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Knutsford

Knutsford is a very pleasant town of 13,000 people (2021) in Cheshire spoilt only by its position under Manchester Airport's flight path.

By road
Knutsford is situated very close to J19 on the M6, it even has a set of services named after it. From Manchester head south join the M56 and leave at Junction 7.

By coach
As of 2022, Knutsford is not served by coach services, There are however limited local bus connections to Wilmslow, Macclesfield & Northwich.

By train
Trains run hourly from Manchester Piccadilly, taking 45 min via Stockport, Altrincham and Hale, and continuing via Northwich to Chester. An off-peak single from Piccadilly in 2022 costs £7.30.

is central in town. It has a staffed ticket office and machines, but no toilets, cafe or waiting room. There is level access via the street to both platforms.

By plane
Knutsford is close to Manchester Airport, 15 minutes by car. It will cost about £20-25 in a taxi.

Get around
Princess Street (also known locally as Top Street) and King Street (also known as Bottom Street) form the core of the town centre. At one end of King Street is an entrance to the historic Tatton Park estate.

The best way to get around in Knutsford is on foot, The bus station is by Booth's Supermarket.

See

 * : see Northwich for this 19th-century mansion and gardens.
 * : see Northwich for this 19th-century mansion and gardens.
 * : see Northwich for this 19th-century mansion and gardens.

Do

 * Elizabeth Gaskell tours
 * Play Golf
 * Feed the ducks
 * Knutsford Beer Festival is held in April on Egerton Place. The next is probably 18-20 April 2024, tbc.
 * Truckfest North West celebrates heavy haulage and monster trucks, at Cheshire Showground in mid-September.

Buy
Antiques

Eat
Knutsford has a very large number of restaurants. They are all situated in the centre of town, mainly on King Street.
 * Rose & Crown see Sleep
 * Rose & Crown see Sleep
 * Rose & Crown see Sleep
 * Rose & Crown see Sleep
 * Rose & Crown see Sleep
 * Rose & Crown see Sleep

Drink
Traditional English pubs, serving many Ales and they have a very friendly atmosphere,

 * Rose & Crown see Sleep below
 * Rose & Crown see Sleep below

There are a couple of reasonable tea shops. Try Mallard on Princess Street and the Penny Farthing in a pleasant courtyard off King Street.

Mobberley is a village just outside Knutsford.

Sleep

 * The Cross Keys Hotel, and the Angel @ King St. all provide accommodation in more central areas.
 * The Cross Keys Hotel, and the Angel @ King St. all provide accommodation in more central areas.
 * The Cross Keys Hotel, and the Angel @ King St. all provide accommodation in more central areas.
 * The Cross Keys Hotel, and the Angel @ King St. all provide accommodation in more central areas.

Connect
Knutsford and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of September 2023, 5G is available from Vodafone in many areas.

Go next
Knutsford is surrounded by small villages and countryside. A cycle or drive out to one of these villages for a walk and trip to country pub can be very rewarding.

 * Altrincham
 * Manchester
 * Chester
 * Lymm

title: Knutsford


text:
Knysna

Knysna, pearl of the scenic Garden Route, sits between George and Plettenberg Bay. Perennially green thanks to a Mediterranean Maritime climate with rain falling throughout the year, Knysna is mantled by indigenous forests extending into the Tsitsikamma National Park area. Nestled between the impressive Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian ocean, the culinary capital of oysters and other delectable seafood is a compulsory stopover on every traveller's itinerary. At the heart of Knysna is a lagoon protected from the sea by the monolithic sandstone "Heads" Webcam– best explored on board a catamaran or from along hiking paths in the Featherbed Nature Reserve. A hotspot for art and craft, as well as adventure activities such as tree canopy gliding, kloofing and abseiling, Knysna offers something to everybody.

The peculiarity of the origin of the place-name Knysna is commonly explained with a light-hearted joke of two German tourists travelling to Knysna, and upon reaching the lookout point on the eastern Knysna Head, the one says to the other: 'Nice, na?'. On a more serious note, Knysna is believed to be derived from a Khoi word for place of wood, or fern leaves, but most probable straight down or hard to reach - referring to the steep Knysna Heads.

Events
Knysna hosts a variety of events annually, which draw local and international visitors alike. Such events include the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival (late June/early July); the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras (end of April/beginning of May); Gastronomica lifestyle festival, which promotes healthy eating and organic principles(September); and the Rastafarian Earth Festival held at the end of July, celebrating Rastafarian religion, culture and lifestyle.

Knysna Oyster Festival
The Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, held annually in late June/early July, is the town's biggest event. The duration of the festival is ten days, first held in 1983. Oysters, the festival's namesake, are a large component, and approximately 200, 000 are consumed over the 10-day period.

Many sporting activities take place too, such as rugby, golf, bowls, squash, cycling and marathons.

The Knysna Forest Marathon and Half Marathon, and the Rotary Cycle Tour draw many sporting enthusiasts to the town.

By car
Located in the middle of the Garden Route Knysna is easily accessible from Cape Town (about 500 km) and Port Elizabeth (about 270 km).

By bus

 * The major bus companies serve Knysna on their run from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.
 * City to City has the lowest fare from Knysna to Cape Town at R230.
 * Intercape has a sleepliner bus from Knysna to Johannesburg/Pretoria every day 3PM.
 * The Baz Bus stops in Knysna.
 * There are Minibus taxis from Knysna to George R50. and from Knysna to Plettenberg Bay R25. The minibus station is outside the Shoprite supermarket Nelson street.

By plane
The nearest airport is in George, while for international flights you have to go through Cape Town.

By train
There is no passenger train service to Kynsna. Classic Rail is working to restore service on the steam train line to George. The old railway station is adjacent to the waterfront shopping and restaurant complex, a couple of blocks from the centre of town.

There is a railway heritage museum in George, alongside the train station.

Get around
Walking around is the best option or rent a bicycle for longer distances. Except the minibuses there is no public transport so you have to take a taxi if you want. Traffic can become extremely busy during the tourist high season and long queues in and out of Knysna are common.

See

 * The lagoon: about 18 km² and home to at least 200 species of fish is connected with the Indian Ocean through a turbulent channel between "The Heads", two sandstone cliffs. Tour around on one of several boats or just take a coffee at "the Heads".
 * Take a boat across to the
 * The Knysna Forest: about 80,000 ha are now under conservation. The 'King Edward VII' tree (at Diepwalle forest station) is an estimated 600 years old, 39 m at height, and has a circumference of 6 m. The most famous animals are the Knysna elephants. Research involving DNA testing of dung is being done to see how many of them may still rumble in the jungle, please report any "dung" sightings! Remember to always take care. There are several hiking trails but you need a car to access the forest. Don't forget the conservation motto "Take only photographs, leave only footprints!".
 * Pledge Nature Reserve: offers 3½ km of pathways through scrub forest and hillside fynbos with fine views over the lagoon and is 500 m from the town centre. A nice place for a walk in the afternoon.
 * Millwood Gold Fields: Site of one of the first gold rushes in South Africa, the Millwood Museum and Materoli Tea Room (be sure to try a piece of Jayne's World Famous Chocolate Cake) offers a unique and fascinating view of the greed, entrepreneurship, energy, and ultimate failure of the first gold discovered in South Africa during the late 1800s. Tours through the old gold diggings are available.
 * The Kaaimans River bridge, near Sedgefield, used to be the most-photographed railway bridge in the world. The steam train that used to run between George and Knysna via Sedgefield and Wilderness was known as the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe. It was the last remaining scheduled steam-hauled train service in South Africa. The track was closed after flooding in 2006 and 2007.
 * The Kaaimans River bridge, near Sedgefield, used to be the most-photographed railway bridge in the world. The steam train that used to run between George and Knysna via Sedgefield and Wilderness was known as the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe. It was the last remaining scheduled steam-hauled train service in South Africa. The track was closed after flooding in 2006 and 2007.

Do

 * Walk along the lagoon, take a coffee at one of the many shops at the waterfront and head straight on for The Heads.
 * There are many golf courses around, often with stunning settings or views. Pezula Championship Course and Golf Club Simola Golf and Country Estate, and Knysna Golf Club.
 * Mountain bike in one of the beautiful forests.
 * Mountain bike in one of the beautiful forests.
 * Mountain bike in one of the beautiful forests.
 * Mountain bike in one of the beautiful forests.
 * Mountain bike in one of the beautiful forests.
 * Mountain bike in one of the beautiful forests.
 * Mountain bike in one of the beautiful forests.

Buy
Knysna has two shopping malls, and there are shops along the Main St. and at the Waterfront.

Eat
Many restaurants line the main street and the waterfront area. There are so many good restaurants in and around Knysna that you will be spoilt for choice!

Sleep
Many Backpackers hostels, guesthouses, hotels and B&Bs compete for the visitor in off-season, but in high season prices rise and places fill early so book ahead. There are also several nice options out of town (like Brenton-on-Sea and Buffalo Bay) for those with their own transport.

Connect
The town has rolled out municipal wifi provided by Uninet. Access is restricted to 45 minutes per user per day.

Go next
Hike in the Kynsna forest or take a tour in the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steam-train to Knysna. Other options are a day tour to Oudtshoorn or the Noetzie castle a few km north east of town.

 * Noetzie Castle - East of Knysna some Britons lost their castles on the beach. Worth some hours or more if you like the beach.
 * Brenton-on-Sea - Less crowded than Knysna this sea-side village offers endless beaches
 * Continue up the Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay or down towards Wilderness

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

title: Knysna


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Kobarid

Kobarid is a city located in the Soča Valley in the Julian Alps of Slovenia.

Do
Be sure to walk the Historic Trail. One section follows the Soča River, which is the most incredible color of blue-green. The trail begins in a meadow, with a spectacular view of the Julian Alps and the Napoleanic. As it winds along the river, you will see tunnels dug into the mountainsides, where WWI fighters stored supplies and hid during the battle that was immortalized in Hemmingway's A Farewell to Arms. You can walk across the wooden, hanging bridge or dangle your feet in the incredibly clear but also cold water where you get close enough to the river. The culmination of the path is the Slap Kozjak, a beautiful waterfall in a cave-like area. The trail is a little tricky in some parts. You have to walk across narrow stone bridges without handrails and climb some slippery rock slabs, but it is well worth the effort. information for foreign visitors.

Go next

 * Bovec
 * Tolmin

title: Kobarid


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Kobayashi

Kobayashi (小林) is a city in Miyazaki prefecture.

Understand
The city government's official site has a Japanese-only tourism section.

