text:
Hamilton (Ohio)

Hamilton is a city of 63,000 people (2020) in Butler County, Ohio.

By plane
The nearest commercial passenger air service to Hamilton is at either Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport or Dayton International Airport, both located approximately 50 miles away.

By train
There are no scheduled passenger rail service to Hamilton or Butler County, although Amtrak runs its Cardinal train through the county three times per week. The nearest Amtrak station is Union Terminal in Cincinnati.

By car
US 127 runs north-south through Hamilton, connecting the city with Eaton and Greenville to the north and Fairfield and Cincinnati to the south. Ohio 129 crosses Hamilton west to east, with the portion east of the city constructed as a limited-access highway, providing a direct connection to Interstate 75 near West Chester.

Other state highways in Hamilton include Ohio 4 to Fairfield and Middletown, Ohio 128 southwest to Ross and Cleves, and Ohio 177 northwest to Richmond, Indiana.

Do

 * - located in Hamilton

title: Hamilton (Ohio)


text:
Hamilton (Ontario)

Hamilton is a port city in Ontario with a population around 520,000, at the westernmost end of Lake Ontario—the city wraps around the lake and continues towards the Niagara Escarpment, referred to by locals as "the mountain".

Understand
Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe. The city limits of Hamilton used to be bounded by approximately Horning Road in the west and Centennial Parkway in the east, but a continuous urban or suburban area had grown around the city, in the towns of Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek and the community of Greensville in the town of Flamborough. In 2001 the new City of Hamilton was formed through amalgamation of the former City with the constituent towns of the Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Municipality. Residents of the city are known as Hamiltonians. Since 1981, the metropolitan area has been listed as the ninth largest in Canada and the third largest in Ontario.

Traditionally, the local economy has been led by the steel and heavy manufacturing industries. Within the last decade, there has been a shift towards the service sector, particularly health sciences. The Hamilton Health Sciences corporation employs nearly 10,000 staff and serves approximately 2.2 million people in the region.

Hamilton is home to the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, the Bruce Trail, McMaster University and several colleges. The Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats play at Tim Hortons Field. The same venue is also home to Forge FC, the city's pro soccer team that started play in 2019 as a founding member of the Canadian Premier League. Partly because of its diverse locations, numerous TV and film productions have been filmed in Hamilton, regulated by the Hamilton Film and Television Office. There is a growing arts and culture sector including local art galleries, recording studios and independent film production.

Visitor information
Tourism Hamilton is the city's official tourism website, with a free "Experience Hamilton" Visitor’s Guide and current info on local events and attractions.

By plane

There is a ground transportation page for Hamilton Airport. Here are some options:
 * Taxis between downtown Hamilton and the airport cost about $25.
 * Taxis between downtown Hamilton and the airport cost about $25.

By train

 * Via Rail service from Windsor, London, Niagara Falls, and Toronto. GO trains run from Toronto to Aldershot every half hour (or better) everyday including weekends, holidays and evenings.
 * Via Rail service from Windsor, London, Niagara Falls, and Toronto. GO trains run from Toronto to Aldershot every half hour (or better) everyday including weekends, holidays and evenings.

 * Hamilton's main intercity train station is unfortunately not in Hamilton. To get downtown, GO bus 18 (Hamilton Train Meet Service) connects to Hamilton GO Centre, while 11 stops at Hamilton GO Centre before continuing on to West Harbour GO.

 * Hamilton's downtown GO station is mostly a bus service hub (see By bus below.) Train service is limited to four rush-hour, peak-direction GO Transit trains from Toronto. Within the station, GO Transit has fare vending machines, and the Hamilton Street Railway (local buses) has its Customer Service Centre.
 * Hamilton's downtown GO station is mostly a bus service hub (see By bus below.) Train service is limited to four rush-hour, peak-direction GO Transit trains from Toronto. Within the station, GO Transit has fare vending machines, and the Hamilton Street Railway (local buses) has its Customer Service Centre.

 * West Harbour GO station hosts hourly, 7-day-per-week GO Transit train service from Toronto to Hamilton. This is often more convenient than making a transfer at Aldershot. There is also once-a-day GO train service here from St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.
 * West Harbour GO station hosts hourly, 7-day-per-week GO Transit train service from Toronto to Hamilton. This is often more convenient than making a transfer at Aldershot. There is also once-a-day GO train service here from St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.

By bus

 * From Toronto Union Station (Route 16, express, 1-1.5 hours), to Hamilton GO Centre.
 * From Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Mississauga (Route 40), to Hamilton GO Centre.
 * From Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph (Route 17), to Hamilton GO Centre.
 * From Brantford (Route 15) to McMaster University.
 * From St. Catharines (Route 11) to West Harbour GO and Hamilton GO Centre.
 * From Niagara Falls (Route 12) to
 * From Niagara Falls (Route 12) to

By car
Main thoroughfares into Hamilton include the Queen Elizabeth Way, Highway 403, and Highway 6. Hamilton is roughly 1 hour from Toronto and from Niagara Falls.

By boat
When approaching Hamilton Harbour from the east- Lake Ontario- remember that the lift bridge opens every half hour on the hour.

Hitchhiking
It is illegal for a pedestrian to enter any 400 series highway or the QEW. It is also very unsafe due to the high velocity and dense volume of traffic. If you should choose to do so anyway you can expect the police to pick you up and remove you within a short time.

A safe and legal alternative is to hitchhike on the on-ramp, providing there is sufficient space for a vehicle to pull over without endangering the driver or passing traffic.

Hitchhiking on other roads in Hamilton (and Ontario) is legal so long as you do not stand in the roadway.

By car
Hamilton is divided into two main sections—"The Mountain" and downtown. The Mountain refers to anything on the escarpment—access to the mountain is limited to a few roads, which often arrive on a different street than when you started. If you're going up the mountain, take a second to learn which access you need to take. Driving on the mountain accesses in the winter can be treacherous, and even many locals avoid it if possible due to icy road conditions. During severe storms many and sometimes even all of the accesses can be closed by the city, making travel between the two major districts nearly impossible. The Sherman Access changes to one-way traffic during rush hour, to get traffic down the mountain in the morning and up the mountain in the afternoon. If you aren't aware of this, it can mean having to take a long detour if you've committed to taking the Sherman but can't. Even outside of rush hour the signage on this access can be confusing.

Hamilton has many one-way streets throughout its downtown core. Be aware of what intersection you're heading for, and what streets precede it, or you may overshoot.

Rush hour traffic can be problematic like in any other large city. Try to avoid driving down Upper James Street in the mornings or between 4-6PM unless you're content to watch pedestrians overtake you on the sidewalks. The nearby street of West 5th (next major street to the west of Upper James) generally has a far lower volume of traffic and can save you upwards of 10 minutes of driving time. It also sports a mountain access that can get you down to (lower) James Street in no time at all.

The Lincoln Alexander Expressway (known locally as the Linc or Link) is a city by-pass that runs across the mountain from Ancaster to Stoney Creek. If you're trying to get past the city be sure to avoid the major roads (Mohawk, Fennell, Stone Church or Rymal) at all costs and take the Linc, which will save you ample time and gas.

There are some duplicate street names between Hamilton and the surrounding areas it amalgamated with; for example, there is a King Street in Dundas, Hamilton, and Stoney Creek.

By bus
A fare is valid for two hours of travel on HSR buses. If paying by cash, ask the driver for a "transfer" as a receipt to show the driver when changing buses. If paying by Presto, credit or debit card, the transfer info is electronically recorded on your card when you tap on.

Presto, credit and debit card customers can also transfer freely between HSR and Burlington Transit buses at any location within 2 hours of paying the initial fare.

Burlington Transit routes 1/1X serve the Royal Botanical Gardens from King & James streets (BT Stop #679) and King & Bay streets (BT Stop #827). Burlington Transit accepts HSR paper transfers only at these two stops in downtown Hamilton.

For Presto, credit and debit card holders: If transferring between GO Transit (GO) and HSR to complete a trip, your HSR fare will be free. Just tap your Presto, credit or debit card on the Presto fare device on both transit systems to get the free HSR fare. When transferring from HSR to GO, the HSR fare will be refunded to your Presto, credit or debit card after completing your trip.

Historical note: Despite having terminated all streetcar service by 1951, the Hamilton Street Railway has retained its quaint name to this day. Today, the HSR operates no rail services, but there is a plan to construct a light rail line in downtown Hamilton in future.

Waterfalls

Outdoor activities

 * Golf at one of Hamilton's 18-hole public courses: or . There are numerous private courses including the 2003, 2006, 2012, 2019, and 2024 homes to the Canadian Open, the top rated, in Ancaster. The Hamilton Golf and Country Club is an exclusive club that dates back to Hamilton's industrial glory days. Unless you know a member, or someone that knows a member, forget playing here.
 * Golf at one of Hamilton's 18-hole public courses: or . There are numerous private courses including the 2003, 2006, 2012, 2019, and 2024 homes to the Canadian Open, the top rated, in Ancaster. The Hamilton Golf and Country Club is an exclusive club that dates back to Hamilton's industrial glory days. Unless you know a member, or someone that knows a member, forget playing here.

Shopping districts
Hamilton has numerous shopping districts along attractive streets lined with small shops and eateries. While fewer brand-name retail items are available in Hamilton than in neighbouring Toronto, several districts host a successful spot for antiques, art and specialty boutiques.

Eat
It's not difficult to find a superb variety of foods in Hamilton. Having a large minority and immigrant population, many people in Hamilton can and do take the opportunity to eat exotic cuisines.

Budget
Besides the listings below, there is a multicultural business community along James Street North between King and Murray streets offering affordable restaurants serving food from multiple nationalities.

Mid-range
Hamilton is a large city and therefore enjoys almost every mid-range dining chain. Examples include Kelsey's, Montana's, and The Keg. Hess Street, in addition to housing some newer upper-scale establishments, has several mid-range places that offer fantastic food (Ceilidh House being an example).

Drink

Sleep

In addition to the ones below, Burlington just north of Hamilton has some more places to sleep.

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Stay safe
Hamilton resides on a highly polluted area of Lake Ontario. High levels of E. Coli bacteria usually prevent the beach from being open for swimming season. In addition, the city suffers from high air pollution including fine particulate matter, consistent with most of Southern Ontario from Windsor through Oshawa.

Like most cities, there are unsafe areas which should be avoided. Some of the areas that may be problematic after dark due to black market activities (i.e. sex trade and illegal narcotics) are Barton Street from around Lottridge to James Street and Cannon and Wilson Streets between Wentworth and Victoria, along with the general downtown area including Gore Park and Jackson Square, but again, only at night. Additionally, Ferguson Avenue between Cannon and Barton is home to a large transient population, as is the rest of the Beasley neighbourhood.

