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Gällivare

Gällivare, Sami Váhčir, is a mining town in Norrbotten County in northern Sweden, and an important railway junction as the ending point of Inlandsbanan and an important stop on the Malmbanan railway to Norway.

Gällivare municipality, Gällivare kommun spans a vast land area north of the Arctic Circle, larger than countries such as Montenegro. Out of the mere 18,000 inhabitants, 10,000 live in Gällivare itself.

Settlements

 * Gällivare itself
 * Malmberget
 * Nikkaluokta, a village at the foot of Kebnekaise, Sweden's tallest mountain
 * Ritsem, a Sami settlement and a hiking hub

Understand
The land around Gällivare has been inhabited by the Sami people since time immemorial. The Swedish government got their sight on Gällivare and Kiruna in the 17th century, as iron ore was discovered. Mining was done in Malmberget on a small scale (with ore pulled to the coast by reindeer), but expanded as the railway reached the city in 1888.

By rail

 * Inlandsbanan is a 1300 kilometer railway running south to north through the Swedish heartland, roughly half way between the coast and the Norwegian border. Though there is regular passenger traffic on the line, it mainly serves as a recreative railway with railbuses, and most ticket types give you the option to hop on and off the train as you like. It begins in Kristinehamn on the shores of Vänern, and passes the major inland cities of Mora, Östersund and Vilhelmina on the way.
 * Malmbanan, which literally means the Ore railway, is an important railway running between Luleå on the gulf of Bothnia and Narvik on the Atlantic coast. It's mainly used to transport Iron ore from the huge mines around Gällivare and Kiruna, but fortunately the spectacular views along the line can also be seen from several passenger trains running between the two cities, and in the summer, a daily overnight train from Göteborg and Stockholm.

By plane
Gälivare airport, also called Lapland Airport in promotional material, sees two flights per day with the small regional carrier Nextjet to Stockholm Arlanda Airport.

By car
Two European routes connects to the city.

 * E45, one of the longest European routes, leading northwards to Karesuando, and southwards to Gothenburg and the west coast via inland municipalities/cities like Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, Östersund and Mora. It then continues via ferry to/from Denmark, all the way down to Sicily (Italy).
 * E10, leading north to Kiruna and Narvik (Norway), and south to Överkalix, Töre and Luleå.

E10 then connects with E6 in the northern end (Narvik), and E4 in the southern end (Töre and Luleå)).

 * E6 stretches from the northernmost parts of Norway, Alta and Kirkenes; via Oslo and Gothenburg; to the southernmost parts of Sweden, Malmö and Trelleborg.
 * E4 stretches along the coast from Tornio (Finland); via the coastal cities, Luleå, Piteå, Umeå, Skellefteå, Örnsköldsvik, Sundsvall, and Gävle; to Stockholm, then further south from Stockholm to Helsingborg.

Note that neither E45 or E10 have motorway standard in this northern region.

Traffic accidents involving reindeers, sometimes whole herds, are not uncommon.

Also, be aware of the risk of white-outs during winter: As the temperature here can drop to -40 degrees or colder, snow can become a very fine powder. This can lead to complete and sudden temporary loss of sight, caused by thick snow smoke in the draught behind heavy trucks/buses and other meeting traffic. Keep your distance.

Get around
Gällivare and Malmberget form a walkable town; though the cold weather at winter makes walking a challenge.

Distances in the countryside are vast, and public transportation is very limited. Driving is a practical way to get around. Hiking is pleasant, but takes time. At winter, remain in the same place, or stay with a tour group.

See
The sceneries.

Do

 * Experience Northern Lights during the darkest months of winter.
 * Experience Northern Lights during the darkest months of winter.
 * Experience Northern Lights during the darkest months of winter.

Go next

 * Kebnekaise and Nikkaluokta. Kebnekaise is Sweden's tallest mountain (with its peak in Kiruna Municipality). Hiking up to the summit is a moderate challenge. The village Nikkaluokta is the nearest point with road access.
 * Kiruna Municipality, containing the Jukkasjärvi ice hotel and the moving mining city Kiruna.
 * The Laponia national park system extends into Gällivare municipality and the town of Gällivare is a popular transfer point for travels up to the mountainous national parks. Popular starting points for hiking trips include Stora Sjöfallet and Ritsem. Bus connections are available all year round.

title: Gällivare


text:
Gävle

Gävle is a port on the Baltic Sea in Gävleborg County, the southernmost part of Norrland. In 2020 the city had a population of 79,004.

Another 20,000 live in associated small towns. Those you might visit include Valbo for the Mackmyra whisky distillery and large shopping mall, Forsbacka for its 16th century ironworks, Bergby for its old church at Hamrånge, and Furuvik for the amusement park and zoo.

Understand
Gävle town is first documented in 1413 and received its charter in 1446, as Norrland's first and only city during the Middle Ages. Its harbour was first a fishing port, then an industrial dock and so remains; it's not a ferry port. The fortress resisted a Russian invasion in 1719, and Gävle has been spared combat since, with an army base just in case. But its wooden houses burned merrily enough without foreign assault, and after the last great fire in 1869 the area north of the river was re-built in stone on a grid pattern. South side was relatively spared so this is where you find the oldest part of town.

The countryside around Gävle, like much of Sweden, lies upon the Baltic Shield of gneiss and granite one or two billion years old. This is rich in metals, mined and crafted since antiquity, and hereabouts the main ore is of iron, while Falun further west has copper. A series of small foundry villages grew up using water power to work the furnace bellows and forges. Rivers descended from the Shield uplands (which are still rising, in post-glacial rebound) in fors - rapids and waterfalls, literally the force behind the ironworks. Early foundries had timber for fuel, but to make steel in any quantity you need coal for coking, which Sweden lacks. 19th century shipping and railways enabled bulk import of coal so the local steel industry then grew. But at the same time agriculture was shedding labour, and a series of bad harvests and political oppression drove many to emigrate. And the dozens of little foundries were inefficient, closing down in the 20th century as steel production was centralised elsewhere, and birch woods grew over their sites.

Gävle has a boreal climate with sharp seasonal extremes. Summer is pleasant, with sunset well past 10 pm, and "white nights". Winters are harsh, with sunset before 3 pm, and snow from mid December through February. See also Winter in the Nordic countries

By plane
Stockholm-Arlanda Airport is the nearest international airport, with extensive global connections. It's 130 km south of Gävle and there's no need to travel via central Stockholm. Instead, take a bus or train towards Uppsala:
 * by bus, take UL bus 801 from the bus station beneath Terminal 5. This takes 25 mins to Uppsala and runs twice an hour, 03:00 to 00:00. Change there for bus or train to Gävle.
 * by train, take the SL commuter train (pendeltåg) from Arlanda Central station within the Sky City complex (not from Arlanda South or North - these only have expresses to Stockholm city). Trains take 18 minutes to Uppsala Central and run every 30-60 min between 05:00 and 01:00; some of them continue north to Gävle.

By train
Direct trains run hourly from Stockholm Central to Gävle, taking 80 min via Arlanda Central (the airport), Uppsala and Tierp. (Beware, if you buy a cheap ticket to or from Stockholm but get off at the airport, you'll be surcharged.) Trains continue north every couple of hours to Sundsvall (2 hr 15 min), Umeå and Luleå, including the Norrland sleeper trains. Direct trains also run from Linköping, Norrköping and Östersund. Regional trains run hourly from Borlänge in Dalarna region via Falun, Hofors, Storvik and Sandviken; some of them start from Örebro.

Furuvik is a platform halt for the hourly regional train (Upptåget) between Gävle and Uppsala. Use this for Furuvik Park, the zoo and theme park, see "Do". The ride from town centre takes 8 min.

By bus
Buses from Stockholm City Terminal take just over two hours and a single ticket in 2022 is 220 kr. Ybuss run 2 or 3 times a day from Stockholm via the airport and Uppsala, and call at Gävle Bro the service area on E4 at the west edge of town. They're heading for northern cities such as Sundsvall. You can also buy tickets via the Flixbus website.

Merresor (formerly SGS Bussen) run Th-Su in the morning from Sandviken via Valbo and Gävle to Stockholm and starts back around 17:00.

Tapanis Buss runs from Stockholm via Gävle Bro to Sundsvall, Luleå and Haparanda / Tornio on the border with Finland.

By road
Major routes through Gävle are E4 south to Stockholm and north to Sundsvall, E16 west to Falun and eventually Oslo, and R76 south along the coast.

Get around
Walking will get you most places within town. From the railway station east end to the river park west end is little over 1 km.

There's no bike hire in town, but you can get spares and repairs M-F at Posa Cykel at Norra Köpmangatan 4.

Local buses all run from the railway station and Rådhustorget main square, see X-trafik for timetables. Bus 1 runs every 15 min to Valbro shopping centre. Bus 41 runs every 20 min to Sandviken. Bus 49 runs every 2 hours to Gävle Bro the long-distance bus drop off, then to Hedesunda.

Taxi operators are Fast Pris (+46 26 165000), Gävle Stad Taxi (+46 26 100880), Taxi Stor & Liten (+46 26 107000) and TaxiKurir. Taxis are usually reliable and the drivers speak good English.

See

 * is the main square of the modern town, laid out on a grid north of the river. It has several interesting old buildings including the Rådhus (town hall) for which it's named, but most are bland 20th century.
 * Gamla Gefle, Gävle's old town, remains only as a few blocks south of the river. The Joe Hill and Prison Museums are here.
 * Gamla Gefle, Gävle's old town, remains only as a few blocks south of the river. The Joe Hill and Prison Museums are here.
 * (Heliga Trefaldighets kyrka) on Kyrkogatan was opened in 1654 after its predecessor burnt down. It contains the 11th century Sörby rune stone, dedicated to a warrior chief called Egil.

