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Győr

Győr ([ˈɟøːr], German: Raab, Slovak: Ráb, Croatian: Jura Đura, Serbian: Ђер/Djerba) is a city in Western Transdanubia in Hungary. It is called A barokk városa (the Baroque City), because the old part of the city contains dozens of monumental buildings and sculptures from the 18th century.

It is the capital of Győr-Moson-Sopron county. The city is the sixth largest in Hungary, with around 129,000 inhabitants (2017).

Understand
Győr is in the northwestern part of Hungary, close to the Slovakian and Austrian borders in the middle of the 'Golden Triangle' between Bratislava, Budapest and Vienna. It is a good stop between Vienna and Budapest or Sopron and Budapest, and also a good base for day trips throughout almost the whole North Transdanubian region. It has very good train and bus connections, and the motorway that passes to its south enables easy travel to Vienna and Budapest.

The city is nicknamed A vízek városa or A folyók városa ("City of Waters" or "City of Rivers"), because Raab/Rába, Rábca, Mosoni-Duna, Marcal rivers melting here or nearby.

Győr is also home to one of the biggest engine manufacturing plants in Europe (over 400,000 units per year), which supplies most European Skoda, Audi and Seat car factories. The city centre is very well supplied with small restaurants, pubs, bars and most of the hotels are here or nearby.

History
Győr was founded around 450 BC by the Celts. The Romans settled there around the 1st century BC. After they abandoned the city, the Slavs eventually arrived around 500 AD. It was briefly part of Great Moravia and then the Kingdom of the East Franks. The Magyars came around 900 and survived the Mongol invasion of Hungary in the 1240s. During the Ottoman era, Győr saw much conflict and was captured by the Turkish Army for four years. At the end of the 17th century, it was a flourishing city. It achieved the status of 'free royal town', which helped to further improve the economy, trade and culture. During World War II, the local Jewish community was nearly wiped out and several buildings and factories were destroyed. In the 1950s and 60s, the Communist government built many block flats, and in the 1970s, the long process of restoring the Old Town began.

Orientation
The centre of the city (Belváros) is bordered by rivers from north and west, from south is limited by a railway.

The major neighborhoods (and sights):
 * Adyváros (Ady-városi Lake a nice relaxing spot);
 * Belváros (the Old Town) full with sights;
 * Bácsa (Nagybácsai church with great window, Kisbácsai church);
 * Gyárváros (the former Civitas Regalis or Royal Town area destroyed by Tatars, now mostly industrial buildings here and shopping malls as Arkad, Jézus Szentséges Szíve church 1928, rebuilt in the 1950s, also here is Győri ETO Stadion with capacity of 30,000 people, a Magvassy Mihály Sports Hall, the Ice Skating Rink and Janos Xantus Zoo, the Audi Hungária Motor the principal employer of the city);
 * Győrszentiván (bus 30, 31 to there; separated bike road, train station on Komárom line, Roman Catholic church, Treasure House a renovated farmhouse exhibition room, riding stables);
 * Gyirmót (Dead Raba walking trail starts from the border Gyirmót, other 'sights' is the Achilles Park open air bath);
 * Kismegyer (or called Győr-Szabadhegy, south part of the city, TV tower, Szabadhegyi R.C. church, Szabadhegyi Reformed church, Cemetery chapel of  Kismegyer built on the ground of the Tarisznyavár Castle of Middle Age, take bus 2, 5, 6, 7, 17 or 38, ~7 km from the centre);
 * Likócs (most relaxing district with village feeling, seven km NE of the centre);
 * Marcalváros (former Bela Kun housing estate - a socialist development; also here is the Holy Spirit Church built in the 1990s);
 * Ménfőcsanak (Bezerédj chapel, Nagyboldogasszony church, Lutheran templom, Memorial Park, Bezerédj-Esterházy Mansion 1750s);
 * Nádorváros (Kálvária church, Győr Plaza, St. Emeric parish temlpom, Nádor City Lutheran Church, Schlichter Villa, Polish-Hungarian Friendship Sculpture at Bem tér);
 * Pinnyéd (Bishop Forest, a popular tourist spot, NW of the centre);
 * Révfalu (north of Danube, the most attractive part of the city according by locals, Kossuth híd or Révfalui bridge, Ányos Jedlik bridge: Pál Vasarhelyi footbridge or small Erzsébet Bridge; Széchenyi Bridge; Széchenyi István University, 'Aranypart' lit. Golden Coast free beach of Mosoni-Danube, the listed building of Watertower built in 1910; Monument of Flooding in 1954, School with Tulips Secession style planned by one of the country most famous architect, Jenő Lechner, can see at Rónay Jácint u. 4.; the patron saint St. John of Nepomuk sculpture; houses with small garden are typical to this district, in the cemetery of Révfalu is the tomb of local polymath, poet, literary translator (mostly Finnish and Estonian), literary historian, folklorist Aladár Bán);
 * Sziget (area between Raab and Rapca rivers, west of Old Town, the main sight is the Roch and St. Sebastian's Roman Catholic parish church, Rába-Quelle Thermal and Pleasure Bath, also a couple smaller hotel are here);
 * Újváros (west of the Old Town, southeast from 'Sziget' district, temples of five religious groups are here: Old Lutheran church, the synagogue, the Reformed Church, the Catholic Church and the Greek Catholic Church; yearly events is the Five Temples Festival, this is a five days long religious, musical and cultural traditions showing program; the houses of Kossuth Lajos street almost all from 1750-1850 period are listed buildings).

Get in
There has been no regular border control between Austria, Slovakia and Hungary since January 1, 2008. This has brought about a big change for the locals who otherwise were subjected to it daily.

By plane
Győr's own local airport only sees private aviation traffic with an occasional holiday charter flight. Using it as an entry point for Győr requires pretty much arriving by your own, or chartered, plane.

More practical options are the international airports in large cities in Győr's wider surroundings. The closest is actually the  in Bratislava, Slovakia, which is a 75-minute drive away, or 2 hours on the bus. Bratislava Airport is mainly served by budget carriers like Ryanair or Norwegian. See our guide to Bratislava for more information.

A really small bit further away, and almost equidistant, are  and   both of which have a broad range of international and intercontinental connections. The travel time from either airport to Győr is less than two hours by road. Eurolines has a twice-daily service from Vienna International Airport to Győr.

By boat
Győr lies on the banks of the Mosoni-Duna (Moson-Danube), so it has a waterway connection to Budapest or Vienna.

Canoe tours are preferred to be taken also on Mosoni-Duna.

By car
The M1 motorway passes next to Győr, if you come from Budapest or Vienna, it's the best choice. From the southern direction (e.g. the Lake Balaton) you can get into Győr via the main roads No.81 or No.82.

Get around
Győr's most interesting tourist attractions are in or around the city centre which is walkable. Most streets of the old town is pedestrian street including the periodicly held flower market square.

Old Town
A roughly rectangular area less than half km². North-South between the Danube and the old Szent István Street, East-West bounded by E575 road/Galántai road and Raab (Rába) river. Strolling is one of the best thing to do in Győr. One of the highlight is the Basilica of Győr with the reliquary of king Ladislaus I. The museums of the city can get you familiarised with the city and region's history and some of their major artists.

Do

 * For children the Ugripark playhouse

Events
Blood sweating of Our Lady pilgrimage celebration: Aug.15

Learn

 * Szechenyi University.
 * Liszt Ferenc Zeneakadémia, college of the musical arts.
 * West-Hungarian University Apaczai Csere Janos Teaching Campus, a teacher's college.

Buy
About money changing. Like all Hungarian cities, the centre of Győr is well equipped with banks and ATMs. The safest are in the banks, another best option are the shopping malls where normally more than one machine can be found. Train tickets, hotels and sometimes even taxis and supermarket accept euros (on wronger or better rates, minus five percent usually - rate can be seen at the desk). No bigger bill than €50 and prepare to get the change almost always in forints.

The city centre is full of shops, mostly selling souvenirs and clothes. There is a flower market every morning by the Carmelite church. During the main Christian holidays, there are holiday markets open in different squares and along Baross Gábor and Arany János street. Most of the big department stores, malls, hypermarkets are about 2 km south of the City Centre, near the M1 motorway exit.

Eat
Fast food restaurants can be found in the Árkád shopping mall's food court.

Sleep
Plenty of small and larger hostel, hotels and private rooms all over the town. You will not have a problem finding accommodation there. In Jul and Aug most of student hostel transforming to summer hostel, plus lot of long term rental apartmants can be find there.

Connect
As of Sept 2021, Győr has 5G from Telenor, and 4G from Telecom and Vodafone, but a poor signal from DiGi. WiFi is widely available in public places.

Stay safe
There is a very low crime rate.

Go next

 * Bratislava - capital of Slovakia
 * Budapest - the Hungarian capital. Part of the World Heritage list.
 * Lake Balaton
 * Transdanubia - northwest is very well connected with Győr
 * Vienna - the Austrian capital. Part of the World Heritage list.

title: Győr


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Gyeonggi

Gyeonggi (경기도 Gyeonggi-do, 京畿道) is a province in the north-west of South Korea, surrounding the national capital city of Seoul.

Cities

 * – administratively separate from Gyeonggi, but surrounded by the province, there are century-old palaces and fortresses meeting skyscrapers and LED screens in one of the most populous cities in the world.
 * – site of several parks and museums
 * – an affluent suburb of Seoul.
 * – the town that holds the famous Pan Am Flight 845 Boeing 747 aircraft
 * - a front-line area with many military facilities
 * – midwestern city near Seoul
 * – not to be confused with the larger city in the South Jeolla province, Gyeonggi Gwangju is home to the historic Namhansan village and Gonjiam ski resort.
 * – famous for its ceramics (don't confuse this with Incheon, the port city)
 * – also independent of but surrounded by Gyeonggi, this is South Korea's fourth largest city, although some may consider it an extension of Seoul. Songdo is a new city built next to it.
 * – nearest to DMZ, focal point of interest for visitors
 * – this "Silicon Valley of Korea", just south of Seoul
 * – the provincial capital, famous for the Hwaseong Fortress
 * – location of large scale amusement parks/resorts, the Korean Folk Village and Yangji ski resort
 * - northern city near Gangwon Province
 * - middle western city near Seoul, famous for the KTX station, Gwangmyeong Cave
 * - area of farmland of any city or county in Gyeonggi Province.
 * –a city in southwestern Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
 * –a city in southwestern Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Other destinations

 * – Gyeonggi's most distant island
 * – connected to the city of Ansan
 * – borders the north of the province, with the focal 'peace village' of Panmunjeom
 * - shared between North and South
 * – an island south-west of Incheon Metropolitan City
 * – connected to the city of Incheon
 * – connected to the city of Hwaseong
 * – around Incheon airport
 * – around Incheon airport

Understand
The most populous province in South Korea, "Gyeonggi" means "near the capital", an apt description of this province wrapped around Seoul. However, it is not without its natural attractions. Ironically the DMZ (the northern border), which is the most heavily armed area in the world, has become an ecological paradise. Gyeonggi province, which is split in two by the majestic Hangang river, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. It contains a significant number of ancient relics, and due to its proximity to Seoul it's also home to several important historical sites dating from the Joseon era.

