Museum · Bremerhaven · Updated on 1 November 2026.

Museum U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer in Bremerhaven

U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer is a museum in Bremerhaven, Bremen. This place has an audio tour of about 2 minutes, in English or Dutch. 19 of the 27 well-known points of interest nearby are within 1 km. Within 350 m you'll find a bench, a public toilet and a water point.

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Museum U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer in Bremerhaven

Museum U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer in Bremerhaven, photo 2

Museum U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer in Bremerhaven, photo 3

The story

Wikipedia ↗Official website ↗

Audio tour · U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer

2:07

You're standing next to the Wilhelm Bauer, a German submarine from the final months of the Second World War. She's moored here in Bremerhaven at the German Maritime Museum, and she really does float. Take a look at her shape. She's almost seventy-seven metres long and only eight metres wide, a long steel cigar.

Read and hear the whole story in the Outdoor Pitstop app: check in at this place and it is yours (with Pro; new users are Pro for the first 4 weeks).

Opening hours and admission

Opening hours: Apr 01-Nov 11: 08:00-18:00
Admission: Paid
Wheelchair: Not accessible

Source: OpenStreetMap and Wikidata.

Photos

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons. In the app you add your own photo when you are there.

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Photo: The original uploader was Vulkan at English Wikipedia. · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer in Bremerhaven: a submarine turned museum

The Museum U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer in Bremerhaven is a real submarine from 1945. You can visit a boat here that was built in the final months of the war. The U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer is a type XXI, and of this type it is the only example that still floats. It lies at the Duits Scheepvaartmuseum in Bremerhaven, in the state of Bremen. Nearby you will find the attractions Helmut (at 67 metres), Emma (at 79 metres) and Seefalke (at 104 metres).

What you see on and inside the submarine

From outside, you see a long, narrow steel hull: almost 77 metres long and just 8 metres wide. Look up at the conning tower too. The twin anti-aircraft guns on the deck are a replica. The bridge is open and has no glass, as it did during the war. Inside, the boat has been restored to how it looked during the war, and it is cramped. 57 men lived here: 5 officers and 52 crew members. At the front, you can see 6 torpedo tubes, with room for 23 torpedoes. At the back are large diesel engines and electric motors. There are also special silent motors, which allowed the boat to sneak away unnoticed. It gives you a clear sense of how little room the crew had.

The history of the U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer

The construction of this submarine began in October 1944 at Blohm + Voss in Hamburg. It went into the water in January 1945 as U 2540. It never sailed a patrol, as there was too little fuel. On 4 May 1945, its own crew scuttled the boat near the lightship off Flensburg. For just over 12 years, it lay on the seabed. In 1957 it was raised and made seaworthy again in Kiel. From 1960 it served as a trial boat, and it was then given the name Wilhelm Bauer, after the designer of the first submarine. Later, a civilian crew tested new technology on board for a next generation of submarines. In 1980, the boat collided underwater with a torpedo boat destroyer. That marked the end of the sailing life of the Wilhelm Bauer. Since April 1984, it has been a museum boat.

Entry to the Museum U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer: tickets

Visiting this museum boat requires payment, so you will need a ticket to go on board. The ticket price is not listed here, so check the current prices on the official website at u-boot-wilhelm-bauer.de. You will also find the opening hours there. Always check them before you set off, so you don't end up at a boat that is closed. Information about accessibility, for example for pushchairs or wheelchairs, is not given here either. Look for this on the website before your visit or contact the museum. That way you know in advance what to expect.

Toilets, drinking water and benches nearby

A public toilet is 106 metres from the Museum U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer in Bremerhaven, at Obere Bürger, and it is wheelchair accessible. Within 500 metres there are 88 public toilets in total. Benches are plentiful too. The nearest bench is 111 metres away, also at Obere Bürger, and within 500 metres there are 34 benches. For drinking water, the nearest tap is 349 metres away at Mühlenstraße, and within 500 metres there are 2 water taps. If you want to refill, it is a good idea to bring a bottle with you.

Walking and more to see nearby

After your visit to the Museum U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer in Bremerhaven, you don't need to walk far to see more. The Deutsches Schifffahrtsmuseum is 140 metres away. After that, you reach the attraction Elbe 3 at 168 metres, and the attraction DIVA is 215 metres away. Everything is close together, so you can walk the whole route at a leisurely pace in one loop. You can find out more about the submarine in the Outdoor Pitstop app. It includes a 2-minute audio story about U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer, which you can listen to on the spot while you look at the boat.

Facilities near U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer

The nearest pitstop of each kind within 1 km, as the crow flies. No bike pump or honesty box within 1 km.

Walks within 2 km

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Cycle routes within 5 km

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Frequently asked questions

What is the U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer in Bremerhaven?

The U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer is a museum boat in Bremerhaven: a submarine from the final months of the conflict. It is the only example of this type that still floats.

Do I have to pay for u-boot wilhelm bauer tickets?

Yes, entry to the U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer is paid. More information about tickets is available on the official website, u-boot-wilhelm-bauer.de.

Where is the nearest toilet to the U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer?

The nearest public toilet is 106 metres away, at Obere Bürger, and is wheelchair accessible. There are 88 public toilets within 500 metres.

Are there benches near the u-boot wilhelm bauer?

Yes, the nearest bench is 111 metres away, at Obere Bürger. There are 34 benches within 500 metres.

Where can I find drinking water near the u-boot wilhelm bauer in Bremerhaven?

The nearest water point is 349 metres away, at Mühlenstraße. There are 2 water points within 500 metres.

How long is the u-boot wilhelm bauer and how many people lived on board?

The U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer is almost 77 metres long and 8 metres wide. During the war, 57 men lived on board: 5 officers and 52 crew members.