text:
Istanbul to New Delhi overland

This itinerary describes the overland route from Istanbul, to New Delhi. Also known as the Hippie Trail, this has been a legendary route since the 1960s and was followed by thousands of travellers until the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the beginning of the civil war in Afghanistan, both in 1979.

Today it is a bigger challenge than it was before these political events and depending on the local political situation it may be possible or not. Visas can be hard to arrange, some borders may be closed at times, and some places are no longer accessible for ordinary travellers without great risks for their safety. Details vary with the many political complications in the region; no trip should be planned without seeking current information.

The route overlaps somewhat with the Silk Road, the great trade route connecting China to the Mediterranean since ancient times, with the route Alexander the Great took as he conquered his way from Macedonia to northern India, and with the routes of the great medieval travellers Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta. It does not cover any of those completely, but does include important parts of all of them. The linked articles are probably worth a look when you are planning your journey.

Understand
This route involves crossing three countries from one extremity to the other, namely Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, and some parts of India. Going through Afghanistan may be possible or not depending on the changing political situation there and your evaluation of your personal safety and comfort.

Only information specific to this itinerary is available here. For details on places to visit along the way, see the specific pages. See also carpets for some of the most popular purchases on the route.

Avoid going during Ramadan, unless you are prepared to fast.

Police and officials in Eastern Turkey, Iran and Pakistan are quite touchy. Keep a low profile while dealing with them.

Avoid reaching a place in the middle of the night.

An alternate route to India is through Russia and/or Central Asia. The easiest way to link up with that route from Istanbul might be to get a boat to a Black Sea port.

Turkey
Western Turkey is visited by tourists from all over the world, so you will find all usual facilities here. But the further east you go, the fewer travellers you will meet, especially if you go away from the main transport facilities. So people there won't be so accustomed to tourists. However, this should not prevent you from visiting those places.

Iran
Iran is not much visited by tourists, and that is one of the main reasons to go there. People are eager to meet foreigners and if you get used to the local way of life you will enjoy your trip.

Afghanistan
Due to the decades-long civil war and on-going unrest, almost nobody goes to Afghanistan unless they have a really good reason. The Taliban were removed from power by the US-led invasion of 2001, but retook power in 2021. As of 2024 it seems that you can get a visa, but consulates issuing them are few and the visa policy does not seem to be stable.

Getting a visa may be difficult and the whole country is seriously dangerous. See warnings in the Afghanistan article and suggestions in War zone safety.

Pakistan
There have always been tourists in Pakistan, although many fewer at times when the country is making news. The land borders have been closed at times during the Afghan war and when diplomatic relations with India were suspended.

Lahore is often described as the country's cultural capital, and has many fine buildings from the Mughal Empire period and an excellent museum. It is near the only road crossing to India and is a rail hub as well so you are quite likely to pass through it. It is definitely worth a stop.

India
India is a favourite with travellers, so in most cities you will get all the facilities you expect as a tourist.

Visas
Iran, Pakistan and India require a visa for most travellers, so you have to get that beforehand. The embassy of Iran in Ankara and the consulate in Istanbul now refuse to deliver visas if you are not a resident in the country (when?). There are no problems getting Indian visas in Asia or anywhere else (June 2015). The only difference is that some consulates may only give a maximum of 3 month visas. Pakistan is very hard unless you apply in your country of residence. (They are not giving overland visas in the northern pass to China in the Karakoram highway - June 2015). Reports from Iran indicate that there is no problem to apply for visa pickup in a third country (an agency must do the paperwork for you, you just choose where you pick up the visa). So the only real visa problem would be Pakistan, and also the only one you should really pre-arrange.

Getting Iranian visas can be a frustrating process for applicants from western countries. Residents of most western countries must have a "visa reference number" issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran.

Reference numbers can be obtained through contacts in Iran, who have to apply to the Foreign Ministry, or through some travel agencies. Some of them, like IranianVisa.com, accept payment over the Internet (roughly €/US$30 for a normal reference number) and make sure that reference numbers are sent to your embassy within approximately 14 days of application. The costs of obtaining a reference number are in addition to the embassy's visa fees.

British, Canadian and American citizens can only obtain a visa by booking through a tour company for the duration of their stay in Iran (a one- or two-day extension beyond that period may be allowed). (Nov 2018)

Timing
Plan from 15 days to several months for a trip, depending on the time you spend at each place. Theoretically, by jumping from one bus to another it can be done in 11 or 12 days, but it would mean never stopping on the way. The length of the whole journey is 7000 to 8000 km.

The actual timing is something like this:
 * Istanbul to Teheran: 3 days
 * Teheran to Zahedan: 30 hours
 * Zahedan to Quetta: 30 hours
 * Quetta to Lahore: 24 hours
 * Lahore to New Delhi: 2 days

Take your time. Avoid rushing from one place to the other.

Cost
In the 1990s it used to cost much less than the air trip, even including all hotels and food on the way. It mainly depends on the currency rates of Turkey, Iran and Pakistan. In 1992 the whole trip could be done in 5 weeks for about US$350.

As of Nov 2018, a one-way flight Istanbul-Delhi/Mumbai can cost as little as €280, so going by land is now more expensive than the air trip. A few hours in a plane, however, have nothing to compare with a few weeks/months travelling through and visiting these 3 countries.

Climate
The route can be done in almost all seasons except winter, when there is heavy snow, especially in Turkey and in adjacent regions of Iran, and the roads are sometimes not passable. A big part of the route in Turkey, Iran and Pakistan is at an altitude of over 1,000 m, so the temperatures there are comfortable even in the midst of summer and cold but dry in winter. However, most of Turkey, especially east of Ankara, is very cold and very snowy in winter, and the Indus Valley in Pakistan is very hot in summer (May to July). Summers can be really hot in New Delhi, and chilly winters may greet you in December and January.

Read
The book to read before leaving to go on the road is Danziger's travels: Beyond Forbidden Frontiers. It is the story of a hair-raising 18-month overland trip from London to Beijing in 1984 by Nick Danziger (ISBN 0586087060). Another great read is The Wrong Way Home: London to Sydney the Hard Way by Australian writer Peter Moore (ISBN 0553817000), in which he travels along the "Hippie Trail". He made his trip in the late 1990s, covering 25 countries in 8 months, even venturing into war-torn former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan.

Istanbul
Istanbul is the biggest city in Turkey, historically it was the endpoint of the original Paris-Istanbul Orient Express. Starting from there you have the choice of at least three modes of transport to Iran.

The distance from Istanbul to Tehran is about 3,000 km.

By bus: First there are direct buses to Tehran run by Iranian companies. Straight, cheap, no hassle, but where's the fun? And staying two days in a bus is not the most comfortable way of transportation. Then there are Turkish buses going to Erzurum which are probably more comfortable than the Iranian buses.

By train: While direct trains from Istanbul to the far east of the country have been discontinued, frequent high speed trains connect to Ankara, from where another train to Erzurum can be caught. Another option is to take the trains to Tatvan, and then cross the lake by a ferry to Van, from where trains into Iran depart.

By ferry: There are also boats across the Black Sea to Trabzon. From there, it is a fairly short bus trip to Erzurum.

