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Kitakyushu

Kitakyūshū (北九州) is a large city in Fukuoka prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Together with Shimonoseki it is part of the Kanmon Straits area. In terms of area it is the largest city in Kyushu, though Fukuoka has the bigger population. The population of Kitakyushu is about one million (or 1.3 million including Shimonoseki). Kitakyushu was created in 1963 from the five smaller cities of Kokura (小倉), Moji (門司), Tobata (戸畑), Wakamatsu (若松) and Yahata (八幡), and it retains this sense of being a country area with much diversity and beautiful nature, despite its reputation as a steel town.

Understand
Kokura, the heart of Kitakyushu, is an ancient feudal castle town guarding the Straits of Shimonoseki. Kokura was supposed to be the target of the second nuclear bomb in World War II. However, it was cloudy on the day of the attack and the plane diverted to Nagasaki instead.

The modern city of Kitakyushu dates back only to 1963, when the cities of Moji, Kokura, Tobata, Yahata and Wakamatsu were merged by administrative fiat.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

Districts

 * Moji is the city's most touristic ward due to its charming historical center, containing several buildings from end of 19th-early 20th centuries. Offers also great views of the imponent Kanmonkyo Bridge leading to Shimonoseki
 * Kokura is Kitakyushu's main transport, shopping and nightlife hub, also containing a nice riverside area where the Kokura castle is located
 * Tobata is a more suburban and industrial area, hosting cheap, good-quality restaurants and the most important cultural event of the city, the Tobata Gion Yamagasa festival
 * Yahata contains a former industrial wasteland which has been completely redeveloped, now containing excellent museums.
 * Wakamatsu, in an island linked to the continent by the "unnecessarily huge" Wakato bridge, is popular among locals for its pleasant green areas and beaches

By plane

More than 30 buses per day run between the airport and the Kokura station, many of them nonstop, but most stopping at each train station along the way. Buy the tickets before boarding for ¥620. The first bus leaves Kokura station Bus Center at 04:00, and the last bus leaves the airport at 24:55, after the last flight from Tokyo. Buses also run to/from Shimonoseki station eight times per day (70 minutes, ¥1000). If coming from the southeastern side of Kyushu, instead of going all the way to Kokura you can disembark at Kusami station (朽網駅), which has shuttle buses every 30 minutes or so to the airport, 20 minutes away, but only local trains stop at Kusami, no express trains.

By train

Kokura Station (小倉駅) is the main railway station and is on the San'yo Shinkansen Line. All San'yo Shinkansen trains stop at Kokura. Nozomi, Mizuho, Sakura and Hikari Rail Star trains make frequent runs to/from Hiroshima, Okayama and Osaka, with some Nozomi trains also running from Kyoto, Nagoya and Tokyo. Sakura trains also run to/from Kumamoto and Kagoshima. Remember that the Japan Rail Pass covers all the forementioned sections above, except Nozomi and Mizuho trains.

Both the San'yo Shinkansen Line and the Kagoshima Main Line (鹿児島本線 Kagoshima honsen) connect Kitakyushu to Hakata station in Fukuoka. On the Shinkansen, Kokura can be reached from Hakata in 15-20 minutes at a cost of ¥2050 for an unreserved seat. Frequent Kodama runs are made between the two stations during rush hours.

By ferry
Kokura ferry terminal connects with Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku with an overnight ferry service. The ferry departs at 21:55 and arrives at 05:00 (you may stay on board until 07:00). A second class bunk costs ¥11,100 (as of April 2022). You need to fill out a short form before boarding the ferry.

Shin Moji ferry terminal connects with Osaka, Kobe and Tokyo. The Tokyo service is operated by Ocean Tokyu Ferry, 03-5148-0109; passenger fares are ¥14,000 for second class and ¥26,600 for first class.

By train
For a tourist, JR trains are the easiest and likely the most convenient means of transport (except to and from the airport), as they give access to most of the city's non-natural attractions. Acquiring the JR Northern Kyushu pass is an overkill if you just want to go around Kitakyushu, but an attractive option if you also intent to go to nearby cities like Fukuoka and Beppu. Take note that the JR Northern Kyushu/JR Kyushu passes do not allow you to use the Shinkansen to go from Kokura to Hakata (but the normal JR Pass does).

By bus
Nishitetsu Bus operates local services as well as highway buses to nearby cities. Nishitetsu Buses accept most Japanese transport smartcards (Suica, PASMO, Sugoca, etc.) which will save you a lot of hassle and also save you some money when you transfer to the train or another bus to get to your destination. Bus stops are very informative, containing complete information about lines and time tables, although you will need to figure out the Kanji and delays of up to 5 minutes are normal.

By monorail
The Kitakyushu Monorail runs every ten minutes from JR Kyushu's Kokura station to Kikugaoka in Kokura Minami ward. The monorail is fun to ride and provides interesting views of the city, but its usefulness is impaired by the fact it offers no discount for transfer to trains or buses. Only a few station announcements are in English (including the stop for the Kitakyushu Media Dome and for the University of Kitakyushu).

On foot
Walking around the Kokura station is a breeze as there are many covered pedestrian pathways and arcades. Mojiko and Yahata are also more conveniently explored on foot.

See
The city has the reputation of being just an industrial area, but this is only true of part of the coastline. The city covers a very large area (much larger than Fukuoka, 486 km² as compared with 340), and there are many pleasant spots for sightseeing and recreation.

Kokura

 * Mori Ogai house in Kokura. Literary giant Ogai wrote his Kokura Nikki (Kokura Diary) here. Ogai was based at the castle at the turn of the 19th-20th century when it was a military base. He was born in Tsuwano in Shimane prefecture.
 * Mori Ogai house in Kokura. Literary giant Ogai wrote his Kokura Nikki (Kokura Diary) here. Ogai was based at the castle at the turn of the 19th-20th century when it was a military base. He was born in Tsuwano in Shimane prefecture.

 * Hiraodai (平尾台). A rare karst plateau in Kokura Minami ward, 30-40 minutes by car from Kokura station. The grassy mountains are covered with large gray round rocks which the locals will tell you look like sheep grazing. Great for walks, hiking and camping. Caves can also be visited and the Shonyudo cave is not to be missed - wade through ice cold water in midsummer. There is no direct public transportation to Hiraodai, but a reasonably priced taxi service is available. The taxi leaves from the Nakatani Nishitetsu bus terminal (中谷車庫) and stops five minutes later at the JR Ishiharamachi Station (石原町駅) on the Hita-Hikosan Line (日田彦山線). It leaves the bus terminal twice a day M-F (09:40 and 16:05) and four times a day on Sa Su and holidays (09:40, 10:45, 13:40, 14:50). For more information about the taxi, call Hiraodai Kankou taxi at 451–0201, or ask at Kokura station information desk on the third floor.
 * Sugao no taki waterfall in Kokura Minami ward - cool and popular with Japanese residents in the summer. Watch out for baby wild boars (uribo) which have been known to nibble at feet in search of food (from personal experience). You can rent bicycles from Dobaru cycling terminal and cycle around the whole area for a few hundred yen. Buses run to here from Kokura Station.

Moji

 * Moji-ko Retro, a few minutes walk from Moji-ko station, is also attractive, and aimed specifically at the tourist trade. You can hire a rickshaw, visit the old buildings (including the room where Albert Einstein stayed the night at the Mitsui Club in 1922) and shop for souvenirs. Also be sure to go up the Moji Port Retro Observation Deck - there is a great 180-degree view from the 31st floor on fine days. Moji-ko is linked by a small and rapid ferry with Shimonoseki on the other side of the Kanmon straits. There is also an underground walk-way through the Kanmon Strait that connects Kyushu to the main island of Honshu. Moji-ko is famous for its Yakicurry, rice topped with Japanese curry, covered in cheese with an egg thrown in, and then baked.  There are several restaurants in the area that serve variations of this specialty.  The shabu shabu restaurant in Moji-ko station is also well worth a visit. Moji supposedly was a place where bananas were shipped to once and you can now buy banana soft-serve ice cream and other banana treats at touristy places there.  For those with a little extra cash and an adventurous appetite, it is also famous for its Fugu (blowfish).

Wakamatsu

 * Iwaya beach in Wakamatsu ward. You can catch the Kitakyushu City bus No. 41 from JR Kokura and Orio Stations. Get off at the last stop, Iwaya. Direct buses from Kokura station leave at 12:09 on weekdays and 10:16 on weekends and holidays. ¥440. Beware jellyfish after mid-August!

Yahata

 * Kawachi reservoir in Yahata Higashi ward has an onsen (hot spring) with a rotenburo (outdoor bath). Courtesy bus from Yahata station. You can walk round the reservoir in about an hour, or rent a bicycle.
 * Mount Sarakura, accessible by Hobashira cable car, provides superb views of the city, especially at night.

Museums

Do

 * Visit the Blast furnace near Space World train station. Japan's steel industry began here in 1901 and the original furnace is preserved as steelmaking was so important to Japan and the development of Kitakyushu in the 20th century. Also nearby are the city's natural history museum and environment museum.

 * Cruise the Dokaiwan sea inlet between Tobata and Wakamatsu wards at night. Advanced bookings required, 19:00-21:00, Fridays in August, leaving from Tobata ferry stage, about seven minutes walk from Tobata station. Four trips only each year. ¥3,000 per person. Includes visit to former Furukawa Kogyo building in Wakamatsu where we were treated to live Hawaiian music and beer. Overall a good evening. The boats used for the cruise are the ferry boats which ply between Tobata and Wakamatsu, Japan's shortest and cheapest ferry (3 minutes, ¥50 per person, ¥50 per bicycle).
 * Walk to Honshu! Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel starts in Moji-ko, near Mekari Park. The tunnel runs underwater between the islands of Kyushu and Honshu. After about ten minutes' walk you have emerged in Shimonoseki in Honshu, where you can ride a cable car up Hinoyama and enjoy a nice view of the Kanmon straits and Kitakyushu. Best on a clear day!

Midsummer festivals
Watch one of the summer festivals held in July:

Midsummer Fireworks (hanabi)
Summer firework displays (hanabi taikai) are also held in various places in and around Kitakyushu in July and August. Usually at least 3,000 fireworks are let off.

The biggest one with no less than 13,000 fireworks (!) is the Kanmon Straits display between Kitakyushu and Shimonoseki (mid-August 13). Be prepared for big crowds, especially on the trains to and from Kokura to Moji-ko.

Cherry blossom viewing (hanami) in spring
One of the best and most popular places for hanami is around Kokura castle, but there are many others.

Buy

 * Explore the spacious and ultra-modern Riverwalk shopping complex by the Murasaki river and near the castle
 * Visit the classical department store, Izutsuya
 * Stroll through Uomachi shopping area.
 * The tiny traditional open-air Tanga market has fresh fish, fruit and vegetables in abundance. It is the oldest shopping arcade in Japan.

