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Gero

Gero (下呂市 Gero-shi), also known as Gero Onsen (下呂温泉), is a hot spring town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.

Understand
One of Japan's Three Famous Springs (日本三名泉 Nihon Sanmeisen) — not to be confused with Japan's Three Great Springs and several other competing variants — the town's hot springs made their first appearance in print in the Engi Era (901-923). While there are many concrete hotels, the hot spring town has a retro atmosphere and to this day, it continually ranks among the top onsen in the nation year after year in numerous hot spring ranking websites and publications. The scenery in the valley is quite picturesque, particularly in autumn.

Gero's small tourist office, next to the station, can help you book if you arrive with no reservation.

Tourist information sites

 * The onsen area's tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site. Clicking on "English" leads to the Chubu region's multilingual site.

 * The city has an official Japanese-only tourism site.

By train
is on the JR Takayama Line, which has spectacular views of the valley and the Hida River below. The Wide View Hida (ワイドビューひだ) limited express from Nagoya takes about 1½ hours (¥4,620). If you're coming from the Sea of Japan side, from Takayama it takes 45 minutes (¥2,240), and from Toyama there are 4 daily runs taking 2½ hours (¥4,940); local trains from Toyama take 2½-3½ hours, with a transfer in Inotani, and another in Takayama if you want to take the faster Wide View Express for the last segment.

From Tokyo, take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya and then the Wide View Hida. On a Nozomi, this takes about 3½ hours and costs ¥13,880; by Hikari it takes 4 hours, but is free with the Japan Rail Pass.

From the Kansai region, Gero is around 2¼ hours from Kyoto (¥9,130) and around 2½ hours from Osaka (¥9,780), also using the Nozomi or Hikari and changing in Nagoya. There is also a daily round-trip of the Wide View Hida leaving Kansai in the morning (#25 at 07:58 from Osaka Station) and returning in the evening (#36 at 16:24 from Gero) using conventional lines. While it's slightly more convenient, this service is slower, taking 3 hours from Kyoto (¥6,570) and 3½ hours from Osaka (¥7,330), and there are no food and drink sales.

If you take local trains from Nagoya, the ride will take at least 2½ hours at a cost of ¥2,270, with several transfers required on the way. From Takayama, it's 65 minutes and costs ¥970, and from Toyama it's 3-4 hours (or more) and ¥2,590.

By bus
There are daily buses to Gero from Nagoya, Takayama, Toyama, and Osaka.

By car
Gero is accessible from national highways 41 and 257, about 2 hours' drive from Nagoya; take the Chuo Expressway E19 to Ena or Nakatsugawa, then 257, or take 41 the whole way.

Get around
Gero Onsen can be covered on foot, although if you have much luggage you'll want to get a taxi or arrange a pickup with your lodgings — the train station lies on the south side of the river, while most hotels are across the long bridge to the north.

See
There's one noteworthy attraction in Gero.

The remaining sites include temples, which are nice to look at and also allow one to take in some beautiful mountain views.

Do

As you'd expect in a hot spring town, the major attraction in Gero is to soak in hot springs. An easy way to sample a number of them is to buy the Yu-meguri Tegata (湯めぐり手形, "onsen-touring pass"), a wooden amulet sold all over Gero. This will get you into 3 hot springs of your choice from a choice of about 30 for the flat price of ¥1,300, which can be used up at your own pace as you'll get a stamp each time you visit; you can keep the amulet as a souvenir, too.

Foot baths (足湯 ashiyu) are popular in Gero, as the waters are reputed to have curative properties. True to the name, you just take off your shoes and sit down with your feet in the water. A number of free foot baths can be found around town, including the decidedly tacky in front of the Shirasagi Hotel — no prizes for guessing what the statue in the middle is doing.

Gero is also quite popular for sightseeing of seasonal cherry blossoms and fall leave colors due to its mountainous location.

Festivals
Some amateur kabuki performances are held in May and November. Fireworks can be seen in August and December.

Buy
The most popular souvenir from Gero (and the Hida region in general) is a sarubobo (lit. "baby monkey"), a small faceless doll amulet.

Eat
The tomato bowl is a known favorite in several eating establishments throughout the town.

Drink
There's a local beer, Gero Gensen Beer, and two sake breweries. Gero is also famous for tomato juice, which you drink after a bath to detox.

Sleep
Gero has a number of high-class inns where you can soak in luxury on a mountainside without ever trudging through town going from bath to bath.

Go next

 * Takayama, with its preserved Edo architecture is just a short ride away down the JR Takayama line.
 * Shirakawa-go
 * Gujo
 * Seki
 * Gifu
 * Hachiso
 * Nakatsugawa
 * Kiso

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

title: Gero


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Gerringong

Gerringong is a town in the Illawarra region, south of Kiama, New South Wales.

Understand
Gerringong is the first coastal town south of Kiama, and considerably quieter than it's northern neighbour. It completely surrounds the beach suburb of Werri Beach. Gerringong derives from the Aboriginal word meaning "fearful place".

Get in
is the next station on the train line south from Kiama. You'll have to change trains at Kiama to the diesel service, that only connects with every second Kiama train. Alternatively, the town is a very short deviation from the Princes Hwy heading south. Be warned, the pressure changes that come with the train entering the several tunnels between Kiama and Gerringong at 115 km/h can irritate young children.

Get around
It is a couple of kilometre walk down the hill from the station to the beach. There is a shared (bicycle/pedestrian) pathway on the footpath adjacent to the road down the hill, but usually the roads a quiet enough to make them a safer alternative for bicycles.

Do
The town has two beaches, and. Neither of them are exceptional but great if you want to swim in peace. If you are taking the train, Gerringong Beach is closer to the station.

The town is also the southern endpoint of the Kiama Coast Walk.

title: Gerringong


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Gers

The department of Gers is in the Occitanie region of south-west France.

Get in
The Gers Region is in the South West of France and is a stunning area flanked on one side by the imposing Pyrenees, whose snow-capped peaks can often be seen, nestled within beautifully peaceful rolling countryside. You can reach the area by plane to Pau airport, approximately 1hr 15mins drive away or Toulouse, about 2 hours. By car you can choose to arrive by ferry at St. Malo in Northern France or Santander in Northern Spain, which is about a 6-hour car journey.

See
The Gers is famous for its many fortified towns that provide lovely points of interest.

As the capital of the Gers, Auch is worth a visit. With 20,000 inhabitants it has an impressive cathedral and a vibrant centre filled with charming cafes and restaurants.

Do
Reported to have some of the cleanest air in Europe; you may want to simply relax, kick back and enjoy the quiet lifestyle that is enjoyed by this sparsely populated area. Country drives are a pleasure on the deserted country lanes that weave amongst stunning scenery, or for the more energetic, walking and cycling.

The region is also famous for fantastic vibrant festivals, with the most famous being the Marciac Jazz Festival that runs for two weeks in August. There is also a country and western festival in the small, quaint town of Mirande.

Buy
This area is a famous agricultural region so local markets filled with fresh produce are bountiful.

Eat
Food is reasonably priced, local and unsophisticated, although you will find more sophisticated restaurants for special occasions dotted throughout the region. There is usually no problem getting a table at a local restaurant as levels of tourism are low.

In particular there is a charming family-run restaurant in a small village called Bassoues; about a 30-minute drive from Mirande. Well worth a visit if you are looking for an unpretentious evening with locals.

title: Gers


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Gersbach

Gersbach is a resort in the Black Forest.

title: Gersbach


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Getafe

Getafe is a city of 181,000 people (2018) just south of Madrid. It is home to the Getafe Air Base, one of the oldest Spanish military air bases, and to the main campus of the Charles III University of Madrid. The Cerro de los Ángeles ("Hill of the Angels"), a site traditionally considered to be the geographical centre of the Iberian Peninsula, also lies within the municipal limits.

Climate
Winters are cool, with temperatures dropping below 10 °C (46.4 °F) during the day, and frequently below 2 °C (32 °F) at night. Getafe averages three to four snowfalls per year. Summers are very hot, with median temperatures above 25 °C (75.2 °F) in July and August, and with maximum temperatures which often reach 35 °C (95 °F). Daily temperatures oscillate within range of 10 °C (18 °F).

One of the major problems of Getafe's climate is air pollution, which increases noticeably when the wind blows south or southeast.

By train
You can take the Parla line from Madrid to Getafe.

By bus
You can travel from Plaza Elíptica bus station (on the grey Circular metro line) to the city centre of Getafe if you take the 441, 442, and 444 bus lines. Another, the 443, will carry you somewhat far away of it. There're also two night bus lines, that end in Plaza Elíptica: N803 and N805.

By car
Four highways and divided highways pass through Getafe: two beltways (A-42 and A-4) and two highways leading through Madrid (M-45 and M-50). Another two-lane road connects Getafe with Leganés, and two provincial roads lead to Perales del Río.

By taxi
Taxis from Madrid cost €15-20, and are the only option to get to Getafe after a late night out (01:30 or 02:00).

Get around
In Getafe there are 5 train stations and many bus stations which leave you in the city centre or around, wherever you want.

See

 * Catedral de la Magdalena, a Renaissance era cathedral located in the center of the city with a baroque altar.
 * Biblioteca Ricardo de La Vega, built in the 17th century as a prison and now being used as a public library. It's located next to the cathedral.
 * Hospitalillo de San José, a former hospital built in the 16th century that has a small chapel and a central patio. A fine example of Castilian architecture.
 * Colegio de Las Escuelas Pías, built in the 17th century and serving as a religious school even today.
 * Iglesia de los Santos Justo y Pastor, in the Perales del Rio neighbourhood very far from the city (bus 411 from Legazpi, Madrid (yellow and grey Metro lines), and Getafe bus line L4). 18th-century building restored in 2004.
 * Cerro de los Ángeles. A hill that is close to Getafe's industrial zone and in the other side of the N-IV highway, covered in good part by pine forests. Famous for being the geometrical centre of the Iberian Peninsula as well as the religious buildings that can be found at its top: the 17th century (rebuilt after the Spanish Civil war) Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles hermitage and the Monument to the Sacred Heart, built in 1919.

