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Livingstone

Livingstone is to Zambia what the town of Victoria Falls is to Zimbabwe. Formerly known as Maramba, it was the capital of Zambia before it was moved to Lusaka. Livingstone is in the Southern Province of Zambia and is the tourist capital of the country.

 * The falls are on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. For information on the Zimbabwean side (including a comparison of the sides) see Victoria Falls.

By plane

 * FlySafair a low-cost airline flies between Livingstone and Johannesburg. Airlink and CemAir also has flights to Johannesburg South Africa. Zambia airways flies beteen Livingstone and Johannesburg and Lusaka
 * Kenya Airways flies from Livingstone to Nairobi and Capetown 3 times a week.
 * ProFlight Zambia flies between Livingstone and other destinations in Zambia and has several flights between Livingstone and Lusaka each day.
 * ProFlight Zambia flies between Livingstone and other destinations in Zambia and has several flights between Livingstone and Lusaka each day.

The Livingstone International Airport was renamed Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport - he was an integral part of Zambia's independence movement.

You can also fly into Victoria Falls, Livingstone's sister city, on the Zimbabwe side of the border.

By train
There is the once-weekly Zambezi train from Kitwe via Lusaka, operated by Zambia Railways. Journey time from Lusaka is around 12 hours with departures every Wednesday. Sleeper class fare is 145 kwacha. and the economy seat fare is 75 kwacha. There is also, a third-class only train which connects with Mulobezi once a week. Victoria Falls, just across the border in Zimbabwe, is the terminus for overnight trains from Harare and Bulawayo.

The small is just south of city centre.

By bus
New Livingstone Inter-city bus terminus. Relatively comfortable luxury buses travel between Lusaka and Livingstone, for around 250-350 kwacha (July 2022), tickets may be purchased in advance at the bus terminal in Lusaka. The most reliable bus operator is Power tools, which costs 350 kwacha and takes 7-9 hours. Reserve tickets in advance from the inter-city bus terminus. There are busses leaving every hour, there are no overnight busses anymore as there were accidents. Either ask the bus driver to help you find a taxi or wait on the bus with the other passengers until daylight. Other bus companies also operates this route. These buses transport you in 6 hours to downtown Livingstone (total distance 470 km). It is also possible to catch a minibus from Lusaka, for about the same price. Uncomfortable things with these buses are that most of them have five seat on row, so space per passenger is not too much.

 * International buses: There are bus lines with buses to/from the Livingstone inter-city bus terminus from Windhoek, Namibia via Katima Mulilo and Francistown, Botswana via Kasane.

By car
If you are aching to rent a car and drive yourself around Zambia, this might be the trip for you. The roads between Livingstone and Lusaka are among the country's best, and the trip involves only one left turn.

For the international driver, roads lead into Livingstone from Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe). You can buy a temp. import permit at your port of entry, for 1 month, 3 months or longer. Also a Zambian third party insurance is mandatory, next to reflective stickers or reflectors at the front of your vehicle (white) and at the back (red). Dimensions must be 5 x 5 cm, however rectangular is permitted as well.

By taxi
If coming from Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), you can cross the border on foot, but you will need to get a blue taxis into Livingstone town. They charge about 10 USD for the trip. Minibuses charge about 5000 kwacha. Taxis are waiting just the border post.

If you are taking the ferry from Botswana to Kazungula, shared taxis wait some 200 metres from immigration. They leave when full, and cost 35 kwacha per person to Livingstone.

Get around
The city of Livingstone -- where the bulk of the accommodation, restaurants, nightclubs, etc. are -- is relatively small. Most likely, you will be comfortable walking around town. However, if you prefer not to, taxis prowl constantly. Official taxis are ones which are blue and have a red number plate. If you flag a taxi down on your way to the town centre, the driver may ask whether you are booking the taxi or not. If you are booking, you should pay full fare and driver is taking you to your doorstep. If you don't book, it means that you pay only for one seat and the driver can pick up other passengers who are going in the same direction.

The city sits about 6 miles/10 km from the falls, making it long enough to not want to walk. The going rate for a taxi is U.S. $10 in each direction between the town and the falls. However, if you are prepared to haggle you may get a lower price. Journeys to 5-star hotels tend to cost substantially more than the average journey but are still relatively inexpensive. If the hotel or guesthouse is arranging the taxi for you to the Falls, the price might be higher than what you can get when negotiating with the driver directly. The middle man needs money too!

Victoria Falls Park
Victoria Falls, a, is one of the most amazing sights in the world. Twice as tall as Niagara Falls, and several times longer, Victoria Falls affords visitors a once-in-a-lifetime sightseeing experience. It might not be the very biggest, but few will debate that it's the most spectacular. If it is the official records you are after, the Victoria Falls is the largest curtain of falling water in the world.

Thanks to a well-designed park, visitors can touch the waters of the Zambezi just meters before it plunges over the falls; cross the gorge on a narrow bridge that provides spectacular views; and take thousands of photos - without a single one being redundant.

Wet weather gear is for hire as you enter the park. Turn left to walk in front of the gorge and see the water, take the track to the right to see the water just before it drops. Consider possibly doing the walk upriver first, as it may be less appealing when you are already soaking wet. Think about how you are going to keep your camera dry.

An admission fee of US$20 is payable as you enter the park. Bring cash as their network is frequently claimed to be down, rendering credit cards useless. The ticket is valid for multiple entries on the same day. There is limited food or drink inside the park. There is a small stand that sells bottled water and cold drinks. There are a couple of food stalls near the curio markets.

During a full moon, the park is additionally open 8-10 pm ($25) and offers an incredible view of a night rainbow over the falls.

Do
Don't forget the activities at on the other side of the falls.

Adventure activities
Victoria Falls is becoming an adventurer's paradise. Many "extreme sports" are available, including:

 * White water rafting -- boasting several Class V rapids, the roiling waters south of the falls provide 18 of the world's best rapids literally starting in the gorge of Victoria Falls in the Boiling Pot, right under Victoria Falls Bridge. Several outfitters (Bundu and Safari Par Exellence) have popped up in the past few years to take the courageous down the river.  The rafting can be physical.  You finish on a lovely sandy beach and then there is a cable car at the end of the day to get you out of the steep gorge.  The cost is well worth it (US$155 for a full day) and includes lunch, dinner and refreshments.
 * You can body board the first few rapids (if you can't swim fairly well, you won't get the most out of it)
 * Bungi jumping from the bridge spanning Zambia and Zimbabwe is very popular. The location affords a spectacular view of the Falls -- behind you, on the Zam side -- and the Victoria Hotel -- in front of you, on the Zim side.  The cost is US$120 per jump or there is the Big Air Combo for US$155 where dare devils can do one bungee, one bridge swing and one zip line.
 * The Zambezi Swing For US$95, this South African group lets you abseil, rap jump, do a zip line, and -- the highlight -- a gorge swing. While bungi jumping is over in a few minutes, these guys let you play all day.
 * Livingstone Island a trip to Livingstone Island is unmissable. An island in the Zambezi River, 2 or 3 feet from the top of the Victoria Falls on the Zambian side. Trips leave from the Royal Livingstone Hotel and cost about US$98 including breakfast. You will have the opportunity to stand in shallow water, 2 inches (literally) from where the water gushes over the edge of the falls, and swim in Devil's Pool, a reasonable current-free pool a couple of feet from the top of the falls, close enough to lean over the edge. This makes fantastic photo opportunities with a permanent rainbow from the mist of the falls behind you. Livingstone island itself opens during July when the water levels and currents drop to make the transport safe. Devil's Pool opens a few weeks later. Book with a reputable company as this is a dangerous activity and unregistered access to the island is illegal (ask at your hotel or hostel).
 * Batoka Sky and United Air Charters offer helicopter pleasure flights over the Falls, for US$140 per person for a 15-min flight. This is a spectacular way to see the falls and strongly recommended. A 30 minute flight for US$280 is also possible, combining the magnificent view of the falls with flight over the gorge and game viewing over Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Just as important, however, it's a neat way to get to see the Zambezi River -- look for alligators attacking prey! -- and to see exactly how the River has moved over time. It's truly awesome to see how nature has carved away at the landscape.
 * Another company offers microflight rides over the falls. This provides a much closer view of the falls than the helicopter ride, but it does not give you as broad of a view.  The microflight do not fly on windy days. Prices are US$135 for 15 min or US$270 for 30 min.
 * Another must is the elephant back safari run by Elephant Trails, a truly spiritual experience.
 * It's possible to walk with several young lions in a park in Zimbabwe. It costs US$160 and is well worth the expense.  Inquire at your hostel or hotel. Also consider how habituating these lions to humans helps them in the long run.
 * Several companies provide a sunset booze cruise on the Zambezi, above the Falls. For US$45-75, depending on your choice of boat and time of day, you get a two-hour cruise, all the drinks you can throw back, a little game-viewing, and a braai (BBQ) afterwards.  The trip can be really crazy or really mellow, depending on who's scheduled on your trip.
 * Then there is Jet Extreme, wherein you fly across the class five rapids of the Zambezi River for US$95, the tickets can be booked at any of the back packers. The trip also involves an hour and half drive through the bush and a vertical climb down in a cable car about 220 m. The thrill of coming to a spinning halt from 80 km/h (50 mph) to 0 in a second is too good to miss. Remember the famous words go Andy go.
 * Finally, there are several national parks nearby, many of which are well-worth the visit. Livingstone, has the well known Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park which has the only White Rhinos in Zambia.  The numbers have since been increasing with the blessings of two newly born babies within Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park bringing the total number to seven rhinos thus 2 male adults, 3 female adults and 2 babies in 2010/2011.  These rhinos are very healthy and under heavy guard 24/7.
 * Take a tour with the Royal Livingstone Express  offering excursions by a colonial era steam train.
 * Finally, there are several national parks nearby, many of which are well-worth the visit. Livingstone, has the well known Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park which has the only White Rhinos in Zambia.  The numbers have since been increasing with the blessings of two newly born babies within Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park bringing the total number to seven rhinos thus 2 male adults, 3 female adults and 2 babies in 2010/2011.  These rhinos are very healthy and under heavy guard 24/7.
 * Take a tour with the Royal Livingstone Express  offering excursions by a colonial era steam train.

Buy
Livingstone provides an inexhaustible supply of curio vendors, women selling fabrics, boys selling cool drinks, girls selling jewellery, and so on. There main curio markets are near town, and near the entrance to the falls. The range of merchandise is about the same at both, as are the prices. The range of goods apart from souvenirs, curios and other locally made products for the tourist market is poor to non-existent.

