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Sheffield

The original Steel City, Sheffield is one place most have heard of, but isn't usually on many travellers' bucket lists. If this is you, you're missing out. It's true, Yorkshire's second city has a bit of an image problem. Its cutlery may be in kitchen drawers the world over, but Sheffield hasn't necessarily reinvented itself in the way that other northern English cities have managed to do.

First-time visitors are more often than not surprised by what they find, however. Many remark on how they wish they'd discovered the place sooner, and wonder why nobody told them it was here.

Why? Sheffielders are too modest; they know their city is wonderful, but they won't tell you so, even though that means getting overlooked more often than not. When pushed, they might mumble something about metal and hills, but they won't tell you about their creative talents, or their museums and art galleries. If the locals mention the city's two universities, they won't brag about their size (30,000 students apiece) or successes (world leaders in industry, engineering and the sciences).

They certainly won't talk about the fact that Sheffield is England's National City of Sport, nor that it has a credible claim to being the real ale capital of the world, nor even that it is home to Britain's biggest and best theatre scene outside London. As for telling you how many trees Sheffield has (three times the number of people), or just how close it is to the Peak District (one third of the city lies within this national park, the UK's oldest), you can forget it. But now you're in the know, there can be no more excuses - you'll find there's plenty to discover in "England's largest village".

Orientation
Sheffield is one of the United Kingdom's biggest cities, with a population of 575,000, and around 1.6 million in the wider metropolitan area. The city lies in the most southerly part of Yorkshire, with Derbyshire to the west and south-west, Nottinghamshire to the south-east, and Lincolnshire not far to the east. The M1 motorway runs along the city's eastern boundary and separates Sheffield from neighbouring Rotherham. The beautiful Peak District National Park extends to within the western city boundary, and the South Pennines area ("Last of the Summer Wine country") lies just to the north. The cities of Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham are all roughly 30 miles from Sheffield, in different directions.

Local folklore states that Sheffield, just like Rome, is built on seven hills; there are in fact considerably more than seven, and pretty much every neighbourhood is on the top or side of one hill or another. As well as the hills, the city is the meeting point of five rivers; the Don, the Loxley, the Porter Brook, the Rivelin, and the Sheaf, from which Sheffield gets its name. The city owes its existence to this rich landscape. Even before the Industrial Revolution, the villages around Sheffield were established as centres of industry and commerce thanks to fast flowing rivers and streams that brought water down from the Pennines. The valleys through which these flowed were ideally suited for man-made dams that could be used to power water mills. A walk along the Rivelin Valley from Malin Bridge tram stop or along the Porter Valley out from Endcliffe Park towards the Peak District will reveal some of these old dams.

The increasingly high-rise and densely-populated City Centre lies where these rivers and valleys meet. The city has expanded out along the valleys and over the hills between, creating leafy neighbourhoods and suburbs within easy reach of the centre. Each valley has its own character, from the densely industrial Don Valley in the north-east, to the green and cosmopolitan residential streets of the Porter Valley in the south-west. Sheffield's difficult geography mean it sometimes feels more like a succession of self-contained villages, than a metropolitan city.

Socioeconomically, and speaking very generally, Sheffield is split into two, almost down the middle: the western half, closer to the Peak District, is on the whole very affluent, indeed it contains some of the wealthiest postcodes in England. Then there's the working-class eastern half, where most of the heavy industry is concentrated, which unfortunately has some of the country's most deprived neighbourhoods. When moving from west to east, the division is stark and sudden, and the jump has been compared by academics and journalists to literary works by Dickens and Miéville, and even to Cold War-era Berlin.

Industrial Revolution and aftermath
"Sheffield, I suppose, could justly claim to be called the ugliest town in the Old World"

- George Orwell ' s ringing endorsement in The Road to Wigan Pier

Industry in the city really took off when the railways arrived, allowing for the mass import of raw materials and export of finished products. The crucible technique of making exceptionally high quality steel was invented here by Benjamin Huntsman in 1852, and for decades it was to give Sheffield the economic advantage over other steel-producing cities. The Sheffield metallurgist Harry Brearley is the most commonly-credited inventor of stainless steel, in 1912. Sheffield is still home to several steel works and a number of cutlery and blade manufacturers (including Swann Morton), and Sheffield steel can be found in surgical equipment and kitchen drawers the world over.

However, the economic recession of the 1980s hit Sheffield hard, and large numbers of workers were left unemployed by the changing shape of heavy industry in Britain. Increased mechanisation has meant that while the steel industry remains the cornerstone of the city's export economy, it employs a fraction of its former workforce. Like Liverpool and Glasgow, Sheffield gained a reputation for a socialist political scene in reaction to the Conservative government of the day and the not entirely tongue-in-cheek nickname of The People's Republic of South Yorkshire. The resilient spirit of Sheffielders in these bleak times made the city famous in the black comedy film The Full Monty (1997), and people even today retain a remarkable optimism against hardship. This is seen most acutely in a local saying, "Smile, tha's not dead yet!"

Sheffield today
It has become something of a local joke that post-war town planners did more damage to the face of Sheffield than even the Luftwaffe managed during the blitz. Bold housing projects such as the widely-known Park Hill, and the pedestrianised shopping street The Moor are relics of the 1960s vision of a "city on the move". In reality, this left much of Sheffield with a poorly maintained legacy of failed utopian concrete fantasies, but this braveness and edginess is cited by many as being a fundamental part of Sheffield's character.

Even if the built environment of Sheffield occasionally leaves something to be desired, large parts of the City Centre have been spruced up by investment, while in other areas this is still a work in progress. However, the large amount of pedestrianised space and the presence of street-running trams gives the centre something of a continental feel. Furthermore, the kind of mid-century brutalist and functionalist architecture that Sheffield has in spades has had an upsurge in popularity, and both Park Hill and the Moor have been sympathetically reinvented for the 21st century, while maintaining their essential character.

People
Sheffielders - people from Sheffield - speak with a distinctive, melodious accent, that has spurred people from other parts of Yorkshire to give them the nickname dee-dars. This is a play on the local pronunciation of "thee" and "thou" - and yes those pronouns are current in these parts! If you know of the actor Sean Bean, you will have possibly already heard his natural Sheffield accent, which he has used in many roles, including in Sharpe and Game of Thrones. There are also some dialect words in common use; see the main Yorkshire article for details.

While the whole of the north of England claims to have friendly natives, Sheffielders pride themselves on an egalitarian warmth and hospitality that goes above and beyond the call of duty. This is a city of over half a million people, where folk still greet friends and neighbours in the street to pass the time of day. Visitors may find this familial atmosphere, which has earned Sheffield the nickname of England's largest village, most noticeable in the affectionate terms that slip into everyday conversation. Even when making a simple purchase in a shop or market, you can expect to be called 'love' or 'pal' at least once. If a stranger strikes up a conversation with you on the tram, don't be alarmed, that just how Sheffielders are!

But as well as ticking a lot of Yorkshire stereotypes, Sheffield is also a vibrant multicultural city, and is home to significant Chinese, Somali, Ethiopian, Turkish, Kurdish, East European and Romany immigrant communities, while tens of thousands of people born in the city claim historic Pakistani, Irish, Caribbean, Polish and Spanish ancestry. The two universities and one huge further education college have 84,000 students between them, many of whom are from overseas. The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University have excellent ratings in teaching and research, and are important drivers to the regional economy. Sheffield is increasingly prosperous and economically active, with a youthful population, due to the high number of graduates who choose to stay in the city.

Culturally, Sheffield is no slouch, offering everything from fine art, opera, and ballet, to dynamic theatre, film, comedy and street art. The edgy environment has nurtured a reyt good reputation for popular music, and the city is home to Jarvis Cocker, Pulp, the Human League, Def Leppard, the Arctic Monkeys and others. The large student population means that nightlife is always lively, and suitably different to that of other major cities.

Visitor information

 * Welcome to Sheffield

Get in
Navigate to: By train, By car, By bus or coach, By boat

By plane
Manchester Airport has global direct flights, including from North America, the Middle East, Pakistan and Hong Kong, and competitive fares compared to flying into London. There is an hourly direct train to Sheffield taking 75 min. You can also drive over the Pennines on the picturesque A57 Snake Pass.

East Midlands Airport has summer flights to the Med, and from Brussels, Budapest, Naples, Prague and Rome Ciampino. It's an hour south of Sheffield on the M1 motorway. There are several daily bus services to Sheffield from the airport, operated by National Express. Trains also run to Sheffield from East Midlands Parkway station, which is a short bus ride from the airport.

By train

 * Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

Summary of services

Sheffield lies at the crossroads of three major railways. The Midland Mainline (south-east to north), cross country route (south-west and Midlands to northeast and Scotland) and a trans-Pennine service (north-west to north-east and east). All routes serve Midland station in the City Centre, and some also serve Meadowhall.

 * London St. Pancras International (for Eurostar from continental Europe), via Leicester and Derby, twice per hour, operated by East Midlands Trains. One train an hour also stops at East Midlands Airport. (Midland)
 * Edinburgh Waverley, Newcastle Central, and York hourly, operated by Cross Country Trains (Midland)
 * Birmingham New Street hourly, operated by Cross Country Trains (Midland)
 * Leeds up to three times an hour; fast intercity services are operated by Cross Country Trains, and slower commuter trains operated by Northern Rail (Midland, Meadowhall)
 * Doncaster (on the East Coast Mainline - London to Edinburgh) three times an hour, operated by Northern Rail and Cross Country Trains (Midland, Meadowhall)
 * Manchester Piccadilly three times per hour operated by TransPennine Express, East Midlands Trains and Northern Rail (Midland)
 * Manchester Airport - direct service withdrawn (change at Manchester Piccadilly)
 * Liverpool Lime Street twice per hour operated by TransPennine Express and East Midlands Trains (Midland)
 * Hull once per hour, operated by Northern Rail (Midland, Meadowhall)
 * Plymouth, Exeter St Davids and Bristol Temple Meads once per hour, operated by Cross Country Trains (Midland)
 * Norwich, Peterborough and Nottingham once per hour, operated by East Midlands Trains (Midland)
 * Lincoln once per hour, operated by Northern Rail (Midland)
 * Hope Valley (Peak District) local stations once per hour, operated by Northern Rail (Midland)

Timetables and fare information for all train services can be obtained from National Rail.

