Hannover Travel Guide

The capital of the German state of Niedersachesen (Lower Saxony), Hannover is famous for its vast green spaces and parks. Hannover has an important place in the world as an industrial and economic center.

This is also the biggest fair city in Germany. Hosting the International Expo 2000 Fair, Hannover is among the cities with the largest exhibition area in the world. Therefore, factories or headquarters of many world-famous manufacturers are located here.

General Information

Where is Hanover?

Hannover is the administrative center of Lower Saxony, Germany. The city is located on the River Leine, where Weserbergland mountain range meets Luneburg Heath. Hannover is 160 km from the North Sea and 200 km from the Baltic Sea. The highest point of the city is Kronsberg Mountain, which is 118 meters high.

How to Get to Hannover?

It is possible to take a journey from Istanbul to Hannover by road or air. The distance between the two cities is 2350 km by road and 1920 km by air. You can travel from Istanbul to Hannover with direct flights lasting 2 hours and 30 minutes. There are regular flights from Sabiha Gokcen İnternational Airport (SAW) to Hannover İnternational Airport (HAJ). You can follow campaigns for Hannover flights and travel between two cities at attractive prices.

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Public Transport in Hannover

Hannover is very comfortable in terms of transportation. City traffic is calm on weekdays, especially in the evening. Traffic jam may only be in the areas near the fairgrounds. Especially in the summer, cycling is very common. Thanks to the well-organized Hannover Subway, you can easily reach anywhere in the city. Bus, train and tramway are also used in urban transportation. You may smoothly use your ticket in all transportation networks in the city.

Transportation from Hannover Airports to City Center

The distance between Hannover Airport and the city center is about 14 km. You can use the Hauptbahnhof train station, taxi or Airport shuttles to reach the city center from the airport. There are also main highways that open to the city which built on a wide valley. You may enjoy your trip more comfortably by taking advantage of car rental services.

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Best Time to Visit Hannover

Hannover has a very suitable temperature for travel, especially in the summer. In summer, the average temperature is around 21 degrees. Therefore, the period between the end of May and the first week of September is among the most ideal times to go to Hannover. The type of climate felt across the city is the ocean climate. The general average temperature is 9 degrees. Hannover receives year-round rainfall. Do not forget to take an umbrella with you especially in spring.

Festivals in Hannover

Numerous festivals are held throughout the year in Hannover. Some important festivals are listed as follows;

• Schützenfest - June
• Maschsee Festival - July
• Pony Express Festival - August
• M'ra Luna Festival - August
• Oktoberfest - October
• Pferd & Jagd - December

How Many Days are Enough To Visit?

Hannover is not a very big city. So, 2 or 3 days trip will be enough for you to visit the city's most popular attractions.

Places to Visit in Hannover

Known as the exhibition center of the world, Hannover is one of the most popular cultural tourism spots in Germany with its green areas, parks, magnificent nature and interesting architecture bearing the traces of the Second World War. You may easily visit all the important places by following the 13 km long historical sightseeing route starting from Hannover train station. You can take a closer look at 8 tourist attractions in Hannover.

Sprengel Museum

Sprengel Modern Art Museum hosts the most important 20th century modern art collections of Germany. Opened in 1979, the museum building was designed by architect Peter Trident, Ursula Trident and Dieter Quast. You can see the works of world famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Emil Nolde, Max Ernst, Paul Klee and Max Beckmann at the Sprengel Museum.

Maschsee

Surrounding an area of about 80 hectares, the artificial lake Maschsee is located in the south of the city center. Maschsee, the largest lake in Lower Saxony, is one of the most popular entertainment districts of the city with its surrounding restaurants and cafes. It is possible to have fun water sports on the wide lake. Maschseefest, an important traditional festival of Hannover, is held in this region every summer.

Marienburg Castle

Located about 30 kilometers south of Hannover city center, Marienburg Castle attracts attention with its eye-catching silhouette. The Marienburg Castle, built between 1858 and 1867 as a birthday present to the King of Hannover V. Georg, is considered one of the most important neo-gothic structures in Germany. Today, the magnificent building is also used as a museum and exhibition hall.

