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Auckland

Auckland (Maori: Tāmaki Makaurau) is the largest city in New Zealand at 1.7 million citizens, and the main arrival point for visitors to the country. It is a vibrant multicultural city, set around two big natural harbours, and ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the world. It is in the warm northern part of the North Island, on a narrow isthmus that joins the Northland peninsula to the rest of the island.

For information on the smaller towns, settlements and islands in the wider area around the city, see the Auckland Region article.

Districts
Until 2010, the Auckland urban area was divided between four city councils and three district councils. In November 2010, the councils merged into a single "super city" council. The districts here are based on Statistics New Zealand's four Auckland urban sub-areas, which in turn are based on the four erstwhile city councils.

Understand
Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, home to 1.5 million people, nearly one-third of the country's population and more than that of the entire South Island. It is the main economic and travel hub and home to an international airport. It's lucky enough to have its own beautiful landscapes, waterways, and other attractions to draw tourists in. It is not New Zealand's political capital though – that honour goes to Wellington. Auckland is by some measures the most isolated city of over 1 million people in the world; the nearest city of over 1 million people is Sydney, 2,160 km across the sea in Australia.

Auckland is called the "City of Sails" for the large number of yachts that grace the Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf, and for the city's love of sailing. More than 135,000 yachts and launches are registered in Auckland and several America's Cup regattas have been held here. Auckland could also be called the "City of Volcanoes"; much of its natural character comes from being built on the Auckland Volcanic Field, which consists of about 50 volcanoes. All of them are individually extinct (Rangitoto was the latest to erupt, in the mid to late 15th century), but the volcanic field as a whole is not. The city also features a large number of urban beaches and parks, numerous arts and cultural institutions and events, and is home to a multitude of sporting teams.

Auckland is frequently ranked highly in international quality-of-life polls, including third in Mercer's Quality of Living Ranking (behind Vienna and Zurich). However, Auckland is also New Zealand's most expensive city – house prices alone are double to triple those found in Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton (the latter 130 km away).

Auckland is very multicultural, with strong immigrant cultures. Some 40 percent of Auckland's population was born overseas; in two local board areas, Puketapapa (Mount Roskill) and Howick, there are more overseas-born residents than New Zealand-born ones. It has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world. For some Polynesian island nations, there are more expatriates living in Auckland than in their homeland. There is also a large population of New Zealand's native Maori people, and populations of immigrants and expats from the UK, China, India, South Africa, South Korea and the Philippines, among others. Auckland's rich cultural mix is celebrated with a wide variety of festivals and events throughout the city.

Climate
Auckland by definition has a temperate climate, although it is often regarded by New Zealanders as having a subtropical climate. The city experiences four distinct seasons with warm summers and mild winters. Winter night temperatures rarely fall below. Auckland experiences regular rainfall throughout the year, with more in winter than summer, though it can also have periods of drought. Snow in Auckland is extremely rare – the last decent snowfall in the city was in the 1930s, although snow flurries occurred in 1976 and 2011. Daylight hours run between 7:30AM and 5:15PM in the winter, and from 6AM to 8:30PM in the summer.

Visitor information

 * Discover Auckland website

By plane

 * Main article: Auckland Airport

By bus
The InterCity Sky City Bus Terminal at 102 Hobson St (behind Sky City Plaza) is the main hub for national coachline InterCity and its subsidiaries GreatSights. Facilities include an InterCity ticketing office, free Wi-Fi, café and luggage lockers.

By train
The Northern Explorer train runs from central Wellington to on Ngaoho Place, in eastern central Auckland. The 681-km (423-mi) journey takes about 12 hours. The trip runs much of the length of the North Island with stopping-off opportunity at Tongariro National Park. In a single day you will pass every kind of scenery: coastline, volcanoes and mountains, green farm pastures and dense New Zealand bush. The train leaves Wellington on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, and returns from Auckland on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

Additionally, there are daily regional services from Hamilton with the Te Huia passenger service. The service is mainly aimed at commuters.

By car
Auckland is accessed from the south via State Highway 1. From Hamilton and New Plymouth you'll follow State Highway 1 north of Hamilton through northern Waikato and across the Bombay Hills into the southern suburbs of the city. From Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty, you'll follow State Highway 2 west of Tauranga to meet State Highway 1 at Pokeno, on the Waikato side of the Bombay Hills. From most other points south (including Rotorua, Napier, Palmerston North and Wellington), you will travel north to Tirau in the southern Waikato where you can choose between two routes; via Hamilton along State Highway 1, or via Matamata along State Highways 27 and 2.

From Northland, you'll follow State Highway 1 to Wellsford. From there, you can continue to follow State Highway 1 to approach Auckland through the northern suburbs and over the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Alternatively, you can follow State Highway 16 to approach Auckland from the northwest via Helensville.

Approximate distances and non-stop travel times to Auckland:
 * Whangarei – 160 km, 2 hours
 * Hamilton – 125 km, 1.5 hours
 * Rotorua – 230 km, 2.75 hours
 * New Plymouth – 360 km, 4.5 hours
 * Napier – 415 km, 5 hours
 * Wellington – 650 km, 8 hours

By ship
Auckland is a major cruise ship port of call with over 100 cruise ships a year. Auckland's main cruise terminal, Shed 10, refurbished in 2013, is located on Queens Wharf next to the central business district (CBD) and the Britomart Station.

To get beyond the CBD, look for a bus called "The Link". The red city LINK bus runs along Queen Street and is only $1. The Link bus will always end up back at the place you started so you can never get lost - stay on the bus and see it all for one low flat fare. Explorer runs a hop-on, hop-off bus service. Taxis are relatively plentiful; many, such as those that serve the airport, accept credit cards.

Get around
Local transport options include bus, train, ferry, shuttle, taxi, and car rental. Use the Auckland Transport (AT) website to plan trips by public transport. AT also has a mobile app that can be used to find the time of the next bus, ferry or train or to find the quickest way to get to your destination using public transport. If you wish to do a lot of cross-city travel, or travel outside the city, it may be more convenient to hire a car, though some city roads are congested at peak times, and finding a parking spot can be challenging. If you don't travel too far, an electric scooter that can be hired from different companies via app might be a good and cheap alternative where you don't have to worry about the traffic jam and parking.

Britomart Transport Centre on the corner of Queen St and Customs St in the CBD near the waterfront is the main information centre for public transport. You will find free bus, train and ferry schedules there – which is handy since the frequency of some services is low and sometimes irregular. Timetables can also be downloaded from the AT website.

The AT HOP card is a prepay smart card for travel on bus, train and ferry services that costs $10. It gives free transfers and a significant discount off single trip adult cash fares, except for Airbus and NiteRider buses and Waiheke ferries. Bus and train fares use a zone-based system: fares start at $3.50 cash or $2.00 AT HOP for within-zone journeys. There is a $20 daily fare cap on trains, buses and inner harbour ferries. Or you can save $2 by buying a Day Pass for $18.

For frequent travel on buses and trains, monthly passes can be loaded on a HOP card. These allow you to take unlimited bus and train rides. You must tag on and tag off each trip. A monthly pass pass for the entire network costs $215.

By bus
Bus services cover most areas of Auckland. Between 2015 and 2018, the bus network was significantly overhauled, simplifying routes and extending frequent bus services, with the trade-off of having to transfer to a train, ferry or another bus to access the CBD from the outer suburbs. Routes with two-digit numbers run at least every 15 minutes daily between 7AM and 7PM; routes with three-digit numbers operate on lower frequencies. Buses no longer accept cash - an AT HOP card is required.

The most useful bus routes for visitors are as follows:
 * The City Link bus runs in a circuit from Karangahape Rd/Upper Queen St to Britomart or the Wynyard Quarter – it costs 64c with HOP (as of October 2023).
 * The Inner Link is a loop service connecting CBD and the surrounding areas of Newmarket, Parnell and Ponsonby. It is fairly frequent and costs up to $2.37 with HOP card, if you stay in one zone.
 * The Outer Link is a loop service that runs from Wellesley St, past the Universities, through Parnell, Newmarket, Epsom, Balmoral, Mt Eden, St Lukes, Mt Albert, out to the Meola Rd entrance to MOTAT, through Westmere, Herne Bay and then back to Wellesley St. The buses are bright amber and operate on a frequent basis, so no timetables are required.
 * Northern Express (NX1 and NX2) buses run between the central city and the North Shore along the Northern Busway, a bus rapid transit (BRT) line. NX1 services start at Lower Albert St near Britomart and terminate at Hibiscus Coast busway station. NX2 services start in Wellesley St between the universities and terminate at Albany busway station. They run every 3 to 10 minutes during working hours and no more than 15 minutes apart in the evenings and weekends. Last services leave between 11PM and midnight, with some NX1 services after midnight on Friday and Saturday nights (but only to/from Albany, not Hibiscus Coast).
 * The Tāmaki Link runs every 15 minutes between Britomart, Mission Bay, St Heliers and Glen Innes train station via Tamaki Drive, passing by Kelly Tarlton's.
 * Route 18 provides a service every 12 minutes between Victoria St in the CBD and New Lynn train station, via Great North Rd, passing close to the Zoo and MOTAT.

By train
Travel by urban train is a good option, but only if you are near a train line; there are few lines and not all suburbs are served. Rail in Auckland has had a renaissance since the turn of the millennium, especially after the central city terminus moved to Britomart in 2003. During 2014 and 2015 new electric trains replaced diesel trains, except between Papakura and Pukekohe in the south, where diesels still run.

An AT HOP card provides tag-on/tag-off travel.

The four main lines are the Southern, Onehunga, Eastern and Western lines. The Southern Line runs from Britomart station in the CBD, roughly parallel to the Southern Motorway, to Papakura, with some services continuing on to Pukekohe. The Onehunga Line follows the Southern Line as far as Penrose, before diverting southwest to Onehunga. The Eastern Line runs from Britomart through the east of central Auckland to Manukau Central, sharing with the Southern Line between Westfield and Puhinui. The Western Line runs from Britomart westward to Swanson station. There are no train services in North Harbour or in the suburbs east of the Tamaki River, although the Northern Express bus (see By bus above) from Britomart to Albany provides rapid transit service to the rail-less North Shore.

The Southern and Eastern lines have the most frequent and reliable services. Trains on these lines run every 10 minutes on-peak, 20 minutes off-peak and 30 minutes on evenings and weekends. Approximately 85-95% of these services run on time. Trains on the Western Line run every 15 minutes on-peak, and every 30 minutes off-peak and on weekends. The Onehunga Line runs every 30 minutes all day every day.

By car
The road network experiences severe congestion at rush hour. Geography constrains the network to a limited number of routes. Auckland has a comprehensive road network for a city its size, but lack of investment in public transport and geographic sprawl means it is largely dependent on private cars.

It is often easier and cheaper to hire a car instead of using taxis, simply because the city is so large and spread out. Auckland city is well covered by the main global car rental companies, such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty and Europcar. All car rental companies offer competitive pricing for economy class vehicles and unlimited mileage options. Local car rental companies like Apex and Jucy may also offer competitive pricing.

