For 200 years, Hanover was a royal residence, and that history is evident to this day. The residences, palaces and castles practically leap out in front of the visitor. There's the classical opera house and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University, which was at one time planned as a residence for the Guelph dynasty. And there's Leineschloss Castle, today the seat of the state parliament.

In summer, the residents of Hanover enjoy the outdoors, with cozy town squares, Maschsee Lake and the idyllic banks of the Leine River. Visitors and residents alike relax and let the city work its magic. The Herrenhäuser Gardens, which were once a part of the Guelph summer residence, take visitors back to the 17th century. You can stroll among artfully arranged flowerbeds and hedges just like the noble courtiers of the past. You can also order a picnic basket from the park's own restaurant.

Restaurateur Heiko Heybey has three tips for a weekend in Hanover: stroll through the Old Town flea market, stop for lunch at the Linden weekly market and then come face to face with polar bears. Click on the video below for a personal tour.

From Visit Germany
Editor: Helen Whittle