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Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius (Italian: Monte Vesuvio) is a volcanic mountain in the Campania region of Italy, overshadowing the Bay of Naples.

Understand
Mount Vesuvius is best known internationally for its eruption in ancient Roman times (24 August 79 AD), described by Pliny the Younger, when Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed. The eruption left a large crater that can still be visited today. Vesuvius is a volcano that occasionally emits streams of lava (the last minor eruption in the 1950s, although its relative quiescence could be an indication of a build-up of pressure and a coming explosive eruption). It is included among the decade volcanoes, a group scientists consider particularly dangerous.

At the top of the volcano is a crater rim that affords a view into the crater that still fumes slightly. Besides that you will have (only on clear days, but the mountain is notoriously covered in fog or clouds) a stunning panorama overseeing the Bay of Naples, Naples, Capri, Ischia, the edge of the Amalfi Coast and the green Irpinian Mountains.

Opening hours are Nov-Feb from 09:00 to 15:00, Mar Oct 09:00 to 16:00; Apr-Jun Sep: 09:00-17:00; Jul Aug: 09:00 to 18:00.

Going there will make you sweat a lot and set you back about €15 (including private taxi up the hill).

Tickets
Access to the top of the volcano is only allowed with a valid ticket. There are 2,500 tickets available per day, which may sold out even weeks ahead and there is no ticket office on-site. As the mobile coverage at the entrances is limited, it is advisable to book well in advance. There is the list of sales points and an online ticket shop available. Read the conditions carefully as there is no refund and a 2-hour window during which you must enter the paid area, which begins some 500 meters from the top.

The other 10 official hiking trails require no ticket and no reservation.

From Naples
There's a direct bus-line that leaves twice a day from Naples Central Station square and goes straight up to the visitor parking. It's run by one of the minor bus companies (not the city transport) and you might have a bit of a hard time finding it, but unless you have a prearranged group tour it's perfect. It runs on a timetable, so it's less capricious than the taxi service from Ercolano. Two-way ticket from Naples Station runs at €13.50. Bus leaves at 09:20 and 10:35 at the Garibaldi station.

From Ercolano
Take the Circumvesuviana railway (Sorrento-Naples line). From Naples buy tickets on the lower level of the Central Station aka Stazione Centrale a Piazza Garibaldi, or bus to Ercolano Scavi station in Herculaneum or the Pompei Scavi station.

You can either wait for the local bus that costs around €8.70 return (from Pompeii, cheaper from Herculaneum/Ercolano). The bus goes only around twice a day from Herculaneum - at 08:45 and 12:45.

When you come out of the station, a private tourist office to your left runs trips up Vesuvius - €10 roundtrip, plus €8 admission fee. Downside is you only have an hour and 15 min to climb the summit and back - little time to rest. If you take longer than that, they leave you to fend for yourself or require you to pay another €5 per person for return. They also offer lifts to the ruins for €3.

From Pompeii
Among others, the EAV bus line 808 directly from across the train station departs multiple times a day (online timetable, around 50 minutes in season) and takes approx. 40-50 minutes. Cost is €3.8 one way (Apr 2024). The Campania Artecard is not accepted.

Conveniently, the bus stops in front of the ticket office, and departs back from the park entrance.

By taxi
You can use a private taxi company. From Ercolano Station you exit the station into a small square. Over to the left is a private tourist center. They offer a lift up and down the mountain for €10 each person. For €18, they will offer a ticket with entry to the crater. They are able to get special entry tickets for about €4.50, so when you purchase the package, they keep more than the €10. However, if you buy your own ticket to the crater, it's still €8 so you may as well pay them the €18. They will typically wait until a car (minibus) is full and leave then. They will agree with all people in the car to wait for all of you at the upper car park for 90 minutes. From the car park you'll have to hike up the last bit before you can actually see anything exciting. They say the walk is about 800 m long, going uphill most of the time and ending at the 1170-m mark. Wear good walking shoes as the trail is covered with dust and rock pebbles. If you have missed the public bus, this will be your only option to get up to the mountain.

The tourist information office is closed on Sundays.

You can also do a 6-km hike to the summit along the winding roads. To do this you will need to take the local bus service ANM 5 or 176 from Ercolano to San Vitto. From there you will be able to walk to the summit. You can take in the views of the national park and enjoy the local wildlife. You will still need to pay the entrance fee when you arrive at the crater, but for the energetic ones it is a must!

By car
You can get to the upper parking area, take the exit Ercolano from motorway and go up via the roads SP19 and SP140. Be prepared to part with at least €5 for the parking fee. Also it's a good idea to go there earlier in the morning to avoid the jams that may happen along the narrow road. Parcheggio Vesuvio can be found at Strada per Belvedere Vesuvio (Belvedere della Seggiovia), 59, 80056 Ercolano NA. Parking MUST be booked online. You can find the National Park Visitor Centre on SP114.

On foot
Everyone has to walk up the last 500 m steep-ish-ly uphill. That includes busloads of German pensioners, which on busy days will congest the path and give up half the way. Closed-in shoes are essential, as the path is full of dust and loose rocks. You might want to get hold of one or two walking sticks provided – but don't expect any hard-core hiking.

There are numerous official hiking trails around the national park. To access the Great Cono (the top of the volcano), you need to book a ticket.

By mountain bike
Amore, the leader cycling company, arranges on-demand daily excursions along rough authorized paths of the volcano, opened for this company by the park. Different lengths and difficulties are available.

There are a couple of huts selling cheap and sometimes bizarrely inappropriate souvenirs and expensive drinks around the rim. Rather take a bottle of water with you.

Even on hot days, you can get strong and chilly winds at the rim, so take a lightweight fleece to wear at the top.

See

 * The crater with its rising fumes.
 * The different lava stones, changing colour as you walk uphill and around the crater.
 * The view of the Bay of Naples and Pompeii in good weather.
 * The scarred landscape where the 1950s lava streams went downhill.
 * The remains of the funicular railway built in 1870, and which operated until the volcano's last major eruption in 1944. The song Funiculì, Funiculà was written by composer Peppino Turco, to commemorate the opening of the railway.
 * All the other tourists.

Do

 * Take a photograph that looks like you are going to parachute down the mountain.
 * Enjoy the natural beauty of this worldly wonder.
 * Hike one of the possible trails around the mountain.

Buy

 * Geological collection sets with rare original Vesuvius stones. These are spray painted fakes.
 * Postcards with a helicopter view of the volcano (since you won't get into one to snap the shots yourself).
 * Property on the lower slopes of Vesuvius is very attractively priced.
 * Lacryma Christi wine is produced from grapes grown on the lower slopes of the volcano.

Eat and drink

 * While there are no pubs or restaurants, there are several small shops up the last 500 m or so to the crater and you can pick up snacks and a cool drink here but don't expect any meals, come well prepared!

Sleep

 * The nearest place to reside is Naples or perhaps Sorrento.

Stay safe
Vesuvius is an active volcano and may erupt any time in the near future. Over the last few centuries, Vesuvius has erupted at intervals ranging from 18 months to 7½ years, making the current lull the longest in 500 years. Its lack of eruption may merely indicate a build-up of pressure, which may result in a more explosive next eruption, posing a lethal hazard to over 500,000 residents living in the same place that was destroyed in 79 AD.

Listen to local authorities if there is any news about the state of Vesuvius, and do not wander any further than the trails go.

Go next

 * Combine the trip to Vesuvius with visiting Herculaneum or Pompeii afterwards to make more of the day.

title: Vesuvius


text:
Veszprém

 Veszprém (German: Weißbrunn, Slovene: Belomost) is one of Hungary's oldest cities, in the Transdanubia region. In 1009, it became Hungary's first episcopal seat.

Understand
It lies approximately 15 km (9 mi) north of the Lake Balaton. It is the administrative center of the county (comitatus or 'megye') of the same name.

City districts
Belváros, Dózsaváros, Jeruzsálemhegy, Egyetemváros, Füredidomb, Cholnokyváros, Újtelep, Jutasi úti lakótelep, Bakonyalja, Jutaspuszta, Szabadságpuszta, Iparváros, Gyulafirátót, Kádárta.

Further territorial units: Veszprémvölgy, Reptér, Csatár

By car
From Budapest take the M7 motorway, to Székesfehérvár then turning to #8 Main road. From Győr take main road #82, from Graz, Körmend main road #8, from Balatonfüred take main road #73. Tapolca can be approached from a main road #77.

Public transport
Veszprém public transport solved by a dense bus network, details, Balaton Volan, interactive map.

Some other lines runs only on special occasions.
 * 1 Bus Station - Papal Road round (05:10-18:10)
 * 2 Railway Station - Downtown - Railway Station (05:04-21:35)
 * 3 Haskovo turns - Csererdő (05:00 to 22:12)
 * 4 Railway Station-Downtown - Vámosi Road turns (04:00 to 22:05)
 * 5 Kádártai út – Tüzér u. (05:02–21:56)
 * 6 Haszkovó turn – Vámosi út (04:58–22:30)
 * 7 Haszkovó turn–downtown- Cholnokyváros - Haszkovó turn (05:15–22:05)
 * 8 Haszkovó turn – Pápai út/Csatárhegyi út (05:21–17:53)
 * 10 Cholnoky turn - Papal út (05:10 to 22:10, only on weekdays, especially in the morning)
 * 11 Railway Station –Cholnokyváros- Vámosi út (05:15–21:50)
 * 12 Bus station - Buhim Valley - Bus Station (07:00–16:00, weekdays only)
 * 13 Kádártai – Dózsaváros - Kádártai út (05:08–20:18)
 * 22 Bus station - Laci major (Veszprém-Szabadságpuszta) (05:10-22:30)
 * 23 Bus station - Kádárta-Gyulafirátót, turn (04:35 to 22:25)
 * 24 Bus station - Kádárta, railway stop (06:50 to 07:25, weekdays only )
 * 32, 34 Cholnoky turn - Csererdő (05:10 to 22:10, during the holidays Cholnoky - Valeo)
 * 35 Bus Station - Csererdő (05:15 to 22:10, weekdays only)

Further afield

 * More options in Veszprém County
 * More options in Veszprém County

Cycling
There is a new cycling route runs from the beginning of the main road # 73 until the city center. Also good place for cycling around the Gulya Hill

