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Gdynia

Gdynia is a port city in northern Poland. Gdynia, together with nearby Gdańsk and Sopot are often referred as Tricity (pl: Trójmiasto). Gdynia was first mentioned in the 13th century as a fishing village. After World War I, it became Poland's main harbour and the big sea port on the Baltic Sea, which it still is.

Understand
Gdynia is one of the youngest and modern cities in Poland. In the early 1900s Gdynia was a little village, but after World War I and establishing the Free City of Danzig, the Polish Government decided to build a deep-sea port. Construction began in 1921. The city rose fast in the 1920s and 1930s, so architecture and planning reflect European trends of the day - Modernism. The city continues to grow to this day. Today, Gdynia is a modern city with a population of 244,000 (2021) and is the second major Polish port in the Baltic Sea after Gdańsk.

By plane
The nearest airport is in nearby Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport, 25 km from the city centre. The airport is a popular destination for low-price flights from many European airports. Domestic flights are also available.

The regional trains SKM operate between the airport (Gdańsk Port Lotniczy) and the main station of Gdynia (Gdynia Główna). The fastest train takes 26 minutes.

By train
Gdynia is one of the biggest railway hubs in Poland with connections to Warsaw, Kraków, Poznań, Wrocław, Katowice, Szczecin, Toruń, Białystok and many others. A few international trains, including daily service from Berlin are available too. All mainline trains are operated by PKP

If travelling in the coastal area Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia, then look out for the SKM commuter train. Travel from nearby Gdańsk takes about 35 minutes (6.50 zł) with the frequent SKM urban trains, which leave every 8–20 minutes.

By boat

 * From Sweden: Karlskrona-Gdynia by Stena Line. Day trip for a passenger with bike costs around 240 zł.

Additionally, Żegluga Gdańska runs a once-weekly ferry from the small port city of Baltiysk, in the Kaliningrad enclave.

By bus

 * See: PKS

By car
From Gdańsk by the route E75 just east along the coast.

Get around
Zarząd Komunikacji Miejskiej (ZKM) operates buses and trolleybus. Network is efficient and frequent. Locals are keen to help with directions, but always ask several people and see if they agree. Apply for the reduced fair if you can show an international student card and are younger than 26.

Tickets for a bus: Here's the key to understanding Gdynia bus and trolleybus route numbers: others, are normal routes with normal tickets.
 * normal tickets 3.20 zł
 * half-price ticket 1.60 zł
 * express lines ticket and night bus ticket 4.20 zł (reduced: 2.10 zł)
 * There is a 24 hour-ticket (13 zł/6.50 zł) valid on all trolleybus, buses during the day and on night buses.
 * Nxx  are night routes.
 * 5xx  are special routes, which operate only a few days in a year (with the exception of 520 and 530).
 * G J K M R S W Z  are express routes, which link the farthest districts to the city centre. (Normal ticket: 3.50zł)
 * 0x 0xx are free routes, you can catch this bus to supermarkets in Gdynia.

Szybka Kolej Miejska (SKM) is fast regional commuter rail between Gdańsk - Sopot - Gdynia. It's fast and cheap. Ticket price depends on distance e.g.

Tickets for a SKM train:
 * Gdynia - Sopot normal ticket 3.10 zł
 * Gdynia - Gdańsk normal ticket 4.50 zł

See
Gdynia is a relatively modern city and one will not find many historical buildings. The oldest building in Gdynia is the 13th-century St. Michael Archangel's Church in Oksywie. There is also a 17th-century neo-Gothic manor house located in the Folwarczna Street in Orłowo.

However, what most tourists look for Gdynia deals with its recent past. In the harbour there are two museum ships anchored, the ORP Błyskawica destroyer and the Dar Pomorza Tall Ship frigate. Gdynia is also famous for its numerous examples of early 20th-century architecture, especially monumentalism and early functionalism. Świętojańska street and Kościuszki square are also worth mentioning.

The surrounding hills and the coastline attract many nature lovers. Leisure pier and cliff-like coastline in Kępa Redłowska as well as the surrounding Reservation Park are also popular. A 1.5-km-long promenade leads from the marina in the city centre to the beach in Redłowo. Most of Gdynia can be seen from Kamienna Góra (54 metres asl) or a newly built observation point near Chwaszczyno.

You can also take hydrofoil or ship trip to Gdańsk Westerplatte, Hel or just see port.

Gdynia is the only city in Poland and one of the few in Europe to pride itself on such long and accessible seashore. You will easily catch great views of the sea, and also find long promenades, beautiful waterfronts, marinas, yacht clubs and great sand beaches.

Beaches

 * Plaża Miejska (city beach) is in the centre, next to Gdynia Marina and Bulwar Nadmorski (Seaside Promenade).
 * Plaża w Orłowie is in Orłowo District, next to beautiful Orłowo cliffs. Reach by SKM Gdynia Orłowo or trolleybus lines 21 and 26.
 * Osada Rybacka (Fishermen Village) is a quite wild beach in Oksywie district - besides suntanning, you can see beautiful, old fishermen equipment and a funicular for fish transport. It is better to go there in the morning, as in the late afternoon the sun is hidden by cliffs. The beach is accessible by 152 bus line from the city centre - get out at the terminus of the line in Oksywie Dickmana direction.

Sightseeing

 * Kamienna Góra with nice panoramic view, also possible to see Hel peninsula.
 * Cliff and wooden pier in Orłowo. Reach by SKM Gdynia Orłowo or trolleybus lines 21 and 26.
 * Trójmiejski park krajobrazowy (Tricity Sightseeing Park) - a forest-park surrounding all tricity, with many sightseeing spots.
 * Bulwar Nadmorski (Seaside Promenade).

Do

 * Beach: beaches in Gdynia are nice, clean and not as crowded as those in Gdańsk and Sopot.
 * Football: Arka Gdynia play soccer in I Liga, the second tier. Their home ground Stadion GOSIR (capacity 15,000) is 4 km south of town centre with its own railway station.
 * Cinema

Buy
Gdynia is a great place for shopping.

 * Świętojańska and Starowiejska. Two main shopping streets in Gdynia.
 * Hala Targowa, ul. Wójta Radtkego 36. Local marketplace with fruits, fish, and some flea market.
 * Świętojańska and Starowiejska. Two main shopping streets in Gdynia.
 * Hala Targowa, ul. Wójta Radtkego 36. Local marketplace with fruits, fish, and some flea market.
 * Hala Targowa, ul. Wójta Radtkego 36. Local marketplace with fruits, fish, and some flea market.

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

Budget

 * Camping U Wnuka (ul. Osada Rybacka, 50 min by bike from main train station) - small but nice place (with sea view), nice host, 30 zł for a night in tent.
 * Camping U Wnuka (ul. Osada Rybacka, 50 min by bike from main train station) - small but nice place (with sea view), nice host, 30 zł for a night in tent.

Go next
Gdańsk Bay:

 * Pommeranian metropol Gdańsk with a beautiful old town and the biggest gothic brick church worldwide
 * sea resort Sopot with the longest European pier
 * sea resort Puck

Vistula Bay:

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

Kashubian Coast:

 * Słowiński Nationalpark with the biggest dunes in Europe
 * sea resort Rowy
 * sea resort Łeba
 * sea resort Jastrzębia Góra
 * sea resort Rozewie
 * sea resort Władysławowo

On the Hel Peninsula:

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

On the Vistula Peninsula:

 * sea resort Krynica Morska

You can go to Karlskrona, Sweden, by ferry run by Stena Line. Ferry goes two times a day - in the day and in the night. The day trip is cheaper (for a passenger with bike costs around 240 zł) and less popular (may not have to be booked in advance, but please confirm with the operator), so ideal for cyclists.

title: Gdynia


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Geauga County

Geauga County is in Northeast Ohio.

Cities

 * is the center of Ohio's Maple Country.
 * the County Seat of Geauga County, displays New England Charm in the center of Ohio's "Snow Belt".
 * is one of the hubs of Ohio's Amish Community.

Other destinations

 * Punderson State Park, 11755 Kinsman Rd., Newbury. Natural lake, resort manor house, family cottages, golf course, winter sports park, sledding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, 196-site campground, showerhouses, flush toilets, electricity, pet camping, twenty-six cottages,  manor house features a dining room, meeting rooms, outdoor, indoor swimming pools,  championship-rated, 18-hole public golf course, pro shop, boat rentals, fishing, fourteen miles of hiking trails, tennis court, volleyball, basketball courts and cross country ski trails
 * Observatory Park, 10610 Clay Street, Montville Township. 1,100 acre park that is one the few areas left in Northeast Ohio left undisturbed by light pollution, includes an astronomical observatory, the Robert McCullough Science Center that includes "a meteorite that visitors can touch", "weekly planetarium shows", and "projection equipment for astronomy-related programming." The astronomical observatory includes a partially retractable roof with that can allow people to view the night sky directly with a Newtonian reflector, "featuring a 25" mirror". It is also a dark sky park. Observatory Park - Geauga Park District

Understand
Geauga County is named for a Native American word meaning "raccoon". You may hear Geauga County being referred to as "Raccoon County".

Do
The Geauga County Fair is held in Burton over Labor Day weekend, and the annual Maple Festival is held in Chardon the weekend after Easter. The Geauga Theater in Chardon is also worth mentioning.

Eat
Geauga County is known for maple syrup. On Sundays in March when maple syrup is in season, there are pancake breakfasts in Burton, Parkman, and other places, which are reasonably priced and very good. In addition to maple syrup, eastern Geauga is known for its Amish cuisine.

Stay safe
Geauga County is in the heart of Ohio's "Snowbelt", an area which sees huge amounts of "lake effect" snowfall in winter from Lake Erie. The snowbelt can get pounded with a foot or more of snow, while 20 miles to the south they get nothing. In the snowbelt they're used to the snow, so large snowfalls that cause towns in other places to shut down are normal in Geauga County, and business often continues as usual. Be careful driving in winter, especially if you're not from an area that sees much snow, as the weather can change quickly.

Additionally when driving in Geauga County, keep on the lookout for deer, farm equipment, and Amish buggies. Accidents involving buggies can be fatal, so watch out.

Go next

 * Cleveland

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

title: Geauga County


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Gedo

Gedo is an administrative province of Southern Somalia. This region is the second largest region in Somalia; the only region with two rivers and two international borders. Gedo has seven districts within its regional administration system.

Understand
Somalia has been without central government since 1991, and you are best advised to hire trained security guards from security firms in Garbahaarreey and Baardheere. You will be provided with 1 or 2 armed bodyguards with a pickup truck or two.