Although there are some vendors who will follow you to try and sell their wares, they sellers are nowhere near as common or as aggressive as in neighbouring Zimbabwe. They mostly are near the falls, the markets, and the museum, and you can generally walk the streets through town without being accosted by touts.

You could easily spend all your money here. Be aware, though, that since this is a popular stop for tourists unfamiliar with bargaining, prices might be somewhat higher here than in other places. A savvy bargainer, however, can still strike gold although indistinguishable souvenirs are much cheaper outside Livingstone (on the roads to Lusaka for example).

If you bungee jump, raft the Zambezi, or do any of the other "extreme activities," you've got to buy the t-shirt. It is a badge of honour in Africa, and a great way to tell others how tough you are. You can also buy photos and often videos of the extreme activities... try to get a look at the photos or video before buying (this is certainly possible with the bungi). Whilst the bungi videos are sometimes not videoshop quality you WILL be able to show your friends how great you are - to accompanying music.

Many of the activities you pay for will be done so in dollars and only in cash, so make sure you bring plenty with you. If you pay with local Kwacha they will charge you more than you would pay in dollars.

Banks, ATMS, and currency exchange
There are ATMs in the town centre and in the shopping centre on the way to the falls, and at the Livingstone airport. The ATMs only give money in local currency. You cannot change kwacha to dollars in Zimbabwe: ensure you exchange all your kwatcha before leaving. This can prove hard, as exchange bureaus in Livingstone seem reluctant to part with their dollars.

Eat
Considering Livingstone is such a tourist destination, you can be certain that Western-style meals are easy to find -- everything from pizza, to burgers, even burritos! Several of the lodges and accommodations have restaurants and pubs on their grounds.

 * O'Discols Restaurant, near Fawlty Towers Backpackers, is a popular joint that attracts a young crowd. It features al fresco dining that receives mixed reviews.
 * The Funky Munky is just down the street from Jollyboys Backpackers, this is an excellent take away with some very nice pizzas.
 * Pub and Grill in town opposite the main banks, an American-style restaurant with good food in plentiful servings
 * Chanters Lodge - just outside the centre of town, Chanters offers the best pepper steak in town. Chanters can also cater too those wishing to taste an authentic Zambia meal.
 * Sunrise in Kutaway - this street is better known as "second class" from times when African and Asian people were allowed to trade only on that area, not on the main road! - is run by local people and offers the most "Zambian" dining experience in fairly clean and cozy place between the buildings. entry can be easily missed, but it is in the middle of Kutaway on the left hand side when coming from the direction of the town. Even many taxi drivers don't know this place.
 * Armadillo Oriental & Grills is centrally positioned on Mosi O Tunya Road and offers a range of Oriental and Continental dishes.
 * Crocodile Cafe - Enjoy pastries or an al fresco light meal at this coffee shop, part of the Zambezi Sun.
 * Kalai Restaurant at the David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa offers contemporary cuisine in a traditional setting.
 * Kaazmein Lodge Restaurant serves a variety of à la carte and buffet dishes cooked up its experienced chefs. Guests can eat on the ground floor or upstairs where they can enjoy panoramic views.
 * Aunty Nancy Restaurant
 * Ngolide Indian Restaurant - this restaurant offers a range of authentic Indian and Continental dishes.
 * Rhapsody's Livingstone – part of the Rhapsody's Flavour of Life group, this restaurant offers gourmet cuisine in stylish surroundings.
 * The Waterfront has a bar and restaurant with views over the river.
 * Wasawange Lodge has a bar and restaurant.
 * Wonder Bake Take Away and Restaurant.
 * Wonder Bake Take Away and Restaurant.

Drink
Every hostel, hotel, and resort in Livingstone features its own bar. If you want to get a cold one, you won't have to look far. There are also a number of nightclubs downtown, where tourists and locals alike dance to local and Western music. Manu local music is from Congo, those artists perform in Congo (DRC) local languages, so many times even local Zambians don't know meaning of the words, but rhythm, twisting and shaking is the issue here.

"Stepright which is reputedly a hub of organized crime (though tourists should not have trouble), as well as an open-air club across the road and the bar and grill has a disco later on again next door in the center of town all very good. There is also a casino a short taxi-ride away where the drinks were slightly more expensive.

 * Hippos - the bar attached to Fawlty towers is the most common spot where tourists hang out, but many locals socialize there also.

 * Chez nTemba - typical Zambian nightclub. Open daily. One of the few places there is a door charge and the drink is slightly more expensive.

 * Rhapsody in new shopping center, Fallspark (locally known better as "spar" according to the supermarket which is in there)is upper-class bar/restaurant.

Sleep
There are a number of places to sleep in Livingstone. Budget here means under $20/night, mid-range between $20 and $200/night and splurge over $200/night.

Mid-range

 * Tree-tops features treehouses on stilts, overlooking the Zambezi.
 * Chanters Lodge super quiet lodge just off Obote Avenue.

Splurge

 * There are five giraffes and numerous zebras and impalas that freely walk the grounds of the hotel.
 * The River Club on the Zambezi River is 18 km upstream of the Falls on the River.
 * The River Club on the Zambezi River is 18 km upstream of the Falls on the River.

Stay safe
Generally, Livingstone is a fairly safe town. They want to continue to attract foreign currency, so they are careful to make travellers feel safe. However, be careful about walking downtown at night, especially if you've been drinking. There are very few street lights, and many of the locals are very poor. Try not to annoy the taxi-drivers, particularly late at night when some have been drinking. It is not generally recommended for tourists to walk the 8 km (5 miles) from Livingstone to Victoria Falls due to a number of reports of crime. The times of year in which bull elephants in musk are another reason for not walking; they become very irritable and aggressive, and are not shy about humans.

Increasing numbers of Zimbabweans are leaving their country. Zambia, especially Livingstone on the border, receives its share of Zimbabwean refugees, many of whom are poor and desperate. There have been some attacks, and some Zambians accuse Zimbabweans being behind them.

Rafting can be dangerous anywhere in the world, and Livingstone is no exception. Make sure you raft with an experienced and genuine guide. Ask around your hotel or resort about a potential guide's reputation: some are not genuine guides. They will either take your money and leave, or worse, lead you on a bogus rafting experience that may endanger your life. Although this is a demanding river, there is no reason why anyone can't partake in a rafting trip, provided they go with experienced guides and a reputable company. Make sure your safety equipment and gear is in good repair and that you secure it properly.

You need to be very careful while exchanging currency to kwachas - touts will approach with better exchange rates and fool an unsuspecting tourist by clever tricks of hand - it is best to use the government bureau for exchanging your currency. Even the post office at Livingstone can be change currency.

Go next
You can catch a bus in Livingstone to the Lusaka airport or alternatively, You can catch a bus in Livingstone that will take you through the desolate Southern Province to the Zambia-Namibia border. (If the bus breaks down, be prepared to wait; bring water and a snack. However, for the independent traveler, this is the fastest, cheapest, most memorable way to Namibia.)  The bus will drop you in Sesheke, a small, dusty village on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River.

After crossing the Zambezi River by ferry or dugout canoe (!), you'll be in Katimi Mulilo, on the eastern tip of the Caprivi Strip.

title: Livingstone


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Livingstonia

Livingstonia is a city in Malawi.

By bus
Buses go from Mzuzu to Chitimba. Then you can take a shared taxi or motorcycle taxi up the harrowing road to Livingstonia. This last section is not recommended to do in the rain.

By taxi
Shared taxis can be found from Mzuzu directly to Livingstonia.

By taxi
There are plenty of motorcycle taxis found in town.

Do

 * Chombe Plateau: stunning 360-degree views of Lake Malawi, Nyika National Park, and the surrounding mountain ranges of Tanzania. 45 minute hike from the base to the plateau.
 * Manchewe Waterfalls: brimming with natural beauty, flora and fauna, with views that shouldn't be missed, Manchewe is Malawi's tallest waterfall with a height of 300 ft. There's a viewpoint, a cave used by runaway slaves, and you can hike to the bottom of the falls.

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

title: Livingstonia


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Livonia

Livonia is a city in Wayne County in the state of Michigan.

Eat
Number of places to eat on Haggerty Road (some of which are in Northville, some in Livonia).

Go next

 * Northville
 * Novi

title: Livonia


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Livorno

Livorno is a main port town in Tuscany. It was traditionally called Leghorn in English, nowadays the name is used to refer to a breed of chickens which were exported to North America from the Livorno port.

Understand
Livorno is on the Tyrrhenian sea in Italy. It is the third-largest port on the western coast. Upper Class travellers heading to Rome in the days of the Grand Tour would often go by sea to "Leghorn" from Marseilles or Genoa. This explains in large part the presence of a substantial English cemetery in the town.

By plane
Pisa airport Galileo Galilei.

By train
There are regular trains to and from Florence (1:20 hr journey), Pisa (15 min), and Rome.

By bus
From Pisa, Piombino, Florence and other cities.

By boat
Direct ferry routes exist to Bastia, Golfo Aranci, Olbia and Palermo. Once a week, generally during summer, there is also a ferry to Livorno from l'Île-Rousse operated by Corsica Ferries. It is best to book early to avoid overbooking.

Many cruise ships stop here for at least a full day to allow guests to tour Florence and/or Pisa. Guests not taking cruise ship arranged tours can take a shuttle (supplied by the port) to the downtown area. It offers a decent shopping experience, but not compared to Florence. A further 10-20 minute walk (or another bus ride) gets you to a train station. There you can take frequent departures for either Pisa or Florence. Many experts advise seeing Florence or Pisa on a one-day port visit by cruise ship. Though some tours claim to cover both, you'll get no more than a rushed look at a few icons...and if you're too early or late for any, it may well be closed.

If hoping for maximum time in Florence...
 * Take an early cab (perhaps shared with another couple) from your ship to and from the Livorno train station.
 * At the station, ask for a train that goes to the Firenze Santa Maria Novella. Locals will happily help.

By bus
Bus number 1 is a shuttle from train station to the port and vice-versa. A ticket for 75 minutes of travel is €1.5. For self-reliant cruise passengers, this is part of the most economical way to reach trains to Pisa and Florence.

By bike
Livorno and the surrounding area is very flat, which means that cycling is almost as popular as it is in the Netherlands. When walking, beware of the tendency of the locals to cycle on sidewalks and to cycle the wrong way down a one-way street.
 * Bikes can be rented from Green Bikes at Scali del Corso, 7 in the Venice Quarter.

