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Hoi An

Hoi An (Vietnamese: Hội An) is a beautiful city in Vietnam about 30 km to the south of Da Nang. The Old Town of Hoi An is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hoi An is also commonly used as the base for half-day trips to a cluster of abandoned and partially ruins of My Son, another UNESCO World Heritage Site in the west of the Central Highlands.

Understand
Hoi An, once known as Faifo, with more than 2,000 years of history, was the principal port of the Cham Kingdom, which controlled the strategic spice trade with Indonesia from the 7th-10th centuries and was a major international port in the 16th and 17th centuries. The foreign influences are discernible to this day.

The culture and heritage is mostly from the Cham people whose kingdom originally stretched from Hue south to Phan Thiet (south of Nha Trang). The Champas were most likely originally from Java. The original Cham political capital was Tra Kieu, the commercial capital was Hoi An and the spiritual capital was My Son (Hindu). The Cham people were Hindu, and by the 10th century the influence of Arab traders to Hoi An resulted in the conversion of some to Islam.

The second major influence was Chinese, first by traders, then by escaping Ming Dynasty armies, who after settling in Hoi An for some years, moved further south and created Saigon as a major trading port.

The third and last major influence of culture and heritage was from the Vietnamese and is fairly recent and only came after the Cham lost control of this area. For a tourist wanting Vietnamese culture and heritage, Hue is a much better destination than Hoi An.

While the serious shipping business has long since moved to Da Nang, the heart of the city is still the Old Town, full of winding lanes and Chinese-styled shophouses, which is particularly atmospheric in the evening as the sun goes down. While almost all shops now cater to the tourist trade, the area has been largely preserved as is, which is unusual in Vietnam, and renovation has proceeded slowly and carefully. It's mercifully absent of towering concrete blocks and karaoke parlours.

Alas, since 1999, when UNESCO status was awarded, there has been a massive increase in mass tourism, with the result that most houses have been sold to speculators and shop owners to be used for commercial purposes. So while the shell of the town remains (and a pretty shell it is), the community that created it is long gone and in their place are shops, restaurants, art galleries, etc. Domestic Vietnamese tourists have also discovered Hoi An, with the result that particularly on holidays and weekend evenings the Old Town gets packed with standing-room-only crowds.

Orientation
The main thoroughfare in the Old Town is Tran Phu. Just south of the Old Town, across the Thu Bon River, are the islands of An Hoi to the west, reached via Hai Ba Trung, and Cam Nam to the east, reached via Hoang Dieu.

By plane
The nearest airport is Da Nang, which has domestic connections from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Can Tho, and Da Lat and some international flights from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Singapore, Siem Reap (for Angkor Wat), Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and charter flights from China.

A taxi between Da Nang airport and Hoi An costs about 300–500,000 dong (Nov 2023). This is one occasion where haggling to set a fixed price is cheaper than going by the meter. Shuttle buses cost 130,000 dong per person. The journey takes about 45 min.

By train
The nearest railway station is, 15 km from Hoi An by road. Train tickets can be booked online.

A Grab there should be around 80-100,000 dong (Nov 2023).

From Da Nang
The public bus from the center of Da Nang to Hoi An has been discontinued since COVID.

As of Nov 2023, you can take Bus 16 from downtown Da Nang to its most southern stop (6,000 dong), Việt Hàn "bus station". From there, just outside of the bus station, is the where a (village) bus goes at 05:30, 06:30, 08:30, 14:45, and 17:00 for 20,000 dong to the.

If you can wrap your head around the schedule of the latter bus found at Việt Hàn bus station (see picture), you might get a clearer picture of bus times and route. For the return route for example, i.e. back to Da Nang, it is unclear whether the bus is running and if takes the same route. (If you have updated information, please leave it here.)

There is a direct shuttle bus between Da Nang airport and Hoi An (130,000 dong, 1 hour, Nov 2023) — ask your accommodation for more information.

From Hue
Most hotels in Hue can organize minivans directly to your hotel in Hoi An. Standard minivan 13 passengers for 280.000 dong, very confortable limousine minivan with only 9 passengers for 380.000 dong. Leaving daily at 8AM, 1:30 and 4:30PM, travel time 3 hours. (Feb. 2024)

Other destinations
There is no shortage of travel agencies and private buses travelling to Hoi An from destinations such as Hue, Hanoi, Saigon, Dalat and Nha Trang. Guesthouses can arrange tickets for a surcharge, although they may not release the ticket to you until after you check out.

If you arrive by bus not on an open ticket, you may not be dropped off at the Hoi An bus station, but at a guesthouse about a 10-min walk from the station. The motorbike taxis or tuk-tuk waiting for your bus there will take you to your lodging for 20–30,000 dong (Nov 2023).

Open-tour buses run daily up and down the coast from Da Nang: Hue (3½–4 hr, 90,000-100,000 dong), Nha Trang (9–10 hr).

Buses from Buon Ma Thuot or other cities in central Highlands going to Da Nang will drop you off just outside of Hoi An, at a stop along the highway if asked. From there it is a 15-minute motorbike ride to anywhere in town.

By taxi
Fixed price for taxi from Da Nang is 500,000 dong (2022), passing one of the stone handicraft shops on the way.

The usual price for a private car/unofficial taxi directly from Da Nang is around 300,000 dong (2022).

A Grab is about 120,000 dong (Nov 2023).

On foot
The centre of Hoi An is very small and pedestrian-friendly, so you will be walking around most of the time. Motorbikes are banned from the centre of town during certain times of day (08:00 to 11:00, 13:30 to 16:30), but you should keep an eye out for motorized kamikazes, even in the most narrow alleys.

The city government does not allow motorbikes to enter Old Town on the 14th and 15th of each lunar month. On those evenings, a lot of activities, including traditional games such as bai choi, trong quan, and dap nieu are held in all over the town.

By bicycle
Pedal bicycles can be rented quickly and easily for as low as 20,000 dong per day, and is one of the best ways to get around town.

If you are not staying directly in Old Town, this is an outstanding option for traveling back and forth and to the beach. You will see many tourists riding the bicycle through Hoi An.

Some guesthouses and ho(s)tels will even have bicycles for free for their guests, often not the best though — check their reviews to find out about potentially free bicycles.

By boat
Near the river, especially in the evening, Western faces will be besieged by touts offering boat rides. Unless you opt for a longer charter, this is not a practical means of transportation, and while pretty enough, the view from the river doesn't really look any different from what you can see from the banks. From 200,000 dong for 15 minutes on a 4-person boat, including lighting your own little lantern so you can make a wish. Expect to haggle, and on busy nights the river gets jammed, so insist on life vests.

By motorbike
Traffic in Hoi An is minimal, so if you've been avoiding getting on a bike in the big cities, Hoi An and the surrounding countryside like is ideal to get used to the road rules.

There are plenty of places in Hoi An offering motorbike rentals. Take a short ride down to the beach and enjoy the water, explore the island community of Cam Thanh, or travel toward Da Nang to visit the stunning Marble Mountains.

The most common rental motorbike or scooter is a Honda Nouvo which is fully automatic, comfortable for two people and has storage space under the seat for helmets or other similarly-sized gear. It's standard practice for a rental bike to have only enough fuel to make it to the next filling station. Make sure you get a helmet for everyone on the bike.

You can get a bike for 125,000 dong without haggling (2018). Petrol costs around 22,000 dong/litre and 2-3L is enough for a good day of sightseeing, going to the beach and zipping around town. In addition to filling stations, there are also little hand-operated roadside pumps everywhere; these can be convenient, but they're more expensive (30,000 dong/litre) and the quality of the fuel is questionable.

The usual disclaimers apply to motorbikes in Vietnam: foreign driving licences are not valid. In the event of an accident, foreigners driving a motorcycle without a valid licence are considered to be at fault and therefore liable for damages and may face a citation. Check your travel insurance exclusions, as generally you will not be covered for accidents when riding a motorcycle here. That means no reimbursement for hospital treatment or, worst case, the repatriation of your body. Drink-related motorbike collisions are a major issue in Vietnam. Traffic accident statistics for the region are frightful. As well, emergency services are not up to international standards.

By shuttle bus
The newest addition to Hoi An are Go E-buses. Basically they are the taxis for the center. Their prices are pinned against the front window and they can be reserved via or just stop one.

They are a convenient way to get around if walking is not an option.

By taxi
Taxis are abundant.

Motorbike taxis or Grab, of course, are always also an option especially if you are on your own.

Old Town
The Old Town, with its historical architecture and very walkable streets filled with shops and restaurants, is at its best at night, when the activity along the river front is lit by the soft light of silk lanterns.

Entry to Old Town is free, however entry to all historical sites is handled via a coupon system, where 120,000 dong (2016) gets a ticket that can be used to enter any five attractions. Tickets are sold at various entry points into the Old Town, including Hai Ba Trung St, and also at some of the attractions, including the Cantonese Assembly Hall.

Traditional old houses
There are four old houses that exist in an awkward halfway state between museum showpiece and somewhat shabby residence for the family that lives there.

Congregation halls
Numerous congregation halls, where Chinese expatriate residents socialized and held meetings, are dotted about the town. They are typically named after the home region of their members, such as Fujian and Canton. Some attractions do not have ticket-takers.

Do

 * Diving – Cham Islands is popular for scuba diving and snorkelling.
 * Cooking lessons – Offered at several restaurants around town. If you enjoyed your meal there, it can't hurt to enquire. There are several established cooking schools with good reputations who offer a variety of courses. In these schools you will learn only the mechanics of Vietnamese cooking: how to chop the vegetables and roll the spring roll, etc. All the rest are closely-guarded secrets: the making of the sauce, the techniques of frying the spring roll and the grilling the beef. The instructors are locals, and some are not used to English pronunciations and speak fast.
 * Cycling – Hoi An has many interesting nearby sights, which can easily be explored by bicycle. Stunning rural scenes, rice paddies, picturesque fishing villages, fields of water buffalo, a Buddhist pagoda and quiet roads, not to mention the beach to the north. Explore numerous picturesque pathways, some still bamboo bridged. Tour companies or private guides offer cycling tours, or just open your OpenStreetMap app (OsmAnd, Mapy.cz, Organic Maps, MapsMe) and search for "Tourist Attraction".

