The town and its surrounding areas are known for the tradition of growing white Asparagus and for breeding Hanoverian horses.

It shares borders with Uetze, Lehrte, Isernhagen, Burgwedel and the Celle district.

Forests consist mostly of Scots pines, birch trees and English oaks.

The municipal area is surrounded by the Altwarmbüchener and Oldhorster Moor in the west, and the Burgdorfer Holz forest in the east.

Burgdorf comprises the town proper and the villages Beinhorn, Dachtmissen, Heeßel, Hülptingsen, Otze, Ramlingen-Ehlershausen, Schillerslage, Sorgensen and Weferlingsen.

Weststadt is referred to as "Burgdorf/Weststadt" on town signs, whereas the north, south and central portions are simply called "Burgdorf".

From the sixteenth century on, Burgdorf held the town seal and coat of arms with a lion resting between two oak trees.

The colors and flag of the town, green and yellow, are derived from this coat of arms.

Brandende ("Fire's end") square in the old town still reminds of the place where the flames were finally subdued.

The most successful club from the town is TSV Hannover-Burgdorf, competing in the German Handball-Bundesliga ever since 2009.

Burgdorf is connected to Hanover via the A37 motorway, which passes into the B3 highway to Celle north of the town.