Hanover

Go on a self-drive holiday to Hanover, which has experiences for the whole family.

Hannover is located about 150 km south of Hamburg and is the state capital of Lower Saxony. Hannover is easy to reach on a car holiday and offers a wide range of adventurous experiences for young and old. In and around the city, you'll find historic buildings, great places to eat, exciting museums and the city's beautiful Baroque gardens, so your holiday has something for everyone.

As in so many German cities, you can follow a route through the city to experience Hannover at your own pace. A red thread along the way guides you around the city's many sights. Don't miss a visit to the Old Town around the Marktkirche and the Old Town Hall. Idyllic streets and alleys welcome you to a charming district where you can see the historic half-timbered houses. Walking around the old town, you can easily imagine what Hanover looked like years ago. This is also where you will find Kramerstraße, one of the city's best shopping streets. In this part of town you will also find the Leine Castle, which faces the Leine River. Originally a Franciscan monastery, the castle now serves as the seat of the state parliament. It's a must to stop at one of the many cafés in the old town and just soak up the atmosphere.

A short distance from the Old Town, you'll find the impressive new Town Hall. The new town hall dates from the 1900s and is Hanover's landmark. It is possible to enter the town hall and here you will have to take the tour up to the town hall tower, from where you can enjoy the view of the whole city. On the other side of the new town hall is the Maschsee, a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. There are several cafés along the 6 km around the lake, where you can take a break and enjoy refreshments or coffee and cake. In summer you can also go sailing on the lake.

In northern Hanover, you'll find Herrenhausen Gardens, one of the finest royal gardens in Europe. Here you will find garden culture from three centuries, including the French Baroque Garden, the English Landscape Garden and the Botanical Garden. The gardens magically combine the most important styles of gardening. Find out more about the gardens' opening times, events and more on the official website.

When the whole family is on holiday, a visit to Hannover Zoo is a must, so the kids can experience more than 2,000 animals in 7 different themed worlds. For example, go on safari in Africa among lions, rhinos, giraffes and zebras. Go on an expedition in the cold north, where children can meet wolves, polar bears and seals. Or visit India, where young elephants play fun games with their mothers in a jungle palace. Hannover Zoo is filled with experiences as far as the eye can see.

On your self-drive holiday, you can combine the great things to do in Hanover with a wealth of nearby experiences. The perfect self-drive holiday also takes you to beautiful nature experiences, idyllic towns and exciting sights. Don't miss a trip to the fairytale Marienburg Castle, which towers above the treetops, or a visit to the green paradise of Deister, which is rich in experiences. Lower Saxony is an area just waiting to enchant you, so pack your car and join Risskov on your next holiday.