Hanover's neighborhoods are full of life: Here, lifestyle, culture, designer fashion and high cuisine can be found right next to quiet places in the green and by the water. A seductive foray through Linden, List, Nordstadt and Südstadt.
Anyone arriving in Hannover by train and stepping in front of the main station is faced with a decision. Which of the state capital's trendy neighborhoods should I visit first? And that's not so easy to answer, since all districts have their own charm: List with its cozy lifestyle, the trendy district of Linden with lots of culture, art and nightlife, the Nordstadt with the university district, many small stores, restaurants and bars and, last but not least, the sprawling Südstadt with the Maschsee lake.
This is how you get to Hannover by train: Plan arrival.
From Raschplatz at the train station it is only 150 meters to the Lister Meile, one of the lifelines of the district. Here, cozy cafés, wine stores, pubs, stores, ice cream parlors and restaurants line up for more than one and a half kilometers to Lister Platz. The district can be further explored via Ferndinand-Wallbrecht-Strasse, Jacobistrasse or Podbielskistrasse, known to Hanoverians as "Podbi" for short. Those looking for relaxation and nature, on the other hand, are best off exploring the Eilenriede, Hannover's extensive city forest, which, by the way, is twice as large as New York's Central Park.
The district of Vahrenwald-List is bordered directly by Nordstadt in the east, which is characterized by students, young families and Nordstadt old-timers. Many cafés, restaurants and stores focus on sustainability, which goes down well here. A shopping tour here is worthwhile, many stores reflect the attitude to life in the neighborhood: trendy, cool, quirky - simply different. But the neighborhood is also quieter, for example with a picnic in the Welfengarten. The Georgengarten is also worth a walk. The city park in the style of English landscape gardens is part of the Herrenhäuser Gardens, and the garden ensemble is one of the most beautiful parks in Europe.
The Sleeping Beauty Bridge, named after the family café "Sleeping Beauty" in the nearby recreation area, leads from Nordstadt to the Linden district across the Leine River. Life vibrates around the "Three Warm Brothers," the three boiler houses of the Linden combined heat and power plant with their 125-meter-high chimneys that are colorfully illuminated at night. For students, academics and bon vivants, the district is almost like a living room. If you want to go to a concert, a reading or an exhibition in the evening, the best place to do so is the Faust Cultural Center. The various locations on the grounds always offer a varied program. The PLATZprojekt e.V. also offers a cultural and artistic program: Nearly 30 creative container projects are presented on the grounds, and with more than 150 events and 50 workshops each year, there is a diverse program.
If you are in town on a Friday, you can experience Hannover's largest and most traditional weekly market at Stephansplatz. In the middle of Südstadt, people meet not only to buy fruit and vegetables, handmade pasta and jams, but also for a "schnack" at the snack and coffee stands. Afterwards, it's best to stroll through the neighborhood, pay a visit to the Sprengel Museum with its top-class exhibition of modern art, or enjoy a stroll along the Maschsee - preferably along the beautiful green western shore to the marina.
Those who want to discover Hannover are spoiled for choice, because Hannover also has a lot to offer its guests beyond the central city districts. A lively nightlife on weekends, green parklands, art and cuisine, theater and music. Hardly a weekend is enough for the diversity of the state capital. So why not just plan an extended trip to Hannover?
You are planning a weekend in Hannover? Here is our suggestion for a perfect weekend in Hannover!
Cover photo: The perfect end to the day: sunset at the Maschsee © Hannover Marketing & Tourismus GmbH/Patrick Graf
