Hanover Region

Most of the Hanover Region belongs to the Großraum-Verkehr Hannover (GVH) transport system that includes local trains, bus, tram and (underground) light rail. The Verden district, however, is part of the Bremen-centred Verkehrsverbund Bremen/Niedersachsen (VBN) network, while Nienburg and Hildesheim districts each organise their own local transport, not participating in either regional association.

If you plan to make more than two trips by said means of transport within the GVH area, a day ticket is your best bet, buying you unlimited travel on the public transport system. Day tickets are valid until the last connection of the day (which normally ends sometime after midnight). The public transportation adopts an honor system for tickets, but they do have ticket inspections once in a while (also late at nights and early mornings). The fine is quite high, so make sure you have a ticket all the time. Be aware that some tickets will need to be validated (stamped on the 'blue box'), and some not, depending on the machine.

• Ticket and Cards Regions. It may be confusing to understand the zones of Hanover public transportation. The key is to know that there are "tickets" and "cards". The term "tickets" applies to the ones bought at the machine or elsewhere, while "cards" are the ones with (monthly) subscription. Inside the city area of Hanover, you only need a 1-zone ticket as it already covers a good part of the city. If you stay in the same zone outside of Hanover you also need a 1-zone ticket. The type of ticket depends on the number of zones you use. Tickets are valid on bus, tram, fast tram (S-Bahn), and regional train.
• Ticket Price (2014)

• Day ticket: €4.90 (1 zone), €6.20, (2 zones), €7.70 (3 zones)
• Group day ticket (up to 5 persons): €9.40 (1 zone), €11.90 (2 zones), €14.60 (3 zones)
• Single-trip ticket: €2.50 (1 zone), €3.20 (2 zones), €4.00 (3 zones)
• Short-trip ticket (up to 3 stops for tram and 5 stops for bus): €1.50
• Reduced ticket (children 6-14y, big dogs): €1.30 (all zone)
• Special price for a carnet of 6 single-trip tickets (SammelTicket): €14.00 (1 zone) and €17.50 (2 zones) resp. 4 single-trip tickets €14.90 (3 zones)

Note: If you are a returning visitor and have any carnets or day tickets left: Bring them along ! All tickets issued after 01-JAN-2002 (= those with € as currency) have unlimited validity.