Hannover is one of the biggest and most beautiful cities in Germany. It has a fantastic contrast between urban and rural areas that uphold the country’s heritage and advancements beautifully.
The city is almost 300 years old and started as the Kingdom of the Hanoverian Kings. Age is the reason behind all of the mesmerizing prehistoric architecture you’ll find in the city.
Many different attractions within the city can keep you engaged for days. Therefore, if you plan to visit Germany, make sure you schedule at least a few days to spend in Hannover.
To make things easier for you, we have listed 23 of the best things you can do in the city. We have tried to pour in all of the information that is available from sources about the city We have listed unique places, fun activities, historical backgrounds, and routes to help you reach places with ease. This article will save both your time and money so that you can spend them gathering once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Therefore, let’s not waste any time and start with our list of the 23 best things to do in Hannover, Germany!
23. Nanas
Nanas is one of the most distinct places within Hannover. It is an open area at one end of the red line walk fitted with unique sculptures. The style of the sculptures, along with the colors, makes them pop out.
Earlier, these sculptures were disliked and unaccepted by the locals but gradually became the biggest crowd pullers in the city!
Hannover is filled with history and heritage; at times, it might become monotonous. The Nanas act as a brake to your eyes and mind; therefore, don’t forget to visit them!
22. Superfly Hannover
If you’re a big fan of American ninja warriors and have always wanted to experience the obstacle course, you can make your dreams come true in Hannover!
Superfly Hannover is a massive indoor obstacle course with many ninja war obstacles and a giant trampoline. It is the best place to visit if you have become bored with all the sightseeing and endless traveling through Hannover!
Bring in your family and especially your kids to experience a fantastic time.
21. Park der Sinne
Park der Sinne, or the park of the senses, is a 7-hectare large park within Hannover that mesmerizes you using the natural elements.
The park is divided into several parts that are dedicated to each of the natural elements. You can find dry valleys, water bodies, scent gardens, echo gardens with parabolic dishes, and more!
This park is one of Germany’s most exciting gardens and offers many unique activities to keep you busy. One of the special attractions of the garden is the insect.
It is a unique structure with 120 pieces of glass on it. It helps you to understand and experience the point of view of insects!
20. Hannoversches Straßenbahn-Museum
Trams are one of the most iconic transportation options in Germany. It was introduced in the late 1800s and since then has seen ups and downs in its business.
Hannoversches Straßenbahn-Museum pays tribute to the trams by keeping an extensive collection of historic and modern compartments, engines, and components.
If you stay outside Europe, the chances are high that you have not seen a tram in your life before. Therefore don’t miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and ride trams while visiting Hannover.
19. Markthalle Hannover
The Market Hall is one of the busiest areas in Hannover. It is the go-to place if you want to take home items from Hannover as memories.
It was built during the later 1800s, but unfortunately, WW2 bombings brought the buildings down. The city’s people gave petitions to rebuild it. The market hall is one of the busiest places in the town since then.
You will cross the market at least once on your trip because it falls in the heart of the city.
If you do come by it, make sure to pick your favorite items up from there and enjoy the building’s rich past and present architecture!
18. Welfengarten
Welfengarten is one of the significant botanical gardens within Hannover. It is the part of the Harrenhausen Gardens along with two other parks.
It is a unique garden because of its English landscape and beautifully crafted surroundings and plantations.
This garden is one of the best spots to visit after a day of roaming around the city.
Furthermore, you can experience many different sculptures, plants, flowers, and more in the garden, making it a pleasant experience.
17. Schützenplatz Hannover
Hannover hosts some of the biggest festivals in the world every year. These festivals are held in the Schützenplatz Hannover ground.
With 10 hectares, it is one of the most significant open spaces in the city. The annual Hannover rifle festival and the Hannover spring festival are held over there.
If you are planning to visit the city, make sure the dates coincide with these festivals. You will not find a celebration of this magnitude anywhere else on the planet, and therefore you don’t want to miss it!
16. Aegidienkirche
This is another church in Hannover that is among the old city’s three main churches. It was unfortunate enough to be ruined by the bombing of 1943. It has been rebuilt in the form of a memorial and is open to visitors from all over the world.