Events

 * Veszprémfest, cultural event
 * Gizella Days Festival (Gizella-napok Művészeti Fesztivál), located: Community Centre. Date: May
 * Veszprém Summer Festival, part of it the Vivace International Choir Festival, located: mostly the Community Centre. Date: 1st half of Aug
 * Veszprem Gala Games Festival (Veszprémi Ünnepi Játékok), concerts in the Castle. Date: Aug
 * Street Music Festival (Utcazene Fesztivál). Amateur artists. Several days long.
 * "Spring Games" (Tavaszi Játékok) International Children's - Youth and Sports and Arts Festival
 * Veszprém Beer Festival (Sörfesztivál) - end of Jun/early Jul
 * Veszprém Spring Festival (Veszprémi Tavaszi Fesztivál)
 * Festival of Dance (A Tánc Fesztiválja), National and International Contemporary-Art Meeting (organized by the Pannon Theatre)
 * Veszprém Spring Festival (Veszprémi Tavaszi Fesztivál)
 * Kabóciádé Children's Festival (Kabóciádé Gyermekfesztivál)
 * Cell-Cup International Handball and Cultural Festival (Cell-Cup Nemzetközi Kézilabda és Kulturális Fesztivál)
 * Camera Hungaria Television Festival Program (Kamera Hungária Televíziós Műsorfesztivál)
 * Pannonfíling Film Festival (Pannonfíling Filmfesztivál),
 * "Veszprem Games - Children's Island" (Veszprémi Játékok - Gyerek Sziget), International Children's - Youth and Art Festival
 * English-Language Drama Festival (Angol Nyelvű Drámafesztivál)
 * Ars Sacra Festival (Ars Sacra Fesztivál) - Sept

Go next

 * Budapest - (by bus or by train one and half hour)
 * Siófok - the unofficial capital of Europa second largest and one of the warmest lake, the Lake Balaton,
 * Fonyód - the capital of Balton's lookouts, shoots pics or/and enjoy one of the ten city's, free beaches
 * Győr - (by bus or by train one and half hour) - the biggest city in Northern Hungary, good for one day trip or for base to exploring all Northwest part of the country
 * Székesfehérvár - (by bus or by train around half hour) - former royal capital
 * Szombathely - open air museum
 * Balatonfüred - (less than an hour by bus) more than two thousand years of history, beautiful location, carbonated medicinal sources and juicy, good local wines
 * Tihany - Abbey, historical and cultural monuments, a unique natural environment, recreation offered by Lake Balaton.

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

title: Veszprém


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Vevčani

Vevčani (Macedonian: Вевчани) is a village in western North Macedonia at the foot of the Jablanica Mountain. Just east of the border with Albania, it is 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) northwest of the town of Struga and Lake Ohrid. It has nearly 2,500 inhabitants and is the only settlement within the Municipality of Vevčani.

The village sits in scenic mountainous terrain. Much of Vevčani lies over 1,000 metres (3,200 feet) above sea level. Vevčani is known for its natural springs and scenery, its 1,400-year-old annual carnival, and its past attempts to become an independent republic. The village still takes its autonomy seriously; visitors can get a "Vevčani passport" and have it stamped. There is also a Vevčani currency that can be used in the village.

Understand
Vevčani is surrounded by the Municipality of Struga, except on the west where it borders Albania. It is the smallest municipality by area in the country outside of Greater Skopje. The locals speak a unique dialect of Macedonian, found only in three other villages.

History
Vevčani was likely first inhabited around the time of the arrival of Slavs to the region. Along with the rest of Macedonia, it was under Ottoman rule for five centuries until the Balkan Wars in the early 20th century. Vevčani has long been a Christian village surrounded by Muslim villages.

The best known event in the village's history involves the creation by residents of the Vevčani Republic. In 1987, the villagers defied attempts by Yugoslav authorities to redirect water from Vevčani's springs to Struga. The locals sparked calls for democracy and freedom from the Yugoslav government. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, the republic was declared on September 19, 1991. It was not taken seriously, however, and the concept faded out. It was revived in 2000 as a model country to attract tourism. The Vevčani Republic has its own flag, coat of arms, and currency.

By car
The main way to get into Vevčani is off the Struga-Debar highway (R1201). The road to the village is marked by a large gate with the village's name and a church. From this point, it is a 4 km (2.4 mi) drive west to get to the village center.

Vevčani also has rural road connections with Gorna Belica to the southwest and Oktisi to the southeast.

Get around
The village of Vevčani can be covered entirely on foot.

Traditional architecture
Vevčani is known for its abundance of traditional homes, eleven of which are under protection.

Do

 * Vevčani Carnival - a carnival with a 15-century-long tradition every January 13th to celebrate the New Year (per the Julian calendar). Carnival attendees wear a variety of masks and costumes, sometimes controversial ones.

Sleep
Accommodation of bigger tourist groups is done in hotels in Struga and, for individual tourists and smaller groups it is done in private houses in Vevčani.

Go next

 * Struga is the nearest major city, on Lake Ohrid
 * Albania is on the other side of Jablanica Mountain from Vevčani

title: Vevčani


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Vevey

Vevey is one of the main towns of the Swiss Riviera, in the Lake Geneva Region of Switzerland.

By train
Trains between Geneva and Montreux travel along the northern shore of Lake Geneva and stop in Vevey. From elsewhere in Switzerland, you need to change in Lausanne. From Geneva the ride is about an hour and as of 2018 a return ticket costs Fr. 58.

By bus
Take bus 1 from Montreux or Chateau de Chillon to Vevey's city centre and funicular.

By car
Vevey is next to the east-west autoroute A9, and A12 connects the city to Berne in the northeast. For a more scenic drive, there's always the lakeside highway 9 from Lausanne or Montreaux.

Get around
You can walk most of the old town but for an excursion take the mountain railway to Pleiades for some great views and skiing in season. Make sure you get the Riviera Card at your hotel, you'll be able to use the bus for free.

You can also get a free bike for whole day with Fr. 20 deposit, which just in front of "COOP" super market next to the train station.

See

 * Beautiful views from the lake and the lake shores.

Do

 * In the summer you can rent a pedal boat or motor boat and take a trip on the lake. Rates vary from Fr. 18 for 1/2h on a pedal boat up to Fr. 220 for the largest motor boat for which you'd need a boat drivers license.
 * In the summer you can rent a pedal boat or motor boat and take a trip on the lake. Rates vary from Fr. 18 for 1/2h on a pedal boat up to Fr. 220 for the largest motor boat for which you'd need a boat drivers license.

Go next

 * Montreux
 * Lavaux
 * Lausanne

title: Vevey


text:
Veynes

Veynes is a city of 3,200 people (2018) in the western part of the Hautes-Alpes on the right bank of the Petit Buëch river. The small city lies on the road which connects the Drôme on the west side with Gap on the east side.

Get around
Veynes is very small. You can easily get around by foot.

See
The municipality of Veynes has placed explanatory panels near most of these monuments or buildings.
 * City Hall (château de La Villette, 15th century), the city gate and tower.
 * Place Adrien-Ruelle and its fountain: formerly Place Grenette (place aux grains), on the site of the former Ayguière or Eyguière (water gate); the fountain was installed there in 1687; which became “Place de l'Égalité” during the Revolution, in 1887 it received the name of the city's benefactor.
 * The “chemin romain” path, which runs along the village to the northeast, section of the “Voie des Alpes” branch of the Voie Domitienne towards the Rhône valley via the Drôme valley. It served as a road to Gap until the opening by Trudaine of a road in the plain, in the middle of the 18th century.
 * The station, the former centre of the Veynes railway “star” (lines to Marseille, Valence, Grenoble and Briançon).
 * The "maison des communes": former mansion of the 18th-century former home of the family of Clos became school and converted into building for employees of the railway by Adrien Ruelle son. It now houses the community of communes Buëch Dévoluy.
 * The washhouse (le lavour), at the eastern entrance to the village, and its fountain fed until 1914 by the waters of the Gerle.
 * The PLM fresco, on a blind wall facing rue Jean-Jaurès, and a mural on the stairs of the passage du Barry.
 * The Saint-Sauveur church was mentioned in 11th century. It is in Romanesque style. It was destroyed during the Wars of Religion, except for the bell tower, which was rebuilt in 1884. The whole was renovated in 1962. Until 1789, the cemetery adjoined the church before being moved to its current location. A Protestant cemetery adjoined the Catholic cemetery. On the bell tower door, graffiti (dated 1885) bear the names of anti-clerical activists (Roux, Aubert). The two bells, Sauveterre and Durbon, predate the Revolution.
 * The Saint-Sauveur church was mentioned in 11th century. It is in Romanesque style. It was destroyed during the Wars of Religion, except for the bell tower, which was rebuilt in 1884. The whole was renovated in 1962. Until 1789, the cemetery adjoined the church before being moved to its current location. A Protestant cemetery adjoined the Catholic cemetery. On the bell tower door, graffiti (dated 1885) bear the names of anti-clerical activists (Roux, Aubert). The two bells, Sauveterre and Durbon, predate the Revolution.

Connect
A public access point is available in the Centre Mul'ot. This centre is situated in the building of the Office de Tourisme. Buy a ticket there.

Go next
In the neighbourhood are several small towns. These towns often are good starting points for walking trips.
 * Chabestan
 * Chateauneuf d'Oze
 * Glaise
 * Le Saix
 * Montmaur
 * Oze
 * Roche des Arnaud
 * St. Auban d'Oze
 * St. Marcellin

title: Veynes


text:
Vézelay

Vézelay is a small town in Burgundy, a region of France which is southeast of Paris and north of Lyon.

Understand
The town of Vézelay (less than 500 inhabitants) is associated with the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. For centuries, pilgrims departed from this town or passed through it during their pilgrimage. These days, Vézelay is visited by hundreds of pilgrims, and that number is increasing every year. Nevertheless, these pilgrims represent only a fraction of the total number of people visiting the city. Their visit is not without reason. The dominant Basilica Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Vézelay, located on the highest point of the city, is a distinctive landmark and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979.

By train
There is no train station in Vézelay. The closest SNCF station is in Sermizelles. From there SNCF buses drive to several destinations including Vézelay. Consult the SNCF (TER) web page  for more detailed information. An alternative is traveling to Avallon. In Avallon you can continue your trip to Vézelay by taxi.

By bus
SNCF (TER) buses pass Vézelay departing from: Sermizelles, Clamecy and Corbigny.

By car
From the north and the east, the fastest way to reach Vézelay is by the A6 Autoroute that runs from Paris to Beaune (access 21 and 22 for Avallon). You will find a free parking lot just outside the city walls. From the parking lot, a staircase leads to Place du Champ de Foire and Rue Saint Etienne which is the street up to the basilica.

Get around
You can easily go around on foot. Drive or take a taxi if you want to visit the beautiful Église Notre Dame in the nearby village of St. Père, which is just below the hill that Vézelay is on top of.

Do

 * A guided tour. More information at the tourist office.
 * Walk trail GR654-II from Vézelay to St. Père and visit the local church Église Notre Dame.
 * Walk trail GR654-II from Vézelay to St. Père and visit the local church Église Notre Dame.