Eat

 * Rihga Royal Hotel has several high-priced restaurants.
 * There are many restaurants to suit all budgets in the Uomachi area near Kokura station, and at the top of the Izutsuya department store. Also try the sixth floor of Amu Plaza building above Kokura station.
 * There is a McDonald's and a Lotteria Burger near Kokura station for the starving and desperate.
 * In the sixth floor of Amu Plaza building, there is a kaiten (revolving) sushi restaurant. The chefs will make sushi to request and oblige requests for substitutions or no wasabi. They also make some grilled/seared fish sushi -- delicious! They have a few vegetarian options like kappamaki and you can also get fresh fruit and fried chicken and other non-sushi dishes. Service can really vary from time to time though -- sometimes the waitresses are more helpful and sometimes they ignore you.
 * For cheaper stuff or deli take-out, you can find lots of good things to eat in the basement of Izutsuya.
 * Towards the back of Kokura Station, across from the Shinkansen gate, there is a shopping area called Himawari Street. Downstairs in this area you will find another cluster of places to eat, including a sports yakitori bar, oden, okonomiyaki, yakisoba, Ringer Hut for fast food, and a 1950s-60s retro-styled area of tonkotsu ramen places.
 * Popular foods in Kitakyushu include karashi mentaiko (辛子明太子, spicy pickled cod roe), tonkotsu ramen (the stinkier the better, apparently), and yaki-udon (just like yakisoba but using udon noodles). Chanpon, yakiniku, and Korean food such as bibimba also seem to be enjoying strong popularity.
 * Hardtack has been sold since the 1920s in Yahata. Be careful not to break your teeth.
 * Kokura is, quite literally, synonymous with a type of finely filtered red bean jam known as ogura-an (小倉餡) with an alternative reading of kokura-an, which makes its way into all sorts of Japanese pastries and desserts. But in fact ogura-an is from Ogurayama, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, and ogura-an pan (red bean jam in bread rolls) was first made in Tokyo.

Drink

 * There are three Starbucks in Kokura, one in Riverwalk, one near Kokura station and one inside the SunLive City shopping mall.
 * There are three Starbucks in Kokura, one in Riverwalk, one near Kokura station and one inside the SunLive City shopping mall.

Sleep
There are all sorts of options from the lap of luxury down to the cheapest ryokan. Ask at the Information desk, third floor of Kokura station.

Stay safe
Kudo-kai, a yakuza organization known to use firearms and explosives, headquarters in Kitakyushu, and have records of using firearms and explosives to deal with anyone and any organizations dare to resist them, and in rare occasions, causing death of innocent civilians. The current situation have been improved, yet for the sake of your safety, stay away from gang activities.

During gang wars, explosives, especially hand grenades, are used often. If you encounter any suspicious objects, do not touch them. You should instead, dial 110 for local police assistance.

Go next

 * Shimonoseki on Honshu is a short train ride from Kokura. Additionally, StarFlyer has a promotion where, if arriving from or going to Tokyo on any of their flights, they will offer taxi service between Kitakyushu Airport and Shimonoseki for only ¥1000.
 * Hakata station in Fukuoka is twenty minutes by Shinkansen from Kokura, or about one hour by express.
 * Nakama
 * Nogata
 * Kanda
 * Yukuhashi
 * Munakata
 * Chikujo
 * Kurate

title: Kitakyushu


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Kitami

Kitami (北見) is a city in Okhotsk, Hokkaido.

Understand
Kitami is an agricultural area, producing huge amounts of onions and mint in particular. Kitami is also the center of Okhotsk Subprefecture's economy. Kitami is the largest city in the subprefecture, and the second largest city in Eastern Hokkaido.

In 2006, the towns of Rubeshibe, Tanno and Tokoro merged with Kitami to form the current, larger city of Kitami. The city of Kitami extends from Daisetsu mountains in the east to the Okhotsk Sea in the west.

Tourist Information Site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

Plane
The Memambetsu Airport nearby. JAL and Air Do operate flights from Tokyo and Sapporo to Memambetsu. ANA operates flights from Nagoya to Memambetsu.

Hokkaido Kitami Bus operates an airport bus service from the center of Kitami that connects with each of the aforementioned flights. The bus ride is about 42 minutes long and costs ¥1000 per person. Taxis are also available, but cost approximately ¥7500 per car.

Train
The JR Sekihoku Main Line runs through Kitami Station as it travels from Sapporo to Abashiri. The Limited Express Okhotsk, servicing Kitami, runs 4 round trips from Sapporo to Abashiri daily. The trip from Sapporo to Kitami is around 4 hours and 35 minutes.

Bus
The Hokkaido Kitami Bus operates an intercity bus service.
 * Dreamint Okhotsk (ドリーミント オホーツク号) - Hokkaido Kitami Bus and Abashiri Bus co-operate this service. It runs through Kitami from Sapporo to Abashiri with 9-10 round trips per day. About 4 hours and 30 minutes and costs ¥5190 from Sapporo to Kitami.
 * Express Sekihoku (特急石北号) - Runs from Kitami to Asahikawa via Onneyu Onsen and Sounkyo Onsen with 4 round trips per day. About 4 hours and 30 minutes and costs ¥3500 to Asahikawa.
 * Express Senboku (特急釧北号) - Hokkaido Kitami Bus and Kushiro Bus co-operate this service. It runs from Kitami to Kushiro via Lake Akan with 2 round trips per day. The trip is about 3 hours and costs ¥3300 to Kushiro.

Car
The Doto expressway arrives in Kitami from Obihiro in the south. National Route 39 goes through Kitami from Sapporo and Asahikawa in the west to Abashiri to the east.

By train
The JR Sekihoku Main Line runs through in the city. Local trains run every 1-2 hours.

The stations in the city from west to east are:

By bus
The Hokkaido Kitami Bus operates several routes in Kitami. In the Tokoro area, Abashiri Bus services several areas.

By car
There are many rental car providers in Kitami:
 * Eki
 * Nippon
 * Orix
 * Times
 * Toyota

Do

 * Curling. Kitami has become known as "the city of curling" through efforts by many including the local team Loco Solare.
 * Curling. Kitami has become known as "the city of curling" through efforts by many including the local team Loco Solare.

Go next

 * Daisetsuzan National Park
 * Engaru
 * Saroma
 * Abashiri - a capital city of the subprefecture
 * Ōzora - Memanbetsu Airport
 * Bihoro - Akan National Park
 * Tsubetsu
 * Kunneppu
 * Oketo
 * Kamikawa - Sounkyo Onsen

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

title: Kitami


text:
Kit Carson

Kit Carson is in the Eastern Plains of Colorado.

title: Kit Carson


text:
Kitchener

Kitchener and neighbouring Waterloo and Cambridge form a tightly-integrated metro area within the larger Region of Waterloo in Southwestern Ontario. At the time of the 2021 Canadian census, the population of the city of Kitchener was 256,885 people and the population of the Region of Waterloo area was 587,165.

Understand
Kitchener and Waterloo were pioneered by Mennonites from Pennsylvania, Cambridge by British, principally Scots, in the early 19th century. Once named Berlin, Kitchener was renamed in 1916 due to the anti-German sentiment during World War I, after British military hero Lord Kitchener. Since the 1950s when Waterloo attained city status, Kitchener and Waterloo have been known as the "Twin Cities", "K-W", or "Kitchener-Waterloo". Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge (a 1970s merger of the older City of Galt with the neighbouring Towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the village of Blair) are often collectively referred to as the "Tri-Cities".

Immigration, beginning with Germans and Central Europeans in the 19th century and continuing to the present from Central and South America, the Near East, Far East and Asia have created a broad-based multi-cultural population. Kitchener and Waterloo, in 'North Waterloo' exhibit a strong German heritage, celebrated most notably in their 9-day Oktoberfest, the largest outside of Munich. Cambridge, in 'South Waterloo', has a sizeable Portuguese population, from the Azores, and a large constituency of Newfoundlanders, relocated from Belle Isle, Newfoundland, in the 1960s.

Orientation
The centre of the city, known as downtown, is divided into four neighbourhoods:
 * Warehouse District at the north end of downtown, full of disused factories, many of which are now being converted into loft condominiums or offices.
 * Downtown Core, the centre of downtown, contains city hall and a large number of other sights, as well as many office buildings, shops and restaurants.
 * Civic Centre, contains many public buildings, including the public library, the police station and the Centre in the Square concert hall.
 * East End, contains many small shops and inexpensive restaurants as well as the Kitchener Market.

By car
Highway 401 runs along Kitchener's southern border. Kitchener is located one hour west of Toronto, one hour east of London, three hours east of Windsor/Detroit. If coming from Toronto, take exit 278A (Highway 8). At the Highway 7 and King Street exit, take the exit King Street to get to downtown Kitchener. If coming from London, take exit 278 (King Street), then take Highway 8 east to the King Street exit as above.

By plane

 * Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) is 8 km from downtown Kitchener and has direct flights to destinations in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The airport is serviced by WestJet with flights to Calgary, Flair Airlines with flights to various cities in Canada, the United States and Mexico, and Sunwing Airlines with seasonal flights to Varadero, Cuba and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
 * Air Canada flights can be booked to YKF, with a bus connection from Toronto Pearson Airport.

 * Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is 74 km from downtown Kitchener and is serviced by most major domestic and international airlines. This is the largest airport that serves the region of Waterloo. There are numerous ground transportation operators between Kitchener and Pearson who operate door-to-door services and scheduled minibus services from several large hotels in Kitchener.

By train
GO Transit customers are eligible to one free ride on Grand River Transit (GRT) vehicles (buses and ION light rail line) to and from Kitchener Railway Station. To receive the free ride, GO customers must show the GRT bus driver or fare inspector a Presto card, a single-ride GO Transit ticket or a GO Transit day ticket. With this one exception, Presto and GO Transit fare media are otherwise not valid for Grand River Transit.
 * Train operators:
 * Between Sarnia and Toronto including stops in London, St. Marys, Stratford, Kitchener, Guelph, Georgetown, Brampton, and Mississauga. Travel to Kitchener from Toronto is about 1 hour 35 minutes, from Guelph is about 30 minutes, from London is about 2 hours 10 minutes, and from Sarnia is 3 hours 25 minutes. Seating is reserved. As Kitchener Station has limited opening hours, customers should consider booking VIA Rail trains online.

By bus

By car
By car, with a local map: where other cities are laid out more or less on a grid Kitchener streets are not, rather follow their own complex patterns with frequent twists and turns, many continuing into adjoining Waterloo.

Likewise, street directions are designated E, W, N, and S, but only one major cross street, Lancaster Street East/West, is true to the compass (running, oddly enough, straight north/south). King, Weber and Westmount are the principal EW streets in Kitchener (at Union Street, they become King, Weber and Westmount in Waterloo, where they are designated N/S). Queen, Frederick, Ottawa and Victoria, are the principal NS cross-streets.

