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Oujda

Oujda is the capital city of the Oriental Morocco region, and is in the eastern part of Mediterranean Morocco.

By train
There are several trains per day from western Morocco with ONCF, including overnight trains. Journey time from Casablanca is around 10 hours while it's 5½ h from Fez. There are no trains from nearby Algeria.

By car
Oujda is accessible from the north via Melilla and Nador, or from the west via Fes and Taza. Arriving from the south is also possible from Figuig and Bouarfa. The Algerian border is closed which prevents land travel to/from the east. There are grand taxis to many destinations including: Taza, Saidia (20 dirhams), Berkane (18 dirhams), Jerada (15 dirhams), and Ain Beni Mathar (15 dirhams).

By bus
The bus station is located next to the grand taxi station in the south of the city. Many destinations are possible. From Oudja to Taza is roughly 30 dirhams, Oujda to Fes around 60 dirhams.

By boat
Boat service is via Nador and Melilla, both around three or four hours away.

Buy
The Bab Sidi Abdel Wahab or adjoining Morocco Market Square are some great places to buy things.

Budget
There are various decent hotels around the Place du 16 Aout, but two of the best are:

 * Hotel Telimcen (0536686533), which is attached to a women-friendly patisserie and cafe. 80 dirhams will get you a single room with a hot shower. Friendly staff.
 * Hotel Hanna (0536686003) has public hallway showers, but is slightly cheaper.

Splurge

 * As all over Morocco, the Hotel A ibis is a safe and well located bet. Always right next to the train station, the Ibis offers wi-fi, hot showers, white sheets, a lovely breakfast buffet, a pool and bar. Even if you aren't staying here, just pop in for an afternoon cocktail poolside (even during Ramadan!)
 * Another good option in Oujda is the Atlas Spa and Hotel, again, right next to the train station. Swank and brand-new, it's even got a night club (or at least a sign for one).

title: Oujda


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Oukaimeden

Oukaimeden is a ski resort in the High Atlas. It is one of the few places in Morocco where skiing is possible, and it also boasts the highest ski lift in Africa (reaching 3300 m or 10,825 feet).

Get in
Morocco’s best ski resort and Africa’s highest at 3270 m (10,734 feet). Drive towards the town of Setti Fatma in the Ourika Valley, the last exit before Setti Fatma at the foot of the mountain will take you to Oukaimeden. The road is covered and in good condition. To get you to the top you have your choice of chair lift, T-bar or donkey. The best skiing in the Atlas Mountains is found in January to February.

Get around
Oukaimeden is a popular ski resort and mountainous area located in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. To get around Oukaimeden, you have a few options:

 * 1) Walking: Oukaimeden is relatively small, and many of its attractions are accessible on foot. If you're staying at a hotel or lodge near the slopes, you can easily walk to the ski lifts and other nearby points of interest.
 * 2) Ski Lifts: During the ski season (usually from December to March), ski lifts operate to transport visitors to the top of the slopes. These lifts are an excellent way to access higher elevations for skiing, snowboarding, or simply enjoying the mountain views.
 * 3) Taxi or Private Transfer: If you're coming from Marrakech or another nearby city, you can hire a taxi or arrange a private transfer to Oukaimeden. The journey from Marrakech to Oukaimeden takes about 1.5 to 2 hours by car.
 * 4) Hiking or Trekking: Oukaimeden is surrounded by beautiful mountainous terrain, making it a great destination for hiking and trekking enthusiasts. You can explore the surrounding trails and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
 * 5) Mule Rides: If you're interested in a unique experience, you can hire mules to take you on a guided tour around the mountains. Mules are commonly used in the region for transportation and can be an interesting way to explore the area.
 * 6) 4x4 Tours: Some tour operators offer 4x4 excursions to explore the rugged landscapes around Oukaimeden. These tours can take you to remote areas and provide a thrilling off-road experience.

It's essential to be prepared for the weather conditions, especially during the winter months, when Oukaimeden receives snowfall and becomes a popular ski destination. If you plan to engage in outdoor activities, make sure to wear appropriate clothing and footwear, and always consider your safety during any mountain-based adventures.

Do
In January and February it's possible to get the accomplishment of having skied in Africa under your belt. 45 km south of Marrakech, high in the Atlas mountains, lies the ski resort Oukaimeden, sitting at 2,600 m. The resort's single chairlift (or the optional donkey) takes you up to 3,258 m – at the peak of Jebel Attar. One you're up there, there are five runs to take you down again, the longest of which is about 3 km, alternatively take some of the less imposing drag lifts at the bottom of the slope. A one-day ski pass should set you back some 90 dirhams. There are four hotels to choose from if you want to sleep over.

Eat

 * Chez Juju: tajines, French sausage cassoulet, mixed grill, salad with goat cheese. Sunny terrace. + 212 524 319 005.

Sleep

 * Chez Juju: new rooms chalet style with bathrooms. +212 524 31 90 05
 * Club Alpin Français: the CAF refuge is quite substantial with rooms and dorms of various sizes. +212 524 31 90 36
 * Club Alpin Français: the CAF refuge is quite substantial with rooms and dorms of various sizes. +212 524 31 90 36

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

title: Oukaimeden


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Oulu

Oulu (Swedish: Uleåborg) is the biggest city in Northern Finland, with about 210,000 inhabitants (in 2021). Once known for wood tar and salmon, Oulu has become a major high-tech centre, particularly in IT and wellness technology. Oulu has been selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2026.

The adjacent town of Kempele and the former municipalities of Ylikiiminki, Haukipudas, Kiiminki, Oulunsalo and Yli-Ii are also handled in this article.

Understand

Oulu is the capital of the province of Oulu and the region of Northern Ostrobothnia. It is the fifth largest municipality in Finland by population and the largest and most important in Northern Finland. As a result of two consolidations of neighbouring municipalities, first Ylikiiminki in 2009, and then Haukipudas, Kiiminki, Oulunsalo and Yli-Ii in 2013, its land area is over 3,000 km² (five to ten times the size of other similar sized cities in Finland). As urban area it comes fourth, after the capital region, Tampere and Turku.

A lot of Finnish IT companies, including Nokia, have offices in Oulu or nearby areas. In 1988 Jarkko Oikarinen wrote the first IRC server and client here. Oulu is also home to Oulun Kärpät, a successful hockey team playing in the top Finnish league, Liiga.

Early history
Until the end of the Stone Age, the current city was underwater, but around 1800 BCE, the post-glacial rebound had moved the coastline inside the current city borders. The Oulu river had already been an important trade river, as it offered connections to the east and the west, as well as to the south by the sea. During the Iron Age, the population in the Oulu area most likely lessened a bit, although the Sami population persisted through the Iron Age. During the Iron Age, the southern Finnish peoples such as the Finns Proper and the Tavastians made hunting, trade and taxation journeys to the north.

In the 12th century, Oulu became an important spot for trade and hunting trips by the Karelians, including the people from the flourishing population centres of the shores of the Lake Ladoga.

From the Middle Ages to the 16th century

It is commonly interpreted that the Treaty of Nöteborg in 1323 placed Oulu inside the Republic of Novgorod, but according to some historians, Ostrobothnia was shared as a collaborative area between the two nations, Sweden and Novgorod. However, in the year 1345 Sweden annexed the regions all the way to Kemi as a part of Turku Diocese. The possession of the area became controversial, and during the next centuries the Novgorodians and later the Russians made raids to Ostrobothnia all the way to Oulu. The first armaments of the Oulu Castle were made in 1375. The fortification was known in Swedish as "Uleåborg", "Ule River Castle". After the founding of the castle, the city started to slowly evolve close to the castle, which was colloquially known as "Uleåstad", "Ule River Town".

Oulu, Kemi, Tornio and Ii were given the right to serve as trading centres by the Swedish King Gustav Vasa of Sweden in 1531.

During the Russo-Swedish war of 1590–1595, the fortification was turned into a small castle. In the Treaty of Teusina (1595), Russia acknowledged the Oulu area as a part of the Kingdom of Sweden.

The founding of the city and the 18th century

Oulu is the oldest city in Northern Finland. It was founded with the Swedish name of Uleåborg in 1605 by the King Karl IX at the mouth of Oulujoki river, on the opposite bank of Oulu Castle. In the beginning there were around 400 residents in the city. The city got its full city rights in 1610, and during the 17th century even some small-scale industry was born in town; the only rifle manufacturing plant in Finland was in Oulu. The first pedagogium in the city was founded in 1611 and in 1682 it was transformed into a trivial school.

The Oulu Castle was destroyed by a lightning strike in 1793 and never rebuilt.

The 19th and the 20th century

During its history, the city has suffered eight great fires; after the 1822 one, the city centre got the look it still has today.

In the 19th century the trivial school was transformed into an upper comprehensive school and a gymnasium school was attached to it. In 1872 the first Oulu private lyceum was opened and it was transformed into the Oulu Lyceum in 1883.

The city was greatly affected by wars, and Oulu was a battlefield for the Whites and the Reds in the civil war of 1918. The Winter War was seen in the city when the Germans built different training, maintenance and cadre centres in Oulu. In the Continuation war, Oulu was bombed heavily and some traces from the bombings are still seen in some of the older buildings in the city centre.

The 20th century brought industrialisation to the city and the borders became too tight for all population and the city borders were expanded by adding some smaller neighbouring municipalities to the city.

The University of Oulu was founded in 1959, although Oulu had been proposed as a university town since 1917. The new university got a great reception, since it was the first one in Northern Finland and the people didn't have to go all the way to southern Finland in order to get academic education.

Recent history and modern day
Nowadays Oulu is known especially as a technology city and the economical engine of Northern Finland. Technopolis, founded in 1982, was the first so-called technology village of the Nordic countries.

The latest municipality mergers alongside population growth of the city proper have made Oulu the 5th biggest city and 4th biggest urban area in Finland. It is by far the biggest city in the northern part of the Nordic countries.

Modern Oulu is known all over Finland with the nickname "Paska kaupunni" ("Shitty City") due to a graffiti made at some point in the 1980s to a wall in the address Uusikatu 22. The urban tradition of drawing the graffiti again and again has persisted to this day.