Buy

 * Religious art
 * Regional products (Vézelay wine, cheese, jams)

Eat
There are a lot of restaurants to serve the large numbers of tourists. This is a small random selection:

Go next

 * Morvan Regional Natural Park – Vézelay is in the far north of this 290,900 ha big park with only 50,000 inhabitants in 117 communities. It’s a relative quiet hilly area with forests and lakes. In summer some lakes like Le Lac des Settons are popular tourist destinations.
 * The old fortress city Avallon is just 17 km east of Vézelay
 * Château de Bazoches is located on a wooded hillside near the village Bazoches 10 km south of Vézelay. The castle was built in 1180 by Jean de Bazoches. Over the years it had several owners until in 1675 King Louis XIV bestowed the castle to Sebastien Le Prestre de Vauban. Vauban was a military designer who used the castle for studies and drawings of 300 fortresses and fortified cities. The current owners, descendants of the eldest daughter of Vauban, Charlotte de Vauban, preserved many sumptuous furnishings of their famous ancestors. The château has been designated as a historical monument and can be visited from March until November.

title: Vézelay


text:
Via Baltica

Via Baltica is a road leading through the Baltic States and Poland in Northern Europe.

Understand
Via Baltica, officially known as European route E 67, goes from the Estonian capital Tallinn to the Polish capital Warsaw. It is the most important highway between the Baltic States, and an important link connecting Finland and Russia with Central Europe. Some travel brochures exclude the Polish part of the road, and end the road in Kaunas or at the Polish-Lithaunian border.

The distance from Tallinn to Warsaw is about 970 kilometers, not including any detours. The road is mostly two-lane highway and it is possible to drive the whole way in less than 24 hours, but plan for at least three days if you want to see more than just the road. The vast majority of travellers drive, but it is possible (though uncommon) to go by bus.

Get in
Travelers starting from Tallinn usually arrive by ship from Helsinki or Stockholm. Warsaw is accessible by road from virtually everywhere in Europe.

Documents and regulations
All the countries are Schengen countries, that is there are no regular border inspections and people from most of Europe do not need any visa. However, authorities may stop your vehicle in order to check your travel documents and the registration documents of the car. More information about entering the individual countries are to be found in their articles. Travelers should observe that it is mandatory to have a first-aid kit and a fire extinguisher in the vehicle in the Baltic countries. Good maps are invaluable especially in bigger cities.

Estonia

 * — the capital of Estonia has a world heritage listed old town, well worth visiting.
 * — Pärnu is the "summer capital" of Estonia, with a fine collection of wooden houses.
 * — a coastal village known for its beach.

Latvia

 * – for instance near the village of Vitrupe, and both north and south of Saulkrasti there are nice sand beaches not far from the road.
 * — in reality Via Baltica goes around Riga, but it would be a shame not to stop by. Latvia's capital is after Warsaw the largest city along the road, and offers a wealth of things to see and do. It also has a beautiful world heritage listed old town.
 * — a major Baltic Sea resort since Soviet times and entails a sidetrip of about 10 km.
 * — best known for the WWII concentration camp, nowadays a memorial park
 * — a town with a castle at the confluence of two rivers

Lithuania

 * The near Siauliai is not on the Via Baltica, but is worth a detour.
 * and, both slightly off the road.
 * — on several occasions the Lithuanian capital, Kaunas is yet another city with a pretty old town...
 * ...as is the Lithuanian capital, about 100 km off Via Baltica but as one of the Baltic capitals also worth a detour.
 * Making a detour into requires a Russian visa for most nationalities.
 * Making a detour into requires a Russian visa for most nationalities.
 * Making a detour into requires a Russian visa for most nationalities.

Poland

 * Less than 10 km east from Suwałki are and.
 * — with a famous canal.
 * in Belarus is geographically close, but almost everyone will need a visa.
 * It is possible to take a shortcut along road 61 from Augustów to and 677 to Ostrów Mazowiecka.
 * . There is a landmark signaling the geographical center of european continent.
 * — the birthplace of Ludwig Zamenhof, Esperanto's inventor, and featuring an impressive castle.
 * , a world heritage site shared with Belarus is a sidetrip of about 50 km southeast from Białystok.
 * — a side trip away is the site of one of the most infamous Nazi death camps, today there's a memorial and an exhibition.
 * — Poland's capital with an eventful history has something for everyone.
 * — Poland's capital with an eventful history has something for everyone.

Eat
Apart of occasional roadside diners, there is almost always eateries in the towns and cities you'll pass through. Visitors from Western Europe will probably find eating out in the Baltic countries affordable, with a meal and a beverage often well under €10. If you still want to cut your costs, supermarkets and grocery stores are easy to find.

Sleep
There are hotels and camping sites along the road. Also, you'll find some kind of accommodation in most cities along the road.

Camping sites
In Lithuania there are relatively few camping sites along Via Baltica.

Buy
The Baltic countries are part of the euro area, but Poland's currency is the złoty. It is advisable to change some money before the trip. In some hotels it is possible to pay with euros. The price level is lower than in Western Europe, however imported goods of international brands cost roughly the same as everywhere else.

Talk
If you can't speak the local languages Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian or Polish, keep yourself to larger establishments and larger cities where it is comparatively easier to communicate in English than in the countryside. In hotels there is generally always someone who speaks English. Some basic knowledge of Russian is useful, one should however not assume that everybody understands or wants to speak Russian. German becomes more common towards the southern end of the trip, however don't count on that.

Stay safe
Generally the Baltic countries are safe as long as you use your common sense. Car thefts and burglaries are unfortunately more common in this part of Europe, but as long as you don't leave any valuables on display the risk is small. In the night it is also good to choose a hotel with guarded parking or a camping. As elsewhere in Eastern Europe and in Poland some people tend to drive fast and take great risks, sometimes there are four cars beside each other on a two lane road. The best tip is to keep calm and drive on the right side, however, one has to look out for pedestrians and bikers.

Go next
If your trip ends in Warsaw you can continue to the country's second largest city, Krakow, along the E67 to Prague or to Berlin. If you end your trip in the northern end you can continue to Helsinki or Stockholm by ferry or to St. Petersburg by road.

title: Via Baltica


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Viana do Castelo

Viana do Castelo is one of the most beautiful Portuguese cities, in the Minho region of Northern Portugal. The Pilgrimage of Nossa Senhora da Agonia and the amazing views of the Lima River make this city unforgettable. The city is famous for the monuments in and around the city, and the surrounding natural beauty.

Understand

Viana do Castelo (vee-UH-nuh doo kuhsh-TEH-loo, /vi.ˈɐ.nɐ du kɐʃ.ˈte.ɫu/) is the capital of a municipality with and has some 36,750 inhabitants. The municipality borders the municipality of Caminha in the north, the municipality of Ponte de Lima in the east, the municipalities of Barcelos and Esposende in the south and the Atlantic Ocean in the west. The city's origins date back to before the Christian era, as it can be seen in the hill fort near the Basilica of Santa Luzia. It received its first foral from King Afonso III of Portugal in 1258, as well as the name Viana da Foz do Lima, because of its geographic location; in 1848 it became a city by a decree of Maria II of Portugal, and received the name of Viana do Castelo.

By plane
The closest airport is Sá Carneiro International Airport in Porto, with frequent flights from Lisbon, Madeira, and many principal European cities. You can fly to Porto and then catch a transport to the city (see below).

By train

The train station of Viana do Castelo is located in this borough, and there is a train to almost every city in the country, such as Lisbon, Aveiro, Braga, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Fátima, Figueira da Foz, Portimão, Porto, Guimarães and Guarda.

By bus
Some companies, such as AVIC, have connections to Porto and Lisboa.

By car
The two main highways through town are:
 * A28 - Connects the town to Porto, Matosinhos, Leça da Palmeira, Póvoa de Varzim, Apúlia/Barcelos, Esposende, Vila Praia de Âncora and Caminha.
 * A27 - Connects the town to Ponte de Lima and Ponte da Barca.

On foot
The most obvious way to see the town is on foot. Most of the city's attractions and a large part of its shopping are found in the historic downtown, quite close to each other, and many pathways downtown are pedestrian-only.

By bicycle
Although there are few bicycle lanes, the city center is very bike friendly. Rentals are available in the Tourist Information Office near Praça da Liberdade. During the summer, the 2/4 seats pedal karts are also very popular.

By bus
AVIC and Transcunha city buses ply the streets.

By car
Traffic is light, and roads are clearly marked.

Car rentals

 * Avis Rent-a-Car, Rua de Gotim 35, tel. +351 258 817 540.
 * Auto Europe Portugal, 800 780 008.
 * Europcar, Praça General Barbosa 124, tel. +351 813370.

See

 * Museu do Traje, This is a museum dedicated to traditional Portuguese clothing, with a particular focus on the costumes from the Viana do Castelo region. You can learn about the history and significance of the costumes, as well as see some beautiful examples.
 * Museu do Traje, This is a museum dedicated to traditional Portuguese clothing, with a particular focus on the costumes from the Viana do Castelo region. You can learn about the history and significance of the costumes, as well as see some beautiful examples.
 * Museu do Traje, This is a museum dedicated to traditional Portuguese clothing, with a particular focus on the costumes from the Viana do Castelo region. You can learn about the history and significance of the costumes, as well as see some beautiful examples.
 * Museu do Traje, This is a museum dedicated to traditional Portuguese clothing, with a particular focus on the costumes from the Viana do Castelo region. You can learn about the history and significance of the costumes, as well as see some beautiful examples.
 * Museu do Traje, This is a museum dedicated to traditional Portuguese clothing, with a particular focus on the costumes from the Viana do Castelo region. You can learn about the history and significance of the costumes, as well as see some beautiful examples.
 * Museu do Traje, This is a museum dedicated to traditional Portuguese clothing, with a particular focus on the costumes from the Viana do Castelo region. You can learn about the history and significance of the costumes, as well as see some beautiful examples.
 * Museu do Traje, This is a museum dedicated to traditional Portuguese clothing, with a particular focus on the costumes from the Viana do Castelo region. You can learn about the history and significance of the costumes, as well as see some beautiful examples.
 * Museu do Traje, This is a museum dedicated to traditional Portuguese clothing, with a particular focus on the costumes from the Viana do Castelo region. You can learn about the history and significance of the costumes, as well as see some beautiful examples.
 * Museu do Traje, This is a museum dedicated to traditional Portuguese clothing, with a particular focus on the costumes from the Viana do Castelo region. You can learn about the history and significance of the costumes, as well as see some beautiful examples.
 * Museu do Traje, This is a museum dedicated to traditional Portuguese clothing, with a particular focus on the costumes from the Viana do Castelo region. You can learn about the history and significance of the costumes, as well as see some beautiful examples.
 * Museu do Traje, This is a museum dedicated to traditional Portuguese clothing, with a particular focus on the costumes from the Viana do Castelo region. You can learn about the history and significance of the costumes, as well as see some beautiful examples.
 * Museu do Traje, This is a museum dedicated to traditional Portuguese clothing, with a particular focus on the costumes from the Viana do Castelo region. You can learn about the history and significance of the costumes, as well as see some beautiful examples.

