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2 days in Hannover: 5 reasons not to overlook it for a short German break

Hannover's Neue Rathaus.  You see the back of the building - which is very grand with towers and a green dome and a lake in front.  This should be top of your list for 2 days in Hannover.

By Emma Marshall

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Judging by some of the reactions I have had to my recent 2 days in Hannover, it’s not top of people’s list for a short break in Germany.  And it’s true that it’s probably pipped by the likes of Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Cologne. 

But this doesn’t mean it’s not worth spending some time here. The sheer fact that it’s small, with just a few attractions, makes 2 days in Hannover a perfect city break.

Here’s some of the reasons I think Hannover is a place that you really shouldn’t overlook for 2 days away.

1. Hannover’s an incredibly green city

I have to admit that despite there being a small, albeit attractive, old town, some parts of the centre – those that were rebuilt after the World War II Allied bombings – wouldn’t win any prizes for architectural beauty.  

However, if you look beyond this, you’ll see that Hannover is one of the greenest cities in Germany.  There are parks, royal gardens, rivers and lakes. There’s also the 1,600 acre Eilenreide (which is actually a city forest, and is twice the size of New York’s Central Park).

These provide ample opportunities to escape the city streets and get some fresh air on your mini break.

A short walk from the old town there is also the Maschsee, a man-made lake, spanning almost 80 hectares.  The building of this was initiated by the Nazi Party in the early 1930s using local labour and as an attempt to reduce unemployment.  

It’s now a beautiful spot to walk around and is a lively and buzzy meeting place in the early evening. The only thing I didn’t like here was the column sitting on one corner of the lake which still, bizarrely, sports a Nazi symbol on its side.

A view of the Maschsee man-made lake from up high.  It's completely surrounded by forest.
The Maschsee

2. Hannover has some amazing gardens you really shouldn’t miss

I’ve already written about the Royal Gardens at Herrenhausen and you really should not miss them when you’re in the city.  

There are three gardens – all different in nature and design – so you may have to choose just one or two if time is tight.  Click here for information on the gardens.

For a complete contrast in experience, I’d suggest the Grosser Garten and Bergartten.

One is an immaculately pristine geometrically lawned garden with Europe’s highest fountain. The other is a wilder, more botanical, garden.  The third – the Georgengartten – is modelled on an English landscape garden. 

Whichever one you choose, you won’t be disappointed.

A view of the geometric patterns in the Grosser Garten in the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen.  You can see a fountain to side.  This is definitely a place to visit during your 2 days in Hannover.
The Grosser Garten
The Bergartten

3. Hannover might be small, but it has a picturesque old town

Hannover suffered during the Allied bombings and as a consequence the old town that remained is quite small.  But it’s still a great place to wander. 

 We started with a stop at the Aegidienkirche church. This is now essentially the shell of the original building, the interior having been another casualty of the bombing raids.  But despite this, it’s still really beautiful and definitely worth seeing with its vines climbing haphazardly over the inside walls.  

A view of the inside of the Aegidienkirche church which you'll see when walking around the old town during your 2 days in Hannover.  You just see the outside shell.  Red and green vines climb up the bell tower.
The Aegidienkirche church

We then wandered through some of the old streets and down to the Leine river, past the ornate Holzmarket fountain which stands outside the Leibniz House. This is named after the 17th and 18th century philosopher who lived here.  

Along the river there are a few bars and restaurants that are pleasant places to sit outside on a sunny day. You’re also sitting within metres of the remains of one of the old city’s gates.

A view of a building in the old town with the Holzmarket fountain in front.
The old town and Holzmarket fountain

There are two Rathaus’ worth seeing – the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) and New Town Hall (Neue Rathaus).  Both are remarkable buildings, but for me the New Rathaus won me over. 

The Altes Rathaus.  This is a fairly modest orange building.
The Altes Rahaus
The outside of the Neue Rathaus, somewhere you definitely should visit during your 2 days in Hannover.  It's quite dark as the light is fading.  You can see the ornate structure with its green tower.
The Neue Rathaus

I also particularly liked the Ballhofplatz Square. This is a great area to relax in with afternoon tea or early evening drinks.  

In the evening, it was a little less noisy than some of the other parts of the old town and had deckchairs to sit outside in (blankets are provided for those chilly autumn evenings). There is also a relaxing water feature to listen to while you while away your time. 

Ballhofplatz Square with its restaurants with outdoor seating.  It's quite leafy with a large tree in the centre and one building covered in green vines.  You can see see people wandering around.
Ballhofplatz Square

4. In Hannover, you can ride in a tilted elevator for incredible views over the city

I imagine there can’t be many places where you can ride in a tilted elevator.  You’ll find one though in the Neue Rathaus, a short walk from the centre.

In just a few minutes, you’ll be over 97 metres high at the top of the building’s dramatic dome peering out over the city with spectacular views. (This is a good place to see the scale of the Maschsee lake).  

It costs €3.50 for adults and €2 for children and you do have to queue. It’s definitely worth it though. Note, however, that the lift only operates between the end of March and November.

After you’ve done this there are also two other things you really should not miss. Firstly, a visit inside the Neue Rathaus. Here you can take a look at the replicas on display of how the city was laid out at various points in its history, including after the Allied bombings. You can see that vast swathes of Hannover were destroyed.  

Secondly, make sure you go around the side of the building and to the back. Here you see that the Neue Rathaus is sitting on a lake and is an absolutely stunning building.

If you’re lucky with the light you will be able to see the building beautifully reflected in the water. Miraculously, the Neue Rathaus was one of the few buildings to escape the war without major damage. 

For me, this view was one of the standout moments of my 2 days in Hannover.

Hannover's Neue Rathaus.  You see the back of the building - which is very grand with towers and a green dome and a lake in front.  This should be top of your list for 2 days in Hannover
The Neue Rathaus

5. There are some interesting towns a short hop away from Hannover

If you have time during your 2 days in Hannover, you might also enjoy visiting a few of the small towns a short distance away.  These include Hamelin, Celle and Goslar.  

We opted for Celle (mainly because of the timing of the trains on a Sunday) and headed off for a quick look and afternoon tea. It took us around 30 minutes to reach Celle on the train. It’s then it’s a 25-minute walk from the station to the town’s centre.  

Some of this walk is along the road, but after a while you can take a short turning to the left which takes you through a leafy park and onto to a riverside walk.  You’ll then see Celle castle – part of the Royal House of Hannover – before walking across the river and into the old town.

A picture of Celle castle, a place that is easily reachable even if you only have 2 days in Hannover.  It's white with orange borders around the windows and an orange roof.  It has a small green dome.  The building sits on a grassy incline with trees to the side.
Celle Castle

The old town here is quite something. There are literally more than 500 half-timbered and timbered medieval buildings.  This was a fascinating detour on our trip to Hannover.

Some of the old medieval buildings in Celle - a place that is easily reachable even if you only have 2 days in Hannover.  You can see two with green and white colours.
Celle

I hope I’ve convinced you that Hannover is worth considering for a short break.  

I’ve written about “slow burner” destinations before and I’d definitely say that Hannover was one of those places for me. There’s certainly more here than meets the eye – 2 days is Hannover is perfect. Your time spent here will be time well spent.

More ideas for European city breaks

If short European city breaks are your thing, you might also be interested in other places I have written about. These include:

For more ideas, visit my website.

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2 Comments

  1. Thanks for your comment Stephanie – I’m glad you’re getting some inspiration – there’s so many great places in Europe!

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