Other well-known things related to the city are the Toripolliisi statue (1987), the Oulu Market Hall (1901), the Marketplace granaries, the hockey team Oulun Kärpät, Tietomaa Science Centre, the annual Air Guitar World Championships, the Starboy tradition, the Oulu dialect and Rössypottu.

Oulu is also one of Finland's "cycling capitals" with over 20% of residents cycling daily – the cold weather notwithstanding. In fact, due to the prioritising of clearing snow from the main bicycle network, even at temperatures below -20°C you will see many people out and about on their bikes.

Get in
Oulu is on the main north-south railway, and train may be the most convenient way to get in from southern Finland, e.g. Helsinki, Tampere and Turku. There are flights from Helsinki, dominated by work-realated travel. Oulu is also on the two main south-to-north highways, highways 4 and 8.

By plane
The airport has six Finnair flights a day from Helsinki Airport. In summer there are also flights from Mediterranean holiday resorts. That is about all, although the airport website (nothing if not aspirational) lists 50 airlines flying here, including from Tibet. As of 2024, there is also a direct 3 hour flight to Oulu from Munich, operated by Lufthansa. They are planning to increase the number of weekly flights in October.

Transport
Bus routes 8 (to Teknologiakylä) and 9 (to Heikinharju) run between the airport and central Oulu, taking 30 min. The bus stop is to the right as you exit the terminal. There are usually two buses an hour M–Sa 06:25–21:00, otherwise hourly to 01:20.

The airport is in Fare Zone B, and the centre is Zone A, so you need a ticket for Zone AB. Adult fare is €5.80 (cash to the driver or use the transport app) but double after 23:00 – see "Get around" below for practicalities. The ticket is valid for transfers for 60 min. However the airport hotel and the southern municipality of Kempele are in Zone B, so for those, tell the driver and pay for that Zone only.

The main city stop for the lines 8 and 9 is Kaupungintalo. The bus doesn't stop on the Pekuri stop in the city centre at all. The university is on bus route 8, else change in the centre to buses 1 (Jylkynkangas), 2 (Ritaharju), 3 (Aaltokangas), 5 (Kaijonharju), 18 (Kaijonharju) or 23 (Haukipudas-Ii): tell the driver "Yliopistolle" (ILL-yo-piss-toll-e) meaning "to the university".

Taxis might cost €35; Otaxi is the main airport operator.

Car rental: all the main car rental firms are found at the airport. Book in advance as they have small fleets here, and their kiosks may have limited staffed hours.

By train

Oulu is on the main railway line between Helsinki and the far north of Finland. The station is right beside the city centre, and there are trains from Helsinki via Tampere to Oulu every hour or two, taking 6–8 hours. Trains from Turku connect to most of them. They continue north to Kemi and either Rovaniemi (all year) or Tornio and Kolari (some trains in season). There are also sleeper trains (which take cars from some stations) on the Helsinki/Turku–Tampere–Oulu–far north routes. See Finland § Get around: By train. The cost from Helsinki can be less than €20 if bought well in advance.

By bus
Travel by coach from Helsinki takes between 8 and 15 hours and costs around €25–50, cheapest Onnibus fares are about €15. Direct bus connections are available also from Turku, Jyväskylä, Lahti, Kuopio, Pori, Joensuu, Vaasa and Rovaniemi. Coming via Tallinn or Stockholm, there may be coach connections from the port with arranged transfer, mostly via Kamppi.

From Sweden, travel to Haparanda; the buses to Oulu depart from the Tornio-Haparanda bus centre. From Northern Norway, you usually need to transfer in Rovaniemi; in summer there may be a direct coach service between Tromsø and Oulu by Eskelisen Lapin Linjat. See Matkahuolto.

The bus station is across the tracks from the railway station.

By car
Oulu is on Highway 4, which runs the length of the country from Helsinki via Jyväskylä to Oulu, continuing north to Kemi, Rovaniemi and Utsjoki on the border with Norway. The highway is part of E75 between Northern Norway and Athens.

Route E8 runs along the coast from Turku through Rauma, Pori, Vaasa and Kokkola to Oulu, continuing to Kemi, Kolari and eventually Tromsø.

City parking: Kivisydän underground car park stretches the length of the centre. There are two entrances: Hallituskatu 1, a block north of the market place off Rantakatu, search map for "Kivisydän Torin Ramppi". Hallituskatu 20 is at the junction of Hallituskatu and Uusikatu, search for "Kivisydän Uusikadun Ramppi."

Park & ride: use the free parking lot of Prisma Limingantulli (Nuottasaarentie 1) and take Citybus line C to the city centre. It runs every 30 minutes and costs €1.50 (cash) or €1.20 (card) each way The Citybus stop is on the west side of the hypermarket.

When coming from the north, you can also park at Ideapark Oulu mall (Ritaharjuntie 49) and take Bus 3 to the centre, though this is unlikely to save you any money (unless you travel alone) since you will have to pay the normal bus fare.

By boat
There is no ferry, but for arriving with your own boat, Oulu has four marinas dotted around the estuary of the Oulujoki river. The main one is right next to the marketplace.

By foot
For being the fifth largest city in Finland the city centre is small compared to, say, Tampere or Turku. The whole of the city centre is easily walkable, and the walking conditions are good. There are usually free walking route maps distributed at the Tourist Information.

By scooter
For 2024, the only e-scooter company in town is Ryde. Their operating area reaches from the southern region of Mäntylä all the way to Ideapark mall in Ritaharju. Be sure to follow the rules on riding and parking the vehicles.

By bus

The public transportation is operated by OSL (Oulu Regional Transport).

Payment
Single ticket (kertalippu) within about 10 km from the city centre costs €3.30 with cash, €2.05 with card or the OSL app. There is a child ticket for children under 16, but it is only available when paying with cash or the OSL app. Between 23:00–04:30 a single ticket by cash costs €6.60, but night services are limited.

To save money, do use your contactless bank card (Visa, Mastercard or Eurocard; Diners Club and American Express do not work) or a mobile device with Apple Pay or Google Pay. Press "lähimaksu" and tap your card on the machine.

The other option is the OSL application (by Waltti Solutions), available in Google Play and App Store. After purchasing the ticket from the app, show it to the driver and you're good to go. You cannot buy tickets in advance with the app, so you must buy it right before you need it.

The system calculates the fare combining all trips paid with the card or device: a new single ticket fee will not be charged until the 90-minute changeover period has ended, and a day ticket will be substituted when those are relevant.

If paying by card, notice that you can only pay your own ticket. If you want to buy a ticket for a companion, you must use cash or the OSL app.

There are day tickets (1 to 7 days) available; you can buy them from the tourist information or Oulu10. You can also buy day tickets from the OSL mobile app.

Taking a bike to the bus costs €2/trip, and if the bus is full, you might have to wait for the next one. You can take your bike on some taller long-distance buses (e.g. to Tyrnävä) which have narrow hallways, elevated floors and single middle doors (as opposed to doubles), too, but you need to ask the driver to put the bike in the luggage container of the bus. Taking a folding bike on the bus is free (if the bike is folded, that is) but some bus drivers don't know that (since folding bikes are quite rare). You can also take your own e-scooter to the bus, and the drivers are unlikely to charge you for it if it is folded.

The validity of single and value tickets is 60 minutes when travelling in one zone or two zones, and 80 minutes in three or more zones. You can transfer from one vehicle to another within the validity of your ticket. Lähi ticket is valid only in Lähi-buses (minibuses). The validity of Lähi ticket is 30 minutes.

Good to know
The bus drivers usually understand some English, but best plan your trip beforehand. To plan your route in the city, use the OSL application. It gives you the most convenient route to where you want to go, including walks to bus stops, what bus lines to use and where to switch buses. A few third-party phone apps like Nysse or Google Maps' public transport features do the job fine, too. The buses have trackers which let the customers see where the bus is on a map and how long you have to wait for it.

Most buses display the information on the upcoming stops, as of July 2024, but it is still good to have a downloaded map with your current location on your phone. The displays are slow, so check the name of the previous stop to yours and press the stop button after that.

The bus stops are named so that the name of the stop is followed by either an E or a P. The letters stand for Etelä south) and Pohjoinen (north), implicating the direction of the buses passing through the stop. PP stands for "päätepysäkki", meaning terminus.

Be careful when using the bus in the city centre, since not all buses stop at all bus stops. When using the stops Pekuri and Kaupungintalo, remember that the lines 1–17 stop at Kaupungintalo, whereas lines 20–57 stop at Pekuri. Lähi bus lines (A, B, C, D) stop at Kaupungintalo E. If unsure, check if the number of the line is found on the sign on top of the bus stop.

Some bus lines include:

 * 2 Ritaharju–University–Tuira–City centre–Raksila–OYS–Kaukovainio–Kaakkuri–Metsokangas
 * The most popular bus line in town, hence one of the most operated one. Departure times vary, but during daytime on weekdays it departs every 10–20min. It takes you through the university, the city hospital (OYS) and the infamous (yet nowadays quite peaceful) Kaukovainio into the neighborhood of Metsokangas, which is full of newer, wood/brick residential buildings. Also passes through Kaakkuri shopping hub which holds the Verkkokauppa.com electronics store mentioned in this article.

 * 8 Technology village–University–Tuira–City centre–Raksila–Oulunsalo–Airport
 * This line runs from the technology village through the university to the Raksila mall, where it continues to the airport. More info about airport transit in the section Get In/By Plane.

 * 9 Talvikangas–Haapalehto–Myllytulli–City centrer–Heinäpää–Limingantulli–Oulunsalo–Airport
 * The bus line 9 to the airport takes more time, but is operated more than number 8. It also passes through the southern end of the city centre (Heinäpää) and the shopping district of Limingantulli. You can get to the art museum and Science Centre Tietomaa with this bus line.

 * 15 Nallikari–Tuira–City centre–Höyhtyä–Mäntylä
 * The line takes you from the Nallikari holiday village and beach to the city and continues to the lesser-known suburb of Mäntylä. It does pass through the Oulu Music Centre and Höyhtyä, where the legendary Höyhtyän Grilli is found in.

 * 20 Haukipudas–Toppila–Tuira–City centre–Raksila–OYS–Oulu vocational college
 * One of the most popular bus lines. It starts from the suburb of Haukipudas, which used to be a town of its own but which is part of the city nowadays. It also passes through the somewhat sketchy Toppila suburb and terminates in OSAO, the main unit of Oulu vocational college, which has a cheap cafe and a store full of student-made food and delicacies.