Hess Village can and does experience the usual amount of drunken bar fights (typically outside of the bars), but this is no different from any other large city. Several uniformed police officers typically patrol the small area on busier nights.

Use common sense and avoid walking around alone at night. Police presence is usually infrequent in less-busy neighbouroods, so it can be best to avoid them unless you have business.

The rate of violent crime is moderate compared to other similarly-sized Canadian cities.

The beautiful trails along the Niagara Escarpment can sometimes run quite close to unfenced, unmarked cliff edges. Stay on the trail and use caution and you'll be fine.

Emergency services

 * Police, fire, ambulance: 911

Hamilton Police

 * Hamilton Police Services, (Non-emergency switchboard).

Connect
All branches of the Hamilton Public Library offer free internet and free wi-fi. The Central Library at 55 York Blvd also has an accessible computer with a screen reader.

Go next

 * Burlington - the vast Royal Botanical Gardens await you just over the city line
 * Kitchener/Waterloo - About an hour's drive north-west. This is an old German community with a ton of nice old buildings. A variety of unique shopping and dining experiences make this a promising day-trip out of Hamilton. Nearby Cambridge is home to the African Lion Safari: guard your cars well against roving bands of outlaw baboons in this family-friendly, drive-through safari park.
 * Niagara Falls - for the Falls, of course
 * Niagara-on-the-Lake - quaint, historic town with great little shops, restaurants, and (in the summer) the Shaw Festival
 * Toronto - all the big-city thrills you could want in Canada's largest metropolis

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

title: Hamilton (Ontario)


text:
Hamilton (Scotland)

Hamilton is a town on Clydeside in central Scotland. With a population of 54,480 in 2020, it's the fourth-largest town in Scotland and lies 12 miles southeast of Glasgow, at the confluence of the River Clyde with the Avon Water.

Understand
This town was called Cadzow (pronounced "Cadju") until the 15th century when it became the seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, who over the following centuries often enlivened the place and sometimes improved it. Their embellishments, especially the palace facade and mausoleum, are today the reason to visit. Coal-mining was the main local industry: Hamilton was the county town of Lanarkshire and is now the base for South Lanarkshire Council, employing 16,000. It's separated by the Clyde and the M74 from nearby Motherwell, a former steel town.

This placename Hamilton is not directly related to the other Hamiltons in Ontario, Bermuda or New Zealand. Still less are the Dukes of Hamilton, now embodied by the 16th Duke Alexander Douglas Douglas-Hamilton (born 1978), to be confused with the unsuccessful Ontario hockey team of that name who became "Guelph Storm".

Get in
Most long-distance travel by public transport involves changing in Glasgow. From the airport take the bus to central Glasgow then train or bus as below.

By train
Trains run from Glasgow Central every 15 min, taking 25-30 min via Rutherglen, Cambuslang, Blantyre and Hamilton West to Hamilton Central. They run 6AM-11PM and originate in Dalmuir or Milngavie. Alternate trains continue to Motherwell (10 min), which is on the main line with direct fast trains from Edinburgh and north-east England, Carlisle and northwest England, the Midlands and London. Hourly local trains continue beyond Motherwell to Coatbridge and Cumbernauld.

is in town centre next to the bus station. It has a ticket office and machines, toilets and a waiting room. There is step-free access to both platforms.

is more convenient for the football ground and north end of town.

By bus
First Glasgow Bus X1 runs M-Sa every 30 min from Glasgow Buchanan station to Hamilton Low Patrick St, taking 25 min. It only runs between 7AM and 6PM. Night Bus N267 runs shortly after midnight Saturday and Sunday mornings, and again at 3AM. It runs from Glasgow Dalhousie St and Central Station to Hamilton John St.

The hourly Stagecoach X74 from Dumfries and Moffat calls at Hamilton on its way to Glasgow.

Stagecoach West Bus X1 runs hourly to Hamilton from Ayr, Kilmarnock and East Kilbride.

JMB Bus 41 runs M-Sa every 15 min to Hamilton from Lanark, Carluke, Wishaw and Motherwell.

First Glasgow Bus 201 runs daily every 10-20 min from Petersburn and Airdrie to Coatbridge, Belshill, Motherwell, Hamilton, Burnbank, East Kilbride and Hairmyres Hospital.

Hamilton Bus Station is next to Hamilton Central railway station.

By car
Most routes approach along M74, exit at jcn 6 and follow A723 into town. From Edinburgh follow M8 and cross by A725 onto M74.

Get around
Walk: Hamilton centre is compact and pedestrian-friendly, with traffic-free shopping malls. Further out, all areas have proper pavements, and the major junctions have pedestrian crossings.

By bus: see above for buses to nearby Motherwell, Wishaw, East Kilbride, and southern suburbs of Glasgow.

Buses up the main spine of town (A724 Union Street) include 201, 205 and 250 (all for East Kilbride), 226 (for Hillhouse) and 230 (for Blantyre).

By train: Chatelherault has its own station, often garbled as "Chattel Halt", with trains every 15 min from Glasgow and Hamilton on the branch line to Larkhall.

Taxi firms are Hastie Cars (+44 1698 825000), Well-Man (+44 1698 891313), Cadzow Cars (+44 1698 891990) and Bridge Cars (+44 1698 422288).

See

 * is along Bent Road half a mile west of Hamilton Central station. As well as the Dukes, here lies the entertainer Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950), who for ten years worked down the local coal mine - he was once pinned under a roof-fall, while his work mates were horribly crushed.
 * is along Bent Road half a mile west of Hamilton Central station. As well as the Dukes, here lies the entertainer Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950), who for ten years worked down the local coal mine - he was once pinned under a roof-fall, while his work mates were horribly crushed.
 * is along Bent Road half a mile west of Hamilton Central station. As well as the Dukes, here lies the entertainer Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950), who for ten years worked down the local coal mine - he was once pinned under a roof-fall, while his work mates were horribly crushed.
 * is along Bent Road half a mile west of Hamilton Central station. As well as the Dukes, here lies the entertainer Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950), who for ten years worked down the local coal mine - he was once pinned under a roof-fall, while his work mates were horribly crushed.

Do

 * Football:
 * Clyde FC share New Douglas Park, having relocated from Cumbernauld. They were relegated in 2023 so they play in League Two, the fourth tier.
 * Vue Cinema is east side of town by the Holiday Inn Express.
 * Golf: Hamilton GC is south of town at Chatelherault, blue tees 6452 yards, par 71, visitor round £60. Strathclyde GC is a council-run course north near the mausoleum and racecourse.
 * Funfair and theme park is the other side of M74 in nearby Motherwell.
 * Funfair and theme park is the other side of M74 in nearby Motherwell.

Buy

 * Shopping centres are a block north of Central station. The mall on the west side of Quarry St is New Cross Centre, that on the east side is Regent Centre.

Connect
As of Aug 2022, Hamilton and its approach roads have 4G from O2 and Vodafone, and 5G from EE and Three.

Go next

 * East Kilbride has the Museum of Rural Life.
 * New Lanark is a, a well-preserved 18th century mill complex and model town.
 * Glasgow and Edinburgh both rank as must-see and are easily reached by train or by road.

title: Hamilton (Scotland)


text:
Hamilton (Victoria)

Hamilton is a town in western Victoria, Australia.

By air
There is a local airport,, for recreational aircraft.

By car
Use the A200 Henty Highway.

By bus
V/Line bus.

Do

 * Hamilton Botanic Gardens. Includes rare plants, a restored rotunda, and a small zoo.
 * The Keeping Place. A small museum and living history centre run by local indigenous people.

Go next
Grampians National Park - Beautiful mountain ranges a short drive away.

Mount Gambier - Small South Australian town known for its beautiful Blue Lake. Around 1.5hr drive.

title: Hamilton (Victoria)


text:
Hamilton County

There is more than one place called Hamilton County:

 * Hamilton County (Florida)
 * Hamilton County (Illinois)
 * Hamilton County (Indiana)
 * Hamilton County (Iowa)
 * Hamilton County (Kansas)
 * Hamilton County (Nebraska)
 * Hamilton County (New York)
 * Hamilton County (Ohio) - A county in Southwestern Ohio and location of Cincinnati.
 * Hamilton County (Tennessee)
 * Hamilton County (Texas)

title: Hamilton County


text:
Hamilton County (Ohio)

Hamilton County is a county located in the Greater Cincinnati area of Ohio on the border with Indiana and Kentucky, separated by the Ohio River. Cincinnati is the county seat.

Cities

 * Southeastern Hamilton County is covered in the Eastern Cincinnati page.
 * Northeastern Hamilton County
 * Southeastern Hamilton County is covered in the Eastern Cincinnati page.
 * Northeastern Hamilton County

By plane
There are three airports close to Hamilton County:

By car
Cincinnati is served by Interstates 71 (from Columbus and Louisville), 74 (from Indianapolis), 75 (from Dayton and Lexington), 471 (a spur of I-71- to the south), and 275 (the circle beltway). US 50 also serves the area as an expressway to the eastern neighborhoods (Columbia Parkway) and western neighborhoods via the Sixth Street Expressway, which links River Road and the Waldvogel Memorial Viaduct to Downtown.

One of the most beautiful panoramic views in the country occurs when driving northbound on Interstate 71/75 (the interstate routes share the same highway in part of Northern Kentucky) travelling into downtown Cincinnati, just before the Brent Spence Bridge.

By train
Amtrak, offers passenger train service from key U.S. cities. All trains arrive and depart from Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center. This is several miles from Cincinnati, and since most of the trains arrive before dawn, before public transportation is available, it may be wise to call a taxi to finish the rest of your journey.

By bus
Greyhound offers passenger bus service from many U.S. cities. Buses arrive and depart from Greyhound's station in downtown Cincinnati.

By Ferry
Cincinnati, Ohio to Constance, Kentucky. All-year, continuous daily service, weather permitting. Car=about $3 or less. Pedestrian $0.25 PH:859-485-9210

Get around
SORTA (Southwestern Ohio Regional Transit Authority) operates the Metro bus system, which serves Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Clermont County, and Warren County.

Eat
To get a taste of the area you should try a 5 Way Skyliner Chili, basic diner serving cinnamon spiced chilli on spaghetti; sound odd but worth experiencing. A must eat are the excellent flavoured and cooked ribs at a Montgomery Inn, either in Montgomery or the down-town Cincinnati riverside boathouse. Also try some of the micro brewery restaurants in Cincinnati which have an interesting US/German culinary mix.

Drink
The most popular wateringhole in Hamilton County is Main Street in Cincinnati. Alternatively, venture across the Ohio River in Newport_(Kentucky), where cool new bars and restaurants are popping up.

