text:
Katoomba

Katoomba is the largest and best-known town in the Blue Mountains, around 100 km (60 miles) west of Sydney and 1,017 m (3,337 ft) above sea level.

Understand
Katoomba developed as a popular mountain resort town in the early 20th century, with holidaymakers taking advantage of the train services along the current line from Sydney. The town reached an early heyday in the period between the world wars, attested to today by the numerous examples of art deco architecture and shop fronts along the main street of the town.

Today it serves as the main base for travellers to the Blue Mountains, and the main gateway to the two most popular tourist spots at Echo Point and Scenic World. It has the most shops with all the supplies you need, tourist offices, motels, transport restaurants and even some nightlife. However, it has lost the quaint village charm to Leura, its immediately adjacent neighbour to the east.

By car
Katoomba is located just off the Great Western Highway, and is a well signposted destination. Parking is available in town, with timed parking on the street. Parking fees are charged at Echo Point and availability is limited, so if you are also visiting Scenic World, consider parking there in its large car park, and walking to Echo Point from the Scenic Skyway terminus.

By train

A PDF copy of the timetable can be found on TfNSW's website.

By coach
Australia Wide Coaches operate a daily express service from Katoomba to the Sydney City and on to Sydney airport every morning, and return in the afternoon.

By bus
CDC NSW operates 38 buses per week between Springwood and Katoomba.

Get around
From the train station the 686 bus goes every 30 minutes during the day from Katoomba Station to Scenic World and Echo Point. You can use your Opal card on the service, and if you're coming off the train you'll get the $2 transfer credit changing modes.

Alternatively, you can take one of two Hop-on-hop-off services.

Blue Mountains Trolley Tours charge $30 for a day's hop-on/hop-off (around 9AM to 5PM) but ask nicely at their sales office near the train station and you may get stamps for extra days for free. Their ticket office is across the street from Katoomba railway station. The regular bus departs each hour and goes to Leura, along the canyon edge to Three Sisters, Echo Point, Scenic World and back also stopping at some resorts, golf courses and museums. The starting point for Trolley's buses is outside Carrington Hotel, around the corner from the ticket office. The Trolley Tours HOHO ticket also allows you to take the 686 bus (which they call the 'express trolley'). The service isn't actually a "trolley".

Do

 * Bushwalking in the valleys, including longer walks to the Ruined Castle (an eroded mountain) and Mt Solitary. Watch out for large, noisy lyrebirds scratching up food on the ground. If you're not prepared for bushwalking in the mountains, stick to walks along the cliff base, or connect with a guide. Good shoes, a bottle of water and some sun protection are highly recommended.
 * Bushwalking in the valleys, including longer walks to the Ruined Castle (an eroded mountain) and Mt Solitary. Watch out for large, noisy lyrebirds scratching up food on the ground. If you're not prepared for bushwalking in the mountains, stick to walks along the cliff base, or connect with a guide. Good shoes, a bottle of water and some sun protection are highly recommended.

Drink

Traditional pubs, less heavy on live entertainment than the Clarendon, cluster around Katoomba railway station. The nightlife is this area is not fantastic - by 9PM on a Friday night the streets are almost empty - but those looking for a drink should try:
 * The Carrington Piano Bar, also known as the Saloon Bar. The most upmarket of the pubs, it contains rather less drunken young people than the others on the average Friday or Saturday night. Sometimes has live piano music. It also has an excellent restaurant upstairs.
 * The Carrington Main Bar is the 'default', stock-standard Katoomba pub, generally known as the 'Carrington' or just the 'Carro'. It's opposite the train station and taxi stand. Poker machines, beer, pies, more beer. It has a nightclub upstairs (with a separate entrance fee) called 'Baroque', which features live music on many nights.

All live music venues in Katoomba publish advertisements listing their upcoming attractions in the entertainment section of the Blue Mountains Gazette, which is published on Wednesdays and can be bought at newsagencies.

Go next

 * Jenolan Caves – further west, with guided bus tours from Katoomba
 * Leura – neighbouring town to the east that merges with Katoomba
 * Medlow Bath – five minutes by car or train to the west/north

title: Katoomba


text:
Katori

Katori (香取市) is a city in Chiba, Japan.

Understand
In 2006 the city of Sawara (佐原) and the towns of Omigawa (小見川), Yamada (山田) and Kurimoto (栗源) merged to form the city of Katori.

Tourist information site
The city has an official multilingual guide site.

Get in

 * Plane - Narita Airport is quite near.
 * Train - Sawara station is on the Narita Line line, about 30 or 40 minutes from Narita City, heading away from Tokyo. Omigawa station is a little farther away.  Roughly 1 train an hour travels between Narita and Sawara station.
 * Bus - Numerous buses travel to all of the former towns that make up Katori. There are direct buses between Tokyo (departing from near Tokyo station) and Sawara and Omigawa.  The Sawara to Tokyo Bus stop is behind Sawara station (take the walkway over the tracks, it's at the edge of the parking lot).  Travel time to Tokyo is about 2½ hours and costs ¥3000 or ¥4000. There are also several buses a day between Sawara station and Katori Jingu.
 * Car - Routes 51 and 356 pass through Katori and the highway has an interchange point in the city.

Get around
Katori is not set up like a normal city that starts at a single spot and spreads out. It is several population spots that merged their local governments, so all of the parts are spread out. The only easy way to travel between all the parts is to drive. You can get around each part easily by bike. A bike rental shop is a two-minute walk from the train station.

Drink
There are 2 sake factories near the historial road area with free tours and free samples.

Sleep
There are 2 business hotels in Sawara.

Connect

Go next

 * Tonosho
 * Choshi
 * Narita
 * Tako
 * Itako
 * Kashima
 * Kamisu
 * Inashiki
 * Asahi

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

title: Katori


text:
Katowice

Katowice is a large city in the Silesian Voivodeship (województwo śląskie) in the south of Poland. In 2021 it had a population of 315,000; it's the central city of Metropolis GZM (population 2.3 million) which in turn is part of Upper Silesian-Moravian metropolitan area sprawling across the Czech border. It's not scenic, but has a rich industrial heritage.

Understand
A series of medieval villages grew up in the forest clearings of Silesia, working at agriculture and small-scale metal-bashing; Katowice is first documented among these in 1598. They urbanised from the 18th century when coal mines plumbed deeper underground, and better processes were invented for extracting metals such as zinc and for turning iron into steel. Katowice outgrew its neighbours and in 1873 it became the county town. Poland in those centuries was carved up by other nations and Katowice was part of Prussia, later of Germany. It was well-connected by rail to other cities and attracted service industries such as banking. After the First World War the border was re-drawn, based on a plebiscite; Katowice voted to remain German but the district all around it voted to join Poland and it had to follow suit, becoming the regional capital.

The Second World War and Nazi occupation brought a high human cost but only selective damage to city buildings - the synagogue was one obvious target but city industry was wanted for the war effort. Then in 1945 the Red Army "liberated" Katowice by destroying much of it, and post-war communist rulers carried on in that vein. Rynek the central market square was soon ringed by the slabby 1960-70s architecture now mocked as "Early Gierek". Later in the 20th century traditional smokestack industry collapsed, labour unrest grew, and the miners of Katowice were as instrumental in the downfall of "the People's Republic" as the ship-builders of Gdańsk.

The city, region and entire nation of Poland had to re-invent themselves after 1989, developing a western free-market economy with a greater role for service sector, education and IT. Other Polish cities have prettified themselves into romantic budget-flight weekend destinations - that was never realistic for Katowice. It does however have a wealth of heritage, good visitor amenities, and transport links around Silesia and beyond.

In the 2000s, Katowice gained a higher profile by creating a new convention center and hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference (2018) and being designated the European City of Science (2024).

By plane
Onward transport:
 * Airport Bus takes 50 min to the main railway and bus stations, every 30 min daytime and hourly through the night.
 * Matuszek Bus runs direct to Kraków.
 * Buses also run direct to Bytom (No 85, 53), Mierzęcice (No 17) and Sosnowiec.

Kraków is a major tourist destination so its John-Paul II Airport has excellent connections across Europe. Flixbuses from Warsaw and Gdańsk call here every few hours on their way to Katowice, but it's usually more convenient to take the frequent bus or train into Kraków city centre and change.

By train
Trains from Warsaw run hourly and take just under 3 hours via Sosnowiec. They may start from Gdynia or Gdańsk.

From Kraków they run hourly and take an hour via Myslowice.

From Berlin Lichtenburg, two trains a day take 6 hr 30 min via Rzepin, Zielona Gora, Glogow, Lublin, Legnica, Wrocław, Opole, Gliwice and Zabrze, and continue to Kraków. From Wrocław the service is every hour or so, taking two hours and continuing to Kraków, Tarnów, Rzeszów, Łańcut and Przemyśl on the Ukraine border.

From the Czech Republic, trains run from Ostrava every hour or two, taking two hours via Bohumin, Wodzislaw Slaski, Rybnik and Tychy. These may start from Prague, Vienna or Budapest.

On cross-border routes, look for split-ticket deals. Reservations are compulsory on all trains from Germany in July and August.

Outlying stations are Zaleze 3 km west, Brynów 5 km southwest and Ligota another 4 km south, and Zawodzie 3 km east.

By bus
From Warsaw, Flixbus runs five times a day, taking 4-5 hours via Katowice Airport.

From Gdańsk they run eight times, taking 8-9 hours via Toruń, Włocławek, Łódź and the airport.

From Berlin they run every hour or two, taking 8 hours via Berlin Airport, Wrocław and Opole.

From Prague they run eight times, taking 6 hr 30 min via Brno, Olomouc and Ostrava. From Vienna takes 6 hours by the same route.

From Kraków is a frequent service. Flixbus, Unibus and Bus-Inter all run hourly, taking 65 min, for a fare in 2024 of 15 zł. They use large coaches with luggage trunks; consider booking, as they sell out at busy times.

By road
From Kraków take west 60 km.

From Wrocław take southeast 180 km.

From Warsaw take southwest 300 km.

From Vienna, Prague, Bratislava and Brno head for Ostrava then take northeast across the border.

On foot
Many sights are within a km or two of Rynek or the main railway station. The pavements are broad and level.

By bus or tram
ZTM Metropolia run almost all buses and trams across the 40-some cities of Upper Silesian Metropolis, which straddles the Czech border. They have a unified ticket system.

(PKM Jaworzno are an exception. They run blue and yellow buses on some 20 routes, including lines A, E and J from Aleja Korfantego. They have a completely different fare system; but you're unlikely to use them and they're not described further here.)