Cities

 * - was home to United Nations and US camps of the Restore Hope mission of the UN in the early 1990. Local population has pleasant past with foreign organizations.
 * - An old city surrounded by the Juba River.
 * - An old city surrounded by the Juba River.

Other destinations
Aside from large cities and towns and villages on flat lands and farming communities on either bank on Jubba River, you can experience breathtaking landscape such the plateau in northwestern part of Gedo from El Wak to Beled Hawo. This plateau runs the length of the border between Gedo and Kenya’s NFD district.

In the Interior Basin on southeastern portion of El Wak district, it’s worth spending time in the grazing areas with villages every 30 km on the main connecting roads. Gedo has grazing land which is famous locally. These vast lands include:

 * Daawo
 * Banaaney
 * Diirhara (Diirharo) varying spelling
 * Gogol Mountain Ranges
 * Gowraar
 * Haluul
 * Shawaay

These are the most famous grazing areas where you will be most likely to meet happy camel herders after Gu’ (April - June) and Deyr (October - December)rainy seasons. This is a must if you feel comfortable traveling in the interior regions of Somalia.

Around Bardera (Baardheere) in Somali, the largest city in the Gedo region, has its famous grazing land called Gowraar. Just west of Bardera, is an area, which starts from around Markabley (Markableey) until it joins El Wak district grazing areas. Markabley is the only place where the Jubba River never burst its banks during flood years.

Lucky travelers will have long lasting memories during the time of plenty and happiness in many parts of Somalia. Immediately following the rainy Gu' season, Bardera-Gerileey corridor one experiences one of nature's splendors. All of Gedo region displays blue skies with vast open spaces, rainwater in every borehole, and when locals enjoy seeing travelers on the road, is when to visit the interior of Gedo region. You are welcomed with camel or cow milk wherever you visit.

Get around
There are four main connecting roads in Gedo. All of these roads are unpaved. The first is Lugh- Beled Hawo-Garbharey Road, or The Tri-Region Commerce Activity Road. The second connecting road is Garbaharey to Bardera Road, then Bardera to El Wak Road and the last is the Bardera-Gerileey Road. All four corridors are extensively used. The danger factor increases during the rainy season.

Often traveled road in Gedo Region
In southwestern Bardera District, between Girileey and Faafahdhuun, lies the village of Dari Salaam in Somali. Here, travelers can find a hospitable roadside eatery and resting place. Any visitor will a get a warm welcome from area famous business lady by the name of Farhiya Aadan Waraabe or (Af Soomaali Farxiya Aadan Waraabe). When in Darul Salaam, at Farhiya's restaurant, you can find all the customary foods in small village Somalia. Just one hour's drive to Darul Islam's southwesterly direction will be the town of Gerileey.

Towards northeast, you will be an hour and a half drive from Faafahdhuun Somali: Faafaxdhuun. The road is often rough, especially, after a rainy season. Cargo trucks and small 4x4 trucks are often seen on the road. Business people and visitors who make weekly or monthly travel plans go between Bardera and Wajir in Kenya. Main stopping places are Faafahdhuun and Darul Islam or Darul Salaam. And eventually proceed to Gerileey, where most Somali registered vehicles destinations end.

See
Gedo has various landscapes. The northwestern part of Gedo has plateau stretching from El Wak District to Beled Hawo district on the Kenyan border with Somalia. El Wak basin is a watershed that empties to Gelgel or Gelgesha region just north of Faafahdhuun in Bardera District. El Wak area has picturesque flood plains and the interior basin of this region has various sand types. Two or three weeks following the end of gu' rainy season, one will enjoy traveling between Balad Hawo and Garbahaareey. The landscape changes dramatically from red sandy to rocky mountains with green forest. If you make a by-pass from a trip originating from Balad Hawo-Mandera area, to Garbahaarreey then to El Wak, you will see amazing landscape and the people and livestock who roam this land.

Large game-watching areas
For most Somalis, it’s not fun to spend hours watching large game in its natural habitat let alone spend money and days in the bush. But there are those who really enjoy seeing exotic animals in valleys and plains. Gedo has many surviving large games from Jerdani, just 30km from Bardera towards southwesterly direction all the way to Gerileey and El Wak. At Gelgel Prairie, between Darul Islam and Faafahdhuun, be sure to stop to take pictures of ostriches and other exotic animals such as Oryx and giraffes.

Eat
Extremely fresh meat with minimal spices and seasoning is one of the things you will enjoy while in Gedo. This is sizable chunks of meat on the bone. It costs US$30-50 for an animal (goat or sheep) fit for a king or queen. Your host party should feed you with such meat at least once in your stay in Somalia. Gedo region has plenty of livestock. If you venture out in the countryside, about 10-20 kg of sugar will get you an exchange for a live animal for a feast.

Early morning or late afternoon, say 16:00-17:00, is the best time to announce yourself at pastoral communities in the interior. That is if you intend to stay the night. Again, with gift of sugar will get you a whole animal.

Drink
From late March to Mid June, you will enjoy fresh, hot, aromatic camel milk. Camel milk have laxatic property and if you are not ready to spend hours at the outhouse, don't try this.

Sweet sheep milk is also something you should try. Unpasturised milk is for those who have strong stomachs.

Stay safe
Information on the security situation can be found in the warning box at the top of the Somalia page.

title: Gedo


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Gedrez

Gedrez (Asturian: Xedré) is a lovely village and parish in Cangas del Narcea, in the southwest of Asturias, surrounded by green forests and giant rocky mountains.

Gedrez is the capital of the Fuentes del Narcea natural park, and another natural park, the Reserva de Muniellos, is a 10-min drive away.

Traditional Asturian values (language, handcraft, music and gastronomy) as well as virgin nature (deer, bears, wolves and capercaillies) are still alive in this quiet village within a priceless natural environment.

By plane
To Asturias airport (EasyJet from Stansted, among others)

By boat

 * Ferries from Plymouth or Portsmouth to Santander. From Plymouth, the journey takes about 20 hours, and from Portsmouth it takes about 33 hours. Operated by Brittany Ferries.
 * From St.Nazaire, France to Gijón, Asturias.
 * As of December 2023, it is difficult to find information about this ferry route and it may no longer operate.

From the port, hire a car, and aim for Cangas de Narcea. Gedrez is about 15 km beyond Cangas on the AS15. The trip from Santander to Gedrez is about 300km (approximately a 3 to 4 hour drive). The trip from Gijón to Gedrez is about 150km (1.5 to 2 hour drive).

Get around
Lovely for walking, wildlife - and depending on the season and the weather - skiing. Near at hand is Muniellos, Reserve of the Biosphere, home of bears and wolves, where you can walk all day (the entire route is quite tough, but you can just go along beside the river, and up to a glacial lake, if you're not that fit). Admission restricted to 20 people a day, booking online or ringing (from outside Spain).

title: Gedrez


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Gedser

Gedser is a small port town on the island of Falster in Denmark's Zealand region, with just 832 souls living there, its main claim to fame is as the southernmost town in Denmark, and the ferry line to Germany.

By bus
The old train station in Gedser was closed in 2009, so use the Movia line 39 bus which connects Gedser with the regions main train station in Nykøbing Falster around once per hour on weekdays, down to 8 departures on Sundays. In summer another option is line 43, also connecting with Nykøbing Falster, but stopping at many of the regions popular beaches en route.

By ferry
The main reason to come to Gedser is the ferry to Rostock in Germany, the most direct route between Copenhagen and Berlin. The crossing takes 1 hour and 45 minutes and is operated by Scandlines. Departures every two hours between 7 and 23. A regular online purchased car economy one-way fare begins at €109 (off-season), €129 (peak season); paying at the harbour ticket office is an extra €10. (Timetable and tariffs 2019 ). Smile Economy tickets begins at €33 (off-season), €68 (peak season), and are for bonuscard members (needs registration and must be booked well in advance).

Get around
Gedser is a small and comfortable enough city in which walking is the easiest and most practical means of transportation within the city limits.

Do

 * Fishing There is good fishing in the area, and some fishing vessels in the harbour offers fishing tours during the summer.
 * Gedesby Strand is a good, nearby beach if you have some time to kill waiting for an available spot on the ferry.

Buy
There is a single gallery, and a grocery store in town, near the ferry terminal

Drink
Nope, but you can buy a beer at the grocery store and hang out at the harbour

title: Gedser


text:
Gedu

Gedu is a town in Chhukha district. Originally developed to accommodate people working on the local hydroelectric plant, the town is now home to a small college. Clinging to the site of a hill, Gedu is best viewed from a distance at night when its harsh and uninspired architecture is softened by a ring of street lights. Visitors are unlikely to linger in Gedu, but as the largest center of population between Phuentsholing and Thimphu/Paro, it serves as a convenient place to take refreshment.

Get in
Gedu is a two hour drive from Phuentsholing.

Eat

 *  Lhamu Restaurant. Bhutanese, Tibetan and Indian food. The ‘momo’ Dumplings with meat inside are touted as famous. It’s a good combo with the Bhutanese tea called ‘suja, which somehow tastes like a soup, but you will like it when you are out there in the cold Himalayan mountains.
 *  Lhamu Restaurant. Bhutanese, Tibetan and Indian food. The ‘momo’ Dumplings with meat inside are touted as famous. It’s a good combo with the Bhutanese tea called ‘suja, which somehow tastes like a soup, but you will like it when you are out there in the cold Himalayan mountains.

title: Gedu


text:
Geelong

Victoria's second largest city, Geelong is a bustling port city in the state's South West Coast region, about 75 km southwest of Melbourne. It forms the gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula, a popular family getaway destination, and the world-famous Great Ocean Road.

The city however has no shortage of things to do and see. Settled only a few years after Melbourne, Geelong has a proud history, with various museums and grand historic buildings across the city telling its story. The city is also well known for its connection to the water, with holidaymakers flocking to its beautiful beaches each weekend for a splash in the water or a more relaxing sunbathing session on the sand. When it's time for a bite to eat, a number of cafés and restaurants dot the city centre's main street. Or if it's shopping you're after, Geelong has everything from small, indie boutiques to its large Westfield shopping centre. It may be Melbourne's smaller brother but Geelong is well and truly a destination in its own right.

