text:
Jökulsárlón

Jökulsárlón is a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland where you can take boat tours to see the ever-changing ice formations. It is part of Vatnajökull National Park.

Understand
Jökulsárlón literally means "glacier lagoon" (Jökull - glacier, lón - lagoon). At the time when first settlers arrived in Iceland, the edge of Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet glacier of the great glacier Vatnajökull, is thought to have been further north than it is now. The climate began to cool in about the year 1200, the cold spell reaching a peak in the period 1600-1900, which is sometimes known as the "Little Ice Age". As a result the glacier advanced until about 1890, reaching a point only about from the coast at Jökulsá river. The eastern part of the glacier eroded the sediments of Breiðamerkursandur to a depth of up to 300 m below sea level, the sediment being carried forward by the river Jökulsá. Without the river the glacier could not have eroded such a deep basin, because it is the river that carries the sediment to the sea.

The warm period from 1920 to 1965 caused great changes in Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. It retreated very quickly, leaving a lagoon up to 190 m deep where the glacier snout had been, and several kilometres of glacial moraines were exposed on both sides of the lagoon. The lagoon grew from in 1975 to  in 1998. Large blocks of ice break off the edge of the glacier, which is about 30 m high, keeping the lagoon stocked with icebergs.

The lagoon, when frozen, was used in the 2002 James Bond film, Die Another Day for a BMW chase scene.

Landscape
The white cap of Breiðamerkurjökull glacier dominates the lagoon and its icebergs. Jökulsárlón is separated from the sea by only a short distance, and the combined action of the glacier, the river that empties from the lake, and the ocean may eventually transform it into an inlet of the sea. There are plans to prevent this from happening, since the only road in the area passes over the narrow isthmus.

Climate
The weather is fairly temperate year round around Jökulsárlón but one should bring a waterproof winter coat and wear waterproof shoes. During the winter it may be cold, windy, and rainy so winter weather clothing is advisable. During summer, a lightly insulated jacket may make an extended time viewing the lagoon more enjoyable.

Fauna
Seals can frequently be observed swimming in the lagoon or resting on the shores or icebergs. Shoals, herring and capelan are brought into the lagoon by tidal currents and become pray to the birds. In the summertime skuas, big seabirds, nest on around the lake. In the protective mode they occasionally don't hesitate to attack people.

Get in
Jökulsárlón is on the edge of the National Highway 1 so very accessible if you stop on the side of the road. The small office that offers boat trips is on the east side of the arch bridge that crosses the discharge from the lagoon.

Fees and permits
As with all natural attractions in Iceland, there is no entrance fee.

Getting around Iceland is rather easy, since there are few roads. Because Jokulsarlon lies along the major ring road it is easily accessed. The two best ways are (1) rent a car from Reykjavik, or (2) rely on the highly efficient, very punctual public bus that will happily drop you off for as long as you like. Car rentals in Iceland tend to be very expensive (well in excess of US$150 per day for a compact Suzuki SUV), but the public national transit system is outstanding. Buses can be taken virtually anywhere; take one to Jokulsarlon, stay for a few hours, then catch another headed in either direction along the ring road.

See

 * Jokulsarlon Lagoon - The lagoon is easily accessible from the large parking area on the east side of the lagoon. A small hill by the office offers a nice view of the lagoon.  Another viewpoint with a smaller parking area is on the west side of the lagoon.  This viewpoint is slightly elevated above the lagoon.
 * Ice on the beach - In addition to viewing the lagoon, consider visiting the beach to see ice that has washed up on the shore. On either side, east and west, of the bridge over the discharge from the lagoon there are tracks to parking areas a few hundred meters from the road.  During the winter, the beach on the east side of the bridge provides the best vantage point for sunrise.  The beach on the west side of the bridge is oriented southwest and aligns nicely for sunset.

Do
There is a small office next to the lagoon that runs trips into the lagoon and amongst the icebergs from 1 May to 15 November.
 * Jeep trips drive up onto portions of the ice cap.
 * Jeep trips drive up onto portions of the ice cap.
 * Jeep trips drive up onto portions of the ice cap.

Eat
The small office next to the lagoon offers coffee, hot chocolate, soup, hotdogs, and cakes.

Sleep
There is no accommodation at the lagoon itself but there are several hostels and other accommodations in the surrounding area. There is also accommodation at Höfn, east.

Stay safe
Be aware of possible "sneaker waves" by the beach area. Keep an eye out for the heavy rogue waves that can sweep someone to sea.

Go next
Jökulsárlón is accessible by car and is located on the Ring Road (Route 1) between Höfn and Skaftafell National Park in Southeastern Iceland. The lagoon is about from Skaftafell (but can take an hour) or  from Höfn.

After visiting Jökulsárlón, you can travel to Skaftafell National Park and hike the glaciers.

title: Jökulsárlón


text:
Jönköping

Jönköping is by many Swedes referred to as the Jerusalem of Sweden - this is due to the town's many churches. The city is on the southern end of Sweden's second largest lake, Vättern. Jönköping also has two smaller lakes of its own, Munksjön ('The Monk Lake') and Rocksjön ('The Rock Lake'). It is Sweden's 10th largest municipality with about 136,000 inhabitants (2017).

By plane
The closest major airport is Gothenburg's Landvetter, about 120 km to the west. It has flights from most major European cities and is served by some budget airlines as well.

If you don't mind sitting in a bus for a longer time, budget airlines fly from Skavsta airport in Nyköping (which also serves Stockholm). From the bus station, Swebus operates several buses daily; the journey takes three hours.

By train
Jönköping is surprisingly underserved by rail for a city of its size. There are no direct SJ trains from either Stockholm and Malmö and only slower regional trains from Gothenburg. In general a change of trains is required in either Skövde or Nässjö. There are plenty of regional trains from other cities in Småland however.

Get around
The city centre is small and very walkable. In general the city is very pedestrian- and bike-friendly. A good starting point for discovering Jönköping is its central station, Jönköping Resecentrum, where trains and buses to and from other cities depart and arrive. The station is connected with Juneporten, which is the place where all the inner-city buses leave. Bus tickets within the city cost 20 kr and 16 kr flat rate, during peak and off-peak respectively. Young people and children usually get discounts. The last inner-city bus usually leaves around midnight on weekdays, so if you plan on traveling late be prepared to take a taxi which can be rather expensive. On weekends you may be able to catch a bus up until two in the morning, but check the schedules in advance on the regional traffic office homepage, Jönköpings Länstrafik.

See

 * The city also has a harbour with a pier. This harbour is quite popular during summertime - often you may find people eating ice cream there and enjoying a beer at the harbour's bar.
 * The city also has a harbour with a pier. This harbour is quite popular during summertime - often you may find people eating ice cream there and enjoying a beer at the harbour's bar.
 * The city also has a harbour with a pier. This harbour is quite popular during summertime - often you may find people eating ice cream there and enjoying a beer at the harbour's bar.
 * The city also has a harbour with a pier. This harbour is quite popular during summertime - often you may find people eating ice cream there and enjoying a beer at the harbour's bar.
 * The city also has a harbour with a pier. This harbour is quite popular during summertime - often you may find people eating ice cream there and enjoying a beer at the harbour's bar.

Do

 * The beach. The beach of Lake Vättern is one of Jönköping's prides. During summertime it is an excellent place to go swimming or playing volleyball.

Buy
The largest shopping center in Jönköping is Asecs. In Asecs you can find everything from hairdressers to clothing and furniture, like the Swedish company IKEA. There are also several electronic companies, computer store chains and sports shops in this area.

The center of Jönköping is divided into two parts, the east (Östra Centrum) and the west (Västra Centrum).

The eastern part contains the biggest shopping street in the city with 200 shops that are scattered over a small pedestrian-friendly area.

The western part is considered to be the exclusive part of Jönköping. Many administrations and authorities has got their offices here and Jönköping University allures many students. Most of the taverns and clubs in Jönköping lies here and of course there are many cafes where you can enjoy the Swedish fika.

Go next

 * Habo Kyrka (Habo Church) lies several kilometers northwest of Jönköping, just off the road to Falköping. It's a small frame church whose interior is decorated with peasant folk art depicting biblical scenes.
 * Gränna is the hometown of the peppermint rock candy. One can also take the boat from here to get to the island of "Visingsö".
 * Taberg, interesting mountain just south of Jönköping. Called the miracle in Småland by Carl von Linné.
 * Visingsö is an island in lake Vättern, not far from Jönköping. It has a total area of 24 km² and its sights include its herb garden, the old castle ruins and going on a tour through the island by horse buggy. One gets out to the island by first getting to the town of Gränna to which one can take the local bus. After that you leave from Gränna on a boat which departs for Visingsö every hour or so.
 * 60 km east of Jönköping lies the village of Eksjö. It is a town that has been able to preserve many wooden buildings in the center. Most of these houses are built around quiet courtyards. One house is now a museum where you can see how a well-off family lived around 1900.
 * Outside of Eksjö there is a nature reserve were you can walk through a small canyon, the Skurugata, and then on up the hilltop, the Skuruhatt. The trail that takes past both is only 4 km long, but beware not to wander of onto the longer hiking trails that cross it. Walking through the Skurugata is a little adventurous, especially if it rains and the rocks become slippery. From the Skuruhatt you can see the surrounding countryside and forests.

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

title: Jönköping


text:
Jūrmala

Jūrmala is a resort town in Latvia. It claims to have the longest beach in Northern Europe.

Understand
Jurmala, the pearl of Latvia, is the largest resort town in the Baltic. No other place has beaches with tens of kilometres of such white, fine sand. Nowhere else do the pines on the dunes murmur so restfully. And the air is full of ozone and sea freshness. Right behind the dunes are the wooden houses so characteristic of Jurmala, with their finely divided window, verandas and rooftop structures. Beside them are contemporary buildings, blending admirably into the landscape.

Jurmala is a city on the crest of a wave. A wave of achievement, of hope, of love and success. The waves in the Gulf of Riga, with their white crest, are calm and inviting only in the summer. In the autumn storms, they grow harsh and impose their own rhythm. Just as varied as the sea is life in the different parts of the town along its whole 33 km length, between the Lielupe, one of Latvia's major rivers, and the Gulf of Riga. At the narrowest spot, a distance of only 300 metres separates the river from the sea.

The town has many hotels and guest houses, catering for widest range of tastes. There are pools with seawater and mineral water. Tennis courts and yacht clubs. Jurmala offers diverse cultural, recreation and sporting activities. Favourites are the traditional festivities — the Jomas Street Festival, and the Fishermen's Festival, both held in the middle of summer, in July. For unforgettable moments, take a summer ferry trip down the River Lielupe. The town's history, along with people well known in Latvia and the world, is seen in six museums, including one of Latvia's few open-air museums. By walking the nature trails, you can acquaint yourself at leisure with the outstanding relief, flora and fauna.

