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Albuquerque

Albuquerque is a vibrant, sprawling city near the center of New Mexico. Cradled in the Rio Grande Valley beneath the Sandia Mountains, it is by far the largest city in the state, acting as the media, educational, and economic center of New Mexico, as well as the home of the state's only major airport, making it a common entry point into New Mexico. Despite this, Albuquerque is often overshadowed as a tourist destination by Santa Fe, 60 mi to the north.

But any visit to New Mexico would be incomplete without taking in what Albuquerque has to offer, as New Mexico's only major city has pleasant scenery, colorful history, and a wealth of great attractions in its own right. Here, in a setting that has been made familiar to many by the television series Breaking Bad, you'll find many excellent museums, colorful neon signs along old Route 66, the naturalistic beauty of the Rio Grande and the Sandia Mountains, and a spectacular hot-air balloon festival in the fall.

History
Albuquerque was founded in 1706 as a small Spanish settlement on the banks of the Rio Grande and was named for the Duke of Alburquerque (hence Albuquerque's nickname, "The Duke City"). In the 1880s the railroad came to town, and almost overnight a new city grew up around the train tracks a couple of miles away from the original settlement. This "New Town" became the hub of commerce for the state, and the city grew exponentially (eventually the "New Town", which today is Downtown, and the original "Old Town" settlement were joined to become part of the same city).

In the 1920s the federal government designated a series of highways that ran from Chicago to Los Angeles as Route 66, and Albuquerque was one of the towns "The Mother Road" passed through. Starting in the 1950s, Albuquerque grew exponentially given federal investment in the local military bases and a massive influx of visitors and new residents, and for the most part it hasn't slowed down. Today, Albuquerque is still the hub of commerce and transportation in the state. While Santa Fe is the state capital and the principal tourist destination of New Mexico, Albuquerque is the state's only truly urban area, with a city population of over 500,000 and a metropolitan population of nearly a million people. This is where you'll find the headquarters of the state's businesses, the University of New Mexico, and the Albuquerque International Sunport, the only major airport in the state.

Climate
Albuquerque is in the high semi-desert [35.11N −106.64W (Elev. 4989 ft/1521 m)] and has a generally warm, dry climate with four distinct seasons. Spring is sunny and windy, although temperatures at night can be unexpectedly cool. Summers are hot (highs average 90–95°F/34°C, and temperatures near 100°F/38°C are not rare) and still mainly dry, but monsoonal conditions develop in July or August and produce furious if short-lived thunderstorms. Have rainwear available in the summer, although you won't use it most days. Fall is delightful, with comfortable temperatures and a return to generally dry conditions. Winter can be blustery, with overnight lows below freezing, but subzero temperatures are rare. One winter-weather issue for the traveler: snow, while infrequent and short-lived, does occur, and its relative rarity means that local drivers don't deal with it well. If you happen to be in town for a snowstorm, expect road chaos far out of proportion to the amount of snow that falls.

People
Albuquerque's demographics are reflective of New Mexico as a whole. While Albuquerque does have a large non-native population, the city's makeup is predominantly white and/or Hispanic, with a significant population of Native Americans. These groups are spread throughout the city, but the largest concentrations of Hispanics are found in the South Valley (along the river on the south side of town) and in the Southeast Heights near Kirtland Air Force Base. The Southeast Heights is where you'll also find a large foreign-born population, with significant groups of Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Central American, African, and Middle Eastern descent.

Albuquerque is a casual town: expect shorts, a T-shirt, and sandals to be entirely acceptable almost everywhere. It's also a very humble city, with something of a self-deprecating vibe; you may hear a local remark on how backwards and small it is compared to larger Western cities, though this frequently gets rebuked with a passion from locals who adore their home. Either way, people here tend to be extremely friendly and exhibit very little pretension.

By car
Two interstate highways pass through: I-40 goes east–west and I-25 goes north–south. Where they meet is a large intersection called "The Big I". Albuquerque's Central Ave. is part of old Route 66. A minor note of caution: I-25 south of the city is a "safety corridor" in which state law mandates higher fines for traffic violations. Enforcement is spotty, but take the speed limits seriously anyway.

By plane

One tip: If you're prone to airsickness, try to get flights into this airport that arrive either before noon or after sundown, particularly during late spring and early summer. The high elevation, hot sun, and spring winds combine to produce thermals that can make afternoon arrivals an extremely bumpy proposition. There are no major safety issues (the airport's runways are long, owing to the adjacent Air Force base, with no nearby obstacles to run into), but try telling your stomach that! The rough ride is less of a problem with outbound flights.

Incidentally, this airport has a number of attractive displays of New Mexican arts and crafts, and is a more pleasant place than most airports to kill time while waiting for a flight. The Sunport also has charging stations for electronics and free wireless internet access. The major car rental companies are nearby, with a shuttle from the airport to the large rental center. The airport is served by a number of shuttle services and by local bus #50 on the lower level at the west end of the shuttle island.

By train
Albuquerque is a layover stop along Amtrak's Southwest Chief daily train route. The station is at the, in downtown at 320 First St SW (in the same building as the Greyhound depot). The westbound train to Los Angeles is scheduled to arrive at 3:55PM and departs at 4:45PM. The eastbound train to Chicago arrives at 11:42AM and departs at 12:10PM. The station has a small cafeteria.

A commuter rail line, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express, connects Albuquerque to Santa Fe and to the smaller communities north and south along the Rio Grande, including Belen, Los Lunas, and Bernalillo to Belen as its southern terminus. The main station is at the Alvarado Transportation Center in Downtown, which has regular bus connections along Central Avenue and to the airport. The Rail Runner runs daily, although service can be limited outside the weekday rush hour periods. Fares are based on how far you ride; a day pass will usually be in the range of $4–10. Tickets can be purchased online or from ticket agents on the train.

By bus
Albuquerque has a fine bus depot at the in downtown, 320 First St SW, which is served by Greyhound, and Autobuses Americanos which provides bus service to many points in Mexico. The depot has a small cafeteria.

Get around
Albuquerque is a heavily planned city. In much of the city, the major roads are lined primarily with businesses with residential mazes on the insides. The city is divided into four quadrants, with street addresses taking the form "12345 Main St. (NE/NW/SE/SW)" in which the NE/NW/SE/SW suffix denotes the quadrant of the city containing the address. The railroad tracks, which run parallel to I-25, are the east–west dividing line, and Central Ave. is the north–south dividing line. Thus, the street address 3600 Menaul NE would be north of Central and east of the railroad tracks. This nomenclature, while useful in helping you with maps and directions, has the drawback that you can't tell whether a street runs north–south or east–west simply by looking at the address.

By and large it's difficult to get truly lost in Albuquerque, thanks in large part to the looming presence of the Sandia Mountains to the east. If you can also remember that I-25 runs north–south, I-40 runs east–west, and the Rio Grande runs along the bottom of the valley in the western part of the city, you should be able to make your way around the city without too many problems. Here are some basic terms that will come in handy when asking for directions or looking at a map:

 * Central Avenue is a principal east–west artery, running roughly parallel to I-40 and through Downtown just west of I-25 and past the University of New Mexico (UNM for short) just east of I-25.
 * The Heights are the eastern part of town closest to the Sandia Mountains. You may also hear reference to the Foothills, which are the most extreme eastern part of the city, right at the base of the mountains.
 * Uptown is a business and shopping district in the Heights at I-40 and Louisiana Blvd.
 * The North Valley and Los Ranchos de Albuquerque (which is a separate municipality from Albuquerque) encompass the area north of I-40 between I-25 and the river.
 * The South Valley is the area south of Central Avenue west of I-25.
 * The Westside is all the suburban neighborhoods on the western side of the river. Rio Rancho, a separate community from Albuquerque, is the metro area's largest suburb and can be considered a northern extension of the Westside. Sandwiched between Albuquerque and Rio Rancho is the village of Corrales, which sits adjacent to the river and has a more rural feel, with a single narrow roadway through town lined with picturesque adobe buildings, many of them containing locally owned shops.

By car
If you're driving, be prepared for frequent road construction. The city government web site gives information on major construction projects, but there are always minor ones going on. Several radio stations try to give traffic reports during morning and afternoon rush hours, but the service tends to come and go, and it's best to inquire locally as to which stations are offering it. KKOB-AM, 770 on the dial, seems to be fairly reliable for these reports. The interchange of I-40 and I-25 is commonly called "The Big I", and you will hear it referred to as such in traffic reports. Traffic congestion, while not nearly as horrible as some of the other cities in the Western U.S., can still get bad during the rush hour and on Saturdays. The two interstates and the river crossings usually have the worst congestion.

Many Albuquerqueans seem to consider I-40 and 25, which run through the city, to be their own personal expressways. The lack of turn signal usage is a running joke for most Albuquerque drivers, so watch for cars changing lanes without warning. However, Interstate traffic usually flows around the pace of the speed limit.

Driving while talking on your cell phone is illegal in Albuquerque unless you use a hands-free system.

By bus
ABQ Ride,, is Albuquerque's public transit system. Despite some strides in the development of its public transit system, Albuquerque is still primarily a driving city, so with the exception of Central Avenue public transit is still for the most part very underdeveloped. Most of ABQ Ride's routes spur out of the Alvarado Transportation Center in Downtown at Central Avenue & First Street, which also serves as Albuquerque's Amtrak station and Greyhound depot as well as a Rail Runner station. Bus service is reduced during the weekend.