Talk
The 'Seoul' dialect is considered the accepted pronunciation of Korean in South Korea. This is also the part of the country where English language speakers are most prevalent.

By plane
Seoul's Incheon International Airport is South Korea's largest airport and is served by over 70 airlines.

By train
The Seoul subway system links to some of Gyeonggi's towns, such as Incheon and Suwon, as well as areas like Goyang, Bundang, and Namyangju. The Gyeongchun mainland line runs from Seoul to eastern destinations such as Cheongpyeong and Gapyeong and is known as one of the country's most scenic rail routes. The Jungang line runs southeast from Seoul and stops at Yangpyeong station. Should the border re-open then the Donghae Bukbu line will once again connect Gyeonggi with North Korea.

By bus
Like Seoul, there are four colors for commuter bus, red, green, blue, yellow. You will rarely see a blue bus, as those are inter-city buses. Green bus usually connects city to city, while yellow bus will connect you throughout towns. Red commuter buses run from the center of Seoul out to the suburbs. Other destinations can be reached by a large number of express buses that mainly run from Dong Seoul and Nambu bus terminals. These buses will get you to your destination relatively comfortably, although bus stations are generally not as English-friendly as the subway stations. A trip from Seoul's Express Bus Terminal (in Seocho-gu south of the Han River; take line 2 to get here) to Incheon will be ₩4,000-5,000, and takes about an hour.

From Incheon International Airport, airport limousines run to many destinations in Gyeonggi; prices range from ₩7,000-15,000.

Get around
Local buses provide service to most large apartment areas, shopping areas, and tourist sites, although finding the right bus can be difficult without knowing some Korean.

Taxis are cheap (as in all of Korea) and usually fair. Be aware that outside of Seoul you're likely to get a driver who doesn't speak any English. Also, having an address in Korean won't necessarily get you to your destination; sometimes you might need to know a landmark such as a subway stop, government office, large hotel or department store, etc. close to your destination to help the driver find it.

As mentioned in the Get in section, Seoul's extensive subway network connects several of the cities in this region.

See
History fans should be sure to check out Suwon’s UNESCO designated Hwaseong fortress and the nearby Korean Folk Village for a taste of Joseon dynasty life. The wetlands of Sihwaho Lake offer a peaceful retreat from the region's urban sprawl, as do the vast mud flats on the west coast. For those looking for something more modern, the excellent Nam June Paik Art Center in Yongin introduces the founder of video art. The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty in the provinces of Gyeonggi and Gangwon (and a few elsewhere in South Korea) are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The newest addition to the World Heritage list is Namhansanseong, the South Han Mountain Fortress and the eponymous park surrounding it, located just south of Seoul's city limits.

Do
For hundreds of years Incheon has been one of Korea's centers of pottery making, and travelers here can take part in a ceramic making program or simply browse the many shops.

For thrill-seekers Everland Theme Park in Yongin has the world's steepest wooden roller coaster and during wintertime there are several ski resorts open in Gyeonggi.

Unwind at some of the region's hot spring resorts, where the water is highly regarded for its medicinal properties. Incheon's Termeden Spa and Hotel Miranda are popular. Pocheon is also known for its hot springs; there is also the Sool Gallery Sansawon, famous for producing some of the best makgeoli in Korea, with exhibits, classes on making homemade liquors, and lovely gardens.

Head to one of Gyeonggi's national parks to experience nature and get some exercise hiking sometimes steep trails. Soyosan National Park, at the end of subway line 1 and about 15 miles from North Korea, is a popular destination for locals and is beautiful in the fall. Dobongsan, just south of Uijeongbu on line 1, is also popular. Both can be crowded on weekends.

For nature lovers, the Garden of Morning Calm (수목원), a large botanical garden in Gapyeong, is a nice day-trip from Seoul.

Address System
It is the most populous area in Korea and is the only metropolitan government with a population of more than 10 million. Gyeonggi Province, along with South Chungcheong Province, has more cities than the county, with only three of its 31 local governments (Gapyeong-gun, Yangpyeong-gun, Yeoncheon-gun) and the rest are cities, especially 11 of which have developed to the extent that the population exceeds 500,000 and receives special benefits from large cities. Even Yangpyeong-gun has the largest population among the counties except for the county area under the metropolitan city.

 * Post Office and Postal Code Search : Postal Code Finder by Korea Government Finder Site

Stay safe
There are no specific dangers in this region of South Korea. The province borders North Korea and would potentially be dangerous in the unlikely eruption of hostilities between the two countries.

Go next

 * Incheon International Airport is a gateway to the whole world
 * The port of Incheon also offers ferries to multiple ports in China
 * Use South Korea's high-speed rail network to visit the rest of the country.

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

title: Gyeonggi


text:
Gyeongju

Gyeongju (경주시, 慶州市; formally romanized as Kyongju) is in North Gyeongsang province, South Korea. The capital of the Silla Kingdom for approximately the whole first millennium CE, Gyeongju is definitely worth visiting if you are at all interested in Korean history.

Understand
Gyeongju was once the capital of the Silla Korean kingdom, and is possibly the foremost location in Korea where many ancient buildings, burial grounds and artefacts can be found. Driving through this city you will notice that the typical modern Korean buildings are frequently interspersed with large burial mounds. It's one of the country's most popular destinations. Most of the visitors are domestic or from elsewhere in East Asia — seemingly westerners haven't discovered Gyeongju yet.

Forested hills dominate the region; between them there are rice fields as well as houses and roads. Downtown Gyeongju is a small city without high-rises. These, on the other hand, can be found some 5km to the east, namely "Bomunhu Resorts", a collection of several expensive hotels next to an eponymous lake. In the 2012 census, there were some 264,000 inhabitants in the city. The region is famous for the traditional roofs on the houses; even some gas stations have them.

History
There has been human settlement at and around the site of the present-day town of Gyeongju from the prehistoric period. The Silla clan became the rulers of the south-eastern part of the peninsula in 57 BCE. They chose Gyeongju as their capital. There followed a long period of internal struggles between rival kingdoms. With the help of the Tang Dynasty in China, the Silla Kingdom defeated its rivals in the 7th century and established its rule over most of the peninsula; this remained unchallenged until the beginning of the 10th century.

The Silla rulers embellished their city with many public buildings, palaces, temples, and fortresses. Their tombs are to be found in the surroundings of the ancient city.

Mahayana Buddhism spread from China into Korea during the course of the 7th century and was adopted by the Silla Kingdom. Mount Namsan, which had been venerated by the existing cults of Korea, became a Buddhist sacred mountain and attracted its adherents, who employed the most outstanding architects and craftsmen of the day to create temples, shrines, and monasteries.

With the end of the Silla Kingdom, Korea underwent a further period of internal strife. It was unified again under Korean rule by the Yi (Chosun) Dynasty, which reigned until 1910. However, the country was invaded and devastated by the Japanese in the late 16th century and the Manchu in the 18th century, before being annexed by Japan in 1910. Throughout this long period, Gyeongju has maintained its urban identity, though many of its major buildings have suffered degradation and demolition.

Climate
In the summer heavy rainfall is common and the day temperatures hover around 30°C. Late fall is the best time to visit, when the temperatures are lower and the sky usually clear.

Tourist Office
The tourist offices are located at the bus station, at the railway station and at the Bulguksa temple. The staff speaks good English and are helpful. At the tourist office you can get English-language brochures about the region's sights and ideas for which of them to visit if you just have little time to spend. You can also inquire about hiking paths and bus connections there.

By plane
The nearest airports are Busan Gimhae International Airport and Ulsan, each about an hour away by express bus. From the airport in Ulsan there are four daily buses and tickets cost ₩4500, from the larger Gimhae airport there are twelve daily buses and tickets cost ₩9000.

Seoul's Incheon International Airport allow you to come to Gyeongju directly via the high speed KTX train, though trains stop at the new Singyeongju station a bit outside town. Bus service between the airports and Gyeongju's main terminal runs hourly. There are also 5 direct return coach journeys per day between Incheon International Airport and Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal. These services take around 4 hours and cost around ₩40,000 each way.

By bus
Gyeongju is well serviced by intercity buses from the. Service from Daegu, Pohang, and Busan (depending on terminal) leaves at least every twenty minutes, and every 40 minutes between Gyeongju and Seoul. Travel time from Seoul is approximately four hours, and Daegu, Pohang, and Busan are usually 40 minutes to an hour. From Busan the bus leaves from the central bus terminal at Nopo-Dong (last metro stop of line 1). There is limited daily service to other parts of Korea, and travelers going between Gyeongju and other cities will usually be routed through either Daegu or Busan, depending on direction of travel. An inter-city bus leaves directly from the Incheon International Airport near Seoul.

By train
The KTX (Korea's high speed train) serves Gyeongju directly, although the train goes to the brand new out-of-town station called where the journey time from Seoul is two hours. From the new station, many buses will take you to the city in about 15 minutes. Use buses 50, 60, 61, 70, 203 and 700. Ask the driver to let you off at the Express Bus Terminal (Gosok Teominal) which is a pretty convenient location. Alternately, there are lots of taxis available in the rank at the station. One way economy class Seoul-Singyeongju by KTX costs a little over ₩40,000, and tickets can be purchased from the automated machines (in English or Korean) at the station. Check Korail's website for schedules and fares.

Note that the previous Gyeongju station, located in the center of the city, has closed. This means that Singyeongju station is the only option if you want to travel to Gyeongju by rail.

Get around
Be sure to visit the two tourist kiosks to get maps and guides. One is next to the express bus terminal while the other is beside the parking lot in front of Gyeongju Station. Whether walking or biking, if you know your destination's Romanized or Hangul name you will find countless signs along the path at just about every intersection pointing the direction to the nearest attractions with distances provided.

By bike
The best way to get around the central city is to walk or bike. A bike can be rented for ₩7,000 per day, return by 19:00 from the bike rental shop 3 minutes east of the express bus terminal, motor scooters are available next door but are much pricier for a much shorter duration. Bikes can be used on some of the trails and within a few of the city's parks, so with good planning a bike can save you money compared to buses while providing a more enjoyable experience and allow you to see more attractions in a day. However, riding a bike on a hot summer day can be a sweaty experience. Gyeongju is an extremely difficult place to get lost in when visiting its famous sites.

