12 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Hanover

Written by Bryan Dearsley

Historic Hanover (spelled Hannover in German) on the River Leine is capital of the Land
of Lower Saxony and an important commercial center with a university and academies of
music and drama. It's also an important trade fair and festival center, noted for such
events as Oktoberfest Hanover, one of the largest such celebrations in the world, as well
as the Hanover Schtzenfest, the world's largest marksmen's gathering. Hanover is also
an important cultural center, and boasts numerous world-class museums, galleries, and
theaters. Its extensive parks and gardens - the Eilenriede, Maschpark with its lake,
Lnspark, the Zoo, and the Herrenhausen Gardens - justify Hanover's claim to be "the
city in the country."
See also: Where to Stay in Hanover
1 Herrenhausen Gardens

Herrenhausen Gardens
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The magnificent Herrenhausen Gardens encompass the Georgengarten, a beautiful English-style
park, and the Berggarten, a botanic garden with orchid and cactus houses. At the north end
stands the Mausoleum built in 1846 for King Ernest Augustus and Queen Friederike, and which
contains the tomb of George I of Britain. Also of note is the recently rebuilt Herrenhausen
Palace, home to a museum showcasing artifacts and documents related to the city's rich
Baroque era.
Other city gardens of note are the Grosser Garten (Great Garden), dating from 1666 and the
best-preserved example of an Early Baroque garden in Germany with cascades, fountains, an
orangery, and a garden theater.
Address: Herrenhuser Museum, 30419 Hanover
2 Marktplatz and the Marktkirche

Marktplatz and the Marktkirche

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Hanover's lovely Marktplatz, in the center of the Old Town, is where you'll find many of the
city's historic buildings. One of the most notable is the 15th-century Late Gothic Old Town
Hall (Altes Rathaus), home to a number of small shops and galleries, and in front of which is the
graceful Neo-Gothic Market Fountain built in 1881. The other important tourist attraction here
is the Marktkirche, or Market Church, with its impressive 97-meter-high tower. Dating from the
14th century, it's home to a splendid 15th-century bronze font and carved altar. Leading from
the Marktplatz is Kramerstrasse, which still preserves something of the atmosphere of old
Hanover with its many handsome half-timbered houses.
Address: Karmarschstrasse 42, 30159 Hanover
3 The New Town Hall
The New Town Hall
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In Hanover's Trammplatz is the huge Town Hall, built between 1901-13 in the style of the
Wilhelmine period. It's one of the city's most interesting structures as it's built on a foundation
of 6,026 beech piles and crowned with a domed tower almost 100 meters high that dominates
the city's skyline. From the dome's viewing platform - accessed by a unique elevator that lifts
passengers at a sloped angle - are the best views of the city. In the hall are models of the town,
and the Hodler Room has a huge painting called The Oath of Loyalty dating from 1913. Tours are
available.
Address: Trammplatz 2, Hanover
4 Hanover Opera House
Hanover Opera House
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Along the dignified Georgstrasse is the Neoclassical Hanover Opera House. Built in 1852, this
majestic structure is now home to the city's professional opera company, Staatsoper Hannover,
and thanks to recent renovations offers a first-rate experience for opera fans during its season,
which runs from September to June.
Address: Opernplatz 1, 30159 Hanover
5 The Old Town and Leineschloss
The Old Town and Leineschloss
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Hanover's Old Town area is pleasant to explore and includesLeineschloss, the state parliament
building, constructed on the riverbanks in the 17th century as the residence of Duke Georg von
Calenberg and altered in Neoclassical style between 1817 and 1842. Also of interest is the New
Town Church, or Neustdter Kirche, a 17th-century structure with the tomb of the famous
German philosopher GW Leibniz, buried here in 1716. Also in the Old Town, Hanover's finest
half-timbered building, the Ballhof, was built between 1649 and 1665 for the then-fashionable
games of battledore and shuttlecock, as well as for musical concerts. Now home to the Lower
Saxony State Theater, it's still a popular venue for music events including pop, jazz, and opera.
For those interested in exploring more of these charming timber-framed houses, the little town
of Celle, about 40 kilometers northeast of Hanover on the banks of the River Aller, boasts more
than 400 half-timbered homes in its quaint old town.
Address: Knochenhauerstrae 28, Hanover
6 Lower Saxony State Museum
Lower Saxony State Museum
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The Lower Saxony State Museum (Niederschsisches Landesmuseum Hannover), opposite
the New Town Hall, houses many important collections of antiquities. The most popular is
the State Gallery (Landesgalerie) with its collection of European art from the Romantic period to
the present day. Also of note are its archaeological and ethnological collections - Germany's
oldest, boasting more than 20,000 artifacts - as well as numerous species of fish and reptiles.
Address: Willy-Brandt-Allee 5, Am Maschpark, D-30169 Hanover
7 The Maschsee
The Maschsee
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The Maschsee is an artificial lake in the heart of Hanover. Completed in 1936, it extends 2.4
kilometers and up to 530 meters wide and is the city's largest and busiest sports and recreation
area, equally popular among boaters - both sailing and powered - as well as swimmers. The lake
is also circled by many excellent pathways and is perfect for a stroll or picnic. On the west side is
the Niedersachsen-Stadionstadium, built in 1954 on mounds of rubble from buildings destroyed
in the war. Another pleasant area for a stroll isHerrenhuser Allee, laid out in 1726 and
including many attractive historic buildings.
8 Wilhelm Busch Museum
Wilhelm Busch Museum
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The Wilhelm-Busch-Museum in Hanover covers the life of famous poet and designer Wilhelm
Busch. Along with permanent displays of caricatures and comic art, the museum is home to the
world's largest collection of Busch's work. A particular highlight is a unique collection of more
than 700 caricatures of Napoleon. Founded in 1937, the museum is housed in the attractive
18th-century Georgenpalais inHerrenhausen Gardens.
Address: Georgengarten, 30167 Hannover
9 Hanover Adventure Zoo
Hanover Adventure Zoo Akulatraxas
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Founded in 1865 on the edge of Eilenriede park, Hanover Zoo - the fifth oldest in Germany - has
been remodeled along the lines of a theme park, and with great success. Today, an estimated
half a million people visit the attraction each year, drawn by fun areas such as the Winter Zoo
with its Christmas themes and activities, as well as the kids' area, Mullewapp, with a petting zoo
and rides. Other zoo attractions include the fun Meyers Farm, where you can explore 19th-
century Lower Saxony half-timbered structures, and the Disney-like Zambezi River boat ride
through the open-cages of animals such as rhinos and elephants.
Address: Adenauerallee 3, 30175 Hanover
10 Museum August Kestner
The Kestner Museum in Hanover houses numerous antiquities, including an important Egyptian
collection, as well as applied and decorative arts. Founded in 1889, it also holds large collections
of local antiquities, coins, and handicrafts. Another important museum is
the kestnergesellschaft, noted for its modern art collections and exhibits.
Address: Trammplatz 3, 30159 Hanover
11 Sprengel Museum
Home to one of Germany's most important collections of modern art, the Sprengel Museum is a
must for art lovers. Opened in 1979 and containing both private and state-owned collections,
the gallery is known for its numerous works by local artist Kurt Schwitters, as well as from artists
such as Max Ernst, Picasso, and Paul Klee, among others. The museum is also home to a
collection donated by well-known artist Niki de Saint Phalle, as well as a fascinating large metal
sculpture by Alexander Calder.
Address: Kurt-Schwitters-Platz, 30169 Hanover
Official site: www.sprengel-museum.com
12 Eilenriede