The ART (formerly Rapid Ride) is an express bus service operated by ABQ Ride which runs frequently, utilizing bright red articulated buses. There are three routes: the #766 (Red Line) and #777 (Green Line) each run very frequently and almost entirely on Central Avenue, serving attractions such as the BioPark, Old Town, Downtown, UNM, Nob Hill, the fairgrounds, and Uptown; the #766 runs between Uptown and Unser/Central on the Westside, while the #777 runs between Downtown and Tramway/Central on the eastern edge of the city. Additionally, the #790 (Blue Line) connects UNM to the Cottonwood Mall area on the Westside, but runs less frequently than the Central Avenue lines and is geared more towards commuters. Local routes that are useful for visitors include the #50, which runs Monday–Saturday between the airport and Downtown; and #40 (the "D-Ride"), a free shuttle which circulates around Downtown on the weekdays.

For visitor access to the Sun Van paratransit service, call or pdmadrid@cabq.gov@undefined at least two business days in advance.

All travel on ABQ Ride is free.

By bike
Albuquerque is fairly bikeable, but it's a sprawling Western city and things are spread out. It's hillier than it looks; Old Town and Downtown attractions are several hundred feet lower than things in the heights on the eastern side of the city; plan accordingly. Getting around by bike can be a mixed bag in Albuquerque: street cycling can be risky as drivers may not always be aware and most major streets lack bicycle lanes (and even those that do have lanes may require uncomfortably close proximity to fast traffic). On the other hand, Albuquerque has a very proactive cycling community and a splendid paved trail network which is undergoing an expansion phase.

The crown jewel in this network is the Paseo del Bosque Trail, which runs along the east side of the Rio Grande and offers lovely riverside scenery. Another backbone to the trail network is the North Diversion Channel Trail which runs from UNM north to Balloon Fiesta Park, and while not nearly as scenic as the Bosque trail (it runs along a concrete drainage channel and past some industry) it offers the occasional grand vista of the city. Another fun ride is the paved trail along Tramway Boulevard on the eastern edge of the city, which offers excellent views of the city and access to the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. You can find a complete bike map of all the trails, lanes, and recommended routes on the city's bicycling website.

By horse
A principal corridor for equestrian use is the Paseo del Bosque Trail. Trailhead parking lots are large and one, at the Los Ranchos open space in the North Valley, has a feed store,.

See

Old Town
The Old Town is east of Rio Grande Boulevard in between Central Ave. and Mountain Rd. (west of downtown).

A nice sightseeing area, Old Town is where the city was founded in 1706 and is a place where centuries of history and modern life merge; 18th century architecture with narrow brick paths is blended with adobe architecture, and there are lots of little nooks and crannies, small restaurants, and specialty shops. At the center of the district is the pleasant, which has a gazebo, historic exhibits, and is bordered on the north by the , the oldest building in Albuquerque. In Christmas time, thousands of luminarias (paper bags filled with sand and illuminated from within by a lit candle) line the streets. Guided tours of Old Town are available from a private operator or from the Albuquerque Museum.

There are several museums within easy walking distance of the Old Town Plaza. Most of them are on Mountain Rd., just a few blocks northeast of the Plaza.

University of New Mexico

By far the largest institution of higher education in the state, UNM has a significant presence in the center of the city. The main campus makes a very pleasant diversion, with its Pueblo-Revival adobe buildings and pleasant landscaping. Near the center of the campus is a, a popular relaxing spot for students where you can rest on the lawns and feed the birds.

Itineraries

 * Breaking Bad Tour – A tour of filming locations from Albuquerque's main claim to fame: the popular television series Breaking Bad, which was set and produced almost exclusively in Albuquerque. This itinerary contains most of the filming locations for the show as well as some local businesses selling show-inspired products.

Outdoors

 * The Sandia Mountains offer outdoors opportunities ranging from straight hiking (the La Luz trail is popular, perhaps too much so) on to serious, multi-day rock climbing. Mountain biking is also really popular, and there are great trails in the foothills as well as at a ski area on the other side of the mountains during the summer. If less athletically inclined, ride the Sandia Peak Tramway (see "See" section above) to the top. At the base of the mountains, near the tramway, you can find magnificent views of the city and mountains and access trails into the mountains, especially around the . For a map of Sandia Mountain trails, see the Cibola National Forest website. During the winter, the Sandia Peak Ski Area serves skiers and snowboarders; see Cedar Crest for details. The ski area can be reached either by taking a 45 min. drive around the mountain to the base lodge or by taking the tramway up to the top of the mountain—presuming there's enough snow at the top (skiers get a discount on tramway tickets, but you have to bring your own equipment).

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
The Fiesta is the world's largest ballooning event and one of the most photographed events in the world. A cultural landmark for Albuquerque (and indeed, all of New Mexico), this festival gives you a first-hand look at the world of ballooning. For nine days in October, you can walk out onto a large field where balloonists from around the world set up, inflate, launch, and possibly land their balloons. Mass ascensions of balloons with hundreds of different colors and shapes create an often stunning and magnificent sight. It's one of the most heavily attended festivals in the entire U.S.

Balloons fly best in cooler conditions, so many of the events take place early in the morning. Traffic is pretty bad around the festival; expect a long, long line of cars (you may want to seriously consider taking park-and-ride to beat the traffic). Get your hotel reservations far in advance, because everyone fills up around this time of year.

If the event is rained or snowed out, there are no refunds on prices. Most years the weather works in favor of the balloonists, so this shouldn't be a problem, though.

The event begins on the first Saturday of October and ends with a farewell mass ascension on the Sunday of the following weekend, with numerous events in-between, such as concerts and balloon races. Here are a few of the highlights of the fiesta:

 * Dawn Patrol. Every day there's a Dawn Patrol at around 6AM, where a few balloons take off before the sun rises. These balloons test the conditions before other balloons take off.
 * Mass Ascension. On weekend days at about 7AM the Mass Ascension occurs, which is the lift off of all the balloons participating in the fiesta, usually in two waves. Not to be missed.
 * Balloon Glow. On weekend evenings (except for the final day of the event) a Balloon Glow takes place, when the balloons don't lift off the ground, but are illuminated by the light of their propane burners going off.
 * Morning Glow. The same as the balloon glow but early in the morning (may not always occur).
 * Special Shapes Rodeo. Happens at 7AM on the Thursday and Friday of the event, which is a Mass Ascension for all the "special shape" balloons. There are also Balloon Glows called Glowdeos (a portmanteau of "glow" and "rodeo") for the special shape balloons. The special shapes are the balloons in forms other than the standard balloon shape, and are very popular with kids; expect to see animals, cartoon characters, clowns, and many other colorful creations. Returning favorites include a milk cow, a wagon coach, and a trio of bees.

And if you want to do more than watch the balloons, there are several local companies which provide balloon rides year-round:

Other annual events
Besides the Balloon Fiesta, there are numerous festivals and celebrations on a yearly basis. Here are some of the major ones:

 * Around Christmas time, thousands of luminarias (a paper bag half-filled with sand with a lit candle placed inside) line the streets of Old Town. If you come to the city during this time of year you are also likely to see electric luminarias (a string of lights designed to resemble authentic luminarias) lining the roofs of many buildings in the city. You may also see luminaria displays in some of the city's residential neighborhoods, on the UNM campus, and on many an individual's front yard, but Old Town provides the most accessible and dramatic display.
 * Around Christmas time, thousands of luminarias (a paper bag half-filled with sand with a lit candle placed inside) line the streets of Old Town. If you come to the city during this time of year you are also likely to see electric luminarias (a string of lights designed to resemble authentic luminarias) lining the roofs of many buildings in the city. You may also see luminaria displays in some of the city's residential neighborhoods, on the UNM campus, and on many an individual's front yard, but Old Town provides the most accessible and dramatic display.
 * Around Christmas time, thousands of luminarias (a paper bag half-filled with sand with a lit candle placed inside) line the streets of Old Town. If you come to the city during this time of year you are also likely to see electric luminarias (a string of lights designed to resemble authentic luminarias) lining the roofs of many buildings in the city. You may also see luminaria displays in some of the city's residential neighborhoods, on the UNM campus, and on many an individual's front yard, but Old Town provides the most accessible and dramatic display.
 * Around Christmas time, thousands of luminarias (a paper bag half-filled with sand with a lit candle placed inside) line the streets of Old Town. If you come to the city during this time of year you are also likely to see electric luminarias (a string of lights designed to resemble authentic luminarias) lining the roofs of many buildings in the city. You may also see luminaria displays in some of the city's residential neighborhoods, on the UNM campus, and on many an individual's front yard, but Old Town provides the most accessible and dramatic display.

Buy
Upon first glance, it might seem like your only place to shop are the miles and miles of strip malls that line the major arterials. While that's not entirely the case, everything is really spread out, with the exception of the concentrated Old Town-Downtown-Nob Hill area along Central Ave. So while you can find just about anything you're looking for, you will probably have to drive a ways to get it.

Here are some good places around town to shop:

Outside these areas, there are also some specific businesses around town that are worth your time:

Eat
Dining out in Albuquerque tends to be relatively inexpensive and very casual. Many places offer outdoor seating. Iced tea is the beverage of choice.

