text:
Kutchan

Kutchan (倶知安) is a rural town in Shiribeshi, Hokkaido. (The "u" in the name is pronounced as 'oo' (Ū) as in "boot".)

Tourist information sites

 * The local tourist association has a bilingual guide site.

 * The town government's site has a Japanese-only section on tourism with integrated machine translation.

By train
Kutchan is on the JR Hakodate Main Line between Hakodate and Sapporo, but it is only served by local trains. From Sapporo it takes two to three hours, requiring a change of trains at Otaru, at a cost of ¥1790. It takes 3 to 4 hours from Hakodate with a change at Oshamanbe.

By bus
From Niseko's Hirafu ski fields, Kutchan is an easy 15-minute bus ride. During the day, Donan and Hirafu bus companies operate regular services to Kutchan, one-way fare is about ¥380, depending on where you start and end. The bus will drop off at several points within the boundaries of the town, the terminus being at the JR rail station. Details are in the trail map of the Niseko United. In the winter months, there is also a free Kutchan Night Go Bus service, which runs approximately once an hour from 17:00 until 23:00. To board the free bus, you need to get a free "Kutchan Bus Passport" which is available at all information centres and most hotels.

Get around
Walking is a good way to see the sights. The town is not so large that you cannot get to most of the points of interest on foot.

Footpaths can become dangerously slippery during winter. A set of boot "chains" or strap-on cleats will be a great benefit.

See
First thing, collect a "town map" from your accommodation. Use it to locate some of the places you'd like to see. Then go for it!

Max-Valu, Co-op and Homac (a Bunnings clone) are worth looking through just for the fun of seeing how the locals live and buy.

Do
Browse the shops, look in the "¥100 shop" for bargains, check out the souvenir shops, Takiguchi sports (if you want to get a new set of skis while you are here: Mr. Takiguchi also owns the infamous Seico-Mart in Hirafu), Boom (for snowboards), and the furniture shops.

The main Post Office, at the far end of the business district on Ekimae Avenue, has an ATM that will accept overseas cards (but not if they are other than rectangular!) for withdrawals if you need extra cash.

Buy
Just about anything! You can get food, hardware, tools, ski gear (wax, bindings, etc.) and some wonderful kimono fabrics at Cocoroya on Ekimae avenue.

Eat
Find a restaurant anywhere in the town. Most will have a range of local produce, some will speak English (eigo) but many will not. Still, the universal pointing language will often get you what you want. Portion sizes are quite variable, as they are throughout Japan, so be prepared to order more if there isn't enough first go round. It is almost expected.

Drink
Miyako Street is worth a stroll at night, for a small town version of a Japanese drinking district.

 * Loaf Lounge. An interesting experience, with a bar, a skate/snowboard shop, and a garage that has been converted into an indoor skate park.
 * Namichanchi (波ちゃん家). Good izakaya.

Sleep
There are lots of opportunities to sleep. Just walk along the first street from the railway station parallel to the tracks. There is a Hotel with Onsen (Traditional Japanese Bath) about 1km from the railway station, first go south, then head over the bridge that crosses the tracks and river, then walk uphill until you see the sign of the bath. The Onsen is open all night for Hotel guests.

Go next

 * Niseko
 * Rankoshi
 * Kyogoku
 * Niki
 * Yoichi
 * Otaru
 * Akaigawa
 * Kyowa
 * Iwanai

title: Kutchan


text:
Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora is a town in the Central Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Although Kutná Hora has some comparatively drab modern architecture, it is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for the Historical Town Centre, including the Church of St Barbara and the Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec. At both ends of the town there are some beautiful buildings, and the higher points of the town are home to restored older architecture, with Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings.

Understand
Kutná Hora was a silver mining town in medieval times: once the second Czech city to Prague in terms of population. In 2020, it was home to about 21,000 people.
 * Kutná Hora Tourism website

Get in
Both options for getting in use the same tickets of the Prague Integrated Transport. These are similar to the tram/metro tickets in Prague, but you will require a special suburban ticket as follows:

 * Most people will require a Suburban Ticket for 11 zones, which costs 84 Kč and covers the journey from anywhere in Prague to the Railway/Bus station, and then the journey all the way to Kutná Hora. Can be purchased from the yellow ticket machines in Prague in advance, and then stamped in the machines like a regular Prague ticket. For the return journey by train from Kutná Hora you must buy your ticket in the office at the station as there are no stamping machines. Show them your outward ticket and they will understand what to sell you.
 * For those who already have a valid pass for Prague public transport (72 hr, monthly pass, etc.), you will only need a Suburban Ticket for 7 zones, costing 54 Kč and covering the portion of the journey not in Prague. Can be purchased from the yellow ticket machines in Prague in advance, and then stamped in the machines in the tunnel at the train station, or on board the bus to Kutná Hora. Show both this and your valid pass to the Train Conductor/Bus Driver. For the return journey by train from Kutná Hora you must buy your ticket in the office at the station as there are no stamping machines. Show them your outward ticket and they will understand what to sell you.

By train
There are trains roughly hourly from Prague leaving Hlavní nádraží, see the timetable. Make sure you search for the station, which is much closer to the town centre than. You will have to change at Kutná Hora hl.n., and sometimes also at Kolín.

In addition to using PID Suburban Zone Ticket, another option is to buy the train tickets to Kutná Hora město directly from ČD (Czech Railways) website or mobile app. It will be more expensive, but the plus side is you can reserve the seat for the train from Hlavní nádraží to Kutná Hora hl.n. or Kolin.

By bus
There are buses roughly hourly from Prague leaving from the Háje bus station, see the timetable. Some are direct and some require an interchange. The bus takes much longer, is less comfortable, and is the same price as the train, so would only be advisable for those staying near the bus stop in Prague. Journey time is around 1h50min. The is close to the historical center.

Get around
The town is about 3 km long, so it is possible to explore on foot. This isn't particularly rewarding though, as most of it is residential and the attractions (with the exception of the Kostnice Ossuary) are concentrated at the other end of town from the train station.

There is a local bus system with buses arriving to meet the trains. If you want to return to the train station from the historical core, take the bus that says "Hlavni Nádraží" on the front window. A single ride for adults costs 12 Kč and will leave you right at the train station, though the schedule only has two buses an hour, so walking might actually be quicker depending on your timing.

There is also a very convenient, privately operated "tourist bus" that constantly drives between the main train station (Hl. N), the ossuary, and St. Barbara for 35 Kč per person. The drivers wait until the bus (which is really a mini van) fills up to at least 3 guests, then drives off. He's usually waiting outside the Ossuary, driving people to the St. Barbara Church.

There is also local train connecting historical core (station "Kutná Hora město") and the main station "Kutná Hora hlavní nádraží". It meets the arrival (and departure) of nearly all the express trains, leaving a five-minute gap for transfer. (This could be a problem if you want to leave luggage at the main station, since (1) there are no left luggage facilities at the local station and (2) if you see both the Ossuary and the city, then it may be convenient to arrive at one station and leave from the other.) You can buy the train ticket from the local station "Kutná Hora město" directly to Prague. The price will be the same as the price from "Kutná Hora hlavní nádraží" to Prague. This isn't Prague, though, so expect only minimal understanding of non-Czech languages from the ticket sellers. There are no ticket machines or similar amenities.

There are also taxis: usually one or two will meet the train, otherwise they can be a little difficult to find. Unlike in Prague, it is safe to hail them in the street: they won't overcharge. A taxi ride from one end of town to the other is about 80 Kč.

Additional information

 * When you arrive at Kutná Hora you may get the Number 1 bus to Kutná Hora Město (Kutná Hora Town Centre) or wait at the station for the train that goes to Kutná Hora Město. There are 3 stops, but you're better off at Kutná Hora Mešto if you're headed to the town centre and not the Ossuary.
 * If you feel fit, then, walking is your best bet. When you leave the station, go right until you reach the first intersection (about 3 min walk). Then turn left and walk for another 5–8 minutes (it depends on how quickly you walk) and you will come to the church on your left (more details to follow) and the Ossuary on your right. At the Ossuary you need to pay a fee to enter (50 Kč) and another one to take pictures (30 Kč).

After you finish with the Ossuary, you can walk to the town center but it will take 35–45 minutes. Go back to the main road and turn right. You're now about 2.5 km from the town centre.

All you have to do is to follow the road signs until you reach the main attractions in the town centre. You cannot miss the St. Barbara's Cathedral and, April to November, the Hrádek - Czech museum of silver.

Suggested itinerary Arrive at the Kutna Hora Hlavni Nádraží, walk to the Ossuary. Take a bus, tourist shuttle, or walk to St. Barbara's church. Follow the church's exit out to explore the entire city—it leads you directly into the town. There's a lot of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shopping, art museums, and the famous Kutna Hora underground mine tour. At the end of your city exploration, walk to the Kutná Hora Město (Kutná Hora Town Centre) Train Station and head back to Prague via a short "shuttle" train to Kutna Hora Hlavni Nádraží.

See

Eat
Generally, the staff in restaurants around St. Barbara's Cathedral are friendlier and (oddly) more professional than in Prague. There are a number of bars, restaurants and cafes just underneath the shadow of the cathedral. Some provide a breathtaking view of the valley to the south.
 *  U Hrnčiře, Barborská 24 (by the Jug Maker's). The food is excellent with traditional Czech dishes alongside a surprising array of vegetarian dishes.
 * Pizzeria Piazza Navona, at Palackeho Square, offers traditional (and original) Italian pizza and pasta and homemade tiramisù and panna-cota.

Go next
In order to return to the train station you can:

 * walk back to the station (about 3.5 km)
 * get a cab
 * take the bus number 1
 * get the train from Kutná Hora Město to Kutná Hora Hlavní nádraží

Once you're back to the station, you can:

 * Get the next train to Kolín and change for the train to Praha Hlavní Nádraží
 * Wait for the direct service to Praha Hlavní Nádraží

Other options are:

 * There are also bus service to and from Prague, but trains seemed to be pretty reliable and ran on time.
 * You can also take a cab back to Prague, which would cost you around 1600 Kc.

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

title: Kutná Hora


text:
Kuttikkanam

Kuttikkanam, is a village in Idukki district, Kerala, southern India. It is 3,500 feet (1,100 m) above sea level and surrounded by lush green tea plantations. It is within the territory of Peermade.

Get in
Buses ply to Kuttikkanam from Kottayam regularly. The nearest railway station is Kottayam.

Get around
Taxis are the best way to get around.

Do
Kuttikkanam has a golf course, restaurants, and an ayurvedic rejuvenation center.