Day trips

 * Cham Islands – UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An 9 nautical miles offshore. Get there by slow boat or speedboat. Day trip (arrange with your hotel or local tour operators).
 * Non Nuoc Beach – Opposite the Marble Mountains and accessible by motorbike. There are beaches closer to Hoi An accessible by bicycle or motorbike, with parking near the beach. A Grab should be 50,000 dong one way.
 * Dong Duong – Ruined Cham tower, the sole major remnant of a large Buddhist Cham period (9th century, 875-915 under Indravarman II) temple-complex that was originally 155x326 m. Other minor remnants are also visible.
 * Lang Co – A fishing village that includes mountains, a river, a lagoon, an island and a 32 km beach between Da Nang and Hue.
 * The Marble Mountains – 9 km south of Da Nang, well worth a morning or afternoon trip from Hoi An. The largest of the five mountains has temples and caves. A Grab costs 220,000 dong one way (Feb. 2024). Any hotel in Hoi An can arrange a taxi that will wait for you a couple of hours and will take you back to Hoi An. 600.000 Dong as of Feb. 2024.
 * Entry is free at some times, while at others, there appears to be a small fee. It is worth paying extra for the small map. No one will tell you how to get to the top to overlook Fire Mountain to the west, there is one trail accessible from the WC—look for the handrails going up—another is nearby, near a temple complex and next to an arch over the trail.
 * Accessibility: An elevator available for a small fee (15.000 Dong, Feb. 2024). It may be broken, but it only leads to platform with an overlook towards the water; you would still need to take stairways to see the temples, so there is no advantage to the elevator. If you can make it up the stairs at the entrance, there will be no problem with the rest of the stairs. Cave floors and trails may be wet but are not slippery.

 * My Khanh – Rare seaside ruin of a Cham tower dating from the 8th century.
 * My Son – Best done as an early morning half-day trip from Hoi An by motorbike, private car, or organized tour. A return by boat can be arranged. Trails may be slippery in rainy weather.
 * Tháp Bằng An - Twelfth-century Cham octagonal tower dedicated to Shiva. By motorbike, about 30 minutes northwest of Hoi An. There may be a someone on the site who will sell you a ticket for 10,000 dong. Can be combined with a day trip to Tháp Khương Mỹ.
 * Tháp Khương Mỹ - Three Cham towers, contemporaneous with Bagan in Burma. Small museum on premises. There may be someone at the site who will sell you a ticket for 10,000 dong. By motorbike, a half hour south of Hoi An. Can be combined in a day trip with Tháp Bằng An for about 120,000 dong.

Money
There are many ATMs around Hoi An. is on the way to the center along the parallel S-roads, and is in the northern, less touristy part of the city, both not charging fees. But you can also try ACB, they might not charge either.

For changing money the best places are the gold shops near the market.

Shopping

 * Brass gongs and bells – There are many foundries on the road to My Son. Items can be made to order. This is the origin of the souvenirs sold in Hoi An tourist shops.
 * Hand made silks and lanterns – Old Town tourist shops.

Bespoke clothing
Hoi An is known as the centre for affordable custom-made clothing. There are around 400 tailor shops in the city, some better than others. Most can complete something in one day, so you may wish to make an order on arrival so there will be time to complete the work. The principle of caveat emptor is definitely relevant. You will probably need to leave a deposit of about 25% the finished price before the work is started. If there are problems, shops may or may not be willing to make adjustments; you will not get a refund. Some strategies to minimise your risk:

 * Do not use recommendations from your accommodation and not from motorcycle drivers (both the hotel and drivers get a kickback), check TripAdvisor/Google Maps, and go to multiple shops for quotes. Do not go with shops that hurry through the design process or are pushy.
 * Avoid Yaly’s and Be Be. They are tourist trap. Hotels will earn 30% from commissions by recommending to you.
 * Order one thing at a time: if something goes wrong with one item, you lose less money. On the other hand, you could negotiate discounts if you ordered multiple items at once.
 * Take something that fits, they work better with copies.
 * Make sure they understand any special instructions: pockets, shortening, etc., the language barrier is not your friend.
 * Price things in more than one shop: materials and prices vary.
 * Order from more than one shop, again so all your eggs are not in one basket.

Tailor shops:

What
In addition to the usual suspects, there are dishes that Hoi An is particularly famous for:
 * Bánh Xèo – Crispy fried, stuffed rice pancake or wrap, similar to a Taco, that you half and roll into eatable paper with additional vegetables and then dip into a delicious sauce.
 * Cao Lầu – A dish of rice noodles soaked in lye, tinting them light brown and giving them a firmer, chewier texture not unlike pasta or Japanese udon. The noodles are topped with slices of roast pork, dough fritters, and this being Vietnam, lots of fresh herbs and veggies.
 * Mì Quảng – Wide rice noodles atop a bed of fresh herbs in a bowl (or vice versa), with a small amount of warm or lukewarm broth, generally strongly flavored and infused with turmeric, just enough to partially cover the vegetables. Meat is added on top of all this.
 * Bánh Bao Bánh Vạc (White rose) – A type of shrimp dumpling made from translucent white dough bunched up to look like a rose.
 * Hoành Thánh Mỳ (Wonton dumplings) – Essentially the same as the Chinese kind, served up in soup or deep-fried.

Where
Meals at restaurants in the touristy center of Hoi An are generally more expensive than outside at a more local place (depending on the dish and the location) and portions served are smaller, but most dishes are still inexpensive and delicious. A few touristy places can actually be more convincing than the local ones, like Madam Khanh — still running stong and fairly priced as of Nov 2023.

However, street snacks, bakeries, coffee places, and beverages in restaurants are often double the common local price.

Budget
For Mì Quảng try the following two inexpensive local restaurants (close to each other) in the northern part of Hoi An:

Drink
Walking along the river at night, you will find a lot of pubs. Beer is around 30,000 dong. Cocktails are 20,000-50,000 dong. There are some bar foods available, such as fried prawn crackers for around 15,000 dong a plate. Hoi An is not a real party destination and has a rather limited number of nightlife locations.

Sleep
Hotels in Hoi An are fiercely competitive, which means plenty of choice and generally high standards. Budget options start at 90,000 dong. Many are clustered around Hai Ba Trung St and "Ba Trieu" (formerly, Nhi Trung St), just north of the Old Town and within easy walking distance, and also along Cua Dai St, off to the east and a bit of a hike away.

Most of Hoi An's high-end hotels are located along the unbroken beach stretching from Da Nang to Hoi An. The closest is Cua Dai Beach, 5 km away.

November flooding
Hoi An regularly floods during November. Visitors who plan to arrive during one of their floods should book ahead.

The city stayed open during the November 2013 floods, although there were news reports of tourist evacuations. As hotels near the river flooded, tourists started moving to hotels on higher ground. Flooding affected streets up to four blocks uphill from the river, as well as the hotel and restaurant area across the bridge on An Hoi peninsula. The water levels for this flood seem slightly below the levels of the 2011 flood; the cleanup seemed to be well handled.

Connect
Most hotels, restaurants and cafés have free Wi-Fi. There is also a widely available citywide network: to connect, open your browser and click the banner at the top.

North

 * Da Nang – Largest city in central Vietnam and a seaside place with almost too many people, just 24 km north of Hoi An.
 * Hue – The former imperial capital, a few hours away by car or train. There are 3 or 4 trains a day, reservations can be arranged a day in advance. Although to catch the train you must go to Da Nang as trains do not go all the way to Hoi An. Besides, this train has the reputation of one of the top train journeys in the world.
 * Dong Hoi – A sleepy beach and seaside town with all the necessary infrastructure; laid back, authentic and genuinely friendly, with at least half a dozen hostels, convenient for accessing Phong Nha Ke Bang national park. 5–6 hr north of Hoi An, best by train from Da Nang.
 * One-way motorbike trips to Hue traveling through the Hai Van Pass are a very popular and scenic method to get north. One-way rentals with an English speaking guide can cost as low as US$25-30. Travel time, including numerous stops, is about 6–8 hours.
 * Hanoi is the capital city, and gateway to Sapa

South

 * Quy Nhon – The inexpensive and tourist-free alternative to Da Nang, yet off many people's radar and therefore still a tranquil and authentic, lively and pleasant city with a much (among the locals) hyped beach.
 * Nha Trang – Vietnam's premier beach resort town and the next stop for backpackers travelling south.
 * Dalat – built as a playground of the French, who built villas in the clear mountain air to escape the heat and humidity of the coast. From Hoi An to Dalat is at least 12 hours by bus, and can take several days during the flood season. There are no trains to Dalat.
 * Saigon / HCMC

Laos
From Hoi An bus station buses run to Da Nang, ending the route at the bus station, where there are many options. An early bus directly to Pakse, even a long ride to Vientiane. In order to cross the border to Lao, there are many buses to Kom Tum. Ask the to drop you at Pleikan, is a town where locals gather to take a minivan at sunrise and reach the border when it opens. The minivan will wait for you after the formalities in the Viet side. Back to the minivan you will be driven to the Lao border, where a visa on arrival will be issued. And back to the minivan. The route at Attapeu, capital city of Attapeu Province, Laos.

title: Hoi An


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Hokianga

The Hokianga area surrounds the Hokianga Harbour in the Northland region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is sparsely populated and has many little clusters of houses in a very rural setting. The density of population is less than one per square kilometre. A good place to relax and chill out.

The icon for the Hokianga is the kauri tree, with 75% of all kauri trees being in the Hokianga. It has four protected kauri forests: Waipoua in the south-west, Omahuta to the north-east, Warawara in the north-west and Puketi in the east.

Towns

 * – the oldest Hokianga town and second oldest European settlement in New Zealand
 * – a historic town with interesting buildings and many artists
 * – large concretions (boulders) on the shore
 * – kauri forest reserve
 * – town on the south side of the harbour that became famous through Opo, a dolphin
 * – a historic and picturesque village on a peninsula jutting into the harbour

Other destinations

 * — Valley along the Waima river with settlements of Taheke and Waima
 * — Home of Tane Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere, two of the largest kauri trees in New Zealand

Understand
Its full Māori name is Hokianga-nui-a-Kupe, the returning place of Kupe, the legendary Polynesian discoverer of New Zealand 800–1,000 years ago. The entrance to the beautiful harbour is guarded by two headlands that legend tells are the taniwha who accompanied Kupe to this country. The North Head is called Niniwa and the South Head is Arai-te-Uru. The eleven rivers that feed the Hokianga are the paths their children made.

The population is 6,000–7,000 of whom 60% are of Māori descent, Te Rarawa iwi in the north, Ngapuhi iwi in the south. Many people are descendants of early European settlers as well as being able to trace their Māori ancestry back to Rahiri.

The remoteness of the Hokianga, combined with a lack of investment in the region, gave it a reputation as being one of the most poverty-stricken parts of the country. This neglect caused the area to remain pristine, unspoilt, untouched and untamed.

The climate is sub-tropical: bananas, figs and peaches grow wild. Horticulture is gradually making a come-back after years of neglect.

There are many arts-related activities from country and western music to film and book festivals, kapa haka and jazz.

Hokianga Health Enterprise Trust runs the hospital and the health system which includes district nurses in nine clinics, a dental service and other services such health promotion. The Trust is elected by the community and the doctors work for salaries. On a per capita basis, it is the most efficient and effective health service in the country.

Get in
From Dargaville drive 54 km northwards on State Highway 12 (SH 12) past the Waipoua Forest info spot. The Hokianga starts at the parking for Tane Mahuta.

From Kaikohe drive westward on State Highway 12. After about 9 km you will drive into a basin, which is where the Hokianga starts.

Get around
There is no public transport in the Hokianga. To explore, you need a vehicle or boat. A vehicle ferry crosses the harbour between Rawene and Kohukohu.

