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Iowa

Iowa, a state with gently rolling green hills in the Midwest region of the United States, was admitted to the Union in 1846 as the 29th state. The people are very friendly, enjoy good food, and enjoy being in the political hotbed every four years when the Caucuses roll through the state. The state is quite rural, with plenty of fields of corn and soybeans and hog farms, although some cities, namely Des Moines, have a strong metropolitan feel.

Cities

 * – state capital and largest city, considered to be the "insurance capital of the U.S." and offers so much of it, served alongside your steak de burgo (a favorite local food, available at many steakhouses)
 * – A half hour's drive north of Des Moines, home of Iowa State University
 * – home of University of Northern Iowa and on the western edge of the larger Waterloo
 * – Iowa's second-largest city
 * – suburb of Omaha, Nebraska, along the Missouri River known for its numerous casinos.
 * – a hilly city along the Mississippi River
 * – home of University of Iowa, just south of Cedar Rapids
 * – Davenport and Bettendorf are in eastern Iowa, and the other three (yes, there are five cities in the Quad Cities) are in Northern Illinois (Iowa can't have it all)
 * – northwest city along Missouri River bank, where Palmer Candies pumps out Twin Bings cherry candy

Other destinations

 * – founded as a German religious community
 * (Okoboji) – serves as a popular in-state getaway, for boating, beaching, theme parks and more
 * – Between May 1804 and September 1806, 32 men, one woman, and a baby traveled from the plains of the Midwest to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. They called themselves the Corps of Discovery
 * – Between May 1804 and September 1806, 32 men, one woman, and a baby traveled from the plains of the Midwest to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. They called themselves the Corps of Discovery

Understand
Purchased from France as part of the Louisiana purchase, Iowa officially became a state in 1846. True to form in the Midwest, settlers tended to gravitate toward rivers and established their communities there. Today, many of the State's major cities are based on rivers including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Davenport, Dubuque, Sioux City and Council Bluffs. Agriculture used to be the primary industry of the state, but the ongoing urbanization of the state's population has resulted in a diverse mixture of industries. Agriculture, though significantly diminished as the economic driver of the state, is still a major economic component.

Though Iowa has long been considered a rural state, it has a surprisingly rich cultural scene. The University of Iowa in Iowa City is home to a number of major programs including the Iowa Writers Workshop, a program that has trained a number of America's great modern writers. Iowa State University in Ames is also a major driver of culture in the central part of the State. Prominent liberal arts colleges also dot the state, including Grinnell, Cornell, Coe and Luther.

Climate
Like the rest of the Midwest, Iowa has a four-season climate. Winter weather gives its first hints of what's to come around October 1st, when you can expect to see frost on windshields some mornings. What the gardeners call a killing frost – and hay fever sufferers call the best day of the year – usually follows about two weeks later. The afternoons in October can still be warm enough to wear short sleeves outdoors. In the core winter months of December, January, and February, it is typical for the highest temperature to be somewhere around the freezing point. The first good snow usually appears in late November, and it will continue snowing off and on until sometime in March. All together, it's typical to get two to three feet of snow spread out over the winter, with less in the southern parts of the state and more in the northern areas.

The first sign of spring is the mud revealed melting snow, followed by the plum and cherry trees beginning to blossom. It will usually gets up into the low 70s for the first time around April 1st, but you will want to keep at least a jacket, sweatshirt, or other warm clothing through early May, as it's normal for the temperatures to occasionally dip below freezing overnight until past Mother's Day in May. April through July are the wettest months, with some amount of rain on more than a third of the days. Tornadoes are possible any time of year, but most common in spring and summer. From May to September, you will want to have mosquito spray handy if you are going to be outside around dusk. While it has occasionally snowed and hailed during the summer, that is due to cold temperatures in the upper atmosphere, rather than what it feels like on the ground. Summer afternoons tend to be hot and can be extremely humid. When it's particularly hot and humid, you can sound like a local by turning your complaint into reminder about the benefits: "It's good corn-growing weather". June, July, and August will all see some days in the 90s, but most days, the late afternoon temperature will be in the low 80s, and the overnight temperature will dip into the 60s.

Children start going back to school in the latter part of August, and the state fair in early September marks the turning point in the seasons, when summer is truly over and winter is on its way again.

Tourist information

 * Travel Iowa website

Talk

If you speak English, then you should find Midwestern English quite easy to understand. Locals believe that they have no accent and speak pure, general American. Customer service organizations agree with them and build call centers in the cities; linguists disagree and point out a few oddities of pronunciation and grammar. Soft drinks are usually called pop. Unless you're talking about the menu, beans means soybeans, and you'll see them in almost half the fields. If you ask your buddy to come with to the next town, he may say that he needs to think on it a bit before he decides. A roast is an outdoor party, and if you're vegetarian, you should ask whether it's a corn roast or a hog roast before you decide whether to join. Every four years, the caucus happens (and happens and happens), and its uniqueness means that no further description is used.

By plane
The biggest airport in Iowa is centrally located, in the state capital of Des Moines. The second most popular is the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, on the east side of the state. There are also very small airports in Dubuque, Sioux City , Waterloo , Burlington , Fort Dodge , and Mason City that support scheduled passenger service.

For travellers flying their own planes, there are dozens of general aviation airports, and hundreds of flying strips.

By car
Most people enter (and leave) Iowa via I-80 if coming from the east or west, or I-35 from the north or south. Both interstates are easy to navigate, as are many Midwestern states. A couple of 50-mile-long straight sections on the former has done more to perpetuate the stereotype that Iowa is nearly flat and empty than just about anything else, but the perception is not true: Iowa wouldn't even make a top-10 list for flattest states. Its neighbor Illinois would, however; Illinois is flatter than any US state except Florida and Louisiana.

If you want to see the true face of the state, get off the interstate, ignore the fast-food signs, and find one of the small towns that make the Midwest so charming. Driving US Highway 6 across the state takes about 5.5 hours; it runs parallel to I-80 through most of the state but lets you see more variety. For a north–south trip, consider US Highway 69 through Des Moines or US Highway 218 through Cedar Rapids and Waterloo. State maps are available free of charge at state "Welcome Centers" and rest areas. State maps list such points of interest as Cedar Rock, a rare Usonian example of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, and scenic routes, often found on county roads.

By bus

 * Burlington Trailways
 * Greyhound
 * Jefferson Lines

By train

Amtrak's Chicago/Denver/San Francisco route also makes stops at Omaha (just across the Missouri River from Council Bluffs), Creston (south-central Iowa), and Ottumwa, Mt. Pleasant and Burlington in southeastern Iowa. The Chicago-Los Angeles route stops in Fort Madison as it clips across the southeasternmost corner of the state in route to Kansas City.

By foot

 * The American Discovery Trail connects Iowa with Nebraska, Illinois, and both coasts.

By car
Most people get around Iowa by car. The roads in much of Iowa – like much of the Midwest – are laid out on a grid pattern. Drive on any of the state's outer highways, and you will quickly come to realize that there is an intersection at nearly every mile. This makes figuring out where you are, and getting from there to where you need to be, a relatively simple undertaking. It also means that if you ask for directions, people are likely to give directions according to the points on a compass. If someone says to go one mile east and three miles north, and you're feeling all turned around, don't be shy about asking which way you need to go.

Travelers unaccustomed to ice and snow may have trouble driving in Iowa winters. Plan ahead if you need to travel during the colder parts of the year. Special snow tires or chains aren't usually needed, but you do need to know how to drive in winter conditions. Check the weather reports and road conditions well in advance, and give yourself plenty of time. If the snowplows have been called out, you should wait until they've cleared the roads. Drive slower than normal, and triple the amount of space you leave between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Turn and brake gently, and be ready to cope with an unseen patch of ice, especially on and around bridges.

Major routes in the state include:
 * Interstate 80: The state's major east-west interstate, it services major cities including Davenport, Bettendorf, Iowa City, Des Moines and Council Bluffs. Most other major cities including Cedar Rapids and Ames are within a half hour drive of I-80.
 * Interstate 35: The state's major north-south interstate, it services Ames and Des Moines as well as regional cities such as Mason City and Indianola.
 * Interstate 380: A branch of Interstate 80, the route connects Iowa City to Waterloo via Cedar Rapids. The route terminates at US 20.
 * Interstate 29: Connecting Kansas City to Omaha and Sioux Falls, the route mostly traces the Iowa–Nebraska border and connects Council Bluffs to Sioux City.
 * US 30: America's first transcontinental highway, US 30 runs through the center of Iowa connecting Clinton, Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown, Ames, Denison and Missouri Valley.
 * US 20: Another major transcontinental highway, US 20 enters Iowa at Dubuque and services Waterloo, Fort Dodge and Sioux City.
 * US 151: Originating in the Amana Colonies, this route heads northeast connecting Cedar Rapids and Dubuque.

By bus
Information on transit can be found here.

Do
Licensed hunters can shoot deer, ring-necked pheasant and other legal game during the designated seasons. Adults and teens age 16 and up are required to have a fishing license. Trapping is allowed, mostly in November, December, and January, and requires a furharvester license. Licenses are limited, so it can be a good idea to apply in advance.

Birders will find majestic bald eagles in some areas, as well as many backyard birds, including cardinals, black-capped chickadees, American goldfinches, blue jays, and more.