Erzurum
Erzurum is the hub for visiting eastern Turkey. If you didn't get the direct bus to Teheran, you will have to change means of transport here. There are buses going to Dogubayazit (4 hours).

Dogubeyazit
Dogubeyazit is the last town before the border. It is mainly a garrison town, but it is also the point of departure for the climbing of Mount Ararat and visiting Ishak Pacha palace (İshak Paşa Sarayı). There are taxis going to the border.

Turkey-Iran border
See the Iran article for warnings about the dangers of travelling there.

The Turkey-Iran border is at an altitude of 2,600 m, at the foot of Mount Ararat where, according to the Bible, Noah ended up with his Ark.

Tabriz
Tabriz is the first major Iranian city you reach on this route.

Tehran
Tehran is the capital of Iran. It's a huge city of about 10 million inhabitants.

Going to Kerman, you have choice of buses or a railway line. There are buses twice a day, which take a full day or a night (about 15 hours). Trains are certainly more comfortable, but run only three times a week. There are even direct buses to Zahedan (22 hours).

If you are not in a hurry, going to Isfahan is worth the trouble. It is probably the most beautiful city of Iran. A bit further in the same direction is another interesting city, Shiraz, and near it are the ruins of Persepolis.

Kerman
Kerman is a station on the railway line to Zahedan and a hub of southern Iran. Buses to Zahedan take seven hours, but there also was a direct sleeper from Tehran as of January 2012.

Zahedan
Zahedan is the last town before the border with Pakistan. There are buses that run up to the border and some that cross the border and terminate at Quetta, but the taxi drivers will tell you there's no bus.

If you decide to take a taxi to the border, set the cost of the journey beforehand, which shouldn't exceed US$20. It best to bring food and water with you for a day as there is no proper restaurant before Quetta, 700 km across the desert.

Alternatively, one can take international economy class train "Zahidan Mixed Passenger" which runs twice a month (3rd and 17th of every month) between Zahedan and Quetta, though it is much slower, thus making the journey inconvenient.

There could be food issues in the middle of Zahedan and border town of Mirjave. In Mirjave (just after the border), there is a chai shop and in the village there are little markets.

Iran-Pakistan border

See the Pakistan article for warnings about the dangers of travelling there.

The Iran-Pakistan border post, called Mirjave, is in the Kavir-e Loot desert, which is in the middle of nowhere. This is the real border between the East and the West.

The border closes in the early afternoon, and you can't stay there because there is no accommodation available. You will have to go back to Zahedan if you reach the border too late. You might be able to find accommodation in the town of Mirjave, some 10 km from the border post.

Once you cross the border, you have to wait for a bus. From here driving is on the left.

Don't change money directly at the border, it's better to do it in a shop at the main square of Taftan. They change rials and US dollars at an acceptable rate.

Alternatively, there is another border crossing, called the Kuhak Border Crossing, six hours south of Zahedan. Once here, you can reasonably make it across into Pakistan, and make it to Hyderabad in another 12 hours (as a stop, you should use Larkana).

There could be food issues until Quetta. In Taftan, there is a little market and a motel run by PTDC as well as numerous checkpoints on the route to Quetta where the buses stops about every few hours.

Quetta
Quetta, depending on the route, is the first place you reach when entering Pakistan coming from Iran.

From here, there are direct trains to Lahore.

Lahore
Lahore is the second biggest city in Pakistan and the capital of the province of Punjab.

There are buses and taxis going to the border. The Lahore-New Delhi train is probably more comfortable than the bus, but slower, as it used to stop at the border for hours while the police checked people and luggage. Also trains are much less frequent.

Pakistan-India border
The Pakistan-India border has been closed and reopened many times since Partition, so check beforehand.

The town of Amritsar, with the holiest temple of Sikhism, is near the route from the border to Delhi. So is Kurukshetra, site of the battle recounted in the Bhagavad Gita and a pilgrimage destination for Hindus.

New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital of India, the largest democracy and the most populous country in the world. Old Delhi was the capital of several empires before the British Raj built New Delhi in the 19th century. Together the two are one huge densely populated city. Old Delhi has many fine buildings from the Mughal Empire and is a good place to visit for shopping and spicy Indian cuisine. It also has most of the backpacker-class hotels.

Alternative route through Georgia and Armenia
An easy alternative route from Erzurum in Turkey which will take you to Tabriz in Iran without adding too many kilometers to the route is to head from Erzurum to Georgia to Armenia to Tabriz. This adds two countries to the list, and from most Europeans and Americans, no visas are required for either Georgia or Armenia.

This route would involve going from Erzurum to Kars, with a requisite visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ani Ruins. This was an ancient capital of Armenia, and highlight of Eastern Turkey. From Kars northeast into Georgia's capital of Tbilisi. From Tbilisi you head down into Armenia via the sights in Lori region, including the UNESCO sites of Haghpat and Sanahin, then down to Yerevan, and from there down to Tabriz.

Kars
Kars in northeast Turkey is the nearest city to the UNESCO ruins of Ani and a convenient stepping stone to Tbilisi.

Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia. It is near the town of UNESCO site Mtskheta.

Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital of Armenia. It is near the UNESCO sites of Echmiadzin, Garni and Geghard. On your way south to Iran, stops at Noravank Monastery and especially UNESCO nominated Tatev Monastery (with the longest cable car in the world) are well worth stops.

Alternative route through Afghanistan
From Teheran to Lahore, there are two main routes.

The usual route today is as shown above. Swing southeast from Tehran to enter Pakistan at its extreme Western edge, bypassing Afghanistan. This is safer. Travellers with any caution at all should avoid Afghanistan.

The main overland route of the 1960s and 70s went east to the Iranian city of Mashad, then to Herat, Khandahar, and Kabul in Afghanistan and down through the Khyber Pass to Pakistan. This is described below, but is generally considered too dangerous today.

Afghanistan was scary even in the 1970s; most of the men carried rifles and they all had knives. However, nearly all the guns were single-shot, mostly muzzle loaders with quite a few 19th-century British army Martini-Henrys with lever action. Then in 1979, the USSR invaded the country. Soon many Afghans had AK-47s. Today nearly every Afghan man has an automatic weapon.

Of course, not all Afghans are likely to take potshots at tourists, or to kidnap one. Most are friendly, helpful and hospitable. However, as the only country to have been invaded by both the Soviet Union and the US, they do have some reason to resent light-skinned foreigners. With the takeover of the Taliban in 2021, going there is spectacularly risky, though details of the dangers change from time to time.

If you do decide to risk Afghanistan, see our article on War zone safety.

Mashad
Mashad is the largest city of Eastern Iran and the capital of its province.

There are daily trains to and from Tehran. Buses take 14 hours to Teheran. Buses from Mashad to the border town Taybad take about four hours.

Taybad
There are minibuses and taxis to the border, called Eslam Ghale, 11 km away.

Iran-Afghanistan border
From the Afghan side, there are buses to Herat.

Herat
Herat is a big, rich Afghan city, influenced by Iranian culture. It is well-developed because of trade with Iran and in a good shape compared to other Afghan cities. The people are very friendly and hospitable to foreigners and are also more religious than people in Kabul.