By car
Once you have arrived in the centre nearly everything can be visited on foot or bike. Driving around is not recommended, not least because the local police are very vigilant and will rapidly give you a ticket if you are parked in the wrong place. There are several large Parking places to leave your vehicle during your stay and many hotels also offer parking.

See

 * Quattro Mori
 * Old English Cemetery (Oldest in Italy, open on reservation). For info call Misericordia: 0586/897324 or write an email to [mailto:livornodellenazioni@gmail.com] Association Livorno delle Nazioni.
 * Other museums:
 * Funicolare di Montenero one of the few cable railways still in service (another one is in Montecatini Terme near Pistoia.
 * Duomo San Francesco di Assisi
 * Duomo San Francesco di Assisi
 * Duomo San Francesco di Assisi

 * New Fortress. Built by the Medici family to provide additional protection for the city to that provided by an older fortress closer to the sea. Good views of the canals from on top of the fortress but little to see in the fortress itself as much was destroyed in WW2.

Eat

 * Cacciucco - fish stew
 * Riso nero - Black rice risotto darkened with squid ink)

Mid-range

 * Trattoria Sottomarino, Via dei Terrazzini 48/50 - ph. +39 0586 887025 - Close to Piazza della Repubblica and Fortezza Nuova (Venezia District). Fish cuisine, don't miss the gorgeous cacciucco - Closed on MO and TU.
 * Cantina Senese, Borgo Cappuccini 95 - ph. +39 0586 211604 - famous for cacciucco and black rice.

Drink
"Ponce alla livornese" is optimal to finish a meal (warm drink with coffee and rum).

Mid-range

 * Hotel Hermitage, Via dei Melograni 13 57020, Marina di Bibbona, Tel. +39 0586 600218 Fax +39 0586 600760. . 4-star modern and comfortable Hotel Hermitage in Marina di Bibbona near the splendid Etruscan coast

Go next
Livorno is a good starting point and base for a tour of Tuscany. You can reach Pisa in half an hour, Lucca and Florence in somewhat over an hour. (See note under "Get in"/"By boat" above). In a well-organized day you can tour from a hotel in Livorno you might sample Chianti-side, Monteriggioni, San Gimignano, Siena and Volterra and be back for dinner.

Caution: one should bear in mind that the return trip by expected time for a cruise ship departure could be quite problematic, and another cab ride may be needed.

title: Livorno


text:
Livorno (province)

Livorno is a Province of the Tuscany Region of Italy.

Cities

 * – Capital of the Province

Other destinations

 * The island of.

title: Livorno (province)


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Liwa Oasis

The Liwa Oasis is a cluster of villages and oases (the plural of an oasis) in the United Arab Emirates.

Cities
The area is populated by a collection of Bedouin villages that follow along the oasis at the Northern edge of the Rub al Khali (Empty Quarter). The center of this is Mezaira'a, which offers a few shops and services as well as a service station.

Understand
Liwa Oasis is the historical home of the Nahyan family, the leaders of Abu Dhabi emirate and the UAE. It was historically, and remains, a date-palm cultivating region for Bedouin tribes, especially the Bani Yas. The cultivated palm forests may come as a surprise in the middle of the desert.

Liwa is at the edge of the UAE's most impressive desert region, when considering the size of the dunes. It is a great starting point for self-led or pre-arranged dune-bashing and other desert safaris. It may also be a good place to learn more about Bedouin culture, though most of the settlements are by now built of concrete, and walled off to the rest of the world.

Get in
There are two roads from the north leading to the oasis region. The main road branches off the E11 motorway near Tarif. From there on it is about an hour's drive passing Madinat Zayed on a well-maintained, four-lane paved road.

Settlements in the oasis region are lined up on the only big road like pearls on a string. If you arrive from Tarif the road ends in Mezaira'a, at the center of the area.

At the eastern end of the oasis region, a new road connects straight back to the E11 motorway close to Abu Dhabi. Though it is wide and well maintained, at only two lanes speed limits are set to 80 km/h, vs. 120 km/h on the main road.

There are several ADNOC gas stations in Liwa, one new station on the road from Madinat Zayed, and some older-style stations along the road through the oasis. They are not well signposted, keep an eye out for the white 'fort' that used to be characteristic of ADNOC stations.

Get around
You must have your own car to get around in Liwa. There is some hitchhiking but do not count on it.

See

The most impressive dune in the Emirates, Moreeb dune or Tal Mireb, is south of the other settlements, and though most of the year there are no events there, the way to the dune makes it worth visiting anytime. Few cars use the road as virtually nobody lives along it. You will bump into more camels than people. In addition, it is one of the roads where very few trees and overland power lines spoil the view across the dunescape.

To get to Tal Mireb road follow the brown signs as shown in the picture. Markers can be found along the main road as well as the roundabouts in Mezzaira'a. It's a one-mile drive to the road from the main roundabout in Mezzaira'a. The dune itself is about 25 km along the road, be sure to have petrol for the round trip, as the road is hilly.

Do
Get out into the desert. Moreeb dune, or Tal Mireb, is a 100-meter-high dune that is used for 4x4 competitions. The road out to Tal Mireb gives great opportunities to get out of the car and take photographs, or in the cooler season, to have a picnic and watch the sun go down.

Eat
There are a few local restaurants in Mezaira'a, and a Cooperative Society grocery store on the road from Madinat Zayed. For tourism-quality restaurants, eat in the Liwa Hotel.

Drink
Like most of Abu Dhabi emirate, alcoholic beverages are only served in the hotel.

Camping
Camping is an option out in the desert. Check with a travel service to arrange vehicles and for more advice. Always have more than one 4x4, some means to remove the vehicles from sand, and ample water supplies if going off road. Though uncommon, it is possible to camp near the road to Tal Mireb without driving off-road.

Go next
An alternative to the main E45 via Madinat Zayed is the road out from Hameem. Though it is only two lanes (with broad shoulders) it is rarely used, straight and provides better views of the desert. Halfway along this road is the main garbage incinerators for Abu Dhabi, which is a bleak reminder of the fragility of even the desert environment.

Other destinations
Madinat Zayed, approximately 60 km to the North, is a slightly larger town but is generally not considered a tourist destination, except during the annual Al Dhafra Festival, when camel traders from around the Gulf arrive to show off their best camels.

The Emirates National Auto Museum is along the eastern road into Liwa, near Abu Dhabi, and is open Wednesday-Monday from 9AM-5pm to see an astonishing collection of cars belonging to members of the ruling family.

Near the Emirates National Auto Museum are the Al Wathba Salt Lake and Fossil Dunes.

Al Mirfa, 134km from Liwa, is a beach community that has an impressive beach.

title: Liwa Oasis


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Liwonde National Park

Liwonde National Park is in Malawi.

Landscape
Liwonde National Park is on the east bank of the Shire (pronounced "shir-ee") River, at the southern end of Lake Malombe. The park is long, thin and flat, with hills towards the southern tip.

Flora and fauna
To view animals, the best time to visit Liwonde is in the dry season when they come to the river to drink. Animals living in the park include: elephant, hippo, zebra, black rhino (very rarely seen), warthog, greater kudu, vervet monkey, baboon, impala, water buck, bush buck, mongoose, crocodile and monitor lizard. Some lions have taken up residence in the park, but these are unlikely to be seen.

A wide variety of birds can be seen all year round. Among them, of course, is also the African Fish Eagle, Malawi's national bird.

The birds are one of the main attractions of the park, for those who are somewhat knowledgeable in the field.

The flora is dominated by mopane woodland, so named because the tswana word 'mopane' refers to the butterfly shape of the leaves. Other species include the spectacular baobab trees and the poetic fever trees.

Climate
Liwonde National Park is in one of the hottest, most humid areas of Malawi.

Get in
A boat runs regularly from Liwonde town to Mvuu Camp and Lodge.

To drive to Mvuu Camp and Lodge, turn off the M3 at the village of Ulongwe (about a third of the way between Liwonde and Mangotchi). From there it's a 14-km drive along dirt roads to the edge of the park, and another 1 km to the river where you can leave your vehicle and get a boat across the river to Mvuu Camp and Lodge.

Bicycle taxis can be arranged from Ulongwe, but they are not for the faint-hearted.

You can also drive in from the south (the turning is just outside Liwonde town, to the east). This is the entrance to use if you are staying at Bushmans Baobabs. From the south entrance it's about a 30-km drive inside the park to Mvuu Camp and Lodge, and only about 3 km to Bushmans Baobabs. Seek advice before attempting to reach Mvuu this way.

If you do not have a vehicle it is best to call ahead and have someone from Bushmans Baobabs pick you up from the park gate which can be reached by bicycle taxi. It's best to arrange this before reaching the park, since walking into the park is not allowed (for obvious reasons) and you could end up stranded at the gate, without a phone, without a bicycle taxi and several miles from anywhere.

Another option is to use the MV Mangunda a cruise boat that runs daily trips and overnight trips into the park. Based at Villa Liwonde in Liwonde town. This is a unique way to view the park and its animals.

Fees and permits
The fees below are payable by day visitors. If you are staying in a lodge inside the park these fees should be included in your accommodation rate.

Malawian nationals: US$4

Malawian National children: US$2

Malawian residents: US$10

Malawian resident children: US$5

International visitors: US$25

International visitor children: US$12

Per vehicle per day fee: US$4

Do
All safari activities can be organized from within the park, wherever you are staying; no need to book in advance. The guides, and any other staff, are all very welcoming.

 * Game drives in a 4x4 open vehicle
 * River safari in a covered boat. This allows you to get close to hippos and elephants along the river. Also a great way to view birdlife and sunsets.
 * Bush walk with an armed ranger. Walking in the bush allows you to experience the area in a completely different way. You probably won't get very close to large mammals but walking gives you the chance to see the smaller wonders of the bush.

Eat
Bushman's Baobab serves excellent food; for travellers who crave something other than nshima (crushed maize meal used as an accompaniment to most meals in the region), be prepared for a three-course feast to suit all tastes, and the price is very reasonable.

Liwonde Safari Camp has a menu for breakfast and lunch and a small tasty buffet in the evening.

Drink
The bar sells the usual soft drinks and locally produced Carlsberg, pineapple Fanta, and of course, the local Kuche Kuche beer. The guide will take purchased drinks in a water cooler on the boat safari so that you can have a cool drink while watching the sunset on the Shire.

