Hannover Insider Tips: Local Secrets & Best Things to Do

Tips and Info for Your Trip to Hannover

Before we get to our interview, here’s the most important info you need before heading to Hannover.

Location

Hannover is the state capital of Lower Saxony. Braunschweig is easy to reach within about an hour by car.

Hamburg is 130 kilometers away (as the crow flies), and the Hanseatic city of Bremen is a 1.5-hour drive.

If you’d rather head to the mountains, a day trip from Hannover to the Harz is seriously worth it. In less than two hours by car, you’ll be right in the middle of the hiking paradise around the Brocken.

Our Hotel Recommendations

Here are our hotel picks in Hannover for every budget:

Interview with a Local: The Best Insider Tips for Hannover

Our Expert

Hey, I’m Thu — amateur photographer and founder of the travel blog No Luggage. Strictly speaking, I’m not originally from Hannover, but it’s hard to say where you’re really from when you were born in Moscow, went to school in Peine, and studied in Göttingen, Spain, and Hannover.

But I definitely feel at home here. No matter where I was — in Peine, in Göttingen, or anywhere else in the world — I kept being drawn back to Hannover, so in 2013 I decided to move here for good.

Hannover in Three Words

Phew, tough one. But let me give it a shot:

Chill, culinary, green.

Curious?

Chill, because Hannover has really compact distances. You never need more than half an hour to get from A to B. So it’s not a hectic big city, but it’s also not a boring small town. Just chill.

Culinary, because Hannover has an incredible number of great places to eat, especially when it comes to international cuisine — more on that later.

Green, because Hannover’s city parks and green spaces are a genuine invitation to spend time outdoors.

Why Visit Hannover!

So everyone can see for themselves that Hannover’s reputation as the most boring city in the world is totally undeserved. Did you know, for example, that Hannover is one of the greenest major cities in Germany?

There’s a ton to do here — and even if you want to get out of the city for a bit, there are plenty of great options, both urban and nature-wise. Hamburg and Berlin are just a short hop away, nature lovers can head to Lake Steinhude (where you can actually get a real beach vibe) or hike in the Deister.

On top of that, there’s always a lot going on in Hannover. Every year the city hosts the Chili Festival, the intercultural Fête de la Musique, the Hannover Marksmen’s Festival — which is actually the largest marksmen’s festival in the world — and the three-week Maschsee Festival, plus the international fireworks competition in the Herrenhausen Gardens throughout the entire summer.

As you can see, the city may not have iconic landmarks like Cologne Cathedral in Cologne or the Semper Opera House in Dresden, but there is truly a lot to experience here.

What Makes Hannover Unique

Even though Hannover is said to be where the purest standard German is spoken, I also think no other city has such funny linguistic quirks!

For example, it’s perfectly normal to meet someone “under the tail” — referring to the horse’s tail on the statue in front of the main train station. And one of Hannover’s well-known landmarks was actually nicknamed “the three warm brothers!” Pretty funny, right?

Things to Do in Hannover

Must-Sees

Definitely the New City Hall and its dome — from up there you get a truly amazing view over the entire city. And the city hall itself is absolutely charming; I almost always spot wedding photo shoots happening when I walk past.

Then there are the Herrenhausen Gardens. They’re stunning — like a mini Versailles. On top of that, they’re surrounded by the Welfengarten and Georgengarten, making it a real invitation to picnic and explore.

As a third pick, I’d add Lake Maschsee to the list. It’s an almost 80-hectare lake right in the middle of the city, with plenty of ways to enjoy yourself.

You can swim, grab a good meal, or kick back at a beer garden; go for a walk, jog, take a boat out, try water sports — the list goes on. If you haven’t been to Lake Maschsee, you haven’t really experienced Hannover.

When It Rains

Culture lovers should check out the Sprengel Museum, the Lower Saxony State Museum, or the Wilhelm Busch Museum. All three are really well-known museums in Hannover, and admission is even free for some of them.

The Sprengel Museum features modern art, while the Wilhelm Busch Museum showcases caricature and drawing. The Lower Saxony State Museum is an art history museum with an aquarium.

Speaking of aquariums, Sea Life in Hannover is obviously a great activity on a rainy day too.