Buy
Spices and coffee.

title: Kuttikkanam


text:
Kuusamo

Kuusamo is a town and a municipality of same name in Northern Finland. The high season for tourism is the winter when people head to the 20 km north of the town. However, the 20 km farther to the north is also very popular and can be visited around the year.

Together with its neighbouring municipality Taivalkoski, Kuusamo forms the Koillismaa sub-region. Traditionally Koillismaa ("the north-east") refers to a bigger area, from Pudasjärvi to south-eastern Lapland.

Understand

Kuusamo is located in the Koillismaa highlands. It is a watershed, as rivers in the northern part flow north-east to the Arctic Ocean and those in the southern part flow westward to the Baltic Sea. The views consist of steep forested hills (Finnish: vaara) and large, pristine lakes. Bogs and mires are common especially in southern Kuusamo. The river Oulankajoki belongs to the official list of national landscapes of Finland.

Even though Ruka often is referred to as a fell, there are no true fells in the Kuusamo area, as none of the hills reach the tree limit. The area has almost continental climate. Mean temperatures vary between in January and  in July. The coldest temperature,, was measured in January 1985. Annual snowfall is among the highest in Finland and ground is covered by snow up to 200 days a year!

According to archaeological evidence, the Kuusamo area has been inhabited at least for 4,000 years. Finnish-speaking settlers arrived here during the 1670s, mostly from the south by following the labyrinth of lakes from the Finnish Lakeland. Therefore the local spoken dialect belongs to the Finnish Eastern dialect group, in contrast to Lapland, where people speak western dialects. As the lands weren't part of the Kingdom of Sweden, the Sami tried to sue the settlers for illegal hunting and fishing, but as the number of Finnish settlers had grown to over 200 people by 1687, there was little what the court could do. The last Sami left the area before the 1760s. Kuusamo was separated into an independent parish in 1675, and got its own church in 1680.

The population grew quickly, but subarctic agriculture is dodgy. During bad years in 1800–1802 up to 40 per cent of Kuusamo population died in famine. In the peace treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union of 1940, Finland lost 1,700 km² of land from eastern Kuusamo. In September 1944 the area suffered heavily from the scorched-earth policy of retreating Nazi German troops. In the next year, Soviet troops briefly occupied Kuusamo, demolishing the little infrastructure left. This is why you'll find very few old buildings in the area.

Today Kuusamo lives mostly from tourism. The number of summer cottages is the 5th largest in Finland. Finns coming from cities to spend their holidays at their private cottages are a significant source of income. So far there isn't any mining industry, but international mining companies are interested in the area. There is especially uranium ore and copper. The municipality has slightly over 15,000 inhabitants out of which 8,400 live in the town. The population trend is declining.

By car
Most people travel to Kuusamo by car. Expect about a 10-hr drive from the southern part Finland, more in the winter when there is snow, ice, and lowered speed limits. The town of Kuusamo is at the intersection of highways 5 and 20. The Ruka resort and the road to Oulanka National Park are also by the highway 5, north from the town.

(Kuusamo-Суоперя) is open daily 09:00–20:00. In 2021, it served cargo traffic, and Finnish and Russian citizens returning home. The nearest town in Russia is Kestenga (Кестеньга, Finnish: Kiestinki) in Russian Karelia. As of March 2024, the border is closed.

By train
The nearest train stations are in Kemijärvi (135 km) and Rovaniemi (180 km). Often Oulu (205 km) is more convenient, with connecting buses timed to train arrivals.

By bus
It takes 3 hr by coach from Oulu to Kuusamo and about ½ hr more to Ruka. The one-way ticket costs €30–40/adult and there are 2–3 departures daily. If you are heading to Ruka, for most departures you need to change bus in Kuusamo centre. This may require some waiting at the.

There are regular connections from Rovaniemi (3–3½ hours, €30–40), Kajaani (3½ hours, €26) and Kemijärvi (2½ hours, €21). From Rovaniemi airport (via the coach station) there is a connection to Ruka every morning on weekdays. The trip takes 6½ hours and requires changes at Pudasjärvi and Kuusamo centre. Price ca €60/adult.

See Matkahuolto for details.

Get around

Having your own car is the most practical way of getting around in Kuusamo. Aside from a few intercity buses and school buses a day, public transport is non-existent. You can also get around by taxi, but given the distances, it is pretty expensive.

Local bus traffic consists of two lines serviced a few times per weekday during the school year, but not in weekends or summer. Information about local and regional buses can be had from the municipal office. Matkahuolto route planner includes the local and regional routes.

You can also use coach lines for travelling in Kuusamo: coaches towards Oulu for the south-west, towards Kajaani and towards the Kuusamo border crossing ("raja-asema") for the south, towards Rovaniemi, Salla and Kemijärvi for the north. Timetables from Matkahuolto.

There is also a dial-a-ride service available, which services mainly as a connection between Kuusamo and Ruka, but which can be used also for rides within Kuusamo. It can be ordered using Matkahuolto Trip Planner and Tickets mobile app. The passenger can pick up the ride up to five days and can check availability at any time, and secure the ride as well as the seat only by ordering transportation. The app always shows the final binding price before confirming the order.

Driving around during weekend is popular among the youth. Snowmobiling is very popular in Kuusamo and there are hundreds of kilometres of snowmobiling routes. The Ruka village and Kuusamo centre are compact enough for betting around on foot.

By taxi

 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Taksini

See

Although Kuusamo is slightly south of the Arctic Circle, there is two weeks of midnight sun. Choose from were to watch, to avoid having the sun go hiding behind a hill at some point (and don't look at the sun!).

At the winter solstice daylight lasts about three hours, and the auroras can be seen all winter, although they aren't as common a sight as a few hundred more kilometres to the north.

Out of town

The Sukerijärvi Strict Nature Reserve is closed for public and any visits to the area require written permission from the Finnish Forest Administration. Such permits are given for scientific reasons only. You'll find quite similar mire ecosystem in the northernmost parts of Oulanka National Park.

Buy

There are many handicraft stores at the Ruka resort and in central Kuusamo.

Local specialties

 * Leipäjuusto, a regional fresh cheese. Also known as Finnish squeaky cheese because the cheese is "squeaking" when one's chewing it. Served often as a dessert slightly heated with cream and clodberry jam.
 * Poronkäristys, sautéed reindeer. A speciality of Lapland, but also available in the northern part of the Oulu province.
 * Kitkan Viisas, local form of vendace (a fish) living in the lakes at Koillismaa highlands. This true local speciality has a PDO product status in the European Union.

Drink
There are many bars and pubs in Ruka and Kuusamo, Ruka is famous for its dance and karaoke bar zone.

Respect
Locals don't like arrogant tourists, especially when they are intoxicated, so be polite to them and they are polite to you.

Go next

 * – Many trails, ranging from easy ones accessible by wheelchair and pram to the famous Karhunkierros. Also canoeing routes. Borders Paanajärvi National Park in Russia (border passing for wildlife only).
 * – One of the biggest ski centres in Finland.
 * Finnish Lapland

title: Kuusamo


text:
Kuwait

Kuwait (Arabic: الكويت) is a monarchy situated at the Persian Gulf, nestled between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Historically, Kuwait was a strategic trade port between Mesopotamia, India, and Persia. Like many of its neighbours, Kuwait is endowed with oil and gas wealth.

Cities
There are 6 governorates in Kuwait, each of which has several areas in it. Most of Jahra, Ahmadi and Mubarak al-Kabeer are residential with no tourists attractions.

 * – the capital
 * (Al Jahra) – 30 min northwest of Kuwait City by car
 * (Al Ahmadi) – 30 min from Kuwait City by car
 * – the closest southern suburb, about 10 min from Kuwait City by car
 * – 20 min from Kuwait City by car
 * – 25 min from Kuwait City by car

Other destinations

 * – 15 minutes south west of Kuwait city by car, an industrial area with a vast amount of shops, mostly specialising in household goods.
 * – 20 minutes south of Kuwait city by car, also by the name of Al Dajeej. An industrial area with a wide range of both modern and traditional shops (e.g. carpets, fabrics, household goods).
 * – 10 minutes from Kuwait city, a commercial and residential area with a wide selection of malls, restaurants, entertainment areas, and the beach.
 * – Here are the Avenues, the second biggest shopping mall in the Middle East.

Understand
Kuwait has a population of 3,806,616 (Jun 2012), including about 2 million non-Kuwaitis, with ethnic groups consist of 45% Kuwaiti, 35% other Arabs, among whom Egyptians predominate, 9% South Asian, 4% Iranian, and 7% others. Kuwait ranks among the most liberal Gulf nations in terms of religion. While Islam is the official religion with fully 85% of the population practicing the Muslim faith (divided into 70% Sunni and 30% Shia), others including Christians, Hindus and Zoroastrians make up 15% of the population.

The country is divided to governorates, which are divided into areas, which are divided into blocks. Knowing the area and block is necessary, as the street numbers may be repeated across different blocks of the same areas. Area names are not repeated across the country, so it would be unusual if you mention the governorate after the area. See the Get around section.

Electrical current is 220 Volts a/c, plugs are either standard British, Europlugs (2 prong diamond-shaped) or German Schuko variety—adapters are readily available.

History
The Kuwaitis trace their roots to the Al-Anisa and Al-Utub tribes from Nejd province, which is now in Saudi Arabia. They moved to Qatar and then to Al-Qurain, now in Kuwait, by around 1710. By 1752, the long term residents of Al-Qurain decided that they needed a central authority to tamp down tribal warfare in the area. The Al-Sabah tribe was chosen to rule, and the first sheikh, Sabah ibn Jaber, reigned as Sabah I from 1752 to 1756. The Sabahs mediated religious and tribal disputes with diplomacy. They also played the Ottomans, Egyptians and European powers against each other while maintaining their autonomy. In 1899, Mubarak I signed an agreement making Kuwait a British Protectorate, with the sheikhs maintaining local control while putting their foreign policy in the hands of the British, in exchange for military protection from other powers. The British had already had a presence in Kuwait for some time: in the 1770s, Abdullah I already had a contract with the British to deliver mail for them up to Aleppo, Syria.

In the 1920s and the 1930s, Kuwait's main product was pearls. However, income from the precious stones took a hit shortly thereafter, when the Japanese flooded the market with cultured pearls. In 1938, oil was first struck at the Burgan oil field in Kuwait, and by 1946, oil exports began. In 1961, Kuwait nullified the treaty of 1899, and became an independent nation.

In the early 1990s, Kuwait was annexed and invaded by Iraq. In the months to follow, a US-led coalition completely liberated Kuwait in four days and drove out the Iraqi forces.

Kuwait is an emirate and a developed country. The Kuwaiti dinar, the country's currency, is the strongest currency in the world. Although it has one of the world's largest oil reserves, it is often considered to be the most oil-dependent country in the Middle East.