In 2024 tickets valid for 20 mins are 4.60 zł, 40 mins 5.60 zł, 90 minutes or for the full route 6.60 zł, and a 90 minute group ticket for up to 5 people is 13 zł. A one-day pass valid until midnight is 12 zł. Concessionary fares are 50% of the relevant normal fare. All these tickets are valid for unlimited transfers within the allotted time. You can also buy e-packages of 20, 40 or 80 tickets (which roughly halve the unit journey price but don't allow transfers), and 30-, 90- and 180-day e-passes.

You can buy tickets from kiosks, newsagents, shops, machines at the main stops, or at POP passenger service points: these are within Katowice railway station, at Pocztowa 10 near Rynek, and at the ZTM offices on Barbary 21a. The only ticket you can buy on boarding is the 90 minute 6.60 zł (or concessionary 3.30 zł) ticket from bus drivers, who don't give change (they don't yet have contactless payment), and are sometimes out of tickets.

You must validate your ticket immediately on boarding. Inspectors prowl, and an unvalidated ticket is as bad as no ticket at all. For outlying sights buy your return ticket along with your outbound in case you find no convenient ticket point or the machine is broken, and with trams you don't have the option of paying the driver.

By taxi
There are taxi ranks at the airport, north entrance of the railway station at 3 Maja, the bus station, main hotels and city transport nodes. Ask the price beforehand or the taxi driver will use his wildest imagination. Using an app such as Uber ensures an agreed price.

See

 * Zachód Słońca - "Sunset" - is a neon installation on Rynek, a red globe low over the Rawa canal.
 * Zachód Słońca - "Sunset" - is a neon installation on Rynek, a red globe low over the Rawa canal.

Do

 * Football: GKS Katowice play soccer in 1 Liga, the second tier. Their home ground Stadion GKS (capacity 6700) is on Bukowa, 3 km northwest of city centre and just over the boundary with Chorzów. Other top tier (Ekstraklasa) teams nearby are in Chorzów, Zabrze and Gliwice.
 * Ice hockey: GKS Katowice play in Polska Hokej Liga, the top tier. Their home rink is within Spodek.
 * Games & puzzles: Ludiversum is a board games cafe at Kamienna 7, next to Hostel Centrum near the railway station.
 * Flamberg is a hobby and games shop at Adama Mickiewicza 3, near the Marriott.
 * Or get in touch with Silesian Fantasy Club.
 * Games & puzzles: Ludiversum is a board games cafe at Kamienna 7, next to Hostel Centrum near the railway station.
 * Flamberg is a hobby and games shop at Adama Mickiewicza 3, near the Marriott.
 * Or get in touch with Silesian Fantasy Club.

Cinema
Katowice has several new, multi-screen cinemas and some traditional ones. Check if films are shown dubbed or sub-titled.

Events

 * JazzArt Festival is in April.
 * A-Part Festival is an international look at alternative and experimental "Off" theatre. It runs over a week in June, see A-Part Theatre above.
 * Tauron Festival is a Techno and dance rave in the Industrial Museum Complex in June.
 * Fitelberg Competition for Conductors is organised by the Silesian Philharmonic (see above) and held in July.
 * OFF Festival is a new music event over the first weekend in August.
 * CIOFF organise folk music and dancing festivals globally, with the Katowice event held Aug / Sept.
 * Rawa Blues Festival is an indoor blues festival in October.
 * Mayday is a Techno music event held at Spodek in November.

Learn

 * All of these may offer short courses suitable for visitors, though their main offerings are for undergrads.

 * Silesian University of Technology (Politechnika Śląska) is based in Gliwice. but the Faculties of Materials Science and Metallurgy, of Transport and of Management are sited here.
 * Silesian University of Technology (Politechnika Śląska) is based in Gliwice. but the Faculties of Materials Science and Metallurgy, of Transport and of Management are sited here.
 * Silesian University of Technology (Politechnika Śląska) is based in Gliwice. but the Faculties of Materials Science and Metallurgy, of Transport and of Management are sited here.
 * Silesian University of Technology (Politechnika Śląska) is based in Gliwice. but the Faculties of Materials Science and Metallurgy, of Transport and of Management are sited here.
 * Silesian University of Technology (Politechnika Śląska) is based in Gliwice. but the Faculties of Materials Science and Metallurgy, of Transport and of Management are sited here.
 * Silesian University of Technology (Politechnika Śląska) is based in Gliwice. but the Faculties of Materials Science and Metallurgy, of Transport and of Management are sited here.
 * Silesian University of Technology (Politechnika Śląska) is based in Gliwice. but the Faculties of Materials Science and Metallurgy, of Transport and of Management are sited here.

Buy
Shopping centres are mostly north of the station. Galeria Katowicka is adjacent on 3 Maja, open M-Sa 09:00-21:00.

Silesia City Center is 3 km northwest on the boulevard to Chorzów, with Cinema City.

Mid-range

 * Hotel M23 is by the Mariacki at No 23 and gets good reviews.
 * Hotel Jantor next door is filthy.
 * Hotel M23 is by the Mariacki at No 23 and gets good reviews.
 * Hotel Jantor next door is filthy.
 * Hotel Jantor next door is filthy.
 * Hotel Jantor next door is filthy.
 * Hotel Jantor next door is filthy.
 * Hotel Jantor next door is filthy.
 * Hotel Jantor next door is filthy.
 * Hotel Jantor next door is filthy.

Connect

 * As of April 2024, Katowice, its approach roads and nearby towns have 5G from all Polish carriers.

Stay safe
Standard precautions about safeguarding valuables, beware traffic (including trams, which run along Rynek and other pedestrian spaces), and avoid drunks.

Go next

 * Chorzów 5 km west has a zoo, amusement park and the Silesian Ethnographic Park.
 * Tychy 12 km south has a Brewing Museum.
 * Central Firefighting Museum in Mysłowice.
 * Mining skansen in Zabrze.
 * Silver mine and Black Trout Gallery in Tarnowskie Góry.
 * Auschwitz-Birkenau is the Nazi death camp complex by the town of Oświęcim.

Old Mapmask: <-->

title: Katowice


text:
Katra

Katra, also known as Katra Vaishno Devi, is a city in the Reasi district of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir administered by India. It is in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains, about 42 km from the city of Jammu, and 35 km from Udhampur. The main attraction is the Maa Vaishno Devi temple.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Jammu.

By train
is served by several long-distance trains from different parts of India, including the Jammu Mail and the Vande Bharat Express from Delhi. There's a taxi stand and a bus stand outside the station. The average taxi fare is ₹820–890.

Get around
By taxi.

Vaishno Devi Temple

Katra to Ardh Kuari - 6 km
 * Walk - 3 hours
 * Pony - ₹200 - 1 hour
 * Pitthu - for luggage or small babies - ₹140 - 3 hours
 * Ardh Kuari to Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan - 6 km
 * Walk - 3 hours
 * Pony - ₹200 - 1 hour
 * Pitthu - for luggage or small babies - ₹140 - 3 hours
 * Electric vans - Only for elderly people and the handicapped

Katra to Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan directly - 12 km
 * Helicopter - ₹699 (as on 23/02/2012) one way - 5 Minutes
 * Palki - for elderly - approx ₹3000 - 6 hours
 * Walk - 6 hours
 * Pony - ₹385 - 2 hours
 * Pitthu - for luggage or small babies - ₹260 - 6 hours

Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan to Bhairo Baba temple - 2 km
 * Walk - 2 hours
 * Pony - ₹150 - 45 minutes
 * Pitthu - for luggage or small babies - 2 hours
 * On the way back - The options are similar on the return trip. However, you can go directly from the Bhairo Baba temple to Ardh Kuari. You don't need to come back via Bhawan.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board which manages the temple has more details on its website.

The best season to visit Vaishno Devi is October-March, as you can visit the original cave of Mata Vaishno Devi and accommodation is very cheap at that time.

 * Ardh Kuari
 * Main Bhawan. Dormitories available here for you to rest after the climb!
 * Kal Bhairav Temple
 * The Bhawan - the Sacred Sanctum of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji is about 13 km from the base camp Katra and is linked by a hilly track. The journeys are mostly made at night, so the entire route has ample illumination. Facilities include drinking water, toilets, medical dispensaries etc are made available throughout the track. Apart from these facilities the entire track contains number of shops providing the refreshments and other local products.
 * The Goddess Vaishno Devi's abode - is a 30 m long cave with a narrow opening. The holy cold and crystal clear water washes the lotus feet of the Mata's "Pindian". There are three natural pindies representing Maha Sarswati, Maha Lakshmi, Maha Kali which represent creative, preservative, and destructive aspects of the Super Power. It is an ancient shrine whose reference is found in the Vedas and ancient scriptures.
 * Shri Mata Vaishno Devi - one of the oldest shrines of India, located at an elevation of 1,615 m on the holy Trikuta Hills of the Shivalik Hill Range. The number of pilgrims has increased significant since early 1980s.

Shiv Khori

 * Shiv Khori - Shiva, meaning "auspicious", is one of the Hindu gods that make up the supreme Trinity, comprising of Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the Preserver and Shiva or Mahesh, the Destroyer and Re-Producer of life. Lord Shiva is the destroyer of the world, which is responsible for the change. Lord Shiva is worshipped in many forms. He is conceived in his unborn and invisible form as lingum. The "Shiv-Lingum" symbolizes the power behind the creation. It is believed that at the end of all creation, during the great deluge, all of the different aspects of God find a resting place in the Lingam.
 * Shiv Khori Yatra, Shiv Khori cave, Shiv Khori pilgrimage - Famous cave shrine of "Shivkhori", 80 km from Katra, depicts the natural formation of shivlingum. It is one of the most venerated cave shrines of Lord Shiva in the region. The holy cave is more than 150 m long & houses the 4 foot high Svayambhu Lingum, which constantly bathes in a milky lime fluid dripping from the ceiling. The cave is full of natural impression & images of various Hindu deities & full of divine feelings. That is why Shivkhori is known as "Home of Gods". The route from Jammu to Shiv Khori is full of beautiful & picturesque mountains, waterfalls & lakes.

Eat and drink
Most 3 star and above hotels have very good vegetarian food. There are hundreds of other restaurants in the main Katra market. On the way to Bhawan - you have many options of eating snacks and having cold and warm drinks. At some places run by the trust you can have good lunch of rice and rajma.

Alcohol drinking and non-vegetarian food is prohibited on the way to Darshan.

Go next

 * Udhampur — the second-largest city in the Udhampur District in the Jammu Division of Jammu and Kashmir

title: Katra


text:
Katsuura

Katsuura (勝浦) is a city located in Chiba, Japan.

