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Évora

Évora is a city and a municipality in the district of Évora, in the Alto Alentejo region of southern Portugal. Due to its well-preserved old town centre, still partially enclosed by medieval walls, and many monuments dating from various historical periods, including a Roman temple, Évora is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network.

Understand

Évora (EH-voo-ruh, /ˈɛ.vu.ɾɐ/) is a pleasant, medium-sized city and has numerous monuments. The many monuments erected by major artists of each period of the city's history testify to Évora's lively cultural and rich artistic and historical heritage. The variety of architectural styles (Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance, Baroque), the palaces and the picturesque labyrinth of squares and narrow streets of the city centre are all part of the rich heritage of this museum-city.

History
Évora has a history dating back more than five millennia. It was known as Ebora by the Celtici, a tribal confederacy, who made the town their regional capital.

The Romans conquered the town in 57 BC and expanded it into a walled town. Vestiges from this period (city walls and ruins of Roman baths) still remain. The city grew in importance because it lay at the junction of several important routes. The monumental Corinthian temple in the centre of the town dates from the first century AD and was probably erected in honour of emperor Augustus.

During the Barbarian invasions, Évora came under the rule of the Visigothic king Leovigild in 584. The town was later raised to the status of a cathedral city. Nevertheless, this was a time of decline and very few artifacts from this period remain.

In 715, the city was conquered by the Moors under Tariq ibn-Ziyad. During Moorish rule (715–1165), the town began to prosper again and developed into an agricultural centre with a fortress and a mosque. The present character of the city is evidence of the Moorish influence.

The town came under the rule of the Portuguese king Afonso I in 1166. It then flourished as one of the most dynamic cities in the Kingdom of Portugal during the Middle Ages, especially in the 15th century. The court of the first and second dynasties resided here for long periods, constructing palaces, monuments and religious buildings.

It particularly thrived during the Avis Dynasty (1385–1580). Évora became a major centre for the humanities and artists, such as the sculptor Nicolau Chanterene; and the painters Cristóvão de Figueiredo and Gregório Lopes. Évora also held a large part of the slave population of Portugal.

The Battle of Évora was fought on July 29, 1808 during the Peninsular War. An outnumbered Portuguese-Spanish force of 2,500, assisted by poorly-armed peasant militiamen, tried to stop a French-Spanish division but it was routed. Breaking into the town, the attackers slaughtered combatants and non-combatants before thoroughly pillaging the area. The French inflicted as many as 8,000 casualties while suffering only 290 of their own.

Climate
Évora inland location makes it one of Portugal's hottest cities and prone to strong heat waves. Even so, its climate is milder than some areas farther inland across the Spanish border.

Get in
You can get to Évora in several ways:
 * The nearest motorway to Évora is the A6 (Autoestrada do Alentejo Central), offering access from Lisbon (via the bridges on A2 or A12), Montemor-o-Novo, Estremoz, Borba, Elvas and Badajoz, Spain, where it meets the A-5 from Madrid. The N114 road (from the west) and the N18/IP2 road (from the east) provide the connection from A6 into the city.
 * The nearest motorway to Évora is the A6 (Autoestrada do Alentejo Central), offering access from Lisbon (via the bridges on A2 or A12), Montemor-o-Novo, Estremoz, Borba, Elvas and Badajoz, Spain, where it meets the A-5 from Madrid. The N114 road (from the west) and the N18/IP2 road (from the east) provide the connection from A6 into the city.
 * The nearest motorway to Évora is the A6 (Autoestrada do Alentejo Central), offering access from Lisbon (via the bridges on A2 or A12), Montemor-o-Novo, Estremoz, Borba, Elvas and Badajoz, Spain, where it meets the A-5 from Madrid. The N114 road (from the west) and the N18/IP2 road (from the east) provide the connection from A6 into the city.

Get around
One of the nicer ways to see the city is by horse carriage ride. You can find them near the cathedral.