Understand
Geelong has a diverse range of activities for all the family from nearby wineries to an antique carousel for the kids on the waterfront. Its close proximity, and good transport links, to the Great Ocean Road (including Torquay, and the Twelve Apostles) and to the state's capital Melbourne make Geelong an ideal city to spend a few days. Whether you want to indulge in Australian History at the award winning National Wool Museum or swimming at the beach - Geelong has it.

By plane
Avalon Airport is Geelong's international airport, doubling as Melbourne's second airport. From there, Jetstar operates domestic flights to Sydney, the Gold Coast and Adelaide. AirAsia X operate twice-daily flights to Kuala Lumpur, connecting to a plethora of other destinations in Asia or further afield. Fares are often cheaper than Melbourne Airport due to the airport's smaller size. It is about 20 minutes by road to the Geelong city centre along the Princes Freeway, with the Avalon City Express providing a shuttle bus service to Geelong and South Geelong railway stations and meets every Jetstar flight.

Geelong is also easily reached from Melbourne Airport, the state's international airport with services to various destinations across the country and the world. By road, the trip is about 1 hour and 15 minutes to Geelong along the Western Ring Road and then the Princes Freeway. Gull Airport Service operates pre-booked shuttle buses between Melbourne Airport and Geelong's city centre every day. Otherwise, you can also take the SkyBus from the airport to Southern Cross Station then an onward train to Geelong.

By train
Geelong is easily reached by train, with V/Line operating a near-suburban level of service between Melbourne and the city on the Geelong Line. The city has seven stations: from north to south, they are Corio, North Shore, North Geelong, Geelong, South Geelong, Marshall and Waurn Ponds. All trains stop at the grand Geelong Station, a five-minute walk from the city centre. Trains on the long-distance Warrnambool Line also stop at Geelong and provide a connection to inland towns including Colac, Camperdown and the western city of Warrnambool. On weekdays, there are services from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne every 20 minutes, with services every 40 minutes on weekends. The train takes about an hour, with a timetable available here. A myki smartcard is required for all travel to Geelong, with the fare costing $9.24 one-way for adults in the off-peak. Reservations and paper tickets are required for all services towards Warrnambool after Waurn Ponds. Full fare information is available on the PTV website.

North Shore railway station, in the northern suburbs of Geelong, hosts a stop for the twice-weekly Overland - the lesser known cousin to the world-renowned Ghan and Indian Pacific railway journeys. This service operates from Melbourne to Adelaide.

By car
Geelong is on the Princes Freeway (M1), which to the east connects the city to Melbourne and Gippsland via a freeway connection, and onward on the longer, coastal highway route to Sydney and beyond. To the west, the highway passes through towns such as Colac and Warrnambool before crossing the border into South Australia towards Adelaide and beyond.

Geelong also serves as the gateway city to the Surf Coast, in which Torquay marks the start of the iconic Great Ocean Road.

The Midland Highway (A300) meets its terminus in Geelong. This highway connects to other major regional cities in Victoria such as Ballarat and Bendigo.

By ferry
The popular Spirit of Tasmania car ferry service to Devonport relocated to from Station Pier in Melbourne since October 23, 2022.

Ticket prices depend on time of year and your sleeping accommodation. A seat (no bed) is the cheapest, starting (in off-peak season) from $108 for adults and $82 for children. The seat is most uncomfortable, equivalent to a cinema seat. Cabins with bunk beds start from $187 adults, $97 children. Peak season costs are about 25% higher. Cars cost $59 all year round.

Car and passenger ferries cross the mouth of Port Phillip Bay between Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula and Sorrento on Mornington Peninsula. They depart each terminal on the hour every hour 7AM-6PM every day. From 26 Dec. until end of daylight saving there are also 7PM sailings. Foot passengers adult $8, 5-15 years $6, under 5 years $1, foot passenger’s bicycle $2, tandem $3; passengers with vehicle adult $4, 5-15 years $2, under 5 years $1; vehicle rates vary with season – car up to 5.5 m between $38 and $45.

Port Phillip Ferries operates regular passenger services from Geelong to the Bellarine Peninsula town of Portarlington to Melbourne's Docklands and vice versa. A one-way fare costs $14.50. Limited services are operated directly from the Geelong CBD (on the waterfront between Cunningham Pier and the Carousel) to coincide with the Geelong Cats AFL away games played in Melbourne.

Port Phillip Ferries opened a Cunningham Pier ferry in 2019, operating services from Cunningham Pier, to the suburb of Docklands in Melbourne. Tickets are available online. The ferry takes a little longer than the Princes Highway, taking an extra half hour. The ferry has no car service.

By bus
McHarry's Buslines run to Geelong from Queenscliff (30 km) and other Bellarine Peninsula towns.

V/Line operate a number of long-distance coach services to destinations such as Apollo Bay (via Lorne) and Ballarat.

By car
Metered parking in the city costs $2.90 per hour M-F (excluding holidays) between 9AM and 5:30PM, and is often time limited. Outside the city centre and waterfront areas, parking is free.

Traffic is generally light however parking spaces can be scarce at times. Often off-street or private car parks are the safest bet to find a space.

Geelong has a good road network within the city, with highways making the backbone. The Geelong Ring Road (part of the M1 Princes Freeway) navigates along the western edge of the city, from Corio in the north to Waurn Ponds in the south. This may be a good option when travelling across the city, but for shorter distances, or to the eastern suburbs, stick to local roads for a quicker journey time.

By bus
Geelong has a reasonable bus network operated by two separate companies, McHarry's and CDC Geelong. Myki cards are used on these services and the entire urban area lies within the zone 4 fare region. The central bus interchange can be found on Moorabool street, in the heart of the CBD, and most routes terminate at Geelong's main station. Some of the northern suburbs in particular have their own routes which do not connect directly to the CBD, but instead interchange at Corio Central Shopping Centre, or North Shore or Lara railway stations.

By train
The Geelong railway line runs frequently enough and with enough stops so that it is possible to use the train service to get around within the city. There are plenty of areas in Geelong that are not within walking distance of a train station though, so a bus connection may be required to get to your destination. These are timetabled to connect with the trains to limit waiting times, and Myki cards are used for both bus and train so there are no extra charges for using multiple modes/lines within the city.

By taxi
There are two traditional taxi companies directly serving Geelong; 13CABS and Geelong Taxi Network. As taxi services are regulated, they both provide identical fares and similar service. They can be hailed on the street or from a taxi rank (usually by major shopping centres and train stations) or booked over the phone or via smartphone app.

Two rideshare companies provide services in Geelong, Uber (Uber X and Assist) and DiDi. Service and pricing is similar, often drivers will work for both services. Uber has surge pricing, whereas DiDi does not, so it may be worth checking both apps for wait times or to find a cheaper fare.

By bike
Bike hire is available on the waterfront in the afternoons on weekends and school holidays - no reservations are taken. Future rentals has longer term rentals available. There are no other rental options available in Geelong.

See

 * Waterfront-geelong.jpg
 * Geelong Botanical Gardens, open every day 8AM-5PM, or 7PM during daylight savings. Free entry. Also contains the Tea House Cafe.
 * Geelong Botanical Gardens, open every day 8AM-5PM, or 7PM during daylight savings. Free entry. Also contains the Tea House Cafe.
 * Geelong Botanical Gardens, open every day 8AM-5PM, or 7PM during daylight savings. Free entry. Also contains the Tea House Cafe.
 * Geelong Botanical Gardens, open every day 8AM-5PM, or 7PM during daylight savings. Free entry. Also contains the Tea House Cafe.
 * Geelong Botanical Gardens, open every day 8AM-5PM, or 7PM during daylight savings. Free entry. Also contains the Tea House Cafe.
 * Geelong Botanical Gardens, open every day 8AM-5PM, or 7PM during daylight savings. Free entry. Also contains the Tea House Cafe.

Barwon Heads
Home of the ABC television "Seachange" program with a children-friendly safe estuary beach and rugged ocean beaches such as 13th Beach for the more intrepid. Barwon Heads has long been a summer holiday destination for Victorian families. Barwon Heads sits on the lower Barwon River Estuary where it enters Bass Strait. This estuary and the extensive Lake Connewarre wetlands to the north form a wetland of international significance and is part of the Port Phillip (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar site because of its importance to both migratory and resident wetland and shorebird species. Where the river meets the sea is one of the coasts most dominant features, the calcarenite Barwon Bluff, also known as Mt. Colite, an important place for local Indigenous Victorians for thousands of years, and a beacon for the nearby entrance to Port Phillip Bay for navigators. The Bluff has been actively restored and revegetated from a degraded site, including a gravel car park, into a haven for nature by many volunteers, local managers, and school students. Beneath the Bluff lies the Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary, a 17 hectare reserve which aims to protect the rich intertidal reefs and the diversity of life they support, both above and below the water. Rich kelp forests cover the much of the sub-tidal reefs that have been carved and weathered by the surging southern swells. Large schools of reef fish are often found amongst the kelp while a rich diversity of invertebrates can be found on the reef. The site is a popular destination for students investigating local marine life and the local Marine Discovery Centre in Queenscliff (52583344) also conduct holiday activity programs here. The Marine Sanctuary is one of 11 Marine Sanctuaries and 13 Marine National Parks in Victoria set aside to provide protection of representative and significant areas of the states rich and diverse temperate marine environments. These areas are managed by Parks Victoria / and like National Parks are fully protected from all forms of extractive or harmful activities. Fishing is not permitted in the Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary or any other Marine National Parks or Marine Sanctuaries and penalties apply to offenders.

Do

 * See an Aussie rules football match Kardinia Park, located on Moorabool Street is the home of the Geelong Cats, the local Australian Football League team. They are somewhat of a local institution. There are about half a dozen home games per year from April to August; the rest of Geelong's home games are played in Melbourne. Expect to pay about $20 for an adult, $12 concession and $5 for a child.  Alternately you could catch a local league game on a Saturday afternoon. There are dozens at venues spread around Geelong, and matches are of a very high standard. Most grounds you can walk in free, whilst some have gates, expect to pay no more than $7-8.
 * Bellarine Rail Trail starts from near South Geelong Station, and is a 35km cycling track to Queenscliff.

Buy
Two major shopping centres operate in the CBD, Westfield and Market Square. They are situated directly across the road from each other on Malop Street with free Wifi and can offer cheaper parking than the city-operated street parking.

In the suburbs of Geelong West and Newtown, Pakington Street (known as Pako to locals) is host to thriving shopping strips, as is High Street in Belmont.

Corio Central and Waurn Ponds shopping centers are the mainstay for the northern and southern suburbs, respectively, together with smaller shopping centres that provide ample coverage to the city.

