Messegelände

The world's largest trade-fair grounds, in the south of the city

A vast 26-hall complex on the southern edge of Hanover, 8 kilometres from the centre, which has shaped the city's identity since the 1947 Export-Messe. The Messegelände hosts CeMAT (logistics), Agritechnica (the world's biggest farm-equipment fair), and the headline Hannover Messe industrial fair every April.

You can only visit during the fairs themselves. The site is otherwise closed to the public, though the 88.8-metre Hermes Tower is a city landmark visible from the southern suburbs. Trains run directly from the main station during fair weeks.

things to do sight landmark
A story
At 466,100 square metres of exhibition space, the Hannover Messe is the single biggest trade fair venue on earth. During the Hannover Messe and the (now retired) CeBIT, the city's hotels filled out to a 50-kilometre radius and tents went up in suburban gardens.