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Birmingham

Birmingham, in the West Midlands, is Britain's second-largest city. Known in the Victorian era as the "City of a Thousand Trades" and the "Workshop of the World", Brum, as locals call the city, is enjoying a 21st-century resurgence as a great shopping and cultural destination.

Understand
Birmingham (the h is silent) was at the heart of the UK's industrial revolution, and its wealth was built upon the multitude of trades that were spawned. This led to a massive canal network, with more miles of canals than Venice or Amsterdam (though they're very different types of canals).

Much of the city centre was destroyed during the World War II Blitz, and the replacement buildings added little to the city. However, since the 1990s, Birmingham has been undergoing a radical change and many of the post-war buildings have been replaced. The majority of the city centre is now pedestrianised, and the canals cleaned up to make for attractive walkways. Locals credit the City Council for the transformation, as the city retains its industrial heritage while now appearing modern and forward-looking.

The city's notable associations are as diverse as HP Sauce, Tony Hancock, Cadbury's chocolate, the Lunar Society (whose members included James Watt and Matthew Boulton), Jasper Carrot and the Spitfire and the Mini (car, not skirt). Birmingham also has an active music scene, with bands and artists like Black Sabbath, UB40, Napalm Death, Duran Duran, The Beat and Steel Pulse hailing from the area. The city is also known for being the backdrop of the BBC period TV drama Peaky Blinders, which has helped to increase interest in the city.

Birmingham has many literary associations – not only JRR Tolkien, but also Washington Irving, who wrote Rip Van Winkle while lodging here with his sister's family, and Conan Doyle, who bought a violin in Sherlock Street while a medical student in Birmingham. The authors Jim Crace, Judith Cutler and David Lodge are also residents.

The nearby locations of Shropshire, Warwick, and Stratford-upon-Avon provide more of the stereotypical images of "olde" England. However, Birmingham has many of its own tourist attractions, has an extremely lively nightlife, and the shopping is one of the best outside of London.

Orientation

The City of Birmingham as it stands today encompasses a very large array of former towns and villages surrounding the original town of Birmingham, that have been incorporated into it over the years. Therefore, even if a point of interest is officially in Birmingham, it can be located quite far away from the actual city centre, in what can appear as a separate small town or even countryside. Addresses are often given including the name of the suburb, to help locate them. Do not assume that any place with a Birmingham address is easily accessible once you are in the city.

Some of the more known districts and wards of Birmingham include Aston (home to Aston Hall and Aston Villa football team) Edgbaston (where the main campus of the University of Birmingham is located), and Selly Oak (secondary campus and student town). The city centre of Birmingham officially falls into the ward of Ladywood, which itself has little to do with the actual centre.

Other areas in the city include Perry Barr, Sutton Coldfield and Moseley.

The centre of Birmingham is confined by a dual-carriageway ring road officially called the A4540, also called the Middle Ring Road. The former Inner Ring Road, or A4400, was viewed as an urban planning failure and parts of it were dismantled and redeveloped. The A38 runs across the city centre, partially underground. The very central point of Birmingham is Victoria Square. The main railway hub is New Street station, next to the huge Bullring shopping centre, which is also an orientation beacon and leads up all the way to another railway station called Moor Street.

Birmingham city centre can be divided into several areas of different characteristics:

 * Core City Centre – extends northwestwards of the New Street station, inside the confines of the A38 and includes much of the surviving pre-war historic buildings of Birmingham, a number of important institutions and the historically prime addresses such as New Street or Colmore Row
 * Westside – extends southwest of New Street and beyond the former Inner Ringroad, and includes much of the remaining canals in central Birmingham. Alongside them, much new development took place, including civic buildings such as the International Convention Centre and Library of Birmingham, and multi-functional commercial projects such as Brindleyplace or The Mailbox
 * Eastside – the area southeast of New Street station, or more precisely behind the nearby Moor Street station. This formerly industrial area which included the long-disused Curzon Station as well now contains large swathes of unused, cleared land being redeveloped as parts of large urban planning projects, giving this part of town a modern yet unfinished appearance
 * Southside – the part southeast of New Street station retains a more traditional ambience with small buildings along narrow streets. Parts of it are occupied by Birmingham's Gay Village and the Chinese Quarter.
 * Deritend and Digbeth – the area directly eastwards of the Bullring centre contains much industrial and pre-industrial architectural heritage, and it has become a hub for everything creative and a rather pleasant area, which also includes Birmingham's Irish Quarter.

 * Jewellery Quarter – true to its name, workshops in the quarter still produce 40% of the UK's jewellery, and includes the country's largest Assay Office, and several museums. It retains the 19th-century appearance lost by other industrial parts of Birmingham and is a tourist attraction itself.
 * Gun Quarter – north of Jewellery Quarter and for decades known for firearms manufacturing, but now not seeing much commercial or municipal interest and of little interest to tourists.
 * Moseley is a suburb. Much of Moseley Village dates from Victorian times and is a conservation area. There is also a dovecote which pre-dates this at Moseley Hall hospital, on Alcester Road.  It is occasionally open to the public on certain Sundays during the year. Take the number 50 bus from the city centre - it goes straight down Moseley Road (A435) to Moseley village. The journey takes about 15 minutes. Alternatively, take the number 1 or 35 buses which stop by Cannon Hill Park Gooch Street

Visitor information

 * Visit Birmingham website

By plane
A free people mover, Air-Rail Link, connects the airport passenger terminal with Birmingham International rail station between 5:15AM and 2AM; it runs every two minutes and the journey time is less than two minutes. From Birmingham International rail station trains run to New Street Station every 5–15 minutes from around 6:05AM (Su 8:45AM) to 11:15PM. The journey takes 10–20 minutes depending on whether you get an express or local (stopping) service and costs £2.50 one-way (express service - Avanti trains only) or £3.60 one-way for a ticket valid on any service.

Bus service 900 runs every 20–30 minutes between Birmingham and Coventry via the airport from around 4:50AM (Su 7AM) to midnight, takes around 25 minutes (can be much longer in peak periods) and costs £2.20 one way; the ticket is not valid for transfers. Bus service 97A provides an hourly service through the night. A day ticket (Daysaver) for all NXWM buses is available for £4 (£4.60 before 9AM), but it can also be purchased for on any airport service. Exact change is required. If a group is travelling together, a Group Daysaver for £8 will cover up to 5 people for unlimited journeys for a day.

National Express coaches serve the airport every half hour during the early hours of the morning which is very handy for morning flights, as the trains don't usually start until later in the morning. The fare varies depending on whether it is booked in advance, although tickets can be purchased on the coach subject to seats being available.

A taxi from the airport to central Birmingham will take around 20–30 minutes and will cost around £22.

The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) is adjacent to the airport and can be accessed by the free Air-Rail Link via Birmingham International station.

Cars dropping off passengers at the airport must pay a minimum fee of £3. This includes taxis and private hire cars, which pass the charge on to passengers. The charge can be avoided by being dropped off at Birmingham International Railway Station, where there is no charge, and then using the free Air-Rail Link.

By train
Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

Birmingham is a major hub of Britain's rail network.

Allow plenty of time to find your train at New Street station as it is huge and very confusing. Most platforms (tracks) are divided into sections (e.g. Platform 4A, 4B and 4C) and it's not uncommon for two trains bound for different destinations to depart from the same platform. So make sure you wait in the right area which is labelled on screens above the platform, and board the right train! New Street Station is notorious for last-minute platform changes so it's advisable to wait close to the stairs and keep close attention to the information screens and PA announcements as you may need to make a quick dash to the opposite side of the station with only a few minutes until departure!

Raging Bull, the symbol of the city during the 2022 Commonwealth Games, is on permanent display at New Street Station. Now named "Ozzy", he is a static display and no longer snorts and stomps as before, lest any staff mistakenly couple him to rolling stock.

Other important stations are and. Both of these stations are on the so-called Snow Hill line, which mainly sees local traffic within the region operated by West Midlands Railway.

The exception is Chiltern Railways' service to both stations from London Marylebone, which rivals London Northwestern Railway (slow, cheap) and Avanti West Coast (fast, more expensive) services from London Euston to Birmingham New Street. The Chiltern route has become increasingly popular since infrastructure improvements mean the fastest trains are not much slower than West Coast services into New Street, it's generally cheaper and more scenic, and Marylebone and Moor Street are relatively small stations that still have a lot of the Victorian charm that Euston and New Street decidedly lack.

New Street and Moor Street are a 5-minute walk apart, and Snow Hill is about a 10-minute walk from each.

Timetables can be checked at National Rail Enquiries (premium rate phone number from mobiles: +44 8457 48 49 50) and tickets can be booked online via this platform or over the phone through the train operator.

By coach
Intercity buses, unless clearly stated otherwise, will terminate at. The City Centre is around a 10-minute uphill walk from the station along the slightly tatty Digbeth High Street, but people need not be alarmed as the Selfridges Building and skyline are clearly visible to guide you in the correct direction. some tickets include a free bus journey transfer to the city centre, on local public transport services. If you arrive at night (or have large amounts of luggage), consider getting a bus or taxi as the Digbeth area is not a very pleasant part of the city and is home to many pubs and other nightlife, which may intimidate strangers.

Birmingham Coach station has a booking office, two cafés, shop and other basic facilities. There are toilets (30 pence), vending machines (available 24 hours), and an information desk.

There are half-hourly (or more frequent) services from London (service 420), and services from most major cities (including Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford and Sheffield) every two hours.

If you are taking the coach to an airport (such as for your journey home), leave at least two, preferably three hours early, as coach trips have been known to face significant delays if mechanical or personnel problems are encountered. National Express promises only to get you to the destination within the same day and will take no responsibility if the service runs late (the optional National Express insurance covers only your personal safety and your possessions).

 * Megabus, 0900 160 0900 (premium rate number). Serves London and Scotland.
 * National Express, 0870 580 8080.

By car

Birmingham is well sign-posted and surrounded by motorways; the M42, the M5, and the M6 which includes the infamous Spaghetti Junction (Gravelly Hill Interchange). Once in the West Midlands:

 * From the north, Birmingham is served by A-roads.
 * From the north-east, use the M1, M42 and M6.
 * From the east, use the M6.
 * From the south-east, use the M40 and M42.
 * From the south, Birmingham is served by A-roads.
 * From the south-west, use the M5 and M42.
 * From the west, Birmingham is served by A-roads.
 * From the north-west, use the M6.

Birmingham City Council operated car parks are available throughout the city, a list is accessible online.