By car

Sheffield sits beside the M1 motorway, one of the UK's primary north–south routes linking the city with London, Leicester, Nottingham and Leeds. The M18 links Hull and Doncaster to the M1 next to Sheffield. The M1's interchange with the M62, the main route from Manchester, Liverpool and Bradford, is north of Sheffield. The City Centre is most easily reached from junction 33 of the M1, via the Sheffield Parkway dual-carriageway.

Two scenic routes from Manchester, the Snake Pass (A57) and the Woodhead Pass (A628) make for breathtaking trips through the Peak District National Park. In the event of heavy snowfall in winter, the police close both routes to all traffic. Should this be the case, you might try the M62 to Leeds, and then down the M1 to Sheffield.

It is also possible to use the Peak District as the scenic route from Birmingham (via Lichfield, Ashbourne and Bakewell) or Stoke-on-Trent (via Leek and Longnor). Beware that the route becomes very busy over holiday periods, and can be treacherous during cold or snowy weather.

Park and ride
There are several places on the outskirts of Sheffield where you can park your vehicle or bicycle for the day or longer (up to 3 months) and catch a tram or train into the city. All sites are open 24/7 unless otherwise stated, and public transport runs between 6AM and midnight.

By bus or coach

The discount coach operator Megabus does not serve the city centre, but offers direct services each day to Meadowhall Interchange from London (Victoria), Birmingham, Bradford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne and Nottingham. Meadowhall is 15 minutes away from the city centre by tram, or five minutes by an equally frequent train. Megabus departures may not be listed on departure screens at the Meadowhall Interchange: services generally depart from the same bay as National Express services.

Megabus and National Express offer through-tickets from many other towns and cities throughout the UK and Europe.

Sheffield and Meadowhall Interchanges have waiting areas sheltered from the elements, travel information desks and toilet and refreshment options. However, neither offer lockers; Meadowhall train station has a left luggage service.

By boat
There are visitor moorings for boats travelling on the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal at the canal basin, found to the north-east of the city centre.

Get around
Navigate to: Cycling, Public transport, Taxis, Driving

On foot
Sheffield City Centre is compact and within it, few attractions are much further apart than. There has been significant work done to prioritise walking access, including extensive pedestrianisation, excellent links from the railway station, and a comprehensive signage system with area maps on metal pillars at strategic points, including by transport connections.

Even outside the central area, Sheffield is pleasantly walkable, with the Don Valley attractions and the Peak District being linked by walking routes from the City Centre, although of course the distances are further.

For information on walking as an activity, please see the section below.

Accessibility
It's no secret that Sheffield is hilly, so walking around it can be demanding if your fitness isn't great or you have mobility issues. Some streets, even in the City Centre, are very steep, so comparatively short distances are more tiring than on the flat. If this sounds problematic to you, it may be as well to rely on other means of transport. Still, if you are going to be walking around Sheffield, a sturdy pair of shoes with decent grip and heel support is essential.

Using postcodes
Like the rest of the UK, Sheffield has an extensive system of five and six-digit postcodes, which each refer to only a small number of addresses on the same street. A typical Sheffield postcode follows the pattern of S10 2TN. Each postcode area, which is the first half of the postcode (S10 in the given example) corresponds to a geographical area in the city, all of which are S followed by a one or two digit number. For instance, most of the City Centre forms the S1 postcode area, though parts are also in the S2, S3, S4 and S10 areas. Every street name sign in Sheffield includes the postcode area, minus the preceding S, so you can tell at a glance roughly where you are if you're a bit lost. The latter half of the postcode is what helps you find a specific address.

See also: United Kingdom

By bicycle
Cycling in Sheffield can be an interesting experience. The city poses many challenges to safe and easy cycling: busy roads, an unfortunate dearth of dedicated cycle lanes and a hilly terrain are chief amongst these. The Supertram tracks, often embedded in the road surface, are also known to cause cycling accidents, so pay attention around these, especially in wet weather. Despite these setbacks, pedal power is a popular way of getting around. Sheffield is compact and densely-populated, meaning most parts of the city are within close distance. For those not bothered by steep climbs and swift descents, cycling Sheffield can be an exhilarating experience, and the constantly undulating terrain provides an ever-changing sequence of views and aspects. It's not for nowt that stage two of the 2014 Tour de France ended in a gruelling series of climbs and descents through the streets of the Steel City!

Sheffield City Council provide handy maps and useful information for cycling in the city, while Cyclestreets allows you to plan your cycling journey.

Alternatively, private cycle hire is available:

If the challenges of city cycling are not for you, that's still no reason to leave your bike at home. In Sheffield, the cyclist's paradise of the Peak District is on your doorstep. Whether you're up for mountain biking or just a leisurely glide along flat, well-marked trails, there is something for every level of cycling ability in the Peak.

Public transport
Public transport - buses, trams and trains - is an excellent way to get around Sheffield. All services are deregulated and operated by private enterprises. However, all of these companies are under licence to Travel South Yorkshire, who are the main source of unbiased travel information, updates, timetables and transport maps for the city. TSY also have a decent journey planner, accessible through their main page.

Although most fares are set by the service operators (see below), here are listed some combined tickets that offer the best value for money on multiple journeys across different operators:

 * CityWide Day: £4.60 for one calendar day's unlimited travel on all buses and trams in Sheffield.
 * CityWide 7 Day: £16 for one week's unlimited travel on all buses and trams in Sheffield.
 * Citywide 28 Day: £60 for four weeks' unlimited travel on all buses and trams in Sheffield.
 * SYConnect+: £7.90 for one calendar day's unlimited travel on all buses, trams and trains in South Yorkshire.

By tram
The Stagecoach Supertram, normally known just as the Supertram, is a modern tram network with four colour-coded lines (Blue, Yellow, Purple and the Black tram-train service) which serve the city centre and many of Sheffield's suburbs, including Rotherham. Tram services run from just before 6AM (Monday-Saturday) or 7:30AM (Sunday) until around midnight. The tram train runs 5:30AM-10:30PM (M-Sa) and 8:30AM-6:30PM (Su).

 * Malin Bridge to Halfway, serving Hillsborough, Kelham Island, the University of Sheffield, the city centre, the railway station, Hallam University and Crystal Peaks. Every 10 min during the day.
 * Meadowhall to Middlewood, serving Valley Centertainment, the Arena, Nunnery Square, the city centre, the University of Sheffield, Kelham Island and Hillsborough. Every 10 min during the day.
 * Herdings Park to Cathedral, via the railway station and Hallam University. At peak times, the service is extended to Meadowhall. Every 30 min during the day.
 * Cathedral to Rotherham Parkgate (tram train), serving Nunnery Square, the Arena, Valley Centertainment, Meadowhall South, and Rotherham town centre. Every 20 min during the day.

Using the tram
Full timetables can be downloaded from Travel South Yorkshire: Blue, Yellow, Purple, Black tram train.

Notices at your tram stop will indicate the route and fare needed for your destination. Most stations are now fitted with LED signs displaying the time and destination of the next four trams to arrive, however they don't always work particularly well. There are no ticket machines at stations. Don't panic! You can purchase your ticket on board the tram from the conductor, who walks up and down the length of the vehicle calling "fares please!" Payment is by cash or by any major credit or debit card. Supertram conductors seem to have very good facial recognition, and can keep track of who has and hasn't bought a ticket even when there are a hundred people on board. There are also sporadic on-the-spot checks from ticket inspectors, so it is important to hold onto your ticket until you have reached your destination.

All stations are request stops, meaning the tram will only stop if a passenger presses the 'stop' button or if people are waiting at the station. In practice, it is rare that a tram will pass a station without stopping, but this is worth bearing in mind if you're travelling at a quiet time.

The Supertram network is fully accessible to wheelchair users and parents with prams. Station platforms are raised up to be at the same level as the tram floor, and there is ample space on board for storage of luggage, pushchairs and wheelchairs. Passengers with no mobility constraints often sit on chairs reserved for those with such constraints, as these are closest to the doors, but nearly always move without being asked when they see someone in need getting on the tram.

Bicycles and dogs (with the exception of assistance dogs) are not allowed on the tram.

Fares and concessions
A single ticket within the city centre boundary (stations between Granville Road, The University of Sheffield, and Hyde Park) costs £2.00 for a single and £3 for a return. Longer journeys beyond these points cost £2.50 (single only), although the £2.00–£3.50 fares are still available for short journeys outside the central area. Various Dayrider and Megarider passes are available as well, but unless you are absolutely sure you're only going to use the tram and Stagecoach buses to get around, these are to be avoided.

Children under 5 travel free. Senior and disabled persons' reductions are only available to residents of England in possession of a valid concessionary pass. Other concessions are available only to applicable residents of South Yorkshire.

By bus
Sheffield has a very large bus network, which serves practically every neighbourhood and point of interest. Most buses are operated by two multinational private companies, First and Stagecoach, though there are some smaller local operators running certain routes, such as Hulleys and TM Travel. Buses generally run every 10–30 minutes during the day (M–Sa), and every 20–60 minutes in the evening and on Sundays. Some routes offer a higher frequency of service: every 4–10 minutes throughout the day and evening. Every stop has a paper timetable of all the buses that serve that stop, plus there is a bus-tracking service called YourNextBus. Text the stop's unique code (written on the flag) to 64422, and you will receive a text telling you how many minutes away the bus is; this costs 12p on top of your network rate. If using mobile internet, you can simply search for the stop or bus route number on the Travel South Yorkshire website.

A single bus fare costs £2. For all other journeys, get a CityBus (bus only) or CityWide (bus and tram) ticket, as return tickets and other fares like the Megarider and FirstDay are only valid on one company's services, whereas City tickets can be used on all operators. Roads with a high frequency of service are served by routes from different companies, and some very busy routes with the same number are operated by more than one company, so you don't want to be caught short by having the wrong company's ticket!

Bus maps of North and South Sheffield are available to download; you can also obtain paper copies at bus interchanges. Both maps show the city centre in detail. Transport map geeks should head to Sheffield Interchange (as if you weren't planning to already!), to see the cool wall maps showing the whole city's bus, tram and rail services on one large sheet. These are 'rare' in the sense that they're not available to purchase or download, and aren't displayed anywhere else in the city.

All service stop running before midnight.

