Hannover event weekends: what to do between sessions

Home of the world's largest fairground, with baroque Herrenhausen Gardens and a compact old town.

Events we cover in Hannover

Arriving

Hannover airport (HAJ) is 17 minutes by S-Bahn; Hamburg and Frankfurt are 1 and 2 hours by ICE.

Where to stay

Three hotels we would book

• Budget: Motel One Hannover-Oper
• Mid-range: Hotel Loccumer Hof
• Splurge: Kastens Hotel Luisenhof

Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Tours

Where to eat

• Markthalle Hannover Food hall
• Brauhaus Ernst August Brewery pub

With kids

• Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover.

Rainy-day backups

• Sprengel Museum.

Free things to do

• Maschsee lake walk.
• New Town Hall atrium (lift costs a little).

Getting around

• Trams and S-Bahn serve the Messe with fair tickets as transport passes.
• Deutsche Bahn ICE trains link the big cities; the Deutschlandticket covers all local and regional transport for a monthly fee.
• Trade fair and event tickets often include free local transport: check yours.