 * 21 Kiviniemi–Herukka–Pateniemi–Rajakylä–Toppila–Tuira–City centre–Limingantulli–Karjasilta–Kaukovainio
 * The line operates only every 60 minutes, but this line is the closest one to the Pateniemi Sawmill Museum.

 * 23 Ii–Haukipudas–Linnanmaa–Tuira–City centre–Raksila–OYS–Oulu vocational college
 * This line takes you to the municipality of Ii, which has a small, but beautiful old town. It also passes through the hospital and terminates in OSAO, the vocational college.

 * 35 Kiiminki–Jääli–Tuira-City centre–Oulu vocational college
 * A quite popular bus line, which starts from the neighbourhood of Kiiminki, which is similar to Haukipudas since it also was a town of its own in the past.

 * 41 City centre–Tuira–Hintta-Myllyoja–Sanginsuu–Muhos-Madekoski-Maikkula-City centre
 * This line takes you to the town of Muhos, which is the hometown of the first ever Miss Universum. It also passes closest to the Turkansaari Outdoor museum. The line goes to Muhos from the north side of the river, and returns along the south side. The line 40 makes the same trip in the reverse direction.

 * 50 City centre–Heinäpää–Limingantulli–Kempele–Zeppelin–Haapamaa
 * The main bus line to Kempele takes you to Limingantulli, Kempele and the shopping centre Zeppelin.

A longer, but more interesting line to Kempele than 50. You see more of new, wooden residential buildings as well as brick ones. Also passes through Kaakkuri shopping hub and Metsokangas, similarly to number 2.
 * 51 City centre–Raksila–Kaakkuri–Metsokangas–Honkanen–Zeppelin–Kempele
 * 52(/52A) City centre–Heinäpää–Kempele–Tupos–Liminka(–Liminganlahti–Lumijoki)
 * This line operates to Liminka, which is the home of Liminganlahti, an important bird-watching area. Liminganlahti is only reached by the bus 52A or 53 though. Liminka is also a nice place to visit with a few historic buildings and points of interest.

 * 54 City centre–Raksila–Tyrnävä–Liminka
 * This line takes you to Liminka through the rural municipality of Tyrnävä, known for its potatoes. If you want to see real countryside, do take this line.

 * 59 Bus station–Heinäpää–Oulunsalo–Hailuoto
 * The longest public transport bus trip in the Oulu area is the bus number 59 which takes you to Hailuoto, the biggest island in the Bothnian Bay. The municipality has about a 1000 residents making it the smallest in Northern Ostrobothnia. It is suggested to take the bus in to the very end of the line to Marjaniemi, since there are the most important sights in Hailuoto. Remember to check the schedules though, the bus doesn't operate too often.

 * A City centre–Train station–Myllytulli–Värttö
 * The citybus line takes you to Värttö, next to the quite pretty and old Oulu psychiatric hospital area. You can walk through the area, but cannot enter the buildings. It passes through Myllytulli (near the science centre Tietomaa) and next to the Oulu prison. The trip costs €1.50.

Zones
Public transport system Oulun joukkoliikenne is divided into zones from A to D that radiate from the centre. The urban area within about 10-km radius from the city centre is zone A and the regions further from that are B, C and D. Nearly all the hotels, University of Oulu and the main sights are in zone A. The airport, Kempele and Haukipudas are in zone B, Ii, Muhos, and Liminka are on zone C. Only Yli-Ii and Hailuoto are in zone D. The number of zones you travel through during your trip will determine your fare. The Lähi zone includes only the minibus lines (A-D), not the normal buses. The A zone includes the Lähi zone.

Some places of interest in each zone:

Zone A: The whole city centre, Nallikari and Hietasaari, University of Oulu, OYS, Limingantulli, Oulu Music Center, Oulu Car Museum, Kaakkuri, Ruskotunturi, Ideapark Oulu, Pateniemi Sawmill Museum, Meritoppila DiscGolfPark, Oulu Climbing Centre

Zone B: Oulunsalo and Oulu Airport, Turkansaari Outdoor Museum, Kempele and the shopping centre Zeppelin, Haukipudas, Kiiminki and Koitelinkoski Rapids

Zone C: Ii, Ylikiiminki, Muhos, Tyrnävä, Liminka and Liminganlahti Bay, Lumijoki

Zone D: Yli-Ii, Hailuoto (kind of)

Prices
prices as of July 2024

Single Tickets

Contactless and the OSL app

24-hour ticket

You can purchase a 24-hour ticket from the OSL App by Waltti Solutions. You can also buy it from Oulu10 and Oulu tourist information, and some options are available in the Nallikari Holiday Village. When you buy a ticket that is valid for more zones, you can still use it to travel between less zones (i.e. when you buy an AB ticket, you can also use it in A or Lähi).

Info on the prices of multiple-day tickets can be found in the OSL website or the OSL app.

By hop-on-hop-off bus

To get a good look around Oulu, with English commentary, try Potnapekka (in Finnish). Half train, half bus, it operates during summer months (June to August) on two routes, via Nallikari or Hupisaaret, through roads for light traffic. Both routes leave from the city hall (at the centre of Oulu) and the journey lasts about one hour. You can hop off and in on the way.

The bus starts from the city hall, and there is a ticket booth where you can buy tickets and get free route maps there. Single tickets cost €8/adult and €4/child from 5 to 14. Children under 5 travel for free. Family ticket is €20. Day tickets cost €15/adult and €8/child from 5 to 14. Family ticket is €50.

 * Potnapekka Nallikari: City Hall–Pikisaari–Nallikari–Market Square–City Hall

 * Potnapekka Oulujoki: City Hall–Hupisaaret–Värttö–Peltola–Myllytulli–City Hall

By bike
This "Amsterdam of Finland" is well renowned for its good bicycle routes, which get you around the city easily and safely even through the cold winter. To rent a bicycle, try Pyörä-Suvala, Lekatie 27. If you're staying at Nallikari Camping, Leiritie 10, they also have bikes to rent for visitors, costing €12/day. Bike paths are cleared of snow in the winter and you usually won't have to have studded tires because the ground is rarely icy or slippery.

When biking, be sure to use the special bike lanes (usually marked with red). You can take the bike through the shopping centre Valkea, but you have to walk the bike. Take care when cycling through Rotuaari pedestrian street, you're required to give way to pedestrians when cycling. There are even experiments with projecting the bike lane signs directly onto the surface — very helpful in winter — but as of early 2021 it's only a trial in one location.

Oulu also has had an extensive bikesharing system, which opened in August 2019. It had 60 stations with 10 bikes each, and the cost was €5/day, €10/week and €20/season. After paying the fee, you were able to bike around for free for 30 minutes, after which it cost €1/hour. The hourly fee could be avoided by returning the bike in 30 minutes to the station and taking a new one immediately. You needed a debit or credit card in order to rent the bikes.

The system was taken down, at least for now, because there were problems with the operator. They're planning on bringing the bikes back, but it is unsure when it will happen. More information in the webpage.

By train
You're unlikely to use the train within the city area. However you can ride between Kempele and Oulu on the long distance VR Helsinki-Oulu-Kemi trains, and between Oulu and Muhos on the trains to Kuopio, fares for both routes about €5.

In the summer there are some steam-hauled trains between Kempele, Oulu and Haukipudas, mainly used as an attraction.

By taxi

 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Bolt
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Bolt
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Bolt
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Bolt

By dial-a-ride
Although meant for the elderly, the dial-a-ride service Onni can be used by anyone and can be a great way to get to the destination which is close to the city centre or inside it. Check the schedules here (Click the lines to see the map of the route).

The bus drivers usually speak at least a little English. Order by calling, and give your name, location and destination. It is best to call the ride a couple of days before your trip, but you can also get it right before the ride. The trip costs €3.30 for adults and €1.70 for children.

See

 * (Kauppatori) is a hotch-potch of styles: old red granaries, renaissance revival architecture and 1970s brutalist concrete. But during the brief warmth of summer, its terraces, cafes and market booths are busy and lively, though the main market hall is closed in 2019 for re-building. The area is presided over by Toripolliisi, the often photographed statue of the Market Square Policeman. He's a squat stubby young-old figure, as if weighted down by his responsibilities.
 * Franzénin puisto is the leafy little park facing the cathedral, with the statue of Frans Michael Franzén (1772-1847), an Oulu-born poet. The statue is also the eldest public monument in town.
 * Paskakaupunni.jpgMorkokivi.jpg
 * Madetojan & Pokkisenpuisto are the little parks along the stream just north of the centre, divided by Aleksanterinkatu. The statue is of Leevi Madetoja (1887-1947), an Oulu-born composer who ranks alongside Sibelius.
 * Holy Family of Nazareth Church Oulu 20110521.JPG
 * Franzénin puisto is the leafy little park facing the cathedral, with the statue of Frans Michael Franzén (1772-1847), an Oulu-born poet. The statue is also the eldest public monument in town.
 * Paskakaupunni.jpgMorkokivi.jpg
 * Madetojan & Pokkisenpuisto are the little parks along the stream just north of the centre, divided by Aleksanterinkatu. The statue is of Leevi Madetoja (1887-1947), an Oulu-born composer who ranks alongside Sibelius.
 * Holy Family of Nazareth Church Oulu 20110521.JPG
 * Madetojan & Pokkisenpuisto are the little parks along the stream just north of the centre, divided by Aleksanterinkatu. The statue is of Leevi Madetoja (1887-1947), an Oulu-born composer who ranks alongside Sibelius.
 * Holy Family of Nazareth Church Oulu 20110521.JPG
 * Holy Family of Nazareth Church Oulu 20110521.JPG
 * Holy Family of Nazareth Church Oulu 20110521.JPG
 * Holy Family of Nazareth Church Oulu 20110521.JPG
 * Holy Family of Nazareth Church Oulu 20110521.JPG
 * Holy Family of Nazareth Church Oulu 20110521.JPG
 * Holy Family of Nazareth Church Oulu 20110521.JPG
 * Holy Family of Nazareth Church Oulu 20110521.JPG
 * Holy Family of Nazareth Church Oulu 20110521.JPG

