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Ringerike

Ringerike is a district in Buskerud in the central lowlands of Eastern Norway. It's a popular tourist destination for day trips with Hadeland Glassverk as the biggest attraction. Visitors also come for recreation, bicycling and walking along marked routes in the woods, or skiing in winter. Hønefoss is the main town and a transport hub between eastern Norway and western Norway, between the eastern lowlands and inner valleys of Hallingdal and Valdres.

Understand
Ringerike is a municipality and a traditional district (landscape) in lower Buskerud county. The traditional district includes Hole municipality. It sits on the northern shores of the wide Tyrifjorden lake. Tyrifjorden lake (major lakes are often known as fjord in east Norway) is the hub for a wide river system from Valdres/Jotunheimen, Hardangervidda and Hallingdal to Drammen. Hønefoss sits at the confluence of two major rivers (as well as a smaller river), one of them forms a lovely waterfall in the city centre. Rivers flow slowly in large bends, meanders, through the rich agricultural landscape. River deltas and meanders create wetlands partly protected as nature reserves for birds.

Tyrifjorden is one of Norway's major lakes. With a depth of 288 meters it is the second biggest by volume and one of the deepest in Norway. The lake surface is only 60 meters above sea level and most the volume is in fact below sea level. Tyrifjorden's outflow forms Drammenselva river, one of the largest rivers in Norway. Tyrifjorden has a diverse wildlife and has a complex shape. Steinsfjorden branch is relatively shallow with many birds, 14 types of fish (including pike) and noble crayfish. Steinsfjorden has several islands. Storøya island sits at the mouth of Steinsfjorden and is the biggest island in Tyrifjorden. Storøya belonged to the bishop of Hamar in the middle ages and there are remains of buildings from before the black plague.

Central Ringerike sits just west of the uplands of the Oslo forest (Nordmarka), the Oslo forest rises above the delightful lowlands as a long, steep forested ridge in the east. Road E16 runs across this ridge and offers fine panorama of Ringerike and uplands beyond. Hikers can enjoy the panorama from the edge of Krokskogen/Nordmarka. There are also panoramapoints available by car along Steinsfjorden.

The area has a rich history, as can for instance be seen in the large number of burial mounds at Veien near Hønefoss. Halvdanshaugen (Halvdan's burial mound) on the plain near Stein (next to road E16) is one of Norway's largest. The burial mound is assumed to be for Halvdan the Black, a Viking-age king or chief of a smaller area of East Norway.

Cities

 * Hønefoss - is the centre of Ringerike. It is a busy and charming town less than an hour's drive from Oslo. It is located north of lake Tyrifjorden, where the river Begna forms the waterfall of Hønefossen, giving the town its name. The area is rich with history and has been a natural link on the route between east and west from early times. Hønefoss has a range of cultural activities, especially in summertime with several musical shows.

Get in
Hønefoss is a transport hub for travel between Bergen, Hallingdal and Valdres and Oslo and other East Norway cities on the other.

 * By air
 * Oslo Airport  (Gardermoen) is 66 im from Hønefoss. From Oslo Airport there is the Airport Express bus to Hønefoss, named Askeladden Reiser.
 * Torp airport at Sandefjord.

The Bergen railway line meets the rails of East Norway at Hønefoss. Regular trains from Oslo via Drammen. About two hours travel time from Oslo. The train station is located just outside Hønefoss centre, within walking distance from the town centre. Just follow the foot-path downhill.
 * By train
 * By car
 * Distance from Oslo (road E16) and Drammen (road 350) is about 50 km. The roads from east, south and west meet just outside Hønefoss. Ringerike is situated along route E16, 53 km from Oslo. From Bergen it is the last natural stop before Oslo, easy to spot along E16 (424 km). Road E16 Bergen-Oslo airport-Gävle (Sweden) runs through Hønefoss and Ringerik, with a branch to Oslo. Oslo and Ringerike are separated by high hills and road E16 runs through a small pass with a fine panorama.
 * Road 7 runs between Hønefoss and Eidfjord via Hallingdal and Hardangervidda. This is the shortest route to/from Bergen.

