text:
Alderney

Alderney is part of the Balliwick of Guernsey, and at 3 miles long by 1½ miles wide it's the third largest of the Channel Islands, with a population in 2018 of 2019. The main settlement is St Anne, a pleasant village in the middle of the island that's simply referred to as "Town".

Understand
Alderney is said to be "the only true Channel Island" since it alone sits in the English Channel, with fierce currents ripping by its shores. It's well north of Guernsey, Jersey and the others which are actually in the Bay of St Malo. Like them, it's a self-governing Crown Dependency, not part of the United Kingdom (and semi-autonomous within the Bailiwick of Guernsey) but ceding defence and international affairs to the UK. In practice it was vice versa, as the Channel Islands defended the UK. The other islands did so by obstructing France, so those were heavily fortified during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Alderney by its position helped to project British naval power into the western Channel. In the mid-19th century, the British panicked that a resurgent France might again challenge them, so they began greatly extending the harbour - only the western half was built, with a very long breakwater. They also built a ring of 13 fortresses around the island that were impressive, expensive, and pretty much useless.

In World War II the Channel Islands were occupied by the Germans, who reinforced several fortresses on Alderney and added their own positions. They also established two forced-labour camps, and two concentration camps run by the SS. At least 700 died here. The islanders, who had mostly been evacuated, returned to a shattered landscape. Post-war Alderney was agricultural with tourism on a small scale. It has become a domicile for various cyber-ventures, including online gambling.

Get in
Aurigny fly between Guernsey and Alderney 2-3 times a day taking 15 min, return £60, and a day trip is possible either way. Some flights continue north to Southampton on the English mainland, 40 min, with trains to London Waterloo (90 min, frequent) and other British cities.

is the landing point for ferries. These normally ply twice a day between Guernsey St Peter Port and Alderney, taking an hour. In 2022 "The Little Ferry" went out of business, and there are only makeshift arrangements until another operator takes up the route.

Manche-Iles Express operate ferries April-Oct from Diélette in Normandy to Jersey, and once a week these continue to Alderney. A day-trip is not possible.

Listen carefully to the ferry operator's instructions for boarding and return, because these vary with the tides and weather. In Guernsey St Peter Port, it's usually the "Inter-Island Quay" down the pier on the right, but at low tide it may be next to the Weighbridge roundabout (the "Cambridge Steps" are no longer used). On Alderney it will be somewhere in Braye Harbour but with a very long harbour wall to search up and down.

Get around
Walk, it's such a small island, or hire a bike. There isn't a scheduled bus service, but in summer there are tours around the place by minibus or taxi.

By train: in just about the last place in the British Isles that you could imagine having trains. And it's not just a little old quarry track, but a standard gauge passenger train between Braye Harbour and Mannez on the northeast tip, with London Underground coaches hauled by an 0-4-0 diesel shunter. It runs weekends Apr-Sept, usually leaving Braye at 14:30 and 15:30. It doesn't go through town, but you might use it to reach the lighthouse.

A1 Taxis are on +44 1481 824182.

See

 * Town is a pleasant place to stroll, presided over by the imposing Parish Church of St Anne. This is Anglican, built in 1850, trashed during the occupation but restored after the war.
 * is the best preserved of the many forts and bastions dotted around the coast. Built in the 19th century, it's on a tidal island on the west coast, though the causeway is only covered by the highest tides. Admire the setting and exterior, but you can't go in, as it's now self-catering accommodation (sleeps 13) run by the island's Landmark Trust.
 * is the best preserved of the many forts and bastions dotted around the coast. Built in the 19th century, it's on a tidal island on the west coast, though the causeway is only covered by the highest tides. Admire the setting and exterior, but you can't go in, as it's now self-catering accommodation (sleeps 13) run by the island's Landmark Trust.
 * Other forts: 13 were built in Victorian times against the French, and others were added in wartime. Clockwise from Fort Clonque there are visible remains of:
 * Fort Tourgis is extensive, with the Victorian structure reinforced by the Germans as Stutzpunkt Türkenburg, and partly open to visits within.
 * Fort Platte Saline is nowadays used as a gravel store.
 * Fort Doyle, close to town, is a tiny fort rebuilt in wartime.
 * Fort Grosnez in the harbour is substantial, and the breakwater beyond is even more so. This is actually a much-shortened version, as repairing the repeated storm damage to the original was unsustainable.
 * Fort Albert is sturdy, as it was intended as a citadel in case invaders overran the island.
 * Bibet Head is a wartime bunker, a bit spooky and smelly, as party animals sometimes use it as a rave space.
 * Fort Chateau a L’Etoc is substantial yet out of the way on the north coast - it was intended to command an eastern harbour extension that was never built. It's nowadays private accommodation but sometimes open for events such as the arts festival.
 * Fort Corblets is nowadays self-catering accommodation.
 * Fort Les Hommeaux Florains is on an islet, the causeway having been swept away. It's utterly dilapidated, looking like a latrine block that's got itself cut off by the tide.
 * Fort Quesnard, near the lighthouse on the east tip of Alderney, is now private accommodation.
 * "The Odeon" inland is a naval artillery lookout from World War II. It's more correctly "Naval Direction Tower MP3" but you'll see how it got its nickname. The railway terminates here.
 * is on a little island off the east coast. Even the Germans couldn't think of a military use for this one, so the Victorian structure is unaltered but dilapidated.
 * is a tidal island approached by a long causeway. "Raz" means tide race, so you don't want to wade across at high water. It's been made over into accommodation and you can't go inside.
 * "The Nunnery" is the nickname of the oldest fort, going back to the Roman era of 300 AD.
 * Essex Castle on the south coast dates back to Henry VIII and was rebuilt as a barracks.
 * Cachalière Pier was a pre-war attempt to create a harbour on the south coast. It was a bad idea on such an unsheltered coast and the Germans demolished it in case Allied commandoes got any ideas about landing there.
 * is now centrepiece of a woodland wildlife reserve.
 * Nothing else along the south coast until you complete the circuit back to Fort Clonque.
 * near Fort Tourgis was built in 1796 and is under restoration. There are records of a mill here from 1236.
 * The lighthouse is prominent at Mannez near Fort Quesnard. Summer Sundays there are tours up the structure.
 * Nazi prison camps on Alderney held some 6000 men but almost their only remnants are the fortifications that those men were forced to build. There were two "volunteer" labour camps, Borkum and Helgoland, and two concentration camps run by the SS, Nordeney and Sylt. There are 397 known graves but at least 700 prisoners died on the island or on ships bringing them here, with two major wreckings. There's a small plaque on the site of Sylt next to the airport, Nordeney is now beneath the island campsite, while Helgoland a little way northwest of town and Borkum near Kiln Farm are lost under brambles. Hammond Memorial, north towards Saye Beach, commemorates the losses in Russian, Hebrew, Polish, French and Spanish.
 * Prehistoric remains are scrappy, as the megaliths were smashed or re-used as masonry. Roc à L'Epine near Fort Tourgis is a burial chamber from 4000 BC, and near Longis Beach is an Iron Age pottery, circa 500 BC.
 * a mile northwest of Alderney is a bird reserve, and landing is not permitted during the nesting season April-July. Outside those months, there's a very basic shack which can be used overnight by birdwatchers. There's no fresh water, and the sea is your en suite.
 * Dark skies at night, which midsummer is after 22:00. There's not much artificial lighting so if you get away from town and harbour on a clear night then conditions are good for sky-watching.

Do

 * What's on? Read The Journal or Aynews or the Alderney pages of the Guernsey press. Or listen to Quay FM on 107.1 MHz.
 * Spot wildlife: birds include puffins, oystercatchers, cormorants, black-backed gulls, herring gulls, shags, storm petrels, fulmars, razorbills and guillemots, plus other birds of passage. Seals and dolphins patrol the waters, while landward curiosities are the blonde hedgehog (a variant of the common or garden Erinaceus europaeus that is found only here and on North Ronaldsay in Orkney) and the chequered Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia), discovered in 1690 by Lady Glanville who was so keen on butterflies that her relatives contested her Will claiming that she must be a madwoman. You can't fail to see the thousands of rabbits - elsewhere they may be regarded as vermin, but here their burrows in the sandy terrain are co-opted by ground-nesting birds.
 * Beaches: sandy beaches are at Braye, Saye, Arch (because you reach it from Saye via a short tunnel), Corblets (the best for surfing), and Longis. Platte Saline is shingle and has strong currents, unsafe for bathing; Clonque is rocky.
 * Golf: Alderney GC is east on Longis Rd, white tees 4977 yards, par 64, visitor round £35.
 * Boat trips tour April-Oct around Alderney and Burhou, and may venture west to the lighthouse on Les Casquets rocks. Operators are Avante II and Lady Maris II.
 * Alderney Week is the first full week of August: various events, festivities, parades and silly races. This is the only time the island gets crowded, so you need to book accommodation, transport and evening restaurants in advance. The next is M 7 - Sa 12 Aug 2023.
 * Performing Arts Festival is held on 3 summer weekends. Dates for 2023 are tbc.

Buy

 * Alderney uses the Guernsey pound (£), which is fixed at par with the UK pound. Jersey and UK pounds are also accepted here.
 * Le Cocq's are the island stores, with one on Le Huret at the top end of St Anne, and the other down by the harbour. They're both open M-Sa 08:00-18:00, Su 09:00-17:00.

Eat

 * Down at the harbour is Braye Chippy (17:00-20:00, days vary) and Cantina (Tu-Sa 10:00-14:30 & 18:00-21:00).
 * In town are Jack's Brasserie (M-Sa 09:00-17:00), Mai Thai (M Tu 18:00-22:30, W-Su 12:00-14:00 & 18:00-22:00), Georgian House (below), Bumps (M-Sa 11:00-14:00 & 18:00-23:00, Su 11:00-14:00), Nellie Gray's (Indian, daily 18:00-23:00), Le Pesked (within Harbour Lights Hotel, daily 10:00-22:00), and Marais Hall (M-Th 14:00-00:00, F-Su 11:00-00:00).
 * Out of town is The Old Barn (Tu-Su 10:00-18:00), east near Longis Beach by the turn-off for Essex Castle.
 * Out of town is The Old Barn (Tu-Su 10:00-18:00), east near Longis Beach by the turn-off for Essex Castle.

Drink

 * At the harbour are The Moorings (Su-Th 09:00-22:30, F Sa 09:00-00:30) and Divers Inn (daily 10:00-01:00).
 * In town is the Campania (daily 12:00-01:00), Bacchus (M-Th 09:30-22:00, F Sa 09:30-00:00) and Coronation Inn (M-Th 16:00-00:30, F Sa 11:00-00:30, Su 12:00-14:30).