There are three main motorway systems running through Auckland. The Northern Motorway (from north of Orewa to the Central Motorway Junction (CMJ) a.k.a. Spaghetti Junction) – note that it has a toll for the last few kilometres beyond Silverdale. The Southern Motorway runs from the CMJ past the Bombay Hills where it splits into State Highway 2 (SH2), and merges to the Waikato Expressway. The Northwestern Motorway runs from Auckland Port through CMJ to near Kumeu. These motorways clog up during the morning rush in the CBD-bound direction, and in the opposite direction during the evening rush. The Harbour Bridge has a method of mitigating this traffic load – it changes the lane system from 4-4 to 5-3, favouring the side which has the heavier traffic load. So be careful when crossing the bridge – some lanes will be available for you at one time but not another.

Watch heading southbound over the Harbour Bridge – if you are heading to the Southern Motorway (e.g. to South Auckland or the Airport), make sure you are in at least lane 3 (if not lane 4) before you reach the bridge to ensure you go over on the main bridge and not the clip-on lanes. Otherwise you will have only a few hundred metres after the bridge to cross two lanes of traffic to lane 4 before lane 1, 2 and 3 split off towards the city centre and the Northwestern Motorway.

Some motorway on-ramps have traffic lights operating in busy periods – they allow one or two cars to proceed every three to eight seconds to ease the merging onto the motorway. Cameras may be operating to catch red-light runners.

By taxi
Taxi fares vary considerably from company to company. For example, see the Get in: By plane section for an indication of fares from the airport to Britomart.

The Uber ride-sharing service is available in most of Auckland.

By ferry
Ferry services operate from the CBD to other points on the mainland and to Hauraki Gulf islands.

See
Auckland's many volcanoes offer great vantage points to take in the city and some of them have been turned into parks. Popular ones include Mt. Eden and One Tree Hill in Auckland Central and Mt. Victoria in Devonport.

 * Auckland Art Gallery, cnr Kitchener and Wellesley Streets. The largest collection of national and international art in New Zealand, housed in an award-winning landmark building on the edge of Albert Park in the heart of Auckland. The Gallery regularly hosts touring international exhibitions and offers a calendar of talks, performances, film screenings and children's activities to complement its exhibition programme. Has a shop and café. Free entry to permanent exhibitions for locals (excluding special exhibitions), $20 for international visitors
 * Auckland Domain is Auckland's oldest park and hosts weekend sports events. Includes the historically important winter gardens with impressive flower bed displays, tropical plants and statues (free). There are scenic views of the Waitemata Harbour and islands of the Hauraki Gulf from in front of the museum.

 * Auckland War Memorial Museum, Parnell. The museum displays collections of significant importance at its prominent position in Auckland Domain. It was constructed in the 1920s as a war memorial to those that fought and died in theatres of war.  The cenotaph located on the grounds below the steps leading up to the museum entrance is the focal point for annual ANZAC day remembrance services.  The top floor records names in stone as well as sobering tombs and lists of war events and their locations.  The museum contains excellent exhibitions of Māori and other Polynesian peoples' arts and crafts and daily Māori cultural performances as well as geography of the Auckland region. There is a planetarium and a cafe. $25 entry for overseas visitors, donation invited from NZ residents, free for Auckland residents.
 * Auckland Zoo, Motions Rd, Western Springs. Auckland Zoo is home to the largest collection of native and exotic animals in New Zealand, set in 17 hectares of lush parkland and just minutes from central Auckland.

 * Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium on the scenic Tamaki Drive includes the Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World. It's an aquarium that includes a trip through a transparent tunnel while the fish and sharks swim all around you, and tanks of rays with feeding-time talks.
 * MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology), Great North Rd, Western Springs. Situated near the Zoo in Western Springs. It's an interactive museum with over 300,000 items. Look out for the WW 2 Avro Lancaster Bomber and the Solent Flying Boat in the Sir Keith Park Memorial Aviation Collection.
 * New Zealand National Maritime Museum, cnr Quay and Hobson St, Viaduct Harbour. Interesting exhibits chronicle New Zealand's maritime history. Free entry for Aucklanders, $20 for other visitors.

 * Sky Tower, cnr Victoria and Federal St. At 328 m, this is the tallest free-standing tower in the Southern Hemisphere, offering views of up to 80 km away and fine dining in the Orbit revolving restaurant.
 * The StarDome Observatory on the slopes of One Tree Hill. The park also contains Māori archaeological sites, a kid's playgrounds, two cafes and a working farm.

Do

 * Movies. Ticket prices vary around Auckland. The cheapest are in the west, with adult tickets at WestCity in Henderson the lowest at $8.50, and a bit higher at $10 at LynnMall and Westgate. Hoyts Hibiscus Coast in the north on Whangaparaoa Peninsula is also cheap at $10.90. Elsewhere in Auckland prices are in the $18.50 to $19.50 range, except on Tuesdays when there is a $12.50 special (2017 prices).
 * Visit the Waitakere Ranges in West Auckland, replete with impressive waterfalls and rugged but beautiful beaches. Around 45 min (peak hours) drive from central Auckland.
 * Eden Park in Central Auckland is the national stadium, hosting rugby union and cricket.
 * Golf: notable courses are Gulf Harbour, and Formosa at Beachlands.

Beaches
There are many beaches, due to Auckland's straddling of two harbours. The most popular ones are in three areas:

 * North Shore beaches (in North Harbour district) are on the Pacific Ocean and stretch from Long Bay in the north to Devonport in the south. They are almost all sandy beaches with safe swimming, and most have shade provided by pohutukawa trees. Most are accessible by bus. Takapuna Beach is the most centrally located, with a lovely beach-front café at one end. Just north of Long Bay is a family nudist beach. St Leonard's Beach is gay male nudist. Others are conventional.
 * Tamaki Drive beaches are on the Waitemata Harbour, in the upmarket suburbs of Mission Bay and St Heliers in Central Auckland. These are sometimes-crowded family beaches with a good range of shops lining the shore. Swimming is safe. Mission Bay beach is Auckland's equivalent of Los Angeles' Santa Monica/Venice Beach and is extremely popular on a hot summer's day. To its east, Kohimarama and St Heliers beaches are usually less crowded. Ladies Bay to the east of St Heliers has historically been a nudist-friendly beach, but is frequented by regular beachgoers too, and is accessible by a 5 min walk down from the cliff-top road.
 * West coast beaches are on the Tasman Sea, and have large expanses of sand and rolling surf. They have unpredictable rips so you should swim only between the lifeguards' flags, which cover select areas of the most popular beaches. They are about a 40-min drive from the city centre (via West Auckland) and the roads are narrow and winding. You'll need your own transport. There's little shade available, and few shops. The sand on these beaches is dark in colour due to high iron content from its volcanic origins. There are several smaller beaches accessible only by foot. The major beaches from south to north are:
 * Whatipu is the southernmost beach, and the most isolated. The last 7 km of the road there is unsealed, but in good condition. There's a track from the carpark to the beach conservatively signposted as 15-min walk. There are several volcanic outcrops surrounding the beach, and native vegetation including cabbage trees along the path. Manukau Harbour is just to the south of the beach, separated by Paratutae Island. Paratutae is joined to the beach except at high tide. There are caves signposted 20-min walk from the car park; the track is muddy during winter. The caves are less spectacular than they once were because they've partially filled up with sand. No dogs are permitted.
 * Karekare is the next beach north of Whatipu. It's considerably more popular and there are lifeguards patrolling the beach during summer. Karekare Falls is a waterfall not far from the road.
 * Piha is the best known and most popular beach. It has lifeguards during summer. The most notable feature is Lion Rock, which separates the northern and southern sides of the beach. There's a steep track partway up Lion Rock to get decent views. Kitekite Falls are a small and pleasant waterfall near the beach. Laird Thomson Track is a walkway from North Piha to the isolated Whites Beach, which usually has very few people on it.
 * Anawhata has no road access to the beach, but there's a fairly steep track down from an unsealed road. This is the least used beach and you may be the only people there at any given time.
 * Te Henga (Bethells Beach) is accessible by road, and has lifeguards in the summer. Erangi Point separates it from unpatrolled O'Neill Bay to the north, which can only be reached by foot.
 * Muriwai is the second most popular of the west coast beaches. There's a colony of gannets (seabirds) which nest in huge numbers and are worth seeing year round. Muriwai has a café, a golf course, and lifeguards during summer.

Buy
The downtown area of the CBD has a number of souvenir shops for a range of budgets. Check around the lower Queen Street and lower Albert Street area.

Hobson Street (at the top end) has a couple of large shops also stocking honey and health products.

The High Street/Vulcan Lane/O'Connell Street area is the Fashion centre of Auckland Central and has local designer stores as well as international brands

There are a number of markets in Auckland; perhaps the most famous for Aucklanders are the Otara and Avondale markets (serving South and West Auckland respectively).

Eat
There are some good cheap food courts (food halls) offering a variety of usually Asian foods usually priced around $10. Try next to the Queens' Arcade at the bottom of Queen St (slightly hidden entrance), or the Metro award winning Food Alley (9-11 Albert St). Very good value and good quality predominantly non-Asian choices are available at Elliott Stables (39 Elliott Street, near Wellesley). Also on the same block is the Atrium on Elliott (21 Elliott Street), a good quality food court of predominantly Asian food. Check out the once-a-week night markets at various locations on different nights.

Britomart Precinct on the waterfront in the city centre is home to an array of popular and diverse bars and eateries. Cafe Hanoi, Ebisu, Britomart Country Club, Mexico Giapo ice cream, to name a few. A must visit.

Viaduct Harbour provides upmarket dining, starting at $30 for mains. While this area has some very nice bars and restaurants, be wary of restaurants lacking customers and usually very quiet. It may be a sign of below average food or poor service.

Drink
You can find neighbourhood pubs in many parts of the city, but the highest concentration of bars and clubs is in Auckland Central — particularly around the Viaduct area, K Road, Ponsonby and Parnell.

Learn
Auckland is home to the University of Auckland, which is the top ranked university in New Zealand, and is consistently ranked among the top 100 in the world by several ranking agencies.

Work
Due to already high migration and stresses on local infrastructure in Auckland, the New Zealand immigration service makes it harder to obtain a work visa for those migrants wishing to work in Auckland. Australian citizens and permanent residents can live and work in New Zealand indefinitely.

Sleep
Accommodation can be found throughout the city, but the largest selection is in Central Auckland particularly the central business district.

Backpackers hostels are predominantly found in the central business district although there are a few in other areas. These are usually intended for young adults coming from overseas but there are few, if any restrictions on who can stay. Beds in shared dorms will cost around $40-$60 per night, female only dorms are also commonly offered. Often, they will also offer private rooms for a premium but these will be more competitively priced than a hotel room in a similar area. They will usually have a shared kitchen, and various other shared facilities such as games and TV rooms but this will vary from hostel to hostel.

Motel style accommodation is found across the city, they will almost always have car parking available and a reasonably well equipped kitchenette in each room. These are often less expensive than hotels of similar quality and provide the ability to self-cater. They may have shared facilities such as games and tv rooms or occasionally pools or spas.