Jurmala is beautiful and interesting at any season of the year, but most visitors arrive in the summer months, from June to August. The town is gradually developing into a venue for conferences and meetings, where guests arrive throughout the year.

Certainly, every tourist and visitor is welcome, assured of a hospitable reception in Jurmala. Every moment in Jurmala provides energy and joy of life to last a long time, and all who come will long to return again and again.

Get in
1188.lv provides up-to-date bus and train schedules, route planner and prices.

By train
Jūrmala is served by suburban trains on the Riga-Tukums route, leaving approximately every 30 minutes from Riga Central Station (€2, 30 minutes). Jūrmala has several stations, but Majori is the most central.

By car
A fee of €2 is charged for entering the Jūrmala area by car. Entry is monitored with cameras and vehicles entering the area without a valid ticket will be fined €70.

By plane
The closest airport is located in Riga. From there, you can take minibus line 241 to Imanta railway station (10 minutes, €0.70), and continue by suburban train to Majori station in central Jurmala (15 minutes, €2).

A direct taxi ride between Jurmala and the airport should cost around €25.

See
The city is characterized by its wood architecture with gingerbread accents, cottage-style buildings, and resorts. Wood architecture is its most outstanding feature. Only Lielupe, Pumpuri, Melluži, Vaivari and Sloka have saved their wood train station buildings. was built on the site of the once-famous Eidenburg amphitheater where the Eidenburg resort was opened in 1897. Now it is the most popular concert venue where international stars often perform.

The most notable recreation area was (Horna dārzs), home to the first movie showing in Jūrmala and the first Latvian symphonic music performance. Majori Guesthouse was built next to Horn Gardens. Another historical building is Emīlija Rācene's Swimming Facility, built from 1911 to 1916 and was used as a medical institution. The (Marienbades nams) built in 1870 is located on the border of Dubulti and Majori and was once an expansive health and rest centre, but has experienced several fires.

Jūrmala is also the home to Latvia's only riding therapy center, the. Riding was popular pastime in Jūrmala during the late 19th century, and people rode through the streets as well as on the beach. Later, riding on the beach was prohibited. houses examples of life as it once was in the fishing villages along the coast. Characteristic 19th century coastal fishing homestead includes the family home, barn, fish smoke house, sauna and other buildings. A rope-making workshop can be visited as well.

Do
The beaches in Jurmala are amazing, with breathtaking views of the bay as well as pine forests along the coastline. It is most famous for the amber production due to the unique landscape. There are several world renowned spas in Jurmala.

Buy
Jomas iela has boutiques and tourist-oriented shops.

Eat
Numerous high-priced restaurant exist in Jūrmala. You will not have troubles finding one.

Go next

 * Tukums – A town some 70 km west of Riga. Not that exciting, but known for its affinity with roses and the Rose Festival, as well as the nearby Cinevilla, a dummy city and now theme park.
 * The Great Ķemeri Moorland – Ķemeri is the third largest national park in Latvia, and popular for its extensive moorland, moorland lakes, a wooden footbridge, viewing tower, bird-watching, moss, cranberries, fierce plants.
 * Liepāja and Ventspils – If you prefer a less crowded and even whiter and softer sandy beach, go to these Western Latvian cities. They offer historic sights, a lovely city centre and seaside parks.

title: Jūrmala


text:
Jebil National Park

Jebil National Park is in Tunisia.

Understand

Park Jebil is not prepared to host tourists. This is more a reservation to protect the local population of dorcas gazelle and addax from becoming extinct. Hunting gazelle and antelope is a popular pastime among the male population in that area.

A little museum is being prepared in the building next to the main gate, but so far (Dec 2011) access is subject of negotiation with the caretakers.

Landscape
Barren desert.

Flora and fauna
Dorcas gazelle and addax in enclosures within the park near the main gate.

Get in
If you come to the main gate, just ask nicely.

Fees and permits
Since no visitors are allowed officially, none. But the caretakers are thankful for every little contribution.

title: Jebil National Park


text:
Jedburgh

Jedburgh (pronounced "Jed-bur-uh") is a town in the Scottish Borders, ten miles north of the border with England. It's best known for its ruined abbey, while the countryside around is dotted with turrets and towerhouses from the medieval days of banditry.

Understand
In 2020 Jedburgh had a population of 3840: famous people from here include Mary Somerville (1780-1872) the scientist, David Brewster (1781-1868) optical scientist and inventor of the kaleidosope, and Greig Laidlaw (b 1985) the rugby player.

Visitor information

 * Jedburgh Visitor information website

By car
Jedburgh is on the A68 which links Edinburgh to northeast England via a scenic, switchback road over the hills. The summit and border at Carter Bar is passable in all but the worst weather. If it's unsafe, the workaround is the low-level route from Newcastle via Wooler, Coldstream and Kelso.

Parking

 * Canongate Car Park - free - 140 spaces just as you turn off the A68 into town centre along Canon Gate. It is suitable for cars and camper vans (no overnight) and has three EV charging spaces. There are public toilets.
 * Friars Burn - free - 38 parking spaces for cars just behind the high street accessed from Friars Gate which is a narrow road.
 * Lothian Park - free - 95 spaces with room for cars coaches and HGVs next to the abbey and with a good view of it, you can also walk to the river and there is a cafe and public toilets.
 * Murray's Green - free - 20 car spaces directly opposite the abbey and next to the Tourist Information centre.
 * Jedburgh Woolen Mill - At the north end of town there are large car parks by the Jedburgh Woolen Mill.

By bus
Buses are frequent along the main transport corridor Galashiels - Tweedbank - Melrose - Newton St Boswells - Jedburgh.

Borders Bus 68 runs hourly from Galashiels via Kingsknowes (for Abbotsford), Tweedbank (for trains from Edinburgh), Melrose and St Boswells (for Dryburgh Abbey), taking just under an hour to Jedburgh.

Borders Bus 51 runs every two hours daily from Edinburgh along the A68, via Dalkeith, Lauder (for Thirlestane Castle) and Earlston to St Boswells, where you change for Bus 68. It's quicker from Edinburgh to take the train to Tweedbank and change.

Peter Hogg Bus 131 runs Monday to Saturday to Jedburgh along A68 / A696 from Otterburn, Newcastle Airport and Newcastle. It runs south in the morning and returns north to Jedburgh early afternoon.

Hogg Bus 20 runs every hour or two from Kelso to Jedburgh (25 min) and continues to Hawick (30 min).

The main bus halt, it is too small to call it a station, is directly next to Canongate car park.

By bike
Cycling is good for the back roads, although the hills rise steeply from the Jed Valley. There is no cycle repair shop, but the hardware store may have enough for basic repairs.

By foot
If you have reasonable fitness, you can walk to the main attractions. The walking is mostly flat, pavements are plentiful, and car speed is limited to 20mph.

By taxi
Peter Hogg the bus operator also runs taxis, +44 1835 863755.

In town

 * Old and Trinity Church south across the main road from the abbey was the replacement of 1875. This was the mainstream Church of Scotland, but there were great schisms and sects and separate churches in that era; they made up and re-united in 2007.
 * Canongate Bridge is a charming 16th-century bridge over Jed Water mid-town. It's now just a footpath, but it was the main road into town until about 1800.
 * Jedburgh Library was one of many endowed by philanthropist tycoon Andrew Carnegie. The first in Jedburgh was on High St from 1894, then it re-located to this larger building from 1900.
 * Greyfriars Garden on The Friars a block west of High St is on the site of the 15th century Franciscan Friary. It's been restored as a monastic garden of that time.
 * Canongate Bridge is a charming 16th-century bridge over Jed Water mid-town. It's now just a footpath, but it was the main road into town until about 1800.
 * Jedburgh Library was one of many endowed by philanthropist tycoon Andrew Carnegie. The first in Jedburgh was on High St from 1894, then it re-located to this larger building from 1900.
 * Greyfriars Garden on The Friars a block west of High St is on the site of the 15th century Franciscan Friary. It's been restored as a monastic garden of that time.

Nearby

 * on A698 west is the stump of a 15th-century towerhouse. There's nowhere to park nearby.
 * north of the Teviot is a 16th-century peel tower. It was renovated in 2013 and is private property — you maybe don't want the slobbery traditional greeting that gave rise to the name.
 * Barnhills Tower half a mile east is of similar date but well ruined.
 * Ancrum Caves west of Monteviot were etched out of a bluff for Border thieves to hide their plunder. They've become eroded by landslip and are unsafe to approach.
 * is seen from A68 on the ridge north of Liliardsedge — that's probably the closest you'll view it as there's nowhere to park. It was built in 1864 for General Sir Thomas Monteath Douglas, who defended Jalalabad in the First Anglo-Afghan War of 1842.
 * Ancrum Caves west of Monteviot were etched out of a bluff for Border thieves to hide their plunder. They've become eroded by landslip and are unsafe to approach.
 * is seen from A68 on the ridge north of Liliardsedge — that's probably the closest you'll view it as there's nowhere to park. It was built in 1864 for General Sir Thomas Monteath Douglas, who defended Jalalabad in the First Anglo-Afghan War of 1842.
 * towards Kelso is the ruin of a 15th-century L-plan tower house. Its owners the Kerrs were notorious border bandits, but they went upmarket in 1650, becoming Dukes of Roxburghe, moving to Floors Castle and abandoning Cessford.
 * is from the 17th century and still in use. The tiny village was on the main road 1900 years ago: the Roman Dere Street crossed the Cheviots 5 miles east of the modern A68 route. You'll need an archaeologist's eye to make out Pennymuir Camp south towards the crest. This was a Roman "marching camp", not intended as a permanent structure.
 * is 500 years old and looks it, like a Struldbrugg beauty queen held together by masonry and metal beams. It's one of the last survivors of the Caledonian primeval forest. But the sandstone bluffs along the nearby riverbank show how relatively young that tree is: the strata are vertical, overlain by horizontal. The geologist James Hutton (1726-97) realised that this "unconformity" couldn't be the result of simple sedimentation. Some vast gradual upheaval had occurred, and the earth must be much older than had been supposed.
 * on A68 is the border with England. There's a large layby, and in summer ice-cream and burger vans and busking bagpipers greet the coach tours. The view south into Northumbria is a lonely moorland, north is better with the quiltwork of forests and fields, and triple-peaked Eildon hills. The ridge blocks the view west. East you look over the long spine of border hills to The Cheviot, bleak and often cloud-wreathed. See Kirk Yetholm if you want to climb it or embark on the Pennine Way.
 * on A68 is the border with England. There's a large layby, and in summer ice-cream and burger vans and busking bagpipers greet the coach tours. The view south into Northumbria is a lonely moorland, north is better with the quiltwork of forests and fields, and triple-peaked Eildon hills. The ridge blocks the view west. East you look over the long spine of border hills to The Cheviot, bleak and often cloud-wreathed. See Kirk Yetholm if you want to climb it or embark on the Pennine Way.

