Sunrises and sunsets

Marina on the Mittelland Canal

On a balmy summer morning at 6 a.m. on the Tannenbergallee Bridge: it is still quiet, just a few birds chirping, some ducks quacking; the water of the gently curving Mittellandkanal reflects the fading night sky like a mirror; a ship is on its long journey westward; on the right bank, the early sun rises above the treetops and sends its first delicate rays of the day across to the small garden colony and into the big city beyond.

A canal with a cargo ship sailing on it — View of the Mittelland Canal

Everything is calm, everything is fine. Let's hope it stays that way today.

Even after sunrise, the day looks promising

Standing on the bridge over the Mittelland Canal in the warm orange-yellow glow of the rising sun, you might as well start planning your summer day right there on the spot. With tropical temperatures, a visit to the Lister outdoor pool on the right bank would be just the thing. Built in the late 1920s and once one of Germany’s largest outdoor pools, it opens at 6 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends. That certainly makes it easier to decide whether to cool off in the water early in the morning or find a spot in the shade on the green lawns surrounding the two wading pools for non-swimmers and the 50-meter competition pool with a slide and a 10-meter diving tower. In the afternoon, you could perhaps play a game of table tennis or beach volleyball.

Two swimming pools, people swimming, a yellow slide in the background

Outdoor pool

Lister Bath

Located right in the heart of the city, Lister Bad is a popular local recreation spot when the weather is nice

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Why not take a long weekend?

If you’d rather take it easy, you can go for a long walk along the canal (which is a relaxing experience at any time of day or year, with or without a dog), dip your feet in the water here and there in the green grass along the bank, and watch the many cargo ships as they pass by or the joggers as they run past. Or you can take a slightly different kind of “long weekend” and cycle leisurely from one canal bridge to the next. The Mittellandkanal route is about 22 kilometers long, stretching from the “Friedhof Auf der Horst” light rail station near Garbsen in the west to the Anderter Lock in the southeast. Of course, there’s also a much shorter—and equally charming—option: from the bridge at the marina, head under the Lister Damm bridge and past the clubhouse of the List Canoe Club (which hosts canoe polo competitions on the water during summer weekends) to the Podbielskistraße bridge, with the picturesque Buchholz Windmill from 1868 behind it. And since a trip like this in the fresh air works up an appetite, you could stop by the “Schifftaurant” restaurant ship at the marina on your way back and treat yourself to a delicious fish dish, a plate of pasta, or a Wiener schnitzel with fries (Hours: Mon–Sat 12 PM–10 PM, Sun 10 AM–10 PM).

An inland waterway vessel on the Mittellandkanal

From Wunstorf to Sehnde

Cycling along the Mittelland Canal

60 kilometers along the water: a cycle route that includes many attractions and rest points along the way.

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Take it easy on the water, too

Those who prefer a more active experience can also rent a motorboat at the Lister Marina. No license is required to operate this small speedboat, which can reach speeds of up to 15 kilometers per hour. Two hours cost 65 euros, and each additional hour costs 45 euros. Half a day (6 hours) costs 180 euros, a full day (from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.) costs 230 euros, and a full weekend (Fri 9 a.m. to Sun 7 p.m.) costs 350 euros. The fuel consumed is calculated at the end of the trip and billed separately; a deposit of 200 or 300 euros, depending on the size of the boat, must be paid in advance for the rental. And here’s another tip: behind the 45 berths in the harbor are four small 12-square-meter cabins in a red-and-white Swedish style, where you can stay overnight for 39.50 euros to first enjoy the sunset in a maritime atmosphere and then start the new day well-rested with the next sunrise over the marina on the Mittelland Canal in the heart of Hanover.