Further out

 * is a wetland and deciduous forest nature reserve at the foot of the Testeboån river as it flows into the harbour. Access is free 24 hours via Hamnleden onto Gestrins väg. You can also reach it by the footpath on the railway bridge across the bay, though the view is mostly of industrial docklands. Not to be confused with Testeboån Nature Reserve (below) which starts 15 km upriver.
 * along the road to Bönan has a bathing beach and walking trails through the woods.
 * is a small fishing village and collection of summer chalets. The coast is mostly rocky but there's a small sandy cove. The former lighthouse, a wooden tower, is now the base for the channel pilots. The village has a cafe and a campsite open in summer. Bus 95 runs from Gävle via Brädviken every couple of hours.
 * covers the upper course of Testeboån river and is easiest accessed from the car park along Oslättforsvägen, as marked. (No access from the nearby E4.) You could also access from its source at Oslättfors. Glaciers dumped a moraine of gravel across the valley so the river splits into multiple channels, with wetland and deciduous forest. Further down the terrain becomes steeper so the river cascades. The reserve is free to access 24 hours.
 * is a woodland village by the lake at the source of Testeboån river, with access to the reserve. From 1796 there was an ironworks (bruk) here, making nails and other forged products. A few buildings of that era remain: the church (24 hours), the utility office, a coal depot and metalsmiths' houses. In 1880 the works were replaced by a timber industry, still in business. The mansion house, school and railway buildings are gone, and there isn't a museum. You can bathe or kayak in the lake.
 * is a hamlet straggling north of Bergby by the E4. Its main attraction is the church of 1854: it's oriented north-south. The font and two crucifixes are from its medieval predecessor. 500 m north, Hamrånge Hembygdsförening calls itself a "heritage village", but it's not a skansen outdoor museum. Set up in 1931, it's a sort-of events venue but unsure of what it wants to be. 2 km south of the village, Julhuset I Hamrånge is a Christmas lights display.
 * , active 1671-1927, were 5 km north of Axmarby village on the north boundary of the county. These have been landscaped into a park dotted with old buildings that you're free to stroll around, but there isn't a museum. The castle was demolished in 1970.
 * , active 1671-1927, were 5 km north of Axmarby village on the north boundary of the county. These have been landscaped into a park dotted with old buildings that you're free to stroll around, but there isn't a museum. The castle was demolished in 1970.

Do

 * The countryside around Gävle is good for outdoor life, especially during summer. Canoeing on the numerous lakes is popular. Fishing is free in the Baltic Sea; a license is needed in lakes and rivers.

 * Regiment Park is south bank of the river beyond the concert hall.
 * is the larger park on the north river bank. A footbridge at its east end connects to the concert hall and Regiment Park.
 * Football: were promoted in 2022, so they play soccer in Ettan or League One, Sweden's third tier. Their home ground Gavlevallen, opened in 2015, has a capacity of 6500; it's 2 km north of town.
 * Monitor ERP Arena (aka Gavlerinken) is an indoor arena next to the football stadium. With a capacity of 7900, it's the home rink of Brynäs IF ice hockey team, playing in the Swedish Hockey League, the top tier. The arena is also used for live music events.
 * Football: were promoted in 2022, so they play soccer in Ettan or League One, Sweden's third tier. Their home ground Gavlevallen, opened in 2015, has a capacity of 6500; it's 2 km north of town.
 * Monitor ERP Arena (aka Gavlerinken) is an indoor arena next to the football stadium. With a capacity of 7900, it's the home rink of Brynäs IF ice hockey team, playing in the Swedish Hockey League, the top tier. The arena is also used for live music events.
 * Golf: Gävle Golfklubb are northeast of town along Hamnleden, just north of Testeboåns delta.
 * means "gasometers" - stonking great redbrick roundhouses, not the collapsible metal storage towers that became common in the 20th century. This industrial dockland brownfield has been rehabilitated into a cultural neighbourhood with theatre, rock shows, cinema and retail. Bus 14 runs along Atlasgatan.
 * means "gasometers" - stonking great redbrick roundhouses, not the collapsible metal storage towers that became common in the 20th century. This industrial dockland brownfield has been rehabilitated into a cultural neighbourhood with theatre, rock shows, cinema and retail. Bus 14 runs along Atlasgatan.

Buy

 * There are a few indoor shopping malls downtown, but most stores are along the main drags downtown and south.
 * Souvenirs from Gävle could be a straw goat, Ahlgrens candy, Gevalia coffee, or Mackmyra whisky from Systembolaget.

 * Gallerian Nian is the main town centre mall, at Drottninggatan 9 one block east of the Best Western. Most stores are open M-F 10:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-18:00.
 * Flanör is the slab of a shopping mall on the west side of Rådhustorget the main square.

Budget

 * Main square has a cluster of hot dog, falafel and similar food stands.
 * Gallerian Nian (see Buy) has a food court with a few outlets.

Sleep

 * Scandic Gävle West is in Hagaström at the junction of E4 and E16, so this is more convenient for passing motorists.
 * Scandic Gävle West is in Hagaström at the junction of E4 and E16, so this is more convenient for passing motorists.
 * Scandic Gävle West is in Hagaström at the junction of E4 and E16, so this is more convenient for passing motorists.
 * Scandic Gävle West is in Hagaström at the junction of E4 and E16, so this is more convenient for passing motorists.
 * Scandic Gävle West is in Hagaström at the junction of E4 and E16, so this is more convenient for passing motorists.
 * Scandic Gävle West is in Hagaström at the junction of E4 and E16, so this is more convenient for passing motorists.

Stay safe
While Gävle is generally a safe city, main risk factors are petty theft and nightlife brawls. As in most of Sweden, cold weather can bring dangers including those of winter driving. Animal collisions are a risk factor; in particular moose, deer and boar.

Although it has become somewhat of a longstanding tradition for arsonists to try to burn down the Gävle goat, which more often than not does not survive the winter, keep in mind that this is still illegal, and you will be pressed with criminal charges if caught.

Connect
As of Nov 2022, Gävle has 5G from Tele2, Telia Mobile (the best coverage) and Telenor, and 4G from Tre Mobile. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Go next

 * Älvkarleby is a small town 20 km south, where the river Dalälven reaches the Baltic Sea. There's a hydroelectric power station and the unusual Dragon Gate, a Chinese hotel with a museum of Swedish culture.
 * Sandviken 27 km west is the blue-collar neighbour town. The municipality includes Högbo Bruk recreation area.
 * Uppsala with its ancient burial mounds and University is 40 min south by frequent train.
 * The Uppland history tour from Tierp to Stockholm is a showcase of the foundation of the Swedish kingdom, with roots in the Viking Age.
 * Stockholm 170 km south of Gävle has connections all over Scandinavia.

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

title: Gävle


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Göcek

Göcek is a town in Lycia on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. It's a small resort midway between Dalaman and Fethiye, and at the last count in 2014 its population was 6590. The main attraction is the series of small coves and islands around the bay, easily reached by boat.

Understand
The original village of Göcek is 2 km inland, a sleepy place of farming and forestry, and a harbour was constructed to ship out the logs. From the 19th century chromium ore was mined in the hills - this is valuable stuff, as it turns plain steel into stainless steel, highly resistant to corrosion, and electroplated chrome surfaces are shiny and resist tarnishing. The local mines have closed but Turkey still exports chromium. The small plain below the village was built over in the 1980s as the place morphed into a tourist resort lining the shore. Initially this was domestic tourism, as airports capable of receiving international flights lay at some distance and the approach roads were poor. One notable frequent visitor was prime minister Turgut Özal (1927-1993) who went on to be Turkey's president. He liberalised the economy and sought to mend the historic quarrels with Armenia and the Kurds, but died suddenly in office. Meanwhile Göcek benefited from the upgrade of Dalaman Airport, and in 2006 the hairpin approach over the mountains was superseded by a tunnel.

The climate is subtropical Mediterranean. Summers are hot, typically 35°C by day and 20°C by night. Winters are mild, 14°C by day. Early summer and autumn are good times to visit.

Get in
Göcek is 19 km east of Dalaman Airport. Many visitors arrive on package flights from Europe, and the coach transfer takes about 30 minutes.

Buses towards Fethiye from Istanbul and Izmir, and the Havaş bus from Dalaman Airport, stop at the filling station on D400 north edge of town. Walk 1 km southwest down Atatürk Blv to reach town centre.

Muttaş is the regional bus company, run by Muğla district council. Bus 48-2 runs every 15 min between Dalaman town and Fethiye via Göcek, and Bus 3-50 also runs between Fethiye and Göcek every 30 min. A swarm of dolmuşes also ply these routes.

D400 is the coast highway, which bypasses town to the north. The approach from Dalaman to the west has been improved by a toll tunnel, but you can still take the switchback lane over the ridge for the sake of the view.

Get around
Walk. Turgut Özal Cd is the pedestrianised mall parallel to the waterfront.

See

 * Town centre is modern, including Central Mosque (Merkez Camii) on the main plaza. The prayer hall is on the first floor, ground floor is shops.
 * The promenade is pedestrianised and lined with palms.
 * - "Mosque by the well" - is the focus of the old village inland, predating the resort. The old alleys and houses have mostly succumbed to modern development; the mosque is in traditional style but only built in 1998.
 * is a Lycian rock tomb on a bypassed loop of D400, badly eroded. The highway is divided so you can only enter the loop westbound, and exit the same way as the other end has been closed off.
 * Twelve Islands (Oniki Adalar) dot the Gulf of Göcek and are visited by boat trips.
 * is the large one sheltering the village. It has good beaches.

Do

 * Beaches: not in town, it's lined with boat wharfs and the water is full of unmentionables. İnlice cove 5 km east can be reached by dolmuş, Ayten cove is 6 km west and accessible by road.
 * Boat trips: over a dozen operators, you'll find them touting along the promenade.
 * With your own boat you can explore the many coves at your own pace. Yachts and other boats can be rented in town. Göcek is a Port of Entry into Turkey, as is nearby Fethiye, so if you arrive from Greek waters you can clear immigration and customs here.
 * Turkish baths: Göcek Hamam is at Kuzey Sk 30 where Highway D400 leaves town east. Mixed reviews, some female customers felt unsafe.

Buy

 * Stores: about 20 around the main plaza and a block back from the promenade. Carrefour, A101 and Migros are the main chains. Banks and ATMs are found nearby.

Eat

 * Lots of places along the waterfront.

Drink

 * Some dozen bars line the main street.

Sleep

 * Campsites are near the beaches, at İnlice east and beyond Ayten west.
 * Pansiyons are dotted about town. Two near the promenade with good reviews are Tufan and Ünlü.

Stay safe
Usual advice about care of valuables, traffic, sun protection and water safety. The jandarma patrol the main areas to deter the pickpockets and unruly drunks.

Connect
Göcek and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of June 2023, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Fethiye the large resort east has Lycian tombs. You come this way for Ölüdeniz, the blue lagoon.
 * Dalaman, where you probably arrived by air, has a small beach resort village but is otherwise modern and bland.
 * Dalyan is a small resort just west of Dalaman, with the ruins of ancient Kaunos, a delta wetland and a turtle sanctuary.
 * Marmaris is a large resort west with an old castle.

title: Göcek


text:
Gödöllő

Gödöllő  is a city of 32,000 people (2017) in Pest County, about 30 km east of Budapest. It is often visited as a daytrip from Budapest, or as a stop off while travelling to Eastern Hungary. It is among the most popular destinations for Austrians visiting Hungary, largely due to the royal palace, former home of Emperor Franz Josef and Queen Elizabeth.