Tickets for Sea Life Hannover

On a regular rainy day, my absolute favorite place to spend time is the Teestübchen. A really cozy little spot with wonderful tea and homemade cake. When it’s raining outside, there’s something especially homey about being in there.

With Kids

My top pick would be the Hannover Adventure Zoo. It has a fantastic reputation and is known for letting you get up close with the animals. The concept doesn’t involve keeping animals in cages — instead they roam freely in elaborately designed themed worlds.

Kids have a blast there, and they also love activities like a “boat ride through Africa.”

Best Day Trip

I’ll admit I rarely feel the urge to leave the city, which is why I haven’t personally visited every day trip destination in the Hannover region. But plenty come to mind.

Marienburg Castle would be a great option, and the Lüneburg Heath is also on my list — though they say you should go in the fall, when everything blooms purple. What I can definitely recommend is the Deister, Lake Steinhude, and the Hannover city forest Eilenriede.

For cycling enthusiasts, there’s a Kulturroute — an 800-kilometer long-distance cycling route winding through green landscapes and past cultural landmarks like the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Mariendom in Hildesheim and the Fagus Factory in Alfeld. You could easily fill several day trips in, to, or around Hannover with that.

If you’d rather treat yourself, I recommend the Kristalltherme in Seelze. When I visited, I never wanted to leave.

To Relax

Right in Hannover, the Herrenhausen Gardens and all the green space surrounding them are the perfect escape. Along the Leine River, in the Georgengarten, and in the Welfengarten, you can unwind very comfortably on the grass. With so many options in this area, choosing your favorite meadow is a wonderful problem to have.

Best Viewpoint

If someone were visiting me in Hannover and asked about a viewpoint, I’d take them up to the dome of the New City Hall. Not only do you get a gorgeous panorama over the city, but you also ride up in a mostly glass elevator that travels at an angle — super cool.

The only downside: I personally love enjoying views at night too, but the city hall dome closes at 6 PM. In that case, I’d head to the Rooftop Bar 360° Schöne Aussichten.

You can sit there feeling like you’re on top of the world, sipping a cocktail with your feet in the sand (it’s a beach bar complete with beach chairs and real sand) while soaking in the view of Hannover at sunset.

Best Photo Spot

The old Conti building grounds. And that’s a real local favorite, because technically you’re not supposed to go inside — psst. It’s an old, privately owned property, a bit run-down, dilapidated, and covered in graffiti. Definitely an exciting playground for photographers!

Craziest Activity

Drink a Lüttje Lage. It’s a Hannover specialty and a tradition at major festivals. For the Marksmen’s Festival, for example, a special festival beer is brewed and then drunk together with grain schnapps. But not just any old way — it takes practice and a steady hand!

You essentially drink from two different, special glasses at the same time, holding them in one hand, and as you drink, the schnapps has to flow into the beer before the mixture reaches your mouth. Hard to describe — just try it yourself. The Marksmen’s Festival and the Maschsee Festival are the perfect occasions!

Best Event of the Year

Speaking of Lüttje Lage, the Maschsee Festival is absolutely a highlight! In my opinion, it’s worth making a special trip to Hannover for. As the name suggests, the festival takes place right on Lake Maschsee and runs for three weeks.

There’s plenty going on during that time — on some evenings you can enjoy fireworks, on others there’s a torch run on the lake or an exciting live performance.

It’s also worth coming to Hannover in winter, because there’s a really cool medieval Christmas market. Complete with costumes, drinks served in goblets, smoky food specialties, and everything that goes with it.

Also check out our full Hannover attractions guide

Food and Drink in Hannover

Culinary Specialty

Tough one. Well, I’ve already talked about the Lüttje Lage. Beyond that, there isn’t much food or drink that I’d call an absolute Hannover specialty.

Hanoverians love asparagus, and the region is one of the largest asparagus-growing areas around. And they love beer — local breweries include Gilde, Lindener, and Herrenhäuser.

For me personally, though, what makes Hannover special is something else: the incredible variety of international dining. So if you ask me where you absolutely have to eat in Hannover, I’d point you to the Syrian restaurant Al Dar, or the small and cozy Vietnamese spot Street Kitchen.

