Hanover, Germany. Excellent restaurants, fascinating museums and Germany's most beautiful baroque garden. Hannover, located in north central Germany with a population of 523,000, did begin as a crossroads between important places and eventually grew into an important town and city in its own right.

If your visit to Hanover is only part of a larger trip, it may be cheaper to buy a rail pass than point-to-point tickets. For non-European citizens, there are a range of passes available, depending on whether you are visiting only Germany or other countries in Europe as well.

The city has an impressive line-up of traditional and modern festivals — such as the annual Fireworks Competition — that draw thousands each year. The Spring Festival and October Festival are classically German (beer, potatoes, bread), but have a different feel to them than similar festivals in other towns. Hannover is a modern city with a rich tradition, beautiful gardens, municipal and royal parks. It is a university capital with important cultural centres and admirable shopping facilities. Furthermore, the city has a 14th-century market church, “the Marienkirche”, a 15th-century town hall with the famous gable and numerous museums, such as the Sprengel Museum near the Masch Lake, which is becoming an important center for modern art.

Hannover’s Public Transport
Hannover’s public transportation system is very efficient; it is formed by trams, trains and buses which are integrated with regional services. The tram service is modern, clean, fast, comfortable and the best of all: covers almost all the city. There are also five suburban rail lines (S-Bahn) which serve mostly tourists and local residents. The bus system is really ample and bus stops are found in many places of the city, the central bus station for inter-city service is located behind the Central Station.

Hannover By Taxi
In the city there are many taxis, but they are relatively expensive. However, it could be cheaper if traveling in a big group. If you want to hail a taxi you must go to the taxi stand or make a phone call to one of the many taxi companies.

Hannover By Bicycle
Hannover is a perfect place for cycling; there are many bicycle paths and many places to rent a good bike.

Hannover By Foot
Hannover can easily be explored on foot; its most important sights are located near to each other.

Close to anywhere in Germany, Hanover offers a good line-up of beers and great festivals at which to drink them. The area enjoys very good weather and the people speak beautiful German, for crying out loud!

Travel Note: From May to October the prospect of good weather is generally better. Average temperatures in the summer range from 20 to 30°C and in winter to - 2.

If you’re in the area in the summer months check out the gardens and watch the fireworks display, it’ll be a great break from all of the morbid castles and lists of dukes and barons and kings that dominate Germany’s history.