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Middle East

The Middle East is a region mainly in Western Asia, between the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.

While the region is known for its arid climate, not all of the land consists of deserts, and contrary to common misconceptions, glaciers and deserts do indeed exist in close proximity in parts of the region. The mountains in Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Israel and Northern Iraq even support ski resorts. The region is also the cradle of the world's first urban civilizations (especially in Ancient Mesopotamia), and the birthplace of the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i Faith.

Countries and territories
The term "Middle East" was created by the British in the 19th century, and there is no precise definition; it is a political term as much as geographical, implying that it separates "the West" (Europe) from the Far East. The term came into widespread usage as a replacement of the term Near East (as opposed to the Far East) beginning in the early 20th century. The term "Middle East" has led to some confusion over its changing definitions, and has been viewed by some to be discriminatory or too Eurocentric. Some countries included in the Middle East by most definitions and included in our list below also overlap into other regions. Turkey is partially in Europe and partially in Asia, while Egypt is part of North Africa and Iran has strong connections to Central Asia. Some definitions are broader than ours and include one or more of Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan, or Cyprus.

Turkey and the Caucasus (including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and some disputed territories) are the borderlands between Europe and the Middle East, with strong historical, geographic, economic, and cultural connections to both Europe and Asia.

The Middle East can also be divided into numerous sub-regions. The Gulf typically refers to the oil-rich states of the eastern Arabian Peninsula, namely, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Fertile Crescent refers to the part that is widely considered to be the cradle of civilisation, where the Neolithic revolution took place. It has two parts, the Levant (Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, the Palestinian Territories and most of Syria) and Mesopotamia (Iraq plus parts of Syria and Turkey).

Cities

 * — capital of Jordan, experiencing a massive change from a quiet sleepy village to a bustling metropolis.
 * — a true cosmopolitan city, the capital, and commercial and financial hub of Lebanon.
 * — capital of Egypt and in some ways, of the entire Arab world. For example, its universities and media have influence across the region.
 * — capital of Qatar and in some ways a rival of Dubai, a transport hub with both traditional souks and luxury shopping malls. Also has the well-regarded Museum of Islamic Art.
 * — most modern and progressive city in the United Arab Emirates, boasting many skyscrapers, including the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, and many luxury shopping malls.
 * — the largest city and main commercial hub of Turkey, the only major city to span two continents and a fascinating melting pot of East and West.
 * — containing the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old City, this city is sacred for Jews, Christians and Muslims.
 * — forbidden for non-Muslims to enter, this is the holiest city in Islam and well known for the Hajj.
 * — the capital of Iran is a bustling, cosmopolitan metropolis of 14 million people, with great museums, parks, restaurants and warm, friendly people.

Several other cities in the region — Damascus, Baghdad, Aden, Aleppo and others — are historically important and well provided with attractions, but are not listed above because, as of early 2024, visiting them would be quite dangerous.

Other destinations

 * - a Stone Age (7500 B.C. to 5700 B.C) settlement of great importance to archaeologists studying the transition from nomadic tribes to settlement and "civilization."
 * — the water is far too salty for marine life - hence the name - but even the most skeletal humans will easily float.
 * — the name Empty Quarter explains pretty well what it is: a vast, inhospitable, empty desert.
 * — a Nabataean city in what's now Saudi Arabia, hewed out of rock in the same style as Jordan's far more famous Petra.
 * — the ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire during the Achaemenid dynasty, close to modern Shiraz.
 * — one of the 'New Seven Wonders', Petra was the breathtaking capital of the Nabataean kingdom from around the 6th century BCE.
 * — archaeological and Shi'a holy sites, including the tombs of several Shi'a Imams in Iraq.
 * — known for its Gospel associations with the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, thus a pilgrimage destination for Christians.
 * — known as 'Manhattan of the Desert', a unique, sixteenth-century, mud-built, high rise apartment buildings complex in Yemen.

Understand

As one of the wellsprings of human civilisation in the ancient and medieval worlds, the birthplace of several world religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism and the Baha'i Faith) and an area of much modern economic and political importance, the Middle East remains a popular destination for travellers.

Ethnically, the region is extremely diverse; Arabs, Persians, and Turks are the largest groups, but there are also other ethnic groups, such as Kurds, Assyrians, Armenians, Jews, Azeris, Mandaeans and others, each with their own languages, customs and cultures. Today, there are also many economic migrants coming from South and Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa in search of jobs.

Almost every country in the Middle East has a Muslim majority, with Iran, Iraq and Bahrain mainly Shia, Oman mainly Ibadi, and other areas mainly Sunni, with Saudi Arabia adopting a particularly strict version of Sunni Islam known as Salafism. The legal systems in most of these countries are influenced by sharia (Islamic law), but very few are entirely based on it. The notable exceptions are Israel, which has a Jewish majority, and Lebanon, which has a power sharing agreement between the Muslims and Christians.

There are significant communities of native Christians also in Yemen, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Israel, Iraq and Turkey, and also many Druze in Lebanon, Syria and Israel. Many areas historically had long-established Jewish communities, but these were largely wiped out amid a wave of rising anti-Semitism following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Today, the only Jewish communities in the region outside Israel that remain significant are the ones in Iran and Turkey, albeit much smaller than in their heyday. Other religious groups present in much smaller numbers include the Baha'is, Mandeans, Samaritans, Zoroastrians and Yazidis.

Middle Eastern politics is controversial, incredibly complex, often violent and rapidly changeable. As a consequence, tourists should generally not engage in political discussion with strangers. The Middle East is one of the most important geopolitical regions in the world. The world's largest oil and natural gas reserves, conflicts that date back to the dawn of civilization, as well as ethnic and religious tensions can make the Middle East seem dangerous. Moreover, much like in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and much of the former Soviet Union, the national borders of the Middle East were drawn arbitrarily by the European great powers during the age of colonialism without regard for existing ethnic and religious rivalries on the ground. While there are strong warnings against travel to some countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, which are enduring civil wars, news reports do not reflect the day-to-day reality of people going about their normal lives.

Due to substantial oil wealth, the Gulf states are known for providing their citizens with some of the world's most comprehensive welfare states despite not levying any income tax on them. On the other hand, they also rely heavily on a badly-paid and often horribly mistreated immigrant workforce, who do not have access to the welfare systems.

In the 21st century, China has increasingly challenged the traditional duopoly between Russia and the United States, and is now a major player in the region. Due to China's need for the vast natural resources of the Middle East to drive its industrial base, many Middle Eastern countries are pursuing closer relations with China, often providing natural resources in exchange for Chinese investment in infrastructure as part of their Belt and Road initiative. China brokered a landmark rapproachement between arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023, the first time a country other than the United States has brokered a similar deal in the region, though whether or not this detente will last for long and bring stability to the region remains to be seen.

Cultural geography
North Africa is similar to the Middle East in many ways — language, religion, culture and some ethnic groups. Some writers include Egypt, or even Sudan and Libya, in their use of the term "Middle East", being part of the Greater Middle East. The term MENA refers to the M iddle E ast/ N orth A frica cultural group, which generally extends from Iran or Turkey to as far west as Morocco or Mauritania. It may also include the Red Sea states.

On the other side, Central Asia also has things in common with the Middle East. Ethnic groups and languages are different, but the religion, much of the food, clothing, and architecture are similar. Iran could be counted as part of either region; at one point most Central Asia was part of the Persian Empire. Afghanistan is also considered by some to be part of the Middle East due to its close cultural ties with Iran, and a dialect of Persian serves as the lingua franca of the country. There are also strong cultural ties between South Asia and the Middle East, having been linked by both overland and maritime trade routes for centuries. For instance, the Indian Muslim dish biryani bears a distinct similarity to other rice and meat dishes found in the Middle East such as mansaf in Jordan and Palestine, or kabsa and mandi in the Arabian peninsula. Yemeni shahi haleeb also bears a distinct similarity to Indian masala chai.

The border between southeastern Europe and the Middle East is also unclear. Many writers include Turkey in their usage of "Middle East" and we include it above, but parts of Turkey are very much European. Large parts of Turkey and all of Lebanon and Israel are also clearly Mediterranean regions. On the other hand, several countries usually considered European — Greece, Cyprus and to some extent the Balkans — also have Middle Eastern aspects to their culture.

Talk
Arabic is the primary language of the region, and the main language in all Middle Eastern countries except Iran (where Persian predominates), Turkey (Turkish) and Israel (Hebrew, albeit with a significant Arabic-speaking minority). While Standard Arabic is the official language in all Arabic-speaking countries and the medium of instruction in schools, there are also many dialects of Arabic that are the main spoken language in daily life in their respective regions, some of which can be mutually unintelligible.

Kurdish, Azeri, Armenian, Yiddish and several other languages are also spoken in some regions.

English is moderately common in tourist areas but comprehension varies elsewhere. English is widely understood in parts of the Levant and the smaller Gulf states, especially among educated citizens and in big cities. In Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, foreigners far outnumber the citizen population and as a result, English serves as the lingua franca and is more widely spoken than Arabic. In Turkey, some German is spoken because many Turks have worked in Germany.

Urdu and Hindi are also widely known in the Gulf emirates and Saudi Arabia as large Pakistani and Indian communities work in these countries. Tagalog is also known to some extent, particularly in main cities (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha, etc.), due to a large influx of Filipino migrant workers across the region.

Get in
This is one of the regions where it is easy to get Visa trouble, because of the Israel-Arab conflict. Several countries reject Israeli passports, and some reject any passport with an Israeli stamp. To avoid this, if you are going to Israel, make sure to get a paper visa. Even that may not be enough though as some countries scrutinise passports for stamps from the land borders of Israel's neighbors Jordan and Egypt.

The members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (often called GCC) have tight cooperation in some sectors. They are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

By plane

The largest hubs for flights in the region are Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi , with their home carriers, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways respectively having extensive networks to major cities around the world, and known for their exceptionally luxurious first and business class products. Istanbul also has good connections from virtually any point in the Middle East, and is served by numerous flights from Europe, North America and East Asia, with its home carrier Turkish Airlines being the largest mainline carrier in the world by number of passenger destinations. Tel Aviv is served by flights from most Western countries, although due to the political situation flights to other parts of the Middle East are limited to Turkey, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, and Jordan.

By boat
See Ferries in the Mediterranean. Ferries are available between Greece or Cyprus to Israel, Lebanon and Turkey. Cruises also exist for longer excursions.

By car or bus
Turkey can be reached overland via Greece or Bulgaria.

Border crossings exist between most countries. However, these may be subject to temporary closure depending on political situations. For instance, most crossings into Syria are closed or dangerous. There are no border crossings between Israel and either Lebanon or Syria. Driving a car between counties is dependent on whether cars are allowed into different countries; in some cases a Carnet de Passages is required. This is variable across the region.

Get around

Public transport across borders is very poor compared to neighboring Europe. The majority of locals would use plane or car travel to get between countries. Places where Sunni and Shia areas overlap sometimes lack interlinking transportation.