Adjacent counties

 * Butler County - north
 * Warren County - northeast
 * Clermont County - east
 * Boone County, Kentucky - southwest
 * Kenton County, Kentucky - south
 * Campbell County, Kentucky - southeast
 * Dearborn County, Indiana - west

title: Hamilton County (Ohio)


text:
Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island is one of the Whitsunday Islands of Central Queensland. It is part of the Great Barrier Reef. The island has been developed as a popular holiday resort, and made waves in 2008 when it advertised the caretaker's position as the Best Job in the World — $150,000 for six months of living on the island and blogging about it once a week.

Understand
Hamilton Island is a resort island, part of the Whitsunday Islands. Hamilton Island has the most places to stay, restaurants and shops of all the Whitsunday Islands. Whereas many of the Whitsunday Islands only feature a single resort, Hamilton Island features many resorts and hotels. Infrastructure is on the north side of the island. To the south, the island is untouched natural vegetation.

By plane
Hamilton Island has an airport with a single runway. It is capable of supporting jet aircraft, but there is no aerobridge, passengers embark and disembark via unsheltered stairs. The two level terminal building services three departure gates and features a club lounge and a small cafe. Hamilton Island airport is served by Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas. There are direct flights from many Australian cities, including Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.

Fares to Hamilton can be very competitive: from many centres it can be cheaper to fly to Hamilton Island and transfer to the mainland rather than the other way around.

Airport transfer
A free shuttle bus meets all arriving aircraft to transfer guests to the Reef View Hotel, Whitsunday Holiday Apartments or Palm Bungalows. Beach Club guests, Reef View Hotel Suite, qualia and Deluxe Holiday Home Villa guests will receive VIP transfers in a chauffeured golf buggy. Hamilton Island Holiday Home guests check in at reception counter at the airport entrance - and pick up their personal 4 seater golf buggy on arrival.

By buggy
You can get around in Hamilton island by golf buggies. Cars are prohibited. Apartment hire usually includes exclusive use of a buggy. Golf buggies can be hired, for a daily fee. Hiring a buggy requires a credit card imprint which will be returned if the buggy is returned with no damage. Insurance is also available for an extra fee. A full drivers licence is required to drive a buggy. Beach Club guests receive 24 hour complementary buggy chauffeur service to any destination of their choice.

By bus
Free shuttle bus services operate on the island. One service operates continuously between the resort precinct and the marina, completing the loop every 15 minutes. Two other services run clockwise and counter-clockwise on a circuit that covers a greater part of the island.

Walking
You can walk around the island. You have to climb up and over the hill to get between the airport section, marina section and resort section, taking around 20 minutes or so for the journey by foot. Hence the popularity of the golf buggies.

Do

 * Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. There is no reef off the Hamilton Island beaches, so good snorkelling requires a boat trip.
 * Take a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef
 * Visit Whitehaven Beach
 * Sail the Whitsunday islands
 * Kayaking around the island
 * Trek up to Passage Peak
 * Catch your own fish for dinner
 * Go Scuba diving.
 * Witness a spectacular sunset
 * Play a round of golf. Hamilton Island Golf Course is on the neighbouring Dent Island, a 5 minute ferry trip away.

Buy
There are ATMs on the island to restock cash, and a Westpac Bank.

There is a supermarket on the island to pick up essentials, and it also sells alcohol. You can pre-order supplies to be ready when you arrive on the island. If you are staying in a hotel, there may be limits on food and alcohol deliveries to the hotels. Check with your accommodation.

Eat
There are restaurants, cafes and pool bars attached to most of the hotels and resorts. There are also independent food places in the Marina area. You can get reasonably priced food at the take-away places, and even an occasional snack from the pool bars. Expect to be paying a premium to eat here though. There are no real bargains to be had.

 * Bommie - Modern Australian in the new Hamilton Island Yacht Club - signature restaurant on Hamilton island.
 * Romanos Italian Restaurant - Italian and Seafood restaurant on the Marina.
 * Steakhouse - Relaxed family-style restaurant and bar specialising in steak dishes.
 * Mariners - Fresh Seafood and contemporary dining in the Marina Village.
 * The Pool Terrace Restaurant - Buffet breakfasts and lunchtime snack menu and a la carte dinner menus - located poolside at the Reef View Hotel.
 * Sails - Casual breakfast, lunch and dinner dining for families - located in the resort centre.
 * Manta Ray Cafe - Gourmet woodfired Pizzas & cocktails overlooking the Marina. Dine in or takeaway.
 * Koala Gallery - Outdoor breakfast BBQ in a Koala enclosure.
 * Popeyes - Fish & chips, and chicken takeaway.
 * Hamilton Island Bakery - Takeaway sandwiches and pastries.
 * Marina Deli - Delicatessen specialising in paninis, foccacias and wraps.
 * Dennison Star Dinner Cruise - 4-course dinner cruising the Witsundays on a 107ft timber boat.
 * Qualia - exclusive to guests of qualia (and included in room tariff) is a fine dining restaurant housed in the luxurious Long Pavilion
 * Beach Club - Exclusive to Beach Club guests - fine dining on Catseye Beach

Drink

 * Marina Tavern - Large pub with wooden decks overlooking the Hamilton Island Marina
 * Bottle shop - Retail shop selling a range of wine, beer and spirits
 * Cocktails - Sunset cockatils on One-Tree Hill most days (weather permitting)
 * Bars - There are many bars and lounges spread throughout the resort complexes specialising in beer, wine, spirits and cocktails

Sleep
There are several forms of accommodation to choose from on Hamilton, from bungalows to high-rise hotels, apartments and 5-star resorts.

title: Hamilton Island


text:
Hamirpur

Hamirpur is a city in Himachal Pradesh in India.

title: Hamirpur


text:
Hamm

Hamm is a city of 180,000 inhabitants (2022) in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. Once an industrial and important railway hub, it's now a relatively unremarkable city at the far east end of the Ruhr.

Get around
Hamm has a local city bus system of 14 routes, buses operate on all days of the week. There are regional bus services to Lünen, Werne, Werl, Ahlen and Bergkamen.

Very early, on Saturday and Sunday nights, there are night buses to suburbs and neighbouring villages. Single rides are €2.00 each, day passes for 1 or up to 5 persons are €4.60 and €8.80 respectively (May 2024).

Go next

 * Münster
 * Dortmund
 * Soest

title: Hamm


text:
Hammamet

Hammamet (حمامات) is in Northern Tunisia. Thanks to its beaches, it is a popular destination for swimming and water sports and is the primary tourist destination in Tunisia.

Understand
Hammamet is the oldest tourist center in the country. All resorts in Tunis have wonderful parks but even among them Hammamet stands out with its luxurious gardens. The main principle of town planning here is that houses must not be higher than cypresses.

The city was founded about 5 centuries ago. There are the fortress walls and the Big Mosque are still preserved in it. The city keeps its one-floor image. It offers wide sand beaches, modern hotels with high level of service, plenty of bars, restaurants, stores, markets.

The reported number of inhabitants varies from 100,000 to 400,000 and the population quadruples due to tourists' arrival in the summer. Around Hammamet, suburbs are being built as migrants from the southern region of the country come to find employment.

It is particularly known for jasmine, which is the namesake of the tourist resort of Yasmine Hammamet. All over Hammamet, souvenirs crafted from jasmine can be found.

History
In the 1st century, there was a settlement here known as Pupput. It was a town (now in the suburbs of Hammamet) that became a Roman colony in the 2nd century. In the 13th century, walls around town were built and medina of Hammamet was built in the 15th century. Then it came under Spanish and Turkish rule.

In 1601 it was the object of a successful Spanish attack. 300 men took 700 prisoners, mostly women and children, because most of the men in the town had fled.

In 1605 there was another Spanish attack, but this time the result was disastrous for the attackers. It was carried out by six galleys, four from Malta, six from Sicily carrying Spanish and other Christian troops. The initial taking of the town was successful as the Spanish managed to climb the walls and open the gates but then there was an unexpected call to retreat - it could not be later determined where or how it originated. In the confusion, the retreat fell into disorder and the Spanish were massacred at the beach by a much smaller number of Moors. There were 1200 men gathered at the beach trying to get back to their ships but the wind had changed and conditions were difficult.

In World War II, it became one of the headquarters of the Nazi general Erwin Rommel. Festival international d'Hammamet was established in 1964.

By plane
There are 6 main airports in Tunisia: Tunis (Carthage), Enfidha, Monastir, Tabarka, Djerba and Tabarka, Tunis being the capital. When you arrive into one of the airports, if you don't have a coach transfer booked be strong, there are lots of men waiting to take your trolley for you (and for this you will be charged!) say "no" and hang on to all your belongings.You can get a private taxi from Monastir or Tunis to Hammamet which is approximately 1hour and cost from 50 to 80 DT, or from Enfidha for around 30 DT. You can also get an airport taxi (you do not need to bargain, ask for the meter to be turned on) to get you to the intercity bus station or to the intercity collective (shared 9-seater) intercity taxi station. These options would cost you about 3-4 DT per head and probably an overcharge if you have big bulky luggage.

By train
There are a lot of trains stopping at from Tunis (about 4.5 DT), which is along the main train line and 6 km from Hammamet. You can easily take a taxi from the Bir Bou Regba (Rekba) station to wherever you want to go in Hammamet. There are fewer trains from Tunis directly to Hammamet.

Eat
A plenty of restaurants. Usually, a dinner costs 15-20 DT. A nice lobster for two people with white wine in July 2007 was about 200 DT.

Drink
Try some of the local wine, which are hard to get in restaurants in Tunis.

Mid-range

Go next

 * Kelibia — a coastal town with a fishing port and the Fort of Kelibia
 * Monastir — ancient city with a history back to Phoenecian times; these days home of the main charter flight airport in
 * Port El Kantaoui — a popular tourist destination in Tunisia, north of Sousse.
 * Sousse — the town is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its architecture, and also a popular beach resort option
 * Tunis — the laid-back capital of Tunisia with easy access to Carthage and a very authentic souk

title: Hammamet


text:
Hammaslahti

Hammaslahti is in Joensuu. It was centre of formerly Pyhäselkä municipality. Nowadays it is one of Joensuu districts.

By bus
From Joensuu several times a day, local bus lines 103 and 104. See more information from Joensuu region local transport website. Matkahuolto schedule search shows timetables of long distance buses from Savonlinna and Kitee, the nearest stop to Hammaslahti is named Hammaslahti/Kiihtelysvaara-risteys. Matka.fi route planner includes information about these services.

By train
Trains do not stop anymore at Hammaslahti railway station. Nearest railway station in passenger service is in Joensuu.

By bus
See Joensuu#By bus

Joensuu region local transport buses can be used also for local trips.

