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Bolzano

Bolzano (Italian) or Bozen (German), (Ladin: Balsan, Bulsan) is the capital city of South Tyrol, the German-speaking region in the northern part of Italy. Bolzano is the largest city in the region. Its archaeology museum is famous worldwide as the home of the alpine iceman "Ötzi". It is also known as the Italian Capital of Christmas thanks to its characteristic Christmas market. Bolzano's population is around 100,000 (140,000 including the metropolitan area). 25% of inhabitants speak German as their mother tongue; the population of German-speakers is much higher in the non-urban parts of the province (up to more than 90% in some areas), making the city and province officially bilingual.

Together with Innsbruck, Bolzano is the capital of the Alps because the seat of the Alpine Convention is there. The world-famous Museum of Archaeology with the Iceman and the Messner Mountain Museum's main seat make Bolzano a world city of mountaineering history and culture.

Districts
The city is administratively composed of 5 districts (City Centre - Bozner Boden/Piani di Bolzano-Rentsch/Rencio, Oberau/Oltrisarco-Haslach/Aslago, Europa-Neustift/Novacella, Don Bosco, Gries-St.Quirein/San Quirino). Alternatively, for tourism it can be divided into 6 areas:

 * City Centre (Historical Centre-Altstadt-Dorf/Villa-Zwölfmalgreien/Dodiciville-Runkelstein Castle) Here there are the most important things to see, museums, theatres, restaurants, hotels and stores. The heart of the City Centre is Walther square.
 * Rentsch-Rencio (Rentsch-Rencio/St. Magdalena-S. Maddalena/Bozner Boden-Piani di Bolzano) This is the most German part of the city with St. Magdalena on the hills with its vineyard and the nice Rentsch district centre. Behind the rail station isn't the Bozner Boden district. There are a lot of nice hotels, restaurants and guesthouses.
 * Kohlern-Colle Bozen's/Bolzano's home mountain, is a terrible mountain resort.

 * Gries (Gries historical centre/Fagen-Fago/Guntschna-Guncina/Moritzing-San Maurizio/north-western Bozen's/Bolzano's countryside) Culture, art, nature and wine paradise in a small area. Gries was a "Kurort" (health resort) during the Habsburg's Empire.
 * New City or West Bolzano (St.Quirein/Europa - Novacella-Neugries/Don Bosco with Kaiserau/Bivio countryside and Sigmundskron/Firmian Castle) The Italian Bolzano is here. A lot of restaurants.
 * South Bolzano/Bozen (Oberau/Oltrisarco-Haslach/Aslago-Pfarrhof/Maso della Pieve-St Jakob/San Giacomo) Oberau is a nice districts built in 1900s with good restaurants. In Bolzano South area there is the airport and the fair.

History
First inhabited by the Rhaetians, the area was settled by the Romans in 15 BC, by General Nero Claudius Drusus, who gave his name to the first settlement in the area (an army camp with a bridge by the river Eisack-Isarco). The village founded nearby was called Bauzanum. The region of South Tyrol was historically settled by ethnic Germans and Ladins.

Bolzano has been a trading point since its foundation owing to its location between the two major cities of Venice and Augsburg. In 1262 it was elevated to a Stadt (city). In 1363 Bolzano became part of the Habsburg monarchy as part of the county of Tyrol. Four times a year a market was held and traders came from the south and the north. The mercantile magistrate was therefore founded in 1635. Every market season two Italian and two German officers (appointed from the traders who operated there) held this office. The city was a cultural crossroads at that time.

In 1919, after World War I, Bolzano was annexed by Italy against the will of the native population who had chosen to join the new German Republic of Austria. Starting in 1926, after the rise of fascism, the region's ethnic Germans were subjected to a policy of forced italianization. The fascist dictatorship encouraged the moving of many ethnic Italians to the city from other parts of Italy (primarily from Northern Italy) in an attempt to italianize the whole region. After World War II Bolzano was again assigned to Italy but this time the German-speaking population demanded self-determination and afterwards accepted the autonomy statute, which is ensured internationally. After decades of tension, particularly in the 1950s and the 1980s, which included minor terrorist plots, Bolzano is now a multilingual European city open to the future, hosts students from all over the world and therefore hosts a lot of interesting cultural events. For this reason Bolzano sought to become European Capital of Culture in 2019.

Culture
Bolzano is constantly among the top-ranked cities in Italy when it comes to quality of life. It has one of Europe's lowest unemployment rates, excellent services and a wonderful landscape. Many Italians say they would like to live in Bolzano. However it is recognized that the city is quite expensive compared to Italian standards.

Bolzano has many special features: it's an Italian city with Austrian flair. In the city centre you will mostly hear people speak German or Austro-Bavarian. Nowadays, however, Italian- and German-speaking people are living together in bilingual Bolzano. Generally "Bozner" or "Bolzanini" are friendly and helpful. Most German-speaking people can speak Italian but Italian-speaking people are unlikely to be able to speak German. Nevertheless many young people can also speak English and a few can speak French too. In South Tyrolean schools the learning of the second language (Italian for German-speakers and vice-versa) and of English is compulsory.

Climate
Local tourist guides often say that Bolzano has an incredible Mediterranean climate. That is not true. Bozen's/Bolzano's climate is continental, with very hot summers and very cold winters. In autumn and spring the Föhn often blows from the northern Alps. Whereas in Innsbruck it is a warm wind, in Bolzano there are moments when it's relatively warm and strong, and then the temperature may fall suddenly. The coldest month of the year is January (min -6.2°C/20.8°F, max 5.0°C/41.0°F, average 0.0°C/32.0°F), the warmest is July (min 15.1°C/59.2°F, max 29.4°C/84.9°F, average 22.0°C/71.6°F). The annual average is 11.6°C/52.9°F. The maximum and minima are -17°C and +40°C.

Orientation
The city of Bolzano is in the Bolzano bowl at the confluence of three rivers (Talfer, Eisack, Adige) and extends about 6 km north to south and the same west to east and it's 3/4 surrounded by mountains. The historical centre is in the north-east in triangle formed by the Talfer in the west, the Eisack in the south-east and Mount Hörtenberg in the north-east. The modern areas (including the commercial and industrial area) are to the west and south. Most of the towns and villages of the metropolitan area are south of the city where the Bolzano bowl extends further. The River Adige flows through the westernmost suburbs.

Tourist information

The web site of the Bolzano Surroundings Tourist Association has information about the city and Southern South Tyrol (the holiday region is promoted in English under the name 'South of Südtirol' on logos and 'South of South Tyrol' on written publications).

Passes and discounts
Those who stay three or more nights in a hotel in Bozen or Jenesien mountain village receive a free Guest Pass with a free guided tour of the city and some discounts in museums, castles and swimming pools.

If you want to visit all Bozen's museums and the Runkelstein Castle you can buy the MuseumCard (€2.50), with which you have discounts in all the entrances (you can save up to €16.50).

If you want to visit Bolzano and discover the surrounding area of Southern South Tyrol you can get the South of Südtirol Card for €1.50 and you will have discounts in visiting museums or in sport activities.

Magazines, events calendars
BM - Bolzano Bozen Magazine the Tourism Board publishes this trilingual (English, German, Italian) magazine with a lot of information about the city. You can find it in the tourism office, in the railway station and hotels. Free.

Inside - Events in South Tyrol bilingual (German, Italian) pocket calendar with all events in Bozen and in South Tyrol. The index is written in English. You can find it everywhere. Free. Also online available.

The South of Südtirol Magazine is published yearly by the tourist association of the Bolzano metropolitan area which useful including events also in the surrounding area. You can find it in tourism offices and in hotels for free.

Everyday local newspapers in German (Dolomiten, Neue Südtiroler Tageszeitung) or Italian (Alto Adige, Corriere dell'Alto Adige) publish all the events, theatrical performances, films at cinema and other useful (if you understand German or Italian) information.

Get in
Bolzano is on the crossroads between Northern and Southern Europe, just south of the Brenner Pass. It is well-connected, possessing a small international airport and forming a major hub of the railway system in Central Alps.

By plane
Airports within reasonable distance from Bolzano with scheduled flights include those in Innsbruck, Verona and Venice. Munich and Milan Malpensa are the nearest airports with intercontinental connections.

There are no direct transport links with the city apart from taxis. Buses 10A and 10B stop 1 km north of the terminal. A rapid-transit system is planned, which will connect the airport to the city centre.

By train
All trains from Germany and Austria and other parts of Italy stop at. There are connections with several cities. Useful websites are that of Trenitalia (Italian Railway Company), Österreichische Bundesbahnen (Austrian Federal Railway Company) and Deutsche Bahn (German Railway Company). Once a week there is a train connection to Moscow Belorusskaya and Nice operated by the Russian Railways (with stops also in Minsk, Warsaw, Katowice, Vienna, Milan and other places en route). There is a left-luggage office run by a private company on the main platform.

By bus
Bolzano is very well connected by bus with Central Europe. Bus connections are frequent from/to Germany, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Romania. Traveling by bus is cheaper than by train, especially from Eastern Central Europe. Gross organizes up to 22 bus connections every month between Bolzano and Munich (one-way ticket for €20). Almost every important city in Poland is connected with Bolzano through international bus connections - normally arrival is in Genoa. If you are coming from Romania your reference could be the Romanian CentroTrans travel agency which has also offices in the United Kingdom. Coaches from Romania stops in Bolzano but also in Brixen. On the Romanian website about bus stations, you can find arrivals and departures from Romania/to South Tyrol at the Bolzano bus station. Connections with the Czech Republic are operated by the Tourbus agency (web site also in English available) with buses from Prague or Brno and other places. Prices are cheap - a return ticket from Brno to Bolzano costs €94. Tourist connections are also available from Germany - this connections are operated by the German travel agency Südtirol Tours.

Bolzano is also the major regional bus hub and all the main regional bus routes terminate in the capital. For information about regional connections check on the regional bus company SAD web site (in Italian and German).

By car
Highway A22 (Autostrada del Brennero/Brennerautobahn) from south and from north lead to Bolzano, however they get congested during the Christmas market and especially during the ski season. Highway has two exits in Bolzano, normally if you're coming from the north it's better to choose the Bolzano Nord/Bozen Nord (North) exit, while from South it's better the Bolzano Sud/Bozen Süd exit. Follow the direction on the signs in order to reach the city centre or your accommodation. If you're coming from Meran you the better way is taking the MeBo freeway - there are two exits in Bolzano (Eppan/Appiano exit for West Bolzano and Gries, and Bozen Süd/Bolzano final exit for Bolzano South and the city centre). For day trips to Bolzano it's probably better to leave your car in the Parking "Centro BZ Mitte". Normally every hotel has its own parking.

