Things to Do at Altstadt Old Town

Hanover\\s Altstadt spans 14 hectares of reconstructed medieval architecture, carefully rebuilt between 1952-1962 after 90% of the original Old Town was destroyed in WWII bombing raids. Guided walking tours cost €12 ($13) for adults and include entry to the 14th-century Old Town Hall, while the secret is visiting Tuesday evenings when museum admission drops to €5 and tourist crowds thin after 6pm. Cobblestones worn smooth by centuries of foot traffic create an uneven rhythm under your shoes, while the sound of church bells from Marktkirche echoes between half-timbered facades that smell faintly of old wood and fresh bread from bakeries whose ovens have been firing since dawn. Window boxes overflow with geraniums that add splashes of red against whitewashed walls, and the narrow alleys channel cool morning breezes that carry the distant hum of trams and the gentle splash of fountain water in hidden courtyards.

The Altstadt is about a 10-minute walk southeast from Hanover's main train station (Hauptbahnhof) - just follow the red line of the tourist trail painted on the sidewalks, which actually makes navigation pretty foolproof. If you're taking public transport, the Markthalle/Landtag tram stop puts you right at the edge of the Old Town . The area is largely pedestrianized, so you'll want to park outside the historic center if you're driving - there are several parking garages within a few blocks.