The Best Day Trips From Hanover Germany

If you find yourself in Hanover with a few days to spare, you’ll be delighted to hear that the surrounding region has a great deal to offer – within only a couple of hours you can reach large cities, quaint villages and enchanting landscapes. Here’s a list of the best day trips to take on your next visit.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Celle

Celle sits on the Aller River 45 km (28 miles) north of Hanover – this little gem of a town enchants locals and visitors with its charming Old Town where timber-framed houses stand in rank and file, the ducal Celle Castle, and the vast fields and moorlands of the Südheide Nature Park. A full day in the city is plenty to explore the highlights without rushing.

Goslar

Though Goslar is located on the northwestern slopes of the beautiful Harz mountains, the town in itself is a worthy day trip destination in its own right. Known for its medieval town centre with half-timbered houses and picturesque courtyards, the 12th-century Market Church St. Cosmas and Damian and the 1,000-year-old copper and silver mines of Rammelsberg Mountain, Goslar offers plenty to do for a day trip.

Lüneburg Heath

If you want to leave the hustle and bustle of a city behind for the day, you’ll be pleased to know that Hanover is a gateway to the tranquil meadows and heathlands of the Lüneburg Heath nature park. The area is traversed by hiking trails and cycling routes, studded with vantage points and man-made attractions, and boasts a ton of opportunity to reconnect with nature. Both Bispingen and Schneverdingen are about 90 km (56 miles) north of Hanover and are great starting points to explore this natural wonderland.

Steinhuder Meer

Northwest Germany’s largest lake encompasses 30 sq km (11.6 sq miles) and is a mere 40-minute drive west from Hanover. The list of recreational activities is long: you can try your hand at sailing, wind or kitesurfing, or paddle boating at the watersports end of things, but if you’d rather stay on land, you can take on the circular trail around the lake on foot or by bike. If you fancy a bit of culture, you’re in luck as well. In the 18th-century, Prince William of Schaumburg-Lippe commissioned an artificial island to be raised and a fortress to be erected in the middle of the lake. Today Bückeburg Castle is a popular tourist spot reached by regular ferry services in and out of Steinhude.

Wernigerode

More timber-frame bliss awaits you in the magical town of Wernigerode. What’s one of the top stopovers for outdoorsy trips to the Harz Mountains, is also worth the 75-minute drive from Hanover if you decide to explore the town on a day. Should you get bored marvelling at the Insta-perfect colourful houses and cobbled alleys, venture out to Wernigerode Castle or jump aboard the Harzer Schmalspurbahn for a trip around the national park.

Bremen

A day in Bremen means meandering the winding alleys of half-timbered houses, shopping for handicrafts at artisan workshops and speciality boutiques, delving into the history of the Hanseatic League and exploring the childhood fairytale of the Bremen Town Musicians. A day is plenty to get an overview of what Bremen has to offer and to sample some of the local seafood dishes.

Brunswick (Braunschweig)

Heavy bombardments during the World War II turned much of Braunschweig’s historic town centre to rubble, but years and years of meticulous reconstruction restored its original beauty. Today Braunschweig, some 65 km (40 miles) east of Hanover, is the perfect day-trip destination for lovers of history and architecture. Make sure to put Dankwarderode Castle, the Happy Rizzi House, St. Blasius Cathedral and Riddagshausen Abbey on your must-see list.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.