Connect
There are paid internet (and printer) access kiosks in Market Square shopping centre within the CBD, located on level 1. All Geelong public library locations provide internet access computers at no charge, and guests can access free WiFi hotspots outside of opening hours, from immediately outside the building.

Throughout the CBD, and along the Waterfront, city council provides a free WiFi network with a 100 MB per day limit. Various businesses also provide free WiFi, such as McDonald's (some are open 24 hours, including the CBD store) and APCO service stations, though at one of these places it would be considerate to buy something in-store, particularly if it is late at night or you are staying a while.

Australia Post mail outlets are common, and usually located in shopping areas. 24-hour parcel lockers are available to 'MyPost' members within Australia to use at the main Geelong Post Office (Gheringhap and Little Myers Streets), Worksafe Building (1 Malop Street) and the 7-Eleven in East Geelong.

Go next
Visit the Bellarine Peninsula or drive the Great Ocean Road running from Bellarine Peninsula near Geelong to Portland near the border with South Australia.

title: Geelong


text:
Geeveston

Geeveston is a town of 600 people (2016) along the Huon Highway (A6) in Southern Tasmania. It's the gateway to Hartz Mountains National Park. Geeveston is the centre of Tasmania's apple and fruit-growing industry, and has also been highly reliant on the timber industry since the late 19th century.

Understand
It is rich in Tasmania's forestry history and only a short drive away from the Hartz Mountains National Park. Once called Light Wood Bottom, Geeveston was named after William Geeves, a preacher who was granted land in 1842. The name was changed to Geeveston in 1851.

Geeveston is a small, thriving town with a bank, post office, accommodation, launderette and shops. It is also the last stop for supplies and petrol before entering the Southern Forest (where the Tahune airwalk is located). The town only has one (non-bank) ATM in the IGA store which will incur a usage charge, so it may be best to withdraw money before arriving.

Take a walk around 'Tasmania's Forest Town' and keep an eye out for the increasing number of wooden sculptures of prominent local figures.

The road between Huonville, Geeveston and the Southern Forest is filled with houses and farms who grow their own produce and is a great place to buy apples, cherries, pears, nectarines, woodwork and plants.

Get in
Geeveston is a 55-km drive from Hobart along the A6. The Bruny Island Ferry services Huonville and from there is a 10-minute drive to Geeveston.

Go next
Hobart is about an hour's drive away and the largest city in the region. It's the second oldest city in Australia, after only Sydney and makes an excellent urban destination. For nature lovers, Bruny Island and Hartz Mountains National Park are both fairly close and definitely worthwhile.

title: Geeveston


text:
Geilo

Geilo is a small town and ski resort in upper Hallingdal at the edge of Hardangervidda. It is convenient stop on the road or rail between Oslo and Bergen. Haugastøl and Ustaoset some kilometers further east is effectively part of Geilo.

Geilo is one of the best known and most popular skiing resorts in Scandinavia - but is also a popular area for summer and autumn activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, rafting, glacier walk and more. At an elevation of 794 m (2605 ft) the ski season does not end until late April or early May. Geilo is a village or small town and has few shops and entertainment spots. The town centre includes several sport shops, tourist information, supermarkets, cafés & restaurants, newsagents and a range of other shops. Down the road there is a small cinema, library, and school. There is also a large sports hall (Geilohallen), which is also the cross country club (Geilo IL). Behind the building is a floodlit prepared cross country track, and a biathlon shooting range.

For a small town of some 2000 permanent inhabitants there is a good choice of hotels, apartments and restaurants. Because of the large number of visitors there are more services than typical for a small town. One of the hotels is one of Norway’s most famous, Dr Holms. Others include the Bardøla, Vestlia, which is on the door step of Geilolia ski centre, Ustedalen and the Highland Hotel. Visitors will also find cabins and apartments for rent in Geilo - most on a self catering basis. Geilolia Cabins & Apartments, Kikut and Geilo Apartment is some of the main suppliers for the self catering market.

Geilo sits in the eastern uplands at 800 m and is generally in the rainshadow of the central mountains. Summers are mild and winters are mostly cold with stable weather. Average temperature in January is -8°C and in July 11°C, annual rainfall is 700 mm. On average there is a solid snow cover 150 days each winter, but cold weather allows production of artificial snow on the slopes.

Geilo is the village of Ustedalen valley, the upper branch of Hallingdal valley. There was no road across Hardangervidda only hiking trails. When the Bergen railway opened in 1909 Geilo there were only a few scattered farms in Ustedalen. The railway station for Ustedalen was established at Geilo farm. Geilo was at that time a small firm with a small pension. The Geilo village developed around the station. During the late 1900s Geilo emerged as one of the most popular winter resorts in Norway, within reach of Oslo and Bergen. During winter season December to Easter visitors greatly outnumbers locals. At Christmas, Winter break (late February) and Easter Geilo and surrounding villages are packed.

Haugastøl and Ustaoset are smaller villages at Uste lake some kilometers further west. There are many holiday homes at Haugastøl and Ustaoset too. Road 7 and the railway line splits at Haugastøl. During bad weather in Winter, road 7 can be closed between Haugastøl and Vøringsfossen.

By plane
Earlier there was a small airport at Dagali, this is now only open for small private planes. So the closest option is Fagernes airport. Or Oslo airport.

By rail
Geilo is on the Oslo-Bergen line. The train use 3 hour and 40 minutes from Oslo. There is one night train daily. Travellers find a waiting room for the night train next to the ticket counter.

By car
Geilo is on route 7 (Hønefoss-Eidfjord) and the road runs right through the centre. Distance from Oslo is 243 km (151 mi), half way to Bergen. Geilo is on the end of route 40 from Kongsberg. Route 40 is connected to route 7 in the centre of Geilo.

Another option is route 50 from Flåm/Aurland to Hol.

Go next

 * Hallingdal - follow Rv 7 down to Ål, Torpo (with an old stavchurch) and Gol
 * Haugastøl, entrance to Rallarvegen and the Hardangervidda - take a bike for the great trip to Finse.
 * Numedal, nice valley with a lot of old villages and some of the famous stavchurches, like in Nore or in Flesberg
 * Rafting on the Numedalslågen in Dagali

title: Geilo


text:
Geiranger

Geiranger and Hellesylt are villages in Møre og Romsdal. The Geirangerfjord is one of the most beautiful mainland fjords and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Norway. In a rating of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Geirangerfjord (along with Nærøyfjord in Sogn og Fjordane) obtained top score in a survey conducted by the prestigious National Geographic Magazine. A visit to Geiranger can be included in a trip along the Norwegian coast. The villages of Geiranger and Hellesylt sit at either end of the Geirangerfjord and Hellesylt is included in this article.

Understand
Geiranger is the tiny village and rural community at the eastern end of Geirangerfjord. Hellesylt village sits at the western end of Geirangerfjord, and from there the fjord does a sharp turn north with the name Sunnylvsfjord. The latter fjord is in turn connected to the main fjord, aptly named Storfjord (large fjord), at the small town Stranda. Strictly speaking Geirangerfjord is merely the inner 15-kilometer section of the wider Storfjord system. Storfjord is about 100 km long and one of main fjord systems in Western Norway. While Geiranger and Hellesylt are small villages, Stranda is the municipal centre.

Several hundred cruise ships with some 300,000 passengers visit Geirangerfjord every summer, making Geiranger the 2nd biggest cruise port in Norway, only surpassed by Bergen. Many tourists also arrive by charter bus. In addition there is a large number of independent travellers. Geiranger is a small village of 200 people, but the influx of 5,000 or more tourists daily makes Geiranger a relatively crowded place at day time.

The Geirangerfjord is one of Norway's oldest destinations for international tourism. Cruise ship tourism began in the late 19th century. Kaiser Wilhelm visited Geiranger every summer until World War I. Road 63 between Åndalsnes and Geiranger via Valldal is one of Norway's 18 national tourist routes, these being the most scenic drives in Norway.

By plane
The distance from Ålesund Airport is 124 km (77 mi), while Ørsta/Volda Airport is 65 km from Hellesylt.
 * Oslo Airport Gardermoen is 400 km from Geiranger
 * Oslo Airport Gardermoen is 400 km from Geiranger
 * Oslo Airport Gardermoen is 400 km from Geiranger
 * Oslo Airport Gardermoen is 400 km from Geiranger

By car

 * Road 63 from Eidsdal and Valldal to the north via Eagles Highway (mountain pass, 10 hairpin turns); from Otta, Stryn and Grotli to the South via Geirangervegen (mountain pass, 50 hairpin turns).
 * Road 60 from Stryn or Ålesund to Hellesylt, from Hellesylt car ferry further to Geiranger

By bus

 * From Ålesund
 * summer only:
 * Åndalsnes by route 63 including iconic Trollstigen.
 * Otta or Stryn, transfer at Langvatn junction on road 15

By train
The closest railway stations:
 * Otta - station on Dovre line (Oslo-Trondheim), 160 km to Geiranger
 * Åndalsnes - terminal station for Rauma line, 90 km to Geiranger via Trollstigen

By boat or cruise ship
Car ferry from Hellesylt, on the famous Geirangerfjord. Eight daily departures 1 Jun - 2 Sep, four daily departures 1 May - 1 Jun, 3 Sep - 30 Sep (310 kr for a car and its driver). There is also twice daily ferries from Valldal (20 Jun - 20 Aug). Hurtigruten calls Geiranger on a summer service (15 Apr - 14 Sep). Embarking/disembarking by small boat.

Cruise ships make semi-regular visits to Geiranger in the Summer months (May-Late August). Cunard Cruises, Queen Elizabeth and other lines visit the Geiranger Fjords every summer. The Geiranger Port has a cruise terminal, a Seawalk, and 3–4 anchor positions depending on the size of the ships. Opened in 2013, the Seawalk is a self-propelled three-segment articulated floating pier, 236 m-long by 4.5 m-wide steel platform on 10 pontoons, which moves out to the ship (like a floatable jetwalk) to accommodate 4,000 passengers per hour disembarking from a single ship. With Geiranger a busy cruise port, you may have to take a short tender when there's more than one ship in port. Hellesylt now offers a sizable pier for single ships, while local car ferries use a separate facility for both locations.