Do

 * Football: AC Oulu play soccer in Veikkausliiga, the top tier. Their home ground Raatin Stadion (capacity 5000) is 2 km north of town centre. The playing season is April-Oct.
 * Stroll along the City Stream (Kaupunginoja/Plaanaoja) and see all the different parks and statues alongside it. The park district was built to control mass fires which Oulu experienced a lot. The stream and the parks were lit a couple of years ago with orange/red lighting to commemorate the history of the parks.
 * Ghost-hunting. Oulu has been called the ghost capital of Finland with countless buildings said to be haunted. To fill your visit with spiritual activity, stay in the Lasaretti (old military hospital) or De Gamlas Hem (old nursing home) hotel, join the Ghostly and strange stories from Oulu guided walk, visit the ruins of the Oulu castle to catch a glimpse of the Witch Montonen who died in his cell with his face clawed, or have a drink with an eerie man in the pub Jumpru, though no matter how much he drinks, it seems like his pint never empties...
 * Oulu will hold the title of European Capital of Culture in 2026.
 * Football: AC Oulu play soccer in Veikkausliiga, the top tier. Their home ground Raatin Stadion (capacity 5000) is 2 km north of town centre. The playing season is April-Oct.
 * Stroll along the City Stream (Kaupunginoja/Plaanaoja) and see all the different parks and statues alongside it. The park district was built to control mass fires which Oulu experienced a lot. The stream and the parks were lit a couple of years ago with orange/red lighting to commemorate the history of the parks.
 * Ghost-hunting. Oulu has been called the ghost capital of Finland with countless buildings said to be haunted. To fill your visit with spiritual activity, stay in the Lasaretti (old military hospital) or De Gamlas Hem (old nursing home) hotel, join the Ghostly and strange stories from Oulu guided walk, visit the ruins of the Oulu castle to catch a glimpse of the Witch Montonen who died in his cell with his face clawed, or have a drink with an eerie man in the pub Jumpru, though no matter how much he drinks, it seems like his pint never empties...
 * Oulu will hold the title of European Capital of Culture in 2026.
 * Stroll along the City Stream (Kaupunginoja/Plaanaoja) and see all the different parks and statues alongside it. The park district was built to control mass fires which Oulu experienced a lot. The stream and the parks were lit a couple of years ago with orange/red lighting to commemorate the history of the parks.
 * Ghost-hunting. Oulu has been called the ghost capital of Finland with countless buildings said to be haunted. To fill your visit with spiritual activity, stay in the Lasaretti (old military hospital) or De Gamlas Hem (old nursing home) hotel, join the Ghostly and strange stories from Oulu guided walk, visit the ruins of the Oulu castle to catch a glimpse of the Witch Montonen who died in his cell with his face clawed, or have a drink with an eerie man in the pub Jumpru, though no matter how much he drinks, it seems like his pint never empties...
 * Oulu will hold the title of European Capital of Culture in 2026.
 * Stroll along the City Stream (Kaupunginoja/Plaanaoja) and see all the different parks and statues alongside it. The park district was built to control mass fires which Oulu experienced a lot. The stream and the parks were lit a couple of years ago with orange/red lighting to commemorate the history of the parks.
 * Ghost-hunting. Oulu has been called the ghost capital of Finland with countless buildings said to be haunted. To fill your visit with spiritual activity, stay in the Lasaretti (old military hospital) or De Gamlas Hem (old nursing home) hotel, join the Ghostly and strange stories from Oulu guided walk, visit the ruins of the Oulu castle to catch a glimpse of the Witch Montonen who died in his cell with his face clawed, or have a drink with an eerie man in the pub Jumpru, though no matter how much he drinks, it seems like his pint never empties...
 * Oulu will hold the title of European Capital of Culture in 2026.
 * Oulu will hold the title of European Capital of Culture in 2026.
 * Oulu will hold the title of European Capital of Culture in 2026.
 * Oulu will hold the title of European Capital of Culture in 2026.
 * Oulu will hold the title of European Capital of Culture in 2026.
 * Oulu will hold the title of European Capital of Culture in 2026.
 * Oulu will hold the title of European Capital of Culture in 2026.

Annual events

 * Snow sculpture competition is held at Nallikari winter village, 4 km west of the centre. February.
 * Snowmobile races are at Raksila Stadium just east of the centre. February.
 * Hässäkkäpäivät is punk and hardcore music in early July.
 * UFOP - Uleaborg Festival Of Psychedelia - is a modern music and art event at Tukikhota, northern part of the city, in mid-July.
 * Qstock is the biggest rock festival in Northern Finland, with as much as 40 000 visitors, held in the Kuusisaari and Raatti areas of Oulu in late July. Mostly Finnish artists, but some foreign artists with usually 1-2 big foreign names performing. 2022 lineup included Electric Callboy, Limp Bizkit and Stratovarius. €84 (Friday)/€94 (Saturday)/€134 (F Sa). If visiting on Friday, be sure to check out the band Radiopuhelimet. The band has been the final performer of Friday in Qstock every year since the festival's inception.
 * Oulu August Festival takes in some half-a-dozen events over the month.
 * Elojazz: jazz gigs in Rauhala area and various parks and bars.
 * Oulunsalo Soi Chamber Music.
 * Literary art festival Muusajuhlat.
 * Koiteli elää! is a small rock festival at the Kiiminki rapids, 20 km northeast of Oulu. Tickets sell out within few minutes, so be quick with it.
 * Air Guitar World Championships reckon to usher in world peace and climate stability by annual frantic mime-guitar.
 * Oulu Music Video Festival.
 * The Irish Festival of Oulu is the Irish-themed folk music, cultural and world music event, which takes place in early October.
 * Lumo Light Festival (Lumo-valofestivaali) fills the city centre with light artworks for a weekend in late November.

Buy

 * Oulu Market Hall

If you are in desperate need of something from the grocery store late at night (which means after 22:00 for Finns) or early morning, the options are narrowed down to four grocery stores: S-Market Tuira, Kastelli, Kaakkuri and Ritaharju. They are open 24/7. None of them are located downtown, but Tuira is the closest one. If you need to get somewhere warm in the middle of the night in the winter, other place that is open 24/7 is the "summer street" of the shopping centre Valkea (yet no shops there are open in the night). The railway station building is open 04:00-01:20. Bars and fast food places downtown are usually open until 4-5 AM on weekends.

If you have a car available, the gas station-restaurant-shop Oulun Baari in Maikkula is open 24/7

Budget
Oulu is a place for eating pizza and other fast foods. For €10-15 you can get a pizza with your choice of (usually three) toppings. Try one of the more interesting choices of toppings such as reindeer, kebab and mayonnaise. Also there are many restaurants that have a pizza buffet for €12-16 which includes a drink. A number of restaurants serving international cuisine or fast food are found in Oulu, including Indian, Greek, Mediterranean, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Thai and Chinese kitchens. For American-style fast food there is McDonald's and Finnish equivalent Hesburger, but best burgers can be had at a tiny and ever-crowded Kauppuri 5 (Kauppurienkatu 5).

 * Stalls on the Market Place have local delicacies such as fried vendace (muikku) or salmon.
 * Puistokahvila Makia Oulu 20150829.JPG
 * Puistokahvila Makia Oulu 20150829.JPG
 * Puistokahvila Makia Oulu 20150829.JPG

Mid-range
During lunch time, usually 11:00–15:00, most restaurants serves food for reasonable prices. Lunch restaurants and lists in Oulu can be found at lounaat.info.

For typical, if a bit boring, French-Scandinavian dining, use hotel restaurants, such as Sassi (Radisson Blu) and Frans & Camille Bistro (at the Arina hotel in the town centre).

Drink
Drinking in Finland can be an expensive activity, a typical pint (either 0.4 or 0.5L) of domestic macro lager is typically around €6 and up. Typical Finnish beer is European lager, but also more interesting Finnish and local (breweries Maistila, Sonnisaari and Hailuoto are local) craft beer is available at a few pubs, as is imported stuff. Do try lonkku, a long time Finnish favorite long drink of gin and grapefruit juice.

Stay safe
Oulu is, on the whole, a very safe city, but avoid getting into arguments late in the night in fast food joints. Pickpocketing is remarkably rare, but it doesn't harm you to keep an eye on your belongings just like in any other place.

Even though crime otherwise is rare, Oulu has experienced a lot of bike thefts, so make sure to keep your bike locked when you go shopping etc.

There can be some drunks in Rotuaari, the "summer street" of Valkea, the Mannerheim park and some other places in the city centre, but they shouldn't cause any harm to travellers.

The police are helpful and friendly, although some might lack English skills. If you have non-emergency cases or questions, you can contact the police department of Oulu at. The central police office is at Kirkkokatu 13.

Medical help
In case of emergency, contact the emergency number.

For non-emergency but urgent cases, contact the number for a free evaluation of the situation. If you are a holder of the European Health Insurance card, you will get necessary treatment in any health center or Oulu University Hospital emergency room.

During weekdays 8-16 you have to visit the urgent care in a health center. Kontinkangas (Kajaanintie 46A) and Tuira (Kangastie 12-16) health centers are the closest ones to the city center. Outside of business hours and on weekends, you have to go to the emergency room of OYS (Kajaanintie 50 A1).

The waiting times for any public healthcare in Oulu are long as public healthcare is shortstaffed. It is not uncommon to wait for 10 hours in the OYS emergency room during busy days. There are also private healthcare chains which have locations in the city, though more expensive, usually provide appointments faster. These include Terveystalo, Mehiläinen and Pihlajalinna, all of which have multiple locations in Oulu, including in the city center. They have good websites with all necessary information.

Connect
The panOULU (public access network OULU) network provides wireless internet access to everybody in its coverage area, mostly the city centre.

The tourist information centre has a computer with free internet access.

Usually, there is free Wi-Fi in cafés, although the connections might not be the strongest. The same goes with Oulu PTA's buses.

