Hannover, in the north-west of Germany isn’t quite as big as Hamburg or Berlin but it’s still a really nice, green city to spend some time in. Certainly good for a visit on your birthday. So what things can you do in Hannover for a birthday? We have compiled a long enough list here to give you some great birthday inspiration.
Whether you’re planning a laid-back day with friends or more of a lively, action-packed crazy one there will be something in this Hannover birthday list to suit you perfectly.
Here’s a list of 10 brilliant things to do for a birthday in Hannover:
Get involved in Hannover’s Nightlife
The obvious one for most adults. When the sun sets, Hannover comes alive with a decent nightlife scene. There are quite a few trendy cocktail bars in the centre like Oscar’s Bar, or find a cosy jazz club to enjoy live music. The lively district of Linden is known for having plenty of bars and clubs, offering a variety of musical genres to suit every taste.
I’ve had plenty of nights out in Hannover and enjoyed both bars and clubs, which were always a good time, even if they were full of smoke haha. People are nice and you can dance the night away or enjoy a quiet evening tucked away in the corner with friends, so it suits either type of night out.
Visit the stunning Herrenhausen Gardens
Since it’s one of Hannover’s main attractions it makes sense to kick off a birthday plan a quiet walk through the stunning Herrenhausen Gardens. They’re intricate, perfect green, baroque gardens, with perfectly maintained flower beds, flowers and sculptures so it definitely makes for a wholesome treat. It will definitely set you in the right mood for the rest of the day.
Visit the Hannover Zoo
This is a really good zoo and has some interactive attractions inside so it’s better than most average nature-led days out. It’s home to over 3,000 animals, the zoo offers themed areas like the African Zambezi, Gorilla Mountain, and the Canadian Yukon Bay along with a cool river boat cruise. A great choice for animal lovers, families or just a nice place to stroll around.
Take a Scenic Boat Ride on Maschsee Lake
The Maschsee Lake is a huge lake in the south of Hannover’s city centre and it is a whopping 1.5 miles (2.4km) long!. It’s a picturesque lake that offers some peace right in the heart of the city. It has some huge carp fish in it too!
Rent a paddle boat for a pretty cheap price and ride out to the middle of the flat, calm lake. You will spot some karp fish swimming in it if you look hard enough around the lakeside. It’s a great activity for couples or even families on a nice day.
Take a Romantic River Cruise on the river Leine
You can go one further than the DIY paddle boat and try a romantic river cruise along the picturesque River Leine, which makes its way through Hannover. Enjoy the city views as you pass small bridges, lots of greenery, and the city’s historic landmarks. You can even level up as some cruises offer candlelit dinners, which is ideal for a little birthday treat.
Shop ‘til you drop at Ernst-August-Galerie
Ernst-August-Galerie is a multi storey modern shopping mall with many stores, from high-end fashion to more independent shops. There’s also the Galeria just across the road as well, which is a multi-storey option so you’re not short of cool shops to check out right in the centre. Don’t forget to grab a memorable birthday present for yourself.
Check out the views at the New Town Hall
While it’s not meant to be the only birthday activity to fill your day, it is useful to accompany this activity with another of your big plans. Visit the New Town Hall (Neue Rathaus), not only for its amazing old-style architecture but also for the panoramic views from its dome. The elevator ride to the top is an adventure in itself, with plenty of great city views. There’s tons of history inside to browse through as well.
Pizza at L’Osteria
Celebrate a birthday with a dough-filled feast at L’Osteria. The restaurant is known for its gigantic and amazing pizzas. There is a restaurant in the city but their success has allowed them to expand with another restaurant up north on the way to Hannover airport. The atmosphere and unforgettable Italian cuisine should give you a great food experience. It might be a struggle to go out for drinks afterwards though so be wary of that food coma strategy.
Shoot it out at LaserTag Hannover
If you fancy a shoot out then get your friends together and head to LaserTag Hannover. There’s a couple of locations at LaserTag City and LaserTag Underground City so you can make a bit of a competition of it. Maybe the loser buys a round of drinks!
A peaceful bike ride around Eilenriede Forest
Again, not quite the main event to a birthday treat but certainly another good little accompaniment. A bike ride around the vast Eilenriede Forest is very therapeutic. Since it is one of the flattest cities around it makes it perfect for cycling. This area is known as the “green lung” of Hannover, and even though it’s right in the city if feels like a real remote forest.
Craft beers at Brauhaus Ernst August
Celebrate by sampling the local Hannover craft beer at Brauhaus Ernst August. The brewery has a decent atmosphere and offers a good selection of German beers (all of the colours) brewed on-site. You can also have a good bite to eat here to soak it up as well.
However you choose to enjoy your birthday in Hannover there’s a good amount of choice in this city. Although it doesn’t seem like a huge, bustling city there’s still plenty to offer under the skin of it so enjoy the many things to do in Hannover for a birthday.