There is no tourism in Herat, but there is a small community of foreign workers from Europe or other Western countries. They are easy to find by asking in the German or Indian consulate or hanging around in the Marco Polo Hotel.

Afghan roads
Most Afghan roads are very poor. You need a four-wheel drive vehicle with a winch to even consider driving on them.

An important exception is the main highway from Herat in the west to Kabul in the East. This swings widely south via Kandahar; the centre of the country is filled with impassable mountains. The highway from Kabul across the Khyber Pass into Pakistan is also good, though steep and winding. These two highways together were the main route for overland travellers in days of yore and might be possible for anyone choosing (against all advice) to risk Afghanistan today.

There is also a good highway from Kabul north through the Hindu Kush mountains to Mazar-e Sharif and the border of Tajikistan in Central Asia. This road contains the Salang Tunnel, which is the longest in the world. It was built with Russian aid and then used for the Russian invasion.

Kandahar
Kandahar is the main city of Southern Afghanistan.

From late-1996 to 2001, it was a major stronghold of and served as the de facto capital of the Taliban government until the Taliban were overthrown by US-led NATO forces in late-2001.

The Bolan Pass goes south from here to Quetta, Pakistan, but as of mid-2013 it is quite dangerous and not open to tourists.

Kabul
Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan-Pakistan border
The way from Kabul to Peshawar takes at least a day and often involves an overnight stop in Jalalabad. As of mid-2016, most Western governments have travel advisories warning against travel to either Peshawar or Jalalabad; both are quite dangerous. The area between them is even more dangerous, right off the scale.

From Kabul to the border
Buses start early and need about eight hours to reach the border. The road is not in a very good shape so don't expect a very comfortable ride. The price is between 200 and 250 Af (below €4) if you pick up a mini van bus with ten to twenty other people together. Tall people will be more comfortable in the front seats. These vans are sometimes a little more expensive.

Taxis are faster and more expensive.

Jalalabad is a moderate-sized city between Kabul and the border. If the political and security situation permits, unlikely as of early 2018, consider spending a night there. Starting from Jalabad in the morning lets you avoid the crowd by getting to the border ahead of people coming from Kabul.

The border closes at lunchtime.

From the border to Peshawar
Buses and taxis end at the border. People need to cross the border on foot and take a second bus or taxi. Foreigners (non-Pakistani or non-Afghani) have to get a permission to cross the tribal areas, which are located between the border and Peshawar and are controlled by tribes and not by the Pakistan government. The permission is free but a soldier will take you with him in a taxi. The soldier will cost about 100 Pakistani rupiah (€1.4) and the taxi twice that.

The way goes through the legendary Khyber Pass.

Security
The travel seems to be secure for travellers who know what they are doing. The traffic is the biggest danger thus it could be recommended to travel on a Friday when the traffic is lighter than the other days. If possible take a good driver you know already. Buses may drive safer than taxis because they are slower.

Peshawar
Peshawar is a huge city in Pakistan. The city has a lot of traffic and seems to have a good economic situation.

There are many hotels and guest houses with western standards. Especially in the "University Town" district and in the city centre.

 * The old city centre with the bazaar and an old mosque is worth a visit.
 * In the summer, hiking tours to the mountains are offered. Ask at Green Tours in front of the Greens Hotel.
 * The Khyber pass is one hour away and can be visited by taking a taxi. It is located in the tribal area, and easy to find. Permission is needed for foreigners to enter this area.
 * Peshawar Museum and the University of Peshawar's museums are worth visiting for ancient cultural artifacts.

Other places to visit along the way
Some other places are worth a visit, but you don't necessarily have to pass through them on this journey.

Turkey

 * Ankara (capital of Turkey)
 * Eskisehir
 * Erzincan
 * Ruins of Ani, ancient capital of Armenia and known as City of 1001 Churches
 * The Armenian Monastery on Aktamar Island in Lake Van - one of the most impressive sites in Eastern Turkey.
 * The Mediterranean coast of Southern Turkey is a resort area, reportedly much like the Greek islands but cheaper.

Iran

 * Isfahan (capital of Persia during the Safavih dynasty)
 * Shiraz (Persepolis)
 * Bam (2500-year-old citadel from the Parthian Empire, almost destroyed in an earthquake December 2003)

Pakistan

 * Karachi (the largest city in Pakistan)
 * Multan (the city is home to Sufi shrines)
 * Islamabad (capital of Pakistan; all embassies are there)
 * Rawalpindi (hub of Northern Pakistan; stay here if you want / need to go to Islamabad)
 * Taxila (Buddhist archeological site from emperor Ashoka)

India

 * Amritsar is a city in Punjab near the India-Pakistan border. It has the Golden Temple, is the centre of the Sikh religion and has some museums and memorials.
 * Shimla is a hill town North of Delhi and was the summer capital of the British Raj. It has a pleasant climate and interesting old colonial buildings.
 * Mumbai is the most advanced city in India nurturing almost 2% of entire India's population. South Mumbai is an interesting place to watch old colonial buildings of the British Empire which concluded in 1947. The city harbours the entertainment industry Bollywood, which is 2nd largest film industry in the world following Hollywood. The city has a cosmopolitan culture with decent nightlife. This city is made up of 7 islands that are bridged together.
 * Ahmedabad is the largest city in Gujarat, the fastest-growing state in India as of 2013. This city has a rich history of the Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah. On the footprints of Mumbai, this city is expected to be the next Manchester of India.

Armenia

 * Though this would involve a trip north from Iran, if the Armenian churches and monasteries you see all over Turkey and Iran whet your appetite, you should certainly head into Armenia. Alternatively, you can make a detour from the original route and head from eastern Turkey into Georgia and via Batumi and Akhaltsikhe or Tbilisi to Armenia and continue to Iran (or vice versa).

Go next
Back in the day, those who trampled down this route seldom ended their journey in New Delhi, and there is no reason why you should. Some headed north towards the Himalayas, into the (then) Kingdom of Nepal; a road named Freak Street in the national capital Kathmandu recalls those days. Many others sought enlightenment along the extensive beaches of Goa in the south instead. Continuing onwards to Southeast Asia, where a similar scene around the Banana Pancake Trail exists, was also quite popular, although an overland passage through Burma (Myanmar) was just as restricted as it is today. Some even headed all the way down to Australia, which would however usually require a short flight to cross the Timor Sea.

title: Istanbul to New Delhi overland


text:
Istra

Istra (Russian: И́стра) is in West Moscow Oblast, Russia.

Get in
Take a train in a Rizhskiy direction from Moscow. The best places to change are Dmitrovskaya and Tushinskaya metro stations, if you try Rizhskiy Train Station, you'll find, that a large number of trains are actually passing only Rzhevskaya station on the other side of the square (some 10-15 minutes on foot), which is a bit confusing, unless you know directions and timetable beforehand. Time varies from 1 hour 15 minutes to 40 minutes depending on where you start, and if you using express (from Dmitrovskaya: 10.24 on weekends and 19.15 daily) or not. Tickets around ₽100.