Sleep

 * Harbour Lights Hotel nearby on Newton Road is also run by Braye Beach Hotel, contact via them.
 * B&Bs include Simerock Guest House and St Anne's.
 * Self Catering Rentals include Alderney Stays.
 * B&Bs include Simerock Guest House and St Anne's.
 * Self Catering Rentals include Alderney Stays.
 * B&Bs include Simerock Guest House and St Anne's.
 * Self Catering Rentals include Alderney Stays.

Stay safe
Alderney is very safe but it's not Shangri-La. The main hazards are natural: rip tides just offshore, and slippy rocks. The islanders are honest decent folk but that can't be said of all the visitors, so don't leave valuables unattended or unlocked, and beware the occasional drunk.

You must have personal travel health insurance: like the rest of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Alderney has no reciprocal agreements with the UK National Health Service, EU "EHIC" system or any other nation. Any local medical treatment must therefore be paid in full.

Connect
The dialling code for Alderney and Guernsey is +44, same as for mainland Britain and Jersey, so to call between them you don't dial +44. It's as if the entire Bailiwick of Guernsey was a mainland city with dialling code 01481 and UK domestic call charges.

Almost all of Alderney has 4G from each of its three carriers: Airtel-Vodafone, JT and Sure. As of Sept 2022, there are a few dead spots at the west and east tips of the island, and 5G has not arrived here. For the latest detailed coverage see GCRA, as Nperf doesn't track coverage in the Channel Islands.

Visitors from UK or Europe need to check their mobile provider for roaming charges.

Go next

 * By ferry probably back to Guernsey, but there are also direct connections to Jersey and Normandy.
 * Get yourself caught in the notorious Alderney Race, and the next stop for your lilo and desiccated remains could be anywhere between Bournemouth, England and the Azores.

title: Alderney


text:
Aldershot

Aldershot is a garrison town in the English county of Hampshire. The Home of the British Army has plenty of military heritage to discover.

Get in
Aldershot is 40 miles south-west of London.

By car
The M3 London - Southampton motorway passes through Farnborough, Aldershot's northern neighbour. You should exit at junction 4, then follow the signs along the A331 Blackwater Valley Road past Farnborough to Aldershot. Alternatively, to the south of Aldershot is the A31 Hog's Back Road which links Guildford (for the A3) with Winchester.

By train
Aldershot's station is served by reasonably frequent South Western Railway trains from London Waterloo (55 min, 2 per hour), Clapham Junction (48 min, 2 per hour), and a number of regional destinations: Alton (20 min, 2 per hour), Ascot (30 min, 2 per hour), Camberley (16 min, 2 per hour), Farnham (5 min, 4 per hour), Guildford (17 min, 2 per hour), and Woking (18 min, 2 per hour). If coming from Reading on Great Western Railway, change at Ash for an Ascot-bound train; Aldershot is the next stop.

The electrified third rail of the line that runs through Aldershot is the first in the world to be directly powered by a bank of trackside solar panels, as part of a pioneering pilot scheme.

About 5 miles north of Aldershot, Farnborough Main Station has a wider range of longer-distance services, with trains from Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton (and airport), Portsmouth, Bournemouth, and Poole. Farnborough also has quicker and more frequent trains from London Waterloo (35 min, 4 per hour) and Clapham Jct (25 min, 3 per hour). Bus route 1 connects Farnborough Main to Aldershot in about 20 min, and there are also always plenty of taxis waiting.

By bus
Aldershot is served by numerous Stagecoach bus services from nearby towns, including Camberley (1, 3), Farnborough (1), Farnham (4, 5, 16, 17, 18, 19), Fleet (7), Guildford (Kite) and Haslemere (19). The most reliable timetables and maps for these services are published by Surrey County Council.

All of these routes set down passengers or terminate at, which is on Station Road, GU11 1HQ.

By plane
Aldershot is well served by airports. For travellers coming directly, the closest airports are:
 * London Heathrow Airport is  away. Drive to Aldershot via the M4, M25, M3, and A331. Public transport options from Heathrow to Aldershot are indirect and take much longer than driving. You can either take a Rail Air bus shuttle to Woking railway station, and catch the train, or take the London Underground Piccadilly line to Piccadilly Circus, then Bakerloo line to Waterloo, and catch the train from there.
 * Southampton Airport is  away. Drive to Aldershot via the M27, M3, A31, and A331. There are also frequent express trains between Southampton Airport Parkway and Farnborough Main stations.
 * London Gatwick Airport is  away. Drive to Aldershot via the M23, M25, A3, A31, and A331. From Gatwick Airport station, take a Reading-bound GWR train to Guildford, from where you can change for an SWR train to Aldershot.
 * London Luton Airport is  away. Drive to Aldershot via the M1, M25, M3, and A331. Trains connect Luton Airport Parkway to London St Pancras International every 35 minutes. From there, take the London Underground Victoria line to Oxford Circus, then Bakerloo line to Waterloo for a train to Aldershot.

Just to the north of Aldershot is, which is a major base for private and business aviation.

Get around
Aldershot is a small town and it is very easy and quick to get around on foot or by car. The town centre has lots of signs, maps and information boards for pedestrians. Mostly you won't need a vehicle, though getting across the garrison to the military museums from the town centre is a bit of a slog. Parking is widely available, though you will be hard-pressed to find anything free.

By bus
Buses departing from the bus station serve various neighbourhoods of Aldershot before continuing the journeys elsewhere:

 * 1 - town centre, Aldershot Centre for Health, garrison, and on to Farnborough and Camberley
 * 3 - town centre, Manor Park, Ash Road, and on to Ash and Frimley
 * 4 - town centre, Municipal Gardens, Rowhill, Heath End, Hale, and on to Farnham
 * 5 - town centre, Queens Road, Alexandra Road, Rowhill, then as route 4
 * 7 - town centre, Aldershot Centre for Health, garrison, and on to Church Crookham and Fleet
 * 14 - town centre, North Town
 * 15 - town centre, Church Lane, Heron Wood Aldershot Park, Tice's Meadow, then back to the town centre
 * 16 - town centre, Manor Park, Ash Road, Lower Farnham Road, Badshot Lea, and on to Farnham
 * 17/18/19 - town centre, Municipal Gardens, Grosvenor Road, Eggar's Hill, Weybourne, and on to Farnham
 * KITE - town centre, Manor Park, Ash Road, Tongham and on to Guildford

By taxi
Aldershot has both hackney carriages (black cabs), which can be pre-booked or hailed on the street, and minicabs, which must be pre-booked. Hackney carriage fares are regulated by the borough, and use a meter: weekday daytimes cost £3 base fare, plus £0.20 for every 150 yards travelled. Evenings and weekends cost £3.60 base fare, plus £0.20 for every 150 yards travelled; after 11PM, this goes up to £4.50 base fare, plus £0.30 for every 150 yards travelled. These fares are correct as of March 2020. Minicabs' fares are unregulated, so prices can be negotiated.

See

Do

 * Watch football at Aldershot Town FC, who play soccer in the National League, the game's fifth tier in England. They play at the Recreation Ground (sponsored as EBB Stadium), capacity 7100, 200 yards east of the railway station.

Go next

 * Brookwood Cemetery, on the road to Woking, is the largest in the country. Of particular interest to visitors to Aldershot will be Brookwood Military Cemetery, home to a huge number of British, Commonwealth and Allied war graves from the World Wars and the modern era.

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

title: Aldershot


text:
Al Diwaniyah

Al Diwaniyah is a city in Southern Iraq.

Get in
Al Diwaniyah is located on the rail corridor between Baghdad and Basra. Iraqi Republic Railways runs two overnight trains which both calls here. is located east of city centre.

See
For birdwatchers, Al-Diwaniyah is a city with a rich bird list, as the city has a wide range of biodiversity as Al-Qadisiyah consists of vast agricultural areas, wetlands, arid zones, and semi-desert areas.

title: Al Diwaniyah


text:
Alegria

There is more than one place called Alegria or Alegría:

Brazil

 * Alegria (Brazil) — A town in Brazil

El Salvador

 * Alegría (El Salvador) — A town in El Salvador

Philippines

 * Alegria (Cebu) — A town in the Philippines
 * Alegria (Surigao del Norte) — A town in the Philippines

Spain

 * Alegría de Álava — A town in Spain

title: Alegria


text:
Alegría (El Salvador)

Alegría is a small city in the mountains of Eastern El Salvador.

From Usulután
Buses go from the smaller Eastern terminal in Usulután (which is next to Maxi Despensa) to Santiago de María. From there, there are regular buses to Alegría.

Get around
Alegria is small enough to cover on foot. Most places in town are either on or adjacent to the Parque Central or a few blocks down.

Go next

 * Berlin
 * San Miguel
 * Western El Salvador

title: Alegría (El Salvador)


text:
Alençon

Alençon is a city in Basse Normandie on the River Sarthe. Alençon is a restored gem. A visit is like travelling through time. Among its centuries-old highlights are the circular wheat market, home to exhibitions beneath its magnificent glass dome; the Halle aux Toiles, now a meeting venue; and the restored Jesuit church. Cobbled streets lead you from the town centre to the medieval quarter nearby, passing half timbered houses, Notre Dame Church, the Dukes' castle and the Town Hall.

Understand
Some may have heard of Point d'Alençon a rare needle point lace making technique that originated in Alençon. UNESCO have included the craftsmanship of Alençon needle lace-makingin the "Representative List of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity". Genuine Alençon lace is expensive and a lot of the lower cost offerings are machine made imitations often from China. True Alençon lace is hand made and takes many hours of work to make even a square centimetre.

Get in
Alençon is 170 km to the W of Paris, 110 km S of Caen and 50 km N of Le Mans, close to the border between Basse Normandie and Pays de la Loire.

By car
Alençon is on the N-S A28 motorway Rouen to Tours. To the N with the A88 & N158 this provides good road links N to Caen and the ferry port at Ouistreham. The Route Nationale N12 to the W connects the town to Paris and to the W to Mayenne then on to Fougères.

By rail
Alençon has both intercity and local rail services.

Get around
The centre of the town is small enough to walk around. The town has a local bus service operated by Alto Bus. Free car parking is available in pl Foch (next to Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall)) and pay and display parking around the town.