By plane
Flying is often the best way for getting around. The region is home to many major airports with frequent connections on both budget and legacy carriers. On the other hand, travel overland may not always be safe and even if it is, overland travel may involve crossings of hundreds of kilometers of hot desert.

By car
Driving in the more developed Middle Eastern nations is much like driving in any other developed country – the roads are paved and painted, traffic lights and cameras exist and work at intersections, and driving is calmer than in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. Still, especially outside cities, driving may by reckless. Also, in some countries camels will walk onto the roads, so drivers should remain vigilant even if the road looks safe.

Driving in the less developed nations is more of a challenge, as few roads are paved outside of major cities, and their quality might not be very good.

For the adventurous driver, some countries offer off-road vehicles and trails, such as in wadis (dried-up riverbeds). These trails easily isolate the driver(s), and in the case of emergency (such as a wadi flooding during a storm) it will be hard for authorities to find and help you. Pack everything you need with you for the trip, and never go alone.

Non-Muslims driving in Saudi Arabia should be careful to avoid driving through Mecca, as it is off-limits to them.

Check any border crossings, as some of them may be closed, restricted to only some traffic, or have restricted hours. Your visa may affect how you are allowed to enter a country.

By train
While there are few international passenger lines in the Middle East, there are railways in most countries, and several countries are expanding their rail systems. There are some high speed rail lines, such as between Mecca, Jeddah and Medina.

Istanbul would normally be the best starting point for rail journeys to much of the Middle East, but the wars in Syria and Iraq make rail trips to or through those countries questionable if not impossible. There is a mostly weekly service from Ankara to Tehran with a 4-hour ferry journey across Lake Van; as this service crosses Kurdish territory, check on the latest developments in Turkey.

By bus
Buses are a more practical option than trains in the Middle East as they are less prone to delays and breakdowns and have far more extensive coverage of the region.

While Mecca is otherwise closed for non-Muslims, changing buses there is allowed.

See
This is where to head for some of the world's oldest civilizations, and for many of the places mentioned in the holy books of the Abrahamic religions. However, the Gulf states in particular are also home to some of the world's most impressive examples of modern architecture, such as the Burj Khalifa, together with glitzy malls, artificial islands and some of the world's busiest airports.

On the natural side, the Middle East boasts large desert landscapes, including the Saudi desert (one of the largest in the world) as well as the Lut desert in Iran, where the highest surface temperature in the world was measured. If you would rather see some scenic mountain landscapes, head to Iran or Turkey — the former boasts summits more than 5000 m above the sea level and some of the world's highest ski resorts.

Sadly, this is also one of the most volatile parts of the world and many sites are from time to time unsafe to visit — and a lot has recently been destroyed.

Itineraries

 * From Istanbul to Cairo — classic overland route but virtually impossible due to events in Syria.
 * Hajj — the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina.
 * Ferries across the Red Sea
 * Istanbul to New Delhi overland, the "hippie trail" of the 1960s and 70s, crosses this region
 * On the trail of Alexander the Great — He conquered most of the Middle East, as well as other areas.

Do

 * Explore ancient ruins throughout the region
 * Take a ride on a dhow, a traditional wooden fishing boat in the Gulf states
 * Visit numerous holy sites in Israel and Saudi Arabia
 * Go shopping in traditional souks throughout the region
 * Connect with multiple cultures in one of the most diverse regions of the world

Learn
Many universities exist across the Middle East, some of which are highly regarded, including those in Saudi Arabia and Israel. Cairo's Al Azhar University, a famous institute of Islam whose construction predated that of the University of Bologna by over 100 years, is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the world.

Opportunities to learn Arabic abound, and are available in both religious and secular settings.

Hebrew instruction is available in Israel through intensive study groups known as Ulpan.

Buy
The Middle East is famous for its markets or souqs. Souqs sell a dizzying array of goods, but each has its own speciality, be it spices or carpets. Notable examples exist in Jerusalem, Damascus and Dubai among many others. Quality varies enormously. Many souqs sell good quality products, but many sell a range of fake or tacky souvenirs. Over-pricing for tourists is common but this can often be counteracted by bargaining.

Haggling
Haggling or bargaining is common across the Middle East. However, its usage is rather complex. In general, haggling is common in markets, but only for certain items. For instance, haggling for souvenirs is acceptable, but not acceptable for food. Also, haggling in shops with fixed prices such as a supermarket is not done. However, in independent stores it may be possible to negotiate a deal if buying multiple or expensive items such as jewellery. When bargaining, it is important to remember that the seller merely wants to maximise their profits. Walking away from an unacceptable deal is considered normal and can prevent pressure selling.

Eat

Cookery provides obvious evidence of the extent of Middle Eastern influence. Turkish kebab, Greek gyros and the shawarma of the Arab countries (everywhere from Oman to Morocco) are all basically the same dish. These are also seen in Central Asia, China and even Mexico. Many Greek dishes are closer to Iranian cooking than to Italian and a traveller going from Istanbul to New Delhi overland will find very similar dishes — notably flat breads and kebabs — all along that route.

There is a strong theme of fresh, wholesome ingredients. Meat (except pork) is very popular, as are vegetables such as eggplant, chick peas and tomatoes. As pork is taboo in Islam and Judaism, it is rare in the Middle East or in some countries even banned. So don’t expect a bacon sandwich or pork sausages for breakfast outside tourist areas, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a tasty meal.

Middle Easterners have a well-honed sweet tooth, so be sure to sample some desserts while you are here. Baklava had its origins in the palace kitchens of the Ottoman Empire, but has spread well beyond that and is popular throughout the Middle East, as well as in North Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Greece and the Balkans. The Arabian Peninsula is known for its dates, while Turkey is known for a type of sweet known as lokum, often referred to as "Turkish delight" in the West. The Middle East also has its own unique styles of ice cream, with Turkish dondurma from the city of Kahramanmaraş being perhaps the most famous outside the region, while Arabic booza from the Bakdash ice cream parlour in Damascus is famous across the Arab world.

Drink
Turkish coffee, served in small cups, is popular in Turkey. The Arabs have their own style of drinking coffee called Arabic coffee, in which cardamom is added to the coffee blend. Unlike Western coffees, Turkish and Arabic coffee is typically unfiltered.

Persian tea is ubiquitous in Iran, with Iranians being one the biggest tea consumers per capita in the world. Persian tea is typically drunk without milk, but it is typical to hold cube of sugar in one's mouth while drinking the tea. Yemen has its own style of tea called shai haleeb, which is similar to Indian masala chai.

While countries such as Israel and Lebanon have an ancient tradition of wine making, alcoholic beverages are taboo in most Muslim countries; they are completely banned in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and heavily restricted in many other countries of the region.

On the other hand, alcohol is available in Bahrain, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel, which produces a good variety of kosher wines. Numerous beers are available, as is the stronger Arak, an aniseed liquor.

In lieu of alcohol, stores and restaurants in Muslim countries have a broad selection of fruit juices and soft drinks.

Sleep
Few nations in the Middle East have a vibrant nightlife to go along with excellent hotels. As with any region, quality varies enormously from cheap hostels to the US$15,000 a night grand Atlantis suite in Dubai. Virtually all big cities will have numerous large international chain hotels.

Some of the hotels in more conservative middle Eastern countries will refuse entry to homosexual or unmarried couples, but this tends not to be a problem in popular resorts.

Stay safe
Planning a visit to the Middle East can be complicated in various ways:
 * Some countries and territories in the area, such as Iraq, Syria, Yemen and the Gaza Strip, are in a state of war or civil war and should not be visited. See War zone safety if you must go. Also check on current conditions in the Sinai, which has experienced a lot of terrorism and fighting between insurgents and the Egyptian military including an apparent downing of a Russian passenger plane, and Southeastern Anatolia (Turkish Kurdistan), where fighting has occurred.
 * Some countries do not issue tourist visas except for a few expensive tours.
 * Many countries in the region do not recognize the state of Israel. These nations may refuse you entry if you have an Israeli visa or an Israeli stamp in your passport, or even a visa for another country that was issued in Israel. Though, under a new system, visitors entering Israel are given special entry cards by the passport control; see the Israel and Visa trouble articles for details. Among the countries in the region, only Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have official diplomatic relations with Israel, while Oman has been acting as a liaison between Israel and the Arab League, with de facto recognition of Israel. Qatar does not have official diplomatic relations with Israel, but maintains unofficial trade relations.
 * The more conservative countries in the region have legislation carrying heavy penalties (even up to the death penalty) for homosexuality, adultery, fornication, apostasy, proselytizing, and other acts considered as criminal offenses. Saudi Arabia and Iran implement particularly harsh interpretations of Islamic law.
 * When it comes to petty crime (reckless driving, shoplifting, drug use etc) the penalties in the more conservative countries are high by international standards.
 * For most of the area, suggestions in Tips for travel in developing countries apply.
 * Some countries have arrested tourists in the past under charges of espionage or sabotage; be wary especially if the relation between your destination and home countries are strained. Your embassy may not be able to help you.

Homosexuality and transgenderism is largely illegal in the Middle East except Turkey, Jordan and Israel. Israel and Turkey are the only countries where public LGBT activities are permitted and where you can find LGBT-friendly hotels and bars, and Tel Aviv in particular is known for its vibrant LGBT scene. However, even in those countries keep your sexuality private in non-tourist places. In the other countries, people have been severely punished for homosexual behaviour. Cross dressing is an unusual act in many countries and may be illegal. The Gulf States and Iran should mostly be avoided by LGBT people.

Also, aggressive driving is the norm in much of the Middle East, so if you choose to drive, drive defensively.

Stay healthy
Healthcare varies widely across the region. Healthcare standards in Israel and the Gulf states are generally on par with the West, but elsewhere can be severely lacking. Generally, large cities will have better hospitals and most doctors will speak English. Hospitals in more rural areas are less likely to be of good quality. Pharmacies are common everywhere except war zones.

If you are going on the Hajj to Mecca, definitely get vaccinations from your country before congregating with thousands of other Muslims. Unfortunately, communicable diseases are common among the crowds doing the pilgrimage, and they can be particularly life-threatening for young children, people with asthma or diabetes, the elderly, the pregnant and disabled people.

Drinking water tends to be safe in richer countries, but less so in Yemen or other poorer areas. Always check before drinking.

Most of the Middle East is arid and dehydration is common, so always drink water more than you think you need to. Most countries are extremely hot in the summertime especially in desert regions. Typical temperatures are in the range, while isn't unheard of. Countries further south are often 40-45 Celsius but sometimes 50 degrees or more. Always drink plenty of water and avoid being out in the sun for too long, especially if you have very fair skin or blonde or red hair.

Driving in the Middle East is notably more dangerous than in Europe or North America. Road rules may or may not be followed. It is advisable to observe driving standards before taking the plunge with a rental car.