Do

 * Golf: Jedburgh GC is a mile southwest on B6538. White tees 5819 yards, par 69, visitor day ticket £40.
 * Mounthooley driving range is on A698 two miles north of town. It's open daily 8AM-8PM.
 * Mounthooley driving range is on A698 two miles north of town. It's open daily 8AM-8PM.

 * Rugby: Jed-Forest RFC were relegated in 2024 and now play rugby union in National League Division 1, the amateur second tier in Scotland. Their home ground is Riverside Park on A68 at the north edge of town.
 * Keep fit: Laidlaw Memorial Pool and Fitness Centre is on Oxnam Rd opposite Old & Trinity Church, open M-F 6AM-8PM, Sa 8AM-noon, Su 9AM-3PM.

Events

 * Borders Rally is off-road car racing along the forest trails of the Cheviot hills. Flag-off and finish line are in town, see their website for spectator areas, but race marshalling is based in Newton St Boswells. It's held in May, with the next probably on 3 May 2025, tbc.
 * Jedforest Sevens are held in May, with the next probably on Sa 10 May 2025, tbc.
 * Jethart Callant's Festival is a series of civic events and horse-rides "beating the bounds" in summer, culminating in a mass ride from Jedburgh in July - this is next held on 12 July 2024.
 * EdgeFest is a music event at Liiliardsedge Caravan Park on A68 north towards Melrose, with the next on 31 Aug - 1 Sep 2024.
 * Three Peaks Ultra Marathon is run in late October, with the next probably on 26 Oct 20244, tbc.

Buy

 * Co-op Food is north end of High St, open daily 7AM-10PM. Most residents do their big supermarket shop in Galashiels or Kelso.
 * Edinburgh Woollen Mill is north end of town on the main road, open daily 10AM-5:30PM.

Eat

 * High St has Naked Sourdough Cafe, Capon Tree (below), Taj Tandoori, Jed Baguettes, Simply Scottish, Ozkan's Grill and Forester's Arms (below).

Drink

 * Town pubs are Carter's Rest, Belter's Bar (within Forester's, see Eat), Canon, Spread Eagle Hotel (see Sleep) and Railway Tavern.
 * Kelso Gin is distilled at Ancrum, two miles north on B6400 towards Nisbet. No tours.
 * Born in Scotland is a brewery, gin micro-distillery and cafe / restaurant at Lanton Mill Cottage TD8 6ST. It's off A698 between Jedburgh and Hawick and open daily 10AM-5PM; lunch served noon-3PM. They also have outlet shops at Tweedbank and Galashiels railway stations.

Sleep

 * B&Bs are plentiful but in 2022 most remain closed.
 * B&Bs are plentiful but in 2022 most remain closed.
 * B&Bs are plentiful but in 2022 most remain closed.

Connect
Jedburgh has a 4G signal from all UK carriers. As of April 2022, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * A few miles north up A68 is Melrose and St Boswells / Dryburgh, with two ruined abbeys and the grand Abbotsford House. Further north, cross Soutra Moor and head for Edinburgh.
 * Branch northeast on A698 to Kelso, with another abbey (so that's your full set of four) and Floors Castle. Then follow the border via Coldstream, Norham Castle and Paxton House to Berwick-upon-Tweed.
 * Take A698 west to Hawick, and bimble along A7 the old road between Edinburgh and Carlisle.
 * Roads south cross into England, the main route being A68 / A696 towards Newcastle. A scenic minor road B6357 branches off just south of town, wandering via Bonchester Bridge and Newcastleton eventually to meet A7 at Canonbie.

title: Jedburgh


text:
Jeddah

Jeddah (Arabic: جدّة, also spelled Jiddah) is on the Red Sea in western Saudi Arabia. It is the kingdom's second largest city, with a population of approximately 3,400,000, and a major commercial center in the country. Jeddah is also the main entry point, either by air or sea, for pilgrims making the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, the two most sacred cities of Islam. Both are a few hours inland from Jeddah.

The historic Jeddah has been inscribed to the World Heritage list since 2014.

Culturally, Jeddah is generally regarded as being slightly more liberal than the capital Riyadh.

Understand
Jeddah has been a port and trading city for centuries, which is reflected in its cosmopolitan mix of inhabitants. Today, it is a major commercial center in Saudi Arabia. It also has many government offices. Jeddah is known in the kingdom for its shopping districts, restaurants and cafes. It also hosts the Jeddah Corniche (waterfront area), which is the largest in the Kingdom with a great bunch of hotels, beaches and resorts clustered around it.

To the north of the city, a string of beach resort compounds are off-limits to the mutawwa (religious police) and are known as party spots where many of the social mores of the rest of the country are flouted, especially by rich, liberal families from Jeddah.

Climate
The climate is dry and hot. The best time to visit is on January and February, when it is the least hot.

The sea water becomes quite hot from July to October.

Orientation
Jeddah is a huge city that sprawls along the coast of the Red Sea, connected together by the Corniche, a seaside avenue full of bizarre sculptures and nearly 30 km long. The old city or al-Balad, on the southern side of modern Jeddah, is a crumbling but fascinating warren of multi-story houses made from coral. The main thoroughfare Medina Road starts from the northern side of al-Balad and runs all the way to the city.

South terminal

 * Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia). All Saudi airlines use this facility, including domestic services. Nas Air, a privately-owned Saudi low-cost carrier, also operates domestic and some international flights to and from this terminal. Air France, Korean Air, and Kenya Airways, being part of the SkyTeam alliance along with Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), also operate flights to and from this terminal.

North terminal
Used by all other international flights.

 * Pakistan International Airlines has flights from all major cities of Pakistan to and from Jeddah.

Hajj terminals
There are also two special terminals, used exclusively for Hajj pilgrims heading directly to Mecca, which are basically enormous tents of fiberglass fabric on reinforced concrete poles and steel cables. Driving to the normal non-Hajj terminal, you pass between the two. In season, this lets you admire long rows of large aircraft parked alongside the Hajj terminals.

Connections to the city
A taxi to the city from either will cost around SR50, so agree on the fare before you set off.

By bus
National bus company SAPTCO runs buses from almost all cities and larger towns to Jeddah as well as from a number of international destinations such as Amman and Cairo. However, make sure before booking your seat that you don't have a "by air only" entry visa. Several smaller companies runs long-distance buses too. While there are plenty of "VIP" buses with comfortable seats, journey times are grueling. Travel time from for example Amman is up to 18 hours.

By ferry
Jeddah is one of the major ports along the Red Sea and cargo ships arrive here from all over the world with plenty of choices for travellers, too. Al-Blagha is one of the largest shipping companies and operates several ferry routes, most notable a once-weekly service from Port Suez taking 42 hours (1st/2nd/3rd class SR845/695/395, car from SR850). There's also a service from Suakin, 50 km south of Port Sudan, three times a week with journey time of 10 hours (1st/2nd/3rd SR470/370/300, car from SR460). A more irregular ferry service is available from Al Hudayda in Yemen.

Ferries fill up quick during high season, meaning Hajj and Ramadan, so book early.

By train
A high-speed railway linking Jeddah with Mecca and Medina via King Abdullah Economic City opened in 2018. These trains also serve Jeddah (Naseem) and King Abdulaziz International Airport.

By taxi
Many of the hotels chains have a "water taxi" or a small minivan that will take you to the mall and main shopping areas. Taxis are very inexpensive, with most 10-minute rides costing about SR10-20. There are two types of taxis: one is yellow and will have a sign that says, simply, TAXI. They are usually cheaper, but a little "rougher" on the inside and out and usually are not air conditioned. But they are very rare in Jeddah now. Also, most of them are now air-conditioned new cars. If you're looking for better quality, opt for the white "Limousine" taxis which are of better quality. There is a rule in KSA that a Limousine must not be older than 5 years. So, you find all the new cars in Limousines. Limousine taxis are about $1–3 more expensive. There are also "unlicensed" taxis, which are normal cars (usually a Toyota Camry) without the "TAXI" sign. Those taxis are cheaper than "Limousines" but are not legal. Police take strict actions against such taxis, so to avoid them. Normally they honk or flash lights when they see you standing in street (you can't recognize them as they're normal cars).

It can be cheaper to negotiate a fixed price than to use the meter. This requires some experience with Jeddah and its streets. Sometimes, a taxi driver will pretend to be "lost" as a pretext to turn on the meter or make you pay extra in exchange for his "lost time". Whatever the situation, never consent to pay more than the price you agreed on before the beginning of the ride. Also, some Saudi drivers ask for a higher price and don't treat clients very well, so look for Indian or Pakistani drivers.

Many rental agencies like Avis or Budget will rent you a 2008 mid-size car for the price of SR100-140 per day. You'll also find a bargain when it comes to fuel, as Saudi Arabia has some of the cheapest petrol prices in the world. The streets are wide and signs are written in both Arabic and English. Look for maps in the libraries or big supermarkets.

By bus
Buses are not a commonly-used means of transportation in Jeddah even though you can ride one for SR1-2 from certain main streets to Albalad (downtown). It is, however, a very interesting way to enjoy traditional Arab music and the sound of people mixing together all while enjoying sights during the ride. Smaller buses are mostly private so the owner is responsible for cleanliness. Larger buses are provided by the government, which are big and clean but don't follow a schedule, so consider using the smaller buses if you're on a specific timetable.

By boat
Boats are not particularly a means of transportation, but rather a way to enjoy the views of the Red Sea. You can catch boats in Obhur north of Jeddah at the marina; a one hour ride in a small boat is around SR200 (US$55).

Al-Balad (Old Town)
Jeddah's top sight is al-Balad, or the old town, which is a. The city wall has long since been torn down, but the old gates still mark where it once stood. Within you'll find a warren of ancient buildings and traditional souqs (markets), and the teetering, multistory coral houses that Jeddah is famous for. Unfortunately, coral is not a very durable building material, and most of the buildings are in disrepair. Spend time wandering around the old city and get lost in the seemingly endless souks. You will find yourself in another world and entirely 'in' the world, surrounded by people from all over the Arab world, Asia and Africa.