Go next

 * Caen - The historical capital of the region
 * Le Mans - A nearby town best known for its annual 24 hour automobile race.

title: Alençon


text:
Alentejo

The Alentejo is a beautiful, mostly agricultural, region remarkable for its wide horizons, filled with soft hills that change color along the year, from deep brown to green with white, red and purple, to golden. Sunsets and the light play are stunning. As the warmest region in Portugal, its inhabitants are known for their slow-paced, easy-going lifestyle and song-like accent, that are in great harmony with the Alentejo's calm-inducing topography. So, if you are there, do like the Alentejanos, and do it slowly. No stress, please.

The main city is Évora, in Alto Alentejo, with historic monuments, churches and museums. It was one of the development centers of early European megalithism (standing stones).

Cities

 * —, regional capital, district capital, university city with several museums and Roman temple ruins at the top of a commanding hill
 * — a very old town on top of a hill, by the Sado river. The municipality includes the seaside village of Comporta, gateway to wildlife reserves and white sandy beaches.
 * — historic city, district capital
 * — a beautiful fortified castle town on an adorable mount
 * —, a very historic city near Guadiana river, across from Badajoz
 * — one of the "three marble towns" of Alentejo, with a marble castle
 * — another beautiful castle town, perched on a craig
 * — the largest municipality in Portugal by area. It includes the fishing village of Zambujeira do Mar with fine sandy beaches and traditional architecture; it is part of the Nature Park of the Southwest Alentejo.
 * — it has Roman ruins, a Moorish castle, and a 13th-century church

Understand

The Alentejo (uh-lehn-TAY-zhoo, /ɐ.ɫẽ.ˈtɐj.ʒu/, meaning "beyond the Tagus River") is mostly rural, with some urban areas. It's generally hotter than other parts of Portugal.

Get around
Most places may be reached by bus from Evora but for some of the mountain areas including Marvão and Castelo de Vide you will need to get first to Portalegre. For more information, check Rodoviária do Alentejo and Transportes Intermunicipal do Baixo Alentejo.

See

 * Elvas fortress system
 * Alqueva Dam on the Guadiana near Portel.
 * Marble structures in the three "marble towns" of Estremoz, Borba and Vila Viçosa.
 * Megalithic monuments  — More than 1000 are found in Alentejo, of which the most important can be visited.
 * Neolithic ruins — Cave paintings and Stonehenge-era structures are scattered across the countryside near Évora.

Do

 * The west coast is one of the most beautiful beach zones, that has (so far) survived without the extensive tourism industry that affected the Algarve. Be sure to visit Vila Nova de Mil-Fontes or one of the little towns around.
 * In the summer (august), if you are a rock fan, try to catch the Sudoeste Rock Festival, near Zambujeira.
 * Don't miss the beautiful village of Marvão, with its wonderful castle and fantastic museum.
 * Évora is a world Heritage place. Don't miss it!

Drink
Wines from the Alentejo region are very popular among the Portuguese people, so take the chance to know them!

The local drink, the production of which used to be illegal, is a form of liqueur called medronho, made from the small, round, red fruit of the same name. It is very strong and should be sipped, rather than gulped.

Among all the Alentejo region you will find a lot of wonderful places to stay.

Stay safe
Avoid extreme heat in Summer.

Go next

 * Algarve — popular beach and resort region to the south
 * Beiras — Portugal's central region to the north
 * Castelo Branco — cathedral city with a Templar castle
 * Estremadura – one of the 6 provinces of Portugal, located along the Atlantic coast.
 * Faro — capital of the Algarve
 * Lisboa — Portugal's capital city
 * Tagus Valley — region to the northwest
 * Tomar — city famous for its connections with the Knights Templar

title: Alentejo


text:
Aleppo

Aleppo (حلب, Ḥalab) is the largest city in Syria - population 2.1 million. One of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, it has a wealth of historical sites, and its old city is listed as a.

Understand
As it is in any Muslim country, the call to prayer is called out from mosques five times a day starting in the early morning. Aleppo's muezzins are traditionally well known for their beautiful calls to prayer.

Aleppo is a fairly conservative city. Dress appropriately to avoid any problems and to avoid standing out too much. Men should wear shirts and trousers and women should not wear anything that is too revealing. If you follow that simple dress code you should not have any problems. Head scarves are not necessary unless you want to enter a mosque but even then grey robes are available at no extra charge.

Prior to the Syrian Civil War, Aleppo was known for its large Armenian community, many of whom were descended from refugees fleeing the Armenian Genocide, but it is unknown how many remain after the war.

Aleppo was the epicenter of the fighting during much of the Syrian Civil War which erupted as a result of the Arab Spring in 2010. Syrian government forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad eventually prevailed over the rebel groups following Russian intervention in 2016, thus returning all of the city of government control, but not before it had suffered over 30,000 deaths and much of the old city had been destroyed.

There are no hostile feelings towards Americans or Westerners in general (although Americans tend to be subjected to more scrutiny by the authorities than other nationalities). You could, however, find yourself in trouble if you engage in open criticism of and against the Syrian government or the president. Your best bet is to avoid political conversations all together just to avoid any possible problems. If you do engage in political discussions with Syrians, be aware that they might face intense questioning by the secret police if you are overheard. As a general rule, always assume that you are being watched by the plain-clothes policemen (mukhabarat). You will notice that not many uniformed policemen can be seen in the streets, but this is because the police have a wide network of plain-clothes officers and informants.

Friday is a holy day and most shops and historic sites are closed so plan accordingly for this.

Stealing is looked down upon and thus is not very common. Crime is generally low and you should feel safe to walk around in any part of the city at any time day or night. But as in any city, it's a good idea to keep an eye on your belongings, particularly in the souk.

Meals are a bit later than in the U.S. but similar to the times in some European countries. Lunch is from 13:00 to 15:00 and dinner around 20:00. Syrians take a siesta in the middle of the day, from about 15:00 to 18:00, but this means that the night life is very active. You can return to the markets and public squares that you visited during the day and by 22:00 they will be bustling with people selling food and treats and drinks. It is a like a street fair every night.

Aleppo is a beautiful and historic city, but is too dangerous to recommend visiting.

Climate
Aleppo has a cool steppe climate. The mountain series that run along the Mediterranean coast, the Alawiyin Mountains and the Nur Mountains, largely block the effects of the Mediterranean on climate (rain shadow effect). More than 80% of precipitation occurs between October and March. It snows once or twice every winter. Average humidity is 55.7%.

Get in
As of 2019, travel to Aleppo is difficult as major highways are blocked by the civil war and travel on roads that are can take a long time due to frequent military checkpoints. It is however possible to travel overland from Damascus independently or by bus. Travel from Turkey is not possible.

By plane
As of 2023 there's a limited number of scheduled flight to Aleppo, including a few international flights per week, to Yerevan and Erbil. However, flights often have to be cancelled at short notice as the airport is a frequent target of Israeli missile strikes.

By train
All long distance trains, including international trains, are cancelled indefinitely. Repairs on the route from Damascus via Homs and Hama have picked up pace, and there has been rumours that a limited number of passenger trains might return, however it is very unclear if or when this will happen. National operator CFS do run a local commuter train from the suburb and major refugee camp Jibreen, of little use to visitors.

Get around
Taxis are everywhere, probably more taxis than people. They are easy to take and very affordable but just make sure it is a licensed taxi.

Minibuses: Called "serveece", these are small white vans that drive around and you can hop on and off by signalling to the driver. They get very full in rush hours.

Rental cars: Hertz and other rental car agencies are available in Aleppo but the driving can be very hectic and if you are not accustomed to driving in a place with few rules and almost no regard for street signs you should probably not attempt to drive on your own.

Do
Walk around the city at least a few times to really get a feel for what it is like. It is a vibrant and lively place that will continually surprise you. Any amount of time spent walking around the city will reveal another historical site or point of interest. Check out the Christian section of the city to see a different part of Aleppo. If you want to shop for clothes, al-Telal street is bustling nearly every night with crowds checking out the shops and street stands piled high with every type of clothing imaginable.

Buy

Gold: Although the prices are as high as they have ever been, gold is still a worthwhile purchase here. There is a special gold pattern called the Aleppo weave or chain that is made only in Aleppo. All gold is sold by weight and is 22 carat.

Boxes: Aleppo is also famous for its intricate inlay work that can be found in boxes of all shapes and sizes. These boxes are beautiful and can be found at almost all of the shops in the souq. A great, affordable gift to take home.

Wraps/tablecloths: There are many nice wraps that can be worn as shawls or used as tablecloths that are also available everywhere in the souqs. Another good gift.

Sweets: Pistachios are everywhere in Aleppo and accordingly there are many different kinds of sweets made from the pistachio. These usually come in a decorative box and are yet another good gift.

Coffee and spices: It is impossible to walk through the souq without being caught up in the scent of freshly ground coffee and spices like cumin. You can also buy very ornate pots to make your coffee in.

Soap: One of the most famous Aleppine products is its olive oil soap. Many factories produce this using traditional techniques. The price varies depending on the proportion of olive and laurel oil, prices and assortment is better in the shops just in the 2 roads south of the Clock Tower rather than in the Souq's tourist traps, even if most shop keepers speak very little English (prices per kilo are clearly shown).

Eat
The area around Aleppo is famous for pistachio farming, so be sure to try the baklava and other pistachio-based sweets while you're here.

Common Syrian street food like falafels and shwarma are excellent and available throughout the city. In the souks you will also find tiny restaurants with a few stools serving up dishes like Fuul (pronounced “fool”), a bean soup served with fresh bread, onions and mint. If you are adventurous, look for the men frying curry-flavoured pancakes near the entrance to the souk. The pancakes are wrapped in bread and topped with hot sauce. Also try and buy some of the freshly made pita bread that is sold everywhere as it is delicious.

For breakfast, a fresh glass of juice and cheese sandwich can be had from the juice stands near the clock tower. Many cafés also serve great ice cream for a treat.

If you are tired after a day of wandering around the souk, try one of the cafés near the base of the citadel. They offer light snacks and drinks, including a wide range of coffees and refreshing glasses of minted lemonade.

Travellers on a strict budget should be prepared to eat very similar meals everyday as there is not a lot of variety in the diet at the cheaper end of the range.

There are plenty of good restaurants around and meals are very affordable.

