Hanover: World Cup Host City
City facts: More than 520,000 people call Hanover home. Site of Expo 2000, it is known for its international trade fairs. Hanover was a host city during the World Cup in 1974, along with the 1988 European Championships and German Championship finals.
How to get there/get around: The closest airport to Hannover Airport. To find the best flight deals, search our airfare engine. Keep in mind that the cheapest days to fly are Tuesday and Wednesday.
If you're coming overland, trains can be taken from Berlin, Hamburg or Düsseldorf. The best way to travel across Germany is the World Cup Eurail Pass. This pass allows you flexible days of travel within Germany. Youths under 26 and two or more adults traveling together can also save money. Advantages include not having to deal with traffic or signs in foreign languages, easier navigation from one city to another and increased socialization with other excited World Cup fans!
If you'd rather be on your own schedule, then hiring a car might be a better option. Renting a car in Germany allows you to get off the beaten path and explore more of Germany's varied countryside. Hitting the road can give you a much needed break from other sports enthusiasts and the chance to drive no-holds-barred on the Autobahn!
Streetcar/U-Bahn and buses offer in-city transport.
Who's playing: Angola, Costa Rica, Italy, Ghana, Mexico, Poland, South Korea, Switzerland
What's the schedule:
Monday, June 12: Italy vs. Ghana
Friday, June 16: Mexico vs. Angola
Tuesday, June 20: Costa Rica vs. Poland
Friday June 23: Switzerland vs. South Korea
Tuesday, June 27: Second Round TBD
Full World Cup Schedule
Stadium information: Niedersachsenstadion is a remodeled stadium that seats almost 40,000 fans. Given a 64 million euro facelift, it opened ahead of schedule in December 2004.
Where to get tickets: You can get tickets to every match played in the World Cup through World Cup Blog! Find tickets by team, grouping, individual game or city. Buy World Cup tickets for matches in Hanover.
What else to do: If you need a break from the soccer madness, Hanover boasts a number of attractions including the Hanover Zoo, Maschsee, and The Sprengel Museum. Georgstrasse and the Old Town offer the best shopping. For those that just want to relax, check out the Herrenhausen Royal Gardens.
Where to stay: You can find accommodation throughout the country with World Cup Blog's hotel database. It allows you to search multiple sites at once for the best deals on rooms in Germany. Use the search box in the right column, or find hotel deals in Hannover. Hostels more your style? Check out these hostels in Hannover.
How to keep in touch: If you own a mobile phone with a removable SIM card, you can buy a pre-paid German SIM card. You can find out your local German number before you arrive, and get free incoming calls while in the country. If you don't have a phone that will work, look into renting a German cell phone, which costs less than you think!
Wireless hot-spots and internet cafes can be found around the city. Locations include Cafe-Klatsch, Surf Inn, Surf Inn, Terrarium and Galeria.
How to protect yourself: Many insurance carriers do not provide coverage overseas. Beat the odds and make the most of your holidays with affordable travel health insurance. In case of trip cancellation, you can also recover your costs with trip protection insurance.
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