There is an express route, known locally as the Conestoga Parkway, but not signed as such, which loops traffic on Highways 7&8 through Kitchener South, and Highway 85 traffic through Waterloo North.

Addresses number EW from Queen, NS from King.

By public transportation
Downtown Kitchener is fairly compact and walkable; thus, public transportation is mainly useful to go beyond downtown such as Uptown Waterloo. The ION light rail line runs from Fairway Park Mall (ION Fairway station) in south Kitchener, through Downtown Kitchener and Uptown Waterloo to terminate at the Conestoga Mall (ION Conestoga station) in Waterloo. In Downtown Kitchener, between Victoria and Frederick streets, the ION line splits into two branches with northbound going along Frederick and Duke streets, and the southbound trains going along Charles Street; the branches are about 250 metres apart. Because of the branches, four of the 6 ION stations in Downtown Kitchener serve only one direction. Kitchener City Hall is served by ION Kitchener City Hall Station (northbound) and ION Victoria Park Station (southbound). Kitchener Railway Station lies 650 metres east of ION Central Station.

The German clubs
All the German clubs serve food but not all of them have restaurants. Call before you go.

Drink
See Nightlife, the weekly entertainment supplement published Thursdays by The Record, the area's daily newspaper, for its calendar of what's on in clubs, concerts, movies, stage, art, and kids stuff.

Go next
Kitchener is one of three cities in Waterloo Region. Visit Waterloo to the north or Cambridge to the south. It is also a great base for exploring the surrounding countryside, the towns of New Hamburg, St. Jacobs and Elora are all within easy driving distance.

title: Kitchener


text:
Kitesurfing

Kitesurfing, also known as kiteboarding, involves using a power kite to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard (which is like a wakeboard).

Learn
The quickest and safest way to learn how to kitesurf is to take lessons from a qualified instructor. Some instructors are freelance but the majority work for kitesurfing schools.

With proper instruction the majority of people are able to master the basics and kitesurf independently with around three days of instruction although some learn quicker than this and some not so quickly.

There are no specific requirements for anyone who wants to learn to kitesurf except a basic level of physical fitness - it's a sport that is open to almost all. The sport does not require any particular physical strength, and children as young as six can learn to kitesurf.

Some experience with other board sports such as snowboarding, skateboarding and wakeboarding can slightly increase learning progress but the main skill required is the ability to precisely control a power kite which most people need to learn from scratch.

The International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO) is the main certifying body for kitesurfing instructors although there are other certifying authorities including the British Kite Sports Association (BKSA) and the Federacion Andaluza de Vela (FAV).

South Africa
In Cape Town the South-Easter blows from October until March/April. Langebaan, which is about 90 minutes' drive north from Cape Town is a great place to learn. At Shark Bay, the lagoon is warm and shallow. The sharks are harmless sand sharks. For wave riding go to Blouberg or Dolphin Beach, 15 minutes north of Cape Town.

Mauritius
The best time for kitesurfing in Mauritius is from June until October. Le Morne in the south part of the island offers the best kitesurfing for beginners and for experienced riders.

Asia
There are numerous kitesurfing locations in Asia. Some of the more well-known ones include Boracay, Hua Hin, Mui Ne, Xiamen, Hainan, Bali (Kuta beach), Sri Lanka (Kalpitiya).

Europe
Kite Surfing is now widely practised across Europe. There are many popular destinations offering have good conditions at varying times of year. Significant European kitesurfing destinations include:

Tarifa in Spain is the most famous kitesurfing destination in Europe. It experiences unique meteorological conditions due to the Venturi effect caused by the choke point between Gibraltar and the Rif Mountains of Morocco which amplifies wind speeds in the Strait of Gibraltar, meaning Tarifa experiences significantly stronger wind than locations only a few miles away to either side.
 * Tarifa

Tarifa has an 11km stretch of unbroken white sand beach without any hazards in the water. The sand dunes and mountains behind the beach generate thermal winds that mean kitesurfing is often possible at spots such as Valdevaqueros even when the prevailing wind is not strong enough in other locations.

Tarifa's southerly location and oceanic climate means the weather is slightly cooler than much of the Spanish coast in summer and noticeably warmer in winter. This means the kitesurfing is possible year round, with an unusually high chance of wind and sun on any given day. High season is in July and August when on windy days you can see over 2,000 kites in the sky at Playa de Los Lances.

The Canary Islands of Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Tenerife have good conditions with strong consistent ocean winds. Their climate is favourable due to their southerly location and they are popular spots for kitesurfing camps.
 * Canary Islands

Wissant is a nominated kitesurfing beach near Calais, France. It benefits from 2km of shallow, hazard free sandy beach. The prevailing Southwesterly wind from the English Channel (La Manche) is cross onshore, meaning conditions here are often ideal for kitesurfing.
 * Wissant

Camber Sands in Romney Marsh is England's busiest kitesurfing destination. Located just an hour and a half from London it has 2 miles of shallow sandy beach and the prevailing wind is cross on shore. There are some hazards, however, including groynes, shipwrecks and fairly extreme tides so it's wise to check conditions and speak to a local before kitesurfing independently here. If the wind is offshore Greatstone beach just 6 miles round the corner is usually ideal. Between the two locations all wind directions except Northeast are viable for kitesurfing.
 * Camber Sands

North America
The best places to go kiteboarding you will find in the Caribbean. World famous are the spots in Cabarete, Dominican Republic and Playa El Yaque on Isla Magarita, Venezuela.

South America
The northern Caribbean beaches of Brazil have strong consistent trade winds and are now very popular for Kitesurfing. Popular spots include Cumbuco and Jericoacoara. Further south other good locations in Brazil include Cabo Frio, Busios and Florianopolis.

Australia
Noosa in Queensland is one of the best kite surfing destinations in the world! With strong Northerly winds throughout summer, it is almost guaranteed every day! Visit Noosa Kite Surfing for more information. Perth in Western Australia has also numerous spots with constant South Westerly winds in summer. Good spots are Woodman Point, Safety Bay in the south and Lancelin 100 km North of Perth.

title: Kitesurfing


text:
Kitsap Peninsula

The Kitsap Peninsula is in Washington State in the Pacific Northwest of the United States of America. It lies in Puget Sound between the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges and it is almost an island connected to the mainland by only a relatively small landmass near Belfair.

Cities
Old growth forests made travel by land nearly impossible for early settlers so towns grew around harbors on Puget Sound to take advantage of the relatively easy water transportation. Although roads have since come to dominate the area many towns still spread out from their harbors and downtown areas are usually close to the water.

North Kitsap
Historic northern area includes the oldest lighthouse on Puget Sound.
 * — beautiful beaches and a wonderful lighthouse.
 * -- 30-minute ferry ride from Edmonds.
 * — historic lumber mill town established in 1853 and still company-owned.
 * — known as "Little Norway", a popular destination for boaters.
 * — home of the Suquamish people and burial site of Chief Seattle.

Central Kitsap
The most urban and populated areas of the Kitsap Peninsula.
 * — the Kitsap Peninsula's largest town built around a military base.
 * -- a secluded and snug harbor.
 * — a small residential area along the west side of Dyes Inlet with beautiful water views and views of Mt. Rainier to the South.
 * — where you'll find the wonderful Elandan Gardens.
 * has views of Hood Canal, the Olympic Mountains and sunsets. With an average of $$ of rain a year, it is the greenest corner of the Kitsap Peninsula.
 * — quaint waterfront community, mostly residential
 * — home to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center.
 * — known for its public boat launch and commanding views of Seattle across Puget Sound.
 * — county seat for Kitsap County also a popular harbor with a convenient downtown.
 * — shopping center for the Kitsap Peninsula
 * — on Dyes Inlet with amazing views of Puget Sound.

South Kitsap
The most rural area of the Kitsap Peninsula and home to many state parks.
 * — overlooking the shoreline of North Bay-Case Inlet on Puget Sound.
 * — gateway to many wilderness areas including the Theler Wetlands.
 * — the name was adopted for the creek that runs past town at Burley Lagoon.
 * — this mostly residential the Hood Canal community's name comes from an Indian word meaning "home of evil spirits who make men crazy."
 * — southern gateway to the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas.
 * — picturesque rural community with many old barns, forests and rolling hills.
 * — home of the Purdy Spit with a mile-long beach access.
 * — a historic mill community still has few traces remaining of its early logging years.
 * — ferry terminal for the SeattleVashon Island state ferry run.
 * — tiny, southern-most town on the Kitsap Peninsula.
 * — at the bend of Hood Canal, with spectacular views

Key Peninsula
This remote southern region south of Purdy is a sub peninsula of the Kitsap Peninsula.
 * — this quiet seaside community was once one of the more radical and socially progressive areas in the state.
 * — this small town is the largest on the Key Peninsula.
 * — one of the last mosquito fleet era docks still in operation.
 * — home to the southern-most marina on the Kitsap Peninsula.
 * — once served by the mosquito fleet, this area is home to the Key Peninsula Museum.

Islands
Several islands are accessible from bridges or ferries from the Kitsap Peninsula and are included in this entry.
 * — a 35-minute ferry ride from Seattle this Island of 20,000 residents is a good place to visit and/or live
 * — Manchester is the closest boat launch to this popular island state park between Seattle and the Kitsap Peninsula.
 * Eagle Island — off of the Key Peninsula more info in State Parks Section.
 * — a 5.2-square-mile island with a lighthouse.

Understand
Just a short ferry ride from Seattle or a picturesque drive across the Tacoma Narrows or Hood Canal bridges, the Kitsap Peninsula offers a nice mix of rural and urban activities. Quaint harbor towns offer shopping, dining and regional cultural experiences while rural Kitsap Peninsula offers a wide variety of parks, beaches, golf courses and endless rural charm. With its nearly 400 miles of coastline and dozens of public marinas and boat launches the Kitsap Peninsula is a popular place to arrive and explore by boat and many harbor towns cater to boaters. For clarity we will also include Bainbridge, Blake and other nearby islands in this entry.

The region has a rich and diverse history. Giving a combination of Native American, Scandinavian, military and pioneer attractions. The Kitsap Peninsula is "almost" an island, accessible primarily by ferries or bridges with highway access from the south.

Kitsap County is the governmental body covering the majority of the Peninsula, with Pierce County lying in the SE portion of the Peninsula, and Mason County lying in the SW portion of the Peninsula. Mason County extends west beyond the Kitsap Peninsula into the Olympic Peninsula region.

Talk
Although English is the most common language spoken in the region, there is an incredible variety of languages used in the area.

The Suquamish people called Puget Sound 'WulcH, which simply means “place of clear salt water” in the Southern Lushootseed language that was originally spoken in the area. Many of the names in the area come from the Southern Lushootseed language including 'Kitsap' which was named after their chief and even 'Seattle' which was named after chief Seattle.

