Hannover is one of northern Germany’s hidden gems. It has a small but lovely Old Town, a sprawling 17th century garden complex, an ornate Town Hall, and more!
This post contains affiliate links, from which we may receive a commission. You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.
Known for being one of Germany’s most important “Messestädte” (trade fair cities), Hannover is incredibly industrial, with some of the country’s top companies headquartered here.
To be honest, it’s not a favorite weekend destination for most Germans — yet it’s actually one of my favorite cities in northern Germany!
It’s a fascinating city with a history that can be traced back as far as 1100 AD, and the constant influx of students coming to attend university in Hannover means there’s always something going on.
Whether you’re visiting from Berlin as a weekend trip or find yourself in Hannover for one of the city’s many trade fairs, I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised at just how vibrant and fun this city can be!
Here are the top things to do in Hannover, including former royal gardens, incredible views, and a historic city center.
Table of Contents
Click “show” to see the full table of contents for this post. You can jump around the post as desired by clicking on the individual sections listed below.
Follow the Read Thread!
Many of the tourist attractions mentioned in this guide fall along Hannover’s “Red Thread” (Roter Faden). The Red Thread is a little less than 3 miles long and is the easiest way to see the city in a short amount of time.
For a couple Euros, you can buy a small booklet at the tourist information office that explains each attraction along the Red Thread — this is what I followed my first time in Hannover and I found it super helpful!
Following the Red Thread also meant I didn’t have to worry about navigating the city with Ye Olde Paper Map.
Herrenhausen Palace & Gardens
Once the summer home of the Royal House of Hannover, Herrenhausen Palace was completely destroyed in World War II and was rebuilt in 2013. The palace now houses a museum that highlights Herrenhausen’s history and its relation to the city of Hannover.
While the palace museum is interesting, the real highlight of Herrenhausen are its gardens. The Great Garden (Großer Garten) is one of Europe’s finest baroque gardens, and beyond it is an extensive park area with smaller, hedged-in gardens to explore. The Great Fountain is turned on a few times per day, and it sprays up to 70 meters (230 feet) high.
My favorite garden by far was the Berggarten, which used to be a mulberry tree plantation for the elector’s silkworm farms. There are also greenhouses filled with exotic plants, which are lovely as well. Herrenhausen is one of the best places to visit in Hannover, and you’ll want to give yourself at least half a day to see everything!
Claire’s Tip: If you think you’ve never heard of anyone from the House of Hannover, you probably have but didn’t know it at the time! From the early 1700s until 1901, a whopping six English monarchs had familial ties to the Hanoverians, including George III (the king who lost the American colonies) and Queen Victoria (who requires no introduction).
Georgengarten
Just beyond the walls of the Herrenhausen Gardens lies the expansive Georgengarten. This charming park features an impressive double row of linden trees (called the Herrenhäuser Allee) that once originally connected the palace with Hannover’s city center.
If you need to rest after your visit to Herrenhausen Palace, want to pack a picnic, or perhaps the palace just isn’t in your budget right now but you want to experience a grand park, visit the Georgengarten!
While in the park, look for the Leibniz Temple, a picturesque temple built in 1790 to honor philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (who lived in Hannover — he’ll pop up a few more times in this guide!). The Wilhelm-Busch Museum is also located within the park; it’s the city’s museum of caricature.
Attractions in the Old Town (Altstadt)
The Old Town you see in the heart of Hannover today is actually relatively new.
Hannover was decimated by bombs during World War II, and its “Old Town” was reconstructed out of the facades of half-timbered buildings that survived. Because of this, the Old Town is much smaller than it was prior to the war, but it’s incredibly quaint and cozy nonetheless.
Old Town: Kröpke
Kröpke is the central square in Hannover. It’s surrounded by shopping streets, the most famous of which is the pedestrian-only Bahnhofstraße. You’ll find mostly chain stores and larger retailers here.
While at the Kröpke, look for the famous Kröpke Clock. The current clock was built in 1977, but it was based off of the original clock from 1885.
Many locals use the Kröpke Clock as a meeting point, since it’s conveniently located between the Old Town and the central train station.
Old Town: Market Hall
Hannover’s Market Hall is a picturesque covered market with around 50 merchants selling fresh and cured meats, cheeses, fresh produce, and ready-made meals and drinks.
This is my top recommendation for a relaxed snack or meal in Hannover. The merchants are all friendly, and the prices are reasonable!
After refueling on the main level of the market hall, head to the mezzanine level to stock up on sweet treats at the Bahlsen Outlet Store. In particular, you want to buy a package or two of Leibniz Cookies; they’re a classic German cookie that I’d wager most every German keeps stocked in their pantry!
Invented by Hermann Bahlsen in Hannover, Leibniz Cookies get their name from the famous German philosopher who called Hannover home, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz — I told you he’d keep popping up in this guide! (FYI, Leibniz the man had nothing to do with Leibniz the cookie, which was invented long after his death.)
For any fellow Americans reading this, I think Leibniz Cookies taste like a cross between an animal cracker and a graham cracker. They’re very crispy and subtly sweet, which makes them perfect for pairing with a cup of coffee or tea.