Do

 * Beach -  most beaches along the coast line have Blue Flag classification and start not more than a 10 minute drive from the city center, so make sure you take your time to enjoy one of the best things the region has to offer. One of the most popular beaches is Praia do Cabedelo, known for its great surfing conditions, on the south bank of the Lima River. It has a long stretch of golden sand, clear waters, and excellent facilities. Another popular beach is Praia do Norte, on the north bank of the Lima River. It is a long, wide beach with soft sand, calm waters, and good facilities, including showers, toilets, and a beach bar.
 * Hiking -  the foothills of Viana Do Castelo have some hiking paths. You can get maps from the tourist information office.
 * Museums -  Viana do Castelo is the capital of gold of Portugal. You may visit a privately—owned gold museum with some characteristic exhibits of the Minho area. The most characteristic technique of working the gold in Viana do Castelo is filigree and you have excellent examples in exhibition there.

Buy

 * Filagree pendants
 * Filagree pendants

Eat
Local specialties include bacalhau à margarida da praça (a cod dish), pescada Vianense (local fish), and caldo verde (green soup).

title: Viana do Castelo


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Vianden

One of Luxembourg's main tourist attractions, Vianden is a delightful historic town with a stunningly restored medieval castle, spectacularly situated on a rock high above town. Think charming cobblestoned streets with typically pastel-coloured Luxembourg mansions and a gorgeous Our valley backdrop. Vianden is a traveller's favourite and although high season will bring in some crowds, it's a most pleasant little town with a restaurant at every corner and all the fairytale atmosphere you could ask for. Coming here, you'll follow in the footsteps of countless celebrities, famously going back to Victor Hugo, who repeatedly spent time here.

History
Vianden's history goes far back, with a Gallo-Roma castellum preceding the current castle. The earliest documented mentions of the town, then called Viennensis, date from the end of the 7th century. Building of the castle began in the 11th century and Vianden soon became the seat of the counts of Vianden, but the city gained its charter only in 1308. The town flourished in the Middle Ages, when it was known for its craftsmen, and later on for its leather works. The last leather tannery closed in the 1950s.

The power of the counts of Vianden was at its peak in the 13th century, and so was the grandeur of their castle. A Renaissance-style structure was added to the castle in the 17th century, but over time the state of the fort diminished with the stature of its lords. As Luxembourg fell under Dutch rule, the town became of little consequence, with earthquakes and a fire further damaging its castle. Things worsened when William I of the Netherlands, uninterested in Vianden and its castle, eventually sold the premises to a local merchant, who in turn sold off its interior piecemeal, leaving the place in ruins. There were several largely unfruitful attempts at restoration, but it was only in the late 1970s that serious repairs took place and the castle was returned to its former glory. For anyone who's interested in the town's history, a visit to the castle is a must-do, as it provides a wealth of information on the matter.

Vianden today
The revival of the castle immediately turned Vianden into a major tourist destination in the region. With its winding roads and rolling hills, the area around town is particularly popular among motorcyclists, who are welcomed by local establishments for the business they bring. On sunny summer afternoons this town of 2,000 people (2018) can get a bit crowded and noisy because of the many motorbikes and visitors, but early risers will find a peaceful village even in high season.

By car or motorcycle
Most people come here by car or motorcycle. It's a 50 minute drive from Luxembourg city via the N17, with a scenic final approach. Most parking in the village is paid and has a time limit of 3 hours. Your best parking options are near the castle, or immediately left before you enter the village. Some hotels offer basement private parking for motorcycles. Parking spaces are limited, so during the high season in summer, parking could be challenging.

By bus
To get here by public transport, e.g. from Luxembourg (city), take a train to Ettelbruck, and then catch the 570 bus at the bus station adjoining the train station. It runs twice per hour on weekdays, but less frequently on weekends, and also stops in Diekirch. The bus trip takes about 35 minutes, or 20 min from Diekirch. Vianden is the second to last stop on the route – ask the driver if unsure. From Luxembourg city, the entire trip takes about an hour and is free, like all public transport within Luxembourg.

There are also two buses to and from Clervaux in the morning, and another two in the afternoon (line 663, takes about half an hour). In season, a bus from the German city of Bitburg runs to Vianden as well.

By plane
The nearest major airport is Luxembourg Findel Airport. Alternatively, try Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, which is about 120 km from Vianden.

Get around
The town is small and just walking down the Rue Grande (which does have some vehicular traffic) is a must do. The castle is situated on a rock some 300 m above the town centre. You can drive a good part up the hill and park there, go up by foot, or walk down from the télésiège stop.

The télésiège leads from the river side to a restaurant stop even higher than the castle, providing some lovely views over town. From there, it's a 15-min downhill walk through the forest to the castle; the path is fairly rough and steep, so a reasonable level of fitness and appropriate footwear are required. The télésiège provides return tickets, but if you want to see the castle in one go, you will need to walk the path back up. In that case, buying a single ticket up and strolling down the hill from the castle to town is at least as convenient.

Alternatively, in summer, there's a little tourist train that runs through town and up to the castle, offering a convenient way to reach the castle for elderly or less mobile visitors, or another fun activity for kids. Its ticket office is near the bridge over the Our.

See
The town's Grand-Rue is as much its functional main street as it is an attraction, with its cobblestoned course and centuries-old buildings on both sides. Most buildings remain in use, as hotels, restaurants or residential houses. Particularly picturesque is the Place de la Resistance, along the main street, where you'll find the town hall and a small fountain.

Do

 * Catch a movie at the Ancien Cinema (see the Drink section for details). It shows a variety of movies and houses a number of books on various aspects of the film industry.
 * As in all Luxembourg regions, there are great hiking opportunities all around. Taking the chairlift up, the crowds will go left to find their way down to the castle. Go right, however, and you'll walk straight into the forest with plenty of walking trails going on from there.
 * Catch a movie at the Ancien Cinema (see the Drink section for details). It shows a variety of movies and houses a number of books on various aspects of the film industry.
 * As in all Luxembourg regions, there are great hiking opportunities all around. Taking the chairlift up, the crowds will go left to find their way down to the castle. Go right, however, and you'll walk straight into the forest with plenty of walking trails going on from there.
 * As in all Luxembourg regions, there are great hiking opportunities all around. Taking the chairlift up, the crowds will go left to find their way down to the castle. Go right, however, and you'll walk straight into the forest with plenty of walking trails going on from there.

Buy
Vianden is a village and for any major shopping you'll need to head out to larger towns in the region, e.g. Diekirch. However, there is a pharmacy and a few small shops to supply travellers' basics like local delicacies, candy, drinks and souvenirs. The castle also has a small gift shop offering the usual tourist souvenirs with images of Vianden castle and Luxembourg as a whole. Remarkably, there's a model car shop in town. ATM's can be found on the main street.

Eat
Virtually every non-residence building in Vianden, mostly along the Grand-Rue, is some kind of hotel or restaurant, and places to eat are all around. Prices and cuisines vary wildly; you can find everything from €5-7/meal snack bars (hamburgers, chicken patties, fries, etc.) to restaurants serving traditional French and/or German cuisine (€30+). You can also find pizza, pasta, Chinese food, and all manner of desserts.

Some of the best places to eat belong to hotels, with pretty much all catering to guests who are not staying in the hotel as well as those who are.

Note that restaurants tend to close early or even entirely in winter. If you find yourself all out of options, try the snack bar near the tourist office.

Drink
Most restaurants have nice outdoor terraces and you'll be welcome for a drink virtually everywhere. This isn't really a town for late nights out or clubbing, but several places double as a pub, staying open after dinner time. Hotel establishments in particular offer after dinner opportunities as they have to be open for guests anyway.

Sleep
There's an abundance of hotels around. They're not particularly expensive for European standards, but if you're travelling on a budget, the Youth Hostel dorms are the cheapest option in town. Alternatively, consider bringing your tent and going camping. The hotels are all in the mid range.

Connect
Many hotels offer free Wi-Fi for guests, but the connections are not always stable and sometimes slow. Mobile 3G works fairly well.

Go next
As the country is so small, any Luxembourg destination can serve as your next stop, as they are never more than 2 hours away.
 * Luxembourg (city) – the country capital is a must-do for any visitor of the country.
 * Diekirch – a 15-minute drive and has an excellent World War II museum.
 * Echternach – and the surrounding Müllerthal region is a top destination for nature lovers, as it offers some of the best hiking opportunities around, even for those less trained.
 * Bitburg – across the border in Germany, this town is famous for its beer.

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Viareggio

Viareggio is a smaller city in Tuscany, in Versilia in the province of Lucca in Italy. The city is located on the beautiful Tyrrhenian Sea, and the country surrounding the city is an area of beautiful hills and quaint farm houses.

Understand
The town is not very useful to most travellers as the beach is completely private, taken over by members only beach clubs. The town is famous for its carnival Carnivale di Viareggio in a neighboring city Torre del Lago.

The town is gay friendly, and is surrounded by many attractive cities. It is also a less expensive alternative to some surrounding beach towns.

Get in
The city is 38 km from Pisa, 28 km from Massa, 48 km from Livorno, and 96 km from Florence.

By train
Viareggio is on the line between Genova and Rome and can be reached by local trains from Pisa (15 minutes) and from La Spezia (1 hour). From Viareggio there is also a very slow line to Lucca (15 minutes), Montecatini (45 minutes), Pistoia (1 hour), Prato (75 minutes) and Florence (90 minutes).

By plane
The closest airport is in Pisa. From there it's possible to reach Viareggio by train (at the station Pisa Airport take the train to Pisa centrale and then the regional train to La Spezia with stops in Torre del Lago Puccini and Viareggio) or by bus (in the large square in front of the airport go to the bus stop of Vaibus and take the bus to Torre del Lago and Viareggio; tickets on board). From Florence airport take the bus Vaibus to Lucca, Torre del Lago, Viareggio. The bus stop is in front of the airport, at the beginning of the motorway (tickets on board).

By bus
There are bus lines of Vaibus to and from Forte dei marmi, Lucca, Pisa, Florence and Montecatini.

Eat

 * Tito del Molo is a very good, but pretty expensive restaurant. They have good fish, as do all eateries in the area. Small publics are favorite places to dine in Viareggio, because the people are friendly, and the food is great. A great experience is making a meal of your own of freshly caught fish (catch them yourself) any local will be willing to help you with the fish, and all the fish markets have beautiful, fresh products, as well as meats, cheeses and produce.

Sleep
When you stay in Viareggio, you can stay in a lot very comfortable hotels.