In the Christian Quarter (El Jedeide) district

 * Sheraton Hotel. It may seem wrong to come to Syria and head for the Sheraton but they do offer an excellent buffet breakfast, which, if you're willing to splurge, makes a nice change from the typical Syrian fare and will set you up well for a day of exploring. They also do a fine cup of coffee.
 * Sheraton Hotel. It may seem wrong to come to Syria and head for the Sheraton but they do offer an excellent buffet breakfast, which, if you're willing to splurge, makes a nice change from the typical Syrian fare and will set you up well for a day of exploring. They also do a fine cup of coffee.
 * Sheraton Hotel. It may seem wrong to come to Syria and head for the Sheraton but they do offer an excellent buffet breakfast, which, if you're willing to splurge, makes a nice change from the typical Syrian fare and will set you up well for a day of exploring. They also do a fine cup of coffee.
 * Sheraton Hotel. It may seem wrong to come to Syria and head for the Sheraton but they do offer an excellent buffet breakfast, which, if you're willing to splurge, makes a nice change from the typical Syrian fare and will set you up well for a day of exploring. They also do a fine cup of coffee.

In Aziziyeh

 * Al- Challal
 * WANES Restaurant

Drink
Alcohol is permitted but not widely available. You can find stores selling liquor on a few streets near the clocktower. Try Zaki al-Arsuzi (across from Al Kommeh restaurant) and Jbrail Dalal streets. There is a liquor store a few metres away from the Aleppo Hotel (on a side street from the clocktower). In the new city there is a store at Al Hateb square. Restaurants and hotels that cater to Westerners will generally serve alcoholic beverages.

There is one local beer, called Al-Sharq, while the Damascus brew Barada may also be found. Neither are exactly lethal - 3.7% and 3.4% respectively.

A wide range of other beers from the Middle East and Europe can also be found, along with wines from Syria, Lebanon and France.

Arak is a local aniseed spirit which can be found at some small shops.

Budget

 * Al-Gawaher – Bab al-Faraj Street, Behind Library. Perhaps the best backpacker spot in Aleppo. Rooms have satellite TV and both en suite and shared bathrooms are very clean. Many have balconies and others overlook a common area, where travellers often meet to chat. The rooftop gives great views over the city and is another nice spot to spend the evening. Staff are friendly and English is spoken. Tours can be arranged to the Dead Cities, Apamea and other sites. The only possible downside is that staff are late risers and so getting breakfast can be a problem. Breakfast is not included. There is, however, free coffee and tea available 24/7.
 * Hotel Alnagm Alakhdar (aka Hotel Green Star) – Around the corner from the Al-Gawaher on Sharia Hammam Al Tal (next to the Sheraton parking entrance off the Clock Tower end of Bab El Faraj - it could not be more central - 963-21-212 60 23, mob. 963 -944-25 76 45), it also has a nice roof terrace but the atmosphere is not nearly as lively. The rooms come with sinks and fans or aircom. There are no TVs in the rooms but two shared ones: one in the lounge and the second one on the top floor. Try and get one on the top floor that opens onto the roof terrace. Staff speak a little English but are very helpful. Breakfast is not included.
 * Hotel Kaser Alandaloss - Just off Bab Al-Faraj Street, in sight of the clock tower on a small block, nestled between a couple of soap merchant stores. The rooms are nice, and they have excellent showers and a comfortable central area to sit, eat, use the internet. There's no option for breakfast, but if you want some tea or some food, they are more than likely to make some for you.

Splurge

Hotels that are closed as of early 2020:

Connect
An internet access in the old town and near the main attractions (the Citadel, the Souq and the Grand Mosque) can be found at Tara Cafe. It is located in the underground lair of the caravansary of the Adlliyah Mosque and provides standard rates for internet access. It is not an internet cafe, but rather a cafe that provides internet access as a service on laptops that can be rented by the hour.

The Friends Cafe Net is also located in the area of the Citadel. From the entrance to the Citadel, walk straight (south) to a block with shawarma & chicken outlets on the ground floor. The cafe is just behind the block in a small street called "Jnenyt al-Fariq(1)". From the outlets, follow the street to your right, turn left then immediately right.

The closest internet cafe to most of the budget hotels, in the Bab al-Faraj area, is the Concord, which is in an ice cream parlor and cafe by the same name. It charges an outrageous rate for Aleppo and Syria and general.

The other internet cafe within walking distance is at Adam Cafe, across the street from the Baron Hotel. Nevertheless, the internet cafe is in the bottom story of an all-male tea house which may make female customers feel uncomfortable. If you wander around the new Christian quarter of al-Aziziyeh you can find many internet cafes such as Area 51, Montana and Kool Net which offer high speed access. All of the aforementioned cafes provide discount cards for chunks of time.

Stay safe
Many buildings in the city, particularly in the Salaheddin neighborhood and surrounding areas, have been damaged severely by the civil war. Buildings can and do collapse, often with deadly consequences. Stay away from buildings that have sustained heavy damage or look structurally unstable.

Consulates

 * 🇷🇴 Romania

Go next

 * Damascus

title: Aleppo


text:
Alessandria

Alessandria is the largest city (population of 94,000 in 2017) and the capital of the province of Alessandria in Piedmont.

Get in
Alessandria is a major hub for train travel. There are frequent trains from/to Genoa, Milano and Turin operated by TrenItalia.

See

 * Acqui Terme. A beautiful Roman town in the province famous for its hot sulphur springs and ancient baths.
 * Acqui Terme. A beautiful Roman town in the province famous for its hot sulphur springs and ancient baths.
 * Acqui Terme. A beautiful Roman town in the province famous for its hot sulphur springs and ancient baths.
 * Acqui Terme. A beautiful Roman town in the province famous for its hot sulphur springs and ancient baths.
 * Acqui Terme. A beautiful Roman town in the province famous for its hot sulphur springs and ancient baths.

Buy
Corso Roma. This is the main shopping street, with all the boutiques and high street chain stores, from Zara, to Tezenis, Carpisa, Swatch, etc. The Borsalino store still sells the famous hats. Borsalino originally comes from Alessandria and has left a deep legacy. This street is packed especially on Saturdays between 18:00 and 20:00.

Eat
Rabatons à la lisandreina (a kind of gnocchis with spinachs and cheese); Pollo alla marengo; Amaretti (small cookies with almonds); Baci di dama (small cookies with chocolate and chestnuts);

title: Alessandria


text:
Aletai

Aletai (阿勒泰; Ālètài; also known as Altay) is a city in Xinjiang Province of China. Go 100 km or so in any direction except south and you hit a border: Mongolia to the east, Russia to the north, Kazakhstan to the west.

By plane
The Aletai City airport (AAT) is 17 km from the town center and can be reached by taxi. The only destinations you can fly to are Urumqi, Xi'an, and Lanzhou. The airport only operates 5 months in each year and closes during winter.

By train
Overnight trains arrive from Urumqi via Kuytun and Beitun. Allow 9 to 10 hours. Pickup a bus from the Aletai station to town ¥5.

By bus
The bus station is at Tuanjie Road.
 * Burqin — takes about 1.5–2 hours, a bus every hour, costs ¥21
 * Urumqi — takes about 12 hours, sleeper ¥160-170
 * Yining — takes about 2 days

By bus
Aletai buses cost ¥1 per person between any two stops within the town. Just put ¥1 in the container.

 * 101 — from the bus station will to the city center, People's Square (人民广场) and near the PSB
 * 1 — from the bus station to city center

Regional buses from Aletai
The following services were available from the bus station on Tuanjie Road (200m north of Yinshui Rd corner) as 5-Oct-2019. ''May change seasonally. Alternative spellings possible''

Do
Difficult to find anything to do here, it takes 1 hour to walk through the town, though doing some shopping is not a bad idea.

Buy
All kinds of crystals.

Eat
Lamb shishkebab, in local dialect is called Kebab, and in Chinese is called Yangrouchuer. Beshbarmak, the traditional dish of the Kazakhs is a mixture of boiled lamb, potatoes, carrots and noodles usually eaten with the hands.

Drink

 * Original Kazakh yoghurt, in Kazakh is called airan. In Chinese it is Suannai.

Go next

 * Hanas National Nature Reserve — approximately four hours away by bus

title: Aletai


text:
Aleutian Islands

The Aleutian Islands are a chain of island to the west of Southwestern Alaska.

Cities

 * - the westernmost municipality in the United States and the southernmost city in Alaska, home to an unusually large and sophisticated airport, a former naval base
 * - the chief center of population, and the largest fisheries port in the U.S. by volume caught, on Unalaska/Dutch Harbor island
 * - the chief center of population, and the largest fisheries port in the U.S. by volume caught, on Unalaska/Dutch Harbor island

Understand
The Aleutian Islands are made up of more than 200 islands which are divided into 6 major groups. The archipelago is long, dividing the Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea. Some of them are west of the 180th meridian, and thus in the eastern hemisphere.

Get in

 * Adak Airport - flights from Anchorage and Cold Bay.
 * Unalaska Airport

See

 * The impressive Museum of the Aleutians, within easy walking distance of the Grand Aleutian Hotel, traces the Aleutian culture from prehistory and the Russian America period to WWII and the present. The museum is best known for its collection of Aleut grass baskets, but for many visitors the most interesting exhibit is devoted to the mummy caves of the Aleutian Islands.
 * Unalaska is dominated by the Church of the Holy Ascension, the oldest Russian-built church still standing in the country. It was built in 1825 and then enlarged in 1894, when its floor plan was changed from to a pekov (the shape of a crucifix). On Broadway overlooking the bay, the church and its onion domes are a photographer's delight. The church contains almost 700 pieces of art, ranging from Russian Orthodox icons and books to the largest collection of 19th-century paintings in Alaska. The best time to view the church and its icons is at 18:00 on Saturday when staff members give an informal 30-minute tour just before service. Outside the church is a small graveyard, where the largest grave marker belongs to Baron Nicholas Zass. Born in 1825 in Archangel, Russia, he eventually became bishop of the Aleutian Islands and all of Alaska, before his death in 1882. Next door to the graveyard is the Bishop's House.

title: Aleutian Islands


text:
Alexander

Alexander is a town in the Badlands area of North Dakota.

Understand
It had a population of about 400 people in 2019 and is near the western end of Lake Sakakawea. Its elevation is 2,180 feet.

By car
US Highway 85, about 22 miles west and north of Watford City.

By air
Sloulin Field in Williston is about 20 miles to the north.

Get around
Getting around the town itself by foot should be simple, but traveling outside of the city requires a car.

See
There's plenty of nice scenery in the area, particularly to the south. Most of the countryside is grassland.

Go next

 * Theodore Roosevelt National Park
 * Williston

title: Alexander


text:
Alexander Bay

Alexander Bay is a town of 1,700 people (2011) in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, close to the border with Namibia and the Orange River mouth. It is near the southern end of the Namib desert, and is officially also the driest town in South Africa with an average annual rainfall of less than 51 millimetres (2 in).