Respect
Many countries in the Middle East are deeply religious, being the cradle of Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Always dress conservatively and modestly even in more liberal areas.

In some countries, taking photographs can land you in severe trouble with the authorities depending on whether you take pictures of women, government institutions, airports or palaces. In some cases you can be suspected of terrorism.

Since the Middle East is a largely Islamic region, bringing alcohol or pork is illegal in several countries, and some have harsh laws regarding them. Also where they are legal and available, you might not want to upset locals. Check the country articles – in some countries they are permitted and widely consumed in touristy areas.

Ramadan is a widespread observance in the Middle East. Do not eat, drink or smoke in front of Muslims during daylight hours. In Saudi Arabia you can get fined and sent to prison. Other countries like UAE make you do community service for long periods of time. Turkey and the tourist areas are more liberal but to avoid offence, it is best to eat in private. Definitely avoid mocking or insulting Ramadan or other Islamic practices. The penalties can be severe.

Some countries like Saudi Arabia ban public celebrations of non-Islamic holidays and traditions like Christmas and Valentine's Day. Saudi Arabia is so strict that airport checks for non-Islamic religious items are common. Tourists could face large fines, a prison sentence or deportation. Other countries like Turkey, the UAE and Qatar have more laid back laws on non-Muslim traditions, but when in doubt, be considerate and discreet. Countries outside the Gulf have long-established Christian minorities, mostly Catholic, Orthodox or Nestorian, and these communities are generally free to practise their religion, but may not proselytise to Muslims. The term "Allah" is not exclusive to Muslims, and is also used by Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews.

The Middle East is not a monolithic region, and ethnic rivalries are often just as strong as religious ones. In particular, Arabs, Persians and Turks are distinct peoples, and do not take kindly to being confused for one another.

Go next

 * Cyprus — readily accessible by plane, there are boats from Turkey, Greece or Lebanon, and some cruise ships stop here.
 * South Asia — the "Hippie Trail", after traversing Turkey and Iran from one end to another (and dipping into Iraq at a time in history) goes onward to Pakistan and India.
 * Central Asia — an off the beaten path destination, which is accessible by buses from the Iranian city of Mashhad (which terminate in Turkmenistan and Afghanistan).
 * Caucasus — the lush and beautiful Caucasus is a short hop north from Iran and east of Turkey.

title: Middle East


text:
Middle Egypt

Middle Egypt (Arabic: مصر الوسطى) is an extensive region of Egypt, extending through the Nile River valley, roughly between the cities of Beni Suef (120 km south of the Egyptian capital city Cairo) and Qus (30 km north of Luxor).

Cities
Middle Egypt includes a number of important urban centres, some of which make great bases for exploring the attractions of the region. Several cities feature attractions in their own right (from north to south):

 * is one of the most accessible desert oases, an easy drive from the Nile Valley.

Other destinations
Several prime attractions for travellers lie outside the main population centres of the region and can be visited from one or more of them (from north to south):

 * — the location of fascinating tombs of the Middle Kingdom period
 * — site of the short-lived capital of the "heretic pharaoh" Akhenaten, best known for its rock-cut tombs
 * — the site of magnificent Ramesside temples and Predynastic remains - accessed via the small town of al-Balyana
 * — location of one of the best-preserved ancient Egyptian temples
 * (Hermopolis Magna) — the main cult centre of Thoth, the Pharaonic god of magic, healing, and wisdom and the patron of scribes.

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

title: Middle Egypt


text:
Middlefield

There is more than one place called Middlefield:

United States of America

 * Middlefield (Connecticut) - A town in Connecticut.
 * Middlefield (Massachusetts) - A small town in the Berkshires of Massachusetts.
 * Middlefield (New York) - A town in Otsego County New York.
 * Middlefield (Ohio) - A town in Geauga County in Ohio.

title: Middlefield


text:
Middlefield (Connecticut)

Get in
Traveling from New York, simply take exit 69 off of the Merritt Pkwy N. You will be on Route 66 in Meriden, and as long as you stay on that road, you will pass right into the north end of Middlefield. From Boston, Middlefield is less than 5 miles off of exit 20 on 91 S. From Providence, just take the route 66 exit off of 9 N, and follow 66 into Middlefield.

Get around
As Middlefield is as small geographically as it is in population, there are only two main state highways. Rt. 147 leads south into Durham and north toward Meriden. Rt. 157 heads west toward Wallingford and east toward Middletown. When navigating the town and its innumerable side roads, it is best to pick up a complimentary map from Town Hall, on Jackson Hill Road, just off of 157.

See
A great place to visit, with whomever you are traveling with, is Wadsworth Falls State Park. There are hiking paths, bike paths, picnic areas, open grass areas for sports, and a 30-foot waterfall. The park was dedicated to and surrounds the Wadsworth Estate, upon which sits Wadsworth Mansion. A quintessential New England Victorian, the mansion is worth a visit, and available for booking of formal tours.

Do

 * Lyman Orchards The Apple Barrel is the main store, where you can pick up information on any goings on around the grounds. There are three golf courses, there are seasonal hay rides, a corn maze, live music, frisbee golf, and Pick-Your-Own fruit.
 * Beach There is a small beach off Lake Beseck that may be of interest to the traveller.
 * Powder Ridge Ski Park is scheduled to reopen in the winter of 2013-14. It has 19 ski trails and mountain biking the rest of the year.

title: Middlefield (Connecticut)


text:
Middlefield (Ohio)

Middlefield is a village in Geauga County. Middlefield is known for being the center of the world's fourth largest Amish settlement, and its significant manufacturing base, which includes Gold Key Processing, Duncan Toys and KraftMaid.

Understand
The population was 2,700 in 2019.

Because of its central location, home of the areas' public schools and prominent business and retail presence, Middlefield village is considered the hub community for Huntsburg, Parkman, and Middlefield Townships, home to approximately 15,000 total residents.

History
Once named "Batavia," the village received its current name because it was the midway point between Painesville and Warren. Middlefield was established in 1799 by James Thompson and his father, Isaac Thompson, and incorporated in 1901.

In 1818, James Johnson, who settled at today's Johnson Corners, built a hotel. This hotel, later named the Century Inn, is now the home of the Middlefield Historical Association. The Historical Association operates a small railroad museum in the summers, The Depot, focused on the 1873 narrow gauge railway between Painesville and Warren.

In 2005, Wal-Mart opened a Supercenter in the village. In order to cater to the local Amish population, the Supercenter has an expanded parking lot that includes 37 hitching posts for Amish buggies, and the store is stocked with blocks of ice and fabrics for clothes to be made at home

By car
Middlefield lies on SR87, SR88, and SR528. It is a few miles north of US422.

Go next

 * Chardon
 * Newbuy
 * Burton

title: Middlefield (Ohio)


text:
Middle Florida

Middle Florida is a region in the Florida Panhandle between the Apalachicola and Suwannee Rivers. It includes the six easternmost counties of the Panhandle (Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla).

Cities

 * — the main city in the region, as well as the state capital of Florida
 * — the main city in the region, as well as the state capital of Florida
 * — the main city in the region, as well as the state capital of Florida

Get in
is in the region. Important airports in (relatively) nearby regions include Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Central Florida and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport  in Georgia.

title: Middle Florida


text:
Middle Franconia

Middle Franconia (Mittelfranken) is the southernmost, central and most urbanized part of Franconia in Germany. Its heart is the urbanized area around Nuremberg Fürth and Erlangen but there are also delightful Bierkeller or natural attractions in its rural parts.

Cities

 * (German: Nürnberg) the biggest city in the region and notable as one of the preeminent Reichsstädte during much of the Middle Ages
 * university town with a big presence by Siemens and a cosmopolitan feeling to it unusual in a town of only 100,000
 * the administrative center and former residence of the margraves of Ansbach-Bayreuth
 * Nuremberg's neighbor and most important rival with a rich Jewish history
 * - world-famous as the city of Adidas and Puma, this place offers superb outlet shopping as well as an underappreciated old town
 * — famous for its intact medieval Altstadt encircled by 13th century town walls.
 * - a smaller city with nice half-timber buildings, two old town gates and a castle, about 18 km from Nuremberg at the Pegnitz river
 * - a small city near Nuremberg, home to the world-famous "Faber-Castell" pencils with quite some impressive buildings related to the factory and family
 * a stop along the Romantic Road renowned for its largely preserved medieval old town
 * - a self governing Reichsstadt into the early 19th century its main claim to fame is the Freilandmuseum
 * - a small city near Nuremberg, home to the world-famous "Faber-Castell" pencils with quite some impressive buildings related to the factory and family
 * a stop along the Romantic Road renowned for its largely preserved medieval old town
 * - a self governing Reichsstadt into the early 19th century its main claim to fame is the Freilandmuseum
 * - a self governing Reichsstadt into the early 19th century its main claim to fame is the Freilandmuseum

By plane
The only airport with scheduled flights in this area is in Nuremberg. If you arrive from further away, you will most likely have to change planes in Frankfurt.

By car
The Autobahns A3, A9 and A73 run through this area

By train
The main hub is Nuremberg. From there S-Bahn or Regional trains connect to (almost) all points with a train station in the region and some beyond

By bus
Some Intercity buses in Germany stop in some places, again most of them in Nuremberg

Get around
Practically all of Middle Franconia is served by the VGN with a fairly extensive network of buses and trains

Itineraries
Depending on which part of Middle Franconia you are interested in most, you would want to cover more than this administrative region. E.g. many interesting cities around are in Upper Franconia (e.g. Bamberg).

Do

 * Deutsches national Museum (Nürnberg)
 * Spielzueg Museum (Nürnberg)

Drink
Breweries in Franconia lists breweries, beer cellars, brewery museums.

Go next

 * Franconian Switzerland - a region with steep hills, great castles, loved by climbers do to its rocks and an incredible density of breweries. It "touches" the north of Middle Franconia, but is not really in it (it lies in Upper Franconia)

title: Middle Franconia


text:
Middle Hills

The Middle Hills are a hill range in Nepal, split between the Himalayas and the Tarai Mountain Range.

Cities

 * (Tibetan: Maratika) - the location of a site sacred to Tibetan Buddhists
 * Ramechhap
 * (Tibetan: Maratika) - the location of a site sacred to Tibetan Buddhists
 * Ramechhap
 * (Tibetan: Maratika) - the location of a site sacred to Tibetan Buddhists
 * Ramechhap
 * (Tibetan: Maratika) - the location of a site sacred to Tibetan Buddhists
 * Ramechhap
 * Ramechhap

Other destinations

 * - Lowland valleys in western Nepal inhabited by Tharus who have a very distinctive culture.
 * - Large east-west valley south of the western Dhaulagiri Range. It connects the far western Karnali-Bheri basin that is the birthplace of the Nepali language (and probably its rulers) to the Gandaki basin that they migrated into before unifying the country. This is also a trekking gateway to the far west, the Dhaulagiri Range, and to Dolpa and other high valleys with Tibetan culture beyond the Dhaulagiris.
 * Neupane Gaon Devi Temple
 * Neupane Gaon Devi Temple

title: Middle Hills


text:
Jämtland County

Jämtland County is a division of the Norrland region in Sweden, containing the Jämtland province (archaic spelling Jemtland), as well as the smaller province Härjedalen. With 130,000 inhabitants on a land area slightly larger than Denmark, these provinces are known for winter sport and hiking, with some of Sweden's busiest ski resorts.

