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

Should you visit Geneva or Hannover?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Geneva and Hannover. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Geneva

Geneva is a classy, diverse, and international city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Hannover

Hannover is a dynamic, diverse, and vibrant city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Geneva and Hannover: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Geneva or Hannover?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Geneva than Hannover. While Hannover is larger than Geneva, Geneva has more sights and attractions for tourists. Geneva is more popular for its museums, food, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Hannover is known for its nightlife. Geneva is popular for its role as a global hub for the United Nations, the Red Cross, and the World Health Organization. It is also home to The Geneva Water Fountain (The Jet d'Eau). Hannover is popular for its many parks and gardens as well as its accessibility to the German train system.

How is Geneva different from Hannover?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Geneva 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 Geneva. Famous sights and landmarks include the spectacular Water Jet, St Pierre Cathedral, and the Palais des Nations. There are also impressive art and history museums in the city.

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 Geneva or Hannover? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Geneva is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Hannover is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Geneva. The city has an amazing mix of traditional Swiss restaurants as well as diverse ethnic options. Traditional dishes include fondue and raclette, both of which involve the decadent Swiss cheese.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Hannover. 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 Geneva or Hannover Better for Nightlife?

Hannover is a great destination for nightlife. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

The people in Hannover know how to have a good time. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Geneva has a few options to choose from. During the day the city is all business, but at night the professionals, interns, students, and NGO workers all come together to enjoy a drink at a bar or dance at one of the city's diverse clubs.

Is Geneva or Hannover Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the good old town areas in both Geneva and Hannover.

Many visitors go to Geneva to see the historical old town. The Old Town offers a number of charming streets where you can wander as well as historical buildings including St. Pierre Cathedral.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Hannover. Check out the half-timbered buildings, the old churches, and the charming streets around old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Geneva or Hannover?

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

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Geneva. Famous for its posh shops and luxury brands, this city is a popular shopping destination. From chic boutiques to deluxe toy stores, you'll find something for everyone. In particular, the city is known for its Swiss watches, Swiss Army knives, chocolate, and wine.

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 Geneva or Hannover Better for Families?

Both Geneva and Hannover are good family-friendly destinations.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Geneva. This diverse city has a number of chocolate shops, toy stores, and parks where kids can play. They'll be impressed by the Water Jet and there are few places where you can swim in the lake when the weather is warm.

Hannover offers lots of family activities. 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 Geneva or Hannover Better for Couples?

Geneva and Hannover both good destinations for a couple.

Geneva is a nice destination for couples. Wandering Old Town, sampling Swiss chocolate, and enjoying one of the many ethnic restaurants around town all make for great date activities. Fondue in a traditional restaurant is also a not to be missed experience.

Hannover makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Romantic settings around town include Herrenhäuser Gärten, Berggarten, and Maschpark.

Is Geneva or Hannover Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Hannover is a good destination for backpackers. However, Geneva is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Hannover. 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.

Geneva is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city is often overlooked by backpackers as it is pretty expensive. Many hotels cater to the business traveler crowd, but there are a few hostels to choose from.

Is Geneva or Hannover Better for Students?

Geneva and Hannover are excellent places to visit for students.

Many students visit Geneva. The University of Geneva attracts many international students and the city is quite diverse. It feels like a mixing bowl of cultures, so students will feel very welcomed and comfortable here.

Hannover is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. 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 Geneva or Hannover Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Geneva is very popular for times when you don't have a car. Also, Hannover is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

Geneva has an effecient and thorough public transportation system which can take you anywhere in the city. The very comprehensive system includes trams, buses, and boats.

Hannover has some very good public transit options. The city has 12 city trains and 38 bus lines.

Is Geneva or Hannover a more walkable city?

Geneva and Hannover both are excellent when exploring on foot.

Geneva is very walkable. Most areas where visitors spend their time can be easily explored 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 Geneva Worth Visiting? and Is Hannover Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hannover or Geneva?

How long in Geneva or Hannover?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Geneva or Hannover to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Geneva 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 Geneva, and 1-2 days is enough time in Hannover.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hannover than Geneva 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 Hannover.

One day in Geneva or Hannover?

Geneva is a big city with plenty to do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Hannover. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Geneva or Hannover?

Geneva 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. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Geneva, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Hannover is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Geneva or Hannover?

Geneva is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that shopping is why people visit. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hannover. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Geneva or Hannover?

Geneva is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that shopping is why people visit. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Hannover. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to 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 Geneva and Hannover, we can see that Geneva 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 Geneva would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Geneva 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 Geneva Expensive? and Is Hannover Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Geneva or Hannover?

Hannover has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Geneva. When comparing the sizes of Geneva 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 Geneva 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 Geneva or Hannover in the Summer?

Both Hannover and Geneva during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Geneva because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hannover this time of year.

Geneva is a little warmer than Hannover in the summer. The daily temperature in Geneva averages around 22°C (71°F) in July, and Hannover fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite sunny in Geneva. In the summer, Geneva often gets more sunshine than Hannover. Geneva gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hannover receives 198 hours of full sun.

Geneva usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Hannover. Geneva gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 62 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Geneva or Hannover in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Geneva and Hannover. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Geneva this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Hannover for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Geneva is a little warmer than Hannover. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Geneva in October average around 14°C (56°F), and Hannover averages at about 10°C (51°F).

Geneva usually receives more sunshine than Hannover during autumn. Geneva gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Hannover receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Geneva usually receives more rain than Hannover. Geneva gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Geneva or Hannover in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Geneva as well as Hannover. Many travelers come to Geneva for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Hannover in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Hannover can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Geneva. In January, Geneva is generally much warmer than Hannover. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 4°C (39°F), and Hannover fluctuates around 1°C (33°F).

In the winter, Geneva often gets more sunshine than Hannover. Geneva gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hannover receives 42 hours of full sun.

Geneva usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Hannover. Geneva gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Geneva or Hannover in the Spring?

Both Hannover and Geneva are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Geneva in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Hannover for the activities around the city during these months.

Geneva is a little warmer than Hannover in the spring. The daily temperature in Geneva averages around 11°C (53°F) in April, and Hannover fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Geneva usually receives more sunshine than Hannover during spring. Geneva gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Hannover receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Geneva usually receives more rain than Hannover. Geneva gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hannover and Geneva