By bus
Sites further afield can be reached using the city's bus system. Note that there are no timetables at the bus stops and sometimes you may have to wait long for the bus. The #10 and #11 buses circle the central city, and many of the most notable tourist destinations, in opposite directions. All buses cost ₩1,500, and don't offer a transfer (transfers using local transportation cards unconfirmed). The buses don't accept Daegu nor Daejeon Hankkumi but they do accept Busan Mybi and Seoul T-money cards. There are stops in front of the train stations and the bus terminal. All the stops for the most popular attractions are voice recorded in Korean followed by English.

There are also guided bus tours to the main sights; the ticket price includes the entrance to the sights and you don't need to wait for those public buses. Mostly they are good value for money, but sometimes the visits to particular sights are shortened if you are lagging behind schedule. The English of the tour guide is acceptable, but you would probably like to read up a bit about the sights yourself before going on the tour.

By Scooter
Riding a scooter may be the best option for traveling to a race. The race's attractions aren't far from each other, so a scooter makes it easy to get around and you won't have to deal with parking issues. There are quite a few scooter rental shops near the Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal and Expressway Terminal, and prices are usually around 40,000 won for 6 hours.

See
Gyeongju is home to South Korea's first nominated UNESCO World Heritage Site — Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple — and numerous other national treasures.

Within the city

 * Anapji has been renamed "Donggung and Wolji" since 2011. According to a Korean history book called the Three Kingdoms Saga, the pond, Wolji, was created in the 14th year of King Munmu (674), and Donggung was built in 679, after the unification of the Three Kingdoms was completed.

Around the city

 * Bulguksa Temple used to have a fee, but it has been free to enter since 23. Also, a tourist found a pig hiding in Bulguksa Temple, so everyone should look for it under the roof. Pigs are superstitiously believed to bring good luck.

Royal tombs
There are many royal tombs including: The Gwoereung Tomb, Oreung Tombs Park, Baeri Samneung Tombs, Gyeongju Hwangnam-ri Gobungun Tomb Park, Nodong/Noseo-ri Tombs Park, Seoakri Gobungun Tombs Park, Kim Yushin's Tomb, King Munmu's Underwater Tomb.

Bomunho Resort
The resort is located about 5km east of downtown next to the man-made lake Bomun. Here you can find splurge-level hotels and services including stores, activity parks, a golf course and a swimming pool. You can walk or bike along the banks of the lake. The lake boasts the highest fountain in Korea, named Gosa. With its six jets, water is shot more than 100m into the air and in the night it is illuminated.

Do
As a major tourist destination in Korea, Gyeongju is host to many festivals and events.

Buy

The best items to buy in Gyeongju are mostly reproductions of Silla craftworks, such as ceramics, metalworks, and artwork. There will be numerous vendor stalls on your hikes to Bulguksa and a few more if you continue onto Seokguram Grotto in addition to the souvenir shops that sell mostly the same goods plus some higher ticket items in addition to small trinkets and nicknacks. You are more likely to get a good deal from the street vendors who you might reward buying multiple items with a discount off the ticketed price.

Eat
Unlike many cities in Korea, there is no particular dish the area is known for besides a general association with seafood. However, there are some famous edible items found in Gyeongju that have become renowned throughout Korea: Hwangnam ppang (ppang being the Korean word for "bread"; derived from the Portuguese word "pão") which is a small ball of silky-smooth sweet red bean paste surrounded by a thin pastry shell, and Gyeongju ppang which is the same sweet red bean paste enclosed between two thin barley bread pancakes. Both can be purchased many places in town (including from a booth at the train station) but the best way to taste them is fresh and warm from the bakery, just across the street to the east from the Flying Horse Tomb (Cheonmacheong) Park.

For seafood, many locals head to Gampo, a village directly on the coast. Most of Gyeongju's fishing catch is brought here and served locally, rather than being exported to other markets. The local hoe (sashimi) is excellent and very fresh.

If you happen to drink too much Gyeodong Beopju you might want to check the famous Haejangguk — a pork spine and coagulated blood stew — at the "Hangover Soup Street".

The area around Bulguksa's bus stop and carpark hosts a veritable village of restaurants. The owners will, unusually for Korea, tend to aggressively tout their shops over others but there are enough around that if you can ignore their advances, you can pick and choose. Prices are surprisingly standard, given the location.

Since 2010, Gyeongju has had a very popular bread called Gyeongju Tenny Bread. Gyeongju dakbap tastes like a hotcake, with mozzarella and cream cheese in a dough similar to a hotcake.

It is characterized by the pagoda depicted on the Korean currency, the 10 won, and is so popular that everyone seems to have one in their hand when walking around Gyeongju.

Alcohol
Gyeongju is known for Gyeodong Beopju, a mild rice wine. Although it is principally made from glutenous rice and spring water, locals believe that a boxthorn or Chinese matrimony vine growing near the wellsource of the water has imbued the wine with special medicinal properties and flavor.

Gyeongju is not particularly known for its nightlife, and in the major tourist areas around downtown and Lake Bomun you can drink at restaurants and hotel bars, but proper nightlife is hard to come by. Bars and clubs are mostly concentrated around Dongguk University, in the district. Some of them serve snacks (anju) at a price of ₩10,000-20,000.

Budget

Near the train station there are some yeoinsuk (guesthouses) where you can stay for as little as US$10/night. However, none of these places have hot water, making it difficult to use the very dirty facilities. There are also roaches in many of the rooms. Far better are the few "motels" near the train station that charge around $20/night.

Splurge
Bomun Lake Resort Area is home to several luxury hotels aimed at Korean tour groups, including the Hyundai and Hilton Hotels, as well as the Concord, Chosun Spa Hotel, and other more moderately priced hotels. There are also many accommodation facilities near Bulguksa.

Connect
South Korea used to have a different mobile phone standard from the rest of the world, though foreign 3G and 4G mobile phones should nowadays work in the country. See South Korea for details and check with your own operator.

If looking for an Internet cafe, just like elsewhere in the country, look for signs saying PC방 ("PC bang", literally "PC room"). In addition, there are some Wi-Fi hotspots around downtown Gyeongju and your place of stay will likely offer Wi-Fi.

You can call 1330 for all kinds of tourist information in different languages including English.

Go next

Buses and trains regularly leave to other cities in the region, the intercity and express bus terminal are very close to each other at the river in the southwest of the city. For nearby destinations, travel time by train and bus are about the same, but buses are more frequent and cheaper.

 * Busan – the second most populous city of South Korea with beaches, seafood, and a huge port.
 * Daegu — 'Colorful Daegu' is the country's fourth city with parks and festivals and once the capital of one of Korea's traditional eight provinces.
 * Pohang — an industrial city on the east coast famous for its steel plants, technical university and fish market. West of the city there are several historical attractions, such as the Yangdong Folk Village.
 * Ulsan — another seaside industrial city, which is also the gateway to the Yeongnam Alps.

title: Gyeongju


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Gympie

Gympie is a small city (pop. 16,454) just north of the Sunshine Coast in the southeast of Queensland.

By car
Road connection to Gympie is via the Bruce Highway (M1); it is about 150 km north of Brisbane. As of July 2024, the Bruce Hwy heads straight into the town centre, but from late 2024, the motorway section of the road will be extended to Curra – use exit 262 or Gympie Connection Road exit (the number is unknown as of July 2024).

By rail
Rail connect is via QR's North Coast railway line, which is served by daily Citytrain services to Brisbane and Traveltrain services for long distances.

Get around
Cars are the main way to get around as most of Gympie is not very walkable.

See
The countryside is spectacular with an abundance of curves, gradients and bridges. Steep slopes portray a patchwork of pineapples, macadamia nuts and other crops. The Mary Valley features rolling green pastures and many beautiful forests. The valley includes the villages and towns of Dagun, Amamoor, Kandanga and Imbil.

Other attractions include:
 * Gympie Pyramid - a terraced structure that some believe to be the work of an ancient civilisation (but more likely the work of early Italian or Swiss immigrants) - located on the outskirts of Gympie.
 * The Big Pineapple - one of the famed Big things in Australia
 * Gold mining sites - Gympie is called "The Town that Saved Queensland", but for its memorabilia, gold mining still continues to play a part in the town's fortunes. The Deep Creek, a gully just near the Mary River, is a profitable spot for gold panning.

Events

 * The annual country music muster, which attracts thousands of fans and musicians.
 * The Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival.

Buy
Mary St offers a post office and a wide array of bars, cafes, banks and stores. It has a quaint country town feel to it.

Go next

 * Kilkivan

title: Gympie


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Gyumri

Gyumri is the second largest city in Armenia and the capital of Shirak Province in Northern Armenia.

Understand
Much of the city's historic center dates to the days when Gyumri was Alexandrapol (in honor of the wife of Czar Nicholas I), an outpost of the Russian Empire in the Southern Caucasus, and the architecture reflects that. The buildings, of dark black stone with pink-orange accents, are primarily 1800s Russian in style, with Armenian touches. The aftermath of the 1988 Spitak earthquake, which devastated the region, is still felt in the city; the rebuilding efforts are very much ongoing. It is said by the locals that the quake "leveled Leninakan (the name of the city in Soviet times) but left Alexandrapol standing" - the Soviet housing blocks folded on themselves, while the older buildings largely survived. There are also Russian churches and cemeteries, and a large Russian military base still dominates a part of the city (and provides employment). Russian soldiers in uniform are a common sight. George Gurdjieff, a well-known early 20th-century mystic, philosopher, spiritual teacher, and composer was born in Gyumri.

By marshrutka

From specific destinations:
 * Yerevan – They depart for Gyumri from a parking lot next to Sasuntsi David subway station between 08:00 and 20:00. There is no schedule - whenever one fills up, it departs. Travel time is about 2-2.5 hr. On the way back, the last one is at 19:00, so plan accordingly. These are cheap, at 1,500 dram, but often crowded or uncomfortable. They are, however a great way to meet locals. Shared taxis depart from the same location and are usually faster and more comfortable. Regular taxis can be taken from anywhere in Yerevan, and will cost around 10,000-12,000 dram (for up to 4 people).

 * Tbilisi – Marshrutkas leave daily at 10:30 from the Ortachala bus terminal in Tbilisi. The trip costs 40 lari and takes 4-5 hr (depending on how long passport control takes). To get from Tbilisi city centre to Ortachala you can take various busses from Bartatshvili street. The marshrutka drives through the centre of Gyumri, so you can get off either in the centre of town or at the Gyumri bus terminal.
 * The city used to be called Leninakan and this may be the name displayed in the marshrutka windscreen.

By train

Train options used to be limited to 2 daily departures from Yerevan, one leaving mid afternoon and one early evening around 18:00, with journey time 3 hr 10 min and the cost 1,000 dram. However, starting in March 2018, there is now a once-a-day express operating on weekends (F-Su) with brand new rolling stock, departing Yerevan for Gyumri at 10:00 (return trip at 15:00), making the run in just under 2 hr; tickets are 2,500 dram. If this fits your schedule, it is certainly the preferred option. The overnight train between Tbilisi and Yerevan also calls here, however at a very inconvenient time around 04:00.