Understand
After the discovery of diamonds in the area in the 1920s, Alexander Bay developed into a major diamond mining town. A security zone was established, requiring permits to visit. However, times have changed. Although diamond mining remains an important industry, the major mining company, decision makers and locals have joined forces to promote ecotourism in Alexander Bay.

Visitors are indeed attracted to the cultural and natural sights that Alexander Bay has to offer.

Get in
Alexander Bay is 85 km north of Port Nolloth on R382.

Alexander Bay Airport is a private aviation airport.

See

 * The Wetlands at the Mouth of the Orange River. These wetlands are an important resting place for many migratory birds, recognized under de Ramsar Convention.
 * On Thursdays, watch and even feed seals at the large seal colony that lives here. Reserve at least 24 hours in advance to join the tour.
 * The Living Museum has a collection on the cultural heritage of the region.

Buy
There is a Sentra Weskus supermarket in the centre of town off Oranjweg, and a couple of ATMs nearby.

Go next

 * Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park is 95 km to the northeast, straddling the border with Namibia

title: Alexander Bay


text:
Alexandra (New Zealand)

Alexandra is a town in the Central Otago district of the Otago region of New Zealand. It is on the banks of the Clutha River (at the confluence of the Manuherikia River), on State Highway 8, 188 km by road from Dunedin and 33 km south of Cromwell. It has a population of 5,000.

By bus
Alexandra is served by Intercity coaches as a stop on Dunedin - Queenstown routes.

Go next

 * Cromwell

title: Alexandra (New Zealand)


text:
Alexandria

Alexandria (pronounced al-ig-ZAN-dree-uh ; Arabic: الإسكندرية / اسكندرية al-Iskandariyya / Eskendereyya ) is Egypt's second largest city (5.2 million people in 2018), its largest seaport, and the country's window onto the Mediterranean Sea. The city is a faded shadow of its former glorious cosmopolitan self, but still worth a visit for its many cultural attractions and still-palpable glimpses of its past.

History

Few cities of the world have a history as rich as that of Alexandria; few cities have witnessed so many historic events and legends. Founded by Alexander the Great (Iskander al-Akbar) in 331 BCE, Alexandria became the capital of Greco-Roman Egypt; its status as a beacon of culture is symbolized by Pharos, the legendary lighthouse.

There had long been a fishing village here, called Rhakotis, but Alexander had greater plans for it. Its strategic value was obvious: it had a great natural harbour, a backing lagoon to prevent land attack, a fertile hinterland, and potential control of trade routes up the Nile and overland to the Red Sea and Arabia. But the approach to the harbour was tricky: the coastline and off-shore islands were low and without landmarks, so sailors could easily take the wrong channel and get wrecked on the shoals. To guide them in, Alexander's successors Ptolemy I & II built a lighthouse on the nearby island of Pharos. It stood just over 100 m tall, so only the Great Pyramids were taller. A bronze mirror atop it reflected sunlight by day, and by night the flames of oil-soaked sheep fleeces. It was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the name of the island "Pharos" came to apply to all subsequent lighthouses, and spawned modern words such as "phares" in French.

A jetty over 1 km long was built to connect Pharos to the mainland, dividing the bay into an eastern and western harbour. Silt and landfill built up along the jetty so it broadened into a peninsula, the present-day district of Anfushi. The lighthouse was badly damaged by earthquakes in 956, 1303 and 1323, then fell into disuse and disrepair. In 1480 Sultan Qaitbey used the ruined stone to build his fortress here. The rest of it was eaten by coastal erosion, and came to lie on the sea-bed. But a combination of ancient descriptions, modern marine archaeology and satellite imaging give us a detailed picture of it.

Alexandria under Ptolemy I & II prospered not just through trading, but as a knowledge economy. They set out to acquire and understand every manuscript they could. Arriving ships were searched, and any manuscripts seized and copied onto papyrus. In the great Library of Alexandria texts were translated, catalogued and studied. Scholars, philosophers and scientists flocked to work on these texts, and to create new material. Just one example of their creative output was the Septuagint, the first Greek translation of Hebrew holy texts that became the Christian Bible Old Testament.

Trade and knowledge made Alexandria cosmopolitan, with the largest Jewish populations and Hellenistic cultures anywhere. It retained its importance, and was capital of Egypt, while power was shifting elsewhere: the rise and decline of Rome, the rise of Byzantium, and growth of Persia. But the city suffered natural disasters (eg the tsunami of 365 CE) and a series of wars (particularly against Rome), and the library was destroyed. When the Arabs conquered Egypt in 641 CE they founded a new capital to the south in Fustat, now Cairo. Politically, economically and intellectually, Alexandria was no longer the place to be.

Alexandria survived as a trading port; Marco Polo described it around 1300 as one of the world's two busiest ports, along with Quanzhou. However, its strategic location meant that every army on its way to Egypt passed through: Napoleon's troops stormed the city in 1798, but the British conquered it in the Siege of Alexandria in 1801. The Egyptians under Mohammed Ali took control of the city and rebuilt it, but the Orabi Rebellion in 1881 and massacres of Europeans in the city led the British to strike back and hammer the rebels with the three-day Bombardment of Alexandria, reducing much of the city center to rubble.

Once again, Alexandria rose from the ashes. Its cosmopolitan and decadent lifestyle before and during World War II gave birth to its greatest poet, Constantine P. Cavafy, and was chronicled in Laurence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet and a series of works by E.M. Forster including Alexandria: A History and Guide (1922), described by some as the best travel guide ever written.

Yet this world, too, took a shattering blow in the 1950s when Egypt's new fiercely nationalist leader Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized vast swathes of the economy and forbade foreigners from owning or running companies. This forced tens of thousands of foreigners out of the country, including virtually all of Alexandria's once 150,000-strong Greek community. Alexandria thus ceased to be a cosmopolitan city.

Today's Alexandria is a dusty seaside Egyptian town with miles of tatty low-rise and 'burbs holding its population of 5 million, yet its status as Egypt's leading port keeps business humming, and tourists still flock to the beaches in the summertime. And while much of the city is badly in need of major repair, its history is still evident: the French-style parks and the occasional French street sign survive as a legacy of Napoleon, and the few remaining Greek restaurants and cafés still do a good trade.

Climate

 * See also: Egypt

Alexandria has a hot desert climate (BWh), but highly influenced by sea breeze, with sunny hot humid summers and mild moderately wet winters. The daytime can be humid in summer, with summer temperatures averaging 31 °C (88 °F), but evenings are usually cooler and breezy, especially by the Corniche. Winters can get cold, with daytime highs down sometimes to 12 °C (53 °F), with occasional rain and sometimes hail. Humidity is high throughout the year. The best time to visit Alexandria is in spring (March–June) and autumn (September–November). It's at its busiest in summer, when Egyptians flock down to escape the searing heat of Cairo.

Orientation
Alexandria is a long thin city, pinched between the swampy delta and the sea. Its east-west artery, the Corniche, rolls on for about 30 km. However the advantage to the visitor is that all transport is funnelled along this corridor, so you shouldn't wait more than a minute for a taxi, buses or microbus going your way. The tram line runs parallel a block or two further inland.

At the western tip lies the Citadel of Qaitbey, built near (and from) the ruined ancient lighthouse or Pharos. The Corniche then sweeps around the eastern harbour, with Anfushi the tongue of land behind it, to the central hotel area around Saad Zaghloul; then passes the east end of the harbour at the jetty opposite the new library. Almost all the sights, and the bulk of the accommodation and restaurants, are along this congested 5-6 km strip or nearby. But on and on eastwards rolls the Corniche through rundown beachfront districts of Rushdy, San Stefano and Mandarah. The blingy hotels of Montazah are a bright spot then the tat, burbs and ribbon-development resume, out to Aboukir.

By plane
Alexandria has domestic flights daily from Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, with Egyptair the main operator. Saudia Airlines fly from Jeddah and the Gulf States, and Turkish Airlines fly from Istanbul. Flights from Italy by Wizz Air have ended as of June 2023. And all of airlines of the country including: Air Cairo Air Arabia Nile Air FlyEgypt and Petroleum air services (PAS).

El Nouzha airport was nearer the city but closed in 2011, supposedly for rebuilding with Borg el Arab just a temporary arrangement. The work was abandoned and there are no plans to re-open El Nouzha.

Cairo is the main portal of entry into Egypt and you travel onwards overland. The Cairo-Alex flight only makes sense as a connection with another flight.

By train
Train is the best way to travel between central Cairo and Alexandria, with 30 services a day. Best of these are the "Specials", running non-stop and taking 2 hr 40 min; almost as good are the "Express" services taking around 3 hours. These trains are clean and comfortable, air-conditioned, and with snacks available. One-way AC1 tickets cost (Oct 2018). The fast trains are sometimes also called Spanish, French or Turbo because of their rolling stock. See "Egypt by train" for how to buy tickets. Online, in advance, direct from the railway company ENR, is best.

Trains from Cairo all depart from Ramses Station. In Alexandria they arrive downtown at, where taxis and microbuses are waiting, or a 15-min stroll north along Nabi Daniel St brings you onto the Corniche. Nabi Daniel is a street market and closed to traffic, so taxis use the parallel Saad Zaghlool St.

But when your "non-stop" train arrives, and everyone piles out, ask around before following. You may have stopped 3 km east at on Abu Qir St at the top of Mushir Ahmad Ismail St. Only get off here if you're heading for an eastern district such as San Stefano. Otherwise sit tight, and in a couple of minutes the train will rumble on and terminate at Misr Station.

Trains to Alexandria also run from Marsa Matruh and the delta towns. These are "ordinary" trains that can't be booked online, so buy your ticket at the station. Some trains run directly from Luxor via Cairo, but these too are slow "ordinary" trains, and you're better taking fast trains and changing in Cairo.

By bus
Several bus companies offer a bus service into Alexandria at a very low price range:. Buses are air-conditioned and come complete with a hostess trolley service. Companies include Golden Arrow, West Delta, Super Jet, Pullman and El Gouna. Operating times vary from one company to another, but there are trips between Cairo and Alexandria virtually every hour from early morning until midnight.

While the buses are perfectly comfortable, the duration of your journey from Cairo to Alexandria (and vice versa) will depend on your pick-up/drop-off point. Most buses start out from the Almaza Bus Station in Heliopolis and stop by Midan Tahrir and Giza before finally setting out to Alexandria; if you join from Heliopolis expect a 4-5 hour trip rather than the average 2-3.

