Hannover (the name is the same in German, and Hanovre in French) is the main city of Niedersachsen. This city is the host of a grand exhibition of the World Expo in the year 2000 and other big exhibitions. That is the reason this city is also called Expo City.  It was a host for the Football World Cup in 2006. The majority of the citizens speak German. English is not spoken, but most people understand English and this is helpful for tourists. 

His name Honovere can mean “city built on a high bank on the river”. In the past it was a small village of fishermen and ferrymen. It was a large town even in the 13th century, because of the town's position as a crossroad. 

When to visit Hannover

The weather is good and moderate throughout the whole year. From December until February it is cold, and From July to August is a little hotter. Hannover has had rainfall though the whole year, there is no period that is monsoon. 

The period between May and September (or the summer period) is the best one to go to Hannover. The temperature is between 8 C up to 24 C. In this period there are a lot of festivals, so tourists visit Hannover mostly in summer. 

The period in autumn is also quite visited because of many events, and the temperature for this period is from 8 to 20 C. 

Hannovers’ local transport consists of a large number of buses and regional and suburban trains. These lines have around 2000 stops and ensure great connections in the whole area. The peak of the transported passengers was in 2016, when 216 million passengers used these services. 

The cost for living varies for different types of stay: for couples it is around 1400 euros, for students around 600 euros, for bachelors around 750 euros. 

Restaurants in Hanover are divided in three categories depending on the price of a regular meal: expensive, moderate and cheap. Also you must tip for the service, and it has to be 10 percent of the price of the recite.  

What to see in Hannover

Herrenhausen Gardens

The royal gardens of Hanover (or in German - Herrenhäuser Gärten) have a large number of attractions. It has the parks Georgengarten and Welfengarten, and a botanic garden with palms, orchids and cactuses, named Berggarten. In this area you can visit Grosser Garten, the baroque one, with its fountains, cascades, a small theatre and an orangery. In these gardens is the Mausoleum, built by Ernest Augustus, and George I is buried there. 

You can also visit the Palace in this complex. It was made in the 16th century and was a royal home. It was destroyed in World War 2, and rebuilt. In this Palace is the Museum called Schloss Herrenhausen, and it has original artefacts and items of the baroque. In this Palace is a very nice café and a bookshop. 

Here you can participate in events when the whole garden is illuminated, and baroque music is played. Also the tourists have a chance to set a paper lantern of their own. In these gardens there is an annual competition in fireworks. These events start from May until September. 

Marktplatz and Marktkirche

The marketplace of Hannover – Marktplatz, is situated in the old town. Here you can visit the most interesting buildings in Hannover. The one that stands out is Ales Rathaus. In front is a marvellous fountain and in the building there are quite amazing galleries and shops. 

Another impressive building is Marktkirche (Market Church). It has a tower which is 97 metre tall. 

The street that is near the Marktplatz has an atmosphere of the old part of Hanover. 

New Town Hall's Tower

New Town Hall was made in the beginning of the 19th century. It was built in the Wilhelmine period. This is the most interesting building and it has a majestic tower, which is dominating the city. 

The tower can be climbed by the tourists. Firstly, you must go on an elevator, and this will lift the tourists, giving them the best view of Hannover. In the Hall are situated models of the development of the city through the centuries. Tourists can have a tour in English for this place. 

Hanover Opera House

For tourists who love opera, the best place to visit is the Hanover Opera House. It is situated on the Georgstrasse and is a wonderful place to take a spot and enjoy. 

It was made in the middle of the 18th century, it is the home of a professional opera company, named Staatsoper Hannover. The renovations helped acoustics to be improved and now can give once in a lifetime experience. The operas are held in the period between September until June. Among other events, there are also ballet events. 

Sprengel Museum

Sprengel Museum is one of the most interesting homes of modern art, and is also a very attractive building. It was founded in 1979, having in possession private and collections of the state. The gallery has a lot of works from many artists, like: Schwitters, Ernst, Klee, Picasso and many others. In this museum, there is a great donation by Niki de Saint Phalle. In the centre of the museum stands a huge sculpture of Calder. 

In this museum different art exhibits are offered. Also, a lot of workshops are held here. You can hire an English guide, and you can tailor the tour according to your interests. 

This museum is situated in a bookshop with a lot of publications, and also a library. You can also visit the restaurant with a large terrace. 

The Bahnhofplatz and Ballhof 

The Balhof is a building made of timber. Located in the Old Town. It was built in the mid 16th century, and was built for shuttlecock and battledore, and also for musical concerts.  It is the home of Lower Saxony State Theater. Also is popular for visiting because there are still concerts held, as well as operas. 

Lower Saxony State Museum

It has an interesting collection of antique items. It is situated opposite to the New Town Hall. The most interesting collection is the European one, with art from the Middle Ages until the 20th century. 

You can find very important art from Rembrandt and Rubens. It holds a huge collection of Impressionist, archeological collections (20.000 items) and species of reptiles and fish.