By train
Although there aren't many rail services within Sheffield itself, there is a decent network of suburban rail services serving the city region, all of which depart from Sheffield's pretty Midland station. Tickets can be bought from any National Rail station in the UK, or online. The following services are operated by Northern Rail:
 * Barnsley via Meadowhall, Chapeltown, Elsecar, Wombwell (this service continues either to Huddersfield or to Wakefield and Leeds);
 * Chesterfield via Dronfield;
 * Doncaster via Meadowhall, Rotherham, Swinton, Mexborough, Conisbrough;
 * The Peak District / Hope Valley line: serving Dore, Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope, Edale, Chinley, New Mills Central (this service continues to Manchester);
 * Worksop via Darnall, Woodhouse, Kiveton Bridge, Kiveton Park, Shireoaks (this service continues to Lincoln)

By taxi and black cab
There are no regular night bus routes in the city, and all tram services terminate around midnight. Sheffield's two main taxi companies operate 24 hours a day. Travellers from the south of England, and particularly London, will find the local taxis to be very good value; the base fare is £2.60 in the daytime (7AM–8PM) and £3.10 at night (8PM–7AM), with 20p added for every 200 m travelled. As with elsewhere, extra charges apply over Christmas and New Year.

When taking a taxi outside of Sheffield city limits (this includes most of the Peak District), always agree a fare with the driver before departure. The driver must by law let the meter run as normal, and if by the end of the journey the amount on the meter is cheaper than the agreed fare, you pay what it says on the meter. Likewise, if the fare you agreed is cheaper than the meter, then you pay the agreed rate. The taxi driver or firm is legally obliged to accept the cheaper of the two fares.

Black cabs can be easily hailed in the street in the city centre (especially around the railway station, High Street, Barker's Pool and West Street) and West End (especially around the University and Broomhill), as well as on some of the main routes into the city, but elsewhere it is usually necessary to phone for a taxi:

Alternatively, Uber is gaining in popularity and prominence.

By car
The use of a private vehicle is generally discouraged for able-bodied travellers, as Sheffield's roads are congested and not always easy to navigate, and parking is not particularly easy. One of the options already mentioned should be suitable for most visitors, however if you still intend to bring your car, you might as well know a few basics.

The major roads in Sheffield are:

 * The Inner Ring Road (A61) forms a complete circle of dual-carriageway around the city centre.
 * The Outer Ring Road (A6102) forms a semicircle of single and dual-carriageways around the city through the eastern suburbs. Confusingly both the inner and the outer rings are referred to just as "Ring Road" on signs.
 * The Sheffield Parkway (A57 / A630) is a grade-separated dual-carriageway linking the inner and outer ring roads with junction 33 of the M1 and Rotherham
 * The A57 comes from the Peak District in the west, through Broomhill and the city centre, then east along part of Sheffield Parkway, before deviating south-east through Handsworth, Beighton, the M1 junction 31 and on towards Worksop.
 * The A61 goes straight north and south from its Ring Road portions, linking to Hillsborough, Chapeltown, the M1 junction 36 and ultimately Barnsley to the north, and Heeley, Woodseats and on towards Chesterfield to the south.

As mentioned already once or twice, Sheffield is hilly! This means that many roads have steep gradients, which will be a good test for your brakes, especially during winter when snow and ice are common. Be prepared for hill starts when moving off from on-street parking and when stuck in heavy traffic. The hills, winter conditions and extreme local government budget cuts also mean that the road surface quality is generally poor; watch out for potholes.

Most car parks in the city are owned by either Sheffield City Council, or the private companies NCP and Q-Park. The inner ring road and its approach roads all have brown signs indicating which additional signs you should follow for particular attractions and neighbourhoods, for example: "Follow Cathedral Quarter for City Hall & Cathedral." Follow the appropriate signs, even if they seem to take you half-way around the city, and you will eventually be directed to off-street paid parking close to the desired attraction. Alternatively, there are some cheaper car parks on what would otherwise be wasteland at the fringes of the city centre; these are easy enough to spot from the inner ring road.

See
Navigate to: Museums and galleries, Parks and gardens, Street art and graffiti

Monuments and landmarks

Museums and galleries

Parks and gardens

 * If you exit through the gates at the tennis court end of the park, then you can access, a 5 hectare area of landscaping with a playground and bowling greens around a reservoir. Across the road is the much larger , which is a very pleasant mix of sloping parkland, meadow and woodland, and attracts much urban wildlife including kestrels, foxes and butterflies.

Street art and graffiti

Like many industrial cities, Sheffield has its fair share of graffiti. However, unlike many other cities, there is much less of the "mindless vandalism" type and much more of the "probably counts as art" type. In fact, there are a lot of quality pieces of street art, murals and poetry by both established and unknown artists. The most prolific and well-known of these are Kid Acne, whose signature style is large and colourful written messages, using local slang and Yorkshire dialect, Mila K, who creates black and white psychedelic images often featuring the same cyborg woman in places that are hard to find or access, and Phlegm, whose trippy showpiece murals blend horror, cyberpunk and fantasy themes. All three have gone on to exhibit in galleries, and have worked around the UK and abroad. A piece by Banksy is yet to make an appearance.

By its very nature, a lot of street art is transitory, as weathering, building works, vandalism and deliberate removals all put paid to individual works. However, the scene in Sheffield is established enough that there are always new pieces to replace the old, in new and previously-unloved corners. And there are literally hundreds of works to discover across the city, if you have a decent pair of shoes or boots, and the patience and willing to tramp off the beaten path. Good areas to explore are the (around Division Street and Devonshire Green), the  (south-west of the railway station, among Hallam University buildings) and the area between  and.

Listed below are a selection of notable works and murals that are likely to be around for the foreseeable future, due to the fame of the artist or the fact that they were commissioned by the property owners. You can purchase paper prints of some of these in local shops, notably the Millennium Gallery gift shop, and the pop-up store in the Winter Garden.

Do
Navigate to: Attractions, Theatreland, Other theatres and cinemas, Spectator sports, Sports activities, Climbing, Golf, Walking

Events
Sheffild has year-round events, for a full list see Welcome to Sheffield.
 * World Snooker Championship is held at Crucible Theatre, with games displayed on giant screens in Tudor Square. The next event is 16 April - 2 May 2022.

Attractions

 * Peak District: With Britain's first national park on their doorstep, it's no surprise that Sheffielders spend so much of their leisure time just beyond the city limits. A haven for hiking, mountain biking, climbing, off-roading, paragliding and watersports, the locals treat the Peak District like one big playground; you should do too! See the climbing and walking section below for a flavour of ideas, and the Go Next section for more detailed lists of activities and itineraries.

Theatreland
Second only to London's West End as the UK's greatest concentration of theatres and cinemas, Sheffield's Theatreland is based on and around the pedestrianised Tudor Square, in the east of the City Centre. The theatre scene is vibrant and extremely varied, with a number of production companies based in the city, including the acclaimed Sheffield Theatres. Plays and musicals destined for London often make their provincial debut in Sheffield, in 'try outs' designed to gauge audience response and iron out any production kinks. Theatreland's four cinemas each offer a unique viewing experience and very different programmes.

Other theatres and cinemas

Clubs and live music venues are listed in the Drink section below.

As a spectator
Sheffield is England's National City of Sport and is home to a number of top sporting teams.
 * Steeldogs play ice hockey in National League the second tier. Their home ink is IceSheffield next to the Don Valley Bowl.
 * Steeldogs play ice hockey in National League the second tier. Their home ink is IceSheffield next to the Don Valley Bowl.
 * Steeldogs play ice hockey in National League the second tier. Their home ink is IceSheffield next to the Don Valley Bowl.
 * Steeldogs play ice hockey in National League the second tier. Their home ink is IceSheffield next to the Don Valley Bowl.
 * Steeldogs play ice hockey in National League the second tier. Their home ink is IceSheffield next to the Don Valley Bowl.
 * Steeldogs play ice hockey in National League the second tier. Their home ink is IceSheffield next to the Don Valley Bowl.
 * Steeldogs play ice hockey in National League the second tier. Their home ink is IceSheffield next to the Don Valley Bowl.
 * Steeldogs play ice hockey in National League the second tier. Their home ink is IceSheffield next to the Don Valley Bowl.
 * Steeldogs play ice hockey in National League the second tier. Their home ink is IceSheffield next to the Don Valley Bowl.
 * Steeldogs play ice hockey in National League the second tier. Their home ink is IceSheffield next to the Don Valley Bowl.

Participate
While there are many local sports centres in Sheffield, the following facilities are the cream of the crop, used by elite sportspeople and thousands of visitors alike:

If you're staying in town for a while, and think you'll use the above facilities and other local centres more than once, consider buying a lifeCARD. It costs £3 for one year, and gives a £3 discount on regular prices every time you use it at one of seven sports venues, so offers brilliant savings even if you only use it a few times. There are also special offers and discounts on cultural events taking place in the city. You don't have to be a resident of Sheffield or even a citizen of the UK, but you do have to provide your name and address when you make the purchase, either online or at one of the venues.

Climbing

 * There are many good sites close by, especially where the Hallam Moors end in a gritstone scarp that forms the city's western boundary.

 * See Hathersage for Stanage Edge, Burbage Edge and Millstone Edge, on the scarp of the Hallam Moors. These are accessible by foot and public transport directly from Sheffield, but if you're climbing with gear you'll be parking on the Hathersage side.
 * See Hathersage for Stanage Edge, Burbage Edge and Millstone Edge, on the scarp of the Hallam Moors. These are accessible by foot and public transport directly from Sheffield, but if you're climbing with gear you'll be parking on the Hathersage side.
 * See Hathersage for Stanage Edge, Burbage Edge and Millstone Edge, on the scarp of the Hallam Moors. These are accessible by foot and public transport directly from Sheffield, but if you're climbing with gear you'll be parking on the Hathersage side.

 * There are also several indoor climbing centres for training or bad weather days. All offer memberships and one time 'turn up and go' sessions, as long as you can demonstrate that you are a competent and safe climber. Some also offer lessons and courses.

 * There are also more than a dozen artificial public boulders scattered around the city, usually in public parks and free to use. Many are suitable for beginners and children. Local climbing enthusiasts have created a handy Google map, showing the locations of each boulder and details about their size and condition.
 * There are also more than a dozen artificial public boulders scattered around the city, usually in public parks and free to use. Many are suitable for beginners and children. Local climbing enthusiasts have created a handy Google map, showing the locations of each boulder and details about their size and condition.
 * There are also more than a dozen artificial public boulders scattered around the city, usually in public parks and free to use. Many are suitable for beginners and children. Local climbing enthusiasts have created a handy Google map, showing the locations of each boulder and details about their size and condition.
 * There are also more than a dozen artificial public boulders scattered around the city, usually in public parks and free to use. Many are suitable for beginners and children. Local climbing enthusiasts have created a handy Google map, showing the locations of each boulder and details about their size and condition.
 * There are also more than a dozen artificial public boulders scattered around the city, usually in public parks and free to use. Many are suitable for beginners and children. Local climbing enthusiasts have created a handy Google map, showing the locations of each boulder and details about their size and condition.