By rail
Budapest has two suburban rail systems: the HÉV operated by BKV (the transport company in Budapest), and regular személy trains operated by MÁV (the national rail operator). Both serve Gödöllő, but not the same parts. However, if coming from central Budapest MÁV is almost always the better option, although HÉV is more practical if you are arriving directly from the Franz Liszt Airport (first take #200E from the airport to Kőbánya-Kispest, and from there on take #85 to Örs vezér tere, its final stop; both of these are bus lines with quite frequent departures, even on Sundays).

HÉV
The Gödöllő HÉV originates at Örs Vezér tere in Budapest, the eastern terminus of the metro line 2. Be sure to take a train towards Gödöllő and not Csömör or Cinkota. Gödöllő has four HÉV stops. Service pattern is 4 trains/hour during peak hours and 2 trains/hour at other times, and the trip from Örs Vezér tere takes 51 min.

Tickets can be bought at Örs Vezér tere or from the inspector on board, and the fare is Ft720, consisting of two tickets: a regular one for Ft350 that you should stamp inside the train, and an extension ticket for Ft370 that an inspector will come over to check (though if you have a Budapest period travelcard, this is reduced to Ft365).

MÁV suburban rail
Gödöllő is also served by MÁV suburban trains on the Budapest - Gödöllő - Hatvan line, which originates at Keleti pályaudvar (metro line 2) in Budapest. Service pattern is generally 2 trains/hr Budapest - Gödöllő with 1 train/hr running onwards to Hatvan. Gödöllő has three MÁV stops: Gödöllő-Állami telepek, Gödöllő, and Máriabesnyő. The Hatvan trains will stop in all three, the Gödöllő trains only at Állami telepek and Gödöllő station. The ride takes 38 minutes and costs Ft745 (though if you have a Budapest period travelcard, this is reduced to Ft365).

By car
Gödöllő is accessible by the M3 motorway out of Budapest.

Get around
Most of the main sights are within walking distance of Szabadság tér. The HÉV can be used within Gödöllő, at a cost of Ft155 a ticket. If travelling to Máriabesnyő suburban trains bound for Hatvan leave every hour from the main station. There is also a free bus that runs from the train station to downtown and then on to Tesco that runs roughly every hour. A complete local bus schedule can be found at Volánbusz's website.

Town Centre

 * In the court of the Town Market there is the Pelikános Kút, Gödöllő's symbolic pelican crest.
 * In the court of the Town Market there is the Pelikános Kút, Gödöllő's symbolic pelican crest.
 * In the court of the Town Market there is the Pelikános Kút, Gödöllő's symbolic pelican crest.
 * In the court of the Town Market there is the Pelikános Kút, Gödöllő's symbolic pelican crest.
 * In the court of the Town Market there is the Pelikános Kút, Gödöllő's symbolic pelican crest.

Parks
City Parks Gödöllő is considered a city of parks. The three main parks are all located around the palace: Alsó park (lower palace park), Felső park (upper palace park), and Erzsébet park, named after Queen Elizabeth.

Gyros
In an around Szabadság tér are a few places to get gyros or hamburgers.

 * Special Gyros at Állomás tér, on the Gödöllő HÉV stop and near the train station serves up the best gyros in town. They're definitely worth grabbing while waiting for the train or HÉV.

Cukrászda

 * Sulyán Cukrászda on Szabadság tér 8. offers Hungarian cakes, Somlói galuska, and gelato. During the spring and summer they set up tables outside so you can people watch on the square.

Ice cream
From Spring to Autumn, home-made ice cream, cakes, and soft drinks can be purchased at the main entrance to Erzsébet Park.

Sleep
Gödöllő is close enough to Budapest that you probably won't need to look for accommodation here. If you plan on staying, however, here are some options.

Go next

 * Debrecen, the "capital city of the Great Hungarian Plain"
 * Eger, historical Castle
 * Hatvan, visit an other Grassalkovich Palace
 * Salgótarján, the city boasts two excellent castle ruins and several hiking opportunities through the forested Cserhát hills.

title: Gödöllő


text:
Gönen

Gönen is a city in Southern Marmara in Turkey, 45 km inland from the port of Bandırma. It has a population of 45,282 as of 2012, with another 20,000 in its surrounding villages, and is best known for its geothermal springs.

Understand
In antiquity this was the Hellenistic town of Asepsus (Ασεψούς), later dubbed Artemea (Αρτεμέα) for the goddess Artemis. No-one knows why the Ottomans decided to call it Gönen. It's long been a spa resort for its geothermal hot waters, within easy reach of the coastal harbours. It was wrecked in an earthquake of 1440 AD but continued to grow as a provincial market town, making its living from tanning leather and cultivation of rice. The 1953 earthquake of magnitude 7.3 killed 50 in town and 1000 across the region: there was over 4 m lateral displacement along the fault line. This fault is the reason for the geothermal springs, and examination of its previous major earthquakes suggest they only recur about every 660 years, inşa'allah.

Get in
Kamil Koç ("Camel Coach", now part of Flixbus) run evey 2-3 hours from Istanbul Esenler (Europe-side), taking six hours via Gebze, Bursa, Karacabey and Bandırma. An adult single fare is 220 TL. Metro Turizm look cheaper and faster, but their buses start from Istanbul Samandira, way out in the eastern burbs. Pamukkale Turizm buses don't run here.

Ferries from Istanbul take two hours to Bandırma, and ferries from the Marmara Islands sail to nearby Erdek.

is west side of city centre.

By road from Istanbul you can go either way round the Sea of Marmara. Clockwise takes you on O-5 past Gemlik and Bursa, then D200 via Bandırma and the minor highway through Buğdaylı. The anti-clockwise route became much quicker in March 2022 when the Dardanelles bridge opened. Follow highway signs for Çanakkale: this route nowadays bypasses Keşan and Gelibolu to sweep over the straits (toll). Take the first exit Asia-side to pick up D200 east along the coast to the Gönen turn-off.

Get around
The town's accommodation and thermal centres are all a short walk from the bus station.

See

 * Town was hurriedly rebuilt after the earthquake of 1953, so it's all drab 1960s low-rise. The road bridge is likewise modern, and two gnarly stumps are all that remain of the Roman bridge.
 * village 10 km south is a smaller spa resort.
 * village 10 km south is a smaller spa resort.

Do

 * Hot springs (Kaplıca) have been used for relaxation and therapy since Roman times. In Gönen these emerge at 52°C, laden with sulphur and sodium bicarbonate and chloride, slightly alkaline at pH 7.36. Bask in their warmth, or drink them with a bit of gagging. They're supposed to alleviate some three dozen conditions, like snake oil or medieval saints' relics, which frankly means they help none - just remember that the town's traditional industry is tanning leather.

Buy
Small stores cluster at the crossroads by the bus station. Carrefour is 500 m north on Hüseyin Tümer Cd 85 and handy for the hotels, open daily 08:00-22:00.

Eat

 * Bus station area has Gönen Çorbacısı, Çilli'nin Yeri, Hünkar Pide, Konya Pide and Koza Park.
 * Hotel area has Etkin Aile, Huzur, and Gonen Kaplicalari within Yıldız Otel.
 * Höşmerim or cheese halva is a gloochy dessert of cheese, saffron and semolina, usually topped with ice cream and nuts, and washed down with tea. Lots of places claim to be the origin of höşmerim, but the word is Persian and it probably came to Turkey via the Balkans.

Drink

 * Merkez Izgara Salonu is central, and Villa Port is in the hotel quarter.

Sleep
The accommodation quarter is north of the bus station and west of Hüseyin Tümer Cd.

Connect
Gönen and its approach highways have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of March 2022, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Bandırma has ferries to Istanbul. The shortest approach is northeast through Buğdaylı, but take the side-road east though Akçaova to circle Bird Lake and reach the wildlife park on its east bank.
 * Bursa is a busy modern place, but as the first city of the Ottoman dynasty it's full of historic sights. Uludağ is the mountain resort just south.
 * Çanakkale 140 km west is the way to reach ancient Troy, the Gallipoli battle memorials, and the islands of Bozcaada and Gökçeada.

title: Gönen


text:
Göreme

Göreme (Goreme, pronounced guh-reh-meh, uh like er in "her") is a town in the Cappadocia region of Turkey.

Understand
Göreme is in the middle of an internationally popular region that is best known for its natural rock formations, often called "fairy chimneys". The rock formations are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

By bus

 * Istanbul – Several bus companies have connections, they take about 10 hr and costs 110-145 TL. There are more services to close-by Nevşehir. Make sure you book a couple of days in advance in peak times as buses sell out.
 * Nevşehir – There is regular bus service to Nevşehir center every (full) half hour 07:30-20:00 ((15 TL, September 2022). In Nevşehir you have connections from/to regional destinations including the underground cities at Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu. Dolmuses also run about every hour to nearby towns like Avanos and Urgup. They will charge 10 TL (2022) for Uchisar, which is just up the hill—you are better off walking of hitchhiking.
 * Kayseri – The best way is to take a bus to Avanos or Ürhüp (1 hr) and then to take a Dolmuç to Göreme. If you came to Kayseri by train, or if you are in the city center, take the bus 900 to the bus terminal. From there, you can find direct buses to Avanos. Take care, some companies (like Nevşehir Seyahat, not recommended because they are not fair) will say to you that they go directly to Göreme, will charge you the price of a ticket to Nevşehir (60 TL) and then will leave you in Avanos where you will have to take another bus and pay for it. So the best and cheapest way, when you are at the bus terminal is to go to the Kayseri West Villages Bus Station which is the bus station next to the Kaysri bus termnial (2 min walk) and then buy a ticket to Ürgüp. The company Ürgüp Tasimacilik will charge you only 30 TL (2022) to go to Ürgüp. They leave every hour from something like 7AM to 7PM. From Ürgüp you will find a Dolmuç (small local bus) that will go to Göreme in 10 min and will charge you 15 TL (2022). They leave every 30 minutes.

There are also connections from/to Konya (3½ hr), Ankara (5 hr including a transfer in Nevşehir, 40 TL), Alanya (9 hr), Antalya (9½ hr, 60 TL as of Nov 2017), Bodrum (13 hr), Canakkale (17 hr), Denizli (10 hr), Kusadasi (12 hr), Marmaris (13 hr), Pamukkale (10 hr night bus, 110 TL as of Nov 2019), Selçuk (12 hr), Çıralı (10 hr), Trabzon, and Van.

