text:
Antofagasta

Antofagasta is a city in Northern Chile. The Atacama desert rises in the east and the Pacfic Ocean provides a western limit. This is an industrial centre in the region and is perhaps the least pleasant city in the north. A refurbished seafront makes this city more attractive for tourists. Travellers heading to San Pedro de Atacama and between the far north and central Chile might find it a convenient stopover.

Understand

The city of Antofagasta is closely linked to mining activity. Half of the copper produced in the country comes from here. There has been a steady growth in the areas of construction, retail, hotel accommodations, population growth, and remarkable skyline development.

History
In the 1870s, Chilean miners found rich deposits of saltpeter (nitratine) in the field of Salar del Carmen, to the east of the present Antofagasta. The region was part of Bolivia at this time, and the growth of mining led to the settlement of La Chimba, which was designated as a port in 1868, and was soon renamed Antofagasta.

Ten years later, the War of the Pacific broke out between Chile and Bolivia, and Chile occupied Antofagasta in 1879. While a truce was signed in 1884, sovereignty over the area was not settled until a 1905 treaty assigned it to Chile "in perpetuity".

In 1991, a mudslide devastated much of the city, undermining land, damaging 2,464 houses and destroying 493 buildings. The disaster left 92 dead, 16 missing and about 20,000 homeless. In 1995, the city was hit by an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale. It left three people dead and hundred injured, but structural damage was minor for the magnitude of the event.

By car
Route CH-5 connects the city with the rest of the country and is part of the Panamerican Highway. This route connects to the city by Route CH-26 in the north of the city, and Route CH-28 to the south. In addition, the city is connected to the north of the country by Route CH-1, a way that also allows access to Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport and the natural monument La Portada.

By bus

Many daily departures and arrivals: Calama, San Pedro de Atacama (5 hr, 7,400 pesos, Tur-Bus), Iquique, Arica, Copiapó, La Serena (12 hr, 10,000 pesos) and Santiago.

By plane

Destinations and airlines:
 * JetSmart and LATAM from Concepción, La Serena, Lima, Santiago.
 * Sky Airline from La Serena and Santiago.

On foot
The area of interest for most visitors is easily covered by walking.

By bus
Several lines of minibuses, with a capacity of fewer than 30 people, serve the city. 590 pesos (April 2023).

By taxi
Taxis lines, served by black sedans. make their way through the urban area through fixed routes.

By 4WD
Renting a truck here or in Antofagasta is a great idea if you are 3-5 people and want to explore the region on your own. This will save you a lot of money on expensive tours, especially in San Pedro de Atacama, and rental cars are much cheaper here and even more so in Antofagasta. But due to the rough terrain, it is strongly recommended to get a 4WD or truck, instead of a regular, unless you plan to stay on proper roads.

See

 * La Portada – An impressive yellowish rock gate stands in the sea at along a picturesque and wild cliff coast.
 * La Portada – An impressive yellowish rock gate stands in the sea at along a picturesque and wild cliff coast.

Do

 * Cinemas in the two large seafront malls.
 * Walk the pedestrian mall that links the two main squares, Plaza Sotomayor with its market, and Plaza Colon with its Big Ben replica.
 * A nice sunny weather, make going to the multiple artificial beaches along the coast an enjoyable activity for any season, e.g. Balneario Municipal.
 * Sea lions, pelicans and smaller birds getting fed on fish waste in the fishermen´s harbour.
 * The sunset from the seafront walk to the south.

Eat

 * More than a dozen tiny restaurants at the Mercado, Plaza Sotomayor. All offer set lunches at 1,500 pesos. Number 67 is good.
 * The otherwise standard hellish food court of the Mall Plaza has a neat outside area with a couple o
 * The otherwise standard hellish food court of the Mall Plaza has a neat outside area with a couple o

Drink

 * The bars in the center are either strip clubs or purely male workers' hang-outs (the girls you see are at work).
 * The pedestrian Paseo Arturo Prat has a couple of pavement cafes, that are good for people watching.f bars and restaurants.
 * A few decent spots along Av. O´Higgins (a.k.a. Av. Brasil), and also the seafront parallel to it.

Budget
Many options in the area near the bus terminals. If you get further inland from here, it can get seedy at night.

Stay safe
Beware of pickpockets at the bus terminals when leaving. They will try to snatch your belongings when you load your bags into the buses.

Always park your private vehicle in guarded parking lot (estacionamiento). The free "guarded" parking at supermarkets is not safe.

Consulates

 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇩🇪 Germany

Go next

 * Calama – A convenient hub for trips in the region and further to San Pedro
 * San Pedro de Atacama – A tourist hot spot, which has the most popular attractions in this region such as Salar de Atacama, El Tatio Geysers and Valle de la Luna
 * Mano del Desierto – A sculpture of giant hand rising from the sand, 75 km away.

title: Antofagasta


text:
Antonina

Antonina is a colonial village in Coastal Paraná.

By car

 * PR-410 from Curitiba

Go next

 * Ilha do Mel
 * Morretes
 * Paranaguá
 * Pontal do Paraná

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

title: Antonina


text:
Antrim

There's more than one place called Antrim.

United Kingdom

 * Antrim (town) - a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland
 * County Antrim - a county in Northern Ireland

United States of America

 * Antrim (New Hampshire) - a town in Hillsborough County (New Hampshire), New Hampshire
 * Antrim County (Michigan) - a county in the state of Michigan

title: Antrim


text:
Antrim (town)

Antrim (Irish: Aontroim, "lone ridge") is the historic county town of County Antrim in Northern Ireland; these counties have been abolished so since 2015 it's been within the Borough of Antrim and Newtownabbey. It's 22 miles northwest of Belfast and is a commuter town for the city, with a population in 2011 of 23,375. For many visitors it's the place they arrive but don't stop to explore, as the International Airport is here. But it has several historic sites, a pleasant setting on Lough Neagh, and is a good base for visiting around the lough and further north. There's tourist information at the airport but the town TIC is in the Old Courthouse, open M-F 8:30AM-5PM.

Get in
(, aka Aldergrove) is 20 miles west of Belfast but only 4 miles south of Antrim town. It's Northern Ireland's main airport, with flights across UK and Europe mostly by Easyjet; there are no flights to Belfast from within Ireland. It has buses to Belfast, City Airport and Derry, but these don't serve Antrim. See below for Bus 109A between Lisburn, airport and Antrim. Car hire and taxis are also available.

See Belfast for other long-range travel options, which include Belfast City and Dublin airports, ferries to Belfast and Larne, and trains and buses from Dublin.

Trains run hourly, daily from Belfast Great Victoria Street via Lanyon Place and other Belfast stations, taking 40 min to Antrim. They continue to Ballymena, Coleraine, Castlerock and Derry. Change at Coleraine for Ulster University and Portrush.

is quarter of a mile northeast of town centre.

Goldline Bus 218 / 219 runs every two hours from Belfast Europa station, taking 30 min to Antrim, and continuing to Ballymena, Cloughmills, Ballymoney and Coleraine.

Bus 109A runs hourly M-Sa from Lisburn via Crumlin and International Airport to Antrim. Air travellers with a rail ticket to / from stations north of Antrim, such as Ballymena, Coleraine, Portrush, and Derry, can ride between airport and Antrim for a discount £2 single fare - show your rail ticket when you board the bus.

Bus 110 / 120 runs four times M-Sa from Magherafelt (with connecting buses from Cookstown) via Castledawson and Randalstown to Antrim.

By car from Belfast follow M2 west.

Get around
The town is compact enough to walk. The most reliable taxi firm is SML, +44 7999 083131.

See

 * The Courthouse or Market House, built in 1726, is at the head of High St by the Barbican. It now houses the TIC and theatre.
 * or "Steeple" is to the north on Steeple Rd. It's a well-preserved example from the 10th century, 92 ft / 28 m tall with a conical cap; such towers were church belfries but nothing remains of the church / monastery. A Celtic cross is carved over the tower doorway (no entry, it's 2.5 m above ground level and barred by a metal grille). Nearby is the "Witches Stone" and two bullauns - stones with hollows that collected rainwater, of supposed healing properties.
 * was a fortified farmstead circa 1000 AD, with earthworks and palisades. You'll have to use your imagination with this one, just a grassy platform with trees hemmed in by The Meadows housing estate. From Stiles Way B518, turn onto Fort Green (perhaps a clue?) then follow The Meadow: look for the layby and little footbridge to your left.
 * World of Owls is in Randalstown Forest two miles west of Shane's Castle. There are also public bird hides on the lough shore.
 * is the largest island on Lough Neagh, about a mile long by a quarter mile wide, and a mile out from the eastern lake shore. There's the ruins of a monastery with a Round Tower, and of a 19th-century summer house. Boat trips from Antrim may visit, and in summer there's a ferry from Sandy Bay Marina.
 * was built in 1789 in neo-classical style by Robert Adam. It's within the grounds of Castle Upton, which isn't open to the public.
 * off A6 Antrim Road is a water-powered mill for making spades and shovels, still in working order and maintained by the National Trust.
 * was built in 1789 in neo-classical style by Robert Adam. It's within the grounds of Castle Upton, which isn't open to the public.
 * off A6 Antrim Road is a water-powered mill for making spades and shovels, still in working order and maintained by the National Trust.

Do

 * Old Courthouse Theatre is within the Courthouse on High St.
 * Omniplex Cinema is on Junction retail park a mile north of town centre.
 * Antrim Forum is the council-run leisure centre, south bank of the river.
 * Golf: there are two lakeside courses, Massereene and the council-run Allen Park.
 * Boat trips usually sail in summer from Antrim Marina: they might visit Slane's Castle, or Ram's Island to the south. The well-known but elderly cruise boat Maid of Antrim has been removed for refurbishment, not a moment too soon.
 * The Irish Game Fair and Fine Food Festival is an all-Ireland event at Shane's Castle in late June.
 * Northern Ireland Food & Craft Festival is held in Antrim castle gardens in early July.