 * By bys
 * With express bus from Oslo's bus terminal, it takes 1 hour and 15 min. to Hønefoss. Timekspressen has 26 departures daily, 15 departures on Saturdays and Sundays. For time table search for buses, see Trafikanten.no
 * Askeladden reiser has a regular transport from Hønefoss to Oslo airport Gardermoen eight times every day from 05:30 in the morning to the last return from the airport at 10:45 in the evening, except for Saturdays. Check the schedule under the link "Gardermobussen".

See

 * Riddergaarden Riddergaarden is an old farm from 17.century situated down town Hønefoss. Here you can leave the noise from the city and enjoy the quietness. Open during summertime.
 * The waterfall in the middle of Hønefoss is not very impressive if you have seen a waterfall before. It might smell a bit odd since the river flows through a paper mill not far from the city. But if you get the chance to see it on a sunny day when the dam is open it has its charm. There is also a park nearby, Nordre park ("The northern park"), where you can sit, relax and enjoy the view of the waterfall.
 * Riddergaarden Riddergaarden is an old farm from 17.century situated down town Hønefoss. Here you can leave the noise from the city and enjoy the quietness. Open during summertime.
 * The waterfall in the middle of Hønefoss is not very impressive if you have seen a waterfall before. It might smell a bit odd since the river flows through a paper mill not far from the city. But if you get the chance to see it on a sunny day when the dam is open it has its charm. There is also a park nearby, Nordre park ("The northern park"), where you can sit, relax and enjoy the view of the waterfall.
 * Riddergaarden Riddergaarden is an old farm from 17.century situated down town Hønefoss. Here you can leave the noise from the city and enjoy the quietness. Open during summertime.
 * The waterfall in the middle of Hønefoss is not very impressive if you have seen a waterfall before. It might smell a bit odd since the river flows through a paper mill not far from the city. But if you get the chance to see it on a sunny day when the dam is open it has its charm. There is also a park nearby, Nordre park ("The northern park"), where you can sit, relax and enjoy the view of the waterfall.
 * The waterfall in the middle of Hønefoss is not very impressive if you have seen a waterfall before. It might smell a bit odd since the river flows through a paper mill not far from the city. But if you get the chance to see it on a sunny day when the dam is open it has its charm. There is also a park nearby, Nordre park ("The northern park"), where you can sit, relax and enjoy the view of the waterfall.
 * The waterfall in the middle of Hønefoss is not very impressive if you have seen a waterfall before. It might smell a bit odd since the river flows through a paper mill not far from the city. But if you get the chance to see it on a sunny day when the dam is open it has its charm. There is also a park nearby, Nordre park ("The northern park"), where you can sit, relax and enjoy the view of the waterfall.

 * Panorama points
 * View of Ringerike and distant mountains from stop on main road
 * (King's view) above Sundvollen. 1.5 km (1 mile) hike from Kleivstua hotel.
 * Churches
 * Nes church (also octogonal design)
 * Nes church (also octogonal design)
 * Nes church (also octogonal design)

Do

 * Tyrifjord Cruise From May 1st to September 30th, you can charter a boat with skipper and crew for your arrangement. Food and beverages must be ordered prior to the arrangement. Our bar is fully licensed. Welcome on board for company outings, representations, weddings, anniversary parties, children’s parties (pirate cruise), and other arrangements. Enjoy a nice boating trip on Tyrifjorden and the river Storelva.

Hiking and skiing

 * Krokskogen (“The woods”) is the western part of the wide Oslo forest (Marka). The forest sits on a plateau rising abruptly above the Ringerike lowlands. There continuous forest and hiking paths from Krokskogen to Oslo.
 * Krokkleiva is a preserved road along which artists, kings and other people have travelled for ages. It is part of the old King’s Road to Bergen, which runs through Krokskogen to Bærums verk. Signs lead you to King’s View, one of Eastern Norway’s finest views. It was named after king Karl Johan’s visit there in the middle of the 19th century.
 * The Nidaros Path stretches through the entire municipality and most parts follow medieval roads. Some parts of the path follow the same route as the old King’s Road to Bergen. The path was finished and opened in 1995 during the 1000-year celebration of St. Olav, who was born in 995.
 * If you enjoy nature it is lot to see around Hønefoss. If you enjoy cross-country skiing or hikes, the forests around Ringkollen is a great place to go, both during winter and summer (although you may have a hard time skiing there in the summer). In winter Ringkollen also offers a hill for downhill skiing and snowboarding. For more advanced downhill skiing and snowboarding, Norefjell is a mountain with a skiing centre located 50 km northwest of Hønefoss. Buses goes to Ringkollen and Norefjell from the central station in Hønefoss, but not too often so plan ahead.