By car
If you drive from Yerevan, take the federal highway M1. Beyond the first 20 km (where it has been completely overhauled to the highest standards), it is a 2-lane unlighted potholed road, often without the dividing line, but wide (so that 2 cars can almost drive abreast) to facilitate overtaking - which the locals will do anywhere, even on blind climbs. Traffic is almost never a problem, but there is extensive construction going on, widening and straightening the road, and work areas are speed posted at 30-50 km/h. Budget about 2 hours for the entire 120 km trip. An alternative (in warmer months) would be to branch off to M3 at Ashtarak, follow it over the Aragats range to Spitak, then take M7 for the last 30 or so km to Gyumri - the views are spectacular. This would add about 30 minutes to the trip.

By tour
Another good option for a visit to Gyumri is a day tour from Yerevan. Many companies offer these, for a reasonable price, and allow you to get in a van, with other travellers and a guide, with stops along the way in places like Talin Cathedral and Harijavank Monastery. This is probably the easiest option, and may even work out to be your cheapest compared to taxis.

Get around
Gyumri's historic town center is quite walkable, and fun to explore, but beyond that it is a bit of a sprawling town, and to see everything it has to offer in a day, a car is needed. If you haven't come with your own, a taxi in town, with a meter, is probably your only realistic option, and a pretty good one at that. If you care to try and figure out the numbers of the local van routes (marshrutka), you can have quite an adventure. It may be hard to make it to some of the fringe sites though in a marshrutka, like the fortress.

See

 * Surb Amenaprkitch church – The iconic black and orange stone church known as "Holy Saviour's Church" in English towers over the adjacent town square. Almost completely destroyed by the 1988 earthquake, the outside has been rebuilt but as of December 2019 interior renovations have not been completed.
 * Surb Amenaprkitch church – The iconic black and orange stone church known as "Holy Saviour's Church" in English towers over the adjacent town square. Almost completely destroyed by the 1988 earthquake, the outside has been rebuilt but as of December 2019 interior renovations have not been completed.

Do

 * Walk around the center, including the old town with its distinctive architecture of black stone buildings.
 * Visit the beautiful early medieval Marmashen monastery, about 15 km out of town. You can get there either by marshrutka or taxi. To go by marshrutka, ask around at the bus terminal in town. To go by taxi simply go up to any taxi driver in town, it should cost no more than 6,000 dram for a return trip, with the driver waiting while you explore the monastery. In both cases, remember to say you are going to Marmashen monastery, not Marmashen village. The monastery is a short distance away from the village of the same name.

Buy
Off the main square, by the smaller black church, there is a diagonal pedestrian avenue with some shops and some outdoor vendors.

The city centre has a number of ATMs accepting international cards.

Eat

 * Faeton on Hakhtanaki Ave (near Gorki St, north of Berlin Art Hotel) has a wide, reasonably priced menu (also in English) outdoor seating and sometimes live music.
 * Faeton on Hakhtanaki Ave (near Gorki St, north of Berlin Art Hotel) has a wide, reasonably priced menu (also in English) outdoor seating and sometimes live music.
 * Faeton on Hakhtanaki Ave (near Gorki St, north of Berlin Art Hotel) has a wide, reasonably priced menu (also in English) outdoor seating and sometimes live music.

There are several restaurants on Rijkov Street, the main pedestrian street leading from Peace Circle Park to the central square and by the park and square.

All restaurants close during holidays without notice. Proceed with caution if visiting around New Years or Christmas

Go next

 * There is a brand new express train serving the Gyumri-Yerevan route on Friday-Sunday. Very comfortable with free Wi-Fi. Best to arrive for tickets at least half an hour before departure. The old, slow Soviet trains run more frequently, but are probably only worth riding for an experience.
 * Harich/Harij is about 15 km southeast. It is a spectacular setting, and the church is very well preserved
 * Marshrutka's to Yerevan and Vanadzor leave regularly from the main bus station. Yerevan is about 2½ hr away, getting to Vanadzor takes about 1 hr.

Georgia

 * Marshrutkas leave every morning at 10:00 to Tbilisi. Tbilisi is 4-5 hr away by marshrutka, depending on the time spent at border control.
 * There are also marshrutkas that leave to Akhaltsikhe and to Akhalkalaki—see there.
 * Taxis to Vardzia can already be had for 12,500 dram, showing them what Yandex.Taxi calculated for this distance. Though, it might take some time to find a driver that has a car for crossing the border—usually there is a fee of 6,000 dram to do so. Especially if you are 3 or 4 people, 12,500 dram is more convenient than and equally pricey as the marshrutka alternative.
 * Otherwise, if you are two or less, just hitchhike as you'll be guaranteed to be picked up.

title: Gyumri


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Ha'apai

Ha'apai is an island group of about 60 islands in Tonga, south of the Vava'u group and north of Tongatapu. Only 20 islands are constantly inhabited. Close to one of the islands, Tofua, in the west of the group, is where the Mutiny on the Bounty occurred in 1789. The total population is approximately 5,500, out of which 2,500 live on the main island of Pangai. There are plenty of sandy beaches plus good diving and snorkelling and the opportunity to see some whales. But, basically, Ha'apai is a place to relax and get away from the rat race.

By plane
International flights arrive on Tongatapu.

By ferry
The MV Outuanga'ofa travels once a week from Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu to Pangai, usually departing on Monday and arriving on Tuesday. It makes a return journey to Nuku’alofa on Wednesday evening.

Get around

 * Rent a bicycle. These can be rented at Mariner's Cafe, Fins 'n' Flukes, Fifita's and Lindsay's guest houses.

See

 * Rev. Shirley Baker grave. The Reverend Shirley Baker went to Tonga in 1860 as a Wesleyan missionary and eventually ended up as Prime Minister. His grave is on Pangai.
 * Lotofoa Methodist Church has a beautifully carved coconut wood ceiling.
 * Ancient Petroglyphs have been discovered at the northern end of Foa Island.
 * Uiha Island. Southwest of Pangai, and just a short boat ride. The island was once the site of the royal burial grounds and has the remains of burial pyramids.
 * Volcanic islands. Hire a boat to go to Tofua volcanic island. A steep one hour climb leads to great views of the crater and nearby Kao island. This cannot be done in a day, requires serious planning and is expensive.
 * Poseidons Gate stand on the great rock terraces on the east side of Lifuka Island.
 * Foa Island is a small island connected by a concrete causeway. Offshore is the wreck of Port Au Prince, a treasure-laden pirate ship, whose legend says was thought to have been sunk by natives in the early 19th century.

Do

 * Just relax. Take a walk around the sleepy capital of Lifuka on Pangai Island to savour the slow pace of life.
 * Snorkelling and diving. Ha'apai has some huge sea caves, tunnels, drop-offs, walls, bommies and coral gardens.
 * Hire a boat for a day from one of the dive schools and explore some of the many small islands in the Ha’apai group.
 * Whale watching. Humpback whales migrate to Tonga every year. They arrive in Ha’apai around July and stay to early November. The sound of their singing can be heard in the water and you may even be lucky to be diving as one of these giants cruises past. But even if you are not a diver the two dive centers and Ha'apai Whale and Sail (Mariner's Cafe) organize whale-watching trips.
 * Kayaking. Sit on top and sea kayaks are available from Fins 'n' Flukes.
 * Camping. Camping gear is available from Fins 'n' Flukes.
 * Island Trips. Fins 'n' Flukes offer island trips to Luahoko, Kau Vai (Ha'ano), Uoleva, Tatafa, Uiha, Tofanga, Uanuku'ha'hake, Luangahu, Hakau'ata, Lofanga, Nuku'pule and Meama.

Eat
Mariner's Cafe - central Pangai. Wide selection of tasty meals including home-made pasta, pizza, burgers, fish and daily specials. Ice cold alcoholic beverages available. Mariner's is the meeting place for travellers and can provide tourist information. Also has bikes and snorkelling gear for hire.

Talahiva Tongan Cafe - behind the petrol station in Pangai, T$5 for very big portions of BBQ, KFC and Curry. Langi Langi guesthouse lobster feast, T$30 for more than you could possibly eat; advance booking required.

Sleep
There is a range of accommodation on the Ha'apai islands, from budget to luxurious. Payment in cash is usually preferred and some of the smaller places do not accept credit cards.

Go next

 * Vava'u

title: Ha'apai


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Haad Chao Phao

Haad Chao Phao is one of the island's most peaceful spots. On the west coast of the island between Haad Son and Haad Yao, the beach offers golden sands and there are bungalows and restaurants along the seafront.

Get in
Take a taxi about 15 minutes from the main pier at Thong Sala. Or ride a motorbike, about 20 minutes from the pier.

See
A beautiful undiscovered bay fringed by palm trees, with wonderful sunset views.

title: Haad Chao Phao


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Haad Rin

Haad Rin, or Hat Rin, is on the island of Ko Pha Ngan off the coast of Thailand. Every month it draws tens of thousands of party goers for the (in)famous Full Moon Party.

By boat
From Ko Samui: There are at least 3 ferries a day from Ko Samui's "Big Buddha" pier directly to Haad Rin. Other ferries go to Thong Sala, a short songthaew ride away.

By songthaew
Songthaews run as taxis and cost around 100 baht a ride. Try to pre-book a return trip to Thong Sala after the party to avoid paying the extortionate rates that drivers can charge drunken tourists in the early hours of the morning.

Get around
Haad Rin is compact enough to be walkable, although it might be better to take a motorbike to some of the resorts on the headland. Motorbike hire is widely available. Although there is minimal traffic, the hills around Haad Rin are steep and may challenge inexperienced riders. Resorts can order transfer by minibus, songthaew or motorbike to and from the pier.

Do
Most people come for the party, but there are thing to do for the other 27 days between full moons.

 * Jetskiing is available on the beach. Be careful as jet ski owners may falsely accuse you of scratching and damaging a jet ski and then try and charge up to 90,000 baht.

Banana boat rides are not for the faint-hearted, the ride is hard and fast.

Eat
Haad Rin is packed with both small and large open air restaurants serving Thai and Western food. Street food is readily available all night and several restaurants near the beach are open 24/7.

Drink

If you're after party heaven you can't do better than Haad Rin. It is most popular one night a month, the night of the Full Moon Party. Every bar is hopping, the beaches packed with trance, dance, buckets and various other suspicious substances. However, if the sight of thousands of bottles and other rubbish repulses you, make sure you leave the beach area before the sun comes up, or grab a garbage bag and help tidy up a little.

While the Full Moon Party itself is only one day a month, the 3 to 4 days before the full moon party each have several different "parties" per night at different locations in or near Haad Rin, the most famous of which is the Jungle Party and the Pool party. While the full moon party is huge, the days leading up to it are often considered better parties as full moon can be incredibly large, hectic and crowded.