Lodging

 * Njobvu Cultural Lodge,Njobvu Cultural Village Njobvu Cultural Village is run by local villagers and is an important source of revenue for the community. Benefiting from Liwonde park tourism encourages communities to conserve their valuable natural and cultural resources. A percentage of the funds are used to support a nursery school. Visitors of the lodge experience the real Malawian life, by sleeping in the traditional mud brick hut in the village and meeting the villagers and their traditions.
 * Njobvu Cultural Lodge,Njobvu Cultural Village Njobvu Cultural Village is run by local villagers and is an important source of revenue for the community. Benefiting from Liwonde park tourism encourages communities to conserve their valuable natural and cultural resources. A percentage of the funds are used to support a nursery school. Visitors of the lodge experience the real Malawian life, by sleeping in the traditional mud brick hut in the village and meeting the villagers and their traditions.
 * Njobvu Cultural Lodge,Njobvu Cultural Village Njobvu Cultural Village is run by local villagers and is an important source of revenue for the community. Benefiting from Liwonde park tourism encourages communities to conserve their valuable natural and cultural resources. A percentage of the funds are used to support a nursery school. Visitors of the lodge experience the real Malawian life, by sleeping in the traditional mud brick hut in the village and meeting the villagers and their traditions.
 * Njobvu Cultural Lodge,Njobvu Cultural Village Njobvu Cultural Village is run by local villagers and is an important source of revenue for the community. Benefiting from Liwonde park tourism encourages communities to conserve their valuable natural and cultural resources. A percentage of the funds are used to support a nursery school. Visitors of the lodge experience the real Malawian life, by sleeping in the traditional mud brick hut in the village and meeting the villagers and their traditions.
 * Njobvu Cultural Lodge,Njobvu Cultural Village Njobvu Cultural Village is run by local villagers and is an important source of revenue for the community. Benefiting from Liwonde park tourism encourages communities to conserve their valuable natural and cultural resources. A percentage of the funds are used to support a nursery school. Visitors of the lodge experience the real Malawian life, by sleeping in the traditional mud brick hut in the village and meeting the villagers and their traditions.

Stay safe
If staying at Mvuu Camp or Mvuu Lodge, then be very careful if you need to leave your accommodation at night. Encounters with hippos are all too easy as they graze on the lawn in front of the chalets at night!

title: Liwonde National Park


text:
Lizard

The Lizard (Cornish: An Lysardh) is a peninsula in West Cornwall in the South West. The name may be derived from the Cornish expression Lys Ardh, which means "High Court". The Lizard contains Britain's most southerly point, the Lizard Point.

By plane
Aer Lingus, British Airways, Loganair, Ryanair and Scilly Skybus all operate flights to Newquay. Car hire is available at the airport.

By bus
Transport for Cornwall operate an hourly service (#34) between Helston and Lizard town, serving at Mullion en-route. Other than this, public transport on the Lizard is basic at best, and it's strongly reccomended to have your own transport in order to make the most of your visit. From Helston there are connecting services available to other towns in western Cornwall, including Falmouth (England), Penzance and Redruth, where connections can be made to the rail network.

By train
There are train stations in Penzance, Truro and Redruth with direct connections to London Paddington and West England, and there is a branch line to Falmouth Docks. However, none are terribly convenient for the Lizard. You'll need to get a bus from Falmouth to Helston, then change to another bus to get to the Lizard.

Go next

 * Land's End, England's most westerly point.

title: Lizard


text:
Lizard Island

Lizard Island is an island in the northern reaches of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Accommodations exist only at the two extremes, either an expensive tropical resort if you like your holidays private and luxurious, or a campground. It's also a stop on some liveaboard scuba diving trips to the northern reef: divers may fly into or out of Lizard Island to shorten trip time.

Get in
Lizard Island has a small airport (code LZR). Travellers can fly from Cairns via Hinterland Aviation, but must book travel through Voyages. Flight time is 60 minutes. Baggage weight is limited to 32kg.

Most dive boats visiting Lizard Island do so from Cairns. Typically these trips will be part of a round-trip package, rather than a dedicated service transporting passengers to Lizard Island. These trips may include a charter flight to return to Cairns, or a flight from Cairns or both. Post-trip flights are usually very low altitude so that they can be taken soon after diving.

Get around
The Voyages resort has a handful of wheeled vehicles.

Visitors get around on foot or by boat. Boating over the coral reefs at or near low tide is forbidden.

Do
Lizard is a wonderful base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef. The highest point on this continental island is Cook's Look, used by sailors from one of James Cook's expeditions to locate a safe route through the Reef. Modern-day explorers can enjoy the same view with a two hour hike.

You can walk from most of the island's beaches into wonderful snorkeling. World-famous dive sites are within easy sailing distance.

Eat
All meals are included for guests at the Voyages resort. The quality and presentation is appropriate to the nature of this resort.

The spectacular open veranda restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant will pack lunch into coolers for picnics. Room service is also included.

Fresh food is flown in daily. Bulk items are delivered by weekly barge. The kitchen will accommodate individual preferences (which includes printing custom menus!) but they need some advance notice.

The resort staff bar is open to other island visitors with limited menu and limited hours. This is the only resort service offered to non-guests.

Sleep
Lizard Island's accommodation is managed by Voyages Australian Resorts, GPO Box 3589, Sydney NSW 2001. tel 1300 134 044 (free call in Australia) or 02 8296 8010. fax 02 9299 2103. email travel@voyages.com.au. Accommodation starts at the really quite luxurious (the Anchor Bay rooms for $765 per night twin share, i.e. US$1530/night for a couple) and continue up to private pavilions ($1650 per night twin share).

Campground information/booking is available from the Queensland DESI.

title: Lizard Island


text:
Ljubljana

Ljubljana ("lee-oo-blee-AH-nuh") is the small but delightful capital of Slovenia. While the city's population had grown to 295,500 in 2020, the sights and amenities are concentrated in the charming old centre. It's full of artists, museums, and galleries, it's friendly and easy to reach, and it's a good base for exploring the rest of the country.

Understand
Ljubljana stands at the entrance to a plain in an otherwise mountainous region, the confluence of several river valleys, so it's been a focus for settlement, trade and transport since prehistory. The first known city was the Roman Colonia Iulia Aemona; in medieval times it became Laibach and this name is still used by some German-speakers (as well as modern Slovenia's most notable cultural export, the band of that name). It fell under the gravity of Austria-Hungary and was a duchy or province of the Hapsburg Empire until 1918. For much of the 20th century it was part of Yugoslavia until independence in 1991. This means that Ljubljana has simply been a regional capital, and has only been the national capital of a relatively small country for a few decades. The city landscape reflects this: it's compact and walkable, cosy and friendly, rather than grandiose. There are no vast ceremonial boulevards, bling palaces or imperial fists of fortification. It's not a place where you hop around ticking off must-see sights, like a bug with a selfie-stick for antennae. Relax, stroll and enjoy the atmosphere.

No-one really knows how its current name came about: it resembles ljubljena - "beloved" - in Slovenian, but that seems to be just a happy coincidence. It sits in the valley of the Ljubljanica river, with green hills hemming it in on either side. The river makes a right angle, with the castle and oldest parts of the city on the hill in the southeast quadrant. A 19th century street grid extends north of the river, then the modern town sprawls to the west and north. Three natural disasters shaped the city architecture. An earthquake of 1511 caused extensive re-building in Renaissance style, and in stone to curb the fires of the wooden city. Another earthquake in 1895 prompted rebuilding in Vienna Secession style. It was flooded by the river multiple times until the Gruber Canal was cut across the southeast quadrant in the 18th century, turning the castle hill into an island. Therefore the main flow bypasses the old centre, which was protected from the devastating 2010 floods of the Danube catchment region. The "Triple" and "Dragon" bridges stand intact as proud symbols of Ljubljana.

Ljubljana is a year-round destination but you need to dress for the Balkan climate. Summers are warm, with daytime highs of 30°C. There are often public events and festivals, with streets converted from traffic thoroughfares to event spaces, but afternoons can be humid with thunderstorms and downpours. Early summer and autumn enjoy more even temperatures, and there's a student buzz as the university is in session. In winter it's near-zero, often with snow, and biting winds off the hills, but as Christmas approaches the streets are decorated by thousands of lights, and food and drink kiosks pop up along the river bank. February is grey, before in spring the city blooms with flowers planted on its streets and crossroads.

Talk
The main language of the city is unsurprisingly Slovenian. Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian is also understood by most and usually spoken fluently by people over 40. Many inhabitants of Ljubljana speak English as well, especially people under the age of 30, with some of them also being able to speak German, Italian, French, Spanish and/or Russian. It's worth trying any major European language you speak.

By plane

Getting there and away:
 * By bus:
 * Arriva Bus takes 50 min to the main bus and railway station ("Ljubljana AP", Stand 28), with several stops. It runs every 30 min M-F 05:20-20:10, and Sa Su holidays 06:10–19:10. The fare is €4.10, pay the driver on boarding; cannot pay with Urbana card. (May 2023)
 * Bus route 64 (LPP) goes from Ljubljana bus station ("Ljubljana AP", Stand 28). The fare is €4.10, can pay with Urbana card or with cash to the driver.
 * Outbound from the city, alternate buses continue from the airport to Bled, so this has an hourly service taking 30 min. Morning buses that continue to Bled may fill up.
 * A bus to Kranj runs every hour or two, taking 20-40 min.

 * By shuttle – Several operators offer shuttle transfers, which are per person, more for a door-to-door private transfer. They include Goopti, Nomago, Airtrail Slovenia and TuamV.
 * By taxi – You might pay €40 for a metered taxi to the city.
 * By car – See airport website for the many car hire agencies. Driving off, follow the one-way system and go west then left onto the link road, which gets you on A2 towards Ljubljana.

Other airports nearby that but might prove convenient are Trieste, Venice Marco Polo, and Treviso (in Italy); Vienna Airport, Klagenfurt, and Graz (in Austria); and Zagreb (in Croatia).

By train

Slovenian Railways website is here

International train tickets will need to be purchased at the ticket desk in the station. Domestic tickets can be purchased from ticket machines in the station or website. Note that certain classes of trains e.g IC require supplements but these are included in the ticket price if you travel on the train you booked. Domestic tickets may be issued on a IJPP chip-card that can be reused. There are weekend tickets with a 75% discount can only be purchased with a IJPP chip-card. These cards can be obtained from ticket desks.

International Connections:
 * Trains from Munich take 6 hr 15 min, with one direct and one changing daytime service and one sleeper, via Salzburg, Villach and Lesce (for Bled), and dividing at Ljubljana for Rijeka or Zagreb. In early 2021 this route was disrupted by engineering works in the tunnel near Villach, but is now normal. From Paris and points north travel via Munich.