The main bus station is but there are a number of bus pick-up/drop-off points inside Alexandria. These are usually either at Gedid station (except El Gouna, which uses Sidi Gaber station) which is a bit far from the city of Alexandria so it shouldn't cost more than a cab ride,  max. Don't take a taxi with anyone that approaches you right outside of the bus. Walk outside the station and catch a taxi there if you must. There is also a bus from Gedid to Sidi Gaber, and from Sidi Gaber most parts of the city are accessible by minibus or tram if you are looking to save money. The bus fare will run you half a pound.

By car
There are two roads between Cairo and Alexandria, both taking 3 hours. The usual cautions for driving in Egypt apply; see Egypt.
 * Agriculture Road has a speed limit of 90 km/hr for private cars and has 4 lanes in each direction. This is the main road, so it can get a little crowded. It also gives access to Damnhour and Tanta.
 * Desert Road has a speed limit of 100 km/hr for private cars and has 4 lanes in each direction. True to the name, this crosses the desert and is less crowded and faster. There are cafes every few km.

By boat
Alex remains a major sea port, but all international passenger services are axed because of this region's turmoil and loss of tourist traffic. It may still be possible to arrange freighter travel, but with so many migrants trying to reach Europe from the Middle East by sea in the 21st century, they will be very wary about taking you. So your best bet may be to call in a favour from a friend with a gin-palace private yacht.

The Med cruise liners seldom visit here nowadays. Nile cruises still call at Alexandria, Cairo and the ancient Egyptian sites up to Luxor and Aswan. But all of these are package tourist itineraries, and not available to book as point-to-point ferries.

Get around
Alexandria is a long, long city but there's good transport along the Corniche. It also extends several km inland past the lagoons, but you've no reason to go that way.

By taxi

Alexandria's yellow and black taxis are a good way to travel in the city, and a cheap one as well. Be careful though: taxis will uniformly refuse to use meters (the rates haven't been adjusted in years) and drivers love to take advantage of non-Alexandrians (both foreign and Egyptian), so it's best to agree on the fare before you get in. No taxi ride between any two points in the city should cost more than. If you are on a day trip to Alexandria, hire a taxi outside the railway station for the day and pay per place. For example, pay around if you plan to see 5 places in 3–4 hr, or  if you plan to see 8-10 places in 5–6 hr.

To get into a taxi, wave at the driver and yell the name of your destination. If the driver agrees they would park at the side of the road as soon as possible. Some taxis will stop to pick you up even if they already have a passenger, but such offers are best refused. Furthermore, always check back once you get out of the taxi, there is no number to call if you lose anything of value, and nearly no chances of having it returned.

Fast Call taxis can be booked by phone at 19559 or 0800-999-9999 (toll free). These are pricier but generally much better than ordinary black and bright yellow cabs.

Careem and Uber operate in Alexandria. You will need a local number, as the driver will call you back for details of the pickup and drop off points.

By tram

Alexandria has a creaky, slow but very cheap tram system that dates back to 1860 and looks the part — it's the oldest one still running in Africa. The route map is remarkably confusing and changes on a regular basis, but one factor stays constant: the network is split into the interurban Ramleh Lines (Tram el-Raml), which use blue-and-cream trams and run across the city a few blocks back from the sea towards the eastern suburbs, and the City Lines (Tram el-Madina), which use bright yellow trams and run west and south of central Alex. The two meet at Raml Station (محطة الرمل Mahattat el-Raml), right at the heart of Alex. In general, the Ramleh Lines are relatively quick despite their age, as they have substantial stretches of dedicated and uninterrupted right-of-way; the City Lines, however, frequently get stuck in traffic.

For both lines, the flat fare is, bought on board. Note that the first car (out of three) in the blue trams is reserved for women only. The lines run until 1AM, every 10-30 min or so.

Probably the most useful service for tourists is yellow tram #25, which runs from Raml Station to Ras el-Tin and Fort Qait Bey. You can also hop on any blue tram west from Sidr Gabr bus/railway station to get to Raml, but not all eastbound trams stop there.

By bus
There are a variety of local bus services which have improved significantly in the past few years, but they are rather confusing for those who haven't lived in Alexandria for a while. Apart from city buses, you will also find "mini-buses", which work on hop-and-go basis. They are easily recognizable 14-person buses, which will stop when you wave and stop where you need to get off. The drivers rarely speak English, so make sure you know the Arabic name of your destination or that you already know where to stop. The routes are usually along the main streets, with drivers following well-known routes. The routes are written in Arabic on the sides of the vehicle, but even if you speak Arabic this may not be helpful; the drivers sometimes change routes without changing their signage. However, if you remain in Alexandria for some time you may learn the somewhat elaborate system of hand signals the locals have devised to indicate the desired destination. A journey will generally cost between.

Modern Alex

 * The Corniche stretches forever. The core is a 15 km promenade along the bay dotted with restaurants, markets and historic sights.

Do

 * Sunbathe at the Maa'moura Beach or Montazah Beach. During summer the beaches are packed with Egyptian tourists, parasols and plastic chairs and it will cost (2008) to get in. At this time the sand and water may have some throwaway plastic floating around. Some areas charge  and it will get you more space.
 * Also in Montazah, Montazah Water Sports, provide various water sports, from waterskiing to wake-boarding, even Banana Boat and Donuts.
 * Hire a boat and go cruising at Ras el-Tin.
 * Have a long walk by the beautiful Corniche by the Mediterranean Sea.
 * Have a long walk by the beautiful Corniche by the Mediterranean Sea.

Cinemas

Sports

 * Football: Alexandria has two soccer teams in the Premier League, Egypt's top tier. Smouha SC and Al Ittihad are both based at Alexandria Stadium (capacity 20,000), 500 m east of the railway station. Haras El Hodoud are in the Second Division, playing in the western suburb of El Max. Pharco in the Premier League play at Borg el Arab (aka El-Geish) Stadium 25 km west towards the airport.
 * Scuba dive with Alexandra Dive, based on the Corniche. It's historic wreck-diving, year-round, interesting but distinctly cold and gloomy compared to the Red Sea. The standard one-day, two-dive trip takes you to the "Palace of Cleopatra" immersed off Antirodos Island, and around the old harbour and lighthouse remnants off Pharos point. They also venture out to wrecks from ancient Greece, the Napoleonic era, and the Great War. They offer training courses, but beginners will do much better to train in the Red Sea. (They run trips there but you're probably going anyway.) All these trips depend not only on weather, but on having viable diver numbers.
 * Go swimming in the Country Club or Lagoon Resort, in front of Carrefour.
 * Scuba dive with Alexandra Dive, based on the Corniche. It's historic wreck-diving, year-round, interesting but distinctly cold and gloomy compared to the Red Sea. The standard one-day, two-dive trip takes you to the "Palace of Cleopatra" immersed off Antirodos Island, and around the old harbour and lighthouse remnants off Pharos point. They also venture out to wrecks from ancient Greece, the Napoleonic era, and the Great War. They offer training courses, but beginners will do much better to train in the Red Sea. (They run trips there but you're probably going anyway.) All these trips depend not only on weather, but on having viable diver numbers.
 * Go swimming in the Country Club or Lagoon Resort, in front of Carrefour.

Work
Alexandria has a tiny industrial section, mainly centered around the natural gas industry. A few expatriates work in this section. This section is increasing now as many new factories are built in Borg el Arab.

Other than that, there are some but not many international schools that employ expatriate teachers. Generally they pay less than the much more lucrative educational section in Cairo.

Alexandria has got quite a large number of language schools. You can find girls-only, boys-only and mixed schools. Also international certificates -like the IGCSE or the American SAT I and SAT II- could be completed in most of these schools. Moreover, study is available in English, French and also German.

Buy
Standard shop hours are daily until 10PM or later, but in summer they take a siesta from noon to 4PM. Ramadan hours also vary.

Typically, vendors of a particular product cluster along a street.

 * Nabi Daniel, the street between the railway station and Corniche, has many booksellers with titles in several languages. Prices negotiable. Further inland has vendors of electrical components (e.g. plug adapters) that may be useful to a traveller. "Nabi" means prophet so the street refers to the Biblical figure.

Eat

 * Seafood restaurants line the waterfront.
 * Alexandrian ice cream is similar to the typical soft-serve ice cream, but it is described as being a little bit 'stretchy'. It is available in numerous flavors, and according to the locals, this type of ice cream is only made in Alexandria and Greece. Try it at Bahary near Qait Bey, where popular shops include Makram, El-Sheikh Wafik, Azza and El Se'eedy.
 * Corn on the cob (dorra mashwey) is sold by street vendors along the Corniche.
 * Koshary, the Egyptian national dish, is a mixture of noodles, rice, lentil and more noodles topped with a tomato sauce. Koshary topped with kibda Iskandarani — Alexandria-style liver with peppers — is a local tradition.

Mid-range
Mid-priced by Egyptian standards, Western fast-food chains like Pizza Hut, McDonald's and KFC can all be found in the city's larger malls, but there are more interesting options as well.

Splurge

 * Many of Alexandria's high-end restaurants are within its hotels.

 * Byblos is the swish Middle Eastern restaurant within Four Seasons Hotel, open daily 2 PM to midnight. Stefano's their Italian restaurant is closed in 2021.
 * Byblos is the swish Middle Eastern restaurant within Four Seasons Hotel, open daily 2 PM to midnight. Stefano's their Italian restaurant is closed in 2021.

Cafes

 * Traditional coffee shops or ahwa serve coffee, tea and shisha water pipes. Play a little backgammon or dominoes and watch the world pass by. They remain a male bastion.
 * Brazilian Coffee Stores are a chain with several city outlets. Western chains such as Starbucks or Costa have only a handful of outlets. The chain's best known branch is the one in Saad Zaghloul Street:

Bars
Time was, way back, when a maze of bars and nightclubs filled the city. They're now mostly confined to the hotels, with few free-standing bars. Still, enough remain for visitors to get squiffy recalling their days on General Auchinleck's staff, eyes swivelling independently upwards to recreate the effect of an old ceiling fan.
 * Drinkie's is a chain of liquor stores with a dozen city branches. The most central branch on Saad Zaghloul Square is open daily noon-2AM.
 * Drinkie's is a chain of liquor stores with a dozen city branches. The most central branch on Saad Zaghloul Square is open daily noon-2AM.
 * Drinkie's is a chain of liquor stores with a dozen city branches. The most central branch on Saad Zaghloul Square is open daily noon-2AM.
 * Drinkie's is a chain of liquor stores with a dozen city branches. The most central branch on Saad Zaghloul Square is open daily noon-2AM.

 * San Giovanni Club within that hotel has live music, singers and oriental dancers until late.

