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Spello

Spello is a city in Umbria.

Get in
By car, from Rome, take Autostrada A1 north, towards Florence, then exit at Orte. Take superstrada towards Terni and Spoleto. At Foligno, turn off towards Perugia, Cesena. When arriving from the north, follow road to Perugia, then take superstrada to Assisi and Foligno. Spello is the last exit before Foligno.

By train: train line Foligno - Florence, get off at Spello. All local trains arriving from Perugia or Foligno stop in Spello. Long distance trains from Florence and Rome sometimes stop in Spello (check schedules).

By plane: from Perugia airport (flights from London, Milan, Tirana) take a taxi, or take a bus into Perugia, then the train. Or hire a car for the 15-min drive

Get around
It is best to leave your car at the bottom of the hill and walk up through town. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle bus from the new part through the historic centre (usually runs only in the morning).

See

Sights from more than three millennia can be found in Spello. There is a Roman amphitheatre outside of town, but it was never fully excavated and is not usually open to the public. It can be seen from the Belvedere lookout in the historic centre.

Spello has some of Italy's best preserved city walls, many of them Roman, some medieval. They can be seen from the superstrada and from various angles around town. Three large Roman gates remain: the main Porta Consulare, Porta Urbica and the Torre di Properzio Gate.

Numerous medieval churches near and in Spello are worth visiting. Of particular interest are S. Claudio (1 km outside), S. Ventura (at the bottom of the hill), S. Maria Maggiore (ex-cathedral, when Spello was still a bishop's seat - half way up the hill, before the main square), S. Andrea (50 metres past S. Maria M.), S. Lorenzo (past the main square) and Chiesa di Vallegloria (on top of the hill).

The Pinacoteca Civica art museum (between S. Maria M. and S. Andrea churches) houses many precious artefacts from various Spello churches and palazzi.

The medieval palazzo comunale (city hall -on the main square) is also worth a visit: the various building parts are very beautiful and they house a number or Roman and medieval artifacts (e.g., an original stone edict by emperor Constantin). Sometime, art exhibits are held in some of the larger halls.

In the upper part of town (on Via Giulia, between S. Lorenzo and Vallegloria churches), there are two important sights: the remnants of a large former Roman arch (to the left of the bakery) and (30 metres on) a splendid little 200-year-old theatre, which has shows throughou the year and is sometimes open during the day for visitors.

Outside Spello, near S. Claudio church, is the beautifully located castle/palace Villa Fidelia, where outdoor concerts are held in the summer. Some of the buildings are used as art museums and the castle gardens can be visited.

At the bottom of the hill, near S. Anna church, the floor of a Roman villa with unusually beautiful and well-preserved mosaics was discovered some years ago. It is now open to the public.

Spello's most famous artworks are to be found in S. Maria Maggiore and S. Andrea churches: two of the Renaissance's best-known painters have left behind a number of paintings and frescoes of major interest. In S. Maria Maggiore, Il Pinturicchio painted the Baglioni chapel in 1500; the frescoes are extremely well preserved. The same church houses two paintings by Il Perugino. S. Andrea has one large Pinturicchio painting.

Towards the top of the hill, past Vallegloria church, up Via Cappuccini, a complete Roman arch is remaining. 20 m past the arch, the belvedere lookout) offers a splendid view of Assisi and (if the weather permits) Perugia.

Some more recent art can be found in a number of local art galleries and art shops. In particular, the Museo di Norberto, on the main square, is very interesting.

Spello's main point of interest is the town itself: its hundreds of steep mediaeval streets and stairways, arches and angles, nestled into a pristine Umbrian countryside, are second to no none in their beauty.

If you leave Spello during one of its upper gates (from Vallegloria) you can reach numerous walk ways through the local olive groves, which offer nice views of the town and the valley. Driving further up the Subasio Mountain (on whose slopes Spello is built) you reach the village of Collepino (which is part of Spello)- a very romantic little medieval hamlet. Past Collepino you enter the Subasio Regional Park (on foot or by car), which offers hiking paths, beautiful nature, splendid views, and an alternative way to Assisi.

Do
Spello may be small (8500 inhabitants) but there are many things to do. Apart from walking through town or visiting the many churches and museums, there are cultural events throughout the year. The most important annual event is the Infiorata flower festival, on Corpus Domini Sunday (usually late May or early June). For months, the inhabitants of Spello (and many outsiders from Italy and abroad) collect flowers in the mountains (or buy some extra ones) to cover the entire streets of Spello with intricate flower images. Some of the pictures are so refined and detailed that it is almost impossible to notice the flowers- they appear as paintings. The event has grown over the years and now attracts tens of thousands of visitors during the night from Saturday to Sunday. Whlie more than 50 flower artist groups assemble their competing images, the visitors walk around and look on in awe.

During August, Spello usually has a summer festival with free concerts, art exhibits and archaeological tours. In late summer, a Roman festival is held with period costumes, classic Roman theatre and a Roman dinner. During December, Spello and nearby Assisi are famous for their nativity scenes, which can be found in many corners and angles all over town. The local olive oil festival, Festa della Bruschetta, is held in November or December. Delicious fresh oil is served with local bread and traditional dishes.

Buy
Spello is famous for its local olive oil. After the annual harvest (which begins in late October) the fresh oil can be obtained. There are also olive wood handicrafts (cutting boards, kitchen equipment, etc.) to be found. Local wine is abundant and good- sometimes very good (e.g. Sportoletti wines). Umbrian ceramics and traditional linen and cotton cloth can be found in a variety of local stores. Local foods (truffles, dried mushrooms, sausages) are also popular souvenirs.

Eat
The recent tourist boom has been followed by a flood of new restaurants. Some are simple and cheap, others are more expensive and traditional, a few are top-class and expensive. Pizza can be found in the Frantoio and Orlando Furioso pizzerias and the Trombone and Time's Hotel Restaurants. Traditional food is offered at the Cacciatore, il Pinturicchio and the Osteria Dada. The new Osteria Il Buchetto, at the top of town, has a beautiful location. Il Mulino and La Cantina feature more innovate traditional cuisine. La Bastiglia has a Michelin mention, it offers nouvelle Italian cuisine. For small snacks, try some of the take-out pizza shops, local food stores (they offer fresh sandwiches) and the delicious local bakery in Via Giulia, perhaps one of the last of its kind that makes all its many breads and pastries by hand, according to traditional recipes.

Drink
Apart from a number of bars on the main squares (Piazza Kennedy at the bottom, the main square Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza Vallegloria), drinks are available during the summer in a number of terrace restaurants (e.g., Il trombone, Time's hotel and Il Giardino). Also, one of Italy's most famous Enoteca (wine shop), located on the main road next to the Pinacoteca art museum, has a wine bar and offers small snacks. Outside of town, near the public swimming pool, is the NiKanight-club/bar/disco/pub.

Sleep
Numerous hotels, farm hotels, rooms, guest houses and holiday apartments can be found. For simple or mid-range hotels try Paolucci (below, new part), La Pace (new part) or Albergo Teatro (near the theatre, on Via Giulia) and the Cacciatore (also on Via Giulia).

More upscale hotels include La Bastiglia (Valleglria, near the top) and Palazzo Bocci (near S. Andrea church).

Cheaper rooms and small apartments can be rented at Residence La Terrazza, on top of town, in a beautiful location.

Holiday apartments throughout the medieval centre are available from agencies and private individuals.

Outside Spello, in the hinterland, there are several Agriturismos (holiday farms).

Go next

 * Assisi
 * Foligno

title: Spello


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Spencer

There is more than one place called Spencer:

Australia

 * Spencer (New South Wales) - A town in the state of New South Wales.

United States of America

 * Spencer (Idaho) - A town in the state of Idaho.
 * Spencer (Indiana) - A town in the state of Indiana.
 * Spencer (Iowa) - A town in the state of Iowa.
 * Spencer (Massachusetts) - A town in the state of Massachusetts.
 * Spencer (Nebraska) - A town in the state of Nebraska.
 * Spencer (New York) - A town in the state of New York.
 * Spencer (North Carolina) - A town in the state of North Carolina.
 * Spencer (Ohio) - A town in the state of Ohio.
 * Spencer (Oklahoma) - A town in the state of Oklahoma.
 * Spencer (South Dakota) - A town in the state of South Dakota.
 * Spencer (Tennessee) - A town in the state of Tennessee.
 * Spencer (West Virginia) - A town in the state of West Virginia.
 * Spencer (Wisconsin) - A town in the state of Wisconsin.

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

title: Spencer


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Spencer (Indiana)

Spencer is a small town in Central Indiana. It was founded in 1820, and covers less that 2 square miles of land. It is the seat of Owen County.

Get in

 * US-231 runs right through the middle of Spencer
 * I-70 is about 18 miles north of Spencer on US-231

title: Spencer (Indiana)


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Spencer (Iowa)

Spencer is in Western Iowa. A small town with a population of roughly 11,000. It is the county seat of Clay county. It is surrounded by a large area of agricultural land. The Little Sioux River runs through the town and divides it into North and South. Spencer is home to one of the largest county fairs in the world, the Clay County Fair. Being the largest community in the area attracts many people from smaller surrounding communities for both recreation and work.

Spencer was put on the map in the late 1980s, when the town library adopted an abandoned kitten and named him Dewey. Dewey became the unofficial town mascot over his 19-year lifespan. The head librarian's best-selling book, Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World offers an indelibly vivid portrait, not just of the beloved cat, but also of the town, and rural Iowa in general. It's a must-read for anyone headed to Spencer.

Get in
The best way into Spencer is by automobile. It lies on the intersection of Highway 71 and Highway 18. It is approximately 2 hours northeast of Sioux City, 3.5 hours northwest of Des Moines, or 1.5 hours southeast of Sioux Falls.