 * Principe di Piemonte, Piazza Puccini 1. The Principe di Piemonte Hotel is located on the promenade within close proximity to shops, bars and restaurants. 800 metres from the centre of Viareggio.
 * Astor Hotel Viareggio, Viale Carducci 54. It fronts to the sea and the most famous Viareggio’s promenade for shopping, nearby the natural pinewoods for free wellness and sport activities.
 * B&B Arsella, Via Vespucci, 39 - +39 338 33 68 498 - www.arsellaviareggio.it
 * Bed & Breakfast Arsella is between the sea promenade and the West Pinewood Park. Its fantastic position it’a a short walk to the seafront with equipped beach and the most famous esplanade with boutiques, coffee houses and restaurant. As much near is the Pinewood Park, a true green oasis with several entertainments for young and older people (minigolf, tennis club, ballroom, carousels).
 * B&B Arsella, Via Vespucci, 39 - +39 338 33 68 498 - www.arsellaviareggio.it
 * Bed & Breakfast Arsella is between the sea promenade and the West Pinewood Park. Its fantastic position it’a a short walk to the seafront with equipped beach and the most famous esplanade with boutiques, coffee houses and restaurant. As much near is the Pinewood Park, a true green oasis with several entertainments for young and older people (minigolf, tennis club, ballroom, carousels).

Go next

 * Great day trips can be taken to neighboring Lucca! Some great trips include going to:
 * Guinigi Tower, a tower from the 15th century, at the home of Lucca's leading family. The tower is unique because if its spectacular oaks that grow through the tall structure.
 * Duomo di San Martino is the home of Volto Santo (Holy Face) A wooden figure of Christ that is believed to have the actual face of Christ.
 * A trip to the 'walls that surrounded the city in the 16th and 19th centuries is always beautiful, but they are paved on top, and a bike trip around the top makes the experience unforgettable.
 * Collodi is a beautiful town that is also the birthplace of Pincchio. Pinocchio Park is a must for families with small children, though adults can take tours of the famous villas.

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Viborg

Viborg is a city in East Jutland in Denmark, about an hour west of Aarhus.

By train
From Aarhus, you can take many regional trains a day to Viborg. There are also usually one InterCity train each day which runs all the way from Copenhagen and stops at several other cities like Odense on the way.

Do

 * Football: Viborg FF were promoted in 2021 and now play soccer in Superliga, Denmark's top tier. Their stadium Viborg Arena (capacity 9500) is northwest of town centre.

Viborg has some amazing countryside, and the Hald Sø lake immediately south of town, offers beautiful short nature hikes

The Hald Sø trails are part of the much larger cross-regional hike of Hærvejen, going straight down central Jutland.

title: Viborg


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Vibo Valentia

Vibo Valentia is in Calabria, Italy.

Get in
Vibo Valentia is accessible by highway SS 106.

Understand
Italian is the primary language in Vibo Valentia, and few to none speak English.

Eat
Prima Marrentina Cucinare - 293 Via Regina Margherita, Piscopio, Vibo Valentia

Drink
Beer!

title: Vibo Valentia


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Viñales

Viñales is a valley in the Pinar del Río province of Cuba.

Understand
Viñales is set in a beautiful and lush valley about 26 km north of the city of Pinar del Río. The city has a population of around 10,000, while the municipality has about 29,000 people (2018). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Landscape
Cuba was once covered by limestone ("karst"). Much of this limestone has eroded away, leaving mountains with steep sides and rounded, jungly tops. The mountains are called mogotes, which means "haystacks." Many mogotes have caves. Several caves are developed for tourists to visit.

The red farmland and unique microclimate produce the best cigars in the world. Some tobacco farms are set up for tourist tours.

People
Start at a tourist office or your hotel or casa particular. Point out something in the guidebook you'd like to see or do, and offer to pay someone to take you there. Or offer to pay for a Spanish lesson or a salsa lesson. Hire a local guide for a few hours and you will make a friend, and he or she will introduce you to his or her family, and they will invite you to do more stuff, and you will not be bored the rest of your visit.

It is illegal to pay someone to drive you somewhere, unless it is a licensed taxi. And you can not pay for lodging, unless it is a licensed casa particular (bed & breakfast).

By bus
Viazul runs buses twice a day from Havana (CUC12) via Pinar del Rio. There’s an early morning bus to Cienfuegos and Trinidad. Buses arrive and leave opposite of the ticket office near the central town square.

By colectivo
You will likely be offered a 'colectivo' already at the Havana bus station. They run to Viñales for CUC20 per person. Transport back can also be found by taxi touts near the Viazul ticket office. You typically inquire at least a day before the intended departure to make a taxi reservation. The driver will then pick you up at your casa. It is easiest to find a transport for morning departures.

Colectivos also run to other destinations such as Cienfuegos (CUC40), and Trinidad (CUC40 or more) if there is sufficient demand. Taxi drivers will sometimes claim to have transport to Trinidad or Cienfuegos, but in fact require a change of vehicle in Havana, which may involve re-negotiating the price for the remaining trip.

Fees and permits
Entrance to the valley is free. Some attractions like the Cueva de la piscina will charge a fee though.

On foot
The town is easily walkable on foot. Most amenities such as banks and restaurants are clustered on the main street (Salvador Cisneros) and accommodation is found everywhere off this street, esp Calle Rafael Trejo which runs on south parallel to the main street essentially only consists of casas particulares.

Many sights are in the proximity of the city and not more than 4 km away, so it’s possible to walk. Riding on a bike or a horse would be less strenuous, especially considering the often very hot weather.

By bus
Other sights such as the Santo Tomás cave are further away and out of walking distance.

There is a green minibus that takes tourists around the valley. For CUC5 you can ride all day, with stops at the tourist hotels, in the village, at the caves and other sights.

By bicycle
This is another good way to see the valley up close. As it is a valley, it can be a bit hilly and the paths are mainly unpaved tracks, that are not fun to ride with anything but a decent mountain bike. Nevertheless, exploring by bike is a great way to explore the valley and Viñales is one of the best places to cycle in Cuba. Bikes can be organized through your casa or rented at various locations in town. Quality of the bikes varies quite drastically, so check your bike before starting and probably shop around a bit, especially if you’re planning to rent for more than one day. See the section for some ideas where to go. Cycling tours can also be booked at the travel agents in town.

Price ranges: CUC1/hr, CUC5/half day, CUC10/day

Bike rental locations in town are:
 * from a desk located in front of the restaurant, Casa Don Tomas
 * sometimes on the main plaza

By motorbike
You can rent a motorbike (a scooter) for about CUC20 per day and ride it either to Cayo Jutias or to Cayo Levisa. The road is magnificent and you may even enjoy it more than the beaches. You will need your passport and driving license in order to rent a scooter. There is no need for a motorbike license.

Other
You can also hire a taxi or join an organized tour.

Around Viñales

There are dozens of tobacco and coffee farms that love to explain the manufacturing process and sell their goods:

Do

 * Explore the valley on two wheels, either by bicycle or motorbike.

Swimming

 * Sample prices:
 * Day trip to Cayo Jutias: CUC22 for transfer, entrance fee to beach and lunch available with travel agents. Departs 09:00. Cayo Jutias is about 60 km from Vinales.
 * Day trip to Cayo Levisa: Transfer by coach and boat to Cayo Levisa, CUC29 to include lunch and CUC35 for hot lunch. Departs at 08:30 to take boat at 10:00 from Palma Rubia. Cayo Levisa is about 50 km from Vinales.

Rock climbing
The focus of rock climbing in Cuba is the Valle de Viñales in the western, mountainous province of Pinar del Río. Overhanging limestone faces on 300-m (1,000-foot) freestanding crags called “mogotes” rise above traditional thatch-roofed Cuban houses, red-soiled farms, and verdant palms and pines. The climbing is superlative, cranking jugs and pockets in chiseled karst limestone on improbable lines through stunning overhangs of stalactites and tufa columns.

Cave exploring

 * A great place to use as a home base for caving and exploring the area is the National School of Speleology in El Moncada. The School is located at one of the main entrances to the Gran Caverna de Santo Tomas. For a low price, you can rent a room or bed, have meals, and guide service. The school is rustic, but for real explorers the location can not be beat. For more information contact Eduardo, the school manager, by phone at 681274.
 * A great place to use as a home base for caving and exploring the area is the National School of Speleology in El Moncada. The School is located at one of the main entrances to the Gran Caverna de Santo Tomas. For a low price, you can rent a room or bed, have meals, and guide service. The school is rustic, but for real explorers the location can not be beat. For more information contact Eduardo, the school manager, by phone at 681274.
 * A great place to use as a home base for caving and exploring the area is the National School of Speleology in El Moncada. The School is located at one of the main entrances to the Gran Caverna de Santo Tomas. For a low price, you can rent a room or bed, have meals, and guide service. The school is rustic, but for real explorers the location can not be beat. For more information contact Eduardo, the school manager, by phone at 681274.
 * A great place to use as a home base for caving and exploring the area is the National School of Speleology in El Moncada. The School is located at one of the main entrances to the Gran Caverna de Santo Tomas. For a low price, you can rent a room or bed, have meals, and guide service. The school is rustic, but for real explorers the location can not be beat. For more information contact Eduardo, the school manager, by phone at 681274.

Hiking
Exploring the area on foot is possible since many sights are within walking distance. Do not expect to actually hike up to the mogote peaks. There are no paths and allegedly doing so would even be forbidden since it’s a national park area. The national park building (near the Hotel Los Jazmines) has maps and exhibits showing fourteen excursions.

The main hike everyone does circles around the. From Viñales follow the Calle Adela Azcuy north-west. . Make a brief stop for shade at the. Next you’ll continue a bit through the Valle de la Guasasa, can take a refreshing swim in the Cueva de la Piscina and continue further through the valley. it is worth taking a brief detour to the, before heading into the Valle de Dos Hermanas where you’ll get a glimpse at the awfully painted hill Mural de la Prehistoria. Passing the Campismo, the now paved road returns to Viñales. Since it’s not that exciting, its worth taking a cab or bus or hitchhiking these last 4 km.

You may be able to hire a hiking guides at the Museo Municipal Adela Azcuy (Calle Salvador Cisneros #115) and you can also hire horses for this trip.

Money
Cash money can sometimes be a scarce resource in Viñales, so it is best to be prepared.

More banks & ATMs can be found in Pinar del Rio.

Shopping
Cuba is not renowned for its shopping but there are some things worth considering. Cuban rum, cigars and coffee are excellent and prices here are much better than at home. Music CDs, DVDs and instruments are also worth looking at. In terms of souvenirs, the leader of the pack is anything to do with Che, from t-shirts to the key rings and so on and so on. Leather is not of great quality nor are the wooden carvings but you can find some nice artwork and prints if you look hard enough. Most of these items can be bought in all of the tourist attractions in and around Vinales. The town park also has stalls selling items geared at the tourist. The art gallery on the park also has artwork for sale. Coffee cups with designs from Cuban modern artists are a tasteful souvenir and this series, available in all tourist attractions, also features plates, oil and vinegar, shower curtains, towels and aprons.

