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Nishapur

Nishapur or Nishabur is the second largest city of Razavi Khorasan Province, the historic capital of the western half of Greater Khorasan, the capital of the Nishapur County and a historic Silk Road city. Nishapur is close to the second most-populous city of Iran, Mashhad.

Understand
At its peak in the 12th and early 13 centuries, Nishapur was estimated to have a population of nearly 2 million and was one of the largest cities in the world. The city is known as the historic capital of the westerns half of the Greater Khorasan. Nishapur had had a thriving arts, pottery and carpet weaving industry throughout history. Most of this cities archeological discoveries can be found in museums around the world though unfortunately, some have been sold in the international black market. The contemporary modern city is home to some of the 20th century architectural works of Iran like the famous Mausoleum of Omar Khayyam. There are also some historical buildings in the city like the Mausoleum of Attar of Nishapur. The most luxurious and famous hotel of the city is the Amiran Hotel.

By train
There are train routes from Tehran and Mashad.

By car
The road 44, a major expressway of the country, is connected to Nishapur.

By bus
Several buses and minibuses arrive and depart from the Nishapur Bus Terminal every day. There is usually no need to buy a ticket beforehand if you want to go to Mashhad, the second most populous city of Iran.

Walk
In Iran, most small urban cities like Nishapur are designed pedestrian friendly.

Public buses & minibuses
Public bus stations and bus lines are available with a small fee. You can pay with cash or a rechargeable card that you can buy from some bus stations. As of 2022, The fee with the rechargeable card is 1000 Tomans and 1500 Tomans with cash.

Taxi
Compared to bigger cities like Tehran and Mashhad, taxi fees are quite cheaper. Online cheaper services similar to Uber like Snap! and Tapsi are also available in Nishapur.

See

 * ( not always open to tourists)
 * The sole and the biggest planetarium in the country.
 * ( not always open to tourists)
 * The sole and the biggest planetarium in the country.
 * ( not always open to tourists)
 * The sole and the biggest planetarium in the country.
 * ( not always open to tourists)
 * The sole and the biggest planetarium in the country.
 * ( not always open to tourists)
 * The sole and the biggest planetarium in the country.
 * ( not always open to tourists)
 * The sole and the biggest planetarium in the country.

Do
Check the museums of the city

Check the Rajjaei (Baghrud) Student Camp (sometimes open to tourists)

Check the suburbs and the villages

Check the historic bazar of the city

Visit Persian traditional restaurants and cafes (some also serve hookah)

Walk in the city parks

Cycle in the Baghrud Road

Hike in the Binalud Mountain Range

Buy
Neyshabur Turquoise has been used for more than 2000 years and for this turquoise it is sometimes called "the turquoise land". Neyshabur turquoise and jewellery made from it are sold as souvenirs in Neyshabur and Mashhad resorts.

Rhubarb (Persian rivaas or rivand), a sour vegetable, grows at the foot of the eponymous Rivand Mountains. Soft drinks made from the stems of the plant, such as "Sharbate rivaas" and "Khoshaabe rivaas", are sold at some Nishapur resorts as souvenirs.

Persian musical instruments from native workshops.

Eat

 * Common food served in Iranian traditional cuisines & fast food restaurants
 * Halim (native food made rarely due to its expense but it is commonly served in restaurants during Fridays )
 * Ash Komai (native watery food)

Drink

 * Common traditional Iranian drinks and desserts like Faloudeh
 * Sharbat Rivas (a native drink made from rhubarb)

Sleep

 * The Amiran Hotel (the most luxurious hotel of the city)
 * The Mehr Hotel
 * Other hotels
 * Rental houses & suits
 * People are usually fond of foreigners in Iran and might rent you a place for free!

Go next
Firoze, Hemmatabad, Some, Emam Reza Town, Ghadamgah, Darrod, Sabzevar, Eshqabad, Kashmar, Bar

title: Nishapur


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Nishinomiya

Nishinomiya (西宮) is a city of about 485,000 (2022) in Hyogo prefecture, Japan, between Kobe and Osaka

Understand
The city is the setting for much of the Studio Ghibli film Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓, hotaru no haka), which is based on a novel by Akiyuki Nosaka. There was heavy damage throughout the city from the Great Hanshin Earthquake on January 17, 1995. This city is also the setting for the anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱). While taking pictures of Nishinomiya-Kita High School (where much of the anime is set) from the outside is perfectly legal, entering the gates to take pictures inside is not. Hankyu Imazu line is the setting for Hankyu Railway movie (阪急電車 片道15分の奇跡), where stations from Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station to Takarazuka Station appear in the movie.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By plane
Nishinomiya has access to three airports: Kansai International Airport, Kobe Airport , and Osaka International Airport. Despite its name, Osaka International Airport is a domestic airport. There is bus service to and from the airport for ¥700 to Hanshin Koshien (甲子園) Station. Kansai International Airport also has bus service for ¥1700 (or ¥3000 round trip) to and from JR Nishinomiya, Hankyu Nishinomiya-kitaguchi, and Hanshin Nishinomiya stations.

By train
The Shinkansen (新幹線) is another option when traveling from other parts of Japan. Nishinomiya can be reached from either Shin-Kobe or Shin-Osaka stations. A one-way reserved ticket on the Nozomi from Tokyo to Osaka costs ¥14,050. A one-way reserved ticket on the Hikari Railstar from Hiroshima to Kobe costs ¥9740. Visitors can then take the subway or train to get to the city. To get from Shin-Kobe to Nishinomiya, take the ¥200 subway to Sannomiya and then either JR, Hanshin, or Hankyu train lines into Nishinomiya. Depending on the train stop, the ticket will only cost a couple of hundred yen.

Get around
There are three main train lines running through Nishinomiya: JR, Hanshin (阪神), and Hankyu (阪急). They run parallel to each other and go from east to west, with the Hanshin and Hankyu lines connected by the short Imazu Minami line between Hanshin Imazu station and Nishinomiya-kitaguchi (西宮北口). Hanshin and Hankyu buses also run throughout the city, though it can be difficult to travel from north to south.

See

Do

Hanami. Go to Shukugawa Park (夙川公園) end of March/early April for Nishinomiya's most popular hanami location. There are over 2300 cherry blossom trees along the Shukugawa River that stretches all the way from Hanshin Koroen Station to Hankyu Kurakuen-guchi station. Get off at either of these train stations or Hankyu Shukugawa Station to enjoy the festival.

Mukogawa Cycling Road. This is a 7.1-km-long cycling road along the Mukogawa River from the JR line to Hanshin line. It's a nice place to enjoy cycling free of cars. Bikes can be rented for the day at hotels in the area.

National High School Baseball Championship (全国高等学校野球選手権大会). Every summer in August, Japan's national high school baseball tournament is held at Koshien Stadium. Games are free so it's an excellent opportunity to participate in this popular national event!

Learn
The leafy main campus of Kwansei Gakuin University (関西学院 Kansei Gakuin), one of Japan's oldest private universities, is in Uegahara, on the north side of Nishinomiya. The oldest buildings on campus date back to 1929 and are in a Spanish Mission style that resembles California more than Kansai.

Buy

Go next

 * Amagasaki
 * Ashiya
 * Kobe
 * Takarazuka
 * Itami
 * Akashi
 * Kawanishi
 * Inagawa
 * Osaka

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

title: Nishinomiya


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Nishitokyo

Nishitokyo (西東京市 Nishitōkyō-shi) is a city in western Tokyo.

Understand
Nishitokyo is located in western Tokyo, about 30 minutes by train from Shinjuku. Like much of western Tokyo, it's largely residential, with businesses concentrated around the train stations. The area has a lot of small parks and trees, in contrast with central Tokyo, which has skyscrapers and a lot more concrete.

Get in
The only train line running through the city is the Seibu Shinjuku Line (西武新宿線), which ends in Shinjuku to the east and Hon-Kawagoe to the west.

See

Do

Buy
The best shopping in Nishitokyo is found around the north side of Tanashi Station, where there are several department stores and many other shops.

Eat
Restaurants are found in concentration near Tanashi Station.

Sleep

If you have no specific reason to stay in this area, Shinjuku is thirty minutes by train, centrally located, and has a large selection hotels.

Go next
To the south is Musashino, home of the popular shopping area Kichijoji.
 * Higashikurume
 * Koganei
 * Kodaira
 * Higashimurayama
 * Higashiyamato
 * Niiza
 * Tokorozawa
 * Shiki
 * Asaka

title: Nishitokyo


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Nissa

Nissa (sometimes spelled as Nisa) is an archaeological site in Ahal Province, Turkmenistan.

Understand
Nissa is one of the most important sites of the Parthian Empire. The Parthians ruled in Persia from 247 BC to 228 AD. They defeated the Seleucids (successors of Alexander the Great) and conquered great parts of the Middle East and southwest Asia.

The earliest settlements in the area of Nissa date back to the 4th millenium BC. In the 3rd century BC the Parthians built an impressive fortress at Old Nisa and erected a royal residence, which probably was the first royal residence of the Parthian kings. The city was named Mithradatkert (fortress of Mithradates) during the reign of King Mithradates the Great (174-138 BC). Greek sources refer to the city as administrative and economic centre during the reign of the Arsacid dynasty. The Arsacid dynasty conquered a huge area from the Indus to the Euphrates and Nisa became an important city on the crossroads of many cultures from Persia, Greece and Central Asia.

New Nisa was conquered by the Arabian Caliphate in the 7th century and became part of the Seljuk Empire in the 11th century.

Archaeological research at the site began in the 1930s. Since 1990 it is excavated by the University of Torino, Italy (Centro Scavi di Torino). In 2007, the fortresses of Nissa were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Get in
The Parthian Fortresses of Nisa are located 15 km southwest of Ashgabat near the village of Bagir in the Akhal District of Turkmenistan.

Buses, marshrutkas and taxis depart from the western side of Teke Bazaar in Ashgabat. The ride in a minibus to Old Nisa costs US$0.20. The cost of bus ticket is 0.2012:00-23:00 | price=US$1-2.

With public transport it is only possible to reach Bagir village. From a roundabout in the centre of the village it is pleasant 2 km walk uphill to Old Nisa and the same distance to New Nisa.

Get around
The site is small enough to explore it conveniently on foot.