Get around
The city centre is not big and so it can be discovered on foot. The best way to discover every corner of the city is on foot but in order to reach other areas inside the city using the public system is a good idea - also because the public transport system is efficient and the means of transport run on time and are clean.

By bus, train and cableway
Bolzano has an excellent public transport system, which includes buses, cableways and commuter rail. Within Bolzano, you can get a single trip ticket (including a second trip, if within 45 minutes after the printing) for the bus for €1.50. If you want to use the bus many times and/or with other people, you can buy the "Value Card" ("Wertkarte" or "Carta Valore") for €5, €10 or €25. In city buses the trip will cost just €1.20 and you can use this card on all types of transport system in South Tyrol: on the interurban buses, on the cableways of the SAD System, on the "Mendelbahn" and on all the trains from Innsbruck to Trento and on all urban buses in 14 other towns (Meran, Brixen, Schlanders, Bruneck, Laives/Bronzolo/Vadena, Mals, Toblach, Kaltern, Algund, Lana, Eppan, Neumarkt, Sterzing and Sand in Taufers) and in Innsbruck (here you have to stamp your ticket at the green stamping machines at the train station). Tickets can be bought at the ticket machine directly on the bus, which sell single trip tickets and €5 value cards. It accepts coins only if you are likely to buy a value card - and bus drivers will not change banknotes for money. Ticket can be bought also in a few tobacco and newspapers shops throughout the city.

The South Tyrolean Transport and Fare System offers a 7-day travel card called Mobilcard for €18 and a 3-day travel card for €13 which allows the free use of all city buses in Bolzano and the entire South Tyrol transport system.

There is also a 7-day travel card for one of three areas for €15. South Tyrol is divided in a western, a central and an eastern area, but the Bolzano bus network is included in all of them. If you are also planning to visit the metropolitan area, the Mobilcard for the Central area is the best option. There is a 50% young person's discount.

For all information about costs and tickets on the South Tyrolean Integrated Transport and Fare System web site (also complete in English). About timetable and bus maps of Bolzano's/Bozen's city transport service on the SASA web site (Italian and German) and of South Tyrol region on the SAD web site (in Italian and German).

By bus
In Bolzano there are 17 bus lines (generally 06:00-21:00) and three of them have also a night service (bus lines 153 -journey of the day lines 1, 5 and 3-, 2 and 10A) from 21:00 until 01:00. Buses pass very frequently - you will not wait more than 10–15 minutes between two buses of a single line. Buses run always on time.

Stamp your ticket at the start of its first use (there are green - on new buses yellow - stamping machines on the buses or near the entrances to the stations). You have to stamp your ticket also if you are buying it at the ticket machine. You have to buy another ticket if you stop and you catch a bus after 45 minutes after the printing (only with single trip ticket or spent value card). Payment is by the honor system and inspectors check for valid tickets. If you don't have one, it's an instant €25 fine (plus the fare you were supposed to have paid). All timetables and bus maps you can find free in the tourist offices or in the bus station.

All urban buses stops are request stops (except end of the line): If you want to get off press the red (in some buses blue) button, while if you want to get on a bus you have to wave your hand. Especially if you are alone at the bus stop or generally in South Bolzano (Fair Quarter) and in the night you should signal well in advance.

By train
Bolzano also has two small urban rail stations (Bolzano South-Fair Quarter and Sigmundskron-Ponte Adige). Also here you can use the "Value Card". A single trip ticket from the Central Station to the Bolzano South-Fair Quarter costs €1.50 (€0.65 with value card).

You have to stamp your ticket in the rail station's entrance at the green stamping machines.

Cableway
Bolzano is also connected with three mountain villages around the city by three cableways. If you want to go to Ritten/Renon or Jenesien/San Genesio you can use the "Value Card": a one-way ticket for Ritten costs €2.50 (€2.28 with Value Card) and for Jenesien costs €2 (€1.90 with Value Card). On the Ritten there is also a trolley car which brings from Oberbozen at the cableway station to Klobenstein which is the main place on the plateau. A one-way ticket from Bolzano to Klobenstein (cableway+trolley car) costs €5 (€3.90 with Value Card).

If you want to go to Kohlern-Colle you have to buy an extra ticket - trips every 30 minutes from 07:00 until 19:00 in winter and 07:30 in summer during the week (08:00-19:00 in winter and 08:00-19:30 in summer with a break 12:00-13:30 in winter and 12:00-13:00 in summer).

By taxi
In Bolzano taxis are not so common, and sometimes at night getting a taxi can be difficult because there is no bus service and everyone will use them. There are taxi ranks in front of the railway stations, on Walther Square, Gries Square and other major squares and places. Taxis are only on call available. Bozen's taxi service is powered by Radio Taxi Funk 24-hr. Taxis in Bolzano can be very expensive (airport to city centre about €30).

By bike
In Italy the city has one of the most developed network of cycle paths with about 30 km composed of 8 main routes. Guided tours are available. Maps are available in tourist offices and online.

Rentals are available in the following places: The service is available from 4 April until 31 October 07:30-20:00 (October until 19:00) and is very cheap: €1 for 6 hours, €2 for more than 6 hours. Deposit €10.
 * Station avenue (Bahnhofsallee/viale Stazione) close to Walther square
 * main square of Gries

Cycles can be rented all year round from Bolzano Tourist Board for €5 a day.

In the fahrradfreundliches Bozen/Bolzano città della bicicletta (bike friendly Bozen, the bike's city) there are specific road signs that help the city biker. A lot of big table maps are placed in many parts of the city. On the bike trail #1 after crossed the Talfer river direction city centre is placed an electronic table which obtains the number of passed bikes. On the city website there is a map which can be helpful for reaching specific places.

By car
Driving inside the city makes no sense - the public transport system is more than enough for traveling inside Bolzano. In the rush hours traffic is intense. However the main streets for car circulation are ring road along the Eisack river in the South, the Drusus road from West to the centre, the Italy avenue, the Freedom avenue, and the Rome street in the new city.

Driving in the historic centre is forbidden and the city centre is forbidden for the EURO 0 cars. In winter (from November to March) the whole city is forbidden for the EURO 0 cars in order to prevent air pollution. In cases of high concentration of polluted substances the streets are forbidden also for EURO 1 cars. On the website of the City of Bolzano there is a map of the areas concerned and other infos (only in German and Italian).

Parking
There are a lot of pay car parks in the city and car parks for people with disabilities have special signs. However in Bolzano parking on white-striped streets is only for residents in that area with a special permit. Non-residents may park their cars there free only from 13:00 on Saturday until 08:00 on Monday. Fares for covered car parks are around €1 per hour. If you are coming from the surrounding areas it's better to park on the outskirts - parking, e.g., in the Milan street (only €0.30 per hour) or in the Fair Quarter.

Other possibilities
In Bolzano car sharing is also a possibility for long stays in the city. The annual fee is of €150 and in addition to this one hour costs €1.80 and every kilometer €0.34. There is a web site (Italian only). For car pooling check the web site with the offers (German and Italian).

Rent-a-car
Car rentals like by Hertz, Europcar, Sixt or Maggiore which are all at the Airport (Maggiore has a branch also in the Garibaldi street, 32), and Buchbinder in the Schlachthofstraße, 29. Other local rentals also throughout the city. The average price for a day rental is about €60 for the cheapest car.

Churches

 * Cathedral Gothic-Romanesque building dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption built between the 13th and the 16th century with a lot of important frescoes and sacred arts. It's supposed that the church was built over a Roman basilica. It was partly damaged during World War II, and was renovated after the war.
 * Dominican's church The first Gothic building in South Tyrol contains frescoes of the Giotto School.
 * St Augustine Church The church located in Gries is one of the most important examples of baroque in South Tyrol. Before the secularization it was a church of the Augustinian order - now it belongs to the Order of Saint Benedict from Muri in Aargau, Switzerland. Valuable paintings of local painter from Wipptal Martin Knoller. It forms a single complex with the annexed older Abbey of Muri-Gries.

Palaces and castles

Parks and promenades
For more parks and promenades see district articles

 * Talferwiesen/Prati del Talvera are the green lung of the city and extends on both banks of the Talfer river. In summer it's full of people and also during the cold winter people like to go around the promenades.
 * Ducal park is a nice park in the Gries area.
 * Eisackufer/Lungoisarco Park is a big park on the right hand side of the Eisack river.
 * Henry's promenade the Heinrichspromenade is known also as Guncina promenade and is the oldest promenade of Bozen in the former Kurort of Gries. There is a lot of flora.

Fairs
Bolzano has a long fair tradition and it host an important and modern fair quarter, which is in South Bolzano.

During the year there are 18 fairs and a lot of meetings, having a congress centre and a four-star Sheraton Hotel. Here the most important trade fairs are listed:

March
 * Arredo (specialized trade fair for interior design)

April
 * Prowinter (specialized in winter sports)
 * Alpitec (specialized in mountain and winter technologies)

April/May
 * Tempo Libero/Freizeit (specialized in sports, hobbies and leisure)

May
 * kunStart (specialized in modern and contemporary art)

September
 * Herbstmesse/Fiera d'Autunno (Autumn Trade Fair, since 1947)

Concerts
The Showtime Agency is the most important events organizer in the region - every year Bolzano host a big number of concerts with groups or singers from Italy, Austria or Germany and internationally known artists. For tickets information please contact the agency.

If you want to go to underground concert (Alternative-Punk-Indie-Metal), Poison For Souls is the right choice for you!

Cinema
In Bolzano there are 3 movie theatres with a total of 11 screens:

Tours

 * Contact the Bolzano Tourist Board for information about city guided tours, excursions on the mountains or in the surrounding area or for bike tours.