Do

 * Football: play soccer in La Liga, Spain's top tier. Their home ground Coliseum Alfonso Pérez (capacity 17,000) is by M-45, two km northeast of town centre.
 * You can do sports like running in Juan de la Cierva or San Isidro stadiums, or swimming in Sector III swimming pool.

Learn
If you are a student, in Getafe there is Carlos III university.

Buy
If you like shopping you should walk along Calle de Madrid.

Drink
You can have a really fun night if you go to "Cabaret Madrid", a pub where you can drink and dance until 06:00.

Cafe Cibelina is where all the local football fans gather.

Connect
As of June 2022, Getafe has 4G from MasMovi/Yoigo and Vodafone, and 5G from Movistar and Orange.

Go next

 * Onward routes by public transport mean heading into central Madrid.
 * Aranjuez has a blingy royal palace.
 * Toledo the ancient capital lies further south.

title: Getafe


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Getaria

Getaria is a small fishing town in Guipuzcoa, on the coast between Zarauz to the east and Zumaia to the west. The town is dominated by a rocky promontory, nicknamed El Raton, or mouse. It has an attractive harbour, an interesting church and several restaurants and bars serving excellent fish and seafood.

Understand
Getaria has a population of about 2,800 people (2018).

It is the birthplace of Juan Sebastian Elcano, who was the first western person to circumnavigate the globe, completing the journey begun by Magellan.

The municipality of Getaria occupies a section of the central coast of Gipuzkoa in the Cantabrian Sea. This section of the coast consists of a steep ledge on which a series of coves and points have formed through erosion.

The historic centre of Getaria is located just between the mainland and the mountain San Antón, also called the mouse of Getaria due to its mouse-like shape. This mountain that characterizes the town, was an island until the 16th century.

In the interior part of the township, the mountain Garate (278 m) is located. This mountain runs parallel to the coast, and in its smooth skirts lie several farms belonging to the township of Getaria. These farms are typical of the Basque Country and they are called baserri.

Nearly all the land between the mountain Garate and the coast is covered in vineyards due to the microclimate that this area generates.

By car
Getaria lies on the N634 coast road between Zumaia and Zarautz. There are two fee-paying car parks: one on the western approach from Zumaia, the other close to the fishing port on the Calle de Portua. Both are free after 20:00. A free car park can be reached by turning first left on entering the town centre, and following Calle de Sahatsaga uphill.

See

 * Cristobal Balenciaga Museum

Eat
Getaria is famous for its restaurants serving grilled fish.

Drink
Getaria is famous for a white wine with a protected designation of origin which is cultivated in the surroundings of this coastal town called "Getariako Txakolina".

title: Getaria


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Gevgelija

Gevgelija is a city located in the very southern part of Eastern North Macedonia on the border with Greece. About 20,000 people live in the city.

Get in
There seem to be three daily trains from Skopje according to the Macedonian railways website (only gives good results in Macedonian, Skopje is СКОПЈЕ and Gevgelija is ГЕВГЕЛИЈА in Cyrillic).

The bus from Skopje to Thessaloniki also stops in Gevgelija. Departure from Skopje at 17:00 and from Thessaloniki at 08:30.

Further afield
Outside the city limits of Gevgelija, but within Gevgelija Municipality are a few notable churches and some pleasant scenery.

Do
There are many recreational opportunities at Mount Kožuf including skiing.

Eat

Sleep
Hotel Apollonia +389-34-213222

Hotel Pisina (Flamingo) +389-34-215724 (42euros/2 persons [Apr-2008])

Motel Vardar +389-34-213267

Go next

 * Bogdanci - the nearby town is known for its wind farms

title: Gevgelija


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Geyserville

Geyserville is a quaint one stop sign town of fewer than 900 people in 2010. It has a myriad of wineries to taste at, off the beaten track roads to bike on, rivers to raft on, scenic views and good places to eat.

Do
Wineries

 * Geyser Peak
 * Pedroncelli
 * Trentadue
 * Canyon Road

Other:

 * Lake Sonoma

title: Geyserville


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Geyzing

Geyzing, or Gyalshing, is the capital of West Sikkim. Attractions include Pemyangtse Monastery built in 1640, reputed to be Sikkim's oldest, and Khecheopalri Lake which as legend has it not a leaf is allowed to float on the surface. The town is the base for trekking in the Himalayas and professional expeditions to Mount Kanchenjunga.

Understand
The town has a large population of people of Nepalese ancestry and has a population of around 900.

The Nepali language is the predominant language of the region.

The town is situated at an altitude of about 6,500 feet (1,900 m). The town enjoys a temperate climate for most of the year and snow sometimes falls in the vicinity.

Get in
The town is connected to the capital Gangtok by a metalled road. Geyzing is also connected to the West Bengal towns of Darjeeling and Kalimpong via Jorethang. A few kilometres north is the town of Pelling.

By bus
There is a daily bus connection to Gangtok and to Siliguri (via Jorethang), both at 8AM.

By shared jeep
Shared jeeps go to Gangtok (4 to 5 hr, ₹120), Siliguri (₹125), Legship and Jorethang, where you have to change car when you want to go ahead to Darjeeling.

By taxi
There are taxis to Pelling (30 min, ₹20). Taxis to Pelling also operate in the afternoon, whereas taxis to other places leave in the morning only.

title: Geyzing


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Ghadamis

Ghadamis also known as Ghadames is an oasis town in Libya. Old part of the town is inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List.

Understand
This is a tranquil old city, with white, covered streets that are both dark and refreshingly cool. Ghadamis was built painstakingly based on a complex knowledge of how to deal with extreme temperatures. The positioning of Ghadamis' buildings is far from casual. Every angle, every wall, every opening in the roofs over the alleyways, are parts of the same organism. Ghadamis still stands, but the people have moved into the modern settlement nearby. Yet they still take refuge in the old city when summer becomes unbearably hot. With the exodus of its local population, and their resulting loss of knowledge of engineering buildings to maintain natural air conditioning, an important science could be lost. In its earlier days, the life line of Ghadamis was trans-Sahara trade, including the slave trade.

Eat
If you want a good evening meal try Akmed’s restaurant. He is a very efficient Tunisian who runs a tight ship. The camel steaks are very tough, but the chicken is absolutely delicious.

title: Ghadamis


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Ghaemshahr

Ghaemshahr (Qaemshahr) is a city in Caspian Iran, 260 km north of Tehran, in northern Iran.

Understand
Ghaemshahr city's population is over 300,000 including suburbs and villages around the city.

It was home to a major textile industry, which was one of the biggest companies of textile in the world, with exporting to many countries in the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

Ghaemshahr has many industrial towns around and is full of different type of factories.

Although the city is not famous for its beauty, it is a good base to explore the region, as most of Mazandaran and Caspian coast is very beautiful.

The city is full of apartment buildings and shops but not a lot of attractive places for tourists, although there are many beautiful natural places around the city.

title: Ghaemshahr


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Ghana

Ghana is a country in West Africa. It's a gratifying destination for first-time visitors to West Africa (it's sometimes called "Africa for beginners"), owing to its good infrastructure, political stability and widespread use of English. The people are generally very helpful and welcoming. While their laid-back attitude and a lack of organised tourist sights or trips can be a little annoying to begin with, you'll quickly realise that it is one of the delights of this country.

Tourism in Ghana is growing very quickly, and tour operators are seeing increased requests for Ghana as a travel destination. Ghana has gold mines, and is a stable country with good potential for growth.

Regions
There are 16 administrative regions (formerly 10) in Ghana: the Northern Region which is the largest in terms of size, Eastern Region, Western Region, Upper East Region, Upper West Region, Central Region, Volta Region, Oti Region, Western North Region, North East Region, Ahafo Region, Savannah Region, Bono East Region, Ashanti Region, and Brong Ahafo Region which is the second largest.

Cities

 * — national capital and largest city.
 * — the first capital of Gold Coast (the former name of Ghana), Cape Coast is home to a slave castle that is a UNESCO World Heritage site
 * — regional capital of the Eastern Region
 * — former capital of the Ashanti Empire on the UNESCO World Heritage List for Ashanti traditional buildings, and Ghana's second-largest city.
 * — mining town.
 * Also known as twin city or oil city
 * — the capital of Brong Ahafo Region
 * — largest city in the north, fastest-growing metropolis in Ghana and gateway to Mole National Park
 * — industrial and port city on the Greenwich Meridian

Other destinations

 * — a spectacular waterfall in a village called Boti in the Manya Krobo district in the Eastern Region.
 * — A town near Accra, known for beaches, colonial-era fort, and the dancing pallbearers.
 * — rainforest area with a long canopy walk, delightful to be above the treetops, but rare to see any wildlife except birds. Monkeys, elephants and antelope are said to live in the region. There is a good little museum and a café at the park entrance.
 * — savannah with buffalo, monkeys, antelope, and reintroduced lions & elephants; driving and walking safaris are popular, you can even camp for the night on the savannah.
 * — a town in the north home to "sacred crocodiles" which are tame and live in Paga Crocodile Pond.
 * — a great day trip near Accra home to baboons, parrots, & antelope; you can tour the reserve on horseback.
 * — in the lush Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary near the Togo border.

In addition, the forts and castles of Elmina, Cape Coast, Butri, Apam, Abandze, Komenda, Axim, Dixcove, Shama and Senya Bereku are collectively listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Understand

Ghana means "Warrior King" and the name of the country is derived from the ancient Ghana Empire.