Buses to Istra run from Tushinkaya metro station and prone to rather heavy jams between MKAD and Krasnogorsk, and inside Krasnogorsk. If you go to Istra by car, it's better to start via the new M9 highway (getting out of Moscow via new Krasnopresnenskii prospekt, Zhivopisnii bridge and Serebryanoborskii tunnel), then switch to A107 (first betonka), and then to old Volokolamskii highway.

Get around
You can walk about 2 km from either Istra or New Ierusalem stations to the monastery. If you want to take bus - №4 will take you there from both stations, otherwise the scheme of buses is a bit confusing. You can take №№26,32,33,34,40,46,48 from Istra station to museum as well, and from New Ierusalem station every bus bound either to Istra station or Uritskogo square; however, a lot of buses take different routes (mostly just shortened ones) even with the same number; so a walk may be a fair variant.

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

title: Istra


text:
Istria

Istria (Croatian: Istra) is the north-westernmost region of Croatia. In a triangular shape, it is bordered in the north by Slovenia, east by the Kvarner region of Croatia and on the south and west by the Adriatic Sea.

Cities

 * — the most touristy of all Istrian hilltop towns, and is sometimes called the king of the hilltop villages
 * — an ancient Roman town that now is very popular with tourists
 * — home to the 6th largest surviving Roman amphitheatre — and
 * — a popular tourist resort and an active fishing port that has a large Italian population
 * — a picturesque small Mediterranean town - harbour, the Croatian gateway to Europe
 * — a popular tourist resort and an active fishing port that has a large Italian population
 * — a picturesque small Mediterranean town - harbour, the Croatian gateway to Europe

Other destinations

 * — two islands are accessible to the public and are part of a national park
 * — famous for its camping sites and coastline.
 * — a popular summer destination with large campsites, private accommodation units and a modern marina
 * — famous for its camping sites and coastline.
 * — a popular summer destination with large campsites, private accommodation units and a modern marina
 * — famous for its camping sites and coastline.
 * — a popular summer destination with large campsites, private accommodation units and a modern marina
 * — a popular summer destination with large campsites, private accommodation units and a modern marina

Understand
This region has been part of many empires — the Venetian Empire, Byzantine, Roman, and Austro-Hungarian — and of the Yugoslavian (Communist) republic. The cultural legacy of Istria is thus very rich and diverse.

After defeating the Illyrian Histri tribe, the Romans settled in the peninsula and left a large heritage, turning Pula into an important administrative centre and building villas, amphitheatres and temples. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the inner land remained a feudal territory occupied by Slavs, Frankish, Byzantines and finally Austrian Habsburgs, while the coast fell under control of the Republic of Venice in the 13th century. Intermittent combats were held between both powers until the fall of Venice in 1797. Since then, the Croatian population of Istria struggled for autonomy and were severely repressed both by Austrians and Fascist Italy (after World War I), eventually ending with a revenge from Yugoslav partisans after the World War II, forcing most autochthonous ethnic Italians to leave. Among the most notable Italian refugees in this era were the Andretti family, who eventually settled in the Lehigh Valley of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Mario Andretti, one of the family's two children, grew up to become one of the most successful drivers in motorsports history, winning numerous races in several North American and international series, as well as one Formula One driver's championship and four season championships in IndyCar. A small ethnic Italian community still lives in the coastal towns. Relatively spared from the Yugoslav Wars, Istria is now a prosperous region. Later years have seen a growing regional sentiment and a reconciliation with its previously conflicted Italian identity.

The peninsula offers stark contrasts: the interior is very unspoiled and mountainous with ancient walled cities atop hills with surrounding fertile fields, whilst the coast has numerous beaches – do not expect any sand in them, though – and stunning scenery of rocky walls plummeting into the sea. The Istrian coast is among the most developed tourist destinations in Croatia. Hordes of Italian, German and French tourists enjoy package tourism during the crowded high season.

Although Pula is the main town, according to population and culture, relatively rural Pazin is the administrative centre of the peninsula.

Talk
Croatian is the official and most common language, but in these formerly Venetian lands Italian is nearly universally understood. There is still an Italian ethnic community in many coastal towns. German is also very widely spoken. Most restaurants in the main town also have an English speaker or two on staff. Some market sellers will address you in all four ("Izvolite, Prego, Bitte, How can I help you?").

Get in
Pula is the main transportation hub for Istria so most people will arrive there if they are not driving. Some boat lines arrive to Poreč, too.

By bus
Buses run from Trieste in Italy, Zagreb and other major cities to Pazin in the centre of Istria, and most to Pula in the South.

By plane
Ryanair provides a connection London (Stansted) to Pula three days a week, and Dublin Pula also. Scandjet connects Pula to Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm once a week (on Saturdays) during the summer. Eurowings also serves Pula.

By train
Trains run daily between Ljubljana in Slovenia and Pula, and from Rijeka to Ljubljana. Due to a historical accident, the two train lines do not meet up despite some works having been commenced on a rail tunnel to link the two short distances.

By boat
Venezia Lines is a high-speed ferry operator that operates in the North Adriatic. It links the North Adriatic's coasts of Italy and Croatia. Venezia Lines uses 2 vessels, San Frangisk and her sister vessel San Pawl, each with a capacity of 310 passengers, They are deployed on routes between Venice, Italy and the Croatian ports of Mali Losinj, Porec, Pula, Rabac and Rovinj.

See

 * Roman structures in Pula, including the Arena and Forum.
 * The old Venetian town of Rovinj.
 * St Euphrasius Basilica in Poreč.
 * The many beaches along the coast.
 * Brijuni (Brioni) Islands - private playground of Tito including an international zoo, dinosaur footprints and Roman and Byzantine ruins.
 * Hill-top villages of Groznjan and Motovun, populated by artist communities.
 * Magnificent frescoes of Our Lady of the Rocks chapel in Beram.

Itineraries
Istria is a fine region to practise hiking and biking, as much in the mountainous inland as in the coast.

The southern end of Istria is a great place for biking. Ask for a bike map in Pula Tourist Office, showing well-marked routes around the coast and in the Cape Kamenjak.

With diversity at the heart of Istria, you’ll delight in new culinary experiences and reconnect with traditional flavours.

Do

 * Visit Lovran, Istria, near Opatija, for the Days of Cherries Festival in June
 * Join the Truffle Days festival in the Motovun/Buzet area in late September
 * Attend a music or folklore performance in the unique atmosphere of the Pula Arena
 * Visit Groznjan and its jazz Festival
 * Visit the waterparks - Istralandia or Aquacolours.
 * Visit the waterparks - Istralandia or Aquacolours.

Eat
Istrian gastronomy is known by its huge diversity. Pasta, gnocchi, risotto and polenta, as well as its high-quality vegetables (which can be found, at a cheap price, in any of the numerous open-air markets present in almost every Istrian town), accompany main dishes, as an Italian heritage. Especially, Istrian peppers have international recognition.

At the coast, fresh fish and seafood are a tradition. Scampi is the favourite, together with squid and sole. In the inland, air-cured ham (Prsut) and sausages are the highlights.