Buy

 * Castle Mall is the ugly shopping centre that erased much of the historic town. It's one block back from High Street, enter from north side.
 * The Junction is the retail park a mile north of the centre, junction of A26 and B518 towards the M2. Asda is open M-F 7AM-midnight, Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 1-6PM.

 * Nutts Corner Sunday Market is just south of the A26 / A52 junction. It has stalls.

Eat

 * Ruby's bar and restaurant at 19 Bridge St just south of the river is a solid family-oriented place.
 * Ruby's bar and restaurant at 19 Bridge St just south of the river is a solid family-oriented place.

Drink

 * Bars along High Street include Steeple Inn, Anchor Bar, Massereene House, Madden's (see Eat) and Barneys.

Connect
Antrim town, the airport and connecting highways have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Jan 2022, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Belfast is a must-see for its reinvigorated city centre, don't just hurry through its transport hub.
 * Lisburn was birthplace of the Irish linen industry. A few miles southwest is imposing Hillsborough castle.
 * Cookstown on the opposite side of Lough Neagh is where Kings of Tyrone were crowned, and the area is studded with prehistoric sites.

title: Antrim (town)


text:
Antsirabe

Antsirabe (City of much salt) is in the central highlands of Madagascar. In 2013, it had a population of around 240,000.

Get in
Gasycar Vip bus 6 times a day from Antananarivo, fare from 23,000 Ar. It departs from Le Chalet des Roses hotel in Antananarivo.

Get around
The city has more than 5000 colorfully painted rickshaws, called "Push-Push", it is the second most commonly used mean of transportation after cycling. This makes Antsirabe a very peaceful town compared to Antananarivo's traffic jams and pollution.

Taxis and taxi-brousse can get you to nearby cities. Bicycles, quads and taxis are available for daily rent.

See
Antsirabe Train Station. The Malagasy railway network dates from the colonial period, though breakdowns are frequent and many lines are now closed. The Antsirabe Train Station is an architecturally interesting example of colonial building techniques, though in it has been closed since 2007 because of problems with the line to the capital city.

Do
Antsirabe is a great place for hiking, be it by foot, mountain bike, or horse.

Supermarkets

 * Super U Avenue Foch. 08:00-19:00
 * Score Avenue Grande. 09:00-19:30
 * Supermaki next to Antsenakely city market. 08:00-20:00
 * Super Maxi Avenue Foch. which has cheaper prices. 08:00-18:00

Banks

 * BFV-SG Bank ATM takes most international cards.
 * BNI takes Mastercard and Visa card.
 * BOA ATM takes only Visa card.
 * MCB ATM takes Mastercard and Visa card.
 * BMOI ATM takes Visa card.

Eat

 * Crock Inn. Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The staff has some limited English skills. Associated with the Aro Hotel.
 * Chez Billy. Serves lunch and dinner. French-owned and -operated, great place for tourists and backpackers.

Go next

 * Antananarivo
 * Morondava
 * Fianarantsoa

title: Antsirabe


text:
Antsiranana Province

Antsiranana Province (or Diego-Suarez) is a former province in the north of the island state of Madagascar. In 2007, the province was divided into two regions: Diana in the west (capital Antsiranana) and Sava in the east (capital Sambava).

Cities

 * — a port city that is the largest city in northern Madagascar
 * — now known as Andoany, it is one of the oldest colonial cities in Madagascar

Other destinations

 * — home to 115 bird species, 148 reptile and amphibian species, and 11 lemur species
 * — highlights include the gold dust day gecko, the red ruffed lemur, the Masoala fork-marked lemur and the hawksbill sea turtle
 * — a small volcanic island; the beaches are clean and excellent for snorkelling
 * — a resort island with Nnational parks, lakes and waterfalls, sacred trees and some amazing shopping

See
In the southwest of the province lies the Tsaratanana mountain range. , with a height of 2,876 m, is the highest mountain in Madagascar.

title: Antsiranana Province


text:
Antwerp

Antwerp (Dutch: Antwerpen, French: Anvers) is the capital of the eponymous province in the region of Flanders in Belgium. At a population of just over half a million people (2018), it is the second largest city in Belgium (after Brussels), and it has a major European port. Due to its long and culturally rich history, the city of Antwerp houses many interesting historical buildings from different historical periods, and many interesting museums. Antwerp is also known as the global diamond trade hub: more than 70% of all diamonds are traded in Antwerp.

Antwerp has grown to become a trendy city, attracting many Flemish and foreign artists, writers, intellectuals, and actors. This is reflected in the city's many trendy bars and shops. Antwerp is a city with many faces. While it may not be as historically preserved as Bruges or Ghent, it is a very dynamic city, offering a perfect mix of history and present-day modern life. The friendliness of the people of Antwerp and their innate penchant for good food and good living, combined with their low stress lifestyle, makes it a desirable and relaxing place to visit.

Understand
The origins of the name of Antwerp comes from aan de werpe, which is Dutch for "at the throw", referring to where the river throws its sand. The name also has a funny anecdote saying it comes from Hand werpen, which translated is "throwing hands". In the city flag, the castle "het Steen" and the hand of Antwerp are shown.

In the 16th century, Antwerp was one of the most important financial centres of the world, where traders from all over Europe and Asia sold and bought their goods. After the siege of Antwerp in 1585 by the Spanish, this role as a financial centre was taken over by Amsterdam. Nevertheless, since the 19th century and especially the 20th century, Antwerp has made a serious economic comeback.
 * Visit Antwerp tourism website

By plane

 * Brussels Airport
 * Hourly direct trains link Antwerpen Centraal station with this airport in 25 minutes (45 minutes on weekends and public holidays). Single adult tickets are €11.30.
 * There is also a direct bus between Brussels Airport and Antwerp which costs €10 and has two stops in Antwerp at Hotel Crowne Plaza and in the city centre, at Franklin Rooseveltplaats at platform B5. A schedule can be found here
 * There is also a direct bus between Brussels Airport and Antwerp which costs €10 and has two stops in Antwerp at Hotel Crowne Plaza and in the city centre, at Franklin Rooseveltplaats at platform B5. A schedule can be found here

 * Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has a high-speed train station on the Amsterdam-Brussels line directly underneath the terminal, which allows for two different railway connections to Antwerp:
 * There is a regular intercity train Amsterdam — Brussels that connects Schiphol Airport directly with Antwerpen Centraal station in approximately 1 hr 50 min. You can buy tickets with credit card at the automatic ticket booths in the Schiphol arrival hall. Payment with cash is also possible at the counter. Or you can book through Belgian Railways (SNCB/NMBS) or NS International. A single ticket costs about €25.
 * A second option is the bright red high-speed Eurostar train Amsterdam - Paris, which stops at Schiphol and Antwerpen Centraal station, in about half the time it takes the regular train, but at double the price. Contrary to regular trains, reservations on Eurostar are required. Best reserve your seat a week or so beforehand, since buying a ticket on the spot will turn out to be even more expensive. The Eurostar journey from Schiphol to Antwerpen Centraal can also be booked as a part of a SkyTeam flight (IATA code for Antwerpen Centraal is ), usually costing less than when booking the flight and the Eurostar ride separately.
 * KLM also maintains a direct shuttle bus connection between Antwerpen Centraal and Schiphol Airport, which can be booked as a KLM flight segment under the code KL320/KL321. The bus takes 2½ hr to get between Antwerp and Schiphol, but there is usually no difference in price between flight tickets using the bus and the Eurostar, so book carefully.

By train
Belgium has an extensive rail network, and for intercity travel within Belgium, trains are always the best option. Tickets can be bought on the website of the Belgian railways and at the ticket counters in most stations. There are good train connections to and from Brussels Airport and Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. To plan your trip, you can consult the website of NMBS (SNCB) for national and international travels. If you cross multiple borders, it is often possible to book your entire trip at once through Deutsche Bahn.

Antwerp-Central is a major stop on the Paris-Amsterdam high-speed line. International trains from France and the Netherlands stop in Antwerp-Central station only, and not in Antwerp-Berchem anymore. The same train services that call at Schiphol Airport also call at Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal. Tickets for train journeys originating from the Netherlands are bookable through Belgian Railways (NMBS/SNCB), Eurostar, or NS International but remember that some tickets (especially Eurostar tickets) are valid only on specific trains. Passengers coming from the UK via Eurostar can transfer at Brussel-Zuid to any regular NMBS-operated train bound for Antwerp provided that at the time of booking, Antwerp was selected as the final destination. Through Brussel-Zuid railway station, there are also high-speed connections to other destinations in France with TGV, or destinations in Germany with ICE. If you have a mobile device, the SNCB (Belgian Railways) App (in English) is useful and also shows you how to get to the station.

By bus
Several bus operators offer long-distance connections to Antwerp:

By car
The overall city centre of Antwerp is a low-emission zone and foreign vehicles require registration which should generally be made before entering and can exceptionally be made up to one day after the first move into the city. You will need your registration details and potentially car documents; depending on the age of the car you will need exception permits which are €35 per day (valid until 06:00 next morning). For more information see the information by the relevant authorities here. Driving into the (video surveilled) LEZ without registration is subject to fine ranging from €150 to €350.

Many streets in the centre are narrow and driving there is slow and rather uncomfortable anyway. The Ring road around Antwerp is often congested. Works at the Oosterweellink are in progress since 2021, some exits are closed till 2030.