Sport

 * Skiing. South Tyrol is full of ski resorts. The more 'Bolzanian' ski resorts are the Rittnerhorn (20 km from Bozen) and Reinswald (30 km). Both web sites are in English available. Other nearby ski resorts are Carezza (25 km), Meran 2000 (30–35 km) or the very well known Val Gargena(40 km) which is part of the Sella Ronda ski circuit.
 * Ice hockey. Home sport of Bolzano is ice hockey. HC Bolzano/Bozen Interspar Foxies is the local professional hockey club in Bozen and winner of the Italian hockey season 2007/2008 (it plays in the Italian premier league and it won 17 times the national championship - Italian record). They play at the Eiswelle/Palaonda ice palace.
 * Football: FC Südtirol / Alto Adige play soccer in Serie B, the second tier. Their home ground Stadio Druso (capacity 5500) is on the riverbank.
 * Ice rinks. In Bozen there are four ice rinks: one near to the Runkelstein castle, one in the Genua street (Via Genova/Genuastraße in the Don Bosco district/New City), one in the Sport City in the area of Pfarrhof/Maso della Pieve in the Oberau-Haslach/Oltrisarco-Aslago district/South Bolzano/Bozen and one on the Talvera promenade.
 * Swimming. In summer the Lido in the Trieste street is the favourite place of the people: open-air swimming pools and a big park with bar and restaurant. Admission €5. In winter there is the swimming & fitness centre Karl Dibiasi just behind the Lido. Admission €4.50/5.20.

Learn
Bolzano is the ideal place if you want to study German and Italian, or German or Italian after having studied one of the two.

 * Free University of Bozen-Bolzano International trilingual (Italian, German, English) university. It's ranked as one of the best no statal universities in Italy. It is a private university but it's financed by the Autonomous Province.
 * Claudio Monteverdi Provincial Academy of Music Like the university it is ranked as one of the best academies of music in Italy (in Italy academies of music are considered at university level). It is controlled by the Autonomous Province instead of the State and it is expecting a big development because of that.
 * European Academy
 * ZeLIG School for Documentary, Television and New Media
 * Claudiana Province College for Health-Care Professions

Work
Bozen is a congress, financial and business centre. School of languages and institutions could look for English teachers/speakers and new minds are requested in some technical sectors. If both German and Italian are known everybody can find a job in a restaurant, shop or hotel if it had some job experiences.
 * Convention Bureau South Tyrol
 * Techno Innovation South Tyrol
 * Bolzano Trade Fair
 * Autonomous Province of South Tyrol - Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages. It has also a library with books, dictionaries and language courses on book, CD, DVD and a lot of films in German, Italian, English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arab and Portuguese in the Capucin's street (28, Kapuzinergasse/via Cappuccini)
 * Job finder powered by the Autonomous Province of South Tyrol - Job service

Buy

For single shops see district articles

Every district has its own shopping area but the shopping paradise is the historical centre. Bolzano is the city in which the small ceramics sculptures Thun are made. You can find Tyrolean and Italian fashion in the same place and local delicatessen have to be chosen.

Shopping streets

 * Arcades (Lauben): One of the most famous shopping streets in Italy with both traditional and international chains.
 * Greif Center: A modern and luxurious gallery near Walther square.
 * Dr Streiter Lane: It's the opposite and parallel street of the Arcades (Lauben) with traditional chains.
 * Arcades of Freedom's avenue: The Corso is composed by the 'Italian' arcades.

Markets

 * Saturday market Every Saturday in the Victory square and border streets.

Christmas markets
The 'Christkindlmarkt' takes place every year from the last Friday of November to 23 December in the Walther square with 80 stands. A second Christmas market called 'Winterwald' (Winter wood) takes place near Walther square in Palais Campofranco's yard with 14 stands. In the same period in the historical centre take place other markets too: the 'Handwerksmarkt' in the Municipal square and the Christmas market of solidarity in some streets of the historical centre. Occasionally there are smaller 'Christkindlmärkte' or Advent markets in other parts of the city.

Eat
For more places please see district articles.

You can find all kinds of restaurant - cuisine, typical, Italian, international, ethnic specialties - and fast foods - typical Würstlstandln (hot dog stands), döner kebab, sliced pizza, Chinese take-away, sushi, or McDonald's and Burger King.

In the following list are included some of the most known traditional or important restaurants in the city center.

South Tyrolean cuisine is typically Austrian (Tyrolean) with Mediterranean influences but also Italian and other international specialties have to be found. Typical South Tyrolean products include Speck (a kind of smoked ham), a lot of sorts of bread, strudel, apples and a lot of pastries. During Christmas typical cakes are Bozner Zelten and Christstollen.

Entries include specialties such as Herrengröstl (potatoes, beef, onions, speck), Kaiserschmarrn (omelette with raisin and sugar), Gulaschsuppe, Schlutzkrapfen (a kind of dumpling with spinach or other ingredients), Spätzle (a kind of spinach dumpling), Knödel (bread balls with speck or other ingredients), pork roast with sauerkrauts.

Budget
All these are in the Old Town:

Drink
Bolzano is an important wine producer in South Tyrol - it's included in the South Tyrolean Wine Road. Typical drink in South Tyrol is beer too - the most famous brewing company is Forst which is produced near Meran. A pub in the historical centre produces its own beer. Very popular soft drinks are Spezi (pronounce: "sh-peh-tzi") which is a cola-lemonade mix and Spuma which is an aromatic soda. If you like coffee you can drink Italian espresso or cappuccino but also Viennese or German (American) coffee.

Beer & wine gardens, halls & cellars
South Tyrolean Forst Brewing company runs a really nice restaurant with outdoor seating right in the Altstadt (Historical Centre). Good beer and food and the prices are reasonable. Try the Sixtus ale, goes right to your head. €10-20. Here you can drink the original Bozner Bier (Bozen's beer) and eat typical Tyrolean food. €10-20
 * Cantina Bolzano - Kellerei Bozen www.cantinabolzano.com, Piazza Gries, 2, . The classical wines of Bolzano: Lagrein, St.Magdalener, Pinot Bianco, Gewuerztraminer.
 * Forsterbräu Central Goethestraße, 6
 * Paulaner Bräuhaus Bozen Silbergasse/Lauben-Portici (Arcades) (two entrances). Bavarian Paulaner Brewing company's first Bräuhaus in Italy. Good beer and food. €10-20
 * Hopfen & Co Wirtshaus & Brauerei Obstplatz, 17 (Fruit market) (, [mailto:hopfen@boznerbier.it hopfen@boznerbier.it])

Pubs
Pubs are mainly full on Saturday night - the Red Bull with Vodka mix is called here Flieger and it can be red (with red vodka), black or white (€3.50-5). Many people drink an aperitif also in the night - the most common drinks are Veneziano with Aperol and white wine (€1.50-2.50) and Estivo with sparkling water and white wine. Prices are generally not more than €5 for a drink.
 * Temple Bar Genuine Irish Pub, Piazza Domenicani 20. Irish-owned pub with that traditional style of an Irish pub found throughout the small villages of Ireland. Large beer garden on the square ideal for people watching while sipping a pint of Guinness, Sky Sports, live music and karaoke. Open Tu-Su 10:30-01:00. Monday closed. or email templebarbolzano@yahoo.com
 * Pogue Mahones Vicolo Erbe 10 Very nice Irish pub in the historical centre and also oldest Irish pub in town (est. 1964). Local and foreign beers, paninis, and toasties, smoking area inside,  Open M-Sa 17:00-01:30. Sunday closed.
 * New Pub Freiheitsstraße 54 One of the oldest pubs in the city. Under the arcades of the New City's central area.
 * Dublin Pub Negrellistraße 13 Irish pub with restaurant in the Bolzano South area. Sky Sports & darts. Cheap.
 * Blue Moon Silbergasse Very popular meeting point for aperitivo. It's also a dinner bar.
 * Cafè Latino Via Marconi Nice bar-pub with special evenings near the historical city centre, crowded on weekends. Mid-range.
 * Birreria Romagnola Piazza Matteotti in the New City. Local and foreign beers, very good pub food, Sky Sports, darts. Open daily 07:00-01:00. Cheap.
 * Murphys Pub Via Milano Nice Irish pub in the New City. Cheap
 * Assenzio Laubengasse 30 One of the few places in Italy in which you can drink (true) absinthe. Mid-range.
 * Nadamas Obstplatz 43/44 Nice pub-bar-restaurant. Spkurfe.
 * Nadamas Obstplatz 43/44 Nice pub-bar-restaurant. Spkurfe.

'Konditoreien', cafés & 'gelaterie'

 * Stadtcafé Waltherplatz 21 Viennese-style café with original Sachertorte.
 * Café Theiner Museumstraße 62 In front of the Talfer bridge. Delicious ice-creams.
 * Bar Walther Waltherplatz 2 Modern-style café. Sunday closed.
 * Aida Café Konditorei Pfarrplatz 3 Austrian-style 'Konditorei'. Seats also in Walther square.
 * Monika Konditorei Goethestraße 13 Austrian-style 'Konditorei' with Italian style 'Gelati'.
 * Gelateria Eccetera Weintraubengasse 23 Around 60 ice cream flavours.
 * L'Oasi del Gelato Museumstraße Big ice-creams and 'granatine'.
 * Pasticceria Stofner. Corso Italia 27. Excellent cakes and pies.
 * Pasticceria Stofner. Corso Italia 27. Excellent cakes and pies.

Discos
Before the beginning of the 21st century, Bolzano was known as the 'Sleeping Beauty', but in the meantime it has been transformed in the regional capital for nightlife so much that also young people from neighbouring Trentino come to Bolzano on Friday and Saturday night and the Bolzano's nightlife is known as the 'movida bolzanina', which was reported also in Italian national magazines. Now on weekend nights the historical centre is full of young and less-young people and pubs are crowded.

Look also on South Tyrol's portal for fun and night-life.

 * HALLE28 Via del Macello. Local and international DJs, within walking distance from the city center. Entrance: €12-20 (1 drink included)
 * Martini Club, Vicolo Erbe. Club in the City Center of Bolzano. Local DJs, live music and special events, no admission, drinks from €4-8.
 * Keope Disco Club Brennerstraße, 6, Steinmannwald/Pineta di Laives. Entertainment, DJ music and Cuban dance. In the outskirt of Bozen on the statal road.
 * Baila Discopub Boznerstraße, 5a, Eppan/Appiano. Entertainment, special guests and dj music. The disco is in Eppan near Bozen. One of the most crowded places to go on weekends. Entrance: €8 (1 drink included).
 * Zentis Discopub Tannstraße, 12, Ritten/Renon. Discopub, live music, DJ music. The discopub is in Klobenstein/Ritten near Bozen.
 * Keope Disco Club Brennerstraße, 6, Steinmannwald/Pineta di Laives. Entertainment, DJ music and Cuban dance. In the outskirt of Bozen on the statal road.
 * Baila Discopub Boznerstraße, 5a, Eppan/Appiano. Entertainment, special guests and dj music. The disco is in Eppan near Bozen. One of the most crowded places to go on weekends. Entrance: €8 (1 drink included).
 * Zentis Discopub Tannstraße, 12, Ritten/Renon. Discopub, live music, DJ music. The discopub is in Klobenstein/Ritten near Bozen.
 * Baila Discopub Boznerstraße, 5a, Eppan/Appiano. Entertainment, special guests and dj music. The disco is in Eppan near Bozen. One of the most crowded places to go on weekends. Entrance: €8 (1 drink included).
 * Zentis Discopub Tannstraße, 12, Ritten/Renon. Discopub, live music, DJ music. The discopub is in Klobenstein/Ritten near Bozen.