See

 * See the vast kauri trees, including Tane Mahuta – the biggest of them all – at Waipoua Forest and Omahuta Kauri Sanctuary near the town of Mangamuka Bridge
 * Historic buildings such as Clendon House at Rawene and Mangungu Mission House at Horeke
 * Wairere Boulders – an enormous basalt flow near Horeke
 * Biggest concretions in the world at Koutu
 * Sand dunes – fantastic sandstone sculptures on top of dune accessed from Opononi or Kohukohu

Itineraries

 * Hokianga round trip. Total time 2 days. Start in any of these towns: Horeke, Mangamuka Bridge, Kohukohu, Rawene, Waima or Taheke. For instance start in Horeke and visit the Wairere Boulders and Mangungu Mission House. This will take you about half a day. Continue your trip to State Highway 1 and drive to Mangamuka Bridge. About 1 km before the town, turn left to experience the Omahuta Kauri Sanctuary. Continue the trip to Kohukohu. This will take you about half a day. Have a look around Kohukohu. Cross the harbour on the vehicle ferry and look around Rawene. Drive to the turnoff on State Highway 12 and turn left towards the Waima Valley and continue your trip to your starting point Horeke.
 * South side trip. Total time 2 days. Start in Horeke and visit the Wairere Boulders and Mangungu Mission House. This will take you about half a day. Drive to Taheke where you turn right into State Highway 12 and follow the Waima Valley westward. Follow the road to the turnoff to Rawene. Follow the road, park close to the ferry terminal and look around Rawene. This will take you about half a day. Return to the turnoff on State Highway 12 and turn right towards Opononi/Omapere. Drive through Whirinaki and after descending a long hill, turn into Koutu Loop Road on the right. Visit the Koutu Boulders. Return to SH 12 and turn right, follow the road to Opononi. Park your vehicle and take the passenger ferry across the harbour. Walk up to the sand dunes and return on the ferry. Continue your trip towards Omapere and follow SH 12 till you see the carpark for Tane Mahuta.

Do

 * Hiking in the forests

Go next

 * Bay of Islands – historic area and very popular tourist destination to the east
 * Far Far North – to the north
 * Lower Northland – to the south

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

title: Hokianga


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Hokitika

Hokitika (local English pronunciation "hoke-uh-TICK-uh"), gateway to the South Westland World Heritage National Park, is on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.

Understand
Founded on gold mining in 1864, Hokitika was a centre of the West Coast Gold Rush and grew very quickly. By late 1866, it was one of New Zealand's most populous centres. On 16 September 1867, there were 41 vessels alongside the wharf, as the port of Hokitika ranked first in New Zealand in both the number of vessels entered inwards and in the total value of exports, principally gold. The population has declined greatly since the Gold Rush, but the population of the Westland District is now on the rise, thanks to "lifestyle inhabitants". Almost 30% of the district's rate-payers live outside of Hokitika.

By car

 * Hokitika is about three hours' drive from Christchurch via State Highway 73 over scenic Arthur's Pass; it's worth stopping at Arthur's Pass National Park HQ, enjoying the views, and keeping an eye out for kea.Lake Kaniere.jpg

By bus

 * Intercity Coachlines travel to Greymouth from Christchurch or Nelson, and there are regular coaches from Greymouth, 40 minutes away. It's approximately 2 hours drive from Fox Glacier.

On foot
Hokitika is small enough that you can see most things on foot. The majority are around the old main street, Revell Street, which was laid out by an amateur town planner during Gold Rush days to follow the sand dunes, and is notably kinked (it's known as the "Crooked Mile").

Buy
Pounamu is a nephrite jade found only on the West Coast, and its harvest and sale is governed by Ngai Tahu. There are a variety of pounamu stores, mainly along Weld and Tancred Streets. Beware some shops selling Canadian jade carved in China - if the price looks too good to be true, it's probably not pounamu. You can see Ngati Waewae carvers in action and buy verified pounamu carvings at Te Waipounamu Maori Heritage Centre, on the corner of Weld & Sewell.

Go next
North: South:
 * Greymouth and Shantytown (a bit before Greymouth and 20 minutes drive from Hokitika)
 * Punakaiki Blowholes – an hour and a half drive
 * Ross
 * Franz Josef Glacier – two hours drive on State Highway 6
 * Fox Glacier – the bigger and less crowded glacier, 2.5 hours drive

title: Hokitika


text:
Hokkaido

Hokkaido (北海道 Hokkaidō) is the northernmost of Japan's four main islands and at the same time a prefecture. With both size and population (5.3 million in 2019) similar to Scotland, it is the most sparsely populated part of Japan.

Understand
Home to Japan's native Ainu people, Hokkaido continues to represent the untamed wilderness with many great national parks. Hokkaido is by far Japan's largest prefecture, consisting of Japan's entire northern island and its surrounding islets. For many visitors the scenery resembles a mix of northern Europe and the American West, with rolling fields, grazing cows, and pioneer cottages replacing the rice paddies and concrete warrens of 'mainland' Japan. However, the ubiquitous hotspring resorts in much of the island serve as a reminder that you are still in Japan.

History
Hokkaido was for millennia the home of the Emishi people, whose descendants are today's Ainu. While loosely ruled by Japanese feudal lords since the 1500s, direct Japanese control was limited to the Oshima Peninsula around Hakodate. Mass migration from mainland Japan began only after the Meiji Restoration in 1869, with the Hokkaidō Development Commission (開拓使 Kaitakushi) created to settle the island and exploit its resources. Lacking the thousand-year-old temples and visible traces of history so plentiful in the rest of Japan, to this day the island retains a bit of a frontier feel, with planned cities with neat grid layouts and plenty of log cabins. As part of the settler colonial policy implemented by the Meiji government, the Ainu were dispossessed of their land and forced to assimilate into Japanese culture.

Hokkaido was particularly hard hit by the end of the Bubble in the late 1980s, with the collapse of local lender Takushoku Bank taking down many local businesses. Add in marginal agricultural land and increasingly unprofitable mining and industry, and the result is long-term population decline, especially in rural areas. Projections indicate the prefecture may lose half its population by 2050. The one bright spot in the economy is winter sports, with Sapporo hosting the 1972 Winter Olympics and ski hotspot Niseko in particular booming.

Hokkaido used to be known as Ezo (蝦夷), in earlier times pronounced Yezo, whence modern Latin yezoensis in the scientific names of local species. The current name Hokkaido was only given following the Meiji Restoration in 1869.

Climate
Hokkaido is colder than the rest of Japan, and the merciful lack of Japan's muggy summers and monsoon season makes it a very popular domestic destination between May and August. In the winter season, Hokkaido's central mountains boast some of the best powder in the world and its numerous ski resorts attract millions of domestic and international skiers and snowboarders in winter. Spring and autumn, on the other hand, tend to be cold and wet, and are very much the off season for tourists.

Some of Hokkaido's inland areas have a continental climate, with large daily and yearly temperature variation. Asahikawa in particular is notorious as one of the extreme cities in Japan: it holds the all-Japan record for lowest measured temperature at −41.0°C, and average lows on a typical February day are around -12°C, but it has also clocked up 37.9°C in August!

Tourist Information Site
Hokkaido LOVE! is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Regions
Alone among the main Japanese islands, Hokkaido is not divided into multiple prefectures. Instead, there are 14 subprefectures (支庁 shichō, or officially 振興局 shinkōkyoku from 2008), which are generally grouped into four regions:

Cities

 * – the capital and by far the largest city in Hokkaido
 * – northern fishing port, home to Japan's most infamous prison
 * – the coldest city in Japan (literally)
 * – with lavender in the summer and some of the world's best powder in winter
 * – the gateway of Hokkaido by train and the capital of the short-lived Ezo Republic
 * – between Saroma and Lake Akan, this city is well known for its peppermint farms
 * – the main city in the Tokachi Plain, one of Japan's major agricultural belts
 * – Hokkaido's largest port
 * – Japan's northernmost city, a major port with many connections to Russia

Other destinations

 * – the land of beautiful patchwork hills
 * – trendy ski destination
 * – Hokkaido's largest hot spring resort
 * – village
 * – thoroughbreds and beautiful cherry blossoms

National parks

 * — known for its mysterious lakes, including Lake Akan
 * — peaceful lake near Hakodate in southern Hokkaido
 * — this eastern peninsula park, where bears roam in the wilderness and bathe in hot waterfalls, was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2005
 * — Japan's largest national park, in the middle of Hokkaido, and the Holy Grail of extreme hikers and people who love eating seafood
 * — a national park in the east of the island, known for its wetlands ecosystems
 * — volcanic hot springs, two beautiful caldera lakes with rumbling volcanoes, and mossy canyons make scenic Lake Toya one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations
 * — covering the small islands off Wakkanai at the northern tip

Talk
Most people speak Standard Japanese. There is little regional dialect variation as most people are fairly recent immigrants from all over Japan. However, most of the early immigrants to Hokkaido, whose descendants are found primarily in the fishing villages along the coast, speak Tohoku dialects, which are difficult for people who know only Standard Japanese to understand. Only elderly people, however, are likely to speak only Tohoku dialect.

A very few still speak Ainu, but the language is critically endangered: a 2011 UNESCO report indicated there were just 15 elderly native speakers and a few hundred more with limited ability. As a visitor, the main place you'll see the Ainu language is in place names, which tend to use many plosive "p"-sounds (rare in Japanese) and have characteristic endings like -betsu, -nai and -horo/poro. Otherwise, your only realistic chance of encountering the Ainu language are in cultural performances and ceremonies put on for tourists.

Get in
The Seikan Tunnel, the world's second longest rail tunnel, is the only land link that Hokkaido has to Japan's main island of Honshu. Trains through the tunnel, ferries, and airliners are the only means of reaching Hokkaido. The only way to enter Hokkaido by car is to ship it across on one of the many car ferries.

By plane
Sapporo's Chitose Airport is Hokkaido's sole international gateway of significance, with flights from Hong Kong, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Shanghai, Beijing, Honolulu, Seoul and Busan. However, there are only limited international flights and most visitors will need to transit through hubs such as Tokyo and Osaka. The route between Tokyo and Sapporo is, in terms of capacity and planes flown daily, the busiest in the world. If transiting via Tokyo, beware that most Sapporo flights use Haneda, and you'll need at least 3 hours to travel there from Narita.

In addition, there are a few international flights (mostly from Seoul and Taipei) to Asahikawa and Hakodate.

By train
Hokkaido was finally linked to the national shinkansen high speed network in March 2016 with the opening of the segment between Aomori and Hakodate via the undersea Seikan Tunnel. A one-seat trip from Tokyo to Hakodate now takes just four hours using the Hayabusa service. By 2030, the line from Hakodate to Sapporo is expected to be finished.

The terminal station in Hokkaido for the shinkansen is Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station (新函館北斗). From here, travelers can take a 15- to 20-minute shuttle train ride down to the center of Hakodate city, or take a limited express train up to Sapporo.

There are car rental facilities just outside the station.