Climate
Dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters. Natural hazards : sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April; they occasionally bring heavy rain which can, in some rare cases, damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August. Common temperatures range from 5°C in Dec/Jan to over 50°C from Jun to Aug.

It would be prudent for travellers to pack clothes accordingly. Sunglasses for heat or during sandstorms won't be amiss.

Terrain
Flat to slightly undulating desert plain. Highest point: 306 meters above sea level, in the al Jahrah desert.

Visitor information

 * Kuwait Tourism website

Entry requirements
Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) may enter Kuwait without a visa and stay indefinitely.

The nationals of 54 countries are eligible of visas on arrival at Kuwait's airport and land borders. The on-arrival visa is valid for a single entry of up to 3 months and costs KD 3, plus KD 3 for a "stamping" fee (visa and stamping fee not required for nationals of Italy, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States of America). Those 54 nations are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vatican City and Vietnam.

All other nationals need advance visas, which require an invitation from a sponsor in Kuwait. Kuwait Airways offices and major hotels can provide invitations, but the process can take up to a week and may require a fee. The Embassy of Kuwait in Japan has some information.

Import restrictions: Alcohol and pork are not legal and may not be imported into the country. If you bring either in, it will be confiscated at the airport and you may be subjected to fines for attempting to import these banned goods. Your bags will be X-rayed and/or hand-searched on arrival.

By plane

The national airline, Kuwait Airways, serves Frankfurt, Geneva, Rome, Kuala Lumpur, London, New York City, Paris and several other European, Asian, African and Middle Eastern destinations, but is best avoided. It is a flag carrier with a poor reputation, its planes are old (although some long haul routes have gotten new planes), delays are frequent, poor and rude cabin attendants, and weak customer service. You will have to use Kuwait Airways if you are travelling directly from New York's JFK Airport, however. Almost all its flights are served at Terminal 4. Flights to and from JFK still go to the old terminal, Terminal 1, due to the increased security requirements for US flights.

Semi-low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways provides a popular alternative for regional flights. It is the only user of Terminal 5.

International airlines serving Kuwait include British Airways from London, Lufthansa from Frankfurt, KLM from Amsterdam, Singapore Airlines from Singapore, and Turkish Airlines from Istanbul, plus connections through other large Gulf hubs (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, etc.) are accessible through Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airlines, and Gulf Air. Airlines that operate seasonal flights to Kuwait include Malaysia Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines, Bulgaria Air and Czech Airlines. Code shares with other members of international airline alliances often offer cheaper air fares than the carrier servicing the route to and from Kuwait. All of these other airlines use Terminal 1 as well, except for Aegean, which uses Terminal 3, a small building meant for private planes at first.

If you need a visa on arrival at the airport, do not head down to Arrivals; instead, look for the "Visa Issuing" desks next to gate 2, opposite the Dasman Lounge. Join the mob (no queuing is possible) to have your passport copied and pick up a queue ticket, fill out a visa entry form, and wait for your number to be called. (Be careful, you will only have 2 or 3 seconds to respond before you are skipped.) Payment for the visa stamp is accepted only in Kuwaiti dinars, have the exact change (KD 3) ready or pay by credit card, there are a number of bureaux de change in the arrivals area, where the best rates appear to be for U.S. dollars, Australian dollars and euros. You'll also get an A4-sized sheet entirely in Arabic, which you must keep -- this is your visa! You can now proceed straight through immigration without queuing, just show your visa form at any desk and they'll let you through. Generally, you can pass through the open gate for flight crew and show your visa to the guard just past passport control.

Airport taxis can be found outside arrivals, with the fare to most points in the city being no more than KD 5. If you want to go to a central location busses are a viable and cheap option (less than KD 1), use Google for planning. Most hotels can arrange a transfer for the same price if not free of charge, which may be safer, especially for single females, and a more comfortable option. When in operation, you can also use the "limousine" service which is located to the right of the outside exit for KD 6-10 depending on destination. These generally have a reputation as having much safer drivers than the airport taxis (driven by Kuwaiti nationals who usually do not observe posted speed limits and will even drive on the verge/shoulder at 140 km/h). It is illegal for a regular taxi to pick up arrivals passengers at the airport so most will refuse to do so because of the fear of hefty fines and possible imprisonment or deportation. Regular taxis are a worse choice in most cases anyway, being driven by chronically underpaid expats from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and usually poorly maintained. Drivers of regular cabs are often totally unaware of how to get anywhere, often speak little or no English and frequently have poor or no concept of personal hygiene.

By car
Kuwait shares its borders with only 2 nations: Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The political situation in Iraq is volatile, so it is advisable not to use that route. There are long-distance bus services to Dammam and other points in Saudi Arabia, but you will of course need to have a valid Saudi visa.

By bus
There are 3 bus lines in Kuwait: KPTC, City Bus, and KGL. KPTC, the Kuwait Public Transportation Company, operates only within Kuwait and is used mainly by the poorer expats in menial jobs. Buses are frequently poorly maintained, sometimes non-air-conditioned (and thus hazardous in summer). Apart of that they are a reliable and very cheap option (under 1 KD into the city center), especially compared to taxis. Just use Google to find the appropriate lines.

KGL is the only one of the three that provides routes to other GCC countries, but visas will probably be an issue for non-GCC citizens.

By boat
Scheduled ferries to and from Iran are handled by Kuwait-Iran Shipping Company, phone +965 2410498, fax +965 2429508. The ferries go three times a week from Ash Shuwayk in Kuwait to Bushehr in Iran. One-way tickets from KD 37.

Speedboats also go between Ash Shuwayk and Manama in Bahrain. A ticket is KD 45.

Ports and harbors:
 * Ash Shu'aybah
 * Ash Shuwaykh
 * Kuwait City
 * Mina' 'Abd Allah
 * Mina' al Ahmadi
 * Mina' Su'ud

Get around
With an area of 17,820 km2, Kuwait is among the smallest countries in the world and you can easily cover the country in less than 2-3 days. A journey from the capital city to Umm Qasr in Iraq will take you roughly 60-80 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

By road
Kuwait has a good road system. All signs are in English and Arabic. The major north-south roads are effectively freeways numbered Expressway 30, 40, etc. These are traversed by increasingly widely spaced ring roads named First, Second, etc., making navigation fairly easy.

Using Google Maps for navigation is a good option, as it offers traffic and roads, and all major destinations. However, if you need to find a location using its address (which you probably won't need to). Google Maps will even give you wrong address for your current location and places. This is due to how Kuwait addresses work mixed with lack of proper support of Kuwait subdivisions in Google Maps platform. Areas are labelled as neighbourhoods and blocks as sub-neighbourhoods. For example, if you are in Street 1, block 1, Jabriya, your address will appear as Street 1, Kuwait City (since it is the only city in Kuwait, and neighbourhoods aren't supposed to be included in addresses). So if you intend to go/find a place using its address, make sure you install the free and easy-to-use official Kuwait Finder GIS system on your phone from its apps market.

By public transport
Kuwait's public transport is adequate with three companies (KPTC, City Bus and KGL) running dozens of routes in every major city. Waiting times for buses range from one minute for most frequent routes to 1 hour for less used routes. All buses are equipped with air-conditioners and usually one can find a seat without much trouble. Although, during peak hours (7-9AM, 2-4PM, 8-9PM) most routes are packed and public transport should be avoided for those seeking comfortable travelling. Although areas with expatriates majority are covered with many routes, Kuwaiti residence areas are scarcely connected with public transport buses and are reachable mostly by taxis only.

Bus 500 runs to Abdaly, a village in the north on the border with Iraq. It departs every 3 hours (6AM, 9AM, etc.) from KPTC bust station in Hassawi.

By taxi
These are recognisable by orange licence plates and may be hired by the day, in which case fares should be agreed beforehand. Although most taxis have meters these are rarely used as in practice, meters are always "broken", covered, missing or just ignored, and you'll need to agree on fares in advance. Beware that cabbies will often ask for ridiculous prices. Share-taxis are also available. Hailing taxis from the road is the most practical approach. However some sources have reported it was not advisable, particularly for females, and they recommend that taxis are booked in advance by telephone from a reputable taxi company. The cream-colored taxis are the cheapest, but also likely to be poorly maintained and possibly dangerously so, considering the general speed and size of the rest of the vehicles on Kuwaiti roads.

A standard rate is applicable in most taxis, but those at hotel ranks are more expensive. Naive westerners routinely pay 2 to 5 times more than the standard rates which are typically KD 0.500 for up to a 5 minute ride plus about KD 0.100 per minute thereafter. The only exception being airport departures which are approximately KD 3. Tipping is not expected, however you should negotiate fares before boarding the taxi. It is customary to collect all baggage and exit the taxi before offering payment to avoid conflicts or loss of personal property should a taxi driver demand more than the agreed price after arriving at the destination. This way, the passenger can drop the money in the seat and walk away if necessary.

It is common to share a taxi (which is often an unofficial taxi or a private car) from bus stations to more remote destinations such as Abdaly on Iraq border. Taxi drivers often wait until the car fills up with passengers and this may take an hour. Expect to pay KD 2-3 for the shared taxi with 3-4 other passengers. Do not agree to pay more. If the driver refuses, just wait a couple of minutes for another driver.

By rental car
Self-drive is available. If you produce an International Driving Permit, the rental company will, at the customer's expense, be able to arrange the statutory temporary insurance, which is drawn on the driver's visa. If you arrive at Kuwait International Airport, you will find the car hiring companies located at your left after you exit from the baggage claiming area. You can find international companies such as Avis and Budget among others.

However, driving in Kuwait, especially for those new to driving in the country, can be extremely chaotic and frightening. Turn signals and lane divisions are effectively optional, speeding and aggressive driving is commonplace, and there is little active enforcement of traffic laws. This is especially true for Kuwait city. Driving outside the city, you may have three lanes almost to yourself as there is little traffic. However, the speed limit is 120 km/h beyond which a fine of 20 KD will be imposed upon you. This may be frustrating to drivers seeing the vast expanse of space ahead of them in the highways.

A law has been passed to disallow the use of cell phones while driving (including voice calls and text messaging or SMS.) If driving, ensure you keep out of the left hand "fast" lane unless you are very relaxed about large 4-wheel drive vehicles tailgating you.

If involved in a car accident, do not attempt to move your car until police arrive and have made a report or you will be arrested.

Hiring a car may be a good (the only?) opportunity to experience the desert, the coast and the oilfields.

Prices are comparable to hiring a car in European countries, e.g. KD 10 for a small two door Japanese made car, 4WD and American made sports cars may cost around KD 25. Petrol costs KD 0.1 per litre, gas stations are plenty. However, you need to pay with cash or KNET; foreign credit cards are generally not accepted.