Eat
Iowans consider themselves the "breadbasket of the world", which is reflected in their cuisine. Get ready for pork chops and pork BBQ, ham steaks and baked potatoes, sweet corn on the cob and green beans, and more just-plain-good Midwestern cooking than you can possibly eat in a lifetime. Most rural towns have a fast-food restaurant or two if you're in a hurry, but the best places are the ones which take just a little more time, possibly giving you a chance to chat with friendly locals over a pie or coffee. Early morning in a rural diner might find you in the company of a bunch of farmers! A few things to try:

Towns with strong ethnic identities sometimes have restaurants devoted to a particular country's cuisine. You will find Dutch food in Pella, German food in the Amana Colonies, Czech kolaches in Cedar Rapids, Norwegian food in Decorah, and Danish food in several small towns. Iowa has a substantial Latino population, and there are many family-run Latino restaurants which generally have quite good food.
 * Maid-Rite burgers, also called "tavern" or "loose meat" burgers, are similar to hamburgers, but the beef is cooked in very small pieces, without forming a patty.
 * Pork tenderloin sandwiches tend to be breaded, deep-fried, and generously sized.
 * The hot roast beef sandwich is available in nearly every diner. This homestyle dish is a slice of white sandwich bread, a slice of roast beef, and a scoop of mashed potatoes, all of which is then drowned in thin brown gravy.
 * Taco pizza was invented in Bettendorf, but is available across the state now. One of the most popular sources of pizza are the convenience stores.  Iowans are divided between Casey's and Kum and Go.  In many smaller towns, these are the only places to buy hot pizza.  You can call ahead to have a freshly baked pizza waiting for you, or buy it by the slice while you're fueling up.
 * Pies are what's for dessert. It's not unusual for larger restaurants to offer a dozen varieties of pie.  Try the rhubarb pie when it's available.

If you are having dinner in someone's home, then you may find yourself eating fried or barbecued chicken, ham balls (similar to meat balls, but made with ground pork and often glazed with a sweet sauce), spaghetti with tomato sauce, or various casseroles. At a party, you may find a bowl of salty Chex mix. A potluck at church or in the veteran's hall might seem incomplete without a gently simmering crockpot of beanie weenies (hot dogs and baked beans) and a dessert made from Jell-O tucked in between the cakes and pies.

Drink
Before Prohibition, Iowa had a healthy wine industry, which is growing once again. There are vineyards scattered throughout the state, each producing their own wines.

Des Moines boasts the state's largest number and widest variety of establishments for all age groups, but the bustling college towns of Cedar Falls, Ames and Iowa City provide the most avid nightlife in the state for (mostly) younger crowds (older crowds are more popular on game days, particularly in the fall during football season). Scores of young adults pack local bars and clubs Thursday through Saturday nights.

Alcohol purchases cease at 2 AM in both bars and stores. There are no separate outlets for different types of alcohol purchases, and all alcohol content in beer is the same no matter where it is purchased. Alcohol is available seven days a week and the state does not have any "dry" counties.

Iowa is home to a thriving craft beer scene, with noteworthy breweries including Millstream Brewing Company, based in the Amana Colonies, and Okoboji Brewing Company from the Iowa Great Lakes area. Toppling Goliath Brewing Co., located in Decorah, is a world-renowned microbrewery that has eight different brews listed in the Beer Advocate Top 250 Beers List, including the number one beer of all time. Other notable microbreweries include the Confluence Brewing Company and Exile Brewing Company in Des Moines, Backpocket Brewing in Coralville, SingleSpeed Brewing in Cedar Falls, and more than 80 others scattered throughout the state.

Crime
The rural parts of Iowa are quite safe, with many people not bothering to lock their car doors. A traveler should take a more common-sense approach when visiting more populous areas, such as Council Bluffs, Davenport, or Des Moines, as these areas have crime rates resembling those of typical mid-sized American cities.

For the most part, a traveler will find that most Iowans are friendly, warm, and happy to help if you have trouble.

Severe weather
Iowa experiences all four seasons in abundance: winter, mud, road construction, and football. Football season produces few travel-related problems beyond a weekly traffic jam near each football field. The first hard frost arrives during football season, which makes things a bit slippery underfoot early in the morning, but it also releases thousands of people from the months-long grip of hay fever. However, the other three seasons can present travelers with severe weather and unexpected changes in conditions.

Thunderstorms are common. Thunderstorms are possible at any time, as long as the temperature is above the freezing point.

Flooding can block roads. This is mainly a problem in the spring, when the combination of melting snow and additional rain saturates the ground and fills the rivers.

Tornadoes
Iowa resides in the unofficial "tornado alley" and sees about 50 tornadoes each year. The tornadoes are mostly considered weak (which is still very strong, by everyday standards for wind) and typically damage some trees, break a few windows, and blow over signs and other things. They primarily appear in the southwest edge of the state, but tornadoes can be found occasionally elsewhere in the state, especially in spring and summer months.

With that in mind, pay attention to weather conditions and frequently update yourself via television or radio of any potential severe weather threats while traveling to or through the state. Conditions can change rapidly, and you do not want to find yourself inadvertently in the path of a dangerous storm.

For more information on this issue, read the Tornado safety page.

Winter storms
While perhaps neither as cold nor as windy as the Dakotas, Iowa winters can still be brutal. Frequent heavy snow storms are possible throughout the winter and even occasionally into April. Ice storms and freezing rain can make roads extremely treacherous. Most major highways are well maintained, but driving on country roads in the wake of a winter storm can be nerve-racking to say the least. If you choose to travel in winter, keep yourself informed about local weather and road conditions through television, radio, and/or the Iowa DOT website.

Most heavy snow storms in Iowa aren't quite windy enough to qualify as blizzards, but the best advice for traveling during these storms is the same: avoid leaving your home, hotel, or other building, if at all possible. If you do go out, take extra clothes or blankets, bottled water, a cell phone, and a shovel in your vehicle. If you find yourself stranded, stay with your car, bundle up, and wait for help to arrive. Low visibility makes it easy to get turned around and lost if you set out on your own, and dangerous wind chill can cause a person to freeze very quickly.

Respect
Historically, Iowa has been a politically varied state, known for liberal and conservative politicians alike. It is also an unusually political state, owing in large part to its early role in the presidential nomination process. While Iowans tend to welcome political discussion more than most, their usual friendliness may at times give way to more hostile responses, especially around the time of the Iowa caucus, which happens in January or early February, about ten months before the quadrennial presidential election. Every four years, Iowans are subjected to every U.S. presidential candidate parading the state, hosting town forums and debates, and soliciting their votes, for a much longer time than the rest of the states are forced to withstand. Feel free to ask Iowans about their view of the presidential caucus, and don't hesitate to offer your own opinion about political matters, but be respectful and don't take it personally if they don't want to discuss politics due to "caucus weariness".

Go next
Iowa is surrounded by 6 states.

 * Illinois – America's crossroads and home of Chicago, lies across Iowa's eastern border.
 * Minnesota – Known for cold winters and its 10,000 lakes, Iowa's northern neighbor is an ideal destination for wilderness enthusiasts and shoppers destined for the Twin Cities and Mall of America.
 * Missouri – The state's southern neighbor is home to St. Louis, the Gateway to the West.
 * Nebraska – Iowa's western neighbor has a rich agricultural heritage, offering visitors a glimpse into America's heartland. Omaha, one of the largest cities in the Midwest, is a 2-hr drive from Des Moines.
 * South Dakota – Home to such natural and cultural wonders as Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park and Mount Rushmore, Iowa's neighbor to the northwest offers a surprising amount for travelers to see and do.
 * Wisconsin – "America's Dairyland" borders Iowa to the northeast, and offers several lakes and Milwaukee for fun. Nearly the entire eastern border of Wisconsin is surrounded by two of the Great Lakes.

title: Iowa


text:
Iowa City

Hip and urban, Iowa City is a prominent college town primarily known as the home of the University of Iowa. Along with its adjacent suburb of Coralville, just to the west. Iowa City sits at the center of a metro area home to 171,000 people (2020) in the I-380 Corridor region of Eastern Iowa.

Understand
Iowa City was the first capital of the State of Iowa, established in 1839 by the then-Territory of Iowa, which at the time was rapidly expanding westward from the Mississippi River. Within 20 years the capital was again moved westward, this time to the more centralized location of Des Moines, where it remains. But before the capital left, the University of Iowa was established and thus was the town's future course set.

Today Iowa City is widely recognized as one of the most educated cities in the United States, with day-to-day life revolving around the University of Iowa, which is frequently regarded as one of the best public universities in the nation. The university has a major effect on the culture and economy of Iowa City, with an enrollment of over 30,000 students. Many of the town's jobs are associated with the university and its teaching hospital, with other large employers including educational service companies ACT and Pearson.

Iowa City is also noted for the university's Writer's Workshop, a celebrated creative writing program that has produced many a noted author. The Writer's Workshop established a strong literary community in the area, which is reflected in the town's literary festivals and the famed Prairie Lights bookstore. All of this led to Iowa City being named the third UNESCO City of Literature, so far the only such city in North America.

Climate
Iowa City gets more than its fair share of severe weather. It was hit by the 2006 tornadoes and by the 2008 floods, which resulted in the temporary closure of most of the major bridges in the city.

By car
Iowa City can be reached by I-80 from Chicago to the east and Des Moines to the west. I-380 brings in traffic from Cedar Rapids and Waterloo to the north. Especially in the fall and winter, expect traffic delays from university games as there are very few main roads or entrances/exits to I-80.

By plane
The nearest commercial airport, the Eastern Iowa Airport, is in Cedar Rapids, about 20 miles to the north on I-380. A taxi to Iowa City may cost $40; a shuttle $25. Sometimes lower-cost flights are available into Moline or Des Moines.

By bus

 * Greyhound and Burlington Trailways offer bus service to a variety of cities, mostly ones along Interstate 80. They operate from the, located at the northeast corner of East Court Street and South Dubuque Street in Downtown Iowa City.