By bicycle

 * From Brussels: exit Brussels towards the north via the Havenlaan and the Willebroek Canal bike route, up to the tall iron Buda Bridge. Cross the canal and continue on the other side through the town of Vilvoorde, until you reach the river Zenne. The F1 cycle superhighway (Fietssnelweg) continues towards Mechelen along the Zenne. Past Mechelen, the F1 runs along the Antwerp-Brussels railway and terminates at Antwerp-Central Station. Total distance from Brussels to Antwerp is around 50 km.
 * From Ghent: the F4 cycle superhighway (55 km) starts at Gent-Dampoort railway station. The first part runs on ordinary roads, but once in the countryside outside of Ghent, it runs on a dedicated bike lane along the Antwerp-Ghent railway. It passes through Lokeren and Sint-Niklaas, the capital of the Waasland (the region between Antwerp and Ghent). For the time being, the F4 terminates at Zwijndrecht railway station, 4 km short of Antwerp. From there, follow the street and path towards the Blancefloerlaan, which has good bike lanes and leads straight to the St.-Anna Pedestrian Tunnel on the Antwerp Left Bank - with its quaint historic wooden escalators, through which you can cycle underneath the river Schelde into central Antwerp.
 * From the seaside: the nearest town on the Belgian coast is Knokke-Heist (100 km), although some towns on the Dutch coast (Cadzand at 90 km and Breskens at 75 km) are even closer to Antwerp. Anyway, the shortest, most scenic and most comfortable bike route to Antwerp passes partly through the Netherlands (Zeelandic Flanders). From Knokke, a fabulous bicycle path runs around the Zwin nature reserve at the NL border, continuing along the Dutch seaside via Cadzand towards Breskens. The bike path runs right on top of the dunes, with great views over the beach and sea on your one side and the polders on your other. Past Breskens, the bike lane leaves the North Sea and continues along the Westerschelde, which is over 5 km wide at this point. Once you reach the industries around the port of Terneuzen, following the river becomes impossible, so you have to turn inland and continue to and through Terneuzen. From Terneuzen, follow ordinary roads with good Dutch bike lanes to Hulst. From Hulst, take the former railway bike path (F411 cycle superhighway) to Sint-Niklaas. From Sint-Niklaas, follow the F4 to Antwerp as described above.
 * From NL/Holland: from wherever you are in Holland (e.g. Amsterdam, Rotterdam), first make your way south to the border town of Roosendaal. Continue for another 10 km south to the Belgian border town of Essen. From there, the F14 cycle superhighway gets you to Antwerp in no time, running along the old Antwerp-Amsterdam railway. It terminates at Luchtbal, from where you can complete the last few kilometres into central Antwerp on ordinary roads. From more eastern parts of the Netherlands, it will be shorter to travel via Tilburg (NL), starting point of the 'Bels Lijntje' — a 30-km disused railway bike trail through the curious Belgian exclave Baarle-Hertog — to Turnhout (B), from where you can follow the F15 cycle superhighway along the canal to Antwerp.
 * From Germany: the nearest German city is Aachen (143 km), right next to the border tripoint of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. From Aachen, cross into the Netherlands at Vaals and continue to Maastricht. Cross Maastricht towards the west and cross into Belgium at Lanaken, where you reach the Albert Canal. From this point, a cycle superhighway runs along the Albert Canal all the way to Antwerp, through the Belgian Limburg and the Kempen (the region east of Antwerp). It is numbered as the F72 until Hasselt, then as the F5 Hasselt-Antwerpen.
 * From Luxemburg: follow the award-winning Vennbahn bike path, one of the longest bicycle trails on disused railway tracks in Europe (125 km). Starting in northern Luxemburg, it leads through East Belgium, the German-speaking and highest part of the country (it actually snows there in winter). After a long descent through forested hills, the Vennbahn terminates in Aachen, Germany. From there, continue to Antwerp as described above.
 * From Wallonia: from Charleroi, follow the Ravel bike lane along the Brussels-Charleroi Canal to and through Brussels until you reach the F1 to Antwerp. From Liège, follow the Ravel bike lane along the river Meuse and Albert Canal, until you reach the F72 and F5 to Antwerp.
 * From France: France is not so bicycle-friendly; (intercity) bike lanes are almost non-existent. If you really must travel from France by bicycle, the nearest major French city is Lille. From there, make your way to Kortrijk in Belgium, from where the F7 cycle superhighway (still partly under construction) gets you to Ghent. From there, follow the F4 as described above to reach Antwerp.
 * From the United Kingdom: take your bike on the ferry from Dover to Dunkerque (France, 20 km from the Belgian border, from the ferry port is actually over 30 km) and follow the coastal road from there until you reach De Panne (Belgium). Continue along the Belgian coast until Knokke and continue to Antwerp as described above, or (shorter) cut through via Diksmuide towards Deinze, then F7 to Ghent followed by F4 to Antwerp.

By public transportation
The public transportation company De Lijn has a dense network of buses, trams, and pre-metro (underground tram) connections in the city and wide area around it. Tickets can be purchased through the mobile app. You can also buy cards of €17 (10 fares) or alternatively 1- or 3-day tickets at fixed points in town; inside transportation payment of tickets is only possible via contactless payment (cards or via smartphone); buying tickets in cash is not possible anymore. For one fare, you can ride up to an hour.

The tram system operates with low-floor articulated units (refer to the above photo), mostly in tunnels under the centre, & older high-floor tramcars, mostly on ground-level routes.

The central bus station is the Franklin Roosevelt plaats, near the central train station. Most buses leave from there or from the train station. Maps of the bus/tram network in the entire region can be found in PDF format here.

By taxi
Taxis are available, but they can be quite expensive. They await customers at specific locations around town (waving your hand will seldom work) like the Groenplaats or the railway station. You can recognize these places by an orange TAXI sign. The prices are fixed in the taximeter.

Mabo Taxi Antwerpen provides taxi rides in Antwerp for those who wish to avoid public transportation.

By car
Driving in Antwerp is not as difficult as many big cities in the world, but crossroads can seem very chaotic for foreigners. There are few free parking spaces, but many spaces where you have to pay (on the street or in underground car parks). The underground car parks are well-signposted. The prices are typically €2 to per hour, depending on the area. As of August 2023, parking on the streets is only allowed for residents and permit holders; visitors have to park in a car park downtown, or at one of the 9 park-and-rides (€1) at the border of the city, with connections on public transport to the centre.

There are many one-way roads, that can make it difficult to get to a specific place. Try to park your car as close as possible and go on foot.

Antwerp has introduced a Low Emission Zone, which applies to domestic and foreign registered cars. The latter have to jump through hoops to demonstrate their emission status. The zone seems to be inside but excluding the ring-road, but the official map is dreadful, so beware.

By bicycle
The city has many special paths for cyclists. Most one-way roads can be accessed both ways. Make sure to lock your bike to a fixed object, however, or it will be stolen! Around town there are a few places that are specially prepared for hosting bicycles for free, like at the Groenplaats.

Antwerp's bike-sharing scheme is called Velo. You can get a day pass for these bikes in the Central Station and pick up your bike at more than 80 places in Antwerp. The first 15 minutes are free, then the price gradually increases. Bicycles can also be rented at several places in town like Ligfiets, Windroos, Fietsdokter (verschransingsstraat), or Fietshaven (government initiative, under the central station).

By kick scooter
Shared electric kick scooters that can be used in combination with an app, are available from 3 operators: Bird, Lime and Poppy. Minimum age is 16, some areas are no go, no park or low-speed zones (8 km/h). Follow the same traffic rules as cyclists and drop the scooter after use in a drop-off zone or at a convenient spot.

On foot
Most things to see are near or within the Boulevards, the half-moon of avenues where there were once 16th-century city walls. This old town centre, with a diameter of about 1.5 km, can be walked, and there is also excellent public transport. The centre is densely signposted to aid those discovering it on foot.

By horse tram
A "Horse tram" (i.e. a horse and carriage) leaves from the Grote Markt every hour. It is an approximately 40-minute/2.5-km ride through the city.

Other buildings of note

 * Central Station is worth a look even if you're not travelling by train. In 2014, the British-American magazine Mashable has chosen Antwerpen-Centraal to be the most beautiful railway station in the world.
 * Central Station is worth a look even if you're not travelling by train. In 2014, the British-American magazine Mashable has chosen Antwerpen-Centraal to be the most beautiful railway station in the world.
 * Central Station is worth a look even if you're not travelling by train. In 2014, the British-American magazine Mashable has chosen Antwerpen-Centraal to be the most beautiful railway station in the world.
 * Central Station is worth a look even if you're not travelling by train. In 2014, the British-American magazine Mashable has chosen Antwerpen-Centraal to be the most beautiful railway station in the world.

South of Antwerp
Since the restoration a couple of years ago, the south of the city is known as the trendy part.

The centre of this piece of the city is a huge square called de gedempte zuiderdokken which simply means, 'the filled-up southern docks'. In the 1960s, this was an abandoned trade dock. They filled up the dock in an attempt to expand the city. The high crime rate in the region made it a very cheap place to live. This was a blessing for the local art world, which started to flourish, making the region trendy and safe over the years. Today, it is known as a "yuppie stronghold".

Do

 * Antwerp by Bike — Discover Antwerp with a bike. The inner city is perhaps too crowded, but the green outskirts are really worth visiting. For bike rental, see and "Vélo". "Antwerp by Bike"  has a charming tour with all the highlights of Antwerp, like the cathedral, the Butterfly Palace and the MAS museum (from July till September). For other tours, see
 * Football: Royal Antwerp play soccer in Pro League, Belgium's top tier. Their home ground Bosuilstadion (capacity 16,100) is 5 km east of city centre.
 * Beerschot were promoted in 2024 so they too play in Pro League. Their Olympisch Stadion (capacity 12,700) is 5 km southwest of city centre.
 * Football: Royal Antwerp play soccer in Pro League, Belgium's top tier. Their home ground Bosuilstadion (capacity 16,100) is 5 km east of city centre.
 * Beerschot were promoted in 2024 so they too play in Pro League. Their Olympisch Stadion (capacity 12,700) is 5 km southwest of city centre.
 * Football: Royal Antwerp play soccer in Pro League, Belgium's top tier. Their home ground Bosuilstadion (capacity 16,100) is 5 km east of city centre.
 * Beerschot were promoted in 2024 so they too play in Pro League. Their Olympisch Stadion (capacity 12,700) is 5 km southwest of city centre.