Note, if you book your ticket to/from Göreme (as stated in the ticket), make sure that the bus (or a smaller van associated with the bus company) will actually go to/from Göreme bus station (otogar) and not Nevşehir.

By plane
The nearest airports to Göreme are in Kayseri or Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport. To Kayseri Airport, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus have several flights a day from Istanbul. SunExpress is another low-cost option. Turkish also flies daily to Nevşehir.

Outside the airport are only taxis (cost 12 TL to the main bus station, otogar) and arranged shuttle buses, no dolmuş. The stop for city buses is a bit down the road following the airport exit. The Kayseri otogar is far from the airport. From otogar, there are very few direct lines to Göreme (10 TL), but more frequent lines to Avanos, where you can transfer to a local bus for the remaining 9 km to Göreme; the station is unmarked and the ride costs 2.50 TL.

If you have a hotel transfer option, take it: it is much more convenient, and will cost about 20 TL per person from Nevşehir Airport, 50% more from Kayseri Airport (Nov 2017).

Turkish Airlines offers a shuttle from Nevşehir Airport to Nevşehir, Uchisar and Göreme for 12 TL (Nov 2017).

On foot
The town of Göreme is fairly small, and walking is your best option. Walking also provides excellent views of the surrounding canyons, which are sights themselves.

By thumb
To get around in the valley around Göreme, hitchhiking is very convenient and easy.

By road
Available for rent are mountain bikes (at 180 TL very overpriced and not feasible in the valleys), scooters, motorcycles and all terrain quads.

See
Göreme has a wide selection of natural and cultural wonders. Walking through the village you will be amazed at the bizarre 'fairy chimney' rocks cut naturally by the wind and rain. On the way, many cave churches can be seen, just look up the points in your map (see below). If you are on a budget, some churches with simple geometrical motifs can be seen for free in the chimneys across the street (easy hike).

The Turkish government offers a museum pass for many sights and museums of Cappadocia for 130 TL. Check out what is included and buy it if it makes sense for you. Numerous sights can still be seen for free and the biggest joy is just walking around and sucking in the atmosphere.

Further afield
Also there are underground cities used by Christians hiding from enemies, which have up to 8 stories of underground tunnels and caves, about 85 m deep. There were rooms for grain storage, sleeping chambers, kitchens and ventilation shafts. Underground cities of Kaymakli and Derinkuyu are the two most important. There are also two others named Mazi and Ozkaynak. Of the 36 underground cities built by the Christians to escape persecution, Kaymakli and Derinkuyu are the widest and most famous. 8 different levels, of which you can explore 4, and has a network of wineries, kitchens and living areas.

The room complexes in the underground city are nicely illuminated but not overly exciting, after having seen and explore 3 or 4, you know the drill. The long tunnels and ventilation shafts are interesting. Nevertheless, if you do not get easily excited, you might skip this experience for the Uchisar or Çavuşin castles, which some people consider far better value for money. Also, you will not need a full day to visit them.

Do

 * Balloons at Sunrise View – Probably the most popular thing after ballooning itself is watching the balloons to take off from the valley in the morning. The view is magnificent, but it requires an unpleasent early wakeup and potentially 1 hr hike, if you want to skip car or taxi. The pictures taken then are well known—dozens of balloons scattered in the air all over Cappadocia. The time to be at a viewpoint depends on the sunrise, and it is best to be at any view point about 15 min before (official) sunrise. In the following the most popular viewpoints, starting with the closest:
 * – An easy hike 10 min up southeast from Göreme center, if you are willing to pay 5 TL for the private road leading there. Otherwise, there are at least 3 other regular trails leading there, one directly left of the private road ticket booth. Especially good after the sunset when the balloons have moved northwest down the valley.
 * – Also just 10-15 min from the center, but a better overview of all the starting balloons towards the rising sun. Also, from here you can hike further towards the edge of the Love Valley and watch some of the balloons touching down into the valley. This is especially good to take some closeup pictures.
 * – This is the best and most popular viewpoint, which you will notice from the many people, cars and buses that turn up there at sunrise. From the café walk a little further south to find some more quiet spots. The advantage of this spot is that all taking-off balloons fit into one simple picture frame at the beginning and the balloons will actually move towards you, some touching down into the Love Valley. As soon as the sun is fully up you get an excellent panoramic shot with the balloons all over the Çavuşin-Göreme valley. It takes 1 hr to walk from Göreme here along the highway, but be sure to have a proper map, or you will miss the turn and might end up in the Love Valley itself—hard to get out again. Otherwise, there are shortcuts from Göreme directly through the Love Valley, probably cutting down the time to 30-40 min. However, you need a proper map and potentially some hiking skills.

 * Sunset/sunrise Point – There are many sunset and sunrise points around Göreme, just have a search in your map application. Note that they started charging for the road that leads to Göreme Hill just 10 min east of the center, which is probably illegal, because all other access options, even the official trail with signs does not charge anything. Hence, do not support this practice—there are more than enough trails that go around the ticket booth and up to the viewpoint.

 * Hamami/Turkish Bath – There is a Turkish bath near the center of town to relax after a long day of hiking. The standard service for steam room, mud face mask, soap massage, and scrubbing is 80 TL (Nov 2017). An additional tip for your bath attendant is strongly urged. For a cheaper option take the 15-min scenic minibus ride to the nearby city of Nevşehir where you can get the same service in a non-tourist place for as low as 25 TL. Just get off at the main intersection in Nevşehir and ask around for "Hamam".

 * Apart from that local tour companies are offering everything that is known to appeal to the common tourist, like quad bike (150 TL, always slow and with a guide), paragliding, horseback riding, jeep safari, classic car ride, pottery visits, etc.
 * Apart from that local tour companies are offering everything that is known to appeal to the common tourist, like quad bike (150 TL, always slow and with a guide), paragliding, horseback riding, jeep safari, classic car ride, pottery visits, etc.
 * Apart from that local tour companies are offering everything that is known to appeal to the common tourist, like quad bike (150 TL, always slow and with a guide), paragliding, horseback riding, jeep safari, classic car ride, pottery visits, etc.
 * Apart from that local tour companies are offering everything that is known to appeal to the common tourist, like quad bike (150 TL, always slow and with a guide), paragliding, horseback riding, jeep safari, classic car ride, pottery visits, etc.

Hiking
Following the paths along the valleys is an amazing (and free) option. Check with your hotel owner or the tourist office for a map of the area with suggested walks and trails. There are several nice loops on packed dirt, sand and rock, that maintain a constant elevation and pass through the scenic valleys. All stunning landscapes and fun to walk around. The paths are poorly marked—often contradictory and in addition local guys pointing you into the wrong direction. Hence, it is important that you have GPS navigation and a reliable map with comprehensive trail and sight information with you—use OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide, and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. Or just download the according GPX or KML files through Waymarked Trails for such trails on OpenStreetMap. (Note, you just need to change the OpenStreetMap relation ID to download the GPX or KML files through the same link.)

Each trail offers different landscapes, and you can easily combine multiple valleys for a longer hike.

Tours
Several tour operators offer one-day packages (green tour, red tour, blue tour) that may include a stop at a caravansari, one of the amazing underground cities, a walk through the ancient churches decorated with frescoes, and finally a stop at a carpet, pottery or onyx shop. The itinerary is essentially the same no matter who you purchase the tour from. Names and itineraries change occasionally, but expect that whatever name and itinerary is used at one agency will be the same at the others. This is basically because you just book with offices that just shuffle people around between tour companies depending on availability and demand. Tours will include transportation, but verify whether lunch and entrance fees are also included. These one-day tours can make your journey significantly easier. Prices are around €35 per tour (Dec 2019).

You can usually book tours through your hotel, but compare prices before deciding!

The Red Tour is the most basic, visiting sites in the immediate vicinity of Göreme including the open-air museum, the castle at Uçhisar, and the pottery shops at Avanos. It can include:
 * Göreme Esentepe for panoramic view over the town of Esentepe, and the surrounding landscape of fairy chimneys;
 * Göreme Open Air Museum
 * Pasabag (Monks Valley)
 * Devrent Valley
 * Avanos Pottery workshop
 * Three Beauties

The Green Tour is a bit more adventurous, visiting the Pigeon Valley and then going farther afield to visit Derinkuyu Underground City, Nar Lake, Ihlara Valley and Selime. It can include:
 * Meskendir Valley
 * Rose/Red Valley
 * Cavusin Village
 * Underground City
 * Pigeon Valley
 * Uchisar Castle
 * Love Valley

The Blue Tour is the most off-the-beaten path of the three tours, taking visitors to the former Greek town of Mustafapasa, the monastery at Soganli.

Buy
Göreme is a tourist hotspot and so are the prices. Food will easily be twice as expensive as in other regions of Turkey, not to mention the price of ice cream. Even the supermarket will demand a premium.

What

 * Pottery – Avanos, 10 km away, has been a pottery center for centuries. Many stores will sell pottery in Göreme, and you may end up at a pottery workshop at the end of a tour, but for the best prices, head into Avanos and wander around the back streets. Compare the prices and quality, and if you are worried about it surviving shipping or your backpack, ask them to stand on it to test the strength (vases, jugs, and larger objects should take their weight). While the quality in touristy shops is often high, you will be paying 2-3 times what you otherwise would.

 * Carpets – Göreme and the surrounding area are known as one of the top places to buy carpets in Turkey. Their proximity to well known local weaving villages means the prices are generally cheaper than Istanbul and the atmosphere for purchasing far more relaxed with few if any hassles.

Eat
Göreme has a wide selection of typical kebabs and pide, and some unusual 'pottery' dishes (testi kebap) that are prepared and served in a clay pot which you can 'break' open. Often the 'pottery kebabs' are cooked earlier in the day so check around to see which restaurants require a 'pottery kebab' booking - it's likely that they will be the places that make the kebab on the spot (they take about an hour to cook). Many of the restaurants and bars change hands on a regular basis, making specific recommendations difficult.

 * Alaturca is considered to be one of the finer dining establishments in central Turkey, but is overpriced for the quality of food and a stiff service that is out of place in an otherwise informal town. Alaturca is on the secondary road that heads towards the Open Air Museum.

Drink
Walking by carpet shops will lead to invitations for tea. If you're thirsty, take advantage of this free drink and learn something about carpets at the same time. However, it is not advised for solo females to accept tea from men, as they often expect more.

For a good western style coffee, M&M Cafe on the main street serves a great cappuccino, with real espresso and a nice little area to sit outside. Coffeedocia, near the bus station is a larger place, better to relax but with a very westernised feel, drinks are not as good and higher priced.