New Mexican dining
New Mexican cuisine is unique. Be ready for the question "Red or green?" or in Spanish "¿Rojo o verde?" which refers to the chile-based sauce included in or used to smother various menu items. There are constant arguments as to which is hotter, the ripe and often dried red chile, or the immature green chile; however, spiciness depends much more on the strain of pepper and how the chile is prepared rather than the color, and varies greatly by restaurant, so inquire and experiment. Many meals will include sopaipillas, the characteristic New Mexican fry bread, as a side. The characteristic desserts are flan, a type of custard, or Natillas, closer in texture to pudding.

Grocery stores

 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.
 * For your more typical chain groceries, Albertsons and Smith's each have several stores in the city.

Sleep
If you want a nicer—and pricier—hotel, then head east on I-40 to "uptown" (in the northeast side of the city, which is at higher elevation than "downtown" close to the river) or north on I-25. If you don't mind less free stuff, Central Ave. (old Route 66) is cheaper. However, there are some real dives along Central Avenue, many with unsavory reputations and occasional police raids. Hotels around the airport are generally vanilla-flavored, business-traveler places, but at least are somewhat less expensive than airport hotels in many cities. There are a few nice highrise hotels in the Downtown/Old Town area. Lodging Per Diem is $75.

Albuquerque is experiencing a massive wave of hotel building, mainly in the "Mid-range" class. This apparently is driven in part by the infamous lodging shortages during the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in October. The result is that during other parts of the year, affordable hotels shouldn't be too hard to find. Even with the growth in the hotel market, lodging can be tight for the Fiesta, so if you're coming then, reserve well in advance—months rather than days.

For some free lodgings try looking for cafes where bands are playing (normally on the weekends) and ask among the punk kids and see if they'll help. Even they, however, may not have much space during the Balloon Fiesta.

Stay safe
Albuquerque has an average crime rate compared to some other American cities, but most of it is property crime of more concern to residents than to visitors.

Central Avenue is home to some of Albuquerque's main attractions, but portions of it can be somewhat dangerous after dark. The section from the train tracks (eastern edge of downtown) to University Blvd. can be a little scary in the evening. Even in Downtown, while Central Avenue is passable, smaller nearby streets such as Copper Street can be scary after dark. The Nob Hill/UNM district (between University and Carlisle) is perfectly safe at night, but Central gets progressively seedier east of Carlisle, and can get quite scary around the Fairgrounds. Consider the bus or a cab through these areas after the sun goes down.

Due to its size and mild climate, the streets of Albuquerque are considered home to many people. While not typically a danger, do expect to meet up with beggars and vagrants, particularly around UNM.

If you're going to be engaging in outdoor recreation (even as laid-back as watching an Isotopes day game), slather on the sun screen. The elevation of the city is or higher, and there is usually not much cloud cover, so one can get a bad sunburn in surprisingly short order.

Also, New Mexico is very arid. That, and its high altitude results in very low humidity in both summer and winter, which can lead to dehydration. Drink plenty of water. A common complaint among visitors from lower altitudes is a persistent headache, which is often mistaken for altitude sickness, but is really a common symptom of dehydration. Consider carrying a water bottle and drinking frequently throughout the day if you don't already.

Be forewarned about New Mexican cuisine; if you're not used to green chile, go easy at first. Many first-timers have tried to eat the hottest chile they could find, only to discover six hours later that it was much hotter than they remembered. Be prepared.

Connect
The area code for the city is 505.

Every branch of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Library System provides free wifi; they also have computers available but these require that you purchase an internet access card for $3. The is Downtown at 501 Copper NW, +1 505 768-5141. There are also a number of free wi-fi hot spots provided by the city, mainly around Civic Plaza in Downtown, the Sunport, and the Old Town Plaza. Also, it is free to connect to the guest wifi on the UNM campus. Generally, there aren't very many wireless cafes in the city, but there is a good concentration around the UNM/Nob Hill area. The local Flying Star Cafe and Satellite Coffee locations offer free wireless internet to customers.

Newspapers

 * The Albuquerque Journal ($0.50 daily, $1.50 Sundays) is the state's largest newspaper and talks about issues in the metro area, the state, and the world.
 * The Alibi (free Wednesday mornings) is a free weekly that discusses issues in the metro area and runs some columns, but is more focused on the arts scene and has some great movie and restaurant reviews. They also run a number of "best of..." lists, notably the yearly "Best of Burque" awards. Great event listings.
 * The Daily Lobo (free daily) is a daily news service (Monday through Fridays in the school year) produced by UNM students. The online version is updated daily, but the printed version is only distributed on Mondays and Thursdays.

Magazines and TV

 * Albuquerque The Magazine is the city's largest magazine, and talks about current events within the city.
 * New Mexico True Television (free online) is a travel show produced in and set around New Mexico, Albuquerque is featured in several episodes.

Smoking
New Mexico has a statewide ban on smoking in places of business. This includes bars and restaurants; the only exceptions are casinos and cigar bars. In addition, Albuquerque has banned smoking on all public property except the golf courses.

Consulates

 * 🇲🇽 Mexico

Go next

North of Albuquerque:
 * Santa Fe, one of the world's great travel destinations, is about 60 mi to the north. The direct route is via I-25, but if you have time and the weather forecast is good, consider taking instead the "Turquoise Trail" (NM SR 14) on the east side of the Sandia Mountains. If you'd rather not drive, you can also take the Rail Runner commuter train straight into the heart of the city.
 * If taking the Turquoise Trail, stop at Madrid, an artist community along the way. There's a small selection of galleries, a glass blower and decent tavern for lunch. Another attraction on the route is the Tinkertown Museum near Cedar Crest, which contains a large collection of wood carvings and Americana.
 * Bernalillo is 15 mi north on I-25 and is connected via the Rail Runner commuter train. The Coronado State Monument is a notable attraction, as well as the Santa Ana Pueblo's casino and golf course, which are right next to Bernalillo.
 * There are several Native American pueblos between Albuquerque and Santa Fe just off I-25. Some of them offers attractions and a chance to explore the area. If you have a few hours to kill, consider a detour to Cochiti Pueblo and the Kasha–Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. This little known monument, open for day use ($5/vehicle), contains some gorgeous natural scenery and geologic formations, such as a narrow slot canyon you can hike through. To get there, get off at the Santo Domingo Pueblo exit (Exit 259) and follow the signs up SR 22 and onto a gravel road to the monument.
 * The pretty Jemez Mountains offer pleasant hiking and fishing in the summer and can be good for skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, although snowpack varies greatly from year to year and may be insufficient for winter sports. Take I-25 north to Bernalillo, then US 550 to San Ysidro, where NM 4 (502 on some maps) takes off through the astonishing red rock of San Diego Canyon and into the Jemez.
 * Los Alamos and Bandelier National Monument are also to the north, and about as distant from Albuquerque via the Jemez route as via the Santa Fe route.
 * Beyond Santa Fe lies the beauty and cultural color of north central New Mexico—Taos, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, etc.

South of Albuquerque:
 * Isleta Pueblo, off of I-25 just south of the city, is a small Native American village with the St. Augustine Church, a large white mission and one of the oldest in the nation. Take the Isleta Pueblo exit (NM 314) and drive south until you reach the village.
 * Belen is about 30 mi south and makes a good day trip.
 * Mountainair, about a 90-min. drive southeast, is the home of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, a superb collection of pueblo and Spanish mission ruins.
 * If traveling south during the winter, be sure to stop at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, south of Socorro and covered in that community's article... and while you are down there, consider visiting the Very Large Array, one of the worlds biggest radio telescope arrays.

title: Albuquerque


text:
Albury-Wodonga

Albury-Wodonga is a twin city straddling the Murray River border of the two south-eastern Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria. Albury is the city on the New South Wales bank of the river, Wodonga the Victorian city on the southern bank. For all practical purposes related to travel, the two cities are one. The cities are a gateway to the gourmet area surrounding Beechworth, the mountain town of Bright and the Rutherglen winery area. They also make a good stopping-off point on the drive between Melbourne and Sydney.

Understand
Whilst in many senses Albury-Wodonga operates as a single community (sometimes to the dismay of residents), the twin cities possess parallel municipal governments and state government services. The closer proximity of Melbourne and the local predominance of Australian rules football perhaps give Albury a closer cultural affiliation with Victoria.

Grand plans were made by the Gough Whitlam government in the 1970s to turn Albury-Wodonga into a major inland city and the cities have grown rapidly from sleepy country towns to major regional centres.

The Albury-Wodonga Visitor Information Centre is on Lincoln Causeway (on what was once the Hume Highway) between the two cities. It is open 9AM-5PM daily.

History
The Wiradjuri people were probably the group of Indigenous Australians resident immediately before the advent of Europeans in the area in the 1820s-1830s. European settlement was first gazetted at this popular river crossing in 1839 and after a decade a small settlement was well established.

1851 saw the separation of Victoria from New South Wales as a separate colony with the Murray marking much of the border, and Albury and Wodonga developed as a border town, with customs points between a protectionist Victoria and a free trade favouring New South Wales.

A permanent bridge was built over the Murray river in 1860, with horse-drawn coach connections running between the train stations in Wodonga and New South Wales, each running trains on different railway gauges. Even after the rail bridge was built, trains from Victoria ran to Albury, and trains from New South Wales ran to Wodonga, as the governments could not agree on a common interchange station.