Buy

 * The main shopping area is the Meir, a street that stretches out from the Keyserlei (close to the central station) to the Groenplaats. It is one of the most famous shopping streets in Belgium. Don't forget to visit the mall Stadsfeestzaal (between Meir and Hopland), which was beautifully restored and reopened in 2007 after it was partially destroyed by a fire ten years earlier. You will see a lot of gold on the ceiling, and all sorts of stores. The streets Hopland and Schuttershofstraat are the shopping terrain of the rich and famous with exclusive fashion shops like Cartier, Hermes, Scapa, and Armani. The Huidevettersstraat, Nationalestraat, and Kammenstraat (all close to the Meir) are also very interesting shopping streets to visit.
 * Purchasing a diamond at one of the many tourist jewelry shops around the Central station can be an unpleasant experience. Like any big diamond city in the world, there are many tourist trap diamond shops around the actual diamond district centre, though it is fair to say that if you are prepared to bargain you can purchase jewellery here for significantly less than in countries such as the UK. Wealthy diamond buyers should do their investigative shopping online prior to visiting Antwerp. For tips on buying diamond rings, see Diamond rings in Antwerp. If you're less wealthy and someone asks you to bring back some diamonds from Antwerp, buy diamond-shaped chocolate pralines at e.g. Burie (Korte Gasthuisstraat 3), Château Blanc (Torfbrug 1) or Del Rey (Appelmansstraat 5).
 * Trendy shopping can be done in the Kammenstraat and surroundings. In this area, you will also find the Fashion Museum and many shops of famous Antwerp fashion designers, such as Walter van Beirendonck and Dries van Noten.
 * The Kloosterstraat has many antique shops, with often bizarre items for sale.
 * Chinatown can be found about 300 m north of the Central Station (see also Eat). A lot of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese products can be found here.
 * Weekend Markets take place on the Theaterplein Square (follow Wapper or Meistraat south from the Meir) in front of the Stadsschouwburg theatre. The markets are very popular with stalls offering everything from food (fruit and veg, meat, fish, nuts, cheese ethnic specialities) to household goods to bicycles to antiques to clothes. Sunday tends to see a lot more stalls compared to Saturday. Take a break from browsing at the stall at the centre of the square, where you can buy a cheese roll with a glass of chilled cava to wash it down, most convivial!
 * At Ploegstraat 25 you can find a "give-away shop", where you can bring and take stuff as you please without any monetary interaction. Open M-F 14:00-18:00.

Learn
Antwerp has several colleges and a university.
 * University of Antwerp.
 * Artesis (formerly Hogeschool Antwerpen).
 * KU Leuven campus Carolus and Sint-Andries (formerly Lessius Hogeschool).
 * Karel de Grote Hogeschool.
 * Antwerp Maritime Academy.

Due to very strict language requirements imposed by the Flemish government, all Bachelor courses are offered in Dutch only (except for the Maritime Academy which enjoys a special international status). However, the University of Antwerp offers 9 fully English-taught Master programmes, 7 advanced Master programmes, and 7 postgraduate degrees, in topics ranging from Linguistics and Computer Science to Marine Transport.

Antwerp hosts over 30,000 students, and therefore boasts a vibrant student life that also has many traditional aspects. Well-connected in the centre of Europe, offering a varied city day- and nightlife, and having a very reasonable cost of living compared to the surrounding capitals, it's a popular destination for Erasmus students. Current and prospective Erasmus students should get in touch with ESN Antwerp, part of the global Erasmus Student Network and very active in organizing activities to help international students find their way around.

Eat
Antwerpse handjes are little biscuits or chocolates in the shape of a hand. Invented by a Jewish baker in 1932.

As with most Flemish towns, you can find many frietkoten in the city. These are places of which the Belgians are really proud of. Here you can buy the famous Belgian fries and other fried food for a reasonable price.

For lunch people often go eat a "smos", a sandwich with several layers of garniture in it. The name refers to the mess you make when trying to eat it. You can find them in several stores like Panos or Foodmaker.

De Keyserlei (the street that runs west from Central Station) is a street with a varied choice of restaurants. The side streets on the north side of De Keyserlei offer even more options, with Lebanese, South-African, Mexican, Italian and Vietnamese (to name but a few) restaurants all rubbing shoulders with each other. With so many restaurants in a small area the prices tend to be pretty competitive.

Chinatown takes up a couple of streets on the north side of Koningin-Astrid-plein (the large square to the north of Central Station). Look for the 2 lions guarding the entrance to Van Wesenbekestraat. Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai and Nepalese restaurants are here as well as lots of Chinese options.

Budget
Broodje/Boterkoken (sandwiches) are local and inexpensive.

Mid-range
Try one of the Indian restaurants on Lange Herentalsestraat.

Drink
Wherever you are in Antwerp, you will always be near a pub or another drinking facility. Not surprising in the city that has the most pubs per capita in the world. The pubs do not have a closing hour.

Drinks originating here are De Koninck (commonly called "Bolleke") beer, and Elixir d'Anvers – a liquor based on plants.

 * Den Engel — Most famous traditional cafe in Antwerp. Situated at Grote Markt.
 * De Vagant — A famous Belgian cafe serving about 300 kinds of Jenever.
 * De Muze — A jazz café in Melkmarkt. Relaxed atmosphere and live (jazz) music played on a regular basis. Beyond typical Belgian beers, coffee lovers can enjoy a true Italian Espresso or, if willing to drink something bigger, a "Koffie Verkeerd".
 * Caffénation — Most friendly bar in Antwerp. They have very nice specialized coffee creations and a cozy outdoor with lots of green. Good music. Say hi from "TheKitt" for a special, double shot cappuccino.
 * Paeters Vaetje, (in the Cathedral Square). Here you can order more than 100 kinds of beer. In summertime, you can also sit outside.
 * Kassa4, in the student neighbourhood, on the Ossenmarkt. Very popular student pub with a good choice of alternative music. Can be very crowded at times.
 * Den Hovenier — Typical Antwerp pub near the Sint-Jacob Church.
 * Café Beveren, near the river. Enjoy the automatic Decap Organ.
 * Stanny — Non-smoking café close to the station of Antwerp-Berchem.
 * Copa Cava — a cava bar on the vlasmarkt, with a cosy atmosphere and which serves relatively cheap and exclusive cava from Barcelona.
 * La Treille — intimate wine bar and shop at Haarstraat 23, close to the Grote Markt, serves and sells authentic wines (straight form the vineyard) out of Italy, Belgium and France.
 * t Vervolg — between the "groenplaats" and the "Grote Markt", very friendly prices mixed with house & RnB always ensures there's something going on Monday through Saturday evening.
 * Witzli-Poetzli (Blauwmoezelstraat 8, Meir. From 10:00 daily.) The Witzli-Poetzli is a very small café in the centre of city centre. It is next to the great cathedral. In the summer there's a unique terras in the shadow of the cathedral. In the winter it is a cosy place where people come to drink coffee and read a newspaper.
 * t Vervolg — between the "groenplaats" and the "Grote Markt", very friendly prices mixed with house & RnB always ensures there's something going on Monday through Saturday evening.
 * Witzli-Poetzli (Blauwmoezelstraat 8, Meir. From 10:00 daily.) The Witzli-Poetzli is a very small café in the centre of city centre. It is next to the great cathedral. In the summer there's a unique terras in the shadow of the cathedral. In the winter it is a cosy place where people come to drink coffee and read a newspaper.
 * Witzli-Poetzli (Blauwmoezelstraat 8, Meir. From 10:00 daily.) The Witzli-Poetzli is a very small café in the centre of city centre. It is next to the great cathedral. In the summer there's a unique terras in the shadow of the cathedral. In the winter it is a cosy place where people come to drink coffee and read a newspaper.

Splurge

 * Hotel Firean

Connect
As of July 2022, Antwerp has 5G from all Belgian carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Stay safe
Most parts of Antwerp are safe, but some neighborhoods are to be avoided in the evening, especially the area around De Coninckplein and the neighborhoods of Borgerhout, Seefhoek and the Schipperskwartier. Still, these neighbourhoods have a very lively atmosphere and so are definitely worth a visit during the day.

Moreover, it is of utmost importance to lock your bike properly if left outside on the street throughout the city. If you need police assistance, the direct police number is 101. If you need a non-urgent police inquiry or the most nearby police station you can dial 0800/12312 for free. Most police officers in Antwerp are friendly and professional.

Antwerp used to be a major stronghold of Flemish independence. Though most people are indifferent towards this movement nowadays, do not be surprised if you get occasional death stares if you speak any amount of French. This only concerns a minority (mostly older people and ultra-nationalists), but do refrain from assuming that everyone in the Antwerp area speaks (or is willing to speak) French.

Like most of the rest of Europe, the number for emergencies (ambulance, police and fire) is 112.

Go next
Antwerp is a key railway hub on the high-speed line from the Netherlands to France, so you can get relatively quickly and easily not only around Belgium, but also to its two neighbours.