The M5 will take you to the south-west, either the M42 then M40 or the M6 then M1 will take you to London and the south-east. In the other direction the M1 will take you to Leeds and the north-east. The M6 will also take you towards the north-west, Manchester and Scotland, or, via the M54, to north Wales.

By boat
Due to its industrial heritage, Birmingham has an extensive canal network and is on both the "Worcester & Birmingham" and "Grand Union" canals. Visitors travelling by narrowboat can choose from several tourist moorings, managed privately or by Canal & River Trust. Although the moorings are very busy in spring and summer, call ahead for availability.

On foot in the City Centre

Birmingham's City Centre is partially pedestrianised, and most things to see and do can be reached on foot. Birmingham walking directions can be planned online with the walkit.com walking route planner.

Visitors may enjoy the walk from the International Convention Centre (ICC) and the Symphony Hall on the top of Broad Street to the Bull Ring shopping complex, which takes around twenty minutes and may involve only one easy surface road-crossing. From the ICC, you walk east by the Repertory Theatre and Library of Birmingham in Centenary Square; then through the site of the former Paradise Forum (as of 2018, a building site) to Chamberlain Square; with the Museum and Art Gallery to your left and the Grade I-listed Town Hall on your right, you make your way to the spacious Victoria Square. At Victoria Square, you will find the Town Hall to the west, the Council Offices to the north, and the old Head Post Office to the South; the path you want to the Bull Ring is east, down New Street, which is a pedestrianized street lined with shops, stores, and kiosks. About five blocks down New Street, you will come to Corporation Street, the only road crossing you need to make on this walk. A few blocks later, New Street will turn into Rotunda Square. Bearing south towards St. Martin's Church, you will find the 21st-century Bull Ring Shopping Complex to your left and right.

Birmingham has a large canal network. In the city centre, extensive development has enhanced the environment and level of amenities around these canals, making them excellent pedestrian routes in their own right. Visitors would enjoy the peaceful ten-minute car-free canal stroll from Brindleyplace, National Sea Life Centre, and Sherborne Wharf, all next to the ICC, eastward under Broad Street, through the Gas Street Basin, to The Mailbox (the former Royal Mail's Birmingham head office turned into shops and restaurants).

Other walks in the City Centre include the wheelchair accessible summer Floral trail from The Mailbox to St Paul's Square, which in turn is the beginning point of another walk, the historic Jewellery Quarter in Bloom trail, where one can visit the Chamberlain Clock or St Paul's Church.

By bicycle

Birmingham City Council produces an excellent cycling and walking map of the area. You can pick one up from any local library, tourist information office, leisure centre or bike shop.

Birmingham is not a particularly cycle-friendly city, especially when compared to the rest of Europe, but it is possible to get around without too much trouble. There are plenty of places to lock a bike up in the city centre, but few cycle lanes and lots of pedestrians. Unless you are touring the UK, the best use for a bike in Birmingham is to explore the extensive local canal network, such as the canal trail leading to the historic New Smethwick Pumping Station.

Road and cycle path maintenance in the area is far from perfect, and it is not uncommon for trees and parked cars to obstruct the right-of-way. The standard of driving is as bad as in other cities, so exercise extreme caution on main roads and at night. The canal network can be accessed in the city centre from the Broad Street/Gas Street area, or at most road crossings elsewhere. The towpath is generally well-maintained to within a few miles of the city, and after that tends to be packed earth with plenty of mud and embedded bricks. A permit from British Waterways (free) is needed for towpath cycling.

The Sustrans National Cycle Network Route 5 (Oxford to Derby) passes through Birmingham from the south to the north-west. The local stretch is known as the Rea Valley Route, there is also the Cole Valley Route to the east.

Bicycle hire:

By public transport
Bus, train and Metro all come under the authority of Network West Midlands (Part of Centro, the PTE of Birmingham and surrounding area), their website is the best source for all information required on public transport in the region.

Birmingham City Council has public transportation information available online as well.

By bus
All areas of Birmingham are well-served by bus routes, operated almost exclusively by National Express West Midlands (NXWM) with some competition from smaller providers, notably Diamond Buses.

There is no central bus station for local services. Buses depart instead from one or more of five interchanges in the city centre (principally Bull Street/Priory Queensway, Snow Hill, Moor Street, Paradise Circus and New Street). Bus stop maps are available from libraries, tourist information offices and the Network West Midlands (NWM) office at New Street Station.

Route maps and timetables are available from the outlets mentioned above, and there are extensive online versions on the National Express West Midlands and NWM websites. If you do not have a lot of time to spare tracking down which buses serve which areas, you can use the Traveline Midlands Journey Planner (0870 608 2608).

Single fares are £1.90 (short hop) or £2.20 for NXWM services, and transfers are not allowed. There are no return tickets, but you can buy an all-day pass for NXWM buses, known as a 'Daysaver', for £4.20. Alternatively, a Group Daysaver will cover up to 5 people all day for £8. All these tickets may be purchased on the bus. NXWM buses do not give change, so make sure you have the exact amount required for the fare ready, so you do not hold up the queue behind you. A cheaper all-day "Plusbus" ticket, valid on all operators' buses as well as the Midland Metro tram and costs £3.10, can be purchased at the same time as a train ticket from outside the West Midlands county. Most routes operate until around midnight and start between 4AM and 6AM in the morning, but services 97A (to Chelmsley Wood and Birmingham Airport) and 50 (to Moseley and Druids Heath) operate 24 hours a day.

National Express West Midlands operates a shop in the Pavilions Shopping Centre (opposite Moor Street Station) which sells weekly and four weekly tickets, as well as smartcards with five Daysavers at a reduced rate of £4 each. There are also numerous NXWM agents located in shops around the city which sell bus passes.

Birmingham's bus system is roughly radial, with frequent services in and out of the city centre from most locations especially along the main radial routes. Additionally there are two useful circular routes, the Inner Circle, service 8A/8C, and the better known service 11A/11C, the Outer Circle (the A and C refer to anticlockwise and clockwise directions) which can be useful while travelling between different areas while avoiding the City Centre. There are also numerous services linking many suburbs, hospitals and shopping centres, which are generally less frequent and in some cases have no or poor evening or Sunday services. Compared to London, Birmingham has fewer bus lanes, which can result in much slower journeys at peak periods.

By train
There is an extensive overland rail network serving most of Birmingham and the West Midlands area, operated mainly by West Midlands Trains.

Route maps and timetables are available from libraries, tourist information offices, railway stations and the Traveline Midlands Journey Planner (0870 608 2608). You can take bicycles, pushchairs and wheelchairs on board without prior reservation, and there is usually a designated carriage.

Fares vary with distance, but you can expect to pay between £2 and £5 for a day return to a local destination. Fare-dodging is rife, and there has been a crackdown with ticket barriers at some stations (New Street, Snow Hill, Moor Street, Five Ways and University) and on-board checking. The penalty for not having a valid ticket is a £20 on-the-spot fine (which can be contested in court, but is rarely worth the hassle).

From New Street station, the cross-city line runs between Lichfield Trent Valley in the north and Redditch in the south, stopping notably at Sutton Coldfield (for Sutton Park), Aston (for Aston Hall), University (for the University of Birmingham), Bournville (for Cadbury World) and Barnt Green (for Lickey Hills). Local services also run to Hereford (via Worcester and Malvern), Leamington Spa, Northampton (via Birmingham International Airport, Coventry and Rugby), Nuneaton, Shrewsbury (via Wolverhampton), Stafford (via Walsall), Stratford-upon-Avon, Tamworth and Warwick. Additional services to these areas run from Snow Hill and Moor Street stations (they are on the same line), and you may not be able to catch a specific train from New Street.

By tram

Birmingham has a single tram line with 31 stops, rather grandly called the West Midlands Metro. It runs between Edgbaston and Wolverhampton, via Brindleyplace, New Street and Snow Hill stations, the Jewellery Quarter, West Bromwich, Wednesbury and Bilston. Further major extensions are taking place in 2022 and subsequent years.

The Metro runs from roughly 6:30AM–11:30PM Monday-Saturday, and 8AM-11PM Sundays and bank holidays. Fares vary with distance but expect to pay around £2 for a single, £3.50 for a return and £4.50 for a day pass (combined bus/train/Metro passes are also available). The full route, timetable and fare information is listed on the Metro website, and there is additional information on the TfWM website.

By water bus
Water buses and taxis operate out of the canal offices in Gas Street Basin (underneath Broad Street). They also provide tours of the area. Obviously, they are limited to the local canals and are significantly slower than other forms of transport.

By car
Birmingham's city centre is partially pedestrianised and has several unintuitive one-way systems. A car is a viable way of getting around the city and other areas, but a good map or sat-nav is essential.

Birmingham City Council produces a map of city centre car parks (available from tourist information offices). Expect to pay £1-1.50 per hour in Pay & Display areas and more on street meters. Parking attendants patrol popular areas regularly, so expect a penalty fee if you return late or being towed away if you're parked illegally.

Car hire is possible in the city centre and at the airport.

A congestion charge of £8 per day applies to vehicles using roads inside the A4540 Middleway ring road. The charge will not apply to low emission vehicles and there will be some initial exemptions for locally registered vehicles.

By motorcycle
Motorcycles and mopeds are becoming increasingly popular in Birmingham as a way of avoiding rush hour traffic jams, and usually enjoy free parking in city centre car parks. Although not a lot of car parks have bike areas, there are a number of bays around the centre but none of them have any rails to lock your bike to.

Taxi/private-hire
Birmingham has an abundance of taxi ranks all over the city, the best-served being New Street Station. Both hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are easy to find, but you should exercise caution and not get into an unmarked car or one you haven't booked.

Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest times due to clubbers going home in masses, and there can be waits of over an hour if you're somewhere busy like Broad Street.

Popular providers include:
 * MiniCabRide LTD, available 24 hours 7 days a week.

 * AFJ Minibuses, Birmingham Minibus hire available 24 hours a day.
 * Taxis Birmingham, has an online booking system.
 * Castle Cars, 13 Oak Tree Ln, Selly Oak, +44 121 472-2222.
 * Elite Radio Cars, Omnibus Garage, Harborne Ln, Selly Oak, +44 121 415-5000.
 * Falcon Cars, 211 Monument Rd, +44 121 555-6050.
 * TOA Taxis, 100 Vivian Rd, Harborne, +44 121 427-8888. All major credit cards accepted with onboard chip & pin facilities.
 * Big Yellow Taxi LTD, Carpenter Rd, 32 B15 2JH, +44 121 440-7117.

Uber
Alternatively the popular ride-sharing app Uber has a licence in the city and there are plenty of drivers around the city centre that can be hailed.