Get around
Walking is the easiest way to get around Downtown Iowa City; the main campus of the university is right in the middle of Downtown and is very integrated with the town. West Campus, on the other side of the river, is more sprawling and hilly and is home to the hospital campus and most of the athletic stadiums and facilities. Bicycling is also a common way of getting around town; the university's biking page has a good list of resources for bicyclers.

For greater distances, there is an extensive bus system called Iowa City Transit; fare is $1. The university's Cambus system covers most campus buildings and is free and open to the public; the most useful routes for visitors are the Red and Blue, which loop between Downtown and West Campus clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively. Coralville Transit handles bus transit between Iowa City and Coralville; fare is $1.

Parks

 * Only minutes to the north, Lake MacBride and Coralville Lake offer beaches, camping, hiking, and boating.
 * Twenty minutes west of Iowa City on Highway 6 lies F.W. Kent State Park, another popular camping destination with a small lake and beach.
 * Only minutes to the north, Lake MacBride and Coralville Lake offer beaches, camping, hiking, and boating.
 * Twenty minutes west of Iowa City on Highway 6 lies F.W. Kent State Park, another popular camping destination with a small lake and beach.

Sports
The university's athletic teams, the Iowa Hawkeyes, are a major draw, particularly the football and basketball teams, though the wrestling and gymnastics teams have also enjoyed much success, and women's basketball became a national phenomenon in 2023–24, the final season for all-time NCAA Division I career scoring leader Caitlin Clark. The Hawkeyes play in the Big Ten Conference, which gets them a lot of exposure on the national level.

Drink
Because of the university, downtown is very busy on weekend nights. With thousands of college-aged people (and older folks staying around for home games) drinking within a few blocks of each other, use caution when walking to or visiting establishments. There is a bar for all types. State law requires alcohol purchases to be made before 2AM. After 10PM non-exempt drinking establishments only allow persons 21 years of age and older, unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, spouse or domestic partner.

Newspapers

 * Iowa City Press-Citizen is Iowa City's biggest daily newspaper.
 * Daily Iowan U of I's daily newspaper.

Go next

 * The seven historic villages of the Amana Colonies are 25 miles west on Highway 6.

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

title: Iowa City


text:
Ipiales

Ipiales is a city close to the Ecuadorian border in Colombia. It is an obligatory stopover on your way to Ecuador. There is nothing much to see except the spectacular Iglesia de las Lajas.

Get in
The bus station is a bit out of town, but there are collectivos the center.

There are frequent buses to Pasto (1h30 - COP$15,000) and Popayan. Collectivos will bring you to Rumichaca for the border crossing if you go to Ecuador. The border crossing is quite easy and straightforward. The Colombian DAS-office is on one site of the bridge and the Ecuadorian office in on walking distance on the other side. From there are collectivos to Tulcán (0.75$). Don't sell your dollars on the border, the exchange rate is bad.

Cars from Ipiales to the frontier leave from the bus terminal and cost COP$1,500. They let you at the Colombian immigration control. After the formalities in both police controls, a minivan in the Ecuadorian side will take you to Tulcán for US$0.75. You can choose to get off at the city center or at the bus terminal.

See

 * The colourful Saturday Market at the "Plaza Los Mártires", 10 minutes' walk from the town center.
 * Sanctuario de las Lajas, a cathedral spectacularly built on a bridge over the Guaitara river. Its construction lasted from 1916 to 1949 and was financed by local churchgoers. To get there take a collectivo (COP$3'000 - 15 minutes) or a taxi (COP$9'000). Collectivos leave from 2 blocks east of the Cathedral.  Definitely worth a visit, including the museum (COP$1500), but watch for "Gringo Pricing" at the food stands overlooking the church, ask first.

Eat
The specialty is cuy (coo-ee), which is guinea pig. Best place to eat them is in the Carco barrio (outskirts of the town, heading to the Lajas church.)

Veggie option:
 * Pan de Vida: Calle 16 #7-69. For COP$5,000, you get a soup, main dish, drink and dessert.

Drink
Wonderful Jugo bar just off the main Plaza to the north west -- try the Uvillo Completo (COP$3,000, and worth every penny) or the Alfalfa (COP$1,300). The "Completos" are made with honey, and the owners are friendly.

Sleep
There are a lot of hotels near the bus terminal, e.g. Hotel San Jose: double for 50,000 COP with wifi and private bathroom.

 * Hotel Belmonte, Carrera 4a No. 12-111, 2-773-2771, is a family-run hotel with clean rooms with television. Prices: COP$12,000 for a single, COP$18,000/double.

Go next

 * Popayan
 * Tulcán (Ecuador)
 * Pasto

title: Ipiales


text:
Ipil

Ipil is the capital of the province of Zamboanga Sibugay on the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Get in
There are Rural Transit buses from Pagadian, Dipolog, Zamboanga City, Iligan, and Cagayan de Oro.

Get around

 * Tricycles any where in town for ₱8.

Buy

 * JBC Plaza (Ipil-Zamboanga Highway, Poblacion)
 * Jerry's Metro Plaza (Pres. Quirino St. Corner Diamond St., Don Andres)
 * Metro Ipil Centrum (Pres. Quirino St. Corner Diamond St., Don Andres)
 * Mercury Drug and Convenience Store (Pres. Quirino St., corner ipil-zamboanga Highway, Don Andres)
 * New Public Market (Don Andres)
 * Old Public Market/Pasalubong Center (Poblacion)

Eat

 * Pinoy Barbecue (Ipil-Dipolog Highway, Tirso Babiera/Poblacion)
 * Kamayan Resto (Climaco Avenue, Veterans Vill.)
 * Sanito Grille, Sanito River Bank, (Ipil-Pagadian Highway, Sanito)
 * Southwoods Resto (Ipil-Pagadian Highway, Sanito)
 * Jollibee Ipil (Climaco Ave. corner Ipil-Zamboanga Highway, Veterans Vill.)
 * Montebello Restaurant (Ipil-Pagadian Highway, Poblacion)
 * Rheko's Pizza (fronting Municipal Hall)

Drink

 * Underground Disco, Sibugay Grand Plaza Hotel
 * Planet 1 Bar, Mandarin Ipil Hotel
 * Nino's Bamboo Corner, Ricomar Pensionne House
 * Roderick's Barbecue Plaza, Roderick's Resort

Sleep

 * Sibugay Grand Plaza Hotel (Ipil-Pagadian Highway, Sanito) — a 3-star 46-room hotel
 * GV Hotel Ipil (Climaco Drive) fan double rooms with own bathroom and cable TV from ₱450 a night.
 * Mandarin Ipil Hotel (Diamond and Megalyth Streets, Don Andres)
 * Ricomar Pensionne House (Climaco Ave., Poblacion, Ipil)
 * Roderic's Resort (Ipil-Dipolog Highway, Lower Taway)
 * Sorino Traveller's Inn (Ipil-Dipolog Highway, Tirso Babiera)
 * Mikasa Pensionne House (Tirso Babiera)

Go next

 * Dipolog
 * Zamboanga City
 * Pagadian

title: Ipil


text:
Ipoh

Nestled within steep limestone hills on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Ipoh has the proud heritage of a former tin mining boom town. While the current state capital of Perak had bigger heydays during the early 20th century, it is now better known amongst Malaysians for its excellent restaurants, hawkers, and famous local dishes. Old residents are returning to their beloved hometown, eager to remake Ipoh into the "City of Millionaires" yet again. The country's third largest city, with 657,852 inhabitants as of 2010, is also a gateway to the Cameron Highlands and Pangkor Island.

Understand
Ipoh was the city that tin built, developing into one of Malaysia's major cities after rich alluvial tin deposits were discovered in the Kinta Valley in 1876. Its location as the furthest navigable point on the Kinta River at that time made it a prime spot for the centre of all trading activities, an upstart little village bypassing the already established towns at nearby Gopeng and Papan. Waves of starry-eyed prospectors, many of them Chinese immigrants, came to find their fortunes working the mines and providing support services to the industry. It rapidly grew into Malaya's second commercial and administrative centre after Kuala Lumpur (the Straits Settlements of Singapore, Penang and Malacca were administered separately during the British colonial era), overtaking Taiping, the then state capital.

World War II hit Ipoh hard, with all mines shut down and left to flood. Even after their reopening, demand for tin continued to drop steadily over the years and production costs rose. It culminated in the debilitating crash of tin prices in October 1985 from cartel meddling which then became the final nail in the coffin for the mines, just slightly over one hundred years after the very first tin rush. Many residents of Ipoh finally left for greener pastures elsewhere, as their forefathers did before them, though the city has been slowly reclaiming its stature since. Food, and not tin, is now the word most synonymous with Ipoh.

The post-independence economic decline let the city escape the Brutalist towers of concrete that represent 1970s ideas of progress, and its colonial importance still shines in the grand old buildings, such as the railway station and the town hall, which complement the rows of shophouses. There are surprisingly few tall buildings for a city of its size due to height restrictions for the local airport, hence inadvertently maintaining its sleepy old town charm. However, this is soon to change after a push by the state government for more development projects.

Climate
As in the rest of Malaysia, Ipoh has a typical tropical climate. Temperatures are generally constant year round, with daily highs of around 30-32°C (86-90°F) and nightly lows around 22-24°C (71-75°F). Rain and thunderstorms can also be expected fairly often, along with high humidity. The wettest months of the year are from October to November, while the least amount of rain is seen in January and February.

Talk
As in the rest of Malaysia, Malay is the lingua franca, However, most of the ethnic Chinese, who form the majority in Ipoh, speak Cantonese as their first language, and many are also able to speak Mandarin. Most of the Indians speak Tamil as their first language, and quite a few others speak Urdu. Most younger locals would be able to communicate in basic English.