Seishun 18 Ticket
Since the Seishun 18 Ticket does not allow travel using bullet trains, users who want to go to Hokkaido from Honshu must purchase a separate option ticket for ¥2300. The special ticket allows trips in any available standard class seat on Hokkaido Shinkansen trains between Okutsugaru-Imabetsu (the last bullet train stop in Honshu) and Kikonai (the first such stop on Hokkaido). It also covers travel on the private Isaribi Line between Kikonai and Goryokaku, where the rest of the local JR network can be accessed. You must be in possession of a valid Seishun 18 Ticket to purchase and use the option ticket.

By ferry
Ferries are most popular among people bringing their own cars to Hokkaido.

 * Ferries from Hakodate link to northern ports in Tohoku, including Aomori and the Shimokita Peninsula.
 * Otaru provides links to Maizuru (near Kyoto) and Seoul.
 * Tomakomai connects with Akita, Niigata, Tsuruga, and sometimes Maizuru.
 * (Wakkanai used to have ferries to Russia, which were suspended in 2019).

Get around
Hokkaido is vast, so allow plenty of time to get around and don't try to do too much if your time is limited. Many Japanese maps show Hokkaido with a larger scale than the rest of the country, which may make distances appear deceptively small.

By plane
Due to its vast size and numerous outlying islands, Hokkaido has a fairly well-developed commuter airline network. The main regional carriers are JAL subsidiary Hokkaido Air Commuter and ANA. Many turboprop flights operate out of the tiny Okadama Airport in central Sapporo.

By train
The train network in Hokkaido is (by Japanese standards) limited, although it's more than adequate for travel between major cities. However, access to many of the more interesting sites, such as Hokkaido's many national parks, will require either relying on infrequent and expensive buses, renting your own car, or trying your luck at hitchhiking.

Some convenient express trains include the Hokuto and Super Hokuto between Sapporo and Hakodate (3½ hours, ¥8,830 each way); the Super Kamui between Sapporo and Asahikawa (1½ hours, ¥4,810 each way); the Tokachi between Sapporo and Obihiro (3 hours, ¥7,220 each way); the Super Ōzora between Sapporo and Kushiro (4 hours, ¥9,370 each way); and the Super Soya and Sarobetsu between Sapporo and Wakkanai (5½ hours, ¥10,450 each way).

JR offers a special Hokkaido Pass, separate from the Japan Rail Pass, which allows the bearer to ride all JR trains in Hokkaido, as well as most JR buses for seven days.

By bus
A cheaper if slower and less comfortable option than the train is using buses, which also cover all the areas not accessible by train. Sleeper services radiate from Sapporo to most corners of the island. Note that local bus schedules can be very sparse, so check them carefully to avoid being stranded.

By car
Hokkaido is among the few places in Japan where renting a car is worthwhile, since access to many national parks and onsen resorts without one can be quite difficult. Major cities are covered by a good network of expressways. However, speed limits are low, with many expressways capped at 70-80 km/h and even the straight, wide and flat highways of Tokachi limited to a poky 50 km/h. Speeding is thus quite common, but so are speed traps and heavy fines.

In winter, the same snow that makes the island a ski haven can also mean dangerous driving conditions, and speed limits drop even lower. Winter tires are mandatory from November onwards (rental cars should be fitted with these already, but it doesn't hurt to ask). Beware of black ice, leave yourself plenty of distance to brake and budget extra time to cover long distances.

By bike
Hokkaido is a cycling paradise from April to September. There are many bike paths and most main roads have very wide sidewalks. Also there are many beautiful back roads to get you where you want to go. Information in English is very limited, the best way is to buy a good map and plan by yourself.

By thumb
Hitchhiking is a viable option in Hokkaido, and due to the limitations of the public transport network it's not unheard-of to see Japanese with their thumb out (a very rare sight in the rest of the country). The major caveats are that even private car traffic can be minimal on some roads, and for half the year the weather is colder than the rest of the country.

See also: Hitchhiking in Japan

Castles
Hokkaido did not become a part of Japan until late in the nation's history, so in spite of its size, it never had the number of castles that other prefectures had. Matsumae Castle in Matsumae is Hokkaido's only Japanese-style castle with a donjon. Other castle sites are more akin to forts, such as Hakodate's Goryokaku. The Ainu people had their own forts, as well, known as Chashi. None of the structures of any chashi remain, but Nemuro has the highest concentration of chashi ruins.

Gardens
Hokkaido is known for its gardens and even has a group of 8 gardens known as the Kaido (ガーデン街道, Garden Path) stretching 250km. The gardens from north to south are Forest Garden (Mt. Daisetsu area), Ueno Farm (Asahikawa), Windy Garden (Furano), Tokachi Millenium Forest (Shimizu), Manabe Garden (Obihiro), Tokachi Hills (Makubetsu), Shichiku Garden (Obihiro), and Rokka no Mori (Nakasatunai). There are combination tickets to visit some of the gardens: ¥2300 for the first 3 gardens and ¥3300 for the last 5 gardens (¥2000 if you choose 3 out of 5).

Nature
For many visitors Hokkaido's numerous National Parks are number one on the agenda, offering near-unlimited hiking opportunities.

Hiking
Hokkaido has countless hiking opportunities, ranging from challenging multi-day treks across Daisetsuzan National Park to casual strolls in Shiretoko National Park.

Skiing
Hokkaido has some of the best powder in the world and skiing has really taken off, with resorts like Niseko and Furano drawing visitors from far and wide.

Hot springs
Hokkaido is volcanically active and has countless hot springs, with Noboribetsu particularly famous.

Eat

Much of Hokkaido's population lives by the sea, and consequently seafood figures heavily in Hokkaido fare. Check out the hairy crabs (毛蟹 kegani), king crabs (タラバ taraba) and the delicious sushi. Akkeshi's oysters, Saroma's scallops, and the northwest coast's sea urchin (うに uni) are considered to be among Japan's very best seafood.

More unexpectedly, Hokkaido produces most of Japan's dairy products and particularly in the east you will run into many creative uses for them. Ever had cream cheese in your curry, or butter in your noodle soup? How about asparagus, corn, or squid ink ice cream? In Hokkaido, you will.

Other Hokkaido classics include:

 * miso ramen (味噌ラーメン) noodle soup, often with butter and/or corn (バターコーンラーメン batākōn ramen). Hokkaido's most famous ramen chain Santouka, now franchised around the world, hails from Asahikawa.
 * soup curry (スープカレー), a hearty curry-flavored soup chock full of veggies, particularly popular in Sapporo
 * Genghis Khan (ジンギスカン jingisu kan), sliced lamb and vegetables that you grill yourself, the Japanese version of Mongolian BBQ (hence the name)
 * chanchanyaki (ちゃんちゃん焼き), a stir-fry of miso, salmon and vegetables
 * zangi (ザンギ) deep-fried chicken, made with a soy/ginger/garlic marinade
 * corn on the cob (とうきび tōkibi or とうもろこし tōmorokoshi)
 * cantaloupe melons (メロン meron) from Yubari, fantastically expensive in Tokyo department stores but practically given away in season

Drink
Hokkaido is home to some of Japan's finest sake, the most famous of the bunch being Asahikawa's Otokoyama (男山). Beer is also big in Hokkaido, the most famous brand being Sapporo Beer (naturally from Sapporo), but the many microbrews found in nearly every town are also worth sampling.

Last but not least, famed Japanese whisky makers Nikka have their main distillery at Yoichi.

Sleep
Hokkaido is one of Japan's best places for camping, but beware of the nighttime chill - even in the summer months you'll need a good sleeping bag. In particular, the southwest coast can be surprisingly cold, due to the ocean currents.

Many of Hokkaido's cheaper accommodations slap on an extra fee for winter heating (冬期暖房 tōki danbō), as Japanese houses even in the north are notoriously poorly insulated and chew up vast quantities of fuel when the temperatures fall. This shouldn't be more than ¥500 or so.

If you are coming for the mountains, be sure to stay in one of the many mountain huts (山小屋  yamagoya) in Hokkaido. Most are free, and they're both a cheap sleep and a good cultural experience. You'll be sure to make Japanese friends as well.

Stay safe
Hokkaido has the worst fatality rate for traffic accidents in Japan. Hokkaido is one of Japan's most spread-out areas, well known for its wide-open roads. Locals drive at least 20 km/h over the posted limits in many areas. It's not unusual to see cars traveling at over 100 km/h on regular highways (the posted limit is 60 km/h). Head-on collisions at these speeds, especially with minicars, are catastrophic.

Hokkaido has many country farm roads which are narrow, poorly marked, and arrow-straight. These often run parallel to highways and tend to be much less crowded. It's not unusual for locals to exceed 100 km/h on these roads. Missing a stop sign can be fatal, and signs may be hard to spot. Be careful of farm vehicles backing out of sheds with no warning, and especially careful of bicycles in the summer, as there are no shoulders. Winter driving in Hokkaido is not for the faint of heart. Very little sand or salt is used on the roads, and the heavy snow in many areas means that the roadways turn into packed snow, then solid ice. This also means that the road markings will be totally invisible. Look for overhanging center line (中央線 chūosen) signs above the roads at intersections. Highways have arrow signs pointing downward at the shoulders of the road, which will also be invisible. Winter tires are mandatory. Chains are recommended for mountain driving. Because speeds are lower, there are less fatalities, but there are more accidents in the winter. If you have never driven in the winter, do not attempt to learn here.

The Hokkaido brown bear (scientific name: エゾヒグマ ezohiguma, colloquially usually higuma), sacred to the Ainu, is Hokkaido's most famous predator. An estimated 10,000 still roam the island, but they're shy, reclusive creatures and you're highly unlikely to encounter one outside remote areas like Shiretoko National Park. Many Japanese hikers carry bear bells (熊鈴 kumasuzu). If camping in the wild, don't store any food in your tent.

The Hokkaido fox carries the echinococcus parasite, which can be fatal in humans. Because this parasite can be spread through water, do not drink any unboiled river or lake water in Hokkaido. Approaching or feeding foxes is also not recommended. (Feeding wildlife is also illegal.)

Respect

The Ainu people who are indigenous to this region were historically marginalized by the Japanese. Many Ainu concealed their heritage in order to avoid discrimination, and many mixed-race individuals are not aware of their Ainu heritage. Ainu rights to their own culture and tradition were first recognized by a court only in 1997. A resolution in 2008 and bills in 2019 granted official recognition to the Ainu people, which may help to save their culture from extinction.

While you may be able to politely ask people about the history of the Ainu vis-à-vis the Japanese, this is a sensitive subject, and your opinions on the matter will probably not be welcome.

title: Hokkaido


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Hokuei

Hokuei (北栄町, Hokuei-chō) is a city of around 14,000 people located in Tottori Prefecture.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By train
The local train station is Yura Station on the JR San-in Line.

By car
From Okayama Prefecture, you can travel north on Route 313 to reach Hokuei. If you're traveling along the San-in Coast, you can reach it via the Hojo Bypass or the San-in Road.