Get around
The best way to get around Kobayashi City is by renting a car, or cycling if you have a lot of time. Most tourists will arrive either at JR Miyazaki Station or Miyazaki Airport. There will be a number of rental car companies to select from if you are doing it on the spot. Of course booking in advance will make the turnover faster. From Miyazaki Airport to Kobayashi City is about 50 minutes, driving on a tolled expressway. It is very easy to enter the expressway from the airport, with the access road about 1.5km from the airport terminal.

See
Kobayashi City can be divided into three areas for sightseeing, Nojiri Area, Kobayashi Area and Suki Area. Each of these areas offers something unique and interesting for the traveler.

Nojiri Area:
 * Nojirikopia
 * Nojiro Camp Village
 * Natural Hot Springs Togenkyo
 * Yuparu Nojiro Roadside Station
 * Yuparu Hot Springs

Kobayashi Area:
 * Sannomiya Gorge
 * Inyoseki
 * Idenoyama Park - Idenoyama Park is southwest from center of Kobayashi city. This park has a pond where the water source is from Idenoyama mountain. This is the home place of the Firefly Festival every May. Features a freshwater aquarium, restaurants specializing in carp dishes, and a beautiful lakefront scenery.  One of the spring waters of the Kirishima Mountains, abundant water flow of 1 ton per second flows into the largest reservoir in Kobayashi, Idenoyama Pond. Idenoyama Pond was created by the Satsuma Domain in 1614 (Keicho 19) as irrigation water, and around this area a large number of flora and fauna inhabit. In late May to early June, it is a great habitat of Genji fireflies. There is a promenade so you can walk by the pond and enjoy the fireflies dancing. At the adjacent Miyazaki Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station Kobayashi Branch, the sturgeon has been successfully hatched using spring water, and its caviar has been commercialized in cooperation with the private sector. There is a restaurant where you can taste river fish such as carp trout, and sturgeon.
 * Idenoyama Freshwater Fish Aquarium
 * Cosmos Hot Springs
 * Kirishima-Mine Shrine
 * Ohata Lake
 * Ohata Lake

Suki Area:
 * Sukimu Land Suspension Bridge
 * Sukimu Land Hot Springs Kajika-no-Yu
 * Suki Shuzo Sake Brewery
 * Sukimu Land Camping Grounds
 * Mamako Falls
 * Mamako Falls Camp Grounds
 * Mountain Cabins from Around the World
 * Karukaya Japanese Thatched Rental Houses

Do
Shrines and Temples

 * Kumano Shrine 熊野神社, 3076 Higashikata, Kobayashi City, Tel: (0984) 22-7499
 * Suwa Shrine 諏訪神社 3076 Higashikata, Kobayashi City, Tel: (0984) 22－3773
 * Yamanokami Shrine 山之神神社 Tel: (0984) 22-7499
 * Kouzuma Shrine 高妻神社 2007 Nojirichō Kamiya, Kobayashi City, Tel: (0984) 22-3534
 * Yatsunooh Shrine 八尾神社 2026 Nojiricho Mikanoyama, Kobayashi City, Tel: (0984) 22-3534
 * Iwato Shrine 岩戸神社 4447 Tsutsumi, Kobayashi City, Tel: (0984) 33-2722
 * Inari Shrine 稲荷神社 2381-27 Hosono, Kobayashi City, Tel: (0984) 22-4531
 * Atago Shrine 愛宕神社 42 Magata, Kobayashi City, Tel: (0984) 22-4531
 * Sugawara Shrine 菅原神社 2190 Minaminishikata, Kobayashi City, Tel: (0984) 22-4531
 * Kirishima Mine Shrine 霧島岑神社 4937 Hosono, Kobayashi City, Tel: (0984) 23-3364
 * Takatsuma Shrine 高都万神社 539 Nojirichō Higashifumoto, Kobayashi City, Tel: (0984) 22-3534
 * Ohtoshi Shrine 大年神社 1733 Sukinakahara, Kobayashi City, Tel: (0984) 48-3123
 * Kounji Temple 光運寺 1 Nojirichō Higashifumoto, Kobayashi City, Tel: (0984) 44-1004

Go next

 * Ebino
 * Aya
 * Nojiri
 * Nishimera
 * Takaharu
 * Miyakonojo
 * Hitoyoshi
 * Yusui
 * Kirishima

title: Kobayashi


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Kobe

Kōbe (神戸) is a historic port city in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan. Together with Kyoto and Osaka, it makes up the three-city agglomeration of Keihanshin (京阪神), Japan's largest after greater Tokyo.

Understand
A cosmopolitan port city with an international flavor, hemmed in by Mt. Rokko, Kōbe is often ranked as the best place for expatriates to live in Japan. The city has a population of over 1.5 million people (2019).

History
A port in what would become Kōbe was established as a concession to western powers in 1868, during the time when Japan was opening to the world. Nagasaki and Yokohama had already begun serving foreign ships nine years earlier. Today, a synagogue, Japan's first mosque, Japan's first Sikh temple, a Chinatown, and European architecture mark Kōbe as a place where foreigners and foreign culture first arrived in Japan.

Great Hanshin Earthquake
At 05:46 on January 17, 1995, the Great Hanshin Earthquake, measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale, struck near the city. The quake killed 6,433 people, made 300,000 people homeless and destroyed 10,000 buildings and large parts of the port facilities, and toppled the Hanshin Expressway, an elevated freeway. It was one of the costliest natural disasters in modern history. However, visitors will not see any of the aftermath of the quake, as the city has been restored.

Tourist information site
Feel Kobe is the city's official multilingual travel guide site.

By plane

From Kobe Airport, the Port Liner light rail to Sannomiya Station runs about every 10 minutes (18 minutes, ¥330). Sannomiya Station offers connections to the Japan Rail (JR), Hanshin, Hankyu and subway lines. From there, a small trip on the subway will link you to the Shin-Kobe bullet train station (¥200). If coming from Sannomiya to the airport, be sure to board a train marked "Kobe Airport", as some head to the Kita Futo branch line instead.

Kansai International Airport (KIX) is 70 km from Kobe and is the nearest international airport. The fastest way to get there is on the Kaijo Access high-speed ferry from Kobe Airport, which runs every 45 minutes (29 minutes, ¥1,850 or ¥1,000 for foreign visitors). However, if you are coming from or going to Sannomiya Station or Rokko Island, it's nearly as fast and less of a hassle to take the Airport Limousine bus (60–75 minutes, ¥2,000 one-way, ¥3,00 round-trip, bus stop 6). Alternatively, you can take the JR Kanku Kaisoku (関空快速) rapid to Osaka station and change there to the Shin-kaisoku (新快速 - Special Rapid) that runs to both Sannomiya and Kobe stations (90 minutes, ¥2,410).

Itami Airport (ITM), officially known as Osaka International Airport but catering almost entirely to domestic flights, is 30 km northeast of Kobe. Airport buses operate service to/from Sannomiya Station (40 minutes, ¥1,050). This airport is convenient for passengers arriving Tokyo-Haneda and Tokyo-Narita International Airport from overseas, with connecting flights (may offer baggage through service, depending on flights).

By train
The central business district and many attractions are near Sannomiya station, 1.7 km south of Shin-Kobe Station. . Sannomiya station has a tourist information office well-stocked with area maps. Be sure to ask for the coupon book, which offers discounts of 10% to 20% for many attractions. The Japanese characters for Sannomiya station on Japan Railways (三ノ宮) differ from the Sannomiya station on other railways (三宮).

The nearest station on Japan's high-speed shinkansen network is at. From Tokyo station, Shin-Kobe is 2 hours, 50 minutes away via Nozomi (¥14,670); 3 hours and 20 minutes via Hikari (¥14,270; no charge with the Japan Rail Pass). From Shin-Kobe station, take the Seishin Yamate subway line one stop to Sannomiya (¥200).

From Osaka, there are several ways to arrive in Sannomiya:
 * Trains on the Hankyu and Hanshin private lines depart respectively from Hankyu-Umeda and Hanshin-Umeda stations. The Tokkyu (特急) express takes roughly half an hour to reach Sannomiya (¥310).
 * Hanshin trains also operate to Kobe from Namba station. Kaisoku Kyuko (快速急行) trains depart every 20 minutes, reaching Sannomiya in 45 minutes at a cost of ¥400. In some instances you may have to change trains at Amagasaki.
 * The best option via JR is to take the Shin-kaisoku (新快速 - Special Rapid) or Kaisoku (快速 - Rapid) service that departs from JR Osaka station, running to Sannomiya in 20 and 26 minutes, respectively (¥390, no charge with the Japan Rail Pass).

From Kyoto, Sannomiya is 50 minutes away from the main train station via Shin-kaisoku (¥1,050; no charge with the Japan Rail Pass). You can also make the run to the area in 30 minutes via bullet train, but it is more expensive, and if you have the rail pass, you can only take one train every hour without changing trains (the Hikari that runs through to Okayama).

From the central area of Kyoto (near Gion and the shopping district), you can reach Sannomiya in 70 minutes via Hankyu limited express, changing once at Juso station (¥600). Hankyu trains depart from the Kawaramachi and Karasuma stations.

From Nara, direct Kintetsu trains operate to Sannomiya Station on the Hanshin line via Namba every 20 minutes (75 minutes, ¥940).

By bus
Kobe is served by highway buses from many parts of Japan, including Tokyo, Nagoya, Nagano, and the Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu regions. Most buses congregate at the Sannomiya Bus Terminal (三宮バスターミナル), adjacent to the Sannomiya train station. Others pick up and discharge passengers in the surrounding streets. Willer Express, for example, uses an area near the PMPT building about a kilometer west of the bus terminal.

From Tokyo
Willer Express and JR Bus are among the major operators running buses from Tokyo to Kobe. Tickets for these and several other operators can be purchased online in English. One-way advance fares typically start at ¥3500 for high-density buses with 2x2 seating, and ¥5000 for buses with better seats and more amenities. Trips take 9–10 hours, with most buses leaving from either the Yaesu Exit of Tokyo Station or the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal (Busta Shinjuku).

Keio Bus and Shinki Bus operate the fastest overnight bus from Tokyo. The service starts at Busta Shinjuku and picks up at Shibuya Mark City on the way to Kobe, operating nonstop between Shibuya and Kobe in just 7 hours. The one-way fare is ¥8000, with advance fares available for around ¥6000-7000.