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

See
There's nothing much around here except a small underwater observatory.

Buy
Most mornings (weather permitting) there is a large "morning market" (asa ichi) in the center of the city near the shore. You'll find freshly-caught fish and shellfish, as well as regional specialties and dried snacks - squid, fish, nori, etc. The market is open until about 11:00.

Eat
Katsuura is well known for its tantanmen, a spicy ramen dish. Katsuura tantanmen won first place in the 2015 B-1 Grand Prix food festival.

Drink
Koshigoi sake

Go next

 * Onjuku
 * Isumi
 * Otaki
 * Kamogawa
 * Minamiboso
 * Tateyama
 * Kyonan
 * Futtsu
 * Ichinomiya

title: Katsuura


text:
Katwijk

Katwijk is a town and municipality in South Holland, the Netherlands consisting of Valkenburg, Katwijk aan den Rijn (Katwijk on the Rhine), Katwijk Noord (Katwijk North), Rijnsburg and Katwijk aan Zee (Katwijk on Sea), which together house some 65,000 people.

Understand
Katwijk aan Zee and Katwijk aan den Rijn were once two separate towns, with Aan Zee being a fisherman's town and Aan den Rijn being more agricultural. Over time both towns grew together along with Valkenburg. The municipal office is held on the border of the two Katwijks, with the town hall itself on the Aan de Rijn-side, and the mayor's house being on the Aan Zee-side. This has been done so to not favor any of the two Katwijks during the merging of the two former municipalities. North of Katwijk aan Zee is a third district with Katwijk in its name, Katwijk-Noord, which consists of mostly post-war housing.

Valkenburg
Valkenburg is the oldest of the five districts. It began as a part of the county of Utrecht, and was transferred to the county of Holland in the 12th century. Katwijk and Valkenburg were always a part of the same ambacht, though the two were split when Valkenburg was sold in 1615. In 1798, during Batavian times, the municipal forms such as heerlijkheden, which Valkenburg was one of, were being dropped in favor of general municipalities. After annexation of the Batavian Republic by Napoleonic France in 1810, a new norm for municipalities was added, stating that a municipality needed to have at least five hundred inhabitants to be considered a municipality. Valkenburg did not, and was therefore reunited with Katwijk, only to split apart again after these rules were dropped following Napoleon's defeat and independence of the Netherlands. Since 2006, the municipalities have been joined again under the name "Katwijk".

Katwijk
Katwijk came to be where the Old Rhine meets the North Sea, possibly being named after the Germanic tribes that once lived there, the Chatten, with the -wijk suffix coming from the Latin word vicus, meaning settlement. The aan de Rijn suffix refers to the Rhine river, which used to run here until the eleventh century, when the river changed directions, leaving the Oude Rijn (Old Rhine) as a narrower river through the town.

Katwijk aan den Rijn is first mentioned in a 1231 document. The town lost its fish market to Katwijk aan Zee in 1388, after which Katwijk aan den Rijn focused more on agriculture. Katwijk aan den Rijn was besides that a small regional hub for water-bound transport. In the twentieth century, the Katwijk vegetable market grew bigger, with Katwijk being the biggest producer of carrots in Europe. The town lost this title at the start of the twenty-first century, when the vegetable market was disbanded.

By car
All motorized traffic towards Katwijk uses the N206. Once on this road, follow signs leading you to Katwijk aan Zee. From here, follow the signs towards "Boulevard".

From Amsterdam, take the A4 heading for Schiphol and Leiden. Directly after exit 4 (Nieuw-Vennep), switch onto the A44. Here you take exit 8 (Leiden) followed by a right turn onto the N206. From here, use the directions listed above.

From The Hague, use the N44 heading for Wassenaar. This road will become the A44, which you should exit at exit 8 (Leiden), followed by a left turn onto the N206, after which you follow the directions above.

From Utrecht, use the A12 heading for Gouda. At exit 12a, head onto the N11 heading for Alphen aan den Rijn. You should follow this road until it connects to the A4, which you turn onto using a left turn. Immediately take the next exit on the A4 (exit 7, Zoeterwoude-Dorp). At the roundabout at the end of the exitramp you should take a right, followed by a left turn onto the N206, which you follow through the suburbs of Leiden. Once you've passed underneath the A44 highway, you should follow the instructions above.

By public transit
Katwijk does not have a train station. Instead, is the nearest train station. Once here, you can transfer onto a bus heading for Katwijk. Several bus routes connect Katwijk with Leiden. Bus 30 runs from Leiden station to the beach in Katwijk. Bus 90 connects the central station of The Hague with the beach in Katwijk.

Get around
The town is small, and easy to walk around.

Buy
The main shopping streets of Katwijk are Taatedam, Voorstraat, Emmaplein and Princestraat, all very close to the Boulevard and the beach.

Eat

 * Many restaurants can be found on the beach, being so-called strandpaviljoens.

Sleep
Nearly all of the hotels in and around Katwijk are on the beachfront. If this is not what you're looking for, there are a few further in town.

Not near the beach:

Go next

 * Leiden - This typically Dutch town is known for it's old university and as the birthplace of Rembrandt.
 * Wassenaar is best known for its enormous swimming pool and amusement park Duinrell.
 * The Bollenstreek, which Katwijk is a part of, is known and named after the beautiful flowers that colour the countryside every summer. The best example of this is the Keukenhof in Lisse.
 * The Hague, one of the biggest cities in the Netherlands and home of the Dutch parliament.

title: Katwijk


text:
Kauai

Kauai is the most northwestern of Hawaii's major islands and is the 4th largest by size and population. Nicknamed the Garden Island, it is covered with lush greenery and tropical plants, watered regularly by abundant rainfall. As the oldest of the islands, it has been changed the most by the forces of erosion, and this has resulted in natural wonders such as Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast. As a consequence of its age, Kauai also has more miles of sandy coastline than the other Hawaiian islands.

Understand
The major regions of Kauai can be defined by their location on the island relative to the prevailing trade winds. The north and east sides of the island are on the "windward" side of the island, where the winds blow onto the shore. These parts of the island tend to get the most rain, and as a result, are the greenest and most tropical parts of the island. The south and west sides of the island are on the "leeward" side of the island, which receive less rain since most clouds have already dropped their rain on the windward side of the island.

The word "city" might be an exaggeration for an island of almost 70,000 people, but here's some information on the towns of Kauai.

Windward side (north and east)
Lihue, on the island's southeast side, is the civic and commercial center of the island, host to the island's main airport, county offices, and largest shopping mall (Kukui Grove Center). The Kauai Museum, in the old part of Lihue, is the island's best museum on the history, geography, and people of Kauai.

Kapaa, on the east side, about a 20-minute drive north of Lihue, is the largest population center on the island. It anchors what is known as the Coconut Coast, which hosts many inexpensive to moderately priced resorts and much commercial activity with many strip malls along the highway. The corridor between Lihue and Kapaa is the island's most congested.

Anahola Beach is on the east shore of Kauai and is dominated by Kalalea mountain. Ironwoods, coco palms and broadleaf trees shade widely spaced beach cottages. The beach is patrolled by a lifeguard and is a good destination for families.

Kilauea is a small village that most people pass on the way to the Kilauea Lighthouse. The Kong Lung Center offers a few unique stores and restaurants. There is also a large fruit stand, Banana Joe's, north of Kilauea on the mountain side of the highway.

Princeville is a master-planned resort community on the north shore, consisting of homes, condo developments, the St. Regis hotel, and 2 golf courses. Kauai's impressive north shore mountains form the backdrop. There are several small beaches in Princeville, and many more a short drive away.

Hanalei, on the north shore, is home to a quaint little beach town and famous Hanalei Bay, a crescent-shaped bay known for its sandy white beaches and world class surf. The center of town provides a young, relaxed vibe perfect for the young traveler. The center of town provides amazing views of one of Kauai's biggest mountains with a visible waterfall in the center.

Lumahai Beach is a very-well photographed beach but is only accessible by a short hike through a tropical path. Located between Hanalei and Haena beaches, this secluded beach is perfect for people who want a more private experience. There are lava formations and caves to explore and low wake perfect for snorkeling. For the more adventurous traveler, there is the opportunity to cliff jump into the ocean from one of the protruding lava rock formations. Lumahai beach is a place many locals go so it gives tourists to see the special opportunity of the "real" Hawaii

Hāena lies just beyond Hanalei. It is mostly made up of residential homes, but is also is the gateway to Na Pali Coast and the location of Limahuli Valley, another National Tropical Botanical Garden of the Pacific.

Leeward side (south and west)

Poipu, on the south side, branded "the sunny side of paradise", is the major visitor destination for the island. Poipu features beautiful beaches, including the beautiful Poipu Beach swimming, snorkeling and surfing, boogie boarding, sea turtles, whales, monk seals, trade winds, palm trees, and spectacular sunsets. The Allerton and McBryde National Tropical Botanical Gardens of the Pacific are located in Poipu. The Grand Hyatt Kauai, Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club and Coastline Cottages Kauai lead the area's accommodation choices.

Hanapepe on the south shore has a quaint downtown filled with artists' galleries and craft shops. There is also a swinging footbridge over the Hanapepe River. Be sure to check out the Banana Patch Studio for wonderful hand-painted tiles and other locally made items.

Waimea, on the west side, is a small town with a flavor of old Kauai. Most visitors pass through town on the way to Waimea Canyon and Kokee, but the town is worth a relaxing visit.

An older, quieter island
In many ways, Kauai is different from the rest of the islands. It's almost as if you've stepped into a separate kingdom, and for many years Kauai was just that in relation to Hawaii. Kamehameha I was able to conquer all the islands by force, except Kauai. Two separate campaigns to take the island ended in failure. In the end, it took diplomacy, a royal kidnapping, and an arranged marriage to bring Kauai into the kingdom of Hawaii.

Kauai is also known as the place where the sugar cane industry in Hawaii was born. Sugar was once the industrial mainstay of the Kauai economy, but has been replaced by tourism. In October 2009, Gay & Robinson harvested the last sugar crop in Kauai, ending 117 years of the sugar business in Kauai.

In short, compared to Oahu, Maui or the Big Island, Kauai is smaller, less populated, more rural, and more laid back. That's why it's the favorite destination for many visitors to Hawaii, and for many Hawaii residents as well. Visitors come to explore the island's beaches and natural wonders, but the multitude of resorts on white sand beaches provide ample opportunity to sit and do nothing if you're so inclined.