Go next

 * Hailuoto is the largest island in the Gulf of Bothnia and a good destination for a day trip. Accessible by a free of charge, either with own car or by bus. In February you can drive there on an official ice road (dates varying by year).
 * Iso-Syöte on the way to Kuusamo is the closest destination for downhill skiing and the southernmost fell of Finland. Here are also Syöte national park, Iso-Syöte national hiking area and Pikku-Syöte recreational forest. Koskilinjat arranges day trips to the slopes during the winter season.
 * Kuusamo by Finland's eastern border is a gateway to Lapland, with the ski resort Ruka, the legendary Karhunkierros hiking route (80 km) and Oulanka national park.
 * Koitelinkoski — rapids of Kiiminkijoki-river, about 25 min by car from Oulu.
 * Ii has a beautiful old town and is 35 km away.
 * Vaala municipality on the shores of Lake Oulujärvi about 90 km southeast of Oulu.
 * Helsinki, the capital of Finland

title: Oulu


text:
Ouranoupoli

Ouranoupoli is a village of 825 people (2011) in Greece. It is near Mount Athos and is mostly used as a jumping off point for there, or a place for women to stay, since they are not allowed in the monasteries.

Understand
Because of its relative isolation, Ouranoupoli has not been affected by mass tourism. It was founded in 1922, when approximately 50 families, Greek refugees from Asia Minor, arrived under the auspices of the League of Nations, looking for a new home. The land was provided by Mount Athos and each family was given an one-bedroom house, an arid plot of land and ten sheep. Without a road to connect it to the rest of the world the village remained isolated and life was hard. In 1947 the locals took shovels and spades and cut a crude dirt-track road which ended the isolation and brought the very first adventurous tourists to the village.

Mount Athos-related trade and pilgrimage is the biggest source of income for the village.

Get in
Ouranoupoli can be reached by bus, car or taxi from Thessaloniki.

Most travellers reach Ouranopoli by bus from KTEL Chalkidikis Bus Station, south of Thessaloniki. Single bus fare is €13.70 per person (as of Nov 2023). The bus trip takes 2-3 hours and there are 5-6 departures per day. Tickets can be booked in advance from the KTEL Chalkidiki website (search for "Thessaloniki" to "Oyranoypoli").

To get to KTEL Chalkidiki this bus station, you can take bus 45A (single fare €1.80) from the commuter bus station adjacent to the Thessaloniki Train Station, or alternatively from the Kamara bus stop adjacent to the Arch of Galerius: the KTEL Chalkidiki Bus Station is the final stop. From the airport, take bus 79 to IKEA and then transfer to bus 36, which will take you to KTEL Chalkidiki. It is also common to take a taxi from Thessaloniki city centre or Thessaloniki Airport to KTEL Chalkidiki (typical fare €10-20). (Last updated Nov 2023)

Get around
Most places in the village can be reached by foot. There is also an extensive network of unpaved roads leading to the hills overlooking the village.

See

 * Mount Athos border: includes a fenced border preventing access to Mount Athos by land, the Arsanas with the police post, and Frangocastro, the castle of the Franks. Crossing the border is forbidden.

Do
If you do not plan, or are not allowed, to enter Mount Athos, you can take a sightseeing tour of the Holy Mountain by boat. This is the only available option for women who may want to get a glimpse of the monasteries. Inquire in the village, as many agencies perform the service.

Pilgrims to Mount Athos usually spend one night at Ouranoupoli. They will then present their pilgrim's permit (diamonētērion) that they had picked up at the Thessaloniki Pilgrims' Bureau in order to be allowd permission to board the ferries to Mount Athos.

 * The Mount Athos Pilgrims' Bureau (Γραφείο Προσκυνητών) at Ouranoupoli is right next to the main pier where ferries depart for Mount Athos. Look for an office with large golden signs that say Γραφείο Προσκυνητών. The office is usually open M-F 07:30 to 13:00, with shorter hours during the weekends. Be sure to check office hours before arrival; as is typical of Mount Athos bureaucracy, opening hours can change with little notice.

Buy
Souvenirs are mostly of religious nature. The following is an incomplete list of items you may buy to take with you:

 * Icons (all prices and sizes)
 * Prayer ropes (known as komboskini in Greek or chotki in Russian)
 * Books about Mount Athos
 * Maps of Mount Athos
 * Books about lives of the Saints
 * Frankincense
 * CDs or cassettes of monastic choirs (the most renowned from the Holy Mountain being the one from Simonos Petras)
 * Walking sticks (engraved with Mount Athos emblem)
 * Flags of Mount Athos
 * Wine produced at Athos' vineyards
 * Loukoumi (sweets) made at Mount Athos

SIM cards can be bought at the Niki Market near the police station.

Eat
Many restaurants are available along the main road and the beach. English and Russian are commonly spoken at many of the restaurants, as well as some of the shops.

Drink
Many restaurants are available along the main road and the beach that offer drinks, but they do not keep open until late.

Sleep
There are several pensions (budget inns) in Ouranoupoli.

Connect
An Internet cafe is available in the village's main road.

Go next

 * Mount Athos: only allowed for men who make the corresponding arrangements. Women are not permitted.
 * Ierissos: the other village, in the peninsula's northern coast.
 * Thessaloniki: the biggest city near Ouranopolis, well worth a visit.

title: Ouranoupoli


text:
Ouray

Ouray is a small town in Southwestern Colorado, magnificently situated in the San Juan Mountains and nicknamed "The Switzerland of America" for its scenery and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Get in
Ouray is at the northern end of the Million Dollar Highway, a famously scenic stretch of road (US highway 550) through the San Juan Mountains with its southern terminus at Silverton (Colorado) | If you're arriving from Durango, plan to take an hour and a half on the road, which has many tight hairpin turns over high passes and deep valleys and is not for the faint of heart (Million Dollar Highway from Silverton to Ouray). The northern approach on US 550 from Montrose is less dramatic. There is no air service to Ouray, but Montrose (35 miles N)& Durango (72 miles S) has commuter air service linking to Denver and other major cities.

Sleep

 * Beaumont Hotel -
 * Beaumont Hotel -
 * Beaumont Hotel -
 * Beaumont Hotel -
 * Beaumont Hotel -

Go next

 * Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - Only 1 hour north
 * Ridgway State Park - Large reservoir for boating and fishing and swimming 20 minutes north of Ouray
 * Silverton - Drive the Million Dollar Highway to this other scenic mining town
 * Telluride - One hour scenic drive along the San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway
 * Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway - Beautiful drive along the San Miguel and Dolores River passed the Hanging Flume

title: Ouray


text:
Ouro Branco

Ouro Branco is a city in Central Minas Gerais.

By car

 * BR-040 - south from Belo Horizonte, has access to Ouro Branco via MG-443 just west of town
 * MG-129 - northeast from Conselheiro Lafaiete
 * MG-443 - west from Ouro Preto

See

 * The architectural and landscape complex of Capela de Santana and the main house of Fazenda Pé do Morro are 4 km outside of town at the foot of the Ouro Branco mountain range and on the banks of the Estrada Real. The origin of the place dates back to the 18th century, and it is recognized for its heritage value.
 * The architectural and landscape complex of Capela de Santana and the main house of Fazenda Pé do Morro are 4 km outside of town at the foot of the Ouro Branco mountain range and on the banks of the Estrada Real. The origin of the place dates back to the 18th century, and it is recognized for its heritage value.

title: Ouro Branco


text:
Ouro Preto

Ouro Preto, in Central Minas Gerais, is one of Brazil's best-preserved colonial towns and a UNESCO world heritage site. Among other historical and colonial cities of Minas Gerais (Tiradentes, São João del Rei, Mariana and Diamantina), Ouro Preto is one of the most popular travel destinations in Brazil.

Understand
Ouro Preto, meaning "black gold", was founded in 1698 and quickly became the epicenter of a new gold rush, as the central place where gold was brought to be measured and sold. In 1720 the state capital was transferred here from nearby Mariana. By 1750 Ouro Preto's population had swelled to over 110,000, making it one of the largest cities in the Americas; at the time it had twice as many inhabitants as New York City and five times more than Rio de Janeiro. The city's success inspired the naming of many other cities and neighborhoods, including the founding of the American city of Brazil, Indiana.

As a result of the gold trade, the town, then known as Vila Rica, took a significant place in Brazilian history, being the site of the Inconfidência Mineira, the first attempted uprising in the cause of independence from Portuguese colonial rule. The revolt was led by Brazilian cultural hero Tiradentes in 1789 after he realized how much of the region's gold was going straight onto boats bound for Portugal. The revolt failed however, and after Tiradentes was tried and executed, he was dismembered and various body parts were displayed along the road between Ouro Preto and Rio de Janeiro to discourage his followers. His head was placed in what is now known as Praça Tiradentes, at the very center of town.

In 1822, Brazil finally gained its independence, and the following year Ouro Preto was given the title of "Imperial City" by Brazil's first emperor, Dom Pedro I. In 1839, South America's first pharmacy school was established here, and in 1876, Dom Pedro II founded the Escola de Minas (Mining School), focused on mining and metallurgy. It has since become one of the country's premier engineering federal universities.

By the end of the 19th century, the gold had run out, growth had slowed to a halt. The population plummeted when the capital was moved to the newly founded Belo Horizonte in 1897. Lack of new construction provided for the preservation of the colonial architecture, and Ouro Preto was forgotten in time until Dictator Getúlio Vargas, who had briefly studied in this city in his youth,  began having some sites restored in the 1950s. Since then, it has gradually become more of a tourist destination as one of the best-preserved colonial cities in Brazil. It is particularly noted for its churches, which are special not only for their architecture but also for the carved sculptures by Aleijadinho, one of Brazil's most celebrated artists. Ouro Preto was the first Brazilian location to be declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1980.

Get in
Ouro Preto is about 100 km from Belo Horizonte, 400 km from Rio de Janeiro, and 680 km from São Paulo.

By plane
The nearest convenient airports are those of Belo Horizonte, especially that of Confins. From there, you must get to Ouro Preto by car or bus.

By car
Ouro Preto sits on BR-356 about 120 km southeast of Belo Horizonte and about 18 km west of Mariana.

Drivers coming from Juiz de Fora and Rio de Janeiro in the south should take BR-040 to Conselheiro Lafaiete, take the Ouro Branco Highway and once in Ouro Branco transfer to state highway MG-443 for the last 12 or so km to Ouro Preto.