Other
The Jeddah Corniche offers spectacular views of the Red Sea. Check out the main shopping street on Tahliya for interesting wares, and if you're looking for good quality gold, try the Gold Souq where you can bargain for 18k and 24k gold by weight. The King Fahd Fountain is not only the tallest water fountain in Jeddah, but also the world.

Do

 * or Formula One and other motor races are hosted at the Ash Shati track, north of the city near the airport. The next F1 is 18-20 April 2025; at 6175 m it's the longest street race in the calendar.

Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a major draw for expats in the Kingdom, although the Saudis themselves seem oblivious to the treasures that await offshore.

Because of Jeddah's location on the Red Sea, the flora and fauna are quite similar to what you'd see on Egypt's Red Sea Coast or off the Sinai Peninsula, only minus all the tourists.

Visibility can be spectacular (30-40m is common) and the corals are virtually untouched. There are plenty of interesting sites to explore like the Chicken Wreck, a boat carrying tons of frozen chicken that hit the reef and sunk at a depth of 10-18m. Most of the better dive sites are around one hour out to sea by speed boat.

The Red Sea gets chilly in the winter, with water temperatures dropping to 22°C, so you'll want to use a 5 mm wetsuit with hood. In summer, temperatures climb up to a much more balmy 29°C, and 3mm shorty or 1 mm diveskin is plenty.

Work
There are many places to find work in Jeddah and jobs are plentiful, but unemployment among Saudi nationals remains high, especially among the youth population. One must obtain a visa to work in Saudi Arabia and the complicated process can only begin with a sponsorship from a company or individual already located in the Kingdom. Western expats cannot simply arrive in Saudi Arabia and then look for employment, and Western women will experience great challenges in finding employment.

Buy
There are a number of shopping malls in Jeddah.

Eat
Jeddah is full of restaurants with almost every cuisine imaginable and eating out is part of the city's culture. Some of the restaurants have separate sections for single men and for families. Dating is theoretically forbidden but widely practiced, and most restaurants will allow a couple into the family section without question. All businesses close for prayer for about half an hour at noon and at sunset. They close again an hour after sunset for about 45 minutes. If you like to eat early, you can often stay in a restaurant during prayer time. Saudis tend to eat late, well after the evening prayer.

The standard cheap meal is the shawarma - giant layers of beef or chicken turning on a vertical spit. Thin slices are cut off and served with vegetables, garlic, and sauce in pita bread. You can also find a few falafel shops or eat at boofias (cornershops). Another thing that is very cheap is Homus, which is the paste of white chickpeas mixed with olive oil, and is very tasty. Try the Filipino Souk near Saudia City. Ask for the Pakistani area Kababish. There's a group of shops and restaurants with very low prices. Most of the American Fast Food franchises can be found in Jeddah, including McDonald's, Applebee's, Subway, and numerous others.

Drink
Like all Saudi Arabian cities, you aren't going to find much nightlife revolving around alcohol in Jeddah, as the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol are illegal throughout the kingdom. What you should be able to find are shisha cafes and a large variety of coffee shops such as:, , Starbucks and Costa Coffee. Non-alcoholic beer is available in restaurants as are non-alcoholic cocktails and other drinks. Alcoholic drinks are usually served in private compounds and beaches for Westerners, where Saudis are usually not allowed in.

Sleep
Outside Hajj season, hotels in Jeddah are generally cheaper than those in Riyadh. The usual international chains are well represented.

Stay safe
While not as strict as Riyadh, it is recommended that you follow the various safety tips in Saudi Arabia article to stay out of trouble.

Perhaps the biggest danger you'll face is the extreme, scorching heat. Temperatures can reach as high as in the summers. Be sure to hydrate often and wear appropriate clothing to deal with the heat.

Natural disasters
Floods are not unusual in Jeddah, and they can be both violent and destructive, mainly because the city lacks the necessary infrastructure to protect itself against floods.

Refer to the various tips in the Flash floods article if the city experiences flooding.

Connect
Most shopping malls have Internet cafes. Coffee places such as Costa Coffee, StarBucks Coffee, Barnies, Second Cup and many more provide WiFi access to customers.

Consulates

 * 🇩🇿 Algeria
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * 🇮🇩 Indonesia
 * 🇵🇰 Pakistan
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * UK
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
 * 🇾🇪 Yemen

Go next

 * Mecca (non-Muslims are not allowed in)
 * Riyadh - The capital of Saudi Arabia
 * Khobar

title: Jeddah


text:
Jefferson

There is more than one place called Jefferson:

United States of America

 * Jefferson (Colorado)
 * Jefferson (Georgia)
 * Jefferson (Iowa)
 * Jefferson (Louisiana)
 * Jefferson (Maine)
 * Jefferson (Maryland)
 * Jefferson (New Hampshire)
 * Jefferson (New York)
 * Jefferson (North Carolina)
 * Jefferson (Ohio)
 * Jefferson (Oregon)
 * Jefferson (South Dakota)
 * Jefferson (Texas)
 * Jefferson (West Virginia)
 * Jefferson (Wisconsin)

title: Jefferson


text:
Jefferson (Maine)

Jefferson  is a city in the Mid Coast region of Maine.

Understand
Jefferson is a small town with a small close knit group of people. All of the locals know each other by first and last name because of the fact that there really aren't that many people here. Everybody is very friendly though. Any of the locals will strike up a conversation with you and help you with anything you need. It's a very relaxing town and it's a good place to get away from the city buzz.

By plane
The two largest and nearest airports are the Portland International Jetport which are located in Portland, Maine. If you're flying from overseas, this is the place that you would land. Portland is about an hour and a half away from Jefferson. If you're flying from a more local place, or choose to take a smaller plane then you would fly into the Augusta State Airport. This is located in Augusta, Maine, which is only about a half hour away from Jefferson.

By car
The best way to get into Jefferson is by car. If you fly in by plane, then you would either be flying into Augusta or Portland as was said above. If you're coming from Augusta, get on to Rt. 17 and follow that right until you get into Jefferson and hit the intersection of Rt. 17 and Rt. 32. Take Rt. 32 and if you follow that it will bring you to the center of the town. If you're coming from Portland you would get on highway 295 North and follow that all the way up to Gardiner. You would then take that exit and get on to Rt. 32 which will take you right into Jefferson.

By boat
Most of Jefferson is on Damariscotta Lake, so if you are coming from a surrounding town then by boat is the perfect way to get there. There are many different boat docks along the shores of Jefferson.

By train
The Amtrak goes to both Portland and to Augusta, which means that you can get to these places from anywhere in the United States. Once you get in by train you would transfer to a car and drive into Jefferson.

Get around
The best way to get around Jefferson is by car. Everywhere you would want to go in Jefferson, you can do by car.

The only other means of travel that would get you around parts of Jefferson is by boat. Since it is on a lake, there are places you can go by shooting across the lake, but you can also get there by car.

See
Since Jefferson is such a small town there really isn't much to see. The only thing worth while to "see" is just the scenery. Since it is located right on the lake it makes for some really nice sunrises and sunsets over the water. Also, since most of the town consists of woods, there are plenty of trees, flowers and ponds to explore if you are an outdoors person.

title: Jefferson (Maine)


text:
Jefferson (Texas)

Jefferson  is a historic town in Marion County, in the Central Piney Woods of east Texas. A center of tourism, Jefferson identifies itself as the "Bed & Breakfast Capital of Texas", and is home to a number of popular attractions.

Understand
Founded in the mid-19th century as a riverport, Jefferson boomed as the furthest point inland that steamboats could reach in Texas. But the rise of the railroads and the draining of the bayous left Jefferson literally and figuratively high and dry. The town all but froze in time after the loss of its economic base, allowing for a beautifully preserved historical district. Walking through the brick-paved commercial streets and the Greek Revival residences is like going back in time to the 1880s.

Get in
U.S. Route 59 passes through Jefferson.

The nearest Amtrak and Greyhound connections are in Marshall, about 15 miles south.

Tours
A prime attraction in Jefferson, catering to a range of interests and energy-levels, whether on foot or by rail, boat, or horse-drawn carriage.

Bed and breakfasts
Befitting its monicker as B&B Capital of Texas, there are more than 20 converted homes in and around Jefferson.

title: Jefferson (Texas)


text:
Jefferson City

Jefferson City is the capital city of Missouri. In 2013, Jefferson City was named America's "Most Beautiful" Small Town by Rand McNally.

Understand

Jefferson City is named for the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was the president responsible for the Louisiana Purchase. Some of the land from that purchase eventually became the State of Missouri.

In 2020, the city was home to 43,000 people, with 150,000 in the metropolitan area.

Tourist information

 * Visit Jefferson City

By car
Jefferson is centrally located in the State of Missouri about half-way between St. Louis and Kansas City along the Missouri River. There are three major highways that run directly through the city: US 50, 54, and 63.

By plane
Jefferson City Memorial Airport, which is across the Missouri River, only serves general aviation.

The closest airport with commercial service is Columbia Regional Airport, from which US Highway 63 goes straight to Jefferson City. American Airlines is the only carrier at the airport, with daily non-stop flights between Columbia and Chicago (ORD) or Dallas (DFW).

The closest full-scale commercial airport is Lambert St. Louis International Airport, about two hours away. It is very easy to get from the St. Louis airport to Jefferson City. Take I-70 west out of St. Louis for about an hour and a half. At this point take US Highway 54 south for about 30 minutes until you reach Jefferson City.

A little further is the Kansas City International Airport, about three hours away.

By train
The Amtrak Station is in the heart of Downtown Jefferson City at 101 Jefferson Street. At the midpoint of the Kansas City to St. Louis route, the Missouri River Runner, there are two departures each direction every day. While a ticket is not needed to board the train, a reservation is. Call 800-USA-Rail or visit Amtrak for reservations and schedule information.

Get around
Most of the attractions are in the heart of Downtown Jefferson City within walking distance of each other.

