Ideal City / Region

Hannover—the green metropolis

New City Hall / View from the dome — A view of the lush greenery of Hannover from the dome of City Hall.

If you're looking for nature and tranquility without giving up the perks of a big city, the Leine River is the place to be.

A jogger on a bridge at the edge of the forest — A favorite among joggers, walkers, and cyclists: the Eilenriede

With its urban forests, parks, and attractive local recreation areas, Hannover is Germany’s greenest major city. Lake Maschsee and Lake Steinhuder Meer lend the city a maritime flair—swimming, sailing, and surfing included. Climate protection programs and mobility concepts ensure that construction, housing, and transportation are energy-efficient and resource-conserving.

Hannover offers a big-city vibe while also featuring plenty of nature right in the heart of the city and its surroundings. The Eilenriede, for example, stretches across approximately 642 hectares in a central location, serving as the city’s “green lung,” and is nearly twice the size of Central Park in New York. Beyond this unspoiled urban forest, you’ll find numerous other opportunities for strolling, relaxing, walking, observing nature, or picnicking. The Herrenhausen Gardens—the “green ensemble”—are truly impressive, featuring the Georgengarten, Welfengarten, Herrenhäuser Allee, Berggarten, Wasserkunst, and the world-famous Großer Garten.

Right in the heart of the city, the Operndreieck invites visitors to linger after shopping or during their lunch break. Visitors to the Hannover Congress Center appreciate the unique, historic city park, the site of Germany’s first Federal Horticultural Show. Across the city, there are approximately 8,000 more street trees than there were 20 years ago. Over 20,000 community gardens, the southern Leine floodplain, and smaller urban forests provide additional green space.

A maritime atmosphere and plenty of water sports—Hanover has plenty to offer in this regard as well. Centrally located, the Maschsee is considered a paradise for water sports enthusiasts, walkers, cyclists, joggers, and skaters. Lake Steinhuder Meer is even larger. Covering 32 square kilometers, it is the largest inland lake in northwestern Germany, located about 30 km from Hannover, and is a popular local recreation destination: Whether it’s a family outing with a boat ride, sailing, rowing, pedal boating, or electric boating, swimming, cycling, or exploring nature in the dunes or moors—almost everyone can enjoy their favorite activity here.

This climate protection program, the only one of its kind in Germany, is highly ambitious. The Hannover 2020 Climate Alliance aims to reduce CO2 emissions caused by electricity and heat consumption by 40% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. The best example is the innovative zero:park in Wettbergen, Europe’s largest zero-emission housing development. In the approximately 300 passive-house homes currently under construction, residents consume about 80% less energy than is typically required for new buildings. Additionally, other initiatives such as the enercity proKlima grant fund, the HannoverMobilCard with a standard public transit pass, car-sharing, the BahnCard, and bicycle services demonstrate a commitment to an environmentally friendly future.