Hanover City Guide - Getting Around

The city’s exemplary transport system is run by the Üstra Hannoverische Verkehrsbetriebe AG (tel: (0511) 16680; website: www.uestra.de), and consists of buses and Stadtbahnen – trams that travel underground in the city centre and on special designated tracks in the suburbs. Services run 0500-0100. Night buses run 0000-0400 and Stadtbahnen every half hour 0100-0400, Friday to Sunday from Kröpcke (the central square).

Urban transport is integrated with regional services, including Deutsche Bahn (tel: (01805) 194 195; website: www.bahn.de), which operates five suburban train (S-Bahn) lines, as well as RegioBus Hannover (tel: (0511) 368 880; website: www.regiobus.de). The umbrella organisation, Grossraum-Verkehr Hannover (GVH) (tel: (0511) 1668 3000; website: www.gvh.de) oversees the entire system.

Single tickets are valid for up to one day on all transport and prices are based on a zones covered. Day, group, concession and multi-tickets are also available. Tickets are available for purchase using pre-paid cards (GeldKarte from banks or PayKarte from Deutsche Telekom) from automated Tix dispensers at bus and tram stops – tickets bought in this way are slightly cheaper and will eventually replace tickets purchased with cash from the driver or from other ticket outlets.

The GVH Tages Einzel Ticket (whole-day card) offer unlimited daily travel within one zone. The Hannover Card, available from tourist information and other outlets, allows free travel on GVH buses and trams in the Hanover ticket zone and discounts at tourist attractions (see Sightseeing).

Taxis are beige Mercedes and tourists can safely hail these on the street or call for one in advance. Radio taxi companies include Flughafen-Taxen Hannover (tel: (0163) 640 7232 or (0177) 248 7311; website: www.flughafen-taxi-hannover.de) and Taxengemeinschaft Langenhagen (tel: (0511) 730 101; website: www.taxi-service-hannover.de). After dusk, tram and bus drivers will often order taxis for single women passengers, on request. These meet the passenger at the relevant bus stop. Drivers normally stick to the efficiently regulated meter system. A tip of 10% is expected.

Driving conditions in Hanover are now among the best in Germany. Wide, five-lane-streets in the city centre make driving very easy and prevent congestion.

Given the excellent public transport system, in most cases it is advisable for drivers to park and ride. In the city centre, 24-hour parking is available at Friesenstrasse/Lister Tor, Hbf/Raschplatz, Rundestrasse/Hbf, Leonhardtstrasse (Schweizer Hof), Schmiedestrasse, and Opernplatz (Opern/Kroepcke), Osterstrasse, Koebelinger Markt, Klagesmarkt and Marstall.

Up-to-date information on driving conditions and transport in the Hanover region is available from Move GmbH (tel: (0511) 3535 4232; website: www.move-info.de).

In addition to the outlets at the airport and the central station, cars can be hired from Avis (tel: (01805) 557 755; website: www.avis.de), Europcar (tel: (01805) 8000; website: www.europcar.de), Hertz (tel: (01805) 333 535; website: www.hertz.de) and Sixt (tel: (01805) 260 250; website: www.sixt.com). Drivers must be a minimum of 19 years old and have held a full driving licence for at least one year, although some companies hire out very small cars (such as the Smart Car) to 18-year-olds. Payment is in cash or by credit card, on presentation of a valid licence (an International Driving Permit is preferred).

Bicycles can be hired from Werkstatt Treff Vahrenheide, Lilienthalstrasse 12 (tel: (0511) 633 293). The workshop also carries out bike repairs.