Get around
Automobile is the most common way to get around. However, there is a large trail system for bikes and other non-motorized methods of transportation that runs through the entire city. Once can also walk and see many areas of the town. There is a taxi company. If you are many in number there is the area Rides bus service which can be used to transport both groups and those with limited mobility.

Do
While Spencer is a small town, there are still some things to get out there and do.

 * Inkpaduta Canoe Trail - This is a stretch of the Little Sioux River that is great for a day trip with a kayak or canoe. The lazy waters are great for beginners or a trips for the entire family. The most common starting point is just off the Grand Ave. Bridge in West Leach Park, at which there is a small ramp down to the river. There are a few things to keep in mind. In the early Spring months, the water can be quite cold. Also, you will want to make sure that there is a good and safe amount of water. Too little, and you will be dragging your boats over sandbars. Too much and the dangers increase. But overall, this is a wonderful trip for all levels of paddlers.
 * Disc Golf Course - This disc golf course is a great way to spend some afternoon. It offers nine holes of varying difficulty and is very popular with area citizens. People can play quite seriously or just have some fun. It doesn't cost anything to play, but you must bring your own frisbees. And keep an eye out for hole 9, it can be a little tricky getting between those trees.
 * Disc Golf Course - This disc golf course is a great way to spend some afternoon. It offers nine holes of varying difficulty and is very popular with area citizens. People can play quite seriously or just have some fun. It doesn't cost anything to play, but you must bring your own frisbees. And keep an eye out for hole 9, it can be a little tricky getting between those trees.

Parks and trails
Spencer is home to many parks throughout the city with a variety of opportunities.

 * Oneota Park - Located on the eastern edge of town, south of the high school, this park offers trails along the river and a shelter for picnics and other outings.
 * East Leach Park - Located on the east side of Grand Ave in the middle of town, this park Has a campground, skate park for skateboarding and rollerblading, a large playground area, a bandshell, and trails throughout the entire area. This is right in the middle of town and many events are held here.
 * West Leach Park - On the other side of the road from East Leach Park, this park offers access to the Little Sioux River, a smaller playground area, and the Disc Golf Course.

title: Spencer (Iowa)


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Spencer (West Virginia)

Spencer is a city of 2,062 people (as of 2020) in West Virginia. It was chartered in 1858 and named for Spencer Roane, a jurist from Virginia. Spencer is famous for hosting the West Virginia Black Walnut Festival every October.

Get in
Spencer is located at the intersection of US-33, between Ripley and Weston, and US-119, north of Charleston, twinned with US-33 east. The closest interstate access is I-77 35 minutes west in Ripley or I-79 40 minutes south in Clendenin, near Charleston.

Eat

 * La Finca Mexican Grill, 1158 Ripley Road, 304-519-2502. Savory fajitas.

Drink

 * Chestnut Ridge Winery, 15 Chestnut Rdg.

Go next

 * Ripley is about 35 minutes west on US-33.
 * Glenville is about 1 hour east on US-119.
 * Charleston is about 1 hour south on US-119 / I-79.
 * Weston is about 1½ hours east on US-33.

title: Spencer (West Virginia)


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Spennymoor

Spennymoor is a town in County Durham, England. It’s about 7 miles (11 km) from Durham City. It was a coalmining town during World War II and since the decline of that specific industry Spennymoor has developed into an industrial estate. The town has many small businesses and booming housing projects. Spennymoor is made up of small villages, which include Byers Green, Kirk Merrington, Middlestone Moor and Tudhoe.

By car
From A1 (M) North or South. At Junction 61 (Durham Services) take the A688 west heading to Spennymoor/Bishop Auckland. Turn right at the Coxhoe roundabout and continue on the A688 towards Spennymoor. At Thinford Roundabout take the second turning (i.e. straight on) continue for approximately 1.8 miles (3 km). Coming from Durham - Follow the A167 to Darlington. At Thinford Roundabout take the third turning continue for approximately 1.8 miles. Coming form Darlington - Follow the A167 to Durham through Harrowgate Hill. At Thinford Roundabout take the first turning continue for approximately 1.8 miles.

By bus
The North East of England is connected through certain bus routes. The best way to get to Spennymoor by bus is to get to Durham bus station or Bishop Auckland bus station. Form here the there are buses leaving twice within the hour from Durham and at least once an hour from Bishop Auckland. The whole of the north east is connected by two major bus companies known as Arriva North East and Go North East.

All the travel times for buses leaving Durham are available from Traveline or by calling 0871 200 22 33.

By plane
Newcastle Airport is around 30 miles north of Spennymoor. You can use the metro to get to Durham train station and then take a bus to Spennymoor. The overall price of this journey is around £10 (the train costs around £7 and the bus £3).

Durham Tees Valley Airport is around 24 miles south of Spennymoor. You can use the Darlington train station to get to Durham train station and from there either take a taxi or bus to get to Spennymoor. The overall price of this journey is £8 (the train costs around £5 and the bus £3).

Manchester Airport is around 135 miles south of Spennymoor. From Manchester you can take a train to Durham train station and from there you can either get a car or take a bus to Spennymoor. The overall price of this journey is £45 (the train coste around £42 and the bus £3).

At all three of these airports you can rent a car.

Get around
Spennymoor Town is small enough that it can be explored on foot. But if you need a ride around Spennymoor or to see a sight in the local area then either a taxi or bus would be your best bet.

By Bus
Click here to view a bus schedule and timetable of buses leaving Spennymoor.

Buy
Spennymoor's Town Centre isn't known for its shopping but it still offers a handful of shops.

Smoking
Smoking is banned in all public places such as pubs, restaurants, clubs and the workplace.

Connect
As of Jan 2024, Spennymoor and its approach roads have 4G from EE and Vodafone, and 5G from O2 and Three.

Go next
Spennymoor is surrounded by beautiful countryside and wonderful sights and attractions.

 * Durham Cathedral & Castle A beautiful cathedral known throughout Europe and a delightful castle sit on a hill looking over the City. From the top of the tower you get a great view of Durham City and the countryside surrounding the city. In general Durham City is a great day out. With other great sites to see from the Victorian indoor market, Botanical Gardens, walking beside the castle and cathedral alongside the River Weir and the Durham Light Infantry Museum along with many more interesting things.

 * The Metro Centre., Gateshead. One of Europe’s largest shopping malls. Located on the A1, West of Newcastle. Or you can get a bus from Spennymoor town centre to the metro. Direct on the X24. If you easily get motion sickness, take a car to the Metro Centre since the Bus takes about 1hr and 45 mins due to all the detours on the way. By car it can take you 30-45 mins depending on traffic.
 * Beamish near Washington. Beamish is an open-air museum near Chester Le Street just to the north of Durham. The prices range from £15 in the summer to £6 in the winter per adult  and £10 in the summer and £6 in the winter per child aged 5–16 years of age. Any child under the age of 5 gets in for free regardless of the season. Students get a discount if they have student IDs. Open from 10AM-4PM in the winter and 10AM-5PM  in the summer. The museum is accessible by car from the A1 (M) or by bus from Durham.
 * High Force near Middleton-in-Teesdale. A remarkable waterfall with a drop of 21 m. With a beautiful woodland walk for about 1/3 of a mile (500 m) leading up to the waterfall and also a nature trail, which follows the river High Force is an appealing day out. Once you've finished, try the High Force Hotel for a meal if you have the time. High Force is located on the B6277, 4.5 miles (6 km) from Middleton-in-Teesdale.
 * Whitby Coming from the North East, you have a choice of two roads. The main A171, or the slower coastal road A174. Whitby is a harbor town that is scenic and pleasant and is worth the drive to visit for a day. In the summer you can take the daily direct X60 Arriva bus, or take the train from Durham which changes at Darlington and Middlesbrough. Although these two means of transport take longer than a car it is worth the journey alone.
 * Auckland Castle. The castle has been home to the Bishops of Durham for over 800 years and still is. It's in Bishop Auckland. Arriving by car on the A688 follow signs for Bishop Auckland Town Centre. Auckland Castle is just off the Market Place in the Bishop Auckland. Buses do travel to Bishop Auckland regularly. You can get a bus from Spennymoor Town centre to Bishop Town centre and from there it is only a 5-minute walk. It is open from 2-5PM on Sundays and Mondays. For an adult the charge is £4 and £3 for children aged between 13-16 and adults over 60 years of age. Children under the age of 12 can enter for free.
 * Binchester Roman Fort. An old Roman Fort that only has a small part of its remains excavated. The remains include an impressive bathhouse, some of the forts defences along with other settlement buildings 1.5 miles outside of Bishop Auckland on the Dere Street Trail. It is sign posted from the A688 coming from Spennymoor. Open 11AM to 5PM all days of the week. Prices for adult tickets are £2.25 and children and adults over the age of 60 get in for £1.00. Free parking is available on site.

title: Spennymoor


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Sperlonga

Sperlonga is a very picturesque small city in Italy south of Rome. Its white-painted houses make it a bit reminiscent of some Greek islands. It has some of the best beaches in the area. During the Italian summer holiday, it's a popular package tourist destination and all hotels may be fully booked long ahead.

Get in
Sperlonga is located halfway between Rome and Naples. To arrive by air, either airport is located within 2 hours driving distance to Sperlonga.

Sperlonga can be reached by road. From Rome, take the via Appia or the via Pontina past Terracina, then follow the signs to Sperlonga along the via Flacca. From Naples, go to Formia, Gaeta, and again with the via Flacca to Sperlonga. An alternative way is to go along the Appian way (via Appia) between Terracina and Formia, and take the smaller road to Sperlonga from Itri.