By boat
With its nearly 400 miles of coastline, boating is a major tourist draw on the Kitsap Peninsula and many businesses cater specifically to boaters. Some restaurants and shops provide their own docks for easy access and some golf courses offer shuttles from major marinas. Check individual city listings for specific marina information. Larger marinas can be found in Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Brownsville, Gig Harbor, Poulsbo and Port Orchard but even some smaller towns such as Lakebay offer marinas with services and fuel and even some of the state parks such as Blake Island offer docks with restrooms and picnic shelters.

By plane

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, universally nicknamed "Sea-Tac", is to the east across Puget Sound. Domestically it's a major hub for Northwest and West Coast destinations, and internationally handles especially frequent trans-Pacific routes, as well as direct flights to the major European airports.

All international flights arrive at the south satellite terminal, but after immigration and customs, passengers are then funneled onto a train back to the main terminal, outside the security checkpoint. You'll need to pick up any checked bags to clear customs, then place them right back on the conveyor for transit to the main terminal. Reclaim checked bags once again from carousel 1 in the main baggage hall, to the right after leaving the train and going upstairs. Allow plenty of time for this dance! All connecting passengers will need to re-check their baggage with their airline and pass through security.

By sea plane

 * Sea planes are another popular way to travel around Puget Sound with several airlines based in Seattle with chartered flights to the Kitsap area including Kenmore Air serving areas all around Puget Sound and Canada.

By car
The impressive Tacoma Narrows Bridge to the south or Hood Canal bridges to the north are the two main road access points into Kitsap. The Tacoma Narrows is a toll bridge but only for eastbound traffic leaving the area.

 * US Hwy 101 completely bypasses the Kitsap Peninsula west of the Hood Canal. From Hwy 101 the Kitsap Peninsula can be accessed from:
 * US Hwy 101 completely bypasses the Kitsap Peninsula west of the Hood Canal. From Hwy 101 the Kitsap Peninsula can be accessed from:

 * Hwy 3/104 turn-off 3 mi/4.8 km south of Discovery Bay (where US 101 intersects WA-Hwy 20). Hwy 3/104 crosses the floating Hood Canal Bridge into Key Peninsula.
 * Hwy 3 turn-off from south of Shelton which goes through Shelton while Hwy 101 by-passes Shelton.

Get around

Just a short journey by Washington State ferry, Tacoma Narrows or Hood Canal bridges, and surrounded by nearly 371 miles of shoreline and dozens of marinas the Kitsap Peninsula is an excellent place to travel by car, boat or bike.

By bike
The Kitsap Peninsula is a great destination for bicycles with its rolling hills and spectacular scenery. During the summer you'll find bike rentals near the ferry dock on Bainbridge Island but be forewarned that it may be some distance between pit stops so plan accordingly.

See
The Kitsap Peninsula is known not only for its busy sea ports and picturesque towns but also for its rolling hills, thick forests, miles of coastline, scenic farmlands and many public parks.

Lighthouses
Lighthouse viewing on the Kitsap Peninsula is an excellent way to explore the area, while some lighthouses are accessible to the public others such as the Point No Point Lighthouse offer tours and can even be stayed at overnight.

Fox Island Lighthouse is the southern most lighthouse in the area, on Fox Island near the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The Gig Harbor Lighthouse, which, at only tall, is one of the smaller lighthouses in the region but nonetheless plays an important roll marking the opening to Gig Harbor.

The Point No Point Lighthouse, built in 1879 at Hansville, is the oldest and most historically important lighthouse on Kitsap Peninsula. The Skunk Bay Lighthouse is on Skunk Bay at the northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula near Hansville.

Museums
Museums offer visitors a welcome change of pace and an opportunity to learn more about the Kitsap Peninsula's maritime history.

The Harbor History Museum in Gig Harbor explores the history of the Gig Harbor Peninsula, its maritime industries, and a well preserved school house.

The Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport shows what life is like under the sea.

In Bremerton, the Puget Sound Navy Museum collects, preserves, and interprets the naval heritage of the Pacific Northwest from 1840 to the present and has more than 18,000 objects in its collection; and the Kitsap Historical Society and Museum exhibits the diverse culture, heritage and history of Kitsap County. The USS Turner Joy on the Bremerton Boardwalk is a Vietnam-era destroyer you can tour to see how life would have been for the 17 officers and 275 enlisted men it took to run the ship.

Of Sea and Shore Museum in Port Gamble is dedicated to the study of natural history, especially mollusks and other invertebrates and includes one of the largest sea shell collections in the world.

At the Suquamish Museum in Suquamish, you can learn more about the first people of the Kitsap Peninsula, their wooden canoes and their traditions.

Bridges
Two bridges connect the Kitsap Peninsula to the mainland: the Hood Canal Floating Bridge which is the third-longest floating bridge (the longest over tidewater), and the Tacoma Narrows Bridges, majestic side by side bridges.

Historic military areas
The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Bremerton was established in 1891 as a Naval Station. During World War I, the Navy Yard constructed ships, submarines, and 1,700 small boats. During World War II, the shipyard's primary effort was the repair of battle damage to ships of the U.S. fleet and those of its allies. During the Korean War, the shipyard was engaged in the activation of ships. In the late 1950s, it entered an era of new construction with the building of a new class of guided missile frigates. The shipyard is a National Historic Landmark. The historic district includes 22 contributing buildings, and 42 contributing structures.

Parks
The Kitsap Peninsula's 14 state parks are the coveted jewels of the area. Offering miles of public access beaches and forested trails, many also offer camping and moorage opportunities and are well distributed throughout the area. These parks are described in the articles for towns and villages listed above.

There are many county parks are outside of urban areas and many provide camping, biking, hiking, horse trails, fishing and access to lakes or Puget Sound.

State forests
Thete are two State Forests: Green Mountain State Forest, a few miles west of Bremerton, offers horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, camping, and other uses; and Tahuya State Forest on the southeastern portion of the Hood Canal west of Belfair in Mason County, offers off-road vehicle riding (ORV), horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, and camping.

Nature reserves
The Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island is a garden that is so popular that reservations are required.

Birdwatching
The Kitsap Audubon Society has been actively meeting since 1972 and has a broad coalition of birders actively tracking and sharing sightings since then. They also maintain an active website with updates of the latest sightings, suggestions on areas for birders and even a regular newsletter. They also developed a checklist of birds likely to be seen birds in the area.

The state Audubon society developed 'The Great Audubon Birding Trail' which includes key migration flyways. Flyways are major north-south routes of travel for migratory birds and likely areas to see birds along the route extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Point No Point County Park near Hansville at Kitsap County's northern tip is particularly important for birds migrating the Pacific Flyway. The Audubon Society designated it an IBA or an Important Bird Area but there are six other areas along the trail that are also important. Penrose Point State Park near Lakebay, the Sinclair Inlet north of Port Orchard, Lions Park in Bremerton, the Old Mill Park in Silverdale, Liberty Bay near Poulsbo and Fort Ward Park on Bainbridge Island.

Boating
Puget Sound offers some of the best Cruising on small craft in North America. Breath taking views of the snow capped Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges along with glimpses of Mount Rainier mingle with thick forests and clear bays and streams to create a humbling cacophony of natural sights.

Carved by ancient glaciers, Puget Sounds intricate and complex waterways provide endless opportunities for exploration while the many harbor towns built on protective bays cater to boaters and provide a wide array of services, restaurants and shops.

For visitors, the Kitsap Peninsula is uniquely situated amongst Puget Sound with its convenient proximity to Seatac airport and major urban centers, it nonetheless offers a rural boating experience with many state and county parks located right on the water and miles of forests reaching into the Puget Sound. The well distributed harbor communities on the Kitsap Peninsula were mostly built before roads and tend to be centered around the docks offering boaters easy access to amenities and historic retail areas, even small towns tend to have a country store with access to a dock.

Major ports can be found in Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Brownsville, Gig Harbor, Kingston, Port Orchard, Poulsbo and Silverdale while dozens of other communities have smaller areas to rest and resupply and many State Parks offer secluded moorage closer to nature. See individual city listings for more info.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has the largest state-managed mooring system in the United States. The commission manages more than 40 marine parks in Puget Sound including several in Kitsap that together provide more than 8,500 feet of public moorage space.

Sailing
The Puget Sound is a destination celebrated by sailors from around the world and the Kitsap Peninsula is a prime example of why it is so popular. The scenery around Puget Sound can be so amazing that it borders on the surreal and could only possibly be appreciated more from the deck of a boat under sail. From isolated moorages in such places as Blake Island State Park to historic harbor towns with fine restaurants, museums and shopping all accessible from convenient harbors.

Visitors to the area will often be treated to the sight of a flotilla of sailboats on Puget Sound as local yacht clubs organize events that sometimes attract hundreds of sailors. These ‘races’ such as the Gig Harbor Yacht Club Islands Race are often informal events that are more of an opportunity for fraternization and attract many types of sailboats and many different skill levels of sailors.

Sea kayaking
Sea kayaking can be a rewarding way to explore the Kitsap Peninsulas nearly 400 miles of coastline allowing the paddler a closer and slower look at their surroundings and making Kitsap one of the most popular areas to kayak in Puget Sound. Thick forests of majestic pine and deciduous trees and hundreds of creeks and estuaries dot the coastline. Or just explore Kitsaps many harbor towns that cater to kayakers with shops and restaurants accessible from the water. Harbor Seals, Otters, Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and Blue Herons are common sites while the occasional viewing of an Orca or Grey Whale is not out of the question.

Organized kayak trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate lengths and scenic travel destinations.

There are several companies around the Kitsap Peninsula that rent kayaks and offer classes from beginner to expert, including Olympic Outdoor Center in Poulsbo and Port Gamble.

Beachcombing
What Puget Sound beaches lack in white sand and warm water is more than made up for in the amazing scenery as the clear waters play against wild coastlines and snow peaked mountains scatter on the horizons. Kitsaps many State Parks are an excellent place to start a beach combing adventure offering miles of beaches from the rugged to the sandy smooth. Small crabs, moon snails, sea stars and sand dollars are common sites and tide pools can offer hours of exploration.

Sea shells and driftwood are considered part of the natural environment and should not be removed, however the often rocky and wild shores are havens for creating and revealing beach glass and anything artificial found is fair game for removal. Be respectful of private property and gentle with sea creatures. Keep a wide distance away from nesting birds, seals and other shore animals and always put back anything removed from the shoreline.

