Why I prefer Hannover to Paris

I got into the Parisian spirit, sashaying around new sights (like the 12th arrondissement, the Petit Palais and Musée Carnavalet) and old (Le Marais and the Champs-Elysées) alike, and finding that I prefer Paris over London (just like I did in 2008).

But the moment I got off the plane, into Hannover, I felt my mood lift. The freshness of the air! The lesser density of the built environment! People I loved, and community members who were often friendly to me!

I’m not the only travel blogger who finds this underrated Northern German city friendly, yet when it comes to other visitors, they are delightfully scarce in all but the most central of places. Even in summer, I am usually the only non-German in my neighbourhood.

I haven’t spilt much ink on Hannover, in part because I wish to protect the privacy of my friends there, in part because it’s difficult to distill months of experiences into a blog post… and probably in part due to other reasons which might be articulated later. 

I’m one of those people who reads those lists of ‘Most Liveable Cities’ and takes note. Copenhagen, Vienna and Melbourne? I’ll make a point of incorporating them into my travels. London and Tokyo? I may visit, but I’ll feel overwhelmed by the clamour and sheer number of people sharing the space. Paris is perhaps the most relaxed megacity, and it’s possible I may visit again, but Hannover has the wide, inviting streets, an abundance of green growth, a manageable size, user-friendly public transport, affordability (within Germany), and people have more time for you if you need help or extra attention. 

Hannover is a lovely place to spend time in, and I’ve been very lucky to do so. Hopefully I’ll be back there in 2026!