Traditional hotels are found mainly in the CBD although there may be others in areas with a high density of offices to cater to people on work trips. These are often the most expensive type of accommodation. Quality can vary from just adequate to luxury.

Airbnb can offer a range of accommodation to suit any size group and budget and often has locations outside of traditional accommodation spots. Hosts are usually welcoming and friendly, although they may prefer to "leave a key" and not interact face to face.

Stay safe
Auckland is a safe place to visit, thanks to a quality of life that ranks alongside cities like Munich or Melbourne. That said, thefts and robberies are more prevalent than in the rest of New Zealand, and aggravated assaults are not unheard of. Make sure to take all the usual safety precautions. Asking locals can give you an idea of where not to go.

The area locals will most definitely warn you about is South Auckland, which is widely regarded as one of New Zealand's most dangerous locations due to its significant poverty and unemployment rates. While it is nowhere nearly as dangerous as "rough" areas in the USA or Europe, it is advised to remain on one's guards at night. People might also advise against going to certain parts of West Auckland, a former working-class area seen as "rough around the edges" that has thankfully improved markedly over the years, but still suffers from occasional burglaries and thefts.

As in the rest of the country, alcohol culture is very prevalent in Auckland, and it is not abnormal to see drunkards of all ages and from all walks of life meander around.

Drugs are also becoming a major issue in Auckland, with junkies becoming an unfortunately common sight along Karangahape Road (commonly known as K' Road) and parts of Queen Street at night. Simply avoiding eye-contact will be enough to avoid trouble.

Connect
Free internet is available from the public library (limited 1GB per IP address per day). There is also free Wi-Fi in the Skycity food courts. There are 40 HotSpots that offer Wi-Fi connectivity, most notably Esquires cafe (inside Skycity Queen St, Middle Queen St, Lower Queen St, Nelson St), Starbucks (Victoria St, K' Rd, Lower Queen St) and other cafes around Auckland.

Consulates

 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇦🇹 Austria
 * 🇧🇩 Bangladesh
 * 🇧🇧 Barbados
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * Republic of China
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next

 * Go wine tasting on Waiheke Island. It's home to an abundance of art galleries, some fantastic wines and has some of the best beaches in the area. You can rent a scooter and get around the island fairly quickly. Can get crowded during the weekends, but very quiet during the week. It seems a world away from Auckland, but is only 35 minutes by ferry.
 * Take a ferry to Rangitoto Island. Rangitoto Island has trails around much of the island, as well as a bridge that connects to the neighboring Motutapu Island, and is a great hike for even the most inexperienced hikers. Rangitoto Island has several lava caves that can be crawled or climbed through as well a spectacular 360 degree view at the summit (only about an hour hike on the most direct trail). This is one of the more convenient islands that is nearby as it is only 20-25 minutes by ferry.
 * Rotorua, Hamilton, Waitomo Caves and Taupo are all within several hours drive and all have a lot to offer.

title: Auckland


text:
Auckland Region

The Auckland Region is in the North Island of New Zealand. Centred on the Auckland metropolitan area, it also includes a large rural area, stretching as far north as the Wellsford district. The region includes ruggedly beautiful west coast beaches and harbours, the more sheltered inlets and beaches of the east coast, the islands of the Hauraki Gulf and the hiking trails of the native bush-clad Waitakere and Hunua ranges.

Cities

 * – the largest city in New Zealand
 * – west coast beach with a variety of activities
 * – west coast beach and settlement
 * – west coast beach with a variety of activities
 * – west coast beach and settlement

Other destinations

 * (connected by causeway to Motutapu Island}
 * (connected by causeway to Motutapu Island}

Get in
See the Auckland guide for information on accessing the region by plane. Also regional flight such as to Great Barrier Aerodrome

Intercity operates a national bus network with many Auckland departures and arrivals every day. Tickets can be purchased on-line or throughout the country at numerous agents including the i-Site network.

Get around
Metropolitan Auckland has frequent bus services throughout. Trains connect the Auckland CBD with some parts of the metropolitan area: the Western Line runs to West Auckland; the Southern Line runs right through South Auckland to the town of Pukekohe, near the southern boundary of the Auckland Region; the Eastern line serves the inner eastern suburbs of the isthmus; there is no train service on the North Shore. Ferries run from the CBD to points around the Waitemata Harbour, east Auckland, islands of the Hauraki Gulf (such as Waiheke Island), and the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

Go next

 * Northland
 * Waikato

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

title: Auckland Region


text:
Aude

Aude is a department in Occitanie, France.

Its tourist office promotes it as "Cathar country"; it was one of the main areas of Cathar influence until the Albigensian Crusade against them in the 13th century.

Towns

 * — this fortified medieval town is iconic in France. Though it is a genuine citadel from the 13th century with walkable ramparts and many period towers and rooms to explore, its distinctive fairytale look of conical roofs comes from a series of 'corrections' made by the 19th-century architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.
 * — known for the production of a renowned sparkling wine, blanquette de Limoux, and for a carnival which lasts several months.
 * — draws visitors to see its Roman archaeological site, its medieval cathedral and archbishop parade, and the canal that runs through the city
 * — protected by an exceptional natural setting, it is a good spot for sea lovers, history buffs, and board sports enthusiasts

Villages

 * — a small picturesque village offering a great place to base an exploration of the Cathar country
 * — a quiet little village with some charm on the River Cess
 * — a hilltop village known internationally that receives tens of thousands of visitors per year, drawn by conspiracy theories surrounding a supposef buried treasure discovered by its 19th-century priest
 * — a small village set in the heartland of the wine-growing Corbieres district
 * — a centre for Hautes Corbières wines, producer of Fitou, Corbières and Muscat de Rivesaltes

Understand
Aude is an agricultural area dominated by vineyards. In the east are the wines of Corbieres and La Clape, in the centre are Minervois and Côtes de Malepère, and in the south Limoux wine. In Lauragais grain is predominant, whereas in the Montagne Noire only sheep farming is possible. There is cultivation of olive trees for their oil.

Port-la-Nouvelle is the biggest fishing port in the department followed by Gruissan.

History
In the 13th century, the region saw the development of Catharism. This religion was very quickly judged as heretical by the Catholic Church. Faced with its growing strength in the counties of Carcassonne and Toulouse, Pope Innocent III in 1209 declared a crusade against the Albigensians. The barons of the north united to form an army under the command of Simon de Montfort. The city of Carcassonne became the refuge of numerous Cathars.

Climate
The autumn is characterized by violent and short storms. The summer is often hot and dry. Yet, the department has several contrasts in climate: In the north, the Montagne Noire and, in the south, the Pays de Sault, have a mountainous climate with temperatures sometimes very low in winter. In the west, the climate is under Aquitaine influence with heavier precipitation, while in the east the climate is purely Mediterranean. In the centre, in the Limouxin, Carcassonnais and Razès areas, the climate is known as intermediary with significant exposure to winds. The winds are often present in Aude. It is one of the windiest French departments, with 300 to 350 days of wind per year. This phenomenon is due mostly to the variations in relief north and south which create a kind of corridor.

By road
Two major roads cross the Aude. From west to east the A61 autoroute (Autoroute des Deux Mers) connects Narbonne and Toulouse via Carcassonne. From north to south, following the Mediterranean coast, the A9 autoroute links Montpellier with Spain.

By train
The rail network follows the same route as the road network. It is a low speed system, but a project is under way to build a fast line to Spain as part of the Trans-European Rail network.

By boat
Aude is crossed by the Canal du Midi which is a major waterway that allows tourists to pass from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. It comes into the west of Aude at Seuil de Naurouze then joins the Mediterranean at Sète.

See
Narbonne Cathedral is a remarkable Gothic cathedral and remains unfinished. It is a symbol of the French presence in Languedoc in the Middle Ages.

Châteaux
The department has many castles that have been developed by the General Council of the Aude to stimulate tourism. The fortresses are often located on rocky peaks, such as the castles of Quéribus and Lastours, which gave them a strategic position. The city of Carcassonne was the logistical hub of the country at the time of conflict with the Kingdom of Aragon.

Abbeys
Many abbeys exist throughout the department of Aude. The best known are Fontfroide Abbey, Lagrasse Abbey, the abbey of Sainte-Marie Villelongue-d'Aude, and the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire.

Itineraries
The GR 36 partly traverses the Aude.

Do
Wine tasting. The departement is full of vineyards, and most chateau offer a no-obligation, free wine tasting session.

Caving
Aude has many caves suitable for speleological exploration. The Pays de Sault consists of one of the largest limestone areas of the Pyrenees. This geology lends itself to the formation of cavities and there are many 'barrencs' (the local name for Pit caves). This plateau is home to a cave, the TM71, which is a superb cavity classified as a natural reserve since 1987. This is unique in France.

Other natural cavities of the Aude contain concretions like the Pit cave of Cabrespine, the Aguzou Grotto, and the grotto of Limousis. The latter contains the largest block of aragonite yet discovered. In the Massif of Corbières on the plateau of Lacamp there are cavities formed by detrital rocks (marls, clays and puddingstone) carved by erosion.

Festivals
The Carnival of Limoux is an Aude festival which takes place over a period of ten weeks. This is one of the longest carnivals in the world. It takes place in the town of Limoux on the Place de la République every weekend from mid-January to the end of March. It is characterized by bands in Pierrot costumes (known as les fécos) accompanied by musicians.

In the region around Limoux a major celebration of gastronomy known as Toques et Clochers (literally, "Tall Hats & Steeples') organized by the winegrowers from Sieur d'Arques' takes place over the weekend of Palm Sunday. It permits the sale of a large quantity of wine in order to enhance local patronage.

Sport
Aude is the land of rugby league (rugby à XIII) with the teams of Limoux, Carcassonne and Lézignan among the elite. Rugby union (rugby à XV) is also played in Aude. The Narbonne team (known as Racing Club Narbonne-Mediterranean) has nevertheless managed to develop in the Pro D2 championship.

Every 15 August, in Quillan, an international cycling competition takes place. This is the oldest of such contests in France. The Tour de l'Aude is one of the most important female cycling events in the calendar. It generally takes place in May.

Eat
Fréginat, a traditional type of fricasee of pork from Corbières, can be found throughout the department. It is made from pork and pig's liver with a local variety of white beans (Lingots de Castelnaudary) flavoured with garigue herbs. On the coast, eel stew (borrida d’anguilles) is a dish of choice. Finally, the cassoulet of Castelnaudary, made from white beans and sausage, is a typical dish of the Lauragais.

Other specialties exist such as oysters from Gruissan and Leucate. Olive oil is also very widespread in the Aude and is a speciality of Bize-Minervois. Cartagena is a liqueur marketed by some manufacturers. Finally, the Blanquette de Limoux is a sparkling white wine popular in the department whose origin dates back to the sixteenth century.

Drink
Wine production is extensive across Aude, and local chateaux and domaines provide free tastings as well as sales of wine and other local produce.