Albury eventually emerged as the choice for interchange, but the railway gauges remained incompatible until the 1960s when the standard gauge track was laid to Melbourne allowing the first trains to run from Sydney to Melbourne without a change in Albury. The size of Albury station still reflects this heritage.

Albury was also the focus of attempts to open up the inland trade along the Murray, with paddlesteamers seen as a technology that would open up large tracts of farmland to the market. Although strongly supported by the South Australian government the paddlesteamers were never really a financial success, but the wharves and paddlesteamers in Albury today are at least a tribute to the tenacity of the steamer pioneers.

By plane
A bus operates between the airport and the Albury city centre every 2 hours

By car
Albury-Wodonga is situated on the Hume Freeway/Highway, the most direct main road between Sydney (5.5 hours) and Melbourne (3 1/2 hours).

By train
Albury and Wodonga have played a major role in the history of Australian railways, forming the border post and change of railway gauge. Although the standard gauge line was extended to Melbourne to allow direct services in the 1960s, the intermediate stations (such as Wodonga), Wangaratta, etc., were only serviced by the Victorian trains. The Sydney to Melbourne trains would run express from Albury to Melbourne. In 2012 the standard gauge line was completed for the intermediate stations, meaning that the Sydney to Melbourne trains now stop at Wodonga. However, as part of the reconstruction, the Wodonga station was moved around 5 km from the Wodonga town centre. Albury station remains easily accessible to the Albury town centre.

If you do wish to take the train into Albury, however, it is recommended that you take the V/Line service from Melbourne, as it costs just $9.20 for an adult whereas from Sydney the cost is $92, a whopping 10 times the price.
 * NSW TrainLink run two services a day in each direction between Sydney and Melbourne. These trains stop only at Albury station.
 * V/Line run three trains a day in each direction from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne. On weekdays they run an additional coach service connecting with the Melbourne train to and from Seymour. The coach service stops in the centre of town in Wodonga, away from the railway station. All V/Line trains stop at Wodonga and terminate in Albury.

By bus
V/Line operates daily buses from Albury to and from

Canberra (4 hours)

Adelaide (13 hours)

Kerang (6 hours)

Get around
In typical Australian fashion, the lack of cooperation between states has resulted in the lack of proper signage as both states don't really put the other state's city, making navigation quite difficult. However, within each city, signage to the respective CBD is well-signed, but it's still easy to get lost. Nevertheless, locals are almost always willing to help you.

By bus

Both Albury and Wodonga have extensive bus networks. There is also a bus that connects the two cities' CBDs that departs every 30 minutes.

Buy
Both Albury and Wodonga have many large department stores to cater to their growing population. Whether you prefer a large shopping complex with many of the popular chain stores, or the more unique boutique stores, tucked away in a quieter location, you'll definitely fine somewhere to enjoy a browse. Pop into one of the many cafes and coffee shops for a recharge when you need one.

Go next
The main routes out of Albury-Wodonga are the Hume Highway (between Sydney and Melbourne), Murray Valley Highway (a scenic route along the Murray River, the Riverina Highway (a route linking Albury and Deniliquin), and the Olympic Highway (links Albury with Wagga Wagga and Bathurst and provides an alternate route to Sydney).

Off the major roads are notable towns of:
 * Beechworth - Known for its gourmet food and small craft boutiques. Bakery being so famous that it's spread all over Victoria and in some areas of NSW
 * Bright - About an hours drive, in the heart of the high country.
 * Rutherglen - 30 minutes away, featuring many surrounding wineries known for their reds.

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

title: Albury-Wodonga


text:
Alès

Alès is a small town in Languedoc-Roussillon, France.

Although known as the capital of the Cevennes, you may have a hard time getting to Alès, partly because it's off the well-trod tourist track, and partly because everyone will assume you want to go to nearby, and bigger, Arles.

Tourism Office (open 9 - 12, 1:30-5:30) Place de l'Hôtel de Ville - BP 345 - 30115 Alès Cedex. 04 66 52 32 15 - Fax. 04 66 52 57 09

Get in

 * Local trains run from Avignon via Nîmes. A change is sometimes required.
 * Local buses also stop in Ales at the train station.
 * By car is probably the most convenient way to reach Ales and to see the surrounding countryside. From the A7, exit Bollène. From the A9 exit at Nîmes-Ouest.
 * The nearest airport is in Nîmes.

Get around
The town is small enough to see on foot. A few taxis are available, either at the train station or by phone.

See

 * Cathédrale Saint Jean
 * Fort Vauban / Le Bosquet -- Historic fort, gardens and summer outdoor theatre.
 * La Tour Vieille -- Botanical Garden and playground.
 * La colline de l'Ermitage -- Small hill with a chapel on the top with great views over Alès. It's a lovely place to walk up to and take a picnic.
 * Mine Témoin -- Museum about Alès' mining history.

Events

 * Film Festival -- March. Art-house cinema.
 * Feria d'Alès -- May 20–24. The town is taken over by this four day festival. Good food and drink, music, traditional bull fighting and the running of the bulls through the streets.
 * Carnival
 * Cratère Surface -- Beginning of July. Street theatre and music.
 * Les Fous Chantants -- Last week of July. Choir with a thousand singers, performances throughout the week and a spectacular final concert.

Buy

 * Alès has a number of small shops and boutiques. There is a central covered food market every weekday morning, and a larger general market on a Monday which sells traditional items.

Drink

 * Punky Conners (see Eat).

title: Alès


text:
Alcala de los Gazules

Alcalá de los Gazules is a town of 5,200 people (2018) in Cadiz. It has a uniform cityscape that is a protected monument. Alcalá lies in the mountainous hinterland of Andalusia close to the Los Alcornocales Natural Park, which is lined with cork oaks.

History
Rock paintings near the place testify to the early settlement of the area. In Roman times there was a settlement called Lascuta nearby, made famous by the "Bronze of Lascuta" from 189 BC that was found there. From the Visigothic period, traces are also preserved. After the conquest by the Moors, the place was named Qalat at Yazula ("Castle of the Gazules"), which refers to a family of the same name. In 1264 the village was conquered by Alfonso X el Sabio (the wise) and henceforth called "Alcalá de los Gazules".

Later the village belonged to the Ribera family, the dukes of Alcalá, who were mainly responsible for the construction of the historical buildings that are still preserved today. The Moorish castle complex was blown up during the Spanish War of Independence (1808–1814).

Get in
Alcalá de los Gazules is 3 km from the A381 motorway between Jerez de la Frontera and Algeciras. The nearest airports are at Jerez and Gibraltar, both less than an hour's drive away. There are four buses a day from Seville, Jerez, Cadiz and Algeciras. The nearest rail stations are at Jerez and Algeciras.

Get around
Alcalá de los Gazules is in the Alcornocales Natural Park, a vast area of woodland and rocky peaks that stretches across the eastern half of the province. There are numerous nature trails through the park and details are available from any tourist information office in the province.

Within an hour's drive of the town are the windswept cliffs and golden sandy beaches of the Costa de la Luz, the Bahia de Cadiz Natural Park with its flamingos and many other wading birds, the historic British colonial outpost of Gibraltar, the ancient city of Cádiz, Jerez de la Frontera with its sherry bodegas and thoroughbred horses, and the glorious mountain scenery of the Sierra de Grazalema.

See
The Parroquia de San Jorge (church) is well worth a visit even if you are not religious. It feels untouched by time and contains many examples of historic symbolism - not least the great gilded statue of St George, the patron saint of the town, slaying his dragon.

There are numerous fairs and festivals throughout the year:
 * Carnaval (early March)
 * St George's Day (23 April)
 * Semana Santa (the week before Easter)
 * Summer Feria (5 days in late August)
 * Romeria de Nuestra Señora de los Santos (second week of September)

For further details see the town's official website.

Do
If you are into bird-watching, come in April–May or September–October when millions of birds migrate between Europe and Africa. At any time of year you are likely see booted and Bonnelli's eagles, griffon vultures and lesser kestrels wheeling above the town.

Horse-riding is available at the Finca el Alamo and at the campsite, Camping Los Gazules.

Artists and photographers will find plenty to fire their imagination. The long summer evenings are especially good for landscape photography. A British-run residential art school, Painting in Spain, offers tailor-made courses for individuals or small groups.

There are plenty of resources for cyclists, hikers and climbers in the Alcornocales and in the various other Natural Parks in the Province of Cadiz.

There are excellent golf courses nearby including Fairplay Golf Hotel at Benalup-Casas Viejas (20 km away) and Arcos Gardens (40 km away).

Buy
There are no tourist gift shops in Alcala. However there are many little food shops where you can buy excellent locally-made produce: goats' or sheep's milk cheeses, honey, chorizos and delicious bread and cakes. The cheese factory shop on the Poligono la Palmosa (behind the gas station) is worth a visit, as is the tiny Horno de Luna bakery in Callejon Bernadino, near the Mercado de Abastos (indoor food market).

Eat
There are numerous restaurants catering for all pockets, and most of the bars will serve tapas at any time. Lunch is the main meal of the day, served from around 13:30 until 15:30, and a "menu del día" will give you a three-course meal and a drink for less than €10. Local specialities include game - wild boar or "jabali", venison, rabbit or partridge; hot gazpacho (soup thickened with breadcrumbs) and, in early June, tiny snails in broth (known as Caracoles). Fruit and vegetables are essentially seasonal; some, like wild asparagus or the fruits of the chumbo (prickly pear) are harvested from the countryside around the village. Visit the market on Wednesday or Saturday mornings to stock up, or just admire the quality.