Golf
There are three municipal golf courses in Sheffield which, unlike private courses, are open to everyone at reasonably affordable prices. They follow the same fees system (see table). If you have a lifeCard, you can get a £3 discount on all quoted prices.

Walks
Sturdy shoes are recommended on all walks, especially the more rural routes. Since Sheffield is extremely hilly, most walks have lots of ups and downs to them. Hiking boots would be ideal. Sheffield City Council has a portal for the complete list of the many interesting walks throughout the city's urban, suburban, industrial and rural landscapes, but here are six of the best:

Mainly rural
Use OS Landranger Map 110 for this area. The Peak District further west is covered by OL1 at finer scale, but it cuts off the moors on the city's west boundary. Weather conditions can differ substantially from town; a light rain on Weston Park could be freezing sleet or snow on Stanage Edge, low cloud over The Moor means fog on the moors, etc, etc. Pack for where you're going, not for where you are.

Learn
There are two major universities in Sheffield, both of which attract large numbers of international students from all over the world:

Additionally, the Sheffield College offers a huge selection of pre-university and vocational courses, and is one of the largest further education establishments in the country.

Buy
Navigate to: Meadowhall, Crystal Peaks, Antiques Quarter, London Road, Other neighbourhoods

Sheffield has two main shopping destinations. The city centre is varied and walkable. It has a good range of high street and independent stores. The out-of-town Meadowhall shopping centre is Yorkshire's largest and has a huge range of shops. Beyond these two destinations, Sheffield's other shopping experiences range from suburban high streets to local shopping centres and themed quarters.

City centre
The central area packs in a lot of national chains and independent shops. Visitors will however find there are fewer big name brands than might be expected, due to Meadowhall's proximity and size. Much of the city centre is pedestrianised, and this makes an easy and pleasant environment to walk around. The main axis of central shopping destinations runs in a gently curving line from the Moor in the south-west, via Fargate and surrounds to Castlegate in the north-east. In the west of the city centre, the Devonshire Quarter is a hub of independent boutiques.

The Moor
The Moor is a broad pedestrianised street dating from the 1950s, that is undergoing regeneration in the mid-2010s, and will become part of a larger central retail quarter in the early 2020s. It is now a cool mix of mid-century functionalism and modernity, and is the home of several landmark stores, a cinema, chain restaurants and cafés, and the city's central market. While much of the street is now finished and looking great, building work is ongoing in the immediate surroundings.

Although it is a bit of a distance from the nearest tram stops, most city bus routes serve the area on Charter Row, Cumberland Street, Eyre Street and Furnival Gate. Alternatively, there is a large multistorey car park on Eyre Street.

Other significant shops include three national department stores (Debenhams, Primark and TJ Hughes), plus an Ann Summers sex shop, Blacks outdoor gear, Burton / Dorothy Perkins clothing, Deichmann footwear, Forbidden Planet comic book store (just off the Moor on Matilda Street), and a Sainsbury's supermarket.

Pinstone Street, Furnival Gate, Barkers Pool
Directly north of The Moor is a rather hideous collection of bus-choked streets with semi-abandoned shops and offices that for now appear to have been left behind by all the regeneration. Of the shops that remain, there is little to write home about. Boring but useful services such as building societies and opticians rub shoulders with charity shops. The only thing which really should tempt you here is the trio of great takeaways: Béres pork sandwich shop, Fanoush falafel and salads, and Street Food Chef burrito bar, each of which have become Sheffield institutions. See individual listings in the Eat section of this page.

As you approach the Town Hall, the buildings get older and smarter, and the shops get better. There are three jewellers, plus a JD Sports, Toni&Guy salon and a Budgens supermarket.

If you do a sort of left U-turn just before the Town Hall, you'll find Barkers Pool. Dominated by its war memorial, this square has the City Hall theatre on one side and a large John Lewis department store on the other, as well as smaller shops, including a Google Digital Garage, Patisserie Valerie and unique home furnishings store Stone the Crows! Barkers Pool connects to the Devonshire Quarter to the west.

Surrey Street
This pleasant cobbled street of quirky independent shops runs along the north side of the Town Hall towards Tudor Square. Here, you can see chic brown stone buildings, the Sheffield "TARDIS" and Montgomery Theatre. Surrey Street also has the city's tourist information centre and an entrance to the Winter Garden / Millennium Gallery. The nearest Supertram station is Cathedral.

Fargate
Fargate is Sheffield's pedestrianised main shopping street, which runs from the Town Hall at the top to the Anglican cathedral and High Street at the bottom, where trams and buses stop. There are several buildings of architectural note here, including the Grade-II listed Carmel House. There are often specialist markets on Fargate, with past themes as diverse as arts and craft, gardening, continental, and middle eastern bazaar. This street is also the hub of Sheffield Food Festival (in May) and the popular Christmas Market (mid-November to December), when log cabins run its length and lights glitter between the buildings.

Many chain retailers can be found on Fargate, including fashion stores Foot Locker, H&M, New Look, Next and Topshop / Topman, jewellers H. Samuel and Pandora, cosmeticians KIKO and Lush, chocolatiers Hotel Chocolat and Thorntons, department store Marks & Spencer, and newsagent and bookseller WHSmith.

Just off Fargate, Chapel Walk is a narrow pedestrian alley leading to Norfolk Street, that has a number of specialist stores and cosy cafés. Scaffolding is (March 2018) making the street look unsightly and out of use, but Chapel Walk is still very much open for business. Of note are Claire's accessories, a Dr. Martens shop, and a couple of gift shops.

Orchard Square
Orchard Square is a precinct between Fargate and Church Street. It is home to a number of fashion outlets on the main square and specialist shops in the Craft Workshop upstairs. Among Sheffielders, especially those who grew up in the city, it is best known for its mechanical clock, which chimes at every quarter of an hour and opens to reveal the moving figures of cutlers from the olden days. To adult visitors, this will seem a bit naff, but little (and big!) kids love it.

Orchard Square is very easily accessible from City Hall Supertram station, and lots of bus routes stop on Leopold Street just outside.

Chain stores include discount department store TK Maxx, clothing retailers Evans, Fat Face and River Island, shoe shops Clarks and Schuh, cosmetics specialists The Body Shop and The Perfume Shop, and a Waterstones book shop.

Castlegate Quarter
The High Street is the broad avenue where buses and trams run downhill from the cathedral towards Ponds Forge and Park Hill. Despite a fabulous mix of architectural styles and three Supertram stations (Cathedral, Castle Square and Fitzalan Square), it is mainly a mix of fast food restaurants and inexpensive retail giants such as Bonmarché, Boots, HMV, Poundland and Sports Direct. There are also some independent shops, but little to recommend among them. Beyond Castle Square, the retail more or less dries up, even while the architecture remains impressive.

In the rest of the Castlegate Quarter, north of the High Street up to the river Don, the situation looks grimmer. From the middle ages until 2013, this was the location of Sheffield's central market hall; this has now moved to the flourishing Moor as part of a general westward shift of activity in the city centre. This means that what was the Castle Market building has been demolished, leaving a whacking great hole surrounded by 'temporary' hoarding. The surrounding streets seem to be on a similar downward spiral, with most of the buildings looking sad and neglected.

However, to pass by Castlegate based on how it looks would be to miss out on a wide selection of bargain stores and an extremely diverse cheap restaurant scene all within spitting distance of lots of hotels. Castlegate is actually perfect for travellers on a budget. Besides, redevelopment plans to create a new landscaped riverside park, and the district's exceedingly long history as Sheffield's commercial centre may well combine to force a change in fortunes in the near future. Useful shops include Argos, B&M Bargains, Wilko, another Poundland less than 400 metres from the one mentioned above, the weirdly-named cheap toiletries store Savers, and a Co-op food supermarket.

Devonshire Quarter
Based around Devonshire Green is one of Sheffield's indie areas. Its strategic location between the two universities means that a huge number of students and graduates live in the neighbourhood. Devonshire Street runs along Dev Green and has a mix of restaurants and gift boutiques, while Division Street has trendy stores and relaxed watering holes. Parallel to these are the frantic bars and clubs of Glossop Road and West Street. Devonshire is a good place to come for a pamper, as there are a number of hairdressers, salons, Turkish barbers and even a Victorian hamam. There are also a growing number of Chinese businesses, reflecting that community's increasing importance to Sheffield's population and economy. The area is served by the Supertram at West Street.

Aside from a few fast food and coffee outlets, there are almost no chain stores in Devonshire, other than a largish Tesco Metro supermarket on West Street, and a small Sainsbury's Local on Division Street.

Antiques Quarter
With well over 60 participating businesses, is the place for antiques, salvage, arts and crafts, rare books and records, specialist services, and retro and vintage clothing. The quarter covers the neighbourhoods of Heeley, Nether Edge and Sharrow, and access is easiest by bus routes 20, 25, 53, 74, 76, 87, 97 and 98, which all stop on Abbeydale Road. It would be impossible to list even a selection of the businesses of the quarter here, and would be unnecessarily duplicative since the official website does a brilliant job of listing each business already, splitting them by useful categories.

There is a programme of regular events throughout the year, including the Pedlar's Corner car boot sale and flea market, which takes place at #|Abbeydale Picture House every first Sunday of the month between 10AM and 3PM. If you're feeling peckish or thirsty, there are a great many quality cafés and bars which all follow the retro theme in one way or another. As you explore the area, look out for a number of street art pieces.

London Road
Although London Road overlaps to some extent with the Antiques Quarter, in many ways it should be considered as its own distinct shopping area. It runs south from St Mary's Gate on the Inner Ring Road for almost a mile, and is served by bus routes 10, 20, 25, 33, 43, 53, 294 and X17. There was an aborted attempt by the council to turn the road into a Chinatown, but this was poorly received by residents as it does not properly reflect the area's demographics. This is easily the most multicultural part of Sheffield, where British Turks, Iranians, Italians, Portuguese, Kurds, Poles, Somalis, Chinese, Pakistanis, Arabs and Kosovars all rub shoulders. It is above all known for its restaurants, some of which are listed under the Eat section of this article, but this is also a great place to buy foods and products from all over the world. In the area is Sheffield's Central Mosque which welcomes visitors by appointment, but has a rather long waiting list.