Otherwise there's no real problem in walking between most of the main sights.

See

Do

 * There is a large park (Jardim Público) where you can have a pleasant stroll.
 * Be seen and see others at the Praça do Giraldo, the city's social center.
 * Visit Évora University main building (on the site of an ancient convent, founded in 1559).
 * Visit the cathedral and go up onto the roof for spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
 * Rent a bike and enjoy a ride along the Ecopista, a rail-to-trail bikeway.

Buy
Shops are open a little later than other places in Europe, usually around 09:30-19:30, and the lunch breaks can be quite long, usually from 13:00 to 15:00.

Shopping streets

 * Rua 5 de Outubro: From Praça do Giraldo to Sé. It's a pedestrian street with several small shops where you can buy souvenirs and clothes. The most typical souvenirs are honey, olives, all kinds of object made by cork, home made jams, slippers made by sheep wool, etc.
 * Rua João de Deus: independent shops and services and known brands such as Pull and Bear, Pepe Jeans, and Kids' Class.

There are no malls in Évora.

Markets

 * Farmers' market, praça 1º de Maio (close to the public garden). 06:00-13:00 Saturday. An out door market offering the freshest fruits and vegetables from the local farmers.
 * Food market, praça 1º de Maio (inside the building in the middle of the square). Every day in the morning. You can find fresh fish, vegetables, fruits, cheeses, hams, flowers, bread, meat, and other local food.

Local specialties
There are several traditional dishes:
 * Açorda
 * Migas com carne de porco
 * Carne de porco à alentejana

There are also several traditional desserts, all from conventual origin:
 * Sericaia
 * Bolo podre
 * Pão de Rala
 * Mel e Nóz

Drink
Drink and carry plenty of water especially in the hotter months (July through September). Especially in August, do not to go out in the sun between 14:00 and 16:00, unless you are used to it.

Going in for a drink is a perfectly acceptable way of getting in to see the public areas of a Pousada.

Alentejo wines are some of the best-loved in Portugal, and there's a variety of them. Some can be quite expensive.

Sleep
There's a multitude of bed and breakfasts, though most will be fully booked during the high season.

Go next

 * Alcácer do Sal — hilltop city on the River Sado
 * Algarve — southern region with many popular beaches and resorts
 * Beja — historical hilltop city
 * Castelo Branco — city with a Templar castle and offering a good base to explore nearby nature parks
 * Castelo de Vide — town known for its lovely gardens and lush vegetation
 * Fátima — Portugal's most visited pilgrimage site
 * Lisbon — the nation's capital
 * Marvão – mountaintop town
 * Monsaraz — In less than an hour, you can get by car to (exit via IP2 to Beja, then turn to Reguengos), a nice, well preserved walled town on top of a hill overlooking the Alqueva Dam waters. Around it are a couple of important menhirs, one of them with engravings (Balhoa) and the other about 5 meters high, and a anta (passage dolmen). The Xares cromlech is a conjectural reconstruction, and was removed from its original place due to the Alqueva waters.
 * Portalegre – cathedral city noted for its tapestries
 * Setúbal — waterside city
 * Santarém — the capital of the historical Ribatejo province is full of churches

title: Évora


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Évreux

Évreux is the capital of the Eure department in the Upper Normandy region of France.

Get in
Évreux can be reached directly from Paris gare Saint-Lazare by train (55 min).

Do
Every summer in June, a rock music festival Le rock dans tout ses états is held at hippodrome's Évreux.

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

title: Évreux


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Ísafjörður

Ísafjörður is the biggest town of the Westfjords of Iceland.

By car
There are two ways to drive into Ísafjörður. The first is from the ringroad in Hrutafjörður, and goes up north on the eastern part of the peninsula through road number 61. That way gives you the opportunity to stop in Holmavik among other places on the way.

The second way to get to Ísafjörður by car is by road 60 from the ringroad, 608 over the moor of Thorskafjardarheidi and then 61 through the many fjords on the way. In the summer, that is the shortest way from Reykjavik, but it is not accessible during wintertime.