Belgium
Getting around Belgium is relatively easy from Antwerp, as the country is small and featuring one of the densest railway networks in the world. Some of the more popular destinations that can be visited on a day trip from Antwerp are:

 * Bruges (Brugge) — Very nice medieval town. Often called "Venice of the North", because of the many canals that flow through and under it. Well worth an overnight stay, since it is most romantic at night and very safe.
 * Brussels — The capital of Belgium and some say, the capital of Europe. Multicultural and multilingual. Unfortunately, some of the city's historic (medieval) centre was destroyed at the end of the 19th century when Belgium seceded from the Netherlands and Brussels was made capital of the new country. Nonetheless, Brussels is known as a city of "hidden gems," where you can turn a street corner in a less-than-breathtaking area and come face-to-face with an opulent and unexpected Art Deco or Art Nouveau building. Its popularity with tourists has been steadily increasing.
 * Ghent — A medieval town a bit like Bruges, with more emphasis on cathedrals and other big buildings. Great centre of medieval paintings exhibited in and around the cathedral of Sint-Baafs.
 * Namur — The regional capital of Wallonia.
 * Leuven — Nearly as lively as Antwerp or Brussels is this college town, home to one of the world's oldest universities is here. Many hotels also cater to businessmen who find Brussels too expensive.

Netherlands

 * Amsterdam — You can take a direct train to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. There is about one train an hour and it will take you about two hours to get there. Amsterdam is well known for its grachten, many bicycles, and coffee-shops. There also is the Eurostar high-speed train which is a bit more expensive but you will get there a lot faster.
 * Rotterdam — You can take a direct train to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. There is about one train an hour and it will take you about one hour to get there. Rotterdam is well known for its harbour.
 * Den Bosch — You can go by train to this medieval city (change trains in Roosendaal).
 * Zeeland — Where the Schelde reaches the ocean. It's about two hours by train and you will have to change in Roosendaal.
 * Hulst — A very well-preserved historic fortified city very near Antwerp, which attracts lots of day-trippers from Belgium.
 * Saeftinghe — Nature reserve known as The Drowned Land of Saeftinghe, on the border between Belgium and the Netherlands.

France

 * Lille — Lille is in the North of France just off the Belgian border. It is famous among others for having the largest bookstore in Europe ("Le furet du Nord"). The train ride is pretty long (sometimes over two hours) making it less easy for a day trip. The Dutch (Flemish) name is Rijsel and the town is not to be confused with another Flemish town called "Lille" in Dutch!
 * Paris — With the Eurostar, you can be there in about two hours.

title: Antwerp


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Antwerp (province)

Antwerp is one of the five provinces of Flanders (the Dutch-speaking, northern part of Belgium). Most information that you might expect to find here can be found either on the page for Flanders, on the page for Belgium or on one of the city pages.

Cities

 * — largest city and administrative center for the province and major tourism destination in Belgium famous for its diamonds and shopping
 * A set of exclaves of Belgium
 * — its belfry is a.
 * is best known for its nature: Kalmthoutse Heide and the arboretum.
 * — its belfry and beguinage are a.
 * — as a lovely city halfway between the bustling cities of Antwerp and Brussels, this place has its own ways to enchant its visitors.
 * — as a lovely city halfway between the bustling cities of Antwerp and Brussels, this place has its own ways to enchant its visitors.

Talk
Dutch is the language spoken in the province of Antwerp, and it's the only official language in the province and the rest of Flanders; the local dialect is called "Antwerps", which is a form of Brabantian. English is also spoken by most people.

title: Antwerp (province)


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Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is a UNESCO World Heritage listed city in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka.

Understand
The historic zone, northwest of the town, consists of a good variety of ruins, spread over a large area (like a mini Siem Reap) along with a number of dagobas that are still important pilgrimage sites. The majority of visitors are white-clad Sri Lankan pilgrims, rather than foreign tour groups, hence a less touristy and less harassing atmosphere than at Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa.

History

 * Anuradhapura is the most ancient city of Sri Lanka. It is where Buddhism began in the country as well as where the first kingdom was located. It is known for its ancient features such as ruins of palaces and temples. It is also home to the eight sacred places of Sri Lanka.

By plane

 * FitsAir - Charter flights from Colombo-Ratmalana
 * FitsAir - Charter flights from Colombo-Ratmalana

By bus
Buses travel along A9 highway, you can find buses from/to Colombo in Bastian Mawatha Terminal in Fort (five hours, every half hour, until 08:30) for a non-air-conditioned public bus, costs around Rs. 350, Kandy (three hours, every hour two or more, until 18:30), Dambulla (hourly, until 18:30), Trincomalee (3½ hours, morning) and other destinations from the bus station in the Anuradhapura New Town.

By train
There are also two train stations in and around Anuradhapura, which can take you to/from Colombo (4½ hours, four each day), a first class seat cost around Rs 500. To Kandy (change at Polgahawela). Train service also runs to Anuradhapura from Matara (8½ hours, early morning), Galle (7 hours, morning). Two stations being in and near Anuradhapura.

As of April 2024, there are no trains running between Colombo and Anuradhapura until July. However, bus services are plenty with slower non-AC buses going from Central Bus Station (Find routes 4, 15, 57) and slightly quicker AC/Luxury/Private buses, going from Bastian Mawatha, terminal 3.

By road
It is possible to get to Anuradhapura on the A9 highway from Kandy 166 km away. The drive from Colombo takes approximately 4 hours.

Get around
Tuk tuks and buses are abundant. The New Town is relatively small, and can be walked from one end to another in half an hour. The Old Town (archaeological site) is quite large, and you can get around by tuk tuk.

See
The ancient city of Anuradhapura was first settled ca. 900 BC, and served off and on as the capital of the Sinhalese Kingdom until ca. 1100 AD, when the capital moved further south. The city was quite large in its heyday, and so there is a lot of archaeology to see.

A USD25 ticket covers admission to all the sites of Anuradhapura itself (with a few exceptions like Isurumuniya), and admission is included in the Cultural Triangle ticket (USD50). South Asian nationals receive substantial discounts of USD15 on entrance fees, Therefore, if you have a South Asian passport, make sure to carry it with you on your visits. Tickets can be purchased at the Archaeology Museum or at the entrance. There is not one place which would check the tickets, rather there are random controls on the road when traveling between the sites. Many sites can be also accesed for free.

Most tuk-tuk drivers can get you in without paying the ticket but it is not recommended. Some of them offer to take you in and tour you around for a price lesser than the price of the ticket. However this tour will probably be a scam and include mostly the free sites (not the north side, ie. museums, Abhaygiri Vihara) so always check before what will be included. Decide for yourself between supporting your budget and missing important sites or supporting government and (hopefully) maintenance of historical monuments. In case you want to pay for the ticket, check that the ticket is actually bought. Beware of friendly tuk tuk drivers in the bus stand.

This old town' is quite large, so get a tuk-tuk if you want to cover all the sights in one day (should be 3500-4500 per tour in 2023). Alternatively, some hotels in Anuradhapura can provide you with a bicycle (1000 per day in 2023) or motorcycle (2000 per day in 2023), allowing you to roam around on your own. The old town is open for visiting until 17:00.

 * The Folk Museum: Showcases the archaeology of Anuradhapura from a more folk perspective.
 * The Citadel: This was the secular centre of the city. The Gedige and other palaces can be found here, as well as the old city walls.
 * The Moonstone: Moonstones, to be found throughout Anuradhapura, were at the entrances to monasteries, and represented the movement from the secular to the sacred worlds, by following the path to enlightenment, as carved into the moonstone. This moonstone is of particular note, for its size and impressive decoration.
 * The Western Monasteries: These monasteries represent a different take on worshiping the Buddha than can be found in the main part of the ancient city. Whereas many monasteries were opulent and richly adorned, the Western Monasteries sought a more orthodox existence, without any sort of decoration within the monastery, save for urinal stones. Urinal stones were often very richly adorned, and the symbolism here need not be explicitly stated.
 * Isurumuniya Buddhist temple (Isirumuni Raja Maha Viharaya) situated near to the Tissa Wewa (Tisa Tank). There are four carvings of special interest in this Vihara. They are the Isurumuniya Lovers, Elephant Pond and The Royal Family. Extra fee 500LKR.
 * The Citadel: This was the secular centre of the city. The Gedige and other palaces can be found here, as well as the old city walls.
 * The Moonstone: Moonstones, to be found throughout Anuradhapura, were at the entrances to monasteries, and represented the movement from the secular to the sacred worlds, by following the path to enlightenment, as carved into the moonstone. This moonstone is of particular note, for its size and impressive decoration.
 * The Western Monasteries: These monasteries represent a different take on worshiping the Buddha than can be found in the main part of the ancient city. Whereas many monasteries were opulent and richly adorned, the Western Monasteries sought a more orthodox existence, without any sort of decoration within the monastery, save for urinal stones. Urinal stones were often very richly adorned, and the symbolism here need not be explicitly stated.
 * Isurumuniya Buddhist temple (Isirumuni Raja Maha Viharaya) situated near to the Tissa Wewa (Tisa Tank). There are four carvings of special interest in this Vihara. They are the Isurumuniya Lovers, Elephant Pond and The Royal Family. Extra fee 500LKR.
 * Isurumuniya Buddhist temple (Isirumuni Raja Maha Viharaya) situated near to the Tissa Wewa (Tisa Tank). There are four carvings of special interest in this Vihara. They are the Isurumuniya Lovers, Elephant Pond and The Royal Family. Extra fee 500LKR.
 * Isurumuniya Buddhist temple (Isirumuni Raja Maha Viharaya) situated near to the Tissa Wewa (Tisa Tank). There are four carvings of special interest in this Vihara. They are the Isurumuniya Lovers, Elephant Pond and The Royal Family. Extra fee 500LKR.

Do
Apart from seeing the archaeology of the ancient city, it is possible to explore the area, and to spend time in the Anuradhapura New Town. There are many shops in the New Town, as well as a market, and the interested visitor may wish to patronize some of these.

