A Travel Price Comparison for Germany Kiel vs. Hannover for Nightlife, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Kiel or Hannover?

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

Should I visit Kiel or Hannover? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Kiel

Kiel is a off-the-beaten-path, waterfront, and maritime city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, beaches, and shopping.

Hannover

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

Kiel and Hannover: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kiel or Hannover?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Hannover than Kiel. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Hannover is very popular for its nightlife and historical sights, while Kiel attracts visitors for its beaches. Kiel is famous for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. 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 Kiel different from Hannover?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the nice sights and museums in both Kiel and Hannover.

Kiel offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Hannover. 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 Kiel or Hannover? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Kiel and Hannover offer a number of nice restaurants to choose from.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Kiel. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)

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 Kiel or Hannover Better for Nightlife?

Hannover is well known for nightlife and partying. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Hannover is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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 Kiel has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.

Is Kiel or Hannover Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a good destination for its beaches. However, Hannover is not a beach destination.

Kiel offers a nice beach destination. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Hannover is not a beach destination.

Is Kiel or Hannover Better for its Old Town?

Hannover is a popular place for its old town. However, Kiel does not have a historic old town.

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.

Kiel does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Kiel or Hannover?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Hannover and Kiel.

Kiel offers some nice shopping areas. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Hannover has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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 Kiel or Hannover Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Kiel or Hannover.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Kiel. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.

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 Kiel or Hannover Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Kiel and Hannover make for a nice place to visit.

Kiel makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

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

Is Kiel or Hannover Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Hannover is a popular place for backpackers. However, Kiel is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers 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.

Kiel is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not on the main backpacker circuit, there is a hostel or two in town.

Is Kiel or Hannover Better for Students?

Hannover is well known for students. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

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.

It's common for students to visit Kiel. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

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

Hannover is well known for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Kiel. There is a bus system around town.

Is Kiel or Hannover a more walkable city?

Hannover is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

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

Kiel is a somewhat walkable city. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Hannover or Kiel?

How long in Kiel or Hannover?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hannover than Kiel 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 Kiel or Hannover?

The city of Kiel offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Hannover. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Kiel or Hannover?

Kiel 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 Kiel, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Hannover is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Kiel or Hannover?

Kiel 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the dynamic destination of Hannover. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Kiel or Hannover?

Kiel is a great place to explore. 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.

The vibrant city of Hannover offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin, The Best 2-Week Tours from Berlin, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Germany.

When comparing the travel costs between Kiel and Hannover, we can see that Hannover is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Kiel or Hannover?

Hannover has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kiel. When comparing the sizes of Kiel 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 Kiel 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 Kiel or Hannover in the Summer?

Both Hannover and Kiel during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Kiel for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Hannover because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Kiel is generally around the same temperature as Hannover. Daily temperatures in Kiel average around 16°C (61°F), and Hannover fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite sunny in Kiel. In the summer, Kiel often gets more sunshine than Hannover. Kiel gets 219 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hannover receives 198 hours of full sun.

Kiel usually gets more rain in July than Hannover. Kiel gets 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 62 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Hannover in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kiel and Hannover. The autumn months attract visitors to Kiel because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Hannover this time of year.

Kiel is around the same temperature as Hannover in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kiel averages around 10°C (50°F) in October, and Hannover fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

Kiel usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hannover during autumn. Kiel gets 102 hours of sunny skies, while Hannover receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Kiel usually receives more rain than Hannover. Kiel gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kiel or Hannover in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kiel as well as Hannover. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Kiel this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Hannover for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Hannover. It's quite cold in Kiel in the winter. In the winter, Kiel is much colder than Hannover. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kiel in January average around 0°C (33°F), and Hannover averages at about 1°C (33°F).

In the winter, Kiel often gets less sunshine than Hannover. Kiel gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hannover receives 42 hours of full sun.

Kiel usually gets more rain in January than Hannover. Kiel gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Hannover in the Spring?

Both Hannover and Kiel are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Kiel for the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Hannover in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Kiel is generally cooler than Hannover. Daily temperatures in Kiel average around 7°C (44°F), and Hannover fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Kiel usually receives more sunshine than Hannover during spring. Kiel gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Hannover receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kiel usually receives around the same amount of rain as Hannover. Kiel gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hannover and Kiel