The sailing into the fjord is not to be missed as many cruisers wake up as early as 4am to witness the stunning beauty of this Norwegian fjord. Or enjoy the Geiranger sail away in the afternoon. Small towns and homes cling to the high cliffsides. Friendly Norwegians' can be seen doing their farmwork, milking cows, working in cliffside garden fields. Temperatures and weather can vary by the minute, it is best to wear warm clothing layers and bring your binoculars to see animals grazing on cliffsides, small Norwegian homes, and the beauty of this fjord. Check if your cruiseline visits the Geiranger Fjord, it is truly one of the best, most relaxing, awe-inspiring cruises that you will ever take.

Both towns are easily walkable and scenic, and each blessed is by a waterfall.

Get around
It's a lovely small Norwegian town that you must visit in the summer months. Plenty of photo opportunities in and around Geiranger.

On foot
Adventurers take to the hills of Geiranger via walking and sometimes even biking. Winter closes most of the roads in the Geiranger fjord, so its best to visit in the summer. Watch out for campers, trucks, and tour buses, especially when biking, walking or hiking. Hills are steep and for more fit adventurers.

By boat
Cruising is one of the best ways to see the fjord. No need to use the tour boats. You can see just as much from the Hellesylt ferry with commentary in German and English as well as Norwegian - from a comfortable lounge with a good snackbar.

By bus
Public transportation is also available, including bus line 211 Geiranger-Dalsnibba-Geiranger. Other bus tours are also available.

Do
Walk around the lovely, hillside town. Main road wraps the coastline. Townsfolk are very friendly and engaging. Many different tour buses available in the summer, June-late August. Weather changes many times during the day: warm, windy, cool, freezing, and do not forget the sunscreen, especially when leaving Geiranger and visiting the Geiranger Valley and glaciers. You might need some bug spray for the mosquitoes and sunscreen is a must!

Sadly many Geiranger citizens talk about the glaciers retreating more and more each year.
 * The "Sky-to-Fjord" trip, run out of one of the small gift shops by the ferry dock (easily identifiable by its green roof), is a spectacular 17 km bike trip from the top of the mountain (high enough to still have snow in August!) back down to the gift shop. The trip includes van transportation to the top of the mountain and bike rental. You can go at your own pace as long as you return your bike to the gift shop by the end of the day. Take your time, as the spectacular views can make for worthy detours!
 * The "Sky-to-Fjord" trip, run out of one of the small gift shops by the ferry dock (easily identifiable by its green roof), is a spectacular 17 km bike trip from the top of the mountain (high enough to still have snow in August!) back down to the gift shop. The trip includes van transportation to the top of the mountain and bike rental. You can go at your own pace as long as you return your bike to the gift shop by the end of the day. Take your time, as the spectacular views can make for worthy detours!

Local beers

 * Grand, local favourite beer, delicious, light beer, enjoy it with a sandwich or fresh salmon. Available at most pubs and restaurants.
 * The Grans Brewery (Grans Bryggeri AS) is a brewery founded in 1899 in Sandefjord, Norway.

Go next

 * Return to Ålesund: Visitors arriving by cruise ship usually return the same way along the fjord towards Ålesund.
 * By car or bus there are two directions along route 63:
 * North along towards Valldal and Åndalsnes (bus to Åndalsnes only in summer), or
 * South towards the junction with route 15 with connections to Stryn and Otta, bus to route 15 only in summer.
 * The Geiranger-Hellesylt ferry allows travellers to bring cars to Hellesylt with connections by route 60 north to Ålesund or south to Stryn or Nordfjordeid. Bus connections at Hellesylt and Stryn towards Bergen.
 * Hjørundfjord - nearby and less crowded lovely fjord surrounded by sharp alpine summits

title: Geiranger


text:
Gejiu

Gejiu (个旧; Gèjiù) is the capital of Honghe prefecture in Yunnan, China with population about 140 000.

Get in
Every day lot of buses from Kunming, ¥80, takes 4-6hours (depends how driver follow rules).

Get around
Buses around city for ¥1 with oldschool wooden seats. Mostly same/similar route going through center - Lake Jin.

Go next

 * Yuanyang - terrace fields; several buses everyday
 * Jianshui - Yunnan's historic center of Confucian learning
 * Mengzi - the prefectural capital

title: Gejiu


text:
Gela

Gela is a medium-sized city on the south coast of Sicily, Italy. It is an ancient town, founded around 688 BC by colonists from Rhodes and Crete, and among the oldest continually inhabited settlements in southern Italy.

Climate
Gela has a semi-arid climate, with just enough precipitation to avoid being classified as a desert climate. It features hot summers and mild winters, although the summers are significantly milder than in other Sicilian locations. The winter months usually present mild to warm daytime temperatures and the weather is mostly sunny. Summer presents a pronounced aridity in which sunny conditions are virtually assured every day.

By bus
Buses run from Palermo, Agrigento, Catania, Caltanissetta, Caltagirone and Enna. A couple a day also come east along the coast from Ragusa, Noto, Modica and Syracuse. There are national and international bus routes connecting Gela with Naples, Bari, Rome, Milano and more destinations.

By train
Train services through Gela station are interrupted except for a couple of trains running to and from Syracuse and Modica (no service on Sundays).

By plane
Gela is served by the Comiso Airport (34 km away) or the Catania International Airport (95 km away).

Get around
The adjacent bus and train stations are about 15 minutes walk from the centre of town, although there are quite regular city buses.

See

 * The Acropolis of the old Greek city close to the museum with ruins of buildings and three temples with the symbolic doric column
 * The Greek fortifications have some impressive walls in an attractive setting by the beach. Nearby are the remains of the oldest Greek public baths in Italy
 * The Chiesa Madre (cathedral) in the main square (Piazza Umberto) with a neoclassical facade
 * The Castelluccio is a little medieval castle in the fields with a good panorama towards the town
 * The Mànfria tower is a little 17th-century tower set on a hill top in front of the Mediterranean sea 8 km from the town
 * The Villa Garibaldi is the main public garden in town with a lot of ancient trees and wonderful views to the coastline

Do

 * A walking tour in central town around Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Piazza S.Agostino, Via Bresmes, Piazza Roma with old good looking churches, buildings and a lot of shops
 * Go to the Gela beach resorts at Lungomare Federico II (promenade) for tanning, swimming and running in the morning and have some drink, dancing and relaxing at night
 * Visit the natural park around Biviere Lake, 8 km off towards Scoglitti on the south coast
 * Take some photo of a wonderful sunset by the little port (porto rifugio) or by the pier in central Gela
 * Have fun in one of the town night hotspots with bar and pubs (Salandra and Roma squares, Macchitella Avenue and Lungomare).

Eat

 * Gela is famous for a very good tasting bread, street-food and pizza. Also being a seafront town in Gela you can enjoy seafood plates, a very good ice-cream and pastries.
 * About the Gelese rosticceria (local delicacies) ask for impanatas, arancine, sfogliatine, crocchè di patate and as dessert some cannoli, raviole, crispelle and cassatine.

title: Gela


text:
Gelderland

Gelderland is one of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands, the largest province by area. It lies in the east of the country. It is sometimes called Guelders in English.

Cities

 * — a very green city with lots of monuments and parks, as well as the home to Het Loo Palace
 * — capital of Gelderland and the gateway to the Veluwe
 * — with a permanent exhibition on the Veluwe and a poultry museum
 * — a historic city founded in 1315
 * — capital of and gateway to the rural Achterhoek region.
 * — gateway for cycling tours through the Veluwe
 * — with a preserved rectangular street grid and fortifications
 * — known for its Dolfinarium, a dolphin theme park
 * — oldest city of the country, known for its marches, left-wing politics and large student population
 * — an old and historic town, and one of the largest fruit production centres of the country
 * — a major student city due to its agricultural university
 * — first town to get city rights in medieval times
 * — first town to get city rights in medieval times

Other destinations

 * — the country's largest national park with heathlands, sand dunes, and woodlands. Also Kröller-Müller Museum with the largest collection of Van Gogh's work, located in the middle of the Hoge Veluwe.
 * — the country's oldest national park with heathlands, woodlands, grazing wildlife, and mountainbike paths
 * — region in between the Veluwezoom and river IJssel, which is littered with historical estates and country retreats.

Understand
Gelderland started as the duchy of Guelders (Hertogdom Gelre), based in Zutphen but named after Geldern, Germany, which was contained within its borders. Zutphen County, Veluwe County and Nijmegen County, the parts of Guelders located in what nowadays is the Netherlands, made up the Guelders that signed the Union of Utrecht that declared the Dutch provinces independent of Spain in 1579, thus starting the Dutch Republic which would eventually become the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Gelderland is now a popular destination for two reasons. One is the Stadsregio of Arnhem and Nijmegen, two of Netherland's oldest cities with ample heritage spanning centuries. The other is Veluwe, the sparsely-populated region best known for its "natural" qualities and a popular destination for Dutch tourists making day trips, featuring woodland, heathland, sand dunes, wildlife and two national parks. The highest point in Veluwe is about 110 m, a noteworthy elevation for such a flat country.

Gelderland is partially in the so-called Bible Belt of the Netherlands and may tend to be a bit more religious and conservative than the rest of the country. This applies mostly to the most west parts of the province. The general span can be seen on the

Talk
Dutch is the basic language and is understood by virtually all. Away from the cities, you might find people speaking several Dutch dialects, those being the Low Franconian Zuid-Gelders (South Gueldric) around the Rhine and Waal rivers, and the Low Saxon Achterhoeks and Veluws in their namesake regions. Like the rest of the Netherlands, English proficiency is high, and German is generally well-understood.

By car
From the Randstad (Western Netherlands), use either the A2 highway (from Amsterdam) or the A12 (from The Hague) to get to Utrecht. From here, you have several options:
 * A2, southbound: Heading for 's-Hertogenbosch, the A2 connects to the western end of the Betuwe. From here, the A15 connects further east with the A50, which connects to Nijmegen (A50 southbound → A73) and Arnhem (A50 northbound → A12 eastbound).
 * A12, eastbound: Running through the Utrecht Hill Ridge and the southern half of the Veluwe, this route connects you to Ede, Wageningen and Arnhem, after which the highway continues to connect to the A18 (towards Doetinchem), after which the A12 becomes the Autobahn A3, headed for the Ruhr Valley.
 * A28, eastbound: Before reaching Gelderland, the A28 intersects with the A1 from Amsterdam at Hoevelaken. From this interchange, the A1 continues through the middle of the Veluwe towards Apeldoorn, after which it continues towards Enschede. The A28 heads towards Zwolle via the former Zuiderzee coast, connecting to Harderwijk and Elburg. If your starting point is Amsterdam, it's recommended to use the A1 to get to Hoevelaken instead of travelling via Utrecht.