Self-catering
If you’re travelling on a shoestring there’s some self-catering options—see the section). There are also some cafeterias selling simple sandwiches or pizza places. Most close before the evening.

There is a bakery that sells sweet bread or cake for pesos at the junction of Adela Azcuy (north) and the main road. Around the same area but again on the main road you can find pizza and sandwich shops (great for breakfast because they also have coffee) all selling for national pesos. But remember that in Viñales peso-venders quickly run out of ingredients so go there early and be fast when there is already a crowd.

Restaurants
In contrast to most other cities in Cuba, Viñales has a great selection of restaurants, with a variety of food. Almost all restaurants can be found on the main street. Prices do not vary very much. A typical meal with a drink will set you back CUC8-12.

Hotels
Viñales has three tourist hotels: Hotel Las Jazmines, Hotel La Ermita, and Rancho Horizontes San Vicente. Each is rated three stars. Expect to pay about 50-70 CUC per night, plus meals. The hotels are a few kilometers outside of town, which is not conducive to nightlife (Rancho Horizontes San Vicente is within walking distance of El Palenque).

Casas particulares
Tourism in Viñales is skyrocketing and accommodation options have expanded. Everyone who can afford it is building another guest room in their house as quick as they can. In fact, nearly every house you’ll see in Viñales is a casa particular. In 2015 there were more than 300 of these. The competition is very tough, which makes it easy for travelers to get a good deal.

The typical default price is CUC25 per night for a double room (sometimes for up to 4 people), but even in high season it is fairly easy to bargain this to CUC15. Breakfast is normally CUC4 per person, dinner CUC10, but it is worth not to eat in the casa every day, since Viñales has a variety of fairly good restaurants.

There is a crowd of touts that greets visitors arriving by bus. There will be 20-50 touts or house owners offering their casas. This can be troubling. The easiest way to get through this is to say you already have a reservation at the house of... (any Spanish-sounding first name will do here). However, since these people are competing hard and have available rooms, this is also a good place to catch a cheap room. Inspect it first before agreeing on anything though.

If you want a true Cuban experience, stay in Los Jazmines 3-4 km west of town. Los Jazmines is Viñales' hidden gem. In the countryside tucked away there are virtually no tourists, casas with everything they serve being 100% organic and from their own gardens, quiet and the person to person interaction. The city center of Viñales is becoming more and more crowded with the rise of tourism. The town is reasonably small so you’ll never have to walk much more than 15 min anyway. There’s a hill to the east of the town and some houses have rooftops with great views. Few casas have swimming pools, however note that in the dry season, these are typically not in use due to the water scarcity.

Since this can not be avoided, here’s a list of casas particulares in Vinales:

It is possible to stay in a private house (casa particular). The only requirement is that the Cuban host take his or her documentation to be recorded with the visitors.

Go next

 * Make a brief stop in Pinar del Rio, Soroa or Las Terrazas before going back to Havana
 * Cayo Levisa: The boat dock is about a 1-hr drive away from Vinales, from there its a ½-hr boat ride to the island. The island features stunning white sand beaches and there are diving facilities available.
 * Cayo Jutías is the closest beach to Viñales, 60 km on mountain roads. You can book a roundtrip to the beach from Viñales for CUC15 at the major local travel agencies (such as Infotur). There are two roads—before you leave Viñales ask which road is better. In 2008, the road via Minas de Matahambre was good, and the road via the Baños de San Vicente was bad.
 * To escape the mass tourism head south to the small Cuban fishing village Puerto Esperanza and relax at the coast.

title: Viñales


text:
Vișeu de Sus

Vişeu de Sus is in Maramureș, Romania.

Day trips
At Paltin station, there is a short signed road in the woods, look out for it. It goes up to a sightseeing point next to the tracks. However, you should hurry a bit since the train stays at Paltin only for approx. 1½ hour, and it definitely goes back without you.

The Mocăniţa
The only logging train hauled by narrow gauge steam engines (760 mm) still in use in Europe, crosses the Maramureş Mountains in the middle of one of the most wild and beautiful Romania's landscapes, and the only means of transportation in the valley. Built between 1930-1932 for transporting wood, the train is still used for the original purpose, attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world. The journey is long and with several fueling stops. The train can also fall off the rails, but at the slow speed of 10 km/hour that poses no danger. The passengers (who are experienced in the matter) can help get the train back on the rails using anything they can lay their hands on: cut pieces of wood, chains, axes, or hooks.

The main line is 43 km long (Viseu de Sus-Comanu), with other two branches (Novat Valley-13 km long, and towards Stevioara-3 km), and usually takes (just until Paltin, the main station, situated at 21 km from Viseu), between 2 and 3 hours. A journey with the Mocanita is like going back in time: on the valley is not cell phone signal (there are working only radio stations), there are no shops, and provisions of food and other consumables have to be made before departure. However, when the train arrives at Paltin station, you have the opportunity to buy food and drinks from the train. Also there is no certainty about the departure and return hours, but it is usually around 15:00 at Viseu de Sus.

Sleep
You can sleep in a train! Single 75 lei with breakfast.

Go next

 * Ieud
 * Borșa

title: Vișeu de Sus


text:
Višegrad

Višegrad is a city on the banks of the river Drina in Sarajevo Region, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The town is well known for its, Mehmed paša Sokolović Bridge, and the poet Ivo Andrić, nobel prize winner in 1961 for the novel The Bridge over the Drina.

Understand

 * The Višegrad Tourism Bureau has an English website with many phone numbers and links helping visitors to the area.
 * Tourist Information Office at the south end of the bridge (opposite Visegrad Hotel) is the best source of reliable information.

By bus
Daily bus departures from Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Trebinje, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, Užice.

From Sarajevo, Višegrad can be reached by the M5 road after 120 km. There are a few daily buses from Sarajevo to Višegrad. All buses go from the Eastern Sarajevo-Lukavica station. To get there catch a city trolley from Skenderija centre to Dobrinja and get off at the last station. From there, it is 150 m to the Istocno Sarajevo bus station. The trolley ticket was €0.90 in summer 2009, and the bus ticket from Sarajevo to Višegrad is around €8.

From Belgrade, Višegrad can be reached by the road M5 via Čačak and Uzice, after 280 km in total. Daily buses during the whole day.

Užice to Višegrad 840 Serbian dinars (€7) (2023).

If your bus terminates in Višegrad, try to get off somewhere in the town centre, otherwise you will end up at the terminus on the south edge of town by the sports field, (passing through a tunnel). If this happens it is a 0.5-km walk downhill to the town, 1 km to the old bridge.

By train
The nearest railway station in BiH is located in Sarajevo, which is 120 km from Višegrad.

By plane
The nearest international airport in BiH is located in Sarajevo 120 km away.

Get around
Walk! It is a small-enough, compact town best explored on foot.

Do

 * Visegrad spa Višegradska banja Vilina Vlas 5 km from town, old Turkish bath from 16th century, one hour rent available, Hotel Vilina vlas with closed swimming pool with warm mineral water, St. Jovan church, summer terrace in spa. Vilina Vlas was a rape camp active during the Bosnian War. It served as one of the main detention facilities where Bosniak civilian prisoners were beaten, tortured and murdered and the women raped by prison guards during the Višegrad massacres where 3000 innocent civilians were slaughered in an ethnic cleansing campaign perpetrated by Serbian Chetnik genocidal fascists during the Bosnian War of the 1990s.
 * Boat ride on Drina river, a few of tourist boats available. Info about boat ride at Hotel Visegrad reception
 * Town tour, alone or with the local tourist guide.
 * Cruising the Drina river canyon, additional info here
 * Fishing on Drina river
 * Swimming, boat drive, kayaking and other water sports (Jaz beach)
 * Dinner in one of the Višegrad restaurants
 * Visit of the Visegrad spa description at    or info at the official web site of the Hotel Vilina vlas

Drink
Night life- live local music on Fridays and Saturdays

Go next

 * Visit Mokra Gora in Serbia, by bus (take your passport!). It is possible to explore Drvengrad ("Wooden town") - the film set for Kusturica's film "Life is a Miracle" - and take a trip on the Sargan-8 narrow gauge mountain railway, and get back to Visegrad in one day. Catch the Uzice-bound bus at approx 09:45, and ask to get off at Mokra Gora station (not the village). The 13:25 train takes you up in the mountains and is due back at 15:48, just in time to miss a bus back to Visegrad! Next bus is approx 18:15-18:30 but check with the owner of the station restaurant, who seems to have the most reliable information.The narrow gauge railway all the way from Visegrad to Mokra Gora is being restored. It was not open June 2010 but was expected to be open by the end of the year. This should be a major tourist attraction when it is fully operational.

title: Višegrad


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Vicenza

Vicenza is a medium-sized city in Veneto, in northeastern Italy, and the capital of the namesake province. The city and the surrounding countryside and hills are particularly famous for the many works, and particularly the villas, by Andrea Palladio; a group of Palladio buildings are a.

Understand
Vicenza is an ancient city. In 157 BCE it entered into the Roman Empire with the name Vicetia or Vincentia. In 889 it was destroyed by Hungarians, and in 1001 it became an episcopal stronghold. In 1404 it became part of the Republic of Venice.

The 16th century was very important for Vicenza because Andrea Palladio built several villas and palaces. During the 19th century, after the fall of Napoleon, the city was taken by Austria, but in 1848 the citizens rebelled against the Austrian government and in 1866 it finally became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

By train
The train station is located on the southern part of the town, at the end of Viale Roma. Piazza Castello and the old town are a 5-minute walk from the station. The station is on the line connecting Milan to Venice. There are also a number of trains to other major cities and destinations such as Bologna to the south, Bolzano to the north, and Trieste to the east via connections Verona, Padova, Venice, and Trento.

Trains to the towns and cities around Vicenza depart daily (times provided are for regional trains). The most common are to Verona (1 hour), Padova (25 minutes), Venice (1 hour 15 minutes). Trains also depart for Bassano del Grappa, Treviso, Castelfranco, Rovigo, Sirmione, and Ferrara.

Taking international trains from Vicenza is possible, but it could be slower and/or more expensive since the city is not a major station for train transit. Instead, it is highly recommended to book a train to France, Spain or Switzerland from Milan; Austria and Germany from Verona; and Eastern Europe from Venice. Book a separate (cheap) ticket to these cities and make your connection from there.

More info on Trenitalia. When booking overseas train tickets, make sure to ask for the "Smart" special deal, which provides up to a 50% discount. The deal is especially good for destinations in Eastern Europe such as Budapest or Belgrade, where tickets could cost as little as €15 one-way (instead of €50 and above). Trenitalia requires you to buy the ticket 7–15 days in advance, so make sure you plan your trip ahead of time. The website only accepts Italian credit cards, so your best bet is to buy your ticket at the train station.