Aude's local sparkling white wine AOC Blanquette de Limoux is said to have been the forerunner of champagne. A more traditional variant of the blankette (sweetish, made without disgorgement and thus with sediment) has the AOC Blanquette méthode ancestrale, while the AOC Crémant de Limoux allows deviating more radically from the tradition.

title: Aude


text:
Audubon

Audubon is a town of 2,124 residents in Southwest Iowa.

title: Audubon


text:
Aufseß

Aufseß a municipality of 1,300 people (2019) in Upper Franconia. It is most well known as the village with the most beer breweries per capita, however it can be thought of as a set of hamlets along the St2188, each with their own brewery.

The community of Aufseß has been listed in September 2000 in the Guinness Book of Records as world record-holder for the greatest brewery density in the world.

By plane
The nearest major airport to Aufseß is in Nuremberg.

Get around

 * Taxi company Ott, phone +49 9198 998877 or +49 171 7710944

Do

 * Breweries Path around Aufseß, Circular route 13 km (8 miles), walking time 4 hours (depends on beer). If you are over 16 years, you can get the Franconian Honorary Beer Drinker Certificate, children can get the Companion Document. Aufseß – Sachsendorf (5 km, 3 miles) - Sachsendorf – Hochstahl (5 km, 3 miles) - Hochstahl – Heckenhof (2 km, 1.3 miles) - Heckenhof – Aufseß (2 km, 1.3 miles)

Festivals

 * Church jamboree in Hochstahl in July
 * Church jamboree in Heckenhof on 4th Sunday in August
 * Church jamboree in Sachsendorf and Zochenreuth beginning of September
 * Church jamboree in Aufseß and Neuhaus end of September
 * Church jamboree in Hochstahl in November

Buy
Every brewery has its own beer stones and more things to buy.

Drink
There is a walk Brauereienweg around the 4 World Record Breweries of Aufseß:

see Breweries in Franconia

Sleep
Finding affordable accommodation might be difficult in summer.

Go next
Visit Bamberg to see the medieval town and try the local smoked beer (Rauchbier) or to Bayreuth, is famous as the host of the Richard Wagner Festival, furthermore the Markgräfliches Opernhaus is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List or deeper into Franconian Switzerland Pottenstein.

title: Aufseß


text:
Augrabies

Augrabies is a small town in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, situated on the south bank of the Orange River about 100 km (60 mi) downstream from Upington. It is located on the R359 road just outside the Augrabies Falls National Park, which contains the Augrabies Falls for which the town is named.

Get in
From Cape Town, take the N7 north. Either take the R358 for a more direct route (about 10.5 hours in total, albeit along a dirt road much of the way), or continue north to Springbok, taking the N14 east to Augrabies (11 hours in total).

Alternatively, fly to Upington airport, and drive the remaining 120km west.

See
When the Orange River has a lot of water, the Augrabies Falls turn into mighty falls that are really spectacular.

Do
Hot-air ballooning (in the cooler months only) and white-water rafting are available.

There are also a number of short hikes, and the 3-day Klipspringer hike (closed in summer) available inside the National Park.

Go next
Go to Upington or Namibia or the Western Cape Province and Cape Town.

title: Augrabies


text:
Augrabies Falls National Park

Augrabies Falls National Park is in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.

Understand
Augrabies Falls National Park is a national park located around its main attraction, the Augrabies Falls, about 120 km west of Upington. The park covers an area of 820 km² and stretches along the Orange River. The area is very arid. The waterfall is about 60 m high and is awe-inspiring when the river is in flood. The gorge below the falls averages about 240 m deep and runs for 18 km. The gorge provides an impressive example of erosion into a granitic basement.

History
Established in 1966, the original Khoikhoi people named the waterfall Ankoerebis, meaning the "place of big noises". The Trekboers who later settled in the area derived the name Augrabies. The name is sometimes spelt Aughrabies.

Landscape
A prominent landmark in the park is Moon Rock, a large exfoliation dome measuring around 700 m (2,300 ft) by 100 m (330 ft) and 30 m (98 ft) high.

Flora and fauna
The most characteristic plant in the park is the giant aloe (Aloe dichotoma) known locally as the quiver tree or kokerboom. It is perfectly adapted to the dry semi-desert rocky areas found in the Nama-Karoo, able to withstand the extreme temperatures and the infertile soil. This tree, which grows up to five metres high, gets its name from the fact that the Bushmen (San) used the soft branches to make quivers for their arrows. The eye-catching silhouette of the quiver tree is typical of this part of Northern Cape landscape. When the tree flowers in the winter flocks of birds are attracted to their copious nectar, and baboons can be seen tearing the flowers apart to get the sweet liquor.

Fauna include giraffe, leopard, kudo, eland, steenbok, dassie, and an exceptionally high concentration of lizards. Vervet monkeys and baboons have become habituated to humans and will take any unattended food.

Climate
Extremely hot in summer, with the December maximum averaging 36°C. Rooms are air-conditioned, but camping can be unpleasant, and many of the walks are not advisable in the heat.

Get in
From Cape Town, take the N7 north. Either take the R358 for a more direct route (about 10½ hours in total, albeit along a dirt road much of the way), or continue north to Springbok, taking the N14 east to Augrabies village (11 hours in total).

Alternatively, fly to Upington airport, and drive the remaining 120 km.

Fees
Vaild to 31 October 2017:
 * South African citizens and residents (with ID): R44 per adult, R22 per child, per day
 * SADC nationals (with passport): R88 per adult, R44 per child, per day
 * Foreign visitors: R176 per adult, R88 per child, per day
 * Children under 2 have free entry.

On foot
Walkways lead from the restaurant to the observation decks at the main falls.

Do
Take an easy walk to the waterfalls from the park reception area. There are a number of lookout points. The falls are also lit up until 10pm for a spectacular (and much cooler) night view.

Hot-air ballooning (in the cooler months only) and white-water rafting are available outside of the park.

There are also short hikes, and the 3-day Klipspringer hike (closed in summer) available.

Buy
An ATM and petrol station is available at the main camp. The small shop next to the reception sells curios and some food supplies.

Eat
There is a restaurant in the park serving mostly meat dishes, with limited vegetarian fare. The small shop also sells some food items.

Drink
Visiting in the summer, you will need to drink a lot! The restaurant has a bar area, and the shop also sells alcohol Monday to Saturday.

Sleep
All booking is done through the Sanparks website.

Air-conditioned and comfortable chalets and cottages are available. Base rate for chalets range between R975 and R1715 per night for up to 2 people. Family cottages for up to 4 people range from R1765-2360 (Aug 2017).

The campsites are shaded and well-situated, but the area gets extremely hot in summer, so come prepared or rent an air-conditioned chalet. Base rate for camp site is R250 per night for up to 2 people (Aug 2017).

Stay safe
Most of the risks are of the wild variety, with baboons and vervet monkeys likely to steal unattended food (or raid a cottage left with its windows open). Care also needs to be taken to avoid scorpion stings and snakebites when walking in the park.

The park also falls into a marginal malaria area, but the risk is low and most visitors don't bother with prophylactics.

title: Augrabies Falls National Park


text:
Augsburg

Augsburg is a lovely metropolitan city of 300,000 people and around 885,000 in the urban area in the German Bundesland (Federal State) of Bavaria (German: Bayern). Some 60 km northwest of Munich, it is one of the oldest German cities. It boasts a rich history and has developed a modern urban vibe.

Understand
Augsburg is the administrative capital and local center of Bavarian Swabia. From 1276 until nearly the end of the Holy Roman Empire, Augsburg was a "free imperial city", nominally subject to nobody but the Emperor but de facto self-governing as a city state. Despite being hidden in Munich's overwhelming shadow, the city has a lot to offer. While many Germans might think the "aug" part may refer to eyes (Auge (n) in German) it actually goes back to its Roman name Augusta Vindelicorum.

By plane
Augsburg is most easily reached via train from Munich Airport. You will first need to take the S-Bahn or  to München Hauptbahnhof (Munich main train station), a 45-min ride, before you can catch a train to Augsburg. Plan at least 2 hr in total from Munich Airport to Augsburg (as you can see taking a bus or private transfer will be much faster). It is best to purchase a Bayern-Ticket (Bavaria Ticket) from one of the ticket machines located in the train station. A Bayern-Ticket allows one (along with up to four other friends) to travel within Bavaria using all regional trains (no InterCity Express) and city transportation (trams, buses, etc.) It is valid from 09:00 (on weekdays) or from 00:00 (on weekends) to 03:00 the following day. The Bayern-Ticket costs €25 for one person, and €6 for each additional person (maximum of 4 additional people). You can also use a Bayern-Ticket Nacht (Bavaria Night Ticket), which is valid Sunday to Thursday from 18:00 to 06:00 the next day, and Friday to Saturday, from 18:00 until 07:00 the next day. It costs €23-35 if you book online or at the ticket machine.

Other major airports within close proximity are Stuttgart and Frankfurt, both of which are also connected by train and can easily be reached by car. If you fancy low-cost airlines, Memmingen Airport has a good selection of destinations served by Ryanair and Wizzair. FMM can be reached in less than an hour by car, 1.5-2/5 hours by public transportation.

By bus

Flixbus and other companies serve the city.

By car
About 80 km from Munich and 160 km from Stuttgart just south of the A8.

By public transportation
Augsburg has an efficient transportation system with seven main tram (German: Straßenbahn) lines and several bus lines which cover the whole urban and suburban areas. These lines run daily from around 04:30 to 00:30. From Thursday to Sunday there are additional night bus lines to cover the remaining night hours, thus providing (reduced) 24-hour service.

See a plan of the AVV lines.

With AVV tickets, you can also use every regional train within the Augsburg region (but you can't go to Munich or Ulm with AVV). The BRB rail network operated from Augsburg Hbf is a suburban train connecting suburbs and even more villages to Augsburg's center. A suburban train system (S-Bahn, just like in many other German cities) is planned to follow the BRB and regional routes.

You can buy a 24-hr ticket, a single ticket for €5.80, or a family ticket for €7.40. You must purchase a ticket and stamp it each time you enter a streetcar or bus. Riding without a ticket (German: schwarzfahren, literally "black riding") will get you a €60 fee and a visit with the police.

The Bayern-Ticket (Bavaria Ticket) is valid in Augsburg and you will not be required to purchase additional tickets for using the Augsburg transportation system.

By bike
With its mostly flat terrain, Augsburg is great to explore by bike. That way, you can more easily visit some hidden gems in the suburbs and along the rivers Lech and Wertach. Augsburg's UNESCO World Heritage (Water Management System of Augsburg) also includes several objects outside the centre.

Bikes can be rented on several bus stations from the "Stadtwerke", and at some bike stores in Augsburg:

Do

 * Football: FC Augsburg play soccer in Bundesliga, Germany's top tier. Their home ground WWK Arena (capacity 30,600) is 5 km south of town centre, take the tram.
 * Football: FC Augsburg play soccer in Bundesliga, Germany's top tier. Their home ground WWK Arena (capacity 30,600) is 5 km south of town centre, take the tram.
 * Football: FC Augsburg play soccer in Bundesliga, Germany's top tier. Their home ground WWK Arena (capacity 30,600) is 5 km south of town centre, take the tram.
 * Football: FC Augsburg play soccer in Bundesliga, Germany's top tier. Their home ground WWK Arena (capacity 30,600) is 5 km south of town centre, take the tram.