See
Birmingham doesn't have a reputation for being especially picturesque, but there is a lot of interesting architecture in the city centre that the shops and crowds sometimes obscure. For such a (relatively) large population centre, the countryside (in the form of country parks such as the Lickey Hills, Waseley Hills, etc.) is surprisingly close.

Museums and art galleries
For a place with a strong industrial heritage, Birmingham does not have the large range of historical attractions you may expect, however, this is offset by the arts being extremely well-represented.

 * The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is closed until 2024.
 * The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is closed until 2024.
 * The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is closed until 2024.

Factory visits
The West Midlands region has been the hub for automotive production and development ever since the invention of the motor car, and even today two car factories remain operational within the city limits of Birmingham, both offering factory tours. There is also a chocolate factory for some sweeter treats.

Religious buildings
Birmingham's population is very diverse, and communities from just about any country in the world can be found somewhere. This in turn has led to numerous centres for all the world's major religions.

Other architecture
Birmingham holds a wealth of architectural heritage from different eras, including also buildings with no touristically viable function. Some of them are listed below.

Parks and nature
There are small parks and green spaces all over the city and suburbs, and the countryside is only about thirty minutes away in any direction. The country parks and nature reserves usually contain a wealth of information about local flora, fauna and conservation efforts.

Events

Birmingham hosts some of the largest events, exhibitions and conferences in the country, which may or may not be of interest to a visitor.

Live music

The live music scene in Birmingham is vibrant and varied, and something can be experienced just about any night of the week. Libraries, tourist information offices and music-related bars and shops will stock copies of The Fly or "Ryan's Gig Guide" free publications with exhaustive listings of every music event going on in the city and surrounding area.

 * Birmingham Jazz Festival is held in July at multiple venues.
 * Birmingham Jazz Festival is held in July at multiple venues.
 * Birmingham Jazz Festival is held in July at multiple venues.
 * Birmingham Jazz Festival is held in July at multiple venues.
 * Birmingham Jazz Festival is held in July at multiple venues.

Theatre
In addition to the main venues mentioned below, there are several small theatres scattered around the city and the suburbs; pick up a What's On guide from a library or tourist information office for full listings.

 * Midlands Arts Centre (MAC). See Cinema. £5-20.
 * Midlands Arts Centre (MAC). See Cinema. £5-20.
 * Midlands Arts Centre (MAC). See Cinema. £5-20.
 * Midlands Arts Centre (MAC). See Cinema. £5-20.

Cinema

Birmingham's cinemas are quite reasonably priced due to stiff competition for the student market. Don't expect a huge range of "alternative" films, as even the independent places screen mainstream blockbusters to keep their revenues up.

Sports
Birmingham Community Leisure Trust centres are liberally scattered throughout Birmingham, typically offering swimming pools, sports courts, fields and exercise equipment, all available at much lower prices than you'd expect to pay at privately-run gyms. There's also plenty of golf courses, both municipal and private, across the city including the world famous Belfry complex.

 * Football: the Birmingham conurbation has three professional soccer teams.
 * Aston Villa play at
 * Birmingham City play at
 * West Bromwich Albion play at
 * Cricket:
 * Rugby league: Midlands Hurricanes play the 13-a-side game at Alexander Stadium in League One the third tier. The playing season is Feb-Sept.
 * Rugby Union: Moseley play 15-a-side in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground is on Billesley Common 4 miles south of city centre.
 * Rugby Union: Moseley play 15-a-side in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground is on Billesley Common 4 miles south of city centre.

Learn

 * There are also regular workshops at places such as the Midlands Arts Centre (see Cinema) and the Country Parks (see Parks and nature).
 * There are also regular workshops at places such as the Midlands Arts Centre (see Cinema) and the Country Parks (see Parks and nature).

Work
The vast number of shops, bars and restaurants in the city centre means that there is rarely a shortage of menial job vacancies. You will often see positions for minimum wage service or retail positions advertised in windows. There are also a lot of temping agencies able to find temporary office, driving and other jobs for travellers packing suits and CVs.

Buy

Since the beginning of the 21st century Birmingham has developed enormously as a regional shopping centre, with the old Bull Ring complex (once a notorious 1960s eyesore) being demolished to make way for a large shopping centre that includes Selfridges.

The city and suburbs have the usual assortment of supermarkets, newsagents and corner shops. The city centre is especially well-served, with three Tesco, two Sainsbury's and one Co-op outlets.

Shopping centres

Shopping streets
The principal shopping streets are New Street, High Street and Corporation Street. All include the usual assortment of high street chain-stores and discount outlets. Birmingham's High Street has become run down as of late, holding mainly discount stores, due to the attraction of the Bull Ring to larger name stores. However, New Street, going towards Victoria Square has many upmarket stores.

Eat
Birmingham is the balti capital of England, and the balti was invented here in 1977. It is a type of curry served in a thin, pressed-steel wok called a "balti bowl". The much-promoted "balti triangle" covers around 50 restaurants on Ladypool Road and Stratford Road in Sparkbrook (often referred to as Little Somalia), about 2 miles south of the city centre. Travel West Midlands has a deal with eight of the larger eateries whereby you can get a 15% discount for travelling by bus, pick up a Balti Triangle by Bus leaflet for full details. A taxi to the area will take around 10 minutes and cost £5. Although the area looks a bit run-down, there is little crime as the abundance of restaurants ensure that the streets are always busy.

Budget
Birmingham has a large student population, and the usual cottage industries have sprung up in campus areas to cater for their lack of cash. There are around a dozen cheap eateries in the Selly Oak area of Bristol Road, mainly Indian but also Chinese, Italian and English.

The usual fast food chains, kebab shops and burger vans are also scattered around the city and surrounding areas.

Moseley

Splurge
Birmingham has quite a few upmarket places, mainly due to the number of high-rolling businesspeople that drift in for conferences and other dealings.

Vegetarian and vegan
Considering its size, Birmingham does not have a wide range of vegetarian-specific places to eat. All the eateries mentioned above will have vegetarian options, but the Indian and Chinese places tend to have better variety. If you are vegan ask for your balti/curry to be cooked without ghee (clarified butter). Naan breads are generally not vegan whilst rotis are.

General
Dress code restrictions are rather common in Birmingham clubs, so be careful to check out each club's policy. Many clubs refuse to admit large groups of males in case of trouble, so go individually or in small groups. The usual excuse that door-staff give is that someone in the party is wearing the wrong type of shoes/coat/trousers etc. The general rule of thumb is no effort, no entry. This usually means shoes, not trainers, and a shirt, not a T-shirt. At the same time being dressed like that can be a hindrance, if you go to one of the cooler bars. It's best to check with someone who's been to the particular bar before. There are a number of areas in the city centre, which are defined below, but other areas to look for a night out are Moseley, Harborne and Selly Oak.

If you are looking for the average drink, virtually any pub or bar will do. If you are a real ale aficionado, there are several excellent pubs to visit, where dress restrictions do not usually apply. Highlights include The Wellington (Bennets Hill), The Shakeseare (Summer Row), another The Shakeseare (Lower Temple Street), The Old Contemptables (Edmund Street, near Snow Hill Station), and the Post Office Vaults (New Street).

City centre

The Arcadian
In the middle of Birmingham's rather small Chinatown, is an open-air shopping arcade with mostly Chinese supermarkets and restaurants. Right in the middle though, it's all bars. It tends to be a bit quieter and less rowdy than Broad street and has some of the better clubs in the city. The dress code around here is extremely strict in regard to logos on clothes, those are a definite no! Most of the bars are interchangeable, but recommended are:

Broad Street
Broad Street, the No 1 party street of Birmingham, has a large range of clubs, bars and pubs. This is a good location for a decent English Friday night. However, at the same time it is one of the more rowdy areas, and if trouble happens it will normally be on this road. The chances of this affecting you are slim. Just of to the side of this road is Brindleyplace, a classier and better area of bars, clubs and restaurants. Recommended bars are:

Digbeth
Birmingham has a large Irish community and many Irish pubs. Most of the city centre ones are spread along Digbeth High Street beginning with The Bullring Tavern near the Bull Ring and finishing with The Rainbow near Camp Hill.

Some recommendations in Digbeth are:

The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Hosts a range of nights, from Drum n Bass to Electro, not to be missed. The Rainbow Pub, An eclectic pub that hosts a variety of nights, one of the best places in Birmingham and is soon to be shut down. Also visit the Rainbow Warehouse, around the corner which is big on the rave scene and often joins with the Rainbow pub to host street parties such as S.L.A.G.
 * Every two weeks an indie night called Panic! is held at the Sanctuary in Dibgeth.
 * For a more eclectic mix of music and people take a look at the Medicine Bar in the Custard Factory just off the A34 in Digbeth (it's the big blue building).
 * Every two weeks an indie night called Panic! is held at the Sanctuary in Dibgeth.
 * For a more eclectic mix of music and people take a look at the Medicine Bar in the Custard Factory just off the A34 in Digbeth (it's the big blue building).

Hurst Street
Birmingham has a vibrant and visible gay scene centred around Hurst Street. Every Spring Bank Holiday this area, often referred to by locals as the Gay Village, hosts a gay-pride festival while its bars and clubs attract people from across the Midlands all year round. Hurst Street is well policed and homophobic attacks are rare, though the local fundamentalists may try to 'save your soul'. Birmingham is as gay friendly as Manchester, Brighton, and Blackpool. Birmingham has a large number of gay venues, the best being the Village, Eden, Equator, The Loft Lounge and the Queens Arms. The Fountain and Bolts are men only bars.

The Jewellery Quarter
Many of the more up-market bars and restaurants are located around St. Paul's Square in the Jewellery Quarter. This is also home to the Jam House, Birmingham's premier jazz club.

Harborne
Harborne was once a separate village, is now a mainly residential area a bit North of Birmingham University. The old village center, along Harborne High Street, now has a lot of pubs with a mixed crowd; students, faculty and others. There's a tradition among the crazier students; try to have a half pint in every pub in Harborne in one evening. With over 20 pubs and several km of walking involved, and the limited opening hours of British pubs, this takes some doing.

Newtown

Clubbing
The city hosts some of Britain's most popular clubs and events. Student nights are especially fun, with cheap drink and entry offers and busy clubs. Do not miss out on visiting at least one of these brilliant events:

Hostels
If you want a more social feel to your stay why not try one of the hostels the city has to offer.

Budget
There is ample choice of hotels in the economy sector in Birmingham.

Connect
As of June 2022, Birmingham has 5G from all UK carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places.

All public libraries, including the central Library of Birmingham, provide free internet access, though the connection can be slow and you may have to queue for a terminal; and you need a library membership card for access.