Go next

 * Kurayoshi
 * Yonago
 * Daisen
 * Sakaiminato
 * Misasa
 * Yurihama
 * Tottori
 * Yasugi
 * Matsue

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Hokuto (Yamanashi)

Hokuto (北杜市 Hokuto-shi) is a small city in Yamanashi.

Understand
Yatsugatake peaks lie in the north of the Hokuto city, and the Kiyosato plateau stretches to the foot.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in
Hokuto is near Nagano Prefecture.

Get around
Hokuto is a collection of towns and villages that have pooled their administration, and it is not centered around a single densely populated area. As such it is a very rural area and getting around largely requires a car. There are a large number of stations on the JR Chuo Line and the JR Koumi Line in Hokuto.

Go next

 * Nirasaki
 * Kai
 * Kofu
 * Yamanashi
 * Minamialps
 * Fujimi
 * Chino
 * Suwa
 * Okaya

title: Hokuto (Yamanashi)


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Hokuto (Hokkaido)

Hokuto (北斗市, Hokuto-shi) is a small city in Hokkaido.

Understand
Hokuto is located at the southern end of Japan's northernmost prefecture, Hokkaido, and is immediately west of Hakodate. The city was formed by the merger of Kamiiso and Ōno towns on February 1, 2006. It is now the 2nd largest city in Oshima Subprefecture with a population of about 50,000 people.

Hokuto is the northern terminus of the Hokkaido Shinkansen. Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station is located at the former site of Oshima-Ono Station.

Tourist information sites

 * The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

 * The city government's official site has a Japanese-only tourism section.

Get in
Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station can be reached from Sapporo via the Hokuto Limited Express line in three and a half hours, or from Tokyo via the Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen in as little as four hours.

The nearest airport is Hakodate Airport, which is about 45 minutes away by car or taxi.

Get around
The JR Esashi Line runs east-west across Hokuto along the coast and connects most of the major residential and commercial areas. Services are infrequent with usually an hour gap between each train (in either direction). Kamiiso Station has a JR ticket office where one can reserve tickets for any JR service in Japan. The one-way fare from Kamiiso Station to Hakodate Station is ¥260.

A local bus service connects Ōno with Kamiiso.

Go next

 * Hakodate (函館市 hakodate-shi), a popular tourist destination and the largest city in Oshima Subprefecture. It's immediately to the east of Hokuto and is easily accessible by local trains and buses from Hokuto.
 * Lake Onuma (大沼湖 ōnuma-ko), a "quasi-national park" that's about an hour to the northeast by local trains from Kamiiso (change at Goryokaku Station), offers a pleasant quick gateway. Oshima-Ōno Station (the future location of Shin-Hakodate Shinkansen Station) in northern Hokuto offers a direct local train to the park's entrance at Onuma Park Station.
 * Nanae (函館七飯スノーパーク　hakodate nanae sunōpāku), a mid-sized ski resort adjacent to Lake Onuma and accessible by bus from Onuma Station. Features 2 chairlifts and a gondola as well as a rental shop.
 * Matsumae (松前), an hour and a half drive from Hokuto along the coast, has the only castle in Hokkaidō, which is in Matsumae park, famed in southern Hokkaidō (南北海道 minami hokkaidō) for excellent cherry blossom viewing in late April/early May.
 * Fukushima
 * Kaminokuni
 * Esashi
 * Imabetsu
 * Aomori
 * Tokyo is the southern terminus of the new Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen, and can be reached in just over four hours.

title: Hokuto (Hokkaido)


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Holambra

Holambra is a city in the state of São Paulo.

Understand
Holambra is a moniker formed by combining the first letters of Holland, America, and Brazil. It was founded in 1948 as an immigrant colony by a group of 500 Dutch Catholics looking to resettle after World War II, and many more Dutch settled here in the years that followed. They brought with them the famous horticulture of their country, and today Holambra is known nationally as the City of Flowers— it has become South America's largest producer of ornamental flowers. The city now has just over 11,000 residents, and is considered one of the tourist centers of the state of São Paulo, giving visitors a taste of Dutch culture through architecture, traditional cuisine, arts and crafts, dance performances, and music.

By car
From São Paulo, take the Anhanguera Highway to km 86 and take SP-340 towards Mogi-Mirim about 30 km more to the Holambra exit at km 141.

By bus
From Campinas, there are numerous daily departures through Viação Princesa D'Oeste, tel. (19) 3276 2100.

Buy

 * Flowers - That's what the town is known for, after all. Holambra isn't that big, and you won't have any trouble finding a flower shop or ten, not to mention the massive Garden Center Cidade das Flores (see the Do section above).

Go next

 * Águas de Lindóia
 * Campinas

title: Holambra


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Holbæk

Holbæk is a city in Zealand. Holbæk is an important harbour city and a commercial and cultural center for the area.

Understand
Holbæk is the seat of Holbæk Municipality and the second largest city of West Zealand Region with 30,000 inhabitants (2022). The city is situated by Holbæk Inlet, which in turn is connected to the larger Ise Inlet.

Holbæk's history dates back to around 1200. The city expanded from around 1300 when the king built a castle here. However, the city has historically not been as important as other major cities in the area and only little from the city's early history has survived until today.

Get in
The nearest airport is Copenhagen, and there is highway all the way from the capital (route 21)

Holbæk is a major stop on the Copenhagen-Kalundborg railway line running nearly in a straight line west over Zealand with departures once or twice per hour during most of the day. It takes around 50 minutes from Copenhagen and Kalundborg, and around 30 minutes from Roskilde. Holbæk station is the interchange to the private Regionstog's line to Nykøbing Sjælland, which covers nearly all of the Odsherred Peninsular.

If you are coming from West Denmark change to bus 13 in Slagelse (Intercity trains), it takes around an hour, the bus continues to Nykøbing Sjælland and gets there a bit faster than the train. Another option is catching the ferry to Kalundborg from Aarhus and catch a train from there. Most of the Abildskou intercity buses between Copenhagen and Jutland stops at the Q8 gas station in Tuse (Kalundborgvej 220).

Get around
There are ten city buses all running from Holbæk Railway Station, most of them running once an hour but a few of them running two or three times every hour.

For taxis call +45 5943 4343.

Museums and galleries

title: Holbæk


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Holbox

Isla Holbox is an island in Quintana Roo, better known worldwide as the Mexican Caribbean.

Understand
Holbox Island, population 2,000, is north-west of Cancún, where the Caribbean Sea meets the Gulf of Mexico. It is part of the 154,000-km² Yum Balam ecological reserve. It is known in particular for its whale sharks. It used to be largely unknown to tourists; however, tourism in Holbox Island has boomed. This has also led to a rise in obnoxiously loud golf carts now roaming the once rather quiet island. While tourism may have grown, it remains a relatively off-the-beaten path location with plenty of local charm.

By ferry
Ferries depart from Chiquilá and take about 25-30 minutes. The ferries run from 6:00h to 21:30h every half hour. Where the "half-hour-times" are served from Holbox Express and the "whole-hour-times" are with 9hermanos (M$220 for both operators) (Aug 2023).

With two or more people you can charter a fisher's boat for the same price.

By car
From Cancún (follow signs on the road), take Hwy 180 (called Merida Libre) or Avenida José López Portillo, direction to Merida. Keep to the right when the road separates. At El Ideal, turn right to Kantunilkin, and you will arrive in Chiquilá, where the road ends.

By bus
There are three bus routes daily from Cancún to Chiquilá and back, on "Mayab" and "Oriente" buses run by ADO. They leave from the main Cancun ADO terminal and the price is M$350 per person as of August 2023. Check ADO's website for the current schedule. There are several busses around the day. They take around 2.5 - 3.5 Hours. On "Mayab" there is no luggage storage under the bus, and you'll need to take it aboard. The bus may or may not be full so there may be a chance to place your luggage in an empty seat, however, that is not always guaranteed.

From Mérida you can take a night bus at 23:30, arriving in Chiquilá at 05:30, passing Valladolid around 02:30. If you prefer traveling during the day, you can take a bus from Mérida or Valladolid to Tizimín and change there to a bus to Chiquilá.

By charter plane
Air Taxi AeroSaab offers on-demand flights from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Merida, Chichen Itza and other locations, to Holbox, starting at US$500 through an intermediary (Holbox Island). Must make inquiry online, as there are no regular flights. They also offer direct 09:00-17:00 tours at lower prices - see Aerosaab.com.

Get around
The island of Holbox is very small and there are no paved roads, only sandy paths. There are very few cars on the island and most people get around by walking, bicycle, or golf cart.

One can also get around Holbox by taking the local taxi service, which consists exclusively of a fleet of four-wheelers. The taxis can be found on the beach and in the town during peak hours of the day (10:00-18:00). Taxis can be very limited in the early hours of the morning and late at night.

See

 * Punta Mosquitos for a unique beach experience. Reachable by a short journey from town, witness spectacular bioluminescence on new moon nights. Choose from guided kayak tours, or walking tours.
 * Punta Mosquitos for a unique beach experience. Reachable by a short journey from town, witness spectacular bioluminescence on new moon nights. Choose from guided kayak tours, or walking tours.
 * Punta Mosquitos for a unique beach experience. Reachable by a short journey from town, witness spectacular bioluminescence on new moon nights. Choose from guided kayak tours, or walking tours.

Buy
Credit and debit cards are almost accepted everywhere but it is best to take along enough cash for your stay as most of the shops charge a 3% - 5% fee for using the card. The most accessible ATM is on the first floor of the city hall, on the main plaza. (Aug 2023: This ATM is closed with a sign "No Money")

In the Main Street (Calle Tiburón Ballena) is a CIBank with an ATM and there are several ATM around which are only giving out USD.

List updated of ATM's in the island

Go next
The ferry from Holbox to Chiquilá runs at 5:00 and from 6:00h to 21:30h every half hour. Where the "half-hour-times" are served from Holbox Express and the "whole-hour-times" are with 9hermanos (M$220 for both operators).

Buses from Chiquilá:
 * To Cancún: 8 busses through the day, first 10:15, last 18:30. The trip takes 3.5 hours and costs about M$350.
 * To Mérida: 10:45 and 13:45 (each 2 busses: Terminal paseo 60 and Centro Histórico). The trip takes around 5 hours and costs M$450.
 * To Valladolid: 10:45, 13:45. The trip takes around 2 hours and costs M$270.

(Aug 2023)

title: Holbox


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Holbrook (Arizona)

Holbrook is a town on Route 66 in the Mogollon Rim in Eastern Arizona, once known as the "town too rough for women and churches." The town makes a convenient base for visiting Petrified Forest National Park.

Understand
As the nearest town to Petrified Forest National Park, and often gateway to Meteor Crater, Holbrook is small city focused on travelers - there are at least 10-20 hotels/restaurants/gas stations to choose among respectively. Excellent for travelers, but mostly for services and proximity to attractions, rather than as an attraction itself, though visitors following Route 66 will find it interesting.

Get in
Holbrook can be accessed via Route 66, or Interstate 40.