There is also an extensive greenway with 7.4 miles of paved trails. This is a multi-use greenway and is perfect for walking, running, biking or skating. The greenway now connects via the Missouri River Bike & Pedestrian Bridge to the Katy Trial, one of the nation's longest trail projects (238 miles).

title: Jefferson City


text:
Jefferson County

There's more than one place called Jefferson County:

United States of America

 * Jefferson County (Alabama) - in the Metropolitan (Alabama) region of Alabama
 * Jefferson County (Arkansas)
 * Jefferson County (Colorado) - in the Front Range region of Colorado
 * Jefferson County (Florida)
 * Jefferson County (Georgia)
 * Jefferson County (Idaho)
 * Jefferson County (Illinois)
 * Jefferson County (Indiana)
 * Jefferson County (Iowa)
 * Jefferson County (Kansas)
 * Jefferson County (Kentucky)
 * Jefferson Parish (Louisiana)
 * Jefferson County (Mississippi)
 * Jefferson County (Missouri)
 * Jefferson County (Montana)
 * Jefferson County (Nebraska) - in Eastern Nebraska
 * Jefferson County (New York) - see Watertown (New York) and the Thousand Islands
 * Jefferson County (Ohio)
 * Jefferson County (Oklahoma)
 * Jefferson County (Oregon)
 * Jefferson County (Pennsylvania)
 * Jefferson County (Tennessee)
 * Jefferson County (Texas)
 * Jefferson County (Washington) - in the Olympic Peninsula region of Washington (state)
 * Jefferson County (West Virginia)
 * Jefferson County (Wisconsin)

See also:

 * Jefferson Davis Parish - in Louisiana
 * Jefferson Davis County - in Mississippi

title: Jefferson County


text:
Jefferson Parish

Jefferson Parish is in Louisiana, in the Greater New Orleans region. The parish seat is Gretna, located on the Westbank.

Regions
Locations within Jefferson Parish, like all of the New Orleans metropolitan area, can be conveniently thought of in terms of their relation to the Mississippi River. Locals frequently divide the parish into the Eastbank (on the north-ish side) and the Westbank (on the south-ish side of the river).

Understand
Most of the population of Jefferson Parish are in the communities adjacent to New Orleans and along the Mississippi River. The Parish also includes smaller communities along the bayous and bays stretching south to the Gulf of Mexico.

Get in
Greater New Orleans' main airport, Armstrong International, is in Kenner.

Interstate 10 runs through the Eastbank.

U.S. Highway 90 runs through the Westbank; for much of the distance it has a limited-access elevated freeway down the center, the "Westbank Expressway".

Go next

 * New Orleans
 * Houma

title: Jefferson Parish


text:
Jeffersontown

Jeffersontown is a town located in the Kentucky Derby Region. It is the second largest city in Jefferson County and is part of Louisville Metro.

Get in
Jeffersontown is easily reached by exiting I-64 at Exit 15 (Hurstbourne Pkwy) or Exit 17 (Blankenbaker Pkwy). It can also be reached by taking I-265 to Exit 19 (Billtown Rd) or Exit 23 (Taylorsville Rd, KY 155).

A more scenic route into the town is to travel down Taylorsville Road (KY 155) east about 5 miles from the Watterson Expressway (I-264 - Exit 17 A).

title: Jeffersontown


text:
Jeffersonville

There is more than one place called Jeffersonville:

United States of America

 * Jeffersonville (Georgia) - A town in the state of Georgia.
 * Jeffersonville (Illinois) - A town in the state of Illinois.
 * Jeffersonville (Indiana) - A town in the state of Indiana.
 * Jeffersonville (Kentucky) - A town in the state of Kentucky.
 * Jeffersonville (New York) - A town in the state of New York.
 * Jeffersonville (Ohio) - A town in the state of Ohio.
 * Jeffersonville (Vermont) - A village in the state of Vermont.

title: Jeffersonville


text:
Jeffersonville (Indiana)

Jeffersonville, often called "Jeff" by locals, is the county seat of Clark County in Southern Indiana, located on the opposite side of the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky and connected to Louisville by the Kennedy, Lincoln, and Lewis and Clark Bridges. It has a population of 48,000 (2019).

Get in
Interstate 65, which crosses the river on the John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln Bridges (respectively carrying southbound and northbound traffic), connects Jeffersonville with Louisville and other points between Chicago and Mobile, AL. Interstate 265, with the 2016 opening of the Lewis and Clark Bridge to Kentucky, offers a bypass around the northern end of the city. The 65 and 265 crossings are tolled, with all-electronic tolling (no toll booths). The lowest toll rates are available only to drivers with transponders issued either by the local tolling authority or the multi-state E-ZPass consortium.

Small aircraft can fly into Clark County Airport, 5 miles north in Sellersburg. Passenger jet service is available at Louisville International Airport, 8 miles south off of I-65 and I-264.

Amtrak discontinued service to Jeffersonville and Louisville in 2003.

Get around
The main road through Jeffersonville is 10th St. (formally IN 62). Riverside Dr. and Utica Pk. carry traffic along the Ohio River. Hamburg Pk. runs north-south along the western side of the city. Veterans Pkwy. connects the north side of Jeffersonville with the retail district of Clarksville. Holmans Ln. connects Veterans Pkwy with 10th St. on the east side, where at that point Allison Ln connects 10th with Utica Pk..

Eat

 * Golden Blossom Buffet, Tenth St. & Jefferson Center Way.
 * Golden Blossom Buffet, Tenth St. & Jefferson Center Way.
 * Golden Blossom Buffet, Tenth St. & Jefferson Center Way.
 * Golden Blossom Buffet, Tenth St. & Jefferson Center Way.
 * Golden Blossom Buffet, Tenth St. & Jefferson Center Way.
 * Golden Blossom Buffet, Tenth St. & Jefferson Center Way.

Newspaper

 * The Evening News

Television

 * Indiana 9 Television (Cable 98)

By phone
Most telephone numbers in Jeffersonville, and the rest of the Indiana side of the Louisville area, consist of +1 812 plus a seven-digit number, but the entire 812 area is now served by an overlay complex of two area codes, with +1 930 as the second. A local or in-state telephone call now requires all 10 digits of the local number be dialed (omitting just the leading +1 from a local landline call).

Signage on many established businesses may still display the original seven-digit numbers; dial 812 before these if no area code is indicated.

Go next
Clarksville, located on the other side of I-65 offers most of the areas shopping and dining. It also has the Falls of the Ohio State Park. Louisville offers major city choices for entertainment and tourist activities.

title: Jeffersonville (Indiana)


text:
Jeffreys Bay

Jeffreys Bay is located within the Cacadu District on the Sunshine Coast of South Africa. Also known as J-Bay, the town is famous for surfing, white sand beaches and an abundance of sea shells. The town became popular with surfers after the 1966 movie Endless Summer.

Understand

The Jeffreys Bay region is renowned for its gorgeous beaches, never ending summers, plentiful shells and is best known as “the Surf Mecca of the World”. The beautiful beaches are safe for bathing and provide endless excitement for water sports.

2 km south of JBay is Marina Martinique, a development on 5 km of man-made saltwater canals. 2½ km north, is the beautiful valley of Kabeljousriver with its waterfall. These are good places to stay if you like a bit more peace and quiet than accommodation in town can offer. Aston Bay borders on Marina Martinique and if you cross the causeway over the lagoon of the Seekoi River, you come to Paradise Beach.

Paradise Beach is relatively undeveloped with 6 km of unspoiled beach all the way to the Kromm River which separates it from St Francis. It is not recommended to swim across the river.

Ocean temperatures are around 23°C in summer.

By car
Follow the N2 West from Port Elizabeth (75 km) or the N2 East from Garden Route and use the turn off to Jeffreys Bay. Jeffreys Bay is 876 km from Durban and 356 km from East London.

By bus
The BazBus stops on its way from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth in J-Bay and there are a number of intercity bus companies stopping in Humansdorp (drop-off for St Francis) and Jeffreys Bay.

Minibus taxis depart from the corner of Goedehoop and St francis street going to and from Port Elizabeth. one hour. R50.

Eldo Coaches have buses from Jeffreys Bay going to Cape Town and East London. The fare from Jeffreys Bay to Cape Town is R360, and the fare from Jeffreys Bay to East London is R310.

By plane
The nearest airport is the Port Elizabeth International Airport, which is approximately 75 km away. Despite its name it only has domestic services, but you can fly in from other world cities with a change of planes in Johannesburg or Cape Town. The latter is approximately 650 km away and you can travel that trip overland if you have time and want to see more of southernmost Africa.

For general aviation, there is a good gravel airstrip - 1300 m for small planes in Paradise Beach.

Get around
You can easily walk around in town. Most places you want to be are centered around Da Gama Road, the main beach and Supertubes. Car rental, taxi, and bike rental are also available.

Do

The best beaches for sunbathing and swimming are Dolphin Beach (the main beach) and Kabeljous-on-Sea. The best surfing location is the. Other spots include the Boneyards, Kitchen Windows, Magna Tubes, Point and Albatross. The area offers kite surfing on the Seekoei and Kabeljouws rivers, regular kite flying, canoeing, sea kayaking, scuba diving, and some great angling from the rocks or out at sea. Game drives, mountain and quad biking and are but some of the other options to consider.

Surfing
Be a spectator at the annual Billabong Pro surfing competition, watch surfers at Supertubes all year round or hit the waves yourself. With numerous surf schools, surf shops and surfboard manufacturers based in the town, there is no excuse not to learn.

Fishing
A number of companies offer deep sea fishing charters. Most of the boats operate from nearby St Francis.

Horse, hiking & mountain biking trails
There are a few small nature reserves in the area, such as the Kabeljous Nature Reserve, which is a walk-about reserve with a safe beach for swimming and excellent fishing spots, as well as bird watching. The reserve includes a 4-km hiking trail and its own flock of pink flamingoes (when in season). Nature lovers can also enjoy the Noorsekloof Nature Reserve, which runs through a popular residential area. Here you can look out for small buck and many birds while walking the 3-km trail running alongside the stream, while breathing in the magnificent fragrances of indigenous fynbos. The Seekoei River Nature Reserve, situated on the Seekoei River estuary, is a bird watcher’s paradise with hides overlooking the river. For the energetic, Jeffreys Bay can also be explored from the seat of a rented mountain bike. There are some exciting places to visit of which the waterfall, located just outside of town, is perhaps one of the best. The natural pools are refreshing to say the least, while the waterslide and cliffs from which to jump off is perfect entertainment for the more adventurous.

Buy
Most shops and businesses are along the main road (Da Gama Street) or concentrated around the small main town area.

Surf gear
J-Bay is a good place to have a custom board shaped, as a number of surfboard manufacturers have made the town their home.

Clothing
There are many shops selling surfer wear and this is the place to buy an exclusive Billabong or Quicksilver outfit. Apart from the retail stores, there are also surf brand factory stores where you can find great surf gear at bargain prices.

Budget

You can have almost all fast foods delivered by making use of special delivery services.

Drink
The main swimming beach, Dolphin Beach, is an alcohol-free zone.

There are many pubs and two nightclubs in town.

Sleep
J-Bay caters for all kinds of accommodation. Backpacking hostels, caravan and camping, bed and breakfast, self-catering and hotels can all be found.