Cope
Birmingham grew to be a very multicultural population centre, so apart from Christian, religious services for many other faith groups are provided within the city.

Stay safe
As with the rest of the UK, in any emergency call 999 or 112 (from a landline if you can) and ask for ambulance, fire or police when connected. For non-emergency police matters, such as reporting crimes after they have occurred, lost property, etc.) call 101.

In general, Birmingham is a safe city. However, like most large cities, there are safer and more dangerous areas. Certain suburbs (see below) have had their share of gun crime problems, but these are extremely unlikely to affect you unless you make yourself part of the larger drug gang problem. Avoid any offers of cheap drugs as you might be lured into a secluded place and then robbed.

Muggers in Birmingham tend to operate in groups of two or three, typically one will ask you a question (to judge whether you are local or likely to hit back) while the others move in behind you so they can force you to the ground. If you find this happening to you, then move to the side, so you have a clear escape path and cannot be grabbed from the rear.

The city centre is well-policed. The only trouble you might witness is a small scuffle on the Broad Street nightlife quarter as the nightclubs turn out in the early hours of the morning. However, take care at either end of Broad Street where the traffic flow speeds up.

It is advisable to stay away from the city centre when football matches between the city's two professional teams occur. Some fans of Aston Villa and Birmingham City have a violent and raw hatred for each other, and violent clashes between them are a common occurrence on match days. On other days, when the teams are playing at home against other teams, it is less likely for major violence to occur in the city centre, but you may encounter pubs full of chanting football supporters, and this may be intimidating (and really annoying) for tourists.

As usual, common sense will keep you safe, avoid walking alone in deserted or poorly-lit areas, especially at night, keep your wits about you at cash machines, and do not get into unmarked taxis. Private hire cars must be pre-booked; black cabs may be hailed. The only higher crime-rate areas that tourists might want to visit are Aston and Sparkbrook: even these are fairly safe during daylight. Canal towpaths at night, if relatively near a road access point, can also be hazardous.

Avoid people who offer you a free "stress test" (especially in New Street, near the junction with Ethel Street) as they are trying to recruit you into the Church of Scientology.

Go next

 * Solihull just south has museums and the National Exhibition Centre.
 * Walsall just north has museums and the New Art Gallery Walsall.
 * Ironbridge was the birthplace of Britain's Industrial Revolution, which powered the growth of cities like Birmingham.
 * London is just over an hour away, with inexpensive fares if you travel off-peak.

title: Birmingham


text:
Birmingham (Michigan)

Birmingham is a city in Oakland County, in Southeast Michigan.

Understand
Birmingham is an upscale suburb of Detroit. As the northernmost "Streetcar Suburb" it is the furthest suburb from Detroit to feature a walkable somewhat historic downtown core with shopping, dining, and entertainment. Though long since removed, the street car line from Detroit along Woodward Avenue terminated in downtown Birmingham and made a loop to head back towards Detroit in what is now Booth Park. Likewise, the housing stock in Birmingham tends to be older and more varied than in suburbs further north such as Bloomfield Township, Troy, and West Bloomfield, but larger and more upscale than in suburbs closer to Detroit such as Royal Oak, Southfield or Berkley. Birmingham is a blend of the opulent estates and tract homes to the north and the more dense suburbs to the south.

Get around
Most travel through Birmingham requires a car. SMART bus service serves Birmingham but is of limited use (routes through Birmingham are only along Woodward Avenue and 15 Mile/Maple Road).

Birmingham can be most easily reached by taking Woodward or Maple road. Parking is normally easy and inexpensive, as there are multiple parking structures and lots that offers free two hour parking.

The downtown Birmingham area is quite walkable.

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

title: Birmingham (Michigan)


text:
Birobidzhan

Birobidzhan (Russian: Биробиджа́н, bee-ruh-beed-ZHAHN) is the capital of Russia's Jewish Autonomous Oblast. It borders Khabarovsk Krai to the east, Amur Oblast to the west and China to the south. Bira and Bidzhan are two parallel rivers, the former flows by the city's banks.

Get in
Take a train, elektrichka or minibus from Khabarovsk, Russia. There is a daily bus to Komsomolsk-on-Amur (via Khabarovsk).

See
In spite of its name the number of Jewish inhabitants in the area is rather small. However there are a lot of traces of and new monuments to national characters. Start from the bronze figures sitting on the cart on the railway square and move ahead to Sholem Aleichem statue. You will see some more.

Two synagogues and Orthodox churches are part of the visit programme.

Buy
Vodka "Khasidkaya", "Shabbatnaya", "Rabinovich" and "Jewish happiness" are due to preserve the color and taste of the region in bottled form.

Eat
There is a number of cafes around the marketplace offering borsch, macaroni, shashlyki, but you can also take a meal on the cheap in the eatery "Strela" at the railway station.

Go next
The bus station is next to the railway station on the left (when you exit the station building) and the bus timetable will not get you waiting for ages, whether you take a private minibus or a regular public bus. Elekrichkas to Khabarovsk and Obluchye depart two times a day.

title: Birobidzhan


text:
Birr

Birr (Biorra, "plain of water") is a town in County Offaly in the Midlands of Ireland, with a population of 5741 in 2016. Birr is a well preserved Georgian town with graceful streets and elegant buildings. From 1620 to 1899 it was called Parsonstown for the Parsons family who were local landowners and Earls of Rosse. In the Victorian era it was at the leading edge of astronomy thanks to the 3rd Earl's telescope.

Understand
The first documented telescope was a patent of 1608: Galileo quickly learned of it, built his own, and made a series of discoveries. These early designs used refractive lenses, which distorted the light with a rainbow-effect on the colours, so their useful size was limited. Then came reflectors, using concave mirrors to focus distant light - these could be made much larger, hence magnify more, and probe deeper into space. William Parsons (1800-1867), the 3rd Earl of Rosse, built a 36-inch reflector and reckoned he could go further. No dilettante aristocrat he: he took first class honours in mathematics and had a distinguished academic career. The main technical challenges were accuracy of mirror grinding, tarnishing of the mirror surface, and supporting versus maneuvering such weight. By 1845 his "leviathan" 72-inch telescope was completed at Birr Castle, with its great cylinder and mounting, like a steamship met with an accident down a beer-cellar trapdoor.

Then felt I like some watcher of the skies, when a new planet swims into his ken.... — the Leviathan came just too late to discover Neptune, but many other bodies were seen for the first time, or as never before. The main work of the telescope was on stars, mapping their position, brightness and colour. Particularly puzzling were "nebulae", fuzzy things, were they clouds, or masses of stars that couldn't be distinguished, or what? Parsons showed that some (e.g., Andromeda) were such masses, and therefore incredibly distant even compared to most stars, in other words they were separate galaxies. But his rival John Herschel (whose father had discovered Uranus) maintained that at least some were gas clouds, within which stars were born, to live and die in various ways. Just as geologists such as Hutton had showed the continuing evolution of land forms, and Darwin was revealing that biological evolution continued, so this controversy revealed a still-evolving, turbulent universe. And all this was achieved using only the visible light spectrum, observed from the bottom of earth's moist and murky atmosphere, beneath the clouds that tumble over County Offaly.

Get in
Kearns buses run from Birr via Tullamore to Dublin in the morning, returning in the afternoon. They take about two hours, with multiple stops in Dublin but not Busáras or the airport. There are four M-F between 5:30AM and 9:30AM, returning 3-6PM; one Saturday and 2-3 Sunday. One bus per day starts from Portumna.

Another Kearns Bus 843 plies between Birr and Tullamore once in the middle of the day, and Bus 847 runs once Birr-Tullamore-Maynooth.

Bus Éireann 72 runs daily from Limerick via Nenagh to Birr, taking 80 min, and continuing to Athlone (another 50 min).

M-F an extra bus 323X runs from Limerick via the University campus and Nenagh as far as Birr. is Birr's main bus stop.

From Dublin by road follow M7 to Roscrea then north on N52.

Get around
Walk or cycle.

See

 * Birr town centre is a well-preserved Georgian townscape. The best of it is around Emmett Square where N52 makes a zigzag, John's Place branching east, and leafy Oxmantown Mall starting a block north and leading to the castle gates. The Seffin Stone on John's Place is somewhat older: its inscriptions date it to 3200 BC like Newgrange. In folklore it marks the exact centre of Ireland, and was inscribed by Finn MacCool, hence Suigh Finn the seat of Finn, so what part of his giant anatomy was doing the inscribing? The square used to be "Cumberland Square", and the column bore a statue to the Duke of Cumberland, victor at Culloden in 1746. In 1915 the statue was removed before it either fell down or was torn down. The square is now named for Robert Emmett (1778-1803), executed for rebellion: "When my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then and not till then, let my epitaph be written" - though there are over 70 different versions of his final speech from the dock.
 * Crotty's Church on Castle St looks like a Presbyterian chapel and indeed became one, but it was built by a breakaway Roman Catholic faction, a rare schism in the RC church. Michael Crotty was the local curate and in 1826 thought he'd been appointed as parish priest, then another fellow got the post. Crotty was excluded from the new RC chapel that he'd done much to establish, and together with his cousin William Crotty began to preach a doctrine of piqued anti-popery. These latter-day Luthers didn't have 95 theses to nail to the church door but had many priestly abuses to rail against, such as "clay money": people were paying for consecrated clay to be put into their coffins, to save their dead bodies from sullying by heretic remains. The Crottys had 1000 followers and by 1839 had built the Castle St chapel, nicely in time for the schism to peter out. Their bilious ranting sermons drove parishioners either back into the arms of the RC mother church, or to the Presbyterians for more of the same.
 * : see Roscrea for this ramshackle Gothic pile, energetically touted since 1910 as Ireland's most haunted house. There are so many contenders for that title, there needs to be a structured, televised tournament, with the spookiest qualifying for the European Finals in Transylvania.
 * : see Roscrea for this ramshackle Gothic pile, energetically touted since 1910 as Ireland's most haunted house. There are so many contenders for that title, there needs to be a structured, televised tournament, with the spookiest qualifying for the European Finals in Transylvania.

Do

 * Birr Leisure Centre has a gym, pool and fitness classes. It's by the rugby club north side of County Arms Hotel.
 * Birr Vintage Week is an arts festival in August.
 * Birr Vintage Week is an arts festival in August.
 * Birr Vintage Week is an arts festival in August.
 * Birr Vintage Week is an arts festival in August.
 * Birr Vintage Week is an arts festival in August.

Buy
The main store is Tesco on Railway Road south side of town, open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-8PM.