Early times
There is archaeological evidence which shows that humans have lived in what is present day Ghana from about 1500 BC. Nonetheless, there is no proof that those early dwellers are related to the current inhabitants of the area. Oral tradition has it that many of Ghana's current ethnic groups such as the multi-ethnic Akan, the Ga and the Ewe arrived around the 13th century AD. However, the Dagombas are believed to be the first settlers, having been fully established by 1210 AD, before the arrival of other ethnic groups. Modern Ghanaian territory includes what was the Empire of Ashanti, one of the most influential states in sub-Saharan Africa before colonial rule. Its capital, Kumasi, was said to be one of the most vibrant and impressive cities in pre-colonial Africa, but was largely destroyed and looted by the British during the Third Anglo-Ashanti War in 1874.

Colonial era
Early European contact by the Portuguese, who came to Ghana in the 15th century, focused on the extensive availability of gold. By 1548, the Dutch had joined them, and built forts at Komenda and Kormantsi. Other European traders joined in by the mid 17th century, largely English, Danes and Swedes. British merchants, impressed with the gold resources in the area, named it the Gold Coast, while French merchants, impressed with the trinkets worn by the coastal people, named the area to the west "Côte d'Ivoire", or Ivory Coast. The Gold Coast was known for centuries as 'The White Man's Grave' because many of the Europeans who went there died of malaria and other tropical diseases.

After the Dutch withdrew in 1874, Britain made the Gold Coast a protectorate. Following conquest by the British in 1896, until independence in March 1957, the territory of modern Ghana excluding the Volta Region (British Togoland), was known as the Gold Coast.

Many wars occurred between the colonial powers and the various nation-states in the area and even under colonial rule the chiefs and people often resisted the policies of the British. Moves toward de-colonisation intensified after World War II and after an intense struggle, on March 6, 1957 elected parliamentary leader Kwame Nkrumah declared Ghana as "free forever". The nation thus became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain its independence.

Modern era
Kwame Nkrumah was a champion of pan-Africanism and his popularity was a major concern for the West. Nkrumah was overthrown by the military while he was abroad in February 1966. A series of coups from 1966 to 1981 ended with the ascension to power of the flamboyant Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings in 1981. These changes resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and the banning of political parties. The economy suffered a severe decline soon after, and many Ghanaians migrated to other countries.

Rawlings changed many old economic policies and the economy soon began to recover. A new constitution restoring multi-party politics was instigated in 1992, and Rawlings was elected as president then and again in 1996. In 2009, John Atta Mills took office as president marking the second time that power had been transferred from one legitimately elected leader to another, and securing Ghana's status as a stable democracy.

Climate
Ghana is a tropical country with a hot and humid climate. Average daily temperatures range from 30°C (86°F) during the day to 24°C (75°F) at night. In northern Ghana, rainy season occurs between April and October, while in the south of the country, rainfall is experienced between April and June and the months of September and October. Southwest Ghana tends to get wetter than the rest of the country. Between December and March, Ghana is affected by the Harmattan, a dry wind coming from the Sahara, causing the humidity to be very low and the air very dry and with dusty fog.

People
The largest ethnic group in Ghana is the Akan, but there are many others, including the Ashanti.

Holidays

 * New Year's Day (January 1)
 * Independence Day (March 6)
 * Easter (Good Friday and Easter Monday)
 * Republic Day (July 1)
 * Founder's Day (September 21)
 * Eid al-Adha (various)-Islamic religious observances
 * December 25 (Christmas)
 * December 26 (Boxing Day)

Tourist information

 * Ghana Travel information

Visa requirements
Foreign nationals of the following countries can enter Ghana for a maximum of 30 days, or for a maximum of 90 days:

ECOWAS countries, plus Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Singapore, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Otherwise, unless in direct airside transit through a Ghanaian airport, all other foreign nationals require a visa to enter Ghana. For information about obtaining visas for Ghana, visit the official website of the Ghana Immigration Service.

There is no such thing as a visa on arrival for Western countries. It's thus best to play it safe and get a visa in advance. The Ghanaian government's online Ghana list of embassies is out of date. A three-month single-entry visa costs US$60; a one-year, multiple entry visa costs US$100. You must have a yellow fever vaccination certificate which will be presented to customs when entering.

 * In London a 3-month visa cost £60 and takes 10 working days to get.

If you require a visa to enter Ghana, you might be able to apply for one at a British embassy, high commission or consulate in the country where you legally reside if there is no Ghanaian embassy or consulate. For example, the British embassies/consulates in Bogotá, Amman, Helsinki, Hong Kong and Tripoli  accept Ghanaian visa applications (this list is not exhaustive). British diplomatic posts charge UK£50 to process a Ghanaian visa application and an extra £70 if the authorities in Ghana require the visa application to be referred to them. The authorities in Ghana can also decide to charge an additional fee if they correspond with you directly.

Travellers who are staying longer than their entry visa (a maximum of 30 or 60 days are usually granted for tourists) are advised to bring their passport for visa extension to Immigration Service early and expect delays in getting their passports back. Two weeks are provided as the guideline for processing time, but this can often take much longer. Be careful about what dates are stamped in your passport. Sometimes Immigration puts a 60-day stamp on a visa for 3 months: the stamps is what counts. If you don't want to go through the hassle of Immigration Service, you may consider going to Togo and back to get a visa stamp at the border.

By plane
All international flights are through Kotoka International Airport at Accra (ACC). ACC is very central and there are always airport shuttles and lots of taxis available to connect you to other parts of the city. Terminal 3 at Kotoka International operates as a "first world" facility - very efficient and modern. Almost 29 international airlines fly to Kotoka International Airport with annual air traffic of over 4 million

TAP Air Portugal has some of the lowest fares from Europe via Lisbon to Accra. Air Portugal also fly from Accra to Sao Tome. Air Delta Air Lines serves Accra from New York City (JFK) while South African Airlines operates several times a week from Washington-Dulles, with continuing service to Johannesburg. British Airways flies from London Heathrow. KLM flies daily from Schiphol, Amsterdam and Brussels Airlines operates regular flights to Brussels. Lufthansa daily direct flights from Frankfurt and Milan respectively, with a short stop in Lagos, Nigeria. Emirates flies daily non-stop from Dubai in the Middle East and Middle East Airlines (with connections to Asia and the Far East). Ethiopian Airlines flies daily non-stops from Addis Ababa (with stopover, you can visit another African country). Also, Egypt Air flies non-stop to Accra. If coming from Brazil or nearby, the flight from Rio de Janeiro to Luanda, Angola on Angola Airlines or Sao Paulo via Lome, through Ethiopian Airlines and their partner airline ASKY would be the quickest routing. Turkish Airlines flies from İstanbul to Accra.

Royal Air Maroc also has several flights a week to Accra out of Casablanca. Arik Air and operates flights to Nigeria.

The lowest fares to Ghana outside of Africa are usually from London, but that doesn't necessarily mean British Airways is the cheapest (i.e. a transfer inside continental Europe may be required). TAP flies daily to Accra from Lisbon. Those living in North America might be able to save by getting a cheap ticket to London from their home country. (Be aware that there are several London international airports, such as Gatwick and Heathrow, and allow lots of connection time.)

See further down for domestic flight information.

By train
No international rail connections exist. However some major mining towns and villages are linked by the rail.

By car
The border at Aflao with Togo is an entertaining scene. It appears very disorderly and human traffic seems to flow freely. However it is unlikely that a white person can pass through without all the formalities. The border guards are professional enough where you will not be asked for bribes—although some women may get marriage proposals! A visa into Ghana can be bought at the border at double the normal cost (because of the speedy delivery) for some GH₵110. The Togolese 7-day transit visa is a lovely cheap 5,000 CFA francs (2011). Change your money before crossing, if you need to buy a visa. Ideally, change your money at a bank in Aflao (even better to do it in advance at a ForEx in Accra) or Lomé.

While at the border crossings, keep your cameras stowed in your packs; both Ghanaian and Togolese border guards are sure to take your camera if they spot you snapping a photo, or at the least give you a good chiding.

The border with Cote d'Ivoire at Elubo takes less time to cross but Ivorian guards seem much more keen on the rules.

By bus
Ghana's national bus company, State Transport Corporation, runs an inter-city bus service within Ghana and to some major West African cities. A recent public-private partnership produced Metro Mass Company, which runs services within the capital city, Accra, and within other regions in Ghana.

ABC Transport, based in Nigeria has a daily air conditioned bus from Lagos to Accra for about GH₵45.

Coming in from Burkina Faso, the main route is a bus from Ouagadougou to Bolgatonga, Tamale and Accra. Or you can cross the border at Hamile (or Hamale, as it is called on the BF-side of the border). Take a bus from Bobo-Dioulasso. You have to cross the border by foot (after leaving Burkina Faso, you walk some 300 m through no-man's-land before reaching Ghana customs. Locals will be lingering around and will be looking to change money at fairly reasonable rates). Then take a Metro Mass bus to Wa (or hop on a tro-tro and do the trip in stages). Be sure to take an early bus from Bobo: if the bus has a delay, you may end up having to spend the night in Hamile. There is a place where you can get a room (GH₵10); the custom officers can help you find it.

By boat
There are no authorised boat services to Ghana. There are, however, pantos and ferries that work on the Volta lake linking the eastern region to the Volta region and other areas

By plane
The domestic air transportation scene in Ghana is very dynamic and appears to go through regular changes. As of October 2019 there are only two registered carriers: Passion Air serving Accra, Kumasi & Tamale, and Africa World Airlines who serve the same centres in addition to Takoradi. All aircraft are of a high standard, as is the service level of airline staff, flights run on time and are reasonably priced. There are no scheduled services to Sunyani or Obuasi.