You are not in a paella & sangria zone here!

Drink
Pale sherry or "fino" is widely available and consumed in large quantities by the locals at festivals, often watered down with lemonade when it is known as "rebujito". At the other end of the sherry scale is Pedro Ximenez, a very sweet, raisin-flavoured drink which is surprisingly good over ice. Tinto de verano (red wine and lemonade or soda with ice and lemon) is a refreshing alternative to beer on a hot day.

Sleep

 * Hotel La Palmosa, Área de Servicio La Palmosa (Ctra. Jerez-Los Barrios) A-381 km 45. 956-413364 (3 km from town centre)
 * Antigua Fonda, Calle Sanches Flores 4, email: antiguafonda@yahoo.com - 956 420 648 (central location, English-run B&B)
 * Hotel San Jorge, Paseo de la Playa, 11180 Alcala De Los Gazules - 956-413255 (central location)
 * Hostal Pizarro, Paseo de la Playa 9 - 956-420103
 * Casa Rural Amatur, Avenida Puerto Levante s/n, 956-413005
 * Hacienda del Agua, 5 km from centre by the lake, eco-friendly cottages, lots of outdoor activities. Email: info@haciendadelagua.com - 956 420223
 * Camping Los Gazules, Ctra. Patrite - 956-420486 (campsite + chalets, 5 km from town centre),

title: Alcala de los Gazules


text:
Alcalá de Henares

Alcalá de Henares is a city 30 km northeast of Madrid. Its attractive medieval centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is full of interesting old buildings. It's a university and religious centre, and famous people linked to the town include Miguel Cervantes (baptized and almost certainly born here), author of Don Quixote, Cardinal Cisneros (refounder of the University of Alcalá, the current Complutense University of Madrid) and Katherine of Aragon (born here), first wife of England's King Henry VIII. Alcalá is easily visited as a day-trip from Madrid, and because it's so close to Madrid Barajas Airport it makes a good first or last night stop on a tour of northern Spain.

Understand
There are two tourist information centres: one in Plaza de los Santos Niños (near the Cathedral) and another in Capilla del Oidor (the place with a tower in Plaza de Cervantes).

Alcalá is placed in a flat field on the right side of Henares River, while the left side is a natural space with high hills. The historical centre is at 500 metres from the river, to avoid the frequent floods; however, the last overflow happened in the 1940s and new neighbourhoods have been built in the river banks since then.

Alcalá de Henares goes back to a Roman settlement by the name of Complutum (hence the tendency to name stuff related to the town "Complutense" according to Latin grammar) while its current name goes back to a Muslim fortress (compare the word "alcazar" for former Muslim fortresses). Both the Roman and the Muslim settlement had their cores somewhat outside the modern urban core of present-day Alcalá.

The town has a strong connection to Cardinal Cisneros, the confessor of the "Catholic Monarchs" and perhaps the most powerful non-royal in the Spain of his era. His coat of arms contains swans (cisne in Spanish) and they can be seen all through the town. Cardinal Cisneros is linked to the university, which he transformed into a proper university in 1499 (often given as the foundation date as the previous institution did not teach the full range of early modern university subjects).

Prior to the Alhambra Edict, Alcalá had a large and prosperous Jewish and Muslim community. The edict was passed by the Catholic Monarchs on the urging of Cisneros. It banned Jews and Muslims from living in Spain. Today, buildings in the historic city centre are marked according to the part of town they belonged to.

Alcalá de Henares was also the site of the baptism of Miguel de Cervantes, the best known author in the Spanish language. He was almost certainly also born here and a house that was linked to Cervantes in the 20th century is presented as his birth house. Although he and all his siblings for whom baptismal records survive were baptized here, there are those who doubt his birth occurred here, in part because his birth house is to be found in the Jewish quarter. Cervantes went by a second last name that was not that of his mother. (In Spain and Portugal people usually have two last names, the first from the father, the second from the mother.) Some argue that he did this to conceal possible Jewish ancestry.

Another famous son of the town was Manuel Azaña, the last President of the Second Spanish Republic. He resided just across the street from the "Cervantes house", although Azaña was not aware that Cervantes had lived there.

The University of Alcalá was moved to Madrid in the 19th century (hence the name "Complutense" of Spain's largest, most prestigious university) but a new university claiming the tradition of the old institution was founded in the 20th century.

Alcalá has suffered a great deal during several Spanish wars, since it occupies a strategic position. The city was occupied by both sides of the conflict during the War of the Spanish Succession, the Peninsular War (in which the Napoleonic troops made the population suffer because of its support to guerrilla fighters) and the First Carlist War. The Civil War was especially tragic: the local military garrison sided with the rebels in the first days of the war, and the troops brought from Madrid to put down the rebellion also burned some churches; then during the war the city was repeatedly bombarded by the Luftwaffe at the orders of Franco, which killed many people and destroyed many buildings; after the war the Francoists imprisoned thousands of Republicans (including local poet Marcos Ana, whose father had died during a bombardment in the war) and killed hundreds of them; in 1947 an arsenal exploded by accident, but it was blamed on "marxist terrorism" and several people were shot. Given the anti-clerical tendencies of the Second Spanish Republic, it should not surprise that one of the churches has a blatantly pro-Franco inscription regarding the Civil War, but it might surprise you to hear that it is still there unaltered and not put into any context by additional plaques or the likes.

In the 1960s and 70s many factories were established and the population grew from 25,000 in 1960 to 140,000 in 1980, attracting many migrant workers from Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura and Andalucía. Since the 1990s the city has become a magnet for foreigners and nowadays Romanians make up 10% of the population.

By plane
Madrid Barajas airport is 15 km west, with extensive connections across Europe and beyond. Bus 824 runs between Alcalá and Terminals 1 & 2 (via Torrejón de Ardoz), every 30-40 min weekdays and hourly at weekends from about 07:00 to 22:00, taking 40 min. These buses run between Barajas and central Alcalá (corner of Via Complutense and Calle Murillo); some of them continue to the University.

Another option to reach Alcalá from the airport by bus, if 824 is not available, is taking bus 200 from the airport in direction to Avenida de América and stop in Canillejas; once there, go to the bus stop on the other side of the road and take bus 223 to Alcalá (buses 229 and 227 also go to Alcalá, but not to the centre). If this sounds very complicated, you can just stay on bus 200 until the last stop in Avenida de América, which is a big bus station with clear signs, and once there take bus 223 (or 229 or 227) to Alcalá, it's easy since this is where those buses begin their journey.

Reaching the airport by metro & suburban train involves going into Madrid and changing at Chamartin or Atocha to come out again.

To reach Alcalá by train from the airport, you must change trains in the stations of Chamartín, Nuevos Ministerios, Recoletos or Atocha. The easiest option is Recoletos since you don't have to change platform: just get out of your train and wait until the indicators say the next train is bound for Alcalá de Henares or Guadalajara.

A taxi from the airport to Alcalá costs €35-40.

By train

 * . It also serves the Quadernillos mall, where the local cinema is.
 * . It also serves the Quadernillos mall, where the local cinema is.
 * . It also serves the Quadernillos mall, where the local cinema is.

By bus
Buses from Madrid start from Avenida de América, outside the Metro station. Line 223 runs to central Alcalá (Vía Complutense) every 15 min or so between 06:00 and 10:00, then every 30 min. Journey time is 40 min; last bus into Madrid is at 23:00, last bus out to Alcalá is at 00:00. If you want to stop near the centre of Alcalá, get off in the first stop after you see the medieval walls on the right side.

Bus 227 runs to Alcalá university campus at Escuela Politécnica, M-F every 15-30 min, taking one hour. This circles the northern burbs of Alcalá and isn't convenient for the centre.

Bus 229 runs to Alcalá Virgen del Val bus station, east end of town, M-F every 15-30 min and hourly at weekends, taking 50 min. This bus serves the south edge of town along Calle Ronda Fiscal and isn't convenient for the centre.

Night bus N202 runs to Alcalá between 00:00 and 06:00, hourly Su-Th and every 30 min F Sa & holidays, taking 40 min. It runs through the centre along Via Complutense and east as far as Calle Avila.

Two Alsa buses per day from Madrid stop in Alcalá on the way to Zaragoza (4 hours) and Barcelona (7-8 hours).

Get around
The historic centre is compact and easily explored on foot. Alcalá bus service has a flat fare of per ride; buy tickets from the driver.

See
The heart of the old town is Plaza de Cervantes, with all the main sights close by, and storks nests teetering on the rooftops. The north side of the Plaza leads into the colonnaded Calle Mayor, with many bars and eating places.

However the interview room is recreated, along with other exhibitions, in the nearby House of the Interview (Casa de la Entrevista, Calle San Juan 2). The building was a 16th-century convent for Franciscan nuns. Open Tu-Sa 11:00-14:00 & 17:00-20:00, Su 11:00-14:00.

Buy
Alcalá is not the place to find dozens of stores teeming with tourist goods. Typical products of the region include ceramics and jewellery.

 * La Casa de Don Quijote (Calle Mayor 51) placed in front of Cervantes House, is a souvernirs shop.
 * Alcalá's Shop (Calle Mayor 64) also has souvenirs.