See

 * Old Nisa is a natural hill, about 14 ha wide, surrounded by high defensive earthen ramparts with 40 rectangular towers, The top of the hill was flattened and levelled with layers of earth. Number and location of gates have not yet been identified. It is presumed that the main (and perhaps the only) entrances was at the center of the western part of the surrounding wall. The fortress constist of a Northern Complex and a Central Complex.
 * The Northern Complex includes the so-called large square building in which the royal treasury, wine vaults and auxiliary buildings have been identified. In this area, the most famous pieces of art of Old Nisa, as the Rodogoune marble statue, the Goddess of Nisa marble statue, elaborate ivory rhythons (drinking vessels), fragments of royal thrones and more than 2000 pieces of ceramics (ostraka) representing house keeping documents were discovered.
 * The Central Complex consists of a Building with the Square Hall, a Building with the Round Hall, a Tower-like Building, a North-Eastern Building and a Columned Hall. The Building with the Square Hall is the most important building of the Central Complex. It covers an area of about 1,000 m² and has walls up to 5 m thick. The North-Eastern Building consist of two decorated yards and rooms for domestic uses. It is considered as the palace of the Arsacid dynasty. The Tower-like Building has a massive square base of 20 by 20 m. It is encircled by two rows of dark corridors, lit by narrow windows. The upper parts show traces of architectural decor and wall paintings depicting battle scenes. It houses a small museum of paintings and architectural elements. The Building with the Round Hall is a square building with a round hall of 17 m in diameter. The building served religious purposes, it is, however, unclear if it was a temple, a mausoleum or the shrine of a hero. The Columned Hall consists of a large rectangular hall with four columns in the middle and served ceremonial purposes.
 * New Nisa is located about 1.5 km north-west of Old Nisa. The tell with a surface of about 25 ha is surrounded on all sides by powerful walls with a height up to 9 m. It has two entrances (one from Bagyr village and one from the North West). In Parthian times, the city was divided into two parts, the upper city (ark) and the lower city (shakhristan). The layout clearly indicates a densely populated town. The Parthian buildings are interpreted as remains of the fortress, burial houses and storehouses.
 * New Nisa is located about 1.5 km north-west of Old Nisa. The tell with a surface of about 25 ha is surrounded on all sides by powerful walls with a height up to 9 m. It has two entrances (one from Bagyr village and one from the North West). In Parthian times, the city was divided into two parts, the upper city (ark) and the lower city (shakhristan). The layout clearly indicates a densely populated town. The Parthian buildings are interpreted as remains of the fortress, burial houses and storehouses.

title: Nissa


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Nisyros

Nisyros (Greek: Νίσυρος) is a small island of the Dodecanese group, a few miles south of Kos.

Understand
Nisyros, with fewer than 1,000 permanent inhabitants, is famous for having the only 'active' volcano in Greece together with Santorini (Thyra). The island is essentially a volcanic cone with a large collapsed caldera in the center. It is possible to walk into the volcanic crater and view the smoking fumaroles at close hand.

There are two main villages on the island: Mandraki in the north-west (where the ferries dock) and Nikea, up on the edge of the volcanic rim to the south.

During the summer month the island is frequented daily by hundreds of day-trip visitors from Kos that arrive on multiple boats in the morning, visit the crater, spend some time in Mandraki and leave in the afternoon. Afterwards the island returns to its calm and relaxing atmosphere in which some traditional Greek life can be enjoyed. Therefore it's worth it to stay for a night.

By sea
Nisyros is a popular day-trip destination from Kos island. During the summer month, boats leave from Kos (Kardameina port) at 9:30 to Mandraki and return at 15:30. Prices for a one-way boat-trip range from €5-8.50.

Nisyros is also one of the stops for ferries that run between Piraeus (the port of Athens) and Rhodes, with other nearby stops being at Kos, Tilos and Symi. Schedules for these can be found online. Sailings are not to a regular daily schedule and become less frequent in the winter months.

In addition, a fast catamaran service runs to Rhodes on some days (via Tilos).

Get around
The villages on the island are small enough to stroll around on foot.

To travel between them, two there is an occasional bus service, the schedule can be found on http://www.nisyros.gr. There are also about two taxis on the island. Given that there’s essentially only one road, hitchhiking is also an easy option.

There is a car and motorcycle rental based on the main port. Manos tel 2242031029.

Alternatively, it is a half day's hike between the two villages, via the volcanic crater.

See

Do
Hiking between Mandraki and Nikia via the volcanic crater is a great day-trip. Beware of the elevation and the sun and pack enough water. The island’s peak can also be climbed, apparently one could sleep there with a sleeping bag (unverified). There are multiple hiking paths between and Mandraki and the volcanic crater. The one east of the mountain is hard to find for the last part until it hits the paved street leading to the crater. OpenStreepMap maps have good coverage of the trails. Most hotels on the island also have free maps available for anyone interested in walks around the island.

Eat
Mandraki has many restaurants. If you go with a group, try to avoid the places where the tour guide sends you to eat. Some tour guides get a commission from the restaurants, which means it will be expensive. Look around and try to avoid the main tourist pathways.

Nikia and Emborios have just 1-2 restaurants, the tavern in Emborios has a great view of the crater valley.

Drink
Mandraki has a few bars and lots of restaurants inviting for a drink.

Sleep
There’s very few hotels on the island. On some days all may be booked out. Book in advance and make sure to check with the hotel in case you’re arriving late.

Most hotels in Mandraki are in the port area.

title: Nisyros


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Niterói

Niterói (515,000 inhabitants as of 2020) is the former capital of Rio de Janeiro state, in southeastern Brazil. Nicknamed "The Smile City" (Cidade Sorriso), "NKT" and "Nikiti" (nee-KITSCH--ee), it is just a short ferry ride from downtown Rio across Guanabara Bay. In fact you may encounter plenty of reasons to smile about: many beautiful beaches (within the bay or facing the open ocean), historic forts and a world-class museum. Besides, Niterói is scheduled to become in a near future the place with the largest number of works from renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer, second only to the capital of Brazil, Brasília.

Understand
Niterói is the first of the 7 municipalities of Leste Metropolitano, the sub-region of the metropolitan agglomeration of Rio de Janeiro on the east side of the Guanabara Bay. Since it has the highest HDI in the state of Rio, Niterói polarizes this portion of the metropolis, receiving every day many workers (commuters) as well as other people who live in the other municipalities of this sub-region (São Gonçalo, Itaboraí, Tanguá, Maricá, Rio Bonito and Cachoeiras de Macacu) and look for goods and services in the city, although the metropolitan core is the downtown area of Rio de Janeiro, which, in turn, polarizes the entire metropolitan area and receives commuters from the 7 municipalities of Leste Metropolitano, the 13 municipalities of Baixada Fluminense, besides the over 160 neighborhoods of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro.

Get in
From the center of the state capital, it is possible to go to Niterói by urban bus, van and ferry lines. Several bus lines to Niterói depart from Terminal Menezes Côrtes, in Castelo, and from the Candelária region - both in downtown Rio. The ferries depart from Praça XV station. Vans to Niterói depart from the Central do Brasil area.

There is also the, in downtown Niterói, a long-distance bus station through which visitors coming from outside the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro can arrive directly in the municipality of Niterói.

The main road access to Niterói for those coming from the Rio de Janeiro Central Zone is the Rio-Niterói bridge (BR-101 highway).

By boat
The ferry between Rio and Niteroi is a pleasant and affordable trip. It takes between 10 and 20 minutes to cross the bay, depending on the fare for a slow or fast boat from adjoining terminals at Praça XV.

By car or bus
From Rio you just drive through the longest bridge in Brazil, the Ponte Rio-Niterói; just like the name says it connects both cities. It's 13 km (8 mi) long, and there is a toll of R$ 3,20 (you pay one way only, coming from Rio).

If you are coming from Búzios or Cabo Frio you take the highway called "Via-lagos".

Get around
On Saturdays and Sundays the "Linha Turismo" (Tourism Line) operates on schedule leaving the Arariboia Square (@ the Fery Station) at 10:00, 12:30 and 14:30 and making 7 different stops along Niteroi's main attractions from downtown to the Fortress (R$10 for a round-trip all day hop in and out ticket).

To get to the Oceanic Area you'd better have a car, otherwise take a municipal bus at the Bus Terminal next to the Ferry Station. Look for the specific Beach name sign on the bus(30~40~50 minutes ride from downtown to Piratininga/Camboinhas ~ Itacoatiara ~ Itaipu respectively ).

See

 * Fortaleza de Santa Cruz (1555)- at the Guanabara Bay entrance, this is a big fortress with a close-up view of the Sugar Loaf Mountain from an entirely different angle.(R$4 guided tours) Th-Su 10:00-17:00. To get here on the weekdays you will need a car/taxi, but on Sat and Sun you can take a tourist open bus (called Jardineira)in downtown Niteroi at the Ferry Station. It runs all the way along the bayshore and stops at the town's main attractions and neighborhoods.
 * Barão do Rio Branco (1555), Imbuí (1863/1901) and São Luís (1715/1775) Forts - enter at Rio Branco Fort in Jurujuba for a guided tours of this and the other 2 forts and ruins overlooking the bay with a splendid view of the surrounding mountains of Niterói and Rio. (R$6 each Fort) Al. Mal. Pessoa Leal, 265 - Sa Su 09:30-16:00.
 * Barão do Rio Branco (1555), Imbuí (1863/1901) and São Luís (1715/1775) Forts - enter at Rio Branco Fort in Jurujuba for a guided tours of this and the other 2 forts and ruins overlooking the bay with a splendid view of the surrounding mountains of Niterói and Rio. (R$6 each Fort) Al. Mal. Pessoa Leal, 265 - Sa Su 09:30-16:00.

Beaches
Niterói has a wonderful unique view of Rio and one of the state's most beautiful beaches, Itacoatiara, which can be reached by bus number 38. It is considered a surfer's paradise (actually it takes part of a world circuit of Surfer's Competition). Expect a young and beautiful crowd, have a snack at one of the healthy cabana-bars along the shore or yet, take trails to climb the mountains and watch a uniquely crazy sport: "Rock Surfing". Not further from here you can find the "lost in time" Itaipu Beach, a fishermen's colony surrounded by sand dunes, a lagoon, a canal, a white church on a hill and some colonial era ruins. It is probably one of the best sunsets you can see over Rio's shoreline (Copacabana, Ipanema, the Cagarra islands and Barra da Tijuca on the horizon). Also worthwhile is a visit to next door Camboinhas Beach (it's easier and faster to hire a fisherman's boat to cross the canal than driving around the lagoon to get there). Other beaches include: Piratininga, Prainha (cliff diving from the Whale Rock) and Sossego, all on the Atlantic side. Boa Viagem, Ingá, Icaraí, São Francisco, Charitas, Jurujuba (fishermen village, not proper for bathing) and Adão & Eva, all along the Bay, starting at downtown and ending at the Fortress.

