Entertainment

Museums & Galleries

Hanover has quite a few art museums and galleries, some of which have a very good reputation worldwide. Internationally renowned is the Sprengel Museum for its collection of classic Modern art. Located right beside the Maschsee, it presents high value exponents from recent times: Beckmann, Chagall, Ernst, Klee, Nolde, Picasso and also Hanover's famous Dadaist Kurt Schwitters. Also, a very interesting place is the Kestnermuseum. Since 1884, it has presented diplomat and collector August Kestner's collection. Above all you can see exponents from Egypt, Greek, Etrustic, Roman and post-antique art here. Also on show here are many modern, contemporary art galleries. Something not to forget is the Wilhelm-Busch-Museum (named after the first comic artist in the world who lived in a village near Hanover). You can expect ever-changing exhibitions of comic, cartoon, caricature and graphic art in this classic little palace in the middle of the Herrenhäuser Gärten. Of course you can find Wilhelm Busch's works here too.

Cinema

The cinematic scene in Hanover is very hard to beat. You won't be able to find another German city that presents such a large and varied program. A cinema worth mentioning is Cinemas on the Raschplatz. Here you can see the latest Hollywood movies plus a great selection of independent films.

Theater

You can expect to see plays of an international standard on Hanover's stages. It took some time; however, for Hanover to receive a good reputation in this genre. Above all, the Landesbühne deserves a mention. It successfully presents classics in a modern style. The Opera at the Opernplatz, and the Schauspielhaus are popular all over Germany and even abroad. You can also expect high class acting and plays at the Ballhof. The theater is divided into two buildings, the Ballhof and Ballhof 2, the latter presents smaller shows. If you take a walk through the Hanover's center, you can't overlook the Theater am Aegi's big imposing glass façade. This theater is without a doubt the town's premier address for high-class comedy and cabaret. Nearly all famous German actors have been here at least once. You can experience Cabaret, political and smaller comedy acts, at the Theater in the Küchengarten which was founded by the German cabaret artist Dietrich Kittner. Some of the best venues for cabaret and variety acts are the Alcazar and the GOP-Variety in the Georgspalast. Both locations present international travesty, magic, and comedy performances. Last but not least, this guide would not be complete without mentioning the Theaterwerkstatt (theatre workshop), which is located in the Pavillion on the Raschplatz. Here, fine dramas and plays are presented with a great sense of atmosphere and have often been highly commended.

Music

Despite the fact that there are a lot of music halls and stages for bands and orchestras in Hanover, locations with acceptable acoustics and venues for more popular bands are very rare. The only venue acceptable for a medium pop act is Capitol. In this former cinema you can see decent temporary bands in a good atmosphere for reasonable prices. You can count the bigger venues on the fingers of one hand. The Eilenriedehalle is a big concrete block with awful acoustics. You must also be a very devoted fan to survive a concert in one of the big Messehallen at the fair, which are often misused for concerts. The factory atmosphere and the bad acoustics are hard to bear. Be warned! The historic Kuppelsaal right beside Eilenriedehalle is a far better spot for concerts. This hall has a plush ambiance and very good sound; it's an ideal place for classic concerts and high-ranking pop events. Acts like the Pet Shop Boys and Bryan Ferry have been featured here. Super acts like Pink Floyd can be seen during the summer months in the Niedersachsenstadion. This stadium can hold up to 40,000 people.

Music clubs and music theaters are very popular in Hanover and the city has a lot of venues for them. Beside the traditional and unique music theater Bad and Capitol, mentioned before, Altro Mondo and Faust have gained a very good reputation, especially in the last few years.

Nightlife

Hanover has a lot of clubs and bars, but the musical style is somewhat uniform in most of the clubs. If you are NOT into house, soul and black music, it may not be your scene. Most of the clubs have stuck to this kind of music, and it seems to work. The leading club in this genre is Palo Palo, which has been commended many times as "The best club in Hanover". You can also expect House, Soul and Funk at Zaza. Anyone who loves good pop and party music and wants to get to know people should visit Osho. In the uncomplicated ambiance of this Bhagwan club you can meet people and make friends very quickly. Osho is interesting even if you're a little longer in the tooth: On Wednesdays they have a "Thirty-something" special, anyone over 30 years gets in free. Unfortunately there are very few options for alternative sounds in Hanover, Eternity and Base are the only two. Both clubs are located near Steintor and are not very far away from each other, so you can check out both quite easily. Recommended for insomniacs are, once more, Zaza, which normally closes in the morning, and Odeon, where you can get delicious hot meals at any time of night.

Parks & Leisure Centers

Contrary to other cities, which often have their parks and green areas integrated into the streets, Hanover has large sanctuaries apart from the main city. Often described as the "Green lung of Hanover" the Eilenriede is almost like a forest that stretches from the zoo to the inner city; an ideal place for joggers, walkers and kids. Also worth a visit are the Herrenhäuser Gardens, especially the Großer Garten, an impressive and artful arrangement of theme gardens, orangeries, labyrinths, waterworks and ponds. Another beautiful spot is the Maschpark with the artificial Maschsee (Masch Lake). The possibilities are numerous at this big lake such as swimming, sailing, rowing and ice skating. Last but not least, a visit to the zoo is recommended that seems to get bigger each year with more attractions. A family friendly spot with a giant playground for your children the Zoo Hannover also offers great food.

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