By water
You can take the ferry Baldur from Stykkisholmur via the small towns on the western part of the peninsula. That way gives you a chance to see for example the great waterfall Dynjandi.

Some cruise ships dock at Ísafjörður's.

By bus
There are regular buses from Akureyri and Reykjavik to Ísafjörður from 1 June to 31 August. The is located behind Hótel Ísafjörður. Bus information may be found on West Tours' web site.

By plane
There are two daily flights with Icelandair from Reykjavik's domestic airport to. The fare is a relatively inexpensive flight, and you are treated to a grand view of the fjords on the descent into the Ísafjörður Airport. The airport is about 5 km (3 mi) from the town, on the other side of the fjord. It's possible to walk from the airport to the town in a little over an hour if you don't mind walking on the gravelled shoulder of a lightly-travelled road.

Get around
The town is very small and eminently walkable. The distances from the town to adjacent towns is generally further than walking distance. Thus, you would want to study the bus system that can take you all over, bring a bike or have a car. There is a bike rental in town for the active ones that don't want to walk around.

The lone exception is Hnifsdalur, a tiny village of 250 people near hiking trails. Hnifsdalur is approximately 5 km north from Ísafjörður, and is an easy walk on a paved walking trail running adjacent to Road 61.

See
Vigur Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations near Ísafjörður. The travel company West Tours offers trips to the island.

Do

 * Football: Vestri were promoted in 2023 and now play soccer in Besta deild karla, the top tier. Their home ground (capacity 1600) is 500 m west of town centre. The playing season is from April to September.
 * Football: Vestri were promoted in 2023 and now play soccer in Besta deild karla, the top tier. Their home ground (capacity 1600) is 500 m west of town centre. The playing season is from April to September.
 * Football: Vestri were promoted in 2023 and now play soccer in Besta deild karla, the top tier. Their home ground (capacity 1600) is 500 m west of town centre. The playing season is from April to September.
 * Football: Vestri were promoted in 2023 and now play soccer in Besta deild karla, the top tier. Their home ground (capacity 1600) is 500 m west of town centre. The playing season is from April to September.

title: Ísafjörður


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Île d'Orléans

Île d'Orléans is an island in the Saint Lawrence River about 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Quebec City.

The island was one of the first parts of the province to be colonized by the French, and a large percentage of French Canadians can trace ancestry to early residents of the island. The island has been described as the "microcosm of traditional Quebec and as the birthplace of francophones in North America."

Understand
The rural, pastoral and historic Île d'Orléans represents the tidal divide of the St. Lawrence, where fresh water begins to mix with the sea at the island's northeastern point. A National Historic Site of Canada, the island has over 600 recognized heritage buildings and six municipalities:
 * Sainte-Famille,
 * Saint-François-de-l'Île-d'Orléans,
 * Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans,
 * Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans,
 * Sainte-Pétronille and
 * Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans.

The island is 34 km (21 mi) long and 8 km (5.0 mi) wide at the widest point. It has a hilly relief, small valleys, and gradual crests that reach a maximum height of about 150 m (490 ft) at Sainte-Pétronille and Saint-Laurent in the south.

Since the days of the first French settlers, agriculture has been the main economic activity. The island, known as the "Garden of Quebec", is famous locally for its produce, especially strawberries, apples, potatoes and wineries. Sugar maple stands produce maple syrup and other products.

While the old trades of fishing and boat building have been abandoned, the island's rich cultural heritage and pastoral scenery has led to a flourishing tourism industry. it offers many bed-and-breakfast inns, regional cuisine restaurants, roadside fruit stands, art galleries and craft shops.

Today the island is a mix of suburban communities and farms. It is a popular destination for daytrippers and bicyclists.