By plane
For most visitors from elsewhere, the most practical option for getting to Ipoh would be to fly into either Kuala Lumpur or Penang, which have larger and better served airports, and make your way to Ipoh by road.

By train

From, trains head as far north as Padang Besar (4h) and as far south as Johor Bahru (including Singapore) via Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur is predictably well served by several trains per day. To KL, prices for the old diesel trains (3 hr) range from RM12 to RM30 depending on class. New electric trains (2 hr) cost from RM25 (stopping service) to RM50 (express non-stop). ETS service to Butterworth (2 hr) has ticket prices of RM22-33. The train station can get crowded at times and there can be barely any space to sit or stand, particularly so on weekends when the roads around the station are also very jammed.

By bus
The main bus terminal is at, 16 km north of city center, from where buses run to most of Peninsular Malaysia.

To get to the city centre (Stesen Bas Medan Kidd) from the terminal, you have to take T30a or T30b (myBAS) from the upper level. It costs around RM2 and runs about every 30 min. To pay you have to have a Touch'nGO card (which can be purchased at the information counter downstairs). Taxi fare will be at least RM20.

Most frequent routes are to and from Kuala Lumpur (Terminal Bersepatu Selatan), Singapore and Penang. Larger bus companies like Transnational, Plusliner, Konsortium and Sri Maju provide the most frequent, reliable and safe services. For Taiping and the Cameron Highlands, the local bus station (see Get around) is more convenient.

Some bus companies also operate from more convenient locations in the town: mainly. Choice is limited but for Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Butterworth or Singapore, they represent a better option than a trip out of town.

 * Sri Maju 2, 4 & 6 Jalan Bendahara, +60 5 253 5367, fairly decent selection of destinations, including Hat Yai in Thailand. Tickets can be bought via their website and you can pay via credit cards.
 * Lapan Lapan (88 brand), +65 6392 2188 (Singapore number) has services from Jalan Bendahara to Singapore (RM55).
 * Grassland Express, Singapore based company, also serves Jalan Bendahara.

Starshuttle runs to Kuala Lumpur International Airport from Jalan Bercham (about RM40 one way).

By car
Ipoh is well connected to the North-South Expressway. You can get into Ipoh via Exit 137: Simpang Pulai or Exit 139: Ipoh Selatan.

Get around
Ipoh is split into half by the River Kinta: Old Town on the west side and New Town on the east. Old Town is walkable, New Town less so. City outskirts are reachable by taxis or public buses in a pinch, and your own wheels are best for further outlying areas. Streets were renamed in the 1980s. This can still be confusing as many locals still refer to the former colonial road names. The following list showing the old and new names is useful: Ipoh road names - old and new. Jalan Bijih Timah, for example, used to be known as Treacher Street.

By car
The city centre grid layout contains mainly one-way streets. Road maps are available in bookstores, tourist centres and online. Traffic is not as heavy as in other cities such as Kuala Lumpur but the rush hours are usually congested. There is adequate parking but finding a space may require some patience. Car rentals are available.

By bus
Local buses run around the city and its suburbs and have a hub called (or also bas stesen), which is on Jalan Tun Abdul Razak in the old town (follow the road south from the railway station and past the post office, the bus station is on the right of the first big junction). This is not to be confused with Jalan Bendahara which is in the new town and has long distance services by some bus companies. Ipoh city buses: www.peraktransit.com.my may be useful.

Local bus information is not well published but there is a helpful information desk at the bus station. Visitors may find this bus station useful for its services to the Cameron Highlands and Taiping. Useful to look out for is local bus number 94, which heads from the bus station (bas stesen) through the old and new towns to the Sam Poh Tong Cave Temples. It calls at the following bus stops in the new town: Tingat Pasar, on the south side of Pasar Besar; at the junction of Jalan Raja Musa Aziz and Jalan Theatre; and on Jalan CM Yusuf, near the Grand Park Hotel and Sri Maju Bus Terminal.

On foot
Most roads have pavements and marked crossings, which makes strolling around the old streets a pleasant experience.

By bicycle
There are no hard and fast rules for cyclists, but you are expected to observe road rules at all times. Cyclists are forbidden from riding on the sidewalk but often do. Helmets are optional but not common.

By taxi
Prices are by negotiation. It is possible to take the taxi all the way up to Pengkelan Hulu (near the Thailand border, c. RM170 one way, c. RM300 return). Rides within the city should cost around RM5 to RM10. The better alternative to taxi is GrabCar, a Southeast Asian Uber alternative; through the app, you will see the price beforehand and are less likely to have to negotiate.

Old Town
The heart of Ipoh Old Town lies on the west banks of the Kinta River and is vaguely bounded by the train tracks. A two- to three-hour guided tour of the Ipoh heritage trail starts at the Railway Station at 8AM every Saturday (as of 2015, RM30 per person). Rejuvenated Kong Heng Square on Jalan Sultan Yussuf houses buzzing small cafes and shops.

Street art

 * Seven wall murals, of which six still exist in 2020, have been painted by Ernest Zacharevic, the same Lithuanian artist that took George Town by storm. The one on Jalan Bijih Timah (literally Tin Ore Road) showcases the once-important tin mining industry that made Ipoh. Pick up a map from the Ipoh Padang Old Town White Coffee branch, or just wander around the old town streets as each mural displays this map. In addition to these, more street art is hidden throughout the old town.

 * In the new town, Erik Lai, a local art teacher, has initiated the painting of multiple murals on old heritage buildings in an effort to preserve them. These displays multiple aspect of the Malaysian culture : lion dance, kids kepang dance, a playful multi-mural displays kids playing hide&seek. All of these are found in a lane between Jalan Masjid and Jalan Sultan Iskandar (Hugh Low Street). See the murals at the

Around Ipoh

Thousands of miles away from their motherlands, religion remained a touchstone for the Chinese and Indian communities. Cave temples abound in the karst limestone hills north and south of Ipoh, although only the richest and most famous are properly looked after and not forgotten.

Outside Ipoh
Peaceful Batu Gajah was initially the planned European centre for Kinta Valley in the Federated Malay States, but the rough and tumble Ipoh quickly stole its crown. The areas surrounding Ipoh were similarly diminished by the tin mining crash, and may yet be absorbed into Ipoh proper.

Sports

 * Cricket:

Buy
Ipoh is inexpensive by Malaysian standards. Most tourists will better appreciate the offerings of KL or Bangkok but Ipoh offers some interesting specialties, which predictably revolve around food.

Local specialities
Pastries like Ipoh fragrant biscuits (香饼 or heong pang), traditional flaky biscuits containing a sticky sweet malt paste, are always popular. Handmade examples are rare though the factory-made ones are longer lasting and handily packed for souvenirs. Malaysia's best pomelos (柚), a citrus fruit with massive rind and mild taste, are reputedly from Tambun, about 10 km north of the city centre. Pottery is also produced for export. If pots are your bag, try Jalan Kuala Kangsar. Coffee beans specially roasted with palm-oil margarine, better known as white coffee, originated from Ipoh. The packet versions are not particularly special and are sold throughout the country anyway.

Traditional markets

 * Pasar Malam - night markets, stalls selling a variety of food, groceries, toys, clothes and household items. They move to various locations throughout the week:
 * Monday: Taman Menglembu, Taman Ipoh Jaya (near Gunung Rapat)
 * Tuesday: Ipoh Garden East
 * Wednesday: Ipoh Garden (near Perak stadium), Bercham (Taman Pakatan)
 * Thursday: Taman SPPK
 * Friday: Taman Pertama; Pekan Razaki (near Taman Ipoh Jaya)
 * Saturday: Taman Rasi
 * Sunday: Taman Cempaka (6PM-10PM only)
 * Sunday: Taman Cempaka (6PM-10PM only)

Shopping malls

 * The and  are the two older malls in the city. Both have a fair range of branded stores, with good bargains during sale periods that could be of interest to keen shoppers. AEON has also opened up big shopping malls at  and, the latter of which has the first Uniqlo and H&M stores in Perak.
 * For a stretch of quaint boutiques, visit Ipoh Garden South.

Eat
When tin mining died out, food sustained Ipoh and made the city bustle once more. Like everywhere in Malaysia, the local food is dirt cheap and sublime. Loads of people come from all over just to fill their bellies, creating a headache of congestion during weekends. Quite a few locals already avoid the most famous stalls, whether due to dropping standards or the unrelenting crowds. Some specialities to look out for include: chicken and beansprouts (芽菜雞), Ipoh kai see hor fun (怡保鸡丝河粉) and salt-baked chicken (盐锔鸡). Due to its Cantonese-majority population, Ipoh is also a very good place to have dim sum.

Budget
Early-rising Ipoh loves breakfast and brunch, and has scrumptious treats and coffee to match. Egg tarts are a popular Western-styled dim sum dish that made it off the cart and one can get white coffee (also see ) or soybean milk to wash it down.

Rice noodles
The rice noodles (sar hor fun or kueytiao) found in Ipoh kai see hor fun and other dishes are particularly light and silky smooth, said to benefit from their preparation in mineral-rich spring water that flows through the limestone hills. Add clear chicken and prawn soup with chicken shreds, prawns and spring onions, and kai see hor fun can be had for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Chu cheong fun is similarly springy and delicious. Popular noodle dishes like yong tau foo and hor hee are also worth a try.

Food courts and stalls
There are still many hidden delights outside of the city centre of course, and if you can't quite decide what to eat or want something outside of normal Malaysian fare, there're always food courts which are a little more organised than the traditional coffeeshops.

South Asian
There's an equally wide South Asian diaspora, evident in the assortment of eateries all specialising in different areas of the subcontinental cuisine, from the Indian Muslim mamaks who serve crispy roti canai and rich nasi kandar to the South Indian curry houses.