Buy
Augsburg is a lively university town, a city for business and recreation. Enjoy the benefits like traditional pubs, theater, museums and lots of shopping facilities. You find many retail shops in the pedestrian zone, but don't miss to go downhill (e.g. via Judenberg) to the "Altstadt" with its unique shops! There is also a larger mall (City Galerie) with common brands and big stores, busy on weekends. For souvenirs, go to the Rathausplatz, find Augsburg-umbrellas and Brecht T-shirts. The local brewery Riegele sells giftboxes with 6 types of beer!

Eat
Augsburg is famous for its plum cake, called Zwetschgendatschi, and Bosna, a sausage coming in a bun with hot sauce and onions. Also, try Kässpatzen (which literally translates as cheese sparrows, but no birds are harmed during preparation), a popular hand made pasta dish topped with melted mountain cheese and served with caramelized onions.

In the city centre

 * The Stadtmarkt or city market, enter from Fuggerstraße or Annastraße, has fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and cheese as well as the Fleischhalle and Viktualienhalle, which have various budget options available, including typical Bavarian, Greek, Thai, sushi and more. The stalls are only open during lunch time and are popular among locals. Closed on Sundays.
 * As almost everywhere, bakeries are also a good choice for snacks. A bit more expensive, but of highest quality is Cumpanum (located at the northern end of Annastraße) and Augsburg based Laxgang is worth a visit as well (their shop at the end of Milchberg, close to Puppenkiste) is worth a visit.

Drink
In Augsburg there are several beer gardens, and some of them have their own children's playground. What is written in the Munich travel guide about beer gardens also applies to Augsburg's beer gardens. The Riegele beer garden, close to the central train station and right next to the Riegele brewery, is a good place to go.

Clubs and bars
A good part of Augsburg's night life takes place in Maximilianstraße and the historic district right beneath the Maximilianstraße. There is great diversity in the type of clubs and bars, ranging from disco to student bars. It is a great idea to go see more than one place and find out which is the most comforting to you. Luckily, in generally, Augsburg's night life is a lot cheaper than in Munich or other big cities.

 * ]
 * Augsburg has a fairly good gay scene, one gay bar in particular is OKI's.
 * Augsburg has a fairly good gay scene, one gay bar in particular is OKI's.
 * Augsburg has a fairly good gay scene, one gay bar in particular is OKI's.
 * Augsburg has a fairly good gay scene, one gay bar in particular is OKI's.
 * Augsburg has a fairly good gay scene, one gay bar in particular is OKI's.
 * Augsburg has a fairly good gay scene, one gay bar in particular is OKI's.
 * Augsburg has a fairly good gay scene, one gay bar in particular is OKI's.

Budget
Augsburg has some cheap places to stay. One is the Jugendherberge the other is a private hostel

Stay safe
Augsburg is very safe; in 2017, it was ranked as the second safest German city with over 200,000 inhabitants. Virtually all crimes are domestic violence (which are quite rare), drug abuse, or alcohol-fueled fights at a bar. Augsburg also tends to be pretty safe at night. Don't be afraid to use the small and poorly lit alleys in the historic district, since these are beautiful especially after dark!

Go next

 * Dachau
 * Munich
 * Ulm

title: Augsburg


text:
Augusta

There's more than one place called Augusta:

Australia

 * Augusta (Western Australia) - a town in Western Australia

Italy

 * Augusta (Italy) - a town in Sicily

United States of America

 * Augusta (Arkansas) - a town in Arkansas
 * Augusta (Georgia) - a town in Georgia
 * Augusta (Kansas) - a town in Kansas
 * Augusta (Kentucky) - a town in Kentucky
 * Augusta (Maine) - a town in Maine
 * Augusta (New York) - a town in New York
 * Augusta (Wisconsin) - a town in Wisconsin

See also:

 * North Augusta - a town in South Carolina

title: Augusta


text:
Augusta (Georgia)

Augusta is a city in Georgia's Classic Heartland. Due to its location inland on the Savannah River, Augusta was a city of major strategic importance by the end of the Civil War. It was spared most of the destruction of many other southern cities, so there are many old buildings and landmarks. Augusta is also home to the Augusta National Golf Club, one of the world's most prestigious and exclusive golf clubs, which plays host to the Masters golf tournament.

Understand
There are some areas of town that the tourist might avoid, but they should be obvious upon inspection. There is a significant presence of military personnel who visit the city on personal business from nearby Fort Gordon.

By car
Augusta is on I-20, between Atlanta and Columbia, South Carolina. I-520 circles the city. Car is usually the best way to get around town, given the sprawl in the city's organization. Traffic is heavy on major arteries and intersections during weekday rush hour. Traveling around the Augusta National Golf Club, especially Washington Road, during Masters Week is not advised.

By bus
Augusta is served by Greyhound Bus Lines. The bus station is at 1128 Greene St in Downtown.

By taxi
Taxis are not often used and are fairly expensive because of the large distances between destinations in town. There is an often updated official list of taxi services on the Augusta Regional Airport website.

Get around
Augusta Public Transit, a public bus system, is available and serves many popular destinations. However, it may be easier to rent a car to access areas not served by the bus system.

See

Eat
Augusta has many of the national chain restaurants found in other cities; however, the city has many excellent local eateries including:

Connect
Every branch of the public library system has internet access, but a library card is required to use it. There is also free Wi-Fi provided by the city in the Augusta Commons on Broad Street. Many local restaurants and coffee shops also provide free wireless internet access, especially those on Broad Street.

Go next

 * Clarks Hill Lake (also known as Strom Thurmond Reservoir)- large dammed lake northwest of Augusta in Columbia and McDuffie Counties. Known as "the Lake" in town, it is ringed by mostly Army Corps of Engineering land, who provides public access to the water. There are many marinas, public "beaches," and pavilion facilities for enjoyment just for the day. Camping is fairly cheap at many of the sites, and those at Amityville and Modoc are especially nice. Fishing is great, as are other water sports. Make sure to ask locals about the lake levels, as during drought years, the lake may be difficult to navigate or unpleasant to swim in as you get further away from the Dam.
 * Modoc Speedway- in the suburb of Grovetown, this is a 1/4-mile dirt-track raceway which holds events most weekends throughout the summer. Races last a few hours, but are individually short in duration. Many racers are local amateurs, but the faster semi-professionals also race. Great for people watching and getting a taste of racing culture in the South. The track often changes ownership, making events somewhat unpredictable in timing. Check their website or call ahead to make sure.
 * Carolina Dragway- across the Savannah River in Aiken, SC, this is a drag racing venue that holds events every Sunday in the summer.
 * Kackleberry Farm- south of Augusta in Louisville, GA, this is a farm open for field trips and visits to the pumpkin patch and corn maze. Allows for kids to experience a farm. Great in the fall.
 * Steeds Dairy- in the suburb of Grovetown, this educational working dairy farm is open September–November to the public.

title: Augusta (Georgia)


text:
Augusta (Italy)

Augusta is a town in Sicily in Italy. It is largely industrial with little to interest the tourist.

By train
Augusta is on the route between Catania and Syracuse.

title: Augusta (Italy)


text:
Augusta (Maine)

Augusta is the capital of Maine, but at 19,000 (2020), it is one of the least populous state capitals in the United States.

By car

 * From Portland: take US Interstate I-295 North toward Falmouth; this becomes I-95 North; follow signs for Augusta. Exit at Augusta/Western Ave, and turn right, east, into Augusta; trip is under 60 miles, about one hour total in reasonable traffic.
 * From Bangor: Take I-95 South to Augusta/Western Ave, and turn left, east, into Augusta; trip is about 80 miles, a bit under 1 1/2 hours in reasonable traffic.
 * From Belfast: Take Maine State Route 3 South (really west/southwest); trip is about 47 miles, or about one hour in reasonable traffic.

By bus

 * Concord Coach Lines. Service from Boston, Portland, and Bangor.

See
tourist information.

Eat
There are a number of restaurants and bars located along the historic Water St.

Sleep

title: Augusta (Maine)


text:
Augusta (Wisconsin)

Augusta is a city in Wisconsin.

Go next

 * Altoona Wisconsin is approximately 20 miles northwest of Augusta on US Highway 12.

title: Augusta (Wisconsin)


text:
Augustów

Augustów is a town in northern Podlaskie Voivodeship near Wigry National Park, Poland. It is a popular spa resort and a center for lake tourism.

Get in
FlixBus has a route from Tallinn, Riga and Kaunas to Augustów

Sleep
Augustów and its surroundings have quite varied accommodation options, from campsites, bungalows and privates rooms, to spa hotels.

Go next

 * Suwałki

title: Augustów


text:
Aukštaitija

Aukštaitija (meaning Highlands) is a large area in the north-east of Lithuania.

Cities

 * — a city that was built for the now-decommissioned Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, and the only Lithuanian city with an ethnic Russian majority
 * — a city that was built for the now-decommissioned Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, and the only Lithuanian city with an ethnic Russian majority
 * — a city that was built for the now-decommissioned Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, and the only Lithuanian city with an ethnic Russian majority
 * — a city that was built for the now-decommissioned Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, and the only Lithuanian city with an ethnic Russian majority
 * — a city that was built for the now-decommissioned Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, and the only Lithuanian city with an ethnic Russian majority
 * — a city that was built for the now-decommissioned Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, and the only Lithuanian city with an ethnic Russian majority

Other destinations

 * — a land of lakes, hills and forests, popular for water tourism and rural tourism in the summer

title: Aukštaitija


text:
Auli

Auli is a city in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Auli is nestled in the lap of snow-capped peaks of Garhwal Himalayas, in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, near the religious shrine of Badrinath. At an altitude of 2,500 to 3,050 m above sea level, Auli’s slopes are flanked by coniferous and oak forests, which offer a panoramic view of mountains such as Nanda Devi and Mana Parbat.

By plane
For those travelling by air, the nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 17 km from Rishikesh, 273 km from Joshimath.

By train
Coming from any part of India, the nearest rail head is Haridwar 299 km from Auli. Catch a train to New Delhi Station. From New Delhi one can catch a train for Haridwar. It takes more than 7 hours to reach Haridwar (Shatabdi/JanShatabdi takes 6 hours).