Biking
Ringerike has a rich network of foot, bicycle and skiing paths. In the woods of Krokskogen and Nordmarka, you find a unique bicycle terrain along winding small roads, and not the least along Kongevegen/Pilegrimsleden. Along the fjords there are also bicycling paths or roads with little traffic and you can bicycle through a nationally valuable culture landscape with beautiful fields, grazing cattle, and culture monuments such as burial grounds. Many of the culture monuments have information boards.

Fishing
Ringerike is a popular recreation area all year round. It is an eldorado for those who enjoy fishing, especially trout and whitefish. In May/June we arrange the “gjeddefestival” (Pike Festival) and there is crayfishing in Tyrifjorden in August. Tyrifjorden, Sperillen tempt with small forest lakes where trout and perch are plentiful. You`ll also find some char. In between the culture landscape in Ringerike, there are many small lakes with good fishing. Here you can catch pike and several types of freshwater fish. Remember to buy the correct type of fishing permit. The beaches along Tyrifjorden and Sperillen are also popular places for the whole family during summer.

Golf

 * Tyrifjord Golfklubb
 * Ringerike Golfklubb (9 holes golf-course)

Eat
Ringerike is an agricultural area and is known for the Ringerike Potato and the special Ringerike Peas. In summertime you can buy fresh strawberries from the booths along the road and in the season you can buy crayfish from the Tyrifjord as well.

In the town of Hønefoss there are several different restaurants, from gourmet to nice family restaurants. In the garden of Brasserie Fengselet you can enjoy a nice meal away from the noise from the town, even though you are in the centre of town.

Sundvolden Hotel and Klækken Hotell in the countryside offers à la carte restaurants. Sundvolden Hotel can help you with everything from an intimate table for two under the maple trees in their park, to a celebratory dinner in the Guildhall with its large open fireplaces and metre-thick stone walls dating from the eleventh century. Klækken Hotell even has its own confectioner, so you must not miss out on their cakes.

Sleep
Few regions have such a treasure of pleasant hotels and banquet venues as Ringerike.

Here the hosts, through generations, have left their mark on the places. The roads from east, south and west meet in Ringerike, and the region has been a natural stop-over place for may years.

Camping
If you prefer budget travelling, you can spend the night at a camp site by one of the lakes. Close to the main road E16, you find Utvika Camping. Onsakervika Camping close to Lake Tyrifjorden is also a nice place to stay for a few days, especially if you are travelling with children. Both of the camp sites have private beaches.

Farms
You can also hire a room on a farm in Ringerike, all of them in quiet and beautiful surroundings. Bjørke Farm is easy to find when you drive along the main road E16.

Go next
Hønefoss and Ringerike has convenient connections further inland to valleys In the opposite direction are nearby cities
 * Hallingdal (road 7 and Bergen rail line)
 * Valdres (road E16)
 * Numedal with Kongsberg
 * Oslo
 * Drammen

Other
 * Gjøvik

title: Ringerike


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Ringsted

Ringsted is a city in the centre of the island of Zealand in Denmark. Its main draws for visitors are St. Bendt's Church, a Romanesque church containing numerous tombs of medieval Danish royalty, and its large shopping centres.

Understand
Ringsted has a population of 24,000 (2024).

Get around
There are buses, a train station and lots of bicycle paths.

Buy
In Ringsted there is a lot of shopping, in the "Ringstedet" shopping, in the "Ringsted Outlet", and in the city which has a lot of different shops. The city centre also has a shopping centre called "Ringsted Centret", a nice place with exciting shops, e.g., a well assorted shoe shop "Rica Sko" with the newest and most fancy shoes for the whole family.