By train
The rail network in Ghana has long been dormant, however as of 2020 there are signs of rehabilitation on some stretches and intercity passenger services might materialize within a few years. The only services that operate as of early 2021 are commuter lines in Sekondi-Takoradi and between the capital Accra and Tema.

In Accra, you can join the train from the Central Station in Accra or at other stations and halts along the Accra-Nsawam railway line. Until 2017, the trains did go from Accra to Nsawam. However, it goes to Achimota, before joining the branch line to Tema.

In Takoradi, the passenger train runs from Takoradi to Kojokrom, and then joins the branch line from Kojokrom and ends at Sekondi.

It is very common to see the train carry freight from Nsuta or Tarkwa to Takoradi.

By car
Roads are variable. In Accra most are fairly good. Significant improvements are being made on the main road between Accra and Kumasi. Most of the roads outside Accra apart from the major ones are dirt tracks. The road between Techiman and Bole is particularly bad and should be avoided if possible. For travel on most roads in the North of the country a 4x4 is required, a saloon car will cope with some of them in the dry season but is not recommended.

Cars with foreign registration are not allowed to circulate at night 18:00-06:00. Only Ghanaian registered vehicles are allowed on the road at this time. Non compliance can result in fines and the impounding of the vehicle for the night.

When traveling in some parts of the country, there will be police checkpoints on the road, some real, most fake. At the fake checkpoints, they will come up with non-existent laws that you supposedly broke and will try to get a bribe out of you. Usually, you can pay the police about 1-5 cedis to let you go. At some checkpoint, they will give you a logbook that you need to show to the officers at the next checkpoint. If you decide not to pay the bribe, traveling even short distances will become onerous, as the police will keep you at the checkpoint for a long time. For brave travelers, it is possible to drive through some of the illegal checkpoints, without stopping to pay the bribe.

By bus
With the collapse of the state owned transport company (STC), many private own companies are springing up and providing better service to passengers. Companies such as VIP Bus, O.A. Travel and Tours, M Plaza, and Diplomatic Transport ply the major cities and towns of the country. The VIP bus company is now the major carrier between Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani, Takoradi etc. Fare depends on preferred company and destination of travel. Most of these buses are a/c coaches, there are no advance tickets and there are meal and wash-room stops when aboard.

However these private buses don't travel to rural areas of the country. Metro bus which is a state company is by far the cheapest means of travel to consider when travelling between towns.

By tro-tro
A 'tro-tro' is almost any sort of vehicle that has been adapted to fit in as many people, possessions, and occasionally livestock, as possible. Tro-tros are typically old, 12-passenger VW or Mercedes-Benz vans. Similarly to 'shared' taxis, tro-tros will run along fixed routes and have fixed fares, and will rarely run with less than capacity (so be prepared to wait). They are inexpensive (cheaper than shared taxis and STC buses) and fares should reflect distance travelled, however they have a questionable safety record and frequently breakdown. Breakdowns however are usually not too much of a problem since they will break down in a route where other tro-tros run, so you can just grab another one. Although they generally run point to point they will usually pick and drop on route if required. They make runs within the city (i.e. Circle to Osu for GH₵0.20) as well as intercity routes. They are often the only option between remote towns but are not recommended for long journeys. Tro-tros are an excellent way to meet Ghanaians, and are always great for a cultural adventure. Sometimes they will make you pay extra for luggage, and occasionally they will try to overcharge (very rarely).

If you feel like being an elite tro-tro rider, ask around for City Express, a newish service sporting the usual minivan, but with working brakes, non-stop travel, half the seats, and impressive air conditioning. It mostly runs between the larger cities along the coast, e.g., Takoradi, Accra, Aflao, et al.

By taxi
Taxis are prevalent, easy to spot, safe, and as a tourist you will find they find you quick enough if you need one. To charter a taxi is more expensive than to share one, but prices are negotiable and almost always need to be bargained over. Always settle on a fare before getting in. A taxi for a very short route should be no more than GH₵1.00, longer GH₵2.50-5.00 and GH₵8.00 should be enough for most places in the city. As of December 2011, you can use a rough rate of GH₵1.00 for every 1.5 km travelled (check Google Maps for the distance between places). Fares continue to fluctuate with the fuel prices on the international market. Almost every taxi driver will start with a high price that is 1.5x-3x the local price if you're a foreigner and then you'll have to bargain them down. You'll get the best price when you start to walk away from the taxi. In Accra and the major cities most taxis that will stop for you assume you require a charter taxi and unless you are on a very strict budget it's usually easiest to do this. In more remote areas, shared taxis are most common. Little ride hailing app works in Ghana.

Talk
English is both the official language and the lingua franca between Ghana's many peoples. English speakers will have no trouble communicating their needs anywhere in the country; Ghanaians usually speak English quite fluently, albeit with a strong accent and some quirks. Official government documents are in English, but there are over 40 distinct languages spoken in Ghana including Twi/Fante in the Ashanti and Fante regions, Ga in Greater Accra, Ewe east of Lake Volta, Dagbani, and so on. "Obruni", the Akan word for foreigner literally means "white man", is generally shouted at any tourist in the more heavily trafficked areas, black or white, male or female. This gets tiresome.

In the northern regions and among Ghanaian Muslims in general, the Hausa language is also used as a lingua franca.

Historic and UNESCO World Heritage sites
For many visitors the history of Ghana starts with the slave trade, and interaction with Europeans, but there was a long and rich history before that. Remnants of thriving civilisations can be seen in the Northern region, at both the Larabanga mosque which dates from the 15th century and the 16th-century Nalerigu Defence Wall.

With the growth in power and prestige of the Ashanti Kingdom in the 17th and 19th centuries, the capital Kumasi also grew and now contains a number of historic sights.

However the slave trade did leave its mark on Ghana, with forts built by the British, Dutch, Danish, Germans, Portuguese and Swedish dotted all along the coast. Excellent examples of these can be seen at both Cape Coast and Elmina, these forts give a glimpse of the time of slavery and a view of the last sight of Africa for thousands of people, as well as being UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Another World Heritage site is the village of Nzulezo, which is built on stilts.

Nature

Ghana is blessed with an abundance of natural treasures, from beautiful beaches such as those at Kokrobite  and Winneba, where you can relax with a cocktail, enjoy a stay at a beach front hotel or watch the fishermen at work. Alternatively you could take the waters inland instead, Volta Lake created by the damming of the River Volta at Akosombo in the mid-1960s to provide a source of electricity to Ghana now also provides a wonderful viewing point from the dam itself or trips out onto the lake itself or you can take a trip on the River Volta instead at Ada.

In the Ashanti region not far from Kumasi is Lake Bosumtwi, a 10.5 km diameter meteor impact crater lake, which was created by a meteor strike approximately 1 million years ago, as well a being extremely picturesque the lake holds a spiritual significance to the Ashanti, whose traditional belief asserts that souls of the dead meet the god Twi at the lake.

Also inland, are two more national treasures in the form of two world renowned national parks. Kakum National Park to walk of the elevated rope bridges within the forest, with the opportunity for bird watching and butterfly and other nature spotting or to Mole National Park to enjoy a safari experience, with the chance to see Elephants, big cats and other animals on the savannah.

There is also the mountaintop village of Wli Todzi, in the rain forest near Wli Falls, which is known for its dramatic scenery and is popular for its ecotourism offerings.

For where to go to see Ghana's butterflies, all images taken by Wikimedia Commons user Charlesjsharp have precise geolocation information [1]. The images can be found in the category gallery of butterflies.

Urban
The 1st and 2nd cities of Ghana offer plenty to see and to do. Accra offers history at the historic sites, such as Independence Square, the Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum and the WB Dubois Centre. Shopping in a number of markets, including Makola market in the centre of the city. Cultural treats include a number of museums and the national theatre. Outside of the city at Aburi are the extensive botanical gardens.

Kumasi offers the sights based around the history of the Ashanti, including the Manhiya Palace, the Asantehene's Palace and Okomfo Anokye Sword. There are also more to discover in terms of artifacts which are deeply rooted in the culture of the Asante people like wood carvings from Ahwiaa, Adinkra designs and clothes from Ntonso and Aboaso, Kente weaving in some part of Kwabre Bonwire, Adanwomasi and Wonoo.

Money
The new Ghana cedi, denoted by the symbol "GH₵" (ISO currency code: GHS) was introduced on 1 July 2007 at a rate equal to 10,000 old cedis. When it was introduced, it was the highest-valued currency unit issued by a sovereign African country.

You will encounter a variety of currency notations locally. Banknotes are issued denominations in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 new Ghana cedis.

One new Ghana cedi is divided into one hundred new Ghana pesewas (Gp). Coins of Ghana come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 pesewas GH₵1 and GH₵2. The one pesewa coins are rare in the system since you hardly find items that can be bought for less than 5 pesewas.

US dollars are accepted by some of the major tourist hotels, but you shouldn't rely on this. As in all West African countries, older US dollar bills will be rejected by banks and Forex bureaux. If you intend to take dollar notes make sure that they are all from the 2009 series or later.

Euros, dollars and pounds sterling in cash are the most useful currencies to take with you and are easily and safely changed at numerous air con booths open to 21:00.

There are many forex bureaux in Accra, and a few in the other major cities. It is very difficult to change travellers cheques and certainly almost impossible outside Accra and Kumasi, unless you change them at a major bank. Barclays has branches in Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, and Tamale where you can change travellers cheques. Expect queues.

ATMs
There are Ecobank, Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic Bank and GT Bank ATMs all over Ghana. which accept Mastercard and Visa. You can use Mastercard and Visa cards in hotels and some shopping malls and airline offices.