Do

Meanwhile in Downtown (Centro), the Plaza Shopping is the largest shopping mall in town, across from the ferry station (Estação das Barcas). Here you will find basically all the stores that you would find in any mall in nearby Rio de Janeiro. Niterói Shopping is also a mall in downtown (Rua da Conceição). Even though this is not at the same level of Plaza Shopping, is a landmark, very easy to find, since it is the tallest round building you can see.
 * Shopping - Icaraí is where the upper middle class lives. So there are plenty of nice shops for all tastes. "Moreira César" (1st street parallel to the beach) is the most popular shopping street in town. Here you will find exclusive and expensive boutiques such as Animale, Agilita, H.Stern, Salinas (beachware) all the way down to little t-shirt shops. There are plenty of exotic juice bars and little restaurantes here as well. Don't leave town without tasting açaí, a Brazilian palm fruit from the Amazonas, served very cold, and has a very earthy flavor.

 * Icaraí is to Niterói what Copacabana is to Rio's residents: the most traditional neighborhood with excellent shopping opportunities and great restaurants. Great for jogging and biking with a view of Rio's main landmarks across the Guanabara Bay, the Sugar Loaf and the Corcovado. How can you ask for more?
 * Nightlife - "São Francisco" the adjacent neighborhood is filled with lively bars, pubs and restaurants especially on the ocean front. There are not many discos in Niterói as people prefer to go to Rio to dance.
 * Hang-glide from Parque da Cidade (see above)
 * Windsurf in Charitas and São Francisco
 * Cliff Diving in Prainha or Piratininga
 * Guanabara Bay Tour - 2-hour bay cruise on a ferry where a camera is a must. Showcases Rio and Niterói's postcards (narration is in Portuguese only, but the view is worth a thousand words). Sundays only, departs at 09:30 from the Main Ferry Station in downtown. R$12

Buy
Souvenirs from Niterói, like T-shirts and magnets, can be bought at the Tourist Information Office. There's a cabin located right at the ferry station exit. Here you can get brochures, maps and tourist tram schedule also. If you go to São Francisco neighborhood the main office is located to your left right after the tunnel and before you reach the beach.

Eat

All restaurants are reasonably priced by American and European standards.
 * Caneco gelado do Mário - Very rustic fish restaurant in the center of the city. Recommended by all of the travel guides as a restaurant not to be missed. Open only for lunch.
 * do Museu - Museum of Contemporary Art underground restaurant. Varied Cuisine and a fantastic view.
 * Família Paludo Gourmet - Not to be missed! The food is displayed in a very elegant buffet, exceptional quality and amazing variety and purchased by kilo.
 * Gendai - A very popular Japanese restaurant with a nice selection of Japanese dishes. You can either order à la carte or choose to pay a fixed price and eat as much as you want including anything on the menu. If you like Japanese food, you will love this restaurant.
 * Gruta de Santo Antônio - A family-owned Portuguese restaurant in downtown Niteroi. Cozy atmosphere, excellent service and delicious food. One of the best wine cellars in the city.
 * Olimpo - Charita's Ferry Station @ the second floor. Just look for a modern building (blue neon lights at night) right over the beach sand adjoining the pier. Food is varied; the building is a work of art by Oscar Niemeyer and the view is dramatic and romantic.
 * Mocellin Churrascaria Probably the most traditional restaurant in town. Non-stop parade of meats brought on skewers to your table. Huge salad bar with all kinds of delicacies. This is the typical Brazilian barebeque It is a meat-lovers paradise - Av. Quintino Bocaiúva, 151 @ the beginning of São Francisco Beach.
 * Torninha - Consider one of the best Italian gastronomies in town. Once a month offers a thematic dinner with special wine tasting.
 * Torna Restaurante - One of the most traditional Italian restaurant with excellent food and a typical Italian environment.
 * Torninha - Consider one of the best Italian gastronomies in town. Once a month offers a thematic dinner with special wine tasting.
 * Torna Restaurante - One of the most traditional Italian restaurant with excellent food and a typical Italian environment.

Drink
Try the Brazilian Caipirinha made with kiwi, passion fruit, cashew or some exotic tropical fruit at Família Paludo, a restaurant painted red in São Francisco Beach. Have a coconut water at any beach-stand and enjoy a cold Brazilian beer anywhere with a view.

Sleep

in Grande Rio

 * Rio de Janeiro
 * São Gonçalo
 * Itaboraí
 * Maricá
 * Tanguá
 * Rio Bonito
 * Cachoeiras de Macacu
 * Guapimirim
 * Magé

in Lakes Region

 * Armação dos Búzios
 * Arraial do Cabo
 * Cabo Frio

title: Niterói


text:
Nitra

Nitra is in Slovakia. It is a beautiful old historic city, with a population of almost 80,000.

Understand
The ancient Nitra, ruled by mighty kings and princes once in the past, is nowadays a modern centre of culture and economy in western Slovakia.

Thanks to its dynamic cultural life, you can meet here a number of artists from the field of theatre, creative arts, modern or classical music and experience the unforgettable feeling of the present cultural spirit. Events like Theatre Festival of Nitra, Fascine Carnival, Academic Nitra, Cultural Summer in Nitra or various music festivals will lead you into the world of culture, world of experience. The amount of precious well-preserved buildings and statues builds up the unique colouring of the city with a breath of nostalgia. On the other hand, the hotels with latest equipment and restaurants offering the wide scale of home and international cuisine will convince you about the traditional Slovak hospitality.

Get in
The is situated in the city center, near the  and has a regional importance.

Buses connect Nitra with other cities, also foreign.

The best connection from the capital city, Bratislava is by bus links called "Žltý expres" (Yellow express). There are several different bus companies which travel from Bratislava to Nitra (some of which end in Nitra, many of which go further inland).

It is also possible to travel to Nitra by train, either from Bratislava or Kosice, but because Nitra is situated on a regional rail line, this will entail changing trains at least once (e.g. in Nové Zámky or Leopoldov) and will generally take longer and be more expensive than taking the bus. You can expect a wait of up to 1 hour in Leopoldov. You may also have to wait quite a while when you change trains as the schedules from Bratislava to e.g. Nové Zámky are not well synchronised with those of the local train from there to Nitra.

By buses
Nitra has a very good public transport. Buses run between each town, city center and tourist attractive places.

By taxi
There are many Taxi services like CD-TAXI, MOJE TAXI, CITY TAXI, TAXI OK and WFR TAXI.

See
The castle (Hrad) is in the old town.

Learn
Nitra has many elementary and high schools and two universities - Slovak University of Agriculture and University of Constantine, the Philosopher.

Eat
There are many restaurants in all parts of city. Many of them are in the center, like Asian Sakura on Štefánikova street. If you are looking for something different, Buganka is the oldest winery and restaurant around, established in 1911. There are also two McDonald's, first in shopping center "Mlyny" and second near shopping center "Galéria" in which there is also TESCO.

For a bit of high dining you can try Starý Biskupský Hostinec in the city park. Their cakes are fabulous as are all their other food. Three-course dinner with wine €20-40 per person.

Drink
Most of the nightlife and clubs are east and south-east from the castle hill. Stroll around and find your favourite.

Budget

 * Nitra Glycerin Hostel. This is located out in an industrial area of the town. Not sure where all those 5-star reviews are coming from. I would only consider here if no other reasonably priced accommodation could be found.

Connect
NISYS (Tourist center) - +421377410906

Stay safe
Nitra is a very safe city, there is a city police, which ensures the safety also at night.

Go next
From Nitra you can choose a many following places or cities. To beautiful Bojnice (part of the city Prievidza) you can use train connection. To the lovely spa town Piešťany or capital city Bratislava you can use buses.

Kosice / Banská Bystrica - Change trains at Šurany

Budapest - Change trains at Nove Zamky

title: Nitra


text:
Niuas

The Niuas are the northernmost islands of Tonga.

Islands

 * Niuatoputapu is 240km north of Vava’u and has 18 sq. km with a population of around 1400. Tradition is still important here with conservative ways of dressing and behaviour. It has beautiful white beaches, particularly on the north-west side of the island. Niuatoputapu was severely damaged by the September 2009 tsunami that also devastated southern Upolu in Samoa.

 * Niuafo’ou is the northernmost island of Tonga. Other names for the island are Good Hope island and Tin Can island. The latter originated from the fact that in earlier times mail was delivered and picked up by strong swimmers who would retrieve packages sealed up in a biscuit tin and thrown overboard from passing ships. Stamps from that time have become a collector’s item. It is the tip of an underwater volcano created by sub-oceanic eruptions. The last eruption was in 1946, after which the whole island was evacuated for ten years. Fields of lava are still evident. The island ring encloses two lakes.

 * Tafahi — a tiny volcanic "satellite" island of Niuatoputapu.

Sleep
Plan ahead to arrange a home stay with the Tonga Visitor’s Bureau.

title: Niuas


text:
Niue

Niue (Niuean: Niuē, NYOO-ay) is an island in Oceania approximately halfway between Tonga and the Cook Islands. With a population of only 1,600, it is one of the world's smallest countries.

Villages

 * Alofi - the administrative centre and, therefore, possibly the smallest "capital city" on earth with 597 souls in 2017
 * Avatele - formerly known as Oneonepata, Matavaihala, it's got a population of 150 and the largest and best coarse sand beach on Niue
 * Hikutavake - the home of two of Niue's great attractions: the Matapa Chasm and Talava Arches
 * Liku
 * Lakepa
 * Mutalau - where Christianity started on Niue
 * Makefu - home to the Avaiki Cave
 * Hakupu - gateway to the Huvalu Forest Conservation Area
 * Namukulu - has a small motel
 * Tamakautoga
 * Toi
 * Tuapa
 * Vaiea

Understand
Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the Cook Islands, have led to it being separately administered. It is self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974, with Niue fully responsible for domestic affairs, and New Zealand asked to retain responsibility for foreign affairs and defence.

The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to 1,611 at the last census in 2011) with substantial emigration to New Zealand and Australia.

The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. Government expenditures used to exceed revenues, with the shortfall made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that were used to pay wages to public employees. However in 2016, Niue paid off all of its national debt. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. The sale of postage stamps and coins to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. Tourism has been identified as the main economic driver for Niue moving forward.

Niue's time zone is GMT-11 while New Zealand's is GMT+12 (GMT+13 during Daylight Saving Time). Therefore Niue is one day behind New Zealand when New Zealand has Daylight Saving Time, and 23 hours behind New Zealand at other times of the year.