Crabbing
Sport crab fishing is popular in the area with most fishermen looking for the elusive and meaty Dungeness Crab, but other less popular crabs are plentiful in the area. Crab season starts with a two-day opener July 1st and 2nd and follows up with crabbing every Thursday through Monday through Labor Day weekend. A wide array of crab traps are available from a variety of area sporting goods stores and the red and white buoys marking the traps are a common site on the water during the short crabbing season. Fishing permits are required and can be purchased from a variety of local stores, more information is available from the Washington Dept of Fishing and wildlife

Shellfishing
Shellfish are prized resources of the Puget Sound, the cool, clean waters provide some of the finest shellfish habitat in the world. Washington State is the nation’s leading producer of farmed bivalve shellfish (clams, geoduck, mussels and oysters) and with Kitsap Peninisulas dozens of Public Clam and Oyster Beaches and miles of coastline it is a popular place for individuals to find these elusive and sought after shellfish. Maps of public shellfishing areas and health warnings and updates can be found online at the States Fish and Wildlife website, as with all fishing in Puget Sound permits are required and can be purchased online or in some sporting goods stores.

Scuba diving

Scuba diving the cold waters of Puget Sound takes a bit more gear and training than other warm water locations, but the rewards are incredible. The area contains some of the best diving in the world and many areas are accessible from the Kitsap Peninsula. Many dive sites are completely covered with colorful sea creatures that defy description. Giant Pacific Octopus are common, along with friendly wolf eels. Colorful sponges, sea cucumbers, sea stars, soft corals, anemones and fish can be seen on nearly every dive. The state has offers a guide to parks with launch sites here. Sound Dive Center in Bremerton offers diving gear and classes.

Conservation areas
There are many spectacular dive areas around Kitsap Peninsula ranging from wreck diving a wooden hull ship near Bainbridge Island known simply as The Boss to artificial reefs that were created with scuba divers in mind. In addition there are four Designated Conservation Areas which are easily accessed from various ports around the Peninsula.

The Colvos Passage Marine Preserve Area near Gig Harbor is a protected marine area and is considered one of the best shore accessible diving areas in Puget Sound. Known for its many friendly Wolf Eels and its 25-foot-high rugged rock wall that runs along the shoreline for about 200 feet. There are also sightings of, for example, Giant Pacific Octopus, Ratfish, Copper, Brown, and Quillback Rockfish, Lingcod,  Greenlings, many varieties of sculpins, Green Sea Urchins, scallops, Rock Sole, Starry Flounder, countless sea stars, warbonnets, gunnels, different varieties of nudibranchs.

Orchard Rocks Conservation Area is northeast of Manchester State Park in the waters and bedlands of Rich Passage within a 400-yard radius of Orchard Rocks day marker and accessible by boat. The natural bedrock and boulders provide habitats for rock associated fish and invertebrate species. Copper rockfish and quillback rockfish once were common at this site but now are rare. Brown rockfish are common as are lingcod, red Irish lord, buffalo sculpin, striped seaperch, and pile perch. Kelp greenling, painted greenling, cabezon are consistently present in the reserve. Dominant invertebrates include red rock crab, spider crabs, red sea cucumber, and orange sea cucumber. Harbor seals frequently visit the site and are often seen hauled out on the exposed rocks at low tide. California sea lions are also commonly observed at the site and may be seen hauled out on nearby navigational buoys.

Well-known to regional scuba divers, Sund Rock is a designated conservation area between Kitsap Peninsula and the Olympic Peninsula on Hood Canal accessible by boat from Seabeck. The area is known for abundant and diverse life, including Lingcod, Giant Pacific Octopus, Wolf Eel, nudibranch, anemone, and sea cucumber.

Z's Reef Marine Preserve is a designated conservation area on the shores of Fox Island. A variety of fishes typically associated with rocky habitats congregate at the site and in such quantities that are unusual for southern Puget Sound. The dominant fishes include copper rockfish, brown rockfish, and quillback rockfish. Other common fishes include lingcod, kelp greenling, painted greenling, wolf eel, and striped seaperch. Pregnant rockfishes are observed at the site during the spring indicating that at least some fishes use the site for reproduction. Other marine organisms include sea stars, encrusting organisms such as giant barnacles, red sea cucumbers, shrimp, and red rock crabs. Seastars are common including sunflower seastar and gumboot chitons are also frequently observed.

Golf
The Kitsap Peninsula has several of the top rated golf courses in the state. Combined with the areas natural beauty golfing in Kitsap leaves a lasting impression. If you are arriving by boat several of courses offer transportation from popular marinas.

Casinos
The Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort in Suquamish and The Point Casino in Kingston have restaurants and bars.

Car racing
The Bremerton Raceway hosts NHRA Division 6 Championship drag racing.

Eat
Like the rest of the Puget Sound area Seafood is a specialty so look for seasonal specials and locally sourced ingredients. Dungeness crabs, clams, oysters, mussels and salmon can all be found in abundance but look also for fresh produce from local farms. Blackberry season towards the end of summer usually means these tasty local berries will find their way into local dessert menus. See city listings for particular food recommendations.

Farms and farmers markets
With its abundance of farm land, the Kitsap Peninsula offers a wide variety of fresh produce and roadside vegetable and fruit stands. Some farms have their own stores and offer locally grown foods and goods. Many villages have farmers' markets that are open ne day a week from May to September, while sone start as early as April and continue into October. Check the village articles for details. Christmas tree farms are also seasonally popular and offer families the opportunity to select their own trees.

Drink
Like the rest of the Puget Sound region, people on Kitsap Peninsula take their coffee seriously. See city listings for particular coffee and bar recommendations and don't forget to check out some of the regions award winning breweries, distilleries and wineries that make for a great stop over when exploring the area.

Try locally brewed beers from Der Blokken and Silver City Brewery (Bremerton), Hood Canal Brewery (Kingston), and Slaughter County Brewing Company (Port Orchard).

Craft distilleries in the region include Heritage Distilling Company in Gig Harbor and Bainbridge Organic Distillers on Bainbridge Isle.

The Kitsap Peninsula has several wineries that offer a nice change of pace when exploring the region. Bainbridge Island Wineries Group has seven members wineries on the island. Olalla Valley Vineyard & Winery in Olalla and Trillium Creek Winery in Lakebay have tasting rooms open to the public.

Sleep
The Kitsap Peninsula offers a wide variety of places to spend the night, from cozy bed and breakfasts to isolated waterfront campgrounds. More urban areas such as Gig Harbor boast a wider variety of places to stay but travelers in the know can search out more off the beaten path options like staying at the historic lighthouse in Hansville.

Animal safety
Though many of the animals in the Kitsap area are used to seeing humans, the wildlife is nonetheless wild and should not be fed or disturbed. Stay at least 100 m away from bears and 25 m from all other wild animals! Check trail head postings at parks for recent activity and be aware of rules keeping a distance from Orca Whales and other marine animals while boating. Regulations for killer whales require that boaters stay 200 yards away & keep the path of the whales clear. These new U.S. regulations apply to all vessels (with some exceptions) in inland waters of Washington.

Don't disturb resting seal pups, keep children and dogs away and report to the local stranding hotline +1 253-589-7235. Seal pups 'haul out' to get much needed rest when they are young and are often alone for many hours. They are extremely vulnerable at this time and should be left alone. Only about 50% of Puget Sound seal pups make it through their first year so please help to protect their health.

10 essentials
Know your 10 essentials when going on a hike, because cell phones won't always work in many rural areas, and may not be depended on in an emergency situation. 1.     Navigation 2.     Hydration & Nutrition 3.     Pocket Knife 4.     Sun Protection 5.     Insulation 6.     Fire! 7.     Lighting 8.     First Aid 9.     Shelter 10.    Whistle

Petty crime
With so many people visiting Kitsap each year petty crimes are something to be vigilant against. Lock your car doors and exercise sensible precautions with valuables, especially when parking your car at a trail head or marina when you may be away from your car for a while. It would also be advisable to carry anything of value out of sight.

Go next

 * Olympic Peninsula - lies to the west via the Hood Canal Bridge.
 * Seattle,Vashon Island and King County - lie to the east via the Washington State Ferries from Southworth.
 * Tacoma - lies to the south across the Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge.

title: Kitsap Peninsula


text:
Kittery

Kittery is a small town in Maine, directly across from the New Hampshire border, that features a number of outlet stores.

Get in
It's only about an hour away from Boston on I-95 (in good traffic, of course), or a more leisurely, scenic drive on Route 1. The outlet store district is on Route 1, a half-mile north of I-95 (take Exit 3 from the highway).

Beware toll roads in nearby New Hampshire. The highways leading to and from the New Hampshire coast get crowded during good beach weather.

Sleep
There are a number of motels and inns that line Route 1, all conveniently located near the outlet malls.

Go next

 * Freeport - Has more outlet stores.

title: Kittery


text:
Kittilä

Kittilä is a municipality in Finnish Lapland. The best known destinations here are the Levi ski resort at Sirkka, Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park in the west (Ylläsjärvi, Jerisjärvi/Rauhala) and Lemmenjoki National Park in the north. The sculptures in the snow village in Lainio got a lot of attention in the late 2010s.

Understand

The main tourist information is in Levi:

Kittilä covers a vast area consisting mostly of taiga forest and bogs, with only 6,500 permanent residents (2021). The municipality is monolingually Finnish. English is widely understood.

River Ounasjoki runs through the municipality almost directly from north to south. Some remote villages got a road connection only after World War II. The fell massifs, especially Pallastunturi and Levi, got some fame for their sights already in the 18th century but the remoteness was a major issue until the main village got a suitable road and a coach connection from Rovaniemi in 1923. Already in the 1930s a small hotel was built at Pallastunturi, but the visitors had to hike or travel in a reindeer sleigh(!) to get there until the road to the fell was accomplished in 1956. The 55 km long trekking route between Pallastunturi and Hetta in Enontekiö was opened in 1934 and is the oldest marked hiking trail in Finland.

In the aftermath of World War II, known as the Lapland War, almost all buildings in the area were destroyed by retreating German troops, including the hotel at Pallastunturi and even some of the roadless villages.

Today Kittilä is a vivid and economically stable community and one of the very few municipalities in Lapland having positive net migration. The is one of the most popular winter sports centres in Finland with almost complete set of services and top level nightlife for after ski.

For nature enthusiasts, parts of, and  extend to Kittilä but the landscape is more or less backcountry elsewhere as well.

, about 40 km from the main village as the crow flies, is the largest gold mine in Europe and an employer for over 1000 people. This ore rich municipality is struggling between interests of international mining companies and increasing request for unspoiled nature.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in Finland,, was measured in the on 28 January 1999.

By car
Kittilä is about 150 km north from Rovaniemi. Many people coming from the south choose to take the car with them on the train from Helsinki, Turku or Tampere and then drive from either Rovaniemi or from Kolari, which is 60 km away from Kittilä (however the train to Kolari only runs twice a week). Helsinki has a car ferry from Travemünde in Germany.

Optionally you can drive from Helsinki. The distance is almost 1,000 km and the drive will take some 12–14 hours depending on road conditions. Helsinki is reached via the Via Baltica and a short ferry passage from Tallinn, Estonia. If driving from Germany or Central Europe in general, the shortest route goes through Sweden along road E4 all the way to Luleå and then through Pajala to the Finnish border and on to Kittilä.