By boat
Several ferry services are available to Kobe, including routes from:

 * Takamatsu: Jumbo Ferry, +81 87-811-6688. 3½ hours; ¥1,600.
 * Kitakyushu: Hankyu Ferry, +81 78-857-1211. 12 hours; ¥6,680+.
 * Oita: Ferry Sunflower, +81 120-56-3268. 6½ hours; from ¥11,200.
 * Miyazaki Car Ferry runs an overnight ferry service from Miyazaki to Kobe. Take a bus from Miyazaki station to the ferry terminal. The ferry departs at 19:10 and arrives at Miyazaki at 07:30. A second class bunk bed costs ¥15,320.
 * Tianjin, China
 * Tianjin, China

By train
If you are planning to travel beyond city limits you might want to consider using the Kansai Thru Pass.

There are some other useful tickets:

ICOCA Card is a rechargeable card that can be used on rail, subway, and bus networks in Kansai area, Okayama, Hiroshima, Nagoya (Kintetsu) and Tokyo (JR East). These cards are available at vending machines at these rail stations, and cost ¥2,000, which includes ¥1,500 in transportation credit and a ¥500 deposit. The balance of the card (less ¥220 commission) and the ¥500 deposit will be refunded when the card is returned at any JR West Ticket Office.

The Hankyu (阪急), Hanshin (阪神) and JR lines cross Kōbe in a west-east direction, and provide the cheapest and fastest way to travel across town. Each of these three lines have their own station located around the busy central Sannomiya shopping district and each provide access to different points of interest.

For visitors with a Japan Rail Pass, JR will be of the most use. Shin-kaisoku (新快速 - Special Rapid) trains stop at both Sannomiya and Kōbe stations and provide the best way to travel west towards Akashi and Himeji or east towards Kyoto and Osaka. Boarding a Futsu (普通 - Local) from either Sannomiya or Kōbe stations will allow you to easy access to Motomachi (for Nankin-machi and Meriken-park) Nada (for the sake brewing district and museums) Rokkomichi (for buses to Mt. Rokko) and Sumiyoshi (for the Rokko Liner to Rokko Island).

The Hankyu and Hanshin lines are of less use to tourists but you may be forced to use them to visit certain sights. Koshien Stadium, home of the baseball team the Hanshin Tigers, is easily accessible from Hanshin Koshien Station and both lines provide service to Shinkaichi for transfer to the private Kobe Dentetsu line and access to the famed Arima Onsen hot-spring district.

By subway
Kōbe has two subway lines. The Kaigan Line runs along the coast, and the Seishin-Yamate Line runs toward the mountains. Both are more expensive than ordinary trains and unlikely to be of use for the traveler, except when connecting to Shin-Kōbe, the station north of the city where the Sanyo Shinkansen stops. The small jaunt between Shin-Kobe and Sannomiya costs ¥200. If you want to explore Kobe, there is a one-day-pass for both lines (1日乗車券; Ichinichi-jōshaken), costing ¥800 (children: ¥400) or subway plus bus for ¥1000 (children: ¥500).

North of Shin-Kobe station, the Yamate subway runs over the Hokushin Express Line. Trains run 7.5 km under ground and terminate at Tanigami Station, from which you can transfer to the Shintetsu Arima Line for Arima-guchi Station and Arima Onsen.

By light rail
The automated Port Liner links Sannomiya to the reclaimed port district south of the city, and continues over the Kobe Sky Bridge to Kobe Airport. Likewise, the Rokko Liner links the Rokko Island area to JR Sumiyoshi station. Both are operated by Kōbe New Transit.

By bus
Kobe has a comprehensive city bus system, which is often your best choice when travelling to areas north of the city, away from the predominately east-west running train and subway lines. Schedules and boarding locations can be obtained from the tourist information office below JR and Hankyu Sannomiya stations.

The city also operates a loop-line tourist bus called "City Loop" that travels around scenic spots and famous tourist locations in Kobe including the Kitano Ijinkan streets, Nankin-machi and Meriken Park. These distinctive old-fashioned green buses can be boarded are 15 stops between the Shin-Kobe area and Harborland and cost ¥280 for a single loop. Boarding locations are indicated by green and red signs on the side of the road. Buses run at 15-20 minute intervals and one loop takes approximately 70 minutes. In 2021, another route called "Port Loop" was started by Shinki Bus Company using modern blue tandem buses. 1/2 day passes for both Loops are available at ¥700/1,000.

By ropeway

Kobe has several ropeways that travel up Mount Rokko. One that is near a major station is the Shin-Kobe Ropeway, a 5-minute walk from Shin-Kobe station. The ropeway, reputed to have one of Kobe's best scenic views, runs up to the Nunobiki Herb Park. Adults ¥550 one-way, ¥1000 round-trip. Combination tickets are also sold which include the Nunobiki Herb Park (see below).

On foot
Kōbe is narrow in the north-south direction, but long in the west-east direction. Since much of it is built on a hill, a reasonable itinerary is to take the bus up the hill, and walk down. If you get lost, find the mountains or the harbour. The mountains are in the north, and the harbour is in the south.

See

Kobe's main attraction for the Japanese is its concentration of Western-style houses, some dating back to the days when Kobe was opened for foreign trade in 1868. Europeans who grew up in similar scenery may find them less fascinating.

Viewpoints

Sake breweries
Kōbe is a well-known center of sake production and many sake breweries are in the Nada (灘) area and have tours or museums open to the public. You can pick up a map of the sake breweries at the tourist information office in Sannomiya.

Do

 * (六甲山 Rokko-san) and its Rock Garden, the first an easy cable car trip for suitable romantic evenings, the second a light day's hiking with an excellent view. The view over the glittering expanse of Osaka Bay is canonized as one of the Three Great Night Views. The Mt. Rokko and adjacent Mount Maya cable car routes close at 17:10, or 20:50 in the summer.

Parks and gardens

Buy

Kōbe's shopping is clustered around the Sannomiya train station and the Center-Gai shopping arcade leading off from it. Many of the unassuming little cafes and specialty shops in the arcade in fact have histories tracing back well over a hundred years.

(ピアザ神戸) and (モトコータウン) are the two names of essentially one long arcade where all manner of second-hand goods are sold. These stores are underneath the JR lines, running from Sannomiya station, past Motomachi Station, to Kōbe Station. Motoko sells a variety of things such as books, clothes, shoes, accessories, knives, lighters, toys...... You can get heaps of things.

Books

Eat

Kobe has many restaurants offering international cuisine.

Kōbe is known worldwide for its Kobe beef, exquisitely marbled, very fatty and very expensive beef. Recommended for a splurge, but expect to pay close to ¥10,000 per 100 grams. At the opposite end of the culinary spectrum is sobameshi (そば飯), a concoction of fried rice and noodles mixed together, which is cheap, filling and pretty much unique to Kobe. For dessert lovers, Kobe is also famous among the Japanese for its cheesecakes.

Budget
Cheap eats can be found in Kōbe's Chinatown (Nankinmachi in Japanese), walking distance from Sannomiya station.

Bars
Kobe's specialty are tachinomiya, literally stand-and-drink bars.

Sleep
Kōbe has a wide variety of accommodation, ranging from love hotels near Shin-Kobe to luxury hotels by the waterfront. If you're looking for cheaper alternatives, ask at the tourist information office in Sannomiya station (they speak English).

If you don't find a hotel, Osaka is only 20 minutes away on the JR line for ¥390.

Budget

Go next

 * Arima Onsen is a hot-spring town just north of Kobe on the other side of Mt. Rokko.
 * Nishinomiya is between Kobe and Osaka, Mount Kabutoyama makes a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.
 * Takarazuka is famous for its all-female musical theatre troupe, the Takarazuka Revue.
 * Osaka has more shopping and nightlife and a beautiful restored castle.
 * Kyoto is the true cultural capital of Japan.
 * Awaji Island connects to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the world's longest suspension bridge, 10 km far to the West. (10 minutes by train.)
 * Kakogawa, 20 minutes away, is a bridge into history, culture and the outdoors.
 * Himeji is a nice city with Japan's most beautiful well-preserved castle, a 30 -inute train ride away.
 * Okayama is a beautiful city, home to one of the top three gardens in Japan and the birthplace of the famous Momotaro tale
 * Kurashiki is a charming stroll through old Japan, lined with local shops and museums
 * Takamatsu is the capital of Kagawa prefecture known as the Udon Kingdom. It has Ritsurin-park and Yashima.
 * Suma is a beach just a few minutes from Kobe on the subway. The beach is right outside Suma station and is a lively place full of DJs and restaurants.

title: Kobe


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Koblenz

Koblenz is a city in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in the Middle Rhine Valley in the Federal Republic of Germany. Koblenz has about 114,000 inhabitants (2019); the surrounding area accounts for about 400,000 people in total. The city is the northmost point of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage site.

Understand
Koblenz was the capital of the Rhine province of Prussia. Located in the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers, and watched by the gigantic Ehrenbreitstein fortress on top of the eponymous hill, the city was the battleground of multiple wars between France and the German countries between the 17th and 19th centuries.

Today, Koblenz is an attractive city that is often used as a convenient base for exploring the region, as it gives easy access, either by car, train, boat or even bicycle, to both river banks of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley and also to the German Moselle Valley. The city itself also has major tourist attractions including Fortress Ehrenbreitstein, the Deutsches Eck and Castle Stolzenfels.

By plane
Koblenz is located within one hour travelling time of three major German airports:
 * Frankfurt Airport, which is one of the world's major intercontinental hubs and home of Lufthansa
 * Hahn Airport, the largest airport in the state, served by low-cost airlines
 * Cologne-Bonn Airport, one of Germany's largest airports and the main base of Lufthansa's low-fare subsidiary, Eurowings

By train
Koblenz can easily be reached by train IC, for example from the Frankfurt/Mainz area, Cologne area or Trier. These towns are one to two hours away and connections run from early in the morning till late night.

Nightjet, the Austrian Railways' sleeper train, runs twice a week from Brussels via Bonn and Koblenz to Vienna, Munich and Innsbruck. It calls at Frankfurt airport, Würzburg and Nuremberg where it divides: one portion runs via Linz to Vienna, the other via Munich to Innsbruck. In 2020 it doesn't run in July and Aug, but it's expected to be year-round from 2021.

By car
Three German motorways lead to Koblenz: A3, A48 and A61. Parking in the center of Koblenz is sometimes restricted according to time. Park and ride is available. The train station has a parking garage, as does the Löhr Center. Pay attention to closing times at the Löhr Center parking garage: it closes shortly after the shops, typically catching at least a few tourists unaware.

By bus
Many bus companies offer trips to Koblenz for one or more days.

Get around
Buses leave from the central train station (usually between 5:30 and 23:00) and will take you to most parts of Koblenz. The city itself is quite small and easily accessible on foot.

You can reach Festung Ehrenbreitstein by taxi, bus, or by taking a ferry across the Rhine River and walking up the walled access road to the fortress. You can also ride a chairlift (Sesselbahn) to the top of the fortress.