By taxi

 * Smartphone app: 02 Taksi

See
Museum of The Carelian railway

Buy

 * Supermarket "S-Market", hammaslahdentie 19
 * Supermarket "Siwa", lastaustie
 * Kiosk

Eat

 * Rohat Pizza & Kebab, pyhäseläntie 11

Drink

 * Aseman kuppila, a pub in Hammaslahti centre, lastaustie 5

Sleep

 * Suhmuran kievari, (Suhmura's Inn) conference/ restaurant/ accommodation, about five kilometres to north from centre *

title: Hammaslahti


text:
Hammerfest

Hammerfest in Finnmark lays claim to being the northernmost town in the world, with over 9,000 inhabitants at a latitude above 70°. There are some villages farther north, but none larger than 2,000 people.

Hammerfest is one of the capitals of Sami culture.

Understand
The first church in Hammerfest was built in the 17th century. In 1789, Hammerfest was issued its town charter, to promote trade and prosperity in the north. In 1790, Hammerfest sent its first hunting expedition to Svalbard, and the town was a pioneer in arctic trapping, although Tromsø took over by around 1850. In 1809, British forces burned and sacked the town as part of their blockade policy. During the 19th c., Hammerfest flourished as a minuscule trade centre exporting fish to Russia. In 1891, a devastating fire flattened the town. As part of the reconstruction, the town was the first in Europe to install electric street lamps. In 1944, the town was again destroyed, this time as part of the German occupiers' scorched earth policy. Post war prosperity was ensured by the big Findus fish processing factory, that is now history. At the turn of the millennium, Hammerfest became an important base for gas extraction.

Hammerfest is so far north that the tree line is below sea level. This means that, apart from a few secluded spots, there are no trees, giving the terrain a barren look quite distinct from the rest of Norway.

Every summer, thousands of reindeer migrate through Hammerfest. As this is quite a nuisance to residents, the town has built a fence to keep them out, but the reindeer find their way in anyway. If you go in summer, you have a good chance of spotting reindeer wandering through the town.

By plane

 * from Tromsø you fly to Hammerfest with the small aircraft of Widerøe. Due to a lot of oil traffic, getting a cheap seat is difficult.

By bus

 * There are a couple of buses a day to Alta, from where you can get a cheap flight to Oslo with SAS Braathens or Norwegian.

By boat

 * The famous Hurtigruten calls at Hammerfest. It's about five hours to Honningsvåg and Nordkapp, and 12 hours to Tromsø. As of 2024, the Hurtigruten is not docking at its usual port in the town centre. Rather, it docks at an industrial port, about a 30-minute (but pleasant enough) walk to the town centre.
 * There is also a catamaran to Alta most days of the week. The tour is highly scenic and recommended.

Get around
Hammerfest is easy to explore by foot. Buses (both local and regional) are run by Troms fylkestrafikk.

See
Despite being the oldest town in the north of Norway, there is precious little history. The town was destroyed by the British in 1809, by a devastating fire in 1891 and by the Germans in 1944.

 * The Museum of Reconstruction tells the tale of the destruction of Hammerfest and the north in 1944-45, and the reconstruction after the war.
 * The 1961 Church of Hammerfest is striking and modern, yet warm and welcoming. The grave chapel next door was the only WWII survivor in town.[[Image:Hammerfest's modern church.jpg|thumb|Hammerfest church]]
 * St. Michael's Church is the local Roman Catholic church, donated by German soldiers after WWII.
 * – Fuglenes, "Bird's peninsula" is in the Fuglenes district of Hammerfest on a hill with a view to the Arctic Sea. It's the northernmost point on the world heritage listed Struve Geodetic Arc. The point is marked by a green globe standing on a granite pedestal, this monument is called Meridianstøtten.
 * – Fuglenes, "Bird's peninsula" is in the Fuglenes district of Hammerfest on a hill with a view to the Arctic Sea. It's the northernmost point on the world heritage listed Struve Geodetic Arc. The point is marked by a green globe standing on a granite pedestal, this monument is called Meridianstøtten.

Do

 * July: Hammerfestdagan - town festival
 * August: Ølfestivalen - the Beer Festival (may not be running 2024)
 * October: Hammerfestival - music festival

Buy
Odds Mat- og Vinhus (Odd's Food and Wine)

Go next
By plane, the neighbouring go-to villages when leaving Hammerfest are Båtsfjord, Kirkenes and Karasjok. Using conventional aviation, a trip north to the desolate Svalbard region will take between six and seven hours.

You can also take the Hurtigruten ferry east to Kirkenes near the Russian border, or south to Tromsø, Lofoten, Trondheim and Bergen.

title: Hammerfest


text:
Hammond

Hammond is a Chicagoland city of some 76,000 people (2019) in Lake County, Indiana—bordering Chicago's Far Southeast Side. Most visitors will find themselves passing through or on business, but Chicagoans would do well to include it in a close-in Lake County day trip, if for no other reason than to get some good food, perhaps stock up on fireworks, and realize that Chicagoland doesn't stop at the state line!

Understand

It may come as a surprise to other Hoosiers that Hammond is the state's sixth largest city. Its history and culture, as with nearly all of Indiana's Lake Michigan coast, is inextricably linked to a big blue-collar industrial workforce. While the industrial economy is not what it once was, Hammond is still in decent shape, with a big new casino drawing in visitors from the Chicagoland area.

By car
The big highways cutting east west across the city are I-90 and I-94/I-80, both of which head east towards Gary and I-65 towards Indianapolis, and west towards Chicago and its south suburbs. The biggest north south streets are Calumet Ave (US-41) and Indianapolis Blvd (IN-152). Both lead into the city coming from Chicago in the north, and are a far more interesting drive than the big highways.

By train
The South Shore Line, which stretches from Chicago's East Loop to Indiana's South Bend, has one stop at, located at 4531 Hohman Avenue, and another literally on the East Chicago/south Hammond border. Tickets are $4.75 per way. Amtrak offers a limited service on its Wolverine route between Chicago and Pontiac via Detroit. These trains calls at station, located in the Robertsdale neighborhood of north Hammond at 1135 North Calumet Ave.

By plane
The closest airport is certainly Gary/Chicago International Airport, but there are a lot more flights coming into Chicago Midway , which is about a 30 minute drive without heavy traffic.

Buy
Hammond and the rest of the cities immediately bordering Chicago across the state line are well known among Chicagoans for fireworks and far cheaper cigarettes. Indeed, here you'll find big box stores selling cases of either—the easiest to reach being on Calumet Ave just north of I-94/I-80.

Sleep
The following hotels are located along Interstate 90, the Indiana Toll Road:

The following hotels are located along Interstates 80/94, the Borman Expressway:

Go next
Chicago is the obvious nearby destination, but if you are up for staying far off the beaten path, exploring Lake County a bit can be quite rewarding. Check out the historic planned industrial-utopian community of Marktown, Meyer's Castle in Dyer, the confounding ruins of Gary, or even the far-off-the-beaten-path parts of Chicago just west, in the city's Far Southeast Side.

title: Hammond


text:
Hammondsport

Hammondsport is a village in the town of Urbana, in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. It lies on the southern end of Keuka Lake.

Get in
The closest airport is Elmira-Corning Regional Airport (ELM), about 45 miles from Hammondsport. Rochester International Airport (ROC) is about 90 minutes from Hammondsport. There is a small, non-commercial airport in Penn Yan, NY, which is 15 miles from Hammondsport. It can accommodate small jets and, when the wind and weight is right, a 737.

Amtrak serves Rochester and Syracuse, which are 90 and 120 minutes away from Hammondsport respectively, with no viable public transportation to the village and lake.

Get around
Keuka Lake is partially in Hammondsport and Steuben County. There is a water taxi (boat) based in Hammondsport and portions of the other towns on Keuka Lake. There is a county bus system with a stop at the Lake in Depot Park Docks on Water Street, but it does not run after 5PM or weekends.

Do

There are many wineries and breweries along Keuka Lake. Tours are available as a pay per seat through the company OnKeuka! The tour includes a boat ride followed by van escort to wineries or breweries before returning to the Village Center in Hammondsport. They run spring, summer and fall.

Eat
There are 6 eating establishments on Keuka Lake with docks. They all have full bars available. 3 of them are in the Hammondsport area (Town of Urbana) of Keuka Lake.

The OnKeuka! Water Taxi transports people to and from these restaurants from cottages or Hammondsport Village Depot Dock on Water Street.

Closest to the Village of Hammondsport, on the west side are:

title: Hammondsport


text:
Hammonton

Hammonton is a city in New Jersey.

By plane
Atlantic City International Airport is about  to the east of Hammonton along the Atlantic City Expressway. Car rentals are available in the airport, as well as taxi service and passenger vans for larger groups. Bus service via NJTransit is also available with a connection through the Pleasantville Bus Terminal. Atlantic City International Airport is a smaller airport and only serviced by one airline: Spirit. ACY, however, is poorly connected to major airports, Spirit flights are generally bound for other tourist destinations in Florida and the Caribbean as well as a "casino hopper" to Las Vegas. For many travelers, it will make sense to fly into Philadelphia and drive the 35 minutes it takes to reach Hammonton or take the train.

Philadelphia International Airport is about  to the west of Atlantic City. It is significantly larger than Atlantic City International and has more flights.

By train
New Jersey Transit offers train service from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station to Hammonton, with several stops in New Jersey, with the last stop being in Atlantic City.

By car
Hammonton is well-connected to a number of major highways.

See

 * Wharton State Forest a large state forest

Sleep

 * Pine Crest Inn, 1409 Black Horse Pike,

Go next

 * Woodbury, 28.1 mi northwest

title: Hammonton


text:
Hampi

Hampi, in the state of Karnataka, India, is the site of the once-magnificent capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. The ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Understand
Hampi was the capital of South Indian Vijayanagara Empire from the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries.

As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hampi attracts many visitors, many from other countries. For first-time visitors, it is highly recommended to hire a guide to help understand the magic and grandeur of Hampi by explaining its history and associated legends.

Before the fall of Vijayanagara Empire, diamonds were sold on the streets. The main street selling diamonds and other precious stones was surprisingly called Pan Supaari Street. A visitor can still see the exact location of Pan Supaari Street in Hampi, which has been marked with a board by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Hampi is well worth at least one visit. The area is simply stunning and you will be in awe of the millions of boulders surrounding the area, many of which are scaled by climbers from all over the world. Within this landscape lies a little oasis with lush palm, banana, and mango trees and rice paddies nestled near the river.

Hampi is a great place to spend a few days wandering around and discovering the rich, vibrant history while also having a bit of 'your' time.

Hampi hosts the 'Hampi Utsav' (literally 'Hampi Festival') every year during the first week of November. It is a visual delight as all the monuments/ruins are lighted in the night and it is a cultural extravaganza of dance and music.