But the gastronomic pearl is no doubt the truffles. After the beginning of the season, in late September, truffles can be found accompanying any dish and sauce. Especially recommended is pasta with truffles. Also, olive oil with truffles is a typical product of the region.

Typical Istrian foods
Bon appétit!
 * Simple but tasty minestra (minestrone), made from seasonal vegetables, is still prepared nowadays. A characteristically Istrian minestrone is made from “bobici” (corn), fennel, barley, etc. All of these dishes are spiced with pesto. It is the ingredients, and not just the flour, that makes Istrian dishes so thick.
 * Home-made pastas such as noodles, lasagne, macaroni, blek or posutice, and the very Istrian fusi, are used in soups and side dishes. Fusi are offered as a starter or side dish and are prepared in various ways with sauces. Polenta and gnocchi have been prepared in Istrian homes for ages, but these dishes have their origins elsewhere.
 * Due to the plentiful sunlight and the vicinity of the sea, vegetables, which are widely grown in Istria, have a very special taste and naturally, interesting local names. Various vegetables, from verzot (Brussels sprouts) to cikorija (radicchio), koromač-finoči (fennel root), cuketi (zucchini), mangold, melancani (eggplant), peas, and “kapus” (cabbage), are used to prepare side dishes, with the obligatory olive oil and plenty of garlic.
 * Meat dishes (fish, mutton, poultry, beef) are well known for their method of preparation, gvacat (squazzetto) is a meat dish with sauce containing native Istrian spices. Many dishes are prepared in a “padela” (a frying pan with a handle) or under a črepnja (cover for cooking over embers). These dishes are more commonly found in the vicinity of Koper than in the town itself, but with a little effort you will be able to find excellent fish soup, marinade, or similar dishes even within the town itself. Despite some attempts to preserve and revive authentic Istrian cuisine, there is a tendency in Koper towards more modern culinary ideas, which offer the most varied dishes, from fish, meat, pasta, and pizzas – something for every pocket.
 * Olive oil, which has been used in Istrian cuisine since the old days, has the most suitable ratio between saturated and unsaturated fat. It has a high percentage of oleic acid and a suitable quantity of essential fatty acids. In the fruits of the area, there are also sugars, cellulose, and minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron, and copper, which have a beneficial effect on the veins, heart, and digestion.

Typical products from Istria

 * Fig loaf: This wonderful treat is made from ground dried figs, mixed with fig or grape juice, shaped into a loaf and lightly rolled in flour. Cut into slices, this is a delicious, healthy and natural snack without added sugar and preservatives.
 * Istrian jota: This version of the traditional dish jota, made from sauerkraut and beans, differs from its Karst counterpart in that it does not contain any potatoes. It is served with white or yellow polenta, as a main course and in many other ways.
 * Fritaja: This egg dish is a typical characteristic of Istrian cuisine. Fritaja species are very different. Selection and preparation depends on the imagination, taste, and from what we have in the refrigerator. You can prepare fritaja with ham, bacon, asparagus, eggplant, mushrooms, truffles, baby onions or other vegetables, or cheese.
 * Piran salt: Piran salt, this precious product of the Sečovelje Salina Nature Park, is the result of restless finds, warm sun, and the hardworking salt-pan workers. It is made manually, according to traditional methods dating back more than 700 years. In the past also Koper had soltfealds.
 * Khaki: The homeland of khaki - golden apples is the East Asia. In Europe and the USA are khakis produced from the second half of the 19th century. In Europe it was brought about in 1870, produced mainly by the Mediterranean countries. The Slovenian Istria and Primorje started growing khaki a little later, during the first decades of the last century. Most of the khaki's is produced in the valley Strunjan. In Strunjan so each year in the first week of November have Khaki Day, where visitors can taste various kinds of khakis, khaki spirit, khaki jam, various khaki desserts (pies, krostate, cakes, tarts) and so on.
 * The olive trees: These ancient trees, which originate in the Mediterranean, can reach a respectable age. Olives were picked from wild olive trees in prehistoric times. Later they were ennobled and the ancient Greeks allegedly knew around fifteen species of olive trees. The oil produced was used for many purposes: food, lighting, worshipping the gods and as one of the more important trade goods. The Babylonian code from 2500 BC includes regulations regarding the olive oil trade. The Phoenicians and the Greeks even had special ships for transporting amphorae containing olive oil. Due to its increasing importance, the Romans planted olive trees all across their empire, wherever it was able to grow. Olive trees have been growing in Istria since the Roman times and even the most respected classes of Roman society had olives on their menus – including the imperial kitchen of Emperor Augustus. Slovenian Istria is one of the northernmost regions where olive trees grow successfully. Olive oils from this region are undoubtedly one of the best and they are known as oils with exceptional aromatic and medicinal properties, mostly due to the special Mediterranean climate where they grow.
 * Asparagus: Wild asparagus or šparoga, is a characteristic Mediterranean plant. It grows at the edge of the forests of Slovenian Istria and it grows up to one meter high. It is born each year in the spring months from half of March to half of May. An old Istrian proverb says: "April spareser, Maio sareser" (April of asparagus, May of cherries).
 * Lavender: The lavender is one of the plants that you immediately associate with the Mediterranean. However, it can also be found in an ornamental garden. It is recognized by its dark blue or violet flowers and a typical fragrance. It has a relaxing and beneficial action on the body. It is used as a healing plant, because lavender flowers are full of active substances. The lavender is used to treat migraine, dizziness and flatulence. In addition, lavender is also used for decoration in bouquets of dried flowers and potpuri. Because of their fragrance, dried flowers are put in wardrobes to drive away moths.

Drink
Istria is a land of vineyards. Wines are sweet and fruity, with a wide variety of grapes present, such as white malvasia, red teran and muscat. The most famous vineyard area is Kalavojna, on the eastern coast.

Regional liquor grappa is widely produced in here, with several varieties available.

Go next
The hilly Cres island in the Gulf of Kvarner can be reached by car ferry from Brestova.

title: Istria


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Itaúnas

Itaúnas is a beach-side village in the municipality of Conceição da Barra, Brazil.

Understand

Itaúnas is in the northernmost part of the state of Espírito Santo, about 260 km (162 miles) from Vitória. The town's fame was gained because of forró, a type of dance popular in Northeastern Brazil, as well as the type of music which accompanies the dance. Every July, Itaúnas is the host of the National Forró Festival.

Itaúnas is also famous for its dunes. The old town was literally buried by the dunes in the 1960s. Nowadays, the new town is located on the other side of the Itaúnas River.

The whole area is known for its natural beauty, and Itaúnas is also the best support base for those who want to visit the Itaúnas State Park. The area of the park is approximately 3,600 hectares (8.9 acres), stretching from the mouth of Rio Itaúnas (Itaúnas River), in Conceição da Barra, up to the mouth of the Riacho Doce (Doce Stream), on the border of the state of Bahia.

Landscape
Created in the 1990s, Itaúnas State Park is part of the Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves, which is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is itself an ecological sanctuary permeated by the Itaúnas River, with 38 km (24 mi) of beach and seven different ecosystems: beach, river, swamp, growth of mangroves, sandbank and the Tableland Atlantic Forest.

