Car Rental Hannover Airport

The capital of Lower Saxony, Hannover might not be the name at the very top of your German ‘must-do’ list. That’s what helps it retain its charm – it flies under the radar and is unspoilt by mass tourism. From the airport, head straight into the heart of Hannover by taking the B522 road southbound. Just under 10 miles away, this road will take you into the center of the city and close to some of its most famous sights, including the Maschsee, the New Town Hall and Herrenhausen Gardens.

You’ll find some on-street parking but there are many more spaces available in the parking lots dotted around the city. There are locations where parking is not allowed, some of which will be marked with a ‘parking prohibited’ sign. Others include within five meters of a pedestrian crossing, next to kerbs and facing oncoming traffic.

Germany is one of the largest countries in Europe, so renting a car is a fantastic way to delve into its varied landscape and explore its cities and countryside at your own pace. Hannover Airport is a great starting point thanks to its road links to other destinations such as the industrial port of Hamburg, which can be reached via the A7 Autobahn to the north.

The city of Bremen, with its impressive Gothic and Renaissance architecture, is just over an hour away via the A27 to the north. To reach the capital Berlin, a major site of European history which also hosts a buzzing cultural scene, it’s just over a three-hour drive via the A2 Autobahn.

Germany’s high-speed motorways are called Autobahns, with a speed limit of 80mph, and federal roads are usually marked with B numbers on a map. These roads vary from two to four lanes. There are some excellent driving routes around the country to be discovered – weaving through towns, cities, mountains and impressive forests.

With a scenic location on the River Leine, the city of Hannover is filled with magnificent buildings and peaceful parks. There are plenty of attractions and events to enjoy in the city, in a place with a relaxed pace of life.

Cultural highlights

One of the best ways to explore Hannover is to follow the ‘Red Thread’ - a route designed to help visitors find their way to all the main landmarks. This line is painted along the roads, passing through the Old Quarter where you can see sights like the Old Town Hall and the Marktkirche Church.

The route also includes the Opera House and New Town Hall, a majestic building with an impressive dome where you can climb to the top and enjoy panoramic views of the city. On a clear day it’s even possible to see the Harz Mountains in the distance.

If you’re visiting Hannover during the summer, you might also be lucky enough to experience its International Fireworks Competition, where teams from around the world battle to create the most impressive displays over several nights.

The Great Gardens

For a busy city, Hannover has a surprising number of peaceful parks and green spaces. Perhaps the most famous is the Royal Gardens at Herrenhausen, a huge site dating all the way back to the 17^th century.

Its main attraction is the Grosser Garten or Great Garden, a huge baroque garden featuring sculptures, walkways and carefully shaped hedges. You will also find the Berggarten or Mountain Garden, one of the oldest botanical gardens in Germany, filled with many exotic plants.

Another of the city’s most peaceful sites is the Eilenriede, a vast inner-city forest that’s bigger than New York’s Central Park. There’s a bird sanctuary and zoo, as well as many winding paths to explore if you’re looking to enjoy some peace and quiet.

Historic Hamburg

Hannover is around a two hour drive from Germany’s second biggest city Hamburg, a cultural hub with vibrant neighborhoods and many places to see live music and other events.

Home to one of the biggest ports in Europe, Hamburg is sometimes known as the ‘Gateway to the World’. You can take a boat tour or learn more about the history of this city on one of its museum ships.

If your trip to the city falls on a Sunday morning, then a visit to the St Pauli Fish Market is a must. This lively event takes place every week on the shores of the River Elbe, and despite the name you’ll find much more than fish on sale. You can browse for food, flowers, clothing and souvenirs, but if you’re looking for a more relaxing morning you don’t have to get involved in the bartering – although it can be fun.

There are plenty of places where you can sit back and relax with a fish sandwich and enjoy beautiful views of the harbor. Car rental in Hannover makes it possible to explore all this and more on your trip to Germany.