Mid-range
Ayam tauge, or chicken and bean sprouts, are a famous Ipoh twist on Hainanese poached chicken and can be paired with plain rice or the ever-popular sar hor fun in soup served with lightly blanched bean sprouts doused in soy sauce and sesame oil. Salt-baked chicken, on the other hand, is a Hakka delicacy which makes full use of free-range kampong chicken, wrapping them in paper and then baking them in large woks filled with heated salt.

One of the most well-known delights of Cantonese cuisine, dim sum for breakfast in Ipoh is not just tasty and reasonably priced, but is a long-held weekend tradition for generations of families here. Jln Leong Sin Nam has been coined "Dim Sum Street" because of the concentration of popular dim sum outlets.

Splurge
Chinese banquet restaurants that serve seafood are a reliable shout for fancier dinners. If you travel out to see the tin dredge at Tanjung Tualang, it's also known for their large big-headed udang galah (freshwater prawns). There are at least ten seafood restaurants in this small township alone, earning it the name of Lobster Town.

A growing number of Western cafes and restaurants have been opened by Ipoh residents returning from KL or overseas, with clusters around Kong Heng Square and Bandar Baru Medan. Indulgence Restaurant remains the pioneer and the standard bearer.

Drink
Ipoh has a small and still growing night scene. Bandar Baru Medan (behind the Kinta City Shopping Centre) has been the usual haunt for supper for the last decade or so, albeit with a large turnover of pubs and bars. The newer nightlife area is around New Town and Greentown, and also the revitalised Lorong Panglima in Old Town, a narrow alley once notoriously known as Concubine Lane, where rich businessmen used to house their mistresses back when the tin mines were booming.

White coffee
Ipoh white coffee was invented here: to reduce the bitterness of coffee roasted in the European style without adding sugar (as during the roasting of Kopi-O), beans are roasted with palm-oil margarine. The result is a mild tasting kiddies' version of what westerners would call real coffee. A few genuine Chinese coffee shops that sell Ipoh white coffee are located opposite the Kinta Heights flats in the old town.

Bars and pubs
For those more inclined to clubbing, Sensation of Sound on Jalan Yang Kalsom and House Music Club on Jalan Sultan Idris Shah are open for business, although a little quiet and empty on weekday nights.

Sleep
Hotels in Ipoh tend to be tidily kept yet long faded establishments, but the new energy in the city has sprung up a lot more choices. Bigger hotels will be found in Ipoh New Town, Greentown and also near the theme park in Tambun, while boutique hotels have set up shop in Old Town or big colonial bungalows. There is a cluster of budget hotels around Jalan Ali Pitchay in the new town area just off Jalan Sultan Iskandar.

Stay safe
Ipoh is in general a very safe city, certainly by international standards. However, there are some irritants like beggars, especially at bus terminals. It is better not to attract any unwanted attention by giving money to the beggars as most of them are professional beggars operated by syndicates.

Perhaps not so much a safety thing per se, but at the Central Market in New Town, particularly if you are an orang putih (white person), don't let the traders rip you off (which they are likely to do, if you let them). If the prices are signed clearly, hold them to it! Learning how to say "It's too expensive" in Cantonese, Mandarin, or Malay as the case may be, is also very helpful. Furthermore, Ipoh is probably not as tourist-friendly as some publications make it out to be.

The city centre is relatively safe, but again, pickpockets do work in the stations. If you are carrying a bag make sure that it's secured (all zipped up). If you have a wallet in your pocket keep a hand near it while exiting the buses. It is not advisable to leave your handbag dangling on your shoulder while walking next to main roads, as motorcycle snatch thefts do happen.

Cope

 * President Pro DC - 4 Jalan Yang Kalsom (near the budget hotels on Jalan Ali Pitchay) . Laundry and dry cleaning. Same day wash and fold RM3/kg, minimum RM6.

Go next

 * Cameron Highlands is Peninsular Malaysia's most famous highland destination, known for its vegetable, strawberry and tea farms as well as its cool weather and beautiful scenery. There is a toll-free road to Cameron Highland close to the Simpang Pulai Exit off the North South Expressway. The journey up is just about an hour long.
 * Taiping is about 1 hour north on the North South Expressway. Some of the most scenic views of mountain ranges and rain forests can be captured on the stretch of highway between Ipoh and Taiping. Taiping town is one of the oldest and most historic in the country.
 * Bukit Merah, a family eco-tourist destination by a lake. Home to the largest water theme park in Northern Peninsular Malaysia and the only Orang Utan Island in the country.
 * Penang is a 2-hour bus ride or drive away. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage site with some good beaches and great Malaysian food. The buses are notoriously late, so consider a train for roughly RM10 more.
 * Kuala Lumpur, the nation's capital is just a two-hour drive by car or a three-hour journey by bus or train.
 * Pangkor is a 2-hour drive and ferry ride away. It is a quiet fishing village island with many beautiful beaches. This not very well-known island is significantly quieter than other more popular islands in Malaysia but still provides a wide selection of accommodation for backpackers and budget travellers as well five-star hotels and world-class resorts for those with money.
 * Belum Temenggor Forest Reserve is the largest rainforest in the Malay Peninsula, 3 hours' drive along federal road 4 leading to Kelantan.
 * Hat Yai, the southernmost city in Thailand, is roughly five hours away with a combination of train to Padang Besar and a 50-baht bus ride.
 * Singapore, the island city state, is an hour away by plane, somewhat longer by bus or train but with convenient overnight timings.

title: Ipoh


text:
Ipswich

There is more than one place called Ipswich:

Australia

 * Ipswich (Queensland) - A city in South East Queensland, Australia

England

 * Ipswich (England) - A town in Suffolk in England.

United States of America

 * Ipswich (Massachusetts) - A town in Massachusetts.
 * Ipswich (South Dakota) - A town in South Dakota.

title: Ipswich


text:
Ipswich (England)

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk. The Ipswich Waterfront was once known as the largest and most important dock in the kingdom. Mostly recognised for its football club, it has had new developments such as the Waterfront entertainment district, the University Campus Suffolk and new shopping developments.

Understand
Ipswich was one of the most prosperous cities in the UK since Saxon times. During its heyday it was a major trading port, being on the estuary of the Orwell River on the East Coast. Ipswich fell into rapid decline after the opening of the new ports at Felixstowe and Harwich and stayed that way until the 1970s when much of London's financial services industry used Ipswich as a hub for their secondary offices with names such as Royal Bank of Scotland, Willis Group (aka Willis Faber & Dumas), Norwich Union and AXA opening shiny new skyscrapers in a new CBD development just north of the river. The new University Campus Suffolk brought on rapid development along the waterfront area with lots of trendy new bars, restaurants and apartments lining the east bank of the river.

Anyone expecting a typical, small provincial town will get a little culture shock when stepping out of the train station as 1960s tower blocks, Saxon half-timber cottages, Victorian townhouses and shiny new high-rise developments sit side-by-side. In 2019, it was home to 133,000 people.

By air
Ipswich has good connections to both London Stansted and Norwich International  airports. From Stansted, there is an express bus service (X5) which runs between Ipswich Old Cattle Market Bus Station and Stansted Airport Coach Station every 2 hours, 24 hours a day; taking about 90 minutes. Expect to pay around £75 for a prebooked minicab and over £100 for a metered taxi.

Norwich Airport can be reached in 1-1½ hours. From the airport, take a local bus or a taxi to Norwich Railway Station and from there it's about 40 minutes by train to Ipswich. A taxi will be £50-60.

By train
is on the West Bank of the Orwell River on the intersection between Princes St, Burrell Rd and Ranelagh Rd, about 1 mile from the town centre. Trains to Norwich (calling at Stowmarket and Diss) depart from Platform 3 at 8 and 44 minutes past the hour. The journey takes about 45 minutes. Express trains to London Liverpool St (calling at Manningtree and Colchester) depart from Platform 2 at 9 and 43 minutes past the hour. A third, slower train to London (calling most stations) departs from Platform 4 at 53 minutes past the hour. Express services take about 1 hour and 10 minutes to reach the capital, whereas the stopping train takes about ten minutes longer. There are also hourly services to Cambridge, Felixstowe and Lowestoft, and bi-hourly services to Peterborough.

There is also a smaller station called, on Derby Rd in the eastern suburb of Rose Hill. It is unstaffed and has an hourly service between Ipswich and Felixstowe. It's not recommended to take a train from here at night as there are no staff and very little lighting or CCTV.

By bus and coach
Old Cattle Market bus station on Falcon Street serves all regional and long-distance bus services. Frequent regional buses run to Stowmarket, Sudbury, Woodbridge, Felixstowe, Colchester, Framlingham etc., while National Express services run to London (3 times per day), Liverpool (1 per day), and Stansted Airport (every 2 hours). Rural bus and minibus services run to surrounding villages, although some are very infrequent. There is no ticket office at the station, so tickets should be bought on board (change is usually available but drivers will be reluctant to change large bills), except for National Express services, which must be prebooked by phone or over the internet. Electronic signboards display the next 20 or so departures and which stand they will depart from. Schedules are displayed at each departure gate.

By car
Ipswich is at the intersections of the A12 (London - Great Yarmouth) and A14 (Felixstowe - Birmingham) highways with several exits along both routes. Driving into the city can be slow as traffic congestion is heavy. Also, a very confusing one-way system runs around the edge of the city centre, feeding drivers into the rabbit-warren of small streets. Maps and sat-navs are a bit useless once you're past the inner ring-road so allow plenty of time. Parking is very limited and expensive (in an underground or multi-storey city centre car park expect to pay about £9 for 3 hours) although some parking areas close to the inner ring-road will charge around £2.50 for one day, although they are not as secure. Alternatively, Park & Ride bus services run from 3 parking sites on the edge of the city close to the A14, costing £2.80 per day including free bus travel to the city centre. Look out for the blue Park & Ride signs (displaying a letter 'P' alongside a bus) when approaching Ipswich on the highway.