Flora and fauna
In the park there is a great variety of species from the Brazilian fauna, many of which endangered, such as sloths, capybaras, broad-snouted alligators, otters, parrots, parakeets, maritacas (South American hog-nosed skunks – Conepatus chilensis amazonicus), and jacupengas (Pernelope supercilliaris).

On the beaches, sea turtles have been protected thanks to the effort endeavored in the Tamar project, whose goal is to protect and to do research about those animals.

Climate
The climate of the area is hot super-humid. The annual average temperature is around 22ºC (71.6° F), with average highs around 28ºC (82.4 °F), and average lows around 18°C (64.4 °F).

By plane
Vitória Airport (VIX) - also known as Eurico Salles Airport - in the capital city of Vitória, is the closest airport to Itaúnas. It receives daily flights from most state capitals in the country. Among the main airlines serving the airport are LATAM and Gol. A number of smaller carriers also serve the airport, including Azul, TEAM, and TRIP.

By bus
It is necessary to go by bus to Conceição da Barra (29 km, 18.02 miles, from the park), and from there take a regular bus service to Itaúnas (several daily departures).

By car
Itaúnas is around 280 km from Vitória. Head north on the BR-101 highway, then take the ES-422 to Conceição da Barra (you will find it after passing over São Mateus). From Conceição da Barra, drive 27 km through a dirt road until arrival in Itaúnas.

See
The park’s dunes and beaches stand out as the main attractions for the visitors.

Do
Itaúnas is famous for its forró, a kind of traditional dance music with accordion, triangle, and zabumba (a kind of bass drum). In the summer months there are many forró events organized, and you can kick off your shoes and dance the night away on the sand.

For those who prefer excursions on the ecological trails, the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Natural Renewable Resources (IBAMA) organizes guided visits for tourists.

Sandboarding on the dunes has been prohibited by IBAMA.

Sleep
Itaúnas is the support base to visit the park. The town has good options of lodging and restaurants.

Connect
The telephone area code for Itaúnas is 27 (as well as in central and northern parts of Espírito Santo).

Go next

 * Vitória - The capital of the state of Espírito Santo, famous for its bay, beaches and nightlife.
 * Vila Velha - Famous for Convento da Penha (Penha Convent), a hilltop Franciscan convent dating from the 16th century, and the beaches of Praia da Costa, Itapuã, and Coqueiral de Itaparica.
 * Guarapari - A popular beach resort town. Famous for its lively ambiance, with many clubs and beach parties, especially during the summer months.
 * Domingos Martins - To get a taste of a town colonized by German immigrants, and the famous Pedra Azul (Blue Rock).
 * Santa Teresa - To get a taste of a town colonized by Italian immigrants.
 * Rio de Janeiro - World-known city famous for its breathtaking landscape and annual carnival.

title: Itaúnas


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Itacaré

Itacaré is a municipality of 29,000 people (2020) in Bahia, in Northeast Brazil. It is an up-and-coming vacation spot with amazing beaches, surf, capoeira and plenty of culture. The town has a series of beautiful small cove-type beaches as well as Itacarezinho and other picturesque beaches further along the coast. Itacaré is on the edge of a national park, one of the last large expanses of Atlantic rain forest left in Brazil.

Itacaré is a hub of Bahian culture. Many tourists visit Itacaré to take part in the local Capoeira circles and eat traditional Brazilian food. The town is flooded with revelers during New Year's and Carnival.

Understand
The first economic activity in region was the harvesting of Brazilwood, which was used to create dyes in Europe and is where Brazil received its name. During the early colonial period the region also produced cassava flour which was sent maintain the enslaved people that worked the sugar plantations in the colonial capital of Salvador. The largest economic boom came from cacao production during the 19th and 20th centuries. Cacao was grown further in the interior and Itacaré was an important port for exporting the cocoa beans to producers in Europe. It was during this time that a number of neocolonial houses and warehouses were built along the river front that still characterize the historical center of the town. As road and railway networks expanded and the port in nearby Ilhéus was expanded, Itacaré's importance as a port diminished. Construction of two dams upriver in the 1960s also led to the port silting up, making it harder for larger ships to dock.

The final blow to the cacao industry in the region was a massive blight that devastated the region's cocoa crops in the 1980s. Since then, Itacaré has depended mostly upon tourism. It is a popular destination for surfers, hikers and ecotourists.

Get in
Itacaré is 70 km north of Ilhéus on the BR001 highway.

By plane
For most international tourists the entry to Brazil will be through São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro or Salvador international airports. There are daily flights operated from domestic airlines LATAM and BRA to Ilhéus which is the closest airport to Itacaré.

By bus
From Ilhéus (which has an airport) take a bus north - the ride takes less than two hours. From Salvador, you can take a ferry to Bom Despacho (50 min, R$4) and then a bus to Itacaré (5 hours, R$30, bus company "Cidade do sol", their terminal is directly behind the ferry port in Bom Despacho). There is also a bus that goes directly from Salvador to Itacaré, but it takes a lot longer than the ferry-bus combination (as it goes all around the bay of Salvador), is more expensive and only goes once or twice a week.

Get around
The town of Itacaré as well as the five surrounding beaches are easily accessible by walking. There are local (e)-bike rental services available. Since 2017, the Rua Pedro Longo is closed for vehicles after 16:00 and transforms in a lovely pedestrian zone with several restaurants, shops and tour agencies.

See

 * Luanda, Filhos de Zumbi and Tribo do Porto are three capoeira groups in Itacaré. You don't want to miss their shows. Their training sessions are open to visitors.

Buy
Itacaré isn't a shopping paradise, but there are some nice handcrafts and surf wear & gear. There's also a travellers' bookshop.

Drink

 * Café-Bar Easy Drop, Rua João Coutinho, Centro. Drinks and live music.
 * Tapiocaria Bem Bahia, Rua Lodonio de Almeida, Centro.

Sleep
Itacaré is filled with guest houses (pousadas); there's one for each budget and each style of traveler.

 * Pousada Solarium, Loteamento Concha do Mar, quadra B nº32, Praia da Concha, (73) 3251 3031, ([mailto:pousadasolaium@ig.com.br pousadasolaium@ig.com.br]), . Solarium in Latim means "a place for sunbath", which describe perfectly this accommodation.
 * Albergue O Pharol, Praça Santos Dumont, 07, Centro. Affordable pousada with 12 collective and 2 private rooms.
 * Albergue O Pharol, Praça Santos Dumont, 07, Centro. Affordable pousada with 12 collective and 2 private rooms.
 * Albergue O Pharol, Praça Santos Dumont, 07, Centro. Affordable pousada with 12 collective and 2 private rooms.
 * Albergue O Pharol, Praça Santos Dumont, 07, Centro. Affordable pousada with 12 collective and 2 private rooms.
 * Albergue O Pharol, Praça Santos Dumont, 07, Centro. Affordable pousada with 12 collective and 2 private rooms.
 * Albergue O Pharol, Praça Santos Dumont, 07, Centro. Affordable pousada with 12 collective and 2 private rooms.
 * Albergue O Pharol, Praça Santos Dumont, 07, Centro. Affordable pousada with 12 collective and 2 private rooms.
 * Albergue O Pharol, Praça Santos Dumont, 07, Centro. Affordable pousada with 12 collective and 2 private rooms.

title: Itacaré


text:
Itaguaí

Itaguaí is a municipality of Baixada Fluminense, in Grande Rio, Rio de Janeiro state.