Sleep

 * Emmett House is a B&B facing Dooly's across the square.
 * The Maltings on Castle St are self-catering apartments in a converted storehouse; they no longer offer B&B.
 * The Maltings on Castle St are self-catering apartments in a converted storehouse; they no longer offer B&B.
 * The Maltings on Castle St are self-catering apartments in a converted storehouse; they no longer offer B&B.
 * The Maltings on Castle St are self-catering apartments in a converted storehouse; they no longer offer B&B.
 * The Maltings on Castle St are self-catering apartments in a converted storehouse; they no longer offer B&B.
 * The Maltings on Castle St are self-catering apartments in a converted storehouse; they no longer offer B&B.

Connect
As of April 2021, Birr has 5G from Eir and Three, but a poor signal from Vodafone.

Go next

 * Tullamore has two distilleries open for tours, Tullamore DEW and Kilbeggan.
 * Roscrea has a castle and many other medieval remains.
 * Athlone has fine Georgian and Victorian architecture.
 * Portumna in lowland east Galway has an early example of a bling castle.

title: Birr


text:
Birsay

Birsay is a small village on the north coast of Orkney Mainland. It's the site of the ruined Earl's Palace, and just offshore is the Brough of Birsay with medieval Norse remains. The surrounding farmland is dotted with ancient standing stones, some incorporated into fence-posts.

By road
From Kirkwall, take the A965 towards Stromness. The direct route is to turn right at Stenness onto A986, which at Twatt becomes A967, keep following it north to the junction of A966. You're now at Birsay, with the palace just left.

A slow scenic route is to turn off A965 earlier at Finstown onto A966, and follow this round the north coast past Tingwall and Broch of Gurness to meet A967 at Birsay.

From Stromness, take the A965 out of town, and after a mile fork left onto A967. Branch left onto either B-road if you want to visit Skara Brae, otherwise continue north. A987 is joined by A986 around Twatt, continue north to Birsay.

By bus
Henry Hudson, Cook, Frobisher: so many ill-fated expeditions have passed through the Orkneys. And then there’s the bus service to Birsay and Skara Brae.

There’s nothing on Sunday. The options Monday-Saturday are:

Bus 6 from Kirkwall at 7AM and 5:10PM to Birsay, 45 min, back at 7:50AM and 6PM. This runs along the north coast via Tingwall (for Rousay ferry) and Evie (for Broch of Gurness) but doesn’t serve Skara Brae.

Bus 7 from Kirkwall at 1:40PM and 5:30PM to Birsay, with the earlier bus heading back to Kirkwall at 2:10PM while the later bus continues at 6:10PM to Stromness. It doesn’t pass Skara Brae, but you can get off at Sandwick 2 miles away. The reverse service from Stromness only runs at 6:30AM and 7:30AM.

Bus 8S from Kirkwall at 8:30AM or 11:30AM via Stenness to Skara Brae (1 hr) then into Stromness. There are also three connections on X1 from Kirkwall to Stromness to join the return run of 8S via Birsay.

Get around
Birsay itself is small and easy to walk, but check the tide times before crossing to the Brough, eg on Easytide using Stromness as the reference port.

You need wheels to reach outlying sites such as Broch of Gurness and Click Mill, cycling is ideal.

See

 * Fishermen's Hut and Whalebone: from the Brough of Birsay carpark, walk east along the north shore. About 10 minutes down the path is a small fishermen's hut with adjacent boat rests. Down a nearby narrow stone stairway is a natural spring. A bit farther down the path is a whalebone erected in the late 19th century and a great view of the Brough.
 * Rousay is the high island seen from A966 east towards Evie and Tingwall; the ferry sails from Tingwall. Eynhallow is the small island in the channel between: it has the ruins of a Norse church, but no ferry service.
 * Click Mill is an 1820 horizontal water-mill, with its original machinery in working order. It's on Hillside Road between Evie and Dounby. Free, always open.
 * Skara Brae: for this and related neolithic sites, see Stenness.
 * Rousay is the high island seen from A966 east towards Evie and Tingwall; the ferry sails from Tingwall. Eynhallow is the small island in the channel between: it has the ruins of a Norse church, but no ferry service.
 * Click Mill is an 1820 horizontal water-mill, with its original machinery in working order. It's on Hillside Road between Evie and Dounby. Free, always open.
 * Skara Brae: for this and related neolithic sites, see Stenness.
 * Click Mill is an 1820 horizontal water-mill, with its original machinery in working order. It's on Hillside Road between Evie and Dounby. Free, always open.
 * Skara Brae: for this and related neolithic sites, see Stenness.

Buy

 * Palace Stores next to the palace is the general store, open Tu-Su 9AM-5PM. Come early for their homemade pies.
 * Birsay Books has second hand and antiquarian books. They're 2 miles south of the palace, open Th F noon-5PM, Sa Su 9AM-5PM.

Connect
As of July 2024, Birsay has no mobile signal from any UK carrier.

Go next

 * Stenness a few miles south has Skara Brae and the Stones of Stenness. Beyond those you reach either Stromness (for ferries to Hoy) or Kirkwall.
 * Following the north coast, you pass Broch of Gurness and Tingwall (for the Rousay ferry) before circling back to the Kirkwall main road.
 * Rousay island has an impressive collection of prehistoric sites.

title: Birsay


text:
Birtamod

Birtamod is a city in Eastern Tarai in Nepal.

Understand
If you have stop in Jhapa district, Birtamod is your best bet. It is a small, yet bustling town on the east–west highway.

Get in
To get to Birtamod, you can take a taxi or bus from Kakadbhitta, Indo-Nepal border or can directly fly from other cities to Candragari and take a taxi to Birtamod

Do

 * Dashain
 * Tihar and Diwali

Sleep
Hotel Heaven is in Jhapa district.

title: Birtamod


text:
Bisbee

Bisbee is a town in Southeast Arizona, and the county seat for Cochise County. This former mining town has reinvented itself as an artist community, and it now attracts tourists for its vibrant cultural scene and well-preserved architecture. Notable are its many Victorian-era houses built into the hillsides, some of which can only be accessed by foot.

Understand
Bisbee was established in 1880 as a mining town, and named after Judge DeWitt Bisbee who was a financial backer of the Copper Queen Mine. Mining operations ceased in 1974.

Get in
From Sierra Vista, head south on Highway 92, or west on Highway 90. From Tombstone, head south on Highway 80.

Get around
Old Bisbee is very pedestrian-friendly; the easiest option is to simply find a convenient place to park, and walk from there.

title: Bisbee


text:
Biscarrosse

Biscarrosse is a town and beach resort in the Landes region of Southwestern France.

Understand
Biscarrosse is divided in three separate districts:

 * Biscarrosse-Ville is the administrative and commercial centre. It has a population of about 10,000.
 * About 9 km west, Biscarrosse-Plage is at the end of the line of dunes, right on the coast. A well-known seaside resort, it is mostly active during summer yet is also popular in winter for walks along the sea front.
 * Alongside the North Lake, Biscarrosse-Lac comprises some residential areas and the harbours of Maguide and Navarosse.

By car
From Bordeaux, there are two possible routes:

The first one is toll-free: drive down the autoroute A63, then the A660, and take exit number 1 marked Mios and Biscarrosse. Follow signs for Biscarrosse. The trip takes around 1h30. A big downside is that the road between the highway and Biscarrosse-Ville is usually very congested during summer.

The second one is to stay on autoroute A63 until exit 17 marked Parentis-en-Born and Biscarrosse.

From Arcachon, drive down the D 218 road which runs parallel to the coast.

By train
There is no railway station in Biscarrosse.

The closest railway station is in Ychoux (15 km east from Biscarrosse-Ville). Ychoux is served only by regional trains running between Bordeaux and the south of the region. Long-distance trains (such as TGVs) usually don't stop at Ychoux. There is a bus route between Ychoux station and Biscarrosse-Ville (XL'R bus route 11).

Other railway stations are in Arcachon and Bordeaux.

By plane
Biscarrosse has a small landing strip.

The closest international airport is Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport ( north-east of Biscarrosse-Ville, 1h30 by car, no direct public transportation route.)

Domestic flights link it to Paris Orly & CDG, Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Montpelier, Nice and Strasbourg. International destinations include Amsterdam Schiphol, Barcelona El Prat, Basel, Berlin, Bristol, Brussels, Budapest, Casablanca, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Geneva, Lisbon, London (Gatwick, Luton & Stansted), Madrid Barajas, Milan, Prague, Rome, Tunis and Venice.

Get around
The districts of Biscarrosse are relatively compact and can be easily explored by foot. However, moving between districts may require motorized transportation means of some sort.

Biscarrosse-Ville and Biscarrosse-Plage are connected by road D 146 and by several well-maintained bike paths.

Public transportation is quite limited as the region is sparsely populated. Local bus routes are operated by Regie des Transports Landais (RDTL) under the name XL'R.

A municipal shuttle called Bisca'Bus runs during summer between Biscarrosse-Plage and Biscarrosse-Ville.

Buy
Most shops are concentrated along the main pedestrian street of Biscarrosse-Plage. However their offerings are quite modest and limited to what can be typically found in a beach resort (souvenirs, take-away food, clothes, sports gear, etc.)

Small shopping malls and gas stations can be found in the outskirts of Biscarrosse-Ville.

Go next

 * Arcachon

title: Biscarrosse


text:
Biscayne National Park

Biscayne National Park is a United States national park in Greater Miami. It is the largest marine park in the National Park System, protecting the southern section of Biscayne Bay, including the northernmost several Florida Keys, mangrove shorelines, a shallow bay, and living coral reefs. The land portion consists of a mainland area and several undeveloped islands. Biscayne National Park is a great place for outdoor and water-based recreation—or just relaxing.

Understand

 * The water portion of Biscayne National Park is open 24 hours a day. Adams Key (accessible only by boat or swimming) is a day use area only. Convoy Point, on the mainland, is the location of the park's headquarters and visitor center, and is open daily from 7AM-5:30PM. The Dante Fascell Visitor Center is open daily from 9AM-5PM. Audiovisual programs are closed-captioned and available in both English and Spanish.
 * Translations of the park's brochure are available in Spanish, French, German and Japanese.

History
In the expansion years of the 1950s some had a vision of development of bridges, roads and buildings for the keys. Later came a plan to dredge up of bay bottom to create a jetport. In 1961, 13 area landowners voted unanimously to create the City of Islandia. Plans for Seadade, a major industrial seaport, were announced in 1962. The proposal called for the dredging of a 40-foot deep channel through the bay's clear, shallow waters.