By rail
There are overnight trains to Rovaniemi and to Kolari (sparsely to the latter) from southern Finland and to Luleå, and onwards to Haparanda, from southern Sweden. From there you can continue by coach.

By bus
There are coach services from e.g. Rovaniemi, Hetta, Kilpisjärvi, Kolari, Sodankylä and Haparanda. In summer a daily direct connection from Tromsø is also available.

By taxi

 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

See

 * The midnight sun is visible from late May to mid-July for about 45 days on the latitude of Levi. The polar night starts in early December and lasts about one month. During the winter, the northern lights are a common sight.

Do
Most people come to Kittilä for downhill skiing in the winter. They head for the nearby ski centres Levi and Ylläs.

There are also a host of other outdoor activities offered by tour providers, see below, sorted by village.

You can also go hiking or cross-country skiing on your own in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. The nearest trailheads are around Aakennustunturi, both trails and skiing tracks.
 * Totovaara: 16 km by road 80 towards Kolari; also (15 km) and Joutsenpolku (7 km) nature trail
 * Äijänkuusikko (10 km farther; skiing tracks, on the other side of Aakennustunturi.
 * Trail via Niritsa: 20 km from Kittilä, turn right to road 9403; also Aakennustunturi nature trail (starting 4 km from the road). The skiing tracks start at Levi 20 km away.
 * Kalliokoski: 25 km from Kittilä, drive 5 km further along road 9403. The trail and the skiing tracks start at Levi 20 km away.

Sirkka and Köngäs
For activities in or near the villages Sirkka and Köngäs (about 10km north of Sirkka/Levi), see Levi.

Rauhala

In or near the village Rauhala at lake Jerisjärvi, near Pallas-Yllästunturi fell chain and national park.

Eat
Try the Lappish speciality Poronkäristys (reindeer meat).

Jerisjärvi/Rauhala
See also Do above.

Sirkka and Köngäs
Large selection. See listings in Levi.

Lainio
30 km from Kittilä centre, near the road between Kittilä and Ylläsjärvi.

Stay healthy
In emergencies, call

title: Kittilä


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Kitty Hawk

Kitty Hawk, located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, consists of a thriving village that has been around for generations, a newer beach community of residential cottages, and a maritime forest called Kitty Hawk Woods which features a wide variety of plant and animal life.

Understand
Once a remote area, Kitty Hawk has grown with small-scale development into a summer resort and beach recreation area.

Orville and Wilbur Wright chose this remote fishing village on the Outer Banks in 1900 partly for privacy from prying eyes. Three years later, they flew for the first heavier-than-air flying machine. Since then, Kitty Hawk has been associated with the Wright Brothers as the birthplace of aviation, although the flight took place four miles south from the base of Kill Devil Hills.

On the oceanside, thousands of rental homes, restaurants and shops are part of the development that has characterized the northern Outer Banks from Nags Head to Corolla. But along the Albemarle Sound, the village remains off the beaten path. Shaded lanes wind along the marshes. Quaint clapboard cottages and fishing boats line a series of canals that lead to the open waters of the Sound.

Wright Brothers National Memorial and Visitor Center and the Memorial Pylon are nearby reminders of the days when Orville and Wilbur Wright made this area their headquarters.

See Aviation history for context.

By plane
The Norfolk International Airport is 1 hour and 30 minutes away. It is right off the highway and an easy drive to the Outer Banks and Kitty Hawk. You can also check flights into Newport News. That drive would be about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Pitt-Greenville is about three hours away.

 * Private pilots will want to make a visit to First Flight airport, just southwest of the Wright Memorial. OR Manteo Airport in Manteo, NC. There are Charter flights from Norfolk.

Get around
There is no local bus service. Use a private car, or hire a taxi. Walking and bicycling is also possible.

Do
Activities include kayaking, parasailing, boating, fishing, surfing and surfing lessons.

title: Kitty Hawk


text:
Kitwe

Kitwe is large mining town in Northern Zambia, in the Copperbelt region.

By plane
The nearest international airport is in Ndola.

By road
Ndola is linked by a well-maintained double carriageway and it is under an hour's drive between the two towns. It is 57.7 km from Kitwe to Ndola.

By train
There are overnight trains from Livingstone via the capital Lusaka several times per week, operated by Zambia Railways.

Buy
There are a lot of goods that can be bought from Kitwe. Spectacles can be bought from Indafro Ltd. the optique, City square.Cosmetics, gifts, accessories, perfumes, cards etc. can be bought from Fashion Hut, Matuka Avenue.Clothes can be bought from Kamiza Fashion boutique, Toys can be bought from Galleria.Sports accessories can be bought from Mukape sports shop, Sports pro ltd.Computers and its accessories are sold at AT Computers,Dreamland, CompuZone. Clothes are sold in Pep stores, furniture is sold in IFI furnitures, shoes are sold in Bata and Tyros.

Eat
At the Arabian Nights restaurant, frequented by locals and visitors, the menu offers interesting and diverse eating. Try the Nile Perch fillet on a bed of mushroom risotto.

For Italian food, try Mona Lisa at the Parklands Shopping Center. A popular restaurant with efficient service and a wide variety of dishes, Mona Lisa is frequented by both locals and visitors, particularly on weekends. For a hassle-free evening, it is advisable to go on a weekday, as the area is particularly crowded on weekends.

For Indian food try Dannys restaurant, Hotel Edinburgh and Havmore restaurant. These restaurants are popular for Tandoori chicken, Chicken curry and Naan. These restaurants are cheap and offer buffets on Sundays.

Drink
There are plenty supermarkets (Shoprite & Pick N pay) where you can get drinks like Beer, Coca-Cola, Fanta, Juice, Mazoe, sprite etc.

Go next

 * Ndola

title: Kitwe


text:
Kiunga

Kiunga is a city in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea.

Understand
Kiunga makes most of its money as a port on the Fly River, which transships products for the Ok Tedi mine and the mine town of Tabubil. It also has some of the best bird watching in Papua New Guinea.

Get in

 * PNG Air has daily flights from the nation's capital, Port Moresby.

Do

 * Bird watching. There are an enormous number of different bird species in the Kiunga area and the town is rapidly becoming a major center for birdwatching enthusiasts.

title: Kiunga


text:
Kivu

Kivu is a region in the east of Democratic Republic of the Congo. It runs along the western shore of Lake Tanganyika.

Cities

 * - tiny township in rebel territory, notable only as the easiest land crossing into the more visitor friendly parts of Uganda and the visitor delights of Kisoro
 * - tiny township in rebel territory, notable only as the easiest land crossing into the more visitor friendly parts of Uganda and the visitor delights of Kisoro

Understand
Influenced by neighbouring Burundi, Rwanda, & Uganda this region is known for its volcanoes, mountain gorillas, and, tragically, its unfathomable conflicts

Stay safe
See the warning on the Democratic Republic of the Congo article for information on the security situation.

title: Kivu


text:
Kiyama

Kiyama (基山町) is a town in Saga Prefecture, Japan.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with machine translation.

Go next

 * Tosu
 * Ogori
 * Chikushino
 * Miyaki
 * Kamimine
 * Yoshinogari
 * Kanzaki
 * Dazaifu
 * Kurume

title: Kiyama


text:
Kıyıköy

Kıyıköy is a small resort on the Black Sea coast in Eastern Thrace in Turkey. But since 2020 it's been the terminal of a gas pipeline from Russia, so many visitors nowadays are here on business.

Understand
Kıyıköy may have been the site of ancient Σαλμυδησσός, Salmydessos - classical authors vied with each other to attribute horrid deeds to its inhabitants. It's on a bluff between the outflow of two creeks, Kazandere south and Pabuçdere north, and this created a defensible position, with a walled citadel built in the 6th century. From the late 19th century the town was on the frontline, being briefly occupied by Russia after the war of 1877/78. It traditionally had a large Greek population, who called it Μήδεια, Medea, meaning "middle", and the old name "Midye" is still sometimes used. After the First World War, it marked the north end of the temporary frontier that stretched south to Enez on the Aegean. The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne shifted the frontier further west, and mandated exchange of ethnic minority populations to prevent future conflict. The town's Greeks and Bulgarians were deported and it was resettled with Turks from Thessaloniki. Turkish names were assigned to all the places with historic "foreign" names, seemingly by picking them out of a cupboard drawer with limited stock, because "Kıyıköy" was what they came up with - "coast village", almost as distinctive as the former name of "middle".

In 2010 the population was 2077 and the village was just a small beach resort, a weekend getaway from Istanbul. But then it became the landfall of the Turkstream gas pipeline, with a big industrial complex 2 km north. This doesn't directly impinge on the town, but you can expect the roads to be busy with very large trucks as work on the facility continues.

Get in
There are two main highways into Kıyıköy. Driving from Istanbul city, follow O-3 / E80 west (toll), and from the airport follow O-7. Turn off onto D567 through Çerkezköy to Saray, there taking the road signed for Kıyıköy.

The bus route is similar: Kale Seyahat (which means "Castle Travel") buses run hourly from Istanbul Bayrampaşa, taking two hours to Saray where you transfer to a dolmuş. The Kale buses continue to Vize and Kırklareli.

The other main road into Kıyıköy is from Vize: you might have a long wait to pick up a dolmuş there.

There are also winding lanes through the hills from Demirköy to the northwest and along the coast from the burbs of Istanbul to the east.

Çerkezköy is the nearest railway station, on the line between Istanbul, Edirne and Bulgaria.

Get around
The monastery is a short walk from town, but you need wheels to explore the area.

Within the town, the streets form a one-way system: Cumhuriyet Cd runs eastbound from a wall gate towards the sea, and a non-linear collection of streets a block north of it heads westbound inland. Don't even think of messing it up — the very liberally placed road spikes in every corner are eager to put you at the customer lists of tyre shops, of which there apparently isn't any within a 30-km radius.