Coming from Germany, Arnhem and Apeldoorn are the main hubs. The first is reached via Autobahn 3 coming out of the Ruhr Valley, which becomes the A12 once in the Netherlands. Apeldoorn is reached via Autobahn 30 from Osnabrück, which becomes the A1 in the Netherlands. The A50 connects the two cities.

Coming from the south, the A2 travels into the western end of the Betuwe when heading for Utrecht. The A50, however, connects from Eindhoven to Nijmegen, Arnhem and Apeldoorn. Similarly, from the north the A28 connects Zwolle to Utrecht via Hardenberg while the aforementioned A50 connects Apeldoorn, Arnhem and Nijmegen in the direction of Eindhoven.

By train
International trains are somewhat limited. From Berlin, an (admittedly slow) intercity train connects to Apeldoorn, although this stop is possibly skipped in future, in which case either Deventer or Amersfoort will likely still be stopped at. From these cities, domestic intercities can connect to most every city in the Netherlands. The other international service is an Intercity Express (ICE) from Amsterdam to Frankfurt am Main, as well as a complementary once-per-day ICE to Basel is in operation. An international stopping train (RE19) connects Arnhem with Düsseldorf and its airport as well, though the aforementioned ICE service also stops in Düsseldorf's main train station, and would therefore make for a faster journey.

In addition, international night trains connect Arnhem to München, Vienna and Innsbruck.

By plane
Gelderland does not have any commercial airports. Amsterdam-Schiphol, the biggest international airport in the Netherlands, is the best point of entry, and there ample train connections to and from Gelderland. Other options include Eindhoven Airport, Weeze Airport and Düsseldorf Airport; those may or may not be practical depending on which part of the region you want to visit.

See

 * The Veluwe, the largest area of relatively unspoilt nature in the country.
 * The Kröller-Müller Museum, which has many paintings by Vincent van Gogh on display as well as some Mondrians.
 * Palace "Het Loo" near Apeldoorn, where William and Mary used to live.
 * Beautiful old castles near Vorden, Ruurlo and 's-Heerenberg, Staverden, Vaassen.

Do

 * Cycling and hiking — Both Rivierenland and the Achterhoek are popular regions for cycling. Routes in Rivierenland 'flow' along the many rivers and streams that meander through the flat clay, while the Achterhoek offers more variety in landscape while also being very accessible when it comes to elevation differences. For said elevation, the Veluwe is a go-to. The Veluwe, however, is more popular as a hiking and walking destination, though cycling definitely also has its place.
 * Events — Gelderland is home to some of the extremities when it comes to events, for example:
 * Appelpop in Tiel, being the largest free-to-enter music festival of the Netherlands.
 * The Zwarte Cross (Oost Gelre) is a four-day open air cultural and musical event held on the Netherlands' largest event terrain.
 * Of course, not everything has to be an extremity. Some of the other, less 'extreme' events include:
 * Nijmeegse Vierdaagse and the accompanying Vierdaagsefeesten, a four-day long-distance walking event (Vierdaagse) and the many festivities around them (Vierdaagsefeesten).
 * Mañana Mañana (Hummelo), a festival for those that enjoy life, with plenty of opportunities to dance and drink.
 * The Fashion Design Festival, centred around fashion, design and culture, which transform Arnhem with many fashion shows, expositions and plays.
 * Historical events are plenty, with remembrances and festivals around the liberation of the Netherlands (early May), the Hansefeesten in Doesburg transform the city back into the late mediaeval period, the Dickens Festijn in Tiel transforms the small historical city into an 19th-century English city, and Groenlo rather infamously reenacts the 1647 battle over the city that took place during the Dutch Revolt every other year.
 * Parades are also plenty. Mostly held during the warmer months of the year, Lichtenvoorde has a large flower parade every September that can call itself one of the largest parades of the world. The Fruitcorso in Tiel is centred around the fruit industry of the region and has been a staple of the region in its own right for over 60 years. Furthermore, Groesbeek has a three-day wine feast.

Eat
Local dishes are rather varied. For sweet dishes, consider a Nijmegenaartje, Arnhems meisje or Arnhems grofje. When it comes to savoury food, restaurants in the Achterhoek and Veluwe often have game and venison dishes on their menus.

Local dishes, however, are most often dishes found outside of the province as well, which are made local with the locally produced ingredients that they contain. For example, alongside the southern half of the river IJssel and parts of the Achterhoek, it isn't uncommon to be served a dish with Doesburger mustard to the side.

Drink
Possibly the best-known Geldric beer brand is Grolsch, named for Groenlo where the brewery was originally located. These days, the company has expanded quite notably, having moved to Enschede in Overijssel, where its brewery can be toured. Nonetheless, there are definitely still beers from Gelderland, though they are smaller brands, often locally brewed. Some of the bigger breweries in the region are the Stadsbrouwerijen (city breweries) in Zevenaar and Wageningen.

Vineyards are mostly found in the Achterhoek, but also around Nijmegen and in the Betuwe. Nijmegen specifically is home to the Nijmegin, the Netherlands' only gin and tonic with honey as its base ingredient.

Many local drinks are often found in a fair amount of restaurants and bars, but can also be found in smaller regional shops which offer "streekproducten" (regional products). Regional alcoholic beverages are also commonly found in "proeflokalen" (tasting bars).

Go next
From Arnhem, the German city of Cologne can be reached by high speed train in about 90 minutes.

title: Gelderland


text:
Geleen

Geleen is a city in Limburg. It's one of the major towns in the region, but of limited interest to average travellers as it's mostly an industrial city.

Understand
Geleen is a city in the southern part of the province of Limburg in the Netherlands. With over 30,000 inhabitants, it is part of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen. Until the end of the 19th century, Geleen was a small village. The remains of one of the oldest prehistoric farms in the Netherlands were found here. In the 20th century the exploitation of coal mines in this area brought a fast population increase. During the 1960s and 1970s all Dutch coalmines, that were all located in this part of this province, were closed. The State mining company DSM (privatised in 1989) however remained active in Geleen, now purely as a chemicals producer.

Get in
Geleen is located near two highways, the A2 and the A76, which makes the city easily accessible by car. The city is served by two train stations, served by regional trains. Station Geleen-Oost has direct trains to Heerlen (18min) and Sittard (7min) while station Geleen Lutterade has connections to Maastricht (17min) and Sittard.

Buses in the region are operated by Veolia, and connect Geleen to nearby Sittard and other destinations. Lines 11, 12, 15, 16 all connect to Sittard, while line 42 connects to Hoensbroek, 59 to Maastricht and 49 to Gulpen.

Maastricht-Aachen airport is located 8 km south east of Geleen. Take the E14 and then  E25, or bus 59 (45 min.)

Get around
Buses run from the busstation, located near the city center, to most of the city and to surrounding areas. Renting a bike is a good way to get around the city center or explore the surroundings. If you'd rather rent a car, consider renting a colorful 2CV (available from Weekendjeweg, from 99 EUR per day )

See
A few historic sights in and around Geleen are worth listing.

Buy
As a rather large town, Geleen has a good variety of shops and stores. You'll find most around the market square and adjoining streets. Large parts of the shopping area have been renovated and modernized in 2008, and a parking garage has been created under the main market square for better reachability. Where Sittard markets its shopping area as a historic centre, Geleen chose a more modern approach.

On Thursdays, shops are open until 21.00h. On Saturdays there's a colourful weekly market, open 11.00 to 17.00.

Eat
Most restaurants are to be found at the Rijksweg. The city center offers several places for quick bites, with a number of good places around the market square.

Drink
The bars are concentrated around "de Markt" in the city center. On the first Saturday of each month local bars organize music night, with live music acts.

Go next
There are plenty of interesting towns in the rest of South Limburg. Historic city Sittard is just next door, and Maastricht is not that much further. Visit the picturesque castle of Hoensbroek or ski down the slopes of the large indoor ski resort of Landgraaf.

Just across the Belgian border is Maasmechelen, which is home to a large shopping outlet centre. The city of Roermond is just 15 minutes to the north.

title: Geleen


text:
Gelendzhik

Gelendzhik is a city in Krasnodar Krai.

Understand
A resort town located at the Black Sea coast to the north-west from Sochi, one of the most popular domestic summer destinations of Russia.

Get in
Gelendzhik is a transit point for several buses going from Sochi (4-5 daily). A ride will take 5.5 hours. The Sea Flight fast ferry going from Sochi to Novorossiysk and back also stops at Gelendzhik.

See
Gelendzhik has both natural and leisure attractions. Gelendzhik's aquapark is the largest in the country, and its surroundings have very beautiful scenery. The town is home to International Sea Aviation Conference, which is conducted there each two years.

title: Gelendzhik


text:
Gelibolu

 * This page describes the town of Gelibolu. For the battlefields and monuments of the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I, see Eceabat town.

Gelibolu or Gallipoli is a town in Eastern Thrace in Turkey. It's on the north or European side of the Straits of Dardanelles, and is one of the ferry ports to cross them. Don't get off the bus here if you're aiming for the Gallipoli landing sites! - they are much further south, around the towns of Eceabat and Kilitbahir.

In 2018 Gelibolu had a population of 31,041, with another 12,500 in the surrounding district. It's the only town of any size in the middle section of the Gelibolu / Gallipoli peninsula, so sights in that section are described here. One of those sights is the Çanakkale 1915 Suspension Bridge (Çanakkale 1915 Köprüsü), a 3.563 km monster opened in March 2022.

Understand
Gelibolu takes its name from Greek Καλλίπολις, Kallipolis, "beautiful city". It's midway down the peninsula that bears the same name, at the point where the Sea of Marmara narrows into the 60 km straits of the Dardanelles or Hellespont. The town therefore controls the sea route along the straits, which link the Mediterranean with Istanbul and the Black Sea, and land traffic down the peninsula. It's therefore been of strategic value since antiquity. Legend tells of how Jason and the Argonauts came by in search of the Golden Fleece, and of Leander swimming nightly across the straits to meet his lover Hero. In 480 BC Xerxes I of Persia is said to have constructed a pontoon bridge to march his army across, and when the waves wrecked this, he not only beheaded his engineers but set about whipping and fire-branding the sea itself. This may have taught the sea a lesson, as a second pontoon succeeded.