Facing a ground swell of public opposition, landowners in the city of Islandia brought in bulldozers in an attempt to despoil the area. Dubbed "Spite Highway," the swath was six lanes wide and seven miles long, right down the middle of Elliott Key. Park proponents were not deterred. Congress, led by longtime Representative Dante Fascell, created Biscayne National Monument to protect "a rare combination of terrestrial, marine and amphibious life in a tropical setting of great natural beauty." President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill on October 18, 1968.

Landscape
Biscayne National Park consists of four primary ecosystems:
 * a narrow fringe of mangrove forest along the mainland shoreline
 * the southern expanse of Biscayne Bay
 * the northernmost islands of the Florida Keys
 * the beginning of the third-largest coral reef in the world.

Flora and fauna

Biscayne National Park is home to the longest stretch of mangrove forest on Florida's East Coast. In 2001, the rare semaphore prickly-pear cactus, which grows only in South Florida, was discovered here. The cactus is a candidate for the federal endangered species list. The endangered Sargent’s Palm also exists in the park. It is considered to be the rarest palm native to Florida. It was initially found on Elliott Key and Sands Key, but collectors in the late 1800s began to harvest them for ornamental use. In 1991 only 50 palms were found on Elliott Key. Many were also damaged in Hurricane Andrew. Today there are about 16 plants on Elliott and 123 on Long Key thanks to efforts undertaken to reintroduce palms on three of the original islands.

Seagrass beds are an important ecological component. They are highly productive, provide nursery habitat for rearing and sheltering small fishes and invertebrates, and provide food for a wide variety of animals and create habitat and substrate diversity.

In addition, several types of wildflowers, succulents, wildflowers and ferns compliment a variety of trees and shrubs.

The park is home to many threatened and endangered species including the West Indian manatee, eastern indigo snake, piping plover, American crocodile, peregrine falcon, Schaus' swallowtail butterfly, least tern, and 5 different species of sea turtle.

The Schaus’ swallowtail is a large, colorful butterfly that is endemic to southern Florida and has been listed by the State of Florida as an endangered species since 1975. It was listed federally in 1984 when estimates showed only 70 or fewer adults remaining. Today the butterfly is only found on northern Key Largo and several small Keys in Biscayne National Park.

The least tern has been listed by the State of Florida as a threatened species since 1975. Much of the cause of their population decline is due to habitat destruction and encroachment. The birds nest along coastal or island beaches covered with coarse substrates of sand, shells, or small stones. In 1995, two least tern nests were observed on Soldier Key in Biscayne National Park each containing two eggs.

Sea turtle populations continue to decline throughout the world and within the United States due to loss of nesting beaches, feeding habitat, mortality through by-catch of the longline and shrimping industries, hunting for meat and poaching of eggs. Loggerhead and occasionally hawksbill sea turtles use the few sandy beaches that exist at Biscayne National Park as sites to lay their eggs. An average of 13.3 nests is laid each year with an average clutch size of 50 eggs. Biscayne National Park's sea turtle nesting program monitors 10 beaches for activity throughout the nesting season. Depending on the location, protective screens are placed on the nests to protect the eggs from predation by raccoons.

There are 512 species of fish in Biscayne National Park, ranging from less than an inch to over 10 feet in length. The fish fauna are predominately temperate and continental in the winter and tropical to subtropical in the summer. Some of the species may be euryhaline (able to withstand a wide range of salinities).

A surprising range of mammals has been documented in the park, three types of whales, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and manatees, but also bobcat, deer, otter, Brazilian free-tailed bat, squirrels, rabbits and opossum among them.

Lobsters and crabs, including the giant land crab (which can grow to 12 inches (30 cm) clawtip to clawtip measurement) are found in the park.

Climate
Biscayne National Park has a subtropical climate, which ensures sunshine year-round. Winters here are normally dry and mild, with occasional fronts bringing wind and little rain. Summertime brings hot and humid weather with scattered thunderstorms in the afternoons. The average temperature in January is 68°F (20°C) and 82°F (28°C) in July. The average rainfall for the area is 2.17in (5.51 cm) in January and 3.95in (10.03 cm) in July. Perhaps the best-known area weather events are hurricanes, which usually occur from June to November.

Visitor information

 * Park website

By plane
The closest airport to the Everglades is Miami International Airport. It is a hub for American Airlines, which has service within the United States and to the Caribbean, South America, and Europe.

By car
Convoy Point can be reached from either the Florida Turnpike or from US-1. From the Florida Turnpike: Take the Florida Turnpike south, to Exit 6 (Speedway Blvd.). Turn left from exit ramp and continue south to S.W. 328th Street (North Canal Drive). Turn left and continue to the end of the road (approximately 5 miles). The entrance is on the left.
 * From the North

From US-1: Drive south to Homestead. Turn left on SW 328th Street (North Canal Drive), and continue to the end of the road (approximately 9 miles). The entrance is on the left.

Traveling on US-1 (Overseas Highway), drive north to Homestead. Turn right on SW 328th Street (North Canal Drive — first light after Florida Turnpike entrance), and continue to the end of the road. The entrance is approximately nine miles on the left.
 * From the South

Fees and permits
There are no entrance fees. See the Camping section for fees for sites. For any boats docked after 6PM, a $25 overnight docking fee is charged at Boca Chita and Elliott Key harbors from November through April. There are no docking or camping fees May through October.

Get around
More than 95% of the park is covered by water. Visitors without a boat of their own can explore the Dante Fascell Visitor Center, watch a film or attend a ranger program, walk the Jetty Trail (approximately 1/4 mile long), or have a picnic. To get beyond Convoy Point will require going out on a guided boat tour or renting a canoe or kayak. There are no bridges or ferries to the islands, and only one mile of road in the entire park. There are no facilities for RV camping, and tent camping will require a boat to get to the park's islands.

Visitors with boats can launch their own boats from county-operated marinas adjacent to the park. Homestead Bayfront Park, 9698 SW 328th St, Homestead, +1 305 230-3034.

A full .pdf chart of the park, too big to display on this page, is available on the NPS site.

Accessibility
Since most of the park is covered by water, access to anything beyond the mainland shoreline requires a boat. The park's concessioner offers boat trips to the parks reefs and islands, and also offers canoe and kayak rentals.

The Dante Fascell Visitor Center and Park Headquarters are located at Convoy Point on the mainland, and ramps, elevators and boardwalks make these areas fully accessible to those with mobility challenges.

On the islands of Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key and Adams Key, restrooms are accessible, but some of the buildings are not. There are no sidewalks on Elliott Key or Adams Key, but Boca Chita Key does have sidewalks around the harbor and to the restrooms, but the remainder of the island is lawn and rocky ground.

Concessioner-operated boat trips offer limited accessibility with assistance, but arrangements should be made ahead of time by calling 305-230-1100.

Convoy Point

 * The Dante Fascell Visitor Center, Convoy Point, 9 miles east of the city of Homestead. Ideal first stop in any exploration of Biscayne National Park. This is the place to reserve a boat tour or rent a canoe or kayak. A beautiful museum offers a virtual journey through the park's four ecosystems using dioramas, audio and video. You can get a feel for bones, feathers, sponges, corals and more at the Touch Table, one of the most popular features in the Visitor Center. In the auditorium, several films are available to help you learn about the park, including the 20-minute feature presentation Biscayne Connections in English and Spanish. A gallery highlights the works of local artists who find inspiration in the park. The visitor center complex also includes a book and gift shop offering limited food and drink options.

Boca Chita Key
The park's most popular island provides visitors with a variety of facilities. There is a campground with picnic tables and barbecue grills. Additional picnic tables and barbecue grills are located on the south side of the harbor near the open-air pavilion. Saltwater toilets are available, but since there is no freshwater or electricity on the island, there are no sinks or showers. A half-mile hiking trail starts just east of the restrooms. The trail continues to the south end of the island curving back north and emerging near the pavilion and picnic area. The island's crowning glory, and Biscayne National Park's de facto symbol, is the ornamental lighthouse built by Mark Honeywell, one of the island's former owners, in the 1930s. The lightouse is open intermittently whenever park staff or volunteers are on the island. The observation deck provides a panoramic view of the islands, bay, ocean, and the Miami, Key Biscayne, and the Miami Beach skyline.
 * Mosquitoes inhabit this island year round.
 * There are no sales facilities of any kind.
 * Trash pickup is not provided, and campers and visitors must pack out all their trash.
 * The harbor entrance at low tide is approximately four feet. Any deep draft vessel requiring 3½ or more feet of water should exercise extreme caution in this area. Low tide is calculated by adding one hour and forty-three minutes to the time that the tide is low at Miami's Government Cut. High tide is plus one hour twenty-four minutes from the time that the tide is high at the Miami's Government Cut.
 * Boca Chita harbor has a cleated bulkhead that is the only designated area where boats may dock.
 * Boats may raft no more than two deep. Pets are not permitted on the island nor on boats in the harbor.

Elliott Key
The park's largest island was once a thriving community of pioneers engaged in pineapple farming, sponging, wrecking and other pursuits. Today the island offers camping, picnicking, swimming, wildlife watching and the park's only hiking trail. Picnic tables and barbecue grills are located throughout the campgrounds and around the harbor. Restrooms with cold water showers are available. Fresh drinking water is located outside of the restroom building. It is recommended that you bring your own fresh water, just in case the generator should go down.

½ feet at low tide. Low tide is calculated by adding three hours and twenty-five minutes to the low tide at Miami's Government Cut. High tide is calculated by adding two hours and twenty-eight minutes to the high tide at Government Cut.
 * Swimming and wading Visitors can enjoy the designated swim area on the bay side of the island (just to the north of the harbor). The shoreline of the island is generally rocky, so shoes are recommended at all times to protect feet.
 * Walking and hiking A mile-long loop trail starts on the bay side of the island at the north end of the campground. Due to damage from the 2005 hurricane season, the boardwalk on the east side of the island is closed. Check with park staff on the island for alternative routes. Spite Highway, named by park opponents just before the park was established, runs approximately six miles down the center of the island, and affords a good opportunity to see a variety of habitats in the maritime forest.
 * Fishing is permitted from the maintenance dock located south of the harbor or from the shoreline outside of the buoyed swimming area and no-wake zone. A fishing license may be required, and regulations apply.
 * Camping – see Sleep section below.
 * The open grass area north of the environmental education center building is used as a helicopter-landing zone in case of emergency. Camping is prohibited in this area.
 * There are no sales facilities of any kind on the island.
 * There is no trash pickup on the island. Campers and visitors must pack out all trash.
 * Elliott Key Harbor is approximately 2
 * Boats may dock at any one of the 36 slips. An overnight docking fee of $25 is assessed between 6PM and 6AM, November through April. Use of one individual campsite is included in the docking fee. Register at the kiosk by the harbor edge.
 * Pets on a leash are permitted within the developed areas of Elliott Key. Pets may not be left unattended.
 * Mosquitoes can be prevalent year round.