Read

 * A Forgotten Empire (ISBN 1419101250), Robert Sewell — a dated text (published over a century ago), but a thorough and interesting exploration of the rise and fall of the Vijayanagara Empire.
 * The New Cambridge History of India: Vijayanagara (ISBN 9781107022676), Burton Stein — part of Cambridge's gigantic multivolume work on the history of India, this is a definitive text on the Vijayanagara Empire's historical import.

By plane
The closest airport is Vidyanagar Airport ( also known as Jindal Vijaynagar Airport), about 35 km to the east, near the village of Toranagallu. TruJet, a regional airline, offers regularly scheduled flights from Hyderabad and Bangalore as of April 2018.

Bangalore is the nearest international airport, 350 km away from Hampi. Private taxis cost more than ₹6000 for Bangalore to Hampi.

By train
The nearest railway station is Hosapete Junction (IR station code: HPT), 13 km away.

Overnight trains run several times a week from Bangalore, Hyderabad and Goa. The trains are a much cheaper and more comfortable route than the tourist buses most people are led into (2 AC - bed with linen - costs ₹750 from Bangalore to Hampi). You can also catch an overnight train from Mysore to Hubli and from there to Hospet/Hampi.

Here are some useful trains to get into Hampi:

From Hospet it's convenient to take a rickshaw to Hampi (₹250) or Virupapura Gaddi/Hanumanahalli (the northern side of the river), which is a much longer drive, hence costs ₹1,200. Rickshaw drivers can be persistent and will poke their heads in the train before you even get off, but they may very well be the best option. Buses to Hampi are cheaper. It's about a kilometre and a half walk from the train station to the bus station. Take an Auto-rickshaw up to bus-stand (₹5 per head) and you can easily get frequent government buses for Hampi (₹10 per head).

Also see Rail travel in India

By car

 * Bangalore: 350 km; drive the 200 km till Chitradurga (featuring a fort from 10th century AD and a dam from 1907) on NH-4, take a right turn on NH-13 towards Sholapur till Hospet, and then drive another 13 km to reach Hampi (direction towards Hampi is well marked). The road is in excellent condition till Chitradurga but then deteriorates rapidly. You are also likely to encounter traffic jams due to ore-laden trucks plying on NH-13.
 * Hubli: 150 km
 * Hospet: 13 km
 * Hyderabad: 360 km. Take NH-7 till Jadcharla X-Road, turn right towards Mahboobnagar and carry on till Raichur. From Raichur, take Karnataka State Highway 20 towards Lingasugar, turn left at 10 km after Raichur onto Karnataka State Highway 23 to Sindhanoor. The road on the last 15-25 km stretch, after Gangavati, is not so bad. Lots of speed breakers in Karnataka. The 5-10 km stretch just before the Andhra Pradesh - Karnataka States Border on Andhra Pradesh side is full of potholes.
 * Mumbai: About 800 km or less: Take NH 4 up to Hubli & then go via Gadag-Hospet. Alternately Take NH 4, exit to Sangli/Miraj, Go to Athni-Bijapur. (Do not take short cuts as roads are really bad.) You may choose to see Badami, Pattadakkal, and Aihole as a 2 day add on excursion, otherwise proceed to Hampi the next day. Roads are average except speed breakers combined with potholes & heavy traffic of large trucks. (Strictly avoid night driving.) Prefer high ground clearance cars on this roads.

By bus

 * Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation operates daily buses to Hospet from Bangalore, Mysore and Gokarna. From Hospet you can go to Hampi on a local bus for ₹17 (April 2023). Book your tickets in advance if you want a coach or an air-con service, because the number of travellers is large (given that the place is very famous amongst foreigners) and the frequency of buses is less.
 * There is a KSRTC daily Panaji - Hampi / Hampi - Panaji service. It is a very comfortable ride and it starts and ends at Hampi bus station. Details and online ticketing can be done on the KSRTC site.
 * There are buses every 15-20 minutes from Hospet (new terminal) to Hampi. Getting seats is not a big problem.
 * There are private bus companies operating from most places in Goa and from Gokarna which run an overnight service to Hampi. Unfortunately, there is no direct return so you take a local bus (or taxi) to Hospet and take it from there.
 * For Indians who wish to stop at different places en route to Hampi, this is an itinerary you can follow using KSRTC buses. This is ex-Mumbai and was done in March 2013. Mumbai to Belgaum (overnight bus, approximately 8 hours). Belgaum to Bijapur (NWKRTC Inter-City bus, approximately 3 hours). Bijapur to Hospet (KSRTC Inter-City bus, approximately 3 hours). Hospet to Hampi (regular city bus, 15 minutes)

Get around
The real pleasure in exploring Hampi comes from on the bicycle or by walking around. Virtually every rock in Hampi has a story to tell. This story is best heard if you give it time and walk around from rock to rock.

Do note that the weather in Hampi can be a big factor. With all the boulders, big and small around, with soil from years of erosion, there is a lot of dust that blows in the air. There are open spaces with strong winds and while the wind keeps you pleasant, you can have a lot of dust blowing into your nose and mouth. In many of the monument areas, there are no trees or anything to provide shade (except the monuments themselves). So walking or cycling around the area involves a lot of exposure to direct sunlight. Keep your sunblock creams, hats, wet towels around your neck and bottles of water with you all the time.

By auto rickshaw
A convenient way to see all the sights without climbing the hills is by rickshaw, as the very aggressive drivers will very insistingly suggest as soon as you show your face anywhere.

Bargain with your rickshaw driver for a fixed rate (₹400-500 for a full day seems to be okay) and then hire an official Karnataka Travel guide (at the tourist office, they have fixed rates: 4 hr costs ₹500, 8h is ₹800) It costs a little bit, but the explanations help you to see more than just stones and temples. To get an estimate of cost and content, you can talk to the guides before coming down to Hampi. The guides willingly share their cellular numbers and email addresses.

As of Nov 2023, the full day charge for an auto-rickshaw varied from ₹1500 to ₹2000 depending on your negotiation skills.

By bus
The rickshaw drivers will tell you that there is no bus service with a straight face, but it's a lie. There are frequent buses between Hospet and Hampi, through Kamalapur where half of the ruins are located. So it's completely possible, for those who can bear long walks in the scorching sun, to visit Hampi without using a single rickshaw.

By bike
The following infBicycle is the best way to explore Hampi if you enjoy history, culture and nature. You can rent a 21-speed Trek bike from Art of Bicycle Trips. It usually costs around ₹100/day and they will keep one of your identity proof as a security deposit. Helmet and lock is included in the price. Please note that with bicycling, a little bit of walking is always required for exploring the interior of sites.

Regular, non-geared cycles are available at ₹50 per day, no security deposit is required. These cycles are available at the Hampi village.

By motorcycle
It is very hot! Dry, dry heat. And the walk between some sites can be at least 5 km. Plus, the surrounding area is quite breathtaking to ride around and you can explore some parts that the rickshaws won't take you. Guides are willing to ride on the back with you as well. This is a more expensive option (not for the thrifty!) than the rickshaw but it gives you more freedom and you can cover more in one day without rushing it. Take a guide with you one day, then do it all again by yourself the next.

Renting a bike like a Scooty or Kinetic Honda will cost you about ₹350 a day (without fuel) on the north side of the river. However, if it has a white license place (very likely), you can't use it on the south side (i.e. Hampi). Hiring a bike south of the river sounds like a good idea since that's where the ruins are. But for some reason, it costs much more there per day and there's only one place to rent from.

A liter of petrol will be sufficient for sightseeing around Hampi, but two liters would be handy if you have plans to go to Tungabadra Dam (some 15 km from Hampi). When renting a scooter/motor bike, petrol costs extra, and is normally sold at 40-50% premium in the place you rent (A liter may cost ₹120). A petrol pump is located in Kamalapur (and north of the river in Anegundi), which sell petrol at ordinary price. Two liters will get you to the major sites around Royal Centre and back, but three litres is a safer option. The countryside is a beautiful place for a leisurely drive so it's worth taking a bit more fuel.

Lately, as of Nov 2023 (and since 2017) the rental of motorcycles has been stopped due to the opposition of auto-rickshaw owners. Thus if you are staying in North Hampi (Sanapur side), you may rent a motorcycle only for the north side, and if you staying near Hampi or Kamlapur, then yuo may rent it only for south side, and there are very few bikes available in the south side. Thus practically you are forced to hire an auto-rickshaw.

By car
Bit more costly variant is renting a car. Various Car Rentals are available in Hospet. They normally charge ₹750 to ₹1,000 for a day site seeing and pick up or drop to railway station etc. There are several car rental companies in Hampi/Hospet including some prominent ones like SRB Travels (travels@srbempire.com), etc. Car rentals are also available from various nearby rail heads and airports like Bangalore, Goa, Hyderabad, and Belgaum to Hampi.

The ruins of Hampi are located within a 30 km2 area. While most of the famous places have drivable roads leading up to them.

By boat
Many guest houses are on the other side of the river in Sanapur, Hanumanahalli or in between the two, in Virupapur Gaddi. To access them, you need to cross river with the ferry. The people operating it have a monopoly, so the service is extortionate and the operators rather rude. ₹50 per crossing, you'll have to wait until there are enough people to fill the boat. Last boat around 5PM, so forget about coming back after watching the sunset on the hill. If you cannot get on the boat, an auto will take you other side via Hospet-Hugli-Hanumanhalli for at least ₹1000, it's a 40-km tour. During moderate/high rains, gates of Tungbhadra dam are opened which increases the water level and water flow in river. In that case, one might get stranded on the other side of river (Virupapur Gadde area).

See
Hampi is a visual delight, especially due to its stark contrast from most other places. Rocks are all you see whichever direction you look. Vegetation is visible in the wet months; but again it never dominates the landscape. It is an ideal spot for people who are interested in history and/or nature.

There are many sites of interest in and around Hampi. The following list of must-visits is sorted by the number on the map you see in the temples (from 1 to over 80 sites!): 1 to 35 being around Hampi; 40s to 70s in the southern part towards Kamalapura. Most sites are free, but the Vithala temple, the Lotus Mahal (incl. Zanana enclosure and Elephant Stables) as the Archeological museum have a combined ticket (₹600) valid for one day, so you have to plan your journey a bit! For instance, if you rent bicycles and start early in the morning, you can cover the southern temples in the morning, spend the hot hours of midday in the museum and go in the late afternoon to the Vithala temple! And eventually keep all sites closest to Hampi for a second day.

All these places are towards Hampi Bus Stand area and you don't need to cross river.

You can buy a local map for ₹15, and cover all the places on your own taking a bike/Scooty on rent. Otherwise, you can hire an auto to do local sightseeing. It would cost you around ₹400-500.