By car
Most traffic in and out of Holbrook is via I-40.

See

Eat
Numerous restaurants, though mostly within the categories of fast food, Mexican, or Steak/American.

Go next

 * Winslow is about 30 minutes west.
 * Flagstaff is about an hour west.
 * Phoenix is about 3½ hours southwest
 * Albuquerque is about 3½ hours to the east.

title: Holbrook (Arizona)


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Holbrook

There's more than one place called Holbrook:

Australia

 * Holbrook (New South Wales) - a town on the Hume Highway in southern New South Wales

United States of America

 * Holbrook (Arizona) - a town in Eastern Arizona

title: Holbrook


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Holbrook (New South Wales)

Holbrook is a service town on the Hume Highway in Southern New South Wales best known for the decommissioned submarine that stands next to the highway in the centre of the town.

Get in
The Hume Highway between Sydney and Melbourne now bypasses Holbrook, roughly halfway between the two. The town is still a good stopping point with fuel, food, toilets, and visitor attractions.

See

 * Special Exhibitions:The Shards of Thomas Ball, convict potter, c. 1804-1823, until 31 May 2015
 * Special Exhibitions:The Shards of Thomas Ball, convict potter, c. 1804-1823, until 31 May 2015
 * Special Exhibitions:The Shards of Thomas Ball, convict potter, c. 1804-1823, until 31 May 2015

Buy

 * There are some craft stores along the Hume.

Eat
There are two bakeries in town and a small IGA supermarket with limited hours (closes by 5 to 7 PM). If you're too late for either, the Ampol petrol station's minimart is open 24 hours.

Sleep
Accommodation in Holbrook caters squarely to motorists stopping for the night.

title: Holbrook (New South Wales)


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Holden Beach

Holden Beach is a town on the North Carolina Coastal Plain.

Get around
Try renting bikes. There's a place right before you get on the island called Boomers Rentals, Holden Beach has many bike friendly roads and even a self-guided tour.

Eat
Betty's Waterfront Restaurant is amazing, along with the Seafood Barn.

The best place for ice cream is The Scoop, and if you want coffee you have to check out Cappuccino by the Sea, it is fantastic.

title: Holden Beach


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Holdenville

Holdenville is a city in Oklahoma and the seat of Hughes County. It has a dark distinction of once being a sundown town.

title: Holdenville


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Holderness

Holderness is in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.

Get in
Interstate 93 travels through town.

title: Holderness


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Holdrege

Holdrege is in South Central Nebraska.

By car
US Highways 6, 34, and 183.

By train

 * Amtrak, 100 West Ave. Holdrege is served once daily in each direction by the California Zephyr.

title: Holdrege


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Holguín

Holguín is a city in the eastern part of Cuba.

See

Several all-inclusive resorts are located on 4 beach areasː
 * Playa Pesquero
 * Playa Yuraguanal (Turquesa)
 * Playa Esmeralda
 * Playa Guardalavaca

In addition, there areː
 * Gibara
 * Cayo Bariay

Do
Holguín has some of the richest scenery in Cuba. High mountains, fertile plains and fine-sand beaches alternate in the landscape of this province. It was in this area where Christopher Colombus landed (Bariay).

Beaches in Holguín are among the most picturesque in the Caribbean. They are surrounded by vegetation, whose intense green color creates a contrast with the white golden tone of the sand and the blue color of the sea.

There is a wide variety of attractions in Holguín. The capital city and Gibara are worth visiting, as well as Banes, Bahía de Naranjo, Cayo Saetía and Pinares de Mayarí.

Holguín is located in the most septentrional part of Eastern Cuba, between Las Tunas and Guantanamo. To the south it has Granma and Santiago de Cuba.

Eat
1720 Restaurant, Colombus Restaurant (Cayo Bariay), Los Flamboyanes.

Drink
Los Flamboyanes (Guardalavaca), La Roca (Guardalavaca).

Sleep
Playa Pesquero Hotel, Sol Rio de Lunas y Mares Resort, Rio de Oro, El Pernik

title: Holguín


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Holhol

There's more than one place called Holhol:

Djibouti

 * Holhol - a small city (pop.~3,500) in the Ali Sabieh region

Somalia

 * Holhol - a village in the Sool region

Turkey

 * Yayladere (Holhol) - a district in Bingöl province, Eastern Anatolia

title: Holhol


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Holiday villas

 * This article about homes for rent. See second homes for ownership of a vacation home.

Holiday villas are an alternative to traditional hotels or hostel accommodation. This type of accommodation is very popular in Europe and some parts of Southeast Asia (notably Bali and Phuket), but very rare in North America. The primary difference between a holiday villa and a hotel is that a holiday villa contains a kitchen (or kitchenette) and other living space. Holiday villas are also referred to as short term rental apartments and "self catering" apartments.

Outlines
When planning a trip or a holiday, after deciding on a destination, one major decision is where to stay. The first thought may be a hotel, or if money is tight, a hostel. In many cities and major tourist destinations, you may find private apartments or villas that are available for short term rental. Prices, on a per-person basis, are often lower than hotels.

Advantages
Compared to hotel accommodation, a holiday villa is more like a home, gives more privacy, and is cheaper, and lets you cook your own meals if you like. When combined with shopping at local stores, this can lead to significant cost savings over eating all meals in restaurants. Rental holiday homes often have gardens and private pools. The kitchen is usually fully equipped and you are not restricted by any schedule. Staying in a holiday villa will provide more exposure to the local culture, as most are located outside the tourist areas and in neighborhoods where the locals live. Most holiday villas and short term rental apartments are owned and operated by locals, not international hotel chains, so more of your tourist spending on these accommodations stays in the local economy and benefits local residents. In high cost cities, a short term apartment rental is often significantly cheaper than a hotel, if you are staying for two or more nights.

Disadvantages
Holiday villas and self catering apartments are more difficult to locate and book than hotels. It often takes a bit of searching to locate one, and not all cities and towns have holiday villas. Most holiday villas and self catering apartments are not standardized, so the quality can vary even at similar price points. Many holiday villa rentals require a minimum stay of one week. Holiday villas usually don't have private security guards. If there is a laundry service, it may be only once a week. The price may be good if you have several people, but higher than a hotel for only one or two. Many holiday rentals are off the beaten path, and not located near convenient transportation like train stations, bus stations and airports. Some short term rental apartments in cities do not have parking garages.

Staying in holiday villas and self catering apartments on a vacation takes more planning, and provides less flexibility in your itinerary. Since you have to book most in advance, you can't just drive until you are tired, or come to a town that strikes your fancy, and check into a holiday villa or short term rental apartment.

Pay attention
When booking a villa, there may be many things you should pay attention to.

Many villa owners may require payment in advance 1-2 months before arrival. Be sure to check the conditions of the lease, in order to be sure your booking doesn't get cancelled. Also be sure to check the cancellation policy, so that you know what to expect in the event that you have to cancel your holiday.

The price list may include a daily or weekly price plus: energy, heating, final cleaning, pool heating, air conditioning, a security deposit or other taxes.

Be sure to check the check-in and check-out hours before arriving. Some owners may be flexible on check-out hours if the apartment is not rented the next night.

If you book directly with an owner, do your best to ensure that the owner is licensed and has adequate public liability insurance cover.

It can be advantageous to select a villa through a reputable villa holiday company as they are regulated more than owners and will be able to offer alternative accommodation if something goes wrong, and will provide support for you while you are on your holiday.

If you are dealing directly with an owner, be aware that you may not be given a completely objective assessment of the quality or suitability of the accommodation.

How to find holiday villas
Many home owners publish ads in national newspapers to advertise the villas. If you plan to travel in your country, this is one of the best & cheapest way to find accommodation. Just buy a classified newspaper and make some calls!

If you are planning to visit a different country, the web, including search engines like Google are your best friends! Many holiday property owners have built their own websites advertising accommodation and sometimes offering availability calendars and price lists. "Self catering accommodation" is a good search term for finding holiday rentals, or, for instance "villas in France".

There are also some worldwide holiday villas operators, that offer villas in major cities from most of the countries. Many of them offer online availability calendar (updated 24/7), descriptions and pictures, online inquiry or booking form, visitor's reviews and price calculator.

title: Holiday villas


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Holland (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Holland:

Netherlands

 * Netherlands — a country in Europe that is commonly called Holland
 * Holland — a region and former county in the Western Netherlands, comprising the provinces:
 * North Holland
 * South Holland

United States of America

 * Holland (Arkansas) — a town in the state of Arkansas
 * Holland (Indiana) — a town in the state of Indiana
 * Holland (Iowa) — a town in the state of Iowa
 * Holland (Massachusetts) — a town in the state of Massachusetts
 * Holland (Michigan) — a city in the state of Michigan
 * Holland (Minnesota) — a town in the state of Minnesota
 * Holland (Missouri) — a town in the state of Missouri
 * Holland (New York) — a town in the state of New York
 * Holland (Ohio) — a town in the state of Ohio
 * Holland (Pennsylvania) — a town in the state of Pennsylvania
 * Holland (Texas) — a town in the state of Texas
 * Holland (Vermont) — a town in the state of Vermont
 * Holland (Wisconsin) — a town in the state of Wisconsin

title: Holland (disambiguation)


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Holland (Massachusetts)

Holland is a small town in Hampden County in the Pioneer Valley region of Massachusetts. It borders on Central Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Get in
Holland is easy to get to from exit 74 off of Route 84; from Holland Road off of Route 20 in Sturbridge. From Brimfield there are a few roads, the two most traveled being East Brimfield/Holland road and New Holland Rd. Holland also abuts Wales (Massachusetts), Massachusetts and Union, Connecticut (Mashapaug Rd and Maybrook Rd).

Get around
Holland is very rural and therefore nothing is within easy walking distance. Though small in size, Holland is better travelled by car.

Do

 * There are two lakes in Holland:
 * Lake Siog (also known as Holland Pond) and the larger Hamilton Reservoir. Lake Siog State Park can be accessed from Dug Hill Rd. There are no houses directly seen from the lake. Directly across from the state beach is the town beach which can be accessed from Brimfield Rd.. Locals tend to prefer this side of the lake as there is no roped in swimming area. From this side of the lake the name changes to “Holland Pond.” The Springfield Girls Camp can be seen from both beaches. Another feature of the town beach is the boat ramp in which you can take a canoe to Brimfield Lake in Sturbridge, which is easy to get to from route 20.
 * Hamilton Reservoir is highly populated. There is a boat ramp right next to the dam as well as near “the causeway.” There are many activities on the lake such as water ski shows. Right across the street is Fenders, the best place around ice cream and hamburgers. It opens every year as soon as it gets warm and it closes in the early fall. Fishing can be done on many parts of the lake and is restocked with trout each year by the state.
 * Old Home Day (also known as “the Holland fireworks”) is generally celebrated each summer. Due to the lack of volunteers it is often cancelled. The fireworks are set up in the field across from the Elementary School. The display of fireworks can also be seen from Hamilton Reservoir and is often watched from the lake by a slew of spectators in their boats.
 * Lead Mines Another often overlooked piece of Holland is the lead mines. The tunnels can be accessed by a small trail off of Leadmine Road.
 * Brimfield Flea Market in Brimfield.