A large shopping centre called "Ringsted Outlet" has some interesting boutiques. There is also a small cinema (only 30 seats) in Ringsted, and a congress centre with ever-changing music and entertainment.

Eat
The choice of restaurants is not too bad for a city of this size. You can find cheap fast food, pizzerias, Chinese and even a Mexican restaurant. If you want Danish cuisine, you will have to spend a bit more, but will also be rewarded with some decent menus. The city does not have any real top end restaurants, maybe except for the restaurant at Skjoldenæsholm, but a few restaurants have found their way to the splurge section offering Danish or Japanese cuisine. Most of the restaurants are found in the area between Jyllandsgade and Nordre Ringvej.

Splurge
Besides the few splurge restaurants listed here, Skjoldenæsholm and Sørup Herregård listed in the sleep section also have top end restaurants.

Drink
About a handful of places to drink n' dance in the city.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Ringsted


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Riobamba

Riobamba is a city in the Andean highlands of Ecuador. It is known locally as the "Sultan of the Andes". Riobamba sits in a valley surrounded by several large hills and snowcapped mountains. It's perhaps best known as the former starting point of the train ride to Nariz del Diablo, which now leaves from Alausi. Though it has a population of around 150,000 people, it is a rather sleepy place, and now mostly serves as a base for outdoor recreation activities in the surrounding area.

By bus
There are connections to most major destinations in Ecuador, including Quito (3 hours), Guayaquil (4 hours) and Baños (1½ hours).

By train
There aren't regular scheduled passenger trains to Riobamba anymore, however Tren Ecuador runs excursion trains from Quito and Guayaquil, and the Tren del Hielo I from Quito to Riobamba. The Naríz del Diablo train no longer runs from Riobamba. The railway station is centrally located at Av Daniel León Borja.

Get around
A bus costs 30 cents. Taxis are plentiful; most trips within town should be $1.50. Minimum fares are $1.20 until 19:00 and $1.30 after 19:00.

The main tourist area is very walkable - ask for a map at the tourist information center at the corner of Av. Daniel León Borja and Brasil.

See

 * On a clear day don't miss the view of the surrounding mountains. The best views in the city are from Parque 21 de Abril, close to the train station.
 * Museo de la Ciudad is free and has an eclectic mix of art styles and content - paintings, sculpture, photography, furniture, etc.
 * Iglesia San Antonio is next to Parque 21 de Abril. Like many of Riobamba's churches, it seems to open only for services and not for tourism. However, it has glass doors, so you can at least see the inside of the church even though you can't enter.
 * Teatro Leon across from Parque Sucre - notable architecture!
 * La Catedral (the Cathedral), along one side of Parque Maldonado. Appears to only open for services, but also has glass doors so you can see inside without entering. A side chapel to the left of the main door seems to be open more frequently.

Do

 * Riobamba used to be the terminus for the most famous train route in Ecuador, the Nariz del Diablo (Devil's nose). It now operates from Alausi, a two-hour bus trip from Riobamba, to Sibambe.
 * Riobamba is close to Sangay National Park, which contains several mountains and volcanoes including Tungurahua, Sangay and El Altar.
 * Stroll through the markets. Riobamba has 7 daily markets, 3 of which (San Alfonso, San Francisco, and La Merced) are in the main tourist area. All are authentic local markets, with some mix of vegetables, fruit, meat, dairy, and more. There's also a weekly market on Saturdays in Plaza Roja.
 * Explore the parks. There are at least 6 parks scattered through town (Parque 21 de Abril, Parque Guayaquil, Parque Sucre, Parque Maldonado, Parque La Libertad, Parque La Madre). Some have sculptures, others are notable for the architecture of the buildings surrounding them. And as of Jan 2023, most if not all have free WiFi - connect to RiobambaDigital network to get online.
 * Explore the parks. There are at least 6 parks scattered through town (Parque 21 de Abril, Parque Guayaquil, Parque Sucre, Parque Maldonado, Parque La Libertad, Parque La Madre). Some have sculptures, others are notable for the architecture of the buildings surrounding them. And as of Jan 2023, most if not all have free WiFi - connect to RiobambaDigital network to get online.