 * Tungabhadra Dam, 16 km from Hampi and its associated gardens are nice. It has got a nice dancing fountain too. Visiting the Tungabhadra Dam can be a nice filler instead of just waiting for the bus/train (typically at 10/11PM at night). Auto-rickshaw can go directly from Hampi to Tungabhadra dam at a cost of ₹200 (as of 2009). Aanother option is to take a bus from the gate for ₹20 per person for a half an hour visit to the dam. If you have plans to catch your train/bus back from Hospet, you could see Tungbhadra dam and return from Hospet. It takes 45 to 60 min to see Tungbhadra dam. You need to park your vehicles at the entrance and take a government bus to the top and return. It costs ₹20 return.

There are several "Shivalings" along the river which the boatman will guide you to. The old capital called Anegundi, across the river from Hampi, also has many sites. You can also go to Anegundi from Virupapur Gadde by road. There is a road alongside the old broken bridge (Bukka's Aqueduct). The Hanuman Temple on Anjenaya Hill (involves climbing up 572 steps, is believed to be the birthplace of Hanuman) and the Pampa Sarovar are worth a visit. Both of these places are around 7-8 km from the Old broken bridge.

There is Daroji bear sanctuary around 16 km from Hampi, opposite side of Kamalapura/Hospet. It opens between 1PM to 6PM. Not a must see but you can go there for a nice drive or ride if you have some time to kill.

To do justice to all the sites, one needs a minimum of 3 full days of sightseeing. To discover all the ruins, it may take much more than 3 days. Maybe months.

A new feature introduced by the tourist department of Karnataka called the Hampi By Night is magnificent where in the monuments are lit in bright varying colours in the night. For more information, contact the tourism department of Karnataka.

Hampi specifically is a small settlement on the river (Hampi Bazaar, Virupaksha Temple, etc.). The old city of Vijayanagara encompassed an area of 25 km² and ruins, monuments, structures, etc. lie scattered across the area. In fact, when arriving at Hampi from Hospet, one will pass many of these things.

If one sets base at Hampi Bazaar, one can get a manageable, navigable orientation of the entire area, one can look at four main zones.

Apart from all this, between Hospet and Hampi, there are a number of small towns and villages like Kamalapur, and Kadirampura, which are various parts of the old Vijayanagara city and which have now become fragmented settlements and small towns.

Bouldering & sport climbing

 * Since more than 30 years, rock climbers from all over flock to Hampi to scale the boulders and can often be seen around with their crash pads. Since bouldering was banned in Hampi proper, the scene is now gathered on the Virupapura Gadde side of the river and meets in Hanumanahalli (Golden Boulders & Wanderlust) and Sangapur (Goan Corner New).

Other activities

 * A good amount of walking is a must, as the ruins are scattered over a huge area. Moped/bicycle hire is a good option to move around.
 * Cross the river by one of those coracle ferry. If you do not know swimming, ensure that the coracle is not overcrowded. Your life is at stake. As of 2009, the cost is ₹15 per person and ₹5 for each piece of luggage. The other side of the river (Anegondi) spots a number of pre Vijayanagara relics.
 * If you go there in Jun-August, you will not find coracle ferry in action, the river is usually very high then, so if you want to go Anegondi you have to travel ~40 km. There is nothing to see there except the Hanuman temple on Anjana hill, but be prepared for a climb of about 600 steps.
 * If you are staying at Virupapur Gadde side of the river, plan to return by 5 pm. If you have a train/bus to catch in the night, checking out earlier helps. If the ferry closes, the auto/car option becomes a much longer and costlier affair.
 * Wildlife - The occasional crocodile may be encountered in the river or on rocks midstream, sometimes several meters long.
 * Leopards frequent some of the rocky hills, sometimes not too far from human habitation, and may venture out at night to prey on dogs or the odd goat.
 * Sloth bears are not only confined to Daroji sanctuary, but may wander the sugar cane fields at night. They can be dangerous when encountered with cubs in tow.
 * As many as 185 species of bird can be identified at various times of the year in the Hampi environs.

Buy

 * The stone carvings are made by local artists are a good souvenirs to buy here. The same thing in Bangalore will cost ten times the price.  The hand-stitched blankets are also a good choice.
 * Shops can be found all over the Hampi, mainly near to Virupaksha temple, selling jewellery, bags, clothes, shawls, etc. Visitors can bargain in these shops to fetch good deal. You can even opt for tailor made dresses, if you have enough time and patience.
 * In Hampi, one can see clothes hanging in diverse range of colours and variety with beautiful edges. The town is a real paradise for the people who want to buy western costumes but not for ladies who are looking for saris.
 * Hoova Craft Shop & Café  - It is in city centre and tourists can have a tea or coffee, while looking around the local goods and handicrafts.

Eat
There are lots of places in Hampi Bazaar where you get satisfying and inexpensive food, though be prepared for a long wait at most places as the chefs are typically family members who prepares food to order. However, they are good at their jobs and can offer a wide range of different cuisines.

Restaurants:

 * The Goan Corner, an idyllic cafe on the other side of the river is an experience in itself. Very famous among the foreigner crowds, it takes a 10-15 min walk across the green paddy fields to make your way to this place. It is run by a very friendly family where the lady don, Sharmila reigns supreme. Unlike the other closely arranged cafes, Goan Corner is rather desolated and adds to the magic that Hampi creates.
 * Garden Paradise. This is behind the line of shops in Hampi Bazaar which are towards left in the direction towards Virupaksha Temple. Located by the banks of Tungabhadra River, the ambiance is quite pleasant. Reasonably priced too. They offer huts as well for accommodation.
 * Laughing Buddha restaurant. This is on other side of river (Virupapur Gadde) and close to Shanthi guest house. There are mattress, cushions and low benches in it. So, you can just lie down and sit at ease. Continental food is very nice here with good variety. It also offers Punjabi food.
 * Sagar Hotel's Idli, Dosa & Gunta Ponganalu. Just besides Gopi Guest House and right in front of the Shambhu Guest House, which are located near the Virupaksha Temple, 'Shankaramma' under a thatched roof makes delicious idlies, dosas and the tasty 'gunta pongal.' Do not miss this place. The food is not only delicious but also very cheap.
 * Garden Paradise. This is behind the line of shops in Hampi Bazaar which are towards left in the direction towards Virupaksha Temple. Located by the banks of Tungabhadra River, the ambiance is quite pleasant. Reasonably priced too. They offer huts as well for accommodation.
 * Laughing Buddha restaurant. This is on other side of river (Virupapur Gadde) and close to Shanthi guest house. There are mattress, cushions and low benches in it. So, you can just lie down and sit at ease. Continental food is very nice here with good variety. It also offers Punjabi food.
 * Sagar Hotel's Idli, Dosa & Gunta Ponganalu. Just besides Gopi Guest House and right in front of the Shambhu Guest House, which are located near the Virupaksha Temple, 'Shankaramma' under a thatched roof makes delicious idlies, dosas and the tasty 'gunta pongal.' Do not miss this place. The food is not only delicious but also very cheap.
 * Sagar Hotel's Idli, Dosa & Gunta Ponganalu. Just besides Gopi Guest House and right in front of the Shambhu Guest House, which are located near the Virupaksha Temple, 'Shankaramma' under a thatched roof makes delicious idlies, dosas and the tasty 'gunta pongal.' Do not miss this place. The food is not only delicious but also very cheap.

Drink
Hampi is a religious center so drinking is not allowed. Therefore, beer or other alcoholic drinks are generally not available at local restaurants. However, Hotel Mayura Bhuvaneshwari is in the neighboring town of Kamalapur has a bar that serves beer and wine.

Other hotels like Shanti and Kishkinda, which are across the river, do serve beer and hard liquor.

Few cafes and small shops are also spotted in Hampi Bazaar providing soft drinks, lassi and some other famous south Indian beverages.

Sleep
In Hampi specifically, there are two clusters of settlements. There is the Janata Plot on the river road, just under the Virupaksha Temple. The other is opposite the bus stand. These settlements resemble hamlets, not even villages. Guest houses are essentially village huts modified for guests. Most have attached bathrooms while some may have shared facilities.

As of March 2013, there were frequent power losses. A few wealthy guest house owners had power generators and inverters with which basic lights and fans could be operated. There are a few who offer air conditioned rooms but with the frequent power cuts, one is not sure how effective those AC rooms really are.

There are several guest houses in Hampi, though staying in Hospet or the nearby town of Kamalapur are also options. Staying at Hospet gives easy accessibility to the railway station and better hotels. Hampi is also not very far from Hospet.

Most guest houses in Hampi are rather basic. Do not expect too much. Avoid places recommended in the Lonely Planet guide, because they immediately raise their rates and lower their quality. A lot of cheaper guest houses are found north of the river in Sanapur, Hanumanahalli and Sangapur. For some of them, you will need to rent a scooter directly after you exit the ferry, if you want to avoid walking 5 km to your accommodation. All hostels, shops and restaurants on 'Hippie Island' were razed to the ground by the government in 2021 (except for the bike rental and the Ashram).

If coming in April through to September (off season), check with the hotel for bookings, especially if you plan to stay on the north side of the river. Many guest houses and restaurants close down, except a few prominent ones.

Stay safe
Visitors should be sure to watch out for monkeys. They are notorious for snatching and running away with visitors' handbags, cameras, and other loose belongings.

Keeping mosquito repellent on hand is a good idea.

Be extra careful when you choose to explore rocky places, especially when you are trying to climb over boulders.

Avoid travelling to Hampi during the months of April and May, as temperature can get as high as 43°C (110°F). If you are planning to visit it during summer, remember to carry sufficient water so as to avoid the risk of dehydration. Bottled drinking water is easily available. You may not be able to get chilled bottles (as electricity will sometimes cut out).

Respect

 * Out of deference to the sacred nature of the site, do not consume drugs and alcohol in the area.
 * When visiting the temple or ruins of former temples, cover up and do not show too much skin. The locals will not stop you, but may bear a silent grudge. Be a good guest.
 * Please visit any monument only for the sake of visiting, but not for any other purpose. Please do not scribble or climb or sit on any monuments.They have stood rain and sun for centuries and have to continue to stand for many more centuries.

Go next

 * Lakkundi

 * Badami
 * Aihole
 * Pattadakal
 * Kakkabe — It is very near Hampi and is very famous for Padi Igutappa temple. What makes this place unique is its peaceful and serene environment.
 * Goa — accessible by train via Hospet. The Amaravathi express takes an incredible route through jungle and past a waterfall.

title: Hampi


text:
Hampshire

Stretching from Solent beaches in the south west, to London's suburban fringe in the north-east, Hampshire is the largest county in South East England. Known as Jane Austen's County after its most famous daughter, Hampshire has a wealth of attractions to offer the traveller. Visitors may see one of England's greatest cathedrals in Winchester, ascend to the top of the South's tallest landmark in Portsmouth or fish for trout in crystal clear chalk rivers.