Climate
Tropical; modified by southeast trade winds. The average daytime temperature is 27°C from May to October and 30°C from November to April. December to March is the cyclone season.

Landscape
From the sea, the approaches to Niue are flat with its cliff faces resembling a large ‘Swiss cheese’ composed of coral limestone rock peppered with caves. There are hidden caverns and chasms, buried grottoes and other subterranean natural fissures are yet to be discovered and developed into tourist attractions.

The island is approximately 73 km in circumference with two distinct terraces. The upper terrace, 60m high at its highest point, slopes steeply to a 0.5 m coastal terrace ending with high cliffs, some over 20m above sea level. A rugged fringing reef, which in places over 100 m wide, surrounds the island.

There are steep limestone cliffs along the coast, and a central plateau. Unlike most Pacific islands, there are no long, white sandy beaches, only tiny, secluded, white sand beaches that might be yours for the whole day.

History
Niue was first settled by Polynesians from Samoa in around 900 AD. Further settlers from Tonga arrived in the sixteenth century.

The first European to spot Niue was Captain James Cook in 1774. He made three attempts to land but was refused permission to do so by the inhabitants.

Mutalau, in the northern end of Niue was where on 26 October 1846 some of the people decided to accept Pastor Peniamina to introduce and teach the gospel to its people before it spread to the four corners of Niue. The Uluvehi landing is the landing place of Christianity.

Time difference from New Zealand
You need to cross the International Date Line (west to east) while travelling from New Zealand to Niue, so Niue is 23 hours behind the mainland (winter) and 24 hours (the whole day) behind in summer. So be careful about the date when you communicate between Niue and New Zealand, because Auckland is one day ahead of Niue.

Tourism information

 * Niue Tourist Office

Visa
No visa required for tourists staying less than 30 days. Visitors will require sufficient funds, confirmed reservation for accommodation and return/onward plane ticket. Couchsurfing and camping are not allowed. Passports must be valid for at least 3 months from arrival date.

New Zealand citizens who are Niueans or descended from Niueans do not require a visa.

By plane

Air New Zealand has scheduled flights from Auckland twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays (arriving in Niue on Tuesday and Friday) and is the only airline that flies to Niue. Huge crowds gather at the airport to meet every flight. Everyone (including New Zealanders) must have a return ticket. There is a $34 departure tax upon leaving (included in price of the Air New Zealand plane ticket). You might want to avoid flying in around religious holidays such as Easter or Christmas, or the October Constitution celebrations, as seats are often at a premium, since many Niueans return home at these times.

By boat
There are no ferries from foreign ports. Outside of the cyclone season you can sail your own yacht to Niue. Niue Yacht Club has information online. Harbour fees are $15 per day. If you fly in during sailing season it's possible to hitch on a yacht out of Niue.

Get around
Alofi and all the other villages are small enough to walk around. There's no harm in walking around the villages and in town as it is perfectly safe and a good way to catch and interact with the Niuean culture.

Hire a motor vehicle or bicycle on arrival if you don't want to walk. There is no public transport system.

By car
Getting around the island by car takes approximately 75 minutes. A Niue driver's licence is required and can be obtained from the Police department for $22.50 when you present your home licence (it's a cool souvenir). Since the police station is not open on weekends, you may have to wait until Monday to get your licence if you land on a Friday. Driving without a Niue licence in the meantime is allowed.

There is only one petrol station on Niue;, called Central Services, in Alofi South.

Hitchhiking is very easy on Niue; almost anyone will pick you up. Traffic on the eastern half of the island is very light and you could be in for a long wait, so take extra water. Riding in the back of utes is OK, but be careful because palm leaves can get your eye poked out if you're not careful.

By bike
Hire a bicycle for NZ$15 at Alofi Rentals and $10 at Niue Rentals. Cycling around the island takes around three hours.

Talk
English (often with a distinctive New Zealand accent) is spoken by almost all residents. The local Niuean language is mainly spoken in the home but you'll win the hearts of many locals by learning a few Niuean words. Visit the Niuean phrasebook for the basics.

See
Niue is dotted with many caves and limestone arches. There are a lot of 'sea tracks' that lead from the road to the coast. Wandering down one and seeing what you find at the end is a lot of fun.

The two attractions in the village of Hikutavake, the Matapa Chasm and Talava Arches, start at the same trail head at the north end of the village. Both trails are signposted.

There is an accessible sea track at the far end of the village green overlooking Hikutavake Bay. The steps will take you down to the reef area and huge pools teeming with tropical fish, snorkeling is great for first timers during low tide however a guide is always recommended.

Fupiu Fort, Fisiga Caves, Vaiopeope Caves, Oneone Reef, Tuo Mirrors, Patuoku, Tuo, Vaitafe

Do
There are many activities in Niue. All you need to do is venture out. Have a keen and energetic attitude towards everything. Be positive and able to try anything and everything that comes to offer in Niue, so you are able to uncover the interesting facts and interest that Niue can offer.

These are just some of the activities, as the rest you must uncover yourself as there is more to it, with self-discovery. Bringing your own reef shoes and snorkeling equipment is highly recommended since these can be hard to find on the island.

Kayaking, fishing, diving (Niue Dive offers PADI certified dives), golf, cycling, etc. Niue is different to all the other Pacific islands in the sense that there are no beaches. Go spelunking in one of the many caves around the island.

If you're wanting to play a bit of touch, what better way to do it, than versus the locals. About every village has a green and most evenings the residents come out and play a friendly game of touch. So if you feel like mingling and playing a bit of sports, just ask around and you'll surely find a game.

Snorkelling is an alternative to diving. The Utuko Reef in Alofi and the reef pools at Hio Beach are excellent for beginners. Further north from Hio there's a pair of giant natural pools at Matapa that are best at low tide. Around the island there are places to snorkel outside the reef but these should only be attempted by confident swimmers; in any case, seek local advice and check water conditions before venturing off on your own. To be completely safe, go with a partner or take a tour. Niue Dive operates snorkelling trips to sites around the island, including Snake Gully. You can also snorkel and swim with spinner dolphins (April to December) and humpback whales (June to October).

Fishing trips are run by Nu Tours (4hr trips $280) for one or two people. Fish with Fishaway Charters (4 hr trips $250) and you can personally barbecue your catch at the Washaway Cafe. Contact Willy Saniteli for info. Of course it's also possible to fish on your own, but remember that fishing is prohibited on Sundays.

Weaving is a popular traditional pastime on Niue. Most of the older ladies on the island go to a weaving group once a week. If you want to try it, try:

The Uluvehi landing is the landing place of Christianity on Niue and a very nice spot for relaxation. There is a recreation and eco-tourist building there with a bar and toilet/bathroom facilities. There is also a kitchen there with plans to open for service at certain days and hours to serve visitors to the area. The Mutalau Village Fiafia Night tour is held on Saturday afternoons, depending on bookings. There are also plans to build traditional style accommodation in the area, as the basic services (rest rooms, bar and cooking) are now available in the main recreation/eco-tourist building. You can drive down to Uluvehi from the village green.

Tour scenic sites, swim at Uluvehi, visit caves, bush walks, fishing, making umu, talk to people, sunbathing.

Fishing and other activities are prohibited on Sunday.

Money
The currency used in Niue is the New Zealand dollar, denoted by the symbol "$" or "NZ$" (ISO code: NZD). It is divided into 100 cents. In this guide, the "$" symbol denotes New Zealand dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Shopping
Few souvenirs are available. Postcards are available at the post office and there are two souvenir shops in Alofi. There is also an art gallery at the Niue Commercial Centre. Niuean weaving is among the finest in the Pacific and makes great souvenirs.

There are no ATMs, but now that an agency of New Zealand's Kiwibank has opened, many businesses now accept EFTPOS (with no foreign surcharge for New Zealand issued cards) and an increasing number now accept Visa and MasterCards (credit cards purchases attract a 3% surcharge).

Even though some places now accept "plastic" the system is often down. If you run out of money you will be stuck. Take the hint, do not show up in Niue without more money than you think you'll need!

Costs
Due to the fact that just about everything has to be imported, Niue is a bit more expensive than New Zealand. Tobacco products are much cheaper due to the lack of taxes. Alcohol is more expensive, although not as much so if you buy it at the duty-free shop in the main commercial centre of Alofi.

Once you have bought your food and paid for your rental car and its fuel, there is not much else to spend your money on, though a couple of tours could be worthwhile and most are good value. Exploring the caves, chasms and sea tracks on your own is free. If you bring you own snorkelling gear with you, snorkelling in is free too.

Eat
Don't expect McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, and KFC... unless you want to fly to New Zealand or Australia to get your fix. Bring a sense of culinary adventure. Local specialities include uga (coconut crab), anything with coconut, and the like. If you love tropical fruit you'll have fun in Niue; passion fruit, cassava, taro, vanilla, kumara, and various other fruits are available but it can be a bit hard finding where to buy them - try the Tuesday or Friday morning market in Alofi, or various roadside stalls. The supermarket has a limited selection.

One suggestion for eating out on Niue is to plan - book ahead, that way the restaurant will know you are coming and will be sure to stay open for you.

All the main eating places are in Alofi and there is a variety of food from fish and chips, to Indian food, paninis, pizza, etc.

In the town centre is Tavana's Cafe, which offers fish and chips and others.

 * Katuali Coffee House - Peta Hill, Alofi South. They sell sandwiches, pizza, sweet slices, etc.
 * Katuali Coffee House - Peta Hill, Alofi South. They sell sandwiches, pizza, sweet slices, etc.

Most visitors to Niue self-cater for most if not all the time. Most shops are closed Sunday and open limited hours on Saturday; therefore it is advisable to stock up on food on Friday.

You can also import almost any food from New Zealand. The main exceptions are honey and salami.

Drink
Coconut water is very refreshing and naturally rehydrates you on a hot and humid day.

For the really adventurous, try Noni juice at the Vaiau Farm. Anything that tastes that bad has to be really good for you!

Sleep
You must book your accommodation before arrival or you may be sent back to New Zealand.

Most places to stay are in or near Alofi, and there are one or two options going toward Avatele. Accommodation is non-existent on the eastern side of the island unless you have friends or are fortunate enough for a local to invite you in. Camping is permitted as long as you're not on private land but is strongly discouraged due to mosquitoes and, like in many Pacific islands, locals can take it like you're rejecting their hospitality.

Learn
There is one small campus, a branch of the Fiji-based University of the South Pacific and only one high school and one primary school. However, you can learn a lot about the history and culture of Niue just by speaking with older people who are in the know.