Sleep
Accommodation in Alexandria has quite a different feel due to the old buildings with sometimes nice colonial style lobbies. There is a good selection of hotels in all price ranges.

Apartments
For stays of a month or more, consider renting. Apartments are easy to come by, in a range of prices ( per week) and states of repair. Landlords/ladies tend to live in the same blocks and will be willing to haggle the rates. It's definitely worth visiting an apartment before placing any money down, preferably in late afternoon so you see how well the lighting works and the worst of any insect problems. (It's very unlikely to find any accommodation near the coast that's completely roach-free!)

Budget
It is mostly not necessary to reserve ahead online, this is in general more expensive. Just check around where many hotels are—there are at least 7 or so near Triomphe Hotel, where you can walk in and ask for a price. One will definitely have the required budget and standard.

 * Welcome House are basic apartments within the same block as Normandy Hotel.
 * Welcome House are basic apartments within the same block as Normandy Hotel.
 * Welcome House are basic apartments within the same block as Normandy Hotel.
 * Welcome House are basic apartments within the same block as Normandy Hotel.
 * Welcome House are basic apartments within the same block as Normandy Hotel.

Splurge

 * Most of Alexandria's top-end hotels are along the coast to the east, several km from the historic city centre.

Stay safe
Although crime is rarely violent, beware of pickpockets and don't flash your valuables or wear a bum bag or fanny pack. Street kids, taxi drivers, and others may harass tourists. They will usually desist after a stern "La!" or two. Or you can say "la shukran!" (no thanks) or "emshi" (go!).

Alexandria is a conservative city, so women should cover their shoulders, midriffs, cleavage and legs. Even still, women can expect to be heckled or harassed in the street, especially if walking alone. The best response is to ignore the offender and pretend you don't hear anything. Cover your head when entering places of worship.

Emergency

 * Emergency number: 123
 * Police number: 122
 * Fire HQ number: 180
 * Military Police hotline: 16039 or 19039

Cope
Many consulates have closed and centralized in Cairo: this includes the American, Italian, Irish, Chinese and Greek.

 * 🇫🇷 France
 * UK

Connect
Alexandria and the airport have 4G from all Egyptian carriers. As of Oct 2021, 5G has not yet rolled out in Egypt.

Go next

 * Abu Mena is a Christian pilgrimage site 45 km south of Alexandria, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
 * El Alamein is a small town on the coast 120 km west of Alexandria. In 1942 the Axis forces under Rommel had swept this far across Libya towards Cairo and Suez. They were halted in June 1942 by Allied forces under Auchinleck, and sent retreating by Montgomery in November. The town has memorials, museums and war graves commemorating all nations. It's usually done as a day trip from Alexandria.
 * Marina El Alamein is the upmarket beach resort 20 km before El Alamein main town.
 * Marsa Matruh is start of the desert road to Siwa Oasis, but check if the highway is open. The oasis towns are usually reached via Cairo.
 * Cairo can be done as a day-trip, but needs longer, and you'll probably pass through on your way to Luxor, Aswan or the Red Sea resorts.

title: Alexandria


text:
Alexandria (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Alexandria.

Alexander the Great founded or renamed dozens of cities; see the linked article. Those on this list that he founded are indicated with *.

Australia

 * Alexandria (Northern Territory) - a town in Northern Territory.
 * Sydney/Alexandria - a suburb of Sydney.

Canada

 * Alexandria (British Columbia) - a town in British Columbia.
 * Alexandria (Ontario)  - a town in Ontario.

Egypt

 * Alexandria - The ancient city in the Nile River delta of Egypt. *

Greece

 * Alexandria (Greece) - a city in the Imathia Prefecture.

Jamaica

 * Alexandria (Jamaica)

Romania

 * Alexandria (Romania)

South Africa

 * Alexandria (Eastern Cape) - A town in the Eastern Cape
 * Alexandria - A suburb of Johannesburg in Gauteng

Turkey

 * Alexandria Troas — an ancient city, the ruins of which lie close to the modern village of Geyikli *
 * Alexandretta ("Little Alexandria") — a city now better known as İskenderun *

United Kingdom

 * Alexandria (Scotland) - a town in Clydeside, Scotland near Balloch

United States of America

 * Alexandria (Alabama) - a town in Alabama.
 * Alexandria (Indiana) - a town in Indiana.
 * Alexandria (Kentucky) - a town in Kentucky.
 * Alexandria (Louisiana) - a town in Louisiana.
 * Alexandria (Missouri) - a town in Missouri.
 * Alexandria (Minnesota) - a town in Minnesota.
 * Alexandria (Nebraska) - a town in Nebraska.
 * Alexandria (New Hampshire) - a town in New Hampshire.
 * Alexandria (New York) - a town in New York. See Alexandria Bay and Clayton (New York).
 * Alexandria (Ohio) - a town in Ohio.
 * Alexandria (Pennsylvania) - a town in Pennsylvania.
 * Alexandria (South Dakota) - a town in South Dakota.
 * Alexandria (Tennessee) - a town in Tennessee.
 * Alexandria (Virginia) - a city in Virginia.

Alexandria

title: Alexandria (disambiguation)


text:
Alexandria (Louisiana)

Alexandria is a historic city, rich in Louisiana history. Civil War historic sites along with easy access to numerous historic locations and Kisatchie National Forest sites make it a city ideal for history enthusiasts and sportsmen.

By car
Interstate 49 runs through the center of Alexandria, linking the city with Shreveport to the northwest (125 miles) and Lafayette to the south (90 miles).

By bus
Limited Greyhound bus service.

Get around
MacArthur Drive, which intersects with I-49 on both the north and south ends of the city, is one of the main roads. Many of the retail establishments in Alexandria are located near the intersection of MacArthur and Masonic Drives near the Alexandria Mall.

ATRANS provides local bus service, including to and from Pineville.

Eat
Some local restaurants include:

There is also a wide variety of chain restaurants in Alexandria.

Crawfish boils are popular among locals when crawfish is in season during spring.

Stay healthy
Alexandria is served by.

Go next

 * Pineville, Alexandria's sister city, is directly across the Red River.
 * Natchitoches is about an hour to the northwest down I-49.
 * Marksville, home of Paragon Casino, is about 45 minutes to the southeast down Highway 1.
 * A number of lakes can be found in the surrounding area a short drive from Alexandria, such as Kincaid, Cotile, and Indian Creek.

title: Alexandria (Louisiana)


text:
Alexandria (Minnesota)

Alexandria is a town in Northwestern Minnesota.

Understand
Alexandria was first settled in 1858. It was named for brothers Alexander and William Kinkead.

By car
Interstate 94 and Minnesota State Routes 27 and 29 go through Alexandria.

By bus
Greyhound buses stop at the outskirts of Alexandria, at 3181 Evergreen Ln.

Get around
Rainbow Rider provides local bus service.

Eat

 * Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 4920 MN-29, Alexandria, MN 56308, (320) 763-6611.
 * Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 4920 MN-29, Alexandria, MN 56308, (320) 763-6611.
 * Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 4920 MN-29, Alexandria, MN 56308, (320) 763-6611.

Drink

 * Pike & Pint Grill, 110 30th Ave W, Alexandria, MN 56308, (320) 763-7468.
 * Downtown Liquor, 214 Broadway St, Alexandria, MN 56308, (320) 763-5404.

Sleep

 * Hampton Inn and Suites, 2705 S Broadway St, Alexandria, MN 56308, (320) 763-3360.
 * Best Western Inn and Suites, 508 Twin Blvd, Alexandria, MN 56308, (320) 762-5161.
 * Best Western Inn and Suites, 508 Twin Blvd, Alexandria, MN 56308, (320) 762-5161.

Go next

 * Minneapolis
 * St. Paul

title: Alexandria (Minnesota)


text:
Alexandria (Virginia)

Alexandria is a city in Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., in the United States of America.

Understand
First surveyed in 1749, Alexandria claims some of the richest history in the D.C. metropolitan area. At various points in her past, Alexandria has been part of the District of Columbia, a regional slave trading market, an occupied city, a washed-up post-industrial hamlet, and a hometown to famous American heroes and rebels. Today, the town serves as an interesting day-trip alternative for weary tourists looking to escape the capital, a treasure trove of early American architecture, a romantic getaway for metro-area residents, and a bedroom community for the white-collar workers that fuel the Federal labor mills to the north. Old Town's cobblestone streets have nearly 4,000 buildings dating as far back as the 1600s, and is filled with shops and good restaurants.

Neighborhoods of interest include:

 * Old Town was laid out in 1749, making it the oldest section of the city, and is a historic district. Old Town is chiefly known for its historic town houses, art galleries, antique shops, restaurants, and its unique cobblestone streets and red brick sidewalks.
 * Del Ray is to the northwest of Old Town, much of which was once in the separate town of Potomac. It has a vibrant commercial corridor.

By plane
Alexandria is accessible from the three Washington, D.C., area airports.

 * Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located just north of Alexandria in Arlington. From Reagan National, downtown Alexandria (King Street Station) is only two Metro stops away: take the Yellow metro line in the direction of Huntington or the Blue line towards Franconia/Springfield.
 * Washington Dulles International Airport is 30 miles northwest of Alexandria.
 * Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is 40 miles northeast of Alexandria.

For information on traveling to Alexandria from DC area airports, see the "Get in" section of Washington DC.

By train

 * Train operators:
 * All Amtrak trains in the area stop at nearby Washington Union Station and a few lines also stop here, very close to the King Street stop on the Blue/Yellow Metro lines. Routes stopping at Washington Union Station:
 * Cardinal operating three trips weekly between Chicago and New York City with stops in Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark.
 * Carolinian between Charlotte and New York City via Raleigh, Richmond, and Washington, D.C.
 * Crescent between New Orleans and New York City via Birmingham, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington, D.C.
 * Northeast Regional is Amtrak's busiest regional service, connecting Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and the many towns and cities in-between. Toward the east end of the route, some trips terminate at Springfield instead of Boston. Some services also continue south into Virginia towards Newport News, Roanoke and Norfolk on three separate branch routes from Alexandria. This is also Amtrak's most frequent service, with multiple daily departures, and the longest trip takes 12.5 hours. The overnight Northeast Regional service from Boston includes sleeping cars; the train departs Boston in the evening and arrives early morning in Washington, D.C.
 * Palmetto between Savannah and New York City.
 * Silver Meteor and Silver Star between Miami and New York City via Savannah.
 * Virginia Railway Express (VRE) provides weekday, daytime rail service to Alexandria station from Fredericksburg, Manassas and Washington, D.C.

