Hannover is a terrific place to land. With a population of more than half a million, the centrally located city hosted the 2000 World Exposition, and plays host to several other conventions of worldwide significance, including the Marksmen's fair, the industrial Hannover Fair and CeBIT, the world's largest computer fair.

Hannover's Opera House dates from 1845-1857 and was built by the local architect George Ludwig Laves. But the most impressive building of all stands at Trammplatz.

The "Neues Rathaus" (new Town Hall). This gigantic building is the sign of the ambitions of the wealthy citizens of this city at the beginning of the 20th century. It was built between 1901and 19013. The foundation rests on more than 6.000 beeche pillars. The style of the building was modelled on a Baroque palace with a central dome, and decorated with Neo-Gothic ans Secessionist details. In the Debating Hall hangs a large painting made by the Swiss Ferdinand Hodler. It shows the arrival of Protestantism in Hannover in 1533.

The "Adagienkirche" in the centre dates from the 14th century, and the town hall from the 15th century. The "Marktplatz" (market square) is one of the best examples of 15th century redbrick architecture, with amazing gables with projections, as well as figurative friezes of glazed terracotta. Close to the market is the "Sankt Georg and Sankt Jacobus Kirche " (Saint George and Saint James Church) with its characteristic four-pinnacled tower. The most valuable object inside the church is the Gothic altar, with scenes of the Passion of Christ and copper engravings by Martin Schongauer.

Close to the "Leineschloss " ( Leine Castle ) stands the Neustädter Church, with the tomb of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz (1646-1716) who was forty years long the librarian of the House of Hanover. The Leineschloss is situated by the Leine River. The  17th century castle was entirely rebuilt by the architect Laves between 1817 and 1842.

At Kurt-Schwittersplatz is the Sprengel Museum, one of the grand museums of Germany and one of the finest modern art museums in Europe .  This museum bears testimony to the leading role of Hannover as an artist's mecca in the 1920's. When the Nazi's came to power, however, the destroyed the works of art considered "degenerate". One of the most controversial artists of the city worked here, Kurt Schwitters. The museum was founded in 1979 by Bernhard Sprengel, a chocolate magnate. It holds works by Munch, Chagall, Picasso as well as many more recent artists like Christo.