By bus
Local urban bus services are provided by Ipswich Buses and First Eastern Counties and radiate from the Tower Ramparts Bus Station. The green and purple Ipswich buses cover most urban routes and link to surrounding suburbs and retail parks. Most services run every 10–20 minutes during the day time and every 30–60 minutes in the early morning and late evening - most services start around 5:30AM and finish around 11PM. There's a flat fare of £1.80 which is paid into the farebox next to the driver - if you don't have exact change you'll be issued with a voucher that can be used as part-payment on your next journey or can be refunded at the Ipswich Buses customer service office at Tower Ramparts bus station. Day passes, weekly and monthly tickets are available, as well as a rechargeable smart-card for regular travellers. First Eastern Counties services are less frequent except for #66 which runs every 15 minutes between Bourne Bridge and Martlesham and runs 24 hours a day. Fares on First buses are charged by distance and return tickets are available - change is also given but drivers are reluctant to change anything bigger than a £5 note. Tickets are not interchangeable between operators.

A useful service for tourists is the #38 which loops the town centre and is free of charge - useful for getting to know your way around. An open-top sightseeing bus runs a circuit of nearby tourist attractions during the summer months.

By car
Driving around Ipswich is not recommended - traffic is often heavy, the rabbit-warren of one-way streets is confusing and parking can be expensive. However, a car is more useful if you're staying in the suburbs or plan on travelling to some more remote attractions away from the town.

By taxi
Taxis in Ipswich are cheap by British standards. Metered taxis can be found at taxi-stands outside the train station, the Old Cattle Market bus station and on a side-street beside Debenhams just off Crown Street; hailing a taxi in the street is not recommended as most taxi drivers will wait in a taxi rank rather than cruise for passengers. Phone-booked minicabs are cheaper and will take you to more inaccessible locations, but can be hard to book late on Friday and Saturday nights. If you want to travel by taxi to a nearby town such as Felixstowe or Stowmarket, local minicabs in those towns will usually be cheaper than those in Ipswich.

On Foot
Ipswich town centre is very compact and much of the town-centre is pedestrianised, so walking is often the fastest and most pleasant way of getting around. However, walking at night is not so fun: walking beyond the town centre usually involves passing some unpleasant areas and walking through the public underpasses that cross the 'inner ring' or along by the river can sometimes be unsafe. Take a taxi instead.

By bicycle
Ipswich Borough Council has gone to great lengths to make the town more cycle-friendly, and most major routes into the town centre have cycle or bus lanes, although they are often ignored by motorists, many of whom are not happy with sharing the road with cyclists, so it helps to have a good level of confidence in urban cycling. Alternatively, there are several signposted cycle routes taking in quiet residential streets, traffic free trails through the towns many parks and contraflow cycle lanes that allow cyclists to travel in both directions on a one way street. National Cycle Network routes 1 and 51 pass though Ipswich, and the borough council produces a free cycle map.

See
Ipswich sits in a beautiful area of East Anglia - "Constable Country". In fact, the setting of Constable's most famous painting, "The Haywain", is only a few miles down the A12 road (heading towards London) in nearby Flatford. Click here to see how the site looks today. There is a National Trust centre in Flatford that is worth a visit, if only for the good home-made cakes on sale.

Further out of Ipswich, Orford Castle (12 miles outside Woodbridge, on the B1084) is worth a visit in good weather. The castle is over 800 years old, in good condition for a building of that age. Orford is an attractive village, with good fish and chips available from pubs and restaurants at the far end of the village.

Other sights include:
 * A walk by the docks can be of interest, especially as most of the old former grain store buildings on the dockside are being demolished and being replaced by new luxury apartments, high-rise offices and entertainment complexes.
 * A walk by the docks can be of interest, especially as most of the old former grain store buildings on the dockside are being demolished and being replaced by new luxury apartments, high-rise offices and entertainment complexes.
 * A walk by the docks can be of interest, especially as most of the old former grain store buildings on the dockside are being demolished and being replaced by new luxury apartments, high-rise offices and entertainment complexes.

 * Ipswich has the third largest number of mediaeval churches in the United Kingdom, after the City of London and Norwich. Medieval churches include:

 * Non Anglican churches of interest include:
 * Ipswich has several art galleries, check out Eyestorm gallery and the Town Hall Galleries.
 * Ipswich has several art galleries, check out Eyestorm gallery and the Town Hall Galleries.
 * Ipswich has several art galleries, check out Eyestorm gallery and the Town Hall Galleries.

Do

 * Football:
 * Ipswich is home to the main centre for Dance in the East of England at the Jerwood Dance House. Open since 2009, this gem is already captivating audiences with performances of the highest order.
 * If architecture is your passion then look out for Ancient House, Wolseys Gate, The Willis Building (designed by Sir Norman Foster), St Lawrence Church, St Mary le-tower, Christchurch Mansion and the Unitarian Meeting House. There are timber framed building throughout the town centre as well.
 * Ipswich has many beautiful parks but the best has to be Christchurch Park. On the edge of the city centre this park features some beautiful gardens, tennis courts and Christchurch Mansion. It also has two large pond areas and plenty of room for sport.
 * Speedway: Ipswich Witches race in the SGB Premiership, the top tier of motorcycle speedway in Britain. Their home track is Foxhall Stadium 3 miles east in Kesgrave; the racing season is Mar-Oct.
 * Ipswich has many beautiful parks but the best has to be Christchurch Park. On the edge of the city centre this park features some beautiful gardens, tennis courts and Christchurch Mansion. It also has two large pond areas and plenty of room for sport.
 * Speedway: Ipswich Witches race in the SGB Premiership, the top tier of motorcycle speedway in Britain. Their home track is Foxhall Stadium 3 miles east in Kesgrave; the racing season is Mar-Oct.
 * Speedway: Ipswich Witches race in the SGB Premiership, the top tier of motorcycle speedway in Britain. Their home track is Foxhall Stadium 3 miles east in Kesgrave; the racing season is Mar-Oct.
 * Speedway: Ipswich Witches race in the SGB Premiership, the top tier of motorcycle speedway in Britain. Their home track is Foxhall Stadium 3 miles east in Kesgrave; the racing season is Mar-Oct.

Stage and screen
Ipswich has two cinemas, Cineworld and Corn Exchange arts cinema.

Buy
Ipswich was nothing special when it came to shopping - however several independent stores have opened, Urban Vintage is the best choice for men on Queen Street, and Blacksheep near the buttermarket, further along on St. Nicholas Street and St. Peters Street there are several choices for women in Aura, Marianna and Caramel. Other independent stores for men include Jonty's(Tacket Street) and the department store Coes on Norwich Road.

A long pedestrianized street (Northgate Street, Tavern Street, Carr Street) runs right across the town centre and is lined with big-name stores such as H and M, Gap, Debenhams, Boots, and Marks & Spencer. A few smaller pedestrian streets house some smaller retailers and is the best place to find small, independent retailers. There are 2 main indoor shopping malls (Buttermarket Centre and Sailmakers Shopping Centre( formerly Tower Ramparts)) although neither are anything special, this is where you can find Topshop, Topman and TK Maxx.

The south-eastern part of Norwich Road is a good place to see Ipswich's vibrant ethnic community and the street is lined with shops and restaurants selling food, snacks and local products from the Middle East, Eastern Europe, India and elsewhere.

Many locals now prefer shopping in out-of-town retail parks and superstores. Copdock Interchange retail park close to the intersection between the A12 and A14 highways in the southwest of Ipswich is one of the largest with a 24-hour Tesco Extra superstore, Currys PC World (electronics and appliances), B&M (variety goods value retailer) and several fast-food chains including Burger King, Costa Coffee and Pizza Hut (take Bus 13 from Tower Ramparts and get off at the last stop - by car it's close to the A12/A14 Copdock Interchange and at the end of the A1214 London Road from Ipswich town centre - free parking). Anglia Retail Park in the northwest of Ipswich close to the A14 highway is also popular and has an Asda superstore, Bounce Ipswich (trampoline centre), Go-Outdoors (outdoor supplier) and the usual furniture and appliance stores, plus a McDonalds, Costa Coffee and a KFC (Bus 8 from Tower Ramparts - get off at the last stop - by car it's close to the Ipswich/Bury Road exit of the A14, at the top end of Norwich Road from the town centre).

The main supermarket serving the town centre is Sainsbury on Upper Brook Street. There is a larger Sainsbury on Hadleigh Road close to the train station. Most other supermarkets are out of town in large retail parks; the two largest are listed above. Convenience stores such as Martins, Co-op, Spar, Tesco Express and Premier can be found everywhere; most are open from 6AM-11PM, although many petrol station convenience stores are 24-hour.

Eat
St Nicholas Street in Ipswich has several restaurants. You can eat Turkish, Italian, French, Thai, Chinese, Indian and modern British cuisine.

Another good area to eat in is the waterfront with an abundance of local choices, lots of good British cuisine and also a French restaurant.

Drink
For daytime summer drinking the only place to be is Isaac's along the waterfront, a fantastic establishment with huge outdoor area and 4 separate bars to reduce queuing.

Churches, Zing Bar, Barcoda, The Swan, and Keo's are the pick of the town centre bars.