By road
Auli is only a 13 km drive from Joshimath. State transport and Union buses play regularly between Joshimath and Rishikesh (253 km). Local Transport Union Buses and State Transport buses operate between Joshimath and Rishikesh (253 km), Haridwar (277 km), Dehradun (298 km) and Delhi (500 km). From Joshimath onwards, both bus and taxi services are available for Auli. Deluxe coaches can also be arranged with prior notice for the group of 15 people or more. If you are dropping at New Delhi and want to go by Bus then take a Metro Train to ISBT - Kashmere Gate. From there one can catch Bus of DTC/UPSRTC/UTC. Only problem is that there are no fixed timetable and every person in charge will promise you many things. Don't fall in the trap of private tour operator. They all will say bus is just leaving and what not. So be prepared for confusion. You may loose your temper. Check the bus condition before boarding as road from New Delhi to Haridwar is long [7-8 hrs] and some patches are in very bad conditions, comfortable seats are must. Once you are at Haridwar stay overnight and catch a bus leaving bus stand opposite railway station at around 3:30AM. This bus is the only way to reach Joshimath in 10 or more hours if you are planning to catch Cable Car (last ride 3:30PM). Other option is to book Car from the Car Union Off opposite Bus stand they normally charge ₹3000 or more for Joshimath Dropping for Ambassador which is best for 4 people. Whether in bus or car please sit on right hand side window for magnificent view, road to Joshimath runs parallel to holy river Ganga and Alaknanda which falls on right side.

By cable car
The most popular way to drop in at Auli is by the cable car service which runs for 3 km. This cable holds a record of longest in Asia with total length of 4.15 km. Its lower tower is at 1906 m from MSL and the upper tower is at 3016 m. It takes around 15 minutes to complete this ride at a speed of 5 m/sec. Charges are ₹1000 for round trip. The chair lift operates from Tower 8 of ropeway all the way down to GMVN Ski Resort. Charges are ₹500 for round trip.

See
Gurson Bugyal - around 3 km from Auli, Gurso Bugyal or Gorson Bugyal is a spectacular meadow surrounded by dense forest of oaks and conifers. Situated at an elevation of 3,056 m, the high-altitude grassland is a brilliant green carpet in summer and a snow-covered magical land in winter. It's a good trek for beginners and offers spectacular views of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Dron Parvat peaks. This place is only about 1.5 km away from the last ropeway tower in Auli.

Chattrakund - Chattrakund is at a distance of 4 km from Auli – just one km beyond Gurson bugyal. Situated as an altitude of 3,300 m, this small lake is surrounded by verdant greenery and this place offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Visitors are enthralled by the picturesque settings and tranquility of this place,

Auli Lake - The highest artificial lake in the world, it provides a serene and calm atmosphere. The flawless turquoise lake bordered by lush green slopes, looks picture-perfect and can be accessed through the cable car. In winter, when snow carpets the grass, the lake shines like a jewel embedded in the white. Located approximately 15 km from Auli, it is a small village known for natural hot-water spring and temple. Explore the traditional handicrafts of the region here and feel at home among the warm local residents

Tapovan - approximately 15 km from Auli, it is a small village known for natural hot-water spring and temple. Explore the traditional handicrafts of the region here and feel at home among the warm local residents.

16 km from Joshimath and accessible by a good motorable road is the ski resort of Auli. The season extends from January to March, during this time skiing festivals and the National Championships are held. The Auli slopes, descending from 3049 to 2915 m, are flanked by conifers and oaks, which cut wind velocity. You get a 180-degree view of Himalayan peaks, which include Nanda Devi (7817 m), Kamet (7756 m), Mana Parvat (7273 m) and Dunagiri (7066 m).

A 500 m long ski-lift and an 800 m long chair-lift link the upper and lower slopes, and snow beaters and snow-packing machines maintain the smoothness of the slopes. Skiers can enjoy almost 20 km of virgin slopes, which provide excellent opportunities for cross-country, slalom and down-hill skiing events.

Bring woollen clothing, cap, socks, dark glasses, gloves, mufflers, pullovers, wind-proof jacket, gum/snow boots and a torch light. At Auli where the temperatures drop to as low as -8° C in winters, although it is moderately cold in the summers.

Joshimath - Joshimath is an ancient town settled in 8th century AD. This town is 10 km before the Auli hill station and is an important town for the Indian Army. Joshimath Cantonment is one of the important military stations of Indian Army, present in Uttarakhand. In winters, when Badrinath become inaccessible by tourists, the idol of Badri Vishal resides in the Narsingh Temple of Joshimath.

Do
Training courses in skiing: training courses are conducted in modules of 7 and 14 days. Training is imparted to the enrolled persons in modern skiing techniques by qualified instructors from Skiing and Tourist Resorts, Auli and Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering, Gulmarg.

Best option for those who want to learn basic skiing and save money enrol with the GMVNL basic course as the cost of the package is inclusive of chair-lift (₹100 return) and accommodation (better than the ₹750 wooden hut) and food (casual eating will cost ₹60/pp each time) and gear.

Trekking - From Auli, one can trek up to Himalayan peaks such as Nanda Devi, Kamat, Mana Parvat and Dunagiri. Joshimath to Auli is about 14 km. Walking on snow-laden paths in winters or lush alpine meadows during summers, the offbeat trails of Auli are an unparalleled attraction for trekkers and nature lovers. The green expanse of Gurson (Gorson) bugyal meadow is just 3 km from Auli and it connects with the trekking trail to Kuari Pass.

Eat
There is a government-run small café where you can find coffee, tea or some snacks like Maggi Noodles. Other than this, there are hardly any eating places nearby. Even at this café the prices are highly inflated mainly because there are few modes of transport to move the stock from Joshimath.

Sleep
Alpine cottages and log huts prove to be a more exciting choice. Also available are catering services, adequate heating arrangements, a round-the-clock hot water supply and, of course, warm hospitality, all of which ensure a comfortable and memorable stay. The above modes of accommodation are supplemented by a wide network of luxurious yet affordable hotels and rest-houses all along the route (at Dehradun, Rishikesh, Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Gauchar, Karanprayag, Nand-Prayag, Pipalkoti and Joshimath).

Gmvn Ski Resort

Royal village, Auli

Go next

 * Badrinath, one of the most holy towns in Hinduism, is only north of Auli.
 * Valley of Flowers
 * Joshimath
 * Mana Village

title: Auli


text:
Aurangabad

Aurangabad (Marathi: औरंगाबाद Auraṅgābād), now known officially as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Marathi: छत्रपती संभाजीनगर Chatrapatī Sambhājīnagar), is a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It sees a lot of international tourist traffic due to its proximity to the two s, namely Ajanta and Ellora caves. Aurangabad, a dream destination of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, founded in 1610, is known today as one of the four important cities in Maharashtra. The city has a population of 1.2 million (2011) and is heading towards rapid industrial growth. It retains its past glory and charms, heritage and traditions. Conspicuously seen on the Deccan Plateau, it has a rich culture and a plethora of magnificent arts on display.

Understand
Travellers to Aurangabad will find history dating back to the 2nd century BCE, when the Satavahana rulers established their capital in Pratishtanapura, today known as Paithan. It was around this time that the viharas (monasteries) were carved out of caves in what is now Ajanta, and the stunning cave paintings were made, to be lost and rediscovered in the early 19th century. The carvings in the Ellora caves track the changing fortunes of three major religions Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism between the 5th and the 10th century CE.

History
Aurangabad has a long association with the concept of heritage. It has seen several dynasties and experienced the power of rulers of different religions, cultures and communities, each of which has left its mark on the city.

The Yadava kings established their capital in Devagiri (also spelt Deogiri) and built a fort that stands to this day. The fort was reputed to be impregnable, but Alauddin Khalji of Delhi captured it by laying siege on it and renamed it to Daulatabad. Malik Kafur, his general consolidated his hold on the region. As the Delhi Sultanate was captured by Muhammad bin Tughluq, the fort passed to him. Tughluq is famous for his famously-botched plan to move his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad along with the entire population of the city, only to have to return because he had not planned for water supply at his new capital. This fiasco ensured fame for his name, as Indians took to describing the oft-shifting plans of their rulers as "Tughluq policies".

Aurangabad then fell to the local Muslim rulers of Deccan who revolted against the Delhi Sultan. The city of Aurangabad was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar, the prime minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II, one of these Deccan rulers, though the name of the city then was Fatehpura. The town started growing. Aurangzeb when he became Viceroy of the Deccan made it his capital and named it Aurangabad. This was the golden time in the history of Aurangabad when the city flourished the most in terms of culture, architecture, and art. The region kept changing hands till the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan consolidated his hold and appointed his son Aurangzeb as the governor. Aurangzeb established his base here. In the year 1679, Aurangzeb’s son built a replica of the Taj Mahal, the ‘Bibi-ka-Maqbara’, in tribute to his mother Begam Rabia Durani. It is considered to be a masterpiece of Mughal architecture in the Deccan. Aurangzeb returned to the city again in 1681, this time as an emperor, determined to crush the south once and for all. He spent the last two decades of his life battling the Marathas in an ultimately fruitless campaign. He died in 1707 in Khuldabad near Aurangabad city and was buried there—the battles resulted in the demise of his empire too.

The entire city of Aurangabad was fortified and huge entrance gates were erected. Except for Bharkal gate all the other gates are associated with the period of Aurangzeb. The gates with prime importance were the ones facing the four directions, Delhi Gate facing the north, Paithan gate facing south, Makai Gate (Mecca Gate) facing east and the Khas Gate facing the west. In all there were 54 gates in Aurangabad. Out of 52 gates only 13 have survived over the period of time. The important and architecturally most appealing gates include Delhi Gate, kala Darwaza, Makia Gate, Paithan gate and Rangeen Darwaza.

On 29 June 2022, Aurangabad was officially renamed "Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar" after the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the second emperor of the Maratha Empire.

Climate
The climate of Aurangabad is temperate, with low relative humidity and diverse but not extreme weather conditions

Aurangabad, like any other part of India, experiences three major seasons: summer, winter and monsoon.

Summer lasts from March to May with an average maximum and minimum temperatures of 37 and 21°C respectively. The hottest summer temperature is around 45°C, but it never goes above that. Nights are usually pleasant and cooler during the entire summer. Average relative humidity is as low as 9%.

Winter, from November to February, is the most comfortable time to visit Aurangabad. The average winter temperature ranges from a maximum of 22°C to a minimum of 10°C. As it gets cooler the mercury even touches 7°C but that is the lowest usual temperature. As in summer, temperatures cool off at night. Average relative humidity is 17%.

The monsoon ranges from June to October and receives moderate rainfall of 91 cm on an average. The average relative humidity during this season is 40%.

Talk
Like rest of Maharashtra, the people in Aurangabad speak Marathi. Hindi, Urdu and English are also spoken widely. Generally people in service industries speak fairly good English.

Get in
Aurangabad is well connected by air, rail and road to other parts of country. Aurangabad enjoys central location with respect to Maharashtra and Goa. All major cities in Maharashtra lie within a radius of 500 km. Aurangabad has a good network of national and state highways connecting all parts of the country.

By train
Manmad: is the nearest railway junction on the Central Railway wherein trains to all parts of India are available. Manmad - Aurangabad journey can be made by a good connection of trains or by road in a span of 2-2½ hours. If you have a connecting train, have at least two hours between arrival and departure. In case you miss the connecting train, due to late running of a previous train, you can avail of a full refund at any of the two stations (i.e. connecting station or destination station). The highest fare (Air-conditioned First Class Overnight Sleeper code 'H'), Air-conditioned 2-Tier Sleeper (Railway code 'A'), Air-conditioned 3-Tier Sleeper (code 'B'), and for day trains Air-conditioned Chair-Cars (code 'C'). Reserved Non Air-conditioned sleeper class (code 'S') and Second Class Seating (code 'D') are available.