Work
Opportunities to work on Niue are extremely limited.

Teaching positions may be available at some of the primary schools, and if you are interested in investing, Niue encourages investment in new and existing businesses.

Stay safe
Niue is a very safe island. The only jail is located next to the only golf course and is considered an open prison. Crime is extremely minimal if not non-existent, and it's not uncommon for tourists to meet the Premier. If you want to meet your first head politico, this is the place!

Wear a helmet whilst cycling because an accident would be catastrophic and the nearest major medical facilities are in New Zealand and Australia. Seatbelts in vehicles aren't obligatory but it's advisable to wear one anyway.

Emergency services and in-patient care for surgical conditions are provided at the sparklingly clean and newly re-built Niue Foou Hospital in Alofi, but travel insurance is strongly recommended.

For some of the caves, especially Vaikona, it is strongly advised to go with a guide unless you're experienced because people have been lost and injured in some of the island's caves.

The emergency phone number in Niue is 999.

Stay healthy
There are no land snakes (sea snakes do ply waters off the coast) or poisonous insects. There is no malaria but there are mosquitos which peak between December and March. In 2012 there were reported cases of Dengue fever, with one death, though these were the first cases in a number of years. Take proper precautions to avoid being bitten by the Aedes mosquito.

Herbalists and traditional healers (taulaatua) are also patronised by locals.

Reef shoes are strongly recommended if snorkelling because coral cuts can easily become infected. If you cut yourself rinse the cut straight away with generous amounts of soap and water.

The tap water is drinkable.

Respect
Sunday is a special day reserved for Niue's strong church-going population. Fishing, kayaking and diving are prohibited by law on Sunday. Swimming is also prohibited on Sunday but, in practice, you can swim at many locations away from villages without any offence to the locals.

Swimming gear is okay in swimming areas but not in villages. Don't swim nude or topless, and don't swim where locals are fishing during the spawning season.

Wave to everyone when they pass by.

Niueans are among the friendliest people in the world. If they're able to help you, they will. Refusing an offer of dinner or a cuppa can be considered offensive.

Niue is a very conservative island. Don't get drunk, as locals (especially police officers) don't look kindly on people getting drunk and then causing trouble. There have been reports of people being deported for these type of offences. Furthermore, same-sex couples should be mindful to the culture and older generations.

Connect
Visitors pay a one off fee of NZ$25 to RockET who register their computer MAC address onto a single wireless base station of their choice. Connection speed seems poor and is a frustrating experience if previously used to broadband. If you don't have your own laptop there is an internet cafe next to the bakery at NZ$12 an hour. Some accommodation options offer internet access.

Skype audio or video calls don't work effectively due to the slow connection but Skype IM is OK. Your best bet is to contact any and all friends/family from New Zealand (or your home country) before leaving for Niue because it's NZ$0.99 a minute to call New Zealand. If you need to call from Niue the Telecom Office is open 24 hours.

There is now a limited mobile phone service on the island, which only works in some parts of the island. You can buy a SIM card from the Telecom Office for $34 (plus $5 credit), however there is limited sizes of SIM cards so make sure it fits into your mobile phone first. There are no roaming agreements with NZ mobile operators.

Cope
The New Zealand High Commission is in Alofi on the airport road.

title: Niue


text:
Nizhnevartovsk

Nizhnevartovsk (Нижневартовск) is a city in Khantia-Mansia.

Understand
Nizhnevartovsk is a very new city. Oil and gas were discovered here in the early 1970, before that, this was a village of around 2300 inhabitants (about 1% of the current population). The Soviets built current the city from scratch and thus, if you're looking for historical Russia, look elsewhere; you'll be hard pressed to find anything predating the Brezhnev era. However, the one thing that Nizhnevartovsk has going for it is that it's what most people would call the "real" Russia; it's a long way from the McDonalds and the souvenir stores of Moscow. The people here are friendly, and very welcoming towards foreign visitors.

By train
It's about 20 hours (depending on which train you take) here from Tyumen and 25 to Yekaterinburg.

Get around
Marshrutkas are 15 Rubles (18 in the winter). Taxis are 60 anywhere in the city (70 in the winter), and about double that to the airport.

See
The ice cover on the River Ob is thick enough to drive on during winter, but from late April the thaw starts. Around early May the ice finally breaks up and starts flowing north to the Arctic. This offers fascinating light and sounds.

There are also several traditional Siberian villages and native Khanty-Mansiyskii settlements to visit. These offer an interesting insight into the history, culture and biology of the area from before the Soviets moved in for oil exploration.

Drink
Pyatsvurst (5 Stars) is the best bar / snooker club in the city. Expect dress codes and bouncers to keep the standards up. It has a restaurant upstairs of the snooker bar with live music and a good, if standard, menu. Prices are reasonable for westerners, but on the higher side for locals.

There are also many smaller private cafes and restaurants to choose from dotted around the city.

Of course vodka is the drink of choice, with many brands available. Sibirskaya Corona (Siberian Crown) is a good beer. Or you can choose Kvas, a kind of bread-based, beer like drink. Mors is another popular drink, a kind of fruit extract drink.

Sleep

 * Hostel "Prime", Ulitsa Internatsional'naya, 29, 3. +7 982 537-37-14. Kind of in a residential building and hard to find.

title: Nizhnevartovsk


text:
Nizhny Novgorod

Nizhny Novgorod (Russian: Ни́жний Но́вгород NEEZH-nee NOHV-guh-ruht), colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is Russia's fifth largest city, ranking after Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg. It had a population in 2018 of 1.26 million. It is the economic and cultural center of the vast Volga economic region, and also the administrative center of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and Volga Federal District.

From 1932 to 1990 the city was known as Gorky (Го́рький), after the writer Maxim Gorky. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, the old name was restored.

Do not confuse Nizhny Novgorod with Novgorod (or, fully, Veliky Novgorod), which is a different city. In particular, do not shorten the name Nizhny Novgorod to Novgorod.

Districts
The city is divided by the River Oka into two major parts: the Upper city (Verkhnyaya or Nagornaya chast) on the hilly right side and the Lower city (Nizhnyaya or Zarechnaya chast — what literally means "the part over the river") on the left bank of the river. The Upper city is the old historical part of Nizhny Novgorod, whereas the Lower city is larger, newer and consists of more industrial districts.

History
The city was founded by Grand Duke George II of Russia in 1221 at the confluence of two most important rivers of his principality, the Volga and the Oka. Its name literally means Newtown the Lower, to distinguish it from the older Novgorod. A major stronghold for border protection, Nizhny Novgorod fortress took advantage of a natural moat formed by the two rivers.

Along with Moscow and Tver, Nizhny Novgorod was among several newly founded towns that escaped Mongol devastation on account of its insignificance and grew up into important centers of Russian political life during the period of Tatar yoke. For a short period of time it was the capital of the Suzdal Principality and competed with Moscow for the power in the region. However the competition with Moscow was lost and in 1392 the city was incorporated into Muscovy. Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was built in 1508-1511 (under supervision of the Italian fortress engineers) and became one of the strongest Russian citadels. There is a legend saying that the project was initially developed with participation of Leonardo da Vinci. However there is no documented proof of Leonardo's work for that project, the only thing the legend is based on is the striking resemblance of Leonardo's sketches and the actual Kremlin schemes. The fortress was strong enough to withstand Tatar sieges in 1520 and 1536.

In 1612, the so-called national militia, gathered by a local merchant Kuzma Minin and commanded by Knyaz Dmitry Pozharsky expelled the Polish troops from Moscow, thus putting an end to the Time of Troubles and establishing the rule of the Romanov dynasty.

In 1817, the Makaryev Monastery Fair, one of the liveliest in the world the 16th-18th centuries, was transferred to Nizhny Novgorod, which thereupon started to attract numerous visitors and by the mid-19th century it turned Nizhny Novgorod into trade capital of the Russian Empire.

Under the Soviet period, the trade connections of the city were abandoned and Nizhny Novgorod became an important industrial centre instead. During the communist time the city was closed to foreigners to safeguard the security of Soviet military research. The physicist and the Nobel laureate Andrei Sakharov was exiled there during 1980-1986 to limit his contacts with foreigners.

Climate
The climate in the region is humid continental and it is similar to the climate in Moscow, although colder in winter, which lasts from late November until late March with a permanent snow cover.

By train
The train station in Nizhny Novgorod is in the northern part of the city centre, near the Metromost Bridge. It is reachable via the metro. The main hall of the train station is beautiful and includes a chandelier as well as soviet-style mosaics symbolizing the life of Russian people.

All Trans-Siberian trains from Moscow except for train 99/100 (which goes via Yaroslavl instead) stop at Nizhny Novgorod.

When searching timetables and fares on the RZD website, enter "Nizhniy Novgorod" as the station for Nizhny Novgorod.

There are several options for train travel from Moscow including high speed Sapsan trains (3½ hours, ₽1200-1700) and slower late night trains (7 hours, from ₽700). Trains are generally cheaper if purchased in advance. Most trains from Moscow arrive depart from Moscow's Kursky or Yaroslavsky train stations.

There are 2 daily overnight trains from Saint Petersburg (15-16 hours, from ₽900).

There are also direct train connections with Vladimir, Dzerzhinsk, Kazan, Samara, Kirov (6-7 hours, from ₽550), Yaroslavl (9 hours, from ₽450), Kungur (16 hours, from ₽1200), Yekaterinburg, (20 hours, from ₽1400), Novosibirsk (40 hours, from ₽2500), Irkutsk (69 hours, ₽10000), Astrakhan, Simferopol, Novorossiysk (52 hours, from ₽1900), Vladivostok, Beijing, Ulaanbaatar, and many other cities. Suburban commuter trains connect Nizhny Novgorod with towns within 200 km of the city.

By plane

The airport is connected to the city by public transport including buses 11, 20, T-29, T-46. The journey by public transport to the city centre takes approximately 1 hour. A taxi ride takes around 30 minutes and should cost under ₽1000 if negotiated in advance.

By car
Nizhny Novgorod is situated on the M7/E30 road. The road is in decent condition, although with traffic it can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours to drive to/from Moscow.

By bus
There are several stops for buses arriving in Nizhny Novgorod; however, departing buses leave from either Kanavinskaya bus station, near the railway station, for buses going to points north and west, and the main bus station (Avtovokzal) near pl. Lyadova, for the buses going to points south and east.

Buses are generally uncomfortable and slower than the trains.

MR Trans operates buses to/from Moscow (9 hours, ₽600-1000), Yoshkar-Ola, Kazan, Cheboksary, and other nearby cities.