Because tourist development reached Kauai considerably later than the other islands, the island has a larger proportion of timeshares, condominiums, and bed and breakfasts. Also, a strict cap on building heights (hotels can be no more than 40 feet high) prevent the development of the mega-resorts and towering skyscrapers found on the other islands. The local rule is that nothing can be built taller than a coconut tree.

One look at a map will show you an important difference between Kauai and the more populous islands of Hawaii: due to the massive Waimea Canyon and Na Pali Coast, no roads circle the island. Once you've made the drive along the south shore to Waimea and seen the canyon, the only options are to go west on dirt roads to Polihale Beach or turn around and go back the way you came. Same story for Princeville and Na Pali on the north shore. However, the island is compact enough that both ends of the road can be seen in the same day. But the Garden Island cannot be enjoyed or appreciated if you are pressed for time.

Kauai offers a unique experience also—from the western coast of the island on one of its piers, in the far distance, travelers can see the island of Niihau, which is the forbidden island—forbidden, that is, to all but residents (about 130 mostly Native Hawaiians), U.S. Navy personnel, government officials and invited guests. It is often forgotten about because of its privacy so seeing its outline in the far distance is an amazing and majestic experience!

Kauai is a place where many famous people go to get away. Since it is much less drastic of a plane ride from L.A. in California than it is from the East Coast, this island which is the most secluded, private and relaxing provides getaway homes to many stars, although the normal traveler won't see these celebrities out on the beach, probably because their beach-front properties provide their own beaches. However, all beaches in Hawaii are public and accessible by everyone. To get a glimpse of one of these stars, check a nook in the wall bistro. Celebrities like Beau Bridges can be found relaxing with his wife in the island's countryside restaurants.

Along many of Kauai's streets -- in particular the main highway -- there are wild roosters and chickens! It is almost like the equivalent of seeing squirrels in more eastern parts of the United States. Also quite surprisingly, stray cats are everywhere as well.

By boat
There is now also a deep water port at Nawiliwili for cruise ships. Norwegian Cruise Lines offers cruises between the islands that start and end in Honolulu.

By car
Despite the island's relatively small size and the fact that most traffic and sites to visit are concentrated along one main highway, motorized private vehicles are the most common form of transportation on Kauai. If you don't mind traffic (especially in Lihue, Wailua and Kapa'a) and driving yourself, rental cars are a convenient way to visit the island. Most major rental car companies have offices at the Lihue airport or nearby by shuttle bus. Car rentals are available in a large variety of makes and models and provide travelers flexibility and freedom to explore the island and crowd the roads. While there are numerous rental car locations right outside of the Lihue airport, some hotels also offer onsite car rental services which can be used as needed. Most rental car companies have restricted areas, notably Polihale beach. Check before you go, or take the risk of paying yourself out of trouble if your rental car breaks down or gets stuck. The red dirt that Kauai is so famous for is also highly concentrated around this area and adventurous travelers could track this stain-able substance into their rental cars.

Many tour companies offer alternatives to rental cars with hotel pick-up in in more adequate vehicles such as mini-vans, four-wheel drive vehicles or even tour buses to access more remote parts of the island.

By bus
The Kauai bus is perhaps the only other way to get around, but will not go to some rural attractions, such as Kokee. Still, if you are on a budget, this bus will get you around and between the major population centers, such as Lihue and Kapaa, and the major resort/beach areas.

By taxi
Pono Taxi and Taxi Hanalei are one of the few authorized airport taxi companies that are allowed to do pre-arranged pickups at Lihue Airport and take you to any destination on the island. They also offer personalized Kauai tours in one of the most comfortable taxi rides on the garden isle. A standard two-hour tour is $120, and taxi fare is $3 per mile.

By bicycle
One other option for transport on the island is bicycle. A 17-mile bike path is planned to eventually connect the entire east coast of the island, running from Anahola to Lihue, but as of 2019 only about an 8-mile stretch of path between Lydgate Park and Donkey Beach (a few miles north of Kapa'a) was complete. Still, the path offers scenic views of the ocean not available by car and possible whale sightings. Several bike rental shops are located along the trail in Kapa'a.

Highways and traffic
There are two main highways on Kauai, both starting in Lihue. Kaumualii Highway (state route 50) heads to the west, through the towns of Kalaheo, Hanapepe, Waimea, and Kekaha before ending at the Na Pali Coast. Kuhio Highway (state route 56) heads north from Lihue, through Kapaa, Kilauea, Princeville, and Hanalei, ending at the other side of Na Pali.

Traffic in Kauai can be slow, particularly between Lihue and Kapaa. Give yourself extra time and be patient when traveling through this area.

Tailgaiting is a very common and dangerous practice on Kauai's windy and often slippery roads. Because of the lack of convenient alternatives and of any control many drunk and stoned drivers populate the roads, especially after noon. Feral dogs, cats and wild pigs are common sightings on the road; drive cautiously and respect security distances.

See

Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Park
Above Waimea on state route 550. From Lihue, take state route 50 west to Waimea. From there, you can take Waimea Canyon Drive (550) or coThe most popular viewing point of the canyon is just past mile 11 on route 550. Koke'e is located about 4 miles further. (808)245-6001 for weather information in the canyon. At over 10 miles (16 km) long, 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, and 3,567 feet (1,087 m) deep, Waimea Canyon has been called the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Indeed, its colors rival that of its Arizona counterpart, except that Waimea Canyon also adds touches of green that would be absent in the desert. Carved and formed over hundreds of thousands of years by runoff from Mount Waialeale at the center of the island, the canyon shows millions of years of geological history.

Camping and hiking are available above the canyon at Koke'e State Park.

The best time to go is on a relatively clear day, and then after mid-morning (from about 9:30AM-on). Otherwise, clouds and fog may obscure the view.

Na Pali Coast
The Nā Pali coast (Hawaiian for "the slopes"), featured in the film Jurassic Park and many other movies, is one of the most distinctive geological features of Kauai and consists of sheer cliffs thousands of feet high that drop directly onto pristine secluded beaches. The beaches are reachable only by boat, helicopter, or foot for very experienced hikers, but the cliffs may be viewed from the top by driving to the end of Route 550.

Na Pali Coast State Park provides adventurous travelers to hike along the coast with several options: they can either hike a round-trip 5 miles (in and out from Ke'e beach to Hanakapia'i beach) or the longest, most strenuous option, with the proper overnight equipment, permit and hiking gear, and do the 12 mile one-way hike into Kalalau Beach. You can also travel the Na Pali coast by boat or kayak with many different outfitters.

By kayak, it's a 17.5 mile all day trip (unless one makes a special point to camp half way on the coast) done by two outfitters out of Hanalei. It's been called the Everest of Sea Kayaking and much like the hiking, is not for the faint of heart. Both are strenuous and difficult. Travelers will get to see beaches only accessible by foot or kayak and only visible by the highly expensive boat and helicopter tours. The caves along this hike/paddle are absolutely marvelous as well. Tourists will get the rare chance to marvel at Kauai's natural splendor and ocean life.

By foot, a permit is only required if you continue any further than Hanakapia'i beach on the Na Pali Coast. You may travel there and an additional 4 mile round trip hike to Hanakapia'i Falls with no permit. By kayak, if you use one of the guide companies in Hanalei you will not need a permit. If you do camp over on your own or with a company, you will need to gather a landing permit. While kayaking, there are a few beaches, like Honopu beach, directly next to Kalalau, that do not allow any landing vessel whatsoever. You can not land a kayak, surfboard, or anything else. The only way to access it is by swimming from an anchored boat off shore or from Kalalau Beach; both should only be done when the ocean permits as it can be very dangerous.

Do
People come to Kauai primarily for one thing: the beaches with their great snorkeling, surfing, swimming, and sunning. But Kauai also boasts more navigable rivers than the other Hawaiian Islands making kayaking very popular as well as the cool, higher elevation of Koke'e. If the surf is calm you can even combine a river run with time paddling the bays and ocean shoreline. You'll find kayak rentals near the mouth of the most popular rivers. Many will also rent roof-top strap-on kayaks for travelers interested in trying one of the several smaller river runs.

Kauai has great hiking and mountain biking trails as well. Outdoor adventurers will find the guidebook Kauai Trailblazer to be helpful for comparing various locations for hiking and biking (as well as snorkeling, kayaking, and surfing). The Waimea Canyon area has extensive hiking trails both into the canyon itself as well as great overlooks of the Na Pali cliffs. Check with the park office on trail conditions and weather before starting your hike. The Koke'e Museum has a listing of trails.
 * Warning: Kauai's famous red dirt is very slippery when wet, as it often is, making some trails too slippery to use, particularly those along steep drop offs.

There are many commercial tour guides that offer various land and sea adventures such as guided hikes, downhill bike tours, back-country ATV trips, river tubing adventures, and more, but hiking areas and water access are free. There are no private beaches anywhere in the Hawaiian Islands.

Other recommended activities are listed below by region.

