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Riga region

The Riga region on the Baltic Sea sits at the heart of Latvia, and is its political, population, and cultural center.

Cities

 * – The capital city of Latvia and the European Capital of Culture in 2014 with a long history.
 * – A popular holiday and sea resort town with wooden houses just west of Riga, which claims to have the longest beach in Northern Europe.
 * – A town in central Latvia with many interesting castles and historic points of interest. Probably, the most popular destination outside of Riga for foreign tourists, also due to its closeness.
 * – A town some 70 km west of Riga. Not that exciting, but known for its affinity with roses, the Rose Festival, and the nearby Cinevilla, a dummy city and now theme park.
 * – A town in central Latvia with many interesting castles and historic points of interest. Probably, the most popular destination outside of Riga for foreign tourists, also due to its closeness.
 * – A town some 70 km west of Riga. Not that exciting, but known for its affinity with roses, the Rose Festival, and the nearby Cinevilla, a dummy city and now theme park.
 * – A town some 70 km west of Riga. Not that exciting, but known for its affinity with roses, the Rose Festival, and the nearby Cinevilla, a dummy city and now theme park.

Other destinations

 * – 15 km southeast of Riga where was located.
 * – A reserve that covers 6% of the territory of Latvia, and offers hiking trails, beaches, and nature education.
 * — A park mostly occupied by forests and mires, with boardwalk trails.

Understand
In addition to the city of Riga, the most popular tourist destination in the country, there is the seaside resort of Jūrmala with its seaside wooden houses and numerous spas. Further west, there is Tukums, which houses a city built in 2004 only for the making of a film.

The area is also rich in natural sites; Kemeri National Park with its forest and peat landscapes; to the north, the Baltic beaches offer a unique landscape between forest and pine and sea; and the town of Sigulda and its three castles, and also the gateway to the Gauja National Park, the oldest national park in the country.

Get in
1188.lv provides up-to-date bus and train schedules, route planner and prices.

All transport (bus, train, car) is spider web wise possible from Riga, mostly direct and quite frequent. The railway tracks and roads spread equally distributed in all possible land-based directions. This allows for convenient day trips to the below mentioned sites (even several ones) starting and finishing at Riga.

Get around
Travel around Riga can be less frequent, and sometimes it is even preferable to first going back to Riga and continuing from there.

See

 * The Jaunmokas Castle / Palace (Latvian: Jaunmokas Manor / Jaunmoku pils) in Tumes Pagasts near Tukums is not just a forestry museum with a solid castle interior and room of columns, but it also has horse-drawn carriage rides, herbal teas and is the centre of Latvian ornament.
 * The Jaunmokas Castle / Palace (Latvian: Jaunmokas Manor / Jaunmoku pils) in Tumes Pagasts near Tukums is not just a forestry museum with a solid castle interior and room of columns, but it also has horse-drawn carriage rides, herbal teas and is the centre of Latvian ornament.
 * The Jaunmokas Castle / Palace (Latvian: Jaunmokas Manor / Jaunmoku pils) in Tumes Pagasts near Tukums is not just a forestry museum with a solid castle interior and room of columns, but it also has horse-drawn carriage rides, herbal teas and is the centre of Latvian ornament.

Do
Ķemeri National Park is the third largest national park in Latvia, and popular for its extensive moorland, moorland lakes, a wooden footbridge, viewing tower, bird-watching, moss, cranberries, fierce plants. The park extends to the north and the south of the village with the same name. Only south you will find a trail made of planks across the swamp including an observation tower (but without roof, so not good for overnighting without tent) – see Wikivoyage's article for further details about the park.

Sleep
In the following a list of various accommodation options in the region worth mentioning and outside of the above covered cities, towns, and parks:

 * Also check out the Dunduri meadows observation tower (see above), which has a roof, and is potentially good for 2-3 people for overnighting, if you bring a sleeping bag and mattress.
 * Also check out the Dunduri meadows observation tower (see above), which has a roof, and is potentially good for 2-3 people for overnighting, if you bring a sleeping bag and mattress.
 * Also check out the Dunduri meadows observation tower (see above), which has a roof, and is potentially good for 2-3 people for overnighting, if you bring a sleeping bag and mattress.

Go next

 * Vidzeme – The most touristy region in Latvia with the Gauja National Park and its river valley, many medieval castles, estates and churches, and numerous interesting cities, towns and villages.
 * Kurzeme – The region provides direct access to the Baltic sea with wild coast, beautiful lighthouses and sea resort towns. Preserved traditions and culture allowing visitors to visit various places such as old fishermen's villages of the Livonian time.
 * Zemgale – Flattest region in Latvia, and famous for the neighbouring and historically related Jelgava Palace and Rundāle Palace, near Jelgava and Bauska, respectively.
 * Latgale – A less touristy and more Russian-influenced region, but with the amazing Basilica of the Assumption near Daugavpils.

title: Riga region


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Rigaud

Rigaud is a town of 7,854 people (2021) in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, in the Montérégie region of Quebec, about west of Montreal. Rigaud is located northwest of the Suroît geographic region.

Rigaud is an important stopover on the road between Montreal and Ottawa (via Quebec Autoroute 40 and Ontario Highway 417, offering food, accommodation, groceries, gas and other services to motorists. In addition, Rigaud offers a wide range of infrastructure and recreational tourism activities.

Understand
While in many ways a typical rural Quebec town, it features Mont-Rigaud, a small mountain in the otherwise flat Ottawa River valley. The mountain attracts skiers, hikers, climbers, snowshoers, maple syrup and beer enthusiasts and religious tourists. History buffs can take a heritage tour in Old-Rigaud (Vieux-Rigaud). It can make for a pleasant stop on the way between Montreal and Ottawa.

Visitor information

History
On October 29, 1732, the brothers Pierre (naval officer) and François-Pierre de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, governors in New France, obtained the concession of the Seigneurie de Rigaud. The first settlers settled in Rigaud in 1783 under the aegis of Lord Alain Chartier de Lotbinière, who acquired the rights to the seigneury.

Construction of the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes chapel began on June 19, 1887. The inauguration of the Vaudreuil-Rigaud railway took place in 1890. In 1909, the Northern Explosive Company, owned by Curtis & Harvey, began operations.

By car
The Carillon-Pointe-Fortune and Hudson-Oka's ferry can take you across the Ottawa River to the Outaouais and Laurentian Mountain regions of Quebec. In winter, ice bridges are maintained at Carillon-Pointe-Fortune and Hudson-Oka to connect the two shores.

Rigaud is within sight of exit 9 of Quebec Autoroute 40. Turn left after the exit onto St-Jean-Baptiste street and drive about to town centre. Autoroute 40 in Quebec continues as Highway 417 in Ontario, and both of those freeways are part of the Trans-Canada Highway between Montreal and Ottawa.

From Montreal, take Autoroute 40. This takes 45-60 minutes except at evening rush hour, when it can take up to 2 hours.

From Ottawa, take Highway 417 east, which becomes Autoroute 40 at the Quebec border. Turn left after the exit onto St-Jean-Baptiste street and drive about to town centre. The trip takes around 90 minutes.

By taxi
When arriving in Rigaud, or if you need transportation within the town, taxi services are readily available. Taxi companies in Rigaud offer convenient and reliable transportation options, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free journey. Whether you're heading to your accommodation or exploring the area, taxis provide a comfortable and efficient means of travel.

By bus
A commuter bus runs by CIT La Presqu'Ile runs twice per weekday in the evening to Rigaud, departing from John Abbott College in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue in Montreal's West Island, which also connect with Vaudreuil Train Station. It returns from Rigaud early in the morning on weekdays. The bus does not run on weekends.

By bicycle
If you are biking along the Quebec portion of the south side of the Ottawa River, you will pass through Rigaud. If you are coming from Ontario or the Carillon-Pointe-Fortune ferry, you will reach it via Chemin de la Baie. If you are coming from the Montreal/Hudson direction, you will reach it along Chemin de l'Anse.

By train
Rigaud no longer has direct train service. There are some buses available to Rigaud that connect from Vaudreuil train station (see the "By bus" section above) for the AMT trains from Montreal to Vaudreuil.

Get around
The centre of town is very small, mainly lying along the two streets at the base of Mont-Rigaud. It can be crossed on foot within minutes. However, most of Rigaud's main attractions (ski slopes, maple sugar shacks, hiking trails, restaurants) lie scattered around the mountain. Some of Rigaud's more secluded attractions are on different highway exits than the one that leads to the centre of town. You may need to drive for 10 or 15 minutes between different sites in Rigaud.

Sugar shack
Several "cabanes a sucre" ("sugar shacks" or maple syrup farms) cater to tourists, giving them hay rides, showing them how maple syrup is collected and prepared, serving traditional Quebec meals and playing folk music. This is most popular in March and early April, when the warmer temperatures cause the sap to start flowing through the maple trees after a long winter.

Eat
There are a few fast-food places in the town centre. If you want authentic Quebec poutine (french fries, gravy and cheese), you can't go wrong.

Drink

Go next

 * Voyageur Provincial Park, a forested, riverside park is just across the Ontario border on westbound Autoroute 40 (Highway 417 in Ontario). It is used for camping, hiking, cycling, canoeing, etc.

 * — Pointe-Fortune is a region of resorts and recreational tourism activities (especially nautical and boating on the river).
 * — It offers recreational, social, cultural and community activities and events.
 * — Landlocked between the Ottawa River and the St. Lawrence River, Sainte-Marthe offers a rural landscape and the southern flank of the Montagne de Rigaud. Every year, the only polo field in Quebec holds a polo tournament. Sainte-Marthe offers parks and green spaces, as well as sports and cultural activities. Visitors can discover the legend of the "Trou à Ouellette".
 * — Saint-Lazare offers a countryside, forest and urban landscape (in the villages of Saddlebrook, Cedarbrook, Maple Ridge and Saint-Lazare). Saint-Lazarre offers sports and leisure facilities, as well as recreational and tourist activities (e.g., National Day on June 24).
 * — Vaudreuil-Dorion is a city where the modern mixes well with the old built heritage. A city offering many nautical activities thanks to its shore on the cove of Vaudreuil du Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes.
 * — A town on the Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes (Ottawa River), Hudson is blessed with a magnificent urban forest. It is a city of visual arts, music, culture and the outdoors. This city has a great history dating back to the days of New France. It offers many infrastructure and recreational tourism activities, in particular thanks to its shore on the Ottawa River and its large marina. It has many arts and crafts shops.