The local also merits a look, if only for its really unusual orientalist architecture. Called "the pagoda" locally, it was a cinema in the 1920s, later became a ballroom, and is now perhaps the coolest supermarket building in England. Disappointingly, the inside is just an ordinary Sainsbury's with boring old aisles and checkouts.

Broomhill
Once described by Poet Laureate John Betjeman as "the prettiest suburb in England", Broomhill is a fairly self-contained area: a pleasant mix of student stomping ground and well-heeled residential neighbourhood. Only a mile from the city centre, it has an interesting range of shops from inexpensive to trendy along a high street which mixes both charming and humdrum buildings together. Music lovers should make time for the impressive second-hand vinyl and CD collection at Record Collector on Fulwood Road. Sci-Fi enthusiasts should head to Galaxy 4 on Glossop Road, which has a particularly fine selection of Doctor Who merchandise. Served by bus routes 51, 52 and 120.

Other neighbourhoods

 * Ecclesall Road's independent fashion shops, bars, cafés and restaurants run from the inner ring road for over a mile out to the bohemian Hunters Bar. Served by bus routes 65, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 88, 215 and 272.
 * Hillsborough has a large shopping area comparable in size and scope to that of many town centres around England. The high street has all the old-fashioned essentials including a butcher, a baker and a, erm, hardware store. The Hillsborough Barracks outdoor shopping centre contains a variety of local and chain stores and a Morrisons hypermarket. Supertram: Hillsborough Interchange.
 * Although international food shops can be found all over Sheffield, areas of particular note include Attercliffe and Darnall for South Asian, Burngreave for African and West Indian and Sharrow for Arabic, Chinese, Eastern European and Turkish.

Local specialities
This is a working class industrial city, so its native foodstuffs reflect this in their simplicity and, often, their factory origin.

The unquestioned star of the culinary show in Sheffield is Henderson's Relish, produced in the Steel City since 1885. Known variously as Hendo's, the black stuff, relly or just Yorkshire sauce, this is a very dark brown spicy liquid condiment which can be added to any number of dishes as a flavour enhancer: fish and chips, casserole, anything with melted cheese, and even cocktails. Despite being practically unknown elsewhere, in South Yorkshire you will see Hendo's in all good chippies, in most of the city's gift shops, and in supermarkets. The relish is a beloved icon of Sheffield, and features on postcards, artwork and T-shirts alongside the city's physical landmarks. A word of warning: under no circumstances should you compare Henderson's relish to the more famous Worcestershire sauce; a London MP was foolish enough to state the former was an imitator of the latter, and the backlash was so severe that he was forced to visit the Henderson's factory and offer a grovelling apology to incensed Sheffielders, who will defend their sauce to the death, if necessary.

You'll also want to put Hendo's on Sheffield fishcakes, which are different to the "mashed-up fish baked in breadcrumbs" that the rest of the country knows as fishcakes. Local fishcakes are whole fillets of cod or haddock, wrapped in potatoes (tatters) and deep fried in batter. Look for them in chippies (sometimes called frieries in Sheffield) and fishmongers.

Another local favourite is the pork sandwich: hot roast pork, stuffing, crackling and apple sauce crammed into a thickly buttered breadcake, i.e. a bread roll. While not native to Sheffield, this snack has been so heartily adopted by Sheffielders that there is a citywide chain of shops where all you can buy is pork sandwiches!

You're in God's own county, so expect to see Yorkshire puddings and plenty of savoury pies on the menu. For the latter, any pub which serves food or one of two local bakery chains - Cooplands and Staniforths, which seem to have shops everywhere - are the places to be.

Finally, Sheffield has a great tradition of producing snacks and confectionery. Internationally-known brands Bassetts and Thorntons originate here, and the former still make their liquorice allsorts and jelly babies in their original factory in Hillsborough. Less well-known are Yorkshire Crisps, made in several varieties including Henderson's Relish flavour - more conventional flavours are available. Another imaginative brand name is the Sheffield Honey Company, which really does produce excellent artisan honey, both natural and paired with locally-available natural flavourings such as heather and blossom. Each jar tells you the exact location of the hives your honey was made - there are colonies throughout the city - so you can feasibly go and thank the bees if so inclined. No list of sweet treats would be complete without ice cream, and the award-winning Our Cow Molly stands apart from the herd of ice cream makers as something rather special. The creamery, which you can visit, is next door to the fields in which their cows roam, and the resulting ice cream is intensely flavoursome and fresh. Sheffield's proximity to the Peak District means that almond-and-jam-based Bakewell tarts and puddings are readily available, although you are still encouraged to visit the multitude of competing shops all claiming to be the original in Bakewell.

Eating out
There are many good, cheap places to eat in and around the city. If you would rather stay in and still want to have a taste of what Sheffield has to offer, you can always opt for food from one of the takeaways in Sheffield. Usually prices range from £7 to £20 for a meal for two.

Drink
The city is known for its wide variety of traditional pubs, most of which serve local ales. The nightlife is lively: there are almost 30 nightclubs, numerous bars and restaurants to suit all budgets, six theatres and three city-centre cinemas.

Pubs
Sheffield is well known for its large number of pubs. From dark and Victorian to sleek and modern; and from traditional real-ale haven to noisy standing-room-only bar, you can easily find a pub in Sheffield to suit your taste in beer, music and company. However, most city-centre pubs are more oriented towards fast drinking students and clubbers; on West Street in particular (linking the university with the city centre) you will find many pubs and bars which during the week become busy with students and younger customers. Finding quieter pubs in which to sample something other than the usual chain-pub lager requires delving a little deeper beneath the surface.

For the unimaginative, you'll find the usual Wetherspoons and All Bar One chain pubs, throughout the city centre serving cheap lager, hand-pulled ales and reasonably priced food in a smoke (and atmosphere) free environment.

Hybrid bar-pubs manage to maintain something of a pub atmosphere, and sell real ale at reasonable prices, while still pulling in the crowds. They are used as much by people who want a good range of beer at good prices, as by "yoofs" after a good night out. They are probably doing a good job of persuading at least some lager drinkers to switch to traditional ales.

Sheffield's real gems are the handful of surviving traditional pubs and free houses, which generally have more room to sit down, quieter (or no) music, and real hand pumped ales.

There are more warm and welcoming traditional pubs in Sheffield's suburbs. North-west of the city centre, in Crookes and Walkley (popular with students as places to live) are:

Real ale fans from great distances come to "do" the real ale trail of Sheffield's Upper Don Valley (known locally as "the Valley of Beer"), a route stretching from near the city centre out to Hillsborough. The trail calls at:

The trail roughly parallels the tram route from the city centre to Hillsborough, so getting there and back is easy. All these pubs have a huge range of British draught real ales (some brewed by the pub) and most have a selection of bottle-conditioned beers from continental Europe (especially Belgium).

Bars
Visiting Sheffield, you might be led to believe that students go out every day of the week. With some 55,000 university students this is hardly surprising. These are some of the more popular pubs.

 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.
 * Gay bars There are a small number of gay bars, clubs and gay-nights, whose locations and names change on a regular basis.

Clubs & live venues
Unlike Sheffield's dense strip of student bars along West Street, the city's night clubs are more spread out around the city centre, especially in the former industrial buildings. The most well known are:

Further out

 * There's an and  at Sheffield Arena.
 * There's an and  at Sheffield Arena.

Stay safe
As with the rest of the UK, in any emergency call 999 or 112 and ask for Ambulance, Fire or Police when connected.

All central areas or main shopping suburbs are perfectly safe during the day. After hours, some peripheral parts of the city centre may seem a little quiet and lonely, but any well-lit street with plenty of people about will is as safe as any city centre in the UK if the usual precautions are taken. Some outer neighbourhoods are best avoided, but as a traveller, you will almost certainly never visit them anyway.

Stay healthy
In a medical emergency, dial 999 or 112.

Hospitals and clinics
Although there are many hospitals in clinics in Sheffield, the following three are most likely to be of use to the sickly traveller:

Connect
As of Jan 2021, Sheffield has 5G from EE, O2 and Three, and 4G from Vodafone.

Useful websites

 * Our Favourite Places: a great guide to Sheffield's culture, cuisine and events, written by Sheffielders who love their city.
 * Sheffield City Council: the city's local authority and government
 * Travel South Yorkshire: all public transport information for Sheffield and South Yorkshire

Cope
There are no public toilets in Sheffield city centre. Instead, the city council have erected signs pointing to businesses which allow you to use their facilities without spending any money; these include the three large Debenhams, John Lewis and Marks & Spencer department stores, The Graduate and Banker's Draft pubs, the Moor Market, and every branch of Subway. Free loos can also be found in the Central Library, Millennium Gallery and Weston Park Museum.

Go next

 * The Peak District is close to Sheffield, indeed parts of it are within the city boundary. For a day trip by public transport, the most accessible is along the Hope Valley railway line through Grindleford, Hathersage, Hope and Edale. Lots of hikes start from these stations, eg to Castleton with Mam Tor and Winnats Pass, along Stanage Edge, or up Kinder Scout. You need a car to reach the rest of the area, such as Chatsworth or Dovedale.
 * Leeds is a lively city with many visitor attractions.
 * Manchester, dare it be said here, has even more attractions and amenities than Sheffield.
 * York by contrast has kept its medieval walls and winding cobbled streets, and the old castle still teeters on a hillock.
 * In the West Yorkshire hills are Holmfirth, setting for the TV series Last of the Summer Wine, attractive Hebden Bridge, and Haworth home of the Brontë sisters.
 * In Nottinghamshire, the ancient oaks of Sherwood Forest surround the village of Edwinstowe, while the Dukeries are an area of country parks and stately homes.

title: Sheffield


text:
Sheffield Lake

Sheffield Lake is a city in Lorain County, Ohio.

Get in
US6 crosses Sheffield Lake as it runs adjacent to Lake Erie.

Do
Lake Erie offers the most to see and do. You can use the boat launch to put your boat or jet ski in the water

Go next

 * Sandusky
 * Cleveland

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

title: Sheffield Lake


text:
Sheikhan

Sheikhan is a village in Punjab (Pakistan) in Chiniot district.

By Air
If one intends to come here by air, he has to pick a flight to Faisalabad where he can hire a car to reach Jhang city and then into Sheikhan. Or one can avail a public transport that is van or bus from Faisalbad to Jhang and then again have to pick a van or auto bus from Jhang Lari Adda (Bus Terminal) to Sheikhan.

