Hannover (Germany)

On a trip to the north of German I made a stopover in Hannover. I arrived mid-morning, left my luggage in a locker and went out onto the Ernst-August-Platz (Platz = square) in front of the Central Station with the enormous statue of King Ernst August (1771-1851, the fifth son and eighth child of George III and Queen Victoria's uncle) on horseback. The spot under the horse's tail is a famous meeting point for the Hannoveraners. A glance back at the station is worthwhile. It's a pompous and imposing building in the Neo-Renaissance style. When it was rebuilt after the bomb raids in 1943, it was ... more

Although I am enthusiastic recycler and cyclist, I will be the first to admit that I contribute to more than my fare share of airplane emissions. I know I should unsubscribe to all the airline mailing lists that land in my inbox but I just can't find the willpower to do that. Every time a new one arrives I have to click through to find out what bargains I might be missing and this is how we found ourselves booking flights to the city of Hannover with the German airline TUI fly. Digging out the Lonely Planet guide to Germany I wasn't much enlightened - lots of concrete, some fine museums ... more

Way back in 1967 when I was at the tender age of 10, my family went to Montreal for a vacation and we spent most of our time at Expo '67. That was one vacation I'll never forget. So, despite some of the negative reviews I'd read about Expo2000, when I got the chance to go to Germany recently, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. Unfortunately, I wasn't all that pleased with what I found there. Granted, I was comparing Expo2000 (under the cynical eye of an adult) to Expo '67 (which I experienced with a child's innocence) and perhaps this clouded my opinion. Still, my own 15 year old son seemed ... more

Hannover is a great place in Germany, we stayed near there for about a week. I must say the scenery and weather is pretty much the same as in England with endless rain. Hannover has a great market for all of those shopaholics, or those who love a good hearty barter with the owners. There are also a good few restaurants, who have expert chefs. I really advise you to go to a Konditorei if you go to Germany, it is just a really old fashioned cake shop or tea room, which is great for breaking your diet! ... more

Hannover is hosting Expo 2000 from June until October, and has made this small, attractive city a 'must visit' for anyone visiting Germany this year. The Expo is being held in the existing Messe (fairgrounds) on the outskirts of the city, easily reached by train, tram, bus, bike, or car. We chose to take the train to Hannover, and stayed at Hotel Atlanta, a great hotel in a quiet side-street near the train station. Admission to the Expo is not cheap at 69DM a day, but includes all public transportation, so arriving is simple. The grounds are open from 9am until midnight, with the pavilions ... more