2 days · First-time visitors
Hannover in a Weekend
A weekend is enough to experience Hannover in all its breadth. Day one belongs to the city center along the Red Thread, with the New Town Hall, the Market Church and the Maschsee. Day two leads to the baroque Herrenhausen Gardens, into the Sprengel Museum and through the Eilenriede - the largest urban forest in Europe. Evenings in the trendy List and Linden districts.
Best time to visit: May to September - Herrenhausen and the Maschsee are at their most beautiful then
Day 1
Day 1 - City center along the Red Thread
The first day links the central landmarks: town hall, old town, Nanas and the Maschsee. We largely follow the Red Thread and finish at the water.
- 9:30 - 11:30
New Town Hall with the tilted lift
Start at the New Town Hall of 1913. The tilted lift rises at a 17-degree angle into the cupola - from there, the best panorama over Hannover.
Tip: In the basement, four city models show Hannover's development - including the destruction of 1945.
- 11:45 - 13:00
Red Thread, Leine Palace and St Giles' Church
Following the Red Thread to the Leine Palace (today the Lower Saxon state parliament) and St Giles' Church (Aegidienkirche) - deliberately left as a ruin as a memorial, with a peace bell from Hiroshima.
- 13:00 - 14:15
Lunch in the old town
In the half-timbered lanes around the Market Church and on the Ballhofplatz there are cozy places serving regional and international fare.
- 14:30 - 16:00
Market Church, old town and the Nanas
The Gothic Market Church, the half-timbered backdrop of the old town and the colorful Nanas on the Leibnizufer - Hannover's postcard motifs in quick succession.
- 16:30 - 18:30
A walk around the Maschsee
A stroll around the Maschsee, Hannover's large recreational lake. Pedal boats, a ferry, beach bars and open views over the water.
- 19:30 - 22:00
An evening in the Suedstadt
The Suedstadt between the Maschsee and the city center is a lively residential district with good restaurants, wine bars and bistros. Ideal for a relaxed first evening.
- Overnight
Staying in the city or the Suedstadt
A central location in Mitte or quieter in the Suedstadt - both offer short distances to all the highlights of day two.
Day 2
Day 2 - Herrenhausen, art and the Eilenriede
The second day leads to Herrenhausen with its baroque gardens, then into the Sprengel Museum and finally through the Eilenriede into the trendy quarter.
- 9:30 - 12:00
Herrenhausen Gardens
The baroque Great Garden is one of the most important in Europe - strictly geometric, with the Great Fountain, a hedge theater and the gallery building. Beside it lie the botanical Berggarten and the English-style Georgengarten.
Tip: Take tram line 4/5 to Herrenhaeuser Gaerten - about 15 minutes from the city center.
- 12:15 - 13:15
Lunch by the Georgengarten
After the gardens, the English Georgengarten and the Herrenhausen avenue are a good place to pause - cafes and beer gardens under old lime trees.
- 13:45 - 15:30
Sprengel Museum
One of the most important museums of classical modernism in Germany - Picasso, Klee, Beckmann and the world's largest holding of Niki de Saint Phalle. Right by the Maschsee.
- 15:45 - 17:30
The Eilenriede - the urban forest
At around 640 hectares, the Eilenriede is the largest urban forest in Germany, almost twice the size of New York's Central Park. Walking trails, clearings, the Lister Turm - right in the middle of the city.
- 18:00 - 20:30
An evening on the Lister Meile
The Lister Meile is Hannover's lively promenade in the List district - cafes, pubs, restaurants and a young crowd. The perfect end to the weekend.