History
The island had long been inhabited by the First Nations (aboriginal) peoples. The Huron called it Minigo (meaning "Enchantress", because of its charm). The French explorer Jacques Cartier first set foot on the island in 1535 near the present-day village of Saint-François. He called it Île de Bascuz (from Bacchus) because of the abundance of wild grapes growing on the island. Officials later changed the name to Île d'Orléans in honour of the second son of King Francis I, Henri II, the Duke of Orléans.

Early French settlers, immigrating mostly from the Normandy and Poitou regions in France, were attracted to the island because of its fertile soil. They colonized it according to the seigneurial system of New France, which is still evident in its layout, featuring residences close together, with outlying long, narrow fields and a common. In 1661, the first parish of Sainte-Famille was founded. By 1685, there were 1205 mostly French inhabitants.

Jean Mauvide, a surgeon for the King of France, built the Manoir Mauvide-Genest in 1734 as his residence. In 1759 it was occupied by British General Wolfe when his forces occupied the island shortly before the Battle of the Plains of Abraham during the Seven Years' War.

By car
The island is accessible from the mainland via the Île d'Orléans Bridge from Beauport. Route 368 is the sole provincial route on the island. It crosses the bridge and circles the perimeter of the island.

By bus
There is a weekday commuter bus (the PLUMobile) which makes three trips a day M-F between Québec City and the island.

Many tour buses from Québec City visit the island, often with a stop at Montmorency Falls or the Sainte Anne de Beaupré church on the north shore in the same region.

Get around
Due to its rural nature, a car is likely the best way around the island; cycling is also an option

See

 * At the village of Sainte-Pétronille toward the western end of the island, a viewpoint overlooks the impressive Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls), as well as a panorama of the St. Lawrence River and Quebec City.
 * At the village of Sainte-Pétronille toward the western end of the island, a viewpoint overlooks the impressive Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls), as well as a panorama of the St. Lawrence River and Quebec City.

Do
The island is a popular destination for daytrippers and bicyclists.

Go next

 * Montmorency Falls and Beauport
 * Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
 * Quebec City

title: Île d'Orléans


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Île-de-France

Île-de-France is the compact region immediately surrounding Paris. As such, the region includes all of the metropolis, from the great French capital itself through the gritty inner banlieue right out to now far-flung suburbs and exurbs, together with several large surrounding towns that form part of the greater conurbation. All is not urban sprawl, however: the region is also known for its natural beauty, in the form of parks, forests and river lands, and also contains some of the most fertile agricultural soil in France.

Understand
The name "Île-de-France" translates as "island of France", and though this etymology is unclear, it is thought to refer to the land between the rivers Seine, Marne and Oise, a sort of pseudo-"island" at the heart of France in a historical and cultural, if not geographic, sense. The north-east of the region is equally known as the Pays de France, which is essentially an agricultural terroir known for its cereal crops, though much of it has been overtaken by suburban sprawl and Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Île-de-France is easily the richest part of France, and is also one of Europe's most economically active regions. However, it is also one of the most unequal: the western departments of Hauts-de-Seine and Yvelines are home to some of the richest places in France (with the small town of Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche having the highest median income in the whole of France), while the northern department of Seine Saint-Denis is the poorest department in the whole of metropolitan France and which is associated with most of the negative stereotypes about Parisian suburbs. The majority of the region's inhabitants (who are known as Franciliens and Franciliennes), live and work somewhere in the dense Paris conurbation, leaving much of the rest of the territory rural and sparsely-populated.

From the traveller's perspective, most of the region's interest will of course lie in Paris's mere 105 km2, and it is true that the City of Lights is a shining beacon among the world's great metropolises. Paris's icons are French icons, and many will struggle to even bring France to mind without thinking of the Eiffel Tower, of mimes working the streets of Montmartre, of Gothic Métropolitain signs, or of Haussmannian boulevards lined with chic cafés and fashion stores. So this guide won't try to persuade you to skip Paris; you absolutely must go there! But if you do decide to venture beyond the Boulevard Périphérique, you will be richly rewarded.