For the bar scene, several bars and clubs are open (primarily in the high season), and there is a disco in nearby Avanos frequented by locals and tourists alike.

Sleep
Göreme has a huge selection of hostels, hotels, and guest houses (some 60 odd). The friendly (and tout-free) accommodation office can help you find something. Upmarket and boutique hotels also exist in Göreme. Many places include breakfast in these prices.

Many of Göreme's hostels and hotels offer the unusual option of sleeping in a cave. Much of the rock in the area is sandstone (tufa) which is fairly soft, and for centuries rooms (and houses) have been created by cutting directly into the soft rock. Comforts in these 'cave rooms' range from truly cave-like to beautiful and tasteful with modern bathrooms; almost all have windows and are fairly well lit.

Camping – There are two camp grounds on the road into Göreme from Uchisar. If you're ok going without facilities for a night or two, there are limitless options for finding your own hidden away cave down one of the valleys and setting camp inside. It is also a quite romantic experience—no one will bother you being there. Check out the described in this article.

Stay safe

 * There is a large concentration of stray animals here in the high-season.
 * Women should not go hiking in the valleys alone as there have been a few incidents over the years.

 * Hiking is not strenuous or dangerous in general, but be careful on some steep footpaths / scrambles into and out of rockey valleys such as Love Valley.

Connect
Göreme and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of Nov 2022, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Move on to Malatya or Kahta and take a tour to Mount Nemrut. (UNESCO World Heritage site).
 * Nevşehir. To get from Göreme back to Nevşehir bus station, the minibus will drop you at Kayser Caddesi bus stop in Nevşehir center. From here, take Dolmus No. 1 or 2 to Nevşehir Otogari (6 TL as of September 2022).

title: Göreme


text:
Görlitz

Görlitz is Germany's easternmost town. It sits across the Neiße River from its Polish sister city of Zgorzelec. Prior to the end of WWII Zgorzelec was part of Germany but the border was shifted westward in favor of Poland. It is very well preserved, and survived the Second World War more or less intact. A lot of money has been invested to restore the city's old town making it one of the best preserved towns in Central Europe. It is located in the historic Lower Silesia and Upper Lusatia.

Understand
Görlitz is on the rail and autobahn routes from Dresden to Wrocław, Poland. The town has often been used as the setting for films (especially those set during and before World War II). Valkyrie and The Grand Budapest Hotel are two of the more well-known examples. The city has easy access to its twin city in Zgorzelec in Poland, as all it takes is a quick stroll across the Neisse River.

Görlitz is on the 15th meridian east, which defines Central European standard time runs through town, so large parts of Europe could be described as being on "Görlitz time".

By plane
The closest airport is in Dresden (25 minutes from Dresden main station by S-Bahn); however, the connections are limited. Other international airports are in Leipzig/Halle (near the town of Schkeuditz, some 20 minutes by S-Bahn from Leipzig main station), Berlin and Wrocław (Poland). It takes 3-4 hours (with at least one change) to get from Berlin to Görlitz and 2-3 hours (direct trains available) to get from Wrocław to Görlitz.

By train
The city of Dresden is a hub in train transport in eastern Saxony. Regional trains run frequently and take around one hour. The Sachsen Ticket costs around €24 (plus €3 per additional person in your group) and is valid on all regional trains and trams in Görlitz and Leipzig, but not Dresden.

You can get to Görlitz using regional trains from Cottbus, which has a connection to Berlin. There are several connections daily from Görlitz and more frequent connections from the Polish twin city Zgorzelec to Wrocław. Polish trains also now stop at Görlitz Hauptbahnhof. There is a regional line connecting Görlitz and Zittau at the Czech-Polish-German border, sometimes this train also connects to Liberec in the Czech Republic.

East-west axis
Görlitz is on the European Route E40, which in Germany is called motorway A4, coming from Cologne via Chemnitz and Dresden. This motorway connects to Wrocław and Katowice on the Polish side of the border.

From the north
Görlitz can be accessed via federal highway (Bundesstraße) B115 from Cottbus, which connects to Berlin. However, passing through many small villages you have to factor in a substantial amount of time.

On foot
You are most likely to stay in the old town and city centre for most of your stay. These areas are sufficiently confined and you should be fine walking.

By tram
Two tram lines connect the suburbs with the city centre. The outer regions of the suburbs are from the city centre. A tram ride there takes about 15 min. Single fare for adults is €1.40, a day ticket is €3 (2014). Validate your ticket as soon as you board the tram. The tram does not cross the Neiße.

Görlitz is part of ZVON, a regional transport network. All ZVON tickets from other cities and regional trains, which cover the fare zone of Görlitz are valid there too, as is the Sachsen-Ticket.

By bus
Suburbs that are not covered by trams can be reached on local buses. The tickets you buy for trams are also valid on buses. Validate your ticket as soon as you board the bus.

See
Görlitz, being one of the larger cities in Germany not damaged during the war, has a medieval, baroque and renaissance old town, surrounded by a belt of 19th-century tenements, villas and industrial areas, which stretches across the Neiße to what was East Görlitz, now Zgorzelec in Poland. Only the far outskirts have newer buildings. Görlitz has served as a backdrop for several movies (set in pre-1945 Germany) since 1990 where its historic buildings stand in for other (now destroyed and rebuilt) German cities. The film boom has earned the town the nickname of "Görliwood" in the press. If you are lucky you might happen upon a film being shot.

After German unification, most of the buildings were renovated. This makes Görlitz a unique heritage city with several thousands of listed buildings. Stroll around the town and enjoy the atmosphere.

Do

 * Walk along the Neisse (pol. Nysa) river bank and enjoy the view of the older buildings and the abundant nature.
 * Tour the cathedral and the main street in the Old Town.
 * Take a stroll across the Neisse River into Poland using the pedestrian footbridge and get a different perspective of the old town from a distance.
 * Walk up the Landeskrone Mountain. Landeskrone is roughly 200 m above city level, and the walk up is about one hour from the tram station in Biesnitz (tram-line #2 from city centre). Nice weather provided it makes for a good afternoon stroll.
 * Visit Lake Berzdorf on the southern limits of town. This lake is the result of the filling of an open-pit coal mine that began in 2002 after the mine closed in the early 1990s.
 * Visit Lake Berzdorf on the southern limits of town. This lake is the result of the filling of an open-pit coal mine that began in 2002 after the mine closed in the early 1990s.

Buy

 * Souvenirs from various Silesian themed souvenir shops in the old town. You will frequently find porcelain with a distinctive pattern. This porcelain is known as "Bunzlauer Keramik" (ceramika bolesławiecka), named after the German name of the city Bolesławiec in Poland.
 * Antiquarian booksellers in the Old Town always have nice bargains. There are few foreign-language books, though.
 * Bring a bottle of the local beer. It is called Landskron, after the mountain close by. It is (by virtue of Görlitz being Germany's easternmost town) Germany's easternmost brewery.

Eat
There are some very nice restaurants in the Old Town. Compared to bigger cities like Dresden or Berlin, eating out in Görlitz is rather cheap. The cuisine served, is mostly the local Saxonian or Silesian cuisine, which traditionally involves meat, gravy and potatoes. Try a Silesian dish called 'Silesian Kingdom of Heaven' ('Schlesisches Himmelreich'), a dish of pork cooked in plum gravy.

Some nice restaurants in the Old Town:

Beer
Germany is known for its long tradition of brewing beer, and Görlitz and eastern Saxony is no exception. There is a brewery in Görlitz, called the Landskron Brauerei (ultimately owned by Carlsberg). Eibau is another local brewery, about 20 km away.

The main product of the Landskron Brewery is a pilsner. Pilsner can be compared to what is known as lager outside of Germany, however, this type is stronger and has a more distinctive hop taste.

The brewery also produces seasonal beers, for example "Maibock", a beer that is only sold in spring and is stronger than normal pilsners.

Other pilsners well known in the area are Radeberger or Freiberger, which are from breweries close to Dresden.

The Eibau brewery some 20 km from Görlitz is best known for its dark beer. Dark beers are different from pilsners: they use roasted malt which gives the beer a deep, dark colour and a distinctive taste.

Another dark beer well known in the area is from the Köstritzer brewery, which is located in Thuringia, some 400 km west of Görlitz.

Go next

 * Bolesławiec in Poland
 * Bautzen
 * Dresden
 * Herrnhut
 * Jelenia Góra in Poland
 * Meißen
 * Pirna
 * Saxon Switzerland
 * Zittau

title: Görlitz


text:
Göttingen

Göttingen is a city in the southernmost part of the German state of Lower Saxony, bordering Hesse and Thuringia.

Understand
The population of Göttingen in 2017 was about 134,000, of which over 31,000 are students at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

Göttingen, the southernmost major city in Lower Saxony, is known worldwide, especially for its old, traditional Georg-August University. The Georgia Augusta, which opened in 1737, is the largest and oldest university in Lower Saxony. In addition to the University, several Max Planck Institutes and other important scientific institutions are also based in Göttingen.

The prestigious Max Planck Society (a German organisation for scientific research) was founded in the city in 1948. The Max Planck Institutes for Solar System Research, Dynamics and Self-Organization, for Experimental Medicine, for Biophysical Chemistry, and for History are located in Göttingen. 44 Nobel Prize winners have studied or taught in the city, and these and other notable former Göttingen residents are commemorated by white plaques on many buildings throughout the town. Its nickname is therefore the Stadt der Wissenschaft (City of Science), with a pun: while "Die Stadt der Wissenschaft" means 'the city of science', Die Stadt, die Wissen schafft (identical pronunciation apart from der ~ die) means 'the city that creates knowledge'.

A good fifth of Göttingen's inhabitants are students at the university or one of the universities, which is reflected, among other things, in the high number of cyclists and a distinct, colourful pub and club scene. However, the cultural offerings are also shaped by science, from numerous specialist lectures by the various faculties, lecture series also for laymen, to an independent student theatre stage. Those who want to experience science and student life as a traveller have various opportunities to do so almost every day.

Over the centuries, the science location has had a positive effect on the settlement of supplying and supporting industry and trade. The positive reciprocal influence between scientific findings and practical knowledge and skills promoted in particular the field of metrology, which is represented today by Measurement Valley, an association of local companies and universities. Companies such as Sartorius and Mahr, both globally operating companies in the field of measurement technology, have their headquarters in Goettingen. Other economic focal points include the optical industry, aluminium processing, freight forwarding and automotive suppliers.

Today, Göttingen is a charming university town, off the radar screen for most English-speaking tourists, but well worth a visit.