Buy

 * Businesses in town include Holland Market, a gas station, a package store, one bar and Howlett Lumber. Your best bet for shopping is visiting neighboring Sturbridge.

Drink
There is one bar in Holland off of Mashapaug Road. Right next to Team Hoyts Finish Line.

Sleep
There are many small lakeside cottages to rent for the summer at reasonable prices. Or you could stay at:

Go next

 * Sturbridge

Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge. Go see Old Sturbridge Village which only a few minutes drive from Holland! This is no ordinary village! It is a living museum located in Sturbridge which re-creates life in rural New England during the 1830s. It is the largest living museum in New England, covering more than 200 acres.

title: Holland (Massachusetts)


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Holland (Michigan)

Holland is a city of about 30,000 in West Michigan, on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Understand
It is best known locally for its popular beaches and more widely for its Dutch immigrant heritage, showcased each spring in Tulip Time, a festival featuring countless flowers lining the city's streets.

By car
Holland is best accessed by car, as it has limited public transportation. It sits along US-31 and I-196, making it a convenient trip from Chicago (I-94 to US-31) or Detroit (I-96 to I-196).

By train

 * Route stopping in Holland:
 * Pere Marquette operates daily between Grand Rapids and Chicago with stops in Holland, Bangor, and Saint Joseph.
 * Pere Marquette operates daily between Grand Rapids and Chicago with stops in Holland, Bangor, and Saint Joseph.

By bus

 * Max, Macatawa Area Express (616 355-1010) Serves Holland and surrounding areas. All buses stop at the Train station on Lincoln Ave and Business Route 31 (E 7th Street).  Daylight services runs from Monday through Friday from 6AM to 7PM and Saturdays from 8AM to 7PM.  Between 7PM and 10PM, use the Twilight Route 9 to travel around the city center and to/from the Amtrak train station.  Fares for single trips cost $1.00.  A daily bus pass costs $2.00 and is good for unlimited trips for one day.

See

 * Lake Michigan, with its popular white sand beaches and tall dunes, is a short drive to the west. Holland State Park is on the north shore of Lake Macatawa and can be reached by Douglas Avenue / Ottawa Beach Road. Big Red Lighthouse, however, is on the South shore of Lake Macatawa, and although it can be easily viewed from the state park, can not be reached directly.
 * Lake Michigan, with its popular white sand beaches and tall dunes, is a short drive to the west. Holland State Park is on the north shore of Lake Macatawa and can be reached by Douglas Avenue / Ottawa Beach Road. Big Red Lighthouse, however, is on the South shore of Lake Macatawa, and although it can be easily viewed from the state park, can not be reached directly.
 * Lake Michigan, with its popular white sand beaches and tall dunes, is a short drive to the west. Holland State Park is on the north shore of Lake Macatawa and can be reached by Douglas Avenue / Ottawa Beach Road. Big Red Lighthouse, however, is on the South shore of Lake Macatawa, and although it can be easily viewed from the state park, can not be reached directly.
 * Lake Michigan, with its popular white sand beaches and tall dunes, is a short drive to the west. Holland State Park is on the north shore of Lake Macatawa and can be reached by Douglas Avenue / Ottawa Beach Road. Big Red Lighthouse, however, is on the South shore of Lake Macatawa, and although it can be easily viewed from the state park, can not be reached directly.
 * Lake Michigan, with its popular white sand beaches and tall dunes, is a short drive to the west. Holland State Park is on the north shore of Lake Macatawa and can be reached by Douglas Avenue / Ottawa Beach Road. Big Red Lighthouse, however, is on the South shore of Lake Macatawa, and although it can be easily viewed from the state park, can not be reached directly.

Do

 * In May, the week-long Tulip Time Festival celebrates the region's Dutch heritage with a community street-cleaning parade, a children's traditional-costume parade, a music parade, over 1,500 teenagers dancing in wooden shoes, and lots of activities for the entire family.
 * In December, the two-week Dutch Winter Fest includes a children's lantern parade and a visit by Sinterklaas. Visitors can browse the Kerstmarkt, an open-air Christmas market of decorative booths featuring handcrafted souvenirs and local food, open for three consecutive weekends at the Eighth Street Market Place. For one day, the market is also host to an ice-sculpting contest in which local teams attack 150-pound ice blocks armed with chainsaws, hot irons and delicate crafting tools, and visitors can vote on their favorite sculpture.
 * In December, the two-week Dutch Winter Fest includes a children's lantern parade and a visit by Sinterklaas. Visitors can browse the Kerstmarkt, an open-air Christmas market of decorative booths featuring handcrafted souvenirs and local food, open for three consecutive weekends at the Eighth Street Market Place. For one day, the market is also host to an ice-sculpting contest in which local teams attack 150-pound ice blocks armed with chainsaws, hot irons and delicate crafting tools, and visitors can vote on their favorite sculpture.

Buy
Downtown Holland, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, includes eight blocks of more than 100 shops and restaurants housed in Victorian buildings. The sidewalks are heated by underground hot-water pipes, making shopping a pleasant experience even in winter. Most shops are open until 9PM during the week.

Two characteristically Dutch handicrafts can be purchased at the DeKlomp Wooden Shoe and Delft Factory, 12755 Quincy Avenue, the only factory of its kind in the United States. You can watch the artists producing both delftware, a traditional blue-and-white pottery originally produced around the town of Delft in the Netherlands, and wooden shoes, on machines that were imported from the Netherlands.

Eat
When visiting a town that emphasizes its Dutch heritage, you may naturally wish to sample some Dutch food. Perhaps unfortunately, there aren't a lot of restaurants that capitalize on this interest. The only one with a relatively broad selection of Dutch food is the Hungry Dutchman Cafe in the Dutch Village theme park; be aware, however, that it isn't open year-round, so if you visit outside the tourist season, you may be out of luck.

There are several places in town where you can purchase Dutch confections, including the acquired taste of double-salt (dubbel zoute) licorice.

Drink
Prior to elections in 2008, beer and wine were not legal for sale on Sundays in Holland. This has since changed, however, and spirits may be purchased any day of the week.

Go next

 * Allegan, southeast on State Route 40.
 * Saugatuck, about 15 minutes south on I-196.
 * Grand Rapids, about 30 minutes east on I-196.
 * Muskegon, about 45 minutes north on US-31.

title: Holland (Michigan)


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Holland (Pennsylvania)

Holland is an unincorporated community in Pennsylvania. In the 1970s, large tract housing developments replaced farmland, turning the area into a commuter bedroom community for suburban families who work in Philadelphia or the Trenton/Princeton. It has no downtown district, main street, or public transit.

Understand
Holland has easy access by car to many fabulous destinations. Holland's growth as a commuter city took place in the mid-1980s, just after the town lost its passenger trains.

Get in
I-95 N 23.0 mi 2. 39 mins I-95 N and PA-213 S/E Maple Ave 29.2 mi

From Philadelphia, PA 1. Head east on S Penn Square/State Route 611 toward Avenue Of The Arts 0.2 mi 2. Slight left at John F Kennedy Blvd 253 ft 3. Take the 1st right onto N Broad St 0.3 mi 4. Turn right to merge onto I-676 S 0.5 mi 5. Continue onto Vine St Expy 0.5 mi 6. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for I-95 N/Trenton and merge onto I-95 N 12.6 mi 7. Take exit 35 to merge onto PA-63 W/Woodhaven Rd 3.8 mi 8. Continue onto Woodhaven Rd 0.2 mi 9. Turn left at Evans St 0.2 mi 10. Turn right at Byberry Rd 1.1 mi 11. Turn right at PA-532 N/Bustleton Ave 2.3 mi 12. Turn left at PA-532 N/Buck Rd

If you do not have access to a car and you are also coming from Philadelphia and surrounding areas you can take the SEPTA for only $7.

From New York, NY

I-95 N 23.0 mi 2. 39 mins I-95 N and PA-213 S/E Maple Ave 29.2 mi

Philadelphia, PA 1. Head east on S Penn Square/State Route 611 toward Avenue Of The Arts 0.2 mi 2. Slight left at John F Kennedy Blvd 253 ft 3. Take the 1st right onto N Broad St 0.3 mi 4. Turn right to merge onto I-676 S 0.5 mi 5. Continue onto Vine St Expy 0.5 mi 6. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for I-95 N/Trenton and merge onto I-95 N 12.6 mi 7. Take exit 35 to merge onto PA-63 W/Woodhaven Rd 3.8 mi 8. Continue onto Woodhaven Rd 0.2 mi 9. Turn left at Evans St 0.2 mi 10. Turn right at Byberry Rd 1.1 mi 11. Turn right at PA-532 N/Bustleton Ave 2.3 mi 12. Turn left at PA-532 N/Buck Rd

Get around
Although Holland is a small town it does not have a main street or sidewalks in most areas so it is best to drive. The few shopping centers in town are spread out enough that it would not make sense to walk. The main road is Buck Road, and it can take you to most all places you want to go.

Do
When visiting Holland, Pennsylvania it is important to visit the neighboring cities such as New Hope, and Philadelphia. When visiting nearby New Hope you are exposed to a quaint eccentric city that has plenty of shopping and restaurants to keep you busy all day. Philadelphia is easily accessible from the suburb of Holland and close enough for a day trip or a night out on the town.

Buy
Whether you are staying in, or just passing through Holland there are some items that are a must buy. The first stop should be Wawa because if you live in Holland you know that they offer the best hoagies and sandwiches at anytime of the day or night. Wawa is also a local hangout for teenagers or the go to spot for the workers in the morning. This Pennsylvania landmark greets you as soon as you enter onto Buck road, which runs through the heart of the town.

If you are looking for something special to buy for a loved one or a significant other you can stop by the local jeweler Daniel Francis. This local jeweler has quality jewelry at affordable prices. He offers customized speciality pieces and engraving to add a special touch.

Holland does not offer offer many places to buy food but they do not have any clothing stores. If you are looking to buy a dress or a new pair of jeans, drive a couple minutes down Buck Rd to Newtown.

Sleep
There is nowhere in Holland that offers overnight lodging, but Center City Philadelphia offers a multiple night life hot spots and hotels thirty minutes away.

Go next
If you would like to enjoy a night out on the town you should drive to Atlantic City for the evening. While in Atlantic City you can stay at one of the multiple casinos in the area.

 * Tropicana Casino and Resort - Brighton and the Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ

title: Holland (Pennsylvania)


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Hollókő

Hollókő is a preserved traditional settlement in Hungary. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Get in
Take the M3 motorway from Budapest as far as Hatvan, then take route 21. Before Pásztó the road branches off towards Hollókő. Journey time is 1½-2 hours.

There is a bus from Budapest leaving from Puskás Ferenc Stadion departure 08:30, arrival 11:00 (also there is a bus afternoon around 17:00). It leaves Hollókő at 16:00, arriving in Budapest at 18:30.