The most popular form of drinking here is "buckets" which consists of a pint of alcohol, ice, and mixer inside a small bucket. These are generally sold at beachside or street side stands. Prices vary from 150-400 baht depending on the type of alcohol. Buckets of local spirits Sangsom and Hong Thong are the cheapest at 150-200 baht each.

 * Full_Moon_Party_Ko_Pha_Ngan.jpg

Sleep
Anywhere up to a week before a Half Moon or Full Moon Party, the hotels in Haad Rin and the immediate surrounding areas get booked out as the population around the beach swells and most accommodation require a five night stay if you are staying during the full moon period, with the more comfortable places being taken first. If you're planning to visit about this time, look into staying outside of Haad Rin, and taxi in and out, rooms on the other side of the island are not only cheaper but also much quieter.

Stay safe
Be careful where you sleep and store your belongings if you're going to the Full Moon Party, as every month at this time many people have their bungalows broken into and valuables stolen. There are safety deposit boxes available at many resorts and in the town itself, but there are also reports of theft from some of these. Try find somewhere where you can at least use your own padlock, or stay at one of the higher end resorts if you can afford it. Alternatively, consider not staying at Ko Pha Ngan. You can get a boat over to the party from Ko Samui. If you do have your belongings stolen, expect a long line queuing to report thefts at the police station the next day, and to have to pay for a report if you need one for your insurance. It might be a great night out, but it's not so great in the morning when you find yourself with no money and no passport.

Like most of Thailand, visitors should never attempt purchase drugs from numerous young Thai men around town and the beach quietly indicating to people they have them for sale. These sellers are nearly always either undercover law enforcement or in league with law enforcement, who will then promptly arrest you shortly after the transaction is complete. You will then be required to pay a very large fine of up to 5,000-10,000 baht or more on the spot. However, drugs in Ko Phangan may be purchased and used hassle free at various locations that specialize in them, but never from a street tout.

Go next

 * Ko Samui
 * Ko Tao

title: Haad Rin


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Haad Salad

Haad Salad is a beach on the island of Ko Pha Ngan.

title: Haad Salad


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Haad Son

Haad Son is a picturesque location on the western coast of Ko Pha Ngan. The beach was undeveloped until ten years ago when the Haad Son Resort was built. The remaining half of the bay is undeveloped, allowing visitors privacy and offering a secluded spot to bathe.

The beach is near Haad Yao, one of the most beautiful beaches on Ko Pha Ngan.

Get around
Walking, renting motorbikes or share taxis (from bungalows in Chalok Lam at 10:00) to Thong Sala, the main port.

Do
Sunbathe, swim, snorkel and eat.

Diving
Just offshore lies a coral reef within 70 m of the beach front.

Buy
Good shopping at Thong Sala, which is around ten minutes away by taxi. Locally there are shops, mini-malls and restaurants.

title: Haad Son


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Haad Yao

Haad Yao (หาดยาว) is one of the most beautiful beaches on Ko Pha Ngan. The sandy beach stretches over one kilometre from Haad Son through to the headland that shelters the bay. The beach is very wide allowing a wide variety of sports and activities.

Get in
From Thong Sala and the ferry terminal, the taxi ride is just ten minutes. The fare per person should be 100 baht, but cab drivers will produce a booklet that claims 150 baht is the standard fare. It is not, so bargain hard!

Get around
Walk around the beach and nearby. Rent a motorbike to head further afield. Shared taxis run to Thong Sala. Haad Rin and the Full Moon Party is twenty five minutes away.

Do

A live reef stretches along the bay and beyond. It's a short swim out (about 400 m) and well worth snorkelling along. Book boat tours from boats based at a pier.

During high season several carelessly operated boat trips run straight from the beach (e.g., Black Coral Tours). These run their motors though the coral and have been known to cut it close with swimmers. Avoid them otherwise the beauty of the reef and beach will soon be damaged beyond repair.

Drink
There are many bars on the beach set within the hotels and bungalows. If you want a real (non-instant) coffee, head to the resort restaurant at the end of the beach.

title: Haad Yao


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Haapsalu

Haapsalu is a major seaside resort town on the west coast of Estonia, approximately 100 km south-west of Tallinn.

Understand
Haapsalu was chartered in 1279 and is well known for its historic and maritime ambience, warm sea water, curative mud baths and friendly residents. It's a wonderful little town with narrow streets for families and romantic couples who enjoy having picnics, walking, visiting spas and taking mud baths, sailing and swimming.

By bus
Haapsalu has a regular bus connection to Tallinn and Kärdla, and few to Pärnu, among other cities.

Bus schedules are easily available online – read more under Estonia.

Get around
Walking can be an option, but some destinations might be too far for walking.

By boat
Haapsalu veetakso provides a water taxi service between the port of Grand Holm in Haapsalu and the port of Österby.

By taxi

 * E.T.X AS takso +372 473 3500, 1700
 * Esra takso +372 473 4200, 1300
 * Haapsalu Takso +372 473 3330, +372 515 1050, 1200

Do
Haapsalu is a seaside resort and one of the main attractions is the beach. Famous mud baths can be taken in numerous facilities in Haapsalu.

The town is also well known for its White Lady Days, Old Music Festival, Violin Festival and the August Blues Festival.

Go next

 * Pärnu – Estonia's 4th largest city and the summer capital of Estonia, popular for its balneo-therapy complexes and spa centres, surrounded by numerous beaches.
 * Noarootsi – A bilingual municipality: Estonian and Swedish. Step into Swedish and Soviet history.
 * Hiiumaa – The second largest Estonian island. Popular for its lighthouses, ancient churches, historical values and the sense of humour of its inhabitants, but scarcely populated. In winter, it can sometimes be reached by car via an ice bridge on the Baltic Sea.
 * Saaremaa – The largest Estonian and wild seaside character island with castles and fortresses, one perfectly preserved, a beach, a spa and famous mills. Saaremaa is even sometimes called Sparemaa. Furthermore, the island itself is surrounded by a myriad of tiny islands including Abruka with its nudist camps.

title: Haapsalu


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Haarlem

Haarlem is a lovely historical city on the river Spaarne 20 km from Amsterdam. International tourism finally seems to have discovered the town's many charms, and an increasing number of visitors find their way here each year. A quick glance at the city centre makes it obvious why. Haarlem boasts a magnificent old centre with plenty of monumental buildings. As the city was home to several first class Dutch painters, including Frans Hals, there's a lot of art to go around. And if you're into shopping, a day in Haarlem is a day well spent too, as it was best shopping city of the country several times. Other towns may lay claims to that title, but Haarlem's centre undisputably offers a colorful mix of large chain stores, specialty shops, boutiques and art galleries. A broad range of bars and restaurants makes the picture complete. In short, Haarlem is well worth a visit. For those who are wondering: yes, the famous New York City neighbourhood of Harlem is named after this once powerful Dutch city.

Understand
Haarlem is the centre of a flower-growing district and a major export point for flower bulbs. However, with some 750,000 people visiting the city each year, tourism makes up an increasingly important part of the town's economy. With about 161,000 inhabitants (2019), Haarlem is the 13th largest city in the Netherlands but when it comes to tourism, it's the 4th most visited city. As for most popular places, this may mean the incidental line and some crowds around main attractions in high season. However, the town is fairly quiet in off season and its growing popularity does come with ample opportunities to eat and sleep.

History
The first record of the name 'Haarlem' dates from the 10th century. Located on a busy north/south connection route, the city became the seat of the Counts of Holland. In 1245 the city was granted city rights by Count William II of Holland. Due to the heroic acts of knights from Haarlem during the fifth crusade and their contributions to the siege of Damiate in 1217, Haarlem was granted permission to show a cross and a sword in the city's coat of arms. Haarlem was known for its flower growing district, and also for its textiles, shipyards, engineering plants and textile mills. In 1573, the Spanish ended its charter. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Haarlem was a hotspot for Dutch painting. Frans Hals, Jacob van Ruisdael, and Adriaen van Ostade were all located here. Also in the 17th century it became a refuge for Huguenots.

In the beginning, all of the city's buildings were wooden and the risk of fire was always present. In 1328 most of the city was burnt down. When rebuilding began, yet again in 1347, another fire spread through Haarlem. This time though, it engulfed the Counts' castle and city hall. However, the Count decided that he no longer needed a base in Haarlem and decided to move to The Hague. With that, he donated the land to Haarlem and later a new city hall would be built in its place. It would take over 150 years for the city to be rebuilt.

By train
Haarlem is well-connected by train, with intercity and sprinter trains running between Amsterdam and Haarlem Central Station roughly every 10 minutes. From Amsterdam, it's a 15-minute journey (€4.60) with trains usually leaving from platform 1 or 2. Pay a bit of attention: Haarlem is one of the stops on the main train line between Amsterdam and Dordrecht/The Hague, so it will likely not be the final destination for the train. However, as not all trains to those cities will stop in Haarlem, check the signs or ask a conductor to make sure you're getting into the right one.

Coming from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport directly, you'll have to change once, at Amsterdam Sloterdijk (or at Amsterdam Central Station, but that will take you an extra 10 minutes or so). Trains are easy to use and you may be lucky enough to encounter one or more of the most entertaining ticket collectors in the country. They number singers and magicians among their members.

By bus
A good alternative is to use the big red and grey "R-net"-bus, line 300. It runs every 6–10 minutes between Schiphol and Haarlem Central Station, or you can get out at Wulft/Centrum. There are a fair amount of stops along the way, but for a lot of the journey there is no traffic because the bus has its own dedicated lane. The trip is approximately 45 minutes. You will need to carry your luggage on the bus with you. As on all public transport in the Netherlands, you pay with a OV-chipkaart and a single trip costs €3.64. There are many bus stops clustered in this area—the one for the R-net 300 is across the street, and is indicated on the sign at the bus stop.

By bike
If you have – or rent – a bike, it takes between an hour and an hour and a half to cycle (depending on the cyclist) from the centre of Amsterdam, a fairly relaxing ride on typically level terrain.

Get around
Haarlem is best seen on foot: it's a 10- to 15-minute walk from the train station to the city centre. If you don't want to walk, bus lines 2, 73 and 300 will take you from the central train and bus station to busstop "Centrum/Verwulft" in about 5 minutes. Buses here are mostly operated by Connexxion. Arriva operates a local bus route to Leiden as well.

Although Haarlem's waterways aren't quite as numerous as those of Amsterdam, there are enough of them to make a tour of the city by boat a nice experience. Boats are operated by Post Verkade cruises (€9.50, Dutch only) and Haarlem Canal Cruises (smaller groups, open boat, €12.50) and leave from opposite Teylers Museum. It's best to call ahead.