History
The settlement "Gutingi" was first mentioned in a document of Kaiser Otto I in 953. The history of the place can be traced back even further by means of archaeological settlement finds dating back to the 7th century. The first settlement area of Gutingis was in the area of today's Albani church, the origins of which date back to the 11th century. Another historically significant site from the early days of Göttingen was the Palatinate of Grona, an imperial palace of Heinrich II (973 - 1024) on the western steep slope of the Leine Valley, from which the village of Grone, now a district of Göttingen, emerged.

From the 13th century onwards, the town fortifications were built around today's old town, the course of which can be easily discovered on a walk along the still almost complete town wall. A small remnant of the town wall and a tower of the town fortification are also still preserved in the Turmstraße. The first enclosed town centre included the market, the churches of St. Johannis, St. Jacobi and St. Nicolai and the town hall at the market. Two monasteries were built in the following period: a Franciscan monastery on today's Wilhelmsplatz (the adjacent Barfüßer-Strasse was named after the Franciscans who were called Barfüßer, barefoots), and a Dominican monastery, of which the Paulinerkirche (today part of the Lower Saxony State and University Library in Göttingen) is still preserved.

Göttingen was for many centuries (with only a short interruption) the property of various lines of the House of Guelph, later the Kingdom of Hanover. The founding of the University of Georgia Augusta by the Guelph King George II also took place during this period. August, who was King of England in personal union. The self-confident bourgeoisie, as well as the professors, were not always friendly towards the Welf/ Guelph House, so a protest by 7 Göttingen professors (the Göttingen Seven) against a reactionary constitution caused a stir. In 1866 Göttingen became Prussian and adopted a cult of Bismarck, which stood out even for its time: Bismarck Tower, Bismarck Stone, Bismarck House on the Wall (and for a time the student dormitory of the later chancellor).

In the second half of the 19th century, Göttingen grew beyond the now non-functional rampart. The University expanded to the north, residential areas were created to the east and south, and only to the west did the railway line and the lowlands of the river Leine stop the development. Unusual for cities in the west-wind zone, the upmarket residential areas were built in the main wind direction in the east of the city up the Hainberg, a clear indication that there was not much industry and smoking chimneys at that time.

During the First World War, the people of Göttingen did not evade the enthusiasm for war that was widespread in Germany. The effects of the war and the upheavals afterwards on the city were slight. The university developed into a leading centre of the natural sciences worldwide. This development came to an abrupt end in 1933, when the National Socialists (also elected by a majority in Göttingen) removed Jewish professors and students from the University; many went into exile. Burning of books in 1933, anti-Jewish progromatic acts on 10 Nov 1938 (among other things the synagogue was burnt down), the assimilation of the student body were black moments in the city's history.

The direct consequences of the war remained relatively minor; air raids mainly hit the railway tracks in the west of the city and individual buildings in the urban area. The old town got off relatively lightly. A total of 120 people died as a result of hostilities in the urban area. In April 1945 American troops liberated the city without a fight.

After 1945 Göttingen became part of the British occupation zone and found itself on the outskirts of the border. While to the south the border with the American occupation zone quickly lost its importance, parts of Göttingen's hinterland in the Eastern Eichsfeld fell into the Soviet occupation zone behind the Iron Curtain. In the 1950s, Göttingen's population grew rapidly, the housing shortage was less pressing in the city, which had hardly been destroyed, than elsewhere; the proximity to the border transit camp Friedland also played its part. The economy benefited from the happy mixture of zonal border development and the good infrastructure connections provided by the north-south motorway (A 7) and railway line, which was upgraded to a fast track in the early 1980s. Commercial enterprises settled mainly in the then still independent communities around Göttingen, especially in Grone in the west and Weende in the north.

In the 1960s, the city area grew through numerous incorporations. In the old town, historical buildings such as the university riding stable, but also numerous residential buildings fell victim to a large-scale redevelopment of the area. It was not until the 1980s that a change in thinking took place and old buildings were more carefully renovated or, where necessary gutted, objects such as the Lokhalle, which had been empty for many years, were refurbished and revitalised as an event centre. The fall of the Wall in 1989 put an end to Göttingen's peripheral location, and the city became a major centre with a reputation that extends far into Thuringia. Large-scale retail trade on the outskirts of the city developed especially at the motorway exit and the Kasseler Landstraße. In the city centre, exploding shop rents led to the displacement of many established retailers by chain stores and, on balance, to an impoverishment of diversity in the main shopping streets.

Political-historical events in the post-war years were the Göttingen Declaration, in which 18 nuclear and atomic researchers protested in 1957 against the nuclear armament of the Bundeswehr, the student unrest in 1968 (which was also directed against the destruction of old buildings in the city in favour of a redesign of the cityscape), and violent protests by the autonomous antifa and the black bloc, which flared up again and again, calling for so-called shattered demonstrations until the 1990s and in some cases resulted in the barricading of the entire city centre.

Get in
Göttingen lies in the very center of Germany and is easily accessible from most parts of the country. It has no airport, but can be easily reached by train or car from larger cities that do.

By plane
Hannover Airport (IATA Code: HAJ) is the nearest international airport: 70 - 90 minutes by train (change in Hannover necessary), 140 km by road.

To the international hub Frankfurt am Main Airport (IATA Code: FRA): Direct connection with the ICE in 2 hours (rarely) or 2½ hours (change in Frankfurt Hbf), 240 km by road.

By train
is a stop on the ICE (Inter City Express) train line between Hamburg and Munich and also on one ICE line between Berlin and the South of Germany. Göttingen is approximately half an hour south of Hanover, 2 hours south of Hamburg, 2 hours west of Berlin, 4 hours north of Munich, and 2 hours north of Frankfurt. Göttingen is also served by Flixtrain. Flixtrain tickets are not valid on DB and vice versa.

For travellers who enjoy looking at the landscape through a train window, there are many beautiful regional routes that lead to Göttingen now and then:

In regional traffic, the metronome offers the most important connection from the north of Uelzen (2½ hr) coming via Hannover, Alfeld, Kreiensen and Northeim. The section of the Hannöversche Südbahn between Elze and Alfeld (Leine) with the Seven Mountains to the east of the line is particularly attractive for travellers, as is the journey through the Leine valley, where you can see the Leine river flowing alongside the railway line, in part meandering. Via Kreiensen you can also reach Göttingen from the Harz Mountains, Seesen and the historic town Goslar.

If you come by train from the west from Paderborn, you should especially enjoy the journey from Ottbergen to Göttingen: after leaving the Weser Valley (near Bodenfelde), the railway line crosses the somewhat remote muggy valley to Adelebsen on the southern edge of the Solling and then continues via Lenglern towards the Leine Valley. It is a worthwhile trip through small villages and beautiful countryside. However, this is not a route for those in a hurry, but a really leisurely ride because of the many unguarded level crossings.

A regional express runs every two hours in the direction of Glauchau via Leinefelde, Erfurt, Jena and Gera.

By car
Autobahn A7, one of the main north-south roads in Germany (stretching from the Danish border near Flensburg to the Austrian border near Füssen) goes right next to Göttingen.

Get around
The core zone of Göttingen's old town is a pedestrian zone. The distances within the old town and to the railway station are short and can usually be covered without difficulty on foot. The Ostviertel (eastern quarter) and the Südstadt (southern quarter), where some hotels are located, are also close enough for a walk. Distances beyond these can be easily covered in Göttingen by bus, and there are numerous taxi stands around the city centre.

Göttingen has an extensive bus network which criss-crosses the city center and extends out to the surrounding. Information about the city bus network is available from the Goettingen Verkehrsbetriebe (under Fahrplanauskunft, click "Netzplan" for a map and "Einzelfahrpläne" for schedules).

A single ride within Göttingen costs (Einzelfahrschein): €2.40, children 6–14 years (Kinder): €1.20 for a day ticket (Tageskarte) costs: €5.80 for a day ticket for five persons (Kleingruppenkarte): €11.10. For multiple trips, save money by asking for the €8.70 "Viererkarte" (four tickets at once) or for the €15.80 (eight tickets).

See
There is a nice self-guided City Walk on the city's tourism website, which takes you by all the main sites. Highlights include:

 * The university runs several museums on a wide range of topics. An overview can be found at the university's website. A large, more ambitious museum focusing on question such as what is knowledge, how is it acquired, etc., the Forum Wissen is going to be opened soon.
 * The university runs several museums on a wide range of topics. An overview can be found at the university's website. A large, more ambitious museum focusing on question such as what is knowledge, how is it acquired, etc., the Forum Wissen is going to be opened soon.
 * The university runs several museums on a wide range of topics. An overview can be found at the university's website. A large, more ambitious museum focusing on question such as what is knowledge, how is it acquired, etc., the Forum Wissen is going to be opened soon.
 * Half-timbered houses. Since Göttingen was not bombed during World War II, it still has many original buildings. Particularly impressive are the 1549 Schrödersches House (Weender Str. 62), the 1497 house at Paulinerstr. 6, the 15th-century Junkernschänke (corner of Jüdenstr. and Barfüßerstr.), the 1536 house on Barfüßerstr. (between Jüdenstr. and Weender Str.), and the 16th-century house at Groner-Tor-Str. 28, which have been revealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. (Half-timbering was regarded as unfashionable from the Baroque era into the 20th century, and many beautiful old buildings have been discovered.)
 * Half-timbered houses. Since Göttingen was not bombed during World War II, it still has many original buildings. Particularly impressive are the 1549 Schrödersches House (Weender Str. 62), the 1497 house at Paulinerstr. 6, the 15th-century Junkernschänke (corner of Jüdenstr. and Barfüßerstr.), the 1536 house on Barfüßerstr. (between Jüdenstr. and Weender Str.), and the 16th-century house at Groner-Tor-Str. 28, which have been revealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. (Half-timbering was regarded as unfashionable from the Baroque era into the 20th century, and many beautiful old buildings have been discovered.)

Churches
Four of Göttingen's churches can be seen from the metal in front of the Altes Rathaus (James's, John's, Alban's, and Michael's). Mary's is also worth a peek inside.

Do

 * Check the city calendar for local events, or pick up a schedule in the Tourist Office in the old town hall. The symphony orchestra is impressive for such a small town.
 * One of Göttingen's public swimming pools, Badeparadies Eiswiese, is a roughly 20-minute walk south of the city (or a ten minute bus ride on line 4 or 14). But if you enjoy the water, they offer a plethora of swimming pools (indoor, outdoor, large, small, hot, cold), saunas, jacuzzis, and solaria.

Theatres
Several theatres are located in the town. Most plays are in German but on special occasions English performances takes place as well.

