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Germany : Hanover - May 2010

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Lower Saxony’s capital is renowned for its trade fairs, but between these there’s a glut of hotel rooms waiting to host you in a pleasant city with a long history and some fascinating architecture. Stuart Forster enjoys a spring stroll

Getting around

HAJ

Bus: The 470 bus leaves from its stand beside Terminal C for the Langenhagen Zentrum station in the city centre, several times an hour. The journey takes about 40 minutes and costs €2.
Train: The S5 train departs every 30 minutes from 4.30am until midnight. The journey takes about 15 minutes and costs €2,80.
Taxi: A taxi from the airport to the city centre costs around €25 and takes about 20 minutes.
Tourist information: The central tourist office is at 2 Ernst- August-Platz ( ; hannover.de).

CITY CENTRE

Hannover’s centre is enlivened by some eye-catching architecture. The view of the chateau-like New Town Hall (built in the early 20th century) over the lake of the Maschpark has become iconic, while the futuristic Nord/LB building is an impressive landmark.

Sleep soundly – Try the central and comfy Lühmann’s Hotel am Rathaus (21 Friedrichswall, tel. , hotelamrathaus.de, singles from €89).

Culture vultures – Look out for the 4.2km red thread; a line connecting 47 of Hannover’s attractions. You can pick it up anywhere in the centre, or from the tourist office on Ernst-August-Platz.

Dance the night away – The Zino Bar (9 Otto-Brenner-Strasse) club hosts a regular roster of events.

Shop til you drop – Whether you’re looking for department stores or boutiques, the streets around Georgstrasse are the place to start.

LIST

This district to the north of the centre has 43,000 residents and – thanks to its 700-year history and attractive housing – something of a bohemian feel.

Sleep soundly – The art nouveau-style pension-hotel Avalon (10 Ferdinand- Wallbrecht-Strasse, , avalon-hannover.de, singles from €70) is reasonably priced and close to the Listerplatz U-Bahn station.

Culture vultures – The royal cavalry school was established after Hannover became a Prussian province in the 1860s, but these days the Cavallo Königliche Reithalle (34 Dragonerstrasse) is a venue for events, including concerts.

Must eat – If you like Italian food, La Fortuna (87 Podbielskistrasse, tel. ) is the place to visit.

Must drink – If you don’t want to start dancing late, head to the ‘after work’ party at Acanto (28 Dragonerstrasse) on Thursdays, which gets going from 8pm.

ANDERTEN

This district is situated just east of the impressive Hannover zoo.

Culture vultures – Visit the European Cheese Center (13 Hägenstrasse) for a ‘unique cheese experience’.

Must eat – Schützenhaus Anderten (7 Schützenplatz, tel. ) is known for its traditional German dishes.

Must drink – The Alter Bahnhof (2 An der Bahn) is a converted former railway station with a pleasant beer garden that offers regular live music shows.

HERRENHAUSEN

Verdant Herrenhausen is best known for being home to the magnificent sculpted parks that existed when Hannover was a kingdom united with Great Britain through the personal union of the king himself. The Royal Gardens – the Berggarten, Georgengarten, baroque Grosser Garten and Welfengarten – are especially pleasant in late spring.

Sleep soundly – Take one of the 201 rooms at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (6 Hinueberstrasse, 34950, crowneplaza.com, rooms from €126) to be close to expansive Eilenriede forest.

Culture vultures – Pay a visit to the Royal Gardens (4 Herrenhauser Strasse) on the Saturday evenings of 15 and 29 May, when the 20th International Firework Competition is held.

Must eat – For a taste of Swabian speciality spätzle and some south-west German hospitality in the heart of Lower Saxony, visit the Spätzle Haus (33 Hegebläch, tel. ). The vegetarian kaesespätzle is delicious.

Shop til you drop – Even shopping-shy men might find the shop of the family-owned Herrenhauser Brewery (83 Herrenhauser Strasse) attractive.

Compiled by Stuart Forster