Talk
Arabic is the official language. Although in schools the classical version of Arabic is taught, just like everywhere in the Arab world, Kuwaitis use the Kuwaiti dialect in everyday conversation. English is widely used and spoken. Most of the traffic signs in Kuwait are bilingual. English is taught as a second language in schools in Kuwait beginning at the first grade. Many Kuwaitis speak English fluently as there are lots of private English and American schools and universities where all subjects are taught in English and Arabic is taken as a subject. A lot of Kuwaitis enroll their children in these schools.

Due to a large population of working Indians living here, languages like Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam are also widely spoken.

See
See Kuwait City for listings of attractions in the city. Kuwait is not the ideal vacation spot in the region, but if on a business trip, there are some sites worth seeing:

Do
See Kuwait City for more activities in the city.

Money
The national currency is the Kuwaiti dinar, denoted by the symbol " د.ك" or "KD" (ISO code: KWD). It has the distinction of being the world's strongest currency.

The dinar is divided into 1,000 fils. Notes are available in denominations of KD ¼, ½, 1, 5, 10 and 20. Coins are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 fils. Notes feature inscriptions in Arabic on the front and English inscriptions on the back, with Arabic numerals (the numerals used in English) on both sides.

Notes issued before 1994, many of which were stolen during the Iraqi occupation, are no longer legal tender. You are unlikely to see these in Kuwait (the designs are different), but unscrupulous dealers elsewhere have been known to try to pass them off. See the Central Bank of Kuwait for pictures.

Exchanging money can be difficult and exchanging travelers cheques even impossible. Stick to ATMs, which are ubiquitous and work fine. Higher-end establishments accept credit cards.

Costs
Although Kuwait is a tax haven 0% VAT and 0% income tax, it would be hard to manage on under US$100 per day, and you can very easily spend US$250 or more just on an ordinary hotel room, though hotel rooms start at around €50.

Tipping is generally not necessary. Taking a service charge is illegal in Kuwait.

Prices on common expenses (as of May 2022):
 * Medium burger combo meal: KD 2 (McDonald's)
 * Pizzas for 2 regular size: KD 7–8 (Domino's, Papa John's)
 * Meal for 2, mid-range restaurant, three-course: KD 10–12
 * Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant: KD 1 (Shawarma & Fatayir restaurants)
 * South Indian Takeaways: KD 0.5 to 2
 * Oranges (1 kg): 400–450 fils
 * Milk (1 litre): 300 fils
 * Single medium latte with an add-shot at Starbucks: KD 2
 * Falafel sandwiches: 100 fils (includes chips (fries), salad and tahina, law doesn't permit restaurant to increase that price)
 * Khubiz Irani (flat bread), fresh from the baker: 20 fils

Petrol prices are among the cheapest in the world and most of the time are less than water, literally, which explains the Kuwaiti penchant for huge fuel-guzzling U.S. import vehicles.

Shopping
Kuwait is a tax-free country. Custom-made items, imported items, and shipping out of the country can be expensive, so shop wisely. Businesses are required by law to allow exchanges on credit cards purchases, and returns or exchanges on non-credit cards purchases for a period of a fortnight. If in a rare case you think a store isn't obeying the laws, don't hesitate to call Consumer Protection Department at 135.

Eat
There is a huge array of restaurants in Kuwait. Because nightlife is virtually non-existent, most people go out to restaurants and malls. A wide variety of international cuisines is available in high-end restaurants, although some heavily pork-based cuisines (German, e.g.) are conspicuously absent. Kuwait is known for its culinary specialties and catering services. Restaurants can be found in food courts in malls, and alternatively many international restaurants are grouped together in certain areas in Kuwait, namely:
 * Behind the Roman Catholic Church in Kuwait City
 * Outside the Mövenpick Resort in Al-Bida'a, near Rumaithiya and Salmiya
 * In the Marina Crescent

Just ask any local where the "Restaurants Road" is and they will guide you to a road in Salmiya packed end-to-end with local restaurants serving a wide array of specialty sandwiches, juices and snacks. Alternatively, head to any of the major shopping malls which are also crowded with restaurants ranging from fast to gourmet food. Every conceivable U.S. chain is represented in Kuwait.

While rare, there are still some restaurants that serve traditional Kuwaiti food. Al-Marsa restaurant in Le Meridien Hotel (Bneid Al Gar location) has some traditional Kuwaiti seafood but with a relatively high price tag. A cheaper option is the quaint Shati Alwatia restaurant at the Behbehani Villa compound in the Qibla area of Kuwait City (behind the Mosques) and another Kuwaiti restaurant is Ferij Suwailih in salmiya area.

If you don't feel like going out to eat, just about every restaurant and eatery in the country delivers food anywhere. Order online from a number of sites and enjoy the same selections as at the restaurant for a tiny delivery fee (usually 200 to 400 fils) tacked onto the order total itself.

For general grocery shopping, each district has its own 'Co-operative Society' (Jumayya) which anyone can use, and they usually consist of a supermarket and a general do-it-yourself store. When paying for your grocery shopping the cashier will usually ask if you have a number (which is given to local customers as a way to build up credits). It is also normal that somebody will pack your grocery bags for you and will carry the bags to your car, unless you insist otherwise. It is customary to tip them about KD 0.500 if they do go to your car, although they do not normally wait around for it. Kuwait also offers a wide variety of hypermarkets ranging from local chains of excellent quality (The Sultan Company) to the ones operated by international heavy hitters such as Carrefour (By MAJ) and an Indian chain, LuLu. All of them offer selections of truly international range and usually at competitive prices.

Drink
Alcohol is banned outright in Kuwait. It may not be imported, manufactured, or possessed, even for personal use. Newspapers regularly report busts of illegal distilleries.

Sleep
Hotels in Kuwait are expensive, but major Western chains are well represented (see Kuwait City for hotel listings). Light sleepers should bring ear plugs as public announced prayers are broadcast before twilight and several times during the day.

Chalets and other weekend accommodation can be rented in many places along the southern part of the coast.

Work
The economy of Kuwait is best described as healthy: the standard of living is on par with many of the world's developed nations, the cost of living is low, unemployment is low, and taxes are virtually non-existent.

Many full-service office providers are available to businesses within Kuwait, such as IO Centers. Most large companies have high-quality office facilities but expect to see a significant portion of Kuwaiti businesses operating out of small 3- to 4-person offices. These businesses are usually owned by a Kuwaiti and staffed by Middle Easterners or Asians and don't usually hire nationals of Western descent. If you plan to work in Kuwait, check the academic requirements of desired positions, as in most cases, the Kuwaiti government insists on degrees from accredited universities.

Expect to be paid anywhere from for average middle-range positions to  for higher jobs such as teaching or consulting. However, domestic maids can earn as little as per month, although food and accommodation are usually included with the job. Kuwait is heavily saturated with IT workers (mainly from India), so wages in the IT industry are meagre. If you are looking at accepting a job offer before coming to Kuwait, check carefully how much you will be paid and if your employer will assist you with accommodation. It is common for workers of Asian nationality to fall victim to promises of good pay and provision of accommodation only to find themselves having their passports confiscated and falling under the control of their sponsor. Be sure to check the reputation and creditability of any potential employer before accepting a position.

Any foreign national wishing to work in Kuwait must have a working visa under a Kuwaiti sponsor. There is no provision for freelance work. Foreign nationals found working without a work permit will be promptly apprehended and asked to leave, resulting in a possible ban from returning.

Stay safe
Kuwait, by and large, is a very safe country to visit.

Emergency telephone number (police, fire, ambulance) is 112.

Extreme weather
Perhaps the biggest danger in Kuwait is the hot climate. Temperatures can reach record highs during the summers. Be sure to hydrate often when walking out during the day, and wear appropriate clothing to deal with the heat.

Crime
The crime threat in Kuwait is assessed as low. Violent crimes against foreigners are rare but do occur. Physical and verbal harassment of women are continuing problems. Kuwaiti drivers can also be quite reckless.

Photography
Photography is probably the easiest way for a visitor to (inadvertently) get into trouble.

Do not take pictures or record videos of government buildings or anything of strategic importance (airports, oil fields) or else you could be detained by the authorities.

Also, do not take pictures or record videos of Kuwaitis without their explicit permission; it is very rude.

Stay healthy
Public health is entirely supported by the government at local clinics and hospitals, with a KD 5 fee paid by foreigners visiting Kuwait and KD 1 for expats with a resident visa, or a visitor's visa. Private non-governmental clinics are available as well, but charge much more at KD 30 and upwards. You will be entitled to free treatment in case of an accident or an emergency. In case of an emergency, call 112.

Tap water is drinkable, although most of it is desalinated and not particularly tasty, and in summertime, you may have a hard time telling apart the hot and cold taps. Bottled water is available everywhere for a few hundred fils.

Respect
Much of what's considered good manners in the Arab world applies to Kuwait.

You should be very smart about what you openly say to someone — honour is an important part of Kuwaiti culture and Kuwaitis will not hesitate to react with anger if you say or do anything that makes them feel insulted. Keep in mind that it is a crime to insult, humiliate, make fun of, or make defamatory statements about someone in public. The law is broadly defined and open to interpretation. In other words, if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Kuwait adopts a live-and-let-live policy for clothing, and you'll see a wide range of styles: women wear anything ranging from daring designer fashions to head-to-toe black abayas with headscarves, while men can be seen both in T-shirts and shorts or the traditional dazzling white dishdashah. To avoid unnecessary attention, though, women will want to steer clear of showing midriffs. Ironically, low necklines are less offensive. Bikinis are fine at the hotel pool, but not on public beaches. Public nudity is prohibited everywhere and not tolerated.

Do not eat, drink or smoke in public during the holy month of Ramadan or you may be fined or even go to jail. The fine is KD 100. Also, during Ramadan working hours may be shorter and restaurants will be closed during the day, even at the international airport. However, most supermarkets will remain open so food can still be purchased from there. Also, major hotels will offer breakfast (some start before dawn) and food during the day. Almost all restaurants offer Ramadan meals after dusk with set meals. If you are working, many employers will provide a space where Westerners may eat during Ramadan, but if not, it is inadvisable to consume anything in the presence of Muslim coworkers during Ramadan.

Although Kuwait is a relatively democratic country with some of the strongest press-freedoms in the Middle East, the ruling Al-Sabah family is venerated and the ruling family is projected by strict lèse-majesté laws, i.e, it is illegal to criticise them and challenge their authority. In Kuwait, the penalty for lèse-majesté is imprisonment. In 2013, a Kuwaiti teacher was sentenced to 11 years in prison for insulting the emir on social media.