 * Trains from Vienna take 6 or 7 hours; most involve a change but there is one direct service via Semmering, Graz, Maribor and Zidani Most.

 * Trains from Budapest run daily, taking 7 hr 30 min via Zidani Most. Connections taking 9 hours are available hourly.

 * Trains from Zagreb run 4 or 5 times a day, taking 2 hr 30 min via Dobova (the border) and Zidani Most.

 * Trains from Rijeka run twice a day, taking 3 hours via Opatija, and being joined at Ljubljana onto the Munich train.

 * Trains from Trieste run twice a day, taking 2 hr 30 min via Villa Opicina on the border. From elsewhere in Italy change at Trieste, the direct train from Venice has been axed.

By bus

Direct international connections: Trieste (2 hours), Zagreb (2 hours), Venice (4 hours), Banja Luka (5 hours), Bihać (6 hours), Bologna (6 hours), Budapest (6 hours), Munich (7 hours), Florence (8 hours), Tuzla (8 hours), Zenica (8 hours), Belgrade (8 hours), Ulm (9 hours), Stuttgart (10 hours), Sarajevo (10 hours), Niš (12 hours), Karlsruhe (12 hours), Mannheim (13 hours), Frankfurt (14 hours), Skopje (15 hours), Tetovo (16 hours), Sofia (16 hours), Pristina (18 hours), Copenhagen (19 hours), Malmö (20 hours), Gothenburg (24 hours), Linköping (28 hours), Örebro (34 hours), Stockholm (36 hours).

Left luggage, available by asking at the ticket windows in the Bus Station for €3.50.

By car

Ljubljana is at the centre of the Slovenian road network, which means that if you're not driving towards the border, you're approaching Ljubljana. Traffic can be frustrating at rush hours, but is generally lighter than in larger European capitals. Huge jams can occur if there's an accident or road works, though, so consult the Traffic-information centre or listen to Radio Si which offers regular traffic information in several European languages.

There are several car parks throughout the city centre, and cheaper ones at the outskirts. Those offer day-long parking with return city bus ticket included in the price. Most car parks are operated by the Municipal company. Short-term street parking in blue zones is payable at parking meters scattered around (€0.70/hr in the city centre, 2 hours max; €0.40/hr further out, 3 hours max; Saturday afternoon and Sunday parking is free). Parking meters don't return change, but they also accept the Urbana card (see below).

Renting a car is also an option, especially to explore rural areas outside the city and during public holidays.

By ride sharing
The main website is Prevoz.org, (click on "mednarodni prevozi" for international rides). The website is only in Slovene, but simple enough to navigate. The columns are "from", "to", "time" (of departure) and "cost", you can sort them by clicking on top row, or use the search engine on top. You have to register to see the phone number, you can use an existing account. Most drivers would speak enough English to arrange the ride. Note however that there is no rating system in place, nor any payment system – you pay cash to the driver. Generally the price is around €5/100-120 km within Slovenia, usually a bit more abroad. If you're arriving in your own car and want to pick some passengers, you can of course also post it on the site.

By thumb
Much of the country's traffic is either heading into Ljubljana or back out. Outbound you need to know the main hitching spots:
 * Northeast to Maribor and Austria: on Dunajska cesta just west of the railway station, take Bus 6, 8 or 11 north to Smelt and the World Trade Centre, 15 min. Turn right and you'll see the entry ramp for Highway H3.
 * Southwest to Koper, Rijeka and Italy: on Dunajska cesta or Kongresni trg take Bus 6 south to the end of the line at Dolgi most. The highway is before you, with the entry ramp to A1 and A2 just left - it's A1 you want. You'll also see an entrance to the parking area of a house, stand there as vehicles are better able to pull in.
 * East to Novo Mesto and Zagreb: on Dunajska cesta take Bus 3 south to the end of the line at Rudnik. Walk on a further 200 m along Dolenjska cesta to the crossroads and entry ramp opposite the railway crossing. You want A2 eastbound.

On foot
The centre of Ljubljana is small enough to cover by foot. You can pick up a free city map at a tourist information centre or in the train station. Navigating or finding a street is easy as streets are clearly marked.

By bicycle
There is also a system called BicikeLJ (iOS, Android apps) where you can rent bikes (first hour free, second hour €1, third hour €2, each additional hour €4). It is designed for short-term hire. It has 300 bikes on 30 stations around the inner city part and you can subscribe with a credit card online. You can take another bicycle after one hour has elapsed, without any cost.

By bus
The city's transportation authority LPP operates 22 bus lines, which are clean and run frequently (every 5–10 minutes, 15–30 minutes during the weekend and summer). Most bus routes operate 05:00-22:30 (Sundays from 06:00). Night routes are: N1 (22:30-05:00), 2, 5 and 6 (03:15–00:00), N3 (21:00–05:00) and N11 (03:15–05:00). Saturdays and Sundays no service on routes 22, 24, 28 and 29. Sundays no service on routes 7L, 8, 18, 20, 21, 27.

To ride the buses, you must first either purchase an Urbana card (similar to an Oyster Card in London) or download the Urbana phone app (iOS, Android). The physical card can be bought at self-service stations ("Urbanomat") found at the larger bus stops across the city, LPP sales sites, tourist information centres and newspaper agents for €2 and need to be loaded with an amount ranging from €1 to €50. Upon entering the bus by the front door, you need to position the card next to the reader to pay for the route. The confirmation is a quiet beep and an illuminated green light, while a negative response is a louder beep and a red light. After that, you proceed to take your seat / stand. The Urbana phone app has the advantages that it can be loaded with credit using a Credit or Debit card and includes real time information.

The cost per journey is €1.30 and includes an unlimited number of free transfers within 90 minutes from the first entry to the bus.

Most lines operate at least once every 15 minutes. Timetables have departure times.

By taxi
The (supposedly) cheapest taxi companies are: These are free numbers (all numbers starting with 080 are free in Slovenia), so you can use a phone booth to make a free call. Not all taxis charge the same fare.

While taxis ordered by phone are cheap, those waiting on the street will usually charge through the roof, and you can end up paying €25 or more for a short ride! Unless you're in a hurry, always order a taxi by phone!

By boat
You can see centre of Ljubljana also with frequent boat tour, they last around 1-2 hours.

See

In 2021, seven works in Ljubljana by architect Jože Plečnik were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These are the Trnovo Bridge, the green promenade along Vegova Street, the promenade along the embankments and bridges of the Ljubljanica River, the Roman walls in Mirje, the Church of St Michael, the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the Garden of All Saints (Plečnik’s Žale).
 * to the west is the city's main park, with a large pond at its southwest end and the hill of Rožnik behind.
 * to the west is the city's main park, with a large pond at its southwest end and the hill of Rožnik behind.
 * to the west is the city's main park, with a large pond at its southwest end and the hill of Rožnik behind.
 * to the west is the city's main park, with a large pond at its southwest end and the hill of Rožnik behind.

Do

 * Football:
 * NK Bravo also play in PrvaLiga, at Park Šiška (capacity 2300) 1 km northwest of the railway station.
 * NK Bravo also play in PrvaLiga, at Park Šiška (capacity 2300) 1 km northwest of the railway station.

Hiking

 * Šmarna gora (662 m) is on the northern edge of the city, so it's popular, indeed crowded on fine weekends. For 30–60 minutes of easy climbing you will be rewarded by a nice views. Take Bus 8 to Tacenski most.
 * Krim (1,107 m) was a military and civilian telecoms centre; the military post has been dismantled and the area is open to the public, with great views. The climb takes 2–3 hours (beware of bears!). Get here by car, which takes 30 min as the last 4 km of road are unpaved and narrow.

Ski and snowboard
Ljubljana is close to several of Slovenia's most popular ski resorts including Krvavec at the nearby Cerklje na Gorenjskem which is around 40 minutes from the city by car.

Vogel ski center can be reached in around 1 hour 40, which is situated by the beautiful Lake Bohinj.

Kranjska Gora is another option for budget ski and snowboarding which can be reached in just over an hour from Ljubljana.

The mountains in Slovenia are called the Julian Alps and offer some great value skiing throughout the winter. While the snowfall can be unpredictable, as this relatively low altitude mountain terrain, the peak seasons of January to March can offer some great conditions.

Learn
Part of the buzz around Ljubljana is from its large student population. The University of Ljubljana has 64,000 students, with departments all over the city. Centre for Slovene within the Arts Faculty offers language courses.

Work
Quite a lot of internationals work in Ljubljana, and it continuously hosts a significant number of freelancers who like to spend some months here due to the good ratio of quality towards cost of living. Coworking options are available, one gravity centre is the former tobacco factory, for example hosting Poligon, Slovenia's biggest coworking space (it is located in the building Tobačna 5, which also hosts the public administration body, "Upravna enota" and a tech startup space called Hekovnik).

Buy
Several department stores such as Maximarket, H&M, Müller, Nama, are located in the city centre. Additionally, Čopova street and the Old town have a dense collection of small shops.

Budget

Drink
Most of Ljubljana’s bars tend to cluster on the streets running parallel to the river, radiating from Prešernov trg, which is the main square in Ljubljana. The more interesting bars tend to be on the backstreets, rather than directly facing the river. Part of the joy of this city is stumbling across these places, but these are few to start you off.

Free tap water locations
The application Tap Water Ljubljana is intended for all who wish to quench their thirst and refresh themselves during the spring and summer months with freely available water from fountains found in 17 locations throughout Ljubljana, mostly they are in city centre. Application is available on App Store.

Clubs
Ljubljana has several good nightclubs (discothèques). The clubs hold special events, they will play a certain syle of music on certain nights, etc. Some will also impose a strict dress code and age limits.

Stay safe
Ljubljana is possibly one of the safest capitals you'll ever visit. Remarkably safe during the day and night, as a tourist you should have no problems, provided you are not desperately looking for trouble.

Even the rougher parts of Ljubljana, located far from the city centre, are relatively safe, if you don't flash your valuables. These areas, not commonly frequented by tourists, include Fužine, Rakova Jelša, Štepanjsko naselje and parts of Šiška, Moste and Šentvid.

Tivoli Park is generally safe and a very popular destination for picnics or taking an afternoon stroll for an average Ljubljanian, but just as anywhere in the world it is recommended that you don't put your guard down and avoid larger groups of teenagers hanging around in the park late at night, as thefts and sexual assaults have been reported.

After a long time there were reports in 2023 of new attacks on LGBT+ people in the center of Ljubljana on the Pride day.

Connect
As of June 2021, Ljubljana has 4G from A1 and Telemach, and 5G from Telekom.