Sleep
The city and its metropolitan area are well developed for tourism and you can find all kinds of accommodation: luxury, international, typical, big, small, cheap hotels, B&Bs, apartments, youth hostels, campings and you can spend your holidays also in a farm in the surrounding countryside. Tourist offices can help you in finding your ideal accommodation. During the Christmas market period accommodations are full in fast all the region - advanced reservation is required.

In the following list are included some accommodations in order to make an idea about hotels and others. Category is given in stars and the service corresponds in all cases to the category.

Stay safe
Bolzano is one of the safest cities in Italy and generally tourists don't have problems. Beware of African migrant vendors in the streets: most of the merchandise they sell is imitation luxury goods. You can get a very high fine in Italy for purchasing imitation goods.

Stay away from the area around the central railway station and the surrounding area (Via Garibaldi, Piazza Verdi, Viale Trento) at night. Especially in the Station Park and the Garibaldi Street - drug dealers, homeless people and illegal immigrants are often seen. However, common sense should be enough when you will stay in Bolzano safely. Pickpocketing is not common.

Beware of groups of youths in the areas of South Bolzano and the New City but also in the City Center (especially on Piazza dell'Erba where most of the pubs, bars and clubs are - especially on week-ends, when pub-fights can break out, and young drunks can bother you. People usually will not harm you when they see that you are not from Bolzano.

Respect
Bolzano is officially a bilingual city - That means there is most likely a German and Italian name for everything! Some tourists could have problems understanding the city's unique character. Guests interested in the (recent) history of South Tyrol are appreciated, but try to stay neutral discussing this with locals and always avoid asking the German-speaking people to explain why German is official language in a region belonging to Italy, and definitely don't say things like 'But this is Italy!' Bolzano/Bozen is an international model of bilingualism and multicultural understanding, and major ethnic tensions are a thing of the past.

Connect
There are a lot of telephone boxes in which you can use Italian and international phone cards. Call centres also exist, although these are used more by migrants than tourists. Cell phone coverage in the city is excellent. A lot of hotels offer wireless connections. The area code is 0471 (that of Italy is +39) while the postcode is I-39100.

Internet cafes are scarce, with virtually no open Wi-Fi connections in the city centre.

Post office
In Bolzano there is at least one post office in each district. The two main post offices are open from M-F 08:00-18:30 and Sa 08:00-12:00 - on Sunday closed. Other post offices are open from M-F 08:00-13:30 and Sa 08:00-12:30. The post office at Fair Quarter is open from M-F 08:00-14:00.

 * Main Post Office Bolzano, Pfarrplatz/Piazza Parrocchia, 13 In the city centre near the Cathedral.
 * Post Office, Duca-d'Aosta-Straße/Via Duca d'Aosta, 104 In the new city in front of Hadrianplatz/Piazza Adriano.

Bank
There are above 60 bank branch offices. The most important banks in South Tyrol are the Südtiroler Sparkasse (Savings Bank), the Südtiroler Volksbank(People's Bank), the Raiffeisen Bank and the Bank für Trient und Bozen (Bank of Trento and Bolzano). The offices are open normally 08:05–12:55 and 14:45-16:00/16:30. Banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday (a few banks are open on Saturday). At every bank and other places you can find simply an ATM.

Diplomatic missions
The majority of consulate generals are in Milan and other nearest consulates are in Verona or Innsbruck.

 * Honorary Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr.-Streiter-Gasse 12.
 * Honorary Consulate of the Russian Federation, Dr.-Streiter-Gasse 20.
 * Consulate General of the Republic of Austria - Office of Bolzano, Silbergasse 6. (Mercantile Palace).

United States of America, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand all have their Consulate General in Milan.

Gym
Most of the fitness centres are outside from the city centre. A lot of hotels have fitness centres too - notably that at Sheraton Hotel.
 * Centro Fitness 2Fit, Pacinottistraße 4. Very large fitness centre (2,000 m2) in South Bolzano. Open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
 * Energym, Reschenstraße 84. Very known gym in the new city in the Don Bosco district.
 * Eden 2000, Cesare-Battisti-Straße 25. Equipped fitness centre in the new city.
 * TrainToSmile, Wangergasse 77. Fitness centre in the city centre.

Computer assistance
Here some address for computer assistance in Bolzano:
 * Ma-Ko, Drususallee, 189. Store in the Drusus road on the New City side.
 * Mitas, Einsteinstraße, 1. This international distributor and producer of PCs housed in South Bolzano has an assistance centre.
 * Computer Center, Hörtenbergstraße, 1/C. Store in the city centre.
 * Computer 3000, Lancia-Straße 10. Store located in South Bolzano.

DVD rentals
Considering that most of DVDs are American movies and that they offer the language selection, you can virtually consider to rend a DVD. Pay attention only to the fact that the European system is different from the American (U.S. & Canada) one (if DVDs show the regional code 2 for Europe they don't work on American PCs or DVD recorders).
 * Pianeta Video is a company with its headquarters in Meran. There are locations in Bolzano (self-service 24 hr):
 * Freiheitsstraße 16 - in the New City
 * Vigilstraße 62 - in the Haslach area in South Bolzano
 * Brennerstraße 29 - in the Zwölfmalgreien area near the City Centre
 * Sassaristraße - in the Don Bosco area in the New City
 * Blockbuster, Turinstraße 94 - in the New City (open Su-Sa 09:00-23:00)

Health

 * Bolzano Central Hospital, Lorenz-Böhler-Straße, 5. or dial 118 for emergency phone assistance (in German and Italian).
 * Marienklinik, Claudia-de-Medici-Straße, 2. . It's a smaller hospital without emergency assistance.
 * Pharmacy Service. An online service provided by the Autonomous Province of South Tyrol lists all the pharmacies in South Tyrol including the pharmacies which are open during the night or in non-working days. There are 25 pharmacies throughout the city.

Go next

 * South Tyrol, a lot of towns, valleys and mountains have to be visited
 * Innsbruck, Austria, is an easy day trip from Bozen. 120 km (1hr 15min)
 * Verona is an easy trip from Bozen. 150 km (1hr 30min)
 * Lake Garda the famous lake with mediterranean climate is not far from Bozen. Nearest centres: 100 km (Riva del Garda) - 135 km (Lazise) (1hr 20min-1hr 40min)
 * Munich, Germany, if you have a few days to spare, this is the perfect trip, it can be also a day trip. 250 km (3hr)
 * Venice, if you have a few days to spare, this is the perfect trip, it can be also a day trip (by train). 250–300 km (3hr 30min)

title: Bolzano


text:
Bomarzo

Bomarzo is a small town in northern Lazio in Italy, famous for its park of stone monsters.

By bus
Take a regional bus from Viterbo railway station (check with the schedules). The bus route starts at the Riello /p.zza G.Bruno bus terminal, but the closest bus stop to the railway station is v.le Trieste /N.Sauro-Gorizia. A journey take about 1/2 hour. Alternatively the same bus but in the opposite direction could be caught at the Orte Scalo railway station.

Get off at the at a small roundabout at Bomarzo. Walk downhill 400 m northwards via to the historical centre of the village. At the tiny piazza Matteotti turn left a bit uphill into the village until you come to the back facade of the Palazzo Orsini next to a small parking lot.

By car
From the Rome-Florence A1 Autostrada leave at Attigliano and follow signs to Bomarzo.

Park of the Monsters
During the 19th century and into the 20th the garden became overgrown and neglected, but in the 1970s a program of restoration was carried out. The garden is today a major tourist attraction and is guaranteed to entertain children who may be getting a bit fed up with medieval hill towns.

Statues and fountains include Pegasus, Hannibal’s Elephants, an Orc, a dragon attacked by dogs, a turtle with a giant woman on its back, a two-tailed mermaid, a giant and Aphrodite, an ogre’s head as the “Mouth of Hell” and many more. There is also a strange little house which leans sharply to one side and is great fun to go inside. Carvings of acorns are all over the place, presumably a reference to the Della Rovere family that owned the local castle (Rovere meaning oak in Italian).

Buy
The park has a souvenir shop.

Eat
There is a small restaurant attached to the park and a selection of restaurants in the nearby town.

Sleep
There is a couple of hotels in the "newer" part of the village, some holiday houses for rent. There is also an agritourism establishment next to the park.

Go next

 * Villa Lante - A villa with another Mannerist (while more traditional) garden
 * Giardino dei Tarocchi – a far more modern sculpture garden, which was partly inspired by Sacro Bosco

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

title: Bomarzo


text:
Bombala

Bombala is a pretty and historic town in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales. If planning a trip between Sydney and Melbourne, the route through Bombala gives an interesting mix of coastal and mountain scenery, in addition to allowing for a visit to Australia's capital city. This may be a pleasant touring alternative to the all-freeway Hume Highway, or the coastal Princes Highway.

Get in
The Monaro Highway passes straight through Bombala, connecting from Canberra and Cooma in the north, to the Princes Hwy in the south across the Victorian border.

NSW Trainlink has coach connections to Bombala from Canberra (from Kingston) via Cooma three times a week, which costs roughly A$26 per adult. The V/Line Capital connection, which connects with the train from Melbourne at Bairnsdale and continues to Canberra runs through Bombala three times week.

Get around
There is no public transport or taxi service in Bombala. Most people arrive by car, and you'll be quite limited in the area without one. The town centre is walkable, but that's about as far as it goes.

See
The town of Bombala was settled in the 1840s, and was one of the major towns of the region. It was the terminus for the railway line from Sydney, which has now been progressively closed all the way back to Canberra. You can still see many historic buildings in the town. The railway station and lines are still there, and you can walk on the platform.