Municipalities

 * is the county seat, and the only city.
 * is arguably Sweden's most famous ski resort.
 * , a railway hub, and the gateway to Västernorrland County.
 * , the northern, and least populated, part of Jämtland.
 * just north of Storsjön.
 * , a province on its own, with Sveg as the municipal seat.
 * just north of Storsjön.
 * , a province on its own, with Sveg as the municipal seat.

Other destinations

 * , a ski resort at the Norwegian border

Understand
With 12 per cent of Sweden's land area, Jämtland County has only 1.5 per cent of the national population, and is among the least populated regions of Europe.

Jämtland's history differs from the rest of Norrland; during the Middle Ages, it was governed by the Jamtamot, essentially an independent republic. From the 12th century until the 17th, Jämtland was governed by Norway. The Sami culture has been present in Jämtland since time immemorial.

Population is concentrated around Storsjön (literally "the Great Lake"), and the ski resorts.

Get in
Resrobot is a search engine for all public transport in Sweden.

By plane

 * Åre Östersund Airport. If going from another country, flying with SAS from Stockholm-Arlanda would be best. Other operators to Östersund are e.g. Malmö Aviation.
 * Sveg Airport  flights from Stockholm-Arlanda.
 * Røros airport in Norway, if going to western Härjedalen. Flights from Oslo. A car should be rented. Some ski resorts offer taxi transfer, ask them.
 * Trondheim Airport in Stjørdalshalsen

By train
There are trains from Stockholm, Sundsvall and Trondheim to Östersund and Åre and some other places, operated by SJ. From Stockholm there are both day trains and one night train.

By bus

 * Going to Sveg, there are local buses from Mora, Ljusdal or Ånge, which have train connections. You can get a ticket all the way from SJ.

By car

 * From Stockholm: E4 past Gävle, then road 83 to Ånge and then E14.
 * From Malmö: E4 to Jönköping, then road 26 to Mora and then E45.
 * From Oslo: E6 almost to Hamar, road 3 and then road 25 to the border. After that road 311 to Särna and then the road to Sveg (no number but good condition) and so road E45.

Get around
Settlements in Jämtland are far from each other. Car is often the most suitable travel method.

By train

 * Norrtåg has trains Storlien-Åre-Östersund-Sundsvall with more intermediate stops.
 * Inlandsbanan has tourist trains Mora-Sveg-Östersund-Dorotea and further north.

By bus

 * Länstrafiken Jämtland has buses within the county.

See
The Scandinavian Mountains, fjällen.

Itineraries

 * Nidaros Way, the pilgrim route to Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.
 * Södra Kungsleden, a hiking route.

Do
Jämtland County has many of Scandinavia's finest resorts for winter sport, such as cross-country skiing and downhill snowsport. In the mountains, the ground is usually covered by snow well into May.

It is also a gratifying destination for hiking in summer.

Stay safe
See cold weather and driving in Sweden.

Go next
Tröndelag in Norway, dominated by Trondheim.

Jämtland

title: Jämtland County


text:
Trøndelag

Trøndelag, alternative spelling Tröndelag, is a region and county of Norway, sometimes referred to as Middle Norway. Trøndelag's prominent position between North and South Trøndelag has been crucial in Norway's history. There are major fjords but the landscape is more mellow than the wild West Norway. There are still great mountains and high plateaus popular among hikers and skiers. Trøndelag is home to great valleys and major rivers famous for salmon fisheries. Along the coast there are a few major islands as well as thousands of smaller islands.

Cities

 * - one of the well-preserved wooden towns
 * - port of Namdalen district, totally destroyed during the war
 * - small town at the mouth of Orkla river and valley
 * (Bergstaden) - a former mining town in the uplands that is largely intact, and a UNESCO world heritage site, where the old copper mines can also be visited
 * - the hub at the northern end of great fjord
 * (Stjørdal)
 * - one of Norway's main cities, lovely location on the river bend, historically important as previous capital and seat of the archbishop, Norway's national cathedral.

Other destinations

 * - regional centre and ski resort in the interior uplands.
 * — a mountainous area consisting of two large national parks (comprises also parts of East Norway and West Norway)

Understand
Trondheim has been a centre of commerce since the Viking Age. Saint Olaf's Way has been an important pilgrimage route. Trondheim has seen the middle ages been one of Norway's three principle cities, along with Bergen and Oslo. The archdiocese of Trondheim covered vast areas of the North Atlantic as it included Norway, parts of Sweden, Iceland, Greenland, Orkneys, Shetland and other parts of the British isles. For two brief years, 1658 to 1660, Trøndelag was part of Sweden.

Trøndelag is separated from East Norway by the Dovre mountains and uplands around Røros. Along the border with Sweden are the Sylan mountains and more modest wilderness further north. Hitra, Frøya and Vikna are major islands and archipelagos on the outer coast, in addition to thousands of smaller islands. There are also islands in the great Trondheimsfjord. Large parts of Trøndelag are related to the long, wide and deep Trondheimsfjord. At well over 100 km it is the third longest in Norway. As a fjord it is partly quite wide almost like a small ocean. Some of Norway's great valleys and rivers terminate at Trondheimsfjord for instance Orkla and Gaula rivers are among Norway's best salmon rivers. There is no clear demarcation between Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal in the west.

Around the upper part of Namdalen valley there are wide uplands around the border with Nordland. Namsen river at over 200 km is one of Norway's biggest and regarded as Norway's best salmon river only surpassed by Alta river in Finnmark. In and around Namdalen and around Trondheimsfjorden there are wide forests on the modest elevations. Hitra island is the biggest in South Norway. The forests of Trøndelag has Norway's highest density of elg, the Eurasian moose, except Hitra where there is a large number of red deer. The coast and islands around Flatanger and further north has a considerable number of the white tailed eagle (known as havørn or sea eagle in Norway). Trøndelag has a range of climates. The coastal areas have a typical humid maritime climate where average temperatures in winter are mostly not below 0°C. The outer coast is also exposed to rough wind in Winter. The high plateaus and sheltered valleys of the interior have a continental climate with some of the driest and coldest areas of Norway. Røros has the lowest recorded temperature in South Norway at -50°C. Most of the rain falls near the coast. Autumn and winter are the rainiest seasons. Inner areas have much warmer summers than the coast and islands, temperatures up to 30°C is possible in the inner valleys, while on the coast 25°C is rare.

Trøndelag can be divided into four main sections
 * Trondheimsfjorden and adjacent areas including Trondheim, Levanger and valleys ending at the fjord.
 * Namdalen valley area including Namsos
 * The coast including Hitra island in the south and Vikna archipelago in the north
 * The uplands near the watershed including Oppdal and Røros

By plane
Trondheim Airport Værnes in Stjørdalshalsen serves international and national flights. There are plenty of flights every day to Oslo, and several other main towns including Bergen, Stavanger, Kristiansand, Bodø and Tromsø. International destinations include London Gatwick, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Riga. There is train and bus connection from the airport.

Røros has a local airport with flights from Oslo. Rørvik and Namsos have local airports with flights from Trondheim.

By train
Trøndelag is connected by 4 main lines:
 * Dovre line connects Trondheim and Oppdal to East Norway and Oslo via Dombås and Gudbrandsdalen. There are several daily departures between Trondheim to Oslo, trains from Oslo, operated by NSB, electric powered, connection to Rauma line (for Åndalsnes) at Dombås.
 * Røros line connects Trondheim and Røros to East Norway, with connections to Oslo and Lillehammer at Hamar. This was Norway's first main line connecting separate parts of the country, but is today the less used, diesel powered.
 * Nordland line connects Trondheim and Steinkjer to Nordland, diesel powered trains
 * Meråker line connects Hell (at Trondheim airport) via Storlien border crossing to Östersund in Sweden

By bus
Long distance buses from Oslo and Bergen to Trondheim, NOR-WAY.

By car

 * From Oslo there are two options.
 * Road 3 is slightly shorter and faster
 * Tabliczka E6.svg through Gudbrandsdalen and Dovrefjell is more scenic.

 * From Östersund (Sweden)
 * Tabliczka E14.svg connects to E6 at Stjørdal

 * From Ålesund and Molde
 * Tabliczka E39.svg connects to E6 at Klett just south of Trondheim
 * Via Sunndal: Road 70 connects to E6 Oppdal

 * From Northern Norway
 * Tabliczka E6.svg through Saltfjellet

By boat

 * Hurtigruten sails all the way north to Kirkenes and south to Bergen, stopping at numerous destinations on its way, including Trondheim and Rørvik.
 * Trondheim and Kristiansund are connected by express passenger boat through the Trondheim sea lane between Hitra island and the mainland.

By train
Trondheim station is the hub for rail as the electrified Dovre line terminates there and the northbound lines operated by diesel trains continue. The coastal areas do not have rail connections. The rail runs through the central interior and along the eastern shores of the Trondheimsfjord, basically along the same route as road E6. There are branches to Røros from Støren, and to Meråker and Sweden (Åre and Östersund) from Hell.

 * Local trains Steinkjer–airport–Trondheim and Trondheim–Røros are operated by NSB on the Røros line.
 * The Meråkerbanen (Nabotåget) service runs twice daily to the Swedish border at Storlien, continuing to the ski resort Åre and the city of Östersund. There are connections to Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.
 * Long distance trains Oslo-Dombås-Oppdal-Trondheim on the Dovre line and Trondheim-airport-Steinkjer-Snåsa-Namsskogan on the Nordland line (bound for Bodø).

By bus
For local buses in Nord-Trøndelag, search entur.no.

And in Sør-Trøndelag including Trondheim, search atb.no

By boat
There are some local passenger boats for instance Trondheim-Vanvikan. Use the same site as for local buses.

By car
There is an extensive road network, however often fairly curvy and slow. The Norwegian north-south highway E6 passes Trondheim and is partly constructed as motorway or semi-motorway.

To cross fjords, there are several bridges and tunnels, but some car ferries also exist. They have fees, but there is no need for booking. The key ferry connection across the Trondheimsfjord is Flakk-Rørvik, several departures per hour. The other main crossing is Valset-Brekstad to Ørland area.

Some roads, especially new tunnels, and all entrances to Trondheim have road tolls.