The official Riobamba tourism website may also give additional ideas, including the Inca trail trek (2-3 days): https://riobamba.com.ec/

Buy
On Saturdays there is a small artisan market. It seems to be mainly aimed at locals rather than tourists, and is certainly more authentic than Otavalo.

Between Pinchincha street and España you can find the best boutiques for people of any age. Or if you like malls, check out El Mall Del Centro locate on Leon Borja and la circumbalacion by La Plaza de Toros

Eat
Riobamba does not lack for restaurants. No matter what your tastes, check out Calle 10 de Agosto/Calle Daniel Leon Borja (Riobamba's main avenue) for all your dining needs. Lunch costs around $2-5, and dinner is normally from $3-6.

 * Cake at the Cafeteria Londres on García Moreno between 10 de Agosto and Primera Constituyente.
 * D’Baggio (Miguel A León y 10 de Agosto) A pizza joint, attempting to look like a quaint Italian eatery, but endearing. The pizzas are completely homemade in an area in the front of the restaurant. As you sit and wait for you meal, you can watch the chef flipping the dough in the air, and whipping pizzas in and out of the wood oven. The pizzas, all made with fresh ingredients, will run you between $6 and 12. Family size are more expensive. The restaurant also has a selection of pastas and salads.
 * San Valentin Club, bar/diner at Leon Borja and Vargas Torres with a nice burrito and lasagna and something to wet your whistle. Prices are fairly standard, $4-5 for a dinner.
 * Pollo Ejecutivo, located on Calle Daniel Leon Borja across from Parque Guayaquil, is the best of the myriad fried chicken places in town. It's greasy, crispy, and delicious.  Meals cost from $2-$3.
 * Hornado (roasted pork) is a specialty of Riobamba. There are many good restaurants specializing in this dish, though hygiene standards may vary.  Usually offered in several portion sizes (~$3.5-5), with some standard offering of sides.
 * If you’re about to take a bus at the terminal, there is a food court (patio de comida) 100m west of the entrance. You may find dozens of options for very decent prices. There seems to be no vegetarian options on menu, but it can easily be arranged.

Drink
"La Avenida" is the teens' favorite spot to relax and de-stress from the week's work. Parties start around sundown and go from El Parque Infantil all the way to La Estación del Tren. And if you're lucky to be around Las Fiestas del Abril, or Riobamba's independence day week, they hold a lot of activities and parades all that week just to celebrate another year of freedom.

Drinking and partying in Rio (as the natives call Riobamba) isn't so hard to do. There are many places where you can go and enjoy a good drink. There is the bar El Tentadero and for the younger generation, Las Pipas. Both are across Plaza de Toros on 10 de Agosto.

Go next
Ambato, to the north (1 hr by bus) Cuenca, to the south (6 hr by bus, $6 with the cooperative Patria)

title: Riobamba


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Rio Branco

Rio Branco is the capital and the biggest city of the state of Acre in Brazil.

In spite of its remote location, Rio Branco is a pleasant town with a good urban organization. Most modern public buildings are of interesting architecture, usually inspired by forest or native culture elements.

Climate
Rio Branco has a tropical climate, so expect a lot of heat and high humidity throughout the year. Average temperatures are typically 22 °C (72 °F) and 33 °C (92 °F) during the hottest days of the year. The rainy season runs from October to April, and the rest of the year is the dry season. In the winter months, during the dry season, the phenomenon of friagem occurs, when cold fronts of polar origin can lower the temperature to up to 12 °C (53.6 °F). However, the cold does not last more than a week and it can return to heat and high humidity. Towards the end of the dry season, between August and September, humidity drops and temperatures become scorching, sometimes reaching 37 °C (99 °F), and some wildfires can occur. It is recommended to drink lots of water if you visit Rio Branco during these months.

By plane

A city bus line connects the airport to the city center. Service runs hourly from 6AM to 11PM. The bus passes in front of the airport building, but there's no stop there. To reach the bus stop, on leaving the building turn left and follow the road. However, given said bus stop is a bit remote, at night the bus drivers are kind enough to pick you up from the airport door.