By car
Vicenza could be reached via the following highways: A4 - from Torino, Milan, Venice or Trieste; A31 - from Schio, Asiago, and Bassano del Grappa; A22 - From Bolzano, Trento, Garda Lake, Mantova and Modena via Verona; A13 - from Bologna and Florence via Padova

A number of strade statale (SS), strade regionale (SR) and strade provinciale (SP) criss-cross Vicenza, and they are a great way to reach many of the great small towns that surround Vicenza. The roads going south to Colli Euganei through Colli Berici, to the northeast to Recoaro Terme, and to the northwest to Treviso via Bassano del Grappa and Asolo are particularly beautiful and highly recommended for those looking for drives through groves of olive trees, vineyards, hills, hidden valleys, and remote hill towns. However, it is not recommended for going to major towns such as Verona, Padova, or Venice. These roads are almost always backlogged with traffic and marred by seriously ugly industrial areas.

By bus
Vicenza is connected to other cities with a bus service offered by Ferrovie Tramvie Vicentine. It is a less comfortable service than train, but it can reach several places that don't have a train station. Some long distance destinations (such as Milan and Venice) are possible, but by and large the buses only serve the province of Vicenza and the immediate towns outside of it. The bus station is located about 100 m to the left of the train station.

By bicycle
If you are up for it, it is easy to reach Vicenza via the smaller roads listed above via bicycle. Cycling is a very popular activity in Italy, and many are even brave enough to attempt the alpine crossing from countries in the north to Italy. Stay on the secondary roads however, as it is not only illegal but incredibly dangerous to ride your bicycle in the autostrada. Also, do the trip from mid-Spring to late Summer as Northern Italy suffers very heavy fog during Autumn and Winter, and snow and ice conditions could be very dangerous and unpredictable especially in the mountains.

By foot
Vicenza's city centre is small enough to be comfortably explored on foot. The main road through the old town is Corso Palladio, which contains the best of the city centre's shopping as well as most of Palladio's urban palaces. The hike from the city center to Monte Berico is uphill but still not so strenuous, and the road circles around to Villa Valmarana ai Nani down to the entrance to the Rotonda. Although most recommendations are to take the bus to the Rotonda and back, this walk will get you to some of the best and uncrowded parts of Vicenza.

By bicycle
There are a number of bicycle rental companies in Vicenza as well as surrounding towns and cities that service Vicenza. For a listing of these companies as well as to book a bicycle rental, inquire at the Tourism Offices in Piazza Matteoti next to the Teatro Olimpico or at the Piazza dei Signori right in front of the Basilica Palladiana.

By bus
The city is well-serviced by bus. Times and schedules are posted on their website (in Italian only). The most important lines are #1 to the shopping malls and #8 to the Rotonda.

By car
Vicenza's city center is small enough that there is no need for a car if you only want to explore the city center, Monte Berico and the Rotonda. In fact, it is also not recommended if you are only staying within these areas as the ZTL (zona trafico limitato—no drive zones) is very strictly enforced, encompasses most if not all of the city center, and changes frequently and without notice.

However, if you are planning on driving around the surrounding country side to see the villas and go wine-tasting, there are really no other realistic option other than to drive a car. Car rental companies Avis and Hertz are both within a two-minute walk from the train station.

Landmarks

 * Loggia del Capitanio right in front of Basilica Palladiana on Piazza dei Signori. Also made by Palladio around 1571, but in red brick without any stucco. Built later in Palladio's career, this building's Neoclassical style stands in great juxtaposition to the Basilica across it and is a testament to Palladio's artistic development. Closed to the public except during exhibitions.
 * Teatro Olimpico anchors one end of Corso Palladio and is arguably one of Palladio's two great masterpieces. Teatro Olimpico is the oldest enclosed theater in the world, and is most noteworthy for its use of Renaissance perspective in a three-dimensional space. The façade is decorated with stone carvings, wooden statues, and painted tromp l'oeil to make it look like a busy street scene. The theater is open Tu-Su 09:00-17:00. There are two possible combined tickets that include entrance to the theater: the Palladio Card which includes entrance to many other Palladio buildings around town, or the Vicenza Card which includes entrances to civic museums in the city centre. It is also possible to attend performances in the theater, especially during the months of July (during the city's Jazz Festival) and October (during the Classical Theater cycle).
 * Chiesa di Santa Corona was built in 1261 to house relics from Christ's crown of thorns. Nowadays, it's most important possession are a chapel designed by Palladio, Veronese's Adoration of the Magi and Bellini's Baptism of Christ.
 * Palazzo Barbaran is the only palace started and completed by Palladio in the city center. The interior of the palace is decorated with frescoes, most noteworthy of which are the ones done by Zelotti. Open Wednesdays 10:00-18:00.
 * Criptoportico Romano One of the few remaining traces of roman Vicenza, these tunnels were formerly used as walkways between villas to protect the walker from the elements. Located in an obscure corner of Piazza Duomo. Open Saturdays 10:00-11:30 and every second Sunday of the month from 10:00-12:00 and 14:30-16:00. Entrance is free.
 * Basilica dei SS. Felice and Fortunato is one of the oldest structures in Vicenza. Built in AD 300, the church is one of the most important examples of paleo-Christian architecture in Northern Italy. Inside, mosaic floors and frescoes are lit by a singular rose window.
 * Palazzo Barbaran is the only palace started and completed by Palladio in the city center. The interior of the palace is decorated with frescoes, most noteworthy of which are the ones done by Zelotti. Open Wednesdays 10:00-18:00.
 * Criptoportico Romano One of the few remaining traces of roman Vicenza, these tunnels were formerly used as walkways between villas to protect the walker from the elements. Located in an obscure corner of Piazza Duomo. Open Saturdays 10:00-11:30 and every second Sunday of the month from 10:00-12:00 and 14:30-16:00. Entrance is free.
 * Basilica dei SS. Felice and Fortunato is one of the oldest structures in Vicenza. Built in AD 300, the church is one of the most important examples of paleo-Christian architecture in Northern Italy. Inside, mosaic floors and frescoes are lit by a singular rose window.
 * Basilica dei SS. Felice and Fortunato is one of the oldest structures in Vicenza. Built in AD 300, the church is one of the most important examples of paleo-Christian architecture in Northern Italy. Inside, mosaic floors and frescoes are lit by a singular rose window.

Museums

 * Palazzo Chiericati is possibly the most magnificent urban palazzo in Vicenza. Located right across the street from Teatro Olimpico, the palazzo's façade is strikingly decorated with a colonnade and a series of statues lining its cornice.  The interiors are not as magnificent, but it houses the city's picture gallery with works from the Tiepolos, Veronese, Bellini, Titian, and local Vicentine artists.  In the palazzo's main foyer, there is an amusingly unusual ceiling fresco - people and animals are painted from the 'natural' perspective.  The museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays, 09:00-17:00.
 * Risorgimento and Resistance Museum Located about a kilometre from the Monte Berico church, this museum traces Vicenza's involvement in Italy's unification in the 19th century. Open Tuesdays to Sundays 09:00-13:00 and 14:15-17:00.
 * Museo Diocesano contains artifacts and treasures from the nearby Duomo, archaeological finds chronicling the long history of Catholicism in Vicenza and oddly enough, a very big display of marble balls. Open Tuesdays to Fridays 15:30-19:00.
 * Museo Diocesano contains artifacts and treasures from the nearby Duomo, archaeological finds chronicling the long history of Catholicism in Vicenza and oddly enough, a very big display of marble balls. Open Tuesdays to Fridays 15:30-19:00.

Piazze (squares)

 * Piazza dei Signori The city's main square and its love letter to Palladio.
 * Piazza Castello The main entrance to the city and the main terminal for bus within the city walls. Also contains Palladio's incomplete Palazzo Porto.
 * Piazzale della Vittoria Right outside il Santuario di Monte Berico, affording the best panoramic view of the city. Especially pretty on a clear day with views of the surrounding prealpine and alpine mountains protecting the city from the north. The best place in town to grab a spritz and watch the sunset.
 * Piazza delle Erbe & Piazza delle Poste The area right behind the Basilica Palladiana and the center of the city's meager nightlife.
 * Piazza del Duomo
 * Piazza Lorenzo
 * Piazza Matteoti Location for Teatro Olimpico and the Palazzo Chiericati and a popular meeting point for locals.

Parks

 * Campo Marzo Contains a popular dog park and the town's luna park open during the first and second weeks of September.
 * Giardini Salvi Sculptures and the closest green space to the old town.
 * Parco Querini a pleasant park on the northern part of town and a good place to see tree blossoms in the Spring.

Do

 * Hike, bike or drive and explore the Colli Berici, discovering small towns, excellent wineries, and hidden restaurants along the way.
 * Put on your Sunday best and walk down Corso Palladio to join the locals in their daily passeggiata.
 * Grab lunch to go from il Ceppo or Pam and have a picnic on the base of Palazzo Chiericati's columns.
 * Print a list of Palladio's more obscure villas, hire a car, and go on a treasure hunt in search of Palladio's creations littering the edge of town.
 * Rugby Union: Rangers Vicenza Rugby were promoted in 2022 and now play in Serie A Elite, the top domestic tier. Their home ground Rugby Arena (capacity 800) is 3 km southwest of town centre.
 * Go for a spritz before dinner either at the base of Palladio's statue in Piazza dei Signori to people watch or in Bar Pellegrino at the Piazzale della Vittoria to watch the sun set.
 * Prowl around the flea market for good deals on unique finds (every second Sunday of the month).
 * Join the faithful on the 8th of September for a procession up to Monte Berico.

Learn
Unlike the nearby towns of Padova and Verona, Vicenza does not have university and thus, no significant student population. However, you can always do what the locals do and commute weekly and sometimes daily to nearby universities if you want to attend.

There are numerous language schools in Vicenza, such as Interlingua.

Work
Although Vicenza was one of the top performers during the Italian economic miracle of the 1950s and 1960s, and still one of the richest towns in Italy, jobs for foreigners are few and far between. Although leather and gold are top exports and computer manufacturing is big business, foreigners especially from outside of the EU Economic Zone have much difficulty finding a job in the private sector. The most viable form of employment is teaching English, which brings in foreigners from the UK, USA, and Canada. Nevertheless, opportunities are more likely in the bigger towns of Padova and Verona.

For Americans, one option would be to be employed through the Department of Defense either as a government employee or contractor working for the Army base located in the outskirts of Vicenza.

Shopping

 * Corso Palladio is the main shopping district in Vicenza, with the street lined with name brands such as Zara and H&M as well as local tailors and designers.
 * For the usual mall experience, Palladio Mall and the Piramidi Mall are both with a 30-minute ride from the city centre via line #1.