See

 * Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim is the biggest church of Northern Europe, the only major Gothic cathedral in Norway, Norway's national cathedral and the pride of the city.
 * Hell, a suburb of Stjørdal close to Trondheim airport, is not as bad as it sound.
 * Steinvikholmen Castle, north of Stjørdal, was the refuge of the last Catholic archbishop of Norway. In 1537 the king finally managed to take the fortress and send him into exile, ending the opposition to the reformation in Norway.
 * Hessdalen Valley is a sparsely populated area near Røros known for the Hessdalen lights, some unexplained lights observed in a 12-kilometre-long stretch of the valley.
 * Steinvikholmen Castle, north of Stjørdal, was the refuge of the last Catholic archbishop of Norway. In 1537 the king finally managed to take the fortress and send him into exile, ending the opposition to the reformation in Norway.
 * Hessdalen Valley is a sparsely populated area near Røros known for the Hessdalen lights, some unexplained lights observed in a 12-kilometre-long stretch of the valley.
 * Hessdalen Valley is a sparsely populated area near Røros known for the Hessdalen lights, some unexplained lights observed in a 12-kilometre-long stretch of the valley.
 * Hessdalen Valley is a sparsely populated area near Røros known for the Hessdalen lights, some unexplained lights observed in a 12-kilometre-long stretch of the valley.

Alpine skiing

 * Oppdal ski resort in Oppdal is one of Norway's major alpine ski resorts. Frequently listed among top 5 or top 10 resorts in Norway.
 * Vassfjellet, Klæbu
 * Meråker skisenter, Meråker
 * Grong/Bjørgan skisenter

Hiking

 * Forollhogna National Park is a largely untouched area mostly above the forest line west of Røros. Wild reindeer roam the area.
 * Forollhogna National Park is a largely untouched area mostly above the forest line west of Røros. Wild reindeer roam the area.
 * Forollhogna National Park is a largely untouched area mostly above the forest line west of Røros. Wild reindeer roam the area.

Eat

 * Try Norwegian seafood!

Go next

 * Jämtland County in Sweden
 * North to Nordland county
 * West to the fjordlands of Møre og Romsdal
 * South to the wide uplands of Oppland

title: Trøndelag


text:
Middleport

Middleport is a village in the Niagara Frontier region of New York.

Eat
The once-popular Basket Factory restaurant has had to close, with few updates on a potential sale.

title: Middleport


text:
Middle Rhine Valley

The Rhine Valley or Middle Rhine (German: Mittelrhein) is the most famous section of the Rhine, running between the cities of Bingen(near Mainz) and Bonn in Germany and spanning the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. The section from Koblenz to Bingen, known as the Rhine Gorge, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the entire valley is often called "The Romantic Rhine".

Cities

 * -Bad Godesberg (west), Cologne Lowland
 * (east), Cologne Lowland
 * (east), Cologne Lowland
 * (east)
 * (east)
 * (east)
 * (west) — where the Mosel river joins the Rhine
 * (east)
 * (east)
 * (west)
 * (east) — right across the river from St. Goar
 * (west) — opposite the Loreley rock
 * (west)
 * (east)
 * (west)
 * (east), Rheingau
 * (west)
 * (east), Rheingau
 * (west)
 * (east), Rheingau

Understand
The Rhine Valley, where the Rhine carves its way through steep hills topped with countless castles and ruins, is one of the most famous and most heavily touristed parts of Germany. The travelling here is very easy — cruises, castles and vineyard tours by day, sampling local wines at night — so it's no surprise that visitors' demographics are slanted heavily towards retirees looking for an easy break.

For the more adventurous travellers, the Rheinsteig and Rheinburgenweg hiking trails along the hills surrounding the Rhine, each hundreds of km long, offer amazing vistas and access to the region's dozens of castles. A more leisurely option is to cycle the river banks to enjoy the vistas and the villages outside the boat and train stops.

When to go
The peak season is definitely summer, when the hillsides are green and the cruise boats busy. In September, many inns and restaurants already start closing down for the winter, and almost all cruises end by November, starting up again in April. The autumn paints many shades of orange and brown on the trees of the valley side, while the spring brings bright green and the white of tree blossoms.

Get in
The most common starting points for a tour of the Rhine Valley are Cologne, just north of Bonn, and Frankfurt, just east of Rüdesheim. Frankfurt is actually on the Main, not the Rhine itself, so the Rhine towns of Mainz and Wiesbaden also make popular starting points.

By plane
Frankfurt airport is the major international airport for the area. Cologne/Bonn has some connections from other European countries as does Hahn airport, which is the closest to the valley but without a car not so accessible.

By train
Bonn and Mainz, and with less service, Wiesbaden via Frankfurt are the key stations into the region. Bingen and Koblenz being the largest stations with Rüdesheim being a popular stop. Frankfurt airport has two stations: A regional station (Regionalbahnhof) with local and S train services to Frankfurt and Mainz, and a long-distance station (Fernbahnhof) with direct fast-train services to Mainz, Bingen (only some trains), Koblenz, Bonn, and Cologne.

By car
The A61 is just to the west of the Middle Rhine Valley. The A3 is a little further to the east of the valley.

By cruise
A large number of luxury cruise operators sail up (and down) the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel, Zurich or Strasbourg or from the Rhine cruise up the Main and Danube to Budapest. The leisurely journey with plenty of stopovers typically takes anywhere from one to two weeks, with accommodation on the boat itself. Large operators include Avalon and Viking, with low-season prices for a 7-night cruise starting from around US$2,000.

By car
Along the left bank runs the B9 while along the right bank the B42  runs the whole stretch of the valley. The majority of both roads in the Rhine valley section are one lane in both directions with few places to overtake. The roads are quite busy with tourists during the summer.

On your travels you will want to visit locations on both sides of the river. Note that there are no bridges between Wiesbaden and Koblenz crossing the river but there are a number of ferries that take car, bike and foot passengers.

By train
There are not one but two train lines running along this section of the Rhine:

 * The Linke Rheinstrecke ("Left Rhine Line") runs along the left (west) bank of the river from Cologne (Köln) to Mainz, passing for example through Boppard, Sankt Goar, Oberwesel and Bacharach.
 * The Rechte Rheinstrecke ("Right Rhine Line") runs along the right (east) bank of the river from Cologne to Wiesbaden, passing for example through Braubach, Kaub, Assmannshausen and Rüdesheim.

Both sides have Regional and InterCity services, but the Linke side also has Regional Express services which skip some stations. Train rides in the Rhine Gorge section can be quite scenic if you sit in the side of the train facing the river. Interchanging between the two is possible at Koblenz; alternatively, if you are staying in a town linked by a ferry service to the other side of the river, you may use the ferry to reach the line from the other side (for example Sankt Goar/Sankt Goarshausen, or Bingen/Rüdesheim).

The "core" of the Rhine Valley is in Rhineland-Pfalz's VRM and RNN tariff zone, the Rheingau stretch east of Lorch is also in Frankfurt's RMV zone, while going north of Remagen passes into Cologne's VRS area. But you can calculate the price of the journey and buy tickets using the Deutsche Bahn website or mobile app, which saves you the hassle of figuring out the different tariff zones. The same can be done using ticket machines or service counters (in the few stations they are available). Note that as of 2021, not all ticket machines accept credit cards, and some are not even able to provide change.

Some good offers to explore the surroundings include the Rheinland-Pfalz-Ticket, offering unlimited travel in local trains and buses for up to 5 persons inside the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Wiesbaden and Bonn("Left Rhine Line")for a day (9AM onwards on weekdays, all days weekends, up to 3AM of the following day). The ticket costs per day (as of Dec. 2015) if bought via automat or internet, or  if bought at a ticket stand and is available at all train stations. In addition to the core stretch along the Rhine (Remagen-Oberwesel inclusive) and the train line along the Mosel, the ticket also covers a few handy train stretches outside state boundaries, notably Rolandseck-Bonn, Koblenz-Rüdesheim-Wiesbaden and Wiesbaden-Mainz.

By boat

The Köln-Düsseldorfer Rheinschiffahrt, better known as KD, runs cruises and scheduled services up and down the river between Cologne and Mainz. The summer season (May-Sept) sees up to 8 services daily on the busiest parts of the river, but services are cut considerably in the shoulder seasons of April and October and slow down to a trickle in the winter. Traveling end to end takes over 11 hours (€49 one way), so most travellers opt for much smaller segments: St. Goar to Bingen, for example, passes by the famous rock of Loreley, takes about 90 minutes and costs €15.30.

While KD has the most extensive network and schedules, there is quite a bit of competition. For example, Bingen-Rüdesheimer  operates scheduled services on the south half between Rüdesheim and St. Goar and Roessler line cover the towns and castles in the south.

If you do not have time to do a full round tour consider taking the trip downstream (south to north), which is faster, and getting the train back to your start point).

On foot

 * The Rheinsteig walking trail passes on the right Rhine side through (Wiesbaden), Rüdesheim, Lorch, Kaub, Braubach, Lahnstein, Koblenz-Ehrenbreitstein, Neuwied, Linz am Rhein, Bad Honnef and (Bonn).
 * The Rheinburgenweg walking trail passes on the left Rhine side through Bingen, Bacharach, St. Goar, Boppard, Koblenz, Andernach, Ramagen and Rolandseck near Bonn-Mehlen.

Castles
Driving or cruising along the valley there is nearly always at least two castles within sight. Many are open to the public but some are private or in ruins with no access. A few are hotels or hostels. The must visits are: Rheinstein, for its position and restored structure; the Marksburg for its well-preserved structure; and Rheinfels for its size and the chance to explore the underground areas (take a torch with you). Expect to do some steep climbing of stairs and walks along narrow high ramparts. Exciting and worth the visit but a little nerve racking with small children.