Sperlonga can be reached by train. One of two major train lines between Rome and Naples (Roma-Napoli via Formia) stops in Fondi. The station is called Fondi-Sperlonga, and local trains stop there. When going North to South, the last station before Fondi is called Monte San Biagio. When going South to North, the last station before Fondi is Formia. From the station of Fondi, a taxi to Sperlonga should be around €20. A bus service (€1) from the train station to Sperlonga is also available once an hour (during summer) and every second hour (during winter). The bus timetable is roughly coordinated with the arrivals and departures of the trains. The distance from the train station to Sperlonga is about 12 km by road.

It is also possible to take a bus to Sperlonga from various surrounding locations, including Terracina, Fondi, and Formia/Gaeta. Sperlonga can also be reached on guided day trips departing from Rome with the company www.EcoArtTravel.com

Get around
Sperlonga is fairly small, and getting around by foot is quite reasonable if one doesn't mind climbing lots of steps. There are two centers. On one hand there's the centre on the top of the old town where you can enjoy magnificent views over the bay. The old town is closed to traffic. The other centre is along the beach.

It is fairly easy to drive around Sperlonga. It is often hard to park around Sperlonga in the peak season. At other times, there are many parking lots near the old town.

There is a bus service within Sperlonga.

See
Sperlonga was built as a medieval fortress on a hill overlooking the Gulf of Gaeta. It is very picturesque, with narrow paved streets, many made up mostly of steps, and houses nearby with bridges connecting them. The town has been more than once attacked and taken by moorish pirates, most famously by Khayr al-Din (Barbarossa) in 1534.

The two beaches on the two sides of the old town of Sperlonga are quite popular. One beach stretches all the way to Terracina, 18km away. The other beach ends at a cave known as the "Grotta di Tiberio", "Grotto of Tiberius" or "Cave of Tiberius". The emperor Tiberius was known to have a villa in the area. The cave has yielded a number of marble sculptures which are housed in the museum that is along the via Flacca not far from the cave, a little South of the town.

Do
The main draw of Sperlonga is the beach. The beaches are good for swimming, and in summer the sea is generally calm.

Sperlonga is nice to visit, though there are few specific landmarks the town itself is the landmark.

Nightlife is available in Sperlonga, including hanging out on the main square of the old town and the road leading to it, a good selection of restaurants, and a selection of night clubs.

The archeological museum of Sperlonga can be found along the Via Flacca, south of town. It sits on a villa built by Emperor Tiberius. It houses several sculptures and artifacts from the villa. The ticket for the museum includes entrance to the Grotto di Tiberius or Cave of Tiberius.

Buy
Along the via Flacca it is possible to find shacks selling "Mozzarella di Bufala", traditional Mozzarella cheese made with Water Buffalo milk. The water buffalos are traditional in the area north of Terracina, the former Pontine swamps, as well as in the surroundings of Fondi, which used to be swampy.

Eat
Many restaurants in Sperlonga serve seafood, as well as other foods including pizza (being relatively close to Naples, the pizza is fairly authentic). Most of the restaurants are situated either in the centre of the old town or along the street next to the beach.

Sperlonga also benefits from being near the agricultural area centred around Fondi, so many local fruits and vegetables are very fresh. There is usually a farmers' market in the main square of the old town.

Da Filippo, in the lower town (near the beginning of the old town), makes ice creams and other pastries.

Sleep

 * There is a considerable number of hotels along the beach in the new part of town. During peak season there is usually a minimum stay requirement.
 * Other hotels can be found elsewhere, including along the road to Gaeta.
 * Apartments for rent are available both within and outside the town.
 * Apartments for rent are available both within and outside the town.

There is a drive-in campground inland from the beach where the Grotta di Tiberio is. Camping on the beach is not permitted.

Go next
There are many other interesting towns and landmarks within one hour's driving distance of Sperlonga. In particular, the old town and harbor of Gaeta, the old city of Fondi (of which not much is left, beyond a spectacular city gate), the temple of Jupiter Anxur in Terracina, the tomb of Cicero near Formia.

The via Flacca between Sperlonga and Gaeta runs along cliffs high above the sea, and also has many tunnels. On most of the cliffs it is still possible to find remains of the old roman via Flacca, and to follow them on foot. One section includes a tunnel that was built by enlarging a cave, and which is only accessible on foot. This road also leads to many small beaches, often with a restaurant or other facility. Many of the cliffs also have ruins of old watchtowers.

title: Sperlonga


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Spetses

The island of Spetses (sometimes called Spetsai) is extremely popular with Athenians, who swarm the place during Easter and summer weekends. Due to the nature of available accommodation, package tourism has not caught on much.

Understand
Spetses administratively belongs to the Prefecture of Attica, although its proximity to the Peloponnese mainland puts it geographically in Argolis. It had a population of 3,750 in 2021.

Spetses used to have a reputation as a quiet island, but residents and return visitors complain that the noise level from cars and motorbikes has reached the level of cacophony of other, more touristed islands. The local government has decided to remedy this by banning non-local vehicles from coming to the island.

Read
John Fowles placed the protagonist and most of the action of his novel Magus on Spetses, which he named Phraxos in the book. The geography of the island is described accurately, as are many real places: the Anargyrios school, the Poseidonion hotel, the footpaths over the ridge through the pine forests, the shingle beaches on the western shore.

Among the most lavish detailed descriptions of Spetses can be found in Miro's Knot by Richard H. White. The novel captures the beauty and the spirit of life on Spetses in 1967, at a time when many expatriates lived on the island. As of 2024, Miro's Knot is planned to be made into a feature film, to be filmed on Spetses.

By boat
The preferred method of travel from Athens to Spetses is by sea from the port of Piraeus. In high season several passenger-only hydrofoils and catamarans of Hellenic Seaways depart the port of Piraeus daily, calling at the islands of Poros, Hydra and Spetses, as well as the mainland ports of Ermioni and Porto Heli on the Peloponnese. Depending on the ports of call, trip duration from Piraeus to Spetses is between 1 hour 45 minutes and 3 hours 15 minutes. Passenger tickets cost €35 one way.

From Porto Heli, as of 2014, a one-way passenger ticket is €1.50 by ferry boat or €5.50 for the airfoil.

Only the regular ferry carries motorcycles and bikes to Spetses. Only locally registered private cars are allowed on the island; you can't bring yours from the mainland.

Winter sees a major reduction in service, with only four hydrofoils daily. These are subject to cancellations when the weather turns nasty.

Overland
Due to its proximity to the mainland, many choose to travel to Spetses overland, parking their cars (€5 per day) at Kosta on the Peloponnese and then crossing over either on board the Katerina Star with four daily sailings (from Kosta: 08:00, 10:30, 13:30 and 16:30; return half an hour before those, 15 minutes, €3) or by caique sea-taxi (5 minutes, €23). Public Inter-City (KTEL) buses to and from Kranidi are timed to connect with the ferry at Kosta, with further connections to Athens and Nafplion daily year-round.

Get around
With private cars banned from the island, local transportation is very expensive (although most attractions are within reasonable walking distance). In high season there are two buses connecting the town with the beaches of Aghioi Anargyroi and Aghia Paraskevi on one side and Ligoneri on the other side. Other land transportation includes four taxis and several horse-drawn buggies (high season only). Plenty of bikes and motorcycles are available for hire.

In summer tourist boats provide day trips to the beaches of Aghioi Anargyroi, Aghia Paraskevi and Zogeria. Water taxis are also available year-round, connecting Spetses Town with any beach on the island or the coast of the Peloponnese, just across the narrow straits, but these can be very expensive.

Low-season options are restricted to water-taxis and the four land-based taxis, with the horse-drawn buggies withdrawn from circulation and the buses assigned to transporting students to and from schools.

Connect
Several of Spetses innumerable cafes offer internet service for a fee, but exactly which ones seems to keep changing. Look for signs saying Internet, or ask at your hotel if they can direct you to one.

See
Spetses has two museums. The Hadjiyannis Mexis Museum is southwest of the town, a five-minute walk from the harbour. Open Tu-Su 08:00-15:00 (admission €3) it is housed in the late-18th century mansion of Hadjiyannis Mexis, one of the local leaders during the 1821 War of Independence, and includes objects from throughout the 4,000-year history of the island.

The privately-owned Bouboulina Museumis open daily in high season, with guided tour provided in Greek and English several times a day (admission €5). The museum is housed in the 17th-century mansion of the 1821 War of Independence heroine, the sea captain Laskarina Bouboulina (it is also her statue gazing fiercely from under the hand on the promenade in front of the Poseidonian Hotel), and mainly exhibits artefacts from that period.

Other interesting attractions include the Mansion of Sotirios Anargyros, an early 20th-century neoclassical building, home of the local benefactor Sotirios Anargyros (1849–1929), just behind the waterfront cafeterias in Spetses Town.

To the north of town are the Poseidonion Hotel and the Daskalakis Electricity Factory. The Poseidonion was constructed in the early 20th century and attracted the rich and famous of Athens in its heyday, but has fallen into disrepair as of late. Renovations began in 2006 to convert it back into a luxury hotel. The Daskalakis factory, which used to provide the island with electricity and ice, has been converted into a luxury hotel.

Do
The celebrations of the Panaghia Armata are the highlight of the summer season on Spetses, attracting as many as 40,000 visitors, and culminating in the re-enectment of an 1822 naval battle between the Greek forces and the Turkish Armada. The show includes an attack on the Turkish flagship with a Greek fire-boat, which sets off a fascinating show of fireworks in the harbour of Spetses Town. The week-long celebrations culminate on the second weekend of September each year, and also include concerts and other cultural events. A special mass is held in the church of Panaghia Armata in the Old Harbour, as well as at Aghios Nikolaos, the metropolis of the island.