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

title: Rigaud


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Right to access in the Nordic countries

The right to access in Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden allows people – foreigners as well as locals – to hike and camp more or less freely in the woods and in the mountains, regardless of land ownership. Outdoor life is therefore relatively inexpensive. In Denmark, with a higher population density, access rights are more limited (see primitive camping in Denmark). In Åland, the right is also limited. There is a right to access also in some other European countries, though this is usually much more restricted.

With camping equipment suited for the season, visitors can enjoy breathtaking sceneries, eat wild berries, swim in peaceful lakes, and listen to sounds of birds and the wind (or to the deep silence of Nordic nature).

Understand
"Alla ska ha tillgång till naturen enligt allemansrätten oberoende av vad som föreskrivits ovan. "Everyone shall have access to nature according to the right to roam, regardless of what is prescribed above."

- Swedish Instrument of government, on the rights to property and its limitations

The right to access has important limitations and visitors should observe rules to preserve nature and respect locals; you are guests on the land. For organised events or commercial activity the rules may be somewhat stricter than for individual hikers – a large crowd or repeated visits can cause inconvenience where a single visit wouldn't. The right to access typically applies to wilderness as well as lakes and rivers.

Few of the rights are codified in law, but their spirit is well-known and usually respected by landowners, hikers and foragers alike; they seldom try to test the limits. This, rather than possibilities to enforce rights or limitations to them, is what make the system work. Litigations are in most cases unpractical – it is mostly a honour system. If you don't observe your duties, you will get scorn on you and those you are associated with, rather than any official sanctions (although e.g. careless handling of fire may get you huge damages).

The foremost rule is that you should be respectful and don't cause harm or trouble. Follow leave-no-trace principles where you don't have reason to believe it is unnecessary. When visiting protected areas, if you want to stray away from marked trails, camp wild or bring a dog, check the local rules.

The right to access, the freedom to roam or "Every Man's Right" (allemansrätten/ allemannsretten/ almannaréttur/ jokamiehenoikeus) has traditions from the time when it was of fundamental importance for countryside people not owning land, and the commons important also for landowning farmers. In the early 20th century recreation outdoors was realised to be important for city dwellers, and the right became commonly understood to apply also for strangers.

The right to access has a long tradition and is usually well-understood by locals, but not well defined in all jurisdictions. It is mostly based on the tradition that landowners can not restrict access to the wilderness and on the principle that what isn't forbidden is allowed, as long as it doesn't cause harm. Keep in mind that when benefiting from the right of access as hiker or camper, you are a guest on somebody's land.

In Norway the "outdoors law", Friluftsloven, defines the right to access in some detail. Land in Norway, including wilderness, is mostly privately owned and right to roam applies equally to private and government land. Trails, roads, bridges, signs, and markings are maintained by landowners and volunteers or in some cases government agencies. The crucial distinction in Norway is between utmark (where the right applies) and innmark. Innmark includes farmland (fields, meadows), private gardens, church yards, car parks, industrial areas etc. Utmark is everything else. Utmark includes forests, barren mountain, lakes, beaches, bogs, and uncultivated moorland. Skiing slopes and trails are regarded as utmark. If in doubt visitors are advised to regard an area as innmark. The use of motor vehicles is at the same time explicitly forbidden in areas defined as utmark. It is generally permitted to walk on trails and roads through innmark to get to utmark.

In Sweden allemansrätten is explicitly recognised by the law, but not defined. In Finland some of the freedoms are recognised in the law, but the concept is not defined.

As the right to access is based on allowing what is not forbidden, it does not give permission to break any laws or regulations. It also does not allow harming nature, causing damage or disturbing people. The right does not apply to any event or activity that would cause non-negligible disturbance or damage. In some cases the landowner or local authorities may impose restrictions if there is a large number of hikers and campers that together and over time cause disturbances or damage the land.

The right to access does not apply in nature reserves. While some similar rights may be granted, they are usually restricted at least parts of the year, and visitors must be particularly considerate regardless. Collecting anything, or disturbing the soil, may be forbidden. There may be trails and minimal other services, some of which (typically campsites) may be placed along the trails but outside the protected area.

The right to access applies in full in Norwegian national parks (regarded as utmark). It does not in national parks of the other countries, where instead some similar rights are explicitly granted (with details varying from one area to another), and services may partly compensate for the rest. Camping and making fires are often restricted. In especially popular or fragile parts of national parks you may have to follow marked trails.

Pets may not roam freely. Dogs mostly need to be on a leash, and in some areas they are forbidden altogether. They are especially problematic in the reindeer husbandry areas, where they can split herds, and in spring separate calves from their mothers, and in areas with nesting birds, the eggs and chicks of which can be eaten by predators (such as crows and gulls) if the parents flee.

Don't disturb wildlife. Some wildlife, such as elks and terns, can be aggressive in protecting their young, while other species can be very sensitive to disturbance; see animal ethics. Keep your distance and use binoculars and long lenses. The vegetation can be fragile, so try keeping to trails and paths where available. When photographing rare plants, don't step on their family. Do not touch nests, eggs, or the animals themselves.

Walk and pass

In these countries, you have the right to walk or ski across uncultivated lands. That means you can walk if there aren't any farmlands and you are not crossing people's yards and gardens, or disturbing their livestock. Also, if there are newly planted trees in an area, you cannot walk through. For farmland, you may cross fields using existing paths and when they are covered with snow (and risk no damage). In Iceland all cultivated or enclosed areas are exempted and always require landowner's permission (using roads through them is allowed, though). Also in Norway the rights are severely restricted in enclosed pastures near the farms – go for the wilderness instead. Other than that, you can pretty much go wherever you like except specifically protected areas (nature reserves, military or industrial areas etc.).

Take the restriction about farmlands seriously: Some crops, such as yellow canola, are popular for selfies and other photos, leading to careless visitors causing substantial financial damage for farmers. Stay on roads and trails for those pictures.

If there are fences, you should look for gates and follow paths, even if there is no apparent farmland (there might be animals, such as sheep or cattle in the area, so always close any gates you open).

Most reindeer are semi-domesticated and more or less all the wilderness in the reindeer husbandry area is their pasture. That doesn't make the wilderness innmark, but you should take care not to damage fences and to close any gate you open. In some areas in Norway there are wild mountain reindeer; in Finland south of the reindeer husbandry area there are wild forest reindeer. Do not disturb any of these.

The right to access does not apply to motor vehicles, and may be restricted for bikes and horses (depending on country). For these latter, using roads is usually no problem, but keep to existing pathways or check local regulations. Off-roading with motor vehicles usually requires landowner permission, and also some private roads are off limits. When parking, make sure you don't block small roads or forestry exits – many small roads are primarily used by heavy forestry equipment, in addition to local berry pickers. If there is an open barrier on a private road, don't rely on locals not locking it when driving out themselves.

Boat

If using a boat, you should be careful about not disturbing nesting birds, and birds with offspring, in spring and summer. There are often crows and gulls around, waiting for an opportunity to get eggs and chicks. Keep your distance to swimming bird flocks with young and do not land on islets with nesting birds.

You are not allowed to use private jetties without permission, and you should leave a reasonable distance to cottages and the like. In Finland, new cottages usually have to be built 50 m from the shore, which means they are out of sight until you approach land. In popular areas you may have to make many tries before you find a suitable natural harbour not occupied by cottages (cottages are often marked on new charts, but not all of them). In Norway, motor vessels are generally forbidden on lakes and rivers.

When passing houses and cottages by boat or canoe, keep your distance. Some suggest 50 m for canoeing along the shore, but use common sense. If people are swimming by the shore and you aren't in a marked fairway, you should be far enough not to see whether those on land are men or women.

Landing is forbidden in signposted places, such as nature protected areas and military areas, and violators are arrested. Signs to watch out for:

 * Landing forbidden: Finnish: Maihinnousu kielletty, Swedish: Förbjudet att landstiga
 * No entry: Finnish: Pääsy kielletty, Swedish: Tillträde förbjudet

Camp and picnic

Camping is allowed for at least one night in Sweden, one or two nights in Iceland, in Norway two nights in normal countryside, and as long as you wish in the wilderness, in Finland "temporarily", which means at least one night and at least two nights if you behave, probably more in the wilderness. You should keep distance to houses, huts or farmlands; 150 metres in Norway, and in all countries far enough that you do not inconvenience anyone, and particularly not those in the nearest house. As long as you keep out of the way there should be no problems. In Norway the landowner has the right to tell visitors to leave, if visitors cause damage to the land or in other ways are clearly inconsiderate. In Åland you should ask the landowner if possible, but otherwise staying one day and night should be OK. Obviously at areas specifically designated for camping, such as paid campsites, you will camp near others.

If you have a car, make sure it doesn't inconvenience anyone either. To get out of the way, expect not to be able to camp next to the car, but leave it where it doesn't bother anybody, and get to your camp site by walking. Make sure your car doesn't block the road or any forestry exits.

While "out of the way" might sound harsh, there really is no reason to camp close to anybody who might be bothered by your presence; much of the time there will be kilometres of forest or open space behind anybody's dwelling. Do keep reasonable distance and if in doubt, more is better, as people in the Nordic countries really value personal space.

When in the more densely populated areas, there may be houses and fields everywhere by your route (if you follow roads). But if you take a local road, you will pretty much instantly find routes into the woods (in Iceland you won't find woods, just a road out from the built-up area). A map will help, as some of the roads only lead to houses, more of them in some spots than in others, and some of the woods are too small. In Iceland you may follow private roads and footpaths across fenced pastures, but the right to camp or picnic doesn't apply in such enclosed areas, so continue to the open lands.

This mostly works also near cities, although you need to avoid the suburbs. There are usually many suitable woods in reach by local buses.

For picnicking the same principles apply, but having a picnic where people see you is not a problem. Just keep off anything that can be perceived as a backyard wood to one or a few families.

In many areas the water of springs, streams and lakes can be used even for drinking, though boiling it to get rid of possible biological contaminants can do no harm. Using private wells requires permission, even when they are far from a house – but if you ask for water in a countryside house, they will with few exceptions be happy to help you.

Campfires
Campfires are allowed in some circumstances, but rules differ between the countries. At least do not to cut down any trees and do not risk wildfire, i.e. do not harm the natural environment or economical values. General prohibitions on open fire are common in dry weather in spring and summer, make sure you know where to look for them. A shower or a few are not enough to eliminate the wildfire risk. Build the campfire in such a way that the fire cannot spread and do not make open fire when wildfires are likely (in practice or according to official warnings, in Finland broadcast with most weather forecasts, in Sweden you have to check locally). Keep enough water on hand to extinguish the fire if it starts spreading or when you are done. When you leave, make sure the remnants are cool, below as well as above the surface. Do not make the fire on smooth cliffs, which will crack, or peat, which is hard to extinguish reliably and can smoulder below the surface invisibly for days only to cause a major wildfire later. Leave no trace, unless there is an established fireplace, which you could mend as needed.