Adams Key
On the north side of swift-moving Caesar Creek. This dawn-to-dusk day use area was once home to the famed Cocolobo Club, a retreat for people like Carl Fisher, Gar Wood, and Presidents Harding, Hoover, Johnson and Nixon. A short trail leads through the hardwood hammock, and a picnic pavilion and toilets are also available. Two park ranger families live on the island.

Maritime Heritage Trail
Biscayne National Park's Maritime Heritage Trail offers an exciting opportunity to explore the remains of some of the park's many shipwrecks. Five wrecks, spanning nearly a century and a wide variety of sizes and vessel types, have been prepared for public viewing. These preparations include mapping, the installation of mooring buoys, and production of individual, waterproof site cards for each of the wrecks.

Access to the wrecks is by boat only, and all but the Mandalay are best suited to scuba divers. The Mandalay offers an unparalleled opportunity for snorkelers to experience a wreck. The park's concessioner will occasionally provide access to the sites of the Maritime Heritage Trail. Call +1 305-230-1100.

 * Arratoon Apcar – Sank 1878. In the 1870s, Cape Florida Lighthouse was considered inadequate because of its distance from the reef line. When Arratoon Apcar ran aground, it did so a few hundred yards from where workers were busy building the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse.
 * Erl King – Sank 1891. Erl King reflects the early period of transition from wooden sailing vessels to steel steamships.
 * Alicia – Sank 1905. Alicia was laden with silks, silverware, and other fine household items when it ran aground on Long Reef. The ensuing, often violent battles among the 70 different groups of wreckers led to a permanent rewriting of U.S. salvage laws.
 * Lugano – Sank 1913. At the time of its grounding, Lugano had been the largest vessel ever to wreck in the Florida Keys.
 * Mandalay – Sank 1966. The steel-hulled schooner Mandalay was known as the “Red Carpet Ship of the Windjammer Fleet” and was outfitted with a teak and mahogany deck.

Do

 * Boca Chita Boat Tour- Enjoy a three-hour boat cruise with a park naturalist, climb the light house and explore Boca Chita Island. Tours are $30 for adults and $20 for youth. Reservations can be made through the South Florida National Parks Association at +1 786-335-3644.
 * Fishing and boating Anglers and boaters can launch their own boats from county-operated marinas adjacent to the park to venture into Biscayne Bay and to explore offshore coral reefs. Stop at the visitor center for regulations and to purchase nautical charts. For any boats docked after 6PM, a $15 overnight docking fee is charged at Boca Chita and Elliott Key harbors.
 * Canoeing and kayaking Paddlers can explore the mangrove shoreline along the mainland. Canoes and kayaks are rented by the park concessioner. Stop by the visitor center for weather conditions and suggested routes.
 * Canoeing and kayaking Paddlers can explore the mangrove shoreline along the mainland. Canoes and kayaks are rented by the park concessioner. Stop by the visitor center for weather conditions and suggested routes.

Buy

 * Dante Fascell Visitor Center, +1 305-230-1100. 9AM-5PM. A gift shop sells T-shirts and other souvenirs. A bookstore, operated by the South Florida National Parks Association, sells various educational items. Proceeds support educational and scientific endeavors in South Florida's four national park areas.

Eat and drink
There are no restaurants in the park, but the park's gift shop offers a variety of pre-packaged sandwiches, chips, ice cream and sodas. There are a variety of full-service restaurants in nearby cities and towns.

Lodging
The nearest motel and hotel lodging is in Homestead and Florida City.

Camping
There are two campgrounds in Biscayne National Park. Both are on islands, and the only access to these islands is by boat. Private boats can access the campgrounds year round.

There is no RV camping in Biscayne National Park.

Fees: Fees are the responsibility of the camper, and should be paid upon arrival. Any vessel in the harbor after 6PM is considered an overnight stay, and fees must be paid in cash (bills or coins, $20 or under only) at the kiosk near the harbor.
 * $25/night/site from November through April.

Boca Chita Key is the park's most popular island, and features an open, waterside, grassy camping area with picnic tables and grills. Toilets are available on the island, but there are no sinks, showers or drinking water.

Elliott Key offers waterside and forested camping areas. The campground is on the bay side of the island between the hammock edge and to within 25 feet of the harbor. Camping is first come, first served – reservations are not accepted for individual campsites. A group campsite with barbecue grills and picnic tables is located on the east side (ocean side) of the island, approximately a 1/3 mile (500 m) walk from the harbor, and may be reserved by calling 305-230-1144 ext. 3071. A fire ring on the east side of the island next to the group campsite is the only location in the park where an open ground fire is permitted. Picnic tables and grills are available. Restrooms with sinks and cold water showers are available. Drinking water is available on the island, but bring some of your own as a precaution should the system go down. Two trails tunnel through the island's tropical hardwood hammock. One trail runs the entire 7 miles (11.26 km) of the island (14 miles (22.5 km) roundtrip), and another loops for approximately one mile near the harbor.

Backcountry
There is no backcountry camping in the park – camp in designated areas only.

Stay safe
There is back country camping on Elliot Key. you must get a permit from the headquarters in order to camp in the back country.
 * Toll-free 24-hour emergency: or #NPS on cell.

Go next

 * Miami
 * Everglades National Park
 * Big Cypress National Preserve

title: Biscayne National Park


text:
Bishkek

Bishkek (Бишкек), the capital and largest city in Kyrgyzstan, sits at the foothills of the Tien Shan mountain range in the Chui Valley. It is a relatively new city and has few historical sites, but it makes a great place to start your trips to the mountains and alpine lakes of the Tien Shan mountains. Bishkek is an interesting example of a Soviet planned city; laid on a grid with wide boulevards flanked by irrigation canals and large trees, buildings with marble façades, and Soviet apartment complexes. Bishkek has a delightful nightlife, and the people are friendly and very hospitable. Bishkek is a city of many young people that hang out in clubs and small cafes. Kyrgyzstan has the most liberal tourist visa regime in Central Asia, so Bishkek can be a great place to start a tour of the Silk Road and collect your visas to neighbouring countries.

Its population was approximately 1,070,000 as of 2021.

History
Bishkek was founded when the Uzbek khan of Kokand built a small clay fort by a settlement on a tributary of the Chuy River in 1825, to connect up several stop-off points on the Silk Road through the Tian Shan mountains. In 1862 it was captured and trashed by Russians, before they set up their own garrison. Russian peasants were soon lured here by land grants and the fertile soil of the Chuy Valley.

The renamed town of Frunze became capital of the new Kyrgyz ASSR in 1926, but it was renamed Bishkek (the Kyrgyz form of its old Kazakh name, Pishpek) in 1991.

Climate
Bishkek has a temperate continental climate. The city is drab and grey in the winter, and smog is a major issue. Summer is often hot and clear, while spring and autumn are rainier. While Bishkek can be enjoyed at any time of the year with the appropriate clothing, the mountains which most tourists come for are usually only accessible between May and September.

See graph/information to the right.

By plane

Getting there & away:
 * Marshrutka 380 runs downtown. The fare is 70 som (May 2024), and they sometimes charge an extra 10 som for baggage. It leaves from just outside Arrivals. Downtown the stop is on Jash Gvardiya just north of Chuy. Service runs only daytime from about 6:40 to early evening.
 * There is a new bus service run by GoBus company. Their stop is in front of Manas terminal opposite of where #380 stops. Schedule depends on the day and should correspond to flight departures. Their stops are more centrally located (Ala-Too, Philharmonic, Vefa, ...) compared to #380. Schedule from airport is frequently changed and not so reliable. Ticket is 200 som and can be booked through their app (only in Russian and Kyrgyz), there is also a chat link to book and get support in English.
 * A taxi to and from the city centre should not exceed 500 som, but you'll have to negotiate from a much higher price, especially if it's very early in the morning. If you share a taxi the price should be 150 som per person.
 * To & from Kazakhstan, the airport is so close to the border that you're better taking a taxi between airport and border post where you can pick up a marshrutka, e.g. on Highway A2 for Almaty, rather than going via Bishkek center.

Domestic
There is a train between Bishkek and Balykchy, which lies on the western edge of Issyk Kul lake. It starts in Bishkek, from Bishkek-1 at 06:25 and Bishkek-2 at 06:40 (as of Sep 2018). The return trip starts at 17:08 in Balykchy.

The latter train also stops in Tokmok (for the Burana Tower).

International
From Almaty there is a train, but it is much quicker to come by road, as the railway has to swing clear of the mountains so you'd have to change and double back from Lugovaya.

From Tashkent there is a direct train Jun-Sep, which runs once a week. It leaves Thursday evening and takes 20 hr via Shymkent and Lugovaya, continuing from Bishkek-2 to Balykchy (aka Rybache) on Lake Issyk Kul. It returns west on Saturday morning. At other times of year you have to change at Taraz or Lugovaya; there may be a very long wait.

From Moscow Kazanskaya a direct train runs twice a week (late evening Th & Sa), taking just over 3 days to Bishkek-2 station via Samara, Aktobe, Kyzlorda, Shymkent, and Taraz in Kazakhstan. There are several other connections via Petropavl, Nur-Sultan or Almaty. The return direct train departs from Bishkek-2 on M & W mornings.

By bus

Specific destinations:

By bus
Checkout the 2GIS app and website, which is great for finding the right marshrutka or bus number in Bishkek and all over Kyrgyzstan. The service is used extensively by the locals.

Marshrutkas
Kyrgyzstan's capital, like many places in the former Soviet Union, has an extensive network of minibuses, known as Marshrutkas. There are hundreds of mini-buses (marshrutkas) that ply all parts of the city. They generally cost 15 som, 17 som after 21:00. They typically have around 14 seats, with standing room for around ten extra people during busy periods. Marshrutkas are easily identifiable and display their number and basic route information (in Russian) on the front. There is a great English website for checking connections. To flag one down, simply hold out your right hand, parallel to the ground. Once you get on, pay the fare to the driver. When you want to get off say "ah-stah-nah-VEE-tyeh" or simply "Stop". According to the law marshrutkas should stop at bus stops only, but this is only respected if the driver sees a police car. So, in practice you can ask the driver to stop anywhere and he will drop you off at any point on their route.

(Trolley) buses
Bishkek also has a bus and trolleybus system which is less extensive and generally slower. They only stop at designated bus stops and operate only till 22:00. The fare is 11 som in buses and in trolleybuses. Passengers enter at the back door and leave at the front; they pay on exit.

