Trains to Hannover Hbf

Hannover train station

Built in 1843 but mostly destroyed during WWII, Hannover train station’s facade is grand and impressive. The station was remodelled for the Expo 2000, making it a modern transport hub. One of the 21 Category 1 train stations in Germany, 250,000 passengers and 750 trains pass through this transport hub every day. The high-speed ICE services and slower (though still speedy) IC trains transport passengers from Berlin to Hannover in 1h35minutes. From the north, 44 trains run daily from Hamburg, with a journey time of 1h15mins. Munich is 4h35mins away, and the fastest service from Stuttgart is 3h30mins. International routes include Paris-Hannover in 6h24mins, and Amsterdam-Hannover in 4h20mins. Regional trains cover the Lower Saxony region. Hannover also has two other railway stations — Hannover-Nordstadt and Hannover Messe/Laatzen, with the S-Bahn connecting them to Hannover Hauptbahnhof (the main central station). The S-Bahn to Hannover Airport takes 20 minutes, and the city’s tram, bus and S-Bahn services all link the train station to the city centre.

Main attractions near Hannover train station

Arriving at Hannover train station, visitors are conveniently located to walk straight into one of the most attractive areas of the city, the Old Town. Full of places to eat, boutiques, art galleries and museums, travellers can stroll around all the central monuments, including the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and neighbouring Marktkirche, within 10 minutes from the station. Both of these edifices are rare examples of German Brick Gothic architecture. The charming timber-framed buildings of Holzmarkt are a few minutes to the west, and the Historisches Museum on the banks of the Leine is the place to find out more about the city’s rise from Medieval town to regal residence.

After a 10-minute walk south, visitors will come across the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), a domed, castle-like building built in 1912, which can be seen reflected in one of the lakes of Maschpark. The nearby Sprengel Museum has a large display of figurative, abstract and conceptual art that can be admired just 20 minutes after staring out of the train window. Hannover is known for its vast green spaces, including the largest urban forest, Eilenriede, and the beautiful Baroque gardens of Herrenhäuser. The U3, U7 and U9 leave Hannover train station for Eilenriede (taking 12 minutes), and the U4 and U5 leave from the Old Town for Herrenhäuser Gärten (taking around 20 minutes).

For eating, drinking, and merriment, the Old Town is full of options, and it is the liveliest district after dark. Visitors can sample hearty and traditional regional dishes, or choose from a range of national and international cuisine.