Easter is also a very popular time for visiting the island. Holy Week traditions are lovingly passed on from generation to generation, with the highlights being the Good Friday mass, where funeral processions from all parishes converge on Spetses Town for a final open-air mass, and the Saturday midnight celebrations of the Resurrection with fireworks (before everyone returns home for the traditional feast that marks end of a 40-day fast).

Accommodation during the Easter and Armata weekends can be impossible to find, unless booked well in advance.

A walk to the Old Harbour is considered a must for visitors to the island. The coastal road is closed to vehicles in the evenings during summer season, making it a pleasant outing all the way from Spetses Town, past some of the most spectacular mansions, and on to the marina with all the luxury yachts and cruisers of the wealthier holidaying Athenians, all the way to the little church of the Panaghia Armata and the Lighhouse--one of the first to be built in Greece, in 1837, and still in use. At a leisurely pace the walk from the new Dapia harbour at the town centre to the Old Harbour shouldn't take more half an hour each way. Cafes, bars and restaurants abound in the Old Harbour.

The island's most popular beaches are Aghioi Anargyroi and Aghia Paraskevi, on the west side of the island. A bus and tourist boats run daily from Spetses Town during the summer season. An acceptable, if somewhat touristy, self-service restaurant operates in-season at Aghioi Anargyroi. The Bekiris Cave at Aghioi Anargyroi, complete with its own sandy beach, is a must-see. Access is overland from the northern edge of the Aghioi Anargyroi beach, or else you can swim inside through a very low opening. The cave served as a hideout for women and children during Turkish attacks on the island.

The very picturesque Zogeria Beach, on the north edge of the island, is also served by tourist boats from the island and boasts a restaurant, serving its specialty of chicken in tomato sauce with spaghetti or chips.

Other beaches on the island, such as Xylokeriza, Ligoneri and Vrellos are only accessible by private transport (motorbikes or bicycles) or with very expensive sea taxis.

The town beach at Aghios Mamas is rather dirty and crowded, but could suffice in a pinch. It's better to continue south to the tiny beach beneath Aghios Nikolaos, or even further to Aghia Marina.

There are also series of beaches beginning past the Spetses Hotel about a 20-minute walk along the main island road west of the main Dapia harbour, of which the most pleasant is Kaiki Beach (so called from the beached hulk marking it) across from Anargyrios College (hence also called College Beach.) This beach is typically developed:  a bar, a (rather basic) rest room, a little changing shack, and sun beds under Polynesian style umbrellas for rent. Right next to it is a public beach with fewer facilities, but the water isn't there isn't as good for swimming and that part of the beach tends to be littered. The water at all the beaches on this northern stretch of the island can be too rough for pleasant swimming when the wind is up.

Other interesting sights to visit:
 * The fortified former monastery of Aghios Nikolaos, now the Metropolis of Spetses. This was where the Spetsiots declared the War of Independence, on Palm Sunday (2 April) 1821.
 * The Anargyrios School, built on the principles of a British Boarding School in the mid-20th century.
 * The Chancellary is the first building you come upon on disembarking at Spetses Town port. It was the meeting place of town elders before the War of Independence. In the first year of Independence it functioned as the Town Hall. The ground floor is now a shop and cafe.
 * The Aghioi Pantes nunnery, a half-hour walk from Spetses Town, commanding spectacular views over the beach of Aghia Marina and the neighbouring privately-owned island of Spetsopoula. On a clear day the views stretch out to the island of Hydra and the Mountain of Parnon on the Peleponnese.
 * The tiny church Prophet Elia on the mountaintop of Spetses. It's a steep climb from Spetses Town, but the view from the top is fascinating. The dirt road continues down the other side of the island to the beach of Aghioi Anargyroi.

Buy
The local specialty of Spetses (as also of many other Greek islands) are Amygdalota, little almond cakes, sprinkled with icing sugar. The most popular are available at the well-established pastry shops of Klimis and Politis.

Eat
Restaurants abound in Spetses, especially in the high season, ranging from local fast-food outlets to posh, haute-cuisine affairs. Several remain open even in winter, when food is often served around the fireplace.

Drink
Many of the popular bars of Spetses are found around the Old Harbour, which is the place to see and be seen for most Athenians holidaying in Spetses. There are also several popular cafes and ouzeris clustered around the main Dapia harbour, and several more scattered along the coastal road leading northwest from town.

Sleep
Almost all accommodation is in Spetses Town, generally in one of three areas. There are several large hotels and also rent-room places right in or near the main Dapia harbour, which is convenient but can be noisy. There are some studios a 20-minute or so walk away to the east, around the Old Harbour, more atmospheric but a little out of the way. About an equal distance from Dapia the other direction are a number of hotels and studios, most notable of which is the Hotel Spetses: this area is not particularly atmospheric away from the shore, but it is relatively quiet, and is near Kaiki Beach and to the Patralis restaurant and other pleasant restaurants and cafes.

Plenty of hotels cater to visitors on the island, but rooms tend to be tiny, prices high and service mediocre. Advance reservations are highly recommended during summer months weekends, and during Holy Week at Easter. Rooms to let are also available, with owners sometimes meeting arriving boats.

Connect
As of Aug 2022, Spetses town has 4G from Cosmote and Vodafone but nothing from Wind, and the rest of the island has no signal. 5G has not reached this area.

title: Spetses


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Speyer

Speyer is a city in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. It is one of the oldest German cities and has a beautiful old town. Speyer has been a diocesan town since 346; its first churches and monasteries were built in the 6th and 7th century.

The foundation stone of the imperial cathedral was laid in 1030 by Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor and first of the Salian dynasty. The cathedral is the resting place of the Salian dynasty. It was widely destroyed in the War of the Grand Alliance in 1689.

By road
Speyer is located just south of the Autobahn A61.

By train
The main station has frequent connections to Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Karlsruhe, although it is not directly connected to the high-speed ICE train network. Speyer has two train stations: Speyer main station, and Speyer North-West station. There is a ticket office at the main station (closed on weekends and holidays).

Speyer has train connections to Germersheim and Karlsruhe (via Heidelberg) every 30 minutes and express trains to Karlsruhe and Mainz every 2 hours.

By bus
Speyer has a city bus system. You can buy tickets from the drivers. The city shuttle (Bus line 565) costs only €1 and is valid for 1 day only in this bus line. Speyer has also regional bus connections to villages without a train connection.

If you want to go to the Technical Museum, IMAX Dome film theater or to the Sealife you can get a combination ticket. This ticket is valid for outward and return journey with train to Speyer, in the bus line 565 and admission to the Technical Museum or IMAX Dome film theater or Sealife. Ask at the ticket office at your train station. They have it for single persons, groups or families. The same offer can you get for the technical museum Sinsheim and IMAX Dome film theater Sinsheim.

Eat
Forget the Kaisertafel. Avoid tourist traps in main street area.

Go next

 * Hockenheim
 * Neustadt an der Weinstraße
 * Heidelberg

title: Speyer


text:
Speyside Way

The Speyside Way is a long-distance path in Highland Scotland, coursing 85 miles / 137 km southwest from Buckie on the Moray coast, upriver to Grantown, Aviemore and Newtonmore in the Spey Valley. Most of it is also suitable for cycling and horse-riding.

Understand
The Speyside Way was created in 1981 from the coast to Ballindalloch, about half its current length. In later years it was extended in stages up the river valley, with the latest extension in 2021 reaching Newtonmore. This is where the valley emerges from the Grampian mountains to broaden into the "strath" around Aviemore, before narrowing again towards Grantown to thread through forested hills. This was also the route of the Strathspey Railway, dismantled in the 1960s but now partly restored as a heritage line, and much of the path follows the trackbed or parallels the railway. This means it's low altitude with firm going suitable for cyclists. The spur to Tomintoul is the main exception, crossing higher rougher ground.

There are no plans to extend further upriver, but with OS maps you can find your own trail over the watershed to Spean Bridge. This is on the Great Glen Way, a trail coursing northeast to Loch Ness and Inverness, and southwest to Fort William and the West Highland Way. So the upper Spey Valley feels like a missing link in the national network of trails.

Prepare
The best maps are the OS Landranger series, with map numbers stated below. Buy them online if you can't find them in a bookstore or public library.

Walk Highlands Speyside Way have detailed online maps and trail notes.

Get in
See individual town pages for travel routes. Whilst all of them can be reached by public transport, this is sparse M-Sa and almost non-existent on Sunday. You probably need your own vehicle or to have arranged a relay.

Walk
Section 1: Buckie to Fochabers, 10 miles, OS Map 28

is a fishing village on the Moray coast. From its centre, follow the coast west to Kingston (coincident with the Moray Coast Trail), where you turn inland to Fochabers.

Section 2: Fochabers to Craigellachie, 13 miles

is a planned village laid out on a grid pattern in the 18th century, and has many preserved old buildings. The main attraction is Gordon Castle gardens. The onward route is mostly on minor roads, but climbing over the shoulder of Ben Aigen via Craigellachie Forest.

Section 3: Craigellachie to Ballindalloch, 12 miles, OS Map 37

is in whisky-distilling country. Big names from here include Macallan, Aberlour, Glenfiddich and Glenlivet, and several offer tours. Balvenie Castle is a scenic ruin.

From here the trail follows the track of the former Strathspey Railway, so it's easy hiking, cycling or horse-riding.

A spur courses 4 miles south from Craigellachie to Dufftown, and yet more whisky distilleries.