There are guided city tours offered by bicycle or on foot through AirBnB Experiences

Buy
Souvenir vendors are abundant at the popular sites within the Anuradhapura old town, as well as at Mihintale. You can go to them to purchase postcards, replica artifacts, carved wooden figurines, earrings, masks and any number of other items. Vendors will also often follow you around, and will sometimes not leave you alone when you say that you are not interested. Some vendors attempt to sell authentic ancient artifacts. It is illegal to remove items older than 100 years old from the country, and you may face up to three years in Sri Lankan prisons if you are caught attempting to do so. Besides this, the looting of archaeological artifacts can lead to the destruction of archaeological sites, the loss of important artifacts, and ultimately, the loss of valuable archaeological knowledge. Please do not support looting by purchasing authentic artifacts. The vendor should confirm that they are replicas, and they should be priced as such.

There are numerous shops in the Anuradhapura New Town. Apart from food markets, there are photo shops, sari shops, and several others. Essentials can be purchased from Cargills Food City or at one of several pharmacies. Zam Zams has a wide assortment of products if you forgot to bring anything.

Eat
There are many hotels (Sri Lankan English for a small restaurant) in the Anuradhapura New Town, which offer an authentic Sri Lankan meal, at quite a good price. Smaller boutiques offer quick eats, such as pastries and rolls, which are also quite good and cheap. Stores and small markets in the New Town and surrounding area often carry snack food such as chips, chocolate bars and nuts, as well as cold drinks. Some also have fresh baking, and many markets sell fresh fruit. Lunch packets, generally sold between 11:00 and 14:00 are excellent for lunch. Unless you are a fan of spices, ask the staff not to put too many chiles, as authentic Sri Lankan food is very spicy.

The Nuwara Wewa Guesthouse has quite nice, though somewhat westernised meals. Non-guests can eat at the restaurant. There are numerous other similar guest houses, and the Tissa Wewa guesthouse gets good reviews.Also try at Hotel Shalini for tasty rice & curry.

Cargills Food City is a small grocery store which carries many Western products, as well as fresh produce and meat. You can get all the essentials for preparing your own meals here.

Drink
The drinking of alcohol in public is not an acceptable practice in Sri Lanka. There are not many bars, and they tend to be somewhat secluded. Westernised guesthouses have a full bar, and Lion and Carlsberg are the most common beers. There are two alcohol shops in the Anuradhapura New Town, where you can purchase arrack, a spirit made from coconut which is popular throughout Sri Lanka, as well as rum, whisky, beer, wine, etc.

Coca-Cola, Pepsi Cola, and Elephant soft drinks are sold at small shops everywhere, and water, juice, and other drinks can also be purchased at these. Do not drink tap water.

Sleep
There are numerous guest houses Anuradhapura new town, and many more budget accommodations. Prices at hostels start from Rs 1,500 to 2,000 per person for a night.

If you don't have and idea of where you'll be staying, any tuk-tuk driver will be happy to offer you rooms that he or his brother is renting, usually offering very basic comfort at a reasonable, negotiable price. Usually he'll take you to see the room for free before committing to rent one.

 * The Nuwara Wewa Guest House is quite nice, with a pool and excellent views of the Nuwara Wewa, which is a large irrigation tank and resembles a lake. There is also an on-site restaurant, and the rates are reasonable.

Respect
It is respectful, and necessary, to remove shoes and hats when walking around sites of Buddhist veneration. It is also polite to circumambulate to the right; that is, walk to the left around the object so that your right hand, considered to be the clean hand, is constantly facing the object. Women's shoulders should also be covered when exploring Buddhist sites, and respectful clothing should be worn. One is also not supposed to turn their back towards a representation of the Buddha.

It is generally fine to take pictures, but be careful not to take any pictures of people in front of images of the Buddha.

Stay safe
Beware of the monkeys. Monkeys, particularly macaques (small, red-faced monkeys) can get quite aggressive, and have been known to steal unattended personal belongs.

Stay healthy
Sri Lanka was declared a malaria-free zone by the WHO in 2016 but, there remains a risk of dengue fever locally.

Also, be careful not to become a snakebite victim. Avoid high brush without proper clothing, and don't stick your hand into dark or dim holes (including stone and masonry).

Connect
There are many internet cafes in the Anuradhapura New Town. Anuradhapura New Town and suburbs are covered by most broadband internet service providers in Sri Lanka. Therefore reliable, low cost, high speed internet connections are available in many places.

There are numerous places from which to place an international phone call. Look for the "IDD" sign. There is a post office in Anuradhapura, as well.

However, pre-paid SIM cards are almost free and charges are dirt cheap in Sri Lanka. It provides you instant access to IDD calls and high speed internet.

Go next
Nearby to Anuradhapura:

 * Tissawewa: this large artificial water reservoir, was originally constructed in ancient times, but fell into disuse. It was rebuilt for irrigation purposes in the nineteenth century.
 * Mihintale: Located approximately 10 km (6.25 miles) to the east of Anuradhapura, Mihintale is a large rock outcrop, approximately 305 m (1000 ft.) high. Get there by bus in ~30 minutes and be careful not to miss the last bus back to Anuradhapura. When arrived to Mihintale ask for directions to reach the starting point of the climb by foot, as it's close to where the bus will leave you. There are two stupas, a rock shelter with inscriptions, a temple with a large Buddha image, and an ancient hospital. There is an excellent view of the surrounding area from the top (Rs 500 admission), and it is possible to see the three largest stupas of Anuradhapura emerging from the forest to the west. The general landscape is quite flat, with large rock outcrops and small mountains dotting the landscape. The parking lot is at the bottom of the mountain, and a large number of stairs must be climbed to reach the top, where the archaeological sites are located. Shoes and hats must be left at the top. You will be offered guidance at (starting) prices of Rs 700.
 * Ritigala: It is about 40 km (25 mi) to the southeast of Anuradhapura, on the Anuradhapura to Habarana Road. Ritigala is a small mountain approximately 765 m (2,514 ft) in height. The top of the mountain is a strict nature reserve, due to the unique climate associated with the gain in altitude. However, the mountain was the site of a series of orthodox forest ministries. There is a parking lot at the base of the mountain, and the visitor can walk up the Meditational Pathways to the various levels and Meditational Platforms. The walk is quite beautiful through a unique, forested environment. The visitor is awarded several nice views, especially from when the pathways cross a ravine. This is an excellent site to visit off the beaten path, as it is much quieter and less visited than Anuradhapura. It is quite likely that you will be the only foreigners visiting the site, should you choose to do so. However, don't expect the opulence seen at Anuradhapura. The orthodox monks did not believe in accumulating material wealth, but the forest environment is a perfect setting for the rock structures and long, winding paths.
 * Dambulla

There are numerous other small towns and villages in the area around Anuradhapura, and it is possible to come across modern-day monasteries and temples, as well. It is worth exploring the area, as there are some beautiful and picturesque areas around Anuradhapura.

title: Anuradhapura


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Anyang

Anyang (安阳; Ānyáng) is a city about 120 km north of the Yellow River (黄河) in Henan Province.

Understand
Anyang is 460 km south of Beijing and is a prefecture-level city. The northernmost city in Henan, Anyang borders Puyang to the east, Hebi and Xinxiang to the south, and the provinces of Shanxi and Hebei to its west and north, respectively. According to Bronze Age inscriptions, Anyang was the first stable capital city of China dated back to the Shang Dynasty (1554BC–1045BC) during its later period. A great number of oracle bones were discovered in Xiaolitun Village, located at the northwest of Anyang City. The oracle bones were primarily used for divination, and the language used is believed to be the earliest one written in Chinese characters.

Get in
There are two train stations in Anyang; an older station in the city center and a modern station at the eastern end of the city which serves high-speed rail passing through on the route from Beijing to Zhengzhou.

From the Zhengzhou airport, direct buses to Anyang run at 1PM and 5PM and cost ¥70. More frequent buses and trains run from within the city of Zhengzhou.

Get around
Taxi and bus are the only public modes of transport within the city.

See

title: Anyang


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Anyer

Anyer is a beach resort town in the province of Banten in the Western Java region of Indonesia. It is the most famous beach area on Java's west coast because it is relatively easy to reach from the capital Jakarta.

Understand
Anyer is a district of the regency of Serang, about 30 km west of the city of Serang. The beaches of Anyer spread across the western coast of Anyer, as well as the coast of the Cinangka district to the south. While the town centre and market of Anyer are in the north of the district, near the city of Cilegon, the part of most interest to visitors is the stretch of resorts and beaches along the main road to the south. These are the areas of Anyer Kidul (Sundanese for South Anyer) and Cinangka. However, in common usage, all of these areas are simply called Anyer.

Anyer (Dutch: Anjer) was a significant seaport in the Dutch East Indies of the 19th century, and the western terminus of the Great Post Road. However, it was completely destroyed by the eruption of the Krakatau volcano in 1883. The cape on Anyer's western coast was during the Dutch time also known as Java's Fourth Point, counting it as the fourth main headland of Western Java's coast as counted from the south (the first two are in Ujung Kulon, and the third is Tanjung Lesung). Nowadays, Anyer is mainly a tourist town, and the main seaport of the region is now about 25 km to the north in Merak.

By car
The Anyer area is around two hours' drive from Jakarta if there are no traffic jams, but usually it takes about 3 hours due to traffic congestion. Taking the toll road from Jakarta to the west (towards Merak), take the exit at KM 95 at East Cilegon (Cilegon Timur), and from there follow the National Road 3 along the coast to the south. This road continues further to the south to Carita Beach and the town of Labuan. Unfortunately, some roads to the Anyer beaches are not good condition: Potholes and flooded roads are common, and the poor quality of the roads is further worsened by the strain on the surface caused by the transit of heavily-loaded trucks.

By bus
To get to Anyer by public transport, you can take a silver-coloured angkot (minivan) from the centre of Cilegon, or a so-called elf (public transport minibus), that departs from behind the Grand Mosque. The tariff for the angkot is about Rp5,000 to 10,000, depending on where in Anyer you get off. Cilegon can be reached by taking any bus on the route between Jakarta and Merak, and get off at Cilegon's Seruni bus terminal near the East Cilegon motorway exit. From there, you'll need to take a purple-coloured angkot into the centre of Cilegon first (Rp3,000).