You can visit this German church to see some unique artwork and sculptures created by Kurt Lehmann. You can also see the bell that Hiroshima gifted as a sign of peace and support in the year 1985.
The church effectively shows you the horrific past of the city and how it struggled to get back on its feet.
15. Museum August Kestner
The museum might look small but houses an impressive collection of art and archeological items. It mainly houses the collections of August Kestner, a renowned collector from Germany.
The museum is centered on Egyptian collections that range from handicrafts, numismatics, antiquities, and more.
Collections of Friedrich Wilhelm von Bissing and Friedrich Culemann have also entered into the museum’s collection. This addition has introduced worldwide art into the collection of the museum making it more diverse.
You will learn a lot about world history from this museum, therefore don’t miss out!
14. German Museum of Caricature and Drawings
Comic art has a special place within German people’s hearts. Especially the works of Wilhelm Busch, a highly reputed illustrator, poet, and painter of the country. You will love this place if you are interested in comic art or art as a whole.
The museum has thousands of paintings and artworks created by artists like Paul Flora, Volker Kriegel, Ronald Searle, and more. These artists followed Busch’s style of art and incorporated their techniques.
The paintings are grouped and displayed beautifully, making things pleasing for the eye!
13. SEA LIFE Hannover
Sea Life is one of the biggest aquariums and sea life centers in Germany. It is built on large space and therefore houses everything from crocodiles to corals.
You can walk along with the fishes through tunnels, get a glimpse of deepwater fishes, and watch piranhas devour their food and a lot more.
Your age or interests doesn’t matter; the wide variety of fishes and animals are sure to entertain you throughout your stay!
You also get to experience an indoor rainforest, which the aquarium official shave build. It is finished with wildlife and trees, which give an authentic feel to the surroundings
12. Eilenriede City Park
Eilenriede City Park in Hannover is the biggest park in Germany. It is spread over 640 hectares of land and has different sections and activities.
You will find playgrounds, skating areas, memorials, artifacts, and loads of other sections scattered throughout the garden. Furthermore, there are hiking and biking trails surrounded by fantastic visuals and challenging adventures.
The park is also attached to a zoo and an unforgettable horseback riding area. There are a lot of cafes and restaurants within the garden that cater delicious German delights!
Covering 640 hectares is not an easy task. Make sure that you come prepared with water, caps, snacks, and a whole lot of energy.
11. Luftfahrtmuseum Hannover-Laatzen
Germany has had its fair share of history related to aircraft. Whether it’s developing aircraft or getting bombed by them, the country has experienced it all.
To put forward this history to the world, the Luftfahrtmuseum Hannover-Laatzen was created in 2013.
You will find actual aircraft and 800+ models that gracefully display the history of human flight using machines. The museum has some of the few remaining aircraft that you won’t find anywhere else, for example, the Jumo 004A.
This museum is one of the most exciting places to visit in the city of Hannover. If you are along with your family, your kids will love the place!
10. Hannover Altstadt
Altstadt is the replica of an old city built from scratch in Hannover. Pre-world war buildings that survived fills the whole area.
Some of the buildings we rebuilt due to the significant damage they had to face because of bombings.
The city is peaceful and filled with narrow lanes and historical artifacts. You will feel like walking through a time machine while passing it!
Furthermore, it is also one of the most photogenic places within the city. It will feel as if the town was made for vintage photoshoots.
9. Altes Rathaus
The old town hall or Altes Rathaus is one of Hannover’s oldest gothic buildings. It is one of the many buildings that partly survived the WW2 bonding.
Initially, it was built in the year 1410 and then reconstructed between 1953-64.
It is one of the oldest buildings in Hannover that has a dark and gloomy tone. Though some of the gothic architecture was lost in the bombing, it still looks beautiful.
The building stands out with its red roof and brown walls. It is a beautiful place for photoshoots and cinematic sequences.
To reach the building, you need to visit Hannover’s old town, Markplatz, to be specific.
8. Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum Hannover
Your trip to Hannover will remain incomplete if you don’t visit the city church. It is located near the New Town Hall of Hannover.
The museum’s roots go back to 1856, when it was built. Later in 1902, the museum was rebuilt so that it could expand its art collection.