By bus
Koblenz' buses can be confusing to the typical visitor. Navigation apps such as Google Maps do not really work for public transportation in the city, and in some places there are multiple bus stops, but buses passing in different stops might actually go to the same destination. The VRM website contains English transit maps and a journey planner.

For a visitor, the most relevant stops are probably Hauptbahnhof (the main train station), Bf Stadtmitte/Löhr-Center (the city's largest shopping mall in the west of the shopping district, close to the Old Town), and Zentralplats/Forum (near another large shopping mall, in the east of the shopping district closer to the Rhine, and also close to Old Town). The Schlossweg bus stop of bus line 670 can be used to reach Castle Stolzenfels.

Buses can be paid in cash - you can use the journey planner above to calculate the fare. Alternatively, you can acquire a Koblenz Card in the tourist centre in Forum Confluentes (Zentralplats/Forum stop), which gives you unlimited bus trips within the Koblenz city proper plus discounts or free entry on several attractions. While this may sound like a huge benefit, consider that many attractions in Koblenz close early and you may not be able to visit many of them in the same day.

By bicycle
Koblenz is a very pleasant place for cycling, as there are cycling paths along most of the banks of the Mosel and Rhine rivers. Bicyles can be rented at Micha's Rad-Atelier (Hohenzollernstraße 119, 56068 Koblenz, +4926197333166) near the train station, or Fahrradverleih (Gemüseg. 7, 56068 Koblenz, +4917670148061, ) in the Old Town. Cycling is a particularly convenient way to reach Castle Stolzenfels, since it's a mere 6 km from the main station and buses aren't very frequent. Other regional attractions within cycling distance are the town of Lahnstein which contains Castle Lahneck and Palace Martinsburg, and Braubach with the famous Castle Marksburg.

See

 * City Sculptures. Koblenz has a number of whimsical sculptures and fountains scattered throughout the city. Look for them as you walk around, and you will be pleasantly surprised.
 * City Sculptures. Koblenz has a number of whimsical sculptures and fountains scattered throughout the city. Look for them as you walk around, and you will be pleasantly surprised.
 * City Sculptures. Koblenz has a number of whimsical sculptures and fountains scattered throughout the city. Look for them as you walk around, and you will be pleasantly surprised.
 * City Sculptures. Koblenz has a number of whimsical sculptures and fountains scattered throughout the city. Look for them as you walk around, and you will be pleasantly surprised.
 * City Sculptures. Koblenz has a number of whimsical sculptures and fountains scattered throughout the city. Look for them as you walk around, and you will be pleasantly surprised.
 * City Sculptures. Koblenz has a number of whimsical sculptures and fountains scattered throughout the city. Look for them as you walk around, and you will be pleasantly surprised.

Buy
Koblenz has two big shopping malls (Löhr-Center and Forum Mittelrhein) with some 130 shops, located in the city centre. There are also many downtown shops on or near Löhrstraße.

Drink
Koblenz is located in the wine area of the Rhine and Mosel Rivers, mostly known for dry white wines, but also producing dry red wines, and in Germany, trying the beer is also a must. Southern and northern German beers differ in the proportion of hops and malt. More hops makes the beer more bitter, and this region is known for a higher percentage of hops. "Königsbacher" and "Koblenzer" are made by a local brewery.

Go next
Rhine Valley: Moselle Valley: Lahn:
 * Boppard
 * Braubach
 * St. Goar — home to the famous "Loreley", the narrowest and once the most dangerous part of the Rhine for ships
 * Treis-Karden — site of the stunning Eltz Castle, 30 km west of Koblenz
 * Cochem — medieval town up the Mosel River
 * Bad Ems

title: Koblenz


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Ko Bon

Ko Bon (เกาะบอน) is a small island SSE of Ko Phuket. It lies 1-2 km off-shore.

Get in
It is accessible in just 10 minutes by boat from Rawai or Laem Ka. You can also charter a longtail from most of Phuket's main beaches.

See
The island has a white sandy beach, suitable for swimming and a one-day tour.

Drink
Stay for cocktails in the late afternoon and watch the sun go down at Laem Phrom Thep.

Sleep
There was a luxurious honeymoon suite, operated by the Evason Resort & Spa in Rawai, on the island. But the Evanson has closed and there is now no accommodation on the island (Nov 2013).

title: Ko Bon


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Ko Bulon Leh

Ko Bulon Leh is a small island in Satun Province, near the Tarutao National Marine Park, on the Andaman (west) coast of the south Thailand.

Understand
Ko Bulon Leh is a small island with comparatively little development. The island has no ATM, no place to exchange cash or travellers cheques and no reliable cash advance service. Bulone resort will do Visa cash advance when they have enough cash for a 7% fee.

Get in
You can get the boat direct from Pak Bara (400 baht) on the mainland or Ko Lipe on the journey back to Pak Bara (600 baht).

You will need to pay 50 baht per person for a longtail boat transfer to the beach and back again to the speedboat.

Get around
There are no cars and even roads on the island and transport is very much two-legged. If you want to walk through the forest (which is highly recommended) wear long sleeved clothes against the mosquitoes, wear proper shoes, and don't do it at night.

See
Bulon Leh is a place to relax and enjoy the beautiful beach. Don't expect daily excitement. Jungle trekking, snorkelling and swimming will make up the bulk of the visit.

You can walk through the village via the Viewpoint Resort and through the rubber plantation to Mango Bay and go rock pooling or shell collecting.

Buy
As of 2024, there is no ATM.

Eat
Most of the lodgings have their own restaurants and, with the exception of the three resorts near each other on the east beach (Pansand. Bulone, Marina), you are best not walking too far through the jungle to find food. All the restaurants do great seafood, but at prices that are significantly higher than on the mainland.

Stay safe
Ko Bulon Leh is very safe and you will have more problems with protecting yourself from local wildlife than local people.

Ensure you bring enough mosquito repellent and good walking boots. Most hotels will provide a mosquito net but for eating dinner or walking in the jungle you will need either repellent or long sleeved clothes. Snakes can be a danger in the jungle but as long as you don't approach them and wear strong shoes the danger is reduced.

Go next
Provided you have enough money, you can take a boat back to Pak Bara in just 30 minutes. This will cost 400 baht per person, plus 50 baht for the longboat out to the speedboat. Boats leave around 11:00 from the Pansand Resort. Ensure you mention at Pansand reception that you are hoping to catch the boat. You can buy tickets at the Marina and Pansand Resorts.

title: Ko Bulon Leh


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Kočani

Kočani is a city in Eastern North Macedonia.

By car
From the west side you can use the stretch of route M-5 from the Macedonian-Bulgarian border near Delcevo. The same route continues to Veles, connecting to the international route E-75.

By bus
Bus transport connects the city the capital Skopje and a few other cities in the country.

By train
Kocani is the last station of the railroad from Veles to the east.

Get around
The best ways to get around are by foot or by taxi.

See
During medieval times, under Ottoman rule, four or six defensive towers were constructed in Kočani on both sides of the Kočanska River. Today, two remain standing.

Eat
Traditional food made by rice: lapa, sutlijash and tava oriz.

Sleep

title: Kočani


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Kołobrzeg

Kołobrzeg is a city in the Zachodniopomorskie voivodeship in northwestern Poland. It is the largest town at the coast in this part of the country.

Understand
Kołobrzeg is a small city in the north-west of Poland, on the Baltic sea. The fishing town of 50,000 people is a popular tourist resort for Poles, with long stretches of beaches.

The most notable landmark in Kołobrzeg in the lighthouse at the entrance to the harbour. Despite the town's size, there is a lot to do, with miles of paths along the coast and the surrounding forests, as well as a Modern Art Gallery and the Museum of Polish Arms. The town is also well known as a spa resort.

By train
The is pretty well connected, with direct trains from Szczecin (on the border with Germany; 3 hours), Gdańsk (4 hours), Warsaw (7,5 hours), Poznań (4 hours) and Kraków (9 hours).

 * PKP Rail Company

By car
From Gdańsk or Szczecin by the route E28.

By bus

 * PKS Bus Company

Do

 * Football: Kotwica Kołobrzeg play soccer in I Liga, the second tier. Their home ground Stadion Miejski (capacity 3000) is 500 m south of town centre.
 * Football: Kotwica Kołobrzeg play soccer in I Liga, the second tier. Their home ground Stadion Miejski (capacity 3000) is 500 m south of town centre.

Sleep
Kołobrzeg is a popular seaside resort town so there are plenty of hotels and rental apartments to choose from. Prices may be very high during the high season (July-August) and it may be difficult to find last minute accommodation during the summer.

Go next
On the mainland:
 * West Pomeranian capital Szczecin
 * Sea resort and medieval towns of Kamień Pomorski, Koszalin and Stargard Szczeciński
 * Slowiński National Park with the highest dunes in Europe
 * Seaside resorts of Ustka, Łeba, Rowy, Mielno and Darłowo.

On the island Wolin:
 * Woliński National Park
 * Seaside resort Międzyzdroje with ferries to Usedom and the 93-meter high cliff of Gosań and Kawcza Góra Mountain closeby
 * Game reserve of Wisents
 * Sea resorts and port Świnoujście and Dziwnów
 * Medieval town of Wolin

title: Kołobrzeg


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Kościerzyna

Koscierzyna is city in Kashubia, in Poland.

By bus
Bus communication is the most convenient way of traveling in this region. Koscierzyna has connections to most of the cities in the region including the biggest ones: Gdansk, Gdynia, Slupsk, Chojnice. See the Koscierzyna timetable for details.

Getting to Koscierzyna by bus from different cities:

 * Gdansk - 1 hour 20 min.
 * Gdynia - 1 hour 50 min.
 * Slupsk - 2 hours.

By train
Getting to Koscierzyna by train is possible direct from Gdynia and Chojnice. Local trains go through the Kashubian region.

See the Koscierzyna timetable for details.

Getting to Koscierzyna by train from different cities:

 * Gdynia - 1 hour 20 min.
 * Chojnice - 1 hour 30 min.

By plane
The closest airport to Koscierzyna is Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport. From the airport's train station Rebiechowo there go regional trains to Koscierzyna, they do not go very often though, so in most cases it's easier and faster to get to Gdansk and take a bus.

title: Kościerzyna


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Košice

Košice (pronounced Ko-shi-tse) is the second largest city in Slovakia, with a population of almost 240,000 (in 2021). It was the European Capital of Culture in 2013. Despite its relative remoteness, you may likely find Košice a hidden, unknown and approachable gem when seeking for a lesson in less known European history, lively arts scene or for a less spiritual entertainment thanks to its vibrant party scene.