Homosexuality is illegal, although you will frequently observe local men kissing when greeting and also holding hands when walking together, as this is not considered homosexual behavior in Kuwait.

Public display of affection between men and women is illegal.

Phone
The country code for Kuwait is 965. Local phone numbers are 8 digits long. Numbers starting with 2 are landline telephones, while numbers starting with 5,6 or 9 are mobile telephones numbers and numbers starting with 1 are service numbers. there are no area code and dialing within Kuwait will never require an additional 0 in the beginning.

Mobile
Kuwait uses GSM and mobile phones are widely available. The operators are Zain, Wataniya Telecom (Ooredoo), and Viva. As roaming charges can be very steep, it makes sense to get a local SIM card. a new SIM can be obtained from any of the official branches. A SIM can be bought from most telephone stores, and doesn't require registration. Registration requires the passport of the one who's applying. The prices for a new SIM card are very low:
 * Zain:
 * Ooredoo:
 * Viva: KD 2 with 1 KD 1 balance + KD 1 local talking time.

The charges apply on the caller only.

Kuwait is a small country. The whole country is covered, so don't worry about each operator coverage. However, since Viva is a relatively new company, you'll get lower signal and even lower LTE signal.

Internet
There are several internet and telecom service providers in Kuwait. The media in Kuwait is among the most outspoken in the Gulf states, journalists self-censor on issues related to royal family. Kuwait is one of the fastest growing ICT markets in the region. The majority of the Kuwaiti population can afford to have Internet services at home, the reason the country has fewer Internet cafes than other Gulf countries.

Major Internet service providers in Kuwait.
 * FASTtelco Tel: +965 22256688 Email: sales@fasttelco.net Website: www.fasttelco.net
 * Gulfnet Tel: +965 1816666 Website: www.gulfnet.com.kw
 * Mada Tel: +965 1822888 Website: www.mada.com.kw
 * Qualitynet Tel: +965 1804444 Website: www.qualitynet.net
 * Zajil Telecom (KEMS) Tel: +965 1820820 Email: info@zajil.com Website: www.zajil.com

Telecommunications

Fixed (Landline) line telephony services are provided by the Ministry of Communications (MoC). To subscribe you need to apply at your local branch of the MoC. Typical documents required are Tenancy contract, employer letter and civil id. Most expats don't tend to bother however and choose one of the 3 mobile operators.

Mobile Internet
LTE is available nearly everywhere. if there's no LTE, the connection will be changed to HSPA+, which is very fast. VIVA offers LTE for the same price as 3G. However, their network is relatively slow. Zain's and Wataniya's LTE prices are different from the 3G prices, but their network is fast.

Connection points

 * Shopping malls: Fastelco, one of the ISPs provide you with one hour of free high speed Wi-Fi each day. KEMS, another ISP have a lot of access points, but their internet isn't free.
 * Cafés
 * Starbucks: Starbucks' Wi-Fi is free for an hour but requires a Starbucks card. However, connection speed in Starbucks is limited to less than 512 Kbps, so it's not recommended. Also electricity sockets aren't available if you plan to charge your device while using it.
 * Hotels

Home Internet
If you already subscribed to mobile phone internet, you can always turn on the portable hotspot in you phone and then connect to the internet in you computer/laptop, tablet or any other device.

Internet is available via different ways, the most stable and popular way is via ADSL subscription. Subscribing to ADSL service requires a landline. Internet access starts at KD 39 a year at 1Mbit/s. ADSL connection are mainly available via annual subscription. However, 1 month, 3-month and 6-month subscriptions are also available.

Some people may choose to use an LTE mini routers or CPEs (fixed routers) and use mobile internet services from Zain, Wataniya (Ooredoo) and Viva, this is a good option if you're planning on staying for a little time. However, connecting this way is capped.

Another recommendation is to try a relatively new service, "Mada". This service is Wimax and up to 10 Mbit/s download speed (although the speed never reaches this rate, and in some areas it will not even reach 1 Mbps). the cost is KD 40 for the main router and KD 25 per month.

Websites containing adult content are censored by all of the internet providers by direction of the Minister of Communications. Skype is legal in Kuwait. All other VoIP clients like Line, Tango and Viber and Skype can easily be download from phones' applications' markets (e.g. Appstore or Google Play).

Telephone
Kuwait has high international call rates. Although calling overseas is also very cheap It's recommended to use apps and services like Line or Skype to call overseas. For home usage, Phoneserve cards are available (mostly in Hawally) that can be used for cheap calls worldwide. Users with credit cards use Skype and Yahoo Voice for communication as well, but Skype website is banned now (However, the app can be used).

Some traditional corner-shops called "Baqqalat" (singular. Baqqala) sell an international calling card called Big Boss which offers good rates to Europe but only when calling landlines. For the rest of continents the rates are decent even when calling mobile phones.

Go next
Like when entering Kuwait, most people leaving will probably do so by plane. Thus, you can choose among several interesting small Gulf states including the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain reachable by plane in just one hour or so. Iran and Oman are also close by.

Going elsewhere overland can be a bit tricky. Saudi-Arabia requires virtually all foreigners to obtain a visa and doesn't issue them for just "tourism". In the same way practically everyone needs a visa to enter Iraq, and while you probably could get a tourist visa, consider that Iraq is one of the world's most dangerous countries. By boat, you can reportedly travel to Iran and Bahrain.

title: Kuwait


text:
Kuwait City

Kuwait City (Arabic: مدينة الكويت Madīnat al-Kuwayt) is the capital of Kuwait.

Kuwait City is a bustling metropolis of high-rise office buildings, luxury hotels, wide boulevards and well-tended parks and gardens. Its most dominant landmarks are the Kuwait Towers. Kuwait City is not, however, an attractive city to visit as much of the architecture and its general feel is one of sand-blown dustiness.

Understand
Its seaport is used by oil tankers, cargo ships and many pleasure craft.

Orientation
The main residential and business areas are Salmiya and Hawalli. The main industrial area is Shuwaikh within the Al Asimah Governorate. The main palaces are As-Seef Palace in the old part of Kuwait City where the Emir runs the daily matters of the country, and the government headquarters is in Bayan Palace, while the Emir stays in Dar Salwa.

By plane
See the main Kuwait article for the full scoop. Express bus X3 connects the airport with the city center, and runs every hour including nights. Ticket can be purchased on board, KD 1.

By taxis
If you don't have your own wheels, taxis are the most practical form of transport. Meters are universally ignored (the official fares haven't changed in years), so agree on the price before you set off. There are three basic types:

Call taxis (aka hotel taxis) are all-white with company decals on the doors, and they can be found lurking around major hotels. Usually ordered by phone, these are usually fairly nice and will take you where you want to go with a minimum of fuss, but charge steeper prices: KD 3 is the standard fare for most trips around town, while going to/from the airport is KD 5. However, if you manage to catch one on the road (away from the watchful eye of the dispatcher), they may cut you a discount. Kuds Taxi,, is one of the largest operators.

Airport taxis are larger American cars that have their own ramp at the airport. They have a printed fee on the inside of the taxi with the fares fixed. Many drivers will, however, try to demand higher fares.

Orange taxis, which are actually white-and-beige with yellow license plates and "TAXI" signs on the roof, prowl the streets of Kuwait looking for passengers. Fares are negotiable, with short hops from KD 1 and a longer trip across town around KD 2. Readily available, you are likely to be tooted by them as you try to cross the road. The divers will try to increase the cost of the journey and huff and puff if the traffic is bad, or if you weren't completely clear on where you were going. They will then demand more on arrival. It is easy to see when they are about to pull this trick as they will start to complain about your inaccuracy shortly before arrival. Some, but not all, orange taxis ply only along fixed routes, and you'll be expected to share the cab (and the fare) with other passengers if you board one of these.

By bus
The Kuwait Public Transport Company (KPTC) and CityBus run buses in and around Kuwait City, with a flat 300 fils fare for trips in the city and flat 350 fils for longer distances. The two run on the same routes, so KPTC bus 999 will get you to the same place and for the same price as CityBus 999. However, bus shelters are spartan, schedules erratic and information lacking, making this a poor second to taxis if you're in any sort of hurry and not desperately short on cash. For the adventurous, privately owned CityBus maintains an up-to-date list of routes on their website, while KPTC's website is only in Arabic.

Useful bus routes are:
 * 13: Goes from the Airport (KWI) to Mirquab (city center), 1 hr
 * 15, 16, 999: Go from Mirquab south all the way parallel to the coast. 999 and 16 goes as far as Fahaheel.

See

 * Liberation Tower. One of the tallest telecommunications towers in the world. Tourists are no longer allowed to enter the tower; however, visitors seem to be allowed in on February 25th, National Day.
 * Sadu House. Right beside the National Museum. Made of coral and gypsum and is used as a cultural museum to protect the arts and crafts of Bedouin society. It is an ideal place to purchase Bedouin goods.
 * Bayt Al-Badr Right beside the National Museum. It is one of the very few houses left that were built in old Kuwaiti architecture. Seems to be closed at least temporarily as of early 2010 but it's worth passing by.
 * Sadu House. Right beside the National Museum. Made of coral and gypsum and is used as a cultural museum to protect the arts and crafts of Bedouin society. It is an ideal place to purchase Bedouin goods.
 * Bayt Al-Badr Right beside the National Museum. It is one of the very few houses left that were built in old Kuwaiti architecture. Seems to be closed at least temporarily as of early 2010 but it's worth passing by.

Do
There are quite a few things to do in Kuwait City. It is possible to have lunch or dinner in the Kuwait Towers (the three towers by the sea with water storage). It is worthwhile to take a tour of the Grand Mosque in Kuwait, just kindly ask the security guard in front of the entrance to the mosque. Across the street from the Grand Mosque is the Kuwaiti Stock Exchange, which seems to be open to the public.

While in Kuwait it is also possible to smoke Shisha (Hookah) at a cafe. There are also quite a few great restaurants with Iranian, Lebanese, and Bedouin foods.

To escape the intense heat, visit the Aqua Park near the Kuwait Towers. It's KD 3.50 to get in and offers a variety of modern rides and pools.

One can also walk along many of the sidewalks that line the coast of Kuwait. At dusk, it's ideal to sit on a bench across from the Souq Sharq and watch the sun set on the Arabian Sea. Buy yourself a sack of nuts or bagful of olives from the souq in the fish market and relax.

Fitness fanatics and the health conscious have several options to get engaged with exclusive fitness center in and around Kuwait City. Some of the best health clubs and gyms are attached to hotels like the Palms, SAS Radisson, Hilton etc. There are also stand alone spas and fitness centers. Elysium, Flex, Spa time and Ayurmana are a few of the highly top fitness centers in Kuwait. Ayurmana also has a highly rated Exclusive Yoga Studio for women and Ayurveda Center.