See
Haarlem's main sights are its lovely historic centre and its fine art museums. You'll get a good idea of what the city has to offer by just wandering the streets in the centre for a while, as many monumental buildings and the most prominent museums are all there. The tourist information office can provide maps and walking routes as well as guides, if you don't want to miss anything.

Grote Markt
Haarlem's main market square, with the huge Saint Bavo church right on it, is the heart of the old city. Not only the church, but several monumental buildings can be found on different sides of the square and when the weather allows, it's lined with outdoor café terraces. You'll also see the statue of Laurens Janszoon Coster, locally called "Lautje", a pioneer of book printing who has become an icon of Haarlem.

Other sights

Museums
With 14 large and small museums in town, you won't be hard pressed to get your art and culture here. The most prominent ones are listed here. Museumkaart accepted.

Do

 * On summer days, hang out in the sun on Haarlem's Grote Markt (near the Grote Kerk) after a long day of shopping or go sightseeing in Haarlem's ancient city centre.
 * Cycling: Explore the Haarlem area by bike: Haarlem Dunes Cycle Route Coast, polders and nature reserves. Distance: 40 or 29 km.
 * Keukenhof Cycle Route Tulip fields in springtime. Distance: 38 or 31 km.
 * Rondje Haarlem is a cycling route along the beautiful place around Haarlem. The route is almost 50 km long and very worth while. Of course it's also possible to do parts of it.
 * Rondje Haarlem is a cycling route along the beautiful place around Haarlem. The route is almost 50 km long and very worth while. Of course it's also possible to do parts of it.

Buy
Haarlem is a popular city for shopping in the region. It has been voted many times as Best Shopping City in the Netherlands and boasts a very diverse range of shops. The Grote Houtstraat, the main shopping street, has most of the obvious shops. The surrounding streets (Kleine Houtstraat and Gierstraat) house smaller shops, where you can browse or buy everything from high-end bicycles to teapots.

Shops are open from Monday to Saturday. Opening times usually are from 09:00 to 17:00, except on Mondays when shops open at 13:00. Many shops in the city centre also open on the first Sunday of the month and usually shops may be open from 19:00 to 21:00 on Thursdays as well, the so-called "avondverkoop" ("evening sale") although no special discounts will be given).

On the main square (Grote Markt) there is on Saturdays a General Market and on Mondays a textile market.

Eat
Scattered through the inner city, you'll find a large number of restaurants. There's something for everyone and every budget, with many different styles of restaurants and a broad variety of cuisines.

Drink
Beerbrewing has been a very important industry for Haarlem. The historical Haarlems beer, recreated in 1995 is Jopenbier or Jopen.

Go next
20 km away, Amsterdam is an obvious tourist destination nearby. However, there are a number of other interesting options.
 * Zandvoort - one of the most popular Dutch coastal destinations is just 10 km away. You can take a train, or go by bike as it's a pleasant ride.
 * Zaandam - is the biggest town in Zaanstreek-Waterland, with its typical old Dutch villages, windmills, dikes and wooden houses. It's a 20-min train journey, but you'll have to change at Amsterdam Sloterdijk.
 * Zuid-Kennemerland National Park is just outside Haarlem. To enter, head to Overveen. It's no more than 3 minutes by train.
 * Alkmaar - famous for its cheese market, has canals and a nice historic centre too. The direct train takes about 30 min.
 * Alkmaar - famous for its cheese market, has canals and a nice historic centre too. The direct train takes about 30 min.

title: Haarlem


text:
Haast

Haast is a small collection of communities, Haast Junction, Haast township and Haast Beach, on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is located on the edge of Mount Aspiring National Park, part of the UNESCO's Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area.

Get in
State Highway 6 (SH6) runs right through Haast, and more specifically Haast Junction, so access from Wanaka in the east or from Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier, Hokitika, Greymouth in the north is very easy. SH6 offers beautiful vistas of the Tasman Sea and travels through rainforests. The Haast River Bridge just to the north of the town is also the longest single-lane bridge in the Southern Hemisphere, which also contains two passing bays. Priority for this bridge is for southbound traffic.

Get around
Use your thumb, your feet or your car because there is no public transportation in this small community.

See
The Haast region consists of more than 2500 km² of one of the world's most diverse and spectacular landscapes. In 1990 this area was internationally recognised as a location of significant natural value and became the centre piece of Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.

The Haast is the perfect destination to explore some of New Zealand's most unique scenery and wildlife. Most of which can be found in neighbouring Mount Aspiring National Park.

Do

 * Walking. Various tracks in the area offer an opportunity to experience the wilderness of the area.
 * Dune Lake Walk. An easy 30-minute walk.
 * Hapuka Estuary Walk. An easy 20-minute walk. Starting just across from the Haast Beach Holiday Park, this track offers several different environments to explore, including 800-year-old rimu trees. This is a beautiful track for bird watching.
 * Ship Creek Tauparikaka Walks. An easy 20-minute walk to see some of the country's tallest trees. The track starts from the road to Lake Moeraki.
 * Smoothwater Bay Track. A moderate 2- to 3-hour walk.
 * Blue Pools Walk just north of Makarora, which features a swing bridge over the Makarora River and deep azure pools of glacial-fed water
 * Smoothwater Bay Track. A moderate 2- to 3-hour walk.
 * Blue Pools Walk just north of Makarora, which features a swing bridge over the Makarora River and deep azure pools of glacial-fed water

Sleep

 * Bay Road Motels, Jackson Bay Rd, +64 3 750 0883.
 * Haast Beach Holiday Park, Jackson Bay Rd, +64 3 750 0860, 0800 843 226. Motel rooms, cabins, powered sites and tent sites.
 * Haast Beach Holiday Park, Jackson Bay Rd, +64 3 750 0860, 0800 843 226. Motel rooms, cabins, powered sites and tent sites.
 * Haast Beach Holiday Park, Jackson Bay Rd, +64 3 750 0860, 0800 843 226. Motel rooms, cabins, powered sites and tent sites.

Connect
Mobile phone service started in Haast in May 2018. As of Jan 2021, coverage is limited to 3G and within a roughly 3-km radius of Haast township.

Go next

 * Fox Glacier – the bigger and less crowded glacier (1½ hours drive north)
 * Mount Aspiring National Park
 * Wanaka

title: Haast


text:
Haba

Haba is a small town in Yunnan, China, on the eastern route between Qiaotou and Shangrila.

Understand
Haba (哈巴), elevation 2,600 m, is a small town in Yunnan Province and is known for its snow mountain (glacier) and high mountain lakes, which can be reached within a two or three day trip. Since the first ascent of the mountain in 1995, the area has become a major mountaineering center, attractive to those seeking a relatively easy 5,000-meter peak. Several thousand attempt it every year.

There is one cash machine in Haba (Nov 2017) but it might take only Chinese cards, so make sure to bring enough cash with you! Small stores near town centre sell food, drink and basic necessities.

The village itself is home to 4,000+ residents encompassing various ethnic groups: Yi, Tibetan, Pumi, Naxi, Lisu, Hui, Han, Bai. The main road through town passes through the Naxi hamlet. Below that is the Han village while above are two Hui (Muslim) hamlets each with its own mosque. The highest hamlet in Haba is occupied by Yi.

Get in
From Shangri-la, there is a daily bus (4 hr, ¥60) at 13:30.

From Lijiang you can take a morning bus to Baishuitai and get off in Haba arriving mid-afternoon, ¥38.

From Walnut Garden in the Tiger Leaping Gorge, a minibus can be taken for around ¥150 arranged through guest house, 90 min. Alternatively, you can hike in 10 hr from Walnut Garden (a local guide might be needed), but be prepared for significant elevation gain (1,200 meters).

Get around
Options limited to walking or local auto arranged through guest house. Streets are unsigned so even walking around may require a guide.

Do

 * Hike Haba Snow Mountain - There are two primary hikes up Haba Mountain: to base camp and to the summit. Base camp sits at around 4,100 m and takes about 6 hr to hike to. The elevation at the summit is 5,396 m and takes 8-12 hours round trip from base camp, usually starting at 03:00. A local guide can be hired for ¥300 per day. Two-hundred guides are available for hire, an astonishing number for such a small village, however, none of them speak English (confirmed by Kunming Mountaineering Expedition Association, Dec 2017). Necessary equipment for the trek can all be rented. Ice axes, crampons and poles are a combined ¥200. Warm hat, gloves, coat and sunglasses are ¥50. Supplemental air can be purchased for ¥20 per canister but shouldn't be necessary for just the base camp trek. Spending the night at a dorm room at base camp costs ¥150, and there is a one-time administrative fee of ¥200 to pay for the caretaker. Tent sites nearby are ¥50 but you must still pay the administrative fee. Dinner at base is variable, ¥20–35. Most people attempt the summit in 2 to 5 days. Spending a day acclimatizing at Haba Village and/or base camp is suggested if you're not used to the altitude. There's an outfitting company, Haba Haosi Hostel (哈巴好四客栈), on the left just as you enter Haba village from the south with the following contact info: Phone: 139-8884-8381 or 186-0887-2938. They have dorm beds in back. Bao Xiao Ge (包小哥) has guided many parties, contact info below under On The Clouds Haba Guest House. Another experienced guide, Yang Xiangming (杨向明), was part of the team that made the first ascent in 1995, contact info under Haba Snow Mountain Inn below. If an English-speaking guide is required, check this website. Experienced and properly equipped mountaineers may dispense with guides. Camping and route information is available online. For guided parties the failure rate of those seeking to summit is 30-60%, mainly due to weather conditions, lack of acclimatization, or inadequate physical preparation.

Sleep
Haba has around twenty guest houses catering to the many visitors who come to climb the mountain. May be crowded during weekends and public holidays. Guest houses will make arrangements for guides, mules, equipment, etc.

title: Haba


text:
Hațeg

Hațeg is a town in Hunedoara County of Transylvania, Romania.

By car
You can arrive in Hațeg by car from Timisoara taking DN 6 to Caransebeș and then taking DN 66 from Caransebeș to Hațeg.

From Cluj-Napoca you can take E81 to Alba Iulia and then Sebeș, then you take E 68 to Orăștie and Simeria, and from Simeria you take E 79 to Hațeg.

If you want to come to Hațeg from Budapest you can take M 5(E 75) to Szeged and from there take E 68 to Arad, Deva and Simeria. From Simeria take E 79 to Hațeg.

From Bucharest you can take A 1(E 81) to Pitesti. From Pitesti take E 81 to Ramnicu Valcea, and E 79 to Tg.Jiu, Petroșani and Hațeg.

By bus
There are buses arriving at Hațeg station from Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara and Bucharest. Check timetables here or contact Hațeg Bus Station at +40 254772230.

Get around
Hațeg is a small town so you can walk around, but if you want to visit the landmarks in Hațeg Country you can take a taxi from the taxi station located near I.C. Bratianu National College.