Section 4: Ballindalloch to Tomintoul, 15 miles, OS Map 36

is roughly mid way along the main trail. The route to Tomintoul is a long spur off this, but sufficiently rewarding to be labelled a section in its own right, which you can retrace back to Ballindalloch next day or organise a ride. It enters Cairngorms National Park and is the highest part of the trail, climbing twice over 1800 ft. However these muddy uplands are not suitable for cyclists, who should stick to the lanes.

is the highest village in the Highlands (Wanlockhead and Leadhills above Clydesdale are higher), and winter lingers long here. Like Fochabers it was laid out on a grid in the 18th century by the Duke of Gordon, who thought this would curb cattle-thieving and illegal distilling. Good luck with that: in 1860 Queen Victoria rated it "the most tumble-down, poor-looking place I ever saw".

Section 5: Ballindalloch to Grantown-on-Spey, 13 miles, OS Map 36

The main trail continues through the Woods of Knockfrink on the fringe of Cairngorms National Park then descends to Cromdale. Cyclists should bypass this soggy section via B9102, as should dog owners, as cattle here have been known to attack dogs. Cromdale old railway station has been privately preserved, the heritage Strathspey Railway doesn't extend this far east, but the trail from here is firm going on the old track into Grantown. Section 6: Grantown-on-Spey to Aviemore, 17 miles, OS Map 36

is a large resort village with lots of amenities for hikers and other visitors.

This is a long section but easy level going, on the old railway track as far as Broomhill the north terminus of the Strathspey Railway, and then alongside. You could break this section after 11 miles at Boat of Garten, which has the railway's main collection of locomotives and rolling stock, or wimp out altogether and ride the steam train into Aviemore. Continuing along the trail, take the loop near Granish for the Bronze Age stone circle and annular burial cairn.

Dava Way is a 24 mile trail north through the hills from Grantown to Forres, along a separate branch of the former railway. Here you can re-join the Moray Coast Trail to return to Buckie, a 95 mile triangle.

Section 7: Aviemore to Newtonmore, 20 miles, OS Map 35

is a straggling resort town and transport hub along the former route of A9. Lots of accommodation and other facilities here.

The path is firm level going beside the mainline railway but this section is too long for most walkers, you might break it at Kincraig. It thereafter follows B970 through the woods.

is a large village with accommodation. The 18th century barracks are a crumbling ruin, their job done in subduing rebellious Highlanders.

is the chilly village at the terminus of the Speyside Way. The river valley ascends several miles further west, taking A86 over the watershed to Spean Bridge, but there are no plans to extend the trail.

Stay safe
The route is mostly low altitude, but dress for the weather. Higher hills are crossed on the branch trail to Tomintoul.

Be aware of human hazards, such as driving whilst weary from a long hike.

Go next
Other long distance paths in Scotland include:

 * Pennine Way traverses northern England then follows the Scottish border along the ridge of the Cheviots before descending to Kirk Yetholm.
 * Southern Upland Way is a 212 mile walking route across the Scottish Borders on the east coast to Dumfries and Galloway in the west.
 * John Muir Way is a 130 mile walking and cycling route from Dunbar on the east coast via Edinburgh to Helensburgh on the west coast.
 * West Highland Way is a 96 mile walking route from Glasgow to Fort William.
 * Great Glen Way is a 73 mile walking and cycling route from Fort William to Inverness.

title: Speyside Way


text:
Spišská Nová Ves

Spišská Nová Ves is a city in Eastern Slovakia.

Understand
Spišská Nová Ves (before 1919 known as Igló in Hungarian) has a very pleasant historical town core with the highest church tower (86,6m) in Slovakia.

Location
One of the most beautiful towns in eastern part of Slovakia is Spišská Nová Ves. It is surrounded by colossal ring of hills and villages. Spišská Nová Ves is a part of Slovenské rudohorie. In the northern part there is Hornádska kotlina with territory around 400 - 500 meters above sea level. The southern part consists of Hnilecké and Volovské vrchy with about 1200 meters above sea level. In the western part of Spišská Nová Ves is the very gorgeous Slovak Paradise National Park.

A very picturesque panorama of peaks of the High Tatras can be seen from the town and from the hills in Spišská Nová Ves.

By train
Trains leave Bratislava (Main station) every two hours. Many are direct but three IC trains require you to change trains at Poprad-Tatry. Two of the mentioned IC trains depart from Vienna. Most of these trains are rýchlik (fast) trains and will take about five hours and 20 minutes to arrive. One IC train stopping in Spišská Nová Ves cuts the total travel time to four hours and 33 minutes, but a reservation is required.

If coming from Košice your options are even better, the travel time is 56 minutes only and trains are available each hour.

There is an option to arrive from Prague. There are 3 direct fast trains and 1 EC train daily. The total travel time is seven hours 55 minutes by EC train.

From the all villages around Spišská Nová Ves and important places in Slovakia you can reach this beautiful town by bus. It is all on you if you decide to arrive by train or by bus. If you have a car you can drive almost everywhere and park near enough the place you want to visit. The price of parking are not expensive, so you have many possibilities to know this town. You can simply go on foot because there is a very beautiful pedestrian path in the historical town core and a lot of forest alleys around Spišská Nová Ves, too.

Get around
The town has a long-shaped center which is divided to two main streets. The streets are named by the parts when the sun is shining or not most of the year (The Summer street and The Wintry street). In the middle of the centre are a lot of side-walks, so you can have a walk with a dog or with your family or just friends. By the walk you can pause and sit on the benches in front of beautiful fountain which jets a lot of water on sunny days.

See
Besides the church which has the highest citadel on the Slovakia, Spišská Nová Ves has many places to visit. One of them is a classical Evangelic church, a building of Art Gallery in which you can find a lot of information not only about the town but also about region Spiš. The building Reduta is one majestic part of town Spišská Nová Ves - there you can eat in a restaurant which is part of it, there are gorgeous balls, reception and the most interesting show Miss of Spiš which is realized every year.

Do
There are many things to do year-round.

Swimming pool When you want some fresh water on your body you can visit one of two swimming pools - both of them are available during summer season from 1st of June to 15th of September. You can not only swim but also play beach volleyball, mini football and basketball. The town has also indoor swimming pool and regeneration center during the Winter every day.

Horse-back riding Horse-back riding center is placed in Agrokam. It offers the possibility to relax for all people who likes horses. There are also some instructors and lessons for small children, so they can learn how to ride a horse.

Fitness center If you want to exercise you can visit Sport Center at Hutnianska road where is placed the Fitness center. There are available myo-stimulator, solarium, and some other activities like aerobic, massages, and hairdresser, too. This all is available from Monday to Saturday every day.

Buy
Bring some money when visiting the town Spišská Nová Ves because there are many things to buy. You can choose between cheap and expensive shops. One of them is Board shop in which you can find almost sport equipment. There are a lot of Chinese shops which are not so expensive and available for many people. And on sunny days there are ice creams that contain tasty flavoring.

Eat
Spišská Nová Ves has plenty of possibilities for delicious food. There are a lot of restaurants - The Slovak Restaurant with typical Slovak foods like Bryndzové halušky and some others like Zbrojnoš, Venuša, Spiš etc. One of them is most beautiful but the prices are moderate - Nostalgia where you can taste an international cuisine and listen to music while eating. Nostalgia is widely visited by foreigners: Germans and Austrians are followed by Italians, Polish, Czech and Hungarian visitors. There are a lot of pizza cars which deliver big and tasty pizzas to your home at competitive prices.

Drink
Besides the drinks like Kofola, Coca-Cola etc., Spišská Nová Ves has one different thing - on very hot sunny days you can be refreshed by fresh water from small pipes which are installed approximately every 5 meters during the walk in center. And what is the best they are free...

Sleep
The most significant thing in the Spišská Nová Ves is the Hotel Metropol which belongs to the three stars hotels. According to Hotel Metropol site it has accommodation and boarding services, too. You can have a possibility to order some extra beds. Every room contains WC, bathroom, television, radio, telephone, too. You have there wide offers of drinks and meals. Hotel provides many useful services, so enjoy it.

Go next
Spišská Nová Ves is famous for its beautiful nature. As the center of Spiš Region offers the possibilities to visit a lot of historical sights in nearby towns, for example: historical Levoča, Spiš Castle, Spišský Štvrok and more. Do not miss villages Hnilec, Mlynky and Dedinky that are situated in nature. Smižany is considered to be the largest village of Slovakia.

Slovak Paradise National Park is nearby.

title: Spišská Nová Ves


text:
Spiddal

Spiddal is a village on the north coast of Galway Bay in Connemara, County Galway. With a population of 237 in 2016, it's not so much the largest, more like the least tiny, of the little settlements that straggle along R336, all described on this page. To the east, see Galway for the city itself and everything along the road through Salthills as far as Silverstrand. To the west, see Carraroe for the area from Costello down the Carraroe peninsula and across the chain of islands to Lettermore and Lettermullan.

Spiddal in Irish is An Spidéal, "the hospital", in that word's older meaning of a place of shelter or hospitality. It would be a most welcome stop in bleak Connemara, with night coming on, the rain lashing down and your horse limping. Inland from the highway there's farmland but mostly a wilderness of stones and bogs. South is the Bay, with views towards County Clare and the Aran Islands. Most visitors are just passing through along the highway, but Spiddal and its neighbouring villages are congenial places to relax for a day or two.

Get in
R336 is the lane west along the coast from Galway through to Inverin, Rossaveel and Costello. From there R343 branches south down the Carraroe peninsula, R374 goes west to cross the chain of islands, while R336 continues north to Maam Cross. The coast road from Galway to Costello and beyond is marketed as the Wild Atlantic Way.

at Inverin (Indreabhán) has flights by Aer Árann to all three of the Aran Islands: Inis Mór (the usual destination), Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr. See those pages for details, but they fly daily year-round and a day trip is feasible.