The taxis operate on a rip-off fixed price of R$ 100 to anywhere in town. The drivers themselves might help to pool people so they share the ride cost. An Uber ride to town will cost around R$ 35, but there are few drivers in Rio Branco and the service is often unavailable.

The airport building is open 24 hr and it's not uncommon for people to overnight there waiting for the city bus service to resume.

By bus
The sits outside the city. It's a modern building, with the ticket offices right at the entrance, and some food options both in form of cafes as well as informal vendors. The building is entirely open air, and it can be cold there early in the morning.

To Porto Velho, capital of nearby state of Rondônia, company Verde offers services departing at 7AM, 10AM, 8PM and 11PM (103 reais, 9 hr).

To the border with Peru, there are daily services to Assis Brasil at 6AM and midday (62.50 reais, 8 hr). Companies PetroAcre and TransAcreana share the right to exploit the service, each week one is running the buses - inquire at their windows and they will direct you.

To the border with Bolivia, there are a few daily services to Brasileia (48.50 reais, 4½ hr).

To Xapuri, of touristic interest due to its connections to the activist Chico Mendes, PetroAcre runs daily 7am and 2:45pm services (35,50 reais, 3,5h).

On the night from Friday to Saturday, the bus plying the São Paulo/Lima route calls at Rio Branco and it's possible to take a straight service to Cuzco (282 reais, 24 hr) or Lima. That's the longest commercial bus service in the world, and it is estimated to reach Rio Branco Saturday 3am. Call Ormeño Bus Company's representative for details:.

The other straight services to Peru have been discontinued.

By car
Lotações (shared taxis) are common in Acre state, and the most popular way of medium-distance travel among locals. As a rule of thumb, the price per person is twice the price of the bus service, and they leave when full (that is, 4 passengers). Service is reasonably structured, and they congregate on their designated.

As of June 2018, the prices were R$ 60 to Xapuri, R$ 70 to Brasileia and R$ 110 to Assis Brasil (with a change of car in Brasileia).

Get around
Rio Branco has a network of city buses run by the local government. The fare is R$ 4 (Aug 2018) and it's possible to transfer free of charge at the

Do

 * Take a stroll alongside Rio Acre, leaving from the all the way to the.
 * Look for high quality, affordable cultural attractions at Fundação Garibaldi Brasil or
 * Do as the locals and go spend your late afternoons at the, a large green area with a lake and sports facilities. There are free local dances presentation on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings.
 * Take a break from midday sun by rerouting your exploration through the Parque da Maternidade (Motherhood Park), a long stretch of greenery that also houses the (House of People of the Jungle) and the Casa do Artesão (Craftsman's House).

Buy
Cheap Chinese stuff can be found at the (Pedestrian street) near the Terminal Urbano. For groceries, the best-supplied supermarket chain is called Araújo and has many units in town.

Eat
Acre state is one of the biggest producers of açaí in Brazil. This purple juice extracted from the fruit of a palm tree gained international fame as a superfood, consumed in form of a frozen cream to which fruits or nuts are added. However, the local way to consume it is to mix the fresh unsweetened juice to a bit of manioc flour (for crunchiness) and then add sugar, condensed milk and/or powdered milk.

Another local delicacy is tacacá, a broth made with manioc water and jambu - a leaf that causes an effect between hotness and light numbness of the mouth. When asked how much goma you want, start with "little" because this goey paste is an acquired taste, but don't skip it as it dissolves into the broth, giving it a nice thickness. It is served in a bowl, and you are supposed to drink directly from it, Japanese-style.

On street markets, look for sweets made of tucumã, a local nut, or sweets or juice made of cupuaçu, a fuit that gives a nicely sour cream.

Not particularly unusual, but has a concentration of holes-in-the-wall selling freshly squeezed orange juice (R$ 3/4/5 for 300/400/500 ml) that makes a great break on hot days.

Go next

 * Xapuri - home to environmental activist Chico Mendes.
 * Cobija - Bolivian border town where Brazilians usually go for shopping.
 * Porto Velho - where you can take a reliable boat service to Manaus.
 * Puerto Maldonado - gateway to Peru.

title: Rio Branco