Train to Hanover - connections, tickets and itinerary

• Currency: Euro (EUR). Card payments are accepted almost everywhere.

• Best time to go: April-May and September.

• How much to go for: a weekend (2-3 days) is enough for Herrenhausen Gardens, the Altstadt, the New Town Hall and the fairgrounds.

• Practical tip: from the train station you walk straight out to the Ernst-August-Galerie shopping centre - a good landmark as soon as you arrive.

The best time to visit is April-May or September, when daytime temperatures are 15-20°C and Herrenhausen Gardens are in full bloom.

Spring (March-May)

• Herrenhausen Gardens opens for the full season in April - the fountains and baroque gardens are at their best.

• May brings 17-20°C and long days, making it ideal for walking in Hanover's extensive parks.

• The Hanover Fair usually takes place in April - accommodation prices rise and hotels book up well in advance.

Summer (June-August)

• June sees the Schützenfest, one of the largest shooting festivals in Europe, with parades and a fair. The exact dates change every year.

• Temperatures reach 22-25°C. Hanover is one of Germany's greenest cities, so you'll find plenty of shade in the parks and gardens.

• Tourist traffic is high, especially in July and August.

Autumn (September-November)

• September brings 18-20°C and noticeably smaller crowds - a good time for a city break without queues.

• From October the temperature drops to 11-14°C and rain becomes more frequent.

Winter (December-February)

• In December, a Christmas market with regional specialities operates on Kröpcke Square and around the Altstadt.

• Temperatures are 2-5°C. Outside December, tourist traffic is low and accommodation prices are among the lowest of the year.

Most often you only change trains once, at Berlin Hauptbahnhof station.

From Berlin

• The journey takes 1.5-2 hours by direct ICE or IC train.

• Several services a day run between Berlin and Cologne and stop in Hanover.

• You can leave in the morning and arrive in Hanover before noon.

From Poznan

• The journey takes 4-5 hours with a change of train in Berlin.

• You will take a train from Poznań Główny station to Berlin and then change to the ICE or IC to Hannover Hauptbahnhof.

• The Berlin to Hannover section takes less than two hours.

From Wrocław

• You take a train from Wrocław Główny station to Berlin and then change to the ICE to Hannover Hauptbahnhof.

• The journey takes six to seven hours.

• You change trains only once, at the same station.

From Warsaw

• The journey from Warsaw Central Station to Hannover takes 8-9.5 hours.

• You travel to Berlin, and at Berlin Hauptbahnhof station you change to the ICE or IC to Hannover Hauptbahnhof.

• You can leave in the morning and arrive in the evening of the same day.

Reservation of a seat is compulsory on the international section. You buy your ticket on Europodróże without creating an account - you receive your ticket by email and SMS. A reminder arrives 30 minutes before departure with a link to your ticket, so you are not looking for it in your inbox. The earlier you buy, the better the price and the greater the choice of seats. You can return your PKP Intercity ticket up to 20 minutes before departure and exchange it up to 30 minutes before departure - see our returns and exchanges policy page for details.

You can walk to the Altstadt in a few minutes, and get to Herrenhausen Gardens by metro or tram.

Hanover has an extensive U-Bahn and tram network that covers the entire city. A single ticket is a few zloty and a day ticket costs a dozen zloty. For several journeys a day, a day ticket will be more convenient.

The main attractions, such as the Altstadt, the New Town Hall and the State Opera House, are all within a 2 km radius of the station. You can get around the centre on foot without hurrying. Further points of interest, such as Herrenhausen Gardens, can be reached by metro or tram in a few minutes.

Taxis and shuttle apps operate at the station. They are useful for luggage or evening returns. Hanover also has an extensive network of cycle paths - check out the current range of city bikes on site.

You get around Hanover on foot and by public transport.

Where to stay overnight:

• Centre (around the train station) - the most convenient base, close to all major attractions and public transport.

• Linden - a neighbourhood with local flair, independent cafes and restaurants, a few minutes by metro from the centre.