The initial powerbase of the Ottomans was here, and they established shipyards and a navy headquarters; in the 16th century the admiral and cartographer Piri Reis produced a remarkable series of maps. It remains to this day a garrison town, and that in a nutshell is why the 1915 Allied Gallipoli landings were not at Gelibolu, and never came close to reaching it. The straits were heavily fortified and the shore guns could tear apart any hostile shipping - and did so against the first seaborne assault. The Allies therefore landed to try to silence the shore guns, open the straits to their fleet, link up with the Russians and knock Turkey out of the war. This was achievable if it was fast, but the campaign was bungled and got pinned down, turning into a slow-motion disaster that a century later is still seared into western collective memory. And Turkey discovered that it could face down even the strongest foreign power, and could take its rightful place as an independent nation.

Get in
Gelibolu is off O-6 from Istanbul and D550 the old route via Keşan. The main highway now sweeps across the bridge: see Çanakkale for tolls.

Frequent buses from Istanbul towards Çanakkale take four hours to Gelibolu and set down / pick up at the end of the bridge, for a single adult fare in July 2022 of 230 TL. Operators on this route include Çanakkale Truva, Metro, Pamukkale and Istanbul Seyahat.

Another route is to take the fast ferry from Istanbul to Bandırma, then pick up a bus towards Çanakkale and get off at Lapseki for the ferry across the strait.

From the Troy coast and Edremit, most transport involves a change at Çanakkale, but some of the Pamukkale buses run through to Gelibolu on their way to Istanbul.

Gelibolu otogar is 200 m west of the, which is served by:
 * Gestaş ferry sails to hourly round the clock, 25 min. As of Aug 2023, an adult single is 15 TL and a car is 155 TL.
 * The ferries to Çardak east of Lapseki were suspended after the bridge was opened.

Get around
The town is walkable, and the bus or dolmuş can get you to sights along the main highway. You need a car to reach anywhere else, and to explore the Gallipoli battlefields further south.

In town

 * İskele Cami ("port mosque") is in a back-alley a block inland from the War Museum, set among old wooden houses.
 * Gazi Süleyman Paşa Cami is the most interesting mosque in town, founded 14th century but rebuilt in the 19th. It's at the centre of town, inland from the harbour.
 * Dervish dancing is practised at the Mevlevihane lodge, 300 m back from the beach. Check their website for sessions the public can watch. The building itself is interesting, with the double external staircases.
 * Mehmed-i Bican Efendi Türbesi is a mosque and shrine to the author of the Muhammadiye commentary on the Koran.
 * A headland divides the main part of town from the beach strip of Hamzaköy Bay. The Flag Tomb, richly draped in Turkish flags, commemorates Karaca Bey, a standard-bearer in the Ottoman forces. In 1410 the flag was about to be captured by the enemy so he cut it into pieces and swallowed the lot. His comrades didn't believe this so he cut his own stomach open to demonstrate, and this also spared the flag the indignity of a natural expulsion.
 * The French Cemetery is just north of the headland, on the slope facing Hamzaköy Bay and beach. Most burials are from the Crimea War of 1854-56.
 * The tombs of Sinanpaşa and of Emir Ali Baba are at the north end of the beach.
 * Aladdin Cemetery is northwest of centre near Piri Reis mosque, which is modern. It contains a monument and graves of the White Russians: in 1920 they were defeated by the Reds, the Bolsheviks, in Crimea, and fled to Istanbul. Over 25,000 were interned near Gelibolu in a makeshift, squalid camp.
 * The French Cemetery is just north of the headland, on the slope facing Hamzaköy Bay and beach. Most burials are from the Crimea War of 1854-56.
 * The tombs of Sinanpaşa and of Emir Ali Baba are at the north end of the beach.
 * Aladdin Cemetery is northwest of centre near Piri Reis mosque, which is modern. It contains a monument and graves of the White Russians: in 1920 they were defeated by the Reds, the Bolsheviks, in Crimea, and fled to Istanbul. Over 25,000 were interned near Gelibolu in a makeshift, squalid camp.

Further out

 * soars across the Dardanelles just south of town.
 * Saros Bay or Gulf of Saros, Saros Körfezi, is the sea inlet on the west coast of the peninsula. There are villages and beaches along it, though the best are on the opposite shore, accessed from Keşan.
 * is one of the larger villages, at the point where the main highway leaves the Saros coast to cross to the east of the peninsula. There's food, accommodation and boating facilities.
 * is a village 15 km northeast of Gelibolu just off the main highway. Here are the tombs of Süleyman Pasha, the Ottoman commander who captured Eastern Thrace from the Byzantine Empire in the 14th century, and Namık Kemal, the 19th century national poet of Turkey. The tombs (and others around them) have Ottoman / Arabic carvings but you mostly come for the cultural associations and the view from the attractive cemetery garden onto the farmlands below. Buses will drop you on the modern highway, and you walk 1 km up Istanbul Cd, which was the historic highway along the peninsula.
 * Çimpe / Tzympe Castle is 2 km southwest of Bolayır along Istanbul Cd, which is almost as ruined as the castle - consider parking up and walking. Erected early 14th century on a hill at the narrowest point of the entire peninsula, this castle was the Ottomans' first stepping-stone towards becoming the regional superpower. It was taken by Süleyman Pasha in the 1350s though it's debated whether he captured it in battle as legend says, or was granted it by the Byzantines as allies against rivals in their imperial civil wars. The region was shattered by an earthquake in 1354 and the Ottomans re-located to Gelibolu. Almost 700 years of further earthquakes mean that what you see now is mostly 19th century reconstruction. But the site was also fortified during the Crimean War, the First Balkan War and the Gallipoli campaign, and these redoubts and buttresses dot the landscape. The site is free 24 hours and you'll have it to yourself.
 * is an attractive little stony cove on the west coast, reached by the bad road heading inland from Gelibolu past the village and lake of Fındıklı. There's a campsite with toilets and showers, though you have to pay 20 TL and hold your nose to use these.
 * or Akbaş Kalesi has almost disappeared, as its stone was taken to build Bigali Fortress circa 1790. But in legend, Sestos was the abode of Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite / Venus. Leander lived on the other side of the straits: Hero was won over by his argument that she could hardly call herself a devotee of Aphrodite if she didn't make love herself, and also by his prowess in swimming across the straits every night to assist her in this. But come winter the sea turned rough, Hero's guide lamp blew out, and Leander drowned. Hero hurled herself into the sea so splosh!, they were reunited in death. In 1810 Lord Byron swam across the straits here with Marines Lieutenant Ekenhead. They didn't have the same thing going together as Hero and Leander, but Byron's coded letters indicate that he wasn't averse, only his Grand Tour had already surfeited him. The modern fame of Akbaş is for the daring raid on its arms depot in 1920 to supply the Turkish resistance.
 * : see Eceabat for this 18th-century fortress along the main highway, and other sights further south.

Do

 * Make a landing at Gallipoli - take the ferry to Lapseki and back, just for the ride and the view and to say you've done it. You'll have time for a cup of coffee and a biscuit as you cruise across the channel, with the bridge to the south and Ukrainian freighters lumbering down from the Black Sea. And you'll land not in a hail of bullets but with port hands helpfully directing the traffic. Of course if you come in a tank you'll be required to use the Çardak ferry instead and pay extra.
 * Don't swim across the Hellespont unless you're an experienced distance swimmer and have proper back-up and local expertise over currents and shipping lanes. Swimming specialist agencies can organise this, such as Swimtrek, and there's an annual Hellespont swim race in late August. Never treat it as an afternoon lark of "last across buys the beers", look how Leander and Byron turned out, and they didn't have the Ukrainian freighters to contend with.

Buy

 * Lots of little convenience stores around the harbour.
 * Akbank by the harbour has an ATM, and there's more along Tuğsavul Cd.
 * Buy a used car ferry, anyone? A residual ferry service may continue after the bridge opens, but most of the fleet will become redundant. It's amazing where in the world pre-owned ferries can find themselves. There's surely some township up a muddy creek in Borneo that is overdue for replacing its transport link, and is scanning the Small Ads.

Eat

 * Lots of places around the harbour, all geared up to people in transit who want to shovel pide down themselves quickly and be on their way.
 * 300 m inland, Gelibolu Cadde 17 Çorbaci is a pleasant change: a soup cafe open M-Sa 06:00-15:30.

Drink

 * Even the Australians weren't expecting to find pubs when they came ashore at Gallipoli. Try The North Shield on the beach next to Balkan Restaurant, open daily 10:30-02:30.
 * Wine: Gelibolu is part of Marmara wine-growing region, though more is produced further south in the maritime climate of Eceabat and the Troy coast.

Sleep

 * The main cluster of hotels is by the ferry jetty, with another group along Hamzakoy beach northeast of town centre.

 * Kaya Suit Otel is on Camikebir Mahallesi, Subaşı Sk. No 3. It's basic but clean, double 400 TL, under new management since autumn 2020.
 * Hotel Gelibolu is a decent mid-price place next to the pier, but there's noise from the trucks going on and off the ferry. B&B double 500 TL.

Connect
As of Dec 2020, there is good 4G coverage from all Turkish carriers in Gelibolu, its ferry crossings, and all along the main highway; there may be dead spots up the lanes in the hills. 5G has not yet rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Eceabat further south down the peninsula is the main base for visiting the Gallipoli battlefields and memorials, for ferries to Çanakkale, and for ferries to the island of Gökçeada.
 * Çanakkale has places of interest but is mainly a stopover on the way to ancient Troy, and to the island of Bozcaada by ferry from Geyikli.
 * Çardak and Lapseki on the Asia-side beach strip are not worth a stop, so continue east to Bandırma.
 * Keşan to the north is a stopover, then head either south to the Saros beach resorts, east to Istanbul, north to Edirne or west into Greece.
 * Istanbul to Izmir is an itinerary with one branch following the Gallipoli road.

title: Gelibolu


text:
Gelnhausen

Gelnhausen is a town in Hesse, one of the states of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Understand
Gelnhausen has about 20,000 inhabitants. It's 50 km east of Frankfurt and about 50 km west of Fulda.

By motorcar
Connection to Autobahn A66.

Events

 * There is an annual festival called the "Schelmenmarkt" (Scoundrels' Market). It features some rides such as a roller coaster and two or three carousels. This is probably a good occasion to get to see the town at its best.

Eat
Gelnhausen has a surprisingly wide range of restaurants.

Drink
As in most towns around Frankfurt you will have no difficulties finding the famous Ebbelwei (apple wine).