Tiergarten Afifi Abdul Latiff

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On the east side of Hanover, the beautiful municipal forest of Eilenriede covers an area of nearly
1,600 acres. This huge recreation area - the largest inner-city forest in Europe - contains
numerous footpaths and bridle paths, along with playing fields and open spaces for relaxation.
Often referred to as the "Grne Lunge," or green lung, it's a wonderful place to spend time
when visiting Hanover, as is Hermann Lns Park, a beautiful landscaped park with an old
windmill. Adjoining it is the Tiergarten, laid out in 1679 as a hunting park with old trees and
some 200 red deer, wild horses, and wild pigs.
Where to Stay in Hanover for Sightseeing
Hanover's Old Town, where many of its historic buildings are located, is not crowded with
hotels, but there is a good selection within a reasonable walking distance, and others are on the
city's excellent transit system. The main train station, Hauptbahnhof, is close to the Old Town,
as is the park-ringed Maschteich lake, so either is a convenient location. Here are some highly-
rated hotels in Hanover:
Luxury Hotels: Mercure Hotel Hannover City has stylishly decorated rooms, some overlooking
the park beside new City Hall, within a 10-minute walk of the Hauptbahnhof and Old Town
shopping streets. Right next to the train station, on a shopping street, Kastens Hotel
Luisenhof has a gym on the top floor. The nearbyGrand Hotel Mussmann, also an easy walk
from restaurants, the opera house, and the historical museum, includes free breakfast.
Mid-Range Hotels: Near the new City Hall, State Museum, and Kestner Museum, the top-
ranked Dormero Hotel Hannover has high-tech rooms, free wireless, and a gym. Overlooking the
market square in the Old Town,Concorde am Leineschloss Hotel is surprisingly quiet and has a
good choice of restaurants close by. In the Old Town with rooms overlooking the beautiful old
City Hall, Luhmann's Hotel am Rathaus offers discounted parking nearby.
Budget Hotels: Next door to the bus station, a few steps from the train station, and close to all
the Old Town attractions, Ibis Budget Hannover Hauptbahnhofhas basic rooms with free Wi-Fi.
In a quiet neighborhood halfway between the Hauptbahnhof and zoo, the family-run Hotel
Flora has old-fashioned rooms, some with balconies, a 15-minute walk from the center. Some
distance north of the Old Town but on a direct tram line,Ibis Hannover City has free Wi-Fi and
inexpensive on-site parking.
Public transport S-Bahn (Hanover)
The S-Bahn S5 (Hannover Flughafen Paderborn) is the fastest way to travel between Hanover Airport and the city,
travel time to Hannover Hauptbahnhof is only 17 minutes. You have a travel option every 30 minutes between 04:00
and 01:30 hours, so almost all day. On the way to the main railway station of Hanover the S-Bahn calls at
intermediate stations Langenhagen Pferdemarkt, Langenhagen Mitte, H-Vinnhorst, H-Ledeburg and H-Nordstadt.
Tickets for 2 zones are available from the ticket machines, the price is 3.40 for adults and 1.30 for children aged 6
to 14 years. A day ticket which can be used for two zones costs 6.60 for a single person and 12.60 for a maximum
of five persons. The airports station (S-Bahnhof) is situated beneath Terminal C and can be reached via the
escalators. Please consult timetable S-Bahn S5 for more inform