 * Pakistan International Airlines has 2 daily flights to Faisalabad
 * Airblue has 1 daily flight to Faisalabad

By Railway
If one wants to come here by railway track he has to pick a train to Faisalabad where he can hire a car to reach Jhang city and then into sheikhan. Or one can avail a public transport that is van or bus from Faisalbad to Jhang and then again have to pick a van or auto bus from Jhang Lari Adda (Bus Terminal) to Sheikhan.

 * Hazara Express Operates b/w Karachi and Hazara and passes through Jhang
 * Chenab Express Operates b/w Karachi and Peshawar but some coaches are attached from Jhang
 * Super Express Operates b/w Karachi and Sargodha and passes through main town of jhang like Shorkot, Chiniot and Lalian.
 * Millat Express Operates b/w Karachi and Faisalabad
 * Faisalabad Night Coach Operates b/w Karachi and Faisalabad
 * Chilton Express Operates b/w Quetta and Lhore but touches Faisalabad
 * Rohi Express Operates b/w Lahore and Bahawalpur but touches Faisalabad
 * Lahore Rail Car Operates b/w Lahore and Faisalabad

By Bus
The one only way to reach here directly is the Jhang-Lalian Road. One can get a bus from Lalian which is situated at Jhang-Faisalabad road or otherwise can get a bus or 14 seater van from Jhang Lari Adda. Here its one of the worst transport systems of the world. The bus may take 2 to 3 hours reaching here from either sides while van will touch this 35-40 distance from Jhang in 1 and quarter hour. Otherwise if one has a pocketful of money can hire a taxi from either sides but fares are comparatively higher than other areas of Punjab.

title: Sheikhan


text:
Shei-pa National Park

Shei-pa National Park (雪霸國家公園, pinyin: Xuěbà Guójiā Gōngyuán) is the fifth national park of Taiwan. This is a region of magnificent mountains, creek valleys, rare animals and plants.

Understand
Also known as Hsüeh-Pa National Park.

Wuling Recreation Area (Wuling Farm) is one of the four recreation areas within the park. The farm was established in 1963 to provide employment for retired servicemen.

The park was established in 1992 by the Government at the border of Hsinchu, Miaoli and Taichung Counties.

Flora and fauna
Taiwan Salmon

Climate
The mountainous areas in this area are cloudy and foggy, and the temperature is low. The average temperature in January is about 6.6 °C, and the average temperature in July is about 14.9 °C. The rainy season is from April to August every year, and the annual rainfall is about 3,152 mm, and up to 4,000 mm in some areas.

Visitor information

 * Shei-pa National Park website

By bus
From Yilan: There are two Kuo-Kuang buses per day from Yilan to Wuling Farm (the Yilan to Lishan bus with a stop at Wuling Farm). The morning bus departs Yilan at 07:30 and arrives at Wuling Farm at 10:30. The afternoon bus departs Yilan at 12:40 and arrives at Wuling Farm at 15:40. From Taipei: E-go Bus from Taipei Main Station to Wuling Farm.

Fees and permits
Wuling Farm entrance fees (Taiwan summer and winter holidays are peak-seasons):
 * Adults: Peak-season NT$160, Off-season NT$130
 * Senior citizens over 65 years old: NT$80
 * Civil servants, military personnel, and student: Peak-season NT$130, Off-season NT$100
 * Children (below 12 years old): NT$80
 * Group of 30 and above: Peak-season NT$130, Off-season NT$100
 * Veterans, handicapped, children under 6 years old: NT$10
 * Vehicles: Large NT$80, Small NT$50, Motorcycle NT$10

See and do
There are four recreation areas within the park.

Miaoli County

 * Xuejian Recreation Area (雪見遊憩區), is set up on the northwest side of national Park. It is placed near the Taian Township of Miaoli County. Being the newest developed location in the park, its traffic conditions are often not good.

Buy
You can go to the visitor center to shop for some souvenirs or merchandise.

Wuling Tea — Wuling tea is produced in the eastern slope of Syueshan Mountain in Shei-Pa National Park and is cultivated at high elevation of 2,000 m.

Eat

 * Wuling Hotel Restaurant
 * Wuling Farm Campground — Snacks and beverages

Drink
It is a national park, so you are unlikely to find bars, nightclubs or night markets there. Since there is no light pollution in Sheipa National Park, the starry sky at night is very beautiful, and watching the night view is a good experience!

Stay safe
There are dangers of rockfalls, collapses, and cliff falls. Therefore, you should pay attention to your own safety when climbing. It is recommended that tourists who want to climb the mountain should move in a group. Accompaniment is recommended, and the leader or guide must be well-trained.

The visitor centers of the national parks are equipped with simple first aid medicines. If you have minor injuries in the area, you can go to there to receive treatment. If your injuries are serious and cannot be treated, please call +886-37-272-917 to report to the national park management office. Management staff will assist and help you to go to the nearby hospitals for treatment.

Stay healthy
There is no local hospital in Sheipa National Park. If you get sick or injured while traveling there, you can only go to the nearby public health clinics or hospitals.

Go next

 * Taroko National Park

title: Shei-pa National Park


text:
Shekhawati

Shekhawati is in India.

Regions
Shekhawati comprises districts, Sikar and Jhunjhunu, in Rajasthan, India.

Other destinations

 * - Very famous temple of Barbarik grandson of Bhim (one of five pandavas).
 * - is a village of Shekhawati region. It was founded in 1768 by the Thakurs of one of the branch of Shekhawats. It is located in Jhunjhunu district at a distance of 40 km from Jhunjhunu near the trifurcation of Jhujhunu, Churu and Sikar districts. It is known for the Sone-Chandi ki Dukan dating from 1846. It incorporates gold leaf in its intricate paintings. This haveli has three vaulted ceilings; scenes from the Ramayana are painted on the left one, incarnations of Vishnu on the centre one, and scenes from the life of Krishna are to be found on the right one. Mahansar region is very well known for its famous heritage liquor, it will not be a hyperbole to say that it is the region of Rajasthan that has kept the traditional brewing system in India alive.
 * - Very famous temple of Lord Hanuman is here. Clean, comfortable and reasonably priced (100 to ₹800/day) dharamshalas are available.
 * - Very famous temple of Barbarik grandson of Bhim (one of five pandavas).
 * - is a village of Shekhawati region. It was founded in 1768 by the Thakurs of one of the branch of Shekhawats. It is located in Jhunjhunu district at a distance of 40 km from Jhunjhunu near the trifurcation of Jhujhunu, Churu and Sikar districts. It is known for the Sone-Chandi ki Dukan dating from 1846. It incorporates gold leaf in its intricate paintings. This haveli has three vaulted ceilings; scenes from the Ramayana are painted on the left one, incarnations of Vishnu on the centre one, and scenes from the life of Krishna are to be found on the right one. Mahansar region is very well known for its famous heritage liquor, it will not be a hyperbole to say that it is the region of Rajasthan that has kept the traditional brewing system in India alive.
 * - Very famous temple of Lord Hanuman is here. Clean, comfortable and reasonably priced (100 to ₹800/day) dharamshalas are available.
 * - Very famous temple of Barbarik grandson of Bhim (one of five pandavas).
 * - is a village of Shekhawati region. It was founded in 1768 by the Thakurs of one of the branch of Shekhawats. It is located in Jhunjhunu district at a distance of 40 km from Jhunjhunu near the trifurcation of Jhujhunu, Churu and Sikar districts. It is known for the Sone-Chandi ki Dukan dating from 1846. It incorporates gold leaf in its intricate paintings. This haveli has three vaulted ceilings; scenes from the Ramayana are painted on the left one, incarnations of Vishnu on the centre one, and scenes from the life of Krishna are to be found on the right one. Mahansar region is very well known for its famous heritage liquor, it will not be a hyperbole to say that it is the region of Rajasthan that has kept the traditional brewing system in India alive.
 * - Very famous temple of Lord Hanuman is here. Clean, comfortable and reasonably priced (100 to ₹800/day) dharamshalas are available.
 * - is a village of Shekhawati region. It was founded in 1768 by the Thakurs of one of the branch of Shekhawats. It is located in Jhunjhunu district at a distance of 40 km from Jhunjhunu near the trifurcation of Jhujhunu, Churu and Sikar districts. It is known for the Sone-Chandi ki Dukan dating from 1846. It incorporates gold leaf in its intricate paintings. This haveli has three vaulted ceilings; scenes from the Ramayana are painted on the left one, incarnations of Vishnu on the centre one, and scenes from the life of Krishna are to be found on the right one. Mahansar region is very well known for its famous heritage liquor, it will not be a hyperbole to say that it is the region of Rajasthan that has kept the traditional brewing system in India alive.
 * - Very famous temple of Lord Hanuman is here. Clean, comfortable and reasonably priced (100 to ₹800/day) dharamshalas are available.
 * - Very famous temple of Lord Hanuman is here. Clean, comfortable and reasonably priced (100 to ₹800/day) dharamshalas are available.
 * - Very famous temple of Lord Hanuman is here. Clean, comfortable and reasonably priced (100 to ₹800/day) dharamshalas are available.
 * - Very famous temple of Lord Hanuman is here. Clean, comfortable and reasonably priced (100 to ₹800/day) dharamshalas are available.
 * - Very famous temple of Lord Hanuman is here. Clean, comfortable and reasonably priced (100 to ₹800/day) dharamshalas are available.
 * - Very famous temple of Lord Hanuman is here. Clean, comfortable and reasonably priced (100 to ₹800/day) dharamshalas are available.
 * - Very famous temple of Lord Hanuman is here. Clean, comfortable and reasonably priced (100 to ₹800/day) dharamshalas are available.
 * - Very famous temple of Lord Hanuman is here. Clean, comfortable and reasonably priced (100 to ₹800/day) dharamshalas are available.
 * - Very famous temple of Lord Hanuman is here. Clean, comfortable and reasonably priced (100 to ₹800/day) dharamshalas are available.

Talk
People here understand and speak Hindi very well. Being a tourist spot, people can understand simple words of English too.