By bus

Apart from these cities Aurangabad has direct bus links from cities like Hyderabad, Solapur, Kolhapur, Goa, Ahmedabad, Indore and many more.

Visit MSRTC (Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation) web site for time-table of all buses to and from Aurangabad (NOTE: The web site requires the location of bus station e.g. for Pune you have to write 'Shivajinagar' for Ellora you may enter 'Verul')

Aurangabad Smart City Development Corporation also operates daily Smart City Bus services at subsidised rates for city-dwellers with various departure and arrival points.

By car
Aurangabad has excellent road connectivity to all important cities in Maharashtra namely Mumbai (400 km), Nagpur, Pune (237 km), Nasik (190 km). The highway connections make the journey to the world famous destinations of Ajanta (107 km) and Ellora (29 km) very comfortable. There are also many car rental companies in Aurangabad. The Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg also passes through Aurangabad, giving it accelerated access to both Nagpur and Pune.

Get around
The city of Aurangabad has all forms of transport right from intra-city buses, metered auto-rickshaws to chauffeur-driven taxis. Intra-city Bus service is Municipal Corporation owned but privately operated. AMT (Aurangabad Municipal Transport) buses ply throughout the city and outskirts reaching thousands of citizens to their offices, schools, colleges efficiently and in a cost effective manner. MSRT

AMT and Smart buses
AMT (Aurangabad Municipal Transport) intra-city buses ply throughout the city including the outskirts and connect different parts of the city and adjoining suburbs together. The AMT bus service is affordable and thus masses use it for their daily transport. AMT buses carry thousands of passengers to and fro their workplaces, schools & colleges daily and thus are quite crowded during morning and evening rush hours.

Smart City buses are also offered by municipal bodies at subsidised rates and are substantially less crowded and with more amenities than AMT buses and readily available in most parts of the city.

Conducted Bus Tours by MSTRC, ITDC and other travel service providers
MSRTC (Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation) and ITDC (India Tourism Development Corporation) operate daily conducted tours by semi-Luxury buses to the tourist destinations like Ellora, Ajanta and Daulatabad wherein they also take a note of the tourist destinations in the city. These journeys can be booked at Aurangabad Central Bus Stand (CBS).

Tour 1: Aurangabad CBS to Ajanta Caves, Bibi-Ka-Muqbara, Pan-Chakki and back to Aurangabad CBS

Tour 2: Aurangabad CBS to Ellora Caves, Daulatabad Fort, Bibi-Ka-Muqbara, Pan-Chakki and back to Aurangabad CBS

These conducted bus tours are ideal only if you are short of time and are alright having a glance at all these places. The major disadvantage of these tours is a very tight time-schedule. The sightseeing has to be wound up very fast without you being able to take your own time.

By auto-rickshaw
As a tourist one is recommended to either take metered auto-rickshaws (3-wheeler taxis) or chauffeur-driven taxis. These taxis are not very expensive and are ideal for one day tours to Ajanta, Ellora, Daulatabad, etc. A hatchback type air-conditioned taxi will cost you around for a least count of ₹560 (including the first 80 km) plus ₹7 per kilometer or 8 hours whichever is less. Rates of more premium taxis are also computed in same manner with a higher cost per kilometre.

Metered auto-rickshaws are undoubtedly the most suitable and convenient way of traveling through the city. This is due to their easy availability at any time and the affordability. These are hired three-wheeler taxis which are ideal to move around the city. The Meter reading is read along-with a 'tariff-card' available with the driver. The actual fare is usually around 10 times the meter reading. Always ensure that the driver starts the meter on beginning of the journey. Fare from midnight to 5AM is 1½ times the regular fare. The minimum regular fare is as low as ₹14.

By taxi
Chauffeur-driven taxis and tourist taxis are ideal for the tourists visiting the city and the tourist destinations around. The tourist taxis can be booked from various travel agents in the city like Blue-Ocean travels, Wonder, Manmandir, Saibaba Travels, Welworth, Classic Cars, etc. All hotels also have a taxi-counter. The fare is calculated per kilometre with a minimum of 80 km. The fare depends on the class of vehicle and the type (AC or Non-AC). See to it that the taxi you hire has a tourist permit and is not a private vehicle. The tourist permit cars can be easily identified by a yellow number plate.

Ola and Uber operate normal cab services in Aurangabad, with excellent connectivity in the city centre.

By car or two-wheeler
This is the most common way of transport for the local people. But for the tourists, self driven cars and two wheelers are not easily available on hire basis in India. Driving on the streets is fairly comfortable as there is not much traffic on the roads and the roads are wide (except that in old part of the city). Some roads are not very well-maintained and are prone to pot-holes.

In general, public transport in and around the city is fairly good.

Do

 * Visit Quadrangle Cannought Gardens, CIDCO - New Aurangabad for books and allied material on Aurangabad, Ajanta & Ellora.
 * End your dinner the traditional Aurangabadi way - Have Pan at Tara Pan Center, Osmanpura, Aurangabad.

Parks

 * Visit Siddarth Garden with the kids. The sprawling gardens feature a zoo, snake park, lawns, a toy train and junk food outlets.
 * Visit Siddarth Garden with the kids. The sprawling gardens feature a zoo, snake park, lawns, a toy train and junk food outlets.

Buy

 * Shop the local, traditional and ethnic Himroo & Mishroo shawls, bedcovers and Paithani sarees
 * Shop for Traditional Indian Khaadi clothing along with pure honey, handicrafts and hand made artifacts and curios made in rural India at the Khaadi Graodyog Bhandaar at Sarafa, near City Chowk. The Khaadi cloth is hand woven from pure cotton and the outlet is the official outlet of Government Of India. The palace of a local King, 'Deulgaon Raja' has now been converted into the Khaadi Gramodyog Bhandaar. The whole ambiance and the range of products truly evoke the concepts of Khaadi (Cloth made on a Charkha) & Gramodyog (Village based small scale industries) evolved during India's Independence Struggle. The movement was started by Mahatma Gandhi. Worth a visit for foreigners visiting the town.
 * Shop the traditional Bidri Pottery and many more curios at small shops near Ajanta caves parking bay. (and Don't you forget to bargain!!)
 * Visit the only organic food market in Aurangabad. Every Friday evening, locals flock to Shree Mangal Karyalaya near Kranti Chowk to buy fresh organic produce and to taste an assortment of organic honey, tea and other processed foods as part of the weekly shopping experience. With a wide selection of fruits and vegetables, the Organic Bazaar is cheap, delicious, unique and definitely is worth a visit. Also, visit the Organic Link - an organic food shop - open all seven days a week at Kailash Market opposite to Padampura fire station, Station Road - Aurangabad.
 * You can visit local bazaars Gul Mandi and Aurangpura for some essentials.
 * A number of Global retail brands have their company authorised showrooms in the city. Few important are:
 * Raymond - Adalat Road, Tilak Path, Aurangpura, Jalna Road
 * Nirala Bazaar: Levi's, Lee, Provogue, Wrangler, Adidas, Reebok, Excalibur, Pepe Jeans, Indigo Nation, Numero-Uno Jeans, Spykar, Bombay Dyeing, Homes & Apparels (H&A), Samsonite Bags, United Colors of Benetton,
 * Mondha Naka: Reebok
 * Spykar - Osmanpura
 * Cannought Gardens: Bombay Dyeing, Kouttons
 * Spykar - Osmanpura
 * Cannought Gardens: Bombay Dyeing, Kouttons

Apart from these there are a number of Multi Brand Retail Outlets like:
 * Globus - CIDCO, Jalgaon Road
 * Cut - Nirala Bazaar
 * Prozone - API Corner*
 * A number of mid size to large retail outlets or supermarkets selling grocery, fresh vegetables and daily needs, stationary, basic accessories, etc. are dotted throughout the city. Few important of them being:

Along with these, there are a number of small time retail shops and grocery shops all around the city.

Eat
Aurangabad has a fairly good restaurants and eating joints spread across the town. Apart from the star category hotels there are many restaurants in the city.

Budget / Mid-range
Indian Vegetarian (a-la-carte)
 * Smile - Nirala Bazaar
 * Laadli - Jalna Road
 * Madhu's - Adalat Road
 * Mrignayani - Sootgirni

Indian Vegetarian (Thaali Meals) 'Thaali' in Marathi & Hindi means a complete meal. Thaali meals consist of Assorted Indian breads, Rice varieties, 2 or 3 vegetables, Munchins, Dals, Kadhi, Traditional cold drinks, Indian Desserts, etc.
 * Bhoj, Near Varad Ganesh Mandir is one of the oldest Thaali restaurants in the city. The contents keep on changing daily. The Thaali is neither spicy nor very oily. Recommended and worth a visit even for foreigners visiting the city.
 * Indrali at Aurangpura is a good budget Thaali restaurant.
 * Naivedya on Jalna Road, is also a good and reputed Thaali restaurant near the Aurangabad Airport and is an ideal place for people visiting or staying around Airport Road.
 * Swad at Osmanpura is another good Thaali restaurant.
 * Thaat-Baat, Off Adalat Road serves a similar kind of Thaali in traditional Indian Silver pottery. The Thaali is a good deal.

Indian Non-Vegetarian
 * Amarpreet - Jalna Road (Bar & Restaurant)
 * Angeethi - Seven Hills, Jalna Road (Bar & Restaurant)
 * Atithi-Rooftop - Seven Hills, Jalna Road (Bar & Restaurant)
 * City Spice - Cannought Gardens (Restaurant & Fluid Lounge)
 * Gharonda - Nirala Bazaar (Bar & Restaurant)
 * Hotel Janaki - Surana Nagar, Jalna Road (Non veg multi-cuisine)
 * Jazeera Hotel - Buddi Lane
 * Kohinoor Plaza - Nirala Bazaar (Bar & Restaurant)
 * Mughal Darbar - Juna Bazaar / kat kat gate
 * Riviera - Seven Hills, Jalna Road (Bar & Restaurant)
 * Sagar Hotel- Buddi Lane
 * Sukhsagar Restaurant & Bar - N-6, Cidco, Bajrang Chowk Rd, Shri Nagar Colony.

Non Vegetarian Dhabas (Garden Restaurants & Bars) on outskirts of the city These are Open air/ semi open restaurants on outskirts of the city. They serve good food and liquor. Being a bit far from town they make ideal getaway for families.

 * Ambiance Dhaba - Nasik Road
 * Fauji Dhaba - Nasik Road
 * Garden Court - Beed Highway NH-211
 * Madhuban - Beed Highway NH-211
 * Master Cook - Beed Highway NH-211
 * Pasha Bhai Ka Dhaba - Daultabad road.
 * Pathan Dhaba- opp Meadows Hotel.
 * Tinu's Dhaba - Nasik Road

Pizza, Coffee, Breakfast, Snacks, Savories, Pastries, etc.