Go next

 * Bad Orb, spa town, 15 km to the east (20 minutes by bus)
 * Hanau, birth place of the Brothers Grimm, 25 km to the southwest (15–20 minutes by train)

title: Gelnhausen


text:
Gelsenkirchen

Gelsenkirchen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia. Gelsenkirchen, like neighbouring cities, is refining its image promoting its industrial culture. Old refineries have been remodelled into event halls and ice skating rinks. Beautiful bike paths now lie where old rail lines ran. Art from old machines are a source of artistic expression.

Understand
Gelsenkirchen is a city of 260,000 people (2019) at the Ruhr region in the western part of the country, near major cities such as Düsseldorf and Cologne. Through coal mining, the Ruhr Region became the industrial heart of Germany and formed heavily populated cities. During World War II, due to its rich industrial value, the area was severely bombed. After the war, though, coal mining was severely curtailed, and large unemployment hit the region.

 * City of Gelsenkirchen tourist information

Get in
The Ruhr area, especially Gelsenkirchen, offers a wonderful public transportation system. Whether using the train, bus, streetcar/ trolley, or car, it is easy to plan your transportation to and from all your activities in and around Gelsenkirchen.

By plane
Nearest airports are located within 100 km from the city.
 * Dusseldorf International Airport, approx. ) away. Busiest airport in NRW state, continental and intercontinental routes. Most convenient to reach directly in under 1 hour on regional trains.
 * Dortmund International Airport, approx. . Budget flights to european destinations with a strong focus on eastern europe.
 * Cologne-Bonn Airport, approx. . 1.5 hours by car, 2 hours by train.

Train stations with connections to Gelsenkirchen are available at both airports.

By train
The city can be easily reached using the German train network InterCity-Express (ICE)and InterCity (IC) trains offer high speed connections between cities throughout Germany and popular European destinations. These trains travel up to 300 km/h and offer optimal comfort for long distance travel. ICE, IC and Eurostar also stop in nearby Essen, only a short few minutes by train from Gelsenkirchen. Stopping at Gelsenkirchen Hauptbahnhof are following regional and local train services:
 * RE2 Osnabrück - Münster - Gelsenkirchen - Essen - Duisburg - Düsseldorf Airport - Düsseldorf
 * RE3 Düsseldorf - Düsseldorf Airport - Duisburg - Oberhausen - Gelsenkirchen - Herne - Dortmund - Hamm
 * RE42 Münster - Gelsenkirchen - Essen - Duisburg - Krefeld - Viersen - Mönchengladbach
 * RB32 Duisburg - Oberhausen - Essen-Altenessen - Essen Zollverein Nord - Gelsenkirchen - Wanne-Eickel - Herne - Castrop-Rauxel - Dortmund
 * RB35 Gelsenkirchen - Essen Zollverein Nord - Essen-Altenessen - Oberhausen - Duisburg - Duisburg-Rheinhausen - Krefeld - Viersen - Mönchengladbach
 * RB46 Gelsenkirchen - Wanne-Eickel - Bochum-Riemke - Bochum-West - Bochum
 * S2 Dortmund - DO-Dorstfeld - DO-Mengede - Castrop-Rauxel - Herne - Wanne-Eickel - Gelsenkirchen - GE-Rotthausen - Essen-Kray Nord - Essen

Intercity transportation
The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr Website offers a wonderful online planner in multiple languages for using the train and/ or bus in the Rhein-Ruhr area. The central Bus Stations are located at the Gelsenkirchen Main Train Station and in the center of Gelsenkirchen Buer. Tis website does not provide prices for your specific route-plan.

The official bus and tram/treetcar transportation provider in Gelsenkirchen and the surrounding area is BOGESTRA.

By car
Gelsenkirchen can be reached using the highway (Autobahn) A42, A2, A40, as well as the Bundesstraße B224/A52.

Public transport
Besides the central station (Gelsenkirchen Hauptbahnhof), where slow, regional and express train services stop, other useful rail stations are
 * on regional train RB43 Dortmund - Herne - Wanne-Eickel - Dorsten, for access to Gelsenkirchen Zoo
 * , on S-Bahn local train S9 Hagen - Wuppertal - Essen - Gelsenkirchen-Buer-Nord - Recklinghausen / Haltern am See, located to the north of Buer town centre, north of the Arena.

From the central station, Gelsenkirchen Hauptbahnhof, 3 trams and multiple bus routes leave. For tourists, the 3 trams are the most important:
 * Tram 302, starting in Bochum it arrives at Gelsenkirchen Hauptbahnhof, crosses the city centre underground and then crosses the city on the major north-south thoroughfare Kurt-Schuhmacher-Straße in a straight line, stopping at VELTINS-Arena at the and ending in Gelsenkirchen-Buer. On football match days and during events at the stadium this line will be served by everything the local transit company BOGESTRA can throw at it, but will still likely be completely overwhelmed. If you're headed for the Arena, be patient and listen to the guides, all others avoid immediately before and after.
 * Tram 301, starts and ends at Hauptbahnhof, diverges to the north-east after the city centre and passes by ZOOM zoo, before eventually meeting 302 in Buer and ending in the west near the border with Essen. There it'll connect to Tram U11 to Gruga Park via Essen city centre.
 * Tram 107, starts and ends at Hauptbahnhof, diverges to the west and runs to Essen city, passing the Trabrennbahn horse race track before leaving the city and passing Zollverein Mining Museum in Essen on its way to Essen Hauptbahnhof.

Local buses, some of them express routes, connect to all neighbouring cities.

Also underground tram stations and  in the city centre of Gelsenkirchen allow easy access to the city. Tickets, information updates and schedules are available via BOGESTRA. You must have a valid ticket before entering a tram in an underground station.

Check if your ticket to an event at the Arena includes travel in the Ruhr Area or even all of NRW, they often do! If you already have a VRR ticket, a ticket sold under the NRW-wide travels scheme like a e.g. SchönerTagTicketNRW, or a DeutschlandTicket, those will all be accepted on Gelsenkirchen public transport. If you don't already have a ticket, you can Tickets bought from machines might need to be stamped in one of the orange or red boxes located at station entrances and bus/tram doors before being valid. You face a penalty if caught without ticket by uniformed or plainclothes control agents.
 * use ticket machines at underground and other major stations to purchase one before boarding any vehicle
 * buy tickets from the driver of buses as well as trams while running on the surface, preferably with small cash, as they dont carry a lot of change
 * use the Muttis etarif or VRR apps, or use the eezy.nrw app which calculates fares based on distance but never charges more than a regular paper ticket.
 * buy tickets from dedicated newspaper agents

Disability information: All buses are low-floor and equipped with wheelchair ramps. Important bus stops usually have level boarding from raised stops.

All trams on 301 and 302 (white trams) are low-floor, on 107 (yellow trams) very rarely older high-floor stock are used as back-up vehicles. Both the white and yellow low-floor trams have large multi-use spaces at the 2nd and 4th; and 1st and 3rd doors respectively. The tunnel stations are accessible by lifts, including Hauptbahnhof (central station). If the lift there isn't working go one stop north to Heinrich-König-Platz station. The station directly at the arena is not wheelchair-accessible, exit at Willy-Brandt-Allee stop, 10 minutes to the actual stadium. In Gelsenkirchen, only Veltins-Arena and Emscherstraße tram stops are only reachable by stairs. Light rail U11 from uses high-floor vehicles at high-floor platforms accessed by ramps.

Stops are announced on board and shown on information screens. Many stops are equipped with a push-button text-to-speech system at the departure screen. Blind guide strips are being retrofitted as of 2024. Regular dogs thus including guide dogs are welcome.

By car
Like the rest of the Ruhr Area, Gelsenkirchen is very spread out and thus people rely on cars more than the german average. Roads and highway are well-maintained but crowded. You should not attempt to reach the stadium by car during large football matches, concerts etc. Parking spots can be found in a number of large car parks, for example next to the train station. Fares are reasonable and cheap.

Parking in residential streets is discouraged for visitors except when visiting relatives or friends and in many cases even outright forbidden without permits. Make sure to pay extra attention to signs and ask friends or family about parking. Where its allowed to the general public, you may need to throw some coins into parking ticket machines (Parkscheinautomat) standing on street corners, marked by tall signs displaying either a blue sign, the word Parkscheinautomat or a red arrow, and display the ticket clearly visible, preferably from the curbside, on your dashboard.

By bike or electric scooter
Bike infrastructure is lacking but slowly being improved. You can rent bikes via the Metropolradruhr bike hire scheme at stations throughout the city after signing up for it on your phone, which should take only minutes at most. Electric scooters can not be rented anymore since 20 April 2024. The city decided to ban them due to massive problems with vandalism, scooters blocking footpaths and reckless driving. Riding private ones is still permitted, but due to fire risks, carrying them on-board buses and trams is also forbidden since early 2024.

See
A relatively unvisited city, even within Germany, Gelsenkirchen offers enough to fill your day, especially if you're keen for cultural and industrial sights like football, arts and old heavy industry.

Do

 * Football:
 * Veltins Arena also hosts other events, such as rock concerts, operas and motorbike racing. Tours of the arena are available.
 * Football Fan Zone at Nordsternpark: During the UEFA European Championships 2024 a public event is held here and all matches played in Gelsenkirchen, and all matches of the german team, will be broadcast here. Free entry. Security will do pat-downs and bag searches at entrance.
 * Football Fan Zone at Nordsternpark: During the UEFA European Championships 2024 a public event is held here and all matches played in Gelsenkirchen, and all matches of the german team, will be broadcast here. Free entry. Security will do pat-downs and bag searches at entrance.

Buy
There are 2 major shopping areas:
 * Bahnhofstraße Gelsenkirchen's centre may not be what one can call a picturesque german city, but has all the common retail chains and a wide selection of restaurants.
 * Hochstraße Buer in the north acts as its own town centre and offers most amenities you'd expect to find in a small german town centre too. Arguably the less desolate of the two central districts.

Eat
Gelsenkirchen is not known for its excellent high cuisine, but still offers good food. The local cuisine has been influenced by past migrations, including from the middle-east in recent years.

Sleep
Depending on your budget, Gelsenkirchen offers multiple hotel options.

Go next

 * Essen, major city in the Ruhr Area, industrial heritage and modern culture. Nature in south of city.
 * Dortmund, beer, steel and football rival of Gelsenkirchen.
 * Hattingen, medieval city centre with alleys and timber framed houses.
 * Düsseldorf, capital of NRW state, fashion capitol and large Japanese community along the mighty Rhine.
 * Cologne, fourth largest German city of 1 million, Cologne Cathedral, Roman artefacts and lively LGBTQ scene.

title: Gelsenkirchen