Stay safe
Despite the sensationalized news reports about the Suffolk Murders and the nightclub shootings in Ipswich, crime is no more rampant here than in any other similar-sized town. Avoid getting into confrontations, particularly in bars, as things get a bit nasty. There are several no-go areas at night - most notably Chantry, Gainsborough and Greenwich, as well as the residential areas around Norwich Road, although the average tourist will find no need to go to these areas, and if you stick to the main arterial roads you'll be safe. Be careful of parking your car in quiet residential streets at night, or leaving your car in a privately run 'budget car park' such as the one at the waterfront, as car break-ins and car-thefts are common. Use a town-centre car park operated by Ipswich Borough Council or NCP instead.

There's a strong rivalry between Ipswich Town FC and Norwich City FC - on match days avoid wearing football colours or saying things that may provoke a football-related confrontation. That said, football hooliganism is rare.

Connect
As of Sep 2022, Ipswich has 5G with EE and O2, and 4G with Three and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Felixstowe
 * Southwold
 * Dedham — 20 minutes drive
 * Woodbridge - less than ten miles out of Ipswich is this attractive market town (on the A12, heading out towards Lowestoft). Woodbridge was once a major port, in Tudor times, and the town is still popular today amongst sailors, with a high population of retired City types who have settled in this part of the world to "mess around on boats". You can also reach Woodbridge via train from Ipswich, although the service is far from frequent. Woodbridge has many antique shops, tea shops, and old pubs, and is mainly pedestrianised. Worth a visit, especially if you are, or are travelling with, someone elderly. On the outskirts is a mill (clearly signposted from the A12), the only survivor of the 10 or more which used to feed the soldiers barracked in the area during the Napoleonic wars. Places to eat: "Spice" on the main street "the Thoroughfare" or the Captains Table. To drink: the Kings Head on the town square.
 * Sutton Hoo — just outside of Woodbridge. An Anglo Saxon burial ground of royal princes, buried alongside priceless treasures in ship graves. There is a National Trust exhibition centre]. In all honesty, although the site is doubtless of great historical interest, the exhibition itself is somewhat thinly stretched. (If you want to see any of the treasures found here, you'll have to go to the British Museum in London.) Worth going to if you are in the area, anyone travelling some distance to the site could be disappointed.
 * Newbourne — off the A12
 * Waldringfield — on the way to Woodbridge. Has an attractive view over the River Deben.
 * Rendlesham Forest — site of the most notorious UFO incident in the UK, but also good for cycling round, with bikes available to hire in the Easter and summer school holiday periods.
 * Levington — between Ipswich and Felixstowe, it sits on a river estuary, and features preserved wetlands which house many migratory birds. The pub there ("The Ship") does wonderful food: the liver and bacon and any of the seafood especially recommended. No bookings are taken. Their wine is pretty poor though. Have a quick walk before or after visiting the pub down to the river; the footpath just opposite the pub, which is the only place to park in the village.

title: Ipswich (England)


text:
Ipswich (Massachusetts)

Ipswich is a seaside town of 14,000 people (2020) in Massachusetts. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island. A residential community with a vibrant tourism industry, the town is famous for its clams, celebrated annually at the Ipswich Chowderfest, and for Crane Beach, a barrier beach near the Crane estate.

Rowley is a town of 6,000 (2020).

History
Ipswich was founded by John Winthrop the Younger, son of John Winthrop, one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 and its first governor, elected in England in 1629. Several hundred colonists sailed from England in 1630 in a fleet of 11 ships, including Winthrop's flagship, the Arbella.

There is no record of any Native resistance to the colonization, even though estimates of the earlier populations run into the thousands. A plague of 1616–1618 and again in the early 1630s, perhaps smallpox brought from abroad, had apparently devastated the once populous Indian tribes. The fields stood vacant. The colonists encountered but few Natives.

Ipswich was incorporated as a village  in 1634, and named after Ipswich in the county of Suffolk, England.

Pioneers would become farmers, fishermen, shipbuilders or traders. The tidal Ipswich River provided water power for mills, and salt marshes supplied hay for livestock. A cottage industry in lace-making developed. But in 1687, Ipswich residents, led by the Reverend John Wise, protested a tax imposed by the governor, Sir Edmund Andros. As Englishmen, they argued, taxation without representation was unacceptable. Citizens were jailed, but then Andros was recalled to England in 1689, and the new British sovereigns, William III and Mary II, issued colonists another charter. The rebellion is the reason the town calls itself the "Birthplace of American Independence".

Great clipper ships of the 19th century bypassed Ipswich in favor of the deep-water seaports at Salem, Newburyport, Quincy, and Boston. The town remained primarily a fishing and farming community, its residents living in older homes they could not afford to replace—leaving Ipswich with a considerable inventory of early architecture. In 1822, a stocking manufacturing machine which had been smuggled out of England arrived at Ipswich, violating a British ban on exporting such technology, and the community developed as a mill town. In 1868, Amos A. Lawrence established the Ipswich Hosiery Mills beside the river. It would expand into the largest stocking mill in the country by the turn of the 20th century. What may be the last witchcraft trial in North America was held in Ipswich in 1878. In the Ipswich witchcraft trial, a member of the Christian Science religion was accused of using his mental powers to harm others, including a spinster living in the town.

By car

 * From the south, take Exit 50 on I-95 to US-1 North. After about 4.4 miles, turn right onto Ipswich Rd. Continue for 4 miles to arrive in downtown Ipswich.
 * From the north, take Exit 54 on I-95 to route 133 then turn left. Continue on 133 East for about 7 miles to arrive in downtown Ipswich.

Get around
Ipswich Essex Explorer. Provides weekend service during the summer to Essex, Crane Beach, and other nearby attractions.

title: Ipswich (Massachusetts)


text:
Ipswich (Queensland)

Ipswich is the westernmost city of the Greater Brisbane region in South East Queensland, 44 km west of the City of Brisbane. It had a population of 232,000 in 2021.

Understand
When the Moreton Bay convict settlement was established by Britain, Ipswich was about as far as craft could venture up the Brisbane and Bremer Rivers, and as coal was found here, there was very early European settlement. Because of the coal mines, Ipswich was seen as primarily an industrial centre, however these days Ipswich is more seen as a satellite of Brisbane.

There are still the railway industries, Swanbank power station and RAAF Amberley, but the city has expanded substantially because of its part in the massive expansion of South East Queensland as a very desirable place to live.

For the visitor on the way to Sydney on the Cunningham Highway or Toowoomba on the Warrego Highway, the bypass is usually taken, however the inquiring visitor will find much of interest in this city of 232,000 people (2021).

By train
Ipswich can be reached from Brisbane via the Caboolture via Brisbane to Ipswich line. This takes approximately an hour and 10 minutes from Roma Street Station. (note that Ipswich and surrounding stations have some of the highest crime rates in Queensland - take caution travelling alone and/or at night.)

By car
Ipswich is served by three motorways, though one of them isn't really a "motorway": The M2/A2 Warrego Highway also passes by Ipswich from Toowoomba and other Outback Queensland towns northwest.
 * M2 Logan Motorway from Logan City
 * M5/A5 Centenary Motorway/Highway from Brisbane
 * M15 Cunningham Highway southwest from Warwick and from the New England region of New South Wales.

See

Eat

 * UB's Milk Bar, 126 Brisbane St, Ipswich QLD 4305 ☏ +61 415 820 853. ( updated Feb 2024)
 * The Retro Diner, 195 Brisbane St, Ipswich QLD 4305 ☏ +61 7 3143 9623 ( updated Feb 2024 )
 * The Retro Diner, 195 Brisbane St, Ipswich QLD 4305 ☏ +61 7 3143 9623 ( updated Feb 2024 )

title: Ipswich (Queensland)


text:
Ipswich (South Dakota)

Ipswich is a town in the Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota.

title: Ipswich (South Dakota)


text:
Iqaluit

Iqaluit (ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ in Inuktitut syllabics; formerly, Frobisher Bay) is the capital and largest settlement of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. It is on a southeastern inlet of Baffin Island. As of 2016, the population stood at just over 7,700 people.

Understand
Iqaluit is in the Everett Mountains rising from Koojesse (Kuujussi) Inlet, an inlet of Frobisher Bay, on the southeast part of Baffin Island. It is well to the east of Nunavut's mainland, and northeast of Hudson Bay.

It had long been used as a campsite and fishing spot by the Inuit (Aboriginal) people, who called it Iqaluit – "place of many fish" in Inuktitut. The US and Canadian authorities named it Frobisher Bay, after the name of the body of water it borders. In 1984 the settlement's name was changed from Frobisher Bay to Iqaluit.

History
Iqaluit has been a traditional fishing location used by Inuit for thousands of years.

World War II resulted in an influx of non-Inuit to the area, as Canada and the United States cooperated in the war in Europe. In 1942, the United States built an air base there, on a long-term lease with the Canadian government, in order to provide a stop-over and refuelling site for the short-range aircraft being ferried to Europe to support the war effort.

In 1949, after the war, the Hudson's Bay Company moved its south Baffin operations to the neighbouring valley of Niaqunngut, also called Apex, in order to use the airfield. In the mid-1950s, the population of Frobisher Bay increased rapidly during the construction of the Distant Early Warning Line (DEW line, a system of defensive radar stations—see North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)). Hundreds of mostly non-Inuit construction workers, military personnel, and administrative staff moved into the community, and several hundred Inuit followed, to take advantage of the access to jobs and medical care provided by the base operations. By 1957, 489 of the town's 1,200 residents were reported to be Inuit. After 1959, the Canadian government established permanent services at Frobisher Bay, including full-time doctors, a school, and social services. The Inuit population grew rapidly in response, as the government encouraged Inuit to settle permanently in communities supported by government services.

The American military left Iqaluit in 1963, as their development of intercontinental ballistic missiles diminished the strategic value of the DEW line and Arctic airbases. Canada continued to operate an administrative and logistical centre for much of the eastern Arctic at Frobisher Bay. The founding of the Gordon Robertson Educational Centre, now Inuksuk High School, in the early 1970s at Iqaluit confirmed the government's commitment to the community as an administrative centre. At the time of its founding, this was the sole high school operating in what constituted more than one-seventh of Canadian territory.