Go next
The small down of Delegate is 30 minutes drive away. You can continue on the road south from there, for a 100km winding and scenic trip to join the Princes Highway. Great trip for those who love driving corners. Not so great for travelling with those with a propensity for car sickness.

SE Forest National Park holds one of the area's last patches of pristine wet fern rainforests – it does require some travel on gravel roads, though.

title: Bombala


text:
Bombay (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Bombay:

India

 * Mumbai (formerly Bombay) - the largest city, and the capital of Maharashtra state
 * Bombay State - now split into Gujarat and Maharashtra

United States of America

 * Bombay (New York) - a town in Franklin County (New York)

title: Bombay (disambiguation)


text:
Bombay Beach

Bombay Beach is a small town on the east shore of the Salton Sea.

Get in
Bombay Beach is on California State Highway 111, 41 miles (66 km) south of Interstate 10 in Indio and 58 miles (93 km) north of Interstate 8 in Calexico.

title: Bombay Beach


text:
Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary

Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary is in North East Bhutan.

Understand
Covering much of Trashi Yangtse district, this 1,550 km2 reserve provides sanctuary to rare animals such as blue sheep, snow leopards, red pandas, musk deer and Himalayan black bears.

History
The Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1995 in order to protect large areas of virtually untouched Eastern Himalayan ecosystems ranging from warm broadleaved forest to alpine scree slopes. It partly overlaps with the earlier Kulong Chhu National Park which mainly covered alpine and subalpine habitats. A park manager and staff were appointed in 1998. The first management plan was produced in 2001.

Landscape
Altitudes in the sanctuary range from in the south to over  in the north. The northern parts include glaciers, snow peaks, scree slopes, alpine pastures and scrub and glacial lakes and valleys. The central parts include ridges and valleys covered in scrubland, conifer forest and broadleaved forest. The southern and lower part consist more ridges, valleys and river gorges. Most are covered in broadleaved forest. Flatter areas have often been cleared for agricultural land and villages.

title: Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary


text:
Bomdila

Bomdila is a scenic mountainside town in Arunachal Pradesh, and the headquarters of West Kameng district.

By car
Bomdila can be reached from Tezpur (180 km/112 mi) by road. The road is mostly smooth as of April 2023, so travel should take less than 5 hours without stops if you are not held up by untimely landslides or major road repairs (which can sometimes require you to wait for an hour to pass).

If returning from Tawang (160 km/99 mi), the travel takes about 4-5 hours depending on the prevalent condition of the road.

By shared taxi
Shared Tata Sumo taxis ply on this route. The fare is ₹500-700 (Apr 2023) from Tezpur to Bomdila. The official counter is located inside Tezpur's Assam State Transport Corporation bus stand (A.S.T.C). It is advisable to make the booking and get a seat number a day in advance as the service is not very reliable and also can fill up. The taxis leave A.S.T.C at 5:30AM to Tawang via Bomdila and 11:30AM to Bomdila only. However, drivers may refuse to take foreign travelers in the 11:30 slot due to fears of delays of an hour or more at the Arunachal state border for checking documents, which means arriving in Bomdila after nightfall. However, the process of crossing the state border can be as quick as 5 to 10 minutes if the gate staff aren't busy.

By bus
From Tezpur, Bomdila can also be reached by bus. One needs to first go to Balipara which is about 20 km (12 mi) from Tezpur A.S.T.C. Shared Tata Ace Magics ply on Tezpur-Balipara route (rate ₹15 per head). There is a daily Itanagar- Bomdila bus that passes through Balipara at around 11AM. The bus is generally crowded.

There are also buses running directly between Guwahati and Bomdila, but best to check with them first if you're a foreign traveler, as your presence will require them to stop longer at the entrance to Arunachal Pradesh state.

Get around
Bomdila is a very small place and walking is the best way to get around the town. It is advisable to hire a taxi to go to the Upper Gompa. (about 4 km/2.5 mi) by road, ₹100). Taxis can be hired from the taxi stand situated just beyond the main market.

See
There are three monasteries in and around Bomdila. Locals call them Gompa. It is always best to ask directions to Gompa than saying monastery.

Lower Gompa: This Gompa is situated just beyond the main market. The taxi stand and the Lower Gompa are situated on opposite ends of the main market. It is a very simple monastery. One can give it a miss if time is of the essence.

Middle Gompa: This Gompa is situated about 1.5 km (0.9 mi) from the main market.

Upper Gompa (labeled "Bomdila Monastery" on many maps): This Gompa is the most majestic of the three. It is situated about 5 km (3 mi) from the Market. One can hire a taxi from the taxi stand to go this Gompa.

Crafts Centre: Crafts centre is situated just opposite the Lower Gompa. Local handicrafts are showcased here.

Eat
Sikkim Restaurant: Main Market, Bomdila. Thukpa, Momo and Chowmein (Fried Noodles)available in both Veg. and Non-Veg. (Chicken, Pork, Beef and Fish). Dishes ranging from ₹50-80

Tsepal Yongjam: Main Market, Bomdila. Indian, Chinese and continental dishes. Ranging from ₹80-150

Sleep
There are many hotels, guest houses, and homestays in Bomdila, so it should be possible to find one when you arrive, though many fill up on weekends.
 * Hotel Passang, central market area. Tel:+91 3782 222-627. Clean rooms. No TV, AC or hot shower. Hot water in a bucket is available from the reception on demand. Double Rooms available from ₹300
 * Tsepal Yongjam Main Market. Single rooms from ₹600-1900. Double rooms from ₹1200-3900. Clean, AC rooms. Wooden flooring. TV and hot shower in the room.

Go next

 * Dirang
 * Tawang
 * Tezpur

title: Bomdila


text:
Bominaco

Bominaco is a small village in Abruzzo.

Get in
There are several buses a day to and from L'Áquila.

Get around
The village is small and anybody can get to the two churches just outside. There is a castle on a hill above the village that requires a degree of fitness.

See
The view from the castle more than justifies the slog up. As for the churches, if they were in a more visited region like Tuscany, they would surely be on everybody's tourist trail. The Abbey of Santa Maria Assunta has three lovely apses but is relatively plain inside, although it does have some precious objects.

The Oratorio of San Pellegrino near it has the most splendid frescoes inside - meaning that photography is not permitted.

Eat
There is only a small bar for drinks and small snacks next to the bus stop.

Connect
To view inside the churches you need to be accompanied by a local guide. The telephone number to ring is displayed on the gate of San Pellegrino church.

title: Bominaco


text:
Bonaire

Bonaire is a Caribbean island just north of Venezuela, politically part of the Netherlands. Along with its neighboring Dutch islands of Aruba and Curaçao, it forms the ABC Islands, though it is much quieter. It is a mostly flat, riverless coral island renowned for diving, windsurfing, and bird watching (particularly flamingos). Lacking many sandy beaches – it instead has lush coral reefs – it is less visited by cruise ships. Bonaire has world-class shore diving, much of it easy, and is thus well-suited for beginners, or for experienced divers who want relaxing independent diving.

Understand

Geographically, Bonaire is part of the Netherlands Antilles, which is comprised of the ABC Islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. These islands in turn are part of the Leeward Antilles, which also contains numerous islands that are part of Venezuela.

Politically however, Bonaire is part of the Caribbean Netherlands, with Sint Eustatius and Saba, and is a "special municipality" fully integrated in the Netherlands proper but does not have the same laws.

Bonaire uses the US dollar as its currency.

Climate
The climate is tropical marine with little seasonal temperature variation. Temperature is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean, with averages of 28°C (82°F). Bonaire sits outside the Caribbean hurricane belt. "Rainy" season lasts from the last week of October to the end of January, but it is still relatively dry. During rainy season, late night and early morning rains are common, usually clearing shortly after sunrise.

Water temperatures average 26°C (80°F).

Terrain
The total land area of the island is. The southern portion of the island is flat with few hills, sparse vegetation and negligible natural resources other than white coral beaches and salt. The northern part of the island is a rugged and arid national park. The southern tip of the island is a series of giant water-filled salt pans for sea salt production and an off-limits flamingo sanctuary.

Tourism information

 * Bonaire Tourism website

Talk
The official languages are Dutch and Papiamento, the latter of which is the traditional language spoken by the locals. Many locals also speak Spanish, and employees at hotels, dive shops and restaurants will almost always also speak English.

Entry requirements
Countries eligible for a visa-free entry are shown in cyan on image to the right.

Other countries required obtaining a visa, which is valid for Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands and allows multiple entry for a maximum period of 90 days within 180 days. The maximum uninterrupted stay in one of the individual countries is 30 days. The visa is not valid for the European part of the Netherlands.

All non-residents are required to pay a $75 visitor tax upon arrival. This can be paid in advance at https://tourismtax.bonairegov.com/.

By plane
Airlines Serving Bonaire and their flights include:
 * KLM offers five weekly flights from Amsterdam to Bonaire (sometimes via Aruba).
 * United Airlines operates weekly non-stop flights from Newark (EWR) on Saturday morning (Saturday afternoon return), and from Houston (IAH) on Saturday afternoon (Sunday morning return).
 * Delta Air Lines offers weekly flights from Atlanta (ATL) on Saturday mornings (Saturday afternoon return), and sometimes Sunday mornings (Sunday afternoon returns).

Small regional airlines connect Bonaire with the neighboring islands: Divi Divi Air and TUIfly.

Charter airlines include Tiara Air.

Departure Fee for all international destinations is USD $33.40 per person, payable in cash, or debit/credit card at the airport prior to check-in. MasterCard, Visa, Discover, Maestro, are all accepted, but American Express is not.

By boat
There are no passenger ferries operating to or from Curaçao or Venezuela. Cruise ships do increasingly visit Bonaire, especially "in season" (winter). Some shops and restaurants may remain open extra hours to cater to their passengers.

You can also use different Bonaire Water Taxis including and the Seacow Watertaxi.

Private boat moorage is available. Dive operators operate boats to many dive sites including those located off the small uninhabited island of Klein Bonaire. Some boat operators also specialize in snorkel tours and there are regularly scheduled passenger boats to Klein Bonaire. Some include the Woodwind, Oscarina, Bowalie and more.

By car
Driving is on the right, and the island does not have any stoplights. Maximum speed in urban areas is 40 km/h (25 mph), and outside of town it is 60 km/h (35 mph).

Automobiles can be shipped to Bonaire and rental cars are available at the airport and at selected hotels. Reservations are strongly suggested as, especially during peak times, all vehicles may be rented. You can drive around the entire island in a couple of hours!