Budget

Stay safe
Robberies of tourists and less careful locals are becoming more frequent. Be careful when walking alone on the beach, or while walking in town at night. Do not leave valuables visible in your car.

Be careful when travelling along the road between Jeffreys Bay and Aston Bay at night, as pedestrians do cross without warning between the small informal settlements on both sides of this road. Also watch out for stray animals on the road.

 * At the closest airport, get directions and information from marked information counters
 * Stay alert and keep an eye on your valuables and luggage at all times
 * Use only registered and qualified tour guides. Contact tourism offices for a list of qualified tour guides

Connect
For contact details for food and groceries, vehicles, home services, liquor, medical practitioners, nurseries & garden services, pharmacy, professional, cleaning, legal services, photography, security, timber decks, housing, health and beauty call the local or international telephone directory.

Local telephone directory: 1023

International telephone directory: 10903

There are a number of internet cafes in town. Some offer wifi access and some are equipped for Skype calls. Places to sleep often also offer free wi-fi, and mobile operators have 3G networks (see South Africa).

Nearby
Not far from Jeffreys Bay lies the charming town of St Francis Bay. It is known for its endemic white houses with either black tile or thatch roofs blending together with the Sardinian-style red tile roofs. Approximately half of the town is built around the largest web of manmade canals and waterways in Africa. Adjacent to St Francis Bay is the pastoral fishing village of Cape St Francis with its outstanding beach and historic Seal Point Lighthouse while Port St Francis is the harbour.

Visit Oyster Bay, a town that caters for those who enjoy quiet time and relaxation. Explore this district with its beautiful beaches, rich wildlife and adventures - surf the waves or swim with dolphins, there is something for everyone in this picturesque and breathtaking Jeffreys Bay area.

 * Visit Hankey and see the grave of Sarah Baartman just outside the town and the largest sundial in Africa (36.4m in diameter).
 * Take a relaxing drive to Patensie and have breakfast at Tolbos.

Further away
Wildlife and game viewing is only a short drive away
 * Go to Port Elizabeth (75km to the east) and its attractions.
 * Tsitsikamma and the Tsitsikamma National Park is worth a visit to relax a day.
 * The Gamtoos Valley and Baviaanskloof
 * See the Great Train Race during August or September where runners race The Apple Express steam trains from Port Elizabeth to Loerie.
 * Baviaans – valleys inland to the west of Jeffreys Bay
 * Grahamstown – the "city of saints" about 200 km northeast
 * Karoo Heartland – the plains to the north
 * Sunshine Coast – the coast itself east and west
 * Karoo Heartland – the plains to the north
 * Sunshine Coast – the coast itself east and west

title: Jeffreys Bay


text:
Jeita

Jeita, or Jeita Grotto, is a cave located in Lebanon about 18 km north of Beirut.

History
Few caverns in the world approach the astounding wealth or the extent of those of Jeita. In these caves and galleries, known to man since Paleolithic times, the action of water has created cathedral-like vaults beneath the wooded hills of Mount Lebanon.

The modern discovery of the underground river of Jeita dates to 1836 and is attributed to Reverend William Thomson, an American missionary who ventured 50 metres into the cave. Reaching the underground river, he fired a shot from his gun and the resulting echoes convinced him that he had found a cavern of major importance.

In 1873 W.J. Maxwell and H.G. Huxley, engineers with the Beirut Water Company, and their friend Reverend Daniel Bliss, president of the Syrian Protestant College (later the American University of Beirut) explored these caverns. In two expeditions carried out in 1873 and 1874 they penetrated 1,060 metres into the grotto-principal source of the Nahr el-Kalb that supplies Beirut with water. They were finally stopped by "Hell's Rapids", where the river flows in torrents over razor sharp rocks. Like explorers everywhere, Dr. Bliss, Mr. Maxwell and the other engineers could not resist recording their names and the year on "Maxwell's Column", a great limestone pillar 625 metres from the entrance.

About 200 metres further on, in the so-called "Pantheon', they wrote their names and details of the expedition on paper, sealed it in a bottle and placed it on top of a stalagmite. The action of the lime- impregnated water has since covered the bottle with a thin white film, permanently fixing it to the stone. Between 1892 and 1940 further expeditions were carried out, mostly by English, American or French explorers.  These efforts brought them to a depth of 1,750 metres.

Since the 1940s, Lebanese explorers, notably the members of the Speleo-Club of Lebanon founded by the first Lebanese speleologist Lionel Ghorra, have pushed even deeper into the Jeita grotto. Their methodical exploration revealed the great underground system of the upper and lower galleries which is now known to a depth approaching 9 km.

The upper galleries, discovered in August 1958 by Lebanese speleologists, required a hazardous climb to 650 metres above the entrance of the underground river. Altogether, 2,130 metres of this gallery have been explored.

Climate
The temperature in the caves is about 16°C all year round, and water drips from the cave ceiling.

Get in
You can get to Jeita by car. A paid parking area is provided.

Open Tuesday through Thursday from 9AM to 6PM and Friday through Sunday from 9AM to 7PM.

Closed on Mondays, unless it is a national holiday.

Fees and permits
The tickets you have bought double as access cards and are inserted at the entry gates of the upper and lower galleries and for the cable car. Also keep them handy for the train and the theater.

A parking ticket is needed to exit the park.

Photography is not permitted inside the caves.

Get around
Jeita is split into two parts: the upper grotto and the lower grotto. In the upper grotto you will get around on foot but in the lower grotto you have to go by boat because there is a lake inside.

From the entry you can take a short ride up the mountain in one of four Austrian cable cars. If you prefer land transportation, a Disney-like "train" pulled by a small replica of a steam engine makes regular runs up and down the hill between the parking area and the upper galleries.

See
Plan on about two hours for the tour, which includes a boat ride through the lower galleries, the visit to the upper galleries on foot and a film presentation.

In summer you can visit both the upper and lower galleries while enjoying the refreshingly cool temperature inside the caves. The lower section is sometimes closed in winter when the water level is high, but the extensive upper galleries are open all year.

The Lower Galleries

This part of the cavern takes you to a beautiful underworld millions of years in the making. Both the 600-metre boat trip on a subterranean lake is only a sampling of the system that has been explored for almost 6,910 metres.

The first impression is the sound of rushing water and a sensation of clean cold. But the roar of the waterfall at the entrance gives way to profound silence as you glide deeper into the cave. An effective new lighting system illuminates expert rock climbers-and marvel at the columns and sculptures fashioned by those great architects-water and time.

The Upper Galleries

The approach to these dry galleries through a 120-metre long concrete tunnel does little to prepare you for the surprising world beyond. Formed several million years before the lower caverns, this section shows what the entire cave system was like before geological conditions displaced the subterranean river to its present level.

For 650 metres you wind your way through different levels of the caverns, contemplating the flowing stone draperies and other formations. Perhaps the most dramatic sight is the yawning canyons and sink holes, some seen at a drop of over a hundred metres.

Near the entrance to the upper galleries is an air conditioned theater which has scheduled showings of a film about Jeita in several languages. Check which time the language you want is shown so you can coordinate the film with your visit to the cave.

Buy
There are some souvenir shops selling Lebanese handicrafts.

Eat
The facility has several restaurants, snack bars and restrooms.

Sleep
There is no possibility to stay over night in the caves but Beirut is only 18 km away.

Go next
Probably you're just coming here on a day-trip from Beirut.

title: Jeita


text:
Jeju

Jeju Island (제주도,濟州島 and formerly romanized as Cheju) is an island off the southern coast of South Korea in the Korea Strait. Korea's largest island and a popular vacation spot and honeymoon destination for Koreans and Chinese, it is crowded with tourists all-year round. The main town and capital is Jeju City.

Cities
Jeju Island has two major settlements:

 * – the largest and capital city of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea. the capital and location of the international airport. The city does not have many tourist attractions, although it has a few bars and restaurants.
 * – large town in the south and close to a wide range of the island's tourist sites. Home to a World Cup Stadium and the Jungmun Tourist Resort Complex.

Other destinations
Smaller villages dot the coastline and eastern and western interior. Roughly clockwise from Jeju City:

 * – village closest to the Manjanggul Lava Tube and adjacent Gimnyoung Maze.
 * – village in the east of the island, close for Udo Island and Seongsan Ilchulbong, a volcanic crater. The village has a number of interesting seafood restaurants and can make for a pleasant overnight stay, but there are no nightlife options (apart from a disproportionate number of marts for the size of the village).
 * – small coastal village just west out of central Seogwipo. Unnoteworthy if not for the fact that it is the proposed site and thus ground zero for the battle over keeping naval bases off Jeju.
 * – also romanized as Hanrim. Close to many inland theme parks and golf courses but in an area generally poorly serviced by inter-city buses.

Understand
15 million people visit each year an island of 700,000 residents, and Seoul-Jeju is the most-used flight route in the world. The island offers visitors a wide range of activities including hiking on Halla-san (South Korea's highest peak), catching sunrises and sunsets over the ocean, horse riding, visiting the sets of Korean television drama or just lying around on the sandy beaches. Geographically it lies southwest of Jeollanam-do Province of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946. In 2006, it was granted self-government as South Korea's only Special Autonomous Province. Jeju has its own English language magazine created by foreign residents on the island: Jeju Life.

South Korean nationals were not allowed to travel internationally without government permission until the late 1980s and, therefore, Jeju island was heavily developed as a domestic vacation destination. It has also been traditional for Koreans to spend their honeymoon there (look out for couples wearing the same clothes). The island also happens to be South Korea's main location for unusual theme parks and niche commercial attractions with eccentric museums for sex, glass and teddy bears.

The name Jeju means “a huge village across the sea”, reflecting its location from Korean mainland among southern Korean tip, notably Mokpo, Kyushu of Japan and southern China. Its original and beloved nickname is Tamna (탐라) with a meaning of “island nation”, which supposedly lasted till its complete seizure in 12th century. Consisting of 8 inhabited islands and 82 uninhabited islands (as of 2010), Jeju has a sub-tropical to temperate climate, inarguably top tourist destinations in South Korea, attracting more than 8 million tourists worldwide every year. (Korea Tourism Organization) Thanks to increasing low-cost airliners, more tourists can easily have accessibility around the coast.

History
Prehistoric relics from Tamna (in Hangul: 탐라국, in Hanja: 耽羅國), when Jeju was an independent entity, date from early as 38 BC. The island enjoyed sea-route trades with Baekje, Silla and far-northern Goguryeo of Three Kingdoms of Korea. When Baekje collapsed after the alliance of Tang-Silla, Tamna maintained independent trade routes, connecting Chinese Tang, Korean kingdoms and Japanese people and also diplomacy as a tributary states with Imperial China.