Get around
The silver-coloured angkot (public minivan) provides connection along the coast road, also further south towards Carita Beach. Other options are to rent a car or motorbike, or to hire an ojek (motorcycle taxi).

Do
Anyer is basically a beach. It's really pretty during sunset. You may also rent a boat to go to Krakatoa volcano.

Eat
On the beach, many people sell stuff. The most popular snack for sale is emping (a cracker made of melinjo nuts). It's kind of bitter but adding salt makes it very tasty. Many beach stalls also sell kelapa, or coconuts. You can get this perfect refreshment at a cost of Rp5,000.

Drink
As a coastal area, coconut drink is easy to find.

Sleep
The Anyer area is popular with domestic visitors. Many resorts occupy the area between the highway and beach; especially immediately south of the lighthouse. The resorts are generally busy and double their rates on weekends - book in advance. Midweek, it's easy to just show up and find a reasonably-priced room. For low-cost rooms, you'll have more choices at Carita (40 minutes south on the silver angkot).

Go next

 * Anyer is the starting point of the Great Post Road, a 1,000 km main road built by the Dutch in the 1800s, connects west Java with the east to transport trades and spices. Many of Java's major cities, including Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya are in line with this road.

title: Anyer


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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in southern California is the largest state park in the state and the second largest in the United States (after Adirondack State Park in New York). The park is located on the eastern side of San Diego County, with portions extending east into Imperial County and north into Riverside County. It is about a two-hour drive from San Diego, Riverside and Palm Springs. The park is named after Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish word borrego, or bighorn sheep.

Understand
The park consists of of dirt roads, and miles and miles of hiking trails. Additionally, the park features views, washes, cacti, wildflowers, and palm groves. Animal lovers will also enjoy the wildlife scene in the park—everything from chuckwallas and iguanas to roadrunners and red diamond rattlesnakes have been spotted here.

The park has been designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.

Flora and fauna
A number of species typical of the Sonoran and Colorado deserts can be seen in the park, as well as a few endangered ones, like the Desert Bighorn sheep or the Californian palm tree (Washingtonia filifera).

Climate
Winter lasts from November to the beginning of April, with temperatures often in the 70s and 80s F during daytime. The higher chance of rainfall during that season makes it possible to see the desert in bloom.

By car
California State Route 78

By foot
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a well known trail that extends along the West coast of the United States, from Mexico to Canada. It passes through California, Oregon, and Washington State.

Do

 * There are miles and miles and scenic and historic trails.... You couldn't see it all in a day if you tried!

 * Hike along Palm Canyon Trail, in the vicinity of the visitor center

 * Agua Caliente Springs

Drink
Make sure you drink lots of water. High winds and a hot sun can prove dangerous.

Lodging
The small town of Borrego Springs, surrounded by the massive state park, has lodging ranging from small motels to upscale resorts.

Camping
Camp sites are available for $20 per night in most locations or you can camp for free in the primitive camping areas and really get in touch with nature! However, make sure you bring your own fire-ring (or something like it- a metal garbage can lid works great) as it's illegal to make fire upon the ground. It causes great damage to the eco-system. Pack everything (including ashes from the fire) out with you. Leave the place like you found it, or do a good deed and scout out old trash left by others that can be dangerous to the natural habitat.

Backcountry
There's plenty of room to get lost so make sure you have a map, water, and tell people ahead of time so they know to worry if you don't show up when you're supposed to.

Stay safe
Watch out for rattle snakes and scorpions... but most of all, the sun. Drink lots of water.

title: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park


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Anzio

Anzio is a city in Lazio, Italy, about 57 km south of Rome. It is a fishing port, a popular place for the people of Rome to have a fish lunch, and a harbour for ferries and hydroplanes to the islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene. In Roman times it was the site of numerous villas for the elite and many fine works of art from the period have been discovered in the area. In 2019, it was home to 61,000 people.

Understand
The city was the site of a significant Allied landing during World War II prior to the march on Rome. In January 1944 troops landed behind the German lines at Anzio, but defences were well organised, and a breakthrough was not actually achieved until May. Anzio was heavily damaged and has since been extensively rebuilt.

Get in
Anzio is connected to Rome by the Via Nettunense (SS207) and the Via Ardeatina (SS601) and can be reached via the Via Pontina. There is an hourly Roma-Nettuno train. The center of the town and the port are 10 minutes walk downhill from the station

Eat
Have a good seafood meal at the port or on one of the beaches.

title: Anzio


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Aogashima

Aogashima (青ヶ島) is an island and Village in the Izu Islands.

Understand
Aogashima is a small island South of, and administered by, Tokyo. As of 2009 the island's population was 205.

The town's official site has a modest tourism section, Japanese-only.

Get in
Ferries depart daily from Hachijojima and take approximately 2.5 hours (¥2500) but are weather dependent. You can also get a much quicker and dearer helicopter (¥11,500).

Get around
Its small, you can walk to most places.

See
The double volcano, shrines and the starry nights.

Do
Walk around, hike or visit a hot spring.

Drink
Shochu

Sleep
Camping or stay at a minshuku.

title: Aogashima


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Aojiang

Aojiang (鳌江 Áojiāng) is a town in Zhejiang under the administration of Wenzhou.

Understand
The area shares the same local language as its big sister city called Wenzhou dialect (Wenzhounese) however it's pronunciation is much different in Aojiang. Although the city Aojiang has a population of over 200,000 people the area is still considered the countryside. Rice/veg tables are dried on the streets and grown in the parks, abandon lots or wherever there is dirt because the poor are really poor here. However it is a relatively rich area of China. There are many factories, small business owners and companies doing various kinds of trading Internet sales etc. Most Aojiang people including pingyang people now are obsessed with money and sadly various aspects of local culture has are disappearing or looked down upon as being "an old people's thing". With that said the food in Aojiang is exactly what it used to be and will stay the same for the foreseeable future.

Get in
No airport, train station has a shuttle bus that will bring you in for ¥1.5. There is only one bus station so that makes things easy. There are always buses coming in or out but most are a connecting bus through WenZhou which is the big sister city about an hour away.

Get around
No city buses, taxi, tricycle taxi or foot. City taxis have a standard price of ¥10 to anywhere in the city.

See
There are many beautiful mountains in the area but the best is definitely Bai Shui (white water) it takes about 20 min to get there from the cit but its one of those gems the reminds you that there is still cool things off the map. All the locals know it and how to get there.

Do
Work, Climb mountains, play billiards, swim, eat, drink the end. Small town.

Buy
There is no commodity or special locally made product or large markets in Aojiang.

Eat
AoJiang food is known by the area locals for having the best/freshest seafood around. If you are ever taken out to dinner by a local you will most likely be going to a seafood restaurant. However their seafood is quite different than western seafood. Their seafood is mostly small crabs most of which would not even be of legal size in a western country, snails, shrimp, crayfish, various small clams and fish. Unfortunately for westerners the fish is boney, the snails are small and it takes a special technique to get the meat out and the crabs are small and cracked with your teeth. These techniques are learned by the locals when they are small children so it seems very easy for them. They see no reason to change. There is one KFC and some coffee shops have poor quality steak/pizza available. Not much western food. However lunch time is great for what i lovingly call point and picks. It's like a buffet but its not all you can eat. There is a woman behind the counter and you point at whatever already made dishes you want and you get a bunch of small dishes (beef, mushrooms, rice etc.). These are all over China and best time is 10:30-12:00 or 5-6:30. Nighttime had BBQ which is sooo good. Meat, veggies, dumplings etc. all on sticks marinated then fried up on a BBQ. The best ones are in MingZhuGuangZhan area, but you can find them all over. You will know by the red tents outside and all the smoke.

Drink
In Ao Jiang there is a huge amount of Chang Ba 唱吧 (singing bars) and disco bars. The singing bars are all very loud and the microphones are always getting feedback and quite dirty. This is because people who want to sing, who have money go the ktv's and get a private room that has great acoustics. They listen to their friends sing and pick the music (these rooms cost ¥300 and a beer is ¥18 at min.) A singing bar (Chang Ba) has terrible acoustics and mostly all young people that can hold their liquor howling into the microphone. Beers cost about ¥5 at places like these. The Disco bars here are dirty and full of “drink prostitutes”. These are good looking women whose job is to walk around the place and try and get the men drunk or go and flirt with the men when it looks like they have just finished all the drinks they ordered. In this area you don't order one or two drinks you just buy a box at a time or however many you think you will drink that night. Also there are a lot of fights in the disco bars. These are always opening up and getting shut down by the police or people get board of the place than they close down then reopen.In Ao Jiang there is a mid-sized western bar opened by an American (Alex) and two Canadians (Clark and Torian) and that seems to be the official expat/local English speaker meet up place. The owners are there every night drinking and all the ESL teachers and Business men/women local and foreign come to this spot as kind of like a meeting place. The place is always pretty packed (sometimes its hard to get a table between 9:30-10:30 and better to get there early or reserve a table) and its located on Wang Li road 王里路by Ming zhu guang zhan. Its call the foreigner bar. There are no clubs in aojiang, but there are a few in a city called Long Gang near by.

Sleep
Many hotels between ¥70-150 for an average to good room. The fancy hotel where most of the business people stay is the International Hotel. The Place is beautiful and its only about ¥500. Plus its the only hotel with English speaking staff on every shift in case westerners have any problems.

Go next
Only one Bus station only one train station. Most major domestic locations have sleeper buses/or trains regularly. There is a bus that runs to the Wenzhou airport regularly but you will have to check the bus schedule (no there is no online time table that you can look as and the schedule is a general idea not a certainty)

title: Aojiang


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Aomori

Aomori (青森), the capital of Aomori Prefecture, Japan, is on Mutsu Bay, at the northern tip of Honshu.

