Train Station Street is the main shopping street in Hanover. Its origins date to 1843, when it was laid out to connect the newly developed Ernst August City with the railway station. As rail travel increased, the street quickly became a key commercial route, lined with shops, hotels, and services.

Like much of central Hanover, the street was heavily damaged during World War II, and most of its historic buildings were lost. The present streetscape is therefore largely the result of postwar reconstruction, with architecture reflecting the mid- to late-20th century. Until 1968, the street functioned as a regular roadway with car traffic and trams, but it has since been fully pedestrianized, contributing to the city’s walkable centre.

Beneath the street runs the Niki-de-Saint-Phalle Promenade, a lower-level shopping and transit corridor developed in the 1970s as part of Hanover’s underground rail expansion. Though below ground, it is partially open above, creating the feel of an extended lower level rather than a closed passage. The promenade is named after after American painter Niki de Saint Phalle, whose colorful “Nana” sculptures can be seen along the city’s Sculpture Mile, with further works held at the Sprengel Museum.

The Old Town Hall stands beside the Market Church in Hanover’s Old Town, forming one of the city’s most recognizable historic ensembles. Built in 1410, it is Hanover’s oldest secular building and a key example of North German Brick Gothic architecture. Its red-brick façade reflects the city’s rise as a trading centre, while later expansions and restorations mirror its growing civic importance. Over time, the building served as the seat of the city council and administrative centre.

The exterior remains the main highlight. The richly decorated façade features ornamental brickwork, sculptural details, coats of arms, and allegorical figures. The stepped gables and varied rooflines create a dynamic silhouette when viewed from the square. One distinctive section is the Köbelinger Street wing, known as the Chemist’s Wing, which once housed the town pharmacy. In the 19th century, architect Conrad Wilhelm Hase rebuilt this part in an Italian Romanesque style, while restoring the other wings to reflect their original 16th-century Gothic appearance, complete with decorative panels and refined detailing.

Inside, the walls display royal portraits and coats of arms, as well as a depiction of a medieval game in which participants played tug of war using only their little fingers. Today, the building hosts exhibitions and events, and includes a modern restaurant on the first floor.

Aegidia Church stands in central Hanover not as a functioning church, but as a preserved ruin and a quiet memorial to the destruction of war. Its origins date back to the 12th century, when a Romanesque church first occupied the site. In 1347, it was rebuilt in Gothic style. The church also played a role in Hanover’s 16th-century Reformation, marking it as an important religious centre in the city’s history.

This long continuity was abruptly broken during the air raids of World War II. In 1943, bombing destroyed the roof and interior, leaving only the outer walls standing. Rather than rebuilding it, the city chose to preserve the ruins as a war memorial. Inside, the space is open to the sky, creating a quiet, reflective atmosphere. Walk forward from the tower into the main body of the church to find the center of the roofless nave. Here, the artist Kurt Lehmann added a monumental bronze sculpture in 1959 titled Humility. The figure is depicted mourning, lacking a face to represent the anonymity of human suffering.

To find a rare link to the city's medieval past, exit the interior and walk around the building to the southeastern pillar in the choir area. Set into the outer support is a relief known as the “Seven Men Stone.” It shows seven praying men who, according to tradition, died at Dohren Tower in 1480 while defending the town —an episode that earned them the nickname “Hanover’s Spartans.” The relief here is a copy, while the original is preserved in the Hanover Historical Museum. Another modern addition is the “Shadow Line,” a white stone outline marking the church’s shadow.

One of the most notable features is the bell housed in the surviving tower. As you enter the church through the massive stone archway of the tower, look to your right to find the Peace Bell. It was a gift from the Japanese city of Hiroshima, Hanover’s sister city, and it is rung each year on August 6, Hiroshima Day, at the exact moment the atomic bomb was dropped.

The New City Hall in Hanover is one of those buildings that looks less like a municipal office and more like a royal palace. After twelve years of construction, it was completed in 1913 in an eclectic, late historicist style typical of the Wilhelminian era. Built on marshy ground, stabilized by more than 6,000 wooden piles, the structure was intended as a confident statement of the city’s prosperity.
At its inauguration, attended by Wilhelm II, the city proudly noted that the entire project—costing over ten million marks—had been paid for in cash. Set beside the Leine River, the building’s castle-like form becomes especially striking at night, when its illuminated façade reflects in the water.

Although the building suffered damage during World War II, it survived largely intact, and in 1946 it hosted the proclamation of the state of Lower Saxony. Today, it continues to function as the city’s administrative centre, housing the Lord Mayor’s offices, political meetings, and official receptions, while also hosting exhibitions throughout the year.

The exterior alone makes it one of Hanover’s most photographed landmarks, but the interior adds further interest. Upon entering the 38-meter-high rotunda on the ground floor, you will find four detailed scale models in the center of the hall. Tracing the city’s development from the 17th century through wartime destruction to its modern reconstruction, the models represent Hanover in 1689, 1939, 1945, and the present day. From the main hall, ascend the Grand Marble Staircase to the first floor to reach the Hodler Hall. This space features the massive mural Unanimity by Ferdinand Hodler, which portrays the people of Hanover taking the Reformation oath in 1533 and is considered a landmark of modern mural art.

