Hanover packs a surprising number of attractions into a compact and walkable city centre. From the Baroque splendour of the Herrenhausen Gardens to the modern lines of the Sprengel Museum, the city rewards visitors who stay more than just a day. Most major sights cluster around the Old Town (Altstadt), the Maschsee lake, and the Herrenhausen district, all reachable by the efficient ustra tram network.
Things to Do in Hanover: Historic Landmarks and Architecture
New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus)
The crown jewel of Hanover’s architecture, the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) was completed in 1913 and stands on 6,026 beech piles driven into the soft ground. Its dome rises 97.73 metres (321 feet) and features a unique curved elevator that travels at a 17-degree angle to the observation deck. From the top you get a panoramic view of the entire city, the Harz mountains on clear days, and a bird’s-eye look at the Maschsee lake. The elevator costs 5 euros (reduced 4 euros), and the building is open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, weekends 10am to 6pm. The ground floor houses four large-scale city models showing Hanover in 1689, 1939, 1945 (after Allied bombing), and today. Tram stop: Aegidientorplatz (lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 17).
Marktkirche (Market Church)
This 14th-century brick Gothic church dominates the Old Town with its 97-metre (318-foot) tower. Built between 1349 and 1359, the Marktkirche is the largest Lutheran church in northern Germany and features a stunning carved altar from 1480 by the Master of the Dormition of Mary. The church survived the heavy bombing of 1943 that destroyed most of the surrounding Altstadt, though its roof was burned. Entry is free, open daily 10am to 6pm (shorter hours on Sundays during services). The tower climb costs 2 euros and offers great views of the Old Town rooftops. Tram stop: Markthalle/Landtag (lines 3, 7, 9, 12).
Old Town (Altstadt) and Leibnizhaus
Hanover’s Altstadt was largely destroyed in World War II, but several half-timbered facades along Kramerstrasse and Burgstrasse were reconstructed in the 1950s and 1960s. The standout is the Leibnizhaus, a faithful 1980s reconstruction of the Renaissance townhouse where philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz lived from 1698 until his death in 1716. The original was destroyed in the 1943 bombing. The building is now used by the university for events but its ornate facade is worth the walk. The nearby Ballhof, built 1649 to 1664, is Hanover’s oldest surviving theatre building and now hosts contemporary drama productions by the Niedersachsisches Staatstheater.
Things to Do in Hanover: Gardens and Green Spaces
Herrenhausen Gardens (Herrenhauser Garten)
The Herrenhausen Gardens are the single most important attraction in Hanover and among the finest Baroque gardens in Europe. The Grosser Garten (Great Garden), laid out between 1666 and 1714, covers 50 hectares with geometric parterres, a grand fountain that shoots water 82 metres (269 feet) high, and a hedge theatre still used for summer performances. The Berggarten (Mountain Garden) houses one of Europe’s largest orchid collections with over 25,000 plants across several climate-controlled greenhouses, plus an extensive cactus and succulent display. The Georgengarten is a free-entry English-style landscape park. Entry to the Grosser Garten and Berggarten costs 8 euros (combined ticket), open daily 9am to 8pm (April to October), 9am to 4:30pm (November to March). The tram stop Herrenhauser Garten is served by lines 4 and 5. Budget at least 3 hours to see all three sections properly.
Maschsee Lake
The Maschsee is an artificial lake created between 1934 and 1936, covering 78 hectares just south of the city centre. A 6-kilometre (3.7-mile) paved path circles the entire lake, popular with joggers, cyclists, and walkers. From April to October you can rent pedal boats, rowboats, and small sailing dinghies from the boat rental station at the northern end near the Sprengel Museum. The Maschsee is the focal point of the city’s outdoor life, especially during the Maschseefest in August when the southern shore becomes a 3km food and music promenade. In winter, if the ice reaches sufficient thickness (which happens roughly once every 3 to 4 years), the lake opens for ice skating. The Maschseebad at the southern end is a public lido open June to August, entry 4.50 euros. Tram stop: Maschsee/Sprengel Museum (lines 3, 7, 17).
Eilenriede City Forest
The Eilenriede is one of Europe’s largest urban forests, covering 640 hectares (1,580 acres), roughly twice the size of New York’s Central Park. It stretches from the eastern edge of the city centre almost to the city limits, with 120 kilometres of walking paths, 40 kilometres of cycling trails, and 30 kilometres of designated bridle paths. The forest is crisscrossed by public roads and tram lines, making it easy to access from multiple points. The Waldgaststatte Steuerdieb, a forest restaurant near the eastern edge, serves traditional German food and beer in a woodland setting. The Eilenriede is free and open year-round, 24 hours a day.
Things to Do in Hanover: Museums and Culture
Sprengel Museum
The Sprengel Museum is Hanover’s premier modern art museum, holding one of Germany’s most significant collections of 20th-century art. The core collection was donated by chocolate manufacturer Bernhard Sprengel in 1969 and includes major works by Picasso, Klee, Schwitters, and Nolde. The museum is especially strong on German Expressionism and the work of Kurt Schwitters, a Hanover native who pioneered Merz art. The building itself, designed by Peter and Ursula Trint and opened in 1979, sits on the north shore of the Maschsee. Entry costs 7 euros (free on Fridays), open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm (Wednesday until 8pm). Tram stop: Maschsee/Sprengel Museum (lines 3, 7, 17). See where to stay in Hanover for recommended hotels in every area and budget tier. For airport transfers, tram tickets, and practical advice, read our Hanover travel tips guide.
Lower Saxony State Museum (Landesmuseum)
The Landesmuseum Hannover covers art, archaeology, natural history, and ethnology under one roof, opposite the New Town Hall. Its standout galleries include the Lower Saxony Peat Bog Collection with remarkably preserved bog bodies dating from 500 BC to 500 AD, and the painting collection featuring Rembrandt, Rubens, and Caspar David Friedrich. The aquarium section on the ground floor displays local freshwater fish species alongside tropical marine life. Entry costs 6 euros (reduced 4 euros), open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm (Thursday until 7pm). See our events and festivals in Hanover calendar for festival dates and trade fair schedules. See our Hanover neighborhoods guide for detailed area descriptions and hotel price ranges.
Hanover Zoo (Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover)
The Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover is consistently ranked among Germany’s top zoos, redesigned in the 1990s from a traditional animal park into a themed experience zoo. Each zone recreates a different habitat: Yukon Bay (North American/Canadian), Gorilla Mountain, the Australian Outback, and the Zambezi savannah with free-roaming giraffes and zebras. The zoo is particularly strong on primate exhibits, with western lowland gorillas, orangutans, and a walk-through lemur forest. Entry costs 29.50 euros for adults (online discount to 24.50 euros), children 22 euros. Open daily from 9am, closing times vary seasonally (4pm in winter, 6pm in summer). Allow 4 to 5 hours to cover all zones. Tram stop: Zoo (lines 11, 6). The zoo uses the slogan “Fascination instead of Confrontation” with open, moat-based enclosures rather than bars. For monthly temperature and rainfall data, see the Hanover weather by month guide. Read our guide on the best time to visit Hanover for month-by-month event and price advice.