Hampshire has excellent museums, with a particular focus on military, maritime and aviation history. It is equally possible to visit the former homes of some of the county's more celebrated residents, among them Charles Dickens, the Duke of Wellington and Ms Austen herself. If urban Hampshire's port cities and historic market towns don't grab you, then how do you feel about two national parks (the heath and woodland of the New Forest and the rolling chalk hills of the South Downs), hundreds of miles of coastal inlets, islands and estuaries and a rich agricultural heartland dotted with many fine homes and gardens?

Come to Hampshire and discover where the Titanic weighed anchor on its fateful maiden voyage, where Britain first took to the skies - with an American cowboy at the controls - and where, over 1100 years ago, King Alfred the Great founded the nation of England.

Cities

 * – Hampshire's county town and England's first capital city is best known for its ancient cathedral and medieval centre.
 * – An active naval city since the 1500s, its historic dock has vessels such as Victory and Mary Rose, contrasting with impressive modern architecture.
 * – The largest city in Hampshire is also the county's commercial, education and media hub. Good shopping, two universities and the UK's main cruise ship port attract visitors.

Towns

 * – The "Home of the British Army" has two good military museums.
 * – Colourful old town at the west end of the Mid Hants Steam Railway that is still the hub of England's watercress industry.
 * – Historic market town at the east end of the Mid Hants Railway, with Jane Austen's and Gilbert White's houses in the nearby villages of Chawton (2 km) and Selborne (8 km) respectively.
 * – This pretty coaching town is an excellent base for exploring the Wessex countryside and neighbouring towns and villages such as charming.
 * – 'Soulless' new town it may be, Basingstoke nonetheless offers some of the best shopping and entertainment in Hampshire, and an unusual "living history" museum.
 * – a small town in the New Forest.
 * – Benny Hill once did his milk round here and the Spitfire first flew here, but modern Eastleigh has little to offer the traveller beyond good cheap accommodation and excellent transport connections.
 * – Coastal town home to the Roman and medieval Portchester Castle and several imposing fortresses from the Napoleonic Wars.
 * – The "Birthplace of British Aviation" is home to the biennial International Air Show, features an aerospace museum and library and is the resting place of Napoleon III.
 * – Small commuter town that took its name from "le flete", a 21 hectare fresh-water pond that dates from medieval times. It is known for its high happiness levels surrounded by pleasant countryside.
 * – A town on the northwestern edge of the New Forest at a medieval river crossing.
 * – Facing Portsmouth across their shared harbour, Gosport has two naval museums of repute.
 * – A former Celtic settlement close to Langstone Harbour.
 * – On the western shore of Southampton Water next to the New Forest, includes the seaside village of Calshot.
 * – Beautiful Georgian seaside town in the New Forest.
 * – The picturesque main town of the New Forest, which has the reputation for being somewhat of a tourist trap.
 * – Hampshire's gateway to the South Downs
 * – Well-known brewery and country parks
 * – Market town on the edge of the New Forest, home to an abbey and many historic houses including Broadlands, seat of the Mountbatten family.
 * – Small town that's good for visits to local landmarks, including a ruined Roman city and a Georgian stately home.

Villages

 * is best known for the National Motor Museum, but also has the Victorian Gothic Palace House, Beaulieu Abbey, the World of Top Gear and On Screen Cars exhibitions, various gardens and the park's famous monorail.
 * – A village in the New Forest.
 * — An important crossroads between Southampton and the towns of Dorset.
 * – Foodie village with views over Chichester Harbour.
 * – Scenic estuary village perfect for bird- and ship-watching.
 * – Small rural town with regular markets and pretty countryside ideal for walking.
 * – Another pretty village base for seeing some of the loveliest countryside in Hampshire.
 * – Great country shopping and dining in the Meon Valley.

Other destinations

 * – Popular tourist island, with blue flag beaches and typical seaside attractions, between Langstone and Chichester harbours which offer good birdwatching opportunities.
 * – Large hunting forest created in 1079 by William the Conqueror, that is now a national park. Known for its pristine woodland and large open heaths, the deer and wild boar that the Normans hunted are still on the loose in the park, as are the iconic New Forest ponies.
 * – Britain's newest national park stretches along the south coast from Hampshire to East Sussex. Hampshire's part is known for Iron Age history, the chalky escarpment around Butser Hill, bucolic countryside and "flint and brick" villages.

Understand
In both speech and writing (for example on postal addresses), Hampshire's name is often abbreviated to Hants.

Orientation
Although part of the South East region of England, Hampshire is actually midway along the south coast between east and west. Clockwise from the west, it is bordered by the counties of Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey, and West Sussex. To the south is the Solent, a narrow channel of sea separating mainland Britain from the Isle of Wight, and the English Channel. Hampshire's coast is characterised by many natural harbours and inlets, which boost the coast's 60 mi "as the crow flies" into a true length of around 250 mi.

Hampshire combines scattered population centres with a typical English rural landscape. The bulk of the population lives in the South Hampshire conurbation - Southampton, Portsmouth and their respective suburbs, connected to Winchester by a corridor of urbanisation. Outside this area, the largest centres of population are Basingstoke and, in the north east corner, the Blackwater Valley towns (Farnborough and Aldershot) which signal the start of London's commuter suburbs and which are contiguous with Camberley, Frimley and Farnham.

A fair chunk of the South Downs National Park lies within the south eastern portion of the county. Almost all of the south western corner is within the New Forest, another national park. The north and north west of the county are largely agricultural and retain many similarities with neighbouring Westcountry counties.

People and culture
The population of Hampshire was 1,857,900 in 2021, making it the fifth most populous English county. The entire county is within commuting distance of London and the population is on the whole prosperous. People from Hampshire are known as Hampshire Hogs, due to the county's long association with both boar-hunting and pig-farming (indeed the American breed of pig known as the "Hampshire" is thought to have its origins in the county). Famous Hampshire Hogs include English monarchs Alfred the Great, Henry III and Matilda, novelists Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, pioneering nurse Florence Nightingale, engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, comedian Benny Hill, and actors Colin Firth and Martin Freeman.

The patron saint of Hampshire, Saint Swithun, was bishop of Winchester in the mid 9th century. His feast day, 15 July, is also the county day. Folklore holds that if even a drop of rain falls on his namesake bridge in Winchester on Saint Swithun's Day, it will rain for the next forty days: ":St Swithun's day if thou dost rain
 * For forty days it will remain
 * St Swithun's day if thou be fair
 * For forty days 'twill rain nae mare "

History
Hampshire has a crucial place in both English and British history. Home to the Belgiae Celts prior to 55 AD, Hampshire later saw Roman civilisation at Rockbourne and Silchester (the city of Calleva Atrebatum). Later, the area formed part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, and it was from here that King Alfred of Wessex repelled the Danes and united all the Saxon states into the first unified Kingdom of England. Alfred, who remains the only English monarch to be posthumously honoured with the title of "the Great", was celebrated for his reform of the English justice system and the improvement of his subjects' quality of life and literacy. He made Winchester the new nation's capital, a status retained until the Norman Conquest when William the Conqueror designated the already much larger city of London his seat of power.

Under the Normans, much of Hampshire became royal hunting ground, the most famous domain of which was the New Forest, planted on the orders of William himself. The Conqueror's son, King William II, was killed in a 'hunting accident' (probable assassination by his own men) in the New Forest in 1100, and the spot is today marked by a memorial stone. The Middle Ages saw the building of Winchester's stunning cathedral, the longest medieval church in the world. Many of Hampshire's castles such as those at Portchester and Odiham date from this period too, although Henry VIII continued to build new fortresses along the Solent, many of which were reinforced and expanded during the Napoleonic Wars.

Both Southampton and Portsmouth became important harbours during the late Middle Ages, the former for commercial traffic and the latter as a naval dockyard. Among the famous vessels to sail from Southampton were the Mayflower and the RMS Titanic, which was largely staffed by more than 500 citizens of Southampton, most of whom perished on board. Portsmouth launched the Mary Rose, which lay at the bottom of the Solent for 450 years until it was rediscovered and raised in 1982, and HMS Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship in the Battle of Trafalgar, where the admiral was killed in action. Many of the earliest European settlers of the United States originated from Hampshire.

The military connection continued through the 19th and 20th centuries, when large Army garrisons were established around Aldershot and aviation pioneers moved in to Farnborough, where the first powered flight in British skies took place in 1908, flown by American Wild West showman Samuel Franklin Cody. Among other aeronautical developments to take place in the county, Eastleigh hosted the development of the Spitfire fighter plane, while Farnborough launched the first jet aircraft and much of the engineering work required to bring the supersonic liner Concorde into existence.

Visitor information

 * Visit Hampshire website

Talk
The variety of English spoken in Hampshire is similar to the rest of the South East, and is relatively close to the standard Received Pronunciation (RP). In the south and west of the county, some people speak in an accent that has a Westcountry twang to it - the original  'Ampshire 'Og  accent before RP's dominance - and some older residents even use dialect words and phrases, though this is becoming increasingly uncommon as time marches on.

The area around Aldershot and Farnborough is home to around 10,000 Nepali speakers, perhaps the greatest concentration outside the Himalayas. Many of these people once served in one of the British Army's Gurkha regiments. In these areas, you will see Nepalese people greet each other by saying Namaste and bowing their heads slightly while clasping their hands together vertically.

By road
Driving times from the Channel Tunnel to Hampshire, via the M20, M26, M25 and M3 motorways, are 2–3 hours in good traffic, though you should allow for longer when travelling during peak hours (M-F 7:30–9:30AM, 4:30–6:30PM; and all day on holiday weekends).

The main roads from London are the A3 (which heads to Portsmouth, via Liss, Liphook and Petersfield) and the M3 motorway (which runs to Southampton, via Farnborough, Basingstoke, Winchester and Eastleigh). The M27 South Coast Motorway runs from the New Forest to Portsmouth, via Southampton; it connects at its western end with the A31 from Bournemouth, and at its eastern end with the A27 from Brighton and Chichester. The A34 offers connections from Oxford and the Midlands, while the A303 brings traffic from the West Country. In north Hampshire, the "other" road called A31 branches off the A3, allowing faster journey times to Alton and Winchester from Surrey and Kent than the M3 can offer.

By plane
Hampshire has its very own international airport,. This has good connections from northern England, Scotland, Ireland and the Channel Islands, as well as from near parts of the continent such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland. See the main article for details. In addition, the county has Britain's largest airport dedicated exclusively to private and business aviation -.

The county is also well-served by London's international and domestic airports, with Heathrow and Gatwick especially close by.