In the early 12th century of Sukjong of Goryeo (1105), Tamna lost its independent status, and was brought under mainland control under the name Jeju later. During invasion of Yuan Mongolia, Jeju functioned as the last outpost for anti-Yuan protests. However, Yuan thwarted further resistance, controlling the mountainous island with a view to breeding horses for its planned invasion to Japanese archipelago. (At this time, the huge forests area of Hallasan Mountain (300-800 m) became transformed into savanna.) From Joseon Dynasty, (1392-1910) Jeju was largely used as the place of exiles.

Depending on its strategic location, Japanese colonialists took advantage of Jeju island as a military base, recruiting Jeju people into forced labor and building underground tunnels in case America attacked. Some of the tunnels can be visited on the island (Sanbangsan, Geomeunoreum, etc.) Right after independence, in the Jeju Uprising of 1948-1949, communist rebels rose against the US-backed government and the separation of Korea as two countries. 14,000-30,000 people (10% of the population) were killed as government forces massacred entire villages, and rebels forced villagers to move to mountain caves to hide from the police. In 2006, the government apologized and now endorses Jeju as 'the island of peace'. Yearly commemorations take place on April 3 (date of the start of the uprising) at the 4.3 peace park in Bonggae-dong, Jeju City.

Climate
Jeju Island is on the border between the temperate and subtropical zones, with average daily highs ranging from 3°C in January to 30°C in August. The climate is milder than that of the Korean mainland owing to the surrounding warm currents, although the island experiences a good deal of wind throughout the year. Rainfall is heaviest between June and September.

Culture
The name Samdado (in Hangul:삼다도, 三多島) characterizes its uniqueness, which incorporates three principal features: women, rocks and wind. Actually, its foundation myth is featured in a goddess. The local traditional culture stands in stark contrast to the mainland (and much of Asia) as being matriarchal. Along the coast of Jeju you can still observe the "haenyeo" who are professional female divers gathering seafood throughout the year, and who have a well deserved reputation for strength and stamina.

Even more iconic, the "dol hareubang" or "grandfather statues" are part of Jeju's distinct shamanistic tradition with being carved from the local basalt rock, often seen outside restaurants and anywhere else on the island. Different from most urban sceneries of South Korean cities, anyone easily finds out stone-piled brick walls. These walls made of rocks have been conserved throughout the coastline with its presumed length of 36,000 km. Since it is prone to tropical typhoons with massive wind powers, Jeju is famous for its wind, and it is one of the highest wind energy congested areas in South Korea.

People
The population (700,000 in 2022) has been increasing steadily and has doubled since 1970. There were 679,016 Koreans and 21,067 foreigners. Out of the island's two administrative areas, Jeju City has 507,945 people and Seogwipo City has 192,138 people. Koreans from the mainland have been moving to Jeju for a more pleasant lifestyle, its natural environment, and to work in the tourism industry.

Tourist information

 * Visit Jeju Island website

Talk
Korean is the standard language on Jeju island, spoken with a distinctive accent. For example, the most common greeting in Korean is Annyeonghase-yo (안녕하세요), while the counterpart in Jeju dialect is Honjeo opseo-ye (혼저옵서예), with a clear difference. The local dialect of Korean is nearly incomprehensible to Koreans from other provinces, though all locals are able to speak standard Korean as well.

The island's long history as a domestic holiday destination means that the majority of service and tourist industry workers can still only speak Korean. More visitors are coming from China and Japan, and therefore tourist services are becoming more available in Japanese and Mandarin. English is not widely spoken, although as elsewhere in South Korea it is part of the education system.

Entry requirements
Jeju has implemented the Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) requirement for travelers from visa-waiver nations. Eligible travelers must apply for a K-ETA within 72 hours of departure, even if flying directly to Jeju without stopping on the South Korea mainland. The electronic travel authorization costs ₩10,000 and is valid for two years. If you enter Jeju without requiring a K-ETA and subsequently leave for the mainland, you will need to have a valid visa for the rest of South Korea. If admission is approved, one may stay in Jeju for a maximum of 30 days.

By plane

You can fly the major airlines, Korean Air and Asiana to Jeju, and many budget options are available such as Eastar Jet, Air Busan and Jeju Air.

There are international flights from Japan including Tokyo Narita and Osaka Kansai. From China there are flights from Beijing, Shanghai Pudong, Hong Kong, Shenyang and Dalian.

Upon leaving the terminal, you will see taxis as well as two bus stands. One is for the inner-city Jeju City bus services and one for the Airport Limousine service to Seogwipo. (more information about this service below)

Jeju airport has seen rapidly rising passenger numbers since the 2000s and is running over capacity, as of 2024. In 2023, plans were approved to build a second airport near Seogwipo. This US$5-billion project has faced delays and controversy due to inadequate environmental protection plans, and it does not have a scheduled completion date.

By boat
Ferry access from the mainland is also available, although the increasingly low price of flying means that fewer people are using this. Services are comparatively infrequent and slow but are reasonable value after factoring in accommodation savings made on overnight ferries. There are daily services from a number of ports:

Note that ferries from Busan, Incheon and Mokpo no longer run as of 2024.
 * Nokdong New Port Coastal Ferry Terminal: this terminal in Goheung has ferries to Jeju Island as well as Jeollanam-do islands including Heuksando, Hongdo and Gageodo. Ferries leave every day at 9:00 for a journey time to Jeju of 3.5 hours. Ferries do not run on the first and third Sundays of each month.
 * Wando: 3 hours
 * The car ferry from Yeosu to Jeju. The journey takes 5 hours and runs daily except Mondays.

On foot
Nothing in downtown Jeju is more than approximately 2 km from anywhere else so whilst not convenient, walking is quite feasible, and sometimes even faster than the bus. This includes the areas of Yongdam, Tapdong, Jungangno and the inter-city bus terminal. If you want to go on a longer walk, you can try the Jeju Olle Trail course.
 * Jeju Olle Trail course – There are 27 Jeju Olle Trail courses, which are 437 kilometers long. The Olle Trail completion course has 23 courses in Jeju Island, and if the Udo, Gapado, and Chujado courses are included, there will be a total of 27 courses. This is the Dulle-gil of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province managed by the Jeju Olle Corporation. For the purpose of "walking travel," it is really good for walking as it consists of various roads such as village roads, coastal roads, and forest trails.

By bus
Jeju Bus Information System's website offers information about the available lines in Jeju Island. It is important to note that all buses on Jeju utilize Seoul's T-money transportation cards, however they do not (apparently) accept cards from other Korean cities.

Bus maps are not available from tourism centers, but English station lists can be obtained, the relevant information from which is reproduced below: There are four major bus networks on the island:
 * A good network of inner-city (shi-nae) buses run around Jeju City for a flat fee.
 * Similarly, a second network of inner-city buses run in Seogwipo, spanning out to some of the surrounding tourist locations on the southern end of the island, such as Jungmun Tourist Resort Complex.
 * Furthermore, an extensive series of inter-city (shi-wei) buses run between the inter-city bus terminals of Jeju City and Seogwipo by one of a number of different routes. All buses servicing western Jeju pass by Halla Medical Center in Jeju City and most by Jungmun Tourist Resort Complex in Seogwipo making these alternate departure points. Prices for the bus vary by distance between ₩1000 for a short trip and ₩3,000 to go between the two end points. The ones cutting the center of the island (primarily feeding the start points of the Hallasan hiking trails) tend to cease operation around sundown, but the coastal routes run until late. As such it is easy to jump on and off, although the cost can mount up. Note that the English information on the island often erroneously translate shi-wei buses as "local bus" so don't be too concerned if you're directed to the "local bus terminal" when traversing the island end to end.
 * There are 16 express and trunk bus routes on Jeju. Click here for a PDF map of these in English.
 * The Airport Limousine (route #600) bus runs every 18-20 minutes between Seogwipo and the airport in Jeju City express, stopping only at a few stops, including Jungmun Tourist Resort Complex (and International Convention Center), World Cup Stadium and terminating at the Seogwipo KAL Hotel.

By taxi
Jeju provincial office has been operating Jeju global taxi brand with English, Chinese and Japanese services. Call 1899-4314+1 (English). While the taxi rates are reasonable, the island is large enough that the fares can add up. The initial meter charge is at ₩2,800. Hiring a taxi for the day will cost around ₩100,000. The driver will likely not speak much English, so you should have the hotel write down the itinerary ahead of time.

By car
You can hire a car from the airport with either local or international car hire firms. This is a good option to see the island's many sights if you don't want to be in an organized tour and want to see as much as possible. Insurance is offered as an optional extra with the local companies. They can also rent out a Korean-speaking GPS unit.

Outside Jeju city traffic is very quiet. There are many traffic lights on the island, and you will notice that local drivers tend to just drive through red lights. In the evening the lights change to a flashing amber, which basically means 'use your own judgement'.

By motorcycle
Despite the frequent high winds and rain, many people enjoy getting around the island by motorcycle. There are a number of places that offer this, including Mr Lee's bike shop, although the legalities of a foreigner driving a motorcycle on Jeju are unclear. In theory, an international driving license for car should be enough to rent a motorcycle with a very small size engine. Note that, if you are not licenced to ride a motorcycle, your travel insurance will not cover you if you are involved in an accident. In Seogwipo, there is a motorbike rental shop on the same road as the Little France Hotel (exit the hotel and turn right).

By bicycle
Since Jeju is equipped with 182-km-long coastal roads, it is quite popular among Korean university students to rent a bike. Cycling in Jeju is more doable than in the rest of Korea, although it is weather-dependent. There is less traffic, wider roads and it really is possible to travel the island entirely by bicycle. Some locals prefer bicycles to cars especially in areas outside of the Jeju-city metropolitan area. Bike rental is available.

Famous attractions

 * Jeju Old Government Offices. A comparably nice set of Joseon-era historical buildings in central downtown Jeju City. What's unusual is the existence of a nicely landscaped square pond in the complex, and its tumultuous history of getting built in lieu of a well, destroyed due to an irrational hatred of noisy frogs and then rebuilt.Manjanggul Lava tube.jpg
 * Jeju Old Government Offices. A comparably nice set of Joseon-era historical buildings in central downtown Jeju City. What's unusual is the existence of a nicely landscaped square pond in the complex, and its tumultuous history of getting built in lieu of a well, destroyed due to an irrational hatred of noisy frogs and then rebuilt.Manjanggul Lava tube.jpg

Natural landscapes

 * Suwol Peak Geo Park 2.jpg제주돌문화공원01.jpg

Hiking
There are many hiking trails in the Hallasan National Park.