Understand
Košice has had a colourful history with its ever changing medieval and modern rulers of Hungarians, these days hardly imaginable Turks for a while, Czechs and nowadays Slovaks. Serving its part as a centre of what may best be described as a frontier of Slovak hill country, Hungarian lowlands and Ukrainian/Russian/Soviet East, it has become a predominantly Slovak city in what was then Czechoslovakia after its emergence in chaos of reconciliations after the First World War. Until these days the city is inhabited by descendants of east Slovak dwellers with many relations in the gorgeous rural surroundings of the city who were flocking to the town during its industrial boom after the World War II and a large Hungarian speaking minority along with its fast growing underprivileged and often resented population of Gypsies (or Romas as is their official naming).

A smart, patient and crying with the wolves traveller may find the city suffer from what may best be described as a small man syndrome, a feeling shared by many locals probably best attributed to being the second city in Slovakia and a place not often visited from elsewhere. This may however help in engaging with many residents who may seem to be one of those lovely people who actually enjoy foreigners visiting their place.

The city prides on being known as "The City of Peace" thanks to non-violent ethnic and national tolerance throughout its history. Visitors can get a view into the history of a lesser known corner of Europe, and at the same journey enjoy a lively art scene and nightlife.

Orientation
Košice sits in a basin, above 200 m above sea level, where the Hungarian plains meet the Carpathian mountains. A few suburbs have been built on the mountainsides, though not much higher than the rest of the city. Towards the south, along the Hornád river the plains open up; but unlike what one might expect of a city and a river, it passes through the suburbs of Košice rather than going right through the core. A landmark south of the city is a massive steel plant, the U. S. Steel Košice, employing over 10000 people.

Speaking of the core of the city, it's centered around the St. Elisabeth cathedral and is the largest protected historical downtown in Slovakia. There you can find much of the city's attractions, restaurants and bars. The periphery of the city is mostly made up of apartment blocks from the Communist times and have little to offer the average visitors aside from a few cheap places to sleep.

The mountains surrounding Košice, especially on the western side, and their forests are excellent places for hiking which is a popular pastime with locals. Outdoor areas such as Kavečany, Jahodná, Bankov et Čermeľská dolina can be accessed by public transport.

History
The region has been inhabited since the Stone Age. Celtic peoples settled in the region around 300 BC, Slavic people in the 5th century AD. In the 9th and 10th century it was part of Great Moravia, the first Slavic kingdom to be established in Central Europe. Towards the 11th century the region was Christianized, became part of the Hungarian Kingdom and got the name Abov. During Hungarian rule, a city started growing here, fortified during the rule of King Emeric (ruling 1196–1204) and first described as Villa Cassa in 1230.

A few years later the Mongols invaded the region, and in 1241 a battle was fought in Jasov 22 km from Košice. After they were expelled, the region was repopulated with German settlers invited by king Béla IV. In 1250 the Dominicans had a church built, which is the oldest standing building in the city, and the order still occupies the adjacent convent. The fortifications were strengthened throughout the 13th century and in 1290 Košice was granted city status. With the death of king Andrew III in 1301, the House of Árpád went extinct and this resulted in a war of succession where Košice supported different kings, with a major battle fought in Rozhanovce just east of the city in 1312. Eventually peace returned and Košice got the status of a royal city in 1347. In the 15th century the city grew both in population and importance, among other things the cathedral was built and Košice had around 10,000 inhabitants in 1480s – a lot for a city during the Late Middle Ages.

Košice saw troubles again during the following centuries. In 1526 Hungarians fleeing the Turkish invasion sought refuge in the city. A fire ravaged the city in 1556. And in 1597 the Catholic bishop of Eger, fleeing the Turkish advance, settled in Košice which was Protestant stronghold. He wanted to make the cathedral to a Catholic house of worship, and made a coup in the city in 1603 to further his goals with the support of the Austrian emperor. This led to a series of uprisings against the Habsburgs over the following century, ending in the Peace of Satu Mare (Szatmár in Hungarian) in 1711.

This was followed by two centuries of peace and prosperity. Hungarian aristocracy made the city a home, and many grand buildings were built during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Industrial Revolution reached Košice in 1791 when a hat factory was built, in 1860 the first train services arrived and horse-pulled trams started serving the city in 1891 (they were electrified in 1914). After the Austro-Hungarian compromise of 1867, when Hungary regained some of the privileges that had been taken away by Austria after the uprising of 1848, authorities made the formerly trilingual (Slovak-Hungarian-German) and -cultural city a more Hungarian one. In that, the cathedral was renovated, the State Theatre was built, and the remains of Francis II Rákóczi (leader of the 1703 rebellion against Austria) were brought to the city.

Having been part of the Hungarian kingdom for almost a thousand years, Košice became part of Czechoslovakia which was formed after WWI. The city briefly became Hungarian again in 1938 when annexed by Hungary, and during WWII Hungary was occupied by Germany. Jews made up about 20% of the city's population before the war, and they were deported to concentration camps in 1944. In January 1945 Košice was liberated, was reinstated as part of Czechoslovakia and even served as the temporary capital of the country as Prague was still occupied.

After the war the city grew in size and population, many suburbs were built, and in the 1960s a large metal plant in Šaca south of the city. Like Prague and other places in Czechoslovakia, Warsaw Pact troops invaded Košice in 1968 after the Prague Spring. The Velvet Revolution in late 1989 saw a strike at the university followed by tens of thousands of people demonstrating on the streets. After the fall of Communism, also the Czechoslovakia separated into two separate countries in 1993, and Košice went from being the fifth largest city in the former country to the second largest in Slovakia.

In the 21st century the city is finding its new role as one of the easternmost centers of the new European Union. It provides a look into the not-that-long-gone way of living in an eastern European country while also serving as a lovely example of a booming and rapidly changing place with rich ancient history best served by its stunning historic city center, with an impressive cathedral quickening the hear-beat of every picture hunting traveller.

Climate
Košice has a continental climate with hot and relatively humid summers and cold winters. Summer (July–August) temperatures may rise up to 30 °C with stretches of rainy weeks and maximums of 15 °C, while winter (December–February) weather is mainly freezing with stretches of weeks with significant snowfall and temperatures of -10 °C, interspersed with weeks of positive temperatures during the day.

The city receives relatively a lot of sunshine hours with winter months being the most gloomy. Winds and humidity may make the winter time rather uncomfortable, but temperatures usually stay above those in areas of hilly country north of the city and most of Slovakia. Snow and skiing forecast may vary unpredictably within a week ahead. The best season to visit may be the blooming and lovely spring of late April/May, though damp weather may occur unforeseeably for a week or two regardless of a season. Autumn can also be a good time to visit with warm rather than hot temperatures and precipitation as rain rather than rainstorms, and beautiful fall foliage in October.

Visitor information

 * Official tourism website

Other airports
As the number of destinations from Košice airport is limited, a minibus service is organized to the main regional airports, in particular to Budapest and Vienna.

Such minibuses aren't the only way in from these cities, see By bus and By train for more options, and you can also fly to Bratislava (not that many destinations either) or Krakow.

Otherwise, Flixbus offers routes to Budapest and Vienna airports, though services are irregular and tickets sell-out fast.

By train

Many trains run between Bratislava and Košice. Several connections from Prague are operated daily by night and day trains, which takes about 8 hours. There are anywhere between 4 and 8 daily trains to Budapest, which takes 3 hours 30 minutes, though delays are not uncommon.

A ticket to Bratislava costs just over €20. InterCity trains are a little more expensive and require reservations. Sometimes they are full especially on the eve of long weekends, Christmas, Easter, etc. For Budapest the ticket costs €20 round trip. This is a promotional ticket valid only on the two direct daily trains between the two cities. The one-way ticket is more expensive than the round trip, so you won't even be offered a one-way ticket. There is also a small reduction on the round trip to Prague.

A daily personal car transport service exists between Prague and Košice, 1 train during the day and one train at night. The prices are not too high and the trip is much more relaxing than by road. If it's full from Košice, ask if there is still room from Poprad at 1 hour 30 drive. Book well in advance, especially around Christmas and Easter.

 * Prague
 * 7 hr 48 min, SuperCity Pendolino Košičan
 * There are more daytime connections with a change at Puchov.
 * EN 442, 9½ hr (night train)
 * RegioJet: 8½ hr, 3 trains a day
 * LeoExpress: 8¼ hr, 2 trains a day
 * Bratislava
 * R trains every 2 hr, taking 5 hr 50 min and costing ~€20
 * 4 InterCity trains a day taking a little less than 5 hr, for also around €20
 * Night train Gemeran Poľana (7 hr) costing €25-50 depending on the berth type (triple/double/single)

Be aware that some of the R trains follows a different and slower path, via rural central Slovakia, and the journey lasts for 7½ hr. But it also offers fairly spectacular nature scenes especially at section between Brezno and Margecany. Journeys on many Slovakian trains may be interrupted after 100 km off the starting point while you remain within your ticket validity dates.

 * Budapest: 3½ hr, 2 IC trains a day
 * Vienna: 6¼ hr, one IC train a day
 * Mukachevo: 4 hr, 2 RR trains a day

From Poland, you would need to travel to Bratislava and change trains to get to Košice. Leo Express has trains from Krakow to Ostrava, and from Ostrava to Košice though on their website they need to be searched for and booked separately as of January 2022.

By bus

Given the efficiency and value of the train system, you shouldn't need to use the bus system very much. Eurolines, Interbus and Eurobus coaches come to here from numerous European cities, and bus is the most efficient way of reaching the nearby towns. There are also several companies linking Košice with Prague, usually with several stops on the route, including Brno.

Flixbus has direct buses to Kosice from Kraków, Vienna and Prague. LeoExpress has direct buses from Mukachevo and Lviv.

By car
The city forms a crossroads between the north, Poland and the north of Slovakia via Prešov. In the east, the road to Ukraine leads to the main frontier post between these two countries, in the south, it leads to the east of Hungary and Budapest. Towards the west, it is heading to south Slovakia and Bratislava.

The main roads to the city are:
 * 1. class road no. 16 towards Zvolen (E58, E571) — expressway R2 in construction; the way in from Bratislava (450 km), Vienna, Brno and Prague.
 * 1. class road no. 17 towards Milhosť, border 🇭🇺 Hungary (E71) — expressway R4; the way in from Budapest (300 km), eastern Hungary and Romania.
 * 1. class road no. 19 towards Vyšné Nemecké, border 🇺🇦 Ukraine (E50, E58) — motorway D1 up to Bidovce; the way in from Ukraine.
 * 1. class road no. 20 towards Prešov; the way in from Poland, Ostrava and Prague
 * 2. class road no. 552 towards Slovenské Nové Mesto; from easternmost Hungary.
 * 2. class road no. 547 towards Spišská Nová Ves; a scenic sidetrip from the road from Ostrava.
 * 2. class road no. 548 towards Gelnica; from central Slovakia.