By boat
Turflot, Infoflot, and many other companies operate multi-day river cruises down the Volga from early May to the end of September.

Many companies operate passenger boat service between Moscow and Astrakhan, with stops at most cities along the Volga River.

By foot
The city centre is compact and walkable. However, there are many inclines or steps from the river banks. The bridges are not pedestrian friendly since the sidewalk is very narrow and cars drive extremely fast close to the pedestrians.

Via public transport
There is a network of s-trains, trams, trolleybuses, buses, marshrutkas and a 2-line metro system. Google maps can be used for directions via public transport.

The fare on public transport is ₽20 per ride and operating hours are generally 05:15 to 00:00.

On surface public transport (trams, trolleybuses, buses and marshrutkas) you are expected to pay within one stop after you enter, the fare is fixed for one ride. A konductor who will come to you, take money and issue a ticket; if there is no konductor, you should pay directly to the driver. Both the driver and konductor will give change if needed, although notes of ₽1000 and larger are sometimes denied. It is best to have exact change ready.

As of 2019, you can pay by Apple Pay/Google Pay/Visa PayWave/Mastercard Contactless on board on any public transport including marshrutkas.

By metro
The metro is open from 05:15 to 00:15. To get in, look for an underground passage with the red letter M on top and go down under the ground. At the entrance to the metro you need to go through the security system. Police officers have the right to examine you, if necessary. The metro is accessible by tokens, city transport smart cards and bank cards. The fare is ₽20, as of May 2017. There are also electronic transport cards for ₽90 for 24 hours of travel on all types of public transport and ₽20 for 70 minutes.

The metro consists of 2 lines and 14 stations, with more stations planned in the future. The system was designed during Soviet times and stops are near factories and industrial areas. However, the demographics have shifted and as a result, the metro is not as useful as it once was and surface transport is more popular and more crowded. The 2 lines intersect at Moscovskaya Metro Station. This is the only metro station in the ex-USSR with 4 adjacent tracks. In the afternoon you can expect a train about 8 minutes, in the evenings intervals reach 13-15 minutes. Therefore, you can see what happens with the interval clock: after reaching 10 minutes they just go out and time stops. After 22:00, the movement of trains going in an interesting way. From the Park Kultury to the Proletarskaya train move from the right platform, then the passengers are planted at the station and they pass to the other side of the platform, where trains run from Gorkovskaya (or Burevestnik) to Proletarskaya and back. Meanwhile, passengers who need to get to the Park Kultury get on the train that came from this station, and go back to the Avtozavodsky City District.

The Nizhny Novgorod metro is useful for those travelers who want to visit the city center, the well-organized industrial Avtozavodsky City District and the Sormovsky City District with a large number of pre-revolutionary and Stalinist buildings, and, at the same time, spend a minimum of time for transportation. The first stations were built in the early 1980s, from an architectural point of view, they are of little interest. However, two of them deserve attention: Moskovskaya (the only station with four routes and 2 lines) and Gorkovskaya (its walls are decorated with a panel depicting the main attractions of the city). Transportation between them on the train, you'll see a metro-bridge, Oka panorama, Strelka and Rozhdestvenskaya street. Also interesting is the terrestrial covered station Burevestnik - this is the only station of the Nizhny Novgorod metro with lateral platforms. Another interesting station is Zarechnaya, where the walls are decorated in the form of a river wave, and in the end of the station there is a panel "Grad Kitezh".

By city rail
The City Rail connects areas where there are no metro lines. Connects with the subway at the Moscow railway station. It has 2 lines: Sormovskaya and Priokskaya. The fare by train costs 28 rubles. According to the Citicard Transport Card, the fare is 26 rubles. Also by train you can get to the nearest suburb, or transfer to suburban trains to Dzerzhinsk, Bor, Semenov or Arzamas.

By bus and trolleybus
As of May 2017 in each district of the city there are several city bus routes. The number of trolleybus routes is much less. In one district of the city there are 1-2 trolleybus routes. Trolleybus routes are completely absent in the Leninsky city district. It is worth noting that trolleybuses do not connect the Lower City to the Upper. This is because the trolleybuses do not have enough power to climb the mountain.

The trolleybus network is divided into 3 parts:
 * The upper trolleybus network (it unites all three districts - Nizhegorodsky, Sovetsky and Prioksky) with a turning circle on the Minin Square, near the Kremlin.
 * The lower trolleybus network (connects Kanavinsky, Moskovsky and Sormovsky districts)
 * The Avtozavod trolleybus network (connects all the distant sleeping microdistricts among themselves)

By tram
Throughout the city, land trams run. The longest route of all is 417. It connects the outskirts of Avtozavodsky district with the Moskovsky Rail Terminal. The journey takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The route passes through the sleeping areas (approximately 75% of the way). Also in remote neighborhoods there are routes of several more trams, but in most cases, they are in the Upper City. By the way, you can reach there by tram 27 or 10 directly from the Moscow railway station.

By marshrutka
Marshrutkas do not stop at every stop. To indicate your intention to exit a marshrutka, press a button and to indicate your intention to enter a marshrutka en-route, you need to wave your hand.

By bicycle
Nizhny Novgorod has not very developed bicycle infrastructure. Special bike paths exist only on the Upper-Volga and Lower-Volga embankments and on Rozhdestvenskaya Street.

The upper city is very hilly and full of steep inclines and even many locals will get off their bicycles and push their bikes up the hill by foot. Drivers can be reckless and pose a danger to cyclists. The roads can also be icy during the winter. City cyclists solve this problem by replacing summer tires with winter tires.

Also, in 2017 the implementation of a new integrated transport scheme of the city began. It provides for a large number of bicycle paths in the Upper City (including on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street) and in the Lower City.

Embankments
The Upper city is hilly and the slopes start not far from the waterfront, therefore in addition to embankments proper — the streets that run along the water — there is another kind of streets that are also called embankment. These are the streets running along the top of the hill slope, thus having a view of the rivers and opposite banks from 100-150 m above. The latter are great for walking, offering far-reaching views and good winds from the river.

Buildings

 * Several XVII-century brick houses:
 * Several XVII-century brick houses:
 * Several XVII-century brick houses:
 * Several XVII-century brick houses:

Museums

 * It's an organization running several museums each holding some exhibitions and organizing different events:
 * It's an organization running several museums each holding some exhibitions and organizing different events:
 * It's an organization running several museums each holding some exhibitions and organizing different events:
 * It's an organization running several museums each holding some exhibitions and organizing different events:
 * It's an organization running several museums each holding some exhibitions and organizing different events:
 * It's an organization running several museums each holding some exhibitions and organizing different events:

Monuments

 * Monument to Valery Chkalov, the famous test pilot of the 1930s, known for his ultra long flight from Moscow to Washington State via the North Pole.
 * Maxim Gorky, at the square named after him
 * Alexander Pushkin (at the entrance to the Theatre of Opera and Ballet)

Religious

 * Pechersky Ascencion Monastery, near Sennaya Square a couple miles east of downtown, halfway down the slope to Volga. With a cathedral and several churches surrounded by a restored stone wall, the monastery is the seat of the archbishops of Nizhny Novgorod.
 * A big variety of other churches and convents.

Do

 * Watch football at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, opened in 2018 to host games of the FIFA World Cup. It's home to FC Olimpiyets Nizhny Novgorod, who play in the Russian Premier League (ie top tier of Russian football). The stadium, capacity just under 45,000, stands on the west bank of the River Oka just as it joins the Volga, and looks across to the Kremlin on the Oka east bank. It's a circular colonnade, 1 km north of the city's main "Moscow" railway station, walk or take metro to Strelka.
 * Watch football at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, opened in 2018 to host games of the FIFA World Cup. It's home to FC Olimpiyets Nizhny Novgorod, who play in the Russian Premier League (ie top tier of Russian football). The stadium, capacity just under 45,000, stands on the west bank of the River Oka just as it joins the Volga, and looks across to the Kremlin on the Oka east bank. It's a circular colonnade, 1 km north of the city's main "Moscow" railway station, walk or take metro to Strelka.
 * Watch football at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, opened in 2018 to host games of the FIFA World Cup. It's home to FC Olimpiyets Nizhny Novgorod, who play in the Russian Premier League (ie top tier of Russian football). The stadium, capacity just under 45,000, stands on the west bank of the River Oka just as it joins the Volga, and looks across to the Kremlin on the Oka east bank. It's a circular colonnade, 1 km north of the city's main "Moscow" railway station, walk or take metro to Strelka.
 * Watch football at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, opened in 2018 to host games of the FIFA World Cup. It's home to FC Olimpiyets Nizhny Novgorod, who play in the Russian Premier League (ie top tier of Russian football). The stadium, capacity just under 45,000, stands on the west bank of the River Oka just as it joins the Volga, and looks across to the Kremlin on the Oka east bank. It's a circular colonnade, 1 km north of the city's main "Moscow" railway station, walk or take metro to Strelka.
 * Watch football at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, opened in 2018 to host games of the FIFA World Cup. It's home to FC Olimpiyets Nizhny Novgorod, who play in the Russian Premier League (ie top tier of Russian football). The stadium, capacity just under 45,000, stands on the west bank of the River Oka just as it joins the Volga, and looks across to the Kremlin on the Oka east bank. It's a circular colonnade, 1 km north of the city's main "Moscow" railway station, walk or take metro to Strelka.

Winter sports
During winter, with permanent snow cover, Nizhny offers different possibilities for winter sports. Some of them are listed below.
 * Skating is possible on many open ice rinks, starting from a hockey-rink-sized ones, often located near schools, poorly-maintained, lacking any room where you can left your belongings, but free for entrance, up to soccer-sized (and more) stadiums with proper infrastructure, skates rent and paid entrance.
 * Mega shopping mall has also a very small skating rink at the main hall, but it's of interest only during summer, when big skating rinks do not work.
 * Cross-country skiing is possible in many Nizhny Novgorod parks and in many forests surrounding the city; almost in every park you will find a circular ski track for classical skiing. Bigger forested areas, primary Schelkovsky Khutor (Щелковский Хутор) and adjacent Ankudinovsky forest (Анкудиновский лес) in the Upper city, and Dubravy forest (Дубравный) in the furthermost Sormovo have much more of classical and skating ski tracks. However, the infrastructure for ski rent is not widespread. Most of the tracks have no lighting, so skiing after roughly 15:00, when it starts becoming darker, will not be pleasant.
 * Mega shopping mall has also a very small skating rink at the main hall, but it's of interest only during summer, when big skating rinks do not work.
 * Cross-country skiing is possible in many Nizhny Novgorod parks and in many forests surrounding the city; almost in every park you will find a circular ski track for classical skiing. Bigger forested areas, primary Schelkovsky Khutor (Щелковский Хутор) and adjacent Ankudinovsky forest (Анкудиновский лес) in the Upper city, and Dubravy forest (Дубравный) in the furthermost Sormovo have much more of classical and skating ski tracks. However, the infrastructure for ski rent is not widespread. Most of the tracks have no lighting, so skiing after roughly 15:00, when it starts becoming darker, will not be pleasant.