Learn

The American University of Kuwait is located in the Salmiya District, the Gulf University of Science and Technology is located in Mishref, Australian College of Kuwait is located in Mishref, the American University of the Middle East and the American College of the Middle East are located in Egaila, Kuwait University has a few campuses at different locations in the city, Box Hill College Kuwait is located in Abu Halifa.

Many British, American, French, Indian and Pakistani schools are located in different areas around Kuwait.

Buy
Several high-end malls in Kuwait City, with the Marina Mall being one of the largest. However, prices are quite expensive especially compared with other places in the region - most name brand products will cost 2-5 times what they would cost in the west.

 * Modern shopping centers: Souq Sharq (Kuwait City) and Marina Mall (Salmiya) are both on the coastal Gulf Road and offer excellent shopping. Another shopping centre is "Al-Kout" (Fahaheel) it has several beautiful coffee shops and many other outlets. "Araya Mall" (Sharq) and Al-Salhiya Mall (Sharq) offers high-price designer brands. The Avenues is a newer mall and is one of the largest in Kuwait.
 * Traditional markets: A famous destination is the Souk Al Mubarakiya in the heart of downtown. Middle Eastern and Oriental items abound as well as a gold and jewellery market. Souk Al-Juma'a is a Friday market with very low-priced mass-produced goods and second-hand stuff. The Mahameed markets in Behbahani complex have similar selection and pricing as well.
 * A more Oriental atmosphere can be found on the other side of town also in a mall called Souk Al-Watiya or Al-Watiya Complex, located beside the Sheraton Hotel and 4 Point Sheraton. This place is also called the Adidas Building by local Filipinos. Situated close to churches the whole area can look like a mini India Town and Filipino Town during Friday and Sunday. Many restaurants also serving either fast food or oriental traditional foods. This is also a good place to buy any gold or jewellery.

The Al-Fanar mall in Kuwait has restaurants, cafes and many shops like Ralph Lauren and Lacoste.

Eat
French: Le Relais de l'Entrecote (Avenues Mall, Al-Fanar Mall, Salmiya) - The traditional steak frites, based on the original Parisian restaurant in Porte Malliot; Paul (Marina Mall, Salmiya and others) - The patisserie which serves pretty authentic pastries/baguettes and some decent entrees.

Italian: Viaggio Restaurant located in the first floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel has probably one of the best authentic Italian food in town. Lorenzo, next to Salhiya Complex (in Sharg), and Ricardo, which is in the Sheraton are considered among the best Italian restaurants in Kuwait. Pomodoro which is in Sharg next to the church also serves good Italian food. Nino's, on the Gulf Road, is also good, but is more of a casual restaurant.Gelato Italiano, at Sharg area Ahmed AlJaber st., Gaz Tower,, one of the first in Kuwait since 2001, very popular, and offers a large selection of Italian ice creams.

Indian: Mugal Mahal (sharg), Bukhara (Sheraton hotel), Silk and Spice (Al Kout Mall, Fahaheel), Asha's (Marina crescent). The Spice Club (360 Mall), is a popular spot in the new mall, and is acclaimed for it's North Indian delicacies and varied menu, hence an attraction to regular foodies year round - highly recommended.

Lebanese: Villa Fayrouz (Sha'ab), Mejana (Al Kout Mall, Fahahel), Mais Al-Ghanim (Gulf Road), Tarboosh (Sheraton Hotel), Burj Al Hamam.

Persian: Shahrayar (Sheraton Hotel), Shabestan (Crowne Plaza Hotel), Baba Taher (Sharq)

Kuwaiti: AL-Marsa which is in the Ritz Hotel on the gulf road, highly recommended if you want to try local cuisine.

American: Johnny Rockets (Marina Mall, Kout Mall, The Avenues), Chilis and Fridays both located on the gulf road

Japanese: Kei (Marriott Hotel or Marina Mall), Maki (Marina Waves, Edo (Shaeb) Sakura (Crown Plaza hotel or Layla Gallery) all four are highly recommended.

Chinese: Greens (Gulf road), Golden chopsticks (Sha'ab), Peacock (Radisson Sas Hotel).

Burgers: Burger Hub serves over 50 kinds of gourmet burgers and appetizers the largest selection in the GCC and M E (Gulf Road in front of Al Seif palace), burger gourmet (marina mall). Burger Co. (Hawalli in front of Muhalab Mall)

Breakfast: Prime and Toast is the first gourmet Deli in the Middle East located opposite (Seif palace).

Sleep
Western chains are prevalent in Kuwait, with the JW Marriott and Sheraton as the largest five-star hotels in the downtown business district. The Courtyard by Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton are also present, along with two luxury Le Méridien properties. A Crowne Plaza is located near Kuwait International Airport; there are also two Holiday Inn properties, one in the shopping district of Salmiya and the other located in downtown Kuwait City. Additional resort hotels, such as the Hilton and Kempinski, are located on the coast.

The only hostel operating in Kuwait as of 2023 is Aladdin Roomson Amman St (Salmiya) near the city center in a lively neighborhood with generous and hospitable hosts.

Stay safe
Kuwait City is relatively safe. Crime rates are low and the neighboring civil conflict in Iraq has not spilled over into Kuwait. The same is not true of some of the suburbs where it can be unsafe for single females to walk alone. Cars will pull up demanding that western women get in and they can be very threatening.

Be very careful crossing streets: Kuwaiti drivers are reckless. There are no pedestrian lights, pedestrian crossings are virtually ignored.

Respect
Kuwait is a mostly Muslim country so wear respectable clothing during your travels. That said, "respectful" is a relative term. Kuwaiti malls are full of young Kuwaitis in shorts, tight clothing, etc. Along with Dubai, this is one the few places in the region it is easy to get away with wearing shorts if one wants to. Do not say anything that might be perceived as an insult to Islam, the Kuwaiti government, or national pride. Drug trafficking, murder, and rape are punishable by death. It is also important to note that swearing publicly at someone, or gesturing obscenely, is grounds for arrest and steep fines or immediate deportation.

Cope
The best way for any Westerner to cope with living in Kuwait, particularly if coming here without family, is to make plenty of friends. The newcomer will find that friendships among members of the Western expatriate community are formed more quickly than back home. There are plenty of social activities to get involved with, especially sport (cricket, rugby, sailing, squash, tennis, horse riding, darts, to name a few). Also available are theatre groups, ramblers, choirs, and business associations (in conjunction with various of the Western embassies here). Christian churches are also well represented.

An essential first step is to register with your home country's embassy, under the warden system, so that the Consular staff know you have arrived and where you live in Kuwait. Also, it is sensible to register with a decent doctor and a dentist. Your embassy can help with this.

Alcohol is illegal in Kuwait and possession of this carries very harsh penalties. Many inhabitants, however, both Kuwaiti and expatriate, maintain well stocked bars at home. Home brewing is a thriving hobby. That said, it is essential to remember that this is a Muslim country and it is foolish in the extreme to flout openly the laws of the place. Due respect should be shown at all times.

The summers (particularly July and August) are extremely hot, with temperatures during the day reaching over 50°C (122°F) for weeks on end. It is therefore important to drink plenty of water at these times to avoid dehydration and to keep out of the sun as far as possible. December to February can, surprisingly, be really cold, with night time temperatures falling below 0°C (32°F). The spring time (March and most of April) is delightful in terms of weather. Thereafter, the weather heats up and it is often mid-October before the place starts to cool down.

Embassies

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * Georgia
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇷🇸 Serbia
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇵🇱 Poland

Go next
Everyone who has spent more than a few months in Kuwait quickly realizes that they have seen and done everything that can be seen and done here. Exploring the Gulf region becomes a relatively low-cost diversion whatever an adventurer's tastes may be: rock climbing, snow skiing, scuba diving, fishing, drinking, dancing or whatever. You'll definitely want to leave Kuwait if you seek to avoid boredom.

title: Kuwait City


text:
Kuwana

Kuwana (桑名) is the fifth largest city in Mie by population, and lies within easy commuting distance of Nagoya.

Tourist information site
The city government's official site has a good Japanese-only tourism section.

By plane
Nagoya-Centrair is about an hour away by car. Mie Kōtsū (Sancō) run three buses a day to and from Nagashima Onsen and Kuwana Station, taking 1hr 30 min and costing ¥1600 (Suspended as of May 2024). Otherwise, take a Meitetsu train to Nagoya and change there to either Kintetsu (using the dedicated interchange gate) or the JR Kansai Line.

By train
Kuwana is connected to Nagoya by two competing lines.

 * The JR Kansai Line usually runs four trains per hour (two local, two non-stop rapid) at a cost of ¥350, taking between 20 and 30 minutes. On the hourly Mie Rapid trains, you have the option of paying an extra ¥520 for a reserved seat.
 * The Kintetsu Nagoya Line runs three Express trains per hour (taking 20 minutes) and two Semi-Express trains per hour (taking 26 minutes), costing ¥440. There are also three Limited Express trains per hour which run non-stop in 16 minutes, but these cost ¥950.

From Tokyo, allow 2hrs 20mins and ¥11,510 (via the JR Kansai Line) or ¥11,730 (via Kintetsu) (slightly longer and cheaper if avoiding Nozomi trains).

Kintetsu runs one direct Limited Express per hour from Osaka-Namba, taking just over 2 hours and costing ¥3730 (about 30 minutes longer than taking the Shinkansen and going through Nagoya, but roughly half the price). Alternatively, you can take a Limited Express to Ise-Nakagawa or Tsu and change there for a train to Kuwana. If you want to take Kintetsu from Osaka but avoid Limited Expresses, it will take about 3 hr 20 min but cost only ¥2120.

Kuwana is also served by the JR Nanki Limited Express four times a day. From Nagoya this is no faster than the JR Rapid trains, and at ¥1820 is far more expensive than any other train; in the other direction, however, it serves Owase, Kumano, Shingū, and Kii-Katsuura (about 3 hr 20 min and ¥7050 from the latter). The JR Mie Rapid trains compete with Kintetsu on the route to Ise and Toba, which is roughly 1 hr 30 min away.

(Note that between Yokkaichi and Tsu, Nanki Limited Express and Mie Rapid trains run on the non-JR Ise Railway. If you are using a Japan Rail Pass, you must pay a surcharge of ¥510 for Mie trains and ¥820 for Nanki trains.)

Kuwana also sits at one end of the Yōrō Railway, which runs to Ōgaki (via Kaizu and Yōrō) in 1 hr 10 min for ¥830 – cheaper, but about 10 minutes slower, than going through Nagoya.