If you do cause a wildfire, you may be liable for civil or criminal prosecution. Courts should be understanding if you did all that you could, and Nordic courts don't want you to get into debt slavery.

In Finland you always need landowner permission, but that permission is granted to the public in large areas of state-owned land in the north. In Iceland fire is permitted outside protected areas where there is no risk for wildfire or other damage (but firewood is scarce). In Norway they are forbidden in the summer (generally 15 April to 15 September, subject to decisions by local authorities), unless the fire is totally safe, such as at built campfire places in suitable conditions. In Sweden campfires are allowed as long as you are careful enough and there is no local (permanent or temporary) prohibition. Make sure you recognize conditions where wildfires can be lit by a spark or fire easily gets out of control.

Note that being allowed to make a fire does not mean you can chop trees for firewood. Also leave aesthetically or ecologically valuable dead logs alone. Use twigs on the ground and similar instead.

In national parks, recreational areas and similar, there are often campfire sites with firewood provided for free (or included in fees for accommodation). If the fireplace is by an open wilderness hut or the like, do not take the firewood from indoors (other than possibly a little to get the fire going), but from the woodshed. If there is little wood in the shed, do not use it, but find the place from which to replenish or give up, leaving the wood for emergencies. If only some of the wood is chopped, chop more to replace what you use.

In any case, do not make excessively big campfires, but use firewood sparingly.

Live off the land

It is generally OK to pick wild mushrooms and berries, unless they grow in apparently cultivated areas. In Iceland berry picking is restricted to what you eat immediately, in Denmark to "reasonable", non-commercial picking. Picking cloudberry, a yellow raspberry-looking Arctic delicacy, is strictly regulated in northern Norway. Picking and eating some berries is always allowed, though. Also in Finnish Lapland, commercial cloudberry picking may be restricted.

Commonly picked berries include bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus, blåbær/blåbär/mustikka, closely related to the blueberry), wild strawberry (markjordbær/smultron/metsämansikka), lingonberry (tyttebær/lingon/puolukka/jokŋa), bog bilberry (blokkebær/odon/juolukka/bláber/ehtemas), raspberry (bringebær/hallon/vadelma), crowberry (krekling/kråkbär/variksenmarja/čáhppesmuorji; slightly bigger in the north), cloudberry (multe/hjortron/lakka/luomi) and cranberry (tranebær/tranbär/karpalo). The season starts with strawberry in late June, most berries are picked in July–August, lingonberry is ripe in September, and cranberry is at its best after the first frost. There are some poisonous berries, but none that cannot easily be distinguished from any of these edible ones.

Wild nuts can be picked in Norway if you eat them on the spot, in Finland you can freely pick nuts from the ground.

About a hundred species of Nordic mushrooms, in many genera and several families, are regarded good for culinary use, about half of them suitable for the market. Commonly picked "safe" mushrooms include chanterelles (don't pick chanterelles near somebody's house, as those living there probably plan to pick them soon) and many boletes species (which spoil very quickly). Taste and consistency (as cooked) vary widely across species and families. A good cook with some imagination does wonders, although e.g. chanterelles or funnel chanterelles, fried with butter and cream, are nice as such, mostly eaten with boiled potatoes.

If you plan to pick mushrooms, make sure you know the species you are going to eat, and any local doppelgängers. In particular, the European destroying angel and the death cap resemble young field mushrooms – a danger Asian mushroom pickers are not accustomed to. The main dangers are these Amanita species, some webcap mushrooms (Cortinarius) and some mushrooms growing on stubs, but there are many less common or less deadly ones to avoid. Knowledgable local company is highly recommended. A good mushroom guidebook can help, especially if you have some experience of mushrooms from before. Also perfectly edible mushrooms can get spoiled or just not suit your stomach – don't eat too much of a new acquaintance, and tell about the meal if you get symptoms. The false morel is regarded a delicacy in Finland, but needs to be carefully prepared not to be severely toxic – common failure to be careful enough has got it removed from the list of edible species in e.g. Sweden.

Hunting always requires licences and permission. Hunting rights belong to the landowner and there are specific rules for most game and birds. However, in Finland, there are large tracts of state-owned land managed by the government agency Metsähallitus, where the permission can be simply purchased from Metsähallitus. Two species of ptarmigan are commonly hunted in the Scandinavian mountains and Lapland. The Norwegian state owns land in the high mountains, where permission to hunt rock ptarmigan can be purchased from regional high mountain boards (fjellstyre). The Norwegian state also owns some forest areas where permission to hunt willow ptarmigan can be purchased. Other common game is waterfowl, some pigeon species, hares and small predators. All hunters must pass a test to obtain the hunter's license, big game hunting also requires annual training and shooting test, although the licences can mostly be waived with suitable foreign licences. The hunting season is generally September to Christmas, but varies by species.

Fish
As a general principle, rod fishing is allowed in the ocean (including the Baltic Sea), but prohibited, or very restricted, in freshwater. In Finland there is no difference between the sea and fresh water: there fishing with rod without reel and without artificial bait, and ice fishing with a jig, is included in the right to access, in the sea and in most fresh waters, with streaming water with salmonoids being the main exception (see Finland). In Norway using living bait or fish as bait is prohibited when using the right to fish in the ocean. In Sweden the biggest lakes are treated like the sea. Mjøsa lake in Norway is generally treated like fjords with some local rules about fishing nets.

There are minimum sizes and other regulations, varying by country and sometimes locally. Check these separately.

The right to access does not include net-fishing or other large-scale equipment. Nets and traps are still often used also in recreational fishing. Most landowners in the countryside own a share of the waters, so if you have a local host you may be able to join such a fishing expedition. You may need to pay a national fee also for this.

A fishing permit for local freshwaters (and general lure and reel fishing in Finland) can usually be purchased easily. Ask e.g. at the tourist agency, or in Finland, any local R-Kioski, which sells the permits.

Leave no trace
No matter where you go and what you do, you are still required to leave no trace of your visit. This means you shouldn't leave any trash behind (including traces of improvised toilets), and make sure your camp site is tidy and will recover quickly. Do not cut down any trees or break off any branches. Don't move stones, don't build cairns, don't take souvenirs. Keep those rules in mind to ensure both the nature you enjoy and the right to access can be sustained for generations to come.

Caveats
In Finland, regardless of land ownership, all inhabitants of any dwelling, including tents, boats and other temporary accommodations have the right to domestic privacy (Finnish: kotirauha, Swedish: hemfrid) in the dwelling and its yard, and violating this right is a crime, punishable by fine or jail. Acts such as inappropriate watching or listening (such as taking a photo of people in their yard), not obeying a demand to go away, making disturbing noise, or entering by stealth or by fraud constitute violations of domestic privacy.

The right to access does not cover motorized vehicles. You can use most private roads, but you must not drive in the terrain. This is especially important in Iceland, with its fragile nature. In Norway, general driving on tractor roads (used for instance for logging) is forbidden. If you find a suitable place to park your car or motorbike (don't block the passage e.g. for logging vehicles), you can still camp like if hiking. If you are going to use a snowmobile, check the specific rules for the area (in Sweden they are generally allowed – except for most places where you would go). There are often maintained snowmobile tracks in popular locations (Finland has an extensive network of snowmobile tracks), which may be the only allowed routes, and for some you have to pay a fee. There are often exceptions for locals, so keep to the marked trails.

If you use a camping van, you should mostly use paid campsites, especially in Norway. Parking lots and rest areas are a scarce resource in the mountains and some other areas, so keeping them occupied for longer than necessary is not popular (although you will probably not hear any comments). In Northern Finland, on the other hand, population is sparse and tourists not many enough for this to be a problem, so staying the night at a rest area or leaving your van for a hike in a wilderness area is OK there. In Finland, there are public unattended lay-bys (Finnish: levähdyspaikka or levähdysalue) on major roads, but the only facilities they have are a picnic table, a trashcan and sometimes a public toilet (often less well maintained).

You will sometimes see "ei läpikulkua" and "no camping" signs. The right to access is mainly about the landowners lack of right to forbid passing through and camping on their lands, so these signs may be illegal, and may certainly be questioned by the locals. But – the signs clearly show that somebody is being inconvenienced by these actions (such signs are often found along popular tourist routes and near the grounds of big events), so you may want to comply. Usually you can just go a few hundred metres farther, make sure you're out of the way and the problem is solved. In Norway landowners have the right to ban camping and other activities in certain areas if such activities cause harm or cause problems for the landowner's use of the area. Although the signs usually have no legal bearing elsewhere in themselves, sometimes they are found in places where camping without permission is indeed forbidden, such as just behind somebody's garden. In other cases many previous visitors have caused problems by e.g. being loud, making illegal campfires and leaving garbage. Although you would not, people in the nearby houses cannot know beforehand, and you don't want to make them nervous about it.

A related issue concerns the facilities around cabins in popular hiking regions in Norway, such as Jotunheimen. Of the many who choose to camp on their own on their hikes, some have still used outhouses of paid accommodation sites – many enough to irritate those maintaining the facilities. Because of that, camping up to two kilometres from these cottages has been forbidden. The limitations are probably illegal, and many Norwegians would love to be taken to court over it. But as with the "no camping" signs, you may have some sympathy with those not wanting you to camp there, and you probably do not want to go to a Norwegian court. To comply, you have two options: either do not camp near these cabins (there is indeed enough ground to choose from elsewhere), or pay for camping by them. For other Norwegian cabins, the standard 150 m is enough, but paying and using the facilities is of course a good option also for these.

Note that in Finland, camping by infrastructure, such as open wilderness huts, lean-to shelters and campfire sites, is indeed the recommended way (and free), to spare grounds elsewhere. Still, keep some distance (perhaps half a stone's throw), to let also other people use the facilities without thinking they would disturb you. This applies to communal facilities, such as those found in national parks. Domestic privacy applies to yards of private homes, of private cottages and generally of any lodging you aren't allowed to access.

The wilderness is often used as summer pasture for domestic animals such as sheep, goats, cows and even horses. In the north there are also half-domesticated reindeer. Visitors should not disturb animals. Wild animals should also be left in peace.

