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Where do I start with Hannover? The hometown to one of the greatest bands ever, The Scorpions, this city was a absolute gem! I LOVED it there! Hannover is the capital of and largest city in the state of Lower Saxony, which is located in Northern Germany. Hannover isn’t really seen as much of a draw for tourists, which had me more intrigued to visit it for myself and do some exploring. The city, with approximately half a million inhabitants, didn’t have too much to do in terms of activities, or tourists attractions, but the city itself is absolutely beautiful and in my opinion, is totally underrated. The cute little small town feel to Hannover with its Old Town (Altstadt) centre was like walking through a German fairytale. If you find yourself visiting Northern Germany and are looking for a place to visit without the throngs of tourists, then Hannover should definitely be on your list. Here are a few things to see and do while in the city.
Enjoy The Quiet Old Town Streets
Since Hannover isn’t bustling with tourists galore, taking the time to wander the streets with no crowds is really refreshing. Hannover’s altstadt (old town) is full of beautiful and colourful half-timbered buildings and cobblestone laneways, which make you feel as if you’ve stepped back into time as you peruse the neighbourhood. The building facades that are covered in ivy, changed to a bright red hue while I visited in the autumn season, making the streets feel even more cozy and inviting.
Following the Red Thread
A pretty neat thing in Hannover is The Red Thread. The Red Thread is painted on the pavement, is 4200 metres long, and weaves its way through the inner city joining up 36 prime attractions. This “do it yourself” city tour has an informative brochure which describes all of the interesting buildings and monuments you meet along the way, and is also full of interesting historical background. The brochure is available at the price of €3,00 from the tourist building opposite the central railway station and the info counter in the New Town Hall in a bunch of different languages. The Red Thread tour is actually available as an App for your iPhone or iPad in four different languages. Search for “Roter Faden” on the App Store, BUT…if you’re like me and refuse to pay for an overseas phone plan (God bless free WiFi), you can easily follow The Red Thread on your own and discover areas of the city at your leisure.
Wander Around The Grounds Of The Neues Rathaus
The grand facade of the Neues Rathaus is really something special. After twelve years of construction, the building was finally opened in 1913. With the grandiose structure standing tall within the city, it’s hard to believe that this is considered the New Town Hall, since it does have an old historical look to its architecture. If you have the time, head up the elevator to the building’s large dome for amazing views of the entire city. Be sure to wander around the pond and park in the rear of the Neues Rathaus for great views of the building from afar.
Have Lunch In Old Town
There’s something special about walking through Old Town areas in Germany and poking your head into a restaurant that goes back almost a hundred years that makes travelling worthwhile to me. Look for places that locals recommend because that’s where you are going to find the least amount of tourists and be able to immerse yourself within the locals as they sip on large beers and chat the afternoon away.
Take A Stroll Along The Herrenhauser Allee
If you have the pleasure of visiting Hannover during the autumn like I did, you won’t be disappointed by this walk. The tree lined walkway turns a gorgeous golden hue that mesmerizes you as you walk along the water with bicyclists riding by and couples walking hand in hand.
Have you guys ever been to Hannover? If you have, what area did you enjoy the most? Let me know in the comments below! xo
I travelled from Frankfurt to Hannover via BD Rail
Read more: Frankfurt, Germany – How to spend a day exploring Germany’s financial hub
My descendants are from Hanover : )
Hi Bonnie. Thanks for stopping by and sharing that. Have you ever been to Hanover before? It was such a beautiful city to see. 🙂