See

Eat

Phone
Hateg area code is 254 for Romtelecom and 354 for RDS. If you are calling from Romania you must dial 0254(0354) and if you are calling from abroad you must dial +40254(+40354).

Internet
There is one internet cafe in Hateg. Wi Fi is available at Haos Club and Club T. Many of the hotels have Internet access.

Go next

 * Retezat National Park
 * Deva, 43 km from Hațeg. Deva is the capital of Hunedoara County with Deva Citadel an impressive medieval fortress, built in the 13th century and partially blown up in 1849. Located on a hill overlooking the city.
 * Hunedoara, 20 km from Hațeg. The main attraction in Hunedoara is Corvinestilor Castle or Huniazilor Castle. The city has a zoo and near Hunedoara is Cincis Lake.
 * Orastie
 * Petrosani

title: Hațeg


text:
Hachijojima

Hachijōjima (八丈島) is an island in Tokyo prefecture, some 300 kilometers south of Tokyo city.

Tourist information site
The island and nearby uninhabited Hachijo-kojima ("small island") are administered as a municipality, Hachijo Town. The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

By ferry
Tokaikisen operates a daily overnight ferry from Tokyo's Takeshiba pier, near the Daimon metro station. Leaving Tokyo at 22.30, and arriving 9.30 - prices vary seasonally but expect to pay around ¥9000 for a reclining seat.

By plane
ANA (All Nippon Airways) flies between Haneda airport in Tokyo and Hachijōjima up to four times a day. Prices vary seasonally, but expect to pay around ¥25,000-30,000 return. You can get around this by booking on the English version of the Japanese site. From this you will have access to the lowest fares.

Get around
Most hotels have bikes for hire, and there are several rent a car agencies on the island.

Do
Hunt for glow in the dark mushrooms, diving, snorkeling, and trekking to secret waterfalls in the mountains.

Eat
A very popular dish is shimazushi (島寿司) - a variation of sushi, featuring local raw fish dipped in soy-sauce that has mustard instead of wasabi.

title: Hachijojima


text:
Hachimantai

Hachimantai (八幡平市) is a city in Iwate Prefecture.

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

Go next

 * Towada-Hachimantai National Park

title: Hachimantai


text:
Hachinohe

Hachinohe (八戸), a mid-sized port city in Aomori, is a stop on the Tohoku Shinkansen line and an embarkation point for ferries bound for Tomakomai on the island of Hokkaido.

Tourist information site
Tourist associations of the area has a joint multilingual guide site.

By train
The Tohoku Shinkansen provides hourly service from Tokyo station to Hachinohe. Trains are all-reserved and are known as Hayate (はやて) trains. The trains only stop at major stations such as Ueno, Omiya, Sendai and Morioka prior to reaching Hachinohe, then continue on to Aomori. Hayate trains from Tokyo reach Hachinohe in three hours and cost ¥15,400 each way. For foreign tourists making the trip from Tokyo, the better deal is to purchase a JR East Rail Pass or the national Japan Rail Pass. Beware that the Hayate trains are coupled to Akita-bound Komachi trains, which split at Morioka (sometimes Sendai), so be sure you're in the right train and car when boarding. There are also various local, rapid, and limited express trains to Aomori and other points in Tohoku.

Typically, during the winter season, the rail trip tickets are discounted to ¥10,000 (return tickets) and they have extra options such as shopping tour (extra ¥2,300) or the onsen trip (¥1,600) (hot spring bath). Also, if you're living in Japan it would be a good idea to watch out for the Hachinohe-Higaeri (Hachinohe-Day-Trip) package offered by JR. This can be booked at the JTB or View Plaza counters at most major JR Stations.

By bus
Towada Kanko Bus and Kokusai Kogyo bus operate an overnight bus service to Hachinohe from Tokyo Station and Ikebukuro (9 hours from Tokyo Station, ¥9500 one way, ¥17100 round trip).

Get around
Hachinohe has an extensive train and bus system, all using the same station as the bullet train. The buses require some Japanese reading ability. There are always plenty of taxis parked outside of the train station as well. The city is a bit spread out, so walking to many destinations could be time consuming.

Buy

 * Fish Market, to your right as you exit the old train station (Hon Hachinohe, 本八戸). The indoor fish market which, other than fish, also sells many local souvenirs including food specialties and hand crafted items, including lacquerware and horse statues. There is also a float on display here.
 * Has a Nagasakiya apparel shop on the second floor and Don Quijote on the third. There are various other stores, including a Daiso (¥100 store), an indoor amusement park, and restaurants.
 * Has a Nagasakiya apparel shop on the second floor and Don Quijote on the third. There are various other stores, including a Daiso (¥100 store), an indoor amusement park, and restaurants.
 * Has a Nagasakiya apparel shop on the second floor and Don Quijote on the third. There are various other stores, including a Daiso (¥100 store), an indoor amusement park, and restaurants.

Drink
The area in central Hachinohe near city hall contains numerous bars, izakaya, restaurants, pubs, and hostess bars. Many of the establishments, especially the hostess bars, will not allow foreigners to enter, although some can be persuaded to change their mind if you speak Japanese. However, most of the "western" style bars, especially those frequented by young adults, are very welcoming to foreigners. Two bars that are worth a visit are Bon and Flat. You will find Flat (music symbol for flat note) downstairs on the main street, next to Miroku Yokocho. Bon is found in the maze of alleys behind Concert Hall Pachinko.

Music

 * Flat (music symbol for flat note) is the home of music in Hachinohe. You will find a good mix of live music played at this establishment. the 'Master" Mitsuya can cook, sing and play the guitar. You can find Flat downstairs on the main street, next to Miroku Yokocho. You may also want to pop in to meet 'Japanese Nick', a Japanese Nicholas Cage look alike.

Go next

 * Towada-Hachimantai National Park, 1–2 hours away by bus, features hiking and many onsen in the Hakkoda Mountains and elsewhere, waterfall viewing along the Oirase Stream, and scenic ferry rides on Lake Towada.
 * Inakadate
 * Fujisaki
 * Itayanagi
 * Tsuruta
 * Ajigasawa
 * Nishimeya
 * Owani
 * Hirakawa

title: Hachinohe


text:
Hachioji

Hachioji (八王子市 Hachiōji-shi) is in the western part of Tokyo, with a population of about 550,000 people (2010). Home to Mount Takao which surprised the locals by suddenly getting 3 stars on the Guide Michelin in 2007.

Understand
Hachioji gained city status on September 1st, 1917.

Tourist information sites
Official English Travel Guide is available on the city's site.

There is also a semi-official Visitors Guide site maintained by Hachioji Visitors & Convention Association (just one page for its English part).

By plane
If coming from Narita Airport, take the JR Narita Express to Tokyo station, and change for the Chuo Line for service to Hachioji (about 2 hr 15 min, ¥3670). It is a real climb all the way up to the Chuo platforms, but since Chuo line trains start at Tokyo station, odds are you will probably find a seat. The alternative is to continue on the Narita Express to Shinjuku and from there board the Chuo Line, or the less-expensive Keio Line.

If you have a Japan Rail Pass, and if the timing is right, you may be able to reserve a seat on a Kaiji or Azusa train from Shinjuku and have a more comfortable journey to Hachioji.

The Narita Express runs directly from Narita Airport to Hachioji twice in the evening (leaving Narita 19:45 and 20:44), and there are two trains from Hachioji to Narita in the morning (05:19, 05:55).

Six daily airport limousine buses run from Narita to both the JR and Keio Hachioji train stations in about 2 hours, 40 minutes (¥3700).

From Haneda Airport, the easiest way to Hachioji by train is to take the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa, from where you can take the JR Yamanote Line in either direction, to either Tokyo or Shinjuku station, to pick up the Chuo Line for Hachioji. It costs ¥1180 no matter which way you go; allow about 1 hr 45 min. Slightly faster, but requiring an extra transfer, is to travel via Yokohama.

Six daily limousine buses go from Haneda to the JR and Keio Hachioji train stations in 1½-2 hours (¥1700).

By train
The two main railways serving Hachioji are the JR and the private Keio railway, both of which run directly to Tokyo. The two stations, Hachioji (for the JR) and Keio Hachioji, are separated by a 10-minute walk.

The cheapest trip between Tokyo and Hachioji is on the Keio railway, taking about 50 minutes on the fastest service at a cost of only ¥350. The JR Chuo Line travels to Mitaka from both Tokyo Station (¥780) and Shinjuku (¥460). The faster Chūō Special Rapid (中央特快 Chūō-tokkai) trains run from Shinjuku to Hachioji in 35 minutes, compared to regular rapid trains which take 50–60 minutes.

JR Hachioji is also a primary stop for Azusa (あずさ) limited express trains between Tokyo and Matsumoto, and Kaiji (かいじ) limited express trains between Tokyo, Otsuki and Kofu. These trains require a surcharge on top of the regular train fare. Japan Rail Pass holders can travel on these trains for free; lucky rail pass travelers can hop onto a Kaiji or Azusa unreserved seat car in Shinjuku and get to Hachioji in as little as 30 minutes.

By car

 * Chūō Express onramp and exit.
 * From Akirunoshi through the number 16 road to Hachioji.

By bus
Overnight buses run into and out of Keio Hachioji station. Services run from Kyoto (Tama Bus/Keihan Bus; ¥7950 one way; ¥14310 round-trip), Osaka (Tama Bus/Kintetsu Bus; ¥8250 one way; ¥14770 round-trip) and Kanazawa (Tama Bus/Hokuriku Railroad; ¥8250 one way; ¥14850 round-trip)

Get around
City buses depart from all train stations and serve even the farthest outlying areas. Taxis can also be found at train stations. Renting a car is a reasonable option, but traffic can be slow and parking anywhere in Tokyo gets expensive.

Train

 * East Japan Railway Company (JR East)
 * Chuo Line: Toyoda, Hachiōji, Nishi-Hachiōji, & Takao stations.
 * Yokohama Line: Katakura & Hachiōji-Minamino stations.
 * Hachiko Line: Kita-Hachiōji & Komiya stations. Here, Hachiko (八高) means the line connecting Hachioji (八王子) and Takasaki (高崎), not the loyal dog statued in Shibuya.

 * Keiō Corporation: In fact, Keio (京王) means the line connecting Tokyo (東京) and Hachioji (八王子).
 * Keiō Line: Naganuma, Kitano, & Keio-Hachioji stations.
 * Keiō Takao Line (branching at Kitano station): Keio-Katakura, Yamada, Mejirodai, Hazama, Takao, & Takaosanguchi stations.
 * Keiō Sagamihara Line (branching at Chofu station): Keiō-Horinouchi & Minami-Osawa stations.

See

Do

Learn
Hachiōji is home to over 20 universities and technical schools.

Work
Various large corporations have factories, branches, and head offices in Hachioji.

