What to do in Hanover
Hannah
Small enough to feel cosy but still big enough for the metropolitan feeling - this is exactly the sweetspot Hanover is in!
And in addition, it is also the capital of the German state “Niedersachsen”. And did you know that in all of the country, the clearest German is spoken in Hanover and its surroundings? So, if you are learning German, this is the perfect place to avoid stumbling into curious German dialects.
But besides that, Hanover has a lot more to offer. You can find trees and greenery at every corner. There is practically no ugly view out of a window because everything is dotted with trees – that really makes for a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. And talking about a welcoming atmosphere, Hanover holds no shame as it is known to be a very open city that really embraces different cultures and new people.
So, if you decided to live in Hanover for a while, there’s just one question left: What to do there when you’re taking a break from your studies?
There truly is a lot to explore, especially when you are looking for a destination surrounded by nature. Surely, there are the famous “Herrenhäuser Gärten” that everyone should see, there is the Maschsee for the hot summer days and the “Eilriede Stadtwald”, the city forest of Hanover.
But here is a real insider tip for nature in the city: The Graveyards! The city has to offer quite a few beautiful graveyards, where you can find mystical old graves surrounded by calming silence. The “Lindender Bergfriedhof” for example was built in 1862 and hides years of history. Especially in the early weeks of spring visiting the Graveyard in Linden is a highlight because it is filled with blooming Szilla (these are the star-like, blue flowers that look a bit like snowdrops).
And if you have a bit more time and planning a day trip into nature?
Well, you are pretty close to one of Germany’s most valued landscapes the “Lüneburger Heide”. It is a mostly flat landscape with some small hills that are coated in heath (in German “Heide”). In late summer, the blooming heath will immerse everything in beautiful violet and purple colours and create an atmosphere that is perfect for a magical touched hiking trip.
But besides the displays of nature, Hanover also has to offer exciting architecture – and I am not talking about the pompous city hall. Do you know the “Ihme Center” in Linden-Mitte? This huge building once was supposed to be a revolution in the field of community and city planning. But today it became sort of a lost place, right at the Ihme River – but did you know there are guided tours to explore this place yourself? By the way, if you are interested in seeing the inside of the heat and power station, which tends to loom a bit over the district Linden – there is a tour, too!
I have to notice that so far, I only suggested activities that include walking around to see something. If that gets a bit boring after some time: You don’t have to get around by foot! Try out a canoeing tour on the Ihme and Leine Rivers and explore the city from a different perspective.
Here’s a little question in between: What have chilli, fireworks and music in common? Right, they all can be found at various festivals throughout Hanover. The “Fête de la Musique” is an international music Festival with cities all over the world participating. In Hanover that’s got to be kind of a tradition since the festival took place there over ten times already! Or what about the “Chilli and Barbeque Festival”? Take the time for a culinary day and try everything from Hotdog sauce to spicy barbeque. And no worries, of course, there are vegetarian dishes too!
Over the course of the summer, the “Herrenhäuser Gärten” in Hanover also hosts the international firework competition where you can see true firework-art illuminating the city at night. And for the end I’ve got something very German for you: Hanover yearly hosts the biggest “Schützenfest” in the world. What formerly was a German tradition to honour the local rifle club, transformed into a fair with food, drinks and carousels – perfect to be a little bit of a child for one day 🙂
With all of that, there is just one thing left to say: Enjoy your day in Hanover!
All photo rights by International Campus GmbH.