Credit card fraud is very common in many places, so be careful.

Shopping
Bargaining is very much expected in the markets. Ask for a third of the price and work your way up from there.

Large cities such as Accra have markets open every day, but travellers get the true flavour of the country if they have the opportunity to visit a village market on the day of the week that it is open. Most goods will be staple goods, but cloth, beads, musical instruments, bags, and even CDs are usually available.

Kente cloth, drums and wooden designs, such as masks and "sacred stools" can be found on almost any street in any tourist area in Ghana. Ankara and kente cloth have associated symbolism in the colours and patterns. When you are buying it, ask the seller what the design means.

The Accra Mall is a shopping centre on the spintex road of the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange.

Adinkrah symbols and sacred stools
The sacred stools have traditional Adinkrah "motif" designs in them that can mean many things having to do with God, love, strength and community. Finding a guidebook which will tell you what each symbol means is advisable to prevent the possibility of buying a stool that doesn't mean what you think it is.

Gye Nyame is by far the most popular Adinkrah symbol. It means "Only God". Other popular stools are the "Wisdom Knot" and the one with the character holding many sticks together, which cannot be broken, to symbolize the strength of community.

Eat
Traditional food is fun to try and easy to enjoy. Fufu, the most widely served traditional dish, consists of pounded balls of yam, plantain, or cassava served with a variety of soups and meat or fish stews. Soups are typically made of groundnuts, palm nut, okra and other vegetables. Banku is a fermented corn version of the dish typically eaten with grilled tilapia fish or okra soup.

Rice dishes are also typical, but not considered a "real" meal by many Ghanaians, males especially. Jollof rice is a dish as varied as its chef, but generally consists of white rice cooked with vegetables, meat pieces, spices in a tomato based sauce. Waakye is a mix of beans and rice, typically served with gari, a powder of ground cassava. Often rice dishes are served with shredded lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes on the side with a dollop of Heinz salad cream or mayonnaise. Such meals are extremely cheap from street vendors and cost GH₵1.50-2.50.

Plantains, yams, and sweet potatoes are prepared in various ways and serve as small snacks. Kelewele, a spiced fried plantain snack, is especially delicious. Fresh fruits such as pineapple, mango, papaya, coconut, oranges, and bananas are delightful when in season and come when applicable by the bag for as little as 10 cents.

A great African meal in a restaurant can cost GH₵3-7. For instance, a lobster and shrimp dinner can cost GH₵6. There are also a number of Western and Chinese style restaurants available especially in Osu, a trendy suburb of Accra.

There is also banku and tilapia.The price of the tilapia varies based on the size as well as where you buy it from. There are other local traditional meals that are not so common example are the Aprapransa, mpotompoto etc

Drink
In Accra's expat visited bars, a beer will cost GH₵5-10. Fruit juices GHS7.00, water GH₵5.00-8.50. Star and Club are two of the more popular beers served. For a more interesting and rewarding experience, visit a "spot," a bar signified by the blue and white stripes on the outside of the building. They are cheaper and you will undoubtedly be able to meet some local Ghanaians and hear the newest hip-life songs.

A soft drink such as Coke, Alvaro, Fanta, 7UP (called "minerals" by locals) are widely available for GH₵0.70.

The bottles that minerals or beer is served to you in are owned by the bottling company: if you do not return it to the seller, they stand to lose GH₵0.50 — more than you most likely paid for the drink. If you are not going to consume the drink at the "spot" or at the roadside stand, make sure you let the seller know. Often, you will be asked for a deposit which will be returned upon the return of the bottle. There are also traditional drinks like "pito", asaana, burkina, and bisarrp drink (sobolo).

Sleep
There are many wonderful places to stay in Ghana. There are many options including lavish hotels or more rustic places to stay. Cheap, decent hotel rooms can run as low as GH₵300. A better room can go as low as GH₵100. For high-end hotels, prices are higher than a comparable hotel in the USA.

For longer stays (a few months) it is possible to rent a house. Houses for rent are advertised in local newspapers and also in those places frequented by expats - Koala supermarket, Ryan's Irish pub, etc.

Learn
Ghana has three major public universities. The largest of these is the University of Ghana, located in Legon, a suburb of the capital, Accra. Other universities are located at Cape Coast (University of Cape Coast), and Kumasi (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, or "Tech"/KNUST). Smaller public universities include the University of Education at Winneba, the University of Development Studies with a main campus at Tamale and several other campuses around the north, and the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa, Western Region. There are also several private universities and colleges, both religious and non-religious.

There are some good schools while others aren't that great. Teachers are usually very strict and respect from the students is very important.

Work
A popular method of travelling around Ghana is to volunteer with the many organizations that Ghana boasts.

 * Africa Calling
 * AIESEC University students
 * Global-Cultural Solution (GCS)
 * Light for Children
 * Thrive Africa
 * Volunteering Solutions
 * Volunteer Partnerships for West Africa
 * Volunteer Partnerships for West Africa

Stay safe
The standard emergency number for police, fire and ambulance is 112.

Ghana is a very safe, stable country with relatively low crime levels compared to other West African countries. Take sensible precautions but be assured it is quite safe.

Male homosexuality is illegal. While prosecutions are rare, there is widespread targeting and extortion of vulnerable people and anyone suspected to be gay or queer. Female homosexuality is legal. In 2021, Ghanaian police charged a group of LGBT activists with "unlawful assembly" and for "advocating LGBTQ activities", which is not illegal.

Cases have also been reported of people snatching mobile phones in the streets. Avoid using your mobile phone out in the open.

Accidental gas tanker explosions, including occurrences in heavily populated residential & industrial areas throughout the country, have been a recurring problem, with eight such cases in 2015–2017.

Stay healthy
Chloroquine-resistant malaria is widespread and you must take sufficient malaria protection including mosquito avoidance, mosquito repellants, and chemical prophylaxis. Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into the country.

Get vaccinations against Hepatitis A & B, Cholera and Typhoid fever if you are planning to travel within the country.

There is a very high risk of meningitis in the northern third of Ghana which is a part of the Meningitis belt of Africa. This applies especially during the dry windy periods from December to June. A polysaccharide vaccine is available for Meningitis types A, C, Y and W135.

Although the AIDS/HIV rate is lower than other sub-Saharan African countries, do not have unprotected sex! Also you should avoid contact with still freshwater as there is a risk of schistosomiasis.

Some restaurants will approach European health standards, but be prepared to pay for this. Smaller restaurants, often called "chop bars," will likely not meet these standards.

Because of the tropical climate near the coast, travellers will need to stay hydrated. Bottled water is available everywhere. Voltic Water has been a reliable brand over the years, but do check to make sure the seal has not been broken.

Drinking water from the tap is not generally considered to be safe, so choices include plastic bottled water (e.g. Voltic, 1.5 L, c. GH₵1.00), boiled or filtered tap water, and "pure water" sachets. These sachets are filtered and come in 500 mL. portions. Many foreigners prefer bottled water.

At least one study has suggested bottled water to be the safest choice. Although "pure water" sachets are more easily accessible, 2.3% of sachets tested were found to contain faecal bacteria. If you want to play it safe, stick with carbonated beverages or bottled water.

For the latest traveller's health information pertaining to Ghana, including advisories and recommendations, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention destination Ghana website.

Respect
Do try to pick up on respectful practice (such as not eating or offering with your left hand), but in general Ghanaians are quite accepting of tourists getting it wrong. Greetings are very important. Ghanaians are not forgiving of people who do not take time to greet others. Sometimes greetings come in the form of a salute accompanied by a "good morning" or "good afternoon". The expected response is the same (a salute with a "good morning or afternoon"). Inquiring how the person is doing is also a good idea.

The Ghanaian hand shake is a typical handshake, quickly followed by the snapping of thumb and middle finger. The technique will be introduced to you the first time you shake hands; it will take you by surprise as it involves sliding your hand down the other persons hand, taking their middle finger between your thumb and middle finger as they take your middle finger between their thumb and middle finger, then snapping your finger together as they do likewise. It is unique. Smile, make new friends, and give them a Ghanaian handshake: they will smile and nod!

Travellers are not expected to dress like you are a Ghanaian, but if you are attending a significant event, dress appropriately to convey respect. This could mean wearing black (or black with red), modest clothing to the funeral of an adult, but a brightly coloured dress to a wedding. As a country with many traditions, it may be best and simplest to ask your hosts what will be most suitable. For example, the preferred funeral attire may be white with a few black touches if the person was very old, or normally coloured clothing if the family is Muslim.

Connect
Telephone and postal services can be unreliable within Ghana itself but international post, at least to and from Accra is reasonably reliable (approx a week either way to the UK for example). Ghana Telecom (later re-branded Vodafone) is the most widespread landline phone company, but is not yet entirely reliable or widespread. There are three voice-and-data mobile network operators operating in the country commercially: MTN, Vodafone, and AT. MTN and Vodafone have 2G GSM (including EDGE), 3G UMTS (including HSPA+), and 4G LTE coverage in the regional capitals and other major cities. AT may start operating 4G services. Coverage is good in the urban areas, and is increasing in the rural areas and along major highways. MTN is likely to have the most coverage. The three mobile phone networks have GSM 900/1800, and UMTS 900 (Band 8)/2100 (Band 1) in common. However, while buying a SIM card (~GH₵10.00), you are expected to present a certain type of ID card (not a visa) issued in Ghana in order to register (activate) it. ID cards of the required type may be issued to resident foreigners (at an initial fee that's fixed at $120, the card is valid for one year), citizens, and refugees. The Government of Ghana planned to cause an alternative where foreign passports could be used instead (to activate the SIM card for a month) to be implemented, however, the alternative might not be implemented, so you may be required to have a foreign SIM card and a suitable roaming plan in order to make and receive calls. The acceptance of ECOWAS cards issued elsewhere was also planned. If a SIM card is bought in Ghana, it is in a deactivated state until details, including ID and biometric details, are captured in a smartphone app and associated with the SIM card by those authorized to do so. Workers authorized to capture details are disallowed from using their own details, doing so is restricted both by technology (the maximum number of SIMs that can be associated with each individual is capped) and by local laws.

