Hannover Germany

Hannover is the capital of Lower Saxony in northern Germany, a city of around 500,000 that punches above its weight as a conference and trade fair destination. The Deutsche Messe exhibition complex on the city’s northeast edge is the largest trade fair ground in the world, but the city centre is entirely separate - compact, walkable, and anchored by the Maschsee, a large artificial lake created in the 1930s that functions as the city’s recreational centrepiece. The Altstadt around the Marktkirche and the Leineschloss gives a sense of the old city, though much of central Hannover was rebuilt after heavy Second World War bombing. The Herrenhausen Gardens, a short tram ride from the centre, are among the finest baroque gardens in Germany and worth a visit. Hannover has a large student population thanks to Leibniz University and the University of Applied Sciences, which gives the city an active bar and restaurant scene disproportionate to its relatively modest international profile. Hannover Airport (HAJ) connects to most major European hubs with short flight times to Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt, and Zurich.

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