Buy

 * Weender Straße is the main pedestrian shopping street, cutting north-south through the middle of the old town. But most shops in this area are shopping chains; you will find more interesting, small and independent shops in the backstreets, like Rote Straße, Theaterstraße, Barfüßerstraße, Lange Geismarstraße, Johannisstraße.
 * The weekly Wochenmarkt is on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings; look for signs into the square from Kurze Str. or Lange-Geismar-Str. It's the best place in town to buy local produce from Göttingen and the surrounding region. (Perhaps this should say "the second-best place", as there is a health food store within the old town walls, and a second outlet just a few blocks to the east, that sells organically grown produce - and a lot of what you find there is grown by the people who run the store, and may have been picked that same morning. Boyer's Health Food Store (Bioladen) is on Burg Straße, between Friedrich Straße and Theater Straße.)
 * In December there are two Christmas markets, one small one outside the train station and the other sprawling from the Marktplatz area to behind the old town hall and St. John's Church. You can buy a variety of traditional German gifts, mulled wine (Glühwein), and German foods.

Budget
All these are in the city centre:

Drink

 * Gartenlaube, Markt 7, . The best place in town to sit with a beer and people-watch in the summer.
 * Alpenmax, Weender Landstr. 3-7, . A twisted German schlager/apres ski theme club famed for the €0.99 night on Wednesdays.

Go next
As mentioned above, Göttingen's location at the cross of two ICE train lines makes it easy to reach most other major German cities. There are also a number of smaller towns that are worth a visit, which could be seen on a day trip from Göttingen. For the local trains that go to these towns, you can buy cheap group train tickets that can be used for up to 5 people: the €29 (single: €21). Niedersachsen-Ticket is good for all-day travel within Lower Saxony on any day of the week, and the €40 Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket is good for all-day travel anywhere in Germany on a weekend day. You can reach any of these places on local trains in under 2 hours:
 * Bad Gandersheim
 * Duderstadt
 * Goslar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with 1000-year-old silver mines and a palace.
 * Hamelin (Hameln) of pied piper fame has weekly reenactments of the tale on summer Sundays.
 * Hann. Münden is a small and charming town.
 * Einbeck
 * Eisenach is home to the historical Wartburg Castle.
 * Northeim
 * Osterode am Harz is a good starting point for hikes in the Harz mountains.

title: Göttingen


text:
Güiria

Güiria is a city in Sucre state in the Northeast region of Venezuela.

Go next

 * Trinidad - Güiria offers the only ferry service from Venezuela to Trinidad. Boats leave weekly on Wednesdays at 3pm but you must arrive 2 hours beforehand. The journey is about 3.5 hours. Inbound ferries from Trinidad depart at 9am and arrive in Güiria around 12:30pm in the afternoon. Call Ferry Trinidad Acosta y Asociados for more information, 0294 9820058, or in Trinidad, Pier 1 Marines Ltd 868 634-4472. A single/return trip is US$92/184 plus departure taxes (half price for children ages 2-11; children under 2 years ride free).

title: Güiria


text:
Güssing

Güssing is a town in Burgenland, Austria.

Get in
Bezirk Güssing is the only Bezirk in all of Austria without a single active rail connection. Because of this, you will arrive by car most likely. However, there are frequent buses running from Vienna thru Dr. Richard.

Traveling to the south (Jennersdorf) or into Hungary is difficult and or impossible by public transportation.

title: Güssing


text:
Güzelyurt

 * ''This page describes a village in Cappadocia. For the district in Northern Cyprus, see Güzelyurt (Northern Cyprus)

Güzelyurt is a village in Central Anatolia, on the west edge of Cappadocia 48 km southeast of Aksaray. Its population is falling and in 2021 was 2,570.

Understand
Güzel yurt means "beautiful homeland" or simply "nice place", and there are a dozen or so villages of that name in Turkey, plus one in the north of Cyprus. The one described on this page is surely the nicest of the nice places, and very much on the tourist circuit. Its deep valleys are crowded with ancient Greek churches and dwellings carved into the bedrock, which is soft volcanic tufa. The Greeks, who called the place Gelviri, were deported after Turkish independence in 1923, so their settlements lie deserted. Here and there the tufa has eroded into "fairy chimneys" or hoodoos, though the best of that classic Cappadocia landscape lies further east.

By bus
There are no long-distance coaches to Güzelyurt, but local buses from Aksaray:
 * Güzelyurt — Every two hours, takes about 45 min.
 * Ihlara — Hourly for about €0.70

By road
By road follow O-21 south from Ankara to the Gülağaç-Derinkuyu road then head west.

Get around
There are three main sites: each is explored on foot, but you need a vehicle to move between them.

Hiking down Ilhara canyon is fine, but you don't want to trudge back up to retrieve your car, arrange a second vehicle or taxi at the foot, or just hitchhike.

See and do

 * Necdet Sağlam Cd — It is the main street through the straggling village. It's lined with old buildings but not particularly scenic, as it's a busy thoroughfare with modern accretions. The best is around the main hotels (see Sleep), which are old mansion houses, and in the cobbled alleys such as Hengameci Sk leading off.
 * Yeraltı Şehri — It means "underground city" but in Güzelyurt it's a misnomer. It means the churches and other buildings etched into the hillside as you enter Cevizli Sk towards St Gregory's. These are simple caverns and don't descend through multiple layers as they do elsewhere.
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg

Sofular valley

 * 's cave dwellings are permanently closed.
 * is an ancient village carved into the side of a valley, with hundreds of dwellings, churches and other buildings. It was abandoned in 1973 because of landslide risk, with a new village built on a grid pattern lower down the valley; best leave your vehicle there and hike. The lane over the ridge brings you to Narlıgöl.
 * is a crater lake. Around it are geothermal springs, but take a look at those sinister sulphurous waters before you sign up for any holistic "treatments" or beautifying slatherings of mud.

Ihlara valley
The valley is a canyon 14 km long and 100 m deep, where the Melendiz stream has cut through the soft tufa. There are dozens of old churches and other structures. It draws many hundreds or even thousand of visitors a day. At €5 entrance, they canyon is a little overpriced for just being a canyon.

Hiking is the only way to see most churches on the trail down Ihlara valley. The keen hiker will be rewarded by hiking in for free at the in Belisırma–north of which you will also find sufficiently many sites to camp or can just stay in the cave churches there. The recommended direction for the hike is Yaprakhisar to Ihlara, which takes half a day.

 * (Peribacası) are the weird pinnacles that define Cappadocia. They form when a very soft rock such as volcanic tufa is eroded, but a harder capstone protects the top.
 * at the canyon trailhead has cafes.
 * has 10th-12th century frescoes of biblical scenes.
 * Belisırma is a village midway down the canyon with road access and eating places. Ala cave church is just north.
 * was a 12th-13th century linseed oil factory; the oil was burned in lamps.
 * is the largest of the churches carved out of the bedrock. The canyon here broadens to a valley.
 * was a village occupied between 8200 and 7400 BC. It's been excavated and some dwellings reconstructed.

Buy

 * A101 is a small supermarket in Güzelyurt open daily 09:00-21:00.

Eat

 * Small eating places in Güzelyurt are Aliem, Güzelyurt Pide Salonu, Ata Restoran and Kalvari Döner.

Drink

 * Underground City Cafe Bar in village centre is open daily 08:00-22:00.
 * Gelveri Manufactur make wine.

Sleep
The three selling points of the village are Cappadocia, Ihlara and caves, so many places use that combination in their name, be careful which one you're booking. This may be one reason why travellers have arrived to find bookings denied.

 * Cappadocia Mayaoglu Hotel is next to Cappadocia Antique Gelveri Cave Hotel, similar price and quality.
 * Cappadocia Mayaoglu Hotel is next to Cappadocia Antique Gelveri Cave Hotel, similar price and quality.
 * Cappadocia Mayaoglu Hotel is next to Cappadocia Antique Gelveri Cave Hotel, similar price and quality.
 * Cappadocia Mayaoglu Hotel is next to Cappadocia Antique Gelveri Cave Hotel, similar price and quality.
 * Cappadocia Mayaoglu Hotel is next to Cappadocia Antique Gelveri Cave Hotel, similar price and quality.
 * Cappadocia Mayaoglu Hotel is next to Cappadocia Antique Gelveri Cave Hotel, similar price and quality.

Connect
As of Dec 2022, Güzelyurt has only a basic mobile signal from Turkcell Mobile. Coverage is better on the approach roads, with 4G from all Turkish carriers. 5G has not yet rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Aksaray — A laid-back city and great hub for the surrounding attractions near Güzelyurt, or like Tuz Gölü ("Salt Lake"), the second largest lake in Turkey is becoming a popular day trip from the Cappadocian towns, to wade across it shallow waters and to take a few pictures of its vivid, dreamlike views. It also has two 13th-14th century mosques, but its distinctive features are the stout caravanserai on its approach roads.
 * Göreme — The main base for exploring Cappadocia to the east.

title: Güzelyurt


text:
Gătaia

Gătaia is a town in Timiș County, Banat, Romania.

Get in
Gătaia, together with its belonging five villages, is in southwestern Romania, on the national road DN58 linking Timișoara with Reșita, 52 km away from Timișoara and 47 km away from Reșita.

title: Gătaia


text:
Gąbin

Gąbin is a town in Mazovia, Poland.

Go next

 * Płock
 * Kutno
 * Łowicz

title: Gąbin


text:
Gdańsk

Gdańsk (also known by its German name Danzig) is a city in Poland on the Baltic Sea. Gdańsk is considered one of the most beautiful cities on the Baltic Sea and has magnificent architecture.

Understand
Gdańsk is the capital of Pomerania. In 2021, it was home to 471,000 people. Gdańsk with nearby Sopot and Gdynia are often referred to as Trójmiasto ("tricity").

Its position on the Baltic has made Gdańsk one of the most important port cities in Northern Europe, and the scene of a disturbing past. Gdańsk used to be the biggest and richest city in the Polish Kingdom. The first claim to fame for Danzig (as it was then known) was its membership in the Hanseatic League as an important Baltic port on the crossroads of North East and Central Europe.

World War II was ignited by a dispute over the control of the city. By the end of the war the city lay almost completely in ruins. The German population was expelled and replaced by Poles as the city came under Polish rule and changed its name to Gdańsk. However, the impact of its former German ties are still evident. Most of the old buildings were damaged or destroyed in World War II, but they have been painstakingly restored or rebuilt, although in a style that is not exactly the same as before the war.