An amazing service the east side provides is Kayak rentals on their Wailua river. It is a very hidden location but this family-owned kayak rental is run by native Hawaiians who are very friendly. The kayak rental is on a historically re-created Hawaiian village ground where adventurous travelers can walk around, go inside huts and their small buildings and see live peacocks wandering the grounds. There are recreated traditional family huts like the Ancient Hawaiians used to live in and also medicine huts where you can see how medicine was made. Kayak rentals are moderately expensive but very much worth it. You also get great exercise because to go to an actual stop or island there is around 20 straight minutes of paddling! A popular place for tourists and locals alike to stop at on their kayak tour is a little cove where a rope swing was built! There is also a cliff perfect for jumping off of into the deep water, but caution must be advised. The rope swing is very safe. Kayaking through the Wailua river is an amazing experience where one can truly be at peace with nature. There is lush greenery completely surrounding the river and fresh, clear water in the river. Another popular spot for kayaking is about a mile down the river. Kayak tours are available, but tourists can also discover this spot themselves and at their own pace. This spot provides around a two mile hike to one of Kauai's most beautiful waterfalls. The rocks are treacherous but once the traveler gets past them, they can even swim under the waterfall! It is truly an experience unlike any other. Kauai is clearly a place for the hiking enthusiast. Another spot is a garden tour through the fern grotto. This river makes a loop so once you've been to the waterfall and fern grotto it is only a short paddle back to the base. The fern grotto is a large bolder-looking formation covered in fern. Deeper in is a cave. The garden area is mysteriously covered with stray cats but is nonetheless beautiful and stunning. This historically education and adventurous experience is definitely a must when traveling to Kauai.
 * North: Hanalei is a charming Hawaiian village in beautiful country on the north of the island. Hanalei has a nostalgic, romantic quality of simpler times on the Islands.  An easy drive to the northwest of Hanalei provides access to the Na Pali coast.  See more about the Na Pali coast above, but to get a taste and requiring no permit, you can hike 2 miles in to the first beach (Hanakapi'ai). Day hikes are unrestricted, but camping requires a permit from the parks department.  There is a long waiting list, so signing up a year in advance is a good idea.  Tour boats can also access the coast; they may be chartered out of Hanalei or other outfits on the south of the island.  Snorkeling is very good. The area is effectively closed to boats in the winter due to the intense Pacific weather hitting that part of Kaua'i.
 * East: Kapa'a is a small, cute, tourist-friendly town on the east side. It's the town with the largest population on Kaua'i. It features a movie theater, an internet cafe, many restaurants, and a Birkenstock outlet. Look up from Anahola and see the mountain that faded in from the Paramount logo at the beginning of "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
 * South: The South Shore has a number of great beaches such as Maha'ulepu Beach with its ancient petroglyphs and the rocky Shipwreck Beach, both perfect for snorkeling or scuba diving. Check out Poipu Beach, often ranked as one of the world's top beaches by travel surveys. Venture to Kipu Falls, where the opening sequences for Raiders of the Lost Ark were filmed. Kauai is a leading destination for scuba divers, with many beautiful, relatively unspoiled coral reefs and a variety of fish not found anywhere outside the Hawaiian archipelago. Dive boats leave daily from Po'ipu. Shorter trips typically involve two dives at locations off the south shore. For a once-in-a-lifetime dive choose a dive off the coast of Ni'ihau, the privately-owned island to the west of Kauai. Expect to pay from $120 and up depending on the dive-boat operator and the length of the dive. Kauai is also a destination for whale watchers; humpbacks winter in the coast off Hawaii. Dolphin pods are also a very common sight. Whale watching boats leave multiple times a day from Po'ipu and the dock at Nawiliwili in Kalapaki Bay.

 * West: A drive up to the Waimea Canyon is highly recommended or explore the Canyon and surrounding areas on a breathtaking tour.

If you rent a jeep make sure you take a trek out to Polihale Beach. It is located at the southern end of the Na Pali coast. This wide sprawling beach is the longest on the major islands, at just over 17 miles long. The sunsets here are truly awesome and with a permit you can camp there, as it is a State Park. During the winter and early spring you can also see the whales from the beach. However, the last couple of miles of the road to get to Polihale, run through an old sugar cane field. As of Jul 2011 the road was still not maintained and is in poor condition to drive, with many large and deep potholes riddling the entire narrow road. If you have a rental car recognize that all rental car companies on the island expressly prohibit the use of their vehicles (including Jeeps!) on Polihale road.

Luaus
There are many luaus on Kauai, which feature Polynesian singing and dancing. Most feature buffet dinners. Here are some of the best known.

 * Smith Family Garden Luau ($140/adult)
 * Grand Hyatt Kauai Luau ($175/adult)
 * Aulii Luau ($190/adult)
 * Luau Kalamaku ($171/adult)
 * Hawaii Alive Luau Show ($160/adult)

Buy

 * Warehouse 3540 3540 Koloa Rd. (near Lawai Trading Post). This trendy warehouse is home to many local boutiques and food trucks. They also offer free community events.
 * Warehouse 3540 3540 Koloa Rd. (near Lawai Trading Post). This trendy warehouse is home to many local boutiques and food trucks. They also offer free community events.
 * Warehouse 3540 3540 Koloa Rd. (near Lawai Trading Post). This trendy warehouse is home to many local boutiques and food trucks. They also offer free community events.
 * Warehouse 3540 3540 Koloa Rd. (near Lawai Trading Post). This trendy warehouse is home to many local boutiques and food trucks. They also offer free community events.
 * Warehouse 3540 3540 Koloa Rd. (near Lawai Trading Post). This trendy warehouse is home to many local boutiques and food trucks. They also offer free community events.
 * Warehouse 3540 3540 Koloa Rd. (near Lawai Trading Post). This trendy warehouse is home to many local boutiques and food trucks. They also offer free community events.
 * Warehouse 3540 3540 Koloa Rd. (near Lawai Trading Post). This trendy warehouse is home to many local boutiques and food trucks. They also offer free community events.
 * Warehouse 3540 3540 Koloa Rd. (near Lawai Trading Post). This trendy warehouse is home to many local boutiques and food trucks. They also offer free community events.

Eat
Like the rest of Hawaii, the plate lunch is ubiquitous in Kauai (see the Eat section in the main Hawaii article for more information). However, many of Kauai's beaches and natural attractions (like Waimea Canyon) have no amenities nearby. Pack a lunch and bring enough water for the day - then stop at the restaurants for dinner. For a tasty snack, pick up some red lychees from a roadside stand or a farmer's market. Waimea Canyon visitors can drive a few miles further up the road to the Koke'e Lodge, located in the Koke'e State Park next to the museum. It serves breakfast and lunch.

For foodies visiting Kauai, the Tasting Kauai Food Tour is an easy way to sample some of the island's most popular dishes.

Sweet tooth

 * Wailua Shave Ice. Made with fresh fruit. Located in Old Kapaa Town.
 * The Fresh Shave. Located at Warehouse 3540. Made with fresh fruit and organic syrups.
 * Wailua Shave Ice. Made with fresh fruit. Located in Old Kapaa Town.
 * The Fresh Shave. Located at Warehouse 3540. Made with fresh fruit and organic syrups.
 * The Fresh Shave. Located at Warehouse 3540. Made with fresh fruit and organic syrups.

Drink

 * A great place to watch the sun set behind Bali Hai at cocktail hour is the "Library" at the St. Regis Hotel, in the Princeville Resort on the North Shore. At the end of Ka Haku Road.
 * Sunset from The Point bar at the Sheraton Poipu--sit on the patio and nosh some bar food, sip a Lilikoi Lemonade, and watch the sun set behind Niihau and Spounting Horn.

Sleep
Before making lodging reservations it's best to review a map of the island and plan ahead. Think about the activities and sightseeing you want to do. While it's true that you can drive to any part of the island within an hour or two you'll spend less time in the car if you book your lodging in a spot that's closest to the places you'll spend most of your time. The one main highway is only two lanes *one each way* and tends to get fairly congested at times.

The "windward" side, especially the north coast can get up to twice rain than the sunny south coast. If you come from a cold and rainy region looking for a sunny Hawaiian vacation you could be disappointed if you stay on the lush, green, tropical - and wetter - north coast. Yes, it will still be warm but more with more cloud cover and showers.

Location and setting also affects lodging prices. There can be a sizable price difference between ocean view and non-ocean view units - the so-called 'garden' or 'mountain' view rooms - all within the same resort. Also, resorts or condo properties set inland - even a block or two - can sometimes be 10-20% cheaper than properties that front or connect directly with the beach. Yes, you'll have to walk a bit or bike or even make a short drive but if helps to fit Kauai into your budget it may be worth the walk.

Make your reservations early to get the best choices for unit type, location, and price. Larger condo resorts often have multiple owners so search the Web by resort name and compare prices. "By owner" listings for condos usually offer rates that a little lower than what the big agencies will charge for the same complex - although selection will be narrower (e.g. one to four units). Get a complete written quote of all expense plus the cancellation and refund policy before sending a deposit.

Another option is camping. There are many county and a state park where camping is allowed. Permits are cheap but required.

Stay safe

 * Leptospirosis - a serious bacterial infection. The bacteria is spread by the waste of animals and is found in all fresh water outlets as well as the muddy trails. It is more common on Kauai than other islands, and should be treated promptly with antibiotics. Symptoms are flu-like, and mainland doctors may not recognize the disease as readily. It is very important to treat any water you gather while camping or backpacking with pills or a filter to ensure you kill all bacteria found in it, not just leptospirosis.

Rip tides, currents, and high surf - Rip tides and ocean currents on Kauai can be treacherous. Unlike the other Hawaiian islands, Kauai can be especially dangerous because of the lack of a protective reef around many beaches. Many popular swimming areas can be extremely dangerous. Visitors are especially cautioned to not enter the sea from any beach on the Na Pali Coast, which has been the site of multiple drownings.

Sunburn - The UV index in Hawaii often exceeds 12 in the summer. People with lighter complexions can receive serious sunburns in as little as 15 minutes. Always wear a good sunblock and/or UV-blocking clothes. Sunburn can easily ruin a vacation. If you get a bad sunburn, however, the Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihue can prescribe medication to alleviate the symptoms.

Prepare for the area you are visiting. Kaua'i has a few different climates in its boundary, so you will visit many different areas. For instance, you may wear flip flops and bikinis at Poipu; however, you would want a jacket, boots and long pants while up in Koke'e.

Kaua'i is an ever-changing, adapting part of an island chain. It is constantly eroding and changing. Beware of drop offs, sharp edges, water safety and the land and ocean around you in general.

Respect
Remember that as much as you need to keep yourself safe, you need to keep Hawai'i safe as well. Please practice the Leave No Trace principles to make sure everyone can enjoy the islands. It's not only illegal to do things like feed or hassle wildlife, take rocks, sand or plants, but it's also immoral and detrimental to the Hawaiian Islands. They are the most isolated land mass on the globe and have many species and landscapes that are struggling to survive under the pressures of tourism. Respect the 'aina the best you can. Do not litter, cut trails, or desecrate natural or man made sites.

Go next

 * Oahu

title: Kauai


text:
Kauhava

Kauhava is a town and municipality in Southern Ostrobothnia. It is known for its variant of puukko knives.

Understand

The Kauhava municipality nowadays includes also Alahärmä, Ylihärmä and Kortesjärvi, with a total population of 17,000 people on 1,330 km².

In the 19th century Kauhava and its surroundings had a strong puukko-junkkari or häijyt culture of young violent troublemakers. A big problem at the time, they have been romanticized and are now part of the local identity (like the Vikings in Scandinavia). There is a yearly Härmääläiset Häijyilyt festival celebrating the tradition.

The puukko is an all-round handicraft, fishing and hunting knife, ubiquitous in all Finland. Iisakki Järvenpää worked at the local knife factory until starting his own in 1904, further developing the local variant. Iisakki Järvenpää is now one of the most well-known puukko brands in Finland, found in outdoor and gift shops all around the country. Also other kinds of knives are now sold by the brand.

Kauhava also has a strong folk dance tradition, and is taking its place in the modern word with entrepreneurship and IT education. The school for fighter pilots was laid down some years ago.

Get in
is on the main south–north railway (Helsinki–Rovaniemi), between Seinäjoki and Kokkola.