By train
Eurostar run trains from France, Belgium and the Netherlands to London St Pancras. Onward journey times (by Tube, and then rail from Waterloo station) to Hampshire take between one and three hours, depending on where in the county you're headed.

Rail services from the rest of the UK are good. Trains from London Waterloo, Surrey, Wiltshire and Dorset are operated by South Western Railway, while services from London Victoria and Sussex are run by Southern Railway. Cross Country run trains from Berkshire, the Midlands and North, and Great Western Railway run from South Wales and Somerset.

The main stations for inter-regional services are Basingstoke, Portsmouth & Southsea, Southampton Central, and Winchester.

By boat
Portsmouth is a major international ferry port, and receives ferries from Jersey and Guernsey (in the Channel Islands), Cherbourg, Caen, Le Havre and St. Malo (in France), and Bilbao and Santander (in Spain).

Southampton is on the cruise ship circuit, and is also the home port of RMS Queen Mary II, the world's only remaining ocean liner that makes regular transatlantic crossings to and from New York City.

Other nearby south coast ports with ferry service from the continent are Dover, Newhaven, and Poole.

By road
Private vehicle is the best the way to get around Hampshire, especially for those travelling to smaller towns and the countryside. The main roads in the county are the:
 * M3 (linking Southampton in the south to Farnborough in the north east, via Winchester and Basingstoke);
 * M27 (linking the New Forest in the west to Portsmouth in the east along the coast, via Southampton);
 * A3 (linking Portsmouth in the south east to Surrey, via Petersfield);
 * A31 (linking Winchester with Surrey and the A3, via Alton);
 * A32 (linking Portsmouth with Alton);
 * A33 (linking Basingstoke with Reading in Berkshire);
 * A34 (linking Winchester and the M3 with Newbury in Berkshire)
 * A272 (linking Winchester to Petersfield and West Sussex);
 * A303 (linking the M3 near Basingstoke to Andover and Wiltshire);
 * A331 (linking Farnborough, Aldershot and the M3 with other local towns in Surrey and Berkshire).

By public transport
If you intend to remain within the major towns and cities, public transport is a very viable option. The most practical mode is by train, though there are also bus services throughout the county.

By train
Hampshire is well-connected by rail, with several radial lines coming from London, as well as an east-west network along the coast while the Reading to Gatwick line passes through the north-eastern corner of the county. Most towns and even some villages have a railway station with regular services.

Most rail services within Hampshire are operated by South Western Railway, though some service patterns are run by other operators. The best website to find timetables and book tickets is National Rail Enquiries.

One line in Hampshire is still served by steam locomotives and vintage diesel trains, the Mid Hants Railway. This does not form part of the National Rail network and tickets must be bought separately, but this is a fantastic way to travel through the Hampshire countryside. The Watercress Line, as it is also known, links Alton's National Rail station to Alresford.

By bus
Most local bus services are operated by Stagecoach South. Bus travel in Hampshire is expensive and slow when compared with the buses in London and other large cities, but this can be an excellent way to travel short distances in and between towns.

By boat
Portsmouth is linked to Gosport by a frequent passenger ferry. There are also hovercraft, passenger and car ferry crossings to various towns on the Isle of Wight from Lymington, Southampton, and Portsmouth.

See

 * Birdworld, south of Farnham, has over 150 species of birds, of which 11 are endangered, plus a children's petting zoo and an aquarium.
 * Butser Ancient Farm, south of Petersfield, is an experiment to recreate an Iron Age farming settlement and Roman villa.
 * Highclere Castle, south of Newbury, is a magnificent stately home, better known as the fictional Downton Abbey.
 * Marwell Zoo, east of Eastleigh, is home to cheetahs, giraffes, meerkats, penguins, pygmy hippos, red pandas, rhinoceros, snow leopard, tigers and zebra.
 * Mottisfont, north of Romsey, is a former monastery and stately home with fine rose gardens in a gorgeous rural setting.
 * The excavated remains of Rockbourne Roman Villa, north of Fordingbridge, clearly indicate a luxury dwelling in its day.
 * Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, near Romsey, is a large garden and arboretum with over 40,000 trees and shrubs.
 * Famous figures from Hampshire whose former homes you can visit: south of Alton are Jane Austen's house and Gilbert White's house and garden; Portsmouth has Charles Dickens' birthplace; and northeast of Basingstoke is Stratfield Saye, country pad of Arthur Wellesley and his descendant Dukes of Wellington.

Do

 * Fly fishing and riverbank angling are very popular pursuits in Hampshire's three crystal-clear chalk rivers: the Itchen, the Meon and the Test. Winchester and Andover make good bases. You need a licence from the Environment Agency to fish in English rivers. It's quite affordable - £6 for one day, £12 for eight days, or £30 for a whole year (Jan 2022) - and the process is easily completed online, while the penalties for fishing without a licence can be severe. Alternatively, you can fish without a licence at any number of private fisheries across the county, where the chance of a catch is much higher, but so are the tariffs.
 * Horse riding - Hampshire has many private stables and there are public bridleways (horse-riding trails) across the county, but particularly in the New Forest.
 * Paulton's Park, south of Romsey, is a family theme park with a small zoo, gardens and 'park within a park' Peppa Pig World
 * Queen Elizabeth Country Park has 2000 acres of woodland and downland south of Petersfield. Great for walking, mountain biking, off-roading, paragliding and laser games
 * Walking is a great way to explore Hampshire's diverse countryside. On the coast, search out beaches, harbours, and inlets, while inland you may find heathland, ancient woodland, downland, and water meadows, as well as agricultural land. Long-distance trails such as the Pilgrims' Way and South Downs Way demand several days' commitment. Meon Valley Trail is intermediate, an 11 mile cycle and walking trail between Wickham and West Meon. There are plenty more shorter walks for an afternoon.
 * Watersports, particularly sailing, are popular activities in the waters of the south coast
 * Cricket: Hampshire CCC matches and occasional Test matches are played at Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

Eat

Hampshire's food is typical among English counties, although there are some local specialities well worth sampling. First of these has to be the county's pork products; bacon, ham, meat patties and sausages, from both domestic pigs and wild boar - the people aren't called Hampshire hogs for nothing!

Also on offer locally is game (particularly boar, venison and pheasant), freshwater fish (most commonly trout and salmon) and watercress, an industry which Hampshire has dominated since the 19th century. There are also several award-winning cheeses from Hampshire, including Laverstoke buffalo mozzarella, New Forest blue, Hampshire rose, the camembert-like Tunworth, the gouda-like Old Winchester, and various oak-smoked cheeses. Much of the countryside is arable land, so farms often sell their fruit and vegetable produce in the relevant season, and there are "pick your own" sites for fruits such as raspberries and strawberries.

In addition to the more traditional Indian and Thai curry houses, there are many Nepalese restaurants in Hampshire, particularly in the north east, where many thousands of Nepali people have made their home.

Hampshire Fare is the official body which promotes the county's food and drink and also puts on events and markets where you can taste Hampshire:
 * Hampshire Food Festival takes place every July throughout the county
 * Hampshire Farmers' Markets: with so much great local produce and a myriad of market towns within its borders, the county has an official farmers' market organising board, that puts on markets around Hampshire almost every weekend.

Drink

 * Beer: Like much of southern England, Hampshire is traditional hop-producing land and local ales and other beers are usually available in the county's pubs. Conical-roofed oast houses (where hops were once fermented) are a prominent architectural feature of the countryside, now mostly converted to homes. Ringwood brewery in the New Forest is one significant local brewery, though there are many smaller businesses throughout the county, many of which are open to visits from the public. Check the local CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) websites for all the county's breweries, as well as the best real ale pubs.
 * Wine: there have been vineyards in Hampshire since Roman times. Modern examples are Black Chalk near Andover and Hambledon at Waterlooville.
 * Tea: Based in Andover, Twinings have been international tea merchants for over 300 years. Enjoy a cup and a slice of homemade cake in any number of tearooms in Hampshire's market towns and country villages.

Southampton boasts some of the best clubs in the south. Nightlife in the rest of Hampshire is fairly poor, aside from the ubiquitous pub. Travelling to Bournemouth, Brighton or London could be a better option to guarantee a good night out.

Go next

 * The Isle of Wight is an easy ferry trip from Portsmouth, Southampton or Lymington.
 * Dorset has much to offer the traveller, from the seaside resorts of the Bournemouth area, west to the world heritage-listed Jurassic Coast and inland to Thomas Hardy country.
 * The cathedral city of Salisbury offers a pleasant contrast to Winchester, while Stonehenge is just one of many neolithic sites in rural Wiltshire.
 * The South Downs National Park continues into West Sussex and East Sussex, counties which also boast sandy beaches and white cliffs.
 * And finally, London is always worth the trip and is just a train ride away.

title: Hampshire


text:
Hampton

There is more than one place called Hampton

Australia

 * Hampton (Queensland) - a town in Queensland

Canada

 * Hampton (New Brunswick) - a town in New Brunswick

United States of America

 * Hampton (Connecticut) - a town in Connecticut
 * Hampton (Florida) - a town in Florida
 * Hampton (Georgia) - a city in Georgia
 * Hampton (Iowa) - a city in Iowa
 * Hampton (Minnesota) - a town in Minnesota
 * Hampton (New Hampshire) - a town in New Hampshire
 * Hampton (South Carolina) - a town in South Carolina
 * Hampton (Tennessee) - a town in Tennessee
 * Hampton (Virginia) - a city in Virginia

title: Hampton


text:
Hampton (New Hampshire)

Hampton is a city in New Hampshire along the coast. It includes the small village of Hampton Beach, a popular tourist spot.

By plane
Some commercial flights are available into Pease, but Hampton is primarily accessible by flights into Manchester and Portland, both an hour by car, or Boston, roughly an hour and a half car ride in good traffic.

 * Manchester Airport, Manchester, NH.
 * Pease International Tradeport, 36 Airline Av., Portsmouth, NH. Served only by two airlines: Allegiant Air, Phone: +1-800-432-3810; or Pan Am Clipper Connection, Phone: +1-800-359-7262.
 * Portland International Jetport, Portland, ME.
 * Logan International Airport, Boston, MA.

By car
From Boston: I-95 North to New Hampshire Exit 1 for Route 107 towards US-1/Seabrook. Route 107 to a left onto US-1 North/Lafayette Road.Take the Hampton Beach exit off US-1, and merge onto Route 101 East. Turn right onto Route 1A South/Ocean Boulevard.

From the north, take I-95 South to New Hampshire Exit 2, Route 101 towards Exeter/Hampton Beach. Merge onto Route 101 East on the left. Turn right onto Route 1A South/Ocean Boulevard.

Get around
Ocean Boulevard is the main street in Hampton Beach, along the main beach area and shops.

Campgrounds
The nearby town of Salisbury has additional camping options.

title: Hampton (New Hampshire)