Local specialties

 * Grappa from Bassano del Grappa
 * Ceramics from Nove
 * Tocai wine from Colli Berici

Flea markets

 * Vicenza, 2nd Sunday of the month
 * Marostica, 1st Sunday of the month (08:00-19:00)
 * Lonigo, 2nd Sunday of the month (07:00-19:00)
 * Malo, 3rd Sunday of the month
 * Noventa Vicentina, 1st Sunday of the month
 * Recoaro Terme, last Sunday of the month (09:00-18:00)
 * Thiene, 1st Saturday of the month
 * Although outside of Vicenza, the flea market in Piazzola sul Brenta is worth the trip. Held on the last Sunday of the month, it is one of the biggest in Northern Italy.

Food markets

 * Camisano, every Sunday, the biggest in Vicenza province with specialties from all over Veneto as well as sellers of clothes, kitchen supplies, and everyday goods.
 * Vicenza, every Tuesday and Thursday
 * Bassano del Grappa, every Thursday
 * Thiene, every Monday
 * Montecchio Maggiore, every Friday
 * Arzignano, every Tuesday
 * Lonigo, every Monday

Eat
Although "cucina povera" seems to be more associated with Tuscany and the south than the Veneto, Vicenza's cuisine is deeply defined by the foods people prepared generations ago when Vicenza, along with the Veneto, experienced crippling poverty as a result of droughts, plagues, famines and wars caused by political machinations. For example, the local nickname "magnagatti" (literally cat-eaters) originated from a time when rumors started to circulate that the people of Vicenza, out of poverty and desperation, started eating cats. Although the truth behind the rumor is debatable, the locals' full acceptance of the nickname and pride in being called cat-eaters attest to the resilience of Vicenza's people as well as its culinary traditions. Although Vicenza now enjoys one of the highest standard of living in Italy, its cuisine is still rooted in basic preparations of what is typically considered lowly ingredients to make excellent dishes.

Some local dishes and specialties include:

 * Baccala alla vicentina - rehydrated stockfish cooked in milk and served with polenta. This dish is so legendary in Vicenza and Italy in general that there is even an official organization dedicated to its preservation.
 * Trippa vicentina - stewed tripe, similar to trippa alla parmigiana
 * Bigoli co 'larna - thick pasta cooked in a duck meat sauce
 * Risi e bisi - risotto made with peas from Lumignano
 * Risotto con asparagi bianchi - risotto made with the famous white asparagus from Bassano del Grappa
 * Torresano allo spiedo - doves cooked in spitfire and served with polenta

Other specialties include: sopressa (a type of salami) from Val di Pasubio, Asiago cheese from Altopiano di Asiago, truffles from Nanto, cherries from Marostica, and chestnuts and wine from Colli Berici. Although there are a number of good restaurants in the city center, the best way to enjoy local specialties is by finding locally-renowned but little-known restaurants in the Colli Berici area. The best way to start your search is through the group Le Buone Tavole dei Colli Berici.

Budget

 * Spaghetteria al Fiore Via Borgo Berga, 15. Small, unfussy restaurant serving big plates of pasta for €5-7.  The atmosphere is not sophisticated, but comfy.  Closed Wednesdays.
 * Pizzeria da Vittorio Via Borgo Berga, 52. Purportedly the best pizza in town.  Very limited seating and erratic hours.  Located about 100 m from Palladio's Arco delle Scalette.
 * Tutto Gelato Contra del Gambero, 26. Normally open until midnight on Summers, closed on Mondays.  The best gelato in Vicenza with a very friendly price tag to boot.
 * Ristorante Jin Gu Viale Riviera Berica, 447. Frankly, there are no good Chinese restaurants in Vicenza.  Except for this one place, which is fairly decent.  An almost 10-minute drive from Vicenza, don't expect much if you're from Asia, New York, or the UK, but expect a whole lot more if you've been searching for good Chinese around town and about to give up.
 * Bar Pizzeria Vesuvio Corso Palladio, 204. Cheap, decent, and open when other restaurants are not.  Try the fruit pizzas with apple or pear.  Also features cheap Vicenza cuisine.  Closed Mondays.
 * Bar Pizzeria Vesuvio Corso Palladio, 204. Cheap, decent, and open when other restaurants are not.  Try the fruit pizzas with apple or pear.  Also features cheap Vicenza cuisine.  Closed Mondays.

Mid-range

 * Venchi Corso Andrea Palladio, 54. Cioccolatiero in the city center also serving ice cream.  A chain gelateria, so if you missed it in another city in Italy you can always expect the same high quality from this one.
 * La Conchiglia d'Oro Via Bassano, 7. Close to the soccer stadium, this local landmark serves up good pasta and seafood for a good price.  Try the penne pasta with shrimp and a big plate of fish, shellfish and squid and die happy of seafood overload.
 * La Conchiglia d'Oro Via Bassano, 7. Close to the soccer stadium, this local landmark serves up good pasta and seafood for a good price.  Try the penne pasta with shrimp and a big plate of fish, shellfish and squid and die happy of seafood overload.

Local products
Like other places in the Veneto—and increasingly, the rest of Italy—Vicenza's drinks of choice are the spritz and the prosecco. Spritz is originally an Austrian invention, owing to the region's former status as a part of the Austrio-Hungarian Empire. Although there are as many versions of the drink as there are bars in the Veneto, the most common versions in Vicenza are made with prosecco, a splash of soda, Aperol or Campari, and a slice of orange. Spritz Aperol tends to be sweeter, while Spritz Campari tends to be more bitter. Prosecco, Italy's version of sparkling white wine, is cheap and common in the city due to its close proximity to the prosecco-producing areas in the northeast namely Asolo, Conegliano and Valdobiaddene. Much like champagne (just don't call it "Italian champagne"!) the best prosecco tend to be smooth, producing smaller and more refined bubbles. Unlike champagne, prosecco tends to be cheap regardless of quality. Both drinks are usually consumed as aperitivi, but it isn't uncommon to drink only spritz or prosecco on a night out.

Grappa is also a local product, with production concentrated in the northern hills close to Bassano del Grappa or in the Colli Berici. It is usually consumed as a digestif or as a coffee-fortifier ("caffe corretto"). It is a strong liquor, but there tends to be little binge-drinking associated with it among the Italians. Every fall, the city hosts Distillerie Aperte, conducting tours and tastings of the best distilleries in the area.

Although not as big as say production in Piemonte or Toscana, wine is still a major produce in the region. The two most important variants are the Recioto from Gambellara and the Tai Rosso from the Colli Berici. Both are labelled DOC, the Recioto receiving the highest and prestigious appellation DOCG. For those who want to know more about these wines, the Strada del Vino Colli Berici and the Strada del Recioto link many of the province's best producers and provides opportunities to taste local wines alongside local produce and local countrysides.

Nightlife
There isn't much in terms of night life in Vicenza per se, but the city is hardly dead on Friday nights and weekends. Although the city can get downright depressing on winter nights, spring and summer signal an explosion of merriment, when young people come out again and fill the city's bars and clubs.

In the historic center, the Piazza dei Signori, Piazza delle Erbe and Contra Pescheria Vecchia are the liveliest, with big groups of young people hanging around until late hours on weekends. Clubbing is an unknown activity in the center, instead concentrated in the SR 11/SS 46 intersection (about ten minutes from the historic centre). Although a great place for a night out, featuring lively and sometimes packed clubs and live music, caution in this part of town should be exercised due to a moderate rate of crime associated with drugs, prostitution, illegal cabs, as well as general disturbance caused by public intoxication. Nevertheless, it is a relatively safe place for a night out.

For English-speaking guests looking to make friends with local Italians, there is an English Speaking Hour every Thursday from 21:00 until closing. The location changes frequently, so check out the group's Facebook page for information. It is not unusual to make friends on a Thursday and find yourself on a hike or excursion with your new-found friends two days later.

Mid-range

 * Hotel Campo Marzio Viale Roma, 21, Vicenza. Tel +39 0444 545700 Fax.+39 0444 320495 Email info@hotelcampomarzio.it. Special Offers and direct Booking. The Hotel Campo Marzio, 20 m from the pedestrian zone and 200 m from the railway station, easy to reach, is the most central 4-star hotel in Vicenza with free parking. The Campo Marzio's position will allow you to discover the main attractions of the city. Monuments, museums, shops and restaurants are all within easy reach, including Piazza dei Signori with the Basilica Palladiana (500 m). Hotel Campo Marzio offers an Internet Point in the hall, and ADSL high-speed WiFi in all rooms. The reception, open 24 hours, is serviced by a multilingual staff, always available to make your stay as pleasant as possible.

Agriturismo
The agriturismo (or operating farms with a functioning B&B) movement is as popular in Vicenza as it is in the rest of Italy. The idea is that instead of a holiday rental in an urban area, vacationers stay and enjoy the Italian countryside as guests in these farms, which provide rooms as well as meals and tours to the surrounding countrysides. Accommodations range from simple rooms in converted farmhouses to grand rooms in ancient villas that dot the surrounding landscape. In addition to enjoying accommodations with friendly locals in a relatively bucolic setting, guests also get an opportunity to try local specialties with ingredients grown by the farm or by farmers in the surrounding area. For more information on agriturismo and to book a stay, click on this link.

Go next

 * Bassano del Grappa A beautiful small town 45 minutes north known for Palladio's wooden bridge, grappa, white asparagus, and Jacopo Bassano.
 * Marostica A walled town 30 minutes north known for its biannual human chess game.
 * Recoaro Terme A spa town an hour northwest in the middle of dreamy, mist-covered mountains.
 * Asiago A mountain city an hour and a half north known for cheese and miles of cross-country skiing lanes.
 * Pasubio The highest mountains in the Prealpi Vicentini, come here for remarkable World War I ruins such as the 52 Gallerie, fresh cheese from mountain-top malghe and sorpressa, the local Vicentine salami.
 * Folgaria The closest major alpine skiing resort, about 90 minutes northwest.
 * Montagnana A walled town about 40 minutes south that hosts a big prosciutto festival as well as a palio every August.
 * Colli Euganeii Padova's version of the Colli Berici, containing ancient volcanoes and ancient towns such as Arcua Petraraca (Petrarch's resting place) and the walled towns of Monselice and Este.
 * Cittadella and Castelfranco Small walled towns on the way to Treviso, with Castelfranco playing host to Giorgione's Pala di Madonna
 * Padova Giotto's Renaissance masterpiece, St. Anthony's cathedral, the first botanical garden in the world, and the second oldest university in the world. A great nightlife to boot.
 * Verona
 * Lake Garda, although Lake Ledro is as stunning with much less tourists, albeit much, much smaller.
 * Venice
 * Ferrara

title: Vicenza