Internet
The city centre is covered with a Wi-Fi network named WiFreeLjubljana that offers free access for 60 minutes a day.

Free internet access is also available at:

Almost free internet access is available at:

Embassies

 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * Other nations with embassies in the city include United States cheek-by-jowl with Russia and Germany by Tivoli Park, plus Turkey, India, Egypt, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, Italy, France, Sweden and Switzerland.

Go next
Ljubljana is at the hub of transport routes across this relatively small country, so you can easily reach anywhere else in Slovenia and across its borders. Here's a selection:
 * Bled is a picturesque town 1 hour away. Hire a rowboat on the lake to visit the island church, then see the castle.
 * Triglav National Park and the Julian Alps near Bled for outdoor activities: hiking, mountaineering, rafting, canyoning, paragliding, skydiving and so on.
 * Postojna has the vast Postojna Caves and Predjama Castle, an Škocjan Caves are in nearby Divača.
 * The coast is short, sandwiched between Croatia's Istrian resorts and the industry and marshes of Italy. Koper is the largest coast resort, Piran is the prettiest.
 * Kamnik is a button-cute little town 45 min north of Ljubljana, just below the Kamnik Alps. It has a perfectly preserved medieval town centre, with the ski resort of Krvavec above.
 * Zagreb in Croatia, 2 hr 30 min away, has an extensive medieval centre.
 * Trieste (1½–2 hr) is in Italy yet redolent of the last days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
 * Rijeka in Croatia (2 hr 30 min) for the Istrian peninsula, ferries to the Adriatic islands, and transport south to Zadar and Split.

title: Ljubljana


text:
Ljusdal

Ljusdal is a town with about 7,000 inhabitants in western Hälsingland. It is the seat of Ljusdal municipality with a population of about 19,000 inhabitants. It is famous as the home of three of the "Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland", a UNESCO World Heritage site.

By plane
Ljusdal has no airport of its own; the nearest international airport is Stockholm-Arlanda and the nearest regional airport Härjedalen Sveg Airport.

By train
Train services are plentiful. SJ operates InterCity and X2000 trains from Stockholm via Uppsala and Gävle (continuing to Östersund) depart every two hours. Local trains between Ljusdal and Gävle via Bollnäs are also available.

By bus
From Ljusdal station the following companies have a bus services:
 * X-trafik operates bus service from Gävle via Bollnäs and from Hudiksvall via Delsbo. And also bus service to and from Järvsö.
 * Härjedalingen operates a long distance bus service from Stockholm to Ljusdal, the route goes via Uppsala, Gävle, Söderhamn, Bollnäs and Järvsö.

By car

 * From Stockholm take E4 north to Hudiksvall and then road 84 towards Ljusdal.

Get around
Most of the destinations in the city center can be reached on foot or bicycle. Some will require car or taxi to access, since public transit is limited.

See

Go next

 * Sveg
 * Järvsö
 * Hudiksvall

title: Ljusdal


text:
Llallagua

Llallagua is a city of 41,000 people (2012) in the Potosí Department of Bolivia.

Climate
Summers are cool and wet with daily highs rarely rising above 22 °C, while winters have cooler days with much colder nights averaging −4 °C.

Get in
Many buses leave daily between Oruro which takes around 3 hours. One bus a night leaves to La Paz which takes about 8 hours.

See

 * Catavi spas
 * Routes for sport climbing in Catavi and Katiri
 * Salvador Mine
 * Catavi Historical Mining Archive
 * 20th century mine
 * Catavi sandbanks
 * Granzas and hill of Cascajo
 * Lupi Lupi Dam
 * Camel hill

Do

 * Festivity of the Virgin of Asunción (August 13, 14, 15, 16)

title: Llallagua


text:
Llanberis

Llanberis is in North Wales, 7 miles away from Caernarfon.

By Bus
Llanberis is easily reachable by bus. Sherpa busses (prefixed S) from Betws-y-Coed is the most reliable possibility, but Sherpa bus from Porthmadog or local busses from Caernarfon are other alternatives.

By Train
Bangor is the closest station to Llanberis. Hiring a cab from there costs around £20. Caernarfon is closer, but the only train to Caernarfon is the narrow-gauge heritage railway Welsh Highland Railway from Porthmadog - and if in Porthmadog it is easier to catch a direct bus to Llanberis.

By car
Llanberis is on the A4086 Caernarfon to Betwys-y-Coed road. The B4547 branches off just west of town for Bangor, Conwy and the A55.

There are large car parks all along the A4086 road inside Llanberis, with the price rising steadily as you get closer to the Snowdon Mountain Railway. The closest car park costs £6 per day (and no discount for shorter stay), 100m up the road it is £4 per day and further west beyond the Electric Mountain Visitor Center it is £2 per day.

Get around
On foot easily. You may also want to take a ride on Llanberis Lake Railway (£6.00)

Sleep
There are several B&Bs and hotels in Llanberis.

Go next

 * Caernarfon - Bus number 88 goes directly to Caernarfon city center. Can be caught from Llanberis Maes Padarn
 * Capel Curig

title: Llanberis


text:
Llandeilo

Llandeilo (population: 2,500) is a small historic town in Carmarthenshire, South Wales.

By train
Llandeilo is on the famous Heart of Wales Train Line. Trains depart Swansea at 4:36AM, 9:15AM, 1:17PM and 6:21PM, and leave Llandeilo for Swansea at 8:09AM, 11:54AM, 4:52PM, 8:58PM..

By car
The town is located near the end of the M4.

By Bus
Buses available from Ammanford, Carmarthen. Llandovery and Swansea.

Get around
The town is small enough to cover on foot. A historic Town Trail leaflet guides visitors around the oldest part of town, with display boards.

Do

 * Tennis
 * Squash
 * Hill Walking
 * Fishing
 * Rugby

Buy
Llandeilo has a fantastic range of boutique shops located on Rhosmaen Street, King Street and Market Street.
 * Interior and Gift. There are several specialist interior and gift shops in Llandeilo including Scorpio, Towy Interiors, Peppercorn, Pinc and Igam-Ogam.
 * Fashion. There are several boutique clothes shops on Rhosmaen Street, King Street and Market Street including Toast, Variations and Rigout.
 * Fashion. There are several boutique clothes shops on Rhosmaen Street, King Street and Market Street including Toast, Variations and Rigout.
 * Fashion. There are several boutique clothes shops on Rhosmaen Street, King Street and Market Street including Toast, Variations and Rigout.

Drink
There are several pubs in the town including the Salutation Inn, The Castle Hotel, The White Horse Inn and The Angel Inn. The Cawdor hotel also has a bar open to non-residents. There are also a number of pubs a short walk over the bridge in Ffairfach.

Evan Evans Brewery is based in the town, and supplies many local pubs with its speciality ales.

During the day, Barita Delicatessen, Ollies and Gegin Fach y Gwili are also open for drinks and snacks.

Connect
As of May 2022, Llandeilo has 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, but only a basic mobile signal from Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next
See the Carmarthenshire and Glamorgan articles for more on the surrounding area.

title: Llandeilo


text:
Llandovery

Llandovery (Welsh: Llanymddyfri) is an historic market town in Carmarthenshire, on the edge of the Black Mountain, and on the border between Mid Wales and South Wales.

By car

 * From Swansea, M4 to end, A483 and then A40 through Llandeilo to Llandovery. Otherwise head west on the A40 from Abergavenny through Brecon to get there from the east

By bus

 * Direct buses from Carmarthen, Builth Wells, Brecon and Lampeter.

By train

 * Llandovery is located on the famous Heart of Wales Line. Trains depart Swansea at 4:36AM, 9:15AM, 1:17PM and 6:21PM, and depart Llandovery for Swansea at 7:48AM, 11:33AM, 4:32PM, 8:37PM. The journey takes around 1 hour 20 minutes.

Get around
The town is small enough to explore easily on foot.

Do

 * Llandovery serves as an excellent base for hiking in the Brecon Beacons.
 * Rugby Union: Llandovery RFC play in the Welsh Premiership, the amateur game's top tier. They play at Church Bank southwest edge of town.
 * Llandovery serves as an excellent base for hiking in the Brecon Beacons.
 * Rugby Union: Llandovery RFC play in the Welsh Premiership, the amateur game's top tier. They play at Church Bank southwest edge of town.

Eat

 * The cafe in the old market hall in the centre of town serves wholesome and delicious meals.

Drink

 * Good coffee and selection of teas at the cafe in the old market hall.

Go next
The following places are all within an hour's drive of the town:

 * Carmarthen and Brecon - larger market towns.
 * Carreg Cennen Castle - spectacular castle ruins offering views over the Cennen valley towards the brooding Black Mountain near Llandeilo
 * The National Botanic Garden of Wales, Middleton near Carmarthen.
 * Swansea - beaches, museums/galleries and shopping.
 * Trap - a picturesque riverside village (near Carreg Cennen Castle).

title: Llandovery


text:
Llandrindod Wells

Llandrindod Wells (Welsh: Llandrindod, informally Llandod) is a spa town in Radnorshire, Mid Wales.

Understand
Llandegley International Airport closed in 2022, to much regret: in its 20 years it never suffered a flight delay, aircraft incident, unruly passenger, lost bag, stuck car-park barrier, or any of the other vicissitudes of the average airport. Thing is, it never existed. Nothing, not even a grass strip. A local man put up a spoof signpost by the A44 / A483 junction near Llandrindod Wells, the joke caught on, and so he maintained it at considerable personal expense. It was about as central in Wales as you can get, but even Ryanair couldn't pass it off as "Cardiff North", and in 2022 he called time on it.

By train

 * Llandrindod Wells is linked to Swansea and Shrewsbury by the famous Heart of Wales Line. Trains depart for the two-and-a-half hour journey to Swansea at 7:35AM, noon, 15:41PM and 7:56PM, and for the 1 hr 40 min journey to Shrewsbury at 6:18AM, 8:45AM, 12:01PM, 4:59PM and 9:19PM.

By bus

 * During the week there are four buses a day from Cardiff (about three hours). The T4 TrawsCymru service continues as far as Newtown to the north.
 * There are also buses from Aberystwyth and Hereford, as well as other local services.

By car

 * The A483 which links Swansea and Chester runs north-south through the centre of the town.

Get around
The centre of the town can easily be explored on foot.

Buy
Middleton Street is the main shopping street and has some interesting independent shops. All in Middleton Street: Food from Van's Good Food Shop, a deli/health food shop. Household goods from old-fashioned hardware store Bradley's. Gifts from Caer Sidi and Porticus. Plants from Jack In The Green.