Souvenirs
Apart from simple souvenirs like thick pencils with city name, which are present in every Russian city with just the name changed, and have nothing to do with Russian traditions, there are some souvenirs that are really Russian and really Nizhny-Novgorodian. The most important and famous are Khokhloma gold-red-black painted wooden items such as tableware and furniture; Khokhloma is actually a village in Nizhny Novgorod oblast, a traditional center for the craft.

Also there are other traditional Russia souvenirs such as Gorodets-style painted wooden items, and lots of different Matryoshkas.

You can find lots of souvenirs on street stalls along the pedestrian part of Bolshaya Pokrovskaya street (especially in its upper and further from Kremlin part), and in some stalls inside Kremlin. There are also several stands inside the train station building, both on the ground floor and in the basement.

Grocery
There are many small local grocery shops (продукты) in Nizhny Novgorod, but you are advised to shop in slightly more respectable chain self-service supermarket stores listed below. There are lots of stores for each chain, so only a couple of center-most are listed for each chain. The quality of food is generally good in every store, but you are advised to check the expiry dates on the items that do not last long (such as dairy products). Also note the common trick employed by store owners: on the shelves you will often find the same items, but with different production dates, and facing you on the shelf are the oldest items, while the freshest are somewhere in the back of the shelf.
 * Магнит (Magnit, lit. Magnet) are cheap but basic stores. Do not expect anything beyond simple food (some stores also have basic household chemical goods). But if you want just a slice of bread, a bottle of milk or yogurt, simple cheese or cookies, beer or water, etc., this will always be the cheapest place. Also, they often have unexpectedly good and cheap selection of vegetables and fruits as compared to other small stores. There are no Magnit stores in the very center, but some of them just out of center: 160 Gorky st. (ул. Горького), 118 Belinsky st. (ул. Белинского), 26 Sovnarkomovskaya st. (ул. Совнаркомовская), etc.
 * Also almost every shopping mall (see below) has a grocery store. In addition to the mentioned chains, you may meet Auchan (Ашан) stores there. If you are looking for a really wide selection and cheap price, head to one of these, but you will have to go out of the city center.
 * Also almost every shopping mall (see below) has a grocery store. In addition to the mentioned chains, you may meet Auchan (Ашан) stores there. If you are looking for a really wide selection and cheap price, head to one of these, but you will have to go out of the city center.
 * Also almost every shopping mall (see below) has a grocery store. In addition to the mentioned chains, you may meet Auchan (Ашан) stores there. If you are looking for a really wide selection and cheap price, head to one of these, but you will have to go out of the city center.

Street food
In the city stalls with shawarma are very popular. They can be found everywhere, even on the outskirts of the city.

Fast food chains
McDonald's and KFC have locations near almost every shopping mall and central streets and squares. It is common to pay extra for condiments.

Sleep
All hotels and hostels offer free Wi-Fi and many have computer terminals. Almost all accept credit cards. Hotels and hostels will usually provide a visa invitation and registration for an additional fee.

Phone
For information on purchasing a SIM card in Russia, see Russia.

Note that Nizhny Novgorod is in the Volga region zone, and SIM cards purchased elsewhere, such as in Moscow or Saint Petersburg, may be subject to roaming charges.

There are payphones in the streets; however, you can only buy phone-cards in the post offices and in a few newspaper kiosks.

Internet
Free WiFi is available in most hotels, shopping malls, university buildings, restaurants and cafes, the airport as well as several metro stations. There is also free public WiFi on B. Pokrovskaya street.

Consulates

 * 🇦🇹 Austria
 * 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇰🇵 North Korea

Visa centers

 * 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇬🇷 Greece 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇲🇹 Malta 🇪🇸 Spain

Go next

 * Gorodets - a town founded in the 12th century, famous for its Museum of samovars.
 * Makaryev Monastery is 100 km southeast of Nizhny Novgorod. It was constructed between 1651 and 1667. Approximately 20 nuns live there. It is the last resting place of its legendary founder, Venerable Macarius, of the Miracle of the Moose fame.

title: Nizhny Novgorod


text:
Nizhny Novgorod Oblast

Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (Russian: Нижегоро́дская о́бласть nee-zhyh-gah-ROHT-skuh-yuh OH-bluhst') is a region in the Upper Volga, bordering Ryazan Oblast to the southwest, Vladimir Oblast to the west, Ivanovo Oblast to the northwest, Kostroma Oblast to the north, Kirov Oblast to the northeast, Mari El to the east, Chuvashia to the southeast, and Mordovia to the south.

Cities

 * — Russia's fourth largest city, the regional capital, located at the confluence of the Volga and Oka Rivers, and the hub for the Volga Region; be sure to visit the kremlin and the Sakharov Museum
 * — the region's third largest city is most notable for its grandiose Resurrection Cathedral, built to commemorate Russia's victory over Napoleon in 1812
 * — a small historic city with several noteworthy architectural monuments, including the 16th century Saint Nicholas Church
 * — a small town with a pretty, well-preserved central square and cathedral, as well as several 19th century estates outside the town that have been converted into parks
 * (Veliko Boldino) — a historic village that served as the estate of one very famous A.S. Pushkin; the village now has several worthwhile museums dedicated to the poet and hosts the All-Russia Poetry Prize Festival each year on the first Sunday of June
 * — you can see this city while looking across the Volga from Nizhny Novgorod's downtown. Center of ship-building and glass-making industry
 * — the region's second largest city is one of the world's most polluted, due to its history as a major chemicals production site, and has life expectancies of less than 50 years for both men and women; the city was until 1990 closed to foreigners, but is now open for those who wish to see its singular and towering hyperboloid Shukhov Tower on the banks of the Oka River
 * — a small Soviet-era industrial city (petrochemicals), which grew out of on an old village of the same name. Kstovo is home to the World Sambo Academy; an important 18th-century church is in the adjacent village of Veliky Vrag
 * — an historic town, founded by Prine Yuriy Dolgorukiy in 1152, which lost a number of churches to atheistic campaigns under the USSR, but retains some wonderful fairytale-like wooden houses.
 * — a small closed city, formerly a secret city known as Arzamas-16, which serves as a major center for Russia (and the USSR's) nuclear program, has rather European architecture since it was built by German POWs, and is located near the holy Sarova monastery; in reference to the US nuclear program at Los Alamos, researchers here fondly call the city "Los Arzamas"

Other destinations

 * Kerzhensky Nature Reserve
 * Makaryevsky Monastery — a huge and beautiful monastery on the Volga River, which is easily reached by a summer 3 hour long hydrofoil from Nizhny Novgorod

Understand
Nizhny Novgorod Oblast is one of the most populous and economically important regions of the Volga Region, centered on its capital Nizhny Novgorod. Aside from the capital itself, the region is perhaps best known outside of Russia for its tradition of making painted, wooden matryoshka dolls. Less known, perhaps, are Khokhloma handicraft.

Talk
See Russian phrasebook.

By train
The city of Nizhny Novgorod is one of the first major stops from Moscow on one of the main routes of the Trans-Siberian Railway (8 hour trip). Several trains form Moscow terminate in Nizhny Novgorod (two overnight trains and one or two faster day trains). Many others continue beyond, to Kirov, Perm, Yekaterinburg, and points east, up to Vladivostok and Beijing. Some of these trains also stop at a number of other stations as they cross the oblast, e.g. Dzerzhinsk before reaching the Nizhny, or Semenov, Shakhunya and Uren beyond it. These trains usually leave from Moscow's Kursk Station or Yaroslavl Station.

Several faster trains (Lastochka and Strizh) make the trip between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod in about 4 hours.

There is also a direct daily train to Nizhny Novgorod from Saint Petersburg, and, at least during the summer seasons, from a number of destinations on the Black Sea coast, such as Adler (for Sochi). Trains from Nizhny Novgorod also travel south, to/from Saransk (Mordovia) and Kazan (via the Kanash junction in Chuvashia.

Some cities in southern part of the oblast (Navashino, Arzamas, Sergach) are easily reachable by trains running on another route (Moscow-Kazan) of the Trans-Siberian system. They leave from Moscow's Kazan Station.

By plane
Nizhny Novgorod's Strigino airport (GOI) had a new terminal opened in 2016, just when most of direct international flights to Nizhny Novgorod (Lufthansa from Frankfurt, Finnair from Helsinki, or Czech from Prague) were terminated. The city is still served by inexpensive domestic flights from major Russian cities—the flight from Moscow is as cheap as $35. Kaliningrad based KD Avia offers flights to Kaliningrad and then on to a number of Russian and international destinations. There are also direct flights to a number of destination in Central Asia (popular with migrant workers), and (mostly charter or seasonal) flights to some Mediterranean tourist destinations.

The airport is served by several city bus lines (in daytime only). One can take any of these buses to get to the nearest subway lines, and then take subway to wherever it goes.

By boat
Nizhny Novgorod is frequently included as a stop on summer boat cruises on the Volga River; some boats also stop at the Makariev Monastery.

By bus
A fair number of intercity buses circulate along the Volga Highway (aka M7), between Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Cheboksary, and Kazan. While less convenient than trains, buses allow access to towns not served by rail, such as Lyskovo.

Train
The main train station in Nizhny Novgorod is the Moscow Station (Московский Вокзал), located in the Lower City (Zarechnaya Chast, i.e. across the Oka River from the old city center). Besides serving all of the long-distance trains, it is also sends commuter trains in 6 directions throughout much of the oblast:
 * west (the Moscow line), to Dzerzhinsk, Seima (for Volodarsk) and points west toward Vladimir.
 * north-east (the Kirov line), to Semenov, Shakhunya etc.
 * south (the Arazamas line), to Arzamas, from where some continue east toward Sergach.
 * north-west (the Zavolzhye branch), to Balakhna and Zavolzhye (for Gorodets).
 * south-west (the Metallist branch), to Bogorodsk and Metallist (for Pavlovo).

Naturally, if you are going to a more remote city in the oblast (e.g. Arzamas or Lukoyanov in the south-east, or Shakhunya in the north), you can also buy a ticket for a long-distance train that passes through it. This will be much more expensive, though.