The Shekhawati dialect of Rajasthani is the spoken language; officially, it is considered a dialect of Hindi. Some of the common phrases are :

 * What is your name? : Thaaro naam kay hey?
 * My name is _______. : Mhaaro naam ______ hey.
 * Where is ________ (object/location/person)? : _____ kaththa hey?
 * How much should I pay for this? : Ee ko kitno dewoon?
 * Where are you taking us now/where are we going now? : Abaar khaththa jaano hey?
 * It is good. : Choke-o hei.
 * We don't eat spice. : Mirchi coney khawoon.
 * Is there something sweet to eat? : Kuch meeththo hey kay?
 * We are vegetarians, we don't eat meat. : Shakahari hoon, Maas coney khawoon.
 * What time will the vehicle (car/ train/bus) come? : Gaadi kitni baje aasi?

Get in
There are direct buses from Delhi to Shekhawati. Buses in Delhi can be taken from ISBT (Kashmiri Gate), Sarai Kale Khan or Dhaula Kuan.

All shekhawati cities (Sikar, Churu & Jhunjhunu) in spite of being small cities, have good connectivity to many cities. There are many frequent buses to Jaipur & Delhi.

Trains are available from Delhi and Jaipur. In addition buses are available to Bikaner and other cities in Rajasthan.

See
The towns of Shekhawati region are known for their painted havelis. This region has been recognised as the "open art gallery of Rajasthan" having the largest concentration of frescos in the world. Most of the buildings of the Shekhawati region were constructed during 18th century to early 20th century. During the British occupation, traders would adopt this style for their new buildings. The havelis are noted for their frescos depicting mythological and historical themes. The frescos include images of gods, goddesses, animals, life history of Lords Rama and Krishna, profusely painted on the havelis in this region.

Eat
If you are game for something fiery hot and spicy, try one of the elegantly explosive "lahsun ki kachori" (fried dumplings with garlic sauce). Traditional meals include "dal baatti churma" which is a mix of lentil curry served with roasted salty dough dumplings and also a sweet (churma). This is not very fiery, and should be suitable for uninitiated palates.

title: Shekhawati


text:
Sheki

Shaki (azr. Şəki, sometimes spelled "Sheki") is Azerbaijan's true travel gem, a small city off on the forested slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Rich in Islamic architecture, Silk Road history, good food, and friendly people, this is travel and leisure in the Caucasus at its finest.

Understand
Few foreigners visit Azerbaijan beyond the capital city, Baku. In so doing, they overlook a true gem in the form of Shaki. The small city of Shaki has a whole lot to offer by way of historic attractions; in particular, the Palace of the Shaki Khans (Khansarai) is a magnificent work of Islamic architecture and a world heritage site. Its setting is stunning; it lies in the rolling, thickly forested foothills, which spread out to the south, while to the immediate north are the dramatic, snow-capped peaks of the Greater Caucasus. The possibilities for treks into the unspoilt mountain landscapes are endless, and are alone a great reason to visit the city. But more than anything, the relaxed pace of life evident in Shaki's central market and tea houses makes the city a welcome respite from whatever cares you may have.

A relatively small city, Shaki has a population of about 63,000. It is situated in northern Azerbaijan on the southern part of the Greater Caucasus mountain range, 325 km (201 mi) from Baku and not far from the Georgian border. Shaki is located at an altitude of 500 m (1,640 ft).

History
Throughout its history, Shaki was swung between independence and foreign domination. In its earlier centuries, Shaki was the seat of an Albanian kingdom, which was invaded repeatedly by the Persian, Roman, Parthian, Arab, Mongolian, and other empires. In the past millennium, Shaki fell under the influence and often the direct rule of Persia or the Shirvanshahs of Baku. Shortly after the 18th century collapse of the Safavid Empire, Shaki became the capital of the independent Shaki Khanate, during which the Khansarai was built. But Shaki's independence did not last long; it was absorbed in the early 19th century by an expansionist Russian Empire. Due to Shaki's rather tumultuous political history (in a tumultuous region), the majority of Shaki's preserved historic and architectural monuments date from only the 16th-19th centuries.

Climate

 * Winter — cold, but the snow is only heavy during January and February
 * Spring — beautiful with the once-brown mountains turning green from the rain
 * Summer — mild
 * Fall — quite warm during the day, but at night it gets a bit chilly, so pack a jacket and a thick blanket

By train
The train station has a somewhat inconvenient location about 17 km (11 mi) from the city center. In order to reach the station you will either have to take a taxi for 4-10 manat (depending on your negotiation skills) or hop on a Baku-bound bus or marshrutka and ask the driver to drop you off by the railroad station, and then walk about 200 m to the station. There are night trains that run from Baku-Balakan and make a stop in Shaki. There is also a Balakan-Baku train that passes through Shaki. Passengers must produce their passports in order to buy tickets. It would be wise to purchase a ticket for the luxury carriage in advance. You can contact Mr. Xemlet at or Mr. Arxan at  to make advanced reservations, or buy them online. Tickets bought online must be picket up at least one hour in advance at the train station. The basic carriage (plaskard) costs 6.73 manat for upper bed, and 7.81 manat for lower bed (Oct 2017), the middle class (coupe) costs around 12 manat (Oct 2017), and the luxury carriage (SV/Super Vagon) costs 19 manat (Oct 2017). Make sure that you receive all of your change from the ticket counter, as they often try to shortchange foreigners.

Daily departure times to the Shaki terminal:
 * Baku: May 28 Station, 22:10
 * Balakan: 20:00
 * Zaqatala: 21:00
 * Qax: 21:45

Daily departure times from the Shaki terminal:
 * Baku: 23:00
 * Balakan: ~06:30

By bus or marshrutka
By bus: This is one of the more tedious ways to get to Shaki, taking around 6 hours, because the mountain pass used by cars and marshrutkas would be out of the question for such a large bus. Although slower, buses are more comfortable than marshrutkas, although the ones with air conditioning overdo the cold air in a big way. The bus depart daily from Baku International Bus Terminal at 09:00, 11:00, 12:20 and more bus almost every hour till 17:00. The local people usually buy tickets few hours/mins before the departure time. But you can also purchase tickets in days advance at Baku International Bus Terminal in or their website. The fare from Baku is 8.40 manat. The bus stop at Shaki Central Bus Station where you can get a taxi or Shaki marshrutka to your next destination easily.

By marshrutka: Marshrutkas run between many of the major cities to the Shaki bus station (avtovağzal). Use your discretion when riding the marshrutkas as the condition of both vehicles and drivers vary—this matters, given the exceptionally steep road, full of sharp curves, that awaits.

The Shaki bus terminal ticket counter open from 06:30-17:00 and 20:00-midnight (holidays 10:30-23:30). Call the cashier at. The ticket vendors at the terminal speak Russian, Turkish, and Azeri.

Bus/marshrutka departure times to the Shaki terminal:
 * Baku: 09:40, 12:20, 17:30, 22:15. 6 hr. 6-9 manat.
 * Ganja: 08:20, 13:45, 16:30, 17:30, 18:15. 3.60 manat.
 * Qax: 09:30 12:20 16:30 18:30. 1.40 manat.

Bus/marshrutka departure times from the Shaki terminal:
 * Balakan: 10:10, 14:00
 * Baku: hourly from 06:30-18:00. 8-9 manat.
 * Barda: 09:00, 11:30, 16:30
 * Bulaq: 06:30, 10:00
 * Ganja: 08:00, 08:30, 13:30. 3 manat.
 * Kaldak: 13:00, 17:00
 * Shaki-A Kungut: 07:00, 13:00, 17:00
 * Shaki-B Kungut: 09:00, 15:00
 * Mingechivir: 06:50, 09:40, 13:00, 16:00. 2 manat.
 * Naftalan: 15:10
 * Oguz: 07:20, 10:30, 11:40, 13:20, 15:00, 16:00. 1.50 manat.
 * Qayabaş: 14:00
 * Qabala via Oguz: 06:50, 14:00. 2 manat.
 * Qax: 08:00 11:30 15:00 17:30. 1.40 manat.
 * Shorsu: 07:00, 13:00, 16:00
 * Yevlax: 10:30
 * Zaqatala: 07:00, 9:00, 11:00, 11:40, 15:00, 16:30

By taxi
Until the airport begins operating again, the fastest form of transport between Baku and Shaki is by taxi — it takes about 6 hr and 60 manat. If you share the ride with other people, it will cost around 10 manat per person.

A taxi is also a fine, if more expensive, way to get to Georgia, and you should have no trouble finding a taxi, bus, or marshrutka onward from the border at Lagodekhi to Tbilisi.

On foot
Though a large city by the standards of Azerbaijan, it's easy enough to get around the city center and all the main sights on foot. The sloping terrain of the city, however, may tax older visitors, but it's also easy to get around using taxis and, for the adventurous, marshrutkas.

By bus or marshrutka
Buses and marshrutkas operate from 07:00-20:00, charge 30 qapick (as of 2018), and go to many different locations throughout the city. There are 24 routes throughout the city, and most of these buses either stop in the bus terminal, the city center, or the new bazaar. Pay for the ride when getting off the bus.

Routes:

 * 1a — Silk factory; ziyarit; radio tower; post office; hospital; bus terminal; gushlek drug store; pavilion; Olympic complex
 * 3a — New bazaar; radio tower; silk factory; teacher's school; The Palace of the Shaki Khans; genceli mehel; Caravansary; post office
 * 4 — New bazaar; K/T Axundov; hospital; bus terminal; gas office; pavilion
 * 5 — New bazaar; bus terminal; old bazaar; silk factory; qrensh zavod; bagbanlar St
 * 6 — Okhud village
 * 7 — Olympic complex; bus terminal; hospital; theater; old bazaar; silk factory; university; dodu
 * 8 — New bazaar; bus terminal; hospital; near school number 10; silk factory; dodu
 * 9 — Silk factory; bus terminal; olympic complex
 * 11 — New Bazaar; bus terminal; old bazaar; Caravansary; The Palace of the Shaki Khans; children's hospital; Olympic complex
 * 14 — New bazaar; gushlek drug store; pavilion; number 11 school
 * 15 — Kish; dodu; new bazaar
 * 17 — First region; children's hospital; The Palace of the Shaki Khans; Caravansary; old bazaar; bus terminal; new bazaar
 * 18 — Bus terminal; guyumler; sarabski kuche; asphalt mill; new bazaar; olympic complex
 * 20 — Bus terminal; new bazaar
 * 22 — Olympic complex; bus terminal; hospital; theater; old bazaar; Caravansary; The Palace of the Shaki Khans; children's hospital
 * 23 — Bazaar; Dodu; Kish's 1st Bus Stop; Kish's 2nd Bus Stop near number 3 school
 * 24 — Pavilion; number 20 school; executive committee; radio tower; recreation zone; new bazaar

By taxi
Taxis charge 2-6 manat and are quite convenient if you know where you want to go within the city. Addresses are quite useless in Azerbaijan as many roads have been renamed since independence, so it's better to direct the driver to a landmark you know of such as a school, hotel, or historic place. Taxi to the train station costs 10 manat.