Eat
There are three chippies, two kebab shop takeaways and two Chinese takeaways. There's also an Indian restaurant, tea rooms, a greasy food cafe and two jacket potato/sandwich/healthier food option cafes.

Splurge
The town's three biggest hotels face each other across Temple Gardens:

Go next
The mediaeval church, castle hill and nature trail at Cefnllys, a couple of miles to the east of the town, are worth a look. Llandrindod is also only 20 km or so from the Elan Valley reservoirs.

 * Builth Wells
 * Brecon and the Brecon Beacons
 * Hay-on-Wye
 * Aberystwyth
 * Hereford
 * Newtown

title: Llandrindod Wells


text:
Llandudno

Llandudno is a Victorian-era seaside resort situated on the picturesque north coast of Wales. Once a favourite of Queen Victoria, Llandudno still retains an old-world charm that sets it aside from other British seaside resorts. Llandudno is set between the cities of Bangor and Chester and is easily accessible by road and rail.

Understand
Llandudno has the distinction of being the largest seaside resort in North Wales. It lies between two notable carboniferous headlands, the Great Orme and the Little Orme  with the Irish Sea on one side and the estuary of the River Conwy on the other with sunset views of Puffin Island. It is these headlands and the two waterfronts, the North Shore and the West Shore, that give Llandudno its special appeal.

Although settlements have existed on the Great Orme since the Stone Age and an Iron Age hill fort survives at Pen-y-Dinas, Llandudno was developed as a seaside resort in the Victorian era. As such, it has Victorian charm - large Victorian houses, fine hotels lining the bay, a pier, boat trips round the headland, Punch and Judy on the wide promenade, an excellent lifeboat service, and a fine theatre with ballet, opera, orchestral concerts, ice shows and pantomime in season.

Llandudno has a prominent Welsh speaking community, greatly increased by the frequent visitors from rural communities further inland whose primary day-to-day language is Welsh.

As a simple mnemonic for English speakers, in Welsh the double LL is pronounced similar to "thl". The U is usually pronounced as an I. So Llandudno is pronounced "thlan-did-no".

By train

 * Through trains from London Euston, 6 times a day, change at Llandudno Junction
 * Through trains from Manchester, every hour on weekdays (2½ hours).
 * Through trains from Liverpool (approx. 2-2½ hours), change at Chester or change at Chester and Llandudno Junction (it depends on the timetable how many changes there'll be).
 * Trains from Crewe, every hour on weekdays, change at Chester and/or Llandudno Junction.
 * Trains from Cardiff, every two hours on weekdays, change at Llandudno Junction.
 * Trains from Holyhead, every hour on weekdays, change at Llandudno Junction.

By car
From England: From the M6, take the M56 in the direction of Chester, North Wales. Take the M53 in the direction of A55, North Wales at the end of the M56. This becomes the A55, stay on this for 30 miles or so until you see signs for the A470 turn off. From here follow signs for Llandudno.

By plane
Nearest airports are Liverpool John Lennon Airport  and Manchester Airport but only Manchester is directly linked by train (from airport by train to Manchester Piccadily, then change train). From Liverpool airport: take a bus to Liverpool Lime Street station, then take a train.

By bus
Local buses operate from Rhyl (every 12 minutes), Bangor (four per hour), Caernarfon, Llanberis and Llangollen but there are no daily long distance coach services to Llandudno. National Express has a daily service from London calling at Llandudno Junction (three miles away). There is a weekly National Express service to Newcastle upon Tyne on Sundays.

Get around

 * Take the scenic Conwy Valley Train from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
 * Gwynedd Red Rover Tickets cost £5.50 for unlimited day travel on the Conwy Valley train, on all buses in Snowdonia and on all buses in the Conwy Valley and throughout western Conwy, Gwynedd and Anglesey.

See

Buy

 * Llandudno has long been considered North Wales’ 'heavyweight' shopping destination. There are two major modern retail parks in the town — ‘Mostyn Champneys’ and ‘Parc Llandudno’ — boasting a range of popular stores.
 * Amidst the wide boulevards and Victorian awnings of the main shopping street, you’ll find lots of independent shops and family businesses alongside big high street names.
 * The famous colourful stick of rock with inner layer spelling out Llandudno.

Eat
Llandudno is home to many food venues catering for all tastes and budgets.

Budget
Cheaper venues include:

Medium range
For those seeking a medium priced meal, there are several Italian and other ethnic cuisine restaurants in the town:

Nightlife
Though not on a par with the likes of Blackpool, Llandudno does have a vibrant nightlife scene with several popular bars and clubs. Busier in the summer months when tourists swell the ranks of revellers, a decent night out can be found in Llandudno all year round owing to the sizeable local crowd.

Along with the obvious Friday and Saturday nights, Wednesday can also be busy with certain nightclubs offering popular reduced rates. Llandudno's 'trendier' bars can be found in the area of Upper Mostyn Street (walk down the Promenade towards the Cenotaph, then turn left down Gloddaeth Avenue).

Llandudno has two full sized night clubs, both about a mile away from the centre of town (down the Promenade towards Craig-Y-Don).

Gay scene
Llandudno could certainly be seen as a gay-friendly town when it comes to nightlife. The bars in Upper Mostyn Street attract a decent crowd.

Sleep
Owing to its origins as a Victorian resort, Llandudno has a vast array of family run B&Bs (service consisting of a basic room with a generic cooked breakfast). Llandudno has a wide variety of hotels, ranging in size and quality.

Stay safe
Llandudno is considered safe by any standards, though as with any other tourist destination, it is easy to fall into a false sense of security about your own safety. Llandudno is also a fully functioning medium sized town and is therefore subject to the same difficulties as any other town.

Trouble associated with nightlife (drunkenness, anti social behaviour) is not uncommon. The Police take a robust response to incidents and maintain a visible presence on busy nights. Door staff can be strict and entry can be refused to pubs, bars and clubs.

Without the risk of overstating it, as with any town, there are areas in Llandudno which tourists should avoid, though these areas are not areas where tourists would normally travel. These areas include:

 * The area behind and around the ASDA supermarket, opposite Parc Llandudno
 * The council estate behind the Llandudno Rugby Club
 * Parts of West Shore, particularly the council estate and King's Road
 * The area around Llandudno Hospital.

Respect
The massive annual influx of tourists is something that local people are used to. People from Llandudno are generally friendly, welcoming and appreciative of the economic boost that tourists bring to the town.

One issue that can arise is during international football matches. Hoards of fans wearing England strips and filling out the pubs should remember that the Welsh will rarely share their support for the England team and will often (in the spirit of good fun) cheer on the opposing team... even if it's Germany! Don't make an issue out of this, it is not meant to offend. Plus, you are in Wales after all!

Connect
As of Aug 2022, Llandudno and its approach roads have 4G from EE, O2 and Three, and 5G from Vodafone.

Go next

 * Conwy - fantastic castle and walled town, just 5 miles away from Llandudno. Walk the town walls for free, many stairs leading up to them are throughout the town.
 * A cycle path now exists between West Shore Llandudno and Conwy, very flat and car free. Also suitable for pedestrians.
 * A 'working' riverfront where you can find a riverfront pub for a drink and an ice cream stand that also sells hot drinks along with 'The smallest house in the UK'.
 * A sightseeing boat that takes a 30-minute ride up and down the Conwy River (runs mainly on school holidays).
 * Various independent shops in the town and various independent cafes (including the Tower Coffee House, built into one of the wall turrets, right across from the castle and giving great views of the river).
 * If you'd like a free place to relax and maybe a read, Conwy Library also has great views of the river from its upper lounge.
 * You can also take a walk from the river front, through the gate and find your way along a riverfront walk, at the bottom of Bodlondeb. The walk takes you around Bodlondeb, where you can make your way to Conwy Marina, where there is an upmarket pub with a large outside dining area overlooking the marina.
 * There are many hill walks around Conwy as well (National Trust gift shop under Aberconwy House sells some maps, there's also an independent bookshop in the town).
 * Aberconwy House, 14th-century merchant's house run by the National Trust.
 * Plas Mawr (the Great Hall), one of the finest surviving town house of the Elizabethan era to be found in Britain, run by Cadw (who also run Conwy Castle, see about a joint ticket for both!).
 * Chester - Roman walled city, 50 miles away (one hour by train).

title: Llandudno


text:
Llandudno Junction

Llandudno junction (Welsh: Cyffordd Llandudno) is a town in Conwy county borough, in North Wales.

Understand
Llandudno junction is separated from Llandudno by Deganwy. It is about an hours walk from Llandudno.

By train
Town is on intersection of the A55 truck road Chester - Holyhead, also known as the North Wales Expressway (Welsh: Gwibffordd Gogledd Cymru), and the A470 Cardiff to Glan Conwy Trunk Road 3 miles south of Llandudno.

Get around
Conway Road is the main road. The Wales Coast Path runs through too.

Do
The town is home to a 9-screen multiplex Cineworld cinema, Llandudno Junction Leisure Centre, ASDA, Tesco and Lidl supermarkets, and a McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut restaurant.

Llandudno Junction also has a number of beautiful walks and a fantastic bird sanctuary at RSPB Conwy.

Go next

 * Llandudno
 * Conwy
 * Colwyn Bay

title: Llandudno Junction


text:
Llanelli

Llanelli is a large town in Carmarthenshire that sums up everything that South Wales was historically about: Rugby Union, religious nonconformity, proud preservation of the Welsh language, metal-bashing of steel for car production and tinplate for tin cans — and brownfield desolation when this industry declined. Aside from industry, Llanelli is also renowned for its pottery, which has a unique cockerel hand-painted on each item. A collection of this pottery can bee seen at the Llanelli Museum in Parc Howard. Llanelli is a base for visiting scenic areas such as the Millennium Coastal Path and Pembrey Country Park.

Understand
Llanelli remains industrial, and is a commuter town for Swansea 10 miles east; its population in 2019 was estimated to be 26,000. Llanelli people are sometimes nicknamed "Turks", for uncertain reasons. One theory is that many Turkish sailors once called at the port on their voyages.

By plane
Pembrey Airport, 7 km from the town, serves private flights only.

By car
Llanelli is linked with the M4 motorway via the A4138, and with Swansea via the Loughor Bridge on the A484.

By bus
Llanelli is served by regular local bus services between Swansea and Carmarthen and National Express Coaches between many major UK destinations.