 * Baker's Lounge at Osmanpura and CIDCO (opposite Lemontree Hotel) serves mouth watering pastries, cakes (best in town) and excellent veg savories in an elegant contemporary decor.
 * Cafe Coffee Break at Nirala Bazaar and Cannought Gardens, CIDCO serve good coffees, cold drinks and veg savories at an affordable price.
 * Cafe Coffee Day - at Nirala Bazaar and at CIDCO opposite to Sakaal Newspaper office. You will enjoy various different varieties of coffees.
 * Cafe Coffee Day - Nirala Bazaar and Jalna Road are the outlets of India's largest coffee chain serving variety of coffees and soft drinks along with savories and pastries.
 * Domino's Pizza - City Pride, Opp Gurudwara Gate, Mondha Naka, Jalna Road - is the outlet of the world's no.1 pizza chain.
 * Fast Food Center(Veg) - Nirala Bazaar serves good burgers, sandwiches, savories.
 * Korn Klub - Nirala Bazaar serves a large variety of tasty corn products.
 * Kream & Krunch - Opposite Aurangpura AMT Bus Stop and at Aakashwani - Jalna Road, Opp to Big bazaar serves excellent non veg & veg sandwiches, savories, pastries, soft drinks, etc. One of the best place for non-veg savories in the city.
 * Smile, Nirala Bazaar and Laadli, Jalna Road serve good south Indian vegetarian snacks.
 * Smokin Joe's - Nirala Bazaar is a pizza chain serving good veg and non-veg pizzas.

Hookka lounges
 * Chimney - Off Jalna Road, Near 7 Hills flyover.
 * City Spice - Cannought Gardens, CIDCO.

Splurge (Multi-cuisine / Specialty)

 * Relish (Restaurant at the Windsor Castle) Jalgaon Road, CIDCO - Feast on Chinese, continental and Indian culinary delights at Relish Restaurant.
 * Residency (Restaurant at Taj) at Ruza Buag, Harsool Road serves excellent Indian, Chinese & Continental food in traditional Mughal decor and cozy ambiance.
 * Restaurant (at Rama International) on Jalna Road serves good multi-cuisine varieties.
 * Society (Restaurant at the Ambassador Ajanta) on Jalna Road evokes the memory of Diwan - E -Aam that was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri. This multi - cuisine restaurant serves Indian, Chinese and Continental food.
 * Kream n Krunch - Aakashwani based restaurant caters to mostly uspcale diners, serving most cuisines and tastes.

Road side eateries
see also street food

There are a number of good road side eateries in the city. Apart from being cheep, they serve hot and tasty food provided you are used to deep fried and medium spicy Indian junk food. Drinking water should be avoided at such places. ''Foreigners wanting to try the food from road-side eateries must make sure that it is hot, fried in front of them and must resist from having the non-vegetarian road-side eatables, sauces (chutneys), juices, ice-candies, etc.; however tempting may they look! Drinking regular water on streets is strict no. You must have mineral water.''
 * Bikaner Bhujiyawalla at Kranti Chowk has a snacks counter serving hot & fresh Kachoris, Samosas, Bhajjiyas and Dhoklas.
 * Omkar Pav Bhaji at Kranti Chowk serves good Paav Bhaji. Pav Bhaji originated at Bombay as a quick nourishing meal consisting of Indian bread and mashed & Stir fried mixed vegetables with a dash of butter.
 * A number of road side eateries serve good Indian grilled chicken varieties like Chicken Tikka, Tandoori, Kebabs, etc. at Cannought Gardens, CIDCO. The places usually open at around 8:00 PM and are open till midnight.
 * Vada Paav a traditional Marathi snack, a Maharashtrian version of burger is available at a number of places in town. The Vada Paav at almost all locations is fairly good. But do insist on a hot Vada Paav.
 * Vada Paav a traditional Marathi snack, a Maharashtrian version of burger is available at a number of places in town. The Vada Paav at almost all locations is fairly good. But do insist on a hot Vada Paav.

Paan
Paan at Tara Paan Centre, Osmanpura is a tradition of Aurangabad and a must have. If you feel how can a Paan be so special then you have to feel a variety of mouth-melting Paans with exquisite presentation at this joint. You will not have a Paan like this anywhere in India.

Drink
Although Aurangabad is not a very Alcohol friendly place, there are a number of good bars in the city. Do not try very cheep looking bars as they can be unsafe at times. Usually All good hotels have in-house bar facilities. Some good places to enjoy a drink in Aurangabad are:

Mid-range

 * Angeethi - Seven Hills, Jalna Road
 * Atithi-Rooftop - Seven Hills, Jalna Road
 * Bubbles - Near Cannought Gardens, CIDCO
 * City Spice - Restaurant & Fluid Lounge - Cannought Gardens, CIDCO
 * Gharonda - Nirala Bazaar
 * Kohinoor Plaza - Nirala Bazaar

Splurge

 * Garden Bar (Taj Residency) - Rauza Baug, Harsool Road is a semi-open bar in a sprawling campus of the Taj Residency inspired by Mughal Architecture.
 * The Garbah Bar(The Ambassador Ajanta)The Ambience of Gujarat finds a faithful echo in an inviting appeal in this lovely bar.
 * Slounge (Lemon Tree)- Airport Road, Aurangabad is a contemporary lounge & bar with young and cozy decor along with play-station facilities.

Sleep
Since Aurangabad is a tourist place, the city has a number of good hotels from all the budget categories suiting the needs of all tourists visiting the city. The budget hotels are located near the Aurangabad Railway Station and City Center, The mid range hotels have been distributed over the city and the 5 star & 4 star hotels are located near the Chikalthana Airport.

Budget

 * Mrunal Palace Hotel, +91 240 2340171, Price Start: ₹1,215
 * Mrunal Palace Hotel, +91 240 2340171, Price Start: ₹1,215
 * Mrunal Palace Hotel, +91 240 2340171, Price Start: ₹1,215
 * Mrunal Palace Hotel, +91 240 2340171, Price Start: ₹1,215
 * Mrunal Palace Hotel, +91 240 2340171, Price Start: ₹1,215
 * Mrunal Palace Hotel, +91 240 2340171, Price Start: ₹1,215
 * Mrunal Palace Hotel, +91 240 2340171, Price Start: ₹1,215
 * Mrunal Palace Hotel, +91 240 2340171, Price Start: ₹1,215
 * Mrunal Palace Hotel, +91 240 2340171, Price Start: ₹1,215
 * Mrunal Palace Hotel, +91 240 2340171, Price Start: ₹1,215
 * Mrunal Palace Hotel, +91 240 2340171, Price Start: ₹1,215
 * Mrunal Palace Hotel, +91 240 2340171, Price Start: ₹1,215

Mid-range

 * MTDC Holiday Resort (Government Owned & Opetated) - Station Road, Aurangabad
 * MTDC Holiday Resort (Government Owned & Opetated) - Station Road, Aurangabad
 * MTDC Holiday Resort (Government Owned & Opetated) - Station Road, Aurangabad
 * MTDC Holiday Resort (Government Owned & Opetated) - Station Road, Aurangabad
 * MTDC Holiday Resort (Government Owned & Opetated) - Station Road, Aurangabad
 * MTDC Holiday Resort (Government Owned & Opetated) - Station Road, Aurangabad
 * MTDC Holiday Resort (Government Owned & Opetated) - Station Road, Aurangabad
 * MTDC Holiday Resort (Government Owned & Opetated) - Station Road, Aurangabad

Phone

 * Aurangabad international dialing code - +91-240-xxxxxxx (Dialing from anywhere in the world except India), 0240-xxxxxxx (Dialing from anywhere in India).
 * Aurangabad city is served by a number of mobile phone operators like Jio, Vi, Airtel and BSNL. They all provide 4G LTE services while Jio has commenced provision of 5G services in the cities
 * Public Telephone booths offering International, Domestic & Local calls are mostly obsolete and have become defunct. Most of them have gone out of order and it is recommended to use mobile phones with a local sim for all communications.

Internet
A large number of internet cafes are available across the city. The surfing charges per hour vary from ₹20 to ₹35. However due to the readily available 4G and 5G mobile services and abundance of free WiFi at most locations, these are going obsolete and it is recommended to use cellular data or a secure WiFi network (it is highly recommended against using an unknown network) which is made available by your hotel, a trusted restaurant or tourist attraction. It is also recommended to use a VPN to secure yourself from any threats that public WiFi might let slip through, while travelling in Aurangabad and India in general.

Stay safe
Aurangabad is a fairly safe place. The people in city are by and large decent with the international and domestic tourists. The local buses (AMT & MSRTC) are very safe for women even at late night. If a lady is traveling alone on an overnight bus from Aurangabad usually the seat next to her is given only to a lady traveler as a courtesy but make sure to request for a 'ladies-seat' while making your bookings. Walking on the streets up to 9:00 PM is usually safe for women but avoid going into small lanes and by-lanes after it is dark and make sure that you are not wearing any jewelry while walking on the streets. Women are not recommended to take lifts from private vehicles at any time of the day. Do not display ₹500 and ₹1000 currency notes in public and beware of pick-pockets at crowded locations like railway stations, bus stations, bazaars, etc. Violent crime in Aurangabad is very low though not negligible. Please have the following numbers with you all the time. They can be dialed from any mobile or fixed line phone.
 * Police - 100
 * Fire - 101
 * Ambulance - 102, (+91-240)-2473301, (+91-240)-2473302

Day trips

 * Ahmednangar
 * Ajanta Caves
 * Ellora (Verul) Caves, Daulatabad, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Panchakki can all be covered in one day
 * Goa
 * Hyderabad
 * Indore
 * Kolhapur
 * Mhaismaal - A local hill station
 * Mumbai (take a train)
 * Nagpur (take a bus, 12 hours)
 * Nasik (take a bus, hourly)
 * Paithan
 * Pune (take a bus)
 * Shani-Shingnapur is an important place dedicated to Lord SHANI (PLANET SATURN) from the Hindu Mythology.
 * Shirdi (take a train) - Famous for the Temple of Sai-Baba, a renowned noble Indian Saint.
 * Solapur

title: Aurangabad


text:
Auray

Auray is a town in Brittany, France.

Understand
Auray is an enchanting medieval town crossed by the western banks of its river, which flows into the Gulf of Morbihan. It is most famous as the location of the last battle that took place in 1364, marking the beginning of the end for the Breton War of Succession.

Get in
Auray railway station is served by high speed train services between Paris, Rennes and Quimper, long distance services between Quimper, Nantes and Bordeaux. Regional services call at all stations between Quimper, Lorient, Vannes (and Rennes). During the summer months a train service operates from Auray to Carnac and Quiberon. This is operated by buses during other months.

The N165 road connects Brest, Quimper, Lorient, Auray, Vannes and Nantes. Auray can be reached from Paris by the A10 then A11 to Le Mans, then A81 towards Rennes and then the N24 and N166 to Vannes.

The nearest airports are at Lorient, Rennes and Nantes.

See
HELLO!

title: Auray