There are a few buses per day from Seinäjoki, mostly operated by Härmän Liikenne.

Get around
Taxis available by the railway station. Bus timetables from Matkahuolto.

By taxi

 * Keskustaksi, Taksini: see Southern Ostrobothnia
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

See

 * Forest reindeer. Kauhava is one of the main areas for wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) in winter.
 * Forest reindeer. Kauhava is one of the main areas for wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) in winter.
 * Forest reindeer. Kauhava is one of the main areas for wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) in winter.
 * Forest reindeer. Kauhava is one of the main areas for wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) in winter.

Powerpark

Powerpark is a leisure centre in Alahärmä (2–3 km from the centre), 25 km from Kauhava centre. It is a recreational park with more than 100 hectares. It was built at the beginning of 21st century.

The area includes the amusement park with a fairy-tale world, hotels, restaurants, cafés, a shopping street, a camping site, the largest karting hall in Europe and the Mika Salo Cicuit outdoor track.

This amusement park has 34 different rides, for different tastes and ages, including Thunderbird, Finland’s largest wooden rollercoaster and there is also a new 5D cinema. The activities also include horseback trekking and ATV safaris in Ostrbotnian landscape.

Mika Salo Circuit is an international standard go-kart race track and with a beautiful view to the river. PowerPalace is Europe’s biggest indoor go-kart hall. No experience is required and as full tuition is always provided by PowerPark as well as all the equipment needed. Instructors give a thorough guidance before start.

Devil’s Mine Hotel, the interactive ghost train, MegaDrop, the free fall, Thunderbird, one of the world’s best wooden roller coasters and Booster are some of the attractions. Those who like calmer rides can enjoy the traditional carousels or ferries with a lovely view to the Ostrobothnian countryside.

It is always important to check the safety limits, for those who are yet not allowed to go to all rides.

Events

 * Härmälääset Häjyylyt
 * Kävelykarnevaalit ("walking carnival")
 * Puukkofestivaali (knife festival)
 * Finnish championship of lying
 * Finnish championship of lying

Buy

 * Knives.

Ala-Härmä
Near the Powerpark
 * Park Hotel Härmä is a fairy-tale thematic hotel inside the park
 * San Marino & Monza (Apartment hotels)
 * Silverstone-cabins are traditional Finnish log cabins. 200 meters from the amusement park and the go-kart tracks.
 * Future-cabins. They have an excellent location quite in the middle of the camping site
 * Tirol-cabins (built in 2010) are situated at the heart of the camping site, as well. The cabins have a Tyrolean atmosphere and from outside they look like traditional alpine style houses
 * Casa Rosina is a very large, luxurious log villa in an excellent location in the camping site, just a few minutes of walk from the amusement park.
 * Fisherman-cabins
 * Rio Grande-camping offers modern accommodation in a beautiful, peaceful, green area right beside the amusement park.
 * Vankkuri, a Wild West-style wagon with beautiful decoration.

title: Kauhava


text:
Kaunas

Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania, with a population of some 288,000 people. The main reason to visit is its charming Old Town, connected to the 19th century New Town ranged along Laisvės alėja. It was the country's capital between the two world wars.

Climate
The best time to visit Kaunas is May to August. Summers are cool - July is the warmest with an average of – and there are frequent showers.

Winter is icy, bitter cold, and the days are short. Nevertheless, it can be a good time to visit, because the city is well-adapted to the cold. The streets get snow-plowed and the transport keeps running. Museums and similar facilities remain open. Buildings are well-heated, with cloakrooms and other storage for all your clobber. You'll need ten mins to shuck off your layers of clothing every time you enter a building, and ten minutes to wrap up again before you venture out, but this is all part of the winter routine. It's companionable, everyone feels in league together against the winter, and it's as much a part of experiencing the country as church incense, vodka and potatoes. And outside you can lark about with sledges and snowmen. Choose carefully who you snowball – the locals have far greater skills than you have.

Tourist information
The is at Rotuses Square 29, next to Town Hall. It's open M-F 09:00-20:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00; see also the online tourist guide.

History

The city grew up in an obvious strategic position, at the confluence of the country's two main rivers. There's been settlement here for at least 2500 years but what we now call the Old Town dates from the 14th century when the castle was built. Kaunas prospered as part of the Hanseatic League into the 16th century. Medieval Lithuania had united with Poland to control a huge swathe of Europe, right down to the Black Sea, but Sweden and Russia grew and fought for regional control, and in the 17th and 18th centuries they attacked and wrecked Kaunas several times. Russia won the power struggle and took over Lithuania in 1795, while Poland was carved up between Russia, Prussia and Austria.

The Grand Army of Napoleon marched through Kaunas to occupy Moscow in 1812, and then retreated, and devastated the city both times. It had all been too easy to invade, and there were ominous local uprisings, so in the 19th century, Russia tightened its grip by building up the local garrison. This culminated in the colossal military complex of "Fortress Kaunas" encircling the city; but it proved of limited value in 20th-century warfare, and nowadays only the "Ninth Fort" (of ten) is standing.

Lithuania proclaimed its independence in 1918, the "First Republic". Vilnius had always been the chief city, but it was seized first by the Russian Bolsheviks and then by Poland; so instead Kaunas became the provisional capital. This greatly stimulated its urban and cultural development, with handsome buildings in neoclassical, functional and Art Deco design, dubbed "Little Paris". It was a diverse city: a quarter of the population were Jewish, engaged in commercial, artisan, professional life, and religious learning.

The First Republic was crushed in 1940 when the Soviet Union annexed Lithuania. But Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941 and yet again the Russians fled, choosing not to make a stand so far from Moscow. The Germans set about liquidating the Jewish population: over 30,000 perished. The Red Army retook the Baltic states in 1944, and post-war Lithuania became part of the USSR. Not until 1990 was it again independent.

By plane

 * https://zumexpert.com/

To and from the airport
Bus 29 from outside Arrivals runs via Savanoriu Ave to the main railway and bus station, taking an hour. It runs daily once or twice an hour between 04:30 and 23:30, then the last bus heads into town at 01:00 but will wait for delayed flights. The fare is €1, pay the driver.

A taxi to the town centre might be €16.

Ollex is a direct bus from Kaunas airport to Vilnius (90 min, three per day, €15) and Klaipėda (2 hr 30 min, four per day, €22). The latter stops midway at Kryžkalnis highway interchange, for other local buses.

 * Vilnius Airport 100 km east has far more flights, from all the European capitals and many other cities. It has a direct Ollex bus to Kaunas city centre (Akropolis shopping centre), and is close to Vilnius rail and bus stations for other onward transport.

By road
The dual-carriageway motorways and main highways are in good condition and are kept open in winter. The motorway speed limit is 130 km/h, but 110 km/h in winter, and 100 km/h on the Vilnius-Kaunas sector.

The main international highway is Via Baltica E67 connecting Warsaw via Lithuania to Tallinn. It runs north from Augustow in Poland to become A5 at the border; from there it runs northeast past Marijampolė to Kaunas, continuing as A8 / A10 north to Riga then Tallinn.

Highway A1 / E85 runs west from Kaunas to Klaipėda on the coast, and east to Vilnius. From Vilnius A3 / E28 runs southeast into Belarus, towards Minsk.

Highway A6 / E262 runs northeast from Kaunas to Jonava, Ukmerge, Utena and Daugavpils in Latvia.

By train
From Poland, a daily train runs from Krakow at 04:00 via Warsaw Centralna at 07:30 to reach the border towards 15:00. Here you change onto the Lithuanian train for Kaunas at 16:30 and Vilnius at 17:30. (If you flew into Warsaw, you could take any train to Białystok then join the cross-border train at a more congenial 10:30 next morning.) The westbound train sets off from Vilnius at noon and Kaunas at 13:20.

Another train lumbers on Saturday and Sunday between Białystok and Kaunas on the old route via Mariampole, which pre-dates the Rail Baltica line. So it's overtaken by the Krakow-Vilnius train and you'd only use it to reach one of the villages along the old route.

From Vilnius trains run hourly, daily 05:00-22:30, taking 90 min. The adult single fare in 2022 is €7. The trains are usually Czech double-deckers.

From Klaipeda four services run daily, with a change at Šiauliai and a journey time of five hours.

(Kauno geležinkelio stotis) is at M.K. Čiurlionio g. 16 in the southeast corner of the city, 2 km from Old Town: you can follow a pleasant footpath along the river bank. There are lockers next to the ticket office, a tourist office, an ATM and a small café.

About 500 m northeast of the station, a splendid old steam locomotive stands at the entrance to a 1.3 km railway tunnel, built in 1861 and still in use. But the road along here (Tunelio gatve) is busy with traffic and it's taking you away from the other city sights; you can see it just fine on Google Street View.

By bus

National: Between Kaunas and Vilnius, the main bus line is Kautra, with departures every 15 min taking 90 mins, fare €7. Toks buses also run this line hourly, same travel time and fare. Between Kaunas and Klaipeda, various lines run hourly taking 3 hours, and fare €15. See the ticket website for full choice.

International: Eurolines run buses to Kaunas from Riga in Latvia (4 per day, 4 hr, €20), Tallinn in Estonia (2 per day, 11 hr, €30), Minsk in Belarus (3 direct per day, 7 hr, €17; more by changing in Vilnius), and Warsaw in Poland (2 per day, 7 hr, €20). FlixBus has buses from Tallinn, Riga, Warsaw and Berlin to Kaunas.

By bus
Some 47 bus and 16 trolleybus routes criss-cross the city, running from about 05:00 to 23:00. Buy tickets at newspaper kiosks or on board; a single (paper) ticket is €1 - validate pre-bought tickets on boarding. You can also buy e-tickets (swipe cards) for pay-as-you-go (€0.70 per journey), 3 days (€5.50), 7 days (€10), 1 month (€28 for M-F, €31 for 7-day use), 3 months, or a year. Buy from kiosks and top up online. Ziogas is a mobile app for buying tickets.

See Kaunas Public Transport for fares, a downloadable map and a travel planner.

By taxi
The easiest way to book a taxi is with the eTAKSI app for smartphones, a service similar to Uber/Lyft.