Understand
Itaguaí is a coastal, peripheral municipality of the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro. It is located in the region bathed by the Sepetiba Bay, and is the last municipality on the coast of the metropolis to the west. Itaguaí is crossed by the BR-101 highway, vector through which the urban expansion of the metropolitan agglomeration of Rio de Janeiro reached this municipality, having ended in its first district, where the city center in located.

The Port of Itaguaí, in Ilha da Madeira, and the Industrial District of Itaguaí, between Itaguaí and Santa Cruz (neighborhood in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro), are two of the most important landmarks of the municipality's infrastructure.

Get in
Visitors generally arrive the metropolitan agglomeration of Rio de Janeiro through the airports and, and the bus station , all in the capital. Those visitors who enter the Grande Rio area through the Central Zone of Rio can use some urban public transport lines available in downtown to go to the municipality of Itaguaí. From the Central Zone of Rio de Janeiro, urban bus and van lines depart to Itaguaí. Buses to Itaguaí depart from Terminal Américo Fontenelle, in the region of Central do Brasil, in the downtown area of Rio de Janeiro. The vans also depart from the Central do Brasil area.

The main road access to Itaguaí for those coming from downtown Rio is the BR-101 highway (Rio-Santos highway).

See

 * Serra de Coroa Grande (Coroa Grande Mountain Range) - A sector of Serra da Mazomba (Mazomba Mountain Range) located along the sea coast.
 * Orla de Coroa Grande (Coroa Grande shoreline) - Located along the neighborhoods of Vila Geny and Coroa Grande.
 * Vila da Ilha da Madeira (Ilha da Madeira village) - A small settlement in Ilha da Madeira.
 * Praia da Igreja (Igreja beach) - A short strip of sand in Ilha da Madeira.
 * Capela São Benedito  (São Benedito Chapel) - Chapel in Coroa Grande.
 * Antiga estação ferroviária de Itaguaí (Old Itaguaí train station) - Old train station in the Itaguaí city center.
 * Ruínas da estação ferroviária de Coroa Grande (Ruins of Coroa Grande train station) - Located close to the Sepetiba Bay shoreline.
 * Distrito Industrial de Itaguaí (Industrial District of Itaguaí) - An industrial district next to the Rio de Janeiro's municipal boundary.
 * Manguezal da Ilha da Madeira (Ilha da Madeira mangrove swamp) - A big swampy area in Ilha da Madeira.
 * Rio Itimirim (Itimirim river) - River in Itimirim, the last neighborhood of Itaguaí to the west, near Coroa Grande.
 * Rio Itingussu (Itingussu river) - In the region of Itingussu, the westernmost part of the neighborhood of Itimirim.
 * Distrito Industrial de Itaguaí (Industrial District of Itaguaí) - An industrial district next to the Rio de Janeiro's municipal boundary.
 * Manguezal da Ilha da Madeira (Ilha da Madeira mangrove swamp) - A big swampy area in Ilha da Madeira.
 * Rio Itimirim (Itimirim river) - River in Itimirim, the last neighborhood of Itaguaí to the west, near Coroa Grande.
 * Rio Itingussu (Itingussu river) - In the region of Itingussu, the westernmost part of the neighborhood of Itimirim.
 * Rio Itingussu (Itingussu river) - In the region of Itingussu, the westernmost part of the neighborhood of Itimirim.

Do

 * "Taxi boats" to several islands in the Sepetiba Bay, such as Ilha do Martins and Ilha de Itacuruçá.

Eat

 * Restaurante Visual - Rua João Cruz Neto, 652 - Ilha da Madeira (on the shoreline of the Sepetiba Bay).

Sleep

 * Pousada La Belle - Rua Clementino Almeida Câmara, 60 - Parque Independência (in front of the Itaguaí bus station).
 * Hotel Timoneiro - Rua Miguel Corrêa, 09 - Ilha da Madeira.

Go next

 * Seropédica
 * Paracambi
 * Rio de Janeiro

title: Itaguaí


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Itaituba

Itaituba is a city of about 101,000 people (2020) in Pará. It sits on the west bank of the Tapajós River

By boat
Slow Boats leave Santarém  from the Praça Tiradentes port only at Fridays 16:00. The ride takes 14 to 17 hours and costs R$50. The return from Itaituba is on every Monday.

Fast boats leave daily at 10:00 and take 7 hours and cost R$120 as of January 2023.
 * Cooapfopa manages the boat rides from Santarém.

There are fast boats to Itaituba from Santarém.
 * Princesa do Tapajós: Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 13:00. About R$70 to R$80.
 * Veloz: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

By car
Itaituba is on the Transamazônica highway and is connected by road to Cuiabá and Porto Velho.

If driving to Itaituba from Santarém or from the east, the ferry ride across the river will cost R$20 per car, regardless of number of passengers.

Get around
Car rentals About R$100 per day, plus insurance. Most open regular office hours (i.e. get there before 16:00). Most are closed on Sundays.
 * Chicão: +55 93 3518-7199, +55 93 9976-5214
 * J. Farias – +55 93 3518-1055
 * Jacy Car – +55 93 3518-3025

See
Itaituba is a good base for exploring the Amazônia National Park, about 50 km to the west.

Buy
There are small shops and snack vendors near the port.

Connect
There is free wifi near the waterfront.

Go next

 * Boats to Santarém leave daily at 16:00.
 * Fordlândia is a small historic town on the east bank of the Tapajós River. It can be reached by bus or boat.

title: Itaituba


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Italian Lake District

The Italian Lake District stretches across Northern Italy. The land around the southern ends of most of the lakes is relatively flat (part of the River Po Plain), but the northern ends are mountainous, as the lakes reach deep into the Alps. Popular with Northern Europeans and Italians alike for over 100 years, the Italian Lakes combine good weather with attractive scenery. The climate is mild in both summer and winter, producing Mediterranean vegetation, with beautiful gardens growing rare and exotic plants.

Lake Maggiore, the longest of the Italian Lakes, is 65 km long, and has a surface area of 215 km2. It is 2.5 km wide on average, but double that near Luino. The lake’s jagged shores are surrounded by the Prealps of Piedmont and Lombardy. The western shore is in Piedmont (provinces of Novara and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola) and the eastern in Lombardy (province of Varese), while the northern section extends 13 km into Switzerland, where it constitutes the lowest point above sea-level in that entire country. Well-known gardens include those of the Isola Madre, Isola Bella and the Isole di Brissago (this one in the Swiss part of the lake), that of the Villa Taranto in Pallanza near Verbania, and the Alpinia botanical garden above Stresa. The Borromean Bay between Stresa and Verbania is blessed with the three Borromean Islands, which are not to be missed on a visit to Lake Maggiore; the island of Isola Bella is known for its baroque palace and gardens, Isola Pescatori for its fishing character with its typical lake boats, and the scenic Isola Madre is known for its gardens.

