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

Should you visit Potsdam or Hannover?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Potsdam and Hannover can help you decide which place is right for you.

Potsdam

Potsdam is a park-filled, historic, and accessible city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. 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. 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.

Potsdam and Hannover: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Potsdam or Hannover?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Hannover than Potsdam. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Hannover is very popular for its nightlife, historical sights, and big city activities, while Potsdam attracts visitors for its museums, food, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Potsdam is famous for its beautiful palaces, scenic town center, and accessibility to Berlin. 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 Potsdam different from Hannover?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Potsdam 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 Potsdam. People visit this city for its high concentration of historic sights. The Renaissance Orangery Palace is a highlight of the visit for many travelers.

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 Potsdam or Hannover? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Potsdam 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 Potsdam. You'll find a diverse restaurant scene, although the city is quite small. There are international restaurants as well as local venues where you can try regional specialties.

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 Potsdam or Hannover Better for Nightlife?

Hannover is well known for nightlife and partying. Also, Potsdam 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 Potsdam has a few options to choose from. The city is not far from Berlin, so head in to Germany's nightlife capital for the most famous clubs and venues. In the town of Potsdam there are cocktail bars and breweries that make for a mellow and relaxed evening.

Is Potsdam or Hannover Better for its Old Town?

Hannover is very good for its old town. However, Potsdam 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.

Potsdam does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Potsdam or Hannover?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Hannover and Potsdam.

Potsdam offers some nice shopping areas. There are plazas and shopping streets that have the standard chain stores as well as antique shops and other boutiques.

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 Potsdam or Hannover Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Potsdam or Hannover.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Potsdam. There are a number of playgrounds around town as well as several beaches by lakes that are fun for kids. Another highlight for families is a visit to Babelsberg Film Studios.

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 Potsdam or Hannover Better for Couples?

Both Potsdam and Hannover are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Potsdam makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Exploring the city and soaking up the sights is the best way for couples to enjoy their time. There are some nice hotels and restaurants in the area that make for a great date night.

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

Is Potsdam or Hannover Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Potsdam and Hannover are nice places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Potsdam is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a handful of hostels to choose from in town.

It's common for backpackers to 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.

Is Potsdam or Hannover Better for Students?

Hannover is well known for students. However, Potsdam is not popular with students.

Hannover is very popular with students. 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.

Potsdam is not popular with students.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Potsdam and Hannover.

Potsdam has some very good public transit options. The city is well connected to Berlin by S-Bahn and bus.

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

Is Potsdam or Hannover a more walkable city?

Potsdam and Hannover both are high quality when exploring on foot.

Potsdam is a very walkable city. It's a smaller, compact city that can mostly be explored on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Hannover or Potsdam?

How long in Potsdam or Hannover?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Potsdam or Hannover to fill your time. In our opinion, Hannover has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Hannover than Potsdam. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

The city of Potsdam 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.

In Hannover, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Potsdam or Hannover?

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

In Hannover, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Hannover has to offer.

Five days in Potsdam or Hannover?

Potsdam 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 great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Potsdam or Hannover?

Potsdam 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hannover. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Hannover. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, The Best Cultural Tours in Germany, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Germany.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Potsdam and Hannover, we can see that Hannover is more expensive. And not only is Potsdam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Potsdam would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Potsdam 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 Hannover would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hannover than you might in Potsdam.

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

Which is Bigger, Potsdam or Hannover?

Hannover has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Potsdam. When comparing the sizes of Potsdam 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 Potsdam 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 Potsdam or Hannover in the Summer?

Both Hannover and Potsdam during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Potsdam in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Hannover for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Potsdam is generally around the same temperature as Hannover. Daily temperatures in Potsdam average around 19°C (66°F), and Hannover fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite sunny in Potsdam. In the summer, Potsdam often gets more sunshine than Hannover. Potsdam gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hannover receives 198 hours of full sun.

Potsdam usually gets less rain in July than Hannover. Potsdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 62 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Potsdam or Hannover in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Potsdam and Hannover. Most visitors come to Potsdam for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Hannover because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

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

Potsdam usually receives more sunshine than Hannover during autumn. Potsdam gets 114 hours of sunny skies, while Hannover receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Potsdam usually receives less rain than Hannover. Potsdam gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Potsdam or Hannover in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Potsdam as well as Hannover. The winter months attract visitors to Potsdam because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Hannover this time of year.

It's quite cold in Hannover in the winter. The weather in Potsdam can be very cold. In the winter, Potsdam is much colder than Hannover. Typically, the winter temperatures in Potsdam in January average around -0°C (31°F), and Hannover averages at about 1°C (33°F).

In the winter, Potsdam often gets more sunshine than Hannover. Potsdam gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hannover receives 42 hours of full sun.

Potsdam usually gets less rain in January than Hannover. Potsdam gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Potsdam or Hannover in the Spring?

Both Hannover and Potsdam are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Potsdam this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Hannover for the activities around the city.

In April, Potsdam is generally around the same temperature as Hannover. Daily temperatures in Potsdam average around 9°C (48°F), and Hannover fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Potsdam usually receives more sunshine than Hannover during spring. Potsdam gets 168 hours of sunny skies, while Hannover receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Potsdam usually receives less rain than Hannover. Potsdam gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Hannover receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hannover and Potsdam