Eat
Since the 90s Alcalá has been famous for its tapas: food that you get when you order a drink at no extra cost, that can amount to a small burger or hot dog. In many bars there is a menu of tapas and you must chose one when you order your drink. Tapas in Alcalá are the most generous in the Community of Madrid.

Alcalá is known for its almendras garrapiñadas, a sugar-coated almond candy. You can buy them at El Convento de San Clarisas de San Diego (Calle Beatas 5), a cloistered abbey where the nuns make the candies with nothing but "almonds, sugar and love.". They make a nice present.

There are frequent gastronomic events very tenuously linked to passages in Don Quixote, whose woeful hero ate next to nothing, and enjoyed less.

 * Indalo (Calle de los Libreros ), the place that started the big tapas trend in Alcalá.
 * State-owned hotel chain Paradores has two excellent restaurants in the same street: Hostería del Estudiante (Calle de los Colegios 3) and Restaurante Santo Tomás (Calle de los Colegios 8).
 * La Pizzería Casera (Calle de Santiago 42) is a nice pizza restaurant.
 * Francesco's Pizza (Calle de los Libreros 15), owned by an award-winning pizzaiolo, has Italian-style pizzas.
 * Ohlalá (Calle Mayor 8) is a cheap fast-food restaurant, quite popular among teenagers.
 * Bar Restaurante Nino (Calle Mayor 70), opened since 1953, is famous for its mushrooms.
 * Mesón Las Cuadras de Rocinante (Calle del Carmen Calzado 1) has a traditional decoration.
 * Restaurante La Cúpula (Calle de Santiago 18) is nice choice for those looking for something a bit more upscale(not much! This is not Madrid).
 * Restaurante La Terraza del Mercado (Calle de los Cerrajeros 1), placed on a rooftop, is another upscale option, along with La Cúpula and Paradores.
 * Restaurante Casino  (Plaza de Cervantes 9), placed in what have been since 1890 a gentlemen's club for the wealthy, is a restaurant where you eat for free on your birthday (but you must bring with you at least one more person whose birthday is not that day).
 * Muerde la Pasta (Centro Comercial Alcalá Magna, Calle de Valentín Juara Bellot 4) placed in a mall at 20 minutes walking-distance from the centre, is an all-you-can-eat place popular among locals.
 * Muerde la Pasta (Centro Comercial Alcalá Magna, Calle de Valentín Juara Bellot 4) placed in a mall at 20 minutes walking-distance from the centre, is an all-you-can-eat place popular among locals.

Other than the almonds, typical local sweets are the costrada (a cake) and the rosquillas de Alcalá (small doughnuts). They can be bought in many pastry shops, among them:

 * Pastelería Salinas (Plaza de Cervantes 25), opened in 1846.
 * Confitería Maig (Calle Mayor 78), opened in 1960.
 * La Celiacoteca (Calle de Talamanca 3) has only gluten-free products for people with coeliac disease.

Drink
The main strip for bars is along Calle Mayor.

Go next
Heading north & east towards Barcelona, spare a day for Zaragoza, which deserves to be better known.

Some hidden gems between Alcalá and Zaragoza are Guadalajara (Palacio del Infantado and Contess Pantheon are the main sights) and Sigüenza (Cathedral, Castle, main square, old university and palaces are some of the sights in this small but full of history town). Soria and Medinaceli also deserve a visit, if time permits.

Most other onward destinations will involve transiting Madrid.

title: Alcalá de Henares


text:
Alcamo

Alcamo is a town in the Trapani province of western Sicily.

The climate is mild and its central position on the Gulf of Castellammare offers views of Mount Bonifato and the vineyard-covered rolling hills of the surrounding countryside. If you are at Alcamo Marina it is still possible to behold sand dunes.

The combination of town, mountain, country, beach and sea makes for a vacation full of contrasts.

When to go
Alcamo is practically full of opportunities all the year round: in winter you can take advantage of Christmas events to visit the monuments in the town centre and the places of its "movida" (pubs, bars and pizzerias in particular), while in summer it is possible to walk along the promenade full of very good pizzerias too.

It is also a good idea to visit the town in June so you can take part in the celebrations in honour of Madonna of Miracles (Most Holy Mary of Miracles) or in spring if you wish to take advantage of the mild climate and visit the Nature Reserve and the ancient ruins on Mount Bonifato.

History

Though people think that Alcamo were founded by Arabs during the Middle Ages, the excavations in the surrounding territory confirm that there were already settlements near the present town in prehistoric times. Before the arrival of Arabs there were two villages: the first one, Longuro, was on Mount Bonifato, while the second, called Longarico, was near the present built-up areas.

When the Arabs arrived at the village, they saw it was semi-desert and so they founded Alcamo. Afterwards the town passed under the dominion of Normans and Swabians. In time the old mosques were substituted by Catholic churches and only the ancient Arab fountain, still running, and the name of the town, whose meaning is uncertain, remained.

The built-up areas became a well fortified feud thanks to the construction of the Castle of the Counts of Modica and the walls surrounding the present town centre.

In the following centuries Alcamo progressively developed from the cultural point of view, both for literature (whose most important representative is the poet Cielo d’Alcamo) and the artistic production; in fact there are very important sculptures and paintings inside its churches, especially in the Cathedral (Chiesa Madre) where an art museum has been opened in order to collect some of these masterpieces.

Districts
Owing to its particular geographical position (with Mount Bonifato in the south and the Gulf of Castellammare in the north) a lot of streets have an inclination from the mountain, in the south, towards the sea, in the north. Mount Bonifato and the coastline are also two excellent points of reference because they can be seen from any place in town. Corso 6 Aprile is very important: it is known by its citizens as “il Corso”(or lu Cassaru in dialect). This main street starts from the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and finishes at Porta Palermo; on the way you will also pass the Church of Saints Paul and Bartholomew baroque church with its rich interior and Piazza Ciullo, which is full of young people at night.

In Piazza Ciullo (called “the Square” or “la Chiazza” in dialect), you can see the Town Hall, the Church of the Jesuits' College (Chiesa del Collegio) which is in the middle of the square and has a big round clock, Saint Olivia’s Church, restaurants and sandwich bars. Going towards Chiesa del Collegio and turning on the left, you will arrive at Piazza della Repubblica, where you can admire the Castle of Counts of Modica and find also a large car park.

At Piazza Ciullo the main street (Corso) has a sudden narrowing: starting from this point it is called the “Narrow Corso” (“Cassaru Strittu" in dialect). The Cathedral (Chiesa Madre) is here; if you go straight on, you will reach the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi and finally the end of the Main Street coinciding with Porta Palermo which opens onto Piazza Bagolino, called the "Bastione" (or "lu Bastiuni"in dialect) owing to its high walls of defence surrounding the square. This is delimited by a sidewalk from where you can admire, above all at sunset, a very striking view, together with the coastline of Alcamo Marina. Going down Piazza Bagolino, after two turnings, you will get to a large square where you can admire the ancient Arab fountain. On its right there is a paved pathway leading to the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Mary of Miracles, which can be reached on foot through this paved road, or by car through a narrow street nearby.

Starting from Piazza Pittore Renda, with Corso 6 Aprile behind, you can go round a roundabout (with the small Church of Our Lady of Graces in its middle) and arrive at Viale Italia which ends with another roundabout (known as "La Rotonda" par excellence). If you turn left you will get to Viale Europa where there are several interesting bars in which it is possible to taste some typical local recipes. By taking one of the right streets (Via Monte Bonifato in particular) you will arrive at the Nature Reserve on Mount Bonifato, while if you go ahead you will get to a crossroads, and by turning left you will first meet the Church of Saint Mary of Jesus (Chiesa di Santa Maria di Gesù) and then a small roundabout with a statue of Saint Francis in the middle.

From this roundabout you can go to Piazza Bagolino (by turning right and through Via Florio) or to Piazza della Repubblica, turning on the left.

By plane
There are also taxi and shuttle bus services from Palermo and Trapani airports as far as Alcamo (for information phone: Gabellone Viaggi e turismo, Viale Italia, 31,.

By car

 * From Palermo: you can reach Alcamo by taking the Autostrada A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo (a motorway) as far as the junction Alcamo Est (about 64 km).
 * From Trapani: along a branch of A29 (direction Palermo and as far as the motorway junction Alcamo Ovest) or the highway 113 (about 52 km).

Between the junction Alcamo Est and Alcamo Ovest there is another motorway junction, for the neighbouring town of Castellammare del Golfo.

These motorways have two lanes and an emergency carriageway; people don't have to pay any toll but there are no petrol stations in these motorways. However, you can refuel in the towns near the motorways.

By train
The nearest railway stations are Alcamo Diramazione (at about 7 km from the town, near the junction Alcamo ovest) and the station of Castellammare del Golfo (located at Alcamo Marina, about 5 km from the town centre).

Get around
In the town centre you can easily move on foot, leaving the car in the large car parks at Piazza Bagolino and Piazza della Repubblica. If you want to visit the near hamlet of Alcamo Marina or the Nature Reserve on Mount Bonifato, it is possible to use a taxi or car rent services. You can visit the ruins of the Ventimiglia Castle, the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Mary from the Height and the remains of the old settlement.

By taxi
Taxi:

By car
Car rental service:

Arab buildings

Castles

Other historical buildings
There are several historical civil buildings in Alcamo:

Festivals

Budget
Most part of them serve pizza only in the evening: they sell it by the slice. You can have it on the spot or take away. It is a cheap way of having dinner.