In modern history, Gdańsk is known as the birthplace of Solidarity (pl: Solidarność), the labour and democracy movement that helped to bring down the Communist government in Poland at the end of the Cold War. The movement was led by the charismatic leader, Lech Wałęsa, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 and in 1990 became Poland's first post-Communist president.

Tourist Card
At every Tourist Information point you can buy the Tourist Card.

Within the "Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia-Plus" Tourist Card nearly 220 offers are available, including: accommodations, performances, concerts, exhibitions, souvenirs, books, amber jewellery purchase, dinners and other meals, water equipment hiring, car rental, paintball, Aquapark, visits in beauty salon, and entertainment.

Transport from airport to city
Bus 210 — operates between the airport (bus stop: Port Lotniczy) and Gdańsk, and makes a stop at the train station, 35–50 minutes away. Perhaps the preferred way to buy ticket is install Jakdojade: public transport app You get more information about route and stops in English with this app. The fare is 4,80 zł for single travel in one bus in one route. It is also possible to buy ticket from a news stand, ticket machine or Bilety shop and from driver. Make sure you have correct ticket and it is validated in validating machine inside bus. There is controller regularly after few stops on the route looking for foreign travelers who have wrong ticket, wrong punching, ticket machine malfunctions etc. There is fine of the order of 200-300 zł. (See videos in youtube also). Talk with fellow passengers, driver about validity of ticket if not 100% sure.

Train — There's a train connection to the city center roughly every 15 min during the day (Airport stop: Gdańsk Port Lotniczy). Less frequent services in the morning, evening and at night. The train station is accessible from the west end of Terminal T2 via a covered bridge. Ticket machines are on the platforms. There are a few direct connections to the main train station in Gdańsk. For other connections to the main train station you need to switch trains in Gdańsk Wrzeszcz. Single tickets to the main train station cost 3.50 zł.

Airportbus shuttle — operates a transport service to Gdańsk centre for 9.90 zł (you can buy ticket directly in the bus). This is a direct line between airport and city's centre. Bus stop in Gdańsk is located in front of Mercure Hevelius hotel (it's 5 minutes walk from Main Railway Station). Journey depends on traffic and takes around 25–30 minutes.

Taxi — Avoid the unofficial, rip-off taxis who will pounce on you as soon as you have cleared security, unless you know how to deal with them. A taxi from the airport to the city centre should cost up to 100 zł however will cost more in the evenings or at weekends. "Neptun" is an officially recognized company. Taxi drivers will be waiting in the arrivals hall offering fixed price transfers, 100 zł is not unreasonable for an evening (after 22:00) transfer to the centre of Gdańsk. Uber and Bolt operate in the area too and cost is provided upfront for peace of mind.

Private transfers — MPA Poland provides transport services around Tri-City and Pomerania region. An airport transfer from/to airport costs 100 zł up to 8 people.

By train

Gdańsk is a major hub on the Polish railway network. High-speed trains runs frequently from Krakow (6 h) via Warsaw (3 h) and there are slower intercity trains from most major Polish cities with at least a couple of departures every day. All inter-city trains to Gdańsk continue north up the coast to Sopot and Gdynia, a 25 min ride. Local SKM trains also shuttle on this route every 10 min or so.

There are a few international trains too. One daily train from Berlin, taking six hours via Frankfurt (Oder), Poznań, Gniezno and Bydgoszcz as well as one daily train from Vienna via Ostrava (for Prague), Katowice and Warsaw, 10 hr 30 min.

National operator PKP runs all high-speed and intercity trains while SKM operates the regional trains between Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia.

See Poland for general tips on rail travel. It helps to write down your destination and preferred time to show to ticket clerks as trains have different prices.

By car
The motorway connects Gdańsk with Toruń, Łódź, and Katowice to the south. The connects Gdańsk with Warsaw and Kraków.

By bus
Buses can be used to travel to regional destinations that lack railway connections, such as the concentration camp in Sztutowo. Polskibus operates coach services from here, with direct connections going to Poznań, Wrocław and Warsaw.

By boat
Polferries operates ferry service between Gdańsk and Nynäshamn, just south of Stockholm, Sweden. The trip takes 18 hours and costs ~€70.

Stena Line operates ferry service between Gdynia and Karlskrona, Sweden. The trip takes 12.5 hours and costs ~€50.

By tram and bus
Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego, the City Transportation Office. Easyway journey planner helps to find schedules and routes.

Trams and buses are cheap (3.80 zł/hr) and frequent. Tickets can be bought from drivers, but it is easier to buy them from ticket machines (which are on most popular stops) and kiosks. The most popular website and mobile app for journey planning is jakdojade.pl. Google Maps has reliable public transport data, and is an excellent tool for planning your journeys.

Single journey tickets are valid until leaving the bus or tram. They cost 4.80 zł for a full-price and 2.40 zł for a half-price ticket.

Time tickets are based on travel time, so you must estimate the duration of the journey or have a few tickets extra to validate when your previous ticket expires. Time tickets are either valid for up to 24 hr and allow any amount of journeys and changes within that time. The 75-min time ticket costs 6.00 zł for a full-price ticket and 3.00 zł for a half-price ticket. The 24-hr ticket costs 22 zł for a full-price ticket and 11 zł for a half-price ticket and is valid on all trams, buses during the day and on night buses.

All tickets need to be validated at the start of the journey.

By train
SKM trains make 16 stops along the coast (from the first station,Gdańsk Śródmieście to Gdynia Główna. The main stops are Gdańsk Główny, Gdańsk Wrzeszcz, Gdańsk Oliwa, Sopot, and Gdynia Główna.

A ticket from Gdańsk Śródmieście to Gdynia Główna will cost 9 zł and from Gdańsk Śródmieście to Sopot is 6.40 zł.

Main city
The main city (Główne Miasto) is the historic part of Gdańsk and contains most of the sights. The Long Street (ulica Długa) and Long Market (Długi Targ) are two of the most beautiful streets in the city. They are enclosed first by the Upland Gate, then by the Golden Gate to the west and the Green Gate to the east close to the riverside. This entire stretch is also referred to as the Royal Way. Along those two streets there are many interesting sights.

Do

 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.

Events

 * Mystic Festival Largest metal festival in Poland
 * Mystic Festival Largest metal festival in Poland

Work
Teaching English is a possibility.

Buy
Gdańsk is sometimes called the Amber Capital of the World. The surrounding area is the richest known source of this semi-precious stone, and the product can be found in many of the city's shops. The ones with insects in are much more expensive.

Mid-range
You can buy fish on one of bars on Motława River bank (25 zł/meal)

Drink
Danziger Goldwasser, root and herbal liqueur which has been produced since 16th century is considered the city's drink (it is now made in Germany though). It's vodka-based, creamy and has small flakes of 22- or 23-karat gold in it. Cheaper alternatives include Gdańska Złotówka or Złota Woda.

Gdańsk's national drink before World War II was Stobbes Machandel juniper vodka. After the war it was rejected and slightly forgotten due to association with German soldiers occupying the city, but today is gaining popularity again. There is a special ritual to be followed while drinking a shot of Machandel with a dried plum for a snack.

Sleep
As the TriCity is in effect conjoined and there are good, fast transit links, you can just as well consider accommodation in Gdynia or Sopot.

Consulates

 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine
 * 🇭🇺 Hungary

Internet
Gdańsk provides an extensive network of public, free of charge wi-fi hotspots in public places, such as bus stops, parks, etc. clearly marked with 'GD@NSKwifi" logo. The map with all the hotspots is available on the project website. Free wi-fi is also available on all three major train stations, and in the majority of restaurants and bars.

Stay safe
On the whole, Gdańsk is a safe place to visit and explore. Normal precautions for the safe keeping of your personal possessions, as you would in any other city, are suggested to keep you feel safe when wandering around. Gdańsk seems very well organized from a tourist's point of view. There are frequent police patrols and visitors usually get the feeling of Gdańsk being a secure and tourist-friendly city.

When it comes to gay, lesbian, and non-white travelers, Gdansk is an oddball compared to the rest of Poland. The city is much more socially progressive and tolerant compared to the rest of the country, and you can be yourself with little to no violent reactions from locals.

In an emergency, telephone "112". This number connects to Police, Ambulance and Fire/Rescue services. You will be asked which of these three services you require before being connected to the relevant operator.

Go next
Gdańsk Bay:

 * sea resort Sopot with the longest European pier
 * sea resort and port Gdynia with the biggest Baltic port
 * sea resort Puck

Many of the boats (to Sopot in particular) end up fully-booked and you can't buy your ticket on the boat itself. This is a harsh lesson to learn when you have already waited in a huge queue. Tickets for the Sopot ferry must be purchased from an office directly across from the terminal. Also be aware that in Sopot you will need to buy an access ticket for the pier (around 5 zł, even if you already have a return ticket to Gdańsk) in order to board your boat back.

Vistula Bay:

 * medieval town of Elbląg
 * sea resort and medieval town of Frombork with the grave of Nicolaus Copernicus.
 * sea resort Kadyny with one of the best European studs.

Kashubian Coast:

 * Slowinski National Park with the biggest dunes in Europe
 * sea resort Rowy
 * sea resort Łeba
 * sea resort Jastrzębia Góra
 * sea resort Rozewie
 * sea resort Władysławowo

On the Vistula Peninsula:
 * the concentration camp in Sztutowo
 * sea resort Krynica Morska

On the Hel Peninsula:

 * sea resort Chałupy
 * sea resort Jastarnia
 * sea resort Jurata

Take the train to Hel. It's at the end of the peninsula opposite Gdańsk. SKM trains are the cheaper option. Train from Gdańsk Główny to Gdynia every 15 minutes and then SKM diesel to Hel. If you get the 09:45 from Gdańsk you have 7 minutes to change about 4 platforms across the underpass. The journey is wonderful - straight through pine forests and sometimes with the sea on either side. Single ticket costs 21.50 zł (get a 5.40 zł single from Gdańsk to Gdynia - and then the 16.10 zł single from Gdynia to Hel, just in case you miss the connection.) When you get to Hel have a walk into town, it's a Polish beach resort full of holiday makers. You should have time for lunch and then get the hydrofoil from the end of the pier at 15:30. But make sure you buy the ticket from the office halfway down the pier or you could be walking back! The trip is 50 zł back to Gdańsk but it will be the best value trip you can get. It takes 1hr 50 min but the first hour is getting across to Gdańsk, then the next 50 minutes is navigating the canals back to the town centre. You could pay a tourist company for this trip, but the cost is in your ticket, you see Westphalia lighthouse where the first shots of World War II were fired, the huge ships and the massive remains of the former Lenin Shipyards.

title: Gdańsk