Respect
Visitors can show good will and keep the peace, by avoiding ill manners which are not (yet) explicitly banned. Loud noises, music from loudspeakers (even when not loud) and heavy drinking are generally frowned upon. Avoid bringing glass containers into the wild, as glass shards are dangerous and don't decompose. If you smoke, bring an ashtray with lid; used matches and cigarette stumps are common causes of wildfire. Carry out the stumps, as they do not decompose.

Paying for a tour guide or renting equipment does not entitle trespassing, or any privileges beyond everyone's right to access; commercial activity may instead be more restricted than independent camping. On the other hand, stimulating the local economy by using local services, such as these, may be appreciated. The tour guide probably has agreements on infrastructure that can be used and knows what areas to avoid, which minimises bad effects of your visit. On the other hand, some activities to which you are invited by tour companies may be controversial; often this is about use of motor vehicles (snowmobiles, personal watercraft, trolling boats, heli-skiing craft).

title: Right to access in the Nordic countries


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Riisitunturi National Park

Riisitunturi National Park is in the southern part of Finnish Lapland near Posio. The park covers an area of 77 km² and represents the fell and hill landscapes in Koillismaa. There are colourful hanging bogs on the slopes of the Riisitunturi Fell and scenery over the Lakes Kitkajärvet and the forest landscape of Posio. The snowy forests wintertime are worth seeing by themselves.

There is a trail network suitable for hiking trips lasting a couple of days.

Adjacent, towards Posio, is the protected mire area of Karitunturi and old-growth forest.

Understand

Visitors have to be able to take care of themselves, at least in the winter, as the area is remote and wilderness-like. The Noukavaara road is not ploughed in the winter and skiing tracks may sometimes be in poor condition. Do not expect to get quick help in emergencies. There are areas without phone coverage (try to climb higher).

Some experience in hiking (and skiing in the forest, if applicable) are required, as the terrain is quite difficult in some places. On the most popular trail, from the Riisitunturi parking to Riisitunturi and its wilderness hut (Riisin rääpäsy, 3 km, easy to intermediate, often walkable also in winter) and perhaps that also to Nuolivaara (Riisin rietas, 11 km, intermediate to demanding), you might cope without any special skills. Check forecasted weather though, and have an eye on possible changes. In winter, conditions may become harsh, especially if your trip doesn't end before sunset, which comes early in winter.

The park is popular especially in July–August, and in winter for photographing snow-covered trees and northern lights.

There is no official local visitor centre. The Oulanka visitor centre and Kuusamo customer service (50–60 km away by road) act as visitor centres, providing information, advice, maps etc.

History
The park was established in 1982.

Landscape
The park is named after the fell Riisitunturi, rising above the treeline. Otherwise the landscape is mostly taiga forest, with several high hills, but there are some open mires. The best known features are the wintry landscapes, with thick coating of condensed frost on the trees, and the sloping bogs.

Climate
The park is in the inland close to the Arctic circle. Winters can be harsh indeed. Note also the short daylight hours in autumn and winter.

Get in

The main entrance to the park ("Riisitunturi") is about 30 km from the centre of Posio by road. There is a 3-km gravel road from the Posio–Tolva road, with the junction 3.5 km before Tolva. In winter there is a skiing track from Tolva to this entrance and to the Riisitunturi wilderness hut.

By foot, a jogging route can be used for the first 5 km from the centre, where the Riisitunturi Trail through the park starts (by the Kirintövaara resort), entering the park proper after 10 km more and reaching the Riisitunturi fell (near the main entrance) after a total of 28 km.

A road from Tolva passes through the far end of the park, between Noukavaara and Alimmainen Noukavaara, but as of 2023 it is in bad shape and driving along it is not recommended. The Riisitunturi trail ends by this road. There used to be a trailhead on the road also for the general-purpose winter route.

The nearest airport is in Kuusamo, about 54 km from the park, the nearest railway station in Kemijärvi, about 130 km from the park. The village Tolva is near Riisitunturi and is the starting point of a skiing trail into the park (6.5 km to the main entrance). There is a taxi in the village.

There are daily coach connections from Rovaniemi and Kuusamo to Posio, the latter driving along road 81 (Kuusamo-Posio-Rovaniemi), quite near the Kirintövaara starting point in the south end of the park.

The Posio–Suomutunturi–Rovaniemi snow mobile route passes by the western edge of the park. The Karitunturi Ahmatupa open wilderness hut near Karritunturi is by this route, 10 km from Posio.

Fees and permits
There are no entry or hiking fees. Using the huts is also free. Picking berries and edible mushrooms is allowed.

Pets must be on a leash, except as used for hunting and reindeer husbandry. Hunting rights are restricted to locals.

Dogsleds have right of way on the multi-purpose trail.

During wildfire warnings open fire and fire in normal camping stoves is prohibited (storm-proof ones allowed). The cooking shelters with a chimney may still be used. Otherwise campfires are allowed at campfire sites with provided firewood (use sparingly), in the backcountry zone also otherwise, using small branches from the ground and similar. The person lighting a fire is responsible for it being reliably extinguished.

The backcountry is defined as everywhere outside the popular Riisitunturi–Noukavaara–Nuolivaara area and the surroundings of Liittolampi. See the map at the end of the park rules.

Get around
There are hiking and skiing routes in the park. You are allowed to walk and ski outside the trails, except for possible restricted areas.

There is a general-purpose winter trail around the Nuolivaara hills and across Riisisuo, with trailheads halfway between Tolva and Riisitunturi and (formerly) at the road by Noukavaara. The general-purpose trail may be used in winter for skiing, walking, fat-biking and dogsledding.

Biking and horse riding are allowed on the roads Tolva–Niirokumpu och Jaksamo–Ruokamo. In winter, biking is allowed along the multi-purpose trail.

See
The snow crown loads in winter and hanging bogs are the main attraction, in winter and summer respectively. The latter can be seen on all the routes in the Riisitunturi area.

Riisitunturi provides for nice views also of the surroundings. If you want a landscape with untouched snow, you might want to go a bit farther. Views towards Kitkajärvi can be had both from Riisitunturi and Pikku Riisitunturi. The pond Ikkunalampi between Riisitunturi and Pikku Riisitunturi is also beautiful.

If you come by the trail from Posio or Kirintövaara, enjoy the views of Koljatinlaki; also from here you have views to Kitkajärvi.

Do
There are no accessible trails or other services suitable for the disabled in the park.

Hiking

The park offers hiking possibilities both in winter and in summer time. The hills are quite steep, which means that the trails are not your usual afternoon walk.

There are lean-to shelters along the trails (huts at some of them) with dry toilet and often a campfire site. Have your own toilet paper and mind wildfire warnings.

 * Riisin Rääpäsy Trail (4.3 km round-trip). Very nice hike featuring Riisitunturi Fell, the Open Wilderness Hut, Ikkunalampi Pond, the hanging bogs. It starts from Riisitunturi starting point. The hike is especially nice during winter time. Classified as easy to intermediate.
 * Riisin rietas (10.7 km round-trip). Extended from Riisin Rääpäsy to include the slopes of Nuolivaara. Classified as intermediate to demanding, the latter meaning that proper hiking equipment and skills may be needed.
 * Riisitunturi trail (33 km one way) from Posio to Tolva through Karitunturi mire protection area and the national park. Several huts and lean-to shelters on the way.
 * Kirinkuoppa (7 km). Circle trail from Kirintövaara, outside the park and mire protection area, partly along the Riisitunturi trail. Hills, lake views, rocky old pine forest.
 * Kirinmatala (11 km). Circle trail from Kirintövaara, outside the park and mire protection area, partly along the Riisitunturi trail. Hills, lake views, rocky old pine forest.

Cross-country skiing
The multi-purpose trail can be used for skiing.

From mid-January to late April there is a 7-km-long, maintained ski track from Korpihilla Café's parking lot in the village Tolva to the wilderness hut by Riisitunturi. The track is fairly easy.

There is a skiing route also between Posio and Kirintövaara, connecting to a route to Karitunturi starting near Kirintövaara. On the latter, also freestyle skiing (skate-skiing) is possible.

Buy
Some souvenirs can be found in the cafés.

There are shops in Posio.

Eat
The stove of the open wilderness huts and the day hut can be used for cooking. Open fire can be used at the lean-to shelters and campfire sites (unless there is a wildfire warning). A portable stove can be used anywhere. Catering services may be available also in the park, check with Posio tourist info or local businesses.

Drink
The water in the brook and lakes has not been tested, use your judgement. Boil it for a minute or two or use water from the customer service points if unsure.

Sleep

The open wilderness huts offers shelter for independent hikers free of charge. The huts have wood-fired stoves for warmth and the Ahmatupa hut also a gas stove for cooking. No bedding or mattresses, nor electricity. The Riisitunturi hut is 4.6 km from Noukavaara starting point and 1.5 km from Riisitunturi starting point. There are also lean-to shelters. In peak summer season you should carry a tent.

Camping
There are no camping sites in the park. One may camp by the Riisitunturi and Karitunturi huts.

Backcountry
Wild camping is allowed in the backcountry area only.

Stay safe
Be sure to understand the implications of travelling in cold weather, if you are going to the park in wintertime without experienced guides taking the responsibility.

Go next

 * The UKK trail leads through the park (not signposted as such, but along the park's main trail). There is a gap west of Posio, until Syöte National Park, 10 km of which is along the main road. To the east, the UKK trail hits the Karhunkierros trail after 35 km (partly along roads) and continues northward through Oulanka National Park towards Salla and Urho Kekkonen National Park.

title: Riisitunturi National Park


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Rijeka

Rijeka (literally "River" in Croatian language) is a city in Kvarner Bay, a northern inlet of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. It is the principal seaport of the country. It had about 129,000 inhabitants in 2011, with the greater city area reaching up to 200,000, and is Croatia's third largest city. In 2020 Rijeka was the European Capital of Culture with the motto Port of Diversity.

Understand
The city of Rijeka is a unique cosmopolitan city with a very turbulent history, especially during the 20th century. For instance, Rijeka was ruled by eight different countries between 1918 and 1991, so a citizen of Rijeka born in 1917 could have had eight different passports without ever leaving the city limits. Such rapid changes of events led to a strong local identity for the city.

Rijeka is a major Croatian port, in the very heart of Kvarner Gulf. Because of its location, Rijeka is a crossroads of land and sea routes, connected with the rest of the world by air, bus, train and ship lines. Despite often being described as a predominantly industrial and port city, Rijeka is an interesting city with beautiful architecture of mostly secession style, a good choice of museums and quality night-life.