Old Town: Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus)
Hannover’s Old Town Hall is one of the most beautiful — and unique! — that I’ve seen in Germany.
Located just steps from the Market Church in the center of the Old Town, the Old Town Hall is made entirely of red brick. If you’ve traveled throughout the German state of Brandenburg, you might recognize the architectural style of the Old Town Hall, called “North German Brick Gothic Style.”
Parts of the Town Hall date back as far as 1410, but like much of the city it was damaged in WWII and has been partially rebuilt. Visitors can’t enter the Town Hall since it’s primarily used as an events space these days. It’s still worth seeing while you’re in Hannover, though!
Old Town: Market Church (Marktkirche)
The impressive Market Church was built on what was originally the market square. Merchants would gather on the square around the church to sell their goods.
The church was built in the 14th century. It’s one of Hannover’s most famous Lutheran churches and is quite a special place to visit. The church is constructed entirely of brick (in the same architectural style as the Old Town Hall, North German Brick Gothic style).
The interior is fairly plain, but it’s still worth popping your head inside. If you look closely, you can tell which bricks were reused after the church was bombed during the war — they’re much darker in color than the new bricks that were added.
Old Town: Kramerstraße
One of the absolute, must-see streets in Hannover is the picturesque Kramerstraße. In my opinion, it’s the prettiest street in the Old Town.
Kramerstraße connects the Holzmarkt with the Market Church and is lined with half-timbered houses. (It’s the perfect place to take your “Look Ma! I was in Hannover!” photo.)
There are many shops and cafes along Kramerstraße, and at the far end of the street is the Hannoversche Kaffeemanufaktur (Kramerstraße 25). It’s a fantastic local coffee roaster; if you want to support a local business and are looking for a unique souvenir to bring home, buy a bag of their coffee beans.
Claire’s Tip: Beer drinkers might be interested to learn that Cord Broyhan — inventor of the hoppy wheat beer, Broyhan beer — lived along Kramerstraße in the mid-1500s.
Old Town: Holzmarkt
If you thought you’d heard the last of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, think again!
The philosopher, mathematician, and historian served the Hanoverian court as a councilor and librarian. He never actually lived at the small but beautiful Holzmarkt square, but today this is where the Leibniz House is located.
The exterior is a replica of Leibniz’ original house, but the interior now serves as a modern conference center.
Old Town: Ballhofplatz
The Ballhof was built in the mid-1600s and originally served as an indoor sports hall — specifically a sports hall for badminton, which was all the rage at that time.
Today the area in front of the ivy-covered Ballhof is quite probably the prettiest square in all of Hannover.
My favorite cafe (possibly … ever? But definitely my favorite in Hannover!) is located at Ballhof square. It’s called Teestübchen Teehandel & Café (Ballhofplatz 2). It’s a quaint cafe that feels like it popped up from the pages of a German fairytale. The cakes are all made in house, and the tea and coffee are excellent.
Old Town: Church of the Holy Cross (Kreuzkirche)
Around the corner from the Ballhof is the Church of the Holy Cross, Hannover’s oldest church. It was built in 1333 and, like the rest of the city, was bombed to smithereens in WWII.
However, there’s one fantastic reason you have to visit the church: inside there’s a stunning medieval altar painted by Lucas Cranach. It’s not original to the church, hence why it wasn’t destroyed in the war too.
Old Town: Flea Market (Flohmarkt am Hohen Ufer)
Flea markets in Berlin are a big deal, but Hannover has the unique claim to fame of having the oldest flea market in Germany.
Expect to find a little bit of everything at this flea market — household knick knacks, books, porcelain, vintage handbags and clothing. I don’t consider this to be a high-end flea market, but it’s good for everyday finds.
As you make your way around the flea market, keep an eye out for the “Three Nanas” by artist Niki de Saint Phalle. They’re a collection of large sculptures painted with especially vibrant colors.
Claire’s Tip: The Hannover flea market only runs from March through October, and only on Saturdays (8am to 4pm, roughly). It’s located along both banks of the Leine River (am Hohen Ufer and Leibnizufer).
Old Town: Leine Palace
The imposing Leine Palace is impossible to miss as you stroll along the Leine River.
There’s been a building on this site since the 13th century. There was originally a monastery here, but following the Reformation the monks lost their home.
The building you see today is relatively new — it’s the parliament building for Lower Saxony’s government. The structure that stood here previously was burned down in WWII.
Clarie’s Tip: You can’t enter the parliament building, but the small bridge that connects the palace with the opposite riverbank makes for a great photo.
St. Giles’ Church (Aegidienkirche)
St. Giles’ is a 14th century church near Hannover’s New Town Hall. It was destroyed in World War II, but instead of being rebuilt it was left in ruins and now serves as a war memorial.
Inside the church is a peace bell that was presented to the city of Hannover by its sister city, Hiroshima, which was also destroyed in World War II.
The bells of St. Giles’ ring five minutes after the hour; this ensures that everyone hears the bells and remembers those who lost their lives in the war. Visiting the ruined church near sunset makes for an especially moving visit.
New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus)
One of the top attractions in Hannover is the New Town Hall. It was built during the Wilhelminian period and took a mere 12 years to complete (a fact that will undoubtedly astonish you when you see how massive the building is).