Book taxis by phone, it's not usual to hail them on the street here. In the evening and at night, prices are higher. Reputable companies are:

By car
Driving a car in Kaunas is easy, as long as you comply with traffic regulations. Admittedly, the central part of Kaunas city is heavily affected by intensive traffic flows. It is notable, that some main central streets, i.e. K. Donelaicio/Kestucio are part of a one-way system. It facilitates a smoother flow of traffic through the Kaunas city centre grid. Drivers must have a valid driving license and vehicle registration document, insurance (green card is valid in Lithuania). Renting a car for at least 24 hours in Kaunas is effortless. There are some companies renting cars in Kaunas, including Rentacar.lt, Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Budget, AviaEuropa, NeoRent, Autonuoma Kaune and Carent. All of these companies have offices at Kaunas airport. The vehicles are provided with a full tank. The car must be returned with a full tank, otherwise, €1 per litre is charged. To rent a car without a driver a deposit must be paid. The speed limit in Kaunas is 50 km/h, except for some bigger streets which have a speed limit of 60, 70 or even 80 km/h.

Parking in central Kaunas, as well as in the Old Town area, is paid. Central Kaunas is divided into three zones with different parking fees - red (most expensive), blue and green (least expensive). All parking ticket machines are equipped with card readers for city chip cards, and some of them accept coins. Also one may pay for parking with a special 1 or 2-hour parking card or by sending a special SMS (text message) to number 1332 if one has a local mobile provider - Omnitel, Bite or Tele2 card. A special sticker on the windscreen of the car to indicate that SMS payment can be used is required. The parking ticket or parking card must be clearly visible to be valid. Chip cards or parking cards are available on newsstands, in the Parking in Kaunas company office, Gedimino g.45, or at dressed in green parking controllers. Everyone is liable to an excess charge if they park beyond the selected parking period. The excess period is 15 minutes.

By bike
There are more than 50 km of cycleways in Kaunas and this is increasing, see online chart. The Eurovelo international route goes through the city.

 * Rent bikes from

By boat
Regular water tourism routes: Kaunas - Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant - Kaunas (duration: 3 hours) and  Kaunas - Rumšiškės - Kaunas (duration: 6 hours;) are available on Saturdays and Sundays from Kaunas Pažaislis pier. Each route starts from Kaunas Reservoir pier at 11:00 Another water tourism route Kaunas - Zapyškis - Kulautuva small resort town (duration: 2 hours) starts from Kaunas Vytautas' church pier in the Old Town on Sundays at 12:00. Tickets are also available in advance at Kaunas region tourism information center, Laisves aleja, 36.

See

 * Various city sightseeing tours are available, see Tourist Office choices. They also tout a "Kaunastic" card but this is simply a gift card for retail outlets; it doesn't grant entry to the sights or rides on the buses.

Old Town
The city's top attraction for visitors is its Old Town, built around City Hall Square (Rotušės aikštė) between the 14th and 17th centuries in Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles.

 * Napoleon's House is next to the Lutheran Church on Muitines g. 8. This 16th-century brick building is named for Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed here in June 1812. Its eastern annexe has a beautiful staircase, an example of Fachverk, a German architectural style rare in Lithuania. But it's nowadays part of the University Faculty of Humanities and you can't routinely visit.
 * Napoleon's House is next to the Lutheran Church on Muitines g. 8. This 16th-century brick building is named for Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed here in June 1812. Its eastern annexe has a beautiful staircase, an example of Fachverk, a German architectural style rare in Lithuania. But it's nowadays part of the University Faculty of Humanities and you can't routinely visit.
 * Napoleon's House is next to the Lutheran Church on Muitines g. 8. This 16th-century brick building is named for Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed here in June 1812. Its eastern annexe has a beautiful staircase, an example of Fachverk, a German architectural style rare in Lithuania. But it's nowadays part of the University Faculty of Humanities and you can't routinely visit.
 * Napoleon's House is next to the Lutheran Church on Muitines g. 8. This 16th-century brick building is named for Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed here in June 1812. Its eastern annexe has a beautiful staircase, an example of Fachverk, a German architectural style rare in Lithuania. But it's nowadays part of the University Faculty of Humanities and you can't routinely visit.
 * Napoleon's House is next to the Lutheran Church on Muitines g. 8. This 16th-century brick building is named for Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed here in June 1812. Its eastern annexe has a beautiful staircase, an example of Fachverk, a German architectural style rare in Lithuania. But it's nowadays part of the University Faculty of Humanities and you can't routinely visit.
 * Napoleon's House is next to the Lutheran Church on Muitines g. 8. This 16th-century brick building is named for Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed here in June 1812. Its eastern annexe has a beautiful staircase, an example of Fachverk, a German architectural style rare in Lithuania. But it's nowadays part of the University Faculty of Humanities and you can't routinely visit.
 * Napoleon's House is next to the Lutheran Church on Muitines g. 8. This 16th-century brick building is named for Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed here in June 1812. Its eastern annexe has a beautiful staircase, an example of Fachverk, a German architectural style rare in Lithuania. But it's nowadays part of the University Faculty of Humanities and you can't routinely visit.
 * Napoleon's House is next to the Lutheran Church on Muitines g. 8. This 16th-century brick building is named for Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed here in June 1812. Its eastern annexe has a beautiful staircase, an example of Fachverk, a German architectural style rare in Lithuania. But it's nowadays part of the University Faculty of Humanities and you can't routinely visit.
 * Napoleon's House is next to the Lutheran Church on Muitines g. 8. This 16th-century brick building is named for Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed here in June 1812. Its eastern annexe has a beautiful staircase, an example of Fachverk, a German architectural style rare in Lithuania. But it's nowadays part of the University Faculty of Humanities and you can't routinely visit.
 * Napoleon's House is next to the Lutheran Church on Muitines g. 8. This 16th-century brick building is named for Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed here in June 1812. Its eastern annexe has a beautiful staircase, an example of Fachverk, a German architectural style rare in Lithuania. But it's nowadays part of the University Faculty of Humanities and you can't routinely visit.
 * Napoleon's House is next to the Lutheran Church on Muitines g. 8. This 16th-century brick building is named for Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed here in June 1812. Its eastern annexe has a beautiful staircase, an example of Fachverk, a German architectural style rare in Lithuania. But it's nowadays part of the University Faculty of Humanities and you can't routinely visit.
 * Napoleon's House is next to the Lutheran Church on Muitines g. 8. This 16th-century brick building is named for Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed here in June 1812. Its eastern annexe has a beautiful staircase, an example of Fachverk, a German architectural style rare in Lithuania. But it's nowadays part of the University Faculty of Humanities and you can't routinely visit.

Central / New Town
The Old Town ends at the boulevard of Gimnazijos gatvė. East of there, Laisvės alėja is the pedestrianised boulevard that stretches for 2 km forming the spine of the New Town. (In early 2019 much of it is one big mess, with excavations and construction barriers.) It's lined by linden trees, seating and flower beds, and dotted with shops, banks, supermarkets, restaurants, a cinema, casinos, nightclubs, museums, places to stay and a central post office. It is kept clean, and in winter free of snow, and is a great place to spend time. In the late morning and afternoon various stalls sell foods, souvenirs, and so on. The pedestrian strip ends at the Church of St Michael the Archangel. In 2023 the New Town with its interwar architecture was added to the world heritage list.

 * In the square just outside the War Museum, see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Eternal flame. The Carillon or campanile first rang out in 1937; it was restored in 2006 and now has 49 bells. It plays the Lithuanian folk melody of wartime each noon, and there are Carillon concerts on Saturday and Sunday at 16:00 in the adjacent Gardens.
 * In the square just outside the War Museum, see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Eternal flame. The Carillon or campanile first rang out in 1937; it was restored in 2006 and now has 49 bells. It plays the Lithuanian folk melody of wartime each noon, and there are Carillon concerts on Saturday and Sunday at 16:00 in the adjacent Gardens.

Further out

Events
Regular fairs, festivals and events confirmed for 2019 include:
 * Kaunas Jazz was on 24–28 April 2019, dates for 2020 haven't been announced.
 * Birthday of Kaunas city is 17–19 May 2019.
 * Pažaislis Music festival is held June - Aug in the city and surrounding region.
 * Operetta in Kaunas Castle, various dates in June and July.
 * International Modern Dance Festival is 5-7 Oct 2019.

Theatres

Cinemas

 * There are two multiplex cinemas in Kaunas, Cinamon in the Mega shopping complex, and Forum cinemas in Akropolis.
 * Lithuania's oldest cinema Romuva, at Laisves aleja, 54, is only open for special events such as the film festival (see "Events" above).

Sports
Sports and leisure centres are found throughout Kaunas offering swimming pools, sports courts, fields and exercise equipment.
 * Football: the men's national soccer team plays home games at Darius and Girėnas Stadium, capacity 15,000, three km east of city centre. Kaunas has two clubs playing soccer in A Lyga, the country's top tier: FK Kauno Žalgiris and FC Hegelmann Litauen. The domestic playing season is March-Nov.

Beaches
There are some beaches on the banks of Nemunas river, shores of Lampedziai lake and Kaunas Reservoir. Beaches are open in summer time.

Learn
Kaunas is known as a city of students. Some of Kaunas' universities, listed below, attract students from abroad for good quality, yet inexpensive studies.
 * Vytautas Magnus University. Founded in 1922 as a national university, it is named after Vytautas the Great, the most famous XVth century Lithuanian ruler. University is one of the leading universities of Lithuania - K. Donelaičio g. 58.
 * Kaunas University of Technology - the largest technical university in the Baltic States - K. Donelaičio g. 73. (central administration).
 * Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education – the only institution of tertiary physical education in Lithuania - Sporto g. 6.
 * Kaunas University of Medicine - A. Mickeviciaus g. 9.
 * Kaunas Art Institute - Muitines g. 4.

Buy

The best known grocery stores are: Maxima, IKI, Rimi, Norfa, Šilas, Samsonas and Senukai (household goods). There are also a lot of well known Western brand stores, stylish boutiques usually set at the central streets of Kaunas or shopping malls. Also one may choose to stroll around in the areas of some Kaunas outdoor markets.

What to buy

 * Hand made bone china table sets, cups, mugs and other souvenirs. Available at the ImDeco store in Akropolis shopping mall (or directly from producer JSC Jiesia at Chemijos g. 29, at the eastern part of Kaunas).
 * Šakotis - popular traditional Lithuanian poundcake grilled layer by layer. Its name means branched, and that describes its distinctive shape, usually dressed-up for a wedding ceremony.
 * Vodka (Degtiné) - a whole range of flavoured vodkas. Try cherry, cranberry, lemon, blackcurrant, raspberry and of course classic. The pepper was an acquired taste - but got easier the more you drank.
 * Flax (linas) products - high quality and old traditions.
 * Mead (midus) - original national beverage made of vodka, some herbs and with honey flavour and taste. Not to be confused with medus, which is honey in Lithuanian.
 * Cottage cheese - lots of variations.
 * Amber (gintaras), so called "Lithuanian gold", decorations.
 * Linen or wooden dolls - for children.