In the beginning of the 20th century, Rijeka was one of the main European ports and had a weekly passenger service to and from New York. The famous ship Carpathia, which saved most of the survivors from the Titanic, was heading from New York to Rijeka, and most of the crew on the ship was Croatian. Thanks to that, one of life-belts from the Titanic is preserved in the Rijeka Naval Museum.

Rijeka was also the first proto-fascist state in the world (elaborately described in the film "Fiume City State: Free Love, Drugs and Proto Fascism", available on YouTube), before Mussolini's Italy or Hitler's German Reich. A mixture of fascism, anarchism and elements of futurism, dadaism and Orientalism was the basis for the constitution of Reggenza Italiana del Carnaro (Italian Regency of Kvarner), a short-lived state created in 1919, after a coup d'etat of Italian war veterans led by Gabriele D'Annunzio, often called the pioneer of fascism. To make it more awkward, this unusual state was the first international state that recognized Lenin's USSR, as well as tolerant to nudism and non-normative sexuality and gender expressions mostly thanks to Guido Keller, D'Annunzio's closest collaborator.

On the bright side, from 1920 to 1924, Rijeka was an independent neutral state. A status very similar to the later status of Gdansk provided Rijeka with independence and neutrality. The official languages in the Free State of Rijeka were Croatian, Italian and Hungarian, in order to provide maximum care for all minorities in the city.

Woodrow Wilson, President of United States, recommended Rijeka in 1919 as a head of the League of Nations. After the Second World War, Rijeka was one of the candidates for hosting the headquarters of the United Nations. The idea was to reintroduce an Independent State of Rijeka as a special United Nations neutral state.

Modern Rijeka is made from two former cities that were separated by river Rječina. On the west was Fiume or Rijeka and on the east Sušak, the rival counterpart of Rijeka mostly inhabited by Croatians and most of the 19th and early 20th century under Yugoslavian or Croatian administrative rule. Those two cities were merged in 1945. To symbolically connect the city, a wide pedestrian bridge was built in front of Hotel Kontinental which was turned into a square. Most of the people are not aware that there is a river under this wide square. It is a popular place for meeting and socializing, especially for the younger generations.

With coming to Rijeka, you are joining to the list of people together with Che Guevara, James Joyce, Franz Liszt, Dora Maar, Enrico Caruso, Benito Mussolini, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Josip Jelačić, Bobby Fischer, Saddam Husein, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Johnny Weissmueller, Pope John Paul II and many others that have been in Rijeka before.

By car
Travellers heading from Zagreb should take the A1 to Bosiljevo and then take the A6 to Rijeka. The A6 is a 4-6 lane motorway over hilly terrain with many tunnels, bridges and viaducts.

Travellers from Trieste should take A7 upon entering Croatia at Pasjak or Rupa border crossing.

Travellers from Split can take A1 to Žuta Lokva and then proceed via Senj and Crikvenica to Rijeka, or A1 north to Bosiljevo and then A6 to Rijeka.

By plane

 * Air Baltic connects Rijeka with Riga, Copenhagen, Moscow and Helsinki.
 * Arkia connects Rijeka to Tel Aviv.
 * Croatia Airlines connects Rijeka to London and Munich.
 * Czech Airlines connects Rijeka with Košice.
 * Eurowings connects Rijeka with Hamburg, Bonn/Cologne, Berlin, Stuttgart and Dusseldorf.
 * Nordica connects Rijeka to Tallinn.
 * Norwegian connects Rijeka with Oslo.
 * Ryanair connects Rijeka to Stockholm, London and Charleroi.
 * Trade Air connects Rijeka to Split, Dubrovnik, Osijek and Zagreb.
 * Trade Air connects Rijeka to Split, Dubrovnik, Osijek and Zagreb.

There is an official bus shuttle from Rijeka Airport to city for €15 one-way (June 2024). See schedule here. Tickets are bought inside the bus in euro and only in cash. The in the city is at Jelačićev trg 3, Kraljevica. Unofficial buses to the airport stop at the crossroads in front of the airport 2 km away from the terminal. The official bus also goes from the airport to Kraljevica for and Omišalj for. (updated Aug 2022)

There are regular bus services from Rijeka into Zagreb Airport for connections there. The Croatia Airlines website has more information.

From the airport to the city it is possible to come with official Rijeka Airport Taxi Transfer Service. All information you can take on the official website.

By train
Rijeka has been an important railhead since its early days as one of the major ports of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and is connected with direct services to the capital of Croatia, Zagreb, from where you can take direct trains to other major cities in Croatia. There are also twice daily services to Ljubljana in Slovenia, with the evening train continuing to Munich and one train via Zagreb each day to Budapest. During the summer there is also a connection to Budapest through Ljubljana. Services to Pula by train are possible, though as the two cities are not connected in Croatia by rail (the connection is now in Slovenia), a designated bus is timed to take you that part of the journey. There are no direct connections to southern Croatia, but it is possible to get to Split From Rijeka with changing the train in Ogulin. Journey is long (around 11 hours) but since there is possibility for overnight train, it is not bad option as well. It is possible to travel to Pula by train, with a bus connection from train station to Lupoglav, from where you take a train to Pula. Bus service is provided by Croatian Railways and you need to buy just one ticket.

A night train runs daily between Rijeka and Munich in Germany, but sleeper cars are only available on peak season (until 7 January, between 26 March and 2 April, between 25 May and 29 September 2020). The rest of the year, only seating accommodation is offered.

From Prague a train takes 14 hours nightly via Pardubice, Brno, Břeclav, Bratislava and Csorna. It's run by Regiojet, single €25-90, booking essential.

The is in Krešimirova Street, at the northern edge of the town area. It is 5 minutes' walk from bus station. Information on rail services is available on the information counter, or on the telephone. You can buy tickets or make reservations at the station ticket-office. The railway station has a luggage lockers open from 09:00 to 21:00, and cost. There is also a tourism information office in the station building, but is open odd hours,- although there is a large map at the front of the station building. There is also an ATM at the station.

The Croatian Railways website contains good information on train times and prices, and there is also some information for travel Rijeka-Ljubljana on the Slovenian Railways site.

By bus
Rijeka is connected by bus with bigger cities in Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and elsewhere in Europe. The busy is in the city center at the foot of the imposing Capuchin church, on Trg Žabica. You can find good information on timetable and fares at the Autotrans website or in their office (which also sells tickets), at Žabica 1 or by telephone. Tickets purchased through company's website are 5% cheaper. There is a left-luggage office next to the newspaper and cigarette stand, open from 05:30 till 22:30 (the latest of all the transport modes in Rijeka). Luggage safekeeping costs. Eurobusways operates a direct Budapest-Rijeka Bus line.

By ship
As one of the largest ports of the Austro-Hungarian empire, and the largest port in Croatia, ships play an important role in the life of Rijeka.

Of best use to travellers from Rijeka is the Jadrolinija ferry service. The state-owned company operates small fast vessels to the nearby islands. Car-carrying ferries down the Adriatic Coast to Split and Dubrovnik have been cancelled. The passenger terminal is in the city center, and on the waterfront just near the Jadrolinija office building (where one buys tickets on the ground floor) is a left-luggage office.

By foot
Most of Rijeka is accessible on foot, and traffic is banned on Korzo in the heart of the city.

By public transport
For those that are further away from the city or tired, an efficient local bus network operates operating in a single-direction, circular movement around the central city area, and fanning out in all directions. Buses #2 and #8, to Trsat, are probably the most useful for tourists, and a good alternative to the 561-stair climb to the top of the hill. You can find routes and schedules using journey planner.

Single tickets can be bought at the bus driver (cash only), double and day tickets can be bought from Tisak and iNovine kiosks and weekly tickets are available at Autotrolej, directly in the city center of Rijeka.

By taxi
Rijeka has a cheap and well organized taxi service that will get you anywhere in the city for approximately €10 or less. In the centre of the town there are three taxi terminals, at the Bus station, ; in the Matije Gupca Street,, at the railway station, +385 51 332 893 and there is also a taxi van available.
 * Taxi Cammeo
 * Taxi Adria
 * VIP car service

Talk
Besides Croatian, Italian is de facto semi-official and featured on many signs in the city. Most natives of Rijeka understand it well and some speak it fluently. Older native citizens speak their own dialect of Italian language - Fiumani, named after the Italian name for the city - Fiume. English is widely understood and spoken by younger people and hotel/restaurant staff. Some people also know some German.

See
The best way to see Rijeka’s cultural and historical monuments is to follow the tourist path that gathers all of the most important sights for this town and its history. Most of them are accessible by foot, as they are mostly located in or near the city centre, but to see Trsat Castle you will need to take a short car/bus ride. Other option, the more adventurous one, is to climb 561 Trsat stairs that lead from city centre to Trsat. The Trsat Castle is worth the effort. Also, a helpful travel companion is free AdriaGuide Rijeka mobile application, for smart phones and GPS navigation.

 * Rijeka Main Market, No supermarket can replace the charm of the personal contact with the vendor or the excitement of the unpredictable purchase at the main City market – Placa. The harmonious compound of two pavilions and a Fish market building where, in the morning hours, the real Rijeka can be experienced.
 * The Governor's Palace
 * St. Vitus Cathedral
 * Molo Longo
 * The Old Gateway
 * Roman Arch
 * Capuchin church of Our Lady of Lourdes
 * St. Vitus Cathedral
 * Molo Longo
 * The Old Gateway
 * Roman Arch
 * Capuchin church of Our Lady of Lourdes

Museums, collections and exhibitions
Rijeka is a city with an unusual, turbulent past. The best places to discover the whole story on Rijeka are its museums, among its rich collections and exhibitions.
 * Rijeka City Museum The museum includes eleven collections: fine arts, arts & crafts, numismatics, valuable objects, medals, arms from the Second World War and from the Croatian War of Independence, a collection of theatre and film material, philately, photography, press and technical collections.
 * The St. Vitus Cathedral Sacral Collection The collection is located in an attractive location, in a gallery above the internal part and above the church's altar, whilst the thesaurus is located in the atrium of the cathedral’s locale. The sacral “Jesuits' heritage” collection includes some very rare exponents.
 * Rijeka City Museum The museum includes eleven collections: fine arts, arts & crafts, numismatics, valuable objects, medals, arms from the Second World War and from the Croatian War of Independence, a collection of theatre and film material, philately, photography, press and technical collections.
 * The St. Vitus Cathedral Sacral Collection The collection is located in an attractive location, in a gallery above the internal part and above the church's altar, whilst the thesaurus is located in the atrium of the cathedral’s locale. The sacral “Jesuits' heritage” collection includes some very rare exponents.
 * The St. Vitus Cathedral Sacral Collection The collection is located in an attractive location, in a gallery above the internal part and above the church's altar, whilst the thesaurus is located in the atrium of the cathedral’s locale. The sacral “Jesuits' heritage” collection includes some very rare exponents.
 * The St. Vitus Cathedral Sacral Collection The collection is located in an attractive location, in a gallery above the internal part and above the church's altar, whilst the thesaurus is located in the atrium of the cathedral’s locale. The sacral “Jesuits' heritage” collection includes some very rare exponents.