Mid-range

Stay safe

Connect

Internet

There is a free Wi-Fi service in Piazza Ciullo, Piazza Mercato and Piazza della Repubblica.

Go next

 * Alcamo Marina is a seaside resort very crowded during summer thanks to its wonderful sandy beach. It’s better you go there in the morning or in the afternoon. In the evening you can have dinner in one of its very appreciated pizzerias.
 * Balestrate: in the main square there are frequent cultural and musical events. You can’t miss a walk along the near Via Madonna del Ponte, where there are often a lot of stands (“bancarelle”). In the same street you can also find very good bars, ice-cream parlours, pizzerias and restaurants with outdoor tables.
 * Castellammare del Golfo: here you have to visit the beach (with several lidos which are also open in the evening), the seaport dominated by the big Castle at sea (Castello a mare) and its outskirts with a lot of pizzerias, restaurants and pubs.
 * Scopello: you can admire its Baglio (inner courtyard inside a farm) and the near Tonnara (the place where tunas were caught).
 * The Oriented Nature Reserve at Zingaro (near Scopello): if you love trekking, nature and uncontaminated beaches you must go there. The reserve houses vegetal and animal species that are typical of the Mediterranean macchia such as the palmet. Inside there is a characteristic cave where hundreds of bats nidify.
 * San Vito Lo Capo: very famous for its long beaches and sea, with crystal clear water. There are lots of restaurants and hotels near the sea-shore and you can also hire bikes to move easily along the coastline.
 * Terrasini: you have to visit Piazza Duomo, very crowded with tourists, and its beach surrounded by a very attractive background . In the nearby streets, full of people even in the first night hours, there are a lot of places where you can taste the local specialities, particularly in pizzerias, restaurants, bars and ice cream parlours.

title: Alcamo


text:
Alcântara

Alcântara is a town in Maranhão, Brazil. Mostly visited on day trips from São Luís to get an even more colonial feeling.

Get in
An hour long boat ride from São Luís, two boats in the morning, returning in the afternoon.

See

 * Ruins of church and other buildings.
 * Museum devoted to rocket launching site located at military base near Alcântara.

Drink
Reportedly there is some scattered nightlife here Thursdays through Sundays, then completely dead the next three days.

title: Alcântara


text:
Alchi

Alchi is a village between Leh and Lamayuru in Ladakh, India. It sites beside the Indus River and its main attraction is the fabulous Alchi Gompa or Buddhist monastic complex.

Get in
Alchi is 4 km off the main road. The bus from Leh to Kargil stops on the main road near the bridge where the Alchi road turns off (near saspol village), there is a 4 km walk from the bridge to Alchi on a dusty road. Sometimes you can hitch a ride with locals but most of the private tour vehicles will not stop.

When leaving, the bus to Kargil stops at 07:00 at the bridge. It takes approximately 1h 20min to walk to the bridge from Alchi.

Get around
It is all very close. You can walk.

Do
Eat the apricots that are in season during the main tourist season, they look fantastic and make the whole village come alive with colour.

Buy
There are usually a multitude of trinket stores on the walk to the Gompa, and three small general stores in the main square.

Eat
There are two restaurants on the road to the Gompa aimed at tourists, there is also a local dhaba shop near the square where you can get cheap rice and dahl.

Drink
Chang beer, a local brew though widely banned in Leh is available here- ask around.

Sleep
There are a number of new guesthouses/hotels appearing in the village and you will likely be offered a homestay by one or two old laddies when you arrive- but bargain on price, the villagers don't seem to know the usual rate of hotels in nearby towns and will likely ask far too much.

Lotsava Guesthouse. Nice and clean rooms with decent toilets and shower, which are situated in the garden. The restaurant serves good and reasonably priced food.

Go next

 * Lamayuru
 * Leh

title: Alchi


text:
Alcobaça

Alcobaça is a small city in Portugal's Oeste region. The popular bayside beach town of São Martinho do Porto is located in the municipality.

Understand

Alcobaça (ahl-koo-BAH-suh, /aɫ.ku.ˈba.sɐ/), on the banks of the rivers Alcoa and Baça, dates back to the 12th century. The municipality has 54,981 residents (2021 preliminary), with about 7,000 living in the city. The municipality includes seven towns: Alfeizerão, Aljubarrota, Benedita, Cela, Pataias, São Martinho do Porto, and Turquel.

By car
The main Lisbon–Porto route is the A1 motorway, but the A8 comes closer to Alcobaça.

Events
In November, the Monastery hosts the International Exhibition of Conventual Sweets & Spirits (Mostra Internacional de Doces & Licores Conventuais). Producers of sweets, pastries, and liqueurs from Portugal and elsewhere sell their goods inside. Some of the exhibitors are monks and nuns from convents. There is a light projection (at night) on the walls of the cloister inside the monastery, demonstration cooking, and some performances. In 2024, the dates will be November 14-17, and the daily entrance fee is likely to be €1. Entrance to the event is through the usual monastery entrance, near the north-west corner, facing the square.

Go next

 * Fátima (Sanctuary of Our Lady) – Place of the worldwide famous Marian apparitions.
 * Batalha – has a nice monastery.
 * Caldas da Rainha – charming, unassuming city to experience authentic daily Portuguese life
 * Leiria – with its famous castle.
 * Nazaré – a picture-postcard beach town, lately noted for its surfing
 * Óbidos – walled hilltop medieval town
 * Peniche – beaches and water sports, access to the Berlengas archipelago
 * Pinhal de Leiria, pinewood forest.
 * Tomar – Convento de Cristo, UNESCO World Heritage Site

title: Alcobaça


text:
Alcobaça (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Alcobaça:

Brazil

 * Alcobaça (Brazil) - A town in Bahia.

Portugal

 * Alcobaça - A town in Central Portugal.

title: Alcobaça (disambiguation)


text:
Alcoy

Alcoy (Valencian: Alcoi) is an industrial city in Alicante province of the Valencian Community of 59,000 people (2018). It is best known for its large Moros i Cristians (Moors and Christians) festival.

Understand
Alcoy has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The name's etymology is unclear, but is believed to derive either from Arabic (al-Qawi – the fort/village) or from Latin (Arabic article al + Latin cola – cultivator/inhabitant). The town in its current incarnation was formally established after the Christian reconquista in 1256, and was the setting for repeated Arab revolts. The last of these was suppressed in 1276 and is still commemorated today in the city's annual Moors and Christians festival.

In the mid-19th century the city became heavily industrialized; most architecture in the centre dates from this period. Today the city is a regional commercial and financial centre.

By bus
Subus Alcoi operates six routes in Alcoy. A single journey costs €0.85, payable in cash to the driver on entry. If you plan to use the bus frequently it may be worth purchasing a Tarjeta Multiviaje card, which will give you ten journeys for €5 – these can be purchased at a number of convenience shops, shown on an interactive map here.

A route map can be downloaded here, and more detailed route maps with schedules can be downloaded here.

See
Despite the antiquity of the street layout, most buildings in the historic centre are Modernist in style and date from the second half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, when the city was completely modernised during the Industrial Revolution.

Eat
Alcoy and the surrounding region has a number of distinct dishes.

Drink
Alcoy, along with nearby Cocentaina, is known for its café licor ('coffee liquor'), not to be confused with the sweeter licor café in Murcia and Galicia. The drink is known to date to the early 13th century, and grew in popularity during the industrial revolution when factory workers would add it to their coffee thermoses. Today it has the Spanish denomination of origin of Bebidas Espirituosas Tradicionales ('Traditional Spirits'), and is consumed alone or mixed with other ingredients, such as orxata (Spanish: horchata), soda water, or lemon water.

Cervesa Spigha, the local craft beer, comes in three varieties: American pale ale, brown ale, and blonde ale.

title: Alcoy


text:
Alcudia

Alcúdia is a town of 20,000 people (2018) in the north of the island of Mallorca, on the eastern coast. It is the main tourist centre in the north of Mallorca. It is a large resort popular with families. In Alcúdia the old town is well preserved with houses dating back to the 13th century. The old town is surrounded by a medieval wall.

Understand
In the 1920s the first tourists began to visit Mallorca and also Alcúdia. This was in a very limited scale and the economy of the village stayed weak. In the early 1970s, it started to be clear that the future of Alcúdia would be in tourism. 15 years later the old harbour of Puerto de Alcúdia had developed into a major resort for European tourism. In the 1990s the construction boom calmed down and several regulations were put in place to secure the quality of the resort.

The focus is on visitors searching for relaxation and activity. A golf course has been constructed, and bicycle and hiking trips are commonplace. The old town has been preserved and pedestrianised. It has become one of the most visited villages in Mallorca.

Get in

 * TIB's IB-21 bus service runs from Palma de Mallorca several times daily.

Get around
There are also many organised tours that can be purchased from any of the nofrills travel agencies that are dotted around the resorts. Places of interest to visit are the Gorge of La Calobra, the famous wooden train of Soller, Puerto Soller, the monastery of Lluc. The city of Palma is very popular. Many people visit the caves of Drach whilst in Alcudia.

The best way to get around Alcudia is by car, and then to explore on foot (particularly in the old town, where the streets are very narrow and there's not much parking).The s'Albufeira National Park can be reached by bus.