More buses going to Szécsény town.

Eger might be close to Hollókő, but it's not a really good place to start your journey to Hollókő if you plan to go by public transport. There is no train, and you need 3 buses that are going to take a total of 4½ hours to get there. (Eger information centre can help for time table and details.) Prefer a departure from Budapest or Gödöllő.

Get around
On foot. This is a small village, with one street, on both sides museum houses and craft shops. Make sure you visit all of them. From the main road of the village leading up to the hill, you will also find a pathway to the Holloko castle. With only 20 minutes hike you will find yourself on the top of the hill with breathtaking scenery.

See

 * The Hollókő houses: these are folk museums that are preserved in their original state. Many have craft shops inside.
 * The Hollókő houses: these are folk museums that are preserved in their original state. Many have craft shops inside.

Do
The most spectacular festival at Hollókő is Easter, when residents will wear richly decorated folk costumes and display Easter customs and folk crafts. There is also the Raspberry Festival in July, the Castle Tournament in August and the Grape harvest in August along with concerts in the castle and church.

Go next

 * Budapest
 * Szécsény

title: Hollókő


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Hollister

There is more than one place called Hollister:

United States of America

 * Hollister (California) - a town in the state of California.
 * Hollister (Missouri) - a town in the state of Missouri.
 * Hollister (Oklahoma) - a town in the state of Oklahoma.

title: Hollister


text:
Hollister (California)

Hollister is a city in San Benito County at the north end of the Central Coast region of California.

By car
Hollister is located near the intersection of State Routes 25 and 156. From central San Jose, Hollister is a 33-mile drive southeastward on US 101 followed by 14 miles on Route 25. From Salinas, drive 17 miles along northbound US 101, then 10 miles east on Route 156, followed by a clearly-identified cut-off leading 3 miles into Hollister. From Sacramento and Los Angeles, Hollister can be reached from Interstate 5 using State Route 152 (Pacheco Pass) westbound 29 miles, then Route 156 southward 5 miles, and San Felipe Road southward 3 miles.

Alternatively, from Southern California, drivers may follow a slow but scenic course into Hollister: from I-5, take Jayne Avenue (I-5 Exit 325) 11 miles westward to Coalinga, State Route 198 34 miles west to State Route 25, then Route 25 northward 63 miles to Hollister. 33 miles after turning from Route 198 onto Route 25 is a turn-off, State Route 146, leading into Pinnacles National Park, a highly notable and recommended destination in itself. Users of US 101 from the south can also reach this stretch of Route 25 toward Hollister either by following Route 198 from US 101 Exit 273 14 miles to 198's intersection with Route 25 or by leaving US 101 at Exit 281 to follow County Route G15 a mile into King City followed by County Route G13 14 miles to its intersection with Route 25 at Bitterwater.

By rail and bus
Caltrain, during evening rush hour only, offers a train from San Francisco and San Jose to Gilroy, where riders can transfer to the Hollister-bound San Benito County Express.

By plane
Those with access to private, general-aviation aircraft may land at the Hollister Municipal Airport.

Do

 * Skydive Hollister, 831-318-1747. Book online or call to reserve. Located at 234B Skylane Dr in Hollister Municipal Airport.

Go next

 * Pinnacles National Park - Located 35 miles south of Hollister, this park rises out of the chaparral-covered Gabilan Mountains, east of central California's Salinas Valley, are the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons and talus passages define millions of years of erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement. Hiking through the impressive rock formations is the primary recreational opportunity, although bird watchers will enjoy the possibility of seeing the highly endangered California condor.

title: Hollister (California)


text:
Hollister (Missouri)

Hollister is a small town in Southwest Missouri near Branson.

title: Hollister (Missouri)


text:
Holly

There is more than one place called Holly:

United States of America

 * Holly (Colorado) — A town in Colorado.
 * Holly (Michigan) — A town in Michigan.
 * Holly (Washington) — A town in Washington (state).

title: Holly


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Holly (Washington)

Holly is located on the Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound region of Washington state.

Holly, at the end of the Seabeck-Holly Road has views of Hood Canal, the Olympic Mountains and sunsets. With an average of 68" of rain a year it is the greenest corner of the Kitsap Peninsula.

A waterside residential community with about 60 families (nearly half summer residents) and no commercial establishments, where little has changed in 20 or 30 years.

See
Around Holly you'll find majestic cedar, fir, maple, and wild cherry trees. Raccoons, foxes, coyotes, eagles, ospreys, deer, owls and eagles are common with bear, bobcat, otter and cougars sightings more rare. The streams; Anderson Creek and Holly Creek, have the purest water because there is so little development.

title: Holly (Washington)


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Holly Springs

Holly Springs is a city in Mississippi Hills.

Understand
Holly Springs is defined by a rich and varied history. Events through the centuries have left an indelible imprint on the face of this town. In the early days, at a place known only to a brave and civilized tribe of Chickasaw Indians, natural springs flowed through hills of holly trees. It became a gathering place for traders and explorers. They called it Holly Springs. Treaties with the government sent the Chickasaws away from their land on the trail of tears to reservations in Oklahoma. There’s not much left to indicate their presence except honorary names of streets like Chulahoma or names of houses like Latoka or Tallalossa.

The fertile bottoms and rolling hills became the new frontier in the early 1830s. The move was on to develop this new territory and settlers came from the Carolinas, Georgia and Virginia.

Land agents set up offices to service the demands for city lots and thousand-acre plantations. They were the first to build log cabin homes, which were soon remolded or torn down to build quaint raised-basement cottages, such as Polk place, Featherston and Dunvegan.

Holly Springs became a center for law, commerce and agriculture. At one time the county produced more cotton and had more lawyers than any other place in Mississippi.

The fortunes being made in cotton and commerce and sale of land fueled an appetite among its citizens and town leaders for the finer things of society.

They set about building churches and establishing schools. For their families, they replaced the dog-trot cabins and built wondrous mansions with tall Corinthian columns like the Greek Revival homes built throughout the South.

These flush times disappeared when the planters, lawyers and shopkeepers went off with the Confederate army to fight the Civil War. Located at the crossroads of two railroads, Holly Springs was a strategic prize fought over by both armies. When Union General U.S. Grant captured the town, his army camped on the lawns of the grand mansions while the General moved his wife into the Walter Place and made his headquarters at Airliewood.

When the town began to recover after the war, an even deadlier enemy struck Holly Springs when the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878 wiped out much of the leadership of the town.

Restoration of the city’s most historic antebellum mansions and cottages has preserved a place in history for another generation. And now Holly Springs is opening its doors to welcome visitors year-round.

More than 64 houses, churches and buildings pre-dating the Civil War stand as a testament to a time when cotton, commerce, land and lawyers forged a raw frontier Indian trading post in a city of culture, wealth and refinement.

Today, Holly Springs is experiencing a renaissance: its columned mansions, quaint cottages and stately churches attract thousands each spring to the annual Garden Club Pilgrimage, and now visitors are also welcomed throughout the year!

Visitor information
For more information or to schedule a tour, contact the Holly Springs Tourism and Recreation Bureau at 888-687-4765, email info@visithollysprings.com or visit their website.

Get in
Conveniently located 40 miles southeast of Memphis, 30 miles north of Oxford (the home of Ole’ Miss), 60 miles northwest of Tupelo and 70 miles east of Tunica, Mississippi.

From Memphis: Take Highway 78 toward Tupelo, MS. Take exit 30 and turn left (North) on Highway 7 toward downtown Holly Springs.

Get around
Enjoy a glimpse of the Old South in the Antebellum Capitol of the Mid-South just steps away from the hustle and bustle of Memphis. Holly Springs features daily home and garden tours, historic museums, art galleries, shopping, camping, world famous burgers at Phillip’s Grocery and a one-of-a-kind shrine to Elvis You have to see to believe! The New York Times has called it an “antebellum encyclopedia” and when you visit you’ll see why.

See
64 antebellum homes & 200 listings on the national historic register just 45 Minutes south of Memphis featuring shops, restaurants, museums, daily historic home and garden tours, golfing, camping, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, civil rights history, and extensive Civil War history.

Do
Holly Springs is home to Strawberry Plains National Audubon Sanctuary and Education Center where guides can bring both history and science classroom assignments to life; The Kate Freeman Clark Art Gallery showcasing the renowned painter’s life work; The Ida B Wells Museum dedicated to the civil rights activist and journalist. Three historic churches, one being the first church in the country started by newly freed slaves and is home to the oldest Pilcher organ still in use; Rust College, the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement and the second oldest historically African American college in the U.S.; Fitch Farms Galena Plantation, a working plantation and wild game preserve, where you can enjoy a day of trail riding among the majestic trees and rolling hills before hitting the hay in the original home of General Nathan Bedford Forest; Walter Place Gardens & Estate open for tours Monday- Saturday at 1pm, where visitors can experience the Old South first hand and was the home chosen by General Ulysses S. Grant to house his wife and son during the Civil War; Kirkwood National Golf Course, ranked 7th in the state and among the top 50 courses in the country by Golf Digest; Chewalla Lake & Wall Doxey National Park offering camping, swimming, fishing and family fun; And Philips Grocery, a rustic country store/restaurant that was once a saloon and is now home to world famous hamburgers, according to USA Today and Gourmet! Magazine.

Buy
Tourists frequently express fondness for the local pottery and gift shops, Jeanie's, Connie's, and the Funky Monkey, each of which offer a variety of traditional southern/Mississippi gifts. In addition to Vera Bradley items, Jeanie's deals in Peter Pottery, Troll Beads, and an assortment of monogrammed aprons and cheese trays. The more blue-collar Connie's specializes in Southern apparel, including the popular Southern Belle t-shirts. Shoppers with more eclectic tastes may prefer the psychedelic 1960s style of the Funky Monkey. Holly Springs is also looking forward to the opening of both a new farmers market that will deal specifically in local goods and an antique shop, which is sure to be a natural fit in a town where the past is still very much alive. Also located in the Historical Museum is an all Mississippi made gift shop were visitors can purchase wares such as locally made jams and jellies.

Eat
The most popular location in Holly Springs is a famous eatery named Phillips Grocery. A two-time winner of USA Today’s “Best Burger in America” award, Phillips is housed in a building that is over 120 years old. Its most famous product, the Phillips Burger is made using an in-house recipe that has been around since the 1930s. What is the special ingredient in this recipe? It’s a secret the proprietors of the Grocery refuse to part with. Complementing this traditional American eating experience is the Grocery’s décor, featuring vintage advertising for soft drinks and household products. Other restaurants that are popular among locals include Annie’s, a homestyle restaurant that specializes in deep-fried Southern delicacies (be sure to ask Annie for some of her “cha-cha”).

Drink
At night the locals come out in full force.

Sleep
Holly Springs offeres traditional motels as well as Court Square Inn Bed and Breakfast located on the historic square and multifamily cottages at Kirkwood National Golf Club.

title: Holly Springs