 * Brömserburg Castle · Rüdesheim
 * Boosenburg Castle · Rüdesheim
 * Klopp Castle (Burg Klopp) · Bingen
 * Mäuseturm (Toll Tower) · Bingen
 * Ehrenfels Castle Ruin (Burgruine Ehrenfels) · Rüdesheim
 * Rheinstein Castle · Trechtingshausen
 * Reichenstein Castle · Trechtingshausen
 * Sooneck Castle · Niederheimbach
 * Heimburg Castle · Niederheimbach
 * Fürstenberg Castle Ruins · Rheindiebach
 * Stahleck Castle · Bacharach
 * Stahlberg Castle Ruins · Bacharach-Steeg
 * Pfalzgrafenstein Castle · Kaub
 * Gutenfels Castle · Kaub
 * Schönburg Castle · Oberwesel
 * Katz Castle · St. Goarshausen
 * Reichenberg Castle Ruins · Reichenberg
 * Rheinfels Fortress (Festung Rheinfels) · St. Goar
 * Maus Castle · Wellmich
 * The Hostile Brothers - Sterrenberg Castle (ruin) (Feindliche Brüder) · Kamp-Bornhofen
 * The Roman Camp in Boppard (Römisches Kastell)· Boppard
 * Former Prince Electors' Castle in Boppard (Ehemalige Kurfürstliche Burg) · Boppard
 * Osterspai Castle (Wasserburg Osterspai)· Osterspai
 * Marksburg · Braubach
 * Lahneck Castle · Lahnstein-Oberlahnstein
 * Stolzenfels Palace (Schloss Stolzenfels) · Koblenz-Stolzenfels
 * Prince Elector's Castle (Kurfürstliche Stadtburg) · Koblenz
 * Electors' Palace (Kurfürstliches Schloss) · Koblenz
 * Ehrenbreitstein Fortress (Festung Ehrenbreitstein) · Koblenz

Events

 * Rhein in Flammen (Rhine in Flames) Firework displays and lit-up cruise boats:

Drink
The Rhine Valley is famous for wine, and this section of the Rhine along with its tributaries the Mosel and Nahe cover 5 of Germany's 13 officially recognized wine regions. From north to south:

 * Mosel: mostly sweet white Riesling, covers the entire Mosel River valley from Luxembourg to Koblenz
 * Mittelrhein: almost all Riesling, from Koblenz to Bingen (left bank) and Königswinter to Kaub (right bank)
 * Nahe: varies wines, along the Nahe river southwest of Bingen
 * Rheingau: the best-known, almost all high-quality (Prädikat) Riesling, but Assmannshausen's red Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) is also famous; right bank only, from Lorch via Assmannshausen, Rudesheim, Eltville, Wiesbaden to Hochheim am Main
 * Rheinhessen: Germany's largest producer, along the left bank from Bingen through Mainz and south all the way to Worms

For those who enjoy a beer try Maximilians Brauwiesen micro-brewery in Lahnstein.

Stay safe
On the cruise ships there is not always shade on the decks, do not forget your sun cream and maybe sun hat.

Go next

 * Bonn
 * Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
 * Burg Eltz, near Treis-Karden on the Mosel
 * Bad Kreuznach (Nahe)
 * Ingelheim
 * Mainz
 * Rheingau
 * Wiesbaden
 * Moselle Valley
 * Eifel

title: Middle Rhine Valley


text:
Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough is a port on the River Tees at the north edge of North Yorkshire. It's industrial and in 2021 had a population of 143,900.

Understand
"This remarkable place, the youngest child of England’s enterprise, is an infant, but if an infant, an infant Hercules."

- William Gladstone in 1862 – he was then Chancellor of the Exchequer, and later four times Prime Minister

In 1801 the population of Middlesbrough was just 25, a farm hamlet. But from 1829 the region's coalfields and iron ores were exploited, and a new port was needed to ship them. The port area also developed a metal-bashing industry such as shipbuilding and steel production, with a line of smoke-stack works along the coast as far as Redcar. The town burgeoned, only to languish from the 1950s and 1960s as those industries lost out to the foreign competition.

The Tees was the traditional northern boundary of Yorkshire, but in 1974 Middlesbrough and other industrial towns on both sides of the river passed to the new entity of Cleveland. This proved unpopular and was abolished in 1996, and Middlesbrough was re-assigned to North Yorkshire. The change was nominal since the town is a unitary authority, effectively a metropolis, not governed by a County Council.

By plane
Manchester Airport has global connections, competitive prices, and an hourly direct train taking 2 hr 45 min.

Newcastle Airport and Leeds Bradford Airport  have good European connections and are within 90 min drive.

Teesside International Airport ( is 12 miles west of town. It has only 2 or 3 flights a day, from Aberdeen and Amsterdam. It lacks public transport, and they slap a £6 "facility fee" on departing passengers.

By train

From London King's Cross you normally change at York or Darlington, the journey time is 3 hr 30 min. A couple of trains per day are direct to Middlesbrough.

From Newcastle upon Tyne direct trains hourly take 80 min via Sunderland, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees and Thornaby, continuing to James Cook Hospital, Marton and Nunthorpe. Some of them start from Hexham, running via Corbridge, Prudhoe and the Metrocentre through Newcastle. Other services require a change in Darlington.

From Manchester Airport, Piccadilly and Victoria trains run hourly via Huddersfield, Leeds, York, Thirsk, Northallerton, Yarm and Thornaby. These trains continue to Redcar.

From Bishop Auckland, local trains trundle hourly via Darlington and Thornaby to Middlesbrough and continue to Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

By bus
National Express buses call at Middlesbrough on their way north to Sunderland and Newcastle:
 * NX 426 runs from London Victoria twice a day, taking 6 hours via Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Leeds.
 * NX 133 runs from Birmingham three times a day, taking 5 hours via Sheffield and Leeds.
 * NX 172 runs from Manchester twice a day, with the evening service also calling at Leeds.

Megabus similarly call on the way to Sunderland and Newcastle:
 * M12 runs twice a day from London Victoria, taking 6 hours via Sheffield Meadowhall and Leeds.
 * M36 runs twice a day from Bristol Cabot Circus (with one starting from Cardiff) via Birmingham, Manchester Airport and Shudehill, and Leeds.

Arriva Bus X12 runs hourly from Newcastle via Chester-le-Street to Durham, then every 30 min via Stockton to Middlesbrough.

Arriva Bus X4 runs from Whitby every 30 min via Loftus and Redcar. Bus X66 runs every 20 min from Darlington via Stockton.

Go North East Bus X10 runs hourly from Newcastle taking 90 min via Gateshead, Heworth, Peterlee, Billingham and Stockton.

is right in the town centre.

By road
From the south follow A1(M) then A19 past Thirsk. From the north follow A19 from Newcastle.

National Cycle Route 1 (Dover to Inverness) approaches northbound through Redcar and follows the Tees riverbank until crossing at Thornaby and continuing past Stockton. N65 from York comes into town on Park Vale Rd and ends here.

By boat
Middlesbrough is a busy commercial port but has no ferry service. The nearest ferry ports are Port of Tyne downriver from Newcastle (from IJmuiden near Amsterdam) and Hull (from Rotterdam). Both have a shuttle bus to their main railway station.

Get around
You're unlikely to use the train within the city. The Tyne & Wear Metro network doesn't extend south of Sunderland.

For James Cook Birthplace Museum and Ormesby Hall take Bus 28 / 28A to Marton. It runs every 30 min towards Nunthorpe, Stokesley, Guisborough and Lingdale.

Parking gets busy on Saturdays, especially whenever Boro have a home match. The NCP car park below Dundas Mall is large and usually has spaces, but charges are high.

Short stay parking is also available at Captain Cook Square, the Leisure Park and the Cleveland Centre. Long stay parking is available at the Zetland Multi Story, Cannon Park and Captain Cook Square.

See

 * Albert Park stretches half a mile east from the Dorman Museum to a boating lake. A statue near the museum is of star football player and abrasive manager Brian Clough (1935-2004).
 * Stewart Park is the bosky park surrounding the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum.
 * Albert Park stretches half a mile east from the Dorman Museum to a boating lake. A statue near the museum is of star football player and abrasive manager Brian Clough (1935-2004).
 * Stewart Park is the bosky park surrounding the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum.
 * Stewart Park is the bosky park surrounding the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum.
 * Stewart Park is the bosky park surrounding the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum.

Do

 * What's on? Read Northern Echo or The Gazette.
 * Cinema: Cineworld is on the leisure park on Marton Road, east side of town centre. Showcase is west by the A66 / A19 intersection, see Stockton-on-Tees.
 * Football:
 * Rugby: Middlesbrough RUFC and Acklam RUFC play rugby union (15 a side) down in the amateur leagues. The town doesn't have a rugby league (13 a side) club.
 * Hiking: the town is 15 miles from the North York Moors National Park. The moors are fringed by the Cleveland Way, a 109-mile trail from Helmsley to Filey. Use OS Landranger (1:25000 scale) maps 26 and 27.
 * Golf: Middlesbrough GC is five miles south in Nunthorpe. White tees 6333 yards, par 70, visitor round £38.
 * Boro Mela celebrates Hindu culture on Albert Park in August.
 * Golf: Middlesbrough GC is five miles south in Nunthorpe. White tees 6333 yards, par 70, visitor round £38.
 * Boro Mela celebrates Hindu culture on Albert Park in August.

Learn

 * Teesside University in 2021 had some 15,500 undergrads and 5800 postgrads. The main campus is in town centre, with a smaller campus in Darlington.
 * Middlesbrough College offers A levels and vocational courses, and in 2021 had about 15,000 students. Their campus is north side of town near the Transporter Bridge.
 * Northern School of Art offers courses in art and design both at higher and further educational level. Known as Cleveland College Of Art and Design until 2018, their main campus is on Newport St next to Middlesbrough bus station, with two smaller bases in Hartlepool.

Buy
Middlesbrough has kept its shopping central, with the main retail malls and streets near the bus station. Stores are typically open M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM, Su 10:30AM-4PM.

Captain Cook Square is just east of the station, Cleveland Shopping Centre is the next block east, Hill Street is a block north of that, and Dundas Shopping Centre is another block north next to A66.

Eat

 * The Parmo is a local delicacy comprising breaded chicken (or less often pork) topped with cheese and béchamel sauce, plus other toppings on request. It's classic post-pub food in these parts.
 * The main drag for cheap eats is along Linthorpe Road, with others round the bus station and Leisure Park.

 * Uni at 118 Linthorpe Rd serves Japanese M-Sa noon-2PM, 4-8:30PM.
 * Hot Wok at 140 Linthorpe Rd serves authentic Szechuan food M Tu noon-3PM, 5-10PM; Th Su noon-10PM.
 * Akbar's at 192 Linthorpe Rd is open Su-Th 5-11PM, F Sa 5PM-midnight. Their family-size naans are an impressive sight.
 * Manjaro's at 186 Linthorpe Rd reckon to dish up African/Caribbean, but it looks uncannily like fast-food with an extra zizz. Yes, they serve parmos, and open daily noon-20PM.
 * Manjaro's at 186 Linthorpe Rd reckon to dish up African/Caribbean, but it looks uncannily like fast-food with an extra zizz. Yes, they serve parmos, and open daily noon-20PM.

Drink

 * Others in town centre are The Discovery, The Isaac Wilson, The Pig Iron, The Green Tree, The Infant Hercules, O'Connells, The Dovecot, Rafferty's, Twisted Lip, Sherlock's, The Bottled Note and The Devil's Advocate.
 * Brewery: Taylor Illingworth make ales on Riverside Park Industrial Estate. No tours.
 * Distillery: Steel River Drinks make gin at Lustrum Trade Park two miles north of town. No tours.
 * Brewery: Taylor Illingworth make ales on Riverside Park Industrial Estate. No tours.
 * Distillery: Steel River Drinks make gin at Lustrum Trade Park two miles north of town. No tours.