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

By plane
Buses connect the airport to the Aomori train station for ¥700. The bus ride lasts 35 minutes.

By train
From Tokyo, Tohoku Shinkansen Hayabusa (はやぶさ) and Hayate (はやて) trains run to Shin-Aomori station (新青森) on the way towards Hakodate in Hokkaido. From Shin-Aomori, regular trains shuttle passengers over to the more centrally-located Aomori station (青森). Ticketed passengers are permitted to shuttle between these two stations in the non-reserved car of any train, even if a limited express train heading towards Aomori departs first. Expect the total journey to take 3½ to 4 hours, depending on the transfer and wait times at Shin-Aomori. Note that it may be faster to take a bus between Shin-Aomori and the city center (Aomori station or even closer to your accommodation) because the trains aren't necessarily timed to the Shinkansen.

The regular one-way fare from Tokyo to Aomori is ¥17,350 on the Hayabusa - slightly cheaper for the Hayate - and so for foreign tourists the better deal for the round-trip is to purchase a JR East Rail Pass - Tohoku Area (¥19,000 for advance purchase), which can be used on any 5 days within a 14-day period.

If your travel plans include other parts of the country, the better option will be the national Japan Rail Pass. If your plans only include travel around Tohoku and Hokkaido, consider the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass, which is slightly cheaper than the national pass (¥26,000 for advance purchase) and covers travel from Tokyo to Aomori, Hakodate and Sapporo. It can be used on any 6 days within a 14-day period.

Note that the Green Car version of the national Japan Rail Pass is valid for Green Cars on the Hayate and Hayabusa, but any version of the pass will cover just the basic fare for the business class seating on the Hayabusa, known as Gran Class. Passengers (including Japan Rail Pass holders) using "Gran Class" will be pampered with an all-leather seat resembling business class on an airplane, a personal on-call cabin attendant, light meals and complimentary alcoholic beverages. If you use Gran Class with a Japan Rail Pass, you must pay the Shinkansen express charge and the Gran Class surcharge (¥16,960 from Tokyo). Without a Japan Rail Pass, Gran Class costs ¥27,110 between Tokyo and Aomori.

By bus
Aomori, at the northernmost point of Honshu, is the terminating point for several highway buses.

From Tokyo Station, JR Bus Tohoku's La Foret service runs once per night, reaching Aomori in 9 1/2 hours at a cost of ¥9,000 each way on Fridays, Saturdays and the day before holidays, and ¥8,500 on all other days. Konan Bus' Tsugaru runs over the same route; their bus costs ¥7,500 each way, or ¥9,000 during peak travel periods.

From Ueno Station in Tokyo, Konan Bus runs discounted bus services to Aomori: a daytime service called Sky (¥5,000) and two night services called Panda (¥4,500; ¥5,000 during peak travel periods). These buses take longer to Aomori - about 11 hours each way - due to an additional stop made in Hirosaki.

Willer Express operates several buses from Tokyo Station, Tokyo Disneyland and Shinjuku to Aomori with prices starting from about ¥5,000. Bookings can be made online in English.

Four bus operators jointly run Blue City daytime buses between Sendai and Aomori (5 hours, ¥5,700). There are more runs during the summer months than the rest of the year.

By boat
Seikan Ferry and Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry operate ferry services from Aomori to the port of Hakodate with multiple departures daily. Trips take 3 hr 45 min. One way fares are cheapest on the Seikan Ferry, ¥1600 for a carpet space. The Tsugaru Kaikyo's Blue Dolphin ferry offers several classes of service, from standard carpet space (¥2220 one-way) up to a suite with two beds and an in-room shower and toilet (¥4940 one-way) and a luxurious suite that adds a living room (¥12,340 one-way). During peak travel periods, these fares are higher.

Tsugaru Kaikyo offers online booking of all of their ferry services in English through a third party. Fares are paid in euros and reservations are confirmed within 48 hours of booking. They also offer checked baggage service for an extra fee.

Cars and motorcycles can also be carried on some of these ferries.

Get around
Taxis are always available from the train station.

Buses: Go to the bus terminal outside the train station and tell the attendant at the city bus counter where you'd like to go. He or she will tell you which number bus stop to wait at, what time the bus will come, and where to get off. On city buses, you'll pay when you get off the bus.

The Nebutan-go shuttle bus runs clockwise and counter-clockwise circles stopping at both Aomori and Shin-Aomori Stations, the Prefectural Art Museum, and other tourist sites about once an hour during the morning and afternoon. ¥200 per ride; a one-day pass is ¥500.

Anything in the downtown Shinmachi area is easily accessible by foot.

South West

Asamushi Onsen
A hot springs resort town on Mutsu bay with a large number of inns. At many of the inns and hotels, you can pay a small fee to use the bath even if you're not staying overnight.

Buy
Regional specialties include Tsugaru-nuri lacquerware, kogin-zashi embroidery, sakiori weaving, and products made from hiba cypress wood.

Eat
Aomori's list of food specialties is extensive, but the headliners include apples, scallops, and garlic.

Drink
Local specialties are cidre (シードル, sparkling apple wine) and Denshu (田酒), Aomori's famous sake. Denshu is served in some izakaya and sushi restaurants. The main entertainment district is Honchō (本町). To get there, walk straight down Shinmachi "Amenity Street" for about 15 minutes. Once you cross Yanagi-machi Dōri (a big street with a median strip), you're in Honchō. However, there's plenty to drink in the city center:

Sleep
Numerous hotels dot Shinmachi, the main street that stretches out from the train station. These hotels generally increase in price the closer you get to the train station.

Connect
The city tourist information center is located next to the bus station on the left as you exit the train station; they have good brochures and maps in English.

Go next

 * Hirosaki, the "Kyoto of the North", is 45 minutes away by train.
 * The Shimokita Peninsula, one of the most remote but also one of the most beautiful places in Japan, is a few hours away by train.
 * Towada-Hachimantai National Park for day trips or overnight stays at onsen ryokan. Hike in the Hakkoda Mountains from trails accessible from Sukayu Onsen or the local cable car, both of which have stops about an hour away from Aomori on a stunning Japan Rail bus ride (covered by JR Pass). Less strenuous hiking along the Oirase Stream and waterfalls, or a visit to Lake Towada are also possible on the same route, 2-3 hours from Aomori.
 * Hakodate, Hokkaido is two hours away by train.
 * Inakadate
 * Goshogawara
 * Kuroishi
 * Shichinohe
 * Misawa

title: Aomori


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Aomori (prefecture)

Aomori Prefecture (青森県 Aomori-ken) is the northernmost prefecture on the island of Honshu, Japan.

Tourist information site
Amazing Aomori is the prefecture's official English guide site.

Regions
Aomori is divided into three main regions, each with its own dialect.

Cities

 * — the capital
 * — scenic coastal areas
 * — the "Kyoto of the North", former capital of the Tsugaru clan
 * — home of the International Chapel, and a church service in English
 * — a beautiful city by the sea
 * — the administrative hub of the Shimokita Peninsula
 * — home of the impressive Tachinebuta Festival

Other destinations

 * — beautiful caldera lake
 * — famed for its scenic beauty
 * — small town featuring the final resting place of Christ as well as Aomori's pyramids
 * — World Heritage Site for its undisturbed beech forests, famous for the Anmon-no-Taki Waterfall
 * — town with the longest wooden bridge in Japan

Talk
Aomori has several varieties of the northern Tohoku dialect, considered quite a rural dialect by Japanese. The Tsugaru dialect (津軽弁 Tsugaru-ben) uses some different vocabulary, and can be difficult to understand even for speakers of other dialects within Aomori, let alone those who only understand Standard Japanese. The Nanbu dialect is not as extreme, and Shimokita dialect is something of a hybrid between the two.

By plane
Aomori and Misawa  have domestic airports with flights from Tokyo.

By train
Aomori is the northernmost terminus of the Shinkansen (bullet train). Local and express trains also run throughout the prefecture.

The second longest train tunnel in the world, the Seikan tunnel, runs between Aomori and the northern island of Hokkaido, connecting to Hakodate and onward to Sapporo.

By bus
JR and various local carriers offer numerous buses to, from, and throughout the prefecture.

By ferry
Ferries in Aomori, Hachinohe and Ōma (at the tip of the Shimokita Peninsula) offer services to and from various destinations, including Hokkaido.

Get around
JR East, the Aoimori Railway, and the Tsugaru Railway serve most of the major towns, but some destinations will require a car. Municipal and private bus companies go to many of the popular tourist sites.

See
In spring, see the cherry blossom festival and fireworks in Kanagi and the rapeseed blossoms in Shimokita's Yokohama Town. In summer, see towering lanterns pulled through the streets at Goshogawara's Tachi-Nebuta festival, and elaborate expanding floats at Hachinohe's Sansha Taisai. See the rice art in Inakadate Village on the Tsugaru Peninsula. In the fall, see the maple leaves in Kuroishi. In the winter, see the "snow monsters" made by frozen trees in the Hakkoda mountains in Towada-Hachimantai National Park.

Do
In August, rent a haneto costume and participate in Aomori's exciting Nebuta festival. In the fall, hike among the waterfalls and autumn foliage at Oirase Gorge in Towada-Hachimantai National Park. In the winter, there is excellent skiing and snowboarding in Ajigasawa and Mt. Hakkoda. In spring, picnic at Hirosaki Castle, one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing sites in Japan.

Eat
Besides the obvious seafood (especially scallops and Tuna), Aomori is famous for its apples.

Drink
Aomori has local sake (Denshu 田酒, Momokawa 桃川), wine (Shimokita Wine), and beer (Tazawako Beer).

Go next

 * Hokkaido
 * Iwate Prefecture
 * Akita Prefecture

title: Aomori (prefecture)