By bus
Despite being so close to Nagoya, Kuwana is served by three overnight buses a day:

 * Two buses to Tokyo and Ōmiya (one to Tachikawa, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Ōmiya, the other to Yokohama, Ikebukuro, and Ōmiya), taking between 4 hr 15 min and 7 hr 15 min (depending on service and destination) and costing between ¥5700 and ¥10,000 (depending on destination and day of travel). Operated by Seibu Kankō Bus and Mie Kōtsū.
 * Kuwana is the first stop of 10 in Mie Prefecture, so buses leave for Tokyo after 23:30 and arrive in the morning before 05:00. It may be more sensible to take an overnight bus to Nagoya and take the train from there.
 * A bus to Tokushima, Takamatsu and Matsuyama, taking between 5 hr 10 min and 10 hours and costing between ¥5500 and ¥12,000. Operated by JR Tōkai Bus and JR Shikoku Bus (Olive Matsuyama).
 * This bus leaves Kuwana for Shikoku at 23:45 and arrives before 05:30; the departure and arrival times for Tokushima in particular are equally inconvenient.

Eat
The city's specialty dish is Kuwana Curry, which features beef curry and pork curry separated by rice.

Go next
While it is easy to return to Nagoya on the train, you can also continue on to Yokkaichi or Suzuka (home of the Suzuka Circuit) to the south.
 * Yokkaichi
 * Inabe
 * Toin
 * Kisosaki
 * Yoro
 * Ogaki
 * Yatomi
 * Nagoya

title: Kuwana


text:
Kujawsko-Pomorskie

Kujawsko-Pomorskie is a province (voivodeship) in Poland. It is situated in mid-northern Poland, on the boundary between the two historic regions from which it takes its name: Kujawy (sometimes rendered in English as Cuiavia or Kuyavia or variations thereof) and south-eastern part of Pomorze (or Pomerania, also Pomerelia).

For centuries, the area of the present-day Kujawsko-Pomorskie has been under the political and cultural influence of both Poland and various German states, resulting in unique heritage. It has also historically been quite prosperous, while also becoming a front line for many conflicts in the Middle Ages. As a result, it boasts a number of medieval castles, fortresses and impressive old towns, most of which survived the subsequent wars relatively unscathed.

The picturesque landscape also makes the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship a good destination for nature lovers, and the traditions and concentration of the foodstuffs industry in the region makes the visit delightful to the palate as well.

Understand
The area is a borderland between various historical, ethnographic and natural regions. Kuiavia is to the south of the Vistula river, with cities like Bydgoszcz, Włocławek, and Inowrocław. It is known for good lands for agriculture and salt. Located to the north-east, across the biggest Polish river, there is the Land of Dobrzyń that was under Cuiavian control for centuries. With no big cities, it is a land of fields, idyllic hills, small towns, and villages. Pomeranian is the northern part of the voivodeship with the south of historic Eastern Pomerania known also as Pomerelia and the Land of Chełmno. Both areas were in the 19th century part of West Prussia province and are linked by the medieval history of Teutonic Order State that began in the 1230s. This is why there are many medieval monuments across this part of the region, including world heritage old town of Toruń. Additionally, the western part of the voivodeship historically belonged to Greater Poland. The area in the northwest is known as Krajna which meant a borderland, as it is a part of lands separating Pomerania from Greater Poland. It is an agrarian, hilly land with many idyllic landscapes around small towns of Sępólno Krajeńskie and Nakło. To the south, there is an ethnographic region of Pałuki centred around Żnin, popular among tourists due to many historic sites from prehistoric and early medieval times. Also, the area around the town of Mogilno is a part of historic Greater Poland, being for centuries a part of Gniezno district.

History
In the early Middle Ages, south-western part of the region was in the core of newly forming Polish state. In the 11th century, a bishopric was established in Kruszwica and later transferred to Włocławek. Poland was divided into several duchies from 1138 and the area became more and more divided. When the reunited Kingdom of Poland took back Kuiavia, the area retained its traditional division into two separate parts, The Inowrocław Voivodeship and the Brześć Kujawski Voivodeship.

In the meanwhile, Masovian dukes invited Teutonic Knights to the Land of Chełmno, to help them fight pagan Prussian tribes to the north. Mostly German-speaking monks-soldiers not only conquered the area known later as East Prussia but also turned against Polish dukes and series of fierce wars continued for over two centuries. Teutonic State conquered also Polish-controlled East Pomerania in the 14th century, and briefly controlled Kuiavia and Land of Dobrzyń too. During the 15th century the Kingdom of Poland, now entering its golden age, finally crushed the power of knights and regained control over East Pomerania and the Land of Chełmno in 1466, since then known also as Royal Prussia.

Until 17th century Vistula river was an important trade route for Polish goods to the major international harbour of Gdańsk and many towns along the river flourished. During the 16th century also came reformation, popular mainly among German-speaking citizens. Because Poland was the most tolerant country in Europe, many religious groups learned to live together. During the 17th century, Dutch, Frisian and German Mennonite colonists founded numerous villages along the Vistula river. They developed independent village communities and brought their agricultural knowledge to the region, specializing in the cultivation of lakes and rivers in moorland and fallow land. Also, many Jews and Catholic refugees from Scotland settled in the area.

Golden Age of Poland ended with the economic stagnation and wars of the 17th century. The Kingdom, since 1569 a member of democratic Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, gradually collapsed and was partitioned by its absolutist neighbours of Prussia, Russia, and Austria. Following the First Partition of Poland in 1772, the northern part and following the Second Partition of Poland in 1793 also the southern part of this region was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia.

Between 1807 and 1815 the region was a part of the Duchy of Warsaw and later split between Prussia and the Russian Kingdom of Poland. After more than a century, in 1918 it became part of the Second Polish Republic. In 1938, after administrative reform, Kuiavia was added to the Pomeranian Voivodeship, which capital was Toruń. After Nazi German occupation during World War II, this administrative unit was restored, although without its northernmost part around Gdańsk. The voivodeship received for the first time borders similar to modern ones. Also, in 1945 the capital was moved to the bigger and more proletarian Bydgoszcz, and in 1950 the name was changed to Bydgoszcz Voivodeship. In 1975 another reform divider the region into three smaller ones.

At the time of the fall of communism in 1989, and regaining the full independence by Poland, the economic crisis hit hard, especially rural areas. Luckily, economic reforms and later joining the EU in 2004 by Poland helped to overcome the most difficult period. Another administrative reform created the current voivodeship in 1999 in the shape similar to the post-war territory.

Talk
The people of Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship speak standard Polish with little if any local dialect. Due to its history, many inhabitants have at least cursory knowledge of German. As in the entirety of Poland, English knowledge is on the rise, particularly among the younger generations. The region sees a fair amount of tourist travel and thus many service-sector employees have reasonable fluency in English.

By plane
The only airport in the region with scheduled passenger service is the Bydgoszcz Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport, with a growing but a limited number of connections. One may also use the more major airports in the cities close to Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship - Poznań, Gdańsk, or Warsaw (the latter offers intercontinental connections).

By train
With a well-developed railway network, travelling into Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship by train is a good choice. There are good train connections with most of the major cities in the country, as well as with Berlin.

By bus
There are several bus companies offering connections with other major cities in Poland and Europe. Major ones are PKS Bydgoszcz, FlixBus, Sindbad.

Get around
The majority of tourist sites are easily accessible by train or bus. Most cities and towns have a train and/or bus station offering long- and short-distance connections. Unfortunately, information about bus connections is often Polish-only and sometimes hard to find on the internet.

By train
A train is a good option to travel around the region. Many local trains are new and comfortable. All major cities are well connected to each other, and many towns and villages along the major routes too, so one can get to sites like Brodnica, Mogilno, Tuchola Forest. Still, the majority of interesting towns and villages is reachable only by other means of transport. The service is provided by Polregio and Arriva. The train schedule for all train companies in Poland can be found here (the site is available in Polish, English, German and Russian).

By bus
A bus is the best way to get to many interesting towns and villages in the region if one is using public transportation. The density of the network and quality may vary, and there are many companies providing their offer. Schedule for most of the buses is provided here.

Urban transport
Public transport in major cities is usually of good quality. Bydgoszcz, Toruń, and Grudziądz have tram lines, while these three plus Inowrocław, Włocławek, Brodnica, and Świecie have public bus lines.

By bike
Biking is a great way to discover the region, especially during warmer days. There are many bike trails prepared, although sometimes it is better just to use your own creativity while looking on the map. The area is rather flat, and there are no denivelations bigger than 100 meters. There is a map of biking and hiking trails, created by the community, although only in Polish.

On foot
There are many hiking paths across the region, although the density and state of preservation may vary. They are signed with Polish standard, with three rectangles: two whites and one colourful in the middle. There are five colours (red, black, green, blue and yellow), and two trails of the same colour cannot cross. The longest hiking paths are: blue Brda Trail from Bydgoszcz to Konarzyny in Pomeranian Voivodeship along Brda river through Tuchola Forest, and yellow Drwęca Trail from Toruń to Radomno in Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship. Additionally, there is Camino Polaco, a Polish section of St. James pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain and also many smaller educational paths.

By car
Sometimes it may be simply the easiest way of travelling around the region. The road network is dense and mostly of good quality. In some more remote areas, there are still gravel local roads, for example in Tuchola Forest region.

By kayak
Kayaking is a popular form of recreation along Brda, Drwęca and Wda rivers and may be considered as an interesting way to discover some parts of the region.