Sleep

 * Premier Inn Teesside might also be convenient, see Stockton-on-Tees.
 * OYO Longlands Hotel opposite the Baltimore is cheap for a reason and gets poor reviews.
 * Premier Inn Teesside might also be convenient, see Stockton-on-Tees.
 * OYO Longlands Hotel opposite the Baltimore is cheap for a reason and gets poor reviews.
 * Premier Inn Teesside might also be convenient, see Stockton-on-Tees.
 * OYO Longlands Hotel opposite the Baltimore is cheap for a reason and gets poor reviews.
 * OYO Longlands Hotel opposite the Baltimore is cheap for a reason and gets poor reviews.

Stay safe
Town centre is safe enough day and night. Take usual care around traffic and aggressive drunks.

Connect

 * As of Oct 2022, Middlesbrough has 5G from all UK carriers.

Go next

 * Saltburn-by-the-Sea 12 miles away is the closest seaside town, but the coast improves as you head further southeast.
 * Whitby is famous for crabmeat, Goths and vampires. Beyond it, the North Yorkshire coast south to Scarborough and Bridlington is very scenic, with cliffs and fishing coves.
 * Durham is a well-preserved old city, with an impressive Norman cathedral and castle.
 * York, a walled city, has many museums and other attractions.
 * For big city attractions head north to Newcastle or west to Leeds.

title: Middlesbrough


text:
Middlesex

There's more than one place called Middlesex:

Australia

 * Middlesex, Tasmania is a tourist town near Cradle Mountain

Jamaica

 * Middlesex County - the central third of the country (contains the parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Mary)

United Kingdom

 * Middlesex - an historical county now mostly absorbed into Greater London; small parts were transferred to Berkshire and Surrey

United States of America

 * Middlesex - a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey
 * Middlesex - a town in Yates County, New York (state)
 * Middlesex - a town in Nash County, North Carolina
 * Middlesex - a town in Washington County, Vermont
 * Middlesex Township - in Butler County, Pennsylvania
 * Middlesex Township - in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

See also: Middlesex County

title: Middlesex


text:
Middlesex County

There's more than one place called Middlesex County:

Canada

 * Middlesex County (Ontario)

Jamaica

 * Middlesex County (Jamaica) - one of the three sub-divisions of Jamaica

United States of America

 * Middlesex County (Connecticut)
 * Middlesex County (Massachusetts)
 * Middlesex County (New Jersey)
 * Middlesex County (Virginia)

title: Middlesex County


text:
Middlesex County (Jamaica)

Middlesex County is a region of Jamaica.

Regions
Middlesex County consists of the following parishes:
 * Clarendon
 * Manchester
 * Saint Ann
 * Saint Catherine
 * Saint Mary

Cities

 * May Pen - Capital and largest town in the parish of Clarendon, and part of the Middlesex county.
 * Mandeville - Largest town in Manchester Parish.
 * Saint Ann's Bay - The capital and one of the main towns of the Saint Ann Parish, is a tourist destination in Jamaica.
 * Port Maria - The capital of Saint Mary Parish. Port Maria is the home of all business in the Saint Mary Parish.
 * Spanish Town - once the capital of Jamaica, and the main town of the Saint Catherine Parish.
 * Ocho Rios - City in Saint Ann Parish, home to many resorts and is a popular popular tourist destination.

Other destinations

 * Cabarita Island - just outside the parish of Saint Mary, in the Caribbean Sea.
 * - a large island in Saint Catherine Parish, approximately one mile from the town of Hellshire.
 * Little Goat Island - "the baby island to Great Goat Island"
 * Wreck Reef - a small cay near Little Goat Island, Great Goat Island, among others
 * Salt Island - near the town of Salt River, in the parish of Clarendon
 * Dolphin Island - near the Salt Island
 * Pigeon Island - near Dolphin Island
 * Bare Bush Cay - near Holmes Bay, Clarendon Parish

By taxicab

 * Everywhere you go in Jamaica, there are taxicabs. Jamaica goes by route taxies, which are very cheap.

By car

 * When going hiking, camping or going on various trips, it is best to charter a veichle. In Jamaica, chartering is quite expensive, but also a good method of travelling for tourists.

See

 * Dunns River Falls, near Ocho Rios, Saint Ann Parish
 * Dam in Spanish Town, Saint Catherine Parish
 * Marsh near Dolphin Island, Clarendon Parish
 * St Jago De La Vega Cathedral, Spanish Town

Do

 * Hiking - The Blue Mountains (the largest mountain in Jamaica) are a great place to start, located in Portland Parish, and Saint Mary Parish

title: Middlesex County (Jamaica)


text:
Middlesex County (New Jersey)

Middlesex County is squarely in the center of New Jersey, about midway between New York City and Philadelphia. Population is approximately 750,000. Area is about 318 sq. miles covering 25 cities and towns.

Cities

 * — the county seat

By car
Middlesex County is served by major interstate highways, including US 1, I-295, I-287, the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) and Garden State Parkway.

By train
New Jersey Transit provides service to New Brunswick, Edison, Metuchen, and Woodbridge on the Northeast Corridor, and to South Amboy, Perth Amboy, and Woodbridge on the North Jersey Coast Line. Amtrak intercity trains are available at New Brunswick Station and Metropark Station in Woodbridge.

By bus
New Jersey Transit buses travel throughout the county.

Get around
NJ Transit buses run throughout the county. Driving by private car is easy and parking is generally plentiful. Rush hour congestion across major arteries (such as the Raritan River Bridge between New Brunswick and Highland Park) can be exasperating if you are in a hurry.

title: Middlesex County (New Jersey)


text:
Middleton

There is more than one place called Middleton:

Canada

 * Middleton (Nova Scotia) — A town in Nova Scotia.

United States of America

 * Middleton (Massachusetts) — A town in Massachusetts.
 * Middleton (Wisconsin) — A suburb of Madison.
 * Middleton (Utah) — A town in Utah

United Kingdom

 * Middleton-in-Teesdale — A village in England.

title: Middleton


text:
Middletown

There is more than one place called Middletown:

United States of America

 * Middletown (California) - A town in the state of California.
 * Middletown (Connecticut) - A town in the state of Connecticut.
 * Middletown (Delaware) - A town in the state of Delaware.
 * Middletown (Illinois) - A town in the state of Illinois.
 * Middletown (Indiana) - A town in the state of Indiana.
 * Middletown (Iowa) - A town in the state of Iowa.
 * Middletown (Kentucky) - A town in the state of Kentucky.
 * Middletown (Maryland) - A town in the state of Maryland.
 * Middletown (Michigan) - A town in the state of Michigan.
 * Middletown (Missouri) - A town in the state of Missouri.
 * Middletown (New Jersey) - A town in the state of New Jersey.
 * Middletown (New York) - A town in the state of New York.
 * Middletown (Ohio) - A town in the state of Ohio.
 * Middletown (Dauphin County) - A town in the state of Pennsylvania.
 * Middletown (Delaware County) - A town in the state of Pennsylvania.
 * Middletown (Rhode Island) - A town in the state of Rhode Island.
 * Middletown (Virginia) - A town in the state of Virginia.

Northern Ireland

 * Middletown (Northern Ireland) - A town in County Armagh in Northern Ireland.

title: Middletown


text:
Middletown (California)

Middletown  is a town in Lake County, California.

title: Middletown (California)


text:
Middletown (Connecticut)

Middletown in a small city in Connecticut on the Connecticut River, about 20 miles (32 km) south of Hartford.

Understand
Middletown lies on the Connecticut River about 15 miles south of Hartford. The town has a long history. At the time of the American Revolution, John Adams counted it as the most beautiful city in New England, but today almost nothing survives from that era. Present-day Middletown is a moderately-sized college and business town, with a few interesting remnants of 19th-century churches, graveyards, and mills. It is considered to be the southernmost city in the Knowledge Corridor region, which features an inordinate number of prestigious universities and 120,000 university students. Middletown features a large variety of restaurants (3 Mexican places, 3 Indian places, 2 Thai places, a Tibetan place and uncountable Italian places.)

There is one major college - Wesleyan University - located up the hill from downtown but aside from the restaurants and bars on Main Street, there aren't many things for college students to do right in Middletown. Where are the bookstores? The import clothing stores? Well, there may be one or two but they're hiding. To find the heart of Middletown you've got to do a little snooping around.

There are excellent resources here for those with an artistic bent. A few years ago Middletown was rated one of the 100 best art towns in America. The Buttonwood Tree is an intimate performance art space on the North End of Main St. Oddfellows Playhouse provides a start in the world of theater for kids of all ages. Then there's Kid City - sort of an exploratorium - a great place to take your kids on a rainy afternoon. For adults, the cultural offerings on the Wesleyan University campus (films, theater, a variety of music performances, and a gallery hosting art exhibits) are nearly all open to the public, and will probably trump these.

Middletown is also the home to Connecticut Valley Hospital, the major psychiatric facility for southern New England. So if you see a few questionable people on the streets, relax, they're outpatients and they're probably properly medicated.

By car
From Hartford - 91 S to 9 S first or second light on the highway take a right.

From the Shoreline - Take 9 N - left at the lights.

From the west (or New Haven) - Take Rt 66 E

From the east - get thee to Portland and go over the Portland Bridge

By bus
The "M Link" Middletown/Meriden Connection Service provides service between Meriden and Middletown. Meriden has an Amtrak stop.

Dattco offers service between New Haven and Hartford stopping in Middletown.

Get around
By bus (via Middletown Area Transit), by car or possibly on foot. Main Street is lined with parking spaces and meters, a free two-hour parking lot on Washington Street behind Main Street Market and there is a medium-sized parking lot at Destinta Theatres. Traffic does get busy during the work day and around dinner time.

Do

 * The entrance to Wadsworth Falls State Park is in Middletown, though most of the park, including the falls themselves, is in Middlefield.
 * - in
 * The entrance to Wadsworth Falls State Park is in Middletown, though most of the park, including the falls themselves, is in Middlefield.
 * - in

Stay safe
Middletown is generally not a dangerous city, but the North end of the city can be a bit dangerous, especially at night. Also, Middletown is home to Connecticut Valley Hospital, which is the largest mental hospital in New England. Some of the patients are allowed to roam the city, but most of them are generally harmless and there have been few attacks by patients.

Although the Police Department is stationed on Main Street near and around popular restaurants, walk with others at night and be aware of local gang members and sexual offenders.

Go next
The nearest large city is Hartford.

There are various towns surrounding Middletown, each providing a slightly different experience. Across the river is Portland. Which has many small delis and bakeries with a notable Italian influence. The next town over to the east is East Hampton. A formerly rural but increasingly suburban town offering Lake Pocatapaug as peaceful oasis during a hot summers day. Also bordering Middletown is Cromwell. More densely populated than Portland and East Hampton, Cromwell has more to offer in the way of restaurants, activities, and shopping, etc. Explore the neighboring towns and you might find something that interests you!

title: Middletown (Connecticut)


text:
Middletown (Maryland)

Middletown is a city in Frederick County with a population of about 2,600 people.