By bus
There is an informal bus system on the island that utilizes vans. There are a small number of medium sized tour buses on the island as well.

By taxi
The island has a small fleet of cabs to service cruise ships and the airport. Rates are not set and should be negotiated beforehand.

By bicycle
Bicycle rentals are available.

By other
Scooters, motorcycles, golf carts, are also available for rent.

See

 * Lizards, birds, corals, reef fish, sea turtles
 * Historic Slave Shelters
 * Fort Orange built 1639
 * Indian Rock art
 * Salt flats
 * Mangrove forests
 * Soroban beach, popular with windsurfers

Scuba diving
Bonaire is renowned among divers as one of the top shore-diving locations in the world. The reef along the western side of the island has been protected for years and is in excellent condition, offering visitors the opportunity to literally wade in from the beach in front of their hotel and experience an amazing underwater world. The eastern side of the island is exposed to the Atlantic Ocean and is significantly rougher, so diving opportunities are limited to guided dives on all but the calmest days.

Dive sites are located along the entire western coast, generally marked by a painted yellow rock and/or a mooring in the water. Dive shops are everywhere and will rent gear, and most have drive-thru tank rentals where you can pick up tanks for the day and return used tanks. The reef is fairly shallow, with depths from 10 meters to 40 meters (30 feet - 130 feet).

Before diving all divers must review the national marine park rules and pay a $40 per person fee (as of 2023), good for one year. This fee also applies to snorkelers, kite surfers, and anyone that uses the national marine park. The fee can be paid in cash at any dive shop, and you will be issued a dive tag that you must carry with you while diving. It can also be paid online at https://stinapa.bonairenaturefee.org/.

Equipment
Beyond usual scuba diving gear, the following rules and recommendations apply.

Marine park rules include no gloves, no chemical glow sticks, and no spear fishing (except special lionfish courses; see below). On the other hand (or foot, rather), booties are strongly recommended, due to walking on rough terrain during shore entry, and dive knives are allowed.

For most people, a 3 mm wetsuit (full) is suitable year-round; a 2 mm wetsuit or shorty is ok for more warm-blooded divers. A dive skin is recommended for snorkelers, and may also be worn under a wetsuit.

A waterproof bag or box is useful if shore diving, to keep keys and billfold (and phone, if you want to risk it), as these should not be left in the car. A few cheap zipper plastic bags should be sufficient for keys and money/cards, though not phones. A thin billfold helps to carry cash and cards, though a rubber band or binder clip is fine, and they can also be stored loose.

Activities
The main attraction is shore diving: rent a truck, fill your tanks, load up your gear, drive to a site, and start diving! Obviously this requires experience and a buddy to be done safely; you can hire a Dive Master to come along if inexperienced or for more challenging dives.

There are a number of special activities available, including:
 * Coral Restoration with the Coral Restoration Foundation Bonaire (at Buddy Dive, Harbour Village Resort, and Wannadive):
 * Coral Restoration Adventure Dive
 * PADI Coral Restoration Diver Distinctive Specialty
 * Lionfish Hunting, which is only allowed with a special gun, under supervision. Lionfish are an invasive species, and it is ecologically responsible to kill them (and tasty to eat them!).
 * Resorts notably include VIP Diving.

Stay safe
Always dive with a buddy and stay within your ability and training.

Do not leave any valuables in your car while diving as break-ins are common. Preferably leave valuables in the hotel safe, especially wallets and phones, and bring a minimum with you: just keys and a bit of cash, and take in a waterproof bag.

Other water activities

 * Snorkeling
 * Fishing
 * Windsurfing
 * Kiteboarding
 * Sea Kayaking
 * Sailing

Land activities

 * Mountain biking
 * Cave exploring
 * Bird watching

Money
Bonaire uses the U.S. dollar, denoted by the symbol "$" (ISO currency code: USD). It is divided into 100 cents.

Eat
Bonaire has many restaurants and quite varied cuisine given the overall island population. "Aki ta Bende Kuminda Krioyo" will inform a visitor that local-style food is available, generally heavy on soups, stews, fried foods and fish. Traditional foods that may be found on the menu include conch, cacti, wahoo and rock lobster. Much of the fish is caught locally by line fishermen in season. Though traditionally eaten, iguana is not generally served in restaurants.

Bonaire has little in fast food, though there is the "smallest KFC franchise outlet in the world" in a shopping plaza by Kralendijk and a Subway sub shop. Check out "Swiss Chalet", a local favorite serving Fondu. Bobbejan's is an extremely popular weekend-only barbeque joint. Other cuisines common on the islands are Argentine, Italian, Indonesian, Suriname, and lots and lots of Chinese. Island-made ice cream is available in many places, with Lovers Ice Cream being a local favorite. Arrive before noon, as they often sell out.

Almost all eateries are open for limited hours during the day, and many close briefly during siesta time between 2-3PM. Call or check ahead to determine if a restaurant is open for lunch, dinner, both, or only open on weekends. Some are closed certain days of the week, such as Sunday.

Sleep
Despite the small size of the island, Bonaire has a lot of possibilities when looking for places to stay, from large resorts to small privately owned houses which you can rent on a daily basis. Along the coast you have multiple places that combine a dive school with cabañas where you can sleep for a moderate price. Most of the accommodations on the island are relatively small, averaging 15 rooms or less.

Several mid-size apartment complex devoted to tourists exist. These tend to be a bit more upscale than the smaller accommodations. There are several larger, more resort like places as well. These are still somewhat small, with only the Plaza Resort Bonaire and Captain Don's Habitat having over 100 rooms.

Due to flights from the US often being scheduled on Saturdays, some resorts have a weekly schedule, with an end-of-week party Friday night, such as the BBQ at Buddy Dive Resort.

Stay safe
There is little serious crime on Bonaire; however, 911 can be used for emergencies. Secure your bicycles and scooters. Never leave anything of value in your car while diving as break-ins are common.

Tap water on the island is perfectly safe for drinking, although bottled water is readily available for those who want it.

Go next

 * Venezuela is only a short distance away, as are Curaçao and Aruba. For Venezuela, consult what can be frequently changing travel advisories and visa requirements, especially for U.S. citizens.

title: Bonaire


text:
Bonao

Bonao is a village in the Dominican Republic.

Understand
On the hard trodden path of the backpacker, it is becoming increasingly rare to discover the elusive prize that all of us seek: a hidden corner of paradise, untouched and authentic. While paradise may be a matter of personal preference, who could resist the charm of a rural Caribbean village nestled within impossibly green mountains, and crisscrossed by abundant streams and waterfalls? The wave of mass tourism to hit the Dominican Republic has, thankfully, bypassed such a place.

The visitor who ventures off the beaten track of Santo Domingo-Puerto Plata-Samana etc., and heads instead for the town of Bonao, will receive just rewards for his curiosity. Bonao is the gateway to Los Quemados, a sleepy village nestled in the foothills of the Cordillera Central, a destination that remains a precious secret to those few who have enjoyed its allure. It boasts spectacular views of the lush mountain ridges as well as the clear freshwater River Yuna running through the settlement. One could spend many peaceful days here merely enjoying the natural beauty of the location and the warm hospitality of the Dominican campesinos.

The best time to visit is when the rainy season is over.

Do
The adventurous will find endless diversion and pleasure from mountain activities such as horseback riding, trekking to waterfalls, and swimming in the countless babbling streams and waterholes. Anything is possible, from hiring a motorbike to explore the corkscrew roads, to setting up camp on a remote mountaintop.

title: Bonao


text:
Bonavista

Bonavista is a city in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located at the northern tip of the eponymous Bonavista Peninsula.

Understand
Bonavista is where modern North America began. On June 24th 1497, Giovani Caboto (John Cabot), an Italian explorer sailing under the British flag for King Henry VII, made landfall in the New World. "O Buona Vista," meaning "Oh Happy Sight," he was said to exclaim after nearly two months at sea. News of the existence of this New Found Land—and the riches of the Grand Bank fishery—spread throughout Europe after Cabot's return journey across the Atlantic. In the last decade of the 19th century, Bonavista was a booming town that serviced the 20,000 people living on the peninsula. Long a regional centre for the cod fishing industry, the closure of the fishery in 1992 saw Bonavista's population of approximately 6,500 cut in half to its present population of 3,500.

Today Bonavista is experiencing a resurgence thanks to a sustainable snow crab fishery and a booming tourism sector. It is home to some of the friendliest folk in Newfoundland, and boasts several of the province's most important historic sites. Be prepared to get engaged in long and wide-ranging conversations. As tourism is a major industry, and wanes during the winter, many businesses are closed November–April, or longer. But in July and August, things are in full swing.

Get in
Many visitors travel to Newfoundland via the ferry from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to either the Town of Port aux Basques on Newfoundland's southwest coast, or to the terminus in Argentia (Seasonal) near St John's. You can also travel here via a number of international airlines which travel to St. John's International Airport, or a few regional airlines that fly to Gander.

By car
There are three access points to the Bonavista Peninsula in order to get to the Town of Bonavista. The most western access junction is at Port Blandford (Route 233), the Bonavista Overpass (Route 230), or at the Town of Clarenville (Route 230-A). St John's is about 3½ hr away, while Gander is about 3h away.

By thumb
Hitchhiking in rural Newfoundland is relatively easy, though of questionable legality. It is pleasant when the weather is nice. Friendly locals and eager tourists often cover long distances. Be prepared to wait if stopping in an area with little traffic.See Hitchwiki for more.

Get around
Bonavista is a pedestrian's delight. The gentle topography is appealing but it is the rich cultural landscape which makes for enjoyable walking in the community.

There is a complex network of roads and laneways connecting the central area of the town known as the Harbour and Church Street to various sections of the community bearing age old names such as Canaille, Mockbeggar, Rolling Cove, Red Point, Bayley's Cove and Bakeapple Marsh. This all makes Bonavista a superb place to wander.

As the topography is relatively flat, traffic is light, drivers are courteous, and even more distant sites are seldom more than a few kilometres apart, travel by bicycle is also pleasant.

See

 * Bonavista is noted for the authenticity of its 19th-century (and earlier, and later) outport architecture. Check out the historic churches: Memorial United Church (completed 1923; 37 Church St) and St Joseph's Catholic Church (Completed 1842; 5 Sweeneys Ln) continue to offer regular religious services, while Alexander for All Souls Mortuary Chapel (completed 1897; 70 Coster St E) can sometimes be visited as a historic site. Civil society buildings include the Orange Hall (1907; 14 Sweetland's Hill), which once had the largest membership of loyal Orangemen in Canada; Court House (1900; 1 Church St), still featuring whipping post, stocks, and a cannon from World War I; the Garrick Theatre (opened 1945), which often hosts a cinema or live entertainment; and wooden Fishing Flakes, raised wooden platforms located throughout town, which were once used to store and dry salt cod.