Do

 * Theatres: You can choose from those suitable for adults or for children, go either at the Croatian National theatre or at one of Rijeka’s smaller independent theatres. When it comes to cinema, in Rijeka you can find art cinema and multiplex.
 * Auto-moto track Grobnik 10 km from town is where you can try your riding skills or watch how the professionals do it.
 * Football: HNK Rijeka play soccer in Prva HNL, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Rujevica (capacity 8000) 2 km northwest of downtown, while their former Stadion Kantrida is being rebuilt.
 * Football: HNK Rijeka play soccer in Prva HNL, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Rujevica (capacity 8000) 2 km northwest of downtown, while their former Stadion Kantrida is being rebuilt.
 * Football: HNK Rijeka play soccer in Prva HNL, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Rujevica (capacity 8000) 2 km northwest of downtown, while their former Stadion Kantrida is being rebuilt.

Buy

 * Shopping in the city centre: most shops are open from 08:00 until 20:00, Saturdays and Sundays usually until 13:00. There are several 24/7 stores, and if you need cigarettes or newspapers after 20:00 they can be bought at the kiosk that works all night, at the main bus station, Žabica. You can purchase all that you need in one of the larger commercial centers in Rijeka, the biggest one is Tower Center Rijeka, while Zapadni Trgovački Centar is the newest.
 * Souvenir shops: authentic souvenirs can be bought at the Tourist Information Centre, two Rijeka’s galleries that have received the “Authentic from Rijeka” and “Special quality” labels – Mala galerija Bruketa and Galerija Art, Zeleno i plavo (Green and Blue) – indigenous products shop, La Mamma Delicije on Trsat, and Bazilisk Souvenir Shop located in the very centre of Trsat Castle. Rijeka also has an online souvenir web shop.
 * Souvenir shops: authentic souvenirs can be bought at the Tourist Information Centre, two Rijeka’s galleries that have received the “Authentic from Rijeka” and “Special quality” labels – Mala galerija Bruketa and Galerija Art, Zeleno i plavo (Green and Blue) – indigenous products shop, La Mamma Delicije on Trsat, and Bazilisk Souvenir Shop located in the very centre of Trsat Castle. Rijeka also has an online souvenir web shop.

Eat

 * Pizzerias and fast food: there are also many fast-food restaurants, some of them open 24 hours, such as Žabica on the main bus station Žabica and Food City on the Korzo promenade.
 * Pizzerias and fast food: there are also many fast-food restaurants, some of them open 24 hours, such as Žabica on the main bus station Žabica and Food City on the Korzo promenade.
 * Pizzerias and fast food: there are also many fast-food restaurants, some of them open 24 hours, such as Žabica on the main bus station Žabica and Food City on the Korzo promenade.

Drink
Wherever you go in Rijeka, you will find a place to drink and relax. There are hundreds of bars and cafes across the city. There are three ships docked in the harbour (city centre) with bars, casino, and a night club – Arca Fiumana, Marina club and Club Nina2.
 * Club Palach One of the oldest clubs in Rijeka, with 3 bars, 4 floors, one small free cinema room, gallery for young artists and comic book store, it's also one of the most interesting cafés/clubs in Rijeka.
 * Stereo dvorana The centre of Rijeka’s urban culture. The program includes and bonds urban life and multiculturalism with maybe the best conditions in Croatia for concerts and events.
 * Café bar Karolina – a coffee bar by the sea with a large terrace and a view of the boats in the Port of Rijeka. In the evening hours coffee drinking is replaced by music and dancing.
 * Cukarikafe bar – works with the same intensity during the day and during the evening. It is special for its creative furnishings, relaxing music and atmosphere which also moves on two terraces during the warmer weather.
 * Pepe Rosso Bar is a tavern, but not a totally conventional one with tango and salsa nights, a variety of promotions – from wine to books, exhibitions and performances, entertainment with DJs or live music.
 * Café bar Nad urom is on the last floor of the Korzo shopping centre, with a view over Rijeka’s rooftops and the Korzo, during the day offers refreshments and relaxation after shopping and during the weekend there is live music.

Connect
As of Sep 2021, Rijeka and the coastal highway have 4G from A1 and Tele2, and 5G from T-Mobile. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Go next

 * Opatija, once the secluded seaside resort of the rich and famous, is a 20-minute bus ride along the coast from Rijeka. Bus #32 departs frequently. It is a great place to go swimming. There are many fine restaurants and hotels (both of which seem to be lacking in Rijeka). Try to get a table at Le Mandrac in Volosko harbour, it is one of the finest restaurants in Croatia.
 * Until 2014, Jadrolinija Ferry travelled to Dubrovnik, Split, Stari Grad, Korčula, and Bari in Italy. Since there are rumours about reintroducing this line, it's worth finding out if this wonderful option for trans-Croatian coastline journey is operating again.
 * Islands of Rab, Pag, Losinj, Cres, Susak, Unije and Ilovik also can be reached by daily catamarans, which leave Rijeka at afternoon. One-way prices for adults are up to, depending on destination.
 * Buses are available to:
 * Krk
 * Ljubljana, Slovenia
 * Pula
 * Trieste, Italy
 * Zagreb
 * Zadar
 * other Croatian and international destinations.
 * Trains are available to:
 * Ljubljana, Slovenia
 * Vienna, Austria
 * Zagreb.

title: Rijeka


text:
Rijeka Crnojevica

Rijeka Crnojevica is a small historical town in Central Montenegro on the ancient trading route through Montenegro. The city is very near the most beautiful part of Lake Skadar. It is worth visiting for both the lake and the old architecture left over from the trader days.

Get in
Take a bus from either Podgorica to Budva or vice versa. You will have to ask the driver to drop you off at the road. Tell the ticket collecting guy well ahead of time (using basic communications, hands & feet, etc.) and he'll be more than willing to drop you off on the main highway. From there start walking and hitch hike. It shouldn't take you too long to get picked up.

There are direct buses to Rijeka Crnojevica from the Podgorica main bus station but they may be hard to find and not run very often.

See
The whole surrounding area is spectacular. The ancient trade route has long since been abandoned but traces of the old road are still around (often times grown over with trees). The lake is full of frogs and snakes, neither of which are dangerous. Don't be intimidated by all of the water snakes (you'll see literally hundreds) they are harmless so go ahead and go for a swim.

 * There is an old bridge that was used for the trade route that is very impressive.
 * They may be hard to find, but there are some abandoned fortresses well away from the town that are interesting to explore. In anycase, if you can't find the fortresses you are sure to stumble on something else interesting.

Do

 * Hiking from Rijeka Crnojevica to Virpazar supposedly is a great 2 day hike.
 * Borrow a canoe for 10 EUR from some of the local kids or pay them to take you on a tour.
 * Excellent swimming, just avoid the lily pads as there full of (harmless) creatures.

Sleep
Camping would probably be best. There is plenty of open space to setup your tent. There is a fairly large hotel near by but presumably it is very expensive.

Go next
Buses run from Rijeka Crnojevica back to Podgorica but not very often, so find out when the last one leaves and don't miss it unless you want to go camping. All buses leave from the main square in the town.

title: Rijeka Crnojevica


text:
Rijswijk

Rijswijk is a city in the province South Holland in the Netherlands. It is a small city, which evolved around a tiny city core. The name is derived of 'rijshout', a type of wood which grew in the area and the word 'wijc', which was used for settlement in medieval times.

Understand
Rijswijk has a population of about 46.000 and has few touristic attractions, but is one of the older townships in the country. It is a suburb of The Hague and is attached to it, but it has kept its independence in many ways. The inhabitants will remind everybody of the fact that it is not The Hague.

Rijswijk was built in the Dutch coastal area, which used to be classified with the river delta. The coastal line was situated through Rijswijk at 3700BC, but gradually moved west over time. The oldest traces of inhabitants date back to 3500BC; in the new stone age. The 'Oude Kerk' (translated as 'Old Church') has played a part in the coming to be of the current village centre. Around 1200AD the Oude Kerk was built on a Roman predecessor. Around 1500AD the current church, which is still present, came to be. The village pump was built in 1831. Until then a bucket was used to get water from the old city well.

By plane

 * Closest airports are Rotterdam or Amsterdam. Then follow-up with train/tram/car as shown below.

By train

 * A "Sprinter" train goes twice every hour between Rotterdam (Central) and The Hague (Central), stopping at Rijswijk (among others). However the train station is a 35-minute walk from the Rijswijk old town, with not much in between for tourists.  Tram or bus are more direct. Bus line 23 provides a direct connection from the station to the old town, as well as coming from Voorburg station.

By bus

 * Regional buses from Delft, Rotterdam, The Hague and municipality Westland stop in Rijswijk.
 * City buses from The Hague, Delft and Leidschendam-Voorburg stop in Rijswijk (lines 22 and 23).

By tram

 * Trams from The Hague, Delft and Leidschendam-Voorburg stop in Rijswijk (lines 1, 15 and 17).

By car

 * The township Rijswijk is reachable from highways:
 * A4 (Amsterdam and Leiden (direction South) en Delft (direction North))
 * A13 (Delft and Rotterdam (direction north)). The highway A13 changes just before the Hoornbrug into a normal road, leading into Rijswijk.
 * From Leidschendam Voorburg, a traveller can choose almost any road leading south-west to get to Rijswijk, because they are adjecent to each other.
 * From the central part of neighbouring The Hague, between the Rijswijkseweg and the Loevesteijnlaan, one travels south-east to get to Rijswijk.

By boat
The 'Haagse Salonboot' offers the possibility to travel from and to Rijswijk from The Hague or Delft with an antique salonboat.

Get around
The sights of most interest to tourists, are along and around Herenstraat in the old town. The extensive public transport services are better suited for travelling to other areas of the region than use within town.

See
Rijswijk is a beautiful Dutch town. It's a great place to have a drink in the tiny city core and see the great sites it has to offer.