By taxi
There are several private taxi firms in Bishkek that you can easily reach through their three digit numbers including: 150, 152, 154, 156, 166, and 188. Daytime taxis throughout the city are a flat rate of 100 som and 120 som past 22:00. There are also numerous "gypsy cabs" situated at nearly every intersection. While most travellers and long-time expats report no problems, you are cautioned to be aware, especially at night and near nightclubs. Generally tourists use the local taxi services which can be reached through several numbers: 150 Euro (Evro) Taxi, 152 Super Taxi, 156 Express Taxi and 188 Salam Taxi. Before 22:00 most runs in the city are 100 som and afterwards are 120 som.

Many taxis do not use a flat rate, you negotiate a price in advance. Short distance inside city can be 80 som. A taxi for a day can be negotiated. An hour drive to mountain costs about 1,100 som while getting back is usually much more expensive because the driver has to run twice without passengers since during your stay he needs to return to the city to work.

Yandex Taxi is available, it can be ordered using smartphone app.

By bike
Bike shops in town also rent bikes:

See
Bishkek is a pleasant city to wander with numerous leafy parks, tall trees, peppered by Soviet era statues and monuments. However there isn't a great deal to see beyond this, and the city can comfortably be 'done' in a day (or two if visiting the suburban markets). Most museums are closed on Mondays.

 * Bazaars: they're more for shopping in than for sight-seeing, but see "Buy" descriptions for Osh, Dordoy, Alamedin and Ortosay Bazaars.
 * Bazaars: they're more for shopping in than for sight-seeing, but see "Buy" descriptions for Osh, Dordoy, Alamedin and Ortosay Bazaars.
 * Bazaars: they're more for shopping in than for sight-seeing, but see "Buy" descriptions for Osh, Dordoy, Alamedin and Ortosay Bazaars.
 * Bazaars: they're more for shopping in than for sight-seeing, but see "Buy" descriptions for Osh, Dordoy, Alamedin and Ortosay Bazaars.

Learn
Bishkek is a cheap place to learn Russian (or Kyrgyz). A private 1½-hr lesson with a native Russian speaker should cost between US$5–7. Courses are also available at the American University of Central Asia and the Kyrgyz-Russian-Slavic University. There is also a private school that caters to individual learning: The London School of Languages and Cultures. This school offers Russian and Kyrgyz to anyone at anytime of the year for as little as 120 som/hr. During the warmer months they are often full so book in advance.

Work
A number of international organizations have offices in Bishkek, however most employees are recruited from abroad. If you speak Russian, there might be occasional opportunities to find temporary or long-term work. There are also English language schools that will employ native English speakers.

There is not a lot of foreign business investment, but there is the Kumtor Gold mine and many foreign exploration companies attempting to develop the natural resources of the country.

Money
Exchange offices can be found around the, or on. The rates here are excellent and barely 1% off the bank rate, for US dollars and euros. But also tenge and others can be obtained for a proper rate.

Shopping
If you want to fit in with the locals, be sure to get one of the stylish Kyrgyz felt hats (kalpaks) worn mainly by men. You can also get textiles such as traditional patterned carpets (shyrdaks), which are well-made but can be expensive. For cheap souvenirs, avoid the Tsum department store and head directly for the Osh Bazaar. You may have to dig around the stalls as there isn't as much variety or quality as in Tsum, but the prices can be far cheaper if you put your bargaining skills to the test.

 * Alamedin Bazaar is to the northeast, corner of Jibek Jolu and Kurmanjan Datka, and Ortosay Bazaar is to the southeast.
 * Alamedin Bazaar is to the northeast, corner of Jibek Jolu and Kurmanjan Datka, and Ortosay Bazaar is to the southeast.
 * Alamedin Bazaar is to the northeast, corner of Jibek Jolu and Kurmanjan Datka, and Ortosay Bazaar is to the southeast.

Eat
Bishkek is probably the best choice for food in Kyrgyzstan. From typical Kyrgyz food like Besh barmak or central Asia classics as Plov, Shashlyk or Samsas can be found around the city. Also Russian dishes are fairly ubiquitous in Bishkek because of the large number of ethnic Russians who still live in the city. There are an also growing number of restaurants and cafes catering to more varied tastes from Turkish to Korean. Also Uyghur food is popular and fit the taste of many westerners as well as locals. E.g. the chain Arzu have a few restaurants.

Budget
There are hundreds of stands that sell gamburgers, a local adaptation of hamburgers but really share little in common: they are sliced döner kebab-style meat served on a bun with cole-slaw, cucumber, mayonnaise, ketchup and some chips. They usually cost around 60 som. One of the most popular gamburger stands in Bishkek is at the corner of Sovietskaya and Kievskaya, across the street from the main post office. It's a popular area for local students to pick up a cheap meal, and they even serve the rare chicken hamburger.

Throughout the city are a lot of street-side vendors selling samsis, which is a staple of most locals' lunch. The green kiosks opposite the Philharmonic Hall ticket office sell some of the freshest, cheapest and best prepared in Bishkek and they are popular with students from the nearby universities. You can usually find a row of shashlyk grills inside any bazaar or just outside any chaykhana (teahouse).

For some pre-independence nostalgia, try the cafeterias of government ministries and universities. For about one US dollar you can experience what it was like to eat Soviet-style cafeteria food.

Cafes
There are a few coffee shops in Bishkek that even feature wi-fi.

Bars
For young and single people, Bishkek's nightlife is impressive. Foreigners are welcomed at most venues with open arms, and many times they do not need to pay a cover charge. See the "Stay Safe" section for more on how be aware while you're having fun in Bishkek.

Stay safe
Bishkek is safe compared to many major Asian cities.

Traffic
The most dangerous places are the streets during rush hours when you try to cross them. At night take the usual precautions. However even the parks are quite safe. If you go out and plan to drink you should always take a taxi for about 120 som because a drunken person stumbling around is everywhere in the world an easy victim.

Pick-pocketing
Pickpockets are a major problem in and around markets, especially at Osh Bazaar. Look out for young men with large plastic bags "bumping" into you. Keep your valuables at your accommodation if you plan to visit the markets, and if you bring a purse, camera, backpack etc. keep it in front of you.

Nightclubs
Nightclubs and their surrounding areas can be a hotbed for crime in the form of theft, prostitution, or even assault by people waiting to take advantage of an unsuspecting traveler or expat. Ask locals or hotel staff which areas are safer than other and take precautions if you plan on club hopping. Do not walk from nightclub to nightclub at night; instead spend 120-150 som on a taxi. Potential muggers have been known to wait outside bars and clubs, especially the ones frequented by ex-pats, follow drunk ex-pats and then rob them.

Keep a cool head and be aware of your surroundings when hanging out inside and outside of nightclubs. Most clubs have numerous buff, semi-professional security guards, but you should be vigilant nonetheless. Do not leave any belongings on the table while you go to dance. Be careful around the taxi area outside the club; occasionally, unsavory characters pick this location to mug drunk foreigners as they leave the club late at night. You might not get much help from club security when it comes to theft.

Bishkek has a lot of prostitutes and sexual-transmitted diseases are on the rise in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. Always take proper precautions if you plan on being sexually active.

Police
If you are a victim of a crime, you are probably best served by reporting the incident to your embassy, rather than to the militsya (police). Sometimes militsya will approach foreigners and ask them for documents, such as your passport. It's best to keep a photocopy of your passport and leave the original at your hotel if you can. On the rare occasion that they make problems, be polite, but firm, in your refusal and insist that you be put in touch with your embassy first.

In the past it occurred that (fake) policeman approach you on the street, especially if you look like a tourist, such as carrying a big backpack, and ask to check the belongings. Often, their aim is to steal your valuables and money. They can do it very professionally, and you only will notice later, that something disappeared. The best way, is to pretend you don't understand them, trying to call your embassy, or just walk away asap. Also keep your valuables in a safe place and don't expose them to others the entire time you are in Kyrgyzstan. Even sometimes normal local people, who invite you to have a tea at their home, if they see that you left some valuables unattended, may be tempted to steal.

Infrastructure
Irrigation ditches and other holes in the ground can seriously injure the unaware person - especially when walking at night. Many streets are poorly lit or not lit at all, and it is easy to fall into them. Avoid manhole covers, grates and similar fixtures - they are frequently loose and even missing.

Cope
Bishkek is more or less a museum relic of the former Soviet Bloc. Despite Kyrgyzstan's poverty and the decay of its infrastructure, Bishkek remains a relatively safe, clean, functional city. Bishkek is not an old city and possesses no ancient landmarks, but it nonetheless has its own kind of charm, which often arouses nostalgia in people who knew the old Soviet Union. For some visitors, Bishkek is merely a stop on the Silk Road to refresh supplies before returning to the mountains. However, expatriates generally consider themselves lucky to benefit from its easygoing lifestyle, open-minded spirit, party culture and low cost of living. If you come with the right expectations you might find yourself pleasantly surprised.

Embassies and consulates

 * 🇨🇳 China
 * For obtaining a tourist visa an inviting letter is required. Travel agencies which can provide it are:
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
 * 🇹🇯 Tajikistan
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
 * 🇹🇯 Tajikistan
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan

Connect
Free Wi-Fi is widespread. Most "foreinercafes" have free Wi-Fi (Coffee, Foyer, Obama, Cyclone, Pirogoff-Vodkin, Vostok Zapad, Tubeteika, Movie City Bar, Buddha Bar, etc.) There is also free Wi-Fi at the Vefa shopping centre on the corner of Gorkiy and Soviet.

Getting mobile phone service or even internet service is rather straight forward and a good idea, even if you're here for only a few days. You get SIM cards in almost every hotel or from several providers at the exit of the airport: Megafone, O, Beeline, etc. A SIM with 1 month of unlimited data and free calls is around 800 som, and will be activated right there for you. Otherwise, to activate them, put them into your phone and then go to one of the payment machines in supermarkets, petrol stations, etc. On the screen of the machines, select the provider of your SIM, enter the phone number on the SIM and finally put in some money. For all providers you get at least 2GB data volume and many free SMS for only 100 som. You first have to select your tariff (by calling something like "*624*1#") after your payment to benefit from the low prices. This is self-explanatory if you look at the advertisements of the providers.

Go next

 * Ala-Archa National Park – A great hiking and mountain climbing opportunity right next to Bishkek.
 * Alamedin Gorge – A beautiful river valley with high routes to Ala-Archa (glacier trail) and Issyk Ata.
 * Burana Tower – An unusual and interesting minaret near the city of.

title: Bishkek