Do
Most visitors to Bonavista come for the scenery, the cultural history, and the chance to view rare North Atlantic wildlife:
 * Iceberg season begins as the arctic sea ice melts, and winds and currents blow broken glacier chunks south along the Newfoundland and Labrador coasts. Since Bonavista is a north-facing town on a long peninsula, icebergs are easily trapped in its vicinity. At peak iceberg season in May and June, dozens of icebergs can be spotted from shore or from nearly any scenic viewpoint (see below).
 * Puffins can be found all along the coast, though they are elusive. A marine bird, they only come to shore to breed and raise their young, which they do in earthen burrows. This tends to take place between roughly mid-April and mid-August. Because they also go back to sea to fish, the best time to spot them on the Bonavista cape is in the evenings, beginning a few hours before sunset, when they come back to feed their young and rest.

Whale watching
Twenty-two species of whale call Newfoundland home at various points in the year, returning in cyclical migrations to fish its rich fish stocks. With a little bit of patience and a lot of luck, they can be spotted from any vantage point with a view of the sea. In Bonavista, they've even been known to come right into the inner harbour! In practice though, it's exceptionally rare to spot them without a boat.

Three companies run whale watching tours from Bonavista port:

Groceries and supplies
Beer is available for purchase at any of the 3 gas stations located on the main highway at the entrance to town, or at the 3 convenience stores, located in the south, centre, and north of the town.

Eat
Most local restaurants are only open during the summer tourist season.

Sleep
There are a number of hotels and B&Bs in Bonavista, in addition to a wide selection of vacation rental properties.

Connect
Cellular service is provided by Telus/Bell and their subsidiaries and network users (including Virgin, Koodo, PC Mobile, and Public Mobile). SIM cards are available at the Bell distributor, Custom Computer Centre (23 Church St). Rogers and its subsidiaries and network users (including Fido, Chatr, and 7/11 Speakout) do not have service in the Bonavista Peninsula region.

WiFi is available for customers at many restaurants and hotels.

Scotiabank (64 Church St, Bonavista) is the only bank in the area, but there are also ATMs at Walkhams Pub, Irving Gas Station, and Bonavista Convenience.

There is a full-service Canada Post in the centre of town.

Go next

 * Explore Trinity and other areas of the Bonavista Peninsula
 * Terra Nova National Park
 * St. John's
 * Twillingate
 * Gander
 * Saint Pierre and Miquelon

title: Bonavista


text:
Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is 52 km from Panaji in the foothills of the Western Ghats in Goa. 8 km² in size, Bondla is "rather small" even by official accounts. It includes a Mini Zoo, Deer Safari Park, Formal Gardens, Botanic Gardens and a few Ecotourism Cottages.

By road
Bondla is off National Highway 4A that connects Belgaum with Panjim. Branch off at Mollem.

Route: Mollem-Satpal Sancorda-Shivddem-Bondla (20 km). Branch off at Tiska Route: Tiska - Usgaon - Ganhem - Bondla (14 km).

Route: Margao-Ponda-Usgao-Ganjem-Bondla (36 km) Panjim-Ponda-Usgao-Ganjem-Bondla (52 km).

By rail
Collem (on the Mormugao-Hubli line). Route: Collem-Mollem-Sancorda-Shivddem-Bondla: 28 km.

Carambolim (Karmali Railway Station, on Konkan Railway) Route: Carambolim-Old Goa-Ponda-Usgao-Ganjem-Bondla: 40 km.

By plane
Dabolim-Ponda-Usgao-Ganjem-Bondla (70 km)

Get around
The Forest Department has announced that it is contemplating to run a bus service from Tiska to Bondla everyday, except Thursday. Dep. Tiska 11:00 and 19:30 Dep. Bondla 07:30 and 17:45. Many people travel via their own transport. Hired taxi is a "little bit costly" as the Forest Department cautions.

See
There are botanical gardens, a zoo and a deer park. The gardens are very pleasant, while there has been some criticism of the state in which the animals are maintained. There are elephant rides offered in the afternoons, around 16:00.

Late evenings and nights out there can be interesting. It has moist deciduous forests, small patches of evergreens, and Goa's state tree Terminalia Crenulata (Matti) and Rosewood are common here.

To see Goa's state animal, the gaur, you need to go here too. You could run into panther, jungle cat, leopard cat, toddy cat, deer, wild boars, porcupines, ant eaters, or squirrels are some of the other animals here. Over a hundred species of birds are believed to be here, and Goa's growing romance with British birdwatchers is building awareness in this area.

Do

 * Zoological Park - A tiny zoo in moated enclosures with natural surroundings. A few elephant, panther, lion, gaur, sambar, deer, sloth bear, porcupine, wild boar, crocodiles, and reptiles.
 * Deer Safari Park - Visitors can move among deer in vehicles inside the Deer Safari Park housing sambar and spotted deer.
 * Formal Gardens - Lawns, exotic trees, varieties of roses, and colourful flowering plants in the middle of the forest.
 * Botanical Gardens - Collection of plants.
 * Nature Education Centre - Exhibits to see, feel and interpret. An attached library, with video movies screened on request.
 * Birdwatch - Bondla is home to over a hundred bird species. For details on bird-watching areas contact the Park Range Office.
 * See wild animals You need to scan from watch towers, to spy gaur, sambar, and wild boar at water-holes. You need luck too.
 * Nature trails - For the more energetic.
 * Archaeological exhibit - Deity Gajalaxmi with several motifs in bold relief, from the sixth to eighth century venerated by ancient settlers are located here.

The zoo, deer safari, and garden are closed on Monday.

Buy
There is not much to purchase here, except a few touristy items, snacks and a modest guidebook or two. This is a no-plastics zone.

Eat
Small restaurants in the area.

The Den at Bondla was not as expected even in the simple of menu!

Drink
As above, a few restaurants here.

Sleep
Ecotourism cottages here can accommodate 24 persons. Two dormitories have a total of 48 beds. A restaurant called The Den is available too. There is a Hornbill Cottage at the Ecotourism Complex, Bondla.

Go next
Usually on your own or hired transport. Don't depend on public transport here.

title: Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary


text:
Bondowoso

Bondowoso is a regency in East Java, Indonesia. It has the capital city with the same name.

Understand
Filled with he lost ancient city and the western gateway to the Ijen Crater. This region has many ancient stones scattered in various districts and almost forgotten. The capital city square is the gathering place of society. To the north, there is an old building of Dutch heritage who now becomes Bondowoso SMP 1 and also there is a building called Hall Regents.

Talk
The main language is Madurese.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Jember, 45 km south of Bondowoso. Then take a taxi, either to Jember's Arjasa Bus Terminal, or directly to Bondowoso.

By bus
The most common transport to get into this region. The is located on the eastern side of the capital city. There are buses from Probolinggo (3 hours, Rp 20,000), Jember (from Arjasa Bus Terminal) or Situbondo.

Get around
Get Becak from the station which take to hotel or go around.

Do
The trip cycling around the Kalianyar village is a very interesting activity, we can see the villager activity and feel the culture as well. Kalianyar village besides having beautiful scenery and a peaceful atmosphere is also famous for two objects of interest those are the process of making tofu and tile for the roof, so we could visit the place of manufacture of tiles, as well as learn to keep up. see the process of making tofu, too exciting. Moreover, if you are vegetarian, try a great nasi campur (rice boiled with fresh or cooked vegetables) embellished with ten or more rare herbs grown organically in his garden and picked up and cooked personally with his own hands. Delicious!

Eat
Food that is characteristic of the tape, made from cassava on fermentation  with a sweet taste, this food can be found in almost all places, especially in Chinatown shops. Many traditional food like nasi pecel, sate, soto and others, when evening you could find at Alun - Alun. The most famous in this place "TAPE" made from Cassava fermentation with sweet taste, which will find Chinatown shop west of Alun - alun. TAHU CAMPUR BUK TUR 15 minutes from Bondowoso, special food would be found at Kalianyar village, suitable for vegetarian but good for everyone also

Sleep

Other hotels are Palm Hotel, Anugerah Hotel, Baru Hotel (near Alun-Alun (Bondowoso city square)), and Ijen View Hotel (around 500 meters south of the Bus station). Homestay at Kalianyar Village, 15 Kilometers south of the capital city.

Go next

 * Jember for Meru Betiri National Park and Watu Ulo.
 * Baluran National Park.
 * Bali

title: Bondowoso


text:
Bonfim

Bonfim is a city in the brazilian state of Roraima. It is located in the border of Guyana.

Get in

 * 124 km away from Boa Vista, by BR-401; six times per week bus service.
 * Vans and taxis go to the border city Lethem, Guyana, where it is possible to take a bus to Georgetown (10 to 14h trip).

title: Bonfim


text:
Bonifacio

Bonifacio is a city at the south tip of Corsica. It has a spectacular location on white limestone cliffs, sculpted and undercut by the sea, so the buildings overhang the edge. It's named for Boniface II of Tuscany, who beat the Saracens, and (circa 828 AD) thought it wise to fortify this spot against counter-attack.

The city is in two parts. All transport arrives in the Port, with its marina, ferry terminals and waterfront bars and restaurants. Looming above it, the Citadel or "Haute Ville" is the walled old town, a warren of alleyways, restaurants, museums and historic sites. 5 km south of the city, Cap Pertusato is the southern tip of Corsica, with a lighthouse and the Gouvernail rock.

By plane
The closest airport is Figari-Sud Corse, some north of Bonifacio. This has a midsummer bus service to Ajaccio and Porto Vecchio but no link to Bonifacio - a taxi will cost around €50.

By boat
Frequent ferries by Moby Lines and Blu Navy link the town with Santa Teresa Gallura in Sardinia. They take cars, and their schedule often allows for a day-trip in either direction. They provide an unforgettable approach to Bonifacio, negotiating the rocky Lavezzi Isles which mark the southernmost point of France, then steering in under the white cliffs. The ferry terminal is at the western edge of town at

By road
The main road in is the N196/N198 (or T40) from all points north. With your own car, park in the main parking lot next to the harbour (€2.80 per hour) and hike or take the Petit Train up to the citadel. The upper town can be accessed by car, but it's congested and has limited public parking.