See

 * Kıyıkent Fortress encircled the entire old town between the two creeks. It was built around 550 AD in the reign of Justinian I, who as ruler of the eastern Roman Empire recaptured the west including Rome itself. It was renovated in the 9th or 10th century, but all that's left are a few stretches of wall and moat, plus the Vize Gate on the main road which is a 1991 rebuild. The old town was famed for its traditional wooden houses, but thanks to the earth tremors and the developers they're dwindling, with survivors re-purposed as hotels.
 * (TürkAkım or Турецкий поток) is a double gas pipeline from Anapa near Krasnodar in Russia that comes ashore here. It went into service in 2020: one pipeline continues to Lüleburgaz and supplies Turkey, the second is intended for other countries but its onward route is not determined. It cost €11.4 billion, presumably worth every kopek to spite Ukraine, the previous route for Russian gas exports. It's probably unwise to linger near the Kıyıköy facilities taking pictures.
 * or Çamlıkoy ("pine cove") is just across the boundary into Tekirdağ Province, and another 500 m brings you into Istanbul metropolis, but it's easiest accessed by turning off the Saray highway 10 km south of Kıyıköy. It has a broad sandy beach but the main attraction is its pine forests, popular for camping and picnics. There's a charge for cars to enter, and you will need a car as there's no public transport. Beware the strong currents: that rocky islet looks close, but swimming out to it will get you whisked away in the general direction of Odesa.
 * means "Genoese castle" and there are quite a few dotted around Turkey — Genoa established colonies in the 14th century as the Byzantine Empire weakened. However, this case is a false attribution, as the 1830s Ottoman-built castle (Osmançe Kalesi in official records) was intended as a lookout post against the expanding Russian Empire. This is a scenic stump perched above Balkaya village, but you get there up the track from Kömürköy along the Vize – Kıyıköy road (unsignposted; the turn-off is near the southern end of the village, passing a bridge). As of May 2022, the last ~3.5 km of this track is impassable by a 2WD (uneven rock surface), and the route shown in Google Maps directions ends in an opening at the junction of forest tracks, at least 1.5 km short of the actual site. There is another access track (~5 km) west of Balkaya, branching off the road towards the direction of Vize, but only for hikers or off-roaders — its dirt surface is even worse.
 * ("Hell Waterfalls") gushes down a rocky canyon northwest of Kızılağaç, off the Vize road. It's a 15-min steep walk down from a parking lot of sorts. There are two access roads (neither signposted), both narrow and dirt forest tracks with no guardrails, and deep gullies up to one third of the road. On the way out, the northern road has a steep incline covered with loose scree — impossible to cross by a standard 2WD. The general area is pretty and pastoral.
 * ("Hell Waterfalls") gushes down a rocky canyon northwest of Kızılağaç, off the Vize road. It's a 15-min steep walk down from a parking lot of sorts. There are two access roads (neither signposted), both narrow and dirt forest tracks with no guardrails, and deep gullies up to one third of the road. On the way out, the northern road has a steep incline covered with loose scree — impossible to cross by a standard 2WD. The general area is pretty and pastoral.

Do

 * Beaches are sandy. The town beach is a spit at the outflow of the north creek, then Servez beach stretches for another 2 km north, with the Russian gas hissing beneath it. The third extends 1 km south from the south creek.
 * The harbour is suitable for small leisure craft. But arriving from non-Turkish waters, it isn't a legal port of entry — the nearest is İğneada about 18 nmi to the north.

Buy
There's a handful of small stores near the harbour. Ziraat Bank has an ATM.

Eat
Places clustered near the harbour are Mercan, Efsane, Kiyi, Köşk, Çap Oğlu, Balık and Liman Balık.

Drink
No free-standing bars here but the cafes and restaurants mostly serve alcohol.

Sleep

 * Campsites line the banks of the north creek and include Salaş, Carpe Diem, Yeşil Vadi Kır and Kıyıköy Kamping.
 * Rooms: the town has at least a dozen pansiyon, but they weren't open in 2021.

Connect
As of Nov 2021, Kıyıköy and its approach roads have 4G from Türk Telekom and Turkcell but no signal from Vodafone. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Saray is the hub which you're likely to pass through. It has some Ottoman remains but is mostly a commuter town for the industrial places further east.
 * Demirköy to the north has a medieval foundry, but the main reason to come is to access the beach at Igneada and the Floodplain Forests National Park.

title: Kıyıköy


text:
Kiyosato Plateau

Kiyosato Plateau (清里高原, Kiyosato Kōgen) is a highland in the northermost part of Yamanashi Prefecture, famous as a summer resort for its cool climate. Many beautiful mountains and tourist attractions are there.

Understand
The highland is part of:
 * city.

History
No one lived in Kiyosato until 1909. People who lived around the dam in Tokyo migrated to Kiyosato in 1938. When they started to pioneer the ground of Kiyosato, their life became more painful because Japan started a war. At that time, two people led them. The first person was Yasuike Okio. He refused the promotion to become the government official, used his fortune, and helped the reclaim of Kiyosato. The second person was Paul Rusch who came from Kentucky, the United States. He was a good leader and helped development. He was repatriated by American government during the war. But after the war, he returned to help people in Kiyosato. The vast ranch which he reclaimed is a tourist spot now. The name is Seisen dormitory.

Tourist information site
The local sightseeing association has a Japanese-only info site.

Get in
Use the Chuo Expressway from Tokyo interchange to Sudama IC, Nagasaka IC, Obuchizawa IC by a car (90 minutes).

Take the Koumi line from Obuchizawa station or Sakuho station to Kiyosato station.(The Koumi line stretches 78.9 km through the mountains with a total of 31 stations in Yamanashi.)

title: Kiyosato Plateau


text:
Kizhi

Kizhi (Russian: Кижи) is an island in Karelia, Russia. It is part of the Silver Ring of cultural and historical centers of Northwestern Russia.

Understand
The Kizhi museum is one of the largest open-air museums in Russia. This is a unique historical, cultural and natural complex enlisted on the Code of the Most Significant Cultural Heritage Sites of the Peoples of the Russian Federation. The basis of the museum collection is the architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost, a.

The State Kizhi Museum is on the Island of Kizhi in Lake Onega, 68 km from Petrozavodsk, the capital of the Republic of Karelia. The museum has been researching, preserving and popularizing culture of the native peoples of Karelia for more than 40 years.

The collection of the Open-Air “Kizhi” Museum includes 89 monuments of wooden architecture: old chapels and houses, windmills and granaries, threshing barns and racks for drying crops. The gem of this collection is the 22-domed Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior, 37 m high. The Church of the Intercession of Holy Mary and the Bell-Tower nearby emphasize the harmony and magnificence of the main church.

The guests of the museum can visit the Church of the Intercession of Holy Mary and peasant homesteads. Traditional crafts are demonstrated in peasant houses; wind flows bell-ringing over the island. Wonderful performance of the Museum folk ensemble supplements the impressions of the traditional peasant culture. The visitors whose stay on the island concurs with one of the museum festivals will have the most lasting impressions.

Get in
In summer (from late May), boats run from Petrozavodsk to Kizhi. A ticket cost ₽2300 return in June 2013. The journey takes 1hr 15min.
 * Kareliaflot
 * Tour Holding Karelia http://www.tourholding.ru/

Fees and permits
Entry fee is ₽625 for foreigners, ₽100 for Russian citizens, payable in cash only upon arrival. The fee is not included in the ticket price for the boat or hydrofoil from Petrozavodsk.

Eat
There are a few snack cafes and a small supermarket near the landing for the hydrofoils and cruise ships. Bringing your own picnic lunch is allowed, but be sure to use the bins or carry your own refuse off the island with you.

Sleep
The Kizhi Museum runs a guest house on the island:

title: Kizhi


text:
Klagenfurt

Klagenfurt (Slovenian: Celovec) is the capital of Carinthia in Austria. It was one of the eight host cities in the 2008 European Football Championships.

Understand
Klagenfurt has about 100,000 inhabitants and is close to Wörthersee. It is the native town of well-known writer Robert Musil (especially known for his book The Man Without Qualities), and is host for The Ingeborg Bachmann Competition, a famous German literature competition. Musician and composer Gustav Mahler also worked and lived in Klagenfurt.

Tourist information

 * Klagenfurt website

By plane

Other nearby airports include Graz, Salzburg, Vienna, Ljubljana, Maribor, Trieste and Venice.

There are good train connections (3–5 hours) to all airports above apart from Ljubljana and Maribor. A private shuttle bus serves Ljubljana and Graz airports from Klagenfurt, but it must be booked in advance.

By train
Since (main station) is located at a railway gateway to Italy, Slovenia and Germany, it can be easily reached from any bigger Austrian city. There are hourly connections to Vienna, Graz and neighbouring Villach.

By bus
Klagenfurt has daily connections to Graz (departing close to the main train station) and to Ljubljana in Slovenia. Tickets can be bought directly on the bus.

By car
Klagenfurt is on the A2 motorway and has four exits (Klagenfurt West, Klagenfurt Nord, Klagenfurt Ost and Klagenfurt Airport). It can be easily reached by Graz, Vienna and Villach. The B91 connects Klagenfurt to Slovenia.

Get around
Most sights of interest can be easily reached by foot. Klagenfurt offers an extensive bus network. Tickets can be bought directly at the bus and cost around €4 (24-hr ticket) or €0.90 for a single ride. The main bus hub is at Heiligengeistplatz in the centre of the city.

Hiring a bicycle is recommended if you wish to travel to Klagenfurt's beach, on the shore of the Wörthersee in the Western outskirts of the city. There is a cycle path along the Lendkanal, taking you from Heiligengeistplatz (take the underpass) to the beach and continuing along the northern shore of the Wörthersee all the way to Velden. Bikes can be hired at Neuer Platz.

See

 * Europapark - This park, next to the Minimundus and to the Strandbad (beach) of the Wörthersee invites to stroll, relax, play chess and enjoy the beautiful plants. Watch peacocks fan their feathers.
 * Europapark - This park, next to the Minimundus and to the Strandbad (beach) of the Wörthersee invites to stroll, relax, play chess and enjoy the beautiful plants. Watch peacocks fan their feathers.
 * Europapark - This park, next to the Minimundus and to the Strandbad (beach) of the Wörthersee invites to stroll, relax, play chess and enjoy the beautiful plants. Watch peacocks fan their feathers.
 * Europapark - This park, next to the Minimundus and to the Strandbad (beach) of the Wörthersee invites to stroll, relax, play chess and enjoy the beautiful plants. Watch peacocks fan their feathers.

Do

 * Walking tours explore the historic city daily in summer. Head for Neuer Platz in front of the city hall or call 537 2293 for more details.
 * Football: SK Austria Klagenfurt play soccer in the Austrian Bundesliga, the top tier. Their home ground Wörthersee Stadion (capacity 32,000) is on the ring road 3 km southwest of town centre.
 * Swimming: Klagenfurt's beautiful beach (Strandbad Klagenfurt) is on the Wörthersee and has space for around 12,000 guests. In addition to a sandy beach, a large grassy area and piers for sunbathing, there is also a small football pitch, a beach volleyball court, a water slide (free of charge) and two restaurants. Entrance fee is approx €2-3.
 * Ironman Austria is a triathlon, next held in Klagenfurt on 16 June 2024.
 * Ironman Austria is a triathlon, next held in Klagenfurt on 16 June 2024.

Buy
The centre of the city (around Alter Platz) offers a large variety of boutiques, book shops and perfumeries. Big shopping malls are located in Völkermarkterstrasse.

Street food
Stalls serve traditional Austrian cuisine in the indoor part of Klagenfurt's market.

Phone
The local area code is (0)463. The country code for Austria is +43.