Get around
Košice has a small and compact city center, and is mostly navigable by foot. If you are staying in the suburbs, the tram system is cheap and efficient. With good bus and tram connections around the whole city, transport is very easy to handle. You can get practically anywhere by public transport and all the main sights of the city are within walking distance.

By public transport
Public transport is operated by DPMK. English information on their website is limited, the route planner is more informative. Services usually run from 5:00 in the morning to 23:00 in the evening, with a few bus services running during the night.

Ticketing
Tickets for public transport can be bought in various ways. For foreign travelers, probably the most convenient is using one of the available apps. The web page/app mhdke.sk is pretty nice, as you don't have to install anything.

Other forms of tickets include sales points listed below, vending machines (at some stops), newsstands, from drivers or as SMS (if you have a Slovak SIM card). They should to be validated in a machine in the vehicle the first time you're using it, then you can travel and transfer as long as the ticket type is valid. Some ticket prices for adults are €0.90 for a 30 minute ticket, €1 for a 60 minute ticket, €3.20 for a 24 hour ticket and €24 for a 7 day ticket. Tickets for night buses costs more, and buying tickets from the driver also costs more.

In addition to paper tickets there are electronic ticket cards similar to ones on public transit systems elsewhere the world. They can be bought from the sales points, are loaded with electronic money and are used for buying (slight discount compared to paper tickets) and simultaneously validating tickets in the validating machines.

By tram
Trams are numbered 2–9 run and during most of the day, every 10–20 minutes. There are also trams numbered R1-R8 connecting different parts of the city to the huge steel plant, though their schedules are irregular and routes of little use to visitors.

Not all trams are accessible to mobility impaired passengers. In the schedule there's a wheelchair symbol next to departures where trains with a lower floor (ie. wheelchair accessible) are used.

By bus/trolleybus
There's a large bus network allowing you to get around the city and to the suburbs. Buses numbered 51-57 are express lines skipping some stops, and they run mainly during rush hour. Most buses are wheelchair accessible.

There are two "trolleybus lines", 71 and 72, but they are operated by normal buses as of 2024. The overhead lines have been left in place and functional, in case the city decides to buy and operate new trolleybuses again.

Night services
There are seven night buses, numbered N1-N7. They operate hourly from 23:00 to 5:00, all departing from and returning to the railway station. Normal public transport tickets aren't valid here, you need to buy a more expensive ticket (€1.50/60 minutes).

By taxi
Some taxi companies have a flat fare for rides in the city. Going to or from the airport will cost at least €10.

There are always taxis waiting along the main street, at the railway station and airport terminal when flights arrive. Usually ordering a taxi is cheaper than hailing one on the street.

By car
Getting around by car is usually hassle-free, unless there are road works or accidents you will rarely encounter traffic jams. You can rent a car at the airport, most global rental companies have counters there.

Parking in Košice downtown costs on weekdays during the day (June 29, 2024) and on Saturday morning to early afternoon (June 29, 2024). Pay in parking machines or if you have a Slovakian SIM card, by phone.

By bike
There are some biking lanes in the north-south direction along the main streets, and you can bike along the river bank too even though there's no dedicated bike lane there. In the east-west direction there's not really any infrastructure specifically for bikes. In pedestrian zones and parks there's a 10 km/h speed limit for bikes.

By foot
In the old town, walking is the only practical way to get around as there's no public transport and many streets are pedestrianized.

See

Most of Košice's attractions are along the main pedestrianized street, known as Hlavná ulica (Main Street), Námestie Maratónu mieru (Peace Marathon Square, the north end of Hlavna), and Námestie osloboditeľov (Square of the liberators, at the southern end of Hlavna) at various parts.

With its unique atmosphere Hlavná ulica creates the heart of the town. In the past, it used to be a medieval square and the whole town started to grow from this point. Now this place is flat, however in the past it used to be hilly and even a stream flew there.

The "Čermeľský potok" (The Tshermel stream) used to create an island on the main street, where the Saint Elizabeth cathedral is located now. Due to developing infrastructure, this stream was filled in in 1899 and was renewed only symbolically during the renovation of the main street in the 1990s.

Today, all the traffic from the main street is excluded, therefore it is a very pleasant pedestrian site. Except the Saint Elizabeth Cathedral, you will find also the Saint Michael Chapel, Urban tower, the State Theater, the so-called singing fountain (a unique fountain in Europe), as well as many stylish original bourgeois houses.

The oldest sights in the city are from Medieval times, including the ruins of fortifications, the Mikluš Prison housing a museum of Medieval justice, the Katova bašta (city walls) and the castle outside the city.

Museums and galleries

Churches

Palaces and houses

Monuments and statues

Ruins and cemeteries

Jewish Košice
Jews were allowed to settle in Košice in 1840 and in a century the city developed into and important center of Jewish culture. In 1938, about one in five of the city's inhabitants were Jewish, but in 1944 the ruling fascist Arrow Cross party had them deported to Auschwitz to be killed. Today a small Jewish community lives in the Košice, but there are still a couple of monuments from the time before; the old and new synagogues, the House of Arts that formerly was a synagogue, and a cemetery from the 19th century. There's also a Holocaust memorial and a Jewish section at the main cemetery (see above).

Parks

Other

Do

Cultural life

Winter and spring

Fall and Cristmas season

Athletics

Team sports

 * Football: FC Košice play soccer in 1. Liga, the top tier. Their Košická futbalová aréna (capacity 12,500) is 2 km southwest of town centre.
 * Football: FC Košice play soccer in 1. Liga, the top tier. Their Košická futbalová aréna (capacity 12,500) is 2 km southwest of town centre.

Swimming
In addition to the indoor pool downtown, there are three outdoor pools usually open from late June to early September depending on the weather.

Skiing

Hike

All hiking trails in the gorgeous surroundings of the city may be looked up at. Apart from magnificent, relatively close and serious mountains of High Tatras (~1½ hr on the train to Stary Smokovec with a stopover in Poprad, take one of the faster 'rychlik' trains) you may take up on an easily public transport approachable Bankov [bunkow] (hop on a bus #14 from Havlickova or Mier to Horny Bankov stop) providing nice views of the city, Jahodna [yahhodna] (a bit more distant, small but enjoyable also on summer days ski resort, the #14 bus also), or Vyhliadkova veza (the sightseeing tower, overseeing the city, #29 bus from center, direction at the Zoo or 'Kavecany').

For a more challenging hike you may take the train to 'Ruzin' stop (you need to take the slower 'osobny vlak' train as the faster ones stop in farther Margecany station only), walk up the hill splurging in wonderful views of the surrounding hill country and the Ruzin dam along the yellow trail. The trip up and to the other side (take the green trail straight to the west then) of the Sivec [seewatz] hill (Kosicke Hamre bus stop, with last bus connection to Kosice at 17:24) takes about 2½ hours and makes for great views and photographs.

For a shorter and easier hike to Sivec take the bus from bus station to Kosicke Hamre and walk up the hill on the green trail. Mid-range accommodation and food is provided at Kosicke Hamre at 'Sivec Pension' and 'Bradan'. Ruzin dam also makes up for nice fishing (permit required) and boat rides. For another lovely day-trip, you may take the 30 minute 'osobny vlak' train south to Slanec [slahnetz] township and enjoy lovely sights from the top of the hill with interesting ruins of a small medieval castle. For those interested in less distant history, take the bus from bus station to Dargov, a place of a major World War II battle with real tanks and a war museum. A trip entertaining for kids with lovely surroundings asking for a hike and with the Herlany geyser in medium hiking distance.

Itineraries
There are a lot of numbered paths, and they can be combined to create hiking trips suitable to your time, interest and physical condition.

For hiking SHOcart maps with a scale of 1:100000 can be found at libraries and supermarkets. Map N°233 - Slovenský kras, Slovenský Raj, Slovenské rudohorie – východ covers the city and the mountains west of it. Map N°235 - Dolný Zemplín covers the city and the region east all the way to the Ukrainian border. On these maps, all paths are marked together with estimated times for hiking and biking. An online alternative is mapy.hiking.sk.

Learn

Work
Citizens of EU countries can work freely in Slovakia, but need to get a compulsory public health insurance and register at the foreigner's police. Citizens of other countries also need to obtain a residency card, allowing them to open a bank account and get the aforementioned health insurance.

Salaries are low compared to Western Europe, and lower than in Bratislava.

Buy
You won't need to walk or travel long distances anywhere when craving for shopping in Košice while you stay in the center or most inner city areas. There are quite a few shopping malls in Košice, you may also find many historical center buildings hide interesting and chick boutiques while roaming around.

Shopping malls

Artisans
Hrnčiarská, literally "Potter's street", has several boutiques selling artisanal products:

Markets
There are many markets selling fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers - in addition to the ones listed below, several smaller neighborhood markets. The main market is downtown at Dominikánske Námestie.

Eat
Hlavna and adjacent streets has the greatest concentration of restaurants. In outer districts you will find popular pizza places. Prices usually are a bit higher downtown. On Sunday restaurants often open only for dinner. There's just one completely vegetarian restaurant (Ajvega) but most restaurants have one or several vegetarian dishes on the menu.

Drink
Košice is faithful to its east Slovakian tradition in providing great and cheap parties for both locals and travellers while competing with many of Europe's much bigger and more often visited cities in what travel books usually call 'liveliness'. Season may vary with summer months unexpectedly providing a bit of a lull in usual Friday/Saturday silliness but city's center compact and concentrated bar scene provides many hidden gems disregard of day of week or month of the year.

Non-alcoholic
There many ice cream shops, many open during the summer but some around the year, functioning as pastry shops in the winter. Ice cream shops seem to have the same prices all around town.

Beer bars

Cocktail bars

Discotheques and nightclubs

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Stay safe
Avoid parks and the train station surroundings at night. Do not be overly generous to the homeless and pay caution to impoverished Romanis (also known to some as Gypsies) including children and do not engage with them. Call 112 for medical, police or fire department help.

Avoid the area known as Luník IX, which is populated by Romani and is known for crime and public safety problems.

If you walk evening Hlavna after seeing everything 'important', do not hesitate to ask around. Only beware of getting caught up in acts of suspicious types, visiting parks at nights etc., as this place, though being relatively safe, really may be called the frontier of civilized part of Europe at times. Common safety measures for women and lone travelers are advisable.