Herrenhausen Gardens

Herrenhausen Gardens, one of the most famous baroque gardens in Europe and the world, was built between 1692 and 1714, inspired by the gardens of the Palace of Versailles. Herrenhausen Garden, which has a perfect appearance in spring and summer, has become the symbol of Hannover today. Herrenhäuser Gardens, consisting of the Grober Garden, Berggarten, Georgengarten and Welfengarten gardens, is one of the must-see places of Hannover, famous for its parks and green spaces.

The New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus)

The New Town Hall is one of the iconic buildings of the Hannover. Opened in 1913 after 12 years of construction, the city hall is attracted by visitors today. The New Town Hall, which carries the traces of Wilhelm II, is a magnificent building in an eclectic style. Neues Rathaus, built on an area of 10 hectares in Maschpark, is not currently used as an active town hall, but it houses businesses and registration offices.

The Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus)

There are two city halls in the city. The Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) is just as interesting as The New Town Hall. The building, which has a history of at least 100 years, has an eye-catching appearance with its red stones and wonderful workmanship.

St. Egidio Church

St. Egidio Church is one of the most important religious places of the city. This church was built in the Middle Ages. During the war in 1943, the church was heavily damaged. However, it was later rebuilt and opened to worship. Today, the church is considered to be an important monument to the victims of the bloody war.

The Market Church (Marktkirche)

The Market Church (Marktkirche) is another interesting view of the city. You will hear many interesting stories and legends about it. The original project of the church was so big and expensive that the construction of the church was frozen several times. According to a legend, It is said that there is a tomb of a famous knight named Michael on the wall of the church.

Where to Stay in Hannover?

There are multiple hostel and hotel options at the back side of the Hannover Hauptbahnhof, namely the central station of Hannover. After getting off the airport, you can go to the city center by train and settle in your hotel near the train station. In this way, you can take advantage of great accommodation alternatives in the historic center of the city. You may also prefer the hotels in the fair areas.

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What to Eat in Hannover?

Seafood is one of the favorite foods of the people of Hannover. The meal consisting of red and white meats called Schlachteplatte is a local taste of Hannover. Asparagus meal and the dessert called welfenspeise are also among the favorite foods here. Hannover is also rich about dining facilities specializing in a variety of culinary traditions.

Hannover Cuisine

Do not return without tasting these flavors in Hannover;

• Welfenspeise
• Asparagus meal
• Eel in jelly
• Spatzle
• Sauerbraten
• Currywurst
• Schnitzel

Hannover Restaurants

• Restaurant Meteora
• Beef and Reef
• Gallo Nero
• Basil
• Jante

Shopping in Hannover: Best Souvenirs to Buy

You may find more than one place to shop at Ernest August Galerie Shopping Center and the back street of Kropcke, Osterstrabe. Another place for shopping in Hannover is the popular Kaiser Center. Karstadt Shopping Center (Galeria) is also one of the ideal places to buy new clothes and shoes. If you are a person who likes shopping in street markets, Weihnachtsmarkt is definitely best place to visit. You can buy local souvenirs such as Hannover chocolate, Leibniz biscuit, coffee and Hannover coffee mug.

Nightlife in Hannover

Nightlife in Hannover is very active especially on Friday and Saturday. DJ's who playing ethnic or electronic music show up everywhere. The city clubs offer good experiences both in terms of rock and house music. Hannover is also famous for its local bars. You can enjoy traditional dishes and try more than 300 types of beer in these venues.

Things to Know Before Visiting Hannover

• The Hannover metro is wonderfully organized. You can easily reach anywhere in the city by following 4 main lines: yellow, blue, red and green.
• You can see many people who are cycling around the city. You should rent a bicycle and enjoy Hannover.
• Do not forget to visit Erlebnis Zoo and Royal Gardens.

What are the emergency numbers in Hannover?

Police: 110

Emergency: 112

Fire: 112