By bus
Buses arrive at the on the northwestern edge of town. It is an easy downhill walk into the historic center.
 * From Belo Horizonte, by Pássaro Verde,, 2 hr. 16 departures daily.
 * From São Paulo, by Útil, 2 departures daily at 06:45 and 23:45.
 * From Rio de Janeiro, by Útil, . 7h. One departure daily at 10PM.
 * From Vitória, by São Geraldo, or by Itapemirim, .  3 departures daily. The ride takes 7½ hours.
 * From Brasília, by Pássaro Verde, . One departure daily. The ride takes 12 hours.

On foot
The town's small size and steep hills make walking the most convenient way of getting around the city center. Bring some good shoes and be prepared to huff and puff a bit, as the streets are cobbled and you will spend the day walking up and down steep hills. Travellers with impaired mobility may have a hard time getting around.

By bus
City buses run to neighborhoods outside of the city center, as well as to neighboring towns like Mariana. Use the app Moovit provides directions.

By taxi
Simply use the app OP Expert. You may need a CPF from an CPF online generator.

See
Before diving into Ouro Preto's history, the traveller must be aware that filming or taking picture inside museums and churches is not allowed.
 * Casa Bandeirista da Fazenda São José do Manso - This preserved colonial ranchhouse was the first public building in the state.
 * Museu do Chá (Tea Museum)
 * Museu do Chá (Tea Museum)

Festivals

 * Carnaval - Ouro Preto is increasingly popular during Carnaval, especially with college students. Although the city loses some of its tranquil historic charm, the steep streets preclude the raucous loudspeaker trucks found in other cities like Salvador, and people generally just party in the streets. Be sure to reserve accommodations in advance if you plan to visit during this time.
 * Holy Week - Easter week brings lavish celebration to the streets around Matriz da N.S. da Conceicao, with intense floral decoration (Saturday night - you can help in the making of it) and interesting processions in the street.
 * Winter Festival - An art festival with workshops and cultural events organized by the Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (Federal University of Ouro Preto).

Out of town trips

 * Mariana – 15 km. The oldest city and first capital of the state, another charmingly well-preserved colonial baroque town is only 18 km away. There is a direct regional bus that departs from the intercity bus station and the centre. Moovit covers it and shows the schedules.
 * – A historic train with a steam locomotive between Ouro Preto and Mariana. Specially designed panoramic passenger cars allow for beautiful views of the valley and the sights of Mariana. The delightful way is from R$50 one-way and R$70 for a round-trip (Dec 2021). Construction of this railway, a part of the Trem do Vale began in 1883 when the gold was still flowing into the city.
 * Ouro Branco – 30 km. - The city named "white gold", rather than black, also has several impressive 18th century buildings, and a rock formation, Serra do Ouro Branco.
 * Congonhas – 55 km. Home to the Bom Jesus sanctuary, housing several of Aleijadinho's masterpieces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Buy
There is a Bradesco bank in the center of the town. As of January 2021 the ATMs do not work at night.

Drink

Budget

 * Student Houses, The city has a big university and is full of students houses, known as republicas. They often rent low-priced rooms to tourists.

You can also search on booking.com and sort by price.

Go next
You find hostels and private rooms ...:

in the south-east:

 * Viçosa – 130 km. It is a city that attracts many people from Brazil and other countries due to scientific-academic events that take place around universities, totaling approximately 500 events annually. Its population is mostly made up of young people, which gives the city its own dynamic, in addition to the large number of parties that take place during the week. There are direct intercity buses from Ouro Preto and Mariana by Passaro Verde for around R$50 (Dec 2021).

in the (north-)west:

 * Divinópolis 210 km. – The highlights are the Lake of Roses and the beach at Carmo do Cajuru. Take a Passaro Verde bus to Belo Horizonte and from there a Viação Teixeira bus to Divinópolis.
 * Belo Horizonte with direct intercity buses to various villages and towns in Minas Gerais for staying there, for example Brumadinho with the botanical park Inhotim.

title: Ouro Preto


text:
Outaouais

The Outaouais (prounounced oo-tuh-WAY) is a region of the province of Quebec north of Canada's capital, Ottawa.

Cities

 * (Aylmer, Buckingham, Hull, Masson-Anger & Gatineau) — a municipality of 200,000 people with origins in the lumber industry that serves as a bedroom community for Ottawa
 * — a largely residential, rural community, home to Gatineau Park
 * — a picturesque municipality offering recreational tourism (vacation, cycling, hunting and fishing, mountain biking, snowmobiles, boating)
 * — a picturesque municipality with a 19th-century canal running through it
 * — a small community adjacent to the Kitigan Zibi First Nation Reserve
 * — best known for the Château Montebello, a resort which is the largest log structure ever built, and for Montebello Rockfest, Canada's largest annual rock festival
 * — a picturesque village with a covered bridge

Other destinations

 * — the outdoor playground for Canada's national capital.
 * — a group of rural communities along the shore of the Ottawa River, Wikivoyage covers this as a separate guide from the rest of the Outaouais.

Understand
Outaouais in French and Ottawa in English are both named after the same indigenous nation, known these days as the Odawa or Odaawaa. The Odawa are part of the Anishinaabeg branch of the Algonquian language family, related to Ojibwe and Potawatomi. This group migrated after contact with Europeans to what are now Western Ontario, Michigan and Wisconsin, but their name remains behind.

Talk
You will find in the Outaouais region a really bilingual population. You can easily get understood in French or English in most places, being so close to Ontario.

By car
If you come from Montreal, you are likely to take either Autoroute 50 (which bypasses Route 148 on the Québec side of the Ottawa river) or Highway 417 on the Ontario side.

By bus
Access by city bus from Ottawa:
 * A handful of OC Transpo (Ottawa city bus) routes terminate at government buildings in Hull. Most are rush hour only.
 * A handful of OC Transpo (Ottawa city bus) routes terminate at government buildings in Hull. Most are rush hour only.

Access by intercity bus:

By plane

 * Air connections are also available in Ottawa locally and Montréal (200 km distant)  with direct connections to intercity passenger rail at Montréal-Dorval airport.
 * Air connections are also available in Ottawa locally and Montréal (200 km distant)  with direct connections to intercity passenger rail at Montréal-Dorval airport.

Get around
By car: Driving in Gatineau and Ottawa is fairly simple. Finding a parking spot is not a big problem maybe except downtown Hull and even so... it is nothing compared to Montreal.

By bus: STO - Société de Transport de l'Outaouais is the main city bus in Gatineau.

By boat: You can sail on the Ottawa and the Gatineau rivers and the Rideau canal.

By bike: There are many bike paths in the region, especially in Gatineau.

See
The Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau is an architecturally fascinating building that houses moderns exhibits about the country's  history, from the Indigenous peoples, to French colonization, the British imperial era, and the formation of a self-governing dominion.

The fall colours when the leaves turn to bright yellow, red and orange and the hills seem to be on fire. The colours peak late October. Although they are spectacular throughout the park, one of the best views is from the base of the Eardley Escarpment at the Lusk Falls parking lot.

The Champlain Lookout offers breathtaking views onto the Ottawa River valley from the Eardley Escarpment. The lookout is accessible by car and is a popular spot for watching sunsets.

Kingsmere was the country estate of William Lyon Mackenzie King, the longest-serving Prime Minister of Canada. Take a leisurely walk through gardens and "ruins" he collected in a woodland setting. The cottages, including Kingswood and the primary residence, Moorside, have been restored and feature interactive exhibits about Mackenzie King's era.

The Grands feux du casino is an impressive fireworks show at the Lac Leaky Casino.

The Olympiques de Gatineau are the local hockey team, in the Ligue de Hockey Junior-Majeur du Québec.

The Maison de la culture, Gatineau has frequent shows of musicians, signers and humourists.

Do
Gatineau Park offers skiing (cross-country and downhill), hiking, canoeing, camping, rock-climbing, mountain biking, roller-blading, wildlife watching and leisurely strolls.

There is skiing close to Ottawa at Mont Ste. Marie, Camp Fortune, Edelwisse, Mont Cascades, or Ski Vorlage.

You can bungee jump at the Great Canadian Bungee, the highest bungee jump in the Americas

Mont Cascades water park has heated swimming pools and water slides in July and August.

White water river trips are offered on the Ottawa River and smaller nearby rivers Noire, Coulonge, and Dumoine.

title: Outaouais


text:
Outback

The Outback is a name for the large regions covering most of the centre of Australia, including most inland areas of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It is a very large area, and in many of the jurisdictions of Australia, it is formally designated in signs, where population decreases, and where communities are much smaller than those closer to the coast.

Northern Territory

 * Barkly Tableland
 * Red Centre

Western Australia

 * Gascoyne
 * Goldfields–Esperance
 * Kimberley
 * Mid West
 * Pilbara

South Australia

 * Outback (South Australia)

New South Wales

 * Outback New South Wales
 * Parts of the Central West and Orana

Queensland

 * Outback Queensland

Cities and major towns

 * Alice Springs – largest Outback city
 * Broken Hill – silver mining city; largest in outback New South Wales
 * Broome
 * Cobar
 * Coober Pedy
 * Kalgoorlie
 * Kununurra
 * Mount Isa
 * Tennant Creek
 * Tibooburra

Other destinations

 * Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve
 * Mungo National Park
 * Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert National Park
 * Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
 * Sturt National Park
 * Kinchega National Park
 * Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park

Understand
The Outback is a term, like the bush, which local inhabitants have used for a long time to describe – initially after European settlement – the unexplored regions, and since it has all been explored – the big area where settlements or occupied locations are spread across vast distances. Intensive agriculture on the coastal areas has animals per hectare, in the outback, it is hectares per animal. The outback is often characterised as "dry", but this is not always true: in the tropical north, the outback areas are wet as you can get anywhere on the planet and in some places like the east like Dubbo, it isn't always dry due to the nearby Warrambungles forest being nearby (the Warrumbungles aren't in the outback though), as it's usually wet because it's barely on the Great Dividing Range.

A common misconception about the Outback is that the entire inland of Australia is the outback. That's not always true however. A drive from Sydney to Melbourne goes about 400 km far from the coast, yet it's still not the outback. There's the Australian Alps and inland FNQ, also interior, but also not the outback. Much of Victoria is also not the Outback either, despite it being "inland". In the southwest, the area surrounding Perth is also not considered to be a part of the outback.