By Metrorail
Metro stations in Alexandria served by the Blue and/or Yellow lines include: Braddock Road, King Street-Old Town, Eisenhower Avenue, Van Dorn Street, Huntington.

For more information on riding the metro, see Washington DC.

By car
Major roads of note:

 * Interstate 95/Interstate 495 (the "Capital Beltway"), a major freeway that serves the southern part of Alexandria and circles the Greater Washington D.C. area. The Capital Beltway section just east of Alexandria, known as the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, is the last major crossing point of the Potomac River in the southern part of the metro area. For those traveling from the Virginia side to Old Town Alexandria, failure to make the last exit before entering the bridge will result in a long, difficult journey across the bridge and appropriate turn-abouts are spread thin on the Maryland side. If traffic is backed up at the Wilson Bridge or the Beltway/Hwy 1 interchange and you still want to get to Old Town, simply exit north at Telegraph Road and proceed up to the Duke Street exit going east. Take Duke Street a mile or so until you get to around Patrick/Henry and then meander your way north a couple of blocks to King Street. No reasonable alternatives exist for those traveling west out of Maryland.
 * Interstate 395 runs north-south along the western section of Alexandria.
 * U.S. Highway 1: depending on where you are, this is either the Richmond Highway or Patrick/Henry - a major north-south artery into Washington D.C.
 * George Washington Memorial Parkway, known as Washington Street in Alexandria, it runs north-south along the Virginia side of the Potomac River and is an easy and pleasant drive to Mount Vernon.
 * King Street (State Route 7) - runs east-west from Old Town Alexandria out towards Falls Church, Virginia.
 * Duke Street (State Route 236) - runs east-west into Old Town Alexandria.

Get around
The historic center of Alexandria is known as "Old Town", which is where the most notable restaurant, shopping, architectural, and tourist destinations are located.

By foot
Stroll down King Street and visit the side streets of Old Town. The main Old Town section begins about a half-mile east of the King Street-Old Towne Metrorail Station and provides a combination of restaurants, art and antique shops, souvenir traps, and public buildings. With its French-style open-air cafes, gas lamp-styled lights, red brick sidewalks, and historical, old-style architecture, King Street provides one of the most romantic settings in the DC metro area. More than just a tourist destination or open-air museum, Old Town is a vibrant community of residents who take great pride in their city. The streets north and south of King Street near the river boast nearly 4000 18th- and 19th-century buildings still used as private residences. Unlike many of the planned communities promoted by new urbanism, the streets of Old Town simply ooze a sense of character and authenticity that is not normally seen outside the best cities in Europe.

By trolley
King Street Trolley operates a free transportation service from the King Street metro station to the waterfront. These black and red rubber tire trolleys are free and will stop at any one of the signs for the trolley stops along King street.

By bus
DASH also operates many buses that will take you from the King Street Metro station to the historic center.

By car
Getting around Alexandria beyond Old Town and the Duke Street business district is a little more difficult, and will require bus transit or a car.

Two-hour parking is often available a few blocks away from King Street (though it can be harder to find on weekend evenings), but read the parking signs carefully. Some parking is free, some is metered, and some is for locals only. Tires are frequently marked (chalked) by parking enforcement staff; if you exceed 2 hours you will get a ticket. If you plan on leaving your car for more than a couple hours it would be wise to pay to park in one of the many parking garages in the city.

By water taxi
A water taxi runs from the waterfront at the end of King Street to both Georgetown in Washington D.C. and to National Harbor in Maryland.

By bicycle
For information on bike-sharing programs in the Washington DC area, see Washington DC#Get_around.

Big Wheel Bikes, located near the waterfront just south of King Street, offers bike rental services.

Bicycle trails
The Mount Vernon Trail runs through Alexandria (although the Old Town section is streets), goes all of the way to Mount Vernon, and connects with the greater D.C. area.

Old Town

Outside of Old Town

Buy
A large concentration of small business, walkable shopping is on King Street in Old Town. There are a little shops up and down Washington Street.

Farmers' markets

 * The Farmers' Market at the Market Square, 301 King St. Held each Saturday morning from 5:30AM to 10:30AM, year round. A favorite of local residents, Alexandria's Farmers' Market has been meeting continuously at the same site for more than 240 years--longer than any other market in the country.

Old Town
As a rule of thumb, restaurant prices in Old Town get more expensive as you approach the waterfront. A typical meal for one might run $10-15 near the King Street Metro and $20-30 near the Potomac.
 * Diya Indian Cuisine  - 218 N Lee St 2nd Floor. A wonderful, little Indian restaurant located a couple of blocks north of King street.
 * Diya Indian Cuisine  - 218 N Lee St 2nd Floor. A wonderful, little Indian restaurant located a couple of blocks north of King street.

Drink
Straight-up bars or nightclubs are not in the area because Virginia requires liquor be served with food. Therefore, restaurant-and-bar combination places are the norm.

Sleep

In addition to the above, there is a large cluster of reasonably priced motels/hotels on Hwy 1 just outside city limits in the South Alexandria section of Fairfax County, within walking distance of the Huntington Metro. Prices in the area will likely run about half what more posh accommodations on King Street in Old Town would.

Stay safe
Alexandria, particularly Old Town, is a safe city with considerably less crime than its neighbor, Washington, DC. While you are unlikely to be the victim of a crime here, you should take normal precautions that you would in any urban area.

Cope
Alexandria has information for LGBT travelers.

Go next

 * Arlington - Location of the Pentagon, Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Statue), and Arlington Cemetery.
 * South Alexandria
 * Mount Vernon - George Washington lived here in the mansion by the same name which overlooks the Potomac River.
 * Washington, D.C. - Explore America's national capital.

title: Alexandria (Virginia)


text:
Alexandria Bay

Alexandria Bay is a village in the Town of Alexandria in the Thousand Islands region of New York.

Get in
Alexandria Bay is east of Interstate 81 and the Thousand Islands Bridge on NY 12. As this is a small village, there is no public transit.

Go next

 * Thousand Islands and Gananoque
 * Watertown (New York)

title: Alexandria Bay


text:
Alexandroupolis

Alexandroupolis (Greek: Αλεξανδρούπολη, Alexandroúpoli) is a city in Western Thrace, northeast of Greece.

Understand
Alexandroupolis is a small town with a harbour and an airport. Though some guides describe it as "dusty", it has a rocky beach and a typical Greek nightlife. It is the last major Greek town before the Turkish border on the highway to Istanbul.

By train
There are several trains from Thessaloniki. Slow trains take 6h, fast ICs take only 4 1/2h.

Train connections are relatively frequent to the rest of the country, though the rail link to Bulgaria via Dikea has been canceled until further notice. Trains are running only to Dikea, 15km short of the Bulgarian border. There are no buses from Dikea to the border city of Svilengrad, with taxi and hitchhiking being the only options to access Svilengrad and the extensive Bulgarian rail network for the time being.

By bus
National Network of Buses or KTEL operates a frequent schedule of buses to all the major cities of the country. Shuttle buses depart twice daily to Athens (approximately 8–9 hours) and there are hourly connections to Thessaloniki.

OSE, the national train operator, has set a daily bus shuttle to Istanbul that departs the main station early (around 7AM) every morning. Tickets are usually easy to find and can be booked in the ticket office.

By boat
The most important connection is the ferry to Samothrace.

Get around
Since the city and especially the center is small and flat, you can easily walk to explore the city: for the sights outside the city, a vehicle is essential.

See

 * is a wetland nature reserve at the outflow of the River Evros (Έβρος) or Maritsa. The main river channel is the border with Turkey: there's no legal crossing point, but smugglers and migrants often try to cross. You may therefore find access restricted.
 * is a wetland nature reserve at the outflow of the River Evros (Έβρος) or Maritsa. The main river channel is the border with Turkey: there's no legal crossing point, but smugglers and migrants often try to cross. You may therefore find access restricted.
 * is a wetland nature reserve at the outflow of the River Evros (Έβρος) or Maritsa. The main river channel is the border with Turkey: there's no legal crossing point, but smugglers and migrants often try to cross. You may therefore find access restricted.
 * is a wetland nature reserve at the outflow of the River Evros (Έβρος) or Maritsa. The main river channel is the border with Turkey: there's no legal crossing point, but smugglers and migrants often try to cross. You may therefore find access restricted.
 * is a wetland nature reserve at the outflow of the River Evros (Έβρος) or Maritsa. The main river channel is the border with Turkey: there's no legal crossing point, but smugglers and migrants often try to cross. You may therefore find access restricted.
 * is a wetland nature reserve at the outflow of the River Evros (Έβρος) or Maritsa. The main river channel is the border with Turkey: there's no legal crossing point, but smugglers and migrants often try to cross. You may therefore find access restricted.
 * is a wetland nature reserve at the outflow of the River Evros (Έβρος) or Maritsa. The main river channel is the border with Turkey: there's no legal crossing point, but smugglers and migrants often try to cross. You may therefore find access restricted.
 * is a wetland nature reserve at the outflow of the River Evros (Έβρος) or Maritsa. The main river channel is the border with Turkey: there's no legal crossing point, but smugglers and migrants often try to cross. You may therefore find access restricted.
 * is a wetland nature reserve at the outflow of the River Evros (Έβρος) or Maritsa. The main river channel is the border with Turkey: there's no legal crossing point, but smugglers and migrants often try to cross. You may therefore find access restricted.
 * is a wetland nature reserve at the outflow of the River Evros (Έβρος) or Maritsa. The main river channel is the border with Turkey: there's no legal crossing point, but smugglers and migrants often try to cross. You may therefore find access restricted.

Eat
Along the promenade by the harbor and in the area between Promenade and Leof.Dimokratias street are a great variety of restaurants and fast food.

Drink
Due to the university and the many young people, the nightlife is quite good for the size of the city. Most of the cafes and bars are located in the district at and above the promenade and in the city park.

Sleep
There are no cheap youth hostels, but a lot of 1-star hotels and a couple of upscale hotels by the seaside. Backpackers often just stay at the beach near the train station. There is also a located right on the beach.

Go next

 * Samothrace island is reached by twice-daily ferry, taking 2 hours.
 * Didymoteicho to the north has several old churches and museums. Dadia Forest National Park is along the road there.
 * Rhodope Mountains - fantastic landscapes and ancient Thracian sanctuaries
 * Komotini - Small town with a Muslim character
 * Turkey: the highway border post is at Ipsala, on the road to Istanbul. You can also cross and find onward transport at Pythion, but there is no border crossing to Enez on the coast.

title: Alexandroupolis