There is also a little known terminal station of Myza, near Gagarin Avenue in the Upper City of Nizhny Novgorod (i.e., east of the Oka). Inconveniently located several miles south of the city center, it only sends a few trains a day to the Metallist branch and to the Zeletsino branch (south-east), for Kstovo.

Southern part of the oblast is served by the Moscow-Kazan railway, with stations in Navashino, Arzamas, Sergach, etc.

Bus
There is no rail line due east of Nizhny Novgorod. Instead, one can take a bus along the M7 highway (the Kazan highway). Commuter buses for Kstovo and other destinations nearby go from the Sennaya bus station a few blocks east of Sennaya Square; to go further east, take a bus from the Main Bus Station (Avtovokzal) near Lyadov Square.

One can also take a bus from the Main Bus Station to various points throughout the southern half of the oblast, e.g. Arzamas.

Buses to the west (toward Moscow), northwest (Chkalovsk), and north (Bor) run mostly from a bus station near Nizhny Novgorod's Moscow Station.

Boat
In the summer, hydrofoil boats (colloquially known as Raketa, after the first model of them) used to run from Nizhny Novgorod's River Terminal (Rechnoy Vokzal) down the Volga, to Rabotki, Makaryevo, and beyond. Unfortunately, by 2010, most of these services have been cancelled.

Ferryboats from downtown Nizhny Novgorod run to Bor across the river (very frequent service). There is also much less frequent service (half a dozen trips a day) between Lyskovo and Marakyevo, providing easy access to Makaryev Monastery. Both systems transport passengers and vehicles.

Aerial ropeway
A unique installation for central Russia, an aerial ropeway spans the Volga, connecting Nizhny Novgorod with Bor. The scenic service is very frequent, although somewhat pricey for such a short distance (90 RUR, as of 2016).

See
Outside of the cities, there are a number of important monasteries within Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, such as Makaryev Monastery (across the Volga from Lyskovo), or the Diveyevo Monastry not far from Sarov, in the southwest of the province.

Go next
Russia's Golden Ring is nearby and its prominent attractions at Vladimir and Suzdal can be daytripped from Nizhny Novgorod by bus.

The next major stops on the Trans-Siberian Railway are Vladimir to the west and Kirov to the east.

title: Nizhny Novgorod Oblast


text:
Nizhny Tagil

Nizhny Tagil (Russian: Ни́жний Таги́л NEEZH-nee tuh-GEEL) is the second largest and most heavily industrialized city in Sverdlovsk Oblast. One of the cornerstones of metal production in Russia, Tagil is also known for regular military exhibitions showcasing latest examples of arms and ammunition. While the city is in no way pretty, it has its own charm, vibrant atmosphere, and a bunch of interesting museums, as well as fine examples of Soviet architecture.

Understand
Nizhny Tagil stands at the confluence of the Vyya (Выя) and Tagil (Тагил) rivers on the eastern slopes of the Ural ridge. The city name, colloquially shortened to Tagil, is literally translated as Lower Tagil and reminds of another, Upper Tagil (Верхний Тагил) that appeared around the same time, although never developed into a huge urban area. The High Mountain (гора Высокая) in the very center of Tagil was continuously exploited and eventually razed to the ground in the course of ore mining. The hills west from the city evaded extensive excavation and remained excellent vantage points, with impressive panoramic views of wooded hills, large ponds, and an intimidating industrial landscape in the background. Population: 372,000 (2010).

The promising ore deposits were discovered in mid-17th century, but the mining and production were not launched until early 18th century, when Demidovs family settled in the Urals. Nizhny Tagil originates from two disparate factories, Vyyskiy copperworks (1723) and Nizhny-Tagil ironworks (1725) that shortly merged into an urban settlement Nizhnetagilsky zavod (Нижнетагильский завод) and acquired the city status in 1919. Similar to Yekaterinburg, the foundation of Nizhny Tagil was the second step in the development of the Urals. Other factories, such as Nevyansk and Alapaevsk, appeared 25 years earlier but rapidly diminished due to the lack of suitable ore deposits. The iron production in Tagil was way more robust, with the ore supplies lasting for nearly 300 years and still not fully exploited. The factories of Tagil were owned by Demidovs until the revolution of 1917. However, the first and most prominent members of the family preferred to stay in Nevyansk, thus depriving Tagil of its own Leaning Tower (see Nevyansk) and other exotic buildings. The 19th-century Demidovs were not as keen in technology as their ancestors, and spent most of the time in Italy. Their only contribution to the city is the strange foreign name San-Donato (Сан-Донато) in one of the northern districts (now also the train station).

By the end of 18th century, Nizhny Tagil developed into the leading center of ferrous metallurgy, and accumulated all existing types of metalworks: smelting of copper and pig iron as well as casting, forging, and rolling. The factories implemented the most recent innovations and created own technologies. The Cherepanovs family, keen engineers (although still serfs of the Demidovs), built the first Russian locomotive (1833) and contemplated the construction of a full-blown railway that was eventually commissioned in Saint Petersburg only few years later. In the second half of 19th century, the steelmaking was launched. The diverse metal production triggered the development of related crafts, such as tray painting. Altogether, the 19th-century Nizhny Tagil was arguably the leading city of the Urals.

The development of Tagil was seriously retarded at the turn of 20th century, when the old factories based on the serf's toil could not withstand rapid technological progress. The city got a new impetus only in 1930s, after the Soviet government commissioned the construction of new factories, the Nizhny Tagil Iron and Steel Plant (abbreviated as НТМК) and Uralvagonzavod (УВЗ, machine factory). These new factories were essential to support the Soviet army during WWII. They were also strongly reinforced by the plants evacuated from the west in 1941. Particularly, Uralvagonzavod, which was originally designed for manufacturing train cars (vagony), launched the production of tanks and remained one of the main tank manufacturers ever since. After 1945, the industrial area was extended by incorporating the third big factory, Uralkhimplast (production of plastic), and a plethora of smaller side plants manufacturing refractory materials, concrete, boilers and radiators, etc. The whole industrial area eventually exceeded the residential part of the city.

Present-day Nizhny Tagil is not just a city standing next to the big industry. It is a city merged with the industry, which is tangible in the history and architecture, and even in the air: once you don't see the smoke, you sense the smell, and once the smell vanishes, the smoke re-appears. Many people deem Tagil an intimidating city, and you may even notice Russians (outside the Urals) using "Nizhny Tagil" as a synonym for an awful and disgusting place. This is in fact the wrongest attitude to be conceived. Nizhny Tagil is a unique place where you can stand on the hillock, which was once an important supply of iron ore, see the old factory (museum) at your feet, and the full-blown modern industry in a short distance. It is an absolutely genuine city that did not get any clean and fragrant enterprises to replace the hard-core and somewhat stinky industry. The essential basis of the Russian economy for nearly 300 years, this city can not be exactly pleasant: it is a bit gloomy, very stern, and nevertheless beguiling.

title: Nizhny Tagil


text:
Nizwa

Nizwa is a historic city in Northern Oman.

Understand
Nizwa was the capital of Oman in the 6th and 7th century, and is known as one of the first cities in Oman to convert to Islam. For centuries it was a seat of conservative Islamic scholarship, and was considered to be so hostile to outsiders that even in the mid-20th century the explorer Wilfred Thesiger was forced to abandon his attempts to visit the city.

In the 1950s Nizwa revolted against the Sultan of Muscat; this was eventually suppressed with the aid of British forces. Since the 1970s it has quickly modernized, yet managed to retain its traditional character in its newer architecture. Today the city is known for date cultivation, the most highly prized varieties of which are khalas and khumaizi.

Nizwa is located at the base of the Hajar Mountains, and can be a good base for day trips into the mountains or nearby wadis. It is now after Muscat the second city most visited by foreigners.

Get in
Nizwa is about 1 hr 30 min southwest of Muscat on Highway 15. For travelers driving from Al Ain in the UAE, it is just over a 3 hr drive on Highway 21.

Buy
Nizwa is famous for its handcrafted silver khanjars (daggers), and noted for silver craftsmanship in general. You can find good pieces at the souq, but you'll have to bargain hard. The souq is also a good source for antiques, including Maria Theresa thalers, once used as Oman's official currency.

Vanilla, saffron, spices, dried lemons and nuts of all types are also good purchases, and can be found in the older section of the souq. This is also a good place to pick up some of Nizwa's prized dates.

Go next
Bahla with its magnificent fortress is just a half-hour drive to the west. Also close by is the old village of Al Hamra, and scenic Misfat which is the starting point for several good hiking trails. Jebel Shams with Wadi Ghul, and the mountain villages of the Saiq Plateau, can all be visited as day trips from Nizwa.

title: Nizwa


text:
Njivice

Njivice is a town in Croatia. It was once a small fishermen's village and is now a famous tourist centre today. They have a long tradition of private accommodation. The vegetation extends all the way to the sea and the entire coast is one large beach.

By car
Over the bridge from the Mainland (toll fee).

By bus
Arriva Croatia, a Rijeka-based bus company, runs fourteen buses daily from Rijeka to Njivice for 46 kn one way (82 kn return but if you buy return ticket to Malinska, the price is 76 kn, because of tariff borders). With the same buses Njivice is connected with other destinations on Krk Island as well as Mali Lošinj and Cres.

On foot
The beautiful seaside path from Njivice to Malinska called "Rajska cesta" is a great way to come to Malinska on foot. It is one of the most popular walking paths on Krk. The walk from Njivice to Malinska is about 6-7 km long and takes around one and half hours. Take enough water with yourself since you will pass nothing but forests, rocks and sea on the way.

Do
Swimming, sunbathing, drinking in the evening

Drink

 * Cafe bars: Columbo, Dundo

Sleep

 * Apartmani Kalinić, Gromačine 24, 51512 Njivice, Croatia + 385 51 847 147

title: Njivice


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Njombe

Njombe is a city in the Tanzanian Southern Highlands, on the road between Iringa and Songea.

Get in
Grazia bus line from Dar es Salaam (update Feb 2018).

Paved Trunk road T6 from Makambako to Songea passes through the town.

The nearest train station on the TAZARA Railway from Dar es Salaam to Lusaka is in the town of Makambako. The minibus ride from Makambako costs Tsh 2,500.

Sleep

 * Chani is Tsh 6,000 each to share a room and Tsh 6,500 if you want breakfast included. There is a good selection of movies and books.

Go next
A coaster from Njombe to Makambako is Tsh 2,500. A good bus line to Dar es Salaam is Grazia for Tsh 8,000.

title: Njombe