Another major attraction is the dome, rising to more than 97 meters. Access is via a unique curved elevator, located near the information counter in the main hall. During the ascent at a 17-degree angle, you can look through the glass windows in the car’s floor and ceiling to observe the masonry and mechanical tilting as the lift follows the dome’s structure. From the observation platform, there are wide views over Hanover and, on clear days, toward the Harz Mountains. After stepping out, a short climb via spiral staircases leads to the very top, where the height, open air, and strong winds make the panorama even more memorable. To round off the visit, the building also includes a restaurant.

Prior to World War II, Hannover had an extensive Old Town characterized by shadowy lanes and half-timbered Gothic buildings. Unfortunately, bombing destroyed many of the buildings in the Old Town and today the remaining facades have been moved together to form a kind of “new” Old Town. The Old Town is now made up of around 40 half-timbered constructions and among them is Hannover’s oldest church, the Kreuzkirche, which dates from 1333. The Ballhofplatz was built as an indoor sports complex in 1949 and was later converted into an assembly hall and theater. Not to be missed, is the Leibnizhaus, which features stunning masonry work. It was originally built on the Osterstrasse in 1499 and the well-known philosopher Leibniz lived there in the 1670s.

In the Old Town, the Leineschloss, is today used as a parliament building, but actually dates from the 12th century, when it was a Franciscan monastery. It was dissolved as a monastery in 1553 and the Duke of Calenberg used it as a residence from 1636. Visiting Hannover’s Old Town is a captivating experience, with its rich historical atmosphere and wonderful dining and shopping options making it a perennial tourist favorite.

One of the most outstanding and distinguished Baroque gardens in all of Europe, Herrenhausen Gardens is a must-see location. The sprawling grounds cover 135 hectares and were initially laid out between 1676 and 1714 by Electress Sophie. They were conceived as a pleasure garden for the royal family and the royal court, but today it is operated by the Herrenhausen Palace Museum.

The original segment of the gardens, as created by Sophie, spanned 50 hectares. She commissioned French gardener Martin Charbonnier to create a summer retreat just outside of town. It consisted of lawns with walkways, statues, and hedges in formal geometric patterns. Today, this segment is known as the Great Garden.

The centerpiece of the Great Garden is Herrenhausen Palace. The Palace itself was more or less destroyed in bombing raids during World War II. A replica was rebuilt and opened in 2013.

The Berggarten or "Mountain Garden" was created in 1666 as the Great Garden's vegetable garden. As the name suggests, it's situated on a hill north of the Palace. In the 1680s, a conservatory was added, and Sophia of Hanover transformed it by adding exotic plants.

In the 1700s, Berg Garden (Berggarten) was used to test potential crops and their viability in the Lower Saxony. During the 1800s, the garden had Europe's most varied and valuable collection of palms. Today, the garden is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world.

The George Garden (Georgengarten) was added when George III purchased adjoining property. The Welf Garden is on the grounds of the University of Hannover. The gothic castle at its center, Welfenschloss.

Every year, the gardens host many festivals, including the summer "Festival of Small Arts" and "Festival Week Herrenhausen." In addition, the gardens are a member of the European Route of Historic Gardens (REJHIS). The gardens are a popular spot year-round, so plan accordingly and try to visit during off-peak times to avoid big crowds.

Tip:
Your ticket will include museum + gardens. If you only visit one of those, you can come back to visit the other with the same ticket any other day. A note of caution: if you leave the gardens you will have to pay again for re-entry! The Georgengarten is a public open space with free access.

The Mountain Garden (Berggarten), located in the Herrenhausen district of Hanover, originally started as a vegetable and nursery garden on the side of an Ice Age sand dune. Over time, it transformed into a botanical garden. In the year 2000, a rainforest house was constructed here, which was later converted into an aquarium in 2006. This garden is part of the Herrenhausen Gardens, along with the Great Garden, Georgengarten, and Welfengarten.

Within the Mountain Garden, you can explore various show houses and themed gardens that currently house an impressive collection of 11,000 different plants from diverse climatic regions. Notably, it boasts the largest orchid collection in Europe.

There are plans to replace the 40-year-old Canary House with a new three-part show house. This new structure will provide a better environment for the growth of trees and towering inflorescences from the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean region. One section of the building will accommodate a warm water basin for giant tropical water lilies and serve as a habitat for exotic butterflies. Construction is set to commence in 2022 with an expected completion date in 2024.

Previously, the site where the Rainforest House stands was the location of the Palm House Expo 2000. The Rainforest House was initially designed to replicate an artificial tropical landscape, housing butterflies, frogs, and smaller bird species from tropical regions. However, it had to be closed down in 2006 due to its high operational costs.

Subsequently, the Rainforest House was transformed into a Sealife Aquarium, preserving the tropical rainforest environment. It is the first almost entirely tropical sealife center, featuring a deep-sea basin with a capacity of 300,000 liters of water. Visitors can observe a large ocean basin inhabited by sharks and turtles through an eight-meter-long acrylic glass tunnel, which is four meters deep.