Talk
While Shaki is a natural tourist destination, English is not widely spoken, so it would be wise to either bring an Azeri phrasebook and/or brush up on your Azeri, Russian, or Turkish before arriving.

 * Azerbaijani phrasebook
 * Russian phrasebook
 * Turkish phrasebook

The accent of Shaki is a bit quicker than that of standard Azeri and instead of the k sound it is often replaced with a kh. Also, Shaki-specific vocabulary is often used instead of common Azeri vocabulary words.

See
In addition to enjoying the views, and wandering the leafy streets, there are two sights in Shaki that you really cannot miss: the Khansarai and the Caravansarai. They're both on the same road, so they're easy enough to visit in one afternoon. If you want to draw out that afternoon, start with a lunch in the Caravansarai courtyard, then head up the hill to the Khansarai, wander around the palace, then stop in the teahouse next door to relax over a cup or two.

Sights

Do

 * Explore the new bazaar, located on the western section of the city. The new bazaar is an interesting spot, where you can find all sorts of handicrafts, food, and spices.
 * Explore the new bazaar, located on the western section of the city. The new bazaar is an interesting spot, where you can find all sorts of handicrafts, food, and spices.
 * Explore the new bazaar, located on the western section of the city. The new bazaar is an interesting spot, where you can find all sorts of handicrafts, food, and spices.

Hiking
There is endless spectacular hiking to be done throughout the northern region of Azerbaijan, and Shaki proves no exception.

 * Hike on nearby mountains — Hiking trails start just behind the Khansarai. There is a whole network of the trails on the mountain. However, most of them are still unmarked and not included in any maps. Hike up on the 2,050 m high peak just NE from the town, with great sights over the plains and higher mountains behind. Trails are wide and well "maintained" by the local people who use them for logging and moving the herds.
 * Shaki-Bash Kyungyut-Bideiz-Shaki — 55.5 km (34.5 mi) (48.5 km/30.1 mi by car, 7 km/4.4 mi hiking); 11 hr. After traveling to Bash Kyungyut by either car or the Bash Kyungyut bus departing from the Sheki bus terminal at 09:00 and 15:00, visit the ruins of the Albanian Church on the edge of the village. Then go to Bideiz by either taxi or local bus to visit the town's two Albanian ruins — the hiking part comes in here, since the two ruins are 5 km apart. Upon reaching Bideiz village, you can return via car to Shaki.
 * Shaki-Kish-"Gelersen-Gorersen" fortress-Shaki — 22 km (14 mi) (10 km/6 mi by car or bus, 12 km/8.5 mi hiking); 6 hr. Starting in Shaki city center, take either bus 15 or 23, which run every half hour, and take it to the end of the line. After that, ask a local where Genersen Goresen Fortress is located and continue asking as you walk through the village of Kish. This path takes you from Kish to the "Gelersen-Gorersen fortress" through the Kish river and through pine groves with a plethora of varieties of mushrooms growing in the underbrush. Walking to the fortress takes about two hours. There is a tea house 15 minutes outside of the fortress that can serve as a resting point before going up or once descending from the fortress. Once at the fortress, different views of the Kish River can be seen from the peaks of the mountains. The way back from the mountain is a great time to have a picnic beneath the trees on the hills overlooking the valley. Occasional the border area guards check the people who pass inside the valley just behind Kish, it is recommended to have your passport with you.

 * Shaki-Oraban-Bashkeldek-Keshnazar-Gyurgala-Shaki — 82 km (51 mi) (78 km/49 mi by car, 4 km/2.5 mi hiking); 12 hr. This road passes through the Keshnazar Valley, where it opens to a very beautiful panorama. Rest at the "Hunter's House" cabin then hike to the ancient fortress at the top of a steep peak. After walking around, you can return to Shaki.
 * Shaki-Ortazeyzit-Bashzeyzit-Quzuyolu-Khanyaylagi-Markhal-Shaki — 46 km (29 mi) (32 km/20 mi by car, 14 km/9 mi hiking); 13 hours. Take a taxi to Ortazeyzit and then ask where the two churches are. The path that leads to Khan Yaylaghi meanders by two ancient Albanian churches, continues up a long path to the Khan Yaylaghi peak. After reaching Khan Yaylaghi, the Markhal recreation area is near and there are several restaurants that serve delicious kebobs and tea. From this area, Shaki can be reached by car or by walking to the Kish road and boarding the number 15 or 23 bus.

Buy

 * Bazaars The new bazaar is in the western section of the city and is open during daylight. It is a very interesting sight where you can purchase many different handicrafts, food, and spices. It is a good place for a person with proficiency in Azeri, Turkish, or Russian to go and haggle with the shop owners, get a cup of tea, or enjoy some chicken kebabs from one of the vendors.
 * Shebeke (stained glass), carpets, musical instruments, and copper and iron products are sold in the bazaar, all along the road up to the Caravansarai, tourist areas, and also at the Handicraft Association headquarters.
 * Shebeke (stained glass), carpets, musical instruments, and copper and iron products are sold in the bazaar, all along the road up to the Caravansarai, tourist areas, and also at the Handicraft Association headquarters.
 * Silk Shaki is on the Silk Road, and has had a major silk industry for a long time. There is still a silk factory ipək kombinat in the city, from which a great variety of silk items are crafted, one of the most famous being the silk scarves-kalagayi. The scarves range in price from 5-100 manat. Shaki scarves can be purchased at the silk factory, the Caravansarai, or at the bazaar.
 * Water Shaki has just started bottling mineral water from Markhal, an area right outside of the city of Shaki. A bottle is an inexpensive, but refreshing and healthy purchase. Markhal water can be purchased at the market 5 meters up the hill from the central post office and throughout Shaki.

ATMs

 * Bankomats (ATMs) are available all around the main square. If you have a cell phone with either a Bakcell or Azercell sim card, you can recharge your account balance using various ATMs.

Restaurants
In addition to the several great options below, of especial interest to visitors is the excellent restaurant in the very attractive courtyard and gardens of the Caravansarai (Daily 11:00-22:00, 4-6 manat).

Regional specialties

 * Shaki Halva — a special type of baklava called halva, best eaten at a çay xana (tea house) alongside a piping hot cup of tea. The best halva in Shaki according to all of the locals is Eliehmed Confectioneries (Shirinyyet). It is half way up the hill that goes past the Friday Mosque leading up to the Karavan Palace and the Palace of the Shaki Khans. It is across the bridge on the right hand side in a small white building. There is a sign on the road that says Eliehmed Shirinyyet, so it can not be missed. Daily 10:00-17:00.
 * Shaki Piti — a stew created with meat and potatoes and prepared in a terra cotta pot—well worth a try. The style de cuisine is as follows: first crumble up pieces of bread, pour the sauce into the bowl from the pot, eat the bread and sauce, and finally pour the rest of the stew into your bowl and eat it.

Tea houses (Çay Xanalar)
There is a nice outdoor tea house (çay xana) by the Khansarai, Daily 11:00-23:00, that serves tea and halva to people in their own individual nooks. There is also a tea house inside the walls of the Palace of the Shaki Khans which offers plates of the Shaki speciality halva alongside a pot of tea for 2 manat.

Most çay xanalar also serve local beer (piva)—draft at 50 qapick/glass or bottles at 70 qapick/bottle—or vodka (araq) at 2 manat/bottle. For anything exotic (e.g. tequila, gin, or rum), you will have to go to the Shaki Saray bar and pay Western prices there.

Cafés
The only good coffee to be found (besides Nescafé or McCafe) is in the lobby of the Shaki Saray Hotel. This is where you can get your favorite espresso concoction made by Western-trained staff. The Café Mocha and Cafe Late here are some of the best hot drinks in the regions of Azerbaijan. They also offer a variety of teas.

There is a good Turkish bakery next to the New Bazaar, where you can eat local pastries. The same items can also be ordered next door at the Istanbul Restaurant, which has a nicer atmosphere. Their tastiest cake is the Snickers Cake, although it is a bit pricey (0.5 manat).

Sleep
You can sleep for pennies in Shaki if you stay in one of the budget options, but you get what you pay for. The lowest-grade options can have rooms with broken toilets, rude staff, etc., in addition to just being ugly. The most obvious overnight location is the Caravansarai hotel, which is reasonably priced and beautiful. Less obvious, but perhaps even more rewarding (for visitors who speak Russian or Azeri) are the home stays.

Bed & breakfast and home stays

 * Shaki B&B Association, . This is the least expensive option for staying in Shaki while it is also a great opportunity for interacting with locals. Farhad Azizov is the head of the association; however, he speaks no English so have your Russian or Azeri ready.

Splurge

Cope

 * Haircuts Women's Salon (Qadin Salonu)/Men's Salon (Kişi Salonu) This is a great way to get to know the local culture while also looking better. Make sure to either bring a photo of what you want your hair to look like or have your Azeri ready. 1-3 manat.

Connect

 * Internet cafes in Azerbaijan are called "internet klubs" and they are found throughout the city of Shaki. The best internet klub is either in the central post office or across the street from the post office. Pay 0.4 manat per hour.
 * Azerbaijan Post locations are dispersed throughout the city of Shaki, but the most obvious one is right on the main square. A typical international letter/stamp combination costs 0.8 manat.

Emergency contact numbers

The city hospital is near the center of Shaki, right across the street from the Drama Theater.

You must speak Azeri, Russian, or Turkish to communicate your needs. It would be a good idea to memorize key phrases before coming to Azerbaijan — see the Talk section for phrasebooks.

Safety tips

 * Pack a flashlight (especially in fall-spring) as the streets are not always well lit and power cuts are common.
 * Restrict your travel outside of the city to the day time, unless taking a night train. The roads can be treacherous at night due to unseen potholes and dimly lit cars.

Onward

 * Head north through Qax and its Ilisu recreation area, Zaqatala, and Balakan and then cross the border to Georgia at Lagodekhi.
 * Take the Ganja bus and tour Azerbaijan's second biggest city.
 * Head back through Oguz—and see the waterfalls on your way—to Baku.

title: Sheki