In Slovakia

Any destination in Eastern Slovakia is accessible as a day trip. This includes the High Tatra mountains, and many world heritage sites: the towns of Bardejov and Levoča, Spišské Podhradie castle, beech forests, Slovak Karst National Park and wooden churches.

In addition, there are destinations nearby in the region which are less than an hour away accessible by direct public transport:

In Hungary
Hungarian destinations are hard to access by public transport. If you have a car or a bike, however, it's easy to get to the villages in the Zempléni-hegység massif, the Tokay vineyards and other places in Northern Hungary.

By public transport, and a bit of walking, you can make trips to these places in Hungary:

Further away
There are a few trains per day (2½ hr) to Chop (Čop/Чоп) in Ukraine if you're looking for just another country. As of 2023 this may not be a good idea due to the war.

Bratislava, other destinations in Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and Poland are accessible by public transport. See.

By hitchhiking
It's easy to hitchhike out of town.

title: Košice


text:
Ko Chang

Ko Chang (เกาะช้าง) is an island in Trat Province, Eastern Thailand. It is the third biggest island in Thailand (after Phuket and Ko Samui)

Understand

Ko Chang is the biggest island in eastern Thailand. With about 5,000 permanent residents the island is not heavily populated, but there is a lot of tourism (and development).

The island is approximately 30 km long by 14 km wide, 213 km2. It is part of Mu Ko Chang National Park, which covers an area of 650 km2, of which 70 percent is offshore.

It is a mountainous island, with Khao Salak Phet being the highest peak at 744 metres. The island is known for its waterfalls, coral reefs, and rainforest.

Ko Chang is one of Thailand's most beautiful islands with long white sandy beaches, most half-deserted. The island is also home to a wide range of wildlife, including a good selection of birds, snakes, deer, and a number of non-native elephants. The island and its vicinity are great places for snorkelling, diving, and jungle hiking. The "discovery" of the island as a tourist destination around the year 2000 brought on development.

History
Prior to World War II, Ko Chang was a little-known backwater. During this period, the few families there made a living growing coconuts and fruit on the mainland. In January 1941, during the Japanese occupation, the Thai Navy fought the French in a battle in the waters to the southeast of Ko Chang.

Ko Chang remained quiet until the first backpacker foreigners started arriving on the back of local fishing boats in the mid-1970s. In 1982, Ko Chang along with surrounding area became part of the protected Mu Ko Chang National Marine Park. Ko Chang is a major tourist destination for both foreign and local tourists.

This sudden tourism boom however, has been fraught with controversy concerning land encroachment. The government is trying to transform it from a backpackers' paradise to a high-end destination. Construction is happening everywhere, with basic huts torn down to make way for fancy resorts.

Geography
Ko Chang is the largest island in the Ko Chang Archipelago. The name means 'Elephant Island', named for the elephant shape of its headland, although elephants are not indigenous to the island.

Ko Chang has an area of approximately 429 km². The topography contains high mountains and complex stone cliffs. The highest peak is Khao Salak Phet which is 744 m high, rich in fertile evergreen forest which is the main water source. There are many waterfalls, beaches and splendid reefs in the west of the island.

Most accommodation is on the west side of the island, where the sandy beaches are. On the east side there are no sandy beaches and it is far less touristy. There are some nice waterfalls though.

Seventy percent of the island is rain forest, steep hills, cliffs, waterfalls, and wildlife, fine beaches, coral reefs and an abundance of marine life. The island also has tall mountains and rock cliffs.

Climate
Ko Chang has the same seasons as Bangkok. The best season to go is the (comparatively) cool season between Nov-Feb. Mar-May are roasting hot and between Jun-Oct it rains, and a lot at that: 4,000 mm in an average year. Many guesthouses close during this season, so accommodation is limited. If you don't mind the rain, traveling during the rainy season can be enjoyable nevertheless, and prices for accommodation are low.

By plane
Bangkok Airways flies three times a day from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Trat Airport. The flights depart at 08:30, 12:40 and 16:50, and takes 1 hour. Fares are between 1,800-3,300 baht.

Direct door-to-door minibus transfers from Trat airport to Ko Chang resorts cost 500 baht/person one way and 900 baht/person return including the ferry crossing.

From Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, take the free express shuttle bus from outside the arrivals concourse to the airport's own bus terminal, and from there the next available bus to either Trat or Chanthaburi, then proceed as described below.

While flying might sound better then the 5-hour trip in the government bus, keep in mind that with travel to BKK Airport, checkin, waiting, etc., there is only a minimal time save. Transport from Trat Airport to the island by minibus costs more than the whole bus trip from Bangkok would cost, and you still have to depend on dangerous minibus drivers for the most dangerous part of the road.

From Bangkok

 * From Bangkok's Eastern Terminal (Ekamai) 1st class Government Bus 999 offers the most economical way to Laem Ngop, where the Ko Chang ferry piers are. It costs 268 baht, takes just over 5 hr and goes via Suvarnabhumi Airport and Chanthaburi, where you can alternatively get on/off (subject to seat availability). Departures from Ekamai are at 07:45, from Laem Ngop at 14:30 (May 2023). The bus is staffed with someone to hand out drinks and snacks, has an acceptable driving style and an on board toilet.

 * From Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Bus 392 by Suvarnabhumi Burapha Bus Company offers a more comfortable way to Ko Chang. The bus leaves the airport at 07:50 and starts its return trip at 13:00. Fare is 600 baht.

 * From Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport the Lonely Beach Express shared minibuses go non-stop to Ko Chang's Lonely Beach (at least 600 baht one way or 800 baht return). Departures from BKK are at 09:30, 11:00, and 14:00 and from Lonely Beach at 07:00, 09:00, 17:00, and 19:00. If booked through guesthouses, the minibuses collect passengers along the route on Ko Chang's west coast.

 * From Bangkok's Khao San area the large, nice air-con VIP Bus by Travelsmart conveniently goes to the Ko Chang's Centrepoint ferry terminal. It takes 4-5 hours and is bookable for 300 baht from most travel agents near Khao San. Departure is scheduled for 08:00, but times can vary.

 * Direct minibuses leave from Bangkok's Khao San Road and Victory Monument (in front of Payathai Hospital) for Laem Ngop.

 * Many taxis from Bangkok city may decline the trip as the risk of empty return is too high for them. However, airport taxis will usually deliver you to the island in 5–5½ hours, especially if they can make it back to the mainland before the last ferry sails.

 * A non-direct alternative are buses via Trat. Many 1st class (5-6 hr, around 250 baht) and 2nd class services from both the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) and Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit, though not as frequently) in Bangkok go to Trat (timetables). From there, frequent songthaews bring you to Laem Ngop (approximately 30 min, 50 baht per person).

If you are in Southern Bangkok, take the 511 air-con bus from Bangkok's Southern (Sai Tai Mai) to the Eastern (Ekamai) bus terminal.

From the west (Pattaya)

 * From Pattaya 2nd class bus connections are also via Trat (to Trat: 4 hr, 200 baht).
 * From Pattaya and Ban Phe, the gateway to Ko Samet, direct minibuses go to Laem Ngop.

From the south

 * From the Hat Lek/Koh Kong border crossing minibuses should go every 45 min to Trat (they leave when full). Price is 140 baht (March 2023) from the border to Trat bus station; it takes around 90 min.

It may also be possible (depending on the time of year, time of day - inquire locally) at the border to catch a direct minibus or songthaew to Laem Ngop. They, however, are less comfortable and spacious than public buses, and you may be charged significantly more by travel agencies selling tickets to these, as often with any tourist-oriented transportation in Thailand.

By boat

Most ferries operate from Laem Ngop, which has three piers: the Laem Ngop (Tha Khrom Luang or Tha Laern Ngop) pier is approximately 700 m west of Laem Ngop; the Centrepoint (Tha Centre Point) pier is about 3.5 km northwest of Laem Ngop. These piers serve both vehicle and passenger ferries; the Ko Chang vehicle ferry pier is in Thammachat Bay (Ao Thammachat), around 15 km west of Laem Ngop.

All piers on Ko Chang are on the east side of the island. The major piers are the two Dan Kao piers, Tha Dan Kao and Tha Ferry Dan Kao, which handle most of the traffic. To take a boat from Laem Ngop to the Dan Kao piers takes around 45 minutes. The car ferry from Laem Ngop takes around 1 hr and arrives at the Tha Ferry Dan Kao pier, 400 m southeast of the Tha Dan Kao pier. The car ferry from Thammachat Bay stops at the Ko Chang Ferry Pier (Tha Ferry Ko Chang) in Sapparot Bay (Ao Sapparot), 3 km northwest of the Dan Kao piers.

Light meals, fruit and drinks are available at the piers and on the car ferries.

There are two operators who provide daily bus services from Ko Kut to Ko Chang. One is based in Bang Bao, the other on Kai Bae Beach. Rates are the same but departures times can vary, so make sure to book ahead.
 * Ferry timetables - Up to date ferry timetables for services between the mainland and Koh Chang.

Get around
The only form of public transportation on Ko Chang is the songtaew. There are about 90 licenced songtaews whose drivers form a co-op. They have a rostering system that ensures equal access to the pier so all drivers receive a fair share of the lucrative fares from piers to accommodation. This means that shorter fares along the west coast are more expensive per kilometre than fares from the pier. Official prices are listed here.

In the daytime, you can catch a songthaew on its route around the main road for 50-200 baht/person (Nov 2022), depending on distance. The rates are generally much higher than in other places, but the vehicles are almost new and in excellent condition. Starting from 17:00, many of them start to ask "taxi" price, telling you that they operate as a public transport only until that time, and may quote prices as high as say 500 baht from Lonely Beach to the Dan Kao pier. However, if you have some time and patience, you still can try and have a "shared" ride with some drivers, maybe for a higher rate if they expect little or no other passengers. There is no service between 01:00 and 07:00.

These taxis are also waiting at the Dan Kao Pier (50 baht/person to White Sand Beach, 100 baht to Lonely Beach). At the Dan Kao Ferry Pier there may be no taxis available. If you arrive without a vehicle you may have to walk the 400 m to Dan Kao Pier.

Most hotels can also organise a rental car for you. A four wheel drive is not needed for most places, but could be a good idea in the rainy season on some of the roads, especially near Lonely Beach.

If there are 2 or more people going with you, hiring a songthaew may cost the same price, or even be cheaper than paying per each person in a "shared" songthaew (there is no difference, an empty songthaew can easily be hired). Just do not forget to bargain if their price sounds quite silly when compared, say, to Bangkok taxi-meter (on Ko Chang, it can be difficult if not impossible to get the same price, but you should not have to pay double). Most folks however, just stay put on the beach of their choice and walk to wherever they want to go.