Climate
The season in which you choose to visit Iqaluit will largely determine what you'll be able to see and do. The peak time for visiting Iqaluit is during its brief summer. The ice on Frobisher Bay begins to thaw in June, when temperatures start rising and the nights are short. Hiking is excellent about this time. The bay remains inaccessible during its thaw, but an icebreaker will arrive to clear a path for boats usually by the end of June. July and August are both the warmest and wettest months. Wildflowers and berries flourish, but so do the mosquitos. Fishing on Sylvia Grinnell River is best on the shoulders of summer, when the arctic char migrate down toward the bay and then back up again.

Snow starts falling regularly again in September and continues through early June. The bay stays open to boats until November. Daylight hours become increasingly short in the winter months, but the northern lights are entrancing. January and February are the coldest and darkest months of the year, and life in the town can get a bit grim at this time. April and May are the ideal months for dog-sledding, kite-skiing and other snow activities.

Visitor information

 * Iqaluit City Council website
 * Iqaluit City Council website

Get in
Iqaluit is generally accessible only by air and, under the right ice conditions, by sea. It is not connected by road to any other town. Due to its isolation and the lack of competition, getting to Iqaluit is a very expensive prospect.

Airlines
Airlines operating to Iqaluit with scheduled services:

Airlines operating chartered flights from Iqaluit to nearby communities:

Get around
Iqaluit has a local road system only stretching from the nearby community of Apex to the Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park, 1 km (0.62 mi) west of town. Iqaluit has no public transportation.

Iqaluit is small enough that most things are within walking distance of each other. Taxis charge a flat $8.75 fee per person to anywhere in town (as of 2022). In the summer, you can rent bicycles from the visitor's centre. There are also several automotive outfitters in town that rent snowmobiles and ATVs.

Outdoor activities
Iqaluit is the main base from which to explore Baffin Island. Several outfitters organize guided excursions around the island and Arctic expeditions further afield. Most activities are seasonal. Summer activities include trekking, and boat and fishing tours in Frobisher Bay. In the winter months, dog-sledding journeys are an excellent way to get out and explore the landscape. As well as the commercial outfitters, there are several dog-team owners in town who take visitors out for an afternoon or overnight. Kite-skiing is an increasingly popular activity, and frozen Frobisher Bay is considered one of the best spots for it in Canada. Aerial sightseeing tours are easy to organize at any time of the year and there will always be a charter company available to take you up, depending on the weather.

Some of the more reliable outfitters in town include Inupak Outfitting, Northwinds Arctic Adventures, Polynya Adventure and Qairrulik Outfitting. Call the local tourism authority for more. Dates for longer expeditions are usually scheduled well in advance, but even most day trips require a minimum number of people, so be sure to book early to give the outfitters time to organize others.

Opportunities for trekking around Iqaluit are almost endless, thanks to wide-open surroundings, including two protected areas on its doorstep. The terrain can be rough, however, and there are very few trails and no roads. You can also rent snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) from several outfitters in town.

 * The Itijjagiaq Trail, part of the Trans Canada Trail system, runs 177 km from Iqaluit and Kimmirut. It does not connect to other parts of the Trans Canada Trail. One branch heads north for several kilometres, while the other begins with a navigable water trail about 25 km across Frobisher Bay to the Katannilik Territorial Park on Meta Incognita Peninsula.
 * The Itijjagiaq Trail, part of the Trans Canada Trail system, runs 177 km from Iqaluit and Kimmirut. It does not connect to other parts of the Trans Canada Trail. One branch heads north for several kilometres, while the other begins with a navigable water trail about 25 km across Frobisher Bay to the Katannilik Territorial Park on Meta Incognita Peninsula.
 * The Itijjagiaq Trail, part of the Trans Canada Trail system, runs 177 km from Iqaluit and Kimmirut. It does not connect to other parts of the Trans Canada Trail. One branch heads north for several kilometres, while the other begins with a navigable water trail about 25 km across Frobisher Bay to the Katannilik Territorial Park on Meta Incognita Peninsula.

Buy
Inuit artists are recognized internationally for their stone carvings and prints, and there are several galleries in Iqaluit selling arts and crafts from all over Nunavut. In addition, artists often tout their wares along the waterfront and in restaurants, creating excellent opportunities to experience the local art culture.

Eat
Local specialties consist mainly of game meats (caribou) and seafood (Arctic char, mussels, scallops and shrimp). Another staple is bannock, a type of bread.

The best restaurants are in the hotels, but all of them are open to non-guests. Prices for food are generally much higher here than in other parts of Canada.

Drink
While many communities in Nunavut have restrictions on the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol, Iqaluit does not. You are free to bring alcohol into the community for your own use, and you can buy and drink it in bars and licensed restaurants.

Sleep
Being a small town, Iqaluit doesn't have much of a choice in the way of accommodation. Rates for rooms are generally much higher than their value, and amenities can be lacking. Booking ahead and securing a room before your arrival is essential. Budget travellers are restricted to camping and couch surfing. When the local college (Nunavut Arctic College) is not in session, visitors can stay at the college residence, which costs much less than local hotels.

Connect
There is cell phone coverage in Iqaluit, but your phone may not work because of the lack of coverage by the major Canadian wireless companies and outdated infrastructure (which is being upgraded).

Ice Wireless, a regional phone carrier, provides a 3G network and is the only GSM option at this time. Its phones and plans are sold at QITC in the RBC Building on Queen Elizabeth Way. Rogers Wireless has an exclusive roaming agreement with Ice Wireless, so Rogers customers can use the network for a fee, but it is voice-only (data roaming is not available).

The other wireless option is Bell, which operates a 4G/LTE system.

Go next
By air to Kuujjuaq, Rankin Inlet, or Ottawa.

title: Iqaluit


text:
Iquique

Iquique is a city of 191,000 people (2017) in the Northern Chile. The city is home to the Zofri duty-free zone, and a growing number of high-rise resort hotels along its beaches. Slightly more expensive and polluted than neighboring population centers, such as Arica, but a convenient place to stock up on duty-free perfumes and laptop computers.

Understand
The city developed during the heyday of the saltpetre mining in the Atacama Desert in the 19th century. Once a Peruvian city with a large Chilean population, it was conquered by Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879–1883). Today it is one of only two free ports of Chile, the other one being Punta Arenas, in the country's far south. Copper mining is also an important industry in Iquique.
 * Visit Iquique website

By bus
Buses pull in on different locations.

Several daily arrivals from Arica, Antofagasta, Calama and Santiago (25 hr). Also buses from La Paz, Oruro and Cochabamba in Bolivia.

The last bus to Calama runs at 21:30 and arrives at 04:00 with bus company Fronte de Norte.

By plane

Many flights connect daily with Santiago and other main cities in the country. International flights are offered from Peru, Bolivia and Argentina.

Get around
Micros run along the major streets in the center and takes you from the center to the Zofri in no time. Walking is the most convenient mode of transport for getting to and from the beaches.

You can share a taxi for 500 pesos and or get a private one for 2000 pesos. Faster than taking the bus.

See

 * Historic sites – They can be found along the city and nearby the coast and desert, most of them related to the Pacific War against the coalition of Perú and Bolivia during the 19th century and with the massacre by the government against miner workforce demanding social and economical rights, known as "the Santa Maria School massacre".
 * 19th-century architecture – Mainly downtown and its origins are linked with the mining activities during that century, when European entrepreneurs became rich with the extraction of saltpetre and established their homes in the city. Many of them constructed big houses in different styles that predominated during the period and grouped in colonies with their respective buildings, with special stylistic, material and constructive adaptations to the climate of Iquique. Important examples are the Spanish Casino, the Croatian Casino, the Chinese Club and the Municipal Theatre, one of the most important nationwide.
 * 19th-century architecture – Mainly downtown and its origins are linked with the mining activities during that century, when European entrepreneurs became rich with the extraction of saltpetre and established their homes in the city. Many of them constructed big houses in different styles that predominated during the period and grouped in colonies with their respective buildings, with special stylistic, material and constructive adaptations to the climate of Iquique. Important examples are the Spanish Casino, the Croatian Casino, the Chinese Club and the Municipal Theatre, one of the most important nationwide.

Do

 * Beaches – This is a must. Iquique is known for its good weather and beaches (playas) with "Playa Cavancha" being the largest. Some of them are not suitable for swimming: submarine tides are dangerous in some places, as for example "Playa Brava" or "Playa Huayquique".
 * Surfing – Right in town

Buy

In the center of the city you can find many shops for buy clothes, toys and every kind of stuff.

Eat
Iquique's Chinese immigrants that arrived during the 19th century as slaves to work in saltpetre extraction, have had a distinct influence on the local food. The area around the Mercado is Iquique's Chinatown. You will find a large number of Peruvian influenced "Chifa" restaurants here, all pretty expensive. The smaller restaurants between them are cheaper, and serve sandwiches and burgers for 800 pesos and up. McDonald's, Domino's, KFC, and other fast food chains can be found in malls.

For dessert you can try the chumbeque invented by Chinese descendants. It's prepared with layers of fried thin dough filled with different fruity caramels. Nearby towns in Iquique specially Pica and Matilla offer a variety of fruits and desserts made with them, the best known are the alfajores.

Drink
Pisco Sour prepared with lemons from "Pica" is the local speciality.

Go next

 * Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works – A UNESCO site and ghost town 48 km east in the Atacama Desert
 * Arica – Next main city north
 * Putre – North, gateway into Bolivia

title: Iquique