Another misconception, this time the opposite is that the Outback never meets the coast. While it mostly doesn't, and this is true on the east coast, it does meet the coast near Red Bluff, and other places like the popular coastal town of Exmouth both in Western Australia. The Nullarbor is also in the Outback, and it's en route on a journey from the east to the west.

Get in
The easiest way is to drive or join a tour. Most larger regional towns have airports, but lack car hire facilities, and the airports are often several kilometres out of town, so unless you intend to stay in one place the whole time, hiring a car in a major city and driving yourself out there is your best bet.

Another avenue to get to an outback destination is to fly in with an air charter company like Kirkhope Aviation. There are many air charter companies that provide small group tours, usually 6–10 people. Small group air tours and charters flying to destinations throughout outback Australia usually start from a major city Airport. Flying into remote locations is possible when travelling in a small airplane. Air Charter services provide tour guides and most always include accommodation, tours, camping, food and entertainment.

Get around
For the average person, in more remote parts of the Outback, the only way to get around is by car. Make sure you read up on staying safe. If you can afford a bit more, consider chartering a helicopter.

If you want to try your luck hitch-hiking, depending on remoteness, make sure you ask around at the local pub rather than standing by the roadside. Some roads receive less than a car a week, or even longer, and given the semi-arid to desert climate, you could dehydrate and die in a matter of hours.

See

 * The beauty of the wilderness
 * Lake Eyre
 * Red kangaroos

Itineraries

 * Gibb River Road
 * Gunbarrel Highway
 * Oodnadatta Track
 * Stuart Highway: crossing Australia north-south
 * Strzelecki Track
 * National Route 83
 * Red Centre Itinerary

Eat
Most towns have small grocery stores with basic essentials. Almost every town has at least one pub. In some places you can also try "bush tucker". Bush tucker doesn't always refer to traditional Aboriginal food. A certain bush tucker restaurant in Alice Springs serves camel and cat (both of which are feral pests in the area) alongside traditional bush foods such as kangaroo, emu and a large variety of bush fruits.

Drink
Lots and lots and lots of water. Most towns have pubs, but alcohol is banned in many Aboriginal communities, especially in the Northern Territory. When travelling, carry lots of water with you.

Sleep
Pubs often offer cheap accommodation.

Stay safe
There are towns in Outback Australia that are easily accessible on well trafficked highways, with effective breakdown services. Cities like Broken Hill, Alice Springs and Charleville require only normal precautions, and you can easily drive or fly there. Even the Nullarbor Plain is a drive that anyone can undertake once they are aware of the distances involved.

However, it is always important to plan your trip carefully. Many areas have very few inhabitants and very little water. You should observe standard safety precautions for desolate regions:
 * get good quality maps and plan your route
 * tell someone where you're going and when and where you should arrive; they should have instructions to raise the alarm if you do not appear soon after your intended arrival time;
 * carry at least 10 litres of water (in several small containers) per person per day, including an allowance for any days you may be delayed or broken down.
 * take food and any prescribed medication needed to last at least several days
 * take matches or a lighter, which can be used in an emergency to provide warmth and indicate your whereabouts
 * travel in a recently serviced, reliable, sturdy vehicle that has good ground clearance; and
 * have clothes that can protect against cold, as well as clothes suitable for extremely hot weather.
 * stay vigilant while driving – as the famous Victorian saying goes, "drowsy drivers die".

Keep in mind also that the Outback is very large, much larger than desert regions in most other western countries. You could easily end up twenty hours' drive away from emergency help, or isolated entirely in the case of rain.

In the event of an accident or mechanical problems, do not leave your vehicle, as it is easier to locate from the air than a person or people on foot. If you leave your vehicle you are likely to be the subject of a sad news story about the rescue services finding your car and not you. In any case, your vehicle is where you're storing your immense amounts of water.

You should also think about carrying a satellite phone or other means of contacting emergency services.

You should talk to the police in each town about your journey and the condition of the roads and your vehicle. Be careful - even locals die out there.

title: Outback


text:
Outback (South Australia)

The Outback of South Australia is a large expanse of northern South Australia.

Settlements

 * - opal underground town with many cave dwellings where miners live
 * - A really isolated town for the very adventurous
 * - desert frontier town, the old Ghan railway use to pass through here. Large Aboriginal community.
 * - desert frontier town, the old Ghan railway use to pass through here. Large Aboriginal community.
 * - desert frontier town, the old Ghan railway use to pass through here. Large Aboriginal community.
 * - desert frontier town, the old Ghan railway use to pass through here. Large Aboriginal community.

Other destinations

 * – South Australia's most famous national park
 * – an important reserve for Australasian wildlife
 * – Australia's largest national park
 * – home to Australia's largest sea lion populations and one of the most magnificent spots for whale watching
 * – home to Australia's largest sea lion populations and one of the most magnificent spots for whale watching
 * – home to Australia's largest sea lion populations and one of the most magnificent spots for whale watching
 * – home to Australia's largest sea lion populations and one of the most magnificent spots for whale watching

Understand

Flinders Ranges is an Outback mountain range in South Australia and one of Australia's great national landscapes.

This is a rich environment for you to experience. The Flinders Ranges provide an emotionally uplifting and tranquil travel destination. It's home to Wilpena Pound, a giant natural amphitheatre. It's a great destination for Outback drives, camping, trekking, and drinking in the fresh air and starry skies. There's plenty of accommodation, including campsites and luxury eco villas.

Get in
The Flinders Ranges region covers most of the north-east of South Australia, and includes some sparse and isolated parts of the state. For most tourists, the areas most often visited are Wilpena Pound and the towns in the mid- and far north of the state, though more adventurous travellers may choose to venture beyond onto the Birdsville and Strzelecki Tracks towards Queensland and the Northern Territory.

By road
The main town at the bottom of the Flinders Ranges is Port Augusta, which is a 3½-hour drive from Adelaide along Port Wakefield Road (Route A1) via Snowtown and Port Pirie (both of which are bypassed). Wilpena Pound is a 4½-5 hour drive from Adelaide, either via Port Wakefield Road, Quorn and Hawker or via the more scenic route through the Clare Valley. To venture into the Northern Flinders ranges will be a further drive, often along dirt roads. Sealed roads only run as far north as Lyndhurst (on the road to Marree) and Blinman (on the Wilpena Pound Road).

By coach
There are plenty of services operating to Port Augusta. Greyhound (on the Adelaide-Alice Springs route) and Premier Stateliner (on its Adelaide-Eyre Peninsula routes) operate frequent coach services through Port Augusta.

There are no scheduled public transport services into the central and northern Flinders Ranges, including to Wilpena Pound. The Yorke Peninsula Coaches "Mid-North Passenger" and "Upper North Intertown" services operate in the Mid and Upper North towns, including one service weekly (on Fridays) as far as Quorn, but this is still a significant distance from Wilpena Pound. Travellers wishing to travel here may have to hire a car in Adelaide or Port Augusta, or find a scheduled arranged tour.

By train
Great Southern Railways operate the Indian Pacific and Ghan trains once or twice weekly to and from Adelaide, passing through Port Augusta. There are no scheduled train services further than Port Augusta, apart from the tourist Pichi Richi Railway which runs infrequent services as far as Quorn, but is more of a tourist attraction than a means of transport.

By air
Sharp Airlines run 2 services on weekdays between Adelaide and Port Augusta (there is one service on Sundays and none on Saturdays). Port Augusta Airport is 10 minutes' drive from the City Centre. No scheduled passenger airline flies into other areas of the Flinders Ranges.

Get around
Because of the lack of public transport, unless you are on a scheduled tour, it will more than likely be necessary to hire a car. Hitchhiking is not recommended due to the isolated areas and the extreme temperatures, especially in summer. On top of it, hitchhiking is very unusual in Australia as well.

See

 * Wilpena Pound, a giant natural amphitheatre.
 * Fresh air and starry skies.

Do

 * Take a ride back in time on the Pichi Richi Railway. An historic train (sometimes steam, sometimes diesel train) that runs on a section of the original line that ran between Port Augusta and Alice Springs (between Port Augusta and Quorn), the railway is one of Australia's most famous tourist railways, heading through the picturesque Pichi Richi Pass. If you are visiting this region, it is worth timing your visit around the day that it operates. Services usually operate on Sundays during school holidays and usually once a month on a Sunday in the winter months outside of that time. Check the website for a timetable. Some services depart from Port Augusta railway station (the same as the Indian Pacific/Ghan station), others depart from Quorn's historic railway station. While you are in Quorn, take a walk around the historic rail yard.
 * Climb St Mary Peak, the highest point in the Flinders Ranges with spectacular views all round.

Eat

 * Have lunch at the famous Prairie Hotel, Parachilna, which serves emu, kangaroo and camel, as well as native Australian plants.

Sleep
There is a range of accommodation available in Flinders Ranges including resorts, camping and farm stays.

Camping

The cheapest place for camping is at the National Park Camp Grounds. Some are accessible only via 4WD or walking trails.

If you want the luxury of full facilities Wilpena Pound Camping Ground. Both powered and bush camping sites are available and there are showers, laundry, petrol and a general store.

Caravan Parks

Rawnsley Park Caravan Park Set in a bushland setting this caravan park has cabins and a bunkhouse which sleeps 50. Facilities include a licensed shop, camp kitchen, modern amenities block and swimming pool.

Resorts/Luxury

Wilpena Pound Resort has 60 rooms all with air conditioning and children stay free. The resort is in a natural setting and wildlife roam around the grounds. Facilities include a pool, restaurant and bar.

title: Outback (South Australia)


text:
Outback Queensland

Outback Queensland is the inner west desert expanse of Queensland.

Towns
This is a vast and desolate region. Don't be fooled by the number of towns listed; there are no major population centres in this part of Australia, and human habitations can be hundreds of kilometres apart or more.
 * - original home of the Qantas airline
 * - heavy mining in the desert
 * - opal-mining town
 * - original home of the Qantas airline
 * - heavy mining in the desert
 * - opal-mining town
 * - original home of the Qantas airline
 * - heavy mining in the desert
 * - opal-mining town
 * - original home of the Qantas airline
 * - heavy mining in the desert
 * - opal-mining town
 * - opal-mining town
 * - opal-mining town

Other destinations

 * – home to the world-heritage fossil site Riversleigh along with some spectacular gorges
 * – Queensland's largest national park
 * – Queensland's largest national park

Understand
Queensland's main population centres are on the coast, and the arid western part is very sparsely populated. If you venture off the beaten track you will find wide open grazing lands and open cast mining.

