Save yourself 2 Euros and park in P2. If anything its nearer than P1 for the new ryanair terminal anyway.

A tip for the airport parking, make sure you have cash on you for the machine as it does not take credit / debit cards. The machine takes the GeldKarte. You can use your EC card as a GeldKarte but first you have to transfer cash from your account into the GeldKarte scheme at a cashpoint.

I beg to disagree. I always use my credit card (its the only way to get a 'decent' receipt for the company) in the machines at the pedestrian exit of P1 and P2. Perhaps the ones in the terminal are different? You can also pay in those machines on arrival for a ticket for the duration, avoinding queues on return if several planes have just landed.

I (we) tried a 5 cards at the machines at P2 - EC, Master, Visa and none of them worked? Maybe a tip for the person in question to take cash just incase the same happens.

Wanted to add that you are probably right as it would be a bit strange that airport parking machines would not take credit / debit cards!

Being honest and slightly off topic, I personally never assume anywhere in DE land will accept credit cards.

Inclined to agree with you, like big companies such as Mediamarkt, P&C and Ikea!

Both sound about right. I've driven from NW side of Hamburg to Bremen airport (The DFS building actually) a number of times.

Its also my experience that driving the A1 on a Sunday is also no pleasure trip. There may be few LKWs but plenty car drivers on a "go slow".