Cities
Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship is unique in that it has a fairly distributed population and many medium-sized cities and smaller towns spread across the region, so there is plenty to visit and see besides the region's capitals. Capitals in the plural, as the region is governed from two of its largest cities:

 * — often called “Little Berlin” because of the beautiful Art-Nouveau, Neo-Baroque and Eclecticist architecture
 * — one of the most historic cities in Poland with the biggest amount of gothic architecture buildings in the Baltic Sea region, famous for its well-preserved old town, being the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus and delicious gingerbread called katarzynki

Other cities and major towns:
 * — historic town surrounded by the natural Brodnica Lake District region
 * — gothic and renaissance old town surrounded by almost intact city walls
 * — brick Gothic town on the Vistula River - and the smallest tram system in Poland
 * — known for its saltwater baths and historic churches
 * — third largest city of the region with a beautiful gothic cathedral and a dam on Vistula river
 * — gothic water castle ruins on the Wda river

Other destinations

 * — unique late Bronze-Age and early Iron-Age settlement recreated at the archaeological site where it was discovered, with a lively open-air exhibit. It is located along the Żnin heritage railway
 * — small town, one of historic capitals of Cuiavia known as the birthplace of Ladislas III, a king that successfully reunited Poland in 1320
 * — village on a historic border between Kuiavia and Krajna between two lakes with a beautiful rococo church
 * — historic town with Gothic cathedral and a beach on the Chełmża Lake
 * — small village with one of the best preserved and open to the public mennonite houses
 * — popular spa town close to the Vistula River
 * — strict nature reserve protecting the largest natural concentration of old-grown yews in Europe
 * — village along the Żnin heritage railway and a historic town, famous for baroque wooden church with beautiful wall paintings
 * — charming little town rife with historic architecture
 * — small town on the lake close to forests protected by the Górzno-Lidzbark Landscape Park
 * — in the vicinity of this small town there are the biggest neolithic structures in Poland, long for up to 130 m Kuyavian Megalithic Graves in Gaj, Sarnowo and Wietrzychowice
 * — Kuyavian village open air museum
 * — town north to Bydgoszcz, located in the Brda valley known for gothic-baroque monastery and popular in summer reservoir lake
 * — town of old Polish legends on the Gopło lake with medieval castle ruins and one of the oldest existing church buildings in the country
 * — small village with well preserved and open to the public palladian-style palace
 * — historic town with well preserved baroque-romanesque monastery, that has the oldest surviving complete chamber structure in Poland
 * — small historic town on Vistula river
 * — baroque and new classical palaces in a picturesque landscape park
 * — baroque monastery and second oldest in Poland calvary
 * — beautiful wooden baroque church
 * — village and historic town on a hill with a renaissance church and ruins of a castle with beautiful panorama over Ciechocinek and Vistula river
 * — small town with ruins of medieval castle and a historic church
 * — village with ruins of a palace and beautiful small renaissance church
 * — baroque monastery and pilgrimage site
 * — a town close to Bydgoszcz where one can visit dinosaur museum and theme park
 * — with a monastic complex of romanesque-baroque churches with one of the best preserved sets of romanesque sculptures in Central Europe
 * — cultural and economic centre of the southern part of the Tuchola Forest region
 * — small historic village along the Żnin heritage railway is famous for railway museum, ruins of a gothic castle and the name meaning "Venice" in Polish
 * — small town by the Więcbork Lake in the middle of Krajna Landscape Park
 * — historic town surrounded by two lakes is the centre of ethnographic Pałuki region. A heritage railway links it with several historic sites in the area

See

 * Old Town in Toruń brick gothic town hall and churches form a unique medieval panorama at the Vistula shore. Nicolaus Copernicus was born in one of the fine Gothic houses. This picturesque and academic city is listed as a world heritage site.
 * Old Town in Chełmno with nearly intact city walls, six gothic churches (incl. relics of St. Valentine), renaissance city hall, and the best view in the world (a Polish wordplay meaning also the best view on the neighbouring town of Świecie pronounced the same way as the World in this case)
 * View from the Mice Tower in Kruszwica on the Gopło Lake
 * The largest graduation towers in Europe in the famous spa town of Ciechocinek

Do

 * Ride the Żnin heritage railway
 * Kayak along Brda or Wda rivers
 * Take a "water tram" boat on the Brda river in Bydgoszcz

Eat

 * Gingerbreads from Toruń

Stay safe
The region is relatively safe. Standard caution is always advisable though, as petty crime does occur.

Go next
Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship borders five other Polish voivodeships:

 * Wielkopolskie,
 * Łódzkie,
 * Mazowieckie,
 * Warmińsko-Mazurskie,
 * and Pomorskie.

title: Kujawsko-Pomorskie


text:
Kvarken Archipelago

The Kvarken Archipelago (Swedish: Kvarkens skärgård, Finnish: Merenkurkun saaristo) is an archipelago in the narrowest part of the Gulf of Bothnia, between Finland and Sweden. Along with the neighboring High Coast of Sweden, it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is in the municipality of Korsholm, off the coast of Vaasa.

Understand

Once weighed down by immensely heavy glaciers that melted after the end of the Ice Age, the Kvarken area is undergoing extremely fast uplift (by geological standards), with land rising about 8 mm per year – enough to create 1 square kilometre of new land every year.

Unlike most of Finland, the area is exclusively Swedish-speaking, most exceptions being summer cottagers.

History
The area was rather isolated until modern age due to the lack of connecting roads: regular ferry services were started in 1952 and a bridge to the continent was built in 1997. Consequently, a monolingual Swedish-speaking culture was retained.

Landscape
The archipelago consists of some 6,550 islands. The largest of them, Replot (Raippaluoto), is Finland's 8th largest and houses the vast majority of the islands' population of some 2,500 people, but it's (just) outside the World Heritage Site area. Björkö, containing the small idyllic seaside village of Björköby, is in the midst of the site.

Climate
As could be expected at a seaside location, the area is windy, and it's a good idea to pack a warm coat or jacket even in summer. However, the area is one of the sunniest in Finland. Due to the latitude, nights are short and light in the summer.

Get in

The best place to start your visit is the Terranova exhibition at the Ostrobothnian Museum, which is not in the archipelago, but in the nearby town of Vaasa. Road 724 (Alskatvägen) connects Replot with Vaasa, starting from a roundabout connected to highway 8 east of the city centre. The road goes to the Replot bridge, and most other road connections (Björkö or Panike) are through Replot. The exceptions are the north-eastern islands Köklot and Värlax, to which the road begins just shy of the bridge on road 724. A few of the islands near Replot or the coast are accessible by car, but for most of the smaller and outlying islands, you'll need to get a boat.

Fees and permits
No fees for entry or getting around, just for services of private entrepreneurs.

Much of the archipelago, including some shores reachable by road and foot, belong to the Valsörarna-Björkögrunden nature reserve, where right to access does not apply. There is also a seal reserve in the sea west of Valsörarna, where boaters should keep a minimum of 1 km to the islets, all the seal reserve is off limits February–mid June. In the rest of the archipelago right to access applies.

Dogs must be on a leash year round in all the area.

In the nature reserve you must keep to trails, and camping is allowed only off season at designated campsites (with few services). Navigation by boat is restricted to the fairways, with a speed limit of 8 knots.

May–July there is a general landing prohibition in the nature reserve, in order to protect nesting birds. Landing is permitted only in designated spots or on guided tours, and you may be required to keep to marked routes.

Open fire is allowed only at designated places and not during wildfire warnings (announced in most weather forecasts).

For fishing with reel outside the reserves, adults (18–64) need a fishing permit (fiskekort), which can be purchased at R-Kiosks. If you have a Finnish bank account, you can also buy them online. Fishing with a single hook and line (no reel) or ice fishing is free. There are some areas where fishing is forbidden. Also check size limits for different fish.

Get around
There are four designated nature trails for hiking among the islands of the archipelago. Canoes and kayaks can be rented at some of the nature stations, and are an excellent way of getting around.

See

The best way to see the heritage site is by boat. Because the sea is shallow and full of rocks, and because new rocks and skerries appear often (moved by sea ice in the winter, and rising because of the glacial rebound), it is recommended to have a local to navigate. Boat tours are available, see a compiled list at kvarkenworldheritage.fi

There are also some hiking trails along the shores, showing both the shallow sea and cultural environments, such as former fishing harbours and pastures.

Do
There are seasonal boat cruises to the heritage site ("World Heritage Cruises"), arranged from late June to mid-August. Booking in advance is required, and cruises are cancelled in rough weather. In addition to the regular cruises, private ones can be booked.

The archipelago of Valsörarna (Finnish: Valassaaret) is a good birdwatching site, being a stopover point for a rich variety of migrating birds. However, Valsörarna are among the most remote of the islands, and are only accessible by boat. Valsörarna are visited on some of the boat cruises mentioned above, otherwise you need to get a boat or book a private tour.

Fishing tours are arranged by several businesses.

Buy
There is a Sale grocery store and a Shell gas station shop in Replot church village near the bridge and a small shop in Norra Vallgrund in the south-west.

Eat and drink
There are cafés in Björköby, Replot church village, Replot guest harbour and by the bridge.

Try sea buckthorn berries (Hippophaë rhamnoides) if you happen to come in season (late August to mid-September). Picking is allowed but the berries are small and the bushes thorny. Makes you appreciate the (not so cheap) price of ready-made products. Served in a suitable way they are a delicacy, and very rich in vitamin C.

Lodging
Metsähallitus maintains two former pilot and coast guard stations as "Nature Stations", at Mickelsörarna (Vörå) and Mässkär (Jakobstad), primarily for guided groups, and reservations are essential. There are also rental cabins and open wilderness huts.

Also private businesses maintain rental cabins in the archipelago.

Camping
Camping is allowed according to right to access in parts of the archipelago, outside the Valsörarna-Björkögrund nature reserve and any sensitive, inhabited or cultivated territory. There are also a few designated areas in the nature reserve, for camping off nesting season. Open fires are only allowed at designated spots, and only when no wildfire warning is in effect (check weather forecasts, where they are announced). Do not disturb nesting birds.

Stay safe
As in any sparsely populated place, roads are often narrow, unpaved and locals drive fast. Also, the distances often surprise new visitors: you need to drive tens of kilometres for most places. The time to reach emergency services can easily be an hour or more.

The land uplift has one unique effect on boating: new rocks and skerries appear occasionally. This and the shallow seas mean that it's best to have a local guide when boating.

title: Kvarken Archipelago


text:
Kvarner

Kvarner and Highlands is a region of Croatia including the seashore and highlands north of Dalmatia and connects Istria with the rest of Croatia.

Regions
The Kvarner (Primorje-Gorski Kotar County) is divided into two regions - the mainland area (focusing on Rijeka), and the islands located within the Gulf of Kvarner.

Cities

 * - the largest city and port in Kvarner
 * - just west of Rijeka, a former playground of the rich and famous with old, boutique hotels and concrete beaches
 * - a small fishermans town in the area of the old roman military station Ad Turres
 * - town on Krk island
 * - town on Losinj island
 * — town on Adriatic coast
 * - central town of Gorski kotar (Highlands)
 * - tourist town in Gorski kotar (Highlands)

Talk
Croatian. Italian and German may be understood due to close proximity to these countries and the high level of visitors in summer months.

Get in
All forms of transport meet in Rijeka. Trains operate from Zagreb, Ljubljana, Vienna, Munich and Budapest daily to Rijeka. There is a large bus terminal to domestic and international destinations such as Dubrovnik, Split, Trieste, Belgrade and Sarajevo. International ferry services operate to Bari in Italy via Split, Korcula and Dubrovnik.

Highways also connect in Rijeka heading North (towards Slovenia), west (towards Istria) and east (towards Zagreb).

There is an international airport located on the island of Krk which operates primarily in the summer months.

Do
Take a day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park, a, and one of the most beautiful natural gems in Europe.

title: Kvarner