Get in
It will take a while to drive into this region, and if you do a 4x4 is recommended due to the nature of much of the road network here. There are few sealed/paved roads into Outback Queensland, with all but two from other parts of the state: The other two highways connect to New South Wales and the Northern Territory:
 * Warrego Highway (A2) from the Darling Downs and Greater Brisbane
 * Capricorn Highway (A4) from Rockhampton
 * Flinders Highway (A6) from Townsville
 * Mitchell Highway (A71) from Nyngan in New South Wales
 * Barkly Highway (A2) from the Barkly Tableland of the Northern Territory.

There are also some other minor unsealed dirt tracks leading into Outback Queensland, most notably Highway 1 from the NT and Highway 83 from SA. These are however, routes that few take and require an immense level of preparation.

Flying is also possible with QantasLink flying smaller planes into the main mining towns from Brisbane. Airports include Birdsville Airport, Blackall Airport , Charleville Airport , Cunnamulla Airport , Burketown Airport , Longreach Airport , Thargomindah Airport , and Winton Airport.

Some of the towns are visited by trains, although it may be with a frequency of twice a week so plan ahead!

Get around
The only consistent way of getting around all towns is via car, but some of the larger towns are served by train too, but it's not an efficient way of getting around.

Queensland Rail operates 4 train lines in Outback Queensland. The Westlander runs between Brisbane and Charleville (740km, 17 hours) overnight, twice weekly. There are no sleeping cars on this service. The Spirit of the Outback runs between Brisbane and Longreach (1325km, 26 hours). It departs Brisbane Tuesday and Saturday late afternoons, and departs Longreach Monday and Thursday mornings. This service has seating and first class single and twin sleeping berths. This service follows the coast as far as Rockhampton (although the tilt train travels between Brisbane and Rockhampton much more quickly) before it turns inland. The Inlander runs between Townsville and Mount Isa (977km, 21 hours) twice weekly. It leaves Townsville in the early afternoon on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and departs Mount Isa early afternoon Thursdays and Sundays. There are no sleeping cars on this service. Finally, there is a rail link once per week between Normanton and Croydon, called The Gulflander, but it is likely of little use to tourists.

See

 * Picturesque remote rural communities are found across the vast expanse of the outback. The most notable of these is Winton.

Do
Hiking in the Outback can always be different and while trekking in the summer will be boiling, while in the winter it'll be cold, but not as cold as Outback New South Wales. Better do it in autumn or spring, but sill it's hot then.

Eat
Like the rest of the Outback, food is simple, generally consisting of steaks, lamb chops, beef and other basics. Be aware, however, that prices for fresh food are likely to be higher as the food has had to travel quite a way and fuel costs are factored into the food though considerably lower in reasonably touristed areas like Longreach or Mount Isa.

See Australia § Vegetarian and Australian cuisine if you have special dietary requirements.

Drink
Every small settlement will have a local pub.

Stay safe
See the Australian Outback article for more general advice.

The obvious danger of travel in this region is having a vehicle breakdown or getting lost. Prepare for such an eventuality and remember to stay with your vehicle rather than trying to go for help.

There are poisonous snakes, but these are likely to avoid you unless you surprise them. Be careful when walking through any vegetation and looking under rocks.

title: Outback Queensland


text:
Outer Banks

The Outer Banks are a chain of long but narrow barrier islands that lie off the coast of North Carolina. Portions of Currituck, Dare and Hyde counties make up the Outer Banks.

Beaches

 * , pronounced to rhyme with "holla". It does not sound like the name of the Toyota automobile.
 * , pronounced to rhyme with "holla". It does not sound like the name of the Toyota automobile.

Dare and Hyde County Airports
Pilots of private planes can land directly in the Outer Banks at one of several Dare County Airports:

By road
From the north, take I-64 in Virginia to exit 291B (SR 168-Battlefield Blvd). Merge left onto SR 168 and continue until road becomes US 158 (beyond the NC border). US 158 will take you all the way to the beaches, and is the main highway up and down the Outer Banks.

Driving from the west use US 64 and US 264 through Columbia and Manteo, NC. US 264 becomes US 158 once you've reached the Outer Banks beaches. Ferries connect Ocracoke to Cedar Island and Swan Quarter; there is free ferry access across Hatteras Inlet from Ocracoke Island.

Get around
The best tip for navigating the Outer Banks is to learn their main roads and milepost system.

There are two main drags on the beaches. State Highway 12 is known as Virginia Dare Trail, or more commonly "the Beach Road". US 158 is known as Croatan Highway, but the locals refer to it as "the Bypass" or "the Big Road". Most advertisements you find will refer to them that way.

The Mileposts are similar to what you find on the interstates. Green signs on the right hand side of the road, marked every half mile. Milepost "0" is at the Wright Memorial Bridge on the north end in Kitty Hawk. Head south on the Bypass or Beach Road and the Mileposts get higher with Milepost (MP) 16 at Whalebone Junction being the end of the 'main drag'.

Ferries from the North Carolina Department of Transportation are available to some Outer Banks destinations.

See

Do

 * Surfing - The Outer Banks offers some of the best surfing on the East Coast. Plenty of surf shops rent equipment and/or offer lessons.
 * Most other watersports - Kayaking, Windsurfing, Kiteboarding, Parasailing, Jet Skiing, you name it.
 * Hang gliding in Nags Head, just south of where the Wright Brothers first managed to fly.
 * Climb up and run down the big dune at Jockey's Ridge State Park at milepost 12 in Nags Head. They also have hang gliding classes at the park during the day.
 * Shopping, shopping and more shopping! Tons of great places to find unique items. Many Art Galleries are located up and down the beaches.
 * Historical tours-the Outer Banks is rich with history and you'll find many different areas to explore the unique background. One must-see is The Lost Colony and Roanoke Island Festival Park, both on Roanoake Island.  The very beginnings of the country and its people can be seen and explored there.
 * 4 wheel drive beaches where you can drive on the beach and look for wild horses
 * For kids there are many miniature golf courses and go cart racing tracks that are also near shops and places to eat or get ice cream
 * While the big waves make the beaches a fun place to hang out all day, there are very few lifeguards, and none in the off season.

Buy
If you're out with children, be warned that the large souvenir shops (Wings, Reef, etc.) are R-rated. If you don't mind exposing your children to jokey portrayals of heavy drinking, semi-nudity, stylized gore, and death's heads, then by all means bring them inside to pick out some colorful beach toys. But be ready for questions about the purpose of the smoking paraphernalia that may be on display beside the cash register. If you want pirate kitsch or Rebel flag merchandise, this is the place to be. Each of the giant shops has numerous locations up and down Croatan Highway (the "Bypass" or "Big Road").

Many places, including "Wings", make t-shirts, sweatshirts, and long sleeve shirts with a logo or picture you can choose from that are posted all over the walls

Eat
The Outer Banks is chock full of great places to eat. In season, most restaurants are open and the choices are virtually unlimited. Off season, many of the local eateries close down or limit their hours. If you are traveling in the off/shoulder season, expect the restaurant and shopping choices to be a bit more limited than during peak season.

A few great places to try:

For breakfast, burgers and hometown lunch specials, try Art's Place, open 6AM to 6PM at MP (Mile Post) 2.5 on the Beach Road. Lunch specials daily, kids' menu and full ABC license. Nice front porch and upper deck where you can enjoy a drink or chow down on their huge all-beef burgers. Their ad says: "Art's Place -- Food so good you'll think we stole your mom!" They aren't kidding.

For dinner and a view, try The Black Pelican at MP 4.5 on the Beach Road. Stone oven pizzas, fresh seafood, steaks, nightly specials and drinks. The building is an old lifesaving station said to be haunted. Large dining room means you never have to wait hours for a seat.

If straight-out oysters and seafood is what you're after, Awful Arthur's Raw Bar on the Beach Road at MP 6 is your best bet. The only authentic raw bar on the beach, the food is great, the atmosphere is Outer Banks casual and when you're done stuffing your face full of oysters, you can skip right across the street to the Avalon Pier to see what they're catching.

Of course, there are many nice restaurants to sit and have a great dinner. Others to consider for their food, atmosphere, locations and overall popularity include: Jolly Roger (MP 7 Beach Road), serving Outer Banks Italian; JK's (MP 9 Bypass), serving seafood/steaks and more; Mako Mike's (MP 7 Bypass), serving steak/seafood. Check out the live shark tank; kids love it!

Take advantage of the local bars and restaurants on the island that not only offer good food but a great experience. While you eat you can hear about storms that ripped through the coast and learn other fun facts about the island from friendly waiters and waitresses.

Breakfast
If your group is tempted to go out for breakfast, note that Stack 'Em High on Croatan Highway has a peculiar method of having guests queue up to order, causing the line to extend out the door and creating the false impression of a long wait. You will get your food in a hurry, but make sure your whole group arrives at the same time; otherwise the latecomers will be told to push through to join the earlier arrivals, which may not make the other guests entirely happy. You pay at the end of the queue, take your loaded tray to a table, eat, and exit through the back door, which expels you onto a narrow walkway beside the building's buried septic tanks. (Despite all this, the place has many regulars who claim to love it.) The servers are friendly and helpful, especially considering the cattle-herding ambience of the place; they refill your coffee and such, and tips are appreciated. Another Croatan Highway joint, Bob's Café, lives by the motto "Eat and Get the Hell Out!" What more is there to say?

Drink
Howard's Pub on Ocracoke Island offers an extensive exotic beer list with an even more impressive of draft beer selection. The food isn't bad either. If you're on Ocracoke looking for a good affordable meal, try Jason's, across from Howard's Pub. The alfredo and cheddar tomato soup are to die for.

 * Karaoke
 * Most places close pretty early in the evening in the Outer Banks so if you like to get out it is a good idea to do it during the day because the nights are quiet

title: Outer Banks


text:
Outer Cape

The Outer Cape is the area of Cape Cod at the end of the peninsula.

Other destinations

 * The Cape Cod National Seashore is spread along the ocean coast of the Outer Cape towns, with its headquarters in Wellfleet.

title: Outer Cape