Things To Do in Hannover
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Hannover Attractions
Marktkirche (Market Church), the Gothic brick basilica on Marktplatz, is one of Hannover's oldest structures, built in the mid-14th century. Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), facing the square, dates from 1425. It was badly damaged in the war but has been restored and now houses the civic archives.
- Park/Garden
Herrenhäuser Garten
No matter where you go in Hannover, you won't be far from a park or garden. But make sure you don't miss this one, the only surviving example of Dutch/Low German early baroque-style gardening. Designers from France, the Netherlands, England, and Italy, as well as Germany, worked… - Landmark
Rathaus
The "new" Rathaus is a large structure, built between 1901 and 1913. An inclined elevator -- the only one in Europe other than the elevator at the Eiffel Tower -- takes visitors up to the 10m (33-ft.) dome. The building is attractive because of its location in the Maschpark, by a…
Hannover Shopping
The oldest and largest flea market in Germany, the Flohmarkt, sprawls across Am Hohen Ufer (U-Bahn: Markthalle) every Saturday from 7am to 4pm. Stalls are set up along the banks of the Leine River. The city is hardly confined to flea markets, however. Hannover is one of the most fashion-conscious cities of the country, sometimes called "the Milan of Germany." It is the home of stylish clothing, and Hannoverians are among the most fashionably dressed Germans.
Your first destination may be the glassed-over Galerie Luise, a multilevel shopping mall at the corner of Luisenstrasse and Rathenaustrasse (bus: 120), with upscale shops for clothing and home furnishings. Terner, Luisenstrasse 9 (tel. 0511/363931; tram: 5), has designer-inspired clothing for men, women, and children.
Hannover Nightlife
Hannover Vorschau, a monthly newspaper devoted exclusively to the city's nightlife and cultural venues, is available at news kiosks and in the city's hotels.
The Performing Arts
The Nieder Sächsische Stadtstheater Hannover GmbH, Opernplatz 1 (tel. 0511/99991111; www.staatstheater-hannover.de; U-Bahn: Kröpcke), built between 1845 and 1852, is the region's leading venue for ballet, concerts, and opera. Depending on the performance, tickets cost from 15€ to 65€ each. Less formal, with popular as well as classical offerings, is the N. D. R. Symphoniker, Rudolf Benigsen Ufer 22 (tel. 0511/9880; bus: 2 or 6), an ugly postwar building whose charm derives from what goes on inside. You can hear poetry readings, jazz and rock-'n'-roll concerts, and chamber orchestras. Tickets cost 15€ to 35€.
Bars
Many of Hannover's most appealing bars are Irish pubs. The biggest and best of the lot is MacGowan's Irish Pub, Bruderstrasse 4 (tel. 0511/14589; www.irishpub-hannover.de; U-Bahn: Steintor or Hauptbahnhof). It's open daily 5pm to 2am, and serves Guinness and Murphy's on tap, along with sandwiches, fish and chips, and Irish stew. When Irish music bands are booked, a cover ranging from 8€ to 10€ is imposed.
Dance Clubs
The best place for mainstream dance is Osho Disco, Raschplatz 7L (tel. 0511/6422785; www.osho-disco.de; U-Bahn: Hauptbahnhof), a longtime survivor of the club scene. It plays funk, house, and other dance music. It's open Wednesday to Sunday 10pm to "whenever." Cover is 4€ to 10€. One of its leading competitors is Palo Palo, Raschplatz 8A (tel. 0511/331073; www.palopalo-club.com; U-Bahn: Hauptbahnhof), where house, funk, blues, reggae, and Motown play every night 9:30pm until dawn, for a cover of 5€ to 8€.
Live Music
An alternative venue, Café Glocksee, Glockseestrasse 35 (tel. 0511/1614712; www.cafe-glocksee.de; tram: 10), stages hard-core, punk, and techno shows. Thursday concerts start at 9pm. On Friday and Saturday, it's disco mania 11pm to 7am and again on Wednesday 6pm to 2am. The cover charge ranges from 3€ to 15€.
Gay Clubs
Schwul Sau, Schaufeldstrasse 30A (tel. 0511/7000525; www.schwulesauhannover.de; tram: 6), hosts dance parties, theater performances, and private parties, attended by a crowd of gay and straight arts-conscious patrons. It's open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8pm to 3am; Saturday 9pm to at least 7am; and Sunday 3pm to 2am. Cover is 8€ to 15€ for parties or theater events, and 5€ for dancing. There's no cover Tuesday, Wednesday, or Sunday.
A Casino
The Spielbank, Osterstrasse 40 (tel. 0511/980660; www.spielbanken-niedersachsen.de; U-Bahn: Kröpcke), has an impressive roster of blackjack, roulette, and slot machines. It's set within a modern building, with none of the Belle Epoque trappings or decorations you might have hoped for, and contains both a bar and a restaurant. Men are required to wear jackets and ties, and women are requested to dress appropriately. The casino is open daily 3pm to 3am. Admission costs 2.50€, and you must show your passport to enter (you must be 18 or older to enter and gamble).