Currently, the museum holds collections related to state art, archeology, natural history models, and ethnological samples.
From life-sized models of dinosaurs to millions of Archeological artifacts, you will find it all there. If you are lucky enough, you can also check out one of their themed exhibitions that takes place randomly throughout the year!
7. Market Church (St Georgii et Jacobi)
The Marktkirche or Market Church in Hannover is the central church and one of its biggest attractions. If you’re in Hannover on a Sunday, you must visit the church for the mass.
It is a beautiful example of a north German architectural style named Brick Gothic. You will be amazed after see7ing the tall pillars and decorated domes and arches, which have gracefully withstood the test of time.
It is one of the few churches with a wooden altar from the early 1400s depicting 21 scenes of the Passion of Christ. Furthermore, the church has an organ 30% of which is about 200 years old.
You can’t miss the market church, literally because it is the highest tower in the city!
6. Sprengel Museum
The Sprengel Museum is the center of modern art in Germany. It houses modern art pieces from artists like Schwitters, Pablo Picasso, Max Beckmann, Emil Nolde, etc. If you are an artist yourself or exploring art, this is the best place to visit.
The museum has collected over 500 pieces that include paintings and sculptures since it opened back in 1979.
Besides the art collection, the museum also has a book store and a library. These have some of the best books on art from all over the world. You will also find a restaurant within the premises that serves delicious German cuisine.
5. Marienburg Castle
Marienburg is a 200-year-old German castle to the south of Hannover. King George V specially made this
castle as a gift for his wife.
One of the best architects of Hanover from that era built this castle and is the reason behind the castle’s fantastic longevity and beautiful look.
The castle is open to the public for tours. Beautiful artwork and royal items used by previous kings and queens fill the rooms of the castle.
This castle probably provides one of the best insights into Germany’s past and how royals from that era lived their life.
The easiest way to reach the castle is by bus. You need to change lines from 300 to 310 starting at the Hannover station.
4. Maschsee
Maschsee is one of the biggest artificial lakes in Germany. Initially, it acted as an anti-flood measure for the city. Later it became one of the major attractions in Hannover city.
The lake is widely known as the house of the Maschseefest. It is a celebration that happens during the summers. You will get to see grand musicals, dance performances, cabarets, experience different cuisines, and more!
Throughout summer, the lake is open for boating, sailing, rowing, and other water sports. In winter, the lake freezes and hosts ice hockey, skating, and other ice sports.
3. Erlebnis Zoo Hannover
This is one of the oldest zoos in the country. It started as a private zoo, and as years passed, its ownership shifted back and forth between the government and other parties.
Hannover government currently runs the zoo and is known to have the best breeding program for elephants.
The central zoo is divided into many zoos that give off vibes of different parts of the world and different seasons.
The zoo has over 230 species of animals; it houses an excellent collection of wild animals that you might not have seen in your life. When you visit the zoo, make sure that you are free the entire day, because the zoo is spread out on 22 hectares of land!
You can easily reach the zoo by bus or tram from the station or anywhere in the city
2. New Town Hall
The New Town Hall is one of the giant buildings in Hannover. It was made as a replacement of the old city hall under Wilhelm II’s orders, the last Kaiser of Germany.
The building is made to look like a castle but houses the registry office and businesses.
During the day, you can look at its fantastic architecture and go inside to get a better look at the artworks. But at night it becomes magical because of the lights.
You can take fantastic architectural pictures or portraits near the building. Furthermore, you can also get a bird’s eye view of the city from the hall’s dome!
New Town Hall is also home to a unique curved elevator that you won’t find anywhere else. Therefore, make sure that you check it out!
1. Herrenhäuser Schloss + Gärten
Herrenhäuser Schloss or Herrenhäuser Palace was built out of the ruins back in 2009-13. The palace sustained massive damage in the year 1943 from the British bombing.
It has been rebuilt into a magnificent palace with one of the most significant gardens in Germany. It has around 12000 different species of plants and over 800 orchids.
The garden is also the prime spot for many different functions like concerts, firework exhibitions, dance performances, and more!
You can reach the destination easily from the nearest train station or a bus. Make sure that you book your tickets for any ongoing show so that you can have loads of fun!
