A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basel vs. Hannover for Attractions, Nightlife, Old Town, and Families

Should you visit Basel or Hannover?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Basel or Hannover, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Basel

Basel is a cultural, museum-filled, and easily accessible city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Hannover

Hannover is a vibrant, cultural, and dynamic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Basel and Hannover: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Basel or Hannover?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Hannover than Basel. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Hannover is very popular for its nightlife and big city activities, while Basel attracts visitors for its museums, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Basel is famous for its many museums and its nice old town. Hannover is famous for its many parks and gardens as well as its accessibility to the German train system. It is also well known for The Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen.

How is Basel different from Hannover?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hannover and Basel. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Basel or Hannover?

Basel is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Hannover is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Basel. The city is filled with history. Head to Minster Hill to see the beautiful historic church and Münsterplatz. There are also several unique museums around town including Jean Tinguely Museum, the Paper Mill Museum, the Historical Museum, and the Museum of Art.

Hannover offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You'll see many of the city's sights along the Red Thread Trail in the city center. Make sure you check out the New Town Hall, the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen, and the Lower Saxony State Museum as well.

Is the Food Better in Basel or Hannover? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Basel and Hannover both to be nice destinations.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Basel. Food around town can be expensive, but there are some outdoor markets where you can buy fruit and a bratwurst for a reasonable price. The city is known for its breads, soups, and pastries, which are all delicious.

Hannover is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find classic tearooms, food halls, fine dining restaurants, and markets. Try all of the classic German sausages or sample international dishes in this dynamic city.

Is Basel or Hannover Better for Nightlife?

Hannover is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Hannover has plenty to do after the sun goes down. There are many students who keep the nightlife scene active. From beer halls to jazz venues, you'll find a diversity of options around town.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Basel. The city's nightlife comes alive as the sun sets. There are bars, pubs, and dance clubs that stay active until the early morning hours.

Is Basel or Hannover Better for its Old Town?

Basel is a great city for its historic old town. Also, Hannover is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Basel. The charming old town is fun to explore on foot with its quaint streets and meandering alleys. The beautiful architecture and ornate fountains give the area a unique personality. On the hottest days you may even see locals swimming in some of the fountains.

Many people head to Hannover to see the old town. Check out the half-timbered buildings, the old churches, and the charming streets around old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Basel or Hannover?

Basel is a great city for shopping. Also, Hannover is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Basel. The old town is filled with shops that you can wander through as you explore. Popular shopping streets include Freie Strasse and the area around Marktplatz, where you'll find boutique shops and interesting trinkets. You can also head to the city's oldest department store - Manor.

Hannover offers some nice shopping areas. Head to the 14th-century Market Church (Marktkirche) and wander around the nearby streets for some of the city's best shopping. Also make sure you check out the city flea market. In addition to boutiques and independent shops, there are also major department stores and large shopping malls in the area.

Is Basel or Hannover Better for Families?

Basel is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Hannover is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Basel is a very family-friendly destination. The city has an impressive zoo, a really unique toy museum, as well as Aquabasilea with its pools and slides. It's also compact enough that little legs can explore and enjoy everything that it has to offer. If the weather's warm, head for the river to cool off.

Hannover is a family-friendly place to visit. Like many German cities, there are a number of activities geared specifically to kids. Check out the Sea Life Center or the Hannover Zoo. If you're willing to get out of town a bit, there's also Serengeti Park Hodenhagen or Rasti-Land theme park, which has rides and games.

Is Basel or Hannover Better for Couples?

Basel and Hannover are both nice to visit as a couple.

Basel makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Nice restaurants, interesting museums, and several great spas make this a nice place for a romantic trip.

Hannover is a good city for couples to visit. Romantic settings around town include Herrenhäuser Gärten, Berggarten, and Maschpark.

Is Basel or Hannover Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Basel and Hannover are nice destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Basel. There are a few hostels and a really useful City Pass that make this city an option for backpackers and budget travelers. It's also a major transit center so accessibility is convenient. If you're traveling around Europe by train, you'll likely pass through Basel at some point.

Hannover is a good city to visit for backpackers. Some people use the city to split up longer train trips. There are a couple of hostels in town if you decide to stay a night or two.

Is Basel or Hannover Better for Students?

Basel and Hannover are both great destinations for students and younger travelers.

Basel is a great city to visit as a student. The University of Basel brings in international students from around the world. The city makes a nice base for exploring Europe, but it's also a bit expensive which can be challenging on a student income.

Students come from all over to stay in Hannover. There are a few great universities in town including Leibniz University, which attract international students. There's also a nice nightlife and easy accessibility to the rest of Germany.

Is Basel or Hannover Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Basel and Hannover offer great public transit options.

Basel has some very good public transit options. Trams and buses make it easy to get around town.

The public transit in Hannover can get you to most places easily. The city has 12 city trains and 38 bus lines.

Is Basel or Hannover a more walkable city?

Basel is very popular for its walkability. Also, Hannover is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its high level of walkability.

Basel is a very easy city to get around on foot. The old town and most of the major attractions are easily accessible on foot.

Hannover is a very walkable city. There are some nice walkable parts to the city.

For even more information, also check out Is Basel Worth Visiting? and Is Hannover Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hannover or Basel?

How long in Basel or Hannover?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Basel or Hannover to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Basel than Hannover because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Basel, and 1-2 days is enough time in Hannover.

Families should spend more time in Basel than Hannover. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Basel, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Basel than Hannover. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Basel that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Basel than Hannover if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Basel.

One day in Basel or Hannover?

The beautiful city of Basel offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Hannover, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this vibrant destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Basel or Hannover?

Basel is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Basel, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hannover. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Basel or Hannover?

Basel is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Hannover is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Hannover. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Basel or Hannover?

Basel is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

You'll find food and shopping around the dynamic destination of Hannover. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Germany, and The Best Oktoberfest Tours in Germany.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basel and Hannover, we can see that Basel is more expensive. And not only is Hannover much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hannover would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hannover and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Basel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basel than you might in Hannover.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Basel Expensive? and Is Hannover Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Basel or Hannover?

Hannover has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Basel. When comparing the sizes of Basel and Hannover, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Basel or Hannover?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Basel or Hannover in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Basel as well as Hannover. Many travelers come to Basel for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Hannover in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Basel is generally a little warmer than Hannover. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 21°C (70°F), and Hannover fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basel this time of the year. In the summer, Basel often gets more sunshine than Hannover. Basel gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hannover receives 198 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets more rain in July than Hannover. Basel gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 62 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basel or Hannover in the Autumn?

Both Hannover and Basel are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Basel in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Hannover for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

Basel is a little warmer than Hannover in the autumn. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Hannover fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

Basel usually receives more sunshine than Hannover during autumn. Basel gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Hannover receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Basel usually receives more rain than Hannover. Basel gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Basel or Hannover in the Winter?

Both Hannover and Basel during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Basel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Hannover because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Hannover can be very cold. Basel can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Basel is much warmer than Hannover. Typically, the winter temperatures in Basel in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Hannover averages at about 1°C (33°F).

In the winter, Basel often gets more sunshine than Hannover. Basel gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hannover receives 42 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets more rain in January than Hannover. Basel gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basel or Hannover in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Basel and Hannover. The spring months attract visitors to Basel because of the natural beauty. Furthermore, the activities around the city are the main draw to Hannover this time of year.

In April, Basel is generally a little warmer than Hannover. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 12°C (53°F), and Hannover fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Basel usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hannover during spring. Basel gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Hannover receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Basel usually receives more rain than Hannover. Basel gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hannover and Basel