Lakes

 * Lake Maggiore
 * Lake Como
 * Lake Garda
 * Lake Lugano
 * Lake Iseo
 * Lake Orta
 * Lake Varese
 * Lake of Monate

Cities
The main points of access to the regions are Milan, Bergamo, Brescia and Verona.

 * Large Swiss town on the northern part of Lake Maggiore, with casino and ferry to other towns on the lake.
 * Small Italian town 10 minutes from the Swiss border on the West side of the Lake Maggiore, with a large campsite, a sport complex, a lakeside walkpath, a Sunday market, a renaissance church, and a few hotels. Bike rental possible at a hotel in front of the port. Ferry to other towns on the lake.
 * Valley of the Cannobine river, above Cannobio, with a gorge around Sant'Anna, a walking/biking path between Traffiume and Cannobio
 * Nice town, with abandoned Island (Castle of Cannero) on West side of Lake Maggiore. Ferry to other towns on the lake.
 * Large town on the West side of Lake Maggiore. Ferry to other towns on lake. Near Pallanza. Train station to Milan. Car ferry to cross the lake.
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Large Swiss town on the northern part of Lake Maggiore, with casino and ferry to other towns on the lake.
 * Small Italian town 10 minutes from the Swiss border on the West side of the Lake Maggiore, with a large campsite, a sport complex, a lakeside walkpath, a Sunday market, a renaissance church, and a few hotels. Bike rental possible at a hotel in front of the port. Ferry to other towns on the lake.
 * Valley of the Cannobine river, above Cannobio, with a gorge around Sant'Anna, a walking/biking path between Traffiume and Cannobio
 * Nice town, with abandoned Island (Castle of Cannero) on West side of Lake Maggiore. Ferry to other towns on the lake.
 * Large town on the West side of Lake Maggiore. Ferry to other towns on lake. Near Pallanza. Train station to Milan. Car ferry to cross the lake.
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Small Italian town 10 minutes from the Swiss border on the West side of the Lake Maggiore, with a large campsite, a sport complex, a lakeside walkpath, a Sunday market, a renaissance church, and a few hotels. Bike rental possible at a hotel in front of the port. Ferry to other towns on the lake.
 * Valley of the Cannobine river, above Cannobio, with a gorge around Sant'Anna, a walking/biking path between Traffiume and Cannobio
 * Nice town, with abandoned Island (Castle of Cannero) on West side of Lake Maggiore. Ferry to other towns on the lake.
 * Large town on the West side of Lake Maggiore. Ferry to other towns on lake. Near Pallanza. Train station to Milan. Car ferry to cross the lake.
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Nice town, with abandoned Island (Castle of Cannero) on West side of Lake Maggiore. Ferry to other towns on the lake.
 * Large town on the West side of Lake Maggiore. Ferry to other towns on lake. Near Pallanza. Train station to Milan. Car ferry to cross the lake.
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Large town on the West side of Lake Maggiore. Ferry to other towns on lake. Near Pallanza. Train station to Milan. Car ferry to cross the lake.
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande
 * Parco nazionale Val Grande

Ferry service
Ferry service is available out to the islands from Stresa, Lake Maggiore's resort town, every day during the summer. After picking passengers up at the dock, the ferries first make stops at Isolas Bella and Pescatori, the two closest islands. Here visitors are free to roam for 1–2 hours depending on the boat's schedule. After visiting these two islands, passengers are then taken to the third island, Isola Madre, which is located more towards the center of the Lake. Visitors are given a couple of additional hours to see this island.

Ispra, Ranco, Angera, Verbania, Laveno are connected with a ferry all the way to Switzerland.

Gestione Governativa Navigazione Laghi operates ferry services in the lakes Maggiore, Garda and Como.

By car
From the North, you'll go through Switzerland, on the A2 to Locarno, then take the A13 towards the West side of Lake Maggiore or stay on A2 to Lugano and Como. In winter the Simplon pass is closed and you will have to make a big detour and get to Italy via the St Gotthard tunnel.

From the South:
 * For Lake Maggiore and Lake Varese, from Milan, take the A8 Autostrada dei Laghi. Stay on A8 for Varese, go on A26 direction Gravellona for Lake Maggiore.
 * For Lake Como and Lake Lugano, from Milan, take the A8 Autostrada dei Laghi, then the A9 towards Como, or go on the SS36 near Monza for Lecco.

By plane
Fly to Milan, it has three airports. Milan Malpensa, South of Lake Maggiore and Lake Varese. Milan Linate, next to the center of Milan. Milan Bergamo, in Bergamo.

By train
For Lake Maggiore, from the South, get into Milan and then to Verbania. From the North, go to Bellinzona in Switzerland. Buses are available from those destinations.

Get around
The most interesting way to get around each of the lakes is by boat or hydrofoil. Varenna, Bellagio, Cadenabio, and Menaggio are the only towns car ferries travel to.  On Lake Maggiore you can pick a ferry in Carciano, Baveno or Stresa which will take you to the Borromean islands. Alternatively, you can hire a private water taxi, which costs a bit more but which will probably be quicker and more convenient, especially if you have luggage. Don't forget to get the phone number of the company, then you can ring them to come and pick you up. They also issue return tickets which you can use anytime. Most of the drivers (captains?) speak some English.

Winter
Skiing - Lake Maggiore is known for its wonderful skiing facility on the Swiss Alps; people come from all over the world to ski here. In 2006, the Torino Winter Olympics were held here.

Summer
Many types of activities are offered on the waters of Lake Maggiore -
 * Swimming - Swim on Lake Maggiore with the beautiful scenery surrounding you.
 * Sailing
 * Windsurfing
 * Water skiing

Activities offered out of water in The Italian Lake Districts -
 * Hang gliding
 * Mountain biking
 * Hiking
 * Parasailing
 * Horseback riding
 * Cycling

Take the cablecar from Carciano up to Mottarone. In winter this is where the skiers come, but in summer you get a great view across Lake Maggiore in one direction and towards the Alps in the other. You could hire a bike to take up with you and then cycle down.

Festivals
Locarno International Film Festival - The festival showcases the newest films from Europe's best directors and attracts star-studded audiences from as far away as Hollywood and New York. In addition to full-length films, the festival also shows short films and documentaries. San Vito Feast Day in August

The Spirit of Woodstock Festival is an annual open air festival at the end of July/beginning of August at Mirapuri.

Eat

Just a few tips if you visit Isola dei Pescatori. The island is tiny (350m x 100m) but there are lots of cafés and restaurants. Plan to eat at lunchtime because the last boats leave before 18:00 and after that many places close for the night (you can still ring for a water taxi to come and pick you up though). If you want a really cheap meal there are two small grocers shops where you can buy bread, ham, cheese and fruit but don't expect a lot of choice. If you do want a nice meal there are several good restaurants, including those in the two hotels at either end of the island. Expect lots of fish on the menu!

Drink
Don't go to Isola dei Pescatori if you're looking for nightlife because there isn't any (apart from the cats!)

Stay safe
Likewise, Isola dei Pescatori is very, very safe. There's not a lot you can do on such a small island.

title: Italian Lake District