Stand on Trammplatz in front of the New City Hall and you can see two versions of Hannover at once: the heavy stone dome above you and, inside, the small models of the city as it stood in 1689, 1939, 1945 and today. It is a useful first stop, because it gives you the shape of the place before you walk into it.
Hannover suits travellers who like their cities green and walkable, with baroque gardens, a lake, forest inside the city limits and a compact centre. It also suits anyone travelling by train, since the city sits at a major crossing point of European railway lines.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, the museums that are free on Fridays, and how to string the best of them together if you only have one day.
Top things to do in Hannover
1. Great Garden of Herrenhausen
The baroque gardens of Herrenhausen were laid out in the 17th century as a copy of the Versailles Garden in France, and they are the city's signature sight. Even in winter you can see their structure, but they reach their best from the end of spring until the end of summer. Look for the glimmering cave decorated by Niki de Saint Phalle.
Take the tram to the stop named "Herrenhäuser Garten". A Summer Ticket "All-in-one" covers the gardens and the Berggarten, a botanical garden on the same site that is well worth the extra time.
2. Hanover Zoo
This is a modern zoo with about 2,000 animals arranged in six themed worlds, and it is easily a full day out. Tickets are pricey, but better rates are available if you book online, and the zoo is open year-round.
In winter the site hosts the WinterZoo, a Christmas market with an ice show, ice skating, slides, and food and drink. It sits on Adenauerallee, so pair it with the Herrenhausen gardens if you are already out that way.
3. New City Hall
Inside the Neues Rathaus you can see models of Hannover at four points in history: 1689, 1939, 1945 and the present. Then take the sloped elevator up to the dome for a view over the city.
The elevator costs €5 for adults and €4 for children. It is on Trammplatz, close to the Museum August-Kestner, so the two fit naturally into one visit.
4. The Nanas
These three colourful, oversized sculptures by Niki de Saint Phalle were created in 1974 and stand on the banks of the Leine at the Leibnizufer. They mark the beginning of Hannover's Sculpture Mile, and although they were controversial at first they are now a central landmark.
Every Saturday the site hosts Germany's oldest flea market, which is the best time to combine the sculptures with a wander.
5. Sprengel Museum
A museum of 20th-century modern art with an extensive collection that includes works by Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee and Niki de Saint Phalle. Admission is free for all visitors on Fridays, which makes it the obvious museum to pick if your trip includes a Friday.
Reach it by taking any tram to Aegidientorplatz and walking about 10 minutes towards the lake, or take Bus 131 from Kröpcke to the Maschsee/Sprengel Museum stop.
6. Museum August-Kestner
The Kestner Museum holds objects from ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece alongside medieval and modern pieces. It is on Trammplatz, a short step from the New City Hall.
Like several museums in the city, it can be visited for free on Friday. Otherwise adult admission is €5 and concessions €3.
7. Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum
The Lower Saxon State Museum is a mix of exhibitions: a prehistoric section on the past of Lower Saxony with tools and weapons, coins of the Kingdom of Hanover, Prussia and the German Empire, and a Japanese tea room. It is closed on Mondays.
Adult admission is €10, reduced €8, family €20. It is on Willy-Brandt-Allee, and it is one of the museums included in the free Friday scheme.
8. Wilhelm-Busch Museum
This museum holds the collection of Wilhelm Busch's work along with other satirical and humorous art, and is respected as the German Museum of Caricature and Critical Graphic Arts. It sits in the Georgengarten, which puts it on the same side of town as the Herrenhausen gardens.
Take Tram 4 or 5 in the direction of Garbsen or Stöcken to the Wilhelm-Busch Museum stop. Adult admission is €9, concessions €5.
9. Leibniz House
This is a faithful reconstruction of the 17th-century Renaissance facade of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz's former residence, which was destroyed in World War II. The building now serves as a university guest house and conference centre, so it can only be viewed from the outside.
It stands on Holzmarkt, near the Historical Museum, so it is easy to fold into a walk through the old centre.
10. University of Hanover
The main building of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover was the winter palace of the Kings of Hanover. The summer palace stood in the Great Garden complex and was destroyed during World War II; only one wall remains.
It is at Welfengarten 1, which makes it a natural stop if you are heading out towards the gardens.
11. City park
The Stadtpark is worth visiting on a sunny day: a good place to relax with a book and a reliable escape from the city centre. Take Tram 11 in the direction of Zoo and get off at Congress Centrum/Stadthalle.
It is at Theodor-Heuss-Platz 1-3, so check the weather before you commit an afternoon to it.
12. Tiergarten
This is 112 hectares of recreational forest with free-ranging fallow deer. From mid-December to October it is open from 07:00 until nightfall; from November until mid-December it opens at 12:00 Monday to Wednesday and at 07:00 Thursday to Sunday.
It is at Tiergartenstraße 117. Go in the morning if you want the longest window before nightfall.
13. Eilenriede
The Eilenriede is 650 hectares of city forest, notable for its size and for sitting right in the middle of the city. It is the simplest way to spend an hour among trees without leaving town.
Combine it with the List district, which is not far from the Central Station and makes a good end point for a walk.
14. List
The List is a residential area close to the Central Station, popular with students, with a pedestrian stretch called Lister Meile lined with small and interesting shops.
It works well as a low-key afternoon: walk the Eilenriede, then come out into the List for the shops.
15. Sea Life
Hannover's aquarium holds an array of fish and a rainforest inside. It is open from 10:00 daily, closing at 17:00 Monday to Friday and 18:00 at weekends, and tickets are usually available at a discount online.
It is on Herrenhäuser Straße 4A, on Tram 4 or 5 to the Herrenhäuser Gärten stop, so it pairs directly with the Great Garden of Herrenhausen.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the New City Hall on Trammplatz, see the models of the city across four periods of history, and take the sloped elevator to the dome for the view. Walk the short distance to the Museum August-Kestner, and if it is Friday, step into the Sprengel Museum as well, since admission is free for all visitors that day.
Afternoon: Take Tram 4 or 5 out to the Herrenhäuser Gärten stop and spend the afternoon in the Great Garden of Herrenhausen, adding the Berggarten with the Summer Ticket "All-in-one". If you are travelling with children, Sea Life is on the same street and open from 10:00.
Evening: Return to the centre and walk down to the Leibnizufer to see The Nanas on the banks of the Leine. If it is Saturday, the flea market is there; otherwise the sculptures and the riverbank make a quiet end to the day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the Great Garden of Herrenhausen?
It reaches its best from the end of spring until the end of summer, though even in winter you can still see its beauty. Opening runs from 09:00, with closing times varying by month between 16:00 and 20:00.
Which museums can I visit for free?
Many museums, including the Landesmuseum, the Historical Museum and the Kestner Museum, can be visited for free on Friday. The Sprengel Museum is also free for all visitors on Fridays.
Where can I see fireworks in Hannover?
The International Fireworks Competition takes place in the Herrenhausen Gardens over six Saturdays, typically three between May and June and three between August and September, with six nations competing. For the competition and the Kleines Fest the best viewing spots are inside or just outside the Great Garden, while the festival fireworks are clearly visible from around the banks of Lake Masch. Most displays usually begin at 22:00.
Is the Historical Museum open?
No. The Historisches Museum am Hohen Ufer is closed due to construction.
Decide which day of your trip falls on a Friday, build the museums around it, and the rest of your Hannover itinerary will fall into place.