Do

 * North and west of the town are some coves and beaches ideal for sunbathing, swimming or snorkelling. The beach at Alcúdia is 14 km long and stretches as far as C'an Picafort. Alcúdia joins onto Playa de Muro which is home to S'Albufera; a natural park that is very popular with birders.
 * Walk (or ride a bike) in the S'Albufera Natural Park on a well-marked trail of about 12 km. Just follow the red marks, or go to the information center of the park to get a free walking map. With a little bit of attention, you'll see interesting birds, fish and other animals. Don't forget to take enough water and a picnic.
 * Walk around the Ermita de la Victoria, on the Alcudia peninsula. Two good short trails start from the Ermita de la Victoria. First follow the dirt road for a few hundred meters. You'll see a sign marked Penya des Migdia which brings you along the coast, just above the cliffs. Spectacular, but mind your steps. The other trail, marked Talaia d'Alcudia, leads to the top of a little mountain.
 * There is an alternative, less crowded, route to the Talaia d'Alcudia. Prepare for a 4 hours hike in the mountains. From Alcudia, head for the Ermita de la Victoria but turn right in the Cami de la Muntanya. The last few hundred meters are gravel road but passable with a normal car. Park your car at the sign Coll de Ses fontanelles - Platja des Coll Baix, or at the big parking 200 m further (locals use this road to go to the beach). Put good mountain shoes on, take enough water and a picnic, and follow the direction Platja des Coll Baix. At the end of the gravel road, you'll see the beach below you and a refuge with picnic tables. Take the path on your left side, which climbs slowly up to the Talaia d'Alcudia. The path is marked with cairns and very discreet red spots. Admire the beauty of the views on the rocks and on the see all along the way. Once on the summit of the talaia, have a little rest and eat your picnic to regain your strength. Now you have to find the way back: come back a few meters on the path, to about halfway between the summit and the sign Talaia d'Alcudia. You'll see at your left side (going down from the summit) a little path which follows a ledge in the rock. That's your way down to the car (the trail is marked with cairns, red spots and even dung as donkeys are using it also). Just follow the trail up to a T under big trees. At this point, take left to get back to your car (the trail crosses the dry river several times).
 * UD Alcúdia Football Club play in the Tercera División – Group 11 at Els Arcs, which has a capacity of 1,750.
 * Enjoy the fantastic weather on the beach!

Festivals

 * Festival of St. Jaume for nine days at the beginning of July. Before the festival starts the town is decorated and each street picks out a theme for that year's look. During the festival several traditional evening festivities are arranged in the old town such as the Night of the Romans where the streets are full of locals dressed in traditional ancient Roman dresses. There are also outdoor theatres, sport tournaments, exhibitions and the traditional bullfight. The fiesta is finished with La Noche de Sant Jaume, a fireworks display and philharmonic concert by the old walls.
 * The Alcúdia Jazz Festival starts at the end of August and runs for a month.
 * International sporting events are held down the road at the port, with an Ironman Triathlon twice a year, beach volleyball and beach rugby.
 * Agricultural fair at the beginning of October
 * A nautical fair in April features the cuttlefish.
 * Taking place every three years is the Triennial of Sant Crist, a religious procession where the population slowly walks barefoot through the town in silence, for several hours. The origin of this procession dates back to 1507. According to tradition, the image of Sant Crist sweated blood and water, thus putting an end to a drought.

Eat
The old town also hosts a market on Sundays and Tuesdays all year round. Inside the walls there are several popular restaurants and bistros famous for good home-cooked food in small settings. In Port d'Alcúdia most of the restaurants are found around the marina. Most of these restaurants are only open in the tourist season.

Sleep
Most of the hotels are in Port d'Alcúdia and Platja d'Alcúdia along the 14-km-long beach that stretches all the way to Can Picafort.
 * Inmood Aucanada is blighted in 2024 by nearby construction work.
 * Mariner Club and Botel Alcudiamar are on the harbour pier.
 * Alcudia Port Suites are by the harbour.
 * Alcudia Garden is apartments 200 m northeast of Viva Golf.
 * Alcúdia Beach Aparthotel is 100 m south of Delfín Azul at Av de Nicolau Riera-Marsà 6.
 * Sofia is quiet and relaxing, yet right on the beach at C de Minerva 19.
 * Viva Sunrise is opposite SeaClub at Av de Mèxic 7.
 * Iberostar Cuidad Blanca is on the beach opposite the Astoria.
 * Siesta Apartments are on the BelleVue complex.
 * Solecito Apartments are on C Tucan by Club Mac.
 * Innside is a Melia chain hotel opposite Alua Boccaccio.
 * Hotel Condesa is on the beach next to the Maritimo.
 * Alcúdia Beach Aparthotel is 100 m south of Delfín Azul at Av de Nicolau Riera-Marsà 6.
 * Sofia is quiet and relaxing, yet right on the beach at C de Minerva 19.
 * Viva Sunrise is opposite SeaClub at Av de Mèxic 7.
 * Iberostar Cuidad Blanca is on the beach opposite the Astoria.
 * Siesta Apartments are on the BelleVue complex.
 * Solecito Apartments are on C Tucan by Club Mac.
 * Innside is a Melia chain hotel opposite Alua Boccaccio.
 * Hotel Condesa is on the beach next to the Maritimo.
 * Siesta Apartments are on the BelleVue complex.
 * Solecito Apartments are on C Tucan by Club Mac.
 * Innside is a Melia chain hotel opposite Alua Boccaccio.
 * Hotel Condesa is on the beach next to the Maritimo.
 * Innside is a Melia chain hotel opposite Alua Boccaccio.
 * Hotel Condesa is on the beach next to the Maritimo.
 * Innside is a Melia chain hotel opposite Alua Boccaccio.
 * Hotel Condesa is on the beach next to the Maritimo.
 * Hotel Condesa is on the beach next to the Maritimo.
 * Hotel Condesa is on the beach next to the Maritimo.
 * Hotel Condesa is on the beach next to the Maritimo.
 * Hotel Condesa is on the beach next to the Maritimo.

Go next

 * Palma de Mallorca- it is well worth a day trip to see Mallorca's capital, and take in the many sights it has to offer.
 * Soller - very pretty town on the northern coast of the island.
 * Pollenca - nice old city, home of a good Sunday market.

title: Alcudia


text:
Aldeburgh

Aldeburgh (pronounced /ˈɔ:lbrə/ (ALL-bre)) is a coastal town in east Suffolk, England. It has a long pebble beach, fresh seafood, several curious landmarks and an interesting history of survival against being swept away by the North Sea.

Understand
The town is best known for being the home of composer Benjamin Britten, who was founder of the annual Aldeburgh Festival in 1948. A lot of properties in the town are second homes. Many visit for the Blue Flag shingle beach.
 * Visit Aldeburgh website

By car
Aldeburgh is approximately 30 miles (48 km) NE of Ipswich, 30 miles S of Lowestoft, 32 miles SE of Diss and 45 miles E of Bury St Edmunds. The town is connected to the London (Blackwall Tunnel) to Lowestoft A12 main road via the A1094 (8 miles).

By bus

 * Bus 64 and 65 operated by First Norfolk & Suffolk each run half hourly services from Ipswich.
 * Bus service 251 operated by BorderBus runs between the town and Leiston, Saxmundham, Halesworth

By train
The nearest railway station is, a 15-minute drive west of Aldeburgh. It sits on the line between Ipswich and Lowestoft, operated by Abellio Greater Anglia.

By plane
Aldeburgh is far too small to have its own airport. Even Ipswich, the nearest large town, does not have a commercial airport. The nearest airports with regular scheduled flights are Norwich International Airport 45 miles to the north. And London Stansted airport, a hub for several European low-cost airlines, 75 miles to the west.

Get around
With a distance of 2.5 km between the Scallop and the Martello Tower, Aldeburgh is small enough to walk around.

See

 * is a fantastical 1910 creation. The neighbourhood was being made over into an "olde worlde" holiday village, but it needed modern amenities like running water, and a couple of ugly towers and tanks to boost the water pressure. One became a standard stone tower, but the other was disguised as a house perched atop an apartment block. The water tank was removed in 1979 and the entire tower has been converted into accommodation, sleeps 10+1. Lots of stairs, no lift.

Do

 * Walk through and around the marshes along River Alde near the marina and Martello tower.
 * See the site and read the plaques describing the history of the nearby fishing village of Slaughden, which was washed away by the North Sea by 1936. Near the Martello Tower at Slaughden Quay are the barely visible remains of the fishing smack Ionia. It had become stuck in the treacherous mud of the River Alde, and was then used as a houseboat. In 1974 it was burnt, as it had become too unsafe.
 * Aldeburgh Carnival is next held 13-15 Aug 2022.
 * Aldeburgh Carnival is next held 13-15 Aug 2022.
 * Aldeburgh Carnival is next held 13-15 Aug 2022.

Buy
Buy fresh locally-caught seafood from the fishing huts along the beach near the Moot Hall.

Connect
As of Mar 2023, Aldeburgh has patchy 4G from EE and Vodafone, excellent signal from O2. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Visit Ipswich, or take a ferry to Orford Ness for marshland hikes and recent military history.
 * In June, attend the Aldeburgh Festival at Snape Maltings.
 * Saxmundham
 * Lowestoft
 * Diss

title: Aldeburgh