In the country's urban areas, you're never too far away from an internet cafe where one hour of internet access should cost ~GH₵1.00. Many hotels also boast broadband access via Wi-Fi.

title: Ghana


text:
Ghanaian Coastal Plain

Ghanaian Coastal Plain is a region of Ghana.

Cities
From west to east:
 * — the main Ghana-Cote d'Ivoire bordertown
 * — some tourism related to the fort and beaches
 * — a charming fishing village surrounded by its unique, long pristine sand beaches
 * — seaside village
 * — adjacent port cities
 * — has an old Portuguese
 * — with another slave fort
 * — with a famous slave fort that is a
 * — beach town
 * — enjoy some time relaxing on this picturesque beach
 * — the capital city of Ghana

 * — it has a fish market where you can watch the fishermen bring in their catch
 * — has a Ramsar natural wetland site for bird and turtle watching
 * — has the remains of a Danish fort built in 1784 that was used in the Atlantic slave trade
 * — a coastal town in Ghana bordering Togo
 * — a coastal town in Ghana bordering Togo

Other destinations

 * — traditional stilted village
 * is the best preserved region of virgin rainforest in the country and provides the easiest access to the rainforest for tourists along with the famous canopy walkway.

Understand
This is an ideal region for visitors with a appreciation for history.

Slave forts and castles
The coastline is famous for its ancient forts, castles and slave dungeons, which were constructed by European merchants. The World Heritage Foundation under UNESCO has declared 11 of them as World Heritage Monuments under the name "Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions".

 * Fort Good Hope, Senya Beraku
 * Cape Coast Castle, Cape Coast
 * Fort Patience, Apam
 * Fort Amsterdam, Abazde
 * Fort St Jago, Elmina
 * Fort Batenstein, Butri
 * Fort San Sebastian, Shama
 * Fort Metal Cross, Dixcove
 * English Fort/Fort Vredenburg, Komenda
 * Fort Saint Antony, Axim
 * Elmina Castle, Elmina
 * Fort Prinzenstein, Keta

Nature
It's also the home of the famous Kakum National Park, Ghana’s most popular canopy walkway, historic places of interest, craft villages and several beach hotels and resorts. Beach lovers can enjoy the region’s many palm-fringed beaches, where warm African sunshine combines with the cool Atlantic Ocean breeze. The region enables visitors to establish a link between Africa and Europe, an era long gone.

title: Ghanaian Coastal Plain


text:
Ghanaian Northern Plains

Ghanaian Northern Plain is a region of Ghana.

Cities

 * — the traditional capital of the Mamprusi people
 * — the traditional capital of the Mamprusi people

Understand
Much of this region is a traditional trade route with Burkina Faso. It features savannah with baobab trees, and villages with distinctive round huts developed over the centuries.

Talk
Dagbani is the main language here. Anntiri/Anula/Dasciba (Good Morn/Day/Eve) is responded to with a long drawn out friendly Naaaaaaaa

See
Bongo Moon style Landscape Unusual rock formations. Climb the hills and find the massive rock on top of 3 small ones that works like a drum when you beat it.

title: Ghanaian Northern Plains


text:
Ghangaria

Ghangaria is a village at 3,100 m in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state in Himalayan North, India. It is the gateway aka base camp for hikes into the Valley of Flowers and the Hemkunt pilgrimage site.

Understand
Ghangaria is also some called Govinddham, even though this refers more to the Gurudwara grounds of the Sikh temple in Ghangaria.

Climate
The best time to visit the Valley of Flowers is July–August. Average rainfall in this area is almost 1,800 mm. Maximum temperature in this area goes up to 17 °C and minimum goes down to 7 °C, an excellent temperature for trekking.

Get in
Ghangaria is 13 km from ' (1,800 m), a village and transport hub at the main road between ' and , which is about 50 km from the Chinese border. The first 4 km of these 13 km are on asphalt road, the last 9 km is just a footpath, but a proper one.

Govindghat is 276 km from Rishikesh.

On foot
You can hike the full 13 km, which will take you at least 5 hr, more like 6–7 hr, considering the altitude gain of about 1,300 m.

By taxi
There are also many taxis available for the first 4 km asphalt road, ₹50.

By mule
After the 4 km asphalt road end at Pulna village, many locals offer mule service for the next 9 km, to carry luggage and even persons up to Ghangaria.

By bus
There is a state-run bus at 5:30AM for ₹620 from the ISBT in Rishikesh to Govindghat, but you need to be there by 5AM, seats are limited. You can reserve a seat through their website, but only Rishikesh–Badrinath (₹675). The bus will take 8-10 hr, depending on the conditions of the road.

Also, there is a 14-seater ("transporter") from the Gurudwara in Rishikesh at 5AM for ₹700, which could be faster, but it might not run if they don't find enough people. This however should be clear around 8PM the previous day. Inquire with the Gurudwara in Rishikesh.

The bus between Joshimath and Govindghat is ₹45—Taxis are ₹100.

On foot
Ghangaria can easily be explored on foot, the rest is trekking.

By mule
Mules can be hired to Hemkunt for approximately ₹500-₹750 (up-to-date?). However, the ride is rather difficult as the way quite steep—it might be easier to just walk and take your time.

Do

 * "Flowers Blossom At valley of flowers Chamoli, India" 15.jpg
 * Hemkunt-003.jpg

 * Hemkunt Pilgrimage – First check into the Gurudwara in Rishikesh (dorm), just northeast of the ISBT. They will only accept people doing Hemkunt, but do the registration and get yourself a wristband. You can also stay here on your way back then. The next day take an early morning connection to Govindghat. There are two Gurudwaras that offer free places in dorms for pilgrims here, first in Govindghat and second in Ghangaria. Inquire all necessary information from the Gurudwara in Rishikesh. There are also at least two Gurudwaras along the way to Govindghat, one in Srinigar and one in Joshimath (very welcoming), in case you want to take it slow or have a stop on the way back. This can be a very different (to the regular tourist travel) and inexpensive experience to remember.

Buy
The Valley of Flowers checkpoint sells CDs on various species of flowers, if you are really interested.

Eat
Ghangaria has numerous restaurants, both North and South Indian, some serving some Western-oriented dishes. Momos and chowmein is also available.

Beyond Ghangaria on the way to Hemkunt, there are small kiosks and cafés, but no restaurants, except for the Gurudwara in Hemkunt serving lunch. Carry your lunch or snacks if necessary.

Drink
No nightlife happening here, everyone wants to wake up early for the hikes.

Sleep
At least a dozen hotels, guesthouses and home stays (incl. dorms) are available in Ghangaria, at ₹500-₹3,000 (as of 2023). But there are no expensive luxury facilities.

Very few camping options are available in Kajila, the village 500 m before Ghangaria, but it is advised to prefer camps only if you carry proper sleeping bags because at night temperatures can below freezing point sometimes, but in summer you should be safe at 5–10 °C.

Govindghat
Depending on when you arrive in the region, you will have to stay in Govindghat the first night. If you are lucky with the bus and arrive by 2PM, and you are a good hiker, you could still hike into Ghangaria and stay for free at the Gurudwara Govinddham, especially if the Gurudwara in Govindghat doesn't let you stay.

In general, also Govindghat has several accommodation options, starting at ₹500 (as of 2023).

Stay healthy
Children below 10 years may find the trekking from Govindghat to Ghangaria difficult.

Also, after reaching Ghangaria at 3,000 m, the air gets thinner and movement generally slower. With Hemkunt at above 4,000 m this needs to be considered as well as. Altitude sickness happens regularly, especially with people coming in for a quick trek to Hemkunt from Delhi.

Many Indians get a stick for hiking, but you won't need them, there is a proper footpath here.

Connect
There is proper LTE reception in Govindghat, Ghangaria, Hemkunt and the beginning of the Valley of Flowers.

Go next

 * Badrinath – Just further north from Govindghat, a Hindu holy town and a nagar panchayat with the most important of the four Char Dham Yatra Hindu pilgrim centers.
 * Kedarnath – Relatively close, considering you are already in this area. It is one of the four Char Dham Yatra Hindu pilgrim centers, at 3,400 m, which you need to hike at least 16 km to.
 * Nainital – Back towards the plains, one of the most popular hill stations of India, famous for its lake. But the bus connection might be painful.

title: Ghangaria


text:
Ghanzi

Ghanzi is a city in the Kalahari region of Botswana.

By Bus
There are national bus services that can get you to Ghanzi from Gaborone and Maun. One of the biggest is Seabelo.

If you are coming in from Namibia, there are no buses that cross the border, but if you make it across to the border town Charles Hill there is a bus that leaves at 07:30, 11:00, and a few times later in the day for a very cheap price. It takes about 3½ hours to get to Ghanzi from there due to numerous stops along the way.

See

 * Ghanzi gat

title: Ghanzi


text:
Ghat (Libya)

Ghat is an ancient settlement in Libya.

Understand
In historical times, Ghat was a major terminal point on the Trans-Saharan trade route. It was a stronghold for the Kel Ajjer Tuareg federation until 1913, when the city was occupied by Italy as a colony. Italy's control there was precarious for a long time, but became stronger in 1923 (when the Fascist regime started), due to the strong active presence of the brotherhood of the Senussi. To defend their positions, Italians completed a fortress, started by the Turks in the early 20th century, that dominates the city from the hill of Koukemen. This fort is now a tourist destination.