Sleep

 * The Grand Winston Hotel, Generaal Eisenhowerplein 1, Tel: +31 70 - 4141 500
 * Bastion Hotel Den Haag/Rijswijk, Polakweg 12, Tel: +31 70 - 3070169
 * Hotel Pension Margaretha, Geestbrugweg 18, Tel: +31 70 - 3994563

Go next

 * Delft — Arguably the country's most picturesque canal-lined town. Home of the famous Delft Blue pottery (or Delftware), and the home of Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer.
 * The Hague — The seat of the Dutch parliament and government, and home to Scheveningen, the most popular seaside resort of the Netherlands.

title: Rijswijk


text:
Riley

There is more than one place called Riley:

United States of America

 * Riley (Indiana) - a town in the state of Indiana.
 * Riley (Oregon) - a town in the state of Oregon.
 * Riley (Michigan) - a town in the state of Michigan.

title: Riley


text:
Rimini

Rimini is a resort town in Emilia-Romagna, on Italy's east coast. Rimini is a thriving, bustling resort on the Italian Riviera that boasts "over a thousand hotels". It is one of the least pretentious towns in Italy. This is a place where the Italians (and Russians!) go for their sea and sun, and therefore the food is excellent as well as the people being friendly and helpful.

Understand
There has been a settlement at Rimini since prehistoric times. Founded by the Romans in 268 BC, Rimini boasts a 2,000-year history that has left important marks testifying to its grandeur. To the Romans, Ariminum was a link between the "Italic" and the "Gallic" lands, a stronghold on the Adriatic and a gateway to the Po valley. Three major roads converged here - Via Flaminia, Via Aemilia and Via Popilia.

You won't find many tour buses filled with Americans or English here! This also means, however, that few speak anything but Italian (or Russian), so be sure to take your phrase book with you. The locals will work with you and are always happy to see a foreigner at least trying to communicate in their language.

By plane

 * You could also fly into Marche Airport near Ancona, or into Bologna.
 * You could also fly into Marche Airport near Ancona, or into Bologna.

By train
Fast trains run from Milan via Bologna through Rimini to Ancona, Bari and Lecce. They don't all stop at Rimini, so you may have to change at Bologna for the hourly regional train via Imola, Faenza, Forli and Cesena.

Another train runs hourly from Ravenna via Cervia and Cesenatico to Rimini.

By car
The A14, a six-lane motorway known as the autostrada del mare runs away to the north. The SS 72 heads inland towards San Marino. The SS16 heads in from the North and Ravenna.

By bus

 * Flixbus have direct buses from Milan, Venice-Mestre, Bergamo, Ancona, Pescara, Rome and elsewhere.

Get around
Most hotels are within walking distance of the beach and the centre, but if you want to take a trip along the coast or inland, buses run regularly from the train station and are frequent and cheap.

Mi Muovo is an integrated public transport pass for the region. Short-stay visitors might use "Mi Muovo Multibus", a 12-trip bus ticket, see Emilia Romagna.

Do

 * La Marina means the 15 km of beaches, not the place for leisure craft, which is il Porto. It's free to visit and swim, but almost all of it staked out by sunchair-for-rent services. In summer it's hubbub, with loudspeakers blaring commercials and vendors touting their wares. The beach plots are numbered north to south: look for the unmanaged sections, spiaggia libera, where you can lay your own towel, e.g. around no 97 near Parco Murri. The sea is warm and sheltered with next-to-no tide. In winter La Marina is deserted and the Med is cold!
 * Rimini Fiera is the exhibition centre 3 km northwest of the city, with its own railway station. It has a year-round programme of events: some of these are trade-only, but others (especially around food, drink and leisure) are open to the public by ticket. Don't confuse this place with the Convention Centre, the UFO-shaped hall 500 m south of city centre.

Buy
Downtown are the best fashion boutiques, where is it possible to find the best Italian designer brands (Gucci, Prada, Armani, D&G). In early 2006 the first and one of the biggest (in Romagna) shopping malls, called "Le Befane", opened. It's so big that it changed the landscape of the west side of the city.

For typically tourist stuff, the beachfront has small souvenir shops. If you enjoy scandalising the family or even your home country's postal service, don't miss some of the more risqué postcards on sale at any one of a number of the little shops on the seafront.

Eat
In Rimini you can find several good places to eat. Since the city is on the seashore it is suggested to have a fish-based dish. Some of the best restaurant are: Lo Squero, Il Lurido, Da Guido, Marinelli. Usually with every dish you will get the famous "Piadina", a thin and very tasty sort of bread.

At the beach in the San Guiliano a Mare area, there are beach restaurants where one typically dines Al Fresco in warm weather. Although one might be wary of such establishments, the food is excellent and inexpensive. A typical dinner might cost only €5-6 for the meal alone. Sometimes they offer a multi-plate dinner (good for 2 or even 3 persons) for €18 that includes a 1/4 litre of wine. There are also excellent restaurants just off the main streets.

Drink
The whole town is geared towards tourists, so the night life is very good and there are bars everywhere. Once the sun goes down, the streets of Rimini come alive with lights, colour and noise as the sunbathers of the day become the revellers of the evening.

There are however no "real" clubs in Rimini; only bars with dance floors. For real clubbing you have to go to Riccione, the next town over, which is about a 15 minute drive away. There is however one club called Carnaby's which is on the outskirts of Rimini and it has a free shuttle bus; the club is also within walking distance.

Connect
As of June 2021, Rimini has 4G with all Italian carriers. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Ravenna is a lovely old town that was once a Byzantine capital.
 * Ancona is the next major city down the Adriatic coast, with ferries to the Balkans.
 * Bologna is the stand-out among the cities along the Po valley.
 * San Marino is an independent microstate perched on a hilltop southwest of Ravenna, an easy day-trip.

title: Rimini


text:
Rimouski

Rimouski is a city of just under 50,000 people (2016) in Quebec's Bas-Saint-Laurent region. Rimouski can be considered the university city of eastern Quebec. Travellers often view Rimouski merely as a stop on the way to the Gaspé Peninsula, but there are many interesting things to see in the region.

Understand
The Regional Hospital of Rimouski is the largest employer in Rimouski and the region is with 2200 employees and 170 doctors. One of Rimouski's primary economic fields is its maritime sector. Around 1900 the port was important for operating mail tenders such as HMCS Lady Evelyn for transatlantic liners. These could take mail from an arriving ship in the mouth of the St Lawrence, then speed it by rail to Quebec, arriving long before the ship. Rimouski is the home of the Institut Maritime du Québec, a college, and to many marine research centres, such as the Institut des sciences de la mer (ISMER), the Centre de recherche sur les biotechnologies marines and the Centre interdisciplinaire de développement en cartographie des océans.

History
The city was founded in 1696 by Sir René Lepage de Ste-Claire from Ouanne in the Burgundy region. He exchanged property he owned on the Île d'Orléans with Augustin Rouer de la Cardonnière for the Seigneurie of Rimouski, which extended along the St. Lawrence River from the Hâtée River at Le Bic to the Métis River. De la Cardonnière had been the owner of Rimouski since 1688, but had never lived there. René Lepage moved his family to Rimouski, where it held the seigneurie until 1790, when it was sold to the Quebec City businessman Joseph Drapeau.

On May 6, 1950 Rimouski suffered a severe fire, in which 319 houses burned to the ground. This event is known as La nuit rouge (French for Red Night). The fire originated in the Price Brothers Company yard on the left shore of the Rimouski River and quickly crossed the river and spread throughout the city pushed by strong winds, destroying half of the city. No one died in the blaze. Legend has it that a priest sprinkled holy water around the city's cathedral and that the fire would not cross the line.

Talk
The Bas-Saint-Laurent region is not as touristic as the Gaspé Peninsula, so speaking a bit of French can help you very much.

By plane

 * Aéroport régional de Mont-Joli is the closest airport with scheduled flights, 35 km to the east of Rimouski.
 * Air Canada makes daily flights from Baie-Comeau and Montréal; that is, two flights daily, except Saturdays, when there is one morning flight
 * Pascan Aviation makes daily flights from Quebec City, Montréal, Baie-Comeau/Sept-Îles and Bonaventure/Îles de la Madeleine throughout the year, 5 days a week, from Monday to Friday

By train

 * Train operator:
 * Operates The Ocean route between Halifax and Montreal, including stops in Moncton and Sainte-Foy (near Quebec City). Travel time to Rimouski from Montreal is 8 hours, from Sainte-Foy is 4 hours, from Moncton is 9.5 hours, and from Halifax is 14 hours. Operates three trips per direction per week. A shuttle between train stations in Sainte-Foy and in Quebec City is available for The Ocean trains, but must be reserved in advance. Eastbound train arrives at 01:30 and the westbound train arrives at 01:50, three times weekly, which transits just after midnight to Quebec City.

By car
Route 132 leads westward to Quebec City and Montreal. There are two disconnected segments of Autoroute 20 which bypass portions of this road; one is a local bypass around Rimouski, the other is the main freeway from Rivière-du-Loup westward to Ontario. It takes about 3 hours by car from Quebec City to Rimouski.

Route 132 east forks at Ste-Flavie near Mont-Joli, becoming a coastal road which circles the entire Gaspé Peninsula.

From New Brunswick, bridges at Campbellton-Pointe-à-la-Croix and at Matapédia lead to Route 132; follow 132 through Matapédia to Ste-Flavie.

By bus

 * Routes operating to Rimouski
 * Between Quebec City and Rimouski including stops in Rivière-du-Loup and Trois-Pistoles. Same day travel to and from Montreal available with a transfer at Quebec City. Travel time to Rimouski from Montreal is 7-7.75 hours, from Quebec City is 4.25-4.75 hours, and from Rivière-du-Loup is 1.5 hours.
 * Between Gaspé and Rimouski including stops in Grande-Vallée, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Matane, and Mont-Joli. Travel time to Rimouski from Gaspé is 6.75 hours, from Matane is 1.25 hours, from Mont-Joli is 25 minutes. Route follows the St. Lawrence River along the north side of Gaspé Peninsula.
 * Between Gaspé and Rimouski including stops in Percé, Chandler, Bonaventure, Pointe-à-la-Croix, Amqui, and Mont-Joli. Travel time to Rimouski from Gaspé is 8.5 hours, from Percé is 7.5 hours, from Bonaventure is 5.5 hours, from Pointe-à-la-Croix is 2.75 hours, and from Mont-Joli is 25 minutes. Route follows the south side of the Gaspé Peninsula, travels near the provincial border with New Brunswick, and travels inland to and from the St. Lawrence River.
 * Maritime Bus operates buses in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Maritime Bus and Orléans Express operate from the following locations:
 * Pointe-à-la-Croix, QC / Campbellton, NB (2 km taxi ride between these communities)
 * Pointe-à-la-Croix, QC / Campbellton, NB (2 km taxi ride between these communities)

By boat

 * For other ferries crossing the St. Lawrence River, see Matane (year round service), Rivière-du-Loup (seasonal service), and Trois-Pistoles (seasonal service), which like Rimouski, are also located on the south side of the river.
 * For other ferries crossing the St. Lawrence River, see Matane (year round service), Rivière-du-Loup (seasonal service), and Trois-Pistoles (seasonal service), which like Rimouski, are also located on the south side of the river.
 * For other ferries crossing the St. Lawrence River, see Matane (year round service), Rivière-du-Loup (seasonal service), and Trois-Pistoles (seasonal service), which like Rimouski, are also located on the south side of the river.