There are no flights from Connemara or anywhere else to Inishbofin Island, where the expensive taxpayer-funded airport remains unused.

is the usual ferry port for the Aran Islands, see that page for details. Ferries also sail from Doolin in County Clare.

Bus 424 runs every hour or two from Galway to Salthill, Barna, Spiddal (35 min), Inverin (passing within one km of the airport), Rossaveel (connecting with the ferries), Costello and Carraroe. Three buses a day continue to Lettermore and Lettermullan on the chain of islands.

Get around
You need a car.

See

 * Most travellers will follow the road west from the city.

 * is on Rusheen Bay, which empties out at low tide to leave an extensive beach. See Galway city for amenities here.
 * (Bearna) is a fast-growing village with lots of accommodation. Traditionally Irish-speaking, its residents are fighting a rearguard action against the encroaching commuter belt of the Anglophone city.
 * (Na Forbacha) is where you definitely enter the Gaeltacht, as 80% of all its housing developments must be reserved for Irish-speakers. There's a good beach, and Padraicins large seafood restaurant has rooms.
 * Spiddal itself starts unpromisingly with an industrial zone, then you come to the beach and village centre.
 * has accommodation, a supermarket and a beach. It's sometimes described as being in Inverin (Indreabhán, mouth of the river) but most of that is further west, with industry supporting Connemara Airport.
 * Rossaveel is short of accommodation, there's one B&B and one pub if you miss a connection. O'Cualann's is a thatched pub 2 km south.
 * has no facilities beyond a small store. From here the roads fan out to even more remote places - how are you for petrol? See Carraroe for the peninsula and chain of islands through Lettermore.

Do

 * Galway Bay Fishing will take you out sea-fishing. They're based in Spiddal and open daily.
 * It's a great area for sailing in all categories of craft, including Galway Hookers, but this is for experienced sailors with their own boat. It's not like a pedalo, you don't just rock up and hire one for an hour.

Buy

 * Spiddal Crafts Centre (Ceardlann an Spidéil) in village centre is renowned. Most artisans within it are open M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. The cafe is open F-Su 11AM-5PM.

Eat

 * Spiddal has a pizzeria, a Chinese takeaway and a deli. The gastropub Tigh Giblin has closed down.
 * An Cruiscin Lan hotel (see Sleep) has a public bar and restaurant.

Drink

 * Pubs in Spiddal are An Nead ("The Nest") and An Droighneán Donn ("The Blackthorn").

Sleep

 * is open Easter to Oct. It's a good location 1 km inland but facilities are basic and it scores minus three out of ten for customer service.

Connect
As of July 2020, Spiddal has a 4G signal from Three and Vodafone, but Eir only supports a 3G call. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Take a ferry from Rossaveel to the Aran Islands.
 * West takes you past Carraroe peninsula and the chain of islands to the resort town of Clifden.
 * Back to lively Galway whenever you've absorbed enough bleak Connemara countryside.

title: Spiddal


text:
Spiennes

Spiennes is a village in Wallonia.

This small village contains one of the more obscure entries on the UNESCO World Heritage List in the shape of the Neo-lithic Flint Mines

Get in
Spiennes is situated about 5km south of Mons which has a train station and more links to the rest of the region.

If you have your own transport here is a very useful map on the location of the Neolithic Flint Mines
 * The best option to get to Spiennes is to have your own transport/ taxi.

 * With public transport: on Sunday take the bus line 134 in the direction MONS-GIVRY-ERQUELINNES-BEAUMONT. Get off in Spiennes.

Get around
Spiennes is very small and easily covered on foot.

The mines are not a large tourist attraction and there are only a few signs. They are located in farm land to the West of the village. The only noticeable landmark to head for are the blue containers in the field where you can park. The visitors center is just next to these.

See
Neolithic Flint Mines The mines are perhaps the only real reason to divert to Spiennes they cover more than 100 ha, are the largest and earliest concentration of ancient mines in Europe. They were actively used from 4400 - 2000 years B.C.

Practicalities

Without appointment: From March to November, on the first Sunday of each month, from 10 to 16 o'clock.

Groups from 10 persons: All the year round, by appointment only, tel: +32 65 35-34-78 or e-mail [mailto:reservations@minesdespiennes.org reservations@minesdespiennes.org]. If you want to have a visit in English, send a short e-mail to the same address listed above.

Costs: Adults €2.5, Children (must be at least 12 years old and accompanied by an adult) €1.25.

The temperature in the mines is constant: from 8° to 10°C. So wear appropriate clothes. Rain-wear would be useful, as would walking or sports shoes, and a pair of trousers.

The tours are run by volunteers and facilities are very basic. The visit includes a descent in the mines, by means of a vertical ladder which is 8 meters high. If you are uncomfortable with an unassisted climb of 8 meters or are claustrophobic then a visit would need extra consideration. However the welcome is very warm and you will receive a more thorough experience than at many other tourist sites.

Sleep
Mons is the nearest place that has hotels.

title: Spiennes


text:
Spiez

Spiez is a picture postcard town in the Bernese Highlands of Switzerland.

Understand
Spiez is a small, quaint little town (pop 12,500) on the south shore of Lake Thun. It has a wonderful medieval castle and offers spectacular views across the lake.

The tourist office is located on platform 1 of the station (May–Sept M–F 08:00–18:30, Sa 09:00–12:00 and 14:00–16:00; Oct–April M–F 08:00–12:00 and 14:00–18:00).

By train
Spiez is a major junction and so is served by trains from all over Switzerland. Trains go to Berne and Interlaken, as well as further destinations such as Brig, Basel and Zürich.

There are direct connections to Milano (Italy) and Berlin (Germany) too. Visit sbb.ch for further information.

By boat
Regular boat service to Thun and Interlaken

Get around
Spiez itself is easy to discover just by "getting around". So you can catch this special "holiday feeling", which made Spiez a famous wellness and wellbeing location. Discover the "Spirit of Spiez" while walking - from the train station - towards the lakeshore and the castle. In 1954 Germany's football national team found this spirit too and won the world cup.

Don't forget to take a tour through the vineyards: There you'll get a great view all over the city, the lake and the whole panorama of the always snow-covered Alps.

Don't be shy: ask the people, where to go. Almost everyone speaks English, most speak French and some speak Italian. So ask them, where to go, where to get a drink or beer and where to spend the night or to enjoy the nightlife.

If you travel by car you'll be able to park in one of the many parking lots. For your first visit, you can park at the train station next to the tourist information office.

You will find more parking in the city centre (Coop, Lötschbergzentrum, Spiez-Park) and at the lake near the castle.

Do
Take a tour on the forest-covered lakeshore between Spiez and and see the harmony of lake and mountains. After this two hours walk enjoy a great meal in Hotel Restaurant Eden, or the Restaurant Al Porto, or the tiny but famous Restaurant Schlosspintli just aside the lake.

There's a cinema and a bowling centre, too.

There are many activities to do around the lake, as sailing, wind-surfing, river-rafting, bungee-jumping, biking, swimming, canyoning, climbing, paragliding - ask at the tourist office for reservation, rates and further details.

Drink
In summer, take a rest at the lake in the afternoon and check out the nightlife of Spiez's suburbs Thun or Interlaken. For a drink, choose some of the many bars in Spiez and don't forget to taste the local "Spiezer" wine. This wine is an excellent choice with your meal. It is produced from the vineyards around Spiez and is available in white or red.

The local beer, called Rugenbräu, is brewed in Interlaken. Great taste with the typical alpine freshness.

Connect
As of Dec 2022, Spiez and its approach roads have 5G from all Swiss carriers.

Go next

 * Bern
 * Frutigen
 * Interlaken
 * Thun

title: Spiez


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Spillville

Spillville is a small town in Northeast Iowa.

Understand
Spillville is home to the Bily Clocks Museum, and in the summer of 1893, was the temporary stomping grounds of the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak.

title: Spillville


text:
Spiro

Spiro is a town in the Choctaw Country region of Oklahoma.

title: Spiro


text:
Spiš

Spiš  (Hungarian: Szepes, German: Zips) is a historic region in north-east Slovakia near the Polish border. A small portion of the historic Hungarian Szepes county is on the Polish side.

Regions
Traditionally, the region is divided into:

 * Lower-Spiš ((sk)Dolný Spiš), corresponding to districts of Spišská Nová Ves and Gelnica,
 * Middle-Spiš ((sk)Stredný Spiš) corresponding to districts of Levoča, Poprad and a big part of Kežmarok district,
 * Upper-Spiš ((sk)Horný Spiš) corresponding to districts of Stará Ľubovňa and north-west of Kežmarok district called Zamagurie.

Other destinations

 * The Gothic Church at Zehra is also in UNESCO World Heritage List

National parks:
 * Tatra National Park
 * Pieniny National Park
 * Slovak Paradise National Park

Talk
Whilst historically the major languages of the region were Hungarian and German, today Slovak is spoken throughout. The Spis region has a notable presence of minorities: Gypsies, Rusyn-Ukrainians, and Gorals. These often keep their languages and traditions alive in their own separate villages. Until the Second World War there were also large German and Jewish populations; the latter were deported to their deaths in German camps by the Slovak puppet government during World War II, (mostly by train from Poprad station), and the Germans were largely expelled after the war.

Get in
Poprad is the biggest city in Spiš. It has its own airport (the most elevated one in Europe) as well as a railway station. Trains connect Poprad with Bratislava in the west as well as with Košice in the east.

title: Spiš


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Spitzkoppe

Spitzkoppe is in the Erongo region of central Namibia.