By car
From Frederick: Take Route 40 west towards Hagerstown (about 8 miles)

Tourism Information

 * Middletown Municipal Center, 31 West Main Street, +1 301 371-6171

Go next

 * Frederick

title: Middletown (Maryland)


text:
Middletown (New Jersey)

Middletown is a bedroom community of New York City in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Middletown sits on the Raritan Bay within the Raritan Valley region. This article also covers Highlands borough.

Residents like Middletown for its central location and proximity to the rest of the Jersey Shore.

By bus
New Jersey Transit provides local bus service on the 817, 833 and 834 routes.

By rail
Take the New Jersey Transit North Jersey Coast Line from New York Penn Station or other stops along the line. Get off at the Middletown Station on Church Street, which is cleverly located in the middle of the town.

By ferry
Take the SeaStreak or another of the fast ferries from Manhattan to Atlantic Highlands, Highlands, or Belford NJ. Then take a shuttle, cab, or short drive to Middletown.

By car
Take the Garden State Parkway to Exits 109 or 114, heading northeast.

Get around
Like most suburbs, Middletown isn't that big on trains and buses. The only train station that serves Middletown is the Middletown station, which is run by NJ Transit and takes you to New York City or places like Long Branch or Bay Head.

Sleep
In addition, Marriott (a Courtyard by Marriott hotel) and Extended Stay America have hotels near each other in Lincroft.

Go next

 * Red Bank
 * Freehold

title: Middletown (New Jersey)


text:
Middletown (Ohio)

Middletown is a city in Ohio, north of Cincinnati and a short drive south of Dayton.

By car
The easiest way into Middletown is by taking exit#32 from I-75. This is state route 122, also known as Roosevelt Boulevard, and also known as Martin Luther King Dr. This is the main commercial area for the city. From Hamilton, Ohio state route 4 will lead you into the south end before reaching downtown, then changing into Verity Parkway. From the west, following Ohio 122 will lead you into downtown after crossing the Little Miami River.

By car
Driving in Middletown is easy for locals, but can be a bit confusing for out-of-towners. The city only has one freeway ramp, exit #32, which is state route 122. State route 122 is known as Roosevelt Blvd, which is part of the Martin Luther King beltway. Major east-west roads are Oxford State in the south end, which connects Middletown with Trenton as state route 73, 14th street, part of the Martin Luther King beltway, Central Avenue, which is the main downtown corridor (and curiously changes to coles road at the Warren County line), Manchester Avenue (One of 3 Manchesters in Middletown), and Verity Parkway, part of state route 73. North-South routes are Cincinnati-Dayton Road (another with multiple names, Dixie Highway and Old 25), Breiel Boulevard, which is a very heavily traveled route, University Boulevard (part of Martin Luther King beltway), Verity Parkway, and Main Street.

The street system, while it may seem odd, has its advantages. Most streets, even residential are far wider than necessary, and one can get anywhere in the city in fifteen minutes. Rush hour traffic usually means waiting an extra light cycle for the arrow. Red light cameras are frequent.

See

 * There is a great view of the city from the hill on SR122 just west of town.
 * Another great view is from the top of the empty parking garage downtown on Verity. Many advertisements from the 50s are still painted on buildings, such as vintage coca-cola ads.
 * AK Steel, a major employer in the area, has two HUGE flames shooting into the night sky, one blue, and one yellow.
 * Another great view is from the top of the empty parking garage downtown on Verity. Many advertisements from the 50s are still painted on buildings, such as vintage coca-cola ads.
 * AK Steel, a major employer in the area, has two HUGE flames shooting into the night sky, one blue, and one yellow.

Eat
If you are not from the area, try some Gold Star or Skyline Chili for some local flavor. Many common chain restaurants are also available.

Go next

 * Cincinnati
 * Dayton

title: Middletown (Ohio)


text:
Middletown (Dauphin County)

Middletown is a town of 9,500 people (2020) in the Harrisburg area of Pennsylvania. The town is old, and diverse historic architectural styles abound. Middletown has everything from log houses, some whose construction is obscured by modern siding, to Victorian mansions.

By car

 * Pennsylvania Routes 230 (Main St./West Harrisburg Pike) and 441 (Union St.) pass through.

By bus

 * Capital Area Transit (CAT) bus route 7 from downtown Harrisburg and the airport (M-Sa).

Get around
Capital Area Transit (CAT) bus route 7 runs through part of downtown. However, the town is very easily explored on foot or by car.

Stay safe
Call 911 for emergencies.

Go next
Nearby destinations suitable for day trips include:

 * Gettysburg — Explore Civil War country.
 * Harrisburg — Explore the Capital of Pennsylvania.
 * Hershey (Pennsylvania) — Explore chocolate country.
 * Lancaster (Pennsylvania) — Explore Amish country.
 * York (Pennsylvania) — Explore Central PA country.

title: Middletown (Dauphin County)


text:
Middletown (Rhode Island)

Middletown lies south of Portsmouth and north of Newport, Rhode Island. This geographical location is what gave this town its name. Middletown was founded in 1743 when unjust taxation and a growing population caused freeholders in Newport to petition for independence. In 1731, the land that Middletown occupies was set apart and the town began.

Today, Middletown is a small yet bustling community. There are many places to eat and sleep as Middletown provides a port to many tourists to Newport. Middletown has very interesting history including Nicolas Cage's purchase of the "Grey Craig" (a very large home) in August 2007.

By car
To get into Middletown, or anywhere on Aquidneck Island, you can take one of three bridges: The Newport Bridge (Claiborne Pell Bridge), from Jamestown, Rhode Island, The Sakonnet River Bridge, from Tiverton, Rhode Island, or the Mount Hope Bridge, from Bristol, Rhode Island.

Get around
Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) offers (in season) daily trolley/bus service to all major points of interest in Middletown.

title: Middletown (Rhode Island)


text:
Middletown (Virginia)

Middletown is in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

See

 * Belle Grove & Cedar Creek National Historic Park, Visitor Center at 8437 Valley Pike,, . Operated by Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation.
 * Belle Grove & Cedar Creek National Historic Park, Visitor Center at 8437 Valley Pike,, . Operated by Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation.

title: Middletown (Virginia)


text:
Middlewich

Middlewich is a town situated centrally in the north-west English county of Cheshire.

Understand

Middlewich was founded by the Roman Empire who used the large salt deposits underground. It has since then become a market town residing in the heart of the cheshire countryside, boasting unspoilt countryside, scenic waterways and summer festivals. Unlike cities and most big towns, it is not over-run by large store chains which gives small independent businesses a chance to flourish.

By car
The M6 motorway is close by. Use junction 18 to get to Middlewich.

By plane
The town is about half an hours drive from both Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport. Both are easily accessible via the road networks, and less so through rail.

By train
Although Middlewich's train station has not been active for years, there is a train station out the outskirts of the neighbouring town of Winsford, and one sightly further away in the town of Sandbach.

These two stations have direct links to Crewe station, which is one of the main hubs for rail in the north of England. Crewe is on the West Coast Mainline (London Euston to Glasgow Central) with connections to Manchester, Liverpool and Chester.

By bus
The buses are very frequent in Middlewich, running to and from every neighbouring town. Take the bus number 39 from Crewe (or its train station) which will take you to Middlewich after about an hour. For bus time tables ring Traveline Cheshire on +44 1606 815050.

By boat
The Trent and Mersey canal runs right through the centre of the town and therefore you can reach Middlewich via canal barge once on the correct canal. The Trent and Mersey Canal can be reach via The Coventry, Staff and Worcs, Macclesfield and Bridgewater canals.

Get around
Middlewich is a small and compact town so most attractions and amenities are within walking distance.

See

The big church in the center of town is considered the main attraction. There are miles of watersways to walk along, The Trent And Mersey canal, as well as several rivers. The town is surrounded by countryside offering bird watchers lots of opportunities, particularly along the Croxton flashes.

Do
Visit during the Folk and Boat weekend, usually the third weekend in June. The whole town explodes with people, events and music. Small fields in the center of town have stalls on them, offering locally brewed beers and scrumpies, as well as the main music tent. The pubs along the side of the canal are usually packed and offer live music too. The Middlewich Folk and Boat festival is now firmly established on the folk circuit and it is estimated that 30,000 people visit the town during the festival weekend, along with 400 boats.

It is also worth a visit to the "Temptations" shop along the high street, a very unique shop which is deceptively large once you enter the building.

Eat
Like many towns in northern England, there are many Indian and Chinese takeaways as well as a few Turkish kebab houses.

Drink
There are many places to drink in the center of town. The Kings Arms and The Vaults are located centrally in town although it is advised to be wary drinking during Friday and Saturday night, particularly in the Vaults, as some locals can be rude to people out of town. The Boar's Head and Newton Brewery, just outside of the center of town, are more suited for a friendlier atmosphere, whilst the Salt Cellar at the top end of town is a family pub.

Sleep
Some of the higher end pubs offer places you can stay. On the outskirts near the industrial estate, there is a Travelodge.

Like many of the towns with canals running through them, you can rent and stay in a canal barge. This also gives you the opportunity to visit other towns through this different way of transport.

Connect
Middlewich and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Oct 2022, 5G has not reached town.

Go next

 * Crewe
 * Nantwich
 * Manchester

title: Middlewich


text:
Midelt

Midelt is a city in Morocco, in the Middle-Atlas.

Get around
You might want to walk, as Midelt is not huge, but taking a petit-taxi is also possible. Expect to pay around 10 dirham to go anywhere in the city.

Eat

 * Le restaurant Fès à Midelt, run by Driss, in the middle of town, is a good, if not very cheap option. But very nice food indeed and a great owner.
 * The food in the Hotel Ayachi restaurant is not that bad either, especially the apple-pie is quite good. Remember that Midelt is in the middle of the apple-producing region of Morocco!

Drink
Not many options for a wild night out, but there are some hotel bars: hotel Ayachi, Hotel Taddart outside of town on the road to Midelt, and Kasbah Asmaa just outside of town on the road to Errachidia.

title: Midelt


text:
Midland

There is more than one place called Midland:

Canada

 * Midland (Ontario) - a town in Ontario.

United States of America

 * Midland (Michigan)
 * Midland (North Carolina) - A town in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.
 * Midland (Texas) - A city in Texas.

title: Midland


text:
Midland (Michigan)

Midland is a city in Central Michigan northwest of Saginaw.

Understand
The Dow Chemical Company was founded in Midland in 1897. Its world headquarters are still here. Many residents of Midland are employees of Dow, although it is not necessarily a company town.

By car
Off US Highway 10 west of I-75.

Get around
The downtown and the area near the Dow headquarters are quite walkable, as are the two universities if you're not in a hurry. It's also possible to use the trial system to get to nature center. There are taxis and a few ride-hailing services (Uber, etc.) available, which are needed to get to the airport. Car rentals are available at the airport.

Do

Connect
Free wifi at the nature centre and museum.

Go next
See the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinaabe Culture and Lifeweays (and the Soaring Eagle Casino) in Mount Pleasant.

title: Midland (Michigan)