Hannover is anything but boring!!

Day trip from Hamburg to Hannover

Using the regional day ticket (regional day ticket) my partner and I paid €29 (€23 for 1 person) for our return train journey from Hamburg to Hannover.

That was our choice, but the ticket was valid for travel anywhere in the region covered by the scheme. We opted for the first available trip which left at 9.15  although it required 2 changes – at Rotenburg and Verden.

At Verden the train was delayed by 25  minutes (which was so unlike Germany!). We nearly changed our plan and went to Bremen instead. However I am glad we didn’t because Hannover was different

Like most central stations in Germany, the Hannover Hauptbahnhof building was imposing 

We had to go through the striving modern city centre to get to the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall). That’s probably why a lot of reviews brand Hannover ‘boring’ and ‘dull’

Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall)

The building is quite spectacular. It’s hard to believed that it was built only at the beginning of the 20th century. 

Inside Neues Rathaus

The lobby of Neues Rathaus is equally amazing with 4  scale models of Hannover on permanent display. For me the most poignant models are that of 1939 when Hannover was a thriving provincial capital and 1945 when most of it was decimated. 

The difference of Hannover before and after WW2 is not only a salutary reminder of the futility of wars, but it also explains why Hannover looks “too dull” to some commentators because of its modern city centre. 

Restaurant Der Gartensaal (Garden Hall) 

The restaurant at the back of Rathaus overlooking the pond was a great place for lunch, if only for its view! It was a pity that it was not particularly sunny so we sat inside.

It was an interesting set lunch with cold dill soup as starter; the fish and wild rice main course was very nice, though.

The view of Neues Rathaus from across the pond is picture perfect!!

The Dome 

Tickets for the observation platform on the top of the dome cost €3.50 per person.

The ascent to the top involves 2 lifts and some stairs. The first lift get to the bottom of the dome where there’s a waiting area (and a queue) for the curved lift. The lift is for 6 persons (5 visitors and 1 guide) at one time. Then there’s a stairwell to the very top 

Views from the dome 

Given that Neues Rathaus is surrounded by modern buildings, the views are surprisingly lovely

Here are the views from the 4 corners

 

Antes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)

The “Old Town”

It’s interesting to note that the “old town” was actually rebuilt from parts of the surviving old buildings being transferred to the oldest part of Hannover.

Finally

Got the fridge magnet 😁

and photos📸