Get around
Downtown Rimouski is rather small and walkable. However, you will need a car to get into or out of this area. Parking is easily found in this city.

See

 * Maison Lamontagne.jpg
 * Maison Lamontagne.jpg
 * Maison Lamontagne.jpg
 * Maison Lamontagne.jpg

Do

 * Île Saint-Barnabé. From the marina, take the boat ($16.50, every 30 minutes) to the island in front or Rimouski. You can walk in nature.
 * Other festivals include: the Grandes fêtes du St-Laurent, a familial musical event taking place the first week-end of July and the Carrousel international du film de Rimouski, an international films festival.
 * Other festivals include: the Grandes fêtes du St-Laurent, a familial musical event taking place the first week-end of July and the Carrousel international du film de Rimouski, an international films festival.
 * Other festivals include: the Grandes fêtes du St-Laurent, a familial musical event taking place the first week-end of July and the Carrousel international du film de Rimouski, an international films festival.
 * Other festivals include: the Grandes fêtes du St-Laurent, a familial musical event taking place the first week-end of July and the Carrousel international du film de Rimouski, an international films festival.

Go next

 * Gaspé Peninsula

title: Rimouski


text:
Rincón

Rincón, the Town of Beautiful Sunsets, is in the Porta del Sol region of Puerto Rico, southwest of Aguadilla. Rincón, well known for its world-class surfing beaches, was the host of the World Surfing Championship in 1968.

The community is composed of local Puerto Ricans, international surfers, Americans and other nationalities who come to surf the legendary waves. Locals are friendly to tourists, but it can be helpful to be able to exchange some words in Spanish.

Get in

 * San Juan: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
 * Aguadilla: Rafael Hernández Airport
 * Ponce: Mercedita Airport

By plane
Most visitors fly into Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan. Rincón is about 2½ hours via PR-22 to PR-2 to PR-115.

From Aguadilla, Rincón is about 30 minutes via PR-115. Direct service from JFK, Newark & Orlando.

From Mayagüez, Rincón is about 20 minutes via PR-115.

From Ponce, Rincón is about 70 minutes via PR-2.

By car
Coming to Rincón is possible by State-Road 115. PR-115 to the north, connects Rincón to Aguadilla via Aguada and to the south to Añasco.

Get around
Roads in Rincón can be uncomfortable due to their narrowness, but they sure lead you to a natural paradise. In Rincón you can use famous Rincón-413.

Beaches

 * Almirante Beach
 * Córcega Beach
 * Los Almendros Beach
 * Punta Higüero Beach
 * Rincón Public Beach
 * Sandy Beach

Surfing

 * Dogman's Beach
 * Domes Beach
 * Indicator Beach
 * Maria's Beach
 * Spanish Wall Beach
 * Steps Beach - Show up mid-morning to early afternoon for the best place to surf or watch surfers. Named "Steps" for the set of concrete stairs a few feet in the water.
 * Tres Palmas

Buy
There are shops along the street of the town center and state-road 413. Rincón is also near Aguadilla which is home to various shopping malls. There are also several surf shops in Rincón.

Eat

Drink
In addition to these, several hotels also have bars.

Or, if you prefer, you can have alcohol delivered to you:

Sleep
There are only four actual hotels in town, and remaining lodging options are made up of vacation rentals, guest houses and villas.

Mid-range

Go next

 * Aguada
 * Aguadilla
 * Añasco
 * Isabela
 * Mayagüez
 * San Sebastián

title: Rincón


text:
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park

Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park (Parque Nacional Rincon de la Vieja) is a park of covering a dry tropical forest region in the provinces of Guanacaste and Alajuela, centered around the volcano, Rincón de la Vieja, and the surrounding volcanic and natural features. Sights include an extraordinary amount of interesting flora and fauna, as well as plenty of hot bubbling sulphurous mud pits and a little "mini-volcano." This national park is great for day tours in Guanacaste for those who love hiking and adventure. This national park is especially famous for its large geothermic activity and secondary volcanic activity.

Understand
The closest park to the Papagayo, Coco, Hermosa, Flamingo, Tamarindo area. This park has lots of volcanic activity, fumaroles, boiling mud pots, vapor vents, sulfur vents, forests, wild life. Great for a one-day tour with the whole family. There are more complicated trails for expert hikers as well, like the crater top or the sulfur springs "Los Azufrales". There is a convenience at the entrance of the park with bathrooms. The park is closed on Mondays.

History
This national park was ratified on 27 December 1982. It is a part of the protected area of the Conservation Area Guanacaste, (ACG) and operates in conjunction with the National Parks of Guanacaste and Santa Rosa, the Vida Silvestre Wildlife Refuge and the Horizontes Experimental Forestry Station.

The park is divided into two sectors: Pailas and Santa Maria.

 * The Pailas sector was named after the volcanic eruptions that are located in the area, including fumaroles and mud pots.
 * The Santa Maria sector was, from the late 19th century to 1973 one of the largest ranches in the area. It raised beef and dairy cattle, and produced coffee and sugar cane.

Landscape
The park forms park of the watershed for the province of Guanacaste. The province has 32 rivers, including the el Colorado, Blanco and the Ahogados.

In addition, there are 16 intermittent streams, which supply the rivers in the province.

Flora and fauna
Upper forest trees are of small stature and are twisted and covered with epiphytes. Rincon de la Vieja is a refuge for a large population the national flower Guaria Morada (Guarianthe skinneri). Tree species such as Laurel (Cordia alliodora), Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum), Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata), Copperwood (Bursera simaruba) and Copey (Clusia major) are abundant, as are strangler figs (Ficus sp.).

Approximately 300 bird species inhabit the park including the Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), the Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus), the Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens), the Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota), the Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa), the Black-faced Solitaire (Myadestes melanops), and Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis).

Mammals in the park include three species of monkey: the white-headed capuchin (Cebus capucinus), the mantled howler (Alouatta palliata), and Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi). The white-nosed coati (Nasua narica), Central American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), northern tamandua (Tamandua mexicana) and Hoffmann's two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) are also present. Reptiles in the park include black iguanas (Ctenosaura similis) and green iguanas (Iguana iguana).

Get in
The park is accessible only by car. From Liberia it's 5 km north up the Inter-American Highway, turn right (east) towards Curubande and head 17 km, then keep going until you pass through Hacienda Guachipelin. The park hours are Tu-Su 07:00-15:00.

Be certain you have a spare tire and jack in your car. The gravel road has many sharp edges to the gravel. A two-wheel-drive car can make the journey weather permitting. A four wheel drive car is advisable during the wet season.

Fees and permits
The entrance fee is US$10.

Do
Due to this high volcanic activity and plethora of rivers in the park, hot springs are very popular.

The Gauchipelín hot spring is one of the more well-known ones, as it has a more natural feel and is right next to a river. Right next to these springs is the mud bath. The mud used for the mud baths is taken directly from the ground where the thermal energy bubbles up. This soupy, gray mud is full of volcanic minerals. Mud baths like these have been done for centuries. They are believed to have many health benefits. Relieving stress and purifying, exfoliating, and softening the skin are just some of the many benefits linked to volcanic mud. Many believe that minerals like zinc and magnesium can alleviate inflammation. Sulfur, which is found in volcanic ash, is even said to help reverse the aging process.

Along with the hot springs and mud bath, Rincón de la Vieja is known for its seven large waterfalls, each with unique characteristics. One of the park's bigger waterfall is the Oropéndola Waterfall. The waterfall itself is stunning. It flows 82 feet (25 meters) over a rocky, moss-covered canyon. The water is a rich turquoise color. It gets its unique hue from minerals in the soil that are abundant in this volcanic region. There is a set of metal stairs where visitors can get into the riverbed, and explore the base of the waterfall, furthermore, jumping in is possible during certain times of the year when conditions are safe.

Sleep

Go next

 * Liberia
 * Santa Rosa National Park


text:
Rincon

There's more than one place called Rincon or Rincón:

Bonaire

 * Rincon (Bonaire) - a village on the island of Bonaire

Falkland Islands

 * Rincon / Rincon Grande - a settlement on East Falkland

Puerto Rico

 * Rincón - a town in the Porta del Sol (West Coast) region.

United States of America

 * Rincon (Georgia) - a city in Effingham County (Georgia), in Coastal Georgia
 * Rincon Mountains - a mountain range in Saguaro National Park, South Central Arizona
 * Rincon Point - a famous surfspot in Central Coast (California)
 * Rincon Valley - a valley to the east of Santa Rosa (California)

title: Rincon


text:
Rindge

Rindge is a city in Southern New Hampshire.

Understand

Rindge is a small town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire that was originally inhabited by ancestors of the Abenaki Tribe of native Americans. Evidence has displayed that the region may have been inhabited as many as 11,000 years ago. The first modern settler was Abel Platts, who arrived in 1738. The onset of the French and Indian War in 1744 drove the majority of the initial settlers away, but only for a short time. Platts and a small group of settlers returned to establish a more permanent residence in 1758 after the war had subsided. By 1859, there was 1,200 residents living in the small mill town. Rindge has only grown slightly over the years with modern census figures displaying slightly more than 6,000 current residents.

Get in

 * From Keene, NH: Take NH-12S to NH-119E into Rindge. Approximate travel time: 45min.
 * From Boston, MA: Take I93N which merges into I95S towards Waltham. Then take MA 40W to MA 119W which turns into NH 119W/General Reed HWY into Rindge. Approximate travel time 2hrs.

Get around
When in Rindge, the only mode of transportation will be the car that you arrived in. There are no public transportation options and no taxis.

title: Rindge


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Ringe

Ringe (Danish only), is a small town (154 sq. km) in the middle of Funen. It is part of the Faaborg-Midtfyn municipality. There are almost 12,000 inhabitants.

title: Ringe