During the Second World War, Ghat was occupied by the French from 1943 until January 1, 1952, when the UN General Assembly passed a resolution stating that Libya should become independent.

Ghat was the stronghold of the Kel Ajjer Tuareg confederation; this traditional entity covers south-western Libya (to Ubari, Sebha and Ghadames) and south-eastern Algeria (Djanet and Alezi).

Get around
The town itself is small enough to move around on foot; sites outside of it are numerous and can be accessible by 4x4 vehicles.

See
Ghat is an important tourist destination due to the neighboring Tadrart Acacus and Tassili N'Ajjer mountains, with prehistoric rock paintings and engravings, and the beauty of the surrounding desert landscapes.

Do
Ghat is a centre for very off the beaten track trekking into the desert and Tassili N'Ajjer mountains.

 * Ghat International Tourist Festival, held annually on December 28th-30th. Participants come from Ghat and neighbouring towns and cities like Murziq, Ubari, Sebha and Ghadamis.

Buy
Traditional hand-made jewelry and accessories of silver, leather and/or beads are the best souvenirs to get, though accessories of bigger size and traditional clothing can also be a good choice.

Eat
Ghat is famous for its traditional meals:

Fitat, tammasein and ghati cuscus are the most popular.

title: Ghat (Libya)


text:
Ghatshila

Ghatshila is a town in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, India.

Understand
The city is located on the bank of the River Subarnarekha (the word ‘Subarnarekha’ means golden streak), and is situated in an undulating forested area. It has been a popular place frequented mostly by people from West Bengal, who have been going there for a change of place and climate. The noted Bengali writer Bibhuti Bhusan Bandyopadhyay of Pather Panchali fame was a resident of the city.

A small township with mixture of people from communities like Bengalis, Biharis, Gujratis, Marwadis, Punjabis and Muslims, all staying together in harmony participating in each other's festivals. Geographically placed between two mountain ranges with the Subarnarekha river separating them from kissing each other. Aerial view is beautiful from top of any mountain like the Surda pahar. You can find the rocky river flowing in between hilly & rocky terrain with patches of human habitants, painting an awesome landscape. On one side of your view, you can find smoking chimneys of the Hindustan Copper factory suggesting the industrialization that en marks this fast growing township. People stay in a variety of modern & old houses. If you take a walk down to Aam Bagan, Rajestate you can feel the village life with cows & chickens roaming here and there and housewives smoking the traditional chulhas (burners) with intoxicating smells of burning cow dungs. If you visit the nearing villages, you can see a lively village life with tribals engaged in their daily rituals.

In all if you love nature and want to feel it from inside, Ghatshila is one of the best choice to make if you stay near to Kolkata or Ranchi.

Get in
There are many Local Passenger trains connecting Jamshedpur and Kharagpur with Ghatshila. For timings etc. check with Indian Railways.
 * By rail - It is a railway station on the Kharagpur-Tatanagar stretch of Howrah-Mumbai track, 215 km from Howrah are 2781/2782 Ispat Express, 8030/8029 Kurla/ Howrah Express, 2813/2814 Steel Express. It is well connected to 3 Metros in India namely Mumbai(by Bombay Express), Kolkata(many trains starting from 6AM by Steel Exp. to midnight at 1.15 by Samleshwari Exp) and New Delhi(by Neelachal & Utkal Exp).

 * By road – It is about 240 km from Kolkata. Those travelling from Kolkata first have to take NH 6 to Bahragora and then take the road to Jamshedpur. Buses plying between Kharagpur and Jamshedpur pass through Ghatshila. Buses going from Kolkata to Jamshedpur and Ranchi also pass through Ghatshila.By road Jamshedpur is 42 km away.

Get around
A hired car charges ₹800-₹1,000 to take tourists around the places of interest. Apart from these auto rickshaws are available for movement locally. If you plan to visit Jamshedpur & Ranchi, best & cheap place to stay is Ghatshila. You can rent a car and manage single day trips to cover these cities.

See

 * Moubhandar HCL/ICC Township - Beautiful and well planned township with friendly locals.
 * Phuldungri Hill – just next door.
 * Panch Pandav - 5 km north-west of Ghatshila, a stone is there bearing the figures of five men; the legend is that they are figures of the five Pandav brothers.
 * Binda Mela - This fair is held in the month of Aswin (October) at Ghatshila proper for fifteen days. It was initiated from time immemorial by the forefathers of the Raja of former Dhalbhum estate. Utensils, sweet meats, ornaments etc. are sold by petty shopkeepers. It is a very popular, particularly for the Santhals.

Notable places in and around Ghatshila are: the house of Bengali writer Bhibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, Phuldongri Hill, Burudi Lake, Rankani Temple(Jadugora & Ghatsila),Dharagiri  Falls, Naroa  Forest, Mosaboni Mines & Surda Pahar. 8 km from Ghatshila is Galudi, another tourist spot on the banks of the Subarnarekha. Tatanagar is just a day's trip from Ghatshila.

Do
Breathe fresh air particularly along the river bank. Take a dip in the Subarnarekha river. Go for long walks in and around the Dalma range near Moubhandar

Buy
There is nothing in particular to buy.Though you can go for local Santhali handicrafts.

Eat
Normally one eats at place of stay. There you can buy at low rate everything, particularly the vegetable, fish, meat, chicken.

Drink
Notably, most tourists from nearby big cities like Kolkata are attracted to Ghatsila not only for its natural beauty but also to taste the sweet mineral water. At each pockets of the township, a public tube well or Chaapaakal can be found where you can taste fresh water. The water is said to have medicinal values. A glass of water is enough to fill-up your empty stomach.

Should try sweet Kalakand out there which is vary famous. Most famous and oldest Kalakand seller is Ganesh Kalakand.

Go next

 * Burudih Dam- 6 km north of Ghatsila
 * Dharagiri - 10 km north of Ghatshila, there is a water fall 20 feet high.
 * Galudih Resort Centre – 8 km from Ghatshila
 * Jamshedpur – about 40 km
 * Mosabani Copper Mines

title: Ghatshila


text:
Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad (Hindi: ग़ाज़ियाबाद  Gh āziyābād) is in Uttar Pradesh in India. As its boundary is adjacent to Delhi, it acts as the main entrance of Uttar Pradesh and that is why it is also called the Gateway of Uttar Pradesh.

Understand
The place was founded in 1740 by the vizir, Ghazi-ud-din, who called it Ghaziuddinnagar after himself and built a spacious sarai consisting of 120 rooms of masonry with pointed arches. Only the gate, a few portions of the boundary wall and a massive pillar about 14 feet in height remains now, the precincts now being inhabited. His masoleum still stands in the city but is in a bad state of preservation. The Jat raja, Surajmal, was killed near the city by the Rohillas in 1763. An encounter between the freedom fighters and a small British force took place here in May 1857, in which the former were defeated while trying to hold the Hindon. After the opening of a railway line, the name of the place was shortened to Ghaziabad.

Before 14 November 1976 Ghaziabad was the Tehsil of District Meerut. The then chief minister Mr. N.D.Tiwari decalered Ghaziabad as a district on 14 November 1976, on the birth anniversary of Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first prime minister of India. From then Ghaziabad has moved forward leaps and bounds on the social, economic, agriculture and individual front.

Ghaziabad, the headquarter of the district of the same name, lies on the Grand Trunk road about a mile east of the Hindon river, 19 km east of Delhi and 46 km southwest of Meerut with which it is connected by a metalled road.

The development is marked by malls all over the city.

By metro
The Delhi Metro Red Line connects the city to the NCR. Construction is underway to extend the line to more parts of the city.

By road
Ghaziabad is well-connected on all sides to Delhi, Noida, Hapur, Modinagar, Meerut, Saharanpur, Haridwar, etc. A large number of people commute to Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and Gurgaon everyday for work. There are bus terminuses at Mohan Nagar, Lohia Nagar, Vasundhara and close to Meerut Road from where Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses serve cities over the state.

By train
Ghaziabad is also well-connected to all parts of the country through railway line. It is a railway junction and several lines pass through Ghaziabad. The main railway station is situated in the middle of the city. The city is very well connected to Delhi and other neighbouring cities through fast moving local trains called EMU. Several trains connect Ghaziabad to Meerut, Aligarh, Delhi, Faridabad, Palwal and Mathura.

Get around
You can use Delhi Metro trains to get around in Ghaziabad. It extends to Vaishali.

Eat

 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.
 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.
 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.
 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.
 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.
 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.
 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.
 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.
 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.
 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.
 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.
 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.
 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.
 * There is a South Indian restaurant next to Palwal on the highway to Agra, offering so delicious but so costly dosa and idly's.

Cope

 * N

title: Ghaziabad


text:
Ghazni

Ghazni is a small city and province south of Kabul.

Get in
The main road (Highway 1) from Kabul to Kandahar in the south passes through Ghazni. It is about a two hour drive from Kabul. There are also roads leading to Gardez and in the east and other nearby villages as well as to various towns in Hazarajat in the north. The small Ghazni Airport has no scheduled flights but is capable of handling charted flights.