Hitching on Ko Chang is also an alternative if you choose not to pay the often exorbitant fees of the songthaew. Many islanders are more than willing to pick up a hitchhiker who happens to be going the same way they are. A Coke or cold bottle of green tea for the driver are always appreciated at the end of your journey.

Motorbike rental
Motorbikes are a fantastic way to explore the island. Small motorcycles can be hired for 150-250 baht per day. The main road is sealed and almost circles the island and there are plans to complete the circuit in the near future. The eastern road leading all the way to the War Memorial, at the island's southeasternmost point, is worth a trip.

Riding a motorbike is not for the inexperienced or faint of heart. Most visitors manage on level roads, during the daytime and during good weather conditions. Darkness and rain, together with poor skills, steep hills and questionable maintenance can be fatal. Statistics vary, but numbers of arround one death / day during high season are not unheard of. Think twice if you have to travel at night, and when it rains during the night, avoid the steep hills in the north and the southwest. The east coast has far less traffic, but that doesn't mean it's safer.

When renting a bike, check tires, brakes, lights and mirrors. Engine must stop when extending the side stand. Reputable shops will fix and issues while you wait. Even better, good rental shops only display bikes that are in top condition. There are a lot of rental shops which take this serious, so pick one of them. Don't compromise on safety. Bring your own helmet if you have one. Every rental place provides helmets, but these provide limited protection.

Anti-lock braking (ABS) is getting more and more common with mid-range bikes. If you can, get a bike with ABS. The ABS indicator light will be lit after start and will turn off when starting driving. If not, something is off.

Use maximum caution when riding. Don't get complacent, even if you are used to driving bigger bikes in your home country. There might be surprises at any time, from any direction. As you are not wearing any protective clothing, going over 30 km/h might not be a good idea. Don't match the speed of the locals. The first rain after a dry period is the most dangerous time. Avoid the roads until the slippery stuff has washed of. The sharp curve right after Siam Bay resort (painted red) should be completely avoided in this case.

See

 * Bays include Ao Salak Phet, the largest on the island, and Ao Bai Lan (อ่าวใบลาน).
 * Bays include Ao Salak Phet, the largest on the island, and Ao Bai Lan (อ่าวใบลาน).
 * Bays include Ao Salak Phet, the largest on the island, and Ao Bai Lan (อ่าวใบลาน).

Beaches
Backpackers will opt to head a couple of kilometres south of Kai Bae Beach to Lonely Beach, which is known for cheap accommodation and almost nightly parties in high season. A quieter alternative is Klong Kloi Beach on the south coast of Ko Chang. This was deserted until 2006 but is now home to a community of beach bars, restaurants, and accommodation.

Waterfalls
The hilly nature of the island provides it with a number of popular waterfalls. Waterfalls on the east side of the island include Khlong Nonsi, Khlong Nueng, Khiri Phet which is about three kilometres from Salak Phet village, the five waterfalls of Khlong Koi near Bang Bao, and the Than Mayom waterfall near Than Mayom pier.

Do

 * Hike with a park ranger from the Than Mayom Waterfall to the Klong Plu Waterfall. The cross island trek takes 8–10 hours and costs 500 baht per person.

 * Trek in the jungle with Tan, +66 89 6452019, +66 89 8322531, who has been taking guided treks for over 10 years and speaks very good English.

 * Learn Thai cooking in one of the three Thai cooking schools around Klong Prao: Kati Culinary, Ko Chang Thai Cooking, Blue Lagoon.

 * Guided sea kayaking trips. S.E.A. Kayaking is run by a qualified British guide. They use imported sea kayaks and equipment. They offer single day expeditions off the west coast and multi-day expeditions in the southern islands.

 * Meet retired Ko Chang elephants at the north end of White Sand Beach.

Eat
Menus are similar to the rest of Thailand, but the high island prices are due not so much to higher transportation costs, but because of high demand. There are many restaurants on any given beach open both daytime and evening with a strong concentration of tourist venues on White Sand Beach.

The beaches of Ko Chang are all dotted with restaurants dishing up some delicious seafood as well as offering romantic evening views.

Sunsets can be watched in style from the terrace at the Top Resort on south White Sand Beach from the vantage of a cliff top. Bring an appetite and your camera, no reservations needed.

White Sand Beach

Bang Bao

Drink
Chang beer is common, as is the slightly more expensive Tiger beer. Try Ko Chang's own fruit wine which comes in a variety of flavours including mangosteen and pineapple. Prices start at 200 baht in shops. There are some quiet beach bars dotted around White Sand Beach with amazing sunset views.

Lonely Beach's nightlife and bar scene is gaining a reputation among the backpacker community. It is the place to be for "full moon" imitations, bucket parties, and dance till you pass out disco bars. The rubbish left over from the parties are barely cleaned up, so the next day you can see exactly where the party took place from the main road. The party location generally rotates among several different bars depending on the day of the week, and is usually heavily advertised which bar is "the spot" for each night.

If you are looking for the Pattaya style red-light experience, Koh Chang might not be the place. Kai Bae Walking street has some beer bars available, and some are dotted along the main road on the west coast. There is also a beer bar hub at white sand beach near the Babylon club.

Hat Sai Khao (White Sand Beach)
Most hotels are on the west side of the island, with many resorts and guest houses all along the road that leads down the coast. Generally speaking, prices drop off the further away from the port you get. Supply far out-strips demand, so finding a place to stay should never be hard, though the best or cheapest places may fill up at weekends.

Klong Prao Beach

Hat Tha Nam (Lonely Beach)
Following a great deal of development, the name "Lonely Beach" has become something of a misnomer. Lonely Beach is the party capital of the island and each guesthouse on Lonely Beach takes it in turns to hold "party night," during which the partying and attendant thumping music goes on until about 05:00 and all the revellers on the island come to your guesthouse. If you want to sleep then Lonely Beach is not the place for you. Most guesthouses giving "Lonely Beach" as an address are not located along the actual beach, but about 500 m down the road. From the village access to the sea is not possible as the coast is rocky.

Bailan Beach
Most of this beach is rocky, only the southern end—which is dominated by the resort, not really welcoming non-residents—is sandy.

Bang Bao Bay
Bang Bao is on the south side of the island. It's little more than a long stretch of wooden deck that takes 5 minutes to walk down, with dive shops, seafood restaurants, local houses and accommodation.

Internet
Koh Chang has excellent internet connectivity; optical fiber is available even in the most remote parts. Almost every hotel, restaurant, massage place etc. offers free Wi-Fi. The 4G network is also very good and reliable.

Most internet problems are the result of power outages or the Wi-Fi access point being too far away from your room, not with the uplink itself. If you let the hotel staff know, they will move you to a room with better reception if available, just ask.

During heavy rain and storms, fiber cables can be damaged, but are usually fixed the next day.

There is one coworking place on Koh Chang (closed as of Dec 2022), but remote workers should be fine relying on a combination of Wi-Fi and 4G.

Go next
Two types of boat leave from Bang Bao: slow wooden boats, and speedboats. The slow boats make one departure per day: at 09:00 each morning. The speedboats depart at 09:30 and 12:00 daily. Kai Bae Hut (on Kai Bae Beach) operates one speedboat per day in each direction to the following islands: These speedboats only operate during the high season: 1 November to 30 April.

title: Ko Chang


text:
Ko Chang (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Ko Chang:

Thailand

 * Ko Chang - a large island in Eastern Thailand
 * Ko Chang (Southern Thailand) - a medium-sized island in Southern Thailand
 * Ko Si Chang - a small island in Eastern Thailand

title: Ko Chang (disambiguation)


text:
Ko Chang (Southern Thailand)

Ko Chang is a small island off the Northern Andaman Coast in Southern Thailand (not to be confused with the better known Ko Chang in Eastern Thailand). It is commonly referred to as Ko Chang (Ranong) or Ko Chang (Andaman) to distinguish it. Information on this Ko Chang is not easy to find online.

Understand
Ko Chang (Andaman Sea) is small, relatively undeveloped island close to Ranong in the southwest of Thailand. The island is off the Northern Andaman Coast. Compared with the better known islands of Thailand, it is very quiet and special due to its beautiful dark sandy beaches, interesting nature, particularly its birdlife. The water is not so clear and the sand is not so white, but the place is so special that it does not matter. There are some quiet resorts on the island, most of them basic. It is a great place for a couple or just for people who appreciate a quiet and amazing place away from more developed places.

Get in
You can only get to Ko Chang by using a taxi boat, which leave daily at several times at the Island Pier in Ranong. Boats leave during the high season at 09:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:30. Boats back to Ranong leave at 08:00 and 14:00. The cost of the long tail boat from Ranong to Ko Chang is 200 baht (as of February 2018).

Only two airlines fly to Ranong, both out of Bangkok - Don Mueang: Nok Air and Thai AirAsia.

From Ranong buses travel regularly to Bangkok, Chumphon, Phuket (via Khao Lak), and Surat Thani. Bus companies with routes from Bangkok to Ranong include Sombat Tour and ChokeAnan Tour.

Get around
There are no motorbikes for rent on Ko Chang and the only way to get around is by walking or by boat. This is actually what makes the island so peaceful and special. Most resorts are on Ao Yai, which is a long stretch of beach. This, during high season, which runs from November-April, is the main walking thoroughfare. There are several newer concrete roads leading inland and also lots of dirt tracks for those who are more adventurous. On some weekdays there is a taxi boat leaving to and returning from Ko Phayam.

Do
At low tide it is easier to walk to the other resorts/bungalow establishments along the beach. Nightlife is minimal, with only 3 bars dotted along the beach. Buy your own bottle of Sangsom, a bucket of ice, Sprite, and limes, and make our own Mojitos.

Each of the resorts does have their own bars and restaurants. Some of them have free Wifi, ask!

The very small village is quite a walk from "Sawasdee", past the Buddhist Temple and tsunami warning tower on the coast, and then inland where there is tsunami shelter. Most basic necessities can be bought in the village shop and Internet cafe.

Ko Chang Resort offers trips to the busier Ko Phayam for 300 baht return.

If you like hiking you can walk around the island in one long day, or better yet, split in two days. At the south end you can go to Ranger beach (where there is a ranger station for the national park) and can cross a stretch of jungle through an easy to follow path to the east side of the island. Half way through you can detour to a viewpoint, but only attempt this if you have proper shoes as the short detour is very steep and slippery. On the north part you will pass through a village of sea gypsies (Moken or Morgan people).

Lodgings, from north to south

Go next
Ko Phayam

title: Ko Chang (Southern Thailand)