Internet

 * An Internet cafe can be found at Waaggasse 10 (Sir Magic's Internet Cafe, close to Alter Platz)
 * Free Internet terminals are offered at Klagenfurt University, on the Western fringe of the city (about a 10-minute bus ride from the main bus station)
 * Cafe Jäger offers a wireless hotspot for a bargain €3/day (using the FON network). This cafe is near the nature park Kreuzbergl, about a 15-min walk from the city center. Radetzkystraße 38 - 40 A-9020 Klagenfurt

Consulates

 * 🇷🇴 Romania

Go next

 * Take a trip around lake Wörthersee with stops in Pörtschach, Velden am Wörthersee and Maria Wörth.
 * Archaeological Park Magdalensberg Close to Klagenfurt Virunum, the ruins of an ancient roman city (around 50 AD) can be found. Virunum can be best reached by car (take B317 to St. Veit). Entrance is around €5 (plus €1 if you want a guided tour), special fares apply to groups and children. The site is open from May to October from 09:00 to 19:00. For more information and material contact Tel. +43 4224/2255
 * Gerlitzen is a mountain and small ski resort an hour from Klagenfurt. The skiing is nothing special but Gerlitzen offers some of the best vistas in Austria. On clear days almost the whole of Carinthia can be seen from this mountain top. You can either drive up (take care in winter) or take the cable car. From the parking space/cable car station it's an hour's walk to the summit. The cable car station at the mountain's base at Annenheim can be reached by bus or train, though connections are poor.
 * Hochosterwitz Castle. One of the most impressive medieval castles in Austria, dating back to the 9th century, is 20 km outside of town. This rock castle stands on a dolomite rock towering 175 m above everything else, and is considered a landmark for the entire Carinthia state.
 * There are a couple of excellent health spas near Klagenfurt, ideal for a day of relaxation and pampering. The municipal swimming pool in the city of St Veit is about half an hour's drive from Klagenfurt, and offers state of the art sauna facilities for a bargain price of €10 for a day. The hot springs at Warmbad Villach are also a good place to go for swimming, relaxing, sauna and massage. Price is €14 per day.
 * The Soca/Isonzo valley in Slovenia is about an hour and a half's drive from Klagefurt over the Predil mountain pass. Its deep limestone gorges offer a spectacular scenery and its emerald-coloured rivers are famed for some of the best kayaking and white water rafting in Europe. Since the Soca valley is actually easier to reach from Villach and Klagenfurt than Ljubliana (Slovenia's capital) it's well worth a day trip if you're hanging around Carinthia for longer. Head for the town Bovec, the touristic centre of the Soca valley.
 * Tentschach Castle is a castle first built in 13th century and is located 20 km outside the town. It was rebuilt to its present form in the 16th century.

title: Klagenfurt


text:
Klaipėda

Klaipėda is a city in Lithuania Minor, the narrow northwest coastal region of Lithuania. It's the country's third-largest city, with a population in 2023 of 158,420, and a busy industrial harbour.

The city has historic sights but isn't pretty-pretty like Vilnius Old Town, and draws mostly local tourism. The big attraction is the Curonian Spit, a remarkable 99 km peninsula of sand dunes - Smiltynė at its north tip is part of the city and is reached by a five-minute ferry ride from downtown. Facilities in the northern third of the spit are therefore described on this page, while those in the centre are described on the Nida page. Its south is part of Kaliningrad Oblast, an exclave of Russia.

Understand
Klaipėda is at the mouth of the River Danė, which flows into the Curonian Lagoon, the freshwater lake enclosed by the Curonian Spit; the lagoon here discharges into the Baltic. Its harbour is ice-free, a valuable site on this cold sea, so it's been fought over many times. The castle was built by the Teutonic Knights in 1253 and for much of its history the city was part of Prussia. German-speaking people called it "Memel" for the larger river feeding the lagoon further south, nowadays the border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Timber export has long been the port's main trade, along with other agricultural produce such as wool. After the First World War Memel and its hinterland were declared a "Free City" similar to Gdańsk / Danzig, but newly-independent Lithuania annexed it in 1923. Nazi Germany grabbed it in 1939: after the Second World War it reverted to the far-from-independent Lithuanian SSR, a communist satellite state of the USSR. That grey empire broke up in 1990 and Klaipėda like other Baltic cities developed modern western industries.

By train

Destinations:
 * Vilnius – Trains run every couple of hours and take 4½ hr and are €25 (2023). They go via Kaišiadorys, Jonava, Kėdainiai, Radviliškis, Šiauliai, Telšiai, Plungė and Kretinga.
 * Kaunas – There are no direct trains, but you have to change in Vilnius or Šiauliai, for a 5-hr journey.
 * Šilutė – 4 local trains per day, taking 1 hr.

By bus

Buses run from Palanga, Vilnius, Kaunas and Riga airports as above. Vlasava, Kautra and Toks buses run hourly from Vilnius town via Kryžkalnis to Klaipėda (4 hr), where they take a 20–min break then continue north to Palanga town, the airport and Šventoji. They also run hourly from Kaunas (3 hr); some start from Druskininkai and Alytus.

By road
From Vilnius and Kaunas follow A1 northwest. It's a fast dual carriageway.

From Riga follow A8 / A12 to Šiauliai then A11 west.

By plane

Nearby international airports:
 * Palanga Airport, Palanga – The closest airport, 36 km north. It has limited seasonal destinations, which include London Stansted and Dublin by Ryanair, Oslo by Norwegian, Riga by Air Baltic, and Copenhagen by Scandinavian. Bus 31 runs between airport, Palanga town and Klaipėda bus / railway station every 30 min.

 * Kaunas Airport, Kaunas – Linked by the direct Ollex bus four times a day, taking 2½ hr to Klaipėda via Kryžkalnis highway interchange.

 * Vilnius Airport, Vilnius – Far more flights than Kaunus. Ollex bus runs from the airport (4 hr, 5 per day, €25) via the outskirts of Kaunas. Toks bus between Vilnius city and Klaipėda also runs via Vilnius airport.

 * Riga Airport, Riga – Linked by direct Ollex bus every couple of hours, taking 4½ hr (€30).

By boat

Ferries:

See below for the ferries across the channel from Smiltynė on Curonian Spit. With the right documentation it's possible to drive up the Curonian Spit from Kaliningrad Oblast in Russia, crossing the border near Nida, and on north up Highway 167 to the ferry terminal. Bicycles are also permitted across that border but not pedestrians, and there is no public transport across.

By bus
The city stretches north-south along the coast, so many routes are from the university quarter to the bus and railway station then south along H Manto gatvė across the bridge into Old Town, continuing down Tiltų g towards Acropolis shopping centre. For example Bus 8 runs every 5-10 min down this spine along Taikos Prospekt. Bus 9 runs every 10 min closer to shore, passing by Old ferry terminal, the castle and south to New ferry terminal and the shipping port. For routes and timetables see Klaipėda Transport website.

A single paper ticket costs €0.80 from a kiosk and €1 from the bus driver. Validate your ticket immediately on boarding.

Further out, Bus N1 runs down the spit every two hours, connecting with the ferries at Smiltynė old ferry terminal. It carries bikes and goes to Juodkrantė and Nida, taking 65 min.

Klaipėda scrapped its trams in 1967. There is interest in restoring them, but the cost looks prohibitive.

By taxi
The easiest way to call a taxi is with the eTAKSI app for smartphones, or call +370 633 44 553.

In 2023 flagfall is €1 then €0.80/km, so a ride from the bus / railway station to Old Town might be €3.40.

By boat
Two ferries routes exist between Klaipėda and Smiltynė on Curonian Spit, foot passengers as well as vehicles.

For foot passengers:

For vehicles (mostly, but also foot passengers):

There is an ecological fee of €5 for cars and motorbikes, and €15/20 (off-/high-season) for campers for entering entering Neringa municipality, which contains most of the Curonian Spit on the Lithuanian side.

Ferries no longer sail direct from Klaipėda to Jaodkrantė or Nida.

By bicycle
Bikes are a good way to explore the Curonian Spit.

Curonian Spit
This untied bootlace of the Baltic stretches for 99 km from Zelenogradsk in Russia. Its north tip is Smiltynė, the beach resort of Klaipėda, reached by a short ferry ride from downtown (see Get Around).
 * See Nida for the middle section of the spit.
 * See Kaliningrad Oblast for the southern section in Russia.
 * See Nida for the middle section of the spit.
 * See Kaliningrad Oblast for the southern section in Russia.
 * See Nida for the middle section of the spit.
 * See Kaliningrad Oblast for the southern section in Russia.
 * See Kaliningrad Oblast for the southern section in Russia.

Do

 * Beaches – The west coast of the Curonian Spit is sandy throughout its length, backed by forest and sandhills. Smiltynė, the north tip just across the channel from downtown, is obviously the busiest. Giruliai and Melnragė beaches are north of town.
 * FK Banga play in A Lyga the top tier. They're based 15 km east in Gargždai.
 * FK Banga play in A Lyga the top tier. They're based 15 km east in Gargždai.
 * FK Banga play in A Lyga the top tier. They're based 15 km east in Gargždai.
 * FK Banga play in A Lyga the top tier. They're based 15 km east in Gargždai.

Events

 * Music Spring Festival – The next is probably on 30 March 2024, tbc.
 * Sea Festival – The next is probably on 19-21 June 2024, tbc.
 * Klaipėda Castle Jazz Festival is probably next on 20 June 2024, tbc.
 * Parbėg laivelis Folklore Festival is held in July in odd-numbered years, but didn't happen in 2023.

Buy
Amber is a traditional Baltic giftware, the semi-precious fossil of long-drowned pine resin.

Budget

 * Cheap lunch: restaurants and bars usually serve an inexpensive two-course menu-of-the-day from 11:30 to 14:00.
 * Local specialty is cheese fingers - lots of places serve these as a snack or starter.
 * Hap's Kebabs within the bus station is open daily 10:00-21:45.

Mid-range

 * Friedrich's Passage is an Old Town alley lined with eating places. Its south end opens onto Tiltų, its north onto Šaltkalvių by the Blacksmith's Museum.

Drink

 * Brewery: Švyturys ("lighthouse") is at Kūlių Vartų g 7 in Old Town and offers tours. Their gastropub is open M-Th 16:00-00:00, F 16:00-02:00, Sa 13:00-02:00, Su 13:00-23:00.

Stay safe
Klaipėda is a safe place but like anywhere you have to use common sense. Try to walk with a confident air and not look lost.

Connect
As of Aug 2023, Klaipėda and its approach highways have 4G from all three national carriers, with 5G in city centre.

Go next

 * Nida on the Curonian Spit is reached by ferry to Smiltynė then by road. To go further south down the spit you need the relevant documentation to enter the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast.
 * Palanga is a lively beach resort north towards the border with Latvia.
 * Vilnius is Lithuanian's charming capital, with a well-preserved baroque centre.

title: Klaipėda


text:
Klamath

Klamath is a small town located just outside of Redwood National Park in Del Norte County of California's North Coast.

title: Klamath