Temple stay
In Jeju, there are mainly three temples operating temple stay program for foreigners. Buddhism culture has also unique features in Jeju, mainly owing to its geographical isolation and mixture with other strands of religious and shamanistic characteristics. Temple stay program normally involves in meditation, Korean tea ceremony and lantern designs. Visit here.

Festivals
Throughout the regions, there are variety of festivals:

 * Jeju World Cup Stadium, Jeju Island.jpg
 * Jeju World Cup Stadium, Jeju Island.jpg
 * Jeju World Cup Stadium, Jeju Island.jpg
 * Jeju World Cup Stadium, Jeju Island.jpg

Sports
Watch the local football team (Jeju United FC) at the Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo.

Buy
Cards are useful, however there may still be many places that are cash only. In Seogwipo, there's a BK Star bank, East of Jeunghang Rotary which accepts foreign cards. Most Family Mart convenience stores which have an ATM inside work with foreign cards too.

 * One Jeju specialty is brown colored clothing. These have been dyed via juice from the persimmon fruit, which is the traditional way of dying clothing.
 * The iconic stone statues, usually in pairs, are called grandfather statues and are for protection. Many places sell small stone replicas of them made of Jeju basalt (volcanic stone). If aircraft weight restrictions are a concern, check the back of the statue for vugs (cavities) as it's entirely possible to find the odd one as light as a feather.
 * Citrus fruit (hallabong and mandarines). The specialty citrus of Jeju is the hallabong (dekopon in Japanese) something akin to an over-sized tangerine which has a very distinctive bump bulge on its top. Its fame comes from its sweet taste and peelability. Do not be at all surprised if, when arriving back on the mainland, you find your bag in the baggage claim tucked between many crates of hallabong. Mandarin oranges are also a major Jeju product.
 * Jeju hallabong chocolate. These come in varieties. The first is a plain flat chocolate with a layer of hallabong flavor sandwiched in the middle. The second however is shaped like a little grandfather statue and is primarily the "flavor" component of the first with a tiny slither of chocolate on the back. The latter tend to be a little less flavorsome (ironically) but are cute enough to make nice gifts. If hallabongs aren't your thing, fear not, for they also come in orange, kiwi, green tea and purple cactus fruit (somewhat a mixed berry flavor) varieties. There are crunch chocolates too, less unique but very tasty.
 * Jeju kamgyul (citrus) wine. Similar to Japanese sake but with a fresh citrus finish. At only ₩5,000 for an entire 750-mL bottle though, honestly, you can't complain even if it isn't quite your thing.
 * Green tea. Although perhaps not as famed as Boseong, the entire Western end tip of the island is littered with tea plantations.
 * Ganse dolls. A souvenir of the Olle hiking coastal trails, they are cute little (15 cm) plush ponies on mobile phone straps handmade out of used clothing (and thus individually unique) by the women of Jeju. Profits go to developing and maintaining the island's hiking trails and they're available from tourist information centers and many budget accommodation. ₩15,000.
 * Shop at Jeju Folk Arts Complex. This place is practically a big gift shop of beautiful traditional art. Prices of items at the Jeju Folk Arts Complex are cheaper than those you find elsewhere.

Souvenir shops, craft stores and fruit stands exist almost everywhere on the island, but if you are looking for more mundane daily goods, your best bet is to head into Jeju City or Seogwipoi which have the usual array of Korean conveniences including some Lottes and an unusually high proportion of E-marts (both of which also contain large souvenir shops).

Regional products
The people of Jeju have evolved various lifestyles, depending on whether they live in fishing villages, farm villages, or mountain villages so specialties vary within the region. Life in the farm villages was centered on farming, as it did around fishing or diving fishery in fishing villages, and did around dry-field farming or mushroom/mountain-green gathering in the mountain areas. As for agriculture, the production of rice is surprisingly low. Instead, beans, barley, millet, buckwheat, and dry-field (upland) rice are the major items.

Foods from Jeju mainly made with saltwater fish, vegetables, and seaweed, and are usually seasoned with soybean paste. Salt water fish is used to make soup, and pork and chicken are used to make pyeonyuk (sliced boiled meat). The number of dishes set on a table is small and few seasonings are used. And usually, small numbers of ingredients are required to make dishes native to Jeju.

The key to making Jeju-style foods is to keep the ingredient's natural flavor. The taste of the food is generally a bit salty, probably because foods are easily spoiled due to the warm temperature. In Jeju, there is no need to prepare large amounts of Kimchi for the winter as in mainland Korea. It is quite warm during the winter and Chinese cabbages are left in the field.

Restaurants are scattered across the entire island, usually near highway intersections, but the majority naturally lie around the coast and particularly in the urban centers of Jeju City and Jungmun/Seogwipo.

Well-known Jeju food includes:

 * Jeju black pork (흑돼지) among Korean domestic tourists, this is the most well-known dish from Jeju. Due to the high demand, restaurants charge a premium for this dish.

 * Umu pudding (우무 푸딩) is a pudding made by boiling agar for a long time. Agar, rich in dietary fiber and low in calories, has a somewhat watery texture, less dense than regular pudding, so you can drink it.

Some other dishes worth trying:
 * Silver hairtail (은갈치) is a fish well-known as a Jeju product which Korean domestic tourists all want to eat. Accordingly, prices are high.
 * Jeju citrus (제주 감귤) refers to all citrus fruits, a specialty of Jeju Island. It can be largely divided into Jeju Island traditional citrus fruits and Jeju Island cultivated citrus fruits.
 * Jeju Hallabong (한라봉) has been cultivated in Jeju Island in earnest since the 1990s, and it has established itself as a representative specialty of Jeju Island, and in 2015, "Jeju Hallabong" was registered in the geographical labeling system. It is so sweet and refreshing that it is called a honeyed orange. The texture of the pulp is a little hard like an orange, but it is juicier than a tangerine, best eaten cold on a hot day.
 * Jaradom Mulhoe (자라돔 물회) is Jeju-style cold fish soup. Traditionally, it has been a summer specialty in Jeju.
 * Seongge guk (성게국) is mustard soup which is served in the ancestral ceremony or to welcome guests.
 * Bangeo Hoe (방어회) is a raw fish dish of yellowtail fish. Every November, the Bangeo Festival is held.

For non-Korean dining, the best option is Gecko's near Seogwipo (see details in the drinking section). In Jeju city there are some options. There is a Mexican restaurant near City Hall/Sinsan Park named El Paso that apparently serves up mediocre but passable Mexican fare. In Shin-jeju there is also an Indian restaurant named Rajmahal that serves up quality spicy Indian dishes. There is also another place with Pakistani/Indian cuisine called Baghdad Cafe around the City Hall/Sinsan Park area.

Drink
The local specialty soju is named Hallasan Soju and runs from ₩1,000 to ₩3,000 a bottle.

Except for Gecko's in the South, there aren't any other genuine Western pubs on the island, but there are some good options. In Jeju City, all the real partying establishments are in Shin-Jeju, about a ₩5,000 taxi ride from Jeju city proper. Some of the establishments in this area rumored to be worthwhile are La Vie, Boris Brewery, Modern Time, Blue Agave, and GP.

There is also Led Zeppelin, a vinyl bar which as the name suggests is focused on album-oriented rock, and has a massive selection of records, CDs, tapes, and DVDs. Song requests are the main pastime and the sound-system rules. Off the main drag in Shin-jeju next to the Indian restaurant.

Sleep
If you are not looking for luxury, minbak (guesthouses) abound on Jeju, and due to its reputation as a honeymoon getaway, there is a wide variety of other accommodation. Outside of the peak tourist seasons (such as Korean national holidays and July-August summer holiday season), and as long as all you're looking for is a clean affordable room, don't be afraid to come to Jeju and find accommodation as you travel. In Jeju City, Seogwipo and the smaller towns there is an abundance of rooms in small guesthouses with character.

There are several motels next to the bus terminal in Jeju City at around ₩30,000 a night. They are fairly obvious to find as all three are in a row with lit signs and the ubiquitous motel logo of South Korea and are called You-cheong, Oh-cheon, and Nam-san.

For larger hotels, the majority are in the urban centers of Jeju City and Seogwipo with the most luxurious 5-star options on the entire island within Seogwipo's Jungmun Tourist Resort Complex. Refer to the individual city pages for listings.

For budget travellers, jjimjillbangs are pretty ubiquitous in Jeju City but outside of the capital city's limits, the only other jjimjillbang options exist under the World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo.

Hotel
There are thirteen five-star hotels on Jeju.

Examples include Grand Hyatt Jeju, Maison Glad Jeju, Ramada Plaza Jeju, Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju, Marriott Hall Jeju Shinhwa World Hotel & Resort, Howard Johnson Jeju Hotel, Sweet Hotel Jeju, Jeju Sun Hotel & Casino (postponement of reopening), |jeju|locallocal|alwayson|PC|brandsearch|korea|korean&utm_content=brand|none|menu3&utm_term=%EC%A0%9C%EC%A3%BC%EB%8F%84%EB%A1%AF%EB%8D%B0%ED%98%B8%ED%85%94 Lotte Hotel Jeju, Jeju Shilla Hotel, Grand Chosun Jeju, CS Hotel & Resort, and Lotte Jeju Resort Art Villas.

Work

 * See the main South Korean article for more information

Jobs are available as English teachers throughout the year in private institutes (hagwons). However, whilst public school jobs exist via the official EPIK programme, the reality on Jeju is that no more than a couple of positions open per year, as it is by far the most requested and lowest turnover region in the entire country, above both Seoul and Busan.

Stay safe
While South Korea in general is remarkably safe, Jeju has the lowest crime rate in the country. Violent crime is almost non-existent, although just like in all tourist hubs, there are a number of pickpockets, so you should still remain vigilant.

Other parts around the south coast, even near Jungmun are rockfall regions. The signs are often not in English, so if you're near a cliff or cave and see a Korean warning sign, it is probably warning of rockfalls from the cliffs above.

Go next
There are also flights to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, and Hanoi.
 * South Korea – flights to most major cities. Within South Korea there are also ferries to and from Jeju. Ferries to Wando leave daily at 7:20 and 19:30 for a 3 hour journey. The ferry to Nokdong leaves daily at 16:30. The ferry to Yeosu leaves every afternoon.
 * Japan – flights to Fukuoka (the nearest), Osaka, Tokyo, and Nagoya
 * China – flights to Shanghai (the nearest), Beijing, Hong Kong, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Shenyang, Dalian, Yangzhou, Kunming, Nanjing, Harbin, Ningbo, Xi'an, Changsha, and Changchun

title: Jeju