Buried beneath the grand Town Hall are 6,000 wooden piles; the soil here is incredibly marshy, and without the piles the building couldn’t be supported.
As you enter the New Town Hall, look above the main entryway. There’s a series of stone friezes that highlight the most important events in the city’s history.
To see the city from the top of the town hall, you have to ride an elevator that’s set at a 17-degree angle — that’s because the elevator rides up and over the dome. From the viewing platform, you can see all of Hannover — it’s absolutely beautiful!
After you’ve taken in the views, head back down to the main hall and check out the models of Hannover on display. They show you what Hannover looked like in the Middle Ages, pre-World War II, after the bombs dropped, and what the city looks like today.
Claire’s Tip: If you’d like more information on Hannover’s New Town Hall, I suggest taking a guided tour of the New Town Hall.
Hannover State Museum (Landesmuseum)
The Hannover State Museum isn’t a must for first time visitors, but it’s definitely worth visiting on subsequent visits.
The museum provides a shared roof for what is essentially four small museums; the main subjects are archaeology, natural history, art, and ethnology.
Note that many of the exhibits are in German. You may want to ask about an audio guide at the cash register.
Claire’s Tip: The museum offers free admission on Fridays from 2 to 6pm, which gives you plenty of time to see all the exhibits.
Maschsee
Behind the New Town Hall is the gorgeous Maschpark, and beyond that is the Maschsee. It’s a huge man-made lake in the middle of Hannover that has lots of walking and biking paths around it.
If the weather’s nice, take a stroll around the lake. Or, see if you can rent paddle boards to go stand up paddle boarding!
Claire’s Tip: There’s a yearly Maschsee Festival (Maschseefest) that takes place every year, usually in August. It’s a HUGE event with performance stages dotted around the entire lake and lots of food stalls and pop-up beer gardens. The 2025 Maschseefest dates are July 30 – August 17.
Walking Tour
If you’re looking for even more things to do in Hannover, you can’t go wrong with a walking tour.
There are a couple walking tours you can take, but my personal favorite is the “Flashlight Tour.” It’s an after-dark tour of the city center that takes you to some of Hannover’s lesser-known historic sites.
For a more traditional option, I recommend this Guided Old Town Walking Tour.
Claire’s Tip: Many of the walking tours are offered in German, but my understanding is that tour guides will provide synopses in English as well upon request. If you have any concerns about this, I suggest contacting the tour provider before booking your tickets just to be safe.
Day Trips From Hannover
There are lots of great day trips you can take from Hannover! Locals can use their 49 Euro Deutschland Ticket to ride the regional trains for “free,” or train tickets can be booked through the Deutsche Bahn website or Omio.
The Hannover day trips I’ve personally vetted and can recommend include:
- Braunschweig (Brunswick) — Henry the Lion’s ducal residence was in Braunschweig (he’s the guy who founded Munich!). The city has a small but pretty Old Town and a fabulous art museum.
- Wolfenbüttel — A tiny town with more than 1,000 half-timbered houses.
- Hamburg — One of Germany’s prettiest cities! You’ll likely want to spend most of your day in Hamburg’s Old Town, but a visit to the old warehouse district (Speicherstadt) is also a must!
- Bremen — There’s lots to do in the port city of Bremen. I suggest visiting the Böttcherstraße Museums, visiting the old Schnoor Quarter, and going into the Bremen Cathedral.
- Kassel — One of the largest cities in the German state of Hessen. It’s known for being the home of the world-renowned contemporary art exhibition, documenta, which takes place every five years.
- Magdeburg — An underrated city that boasts a whimsical pink housing complex designed by famous architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser; it’s also where Otto the Great (former Holy Roman Emperor) is buried.
- Marienburg Castle — A stunning Gothic revival castle near Hannover. Unfortunately, it’s closed for renovations for the foreseeable future.
Frequently Asked Questions
I think two full days is the perfect amount of time in Hannover. There quite a bit to do here, but it’s not a massive city.
You’ll want to stay somewhere fairly central, with easy access to the Old Town.
Budget hotels: NYCE Hotel Hannover, Ibis budget Hannover Hbf, or B&B Hotel Hannover-City.
Mid-range hotels: Hotel NH, Mercure Hotel Hannover Mitte, Motel One Hannover-Oper, or Central-Hotel Kaiserhof.
On my last trip to Hannover, I stocked up on coffee beans from the Hannoversche Kaffeemanufaktur and Leibniz Cookies in an old-fashioned tin from the Bahlsen Outlet Store.
Public transportation or on foot! You definitely don’t need a car to get around Hannover.
Enjoy Your Trip to the Messestadt!
Hannover isn’t at the top of most Germans’ bucket lists, and it seems to be a city they love to hate. But I’ve been to Hannover a few times now and think the city is fantastic! The people are friendly, there’s lots to do, and it’s a very relaxed atmosphere. In short — it’s absolutely worth visiting!
Now that you know the best things to do and see in Hannover, you can start planning your visit.
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to keep up with my daily adventures in Berlin and beyond!
Leave A Reply!