Best Burger

For burgers, I’d definitely go to The Harp. The burgers are seriously delicious and packed with flavor! And it’s the only place I know that also serves genuinely good sweet potato fries. At most places, sweet potato fries come out soggy and tasteless.

The Harp has really specialized in burgers: the menu is small, but every week they rotate in a burger of the week that’s not on the regular menu.

Make sure to book a table (even on weekdays!) and come with plenty of time — the burgers take about 45 minutes to arrive. But fresh, quality burgers need their time.

Best Ice Cream

Personally, I’m a huge frozen yogurt fan. For a frozen treat, I’d go to Yomaro on Lister Meile. Not only because the frozen yogurt there is so good, but also because Lister Meile is a must-see in Hannover. It’s a great street to stroll along and feels like a second downtown.

Best Breakfast

Phew, I’ll admit I don’t go out for breakfast very often since I’m a real late sleeper. I did have a really delicious breakfast once at Café Extrablatt — you could choose from different countries. I had an Italian breakfast with olives, tomatoes, mozzarella, and ham.

For an under-the-radar recommendation, I’d send you to Urfa. I had a Turkish brunch there and it was absolutely incredible.

There was everything your heart could desire — sweet to savory, warm to cold. A huge, very tasty, fresh buffet, and the oriental specialties are a real treat.

Favorite Restaurants

I’ve already mentioned two of them. Al Dar, a Syrian restaurant, takes the top spot. It’s not like Syrian restaurants are a dime a dozen — and this one is truly exceptional: lovingly decorated with very attentive staff. The food was a dream. First-timers should absolutely order the “Journey through Syria.”

In second place for me is Street Kitchen. A very small but excellent little restaurant serving Vietnamese cuisine — and as a Vietnamese person myself, I love eating there. The prices are more than fair; a main dish usually costs around 9–10 euros. Make sure to order a mango lassi with your meal!

In third place I’d name Meteora. A Greek restaurant with a very cozy, rustic atmosphere, where you can even enjoy a singer or a guitarist.

Honestly, everything I’ve eaten there has been fantastic, so I can’t really single out one dish to recommend. Maybe just go with friends and order a little of everything.

Favorite Bars

I like bars with a pub vibe — probably because you can eat so casually there too. I’ve already mentioned The Harp — of course you can not only eat burgers there but also enjoy a beer in a very relaxed atmosphere (except on weekends, when it gets pretty loud).

A great and slightly more affordable alternative (for burgers as well as beer or cocktails) is Henry’s.

Near Steintor there’s also Besitos. What’s really fun about Besitos is the cocktail dice game. Once a week you can order cocktails and only pay as much as you roll on the dice. If you’re lucky and roll a 1, you pay just one euro for your cocktail.

If I had to pick a third spot, I’d go with Masa. It’s technically an Afghan restaurant, but I just love sitting on the carpet in that orientally decorated corner and sipping a cocktail.

Since it’s actually a restaurant tucked away through a passageway leading to an inner courtyard, it also has that off-the-beaten-path feel to it.

A little side note: both Masa and Henry’s are located on Opernplatz. It’s a beautiful street that you absolutely have to walk down — you’ll find boutiques, a variety theater, and the opera house there.

Best Late-Night Food

I don’t have a personal favorite spot for this, but if you want a late-night snack, I’d point you toward E-Damm or Steintor. At both places you’ll find an entire street lined with döner shops, burger joints, and so on — if anyone’s still open at that hour, it’ll be there.

Where to Stay in Hannover

Favorite Hotel

Since I never stay in hotels when I’m in Hannover myself, I can’t really speak from personal experience. But one of my favorite hotel chains is represented here — namely the 4-star Dormero Hotel.

In my experience, this hotel actually deserves five stars — it leaves almost nothing to be desired. And the breakfast at the Dormero was one of the best I’ve ever had.

Good and Affordable Accommodation in Hannover

Right in the city center near the main train station there’s an Ibis Budget Hotel. In some cities the main train station is a bit out of the way, but in Hannover it’s actually a great starting point for sightseeing. As an alternative, it’s worth checking Booking.com for vacation apartments.

Looking for more hotel tips for Hannover? Read our article on the best neighborhoods to stay in Hannover, with personal recommendations from our Hannover expert Britta.

Where to stay in Hannover — the best neighborhoods and hotel tips