Where to buy
Within Kaunas there are several malls which are usually open from 08:09 until 24:00. Most shopping centers have dozens or more stores, a food court, restaurants, multiplexes, branches of commercial banks, ATMs, bowling alleys and even may have a skating rink. Shopping lovers should visit the cozy craft shops in the Old Town for Lithuanian souvenirs as well.

Eat

Lithuanian dishes aren't that easy to find around the world so why not try some of them now when you have the opportunity? Of course, European, Asian, French, Italian, Russian and other cuisines are available at Kaunas' restaurants.

Drink
Beer (Alus in Lithuanian). Utenos, Švyturys and Horn are brands worth trying. Expect to pay around €1.50 per 0.5 l in tourist bars and restaurants, or around €1 in local bars.

Sleep
The number of places to stay grows every year. Also the choice of distinct types of accommodation increases as well. Despite that, in the summer it's recommended to book in advance.

Stay safe
Kaunas usually is a safe place but everyone should take some precautions against pickpockets and baggage theft, especially in public transport and at stations.

Opposite of the central train station there is a "Station market“ - a rough area, especially on evenings. The baggage lockers in Kaunas railway station are a cheap and secure place to store bags and other items.

Cope
Kaunas' hospitals offer generally high quality services at a small price if compare to the cost of a Western hospital. Probably the best-regarded is:

Connect
As of Aug 2023, Kaunas and its approach highways have 4G from Bite and Tele2, and 5G from Telia.

Wifi is widely available in public places in the city.

Go next

 * You simply have to see Vilnius for its elegant old town. It can be done as a day-trip from Kaunas but deserves several days to explore.
 * Birštonas is a spa resort 30 km south of Kaunas, set on a forested riverside.
 * The Open Air Museum of Lithuania is 18 km east of Kaunas in Rumšiškės.
 * Zapyškis, 17 km west, has the gothic St. John Baptist Church, often used in summer for concerts and cultural events.
 * Lokes peda or "Bear Foot" is an activity park 35 km northeast, near Jonava.
 * Druskininkai is a spa town town 50 km south, near the border with Belarus.

title: Kaunas


text:
Kaunertal

Kaunertal is a glacier and a skiing resort in the west Austria near Innsbruck.

Understand
Kaunertal is open all year. You can find here well-kept cross-country tracks, a slalom downhill course and a fun-park.

If you don't want to ski, there is a golf course, an indoor swimming-pool, a four-cross track or night actions and many more. It is the smallest glacier in Austria and one of the cheapest. There are good downhills, many possibilities of entertainment and few people. It is the home resort of snowboarder Chris Kröll or skier Stephan Eberharter. The top of the highest mountain in this area, Karlsspitz, is 3,160 meters above sea level. There are fascinating views from this mountain. You can also see Mt. Blanc. There live many animals, for example chamoix.

Lodging
You can stay in hotels, hostels or private houses under the glacier.

Camping
In the summer you can sleep in a car on a parking place or in a tent nearby.

title: Kaunertal


text:
Kausani

Kausani is a small hill town in the Almora District of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. The town is very peaceful and one can enjoy the beautiful view of the Himalayas from almost any part of the town.

Understand
The lower part of Kausani has a local market and the upper part of the town, where the Gandhi Ashram is situated is the place where most of the better hotels are found. The temperature is pleasant in the summer months and extremely cold in the winter seasons. Life is very slow in this small Hill Town and as a tourist it is advisable to stay within your Hotels after dark, because there is not much of night life. The weather is very unpredictable and carrying an umbrella is a must. The main activities of the villagers is cultivation and tourism which holds a special place in the entire town's economy. The locals are very polite and helpful. An Indian Military Base is also in the uptown Kausani but the area is restricted to outsiders.

Get in
There are several ways to reach Kausani, one can go directly by road from Delhi to Kausani. If travelling by train, you will have to get off at Kathgodam Station and hire a tourist taxi to take you to Kausani. Kathgodam station is connected to major cities of India. It takes around 5 hours by car from Kathgodam to Kausani along the beautiful roads and scenery of Uttarkhand. You can stop by at Almora enroute to Kausani. This is the best place to have some refreshments and head for Kausani. Ranikhet Express from Old Delhi station reaches Kathgodam at 6:30AM and you can reach Kausani by noon. The road condition is pretty good, but it is advisable to avoid the monsoon season.

Get around
Kausani is a walkable small town. All the tourist points are in a small circle that can be easily walked to. You could get a taxi to go far off places like Rudradhari.

See
The main attraction of the town is the majestic view of the Nanda Devi Range. This range can be viewed from most parts of the town. Other attractions are Gandhi Ashram, Girihas Uttaranchal Tea Pvt. Ltd, Shawl Factory, Baijnath Temples, Sumitranandan Pant (poet) museum and the local market.

Gandhi Ashram is the most sought after place by the tourist. This is the place where Mahatma Gandhi stayed briefly and written the 'Anashakti Yog'. The Ashram is in the upper part of the town. Inside the Ashram (whete photography not allowed) consists of various pictures of the great leader in different phases of his life. The view of the Himalayas can be viewed from this Ashram also is quite splendid.

Shawl Factory- where one can witness how the famous Kausani Shawls are made and manufactured by using age old techniques. Just above the factory, a shop is also situated and those willing to buy shawls can do so.

I would not advise you to visit Sumitranadan Pant Museum. But if you want to, ask the locals where it is as there are no directions anywhere. It is 200m downhill from Gandhi Ashram. When you visit, look for the guide who stays in the museum. He will show you around and give you access to the poet's belongings (which are mostly books).

Baijnath Temple is around 20 km north from Kausani Town and is a series of small and big temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Feeding the fishes just beside the temple is considered a ritual after offering your pujas.

Visit the Tea Gardens and Girihas Tea Estate.

Do
Almost all Hotels in Kausani are facing the Nanda Devi Range and one can just sit back and enjoy the panoramic view by sipping coffee or tea. Some of the famous peaks in the range are Trishul, Nanda Devi etc. Just like any other small Indian Hill town, there is not much night life, but a camp fire can be arranged by the Hotel Staffs if requested.

One can do trekking in the various surroundings around Kausani.

Buy
Kausani Shawls can be purchased from the local market or from the Kausani Shawl factory.

Uttaranchal Tea is one of the finest in India and you can buy some from Girihar Tea Estate.

Eat
Continental and Chinese dishes are served in almost all hotels and Restaurants. Even though there are no separate restaurants, but there are quite a few roadside eateries. It is suggested to have the major meals from within the hotels one is staying. Non-veg foods are available, but it takes bit more time to prepare. It is best not to ask for too much of varieties, and have the simple food as served by the hotels. Food is bit costly at this part of the country. Local fruits like cherries of different types can be tried.

Drink
Most of the hotels have water filtered/aquaguard, but it is advisable to purchase mineral water which is available in plenty in almost all shops.

Drinks are not served in most of the hotels and one must buy drinks beforehand. Wine shops are available in Kathgodam, Nanital or you may ask the local taxi driver to stop over at a wine shop on your way to Kausani. Branded drinks are not available in these small shops.

Tea is available and plentiful, one must try Girhias Tea in any of the roadside eateries and enjoy the view of the Himalayas.

Sleep
Kausani has become a very busy tourist spot and there are hotels of various ranges to suite every purse. The better hotels are in the uptown near the Gandhi Ashram and the budget hotels are around the local market.

Most of the hotels have their own dedicated internet sites and bookings can be done online.

There is also a resort approximately 1 km from the Kausani market:

Connect
There is an internet cafe within the hill queen restaurant's rooms. It is at a T junction, where the road to the Gandhi Ashram branches off. Mobile connectivity is pretty good and Vodafone, Airtel, and BSNL connections are available in remote areas too.

Go next
If you have time, half a day may be reserved for Rudradhari. It is 20 km away from Kausani, and a unique experience of 1-km trekking through the mountains and beautiful scenery to reach the century-old Lord Shiva temple. The trekking is not that tough, but senior citizens should avoid going there. Guides are available (even though not required) but one can take their help if kids are accompanying you. One can enjoy the pure air and small springs all around, not to mention the beautiful trees of different nature. If you are lucky, you can meet the Baba/priest and spend some time with him talking about Religion. He might also give you puffed rice as Prasad.

title: Kausani


text:
Kavadarci

Kavadarci is the wine capital of North Macedonia, located in the Tikveš grape-growing region of Povardarie. It is the principal city of the Tikveš area, followed by Negotino.

History
In late June 1913, Tikveš was the site of an uprising organized by the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization against Serbian troops during the Second Balkan War. Kavadarci, Negotino, and other nearby settlements were captured. The Serbian army reorganized and brutally suppressed the uprising just several days later. This uprising constituted the first organized revolt against Serbian occupation of Vardar Macedonia following the withdrawal of Turkish forces after the First Balkan War.

Economy
The importance of the grape to Kavadarci can't be overstated - a grape design is prominent in the city's flag. In addition to wine, Kavadarci is also important in the production of ferro-nickel. It is also a leader in timber and tobacco production.

People
The Kavadarci area is ethnically homogeneous, populated by Orthodox Macedonians.

Further afield
Vataša is a large village just south of Kavadarci city limits. Over time, it has become a suburban extension of the city.

Lake Tikveš is the largest man-made lake of Macedonia, situated 12 km (7.2 mi) southwest of Kavadarci. Created in 1968 on the Crna River, it has become a recreational destination for residents of this part of the country. Four islands came into existence as a result of the creation of the lake and a significant cultural landmark, Pološki Monastery, became accessible only by water. The lake is at the center of a strict natural reserve noted for its ornithological significance with 23 species of predatory birds.

Notable sights in the outlying villages of Kavadarci Municipality include the following:
 * Mariovo. Kavadarci Municipality covers a portion of this historic region, now largely deserted.
 * Mariovo. Kavadarci Municipality covers a portion of this historic region, now largely deserted.
 * Mariovo. Kavadarci Municipality covers a portion of this historic region, now largely deserted.
 * Mariovo. Kavadarci Municipality covers a portion of this historic region, now largely deserted.
 * Mariovo. Kavadarci Municipality covers a portion of this historic region, now largely deserted.

Do

 * Football: GFK Tikvesh play soccer in First League, the top tier. Their Gradski Stadion (capacity 4500) is 1 km east of town centre.

Drink
Since Kavadarci is famous for its wine, make sure you try some especially the most popular one, Tikveš.

title: Kavadarci