See

 * Tminarets to the North of the city.
 * Qalai Pasar, a village in Ghazni and an amazing place to go for picnic.
 * Palace of Sultan Mas'ud III
 * Tomb of Sebük Tigin
 * Mausoleum of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni
 * Mausoleum of Sanai
 * Palace of Sultan Mas'ud III
 * Tomb of Sebük Tigin
 * Mausoleum of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni
 * Mausoleum of Sanai

Eat
The Mullakhail Tribe dishes that are said to be delicious are available around the urban and rural areas especially at Chargalo, Khanao khaili and Pirikhail o kallia. The Perkhail tribal cuisine “Roash” which non-locals call “Namkin” can to be found in both city restaurants as well as in the outlying areas. Some of the finest mutton in the country is raised around Ajristan and is a mainstay of local cuisine. The Mulla khail tribal dish, “Landhi”, is made of a whole lamb which is dried and kept fresh during the cold winters. "Khadi Kebab" is a lamb barbecue dish while "Sajji" (leg of lamb) and "Pulao" are other local dishes. Small hotels located along Sangar provide accommodation for tourists.

title: Ghazni


text:
Ghent

Ghent (Dutch: Gent, French: Gand) is a city in East Flanders in Belgium. Ghent is a city with a population of 265,000 in 2020, with rich history. During the Middle Ages, Ghent was one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe. The impact of this rich past can be clearly seen when viewing the imposing architecture of churches and the houses of rich traders. The city centre is restored, and breathes the atmosphere of a thriving late-medieval city state. It is free of cars, so it is a very welcoming and open area.

Understand

Ghent was once considered the second largest city north of the Alps, after Paris. It has a relatively high proportion of young people, and a significant seasonal student population. Unlike Leuven, another university town in Flanders, youth is not the only category of people living there. There is an interesting mixture of foreigners who came to live there, professionals working for major international firms, and artists among the people of Ghent. This mixture makes the people more tolerant and open-minded. This atmosphere seeps into every aspect of city life, making the city different from the smaller provincial cities or the bigger city of Antwerp.
 * Visit Ghent website

By train
Ghent is a 30-minute train ride away from Brussels and is on the line from Brussels to Bruges and the coast. If you're planning to visit Bruges and Brussels, definitely stop over in Ghent as well. There are also direct trains to Brussels Airport, Antwerp, and Lille.

There are two train stations in Ghent, and. Gent-Sint-Pieters is the main station, to go to the centre, take tram (until ). Journey time is ten minutes. Gent-Dampoort is closer to the center (about 15 minutes walk), but only trains coming from the direction of Antwerp stop there.

If you're visiting from Bruges, Brussels or Antwerp during the weekend, it's much cheaper to get a return ticket (special rate: weekend return).

Trip planning and ticket purchase can be done on the SNCB website or the SNCB app.

By car
The dense highway network in Belgium allows you to access Ghent easily by car. Two main highways E40 (Liège-Brussels-Ghent-Bruges-Ostend) and E17 (Antwerp-Ghent-Kortrijk-Lille) cross at Ghent. Brussels and Antwerp are 40 min away, Bruges 30 min. During rush hour you can easily double these times.

By plane
The two biggest airports nearby are Brussels (Zaventem, Belgium) and Lille (France). Direct trains are available from Brussels Airport to Ghent.

By boat
DFDS operates a cargo line to Gothenburg, Sweden.

On foot
The centre of Ghent is quite small, so you can walk around on foot. However, the main station (Gent Sint-Pieters) is not in the city centre, but takes a walk of about half an hour. The best option is to take the tram, which takes you directly to the centre in 10 to 15 minutes.

By bicycle
A bicycle is the recommended way to get around in Ghent. However, there are many roads with cobblestones that make cycling a shaking experience. Also make sure you stay clear of the tram rails. Nevertheless, you will see you are not alone on your bike: many inhabitants use bikes to get around. Even the former mayor uses his bicycle all day. There are many bike stands around to make it easy to lock your bike (important!) Many one-way roads are made two-way for bikes.

By public transportation
The transport system is Ghent is excellent and usually on time. The transportation company is De Lijn, whose website is available in English. A single ticket costs €2.50 if bought in the bus or tram (contactless only from white card reader) or from ticket machines near stops. Such a ticket is valid for an hour's travel on all trams and buses. If you are planning to stay for a while, either buy a three day pass for €15 or 10 trips for €17 — they are valid for within the city and can also be used throughout Flanders (e.g. Antwerp or Bruges). The trams are the quickest and most comfortable way to travel, especially from the railway station to the city centre. There are 3 tram lines, &.

There is a De Lijn app available for Android or IOS smartphones which offer journey planning, real time travel info and ticket purchase in English.

Tickets purchased on a card should be validated on the reader (not the white one) when entering the bus/tram while tickets purchased on the website or app should be validated before entering the vehicle. With a few exceptions, the tickets are usable throughout Flanders.

In the Lijnwinkel kiosk, near Sint-Pieters train station, you can get a free map of city and surroundings, with all bus and tram lines.

See

Do

 * Football: KAA Gent play soccer in Pro League, Belgium's top tier. Their home ground Ghelamco Arena (capacity 20,100) is 3 km south of city centre.
 * Football: KAA Gent play soccer in Pro League, Belgium's top tier. Their home ground Ghelamco Arena (capacity 20,100) is 3 km south of city centre.
 * Football: KAA Gent play soccer in Pro League, Belgium's top tier. Their home ground Ghelamco Arena (capacity 20,100) is 3 km south of city centre.

Buy

Eat
Ghent provides an excellent and affordable sample of Flemish cuisine, which in the eyes of the locals is one of Europe's finest as it combines French delicacy with northern European sturdiness. Try some local specialties like mussels, spare ribs or 'stoverij' (a kind of tender meat cooked for three hours in dark beer with a brown gravy) with Belgian fries.

Another dish from Ghent is the "Gentse waterzooi" (litt. "boiled water from Ghent"), which was the food for the poor originally, a stew of cheap fish (usually turbot) and vegetables. Now it is often made with chicken as well.

Belgian waffles are available from a number of street stalls around the town.

The restaurants on Korenmarkt and Vrijdagmarkt are a good deal, reasonably priced; the menus and 'menus of the day' at the Brasserie Borluut provide terrific value and this includes Gentse waterzooi.

The real upmarket restaurants are to be found in the 14th-century quarter called 'Patershol', near the Castle. There is also a big Turkish community in Ghent, centred around Sleepstraat a bit further north, which is home to numerous Turkish restaurants.

Splurge
There are many high-class restaurants in town.

Vegetarian and vegan food
Information on vegetarian restaurants and shops is available from the campaign group EVA. Paper copies of their Guide to Veggie Ghent map is stocked by the Tourist Information Office on Veerle Plein.

Drink
For authentic pubs, go to St. Veerleplein (the square in front of the Castle), the pubs around St. Jacob's church (especially during weekends), or the student area around Blandijnberg (Mount Blandin), especially in the proximity of the School of Arts and Philosophy, recognisable from afar by the 64-m-tall art deco Library Tower. Ghent is known for its many pubs and clubs and most have friendly staff. If you visit Ghent for its great nightlife, be sure to check out the bars listed in the "Off the beaten path" section.

Sint-Jacobs & Vrijdagmarkt (Vlasmarkt-Beestenmarkt)

 * Surrounded by the bars Jos, Vlasmarkt 7 and Bar des Amis, Vlasmarkt 5.
 * More alternative bars are Kinky Star, Vlasmarkt 9, 't begin van 't einde, Vlasmarkt 14 and Video, Oude Beestenmarkt 7, all have regular live concerts.
 * More alternative bars are Kinky Star, Vlasmarkt 9, 't begin van 't einde, Vlasmarkt 14 and Video, Oude Beestenmarkt 7, all have regular live concerts.
 * More alternative bars are Kinky Star, Vlasmarkt 9, 't begin van 't einde, Vlasmarkt 14 and Video, Oude Beestenmarkt 7, all have regular live concerts.

Student area

 * Overpoortstraat is a street packed with 34 pubs and bars where during the week (especially Wednesday and Thursday nights) all the students go crazy. Because on Thursday it is so crowded over there, dancing usually happens on the tables. Some notorious bars/clubs are Decadance (house, techno, drum&bass), Boom Boom (rock'n roll), Den Drummer (rock and metal), Twieoo (often new wave and holebi parties), Cuba Libre(also known as the Puta Libre) (commercial, R&B, etc.), The Frontline underground concert venue featuring mainly metal, punk and hardcore concerts.

Off the beaten path
Want to try some bars you won't find in any tourist guide? This is a great selection: This is not the only great place in De Visserij. Check out the cosy De Kleine Kunst and jolly Fabula Rasa along the canal at the Ferdinand Lousbergkaai. Drinks and food are generally quite cheap in this area.

Budget

 * A list of B&Bs can be found at:
 * A list of B&Bs can be found at:
 * A list of B&Bs can be found at:
 * A list of B&Bs can be found at:
 * A list of B&Bs can be found at:
 * A list of B&Bs can be found at:
 * A list of B&Bs can be found at:

Connect
As of June 2022, Ghent has 4G with Base / Telenet and Orange, and 5G with Proximus / Scarlet. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Go next
The Belgian train system is very efficient and the country not that large, so getting between major cities by rail is easy – in the day. A day trip to even multiple cities is easily doable. From Ghent, multiple railway lines radiates to major destinations in Flanders:
 * Bruges, famous for its canals and medieval heritage as well, is 20 minutes by train from Ghent
 * In the opposite direction, the often-overlooked town of Sint-Niklaas, with Belgium's largest market square, is also 20 minutes away
 * Just across the Dutch border, the very well-preserved historic fortified city Hulst attracts lots of day-trippers from Belgium. It was once part of Flanders, and its main street and city entrance gate still refer to Ghent.
 * Kortrijk, a charming and historically important provincial city in West Flanders is 30 minutes away
 * Antwerp, Brussels, Mechelen and the seaside resort of Ostend are around 40 minutes away
 * All the major cities in Wallonia are within 1.5 hours of train ride - either direct or with a quick change in Brussels
 * The French city of Lille is an hour away by direct train
 * Sint-Martens-Latem is very near and offers a great half-day trip to those who are interested in arts.

title: Ghent