By train
Llanelli railway station is connected to Fishguard and Swansea along the West Wales Line. The station is also on the Heart of Wales Line, which links the town to Mid Wales and Shrewsbury.

By bicycle
Llanelli is connected to the National Cycle Network from the north on NCR 43, and along the coast from the east and west on NCR 4. These routes are directly connected to the town centre via a cycle path.

On foot
Walking is the best way to get around Llanelli as it is not a large city like Swansea.

By bike
The town has a small network of bike paths, though they may not always take you on the most direct route. The town connects with Routes 4 and 47 of the National Cycle Network. Opposite the railway station is a Brompton foldable bike hiring facility.

By bus
Buses in Llanelli are operated by First Cymru. Tickets can be bought on board or via the First Bus app. Cash, card, and contactless are accepted on board. You can be fined for not having a ticket. Discounts up to 30% are available for 16-21 year olds carrying a mytravelpass card. Buses to Swansea run quite reliably. Local services stop late into the evening.

By train
Llanelli is on the Heart of Wales line. It has direct connections to the surrounding villages of Bynea and Llangennech, though these areas are mostly residential so you probably won't find yourself travelling there. If you do plan on travelling to either village, plan ahead - trains on this rural line can be cancelled at short notice.

By taxi
Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs) in Llanelli are licensed by Carmarthenshire County Council. They are few and far between; even getting one from the railway station can be a challenge. If you must get one, your best bet is to book in advance.

Taxi ranks are available in the town centre near the Ffwrnes Theatre, though these are regularly empty.

You are unlikely to get scammed using a licensed taxi in Llanelli. If you feel you have been, or you want to complain for another reason, note down the registration and contact the https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/ Council].

Do

 * Walk the Heart of Wales Line Trail from Llanelli to Pontarddulais railway station.
 * Walk the Heart of Wales Line Trail from Llanelli to Pontarddulais railway station.
 * Walk the Heart of Wales Line Trail from Llanelli to Pontarddulais railway station.
 * Walk the Heart of Wales Line Trail from Llanelli to Pontarddulais railway station.

Buy
The town centre offers a wide range of stores with many national chains represented.

Drink
There are numerous pubs in Llanelli. The main clubs and bars for the younger generations are Tom Peppers, and Le Caprice, and there are tens of other pubs that would be frequented by the local crowd, especially on a Friday and Saturday night.

Connect
The town has good 4G coverage. 5G is available in some areas too. Most eateries offer free Wi-Fi. Alternatively you can buy cheap SIM cards from most shops.

Cope
Llanelli, particularly the town centre, is considered "rough" by some. Travellers shouldn't worry much about this, but you should still take sensible precautions. The UK's national emergency number is 999.

Go next

 * The Millennium Coastal Path - a path that runs along the 21 km of coastline from Loughor to Pembrey. It offers panoramic views of the Gower Peninsula and traffic-free cycling opportunities.
 * Pembrey Country Park - 2 km² (500 acres) of parkland on the outskirts of the town; it includes the 13-km-long Cefn Sidan Beach. Near Burry Port
 * Kidwelly Castle, Kidwelly. (approx. 16 km/10 miles west of Llanelli).
 * Burry Port Marina (approx. 8 km/5 miles west of Llanelli).
 * National Botanic Garden of Wales (approx. 16 km/10 miles north of Llanelli) near Carmarthen.
 * Swansea and the Gower Peninsula - a 30-minute drive.

title: Llanelli


text:
Llanfair

There are several places in Wales whose names begin with Llanfair, including:

 * Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (or just Llanfairpwllgwyngyll / Llanfair PG)
 * Llanfair Caereinion

title: Llanfair


text:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyll

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (Llanfair PG for short) is a small, quiet town on the island of Anglesey off the northwest coast of North Wales, famous for having the longest place name in Europe. Apart from its name, it is similar to other nearby villages.

Understand
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (llan-vire-pooll-gwin-gill-gore-ger-ih-queern-drorb-ooll-llandy-silio-gore-gore-goch), usually shortened to Llanfair-pwll or Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, is a Welsh word that translates roughly as "St Mary's Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel near a Rapid Whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the Red Cave". The name was coined as a publicity gimmick in the 1860s by linking the names of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll ("St Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel"), the nearby hamlet of Llantysilio Gogogoch ("the church of St Tysilio of the red cave"), and the chwyrn drobwll ("rapid whirlpool") between them.

Locals refer to the village as Llanfair, or as Llanfair PG (pronounced roughly "Hlan-var Pee Gee"), to distinguish it from other places in Wales called "Llanfair(something)". Although typed as 58 characters, it is only 50 letters, because in Welsh ll ng and ch are treated as single letters.

The village is divided into two sections. The upper village has mostly older residences, while the lower village has newer commercial buildings and the train station.

By train
is a request stop on the main line between Holyhead, where ferries from Ireland berth, and Bangor, just across the Menai Strait on the Welsh mainland.

By car
The main route is the A55, also known as the North Wales Expressway, which skirts the town. This is the main route from the Welsh mainland across the Britannia Bridge in one direction and from Holyhead in the other. A secondary route is the A5 from Bangor, which crosses the Menai Suspension Bridge to the town of Menai Bridge and thence to Llanfair.

Get around
Walking is recommended.

Buy
There are many hand craft shops in Llanfairpwll, including Pringles (near the train station). Loads of hand crafted goods.

Drink

 * The Penrhos Arms is a pub opposite the train station.

Go next
The other villages of Anglesey offer similar small-town Welsh character and remote seaside landscapes, including lovely beaches and rugged cliffs.
 * Beaumaris – 7 miles to the north-east
 * Brynsiencyn – 5 miles to the south-west, has the Anglesey Sea Zoo, Wales' largest marine aquarium
 * Llangefni – 12 miles away towards the centre of Anglesey
 * Menai Bridge – a town less than 2 miles away, where a bridge crosses to the mainland

title: Llanfairpwllgwyngyll


text:
Llangollen

Llangollen  (meaning "church of St Collen") is a small town in Denbighshire, Wales, ten miles southwest of Wrexham. It's on A5, the historic stagecoach route, and close to the English border, so it's been a tourist destination for 200 years. It's notable for its abbey, the spectacular leaping aqueduct that carries the canal, and the fine half-timbered abode of the "Ladies of Llangollen".

Get in
The best way to arrive in Llangollen is by car or bus. The A5 (from London to Holyhead) runs through the town. On busy weekends the car parks within the town centre quickly fill (both short- and long-term), and the narrow streets slow to a crawl.

Arriva Bus 5 runs every 30 min from Wrexham, taking 45 min via Rhosllanerchrugog.

By train you can reach either Chirk or Ruabon, from there check for local buses to complete the journey into Llangollen.

Get around
Llangollen is a small town and all the tourist attractions can be reached on foot. The town centre consists of one main street running between the A5 and A539, most of the other roads lead off this. There is cheap car-parking in the town centre, just off the main street, but on busy weekends and holidays, it fills quickly.

Buy
The town has the usual selection of gift shops that you'd expect to find in Wales.

Eat
The town has a wide selection of restaurant types, including Indian, Italian and Chinese.

Drink
Most of the pubs are worth a visit. The Bridge End Hotel is popular with decent food and drinks offers.

Sleep
There are a number of Bed & Breakfasts in the town.

Go next
Carry on westwards along the A539 and you will end up going through the scenic Horseshoe Pass and at the peak is the Ponderosa Cafe Complex, though avoid this if you don't like heights! Stop off on your journey towards 'The Pass' and you will find Valle Crucis Abbey on your right, as well as nearby 'Elliseg's Pillar'.

 * Chirk
 * Wrexham
 * Ruthin

title: Llangollen


text:
Llanidloes

Llanidloes (informally: Lani) is a charming small town in the heart of Wales.

By plane
Llanidloes is a 2 hour drive from Liverpool, Birmingham and Cardiff international airports. The local airport, for chartered transport is at Welshpool.

By train
Llanidloes is 11 km from Caersws train station, on the Aberystwyth to Birmingham line, via Shrewsbury.

By car
Llanidloes sits just off the A470 main road about 40 miles from the English border. From Birmingham and the Midlands, take the M54 through Telford, A458 and A483 through Shrewsbury, Welshpool and Newtown. From the south, the A470 offers a spectacular cross-country route from Cardiff.

See

 * Bryn Tail Lead Mine is just below Clywedog Reservoir. It mined lead from the 17th century, switching to barytes in the 19th. There are several old mine buildings.
 * Bryn Tail Lead Mine is just below Clywedog Reservoir. It mined lead from the 17th century, switching to barytes in the 19th. There are several old mine buildings.
 * Bryn Tail Lead Mine is just below Clywedog Reservoir. It mined lead from the 17th century, switching to barytes in the 19th. There are several old mine buildings.

Buy
Llanidloes is a thriving town with a number of interesting independent shops, mostly located on Great Oak Street and Long and Short Bridge Streets. The success of the town as a shopping destination is partly down to the presence of Hafren Furnishers, a large independent furniture retailer which draws customers from all over Mid Wales and further afield.

Go next

 * Devil's Bridge
 * Ponterwyd
 * Newtown
 * Rhayader
 * Machynlleth

title: Llanidloes


text:
Llano

Llano is a small city in the Central Hill Country of Texas. The town is the county seat of Llano County and is also known as the "Deer Capitol of Texas."

Car
Driving is the only practical and affordable option to arrive in Llano. The city is served by five highways.

 * Texas Highway 16 serves Llano from north to south. This road serves visitors travelling north from Fredericksburg or south from San Saba. While the small community of Cherokee between Llano and San Saba has a convenience store and a place to stop for drinks, the drive from Fredericksburg has no similar amenities.
 * Texas Highway 29 passes through the town from west to east. Mason lies to the west and Burnet and Buchanan Dam to the east.
 * Texas Highway 71 passes through the town from southeast to northwest. Marble Falls and Austin are to the southeast, while Brady is to the northwest. This road terminates in Brady.
 * Ranch Road 152 comes into Llano from the west and closely parallels the south bank of the Llano River. The road is anchored by the community of Castell to the west and US Highway 87 further away. The road is very beautiful and has plenty of scenic views, but is also windy with lots of sharp curves and hills. Take special care and go slow in these places.
 * Ranch Road 2323 has its northern terminus in Llano. The road comes from the intersection with US Highway 87 and the small community of Prairie Mountain to the southeast. Offers beautiful scenic views and vistas of the Central Hill Country, and is an alternative for travelers coming from Fredericksburg via Texas Highway 16. No amenities of any kind exist on this road between its northern and southern terminus, so plan accordingly.

title: Llano