Buy
Scattered within 10 minutes from JR Hachioji Station's North Exit and Keio-Hachioji Station, there are about 10-15 used clothing and vintage shops, often 1/4 the price of those found in the more popular shopping districts such as Kichijoji and Harajuku.

Eat
There are many restaurants along the Tama Newtown street. For example, Sushi, Fast foods, Udon, and Chinese noodles. Especially, this region is famous of Chinese noodle. There are a lot of Chinese noodle shops.

Budget
There are many love hotels close to JR and Keio Hachioji Stations, and can even be found in less populated and mountainous areas. Normally love hotels operate on an hourly/bi-hourly system, but are also known to have a cheaper overnight charge. If you want to walk around western areas of Tokyo such as Hachioji and Machida, consider lodging near Tama Center Station or at Tachikawa Station.

Go next
You'll feel closer to nature when you visit to Nagaike Park and Renshoji Park.

title: Hachioji


text:
Haciendas of Ecuador

Ecuador has historical and renovated haciendas or traditional ranches. Haciendas often cover large areas of land and incorporate agricultural operations and other businesses. Many Ecuadorian traditional haciendas have developed ecotourism and agritourism branches.

Historical context
Hacienda is a Spanish word for an estate. Some haciendas were plantations, mines, or even business factories. Many haciendas combined these productive activities. The hacienda system of Argentina, parts of Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Viceroyalty of New Granada was a system of large land-holdings that were an end in themselves as the marks of status (in Portuguese, the cognate term fazenda applies to the similar system in Brazil). The hacienda aimed for self-sufficiency in everything but luxuries meant for display, which were destined for the handful of people in the circle of the patrón.

List of eco-tourism focused haciendas

 * Hacienda Zuleta. Eco-lodge and horseback adventures. Sits between 2870 and 3050 m in the Andean mountains of northern Ecuador, 110 km and a two-hour trip north of the capital, Quito. See the Andean highlands by horseback, mountain bike, carriage or hiking. There is also incredible birding, nature watching and homemade organic cuisine with many ingredients from the working farm. Hacienda Zuleta is involved in nature conservation through its Andean condor rehabilitation program and protection area for the spectacled bear.
 * Hacienda San Agustin de Callo, beautiful 17th century hacienda built on the grounds of a former Inca palace on the slopes of Cotopaxi, the hacienda has a colorful history have served as a residence for the French Geophysical Expedition in 1742 and serving as a residence for Ecuador's elite throughout its history (including two former presidents)
 * Hacienda Porvenir, on the slopes of the Rumiñahui volcano at an altitude of 3,600 meters, the hacienda is surrounded by mountains with views of four volcanos (including Cotopaxi). The hacienda was built for farming and ranching. It was established by the Jesuit religious order who raised sheep. Today, it operates as an upscale boutique hotel.
 * Hacienda Primavera 18th century highland hacienda that was originally the center of a farming community, the hacienda boasts idyllic mountain landscapes in every direction. Today it operates as an upscale boutique hotel with surprisingly affordable nightly rates (starting at US$128).
 * Black Sheep Inn is a historic highland farm that operates as an eco-lodge with a mountain location at 3,200 meters. A variety of activities are available to travelers including nature hikes and horseback riding.

title: Haciendas of Ecuador


text:
Hackberry

United States of America

 * Hackberry, Arizona as a former Route 66 ghost town. See Peach Springs.
 * Hackberry, Louisiana. See Lake Charles.
 * Hackberry, Texas (pop 960), a town in Denton County: see Post Oak Savannah.

title: Hackberry


text:
Hackensack

Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey. It is the county seat, and a center of government, legal activity, and commerce in the region.

Hackensack's central location within Bergen county make it the perfect place to stay for anyone wanting to explore the region.

Understand
Hackensack was home to 46,000 people in 2020.

Hackensack is notable for the eponymous Hackensack River where it flows almost parallel with the Hudson River for approximately 45 miles. Once regarded as extremely polluted, cleaning and conservation efforts have improved the status of the river.

Headquarters for The Record, a major newspaper published for the North Jersey region, is in town.

Get in
Hackensack is easily accessible by car, bus, train, or even plane.

By plane
Larger airports such as Newark Liberty International Airport are close by.

By bus
Numerous bus lines will get you to Hackensack from different places, including New York City. NJ Transit serves Hackensack via its commuter Pascack Valley Line.

By train
There are two stations within the city limits, in the southern parts of the city and, closer to downtown.

Get around
As with most cities and most places in urban and suburban New Jersey, traffic is a problem, but avoiding rush hour makes all the difference. Anyone visiting should also make note that flooding is a major problem in Hackensack (and many surrounding towns, especially in Southern Bergen). Just 15 minutes of steady downpour will make some roads flood, and a few hours of steady rain will surely make many roads impassable, especially River Street. If you can avoid driving while it's raining or flooded, please do. If not, try to use roads on higher ground towards Summit Avenue.

Buy

 * The Shops at Riverside Square - Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomindale's, Brooks Brothers for Women, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tiffany & Co, Pottery Barn, Barnes & Noble, Burberry, Barney's Co-op, Hermes, Movado

title: Hackensack


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Hackettstown

Hackettstown is a town in Warren County in the Skylands region of New Jersey in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

Understand
Because Hackettstown is relatively smaller geographically than most other municipalities in the area, some of the attractions listed here are in the municipalities of Mansfield (Route 57), Independence (New Jersey) (517/46), Allamuchy (517/Waterloo Rd.) or Washington Township, Morris County (Route 46), but most are in or are close to Hackettstown. These townships are considerably less developed. Most of the commercial development of the townships are located near the Hackettstown border.

By train
Hackettstown Station is the last stop on the NJ Transit Montclair-Boonton and Morris-Essex lines. Once you get to the Dover station, trains can be found that take you to Morristown, Hoboken and Newark and New York City.

There 7 trains a day to and from Hackettstown

By bus
New Jersey Transit has a shuttle service, known as Wheels 973, that usually has two small buses going in a loop around town M-F from 8AM to 6PM.

Martz Transit  has a stop at nearby Panther Valley on some bus routes that travel from Northeastern Pennsylvania into New York City.

The Warren County government runs a bus that goes from Hackettstown to nearby Washington once an hour M-F from 8AM to 5PM. From there, another bus can take you to Phillipsburg.

By car

 * The Route 80 exits 26, 25 and 19 are all between 5 and 10 minutes driving time north of Hackettstown.
 * From Exit 26 take Route 46 West through Mt. Olive and Washington Township until it turns into Main Street, Hackettstown.
 * From Exit 25, going North, turn right into the International Trade Center and follow the signs for Waterloo Village. Make a right onto Continental Drive, and then, at the end of that road, turn left onto Waterloo Road, which turns into Willow Grove Road when it comes up toward Hackettstown.
 * Via Exit 19, turn left towards Panther Valley. Follow County Road 517 several miles until you get to Hackettstown.
 * County Road 517 goes south through Schooley's Mountain and connects with route 78 at Exit 24, also known as Oldwick, Whitehouse in Tewksbury, Hunterdon County
 * Route 57 goes southwest through Washington and on towards Phillipsburg.
 * Route 46 goes Northwest past Main St., through Great Meadows, Independence and on towards Belvidere until it ends at the Delaware River bridge crossing to Portland, Pennsylvania.

Taxi or limo

 * Hackettstown Taxi Service: +1 908-852-3111
 * Chapin Limo & Taxi: +1 908-979-9444
 * Chapin Limo & Taxi: +1 908-979-9444

Buy
General: Wal Mart and Target are both nearby

Clothes: Kohl's, Marshall's

Hardware: Lowe's, Home Depot, Hometown Hardware

Electronics: Staples, Radio Shack, GameStop

Antiques, etc. on Main St.:

Trinity Thrift Shop

Eat
There are 11 pizzerias in Hackettstown and its immediate surrounding areas.

Stay safe
Emergency: dial 911

Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, 651 Willow Grove St. (908) 852-5100

Hackettstown Police Department, 215 Stiger St, +1 908 852-3302

24-hour pharmacy in nearby Mt. Olive.

Connect
Panther Valley does not have hotels it is now an assisted living facility. WiFi wireless hotspots can be found in a few restaurants, including Panera Bread, McDonalds and Mama's Pizza, as well as the town library on Moore St. and the County Library up the hill in Independence on Route 46.

Go next
Hackettstown is one hour west of New York City by car. A little closer to the east is Metro New York, where one ofhe highlights is historic Morristown, New Jersey.

Heading due West on Route 80, you will reach the Poconos in about half an hour. Route 80 goes on an on all the way past Pittsburgh, Chicago, Des Moines, Salt Lake City and on to San Francisco. To the southwest is the Lehigh Valley in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The best way to get to the Jersey Shore is to take Route 80 or Route 206 to Route 287, and then keep going south to either the New Jersey Turnpike or the Garden State Parkway.

Philadelphia can be reached that way, but some people prefer to go out to the Lehigh Valley on Route 78, or Route 22, and then to the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, (S/I 476 South). Definitely consult a good map, though.

title: Hackettstown


text:
Haddonfield

Haddonfield is a borough located in Camden County, New Jersey. This quaint town has a total population of 11,300 (2019), including professional athletes from the Philadelphia Flyers and Phillies. Haddonfield offers visitors that small town feeling with a friendly atmosphere and beautiful scenery.

Get in
By train: The Patco NJ Transit runs frequently and takes you into the center of Haddonfield. This station is conveniently open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. +1 856 772-6900

By car: Haddonfield is accessible via Exit 29B or Exit 32 on I-295.

By plane: Philadelphia International Airport is a 20-minute car ride away. 8000 Essington Avenue, Philadelphia. +1 215 937-6800.

Get around

 * Haddonfield A Cab Company, +1 856 795-9681

Walking: Only 2.9 square miles, all destinations are within walking distance.

For more information on what to do, what to see, and how to get around, please visit the Visitor's Center in the Haddonfield Mall at 2 Kings Court on Kings Highway. +1 856-216-7253

See
Haddonfield is a historic town with a rich history and many sites to see including:

Buy
Haddonfield's historic shopping district has been lauded by the Philadelphia Magazine as the best shopping district offering a vast array of stores. including:

Shoes

Shops Jewelry Children Salons and Spas

Drink
Haddonfield has been a dry town since 1872. However, due to Haddonfield's small size, bars are nearby.

Sleep
There is only one bed and breakfast in Haddonfield.

Go next

 * Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a 20 minute drive from Haddonfield or the PATCO train can be taken into the heart of Philadelphia where there are hundreds of shops, restaurants, and sites to see. There are also a plethora of bars located here.

Haddonfield does not have a mall, however, the Cherry Hill Mall is less than ten minutes from the center of Haddonfield. +1 856 662-7441, 2000 Rt. 38

title: Haddonfield