Hannover is a city in Germany located in the state of Lower Saxony on the banks of the Leine River. It is an important center of trade and culture.
The city has many museums, galleries, theaters, parks, and gardens.
Hannover Germany
How to spend 2 days in Hannover Germany
In this 2-day itinerary in Hannover, discover the main attractions of the city.
Day 1 in Hannover
Start the day by visiting the Am Markte where you will find famous buildings such as the Marktkirche, a church with its impressive 97-meter high tower, and the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) which now also houses a restaurant.
Head to Leineschloss, a 17th-century building on the banks of the river that was once the residence of Duke Georg von Calenberg. Another important building in Hannover is the Niedersächsische Staatstheater (Opera House), home to the city’s professional opera company.
Pass by Die Aegidienkirche, one of the 3 churches in the old center which have been left in ruins. 700 meters (0.4 miles) away you will find Masch Park where the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) building is located, one of the symbols of the city that has a platform for views of the city.
Visit the Landesmuseum Hannover which houses several important collections of antiquities and also the Sprengel Museum which has one of the most important modern art collections in Germany.
End the day with a stroll along the Maschsee, an artificial lake that stretches for 2.4 km (1.49 miles).
Things to see
- Am Markte
- Marktkirche
- Altes Rathaus
- Leineschloss
- Niedersächsische Staatstheater
- Die Aegidienkirche
- Neues Rathaus
- Masch Park
- Landesmuseum Hannover
- Sprengel Museum
- Maschsee
Day 1 Itinerary Map
Day 2 in Hannover
On the second day in Hannover visit the Herrenhausen Gardens and the Wilhelm Busch Museum which covers the life of the famous poet and design Wilhelm Busch. The museum also houses a collection of over 700 cartoons of Napoleon.
Another attraction in the city is the Hannover Zoo, which houses animals from 5 continents.
Things to see
- Herrenhausen Gardens
- Wilhelm Busch Museum
- Hannover Zoo
Day 2 Itinerary Map
Sights in Hannover
1. Neues Rathaus
The Neues Rathaus was built between 1901 – 1913. The dome platform accessed by an exclusive lift offers the best views of the city.
Trammplatz 2, 30159
2. Herrenhausen Gardens
The Herrenhausen Gardens comprise the beautiful Georgengarten park, a beautiful English-style park, the Berggarten, home to the Botanical Garden with orchids and cacti houses, the Welfengarten, and the Grosser Garten which is a fine example of a baroque garden with fountains, theater garden, and waterfalls.
Herrenhäuser Str. 4, 30419
3. Wilhelm Busch Museum
The Wilhelm Busch Museum covers the life of Wilhelm Busch.
Along with the permanent exhibits of cartoons and comics, the museum houses the world’s largest collection of Busch’s work.
A special highlight is a collection with more than 700 caricatures of Napoleon. The museum is housed in the Georgenpalais in the Herrenhausen Gardens.
4. Am Markte
There are located several historic buildings such as the Altes Rathaus on Am Markte.
Another important attraction is the Marktkirche with its impressive tower of 97 meters in height. The Kramerstrasse still retains some of the old atmospheres of Hannover.
Am Markte
5. Opera House
The Opera House was built in 1852. It is home to the city’s professional opera company, Staatsoper Hannover. The season runs from September to June.
Opernpl. 1, 30159
6. Leineschloss
The Leineschloss was built in the 17th century. It is the former residence of the Hanoverian kings and the current seat of the Landtag of Lower Saxony.
It is located on the banks of the Leine river.
Hannah-Arendt-Platz 1, 30159
7. Niedersächsiches Landesmuseum
The Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum Hannover houses several important collections of antiques. The most popular is the Landesgalerie with its collection of European art from the romantic period to the present day.
Willy-Brandt-Allee 5, 30169
8. Hannover Zoo
The Hannover Zoo is the fifth oldest in Germany. It was remodeled as a theme park with great success.
It is estimated that half a million people visit the attraction each year.
Adenauerallee 3, 30175
9. Maschsee
The Maschsee is an artificial lake built in 1936. It is located in the heart of Hannover.
It extends for 2.4 km being the busiest area of sports and leisure in the city.
Maschsee
Where to stay in Hannover
1. Sheraton Hannover
The Sheraton Hannover is located 10 minutes from the city center.
Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, and minibar.
Pelikanpl. 31, 30177
2. Courtyard by Marriott Maschsee Hannover
The Courtyard by Marriott Hannover is located near the city center along the Maschsee.
Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, safe, minibar, and work desk.
Arthur-Menge-Ufer 3, 30169
3. Mercure Hannover
The Mercure Hannover City is located in the city center.
Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, minibar, safe, and coffee maker.
Willy-Brandt-Allee 3, 30169
Shopping in Hannover
Hannover has a wide selection of shops from the famous pedestrian zone to shopping centers.
Georgstrasse is the main avenue of the city.
Malls and Department Stores in Hannover
1. Galeria Kaufhof
Galeria Kaufhof is a German department store chain with many stores in Germany.
The company features brands like Esprit, S. Oliver, Tom Taylor, Gerry Weber, Tommy Hilfiger, Bugatti, Olymp.
Ernst-August-Platz 5, 30159
2. Karstadt
Karstadt is a German department store chain with many stores in Germany.
The company features brands like Cacharel, Clarins, Coach, Desigual, Estée Lauder.
Georgstraße 23, 30159
3. Ernst August Galerie
The Ernst August Galerie is located 700 meters from the Marktkirche.
Brands: Adidas, Bonita, Cecil, Calvin Klein, Fossil, Levi´s, Zara Home.
Ernst-August-Platz 2 Zieladresse Navi für Parkhaus Einfahrt:, Herschelstraße 5, 30159
Plan your Trip
Hannover has easy train access from various cities in Germany. Famous cities nearby: Bremen, Hannover, Berlin, Lübeck, Schwerin.
Distances
Bremen – 123 km (76.1 miles)
Hamburg – 151 km (151 miles)
Berlin – 287 km (178 miles)
Lübeck – 213 km (132 miles)
Schwerin – 255 km (158 miles)
Potsdam – 256 km (159 miles)
Braunschweig – 67.6 km (42 miles)
Kassel – 168 km (104 miles)
Leipzig – 264 km (165 miles)
Hannover Germany Map
Book Your Trip
Book Your Accommodation
Book your hotel with Booking.com as they consistently provide the cheapest and lowest rates.
Book Your Flight
Find cheap flights to Germany by using Momondo. Momondo is a flight search engine that searches a lot of different airlines, including many budget carriers.
Book a Train Ticket
Check the train routes and schedules with Omio. Omio is an authorized Deutsche Bahn ticket seller, which compares and combines transport options for complete flexibility.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, and cancellations. It’s a protection in case anything goes wrong. You can book your travel insurance with Travelexinsurance.com.
See also
10 Suggested Itineraries for Germany + Top Destinations
Outlets & Department Stores in Germany: Shopping Guide