Herrenhausen Gardens (Herrenhäuser Gärten)

Royal gardens covering 136 hectares, laid out in the Baroque style. The Great Fountain (Große Fontäne) is one of the tallest garden fountains in Europe. Also worth seeing is the Grotto of Niki de Saint Phalle - an interior covered with a mosaic of coloured mirrors and stones. The visit takes 2-3 hours. There is an entrance fee.

New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus)

A monumental building from the early 20th century, home to the city's municipal authorities. Inside, there is a panoramic lift to the dome - the only one in Europe that travels in an arc at an angle. From the top you have views over the city, the Maschsee and the surrounding parks. The visit takes 45-60 minutes. Entrance to the building is free, but there is a fee for the lift.

Altstadt (Old Town)

Worth seeing are the half-timbered houses rebuilt after the war, the Gothic Marktkirche church from the 14th century and the Leineschloss - the former royal residence, now the seat of the Lower Saxony Landtag. A walk around the Altstadt takes 1-1.5 hours. The Kramerstraße is worth a stroll - the oldest shopping street in the city.

State Opera House (Niedersächsische Staatsoper)

The State Opera House is one of the most important opera houses in Germany, with a repertoire that includes opera, ballet and symphonic concerts. The neoclassical building stands on Opernplatz. The programme is worth checking before you go - tickets for popular performances sell out quickly.

Leibniz House (Leibnizhaus)

The Renaissance townhouse on the Holzmarkt was rebuilt after the Second World War. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz - philosopher, mathematician and inventor of differential calculus - lived here for 18 years. The facade with its richly carved details stands out against the surrounding buildings.

Hannover Messe trade fair grounds

Outside the trade fair season, the Expo 2000 pavilion and the modern architecture of the exhibition halls are worth seeing. With an exhibition area of almost 500,000 m², it is one of the largest trade fair complexes in the world.

Plan for 1 day

Head to Herrenhausen Gardens in the morning and set aside 2-3 hours. At noon, return to the Altstadt for a walk and lunch near the Marktkirche. In the afternoon, visit the New Town Hall and take the lift up to the dome. In the evening, have dinner at the restaurants on Kröpcke Square.

Plan for the weekend (2 days)

Day 1: Arrange the first day in the same way as the 1-day plan.

Day 2: Start at the State Opera House and the Leibniz House on the Holzmarkt. In the afternoon, head to the Linden district, where you'll find local cafes, independent shops and an atmosphere far from the tourist trails. If time allows, walk along the Maschsee lake to the south of the centre.

What to eat

Lüneburger Heide Lamm - lamb from sheep reared on the moors - tender, with a distinctive herbal flavour.

Grünkohl mit Pinkel - a winter dish of kale with fatty black pudding sausage, served from November to March.

Hannoversche Leberwurst - Hanoverian-style pate, a local version of the classic sausage.

Where to eat:

• Market at the Marktkirche - buy fresh produce, local cheeses and cured meats - the market runs several times a week.

• Kröpcke Square - the central crossroads of the city with cafés and restaurants for lunch between sightseeing.

• Linden Quarter - local restaurants, craft beer bars and cafes with homemade cakes; the atmosphere is reminiscent of Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg.

Shopping

The Ernst-August-Galerie at the station is a shopping centre with international brands - do your shopping just after your arrival or before your departure. Georgstraße, the main shopping street, stretches from the station towards Kröpcke. At weekends, the Flohmarkt - a flea market with antiques, vintage clothes and local handicrafts - takes place at the Lister Meile.

Souvenirs

• Lavender honeys and cosmetics - products from the Lüneburger Heide moors.

• Local Lower Saxon beers - regional spirits from local breweries.

• Ceramics - products from local craft workshops.

Prices are per night per person in PLN.

The budget option assumes a hostel or cheap B&B, food in bars and at the market, public transport and free attractions. The mid-range option includes a three-star hotel, restaurants, a day ticket for public transport and a few paid entrance fees. The comfort option includes a four-star hotel, dinners in restaurants, taxis and all attractions.

During the Hanover Fair, usually in April, accommodation prices can even double. If you are planning a city break during this period, book your hotel well in advance.

There is an entrance fee to Herrenhausen Gardens. You can visit the New Town Hall free of charge, but you will pay separately for the panoramic lift to the dome.