A navette (minibus) runs between Bonifacio and Scopetto, where it connects to the bus for Ajaccio (via Sartène and Propriano). In July & Aug this runs three times a day, 7 days a week; Sept-June it runs twice a day M-Sa. Total journey time to Ajaccio is 3½ hours, fare €20.

A direct bus runs between Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio taking 30 min, fare €9. In July & Aug this runs four times a day, 7 days a week; Sept–June it runs twice a day M–Sa. The first bus of the day from Bonifacio connects with the onward service from Porto-Vecchio to Bastia.

Get around
It's a stiff hike up to the Citadel, though if you've arrived by ferry at the western edge of town, it's as quick to stride off up the slope as to walk into town centre for alternatives. A touristy but easier approach is on Le Petit Train, which runs every 30 min April–Oct. Buy your ticket in advance from the kiosk next to the marina TIC - but they won't sell if the next train is booked out. It clatters away up Ave Charles de Gaulle into the ramparts, does a little circuit of the headland plateau, then drops off and picks up by the town hall before trundling back down. €5 flat fare, many people choose to ride up and walk back but there's no reduction for that.

See
The Port is a pleasant area for strolling and eating, but it's probably best saved until you've seen the Citadel and are thinking about your onward transport. The Citadel is the big draw, and there are several ways up. Ave Charles de Gaulle is the main vehicle route, so it's gradual and has a sidewalk, but it's ratty with traffic. More scenic are the stairs, Montée Rastello, which begin by the They ascend to the saddle of the hill where they cross Ave Charles-de-Gaulle, then onward (now called Montée St Roch) to enter via the Genoa Gate. A steeper stair ascends from further west, crossing Quai Sott a Portigliola. Pedestrians can't enter the citadel via the tunnel under Porte de France.

The saddle of the hill below the Citadel is called the Pass of St Roch. It's the starting point for several walks and has a small chapel. It commands a sweeping vista over the straits, and affords one of the best land-based views of the "Grain of Sand" or Also called U Diu Grossu or "big finger" in Corsican, this is a peculiar rock just offshore, look down and east (left) from the road.

Enter the Citadel via the This was for centuries the only entrance to the upper town, until the Porte de France was created in the 19th century. The impressive drawbridge is an 1830 replacement of the 17th-century original. The bastion which guards the gate is now a museum. You can't walk the path on top of the walls (the Chemin de Ronde or Patrol Path) as this is closed for safety reasons.

Once within the massive walls, the main street straight ahead is Rue des Deux Empereurs (the two emperors who lodged here being Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1541, and Napoleon Bonaparte in 1793.) It's pleasant to wander the narrow old streets at random, though it will feel claustrophobic if hundreds of other tourists are doing the same. The Church of St Marie is more or less central. Adjacent is the Palace of the Podesta, the city ruler under the Republic of Genoa: It's closed to visitors.

There is talk of rehabilitating these and other ancient cisterns, as an eco-friendly way to boost the city water supply, which has always been precarious.

The citadel is only about 200 metres long, so within a few minutes stroll you pass the car entrance of Porte de France, the town hall, the monument to the French Foreign Legion, and the western gate exiting onto the limestone headland. Here find the Church of St Dominique, the Tuscan watchtower, and the Loggia de l'Arsenal. Westwards stretches the headland or Plateau Bosco, once wooded ("bosco") with olive trees but now bare and windswept. Rue des Moulins leads past derelict military buildings and the stumps of ancient windmills to the marine cemetery and, last but not least, the main citadel parking lot.

Do
Scuba-diving in the Straits is excellent, though you may have to drive out of town (e.g. to Porto Vecchio) to find a commercial dive shack running trips there.

Visit Cap de Pertusatu, the southern tip of Corsica, 5 km south of Bonifacio. You could hike there (but think about the coming back) along the Campu Romanellu. Or cycle or drive south from city centre onto D58 then D260 as far as it goes. There's a lighthouse, the "Gouvernail" rock, and views over the Straits towards Sardinia, barely 12 km away.

Sleep
Most of Bonifacio's hotels are by the port. You could also stay in Porto Vecchio and travel in.

Connect
Bonifacio has 4G from all French carriers. As of June 2022, 5G has not reached town.

Go next
Sardinia is only a ferry ride away, landing at Santa Teresa di Gallura. This can be done as a day-trip but Sardinia deserves an extended stay. Then from Cagliari in the south, another ferry runs to Palermo in Sicily: so you can hopscotch across three islands, and onward to Malta and Tunisia, without setting foot on mainland Italy. Though Italy of course is always a good place to go.

title: Bonifacio


text:
Bonito

There is more than one place called Bonito:

 * 1) Bonito (Bahia), a city in Bahia, Brazil
 * 2) Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul), a city in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
 * 3) Bonito (Pernambuco), a city in Pernambuco, Brazil

title: Bonito


text:
Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul)

Bonito is a city nestled on the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The city is of little note, but the surrounding region is known for spectacular clearwater river snorkeling, overall natural beauty and lush fauna & flora, and it is often regarded as a model case of sustainable tourism in Brazil.

Understand
Rich in calcium carbonate, which sticks to floating particles and makes them sink, the river waters of Bonito are crystal clear, often regarded as natural aquariums.

Climate
The region has two main seasons: dry and wet.

The wet season goes from December to March and sees lush green vegetation, high rivers, abundant flow on the waterfalls, and plenty of food for wild animals. However, rain makes the river water murky and there are less fish on the rivers due to their yearly migration known locally as piracema. Intense rain might close attraction sites and make roads difficult to pass. Also, this period coincides with the local summer and temperatures easily reach 35°C. From late December to early February the sun shines directly inside the Gruta Azul, making for a postcard-grade spectacular sight.

The dry season lasts from May to August and sees the crystal-clear river waters that made Bonito famous. Temperatures drop to milder figures, with warm days and fresh nights. However, waterfalls are not as exuberant and haze from nearby farms might be a passing issue.

Get in
The airport in Campo Grande, some 300 km away, might be a more affordable connection.

From Campo Grande, bus company Cruzeiro do Sul runs four services a day, departing the bus station at 08:00, 09:00, 13:00 and 16:00 (no 08:00 bus on Sunday). The trip lasts about 5 hours, R$65. It's usually possible to organize a Campo Grande airport pickup through your accommodation, as the service is available even on the hostels.

From Foz do Iguaçu, in the past it was possible to take a bus to Dourados (2 buses a day, 10 hr) and then continue onwards to Bonito (2 buses a day, 6 hr), but the service on the first leg apparently was discontinued. The same can be achieved using a shortcut through Paraguay, leaving from Ciudad del Este to Pedro Juan Caballero, and then from Ponta Porã to Bonito.

From Corumbá, there's a daily bus at 14:30 operated by Cruzeiro do Sul.

Apart from buses, 15-seater-vans (e.g. by vanzellatransportes) operate between the Pantanal (e.g. Passo de Lontro), Bonito and Campo Grande (e.g. R$ 100 for the trip Buraco de Piranhas - Bonito).

Fees and permits
Most of the attractions in and around Bonito are in private land. The entry fees and maximum number of daily visitors are set yearly by local governing bodies, and there are two types of prices: low- and high-season. The table of high season dates is published yearly, but in short it corresponds to the main Brazilian holidays, of which the most notable are:
 * Summer school holidays: late December & January
 * Carnival
 * Holy Week
 * Winter school holidays: July

All the entry tickets must be purchased through a licensed travel agency, which are linked to the main governmental system. There are reports this system goes off for the night, which makes last minute arrangements a challenge.

You need a permit to fish in the Pantanal region. The paperwork can be arranged with help of your hotel, and the fee should be paid at the local Banco do Brasil branch.

Get around
The town is small and walkable. However, most attractions are out in the countryside, usually accessible only by dirt roads. Travel agencies operate shuttle services to the attractions, but sometimes the transport fee costs as much as the entry ticket. Consider renting a car if you're not traveling alone. Otherwise, moto-taxis are available to most destinations.

Do
There are nice places to do snorkeling, explore caves, ride horses, and hike. While transportation and a guide is not always necessary, those wishing to use a guide should know that not all guides speak English, or in some cases, Spanish.

Buy
The central area of Bonito offers supermarkets, pharmacies and stores with articles for adventure sports.
 * Agência de Turismo (Passeios & CO.), Rua Pilad Rebuá, 1978 - Loja 2 - Centro - Bonito MS, +55 67 99981 8151
 * Agência de Turismo (Passeios & CO.), Rua Pilad Rebuá, 1978 - Loja 2 - Centro - Bonito MS, +55 67 99981 8151

Eat
There are several places in the town centre for eating at reasonable prices. You also can try out local game such as jacaré (cayman) and fish from the local rivers.

Drink
The central area of Bonito has some nice places to relax and have a cold beer or some fresh natural juices. A recommended spot is the "Taboa" bar, in the main street, famous for its cachaça and creative drinks made out of cachaça mixed with local fruits.

Sleep
Bonito is a popular destination inside Brazil, and it can be difficult to find rooms during Brazilian holidays. It is recommended to book your accommodation as soon as you are sure to go, especially if your stay includes a weekend.

Go next

 * Campo Grande
 * Corumbá
 * Dourados
 * Foz do Iguaçu - possible connection through Paraguay: from Bonito to Ponta Porã/Pedro Juan Caballero (5 hr), and onward to Ciudad del Este (6 hr), from where one can take a city bus to either the Brazilian or the Argentinian sides of the falls

title: Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul)


text:
Bonito (Pernambuco)

Bonito is a city in the mountains of Pernambuco Interior, Brazil.

Understand
Bonito is not a city of much commerce, but is a refuge for city dwellers.

Get in
From Recife, go west on route 232 for an hour and 20 minutes, then in Bezerros at the 3rd exit, take route 103 and go south for 25 minutes.

Get around
The people mostly walk within Bonito, take a mototaxi, or bus to other cities

See
See the waterfalls, EcoParque or Ecological Park, Japanese Colony which grows flowers, Pedra de Rodeadoura where a battle took place, Natural Reserve Mucuri

Do
Visit the waterfalls, visit with the people

Buy
Buy mountain clear water

Eat
Eat meat on a stick

Drink
Drink all the fruit juices

Go next
Get out rested and relaxed and make sure to come back for more another time

title: Bonito (Pernambuco)