Understand
The Spitzkoppe rises majestically out of the surrounding plains and is visible from great distances away. The Groot Spitzkoppe is considered to be a 'inselberg' (island mountain, alike the Monument Valley mountains).

Landscape
The Groot Spitzkoppe is 1728 m above sea level. The Klein Spitzkoppe is 1584 m. There is also Pondok Mountain. The Groot Spitzkoppe is often referred to as the "Matterhorn of Namibia" because of the similarity in shape.

Get in
The nearest town is Usakos. From the B2, take D1918 to D3716. This is approximately 50 km from Usakos.

The Spitzkoppe area is run by a women's cooperative who maintain campsites throughout the brilliantly colored rocks. A nominal fee is paid at the entrance and camping can be arranged. The volume of visitors is relatively low, despite the dramatic rock formations.

Fees and permits
Entree fees in 2007 were N$35 per person.

Get around
There are often local guides to take the visitor around at minimal cost (voluntary sum in Nov 2021). Some places like the rocks with San art are only accessible with a guide.

See
The mountains are brilliantly colored and rise abruptly out of the plains surrounding them. The large depository of San art has been vandalized, but still is definitely worth visiting.

Do
Do climb around the magnificent rock formations. Enjoy the dassies playing on the rocky surfaces.

Buy
There is a small gift shop which supports the women's cooperative. Please help the locals!

Drink
Be sure to bring plenty of water as there are few facilities in the vicinity.

Lodging
There are some traditional Damara huts for rent.

The closest town is Usakos, 50 km away.

Alternative Uis about 90 km away.

Camping
The Spitzkoppe area is a camper's dream. Campsites are located in all types of interesting rock formations with trails leading out. It is possible to get to most campsites by a regular car. There is no water on the campsites and only some have outhouses. But the landscape is absolutely spectacular! N$125 for 2 adults and a car (2007).

Stay safe
Tourists have repeatedly been waylaid in this area.

One trick to make tourists stop and disembark is to fake a flat tire and then robbing the party that stops to help. Namibians do not expect tourists to stop and help with car problems, for precisely this reason, so drive on without a bad conscience.

Another trick is to strew spikes onto the road so that tourists get a flat tire. If that happens to you, and if people immediately appear in the middle of nowhere to help you with changing tires, then this was likely no accident. Swallow your anger but make it absolutely clear that you can do this on your own. If they say they are thirsty, offer water. If they ask for money, tell them (as unlikely as this is) that you plan to camp wild, and did not take any money along.

title: Spitzkoppe


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Split

Split is a city in Central Dalmatia, Croatia, and the seat of the Split-Dalmatia county. The city was built around the Diocletian palace (a palace/fort built for the retired Roman emperor Diocletian) where the locals sought refuge centuries ago. Wandering the historic centre of Split you can still clearly see the Roman walls, squares, and temples.

Understand

Because of its ideal climate, with 2,800 hours of sunlight each year, local people have a few nicknames for Split: "The most beautiful city in the world" and "Mediterranean flower". Many famous Croatian sports people were born in Split, so locals often nicknamed their city "The sportiest city in the world". The most popular sport institution is the football club Hajduk. Large portions of the city are painted with the club's colors and logo. This is done by Torcida, the oldest supporters group in Europe, established in 1950.

Besides the bell tower of St. Duje, the symbols of city are the Dalmatian dog and a donkey. Locals have a high regard for the donkey because of its past indispensable place in field work and transport across the Dalmatian mountains.

Winters in Split are generally mild for Europe, with temperatures above, but despite the popular saying that the city experiences snowfall once every 30 years, there is actually at least one snowy day nearly every winter, usually in January or early February. If you find yourself in Split on a day with significant snowfall, expect serious traffic disruption.

Ground transport

 * To Split: the Airport Shuttle Bus  runs at least hourly between the airport and inter-city bus station, taking 30 min. From town it runs 05:00-21:00; into town it runs 07:30-23:00. One-way fare is.
 * Bus 37 plies every 30 min 04:00-00:00 between Trogir, the airport, and Split's local bus station Sukoišan; it doesn't run to the inter-city station. The bus stops are just outside the airport, walk south out of the parking lot onto the highway Cesta Dr. Franje Tuđmana. The stop on the near side is westbound for Trogir, which takes 10 min, fare ; the opposite-side stop is eastbound via Kaštel Stari and Solin to Split, taking 50 min, fare . You can pay the driver.
 * Further north towards Šibenik, Zadar and Rijeka, buses fly past on the main highway and don't call at the airport, but they do call at nearby Trogir every hour. So you can save some time and money by taking transport to Trogir rather than doubling back via Split. In July and August only, there's a direct bus between the airport and Šibenik every couple of hours, taking almost 3 hours.
 * Going south towards Makarska and Dubrovnik, simply head for Split and change. For the islands, most ferries sail from Split, but those for the Drvenik Veli i Drvenik Mali sail from Trogir.
 * Taxi: the taxi stand is just left as you exit the terminal. To Split expect to pay, 30 minutes; to Trogir.

By bus
Most international services to Split involve a change of buses in Zagreb, but Flixbus have direct buses from Vienna (11 hr), Munich (13 hr) and Mostar (4 hr). There is also a direct service to Sarajevo which runs multiple times daily.

Croatian inter-city buses run north to Šibenik, Zadar, Rijeka and Zagreb, and south to Makarska and (via Neum in Bosnia & Herzegovina) to Dubrovnik.

The long-distance bus station, is next to the railway station and ferry port. It has ticket offices, toilets, left luggage and indoor seating; outside on the quay are lots of little cafes and kiosks.

The airport bus runs to this station, but most local services (e.g. west through Solin to Trogir) depart instead from the local bus station 1 km north, see "Get around".

By boat
Cruise ships, long distance and short-run ferries all dock at the passenger port next to the bus & railway stations. Ferries run three times a week across the Adriatic to and from Ancona and Pescara (Italy). There is also a large ferry that runs twice a week up and down the coast between Dubrovnik and Rijeka, stopping off at a couple of islands along the way. Split is the main hub for local boats and hydrofoils in Central Dalmatia. Several a day run to and from Brač, Hvar, Šolta, Vis, Korčula and Lastovo.

The major operators here are:

 * Jadrolinija. State-owned sea shipping company. They have regular lines connecting the Croatian shore to its islands and with Italy.
 * SNAV. Italian sea shipping company with ferries from Ancona to and from Split. Tickets starting at for a single crossing without cabin. Operates April-October only.
 * Krilo Shipping Company Croatian private sea shipping company with regular ferry lines connecting Split with islands Brač and Šolta. The ferries offer mediocre views for passengers as they travel, as the ships travel as far as possible from coastlines (except when approaching a port), the ships generally lack any outside deck, and window sight lines often poor.

By train
Trains run to Split from Zagreb once daily (with a second train mid-summer) taking six hours, and once overnight. Zagreb has trains from Vienna and Budapest, and connections across the rest of Europe. From Rijeka (which has trains from Zagreb, Ljubljana and elsewhere) there is one daytime and one overnight service changing at Ostarije, seven hours. From Šibenik there are five services changing at Perković, taking a couple of hours. During summer season, Regiojet runs a sleeper service from Prague, Brno, Bratislava and Budapest, arriving in Split at lunchtime.

The main railway station (Kolodvor Split) is next to the bus station and ship terminals. The station is grubby and basic but has left luggage. Many of these trains also stop at Split Predgrađe station in the north of the city.

Get around

Central Split is quite compact and most sights can be easily seen and best experienced on foot, but there are frequent local buses to outlying attractions and the airport.

By bus
Public transport is run by Promet. Most of the city buses in Split are new, but some are very old and dilapidated. You can find routes and schedules from Easyway journey planner. The station for town and local buses is - these don't use the main station 1 km south by the harbour. To transfer between stations use Bus 9 / 10 or just walk.

The fare is determined by the number of zones traveled, ranging from for within Split to  between Split and Trogir one way. These can be purchased from the driver, at a kiosk, or using the Promet ticket app from a smartphone. Two-way tickets cost, but you have to buy them in blocks of 5 or 10 from a kiosk. A one-month ticket is.

Local buses you might use are Bus 37 to the airport and Trogir described earlier, and Bus 60 to Omiš and Ravnicki Most which runs every 30 min. Long-distance buses from the inter-city station also pass through Omiš en route to Makarska.

By bike
Rent a bike and enjoy beautiful biking along Split's waterfront (Riva), continue to Marjan hill (approximately 7 km), climb to the top of the hill for great view on the Split town and surrounding islands. You can bike to the east side, along the coast to nearby village of Stobrec. Another great option from Split is to take a day tour to nearby islands of Solta, Brac, Hvar or Vis. You can take the bike on a regular ferry (they leave approximately every couple of hours in the summer season) and bike along quite roads and charming villages, explore great beaches and restaurants and return in the evening to Split!

Older but rideable mountain bikes are available for €2/hour (March 2012) at the northern entrance to Marjan hill (near Mandalinski put).

By boat
Speed taxi boat is an excellent solution for fast transportation of passengers on whole Adriatic. Said service is available through Dalmatia-express for direct transportation from airport Split to Split Riva or from Split Riva to Dalmatia islands.

If you don't know how to sail, there are a few companies that offer skippered charters in the area..

By train
A suburban train uses the main line from Split as far west as Kaštel Stari. It doesn't reach the airport: they've announced an extension there by 2025, but have yet to identify funding so it's probably more like 2035.

