Grosser Garten was begun in 1666 and laid out in its present form between 1696 and 1714 under the direction of the Electress Sophie. Today it is one of the few Baroque gardens to have retained all its essential features, including the 80-metre-high plume of the Grosse Fontäne, visible from far off to show the way to these charming historic grounds.

Georgengarten, created in the 19th century, is a landscaped park on the English model. From the Leibniz memorial temple on a raised peninsula there is a picturesque view over sweeping lawns and placid lakes framed by carefully arranged copses and solitary trees. The neighbouring Welfengarten provides a setting for the Welfenschloss royal palace, today Hannover University, and is an important recreational area for students and residents of the Nordstadt district of Hannover.

Berggarten took shape at the same time as the Grosser Garten, making it one of the oldest botanical gardens in Germany. With around 11,000 different plants from the most various of climatic zones, the garden is a charming and fascinating place for a stroll or peaceful relaxation. The new Rain Forest House offers exciting glimpses of the astonishing flora of the tropical rain forest.