Hamburg versus Hannover

Pygathrix

Pygathrix

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
I'm visiting Niedersachsen in the summer, staying halfway between Hamburg and Hannover. As we will already be visiting Walsrode, Lüneberger Heide Wildpark, and Avifauna (on the way) I'm not going to be able to visit the zoos of both these cities (the rest of the family have their limits). I've been to neither and wonder if anyone would recommend one over the other, and why.
 
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Personnaly I would say Hannover,thats not saying that Hamburg is not any good I just think Hannover has more to see and do while in the zoo.
 
But if you have the slightest interest in zoo history, go for Hagenbeck Tierpark in Hamburg.

I have not been there since 1995 but I know they have done a good deal of renovation and added some new exhibits. I went to Hannover Zoo in 2004 and thought it was somewhat generic, though I'm not saying it's bad, I just think you'll find the historic Hagenbeck to have more character than Hannover.
 
I'd have to agree with Baldur. Hannover is interesting, certainly, and some - but by no means all - of the new developments are very good. But Hamburg is a zoo of the utmost historical interest, with a host of iconic exhibits. In addition, the newish tropical house is (mostly) very good, and the recent orang utan house is impressive too. It's the sort of zoo that anyone with any serious interest in zoos has to see.
 
Thanks guys. I was thinking of Hamburg because of Hagenbeck's legacy which I have been reading about since childhood. As an aside, a non-zoofan tells me that Hamburg is the more interesting of the two cities generally.
 
True, Hagenbeck is something you have to see, it may no longer be among the world's greatest in terms of pioneering exhibits, but with regards to historic importance, few beat it.

As to the cities, you'll probably find Hamburg to be 'more German' than Hannover, although as I said, I haven't been there since 1995. But I did go to Hannover in 2004, four years after the 2000 World Expo, and thought it had been modernised almost too much for my taste. But that is just my opinion and I leave it to you to make the final decision.
 
I have visited both zoos a few times in the last 15 years.


PRO for Hamburg:
- the already mentioned historic exhibits and atmosphere as well as the more interesting other stuff the city has to offer (harbour sight seeing tour, Reeperbahn, Hamburger SV a.s.o.)
- the gardening character of the Tierpark
- the option to visit the new Troparium (adjacted, but extra entrance fee) with reptiles, amphibians, fishes and invertebrates (there are only a few in Hannover)
- giant river otter

PRO for Hannover
- more or less new zoo (most exhibits are not older than 15 years)
- boat tour (included in entrance fee) thru the african part (very good)
- immersion exhibits (north african houses with north african animals, asian jungle palace and the complete new "Yukon Bay" with in Europe seldom shown Karibous
- the better zoo food (asian food in the middle of the jungle palace, good german food in the Meyers Hof area)
- a good childrens play area
- Kaama-Hartebeest, Common Wombat


Short: If you are travelling with kids, go to Hannover, otherwise go to Hamburg.
 
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