Diocletian's Palace
The historic centre of Split is built around the remains of this Roman palace. Most probably this one of a kind Imperial Palace was built from 298-305 AD and is one of the most significant original structures of the period mostly because so much of it has been preserved. It is probably the best preserved Roman palace in the world. Later this Palace contributed to the broadening of the town because as the city evolved beyond its walls. You only need to wander around to experience it but you can also pay to visit the excavated remains of the basement of the palace. The palace has well preserved main streets cardo and decumanus. Roman palace is enriched with some gothic and reinassance buildings which makes a perfect match. The palace has four monumental gates Porta Aurea (Zlatna vrata, Golden gate), Porta Argenta (Srebrna vrata, Silver gate), Porta Ferrea (Željezna vrata, Iron gate) and Porta Aenea (Mjedena vrata). The unique substructure halls were newly explored and each year more of them are opened to the public. Some have fascinating artefacts on display. May - Oct 10:00-19:00. Nov-Apr, opens at 11:00, duration 90 min. In English language. Starts in front of the tourist info centre, please arrive 15 min before tour is due to commence.

 * Two original Egyptian sphinxes- One is located on Peristil square, and the other in front of Jupiter's temple or St. John's church. They were brought from Egypt by Roman emperor Diocletian.
 * Two original Egyptian sphinxes- One is located on Peristil square, and the other in front of Jupiter's temple or St. John's church. They were brought from Egypt by Roman emperor Diocletian.
 * Two original Egyptian sphinxes- One is located on Peristil square, and the other in front of Jupiter's temple or St. John's church. They were brought from Egypt by Roman emperor Diocletian.
 * Two original Egyptian sphinxes- One is located on Peristil square, and the other in front of Jupiter's temple or St. John's church. They were brought from Egypt by Roman emperor Diocletian.
 * Two original Egyptian sphinxes- One is located on Peristil square, and the other in front of Jupiter's temple or St. John's church. They were brought from Egypt by Roman emperor Diocletian.
 * Two original Egyptian sphinxes- One is located on Peristil square, and the other in front of Jupiter's temple or St. John's church. They were brought from Egypt by Roman emperor Diocletian.

Beyond the Diocletian's Palace

 * Riva is the main city promenade. Since 2007, Riva has a new, more modern appearance, which isn't up to the taste of some who used to it's authentic look.
 * Marjan - a hill situated on the west of Split. Marjan is an oasis for many people who look for a natural stress relief, a great place for long walks, jogging, and bike rides. Marjan's peak, Telegrin is 174 m high and gives a wonderful panoramic view of Split. South cliffs are popular within alpine climbers. St. Nicholas church is situated on the east of Marjan, on its south side are beautiful St. Jeronimus church and "Gospe od Betlema" church (Madonna of Betlehem). House building is strictly forbidden in order to save Marjan - the lungs of Split.
 * Varoš - one of the oldest parts of town. A place where most of the city peasants and fishermen lived. Charming streets and beautiful small houses.

Do

 * Watch football ie soccer at
 * Seabob. Explore some beaches above or below water with a SEABOB.
 * Watch football ie soccer at
 * Seabob. Explore some beaches above or below water with a SEABOB.
 * Seabob. Explore some beaches above or below water with a SEABOB.

 * Go white river rafting on the beautiful river Cetina.

Sailing
There are lots of companies running boats, such as Busabout, RAFT Croatia, Topdeck and Contiki.

The majority of sailing charters start from the city of Split. There are many charter agencies where you can charter a sailing or motor yacht which are based in Split. Most of them operate from ACI marina Split, marina Zenta or marina Spinut. There are also many charter agencies based in marina Kastela which is based in the vicinity of Split.

When you charter a yacht through a charter agency and arrive to the designated marina there are a few things that need to be done.

The most important thing is the yacht check in (usually Saturday around 16:00). Take your time doing yacht check in. Familiarise yourself with the chartered yacht and with the yacht equipment. The rule of thumb is the more time you take for the yacht check in, the less time you will need for the yacht check out.

After that you have to do the shopping for the charter vacation. Don't neglect the groceries shopping because the sea is unpredictable and you don't want to get stuck on the boat without sufficient provisions of food and drink.

You can do the shopping in a marina although the prices are usually much higher there, or you can order from yacht provisioning services who usually deliver the products to the marina at no extra fee. In Jam Yacht Supply offer an online provisioning catalogue and you can order from a large selection of groceries and other products months in advance, everything you order awaits for you at the marina.

Shopping malls

 * Joker Put Brodarice 6. Opened in 2007. 50 shops on 4 floors with Tommy supermarket, DM, Hervis sports shop, Deichmann and a McDonalds. 15-20 min walk from the city center with buses stopping near the front of the centre. There is a cinema on the first floor. The top floor has fitness club, restaurant and a sky bar with an outdoor swimming pool.
 * Joker Put Brodarice 6. Opened in 2007. 50 shops on 4 floors with Tommy supermarket, DM, Hervis sports shop, Deichmann and a McDonalds. 15-20 min walk from the city center with buses stopping near the front of the centre. There is a cinema on the first floor. The top floor has fitness club, restaurant and a sky bar with an outdoor swimming pool.
 * Joker Put Brodarice 6. Opened in 2007. 50 shops on 4 floors with Tommy supermarket, DM, Hervis sports shop, Deichmann and a McDonalds. 15-20 min walk from the city center with buses stopping near the front of the centre. There is a cinema on the first floor. The top floor has fitness club, restaurant and a sky bar with an outdoor swimming pool.

Eat
Italian influences dominate Croatia's coast: a sample of the best of their legacy is risotto with tender white scampi or black calamari, a dish beloved by all Croatians. Dalmatinski pršut ("Dalmatian ham", comparable to Parma or speck) and cheese from the island of Pag are well worth trying, as is the large variety of excellent Croatian wines and beers.

Do not miss Dalmatian pašticada s njokama (gnocchi).

In a world suffocating under the weight of processed foods, Croatia's version of a traditional Mediterranean cuisine is one that is completely reliant on local produce, most of which is organic.

Additionally, as any major city in the Balkans, Split is also a locus of general Balkans-style eating: Ćevapi/ćevapčići (diminutive), a ubiquitous Bosnian dish, are small grilled rolls of minced beef, pork, or lamb, or a combination of any of these three. Usually served with chopped onions, kajmak (similar to clotted cream) or, sometimes, ajvar (a relish made from bell peppers, aubergines, garlic and chilli).

Split's eateries are to be found in a variety of settings, ranging from the romantic to the vibrant. It isn't difficult to enjoy superb food and wine in a classical environment with good friends and/or family.

There are plenty of fast food joints between the Old Town and the bus station.

Drink
Dalmatia is well known for its world class wines, but when in Split it is a must to try soda drinks called Pipi and Orela, produced by local beverage manufacturer Dalmacijavino.

Lots of outdoor cafés are to be found along the Riva waterfront.

Nightclubs
There are many clubs on Bačvice beach

Sleep
There is a wide variety of private accommodation available in Split, as well as a few hostels. Some of the best prices can probably be obtained by going to the bus station or ferry terminal and haggling with the many people there offering accommodation - even fairly late at night, there are still many people offering beds.

Stay safe
Do not go to striptease bars because they are a tourist trap.

For LGBT+ friendly places consider to consult locals first as Ghetto is the only gay-owned bar-club. Alternative youth club Kocka is also gay friendly location for concerts and parties.

Dentist

 * Split-Dent Dental treatment, visitors to the city are welcome.

Connect
Split has good 4+G and 5G speed from Telemach, A1 and T-Mobile. Wifi is widely available in public places around center and most caffes.

Internet Club 100 with print service is at Sinjska ul 2/4 north side of the old city, open Monday to Friday 09:30-15:30.

Go next

 * Salona - ancient Roman colony, one of the biggest towns of Roman Empire. It had a population of nearly 60,000 people. It was a capital of Roman province Dalmatia. Well preserved amphitheater, theater, basilica, cemetery and many other Roman buildings. Situated near town of Solin, 10-20 min bus ride from Split.
 * Hvar - A day trip by boat to this island is well worth the effort. Car ferry leave for Stari Grad five times a day in peak season (July–August), three times a day outside this period (a single trip costs about to Stari Grad on Hvar). There are also high speed passenger ferries that sail to Hvar town. Hvar town is small but extremely attractive, with numerous large yachts moored in the harbour. If using the left luggage service, make sure you thoroughly check the prices and conditions of use. Check ticket prices, schedules and timetables on RAFT Croatia website.
 * Brač - An alternative could be the boat to the island of Brač which is just the other side of the water. Split is well connected with Milna, Sutivan, Bol and Supetar Brač. KSC ferry company sails year round to Brač. The last ferry back to Split leaves at 22:45 from Supetar. Try renting a bike or scooter for exploring the island. When renting, take into account that the rental service normally closes rather early but when you ask for it, they are quite flexible as most people are in Split. A return ferry ticket should cost about, depending on the destination.
 * Šolta is another gorgeous island easily reachable by ferry from Split within an hour. It's more laid back than Hvar and less touristy than Brač, mostly frequented by Croatian tourists. Great bays, clear water, historic towns and local honey, wine and olives.KSC ferry company also provides ferry lines to Stomorska and Rogač that sail year round.
 * Horse Club - in village called Donje Ogorje you can ride a horse in the nature. It will cost you for one hour. There is also an option for riding and sleeping in the nature for several days.
 * Makarska - a popular resort town with beautiful beaches, 60 km southeast of Split. Frequent buses (price one way).
 * Bosnia and Herzegovina - possible day trips by regular scheduled bus include Mostar, Međugorje, Livno, Bugojno, Ljubuški, Travnik and even Zenica.
 * Makarska - a popular resort town with beautiful beaches, 60 km southeast of Split. Frequent buses (price one way).
 * Bosnia and Herzegovina - possible day trips by regular scheduled bus include Mostar, Međugorje, Livno, Bugojno, Ljubuški, Travnik and even Zenica.

title: Split