Île-de-France's countryside is prosperous and agricultural. Dominated by its three major rivers, well-heeled market towns-cum-dormitory communities, and great châteaux from times gone by, it is a beautiful slice of rural France without having to stray far from the big city. The east of the region, the department of Seine-et-Marne, is especially lovely and forms part of the Champagne-growing area.

And who could forget Disneyland Paris, Europe's most popular visitor attraction? For anyone who knows Disney's American parks, paying a visit to "Chez Mickey" - as the place is blithely known by the locals - will be at once familiar and bizarrely different. Seeing the pink château de Cendrillon against a moody northern French sky, rather than say Californian azure, is enough to make anyone think to herself "Ah, le monde est petit !" (It's a small world after all).

Departments
The region of Ile-de-France is divided into 8 separate départements, which can be classified into 3 main parts: inner Paris (Paris intramuros), the inner urban ring of Paris suburbs (la petite couronne) and the rural and semi-rural commuter belt hinterland (la grande couronne).

Cities and towns

 * – the capital of France and focus of the region is on every traveller's wishlist, even the ones who have already been!

Seine-et-Marne

 * – to the south of the metropolis lies a vast forested estate, known for its opulent château and wonderfully fresh air
 * – a large new town east of the capital, best known for Mickey Mouse's European pad
 * – a cathedral city with an episcopal palace and historical centre to explore, known for being the home to an eponymous variety of brie.
 * – UNESCO listed fortified city in Île-de-France's rural heartland, famous for its medieval heritage.

Yvelines

 * – equestrian paradise and home to a beautiful garden city.
 * – voted one of France's best villages.
 * – conurbation of Elancourt, Trappes, Montigny-le-Bretonneux, Guyancourt, Plaisir, Voisins-le-Bretonneux, Magny-les-Hameaux, La Verrière, Bois d'Arcy, Maurepas and Coignières. Tourists will come for France Miniature, for outdoor sports or the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse National Park; it also has an impressive array of modern and postmodern architecture.
 * – Former royal and presidential residence with castle and beautiful expansive grounds.
 * - a lively suburb 30 minutes west of Paris on the RER, it is best known for its Renaissance château. Also Poissy.
 * – 30 minutes west of Paris on the train, and above all prized for Louis XIV's incomparable château, which set the gold-standard for palace-dwellers the world over, and still continues to thrill, enchant and, depending on the crowds, exasperate millions of travellers to this day. Don't miss the majestic formal gardens and estate, Marie Antoinette's "summer house", which is really another palace in its own right, and the city of Versailles itself, which retains a smugly aristocratic elegance two centuries after its last king and queen lost their throne (and their heads).

Hauts-de-Seine

 * – one of Paris's nicer suburbs, at the tip of a peninsula carved by the snakelike Seine
 * – perhaps Paris's wealthiest suburb, and in architecture, atmosphere and layout, very much an extension of the city. Together with neighbouring communes (Clichy and Neuilly-sur-Seine), Levallois has a large accommodation base at a slightly cheaper going rate than Paris "intra muros", without compromising on distance from attractions and the essential feel of being in Paris
 * – a town in the outer western suburbs of Paris, home to a château and domaine that offer a similar experience to Versailles and Fontainebleau, but much cheaper, far less crowded and correspondingly more low-key
 * , suburb west of Paris known for a beautiful park in the grounds of the former Palace of Saint-Cloud. Also covers Suresnes and Sèvres.
 * , mini-Versailles without the tourists.

Seine-Saint-Denis

 * – hosts the biannual Paris Air Show, and France's main state-owned aviation museum
 * – Somewhat rough-around-the edges northern Paris suburb, Saint-Denis nonetheless welcomes droves of visitors to its basilica, and to the Stade de France, France's national stadium
 * – Somewhat rough-around-the edges northern Paris suburb, Saint-Denis nonetheless welcomes droves of visitors to its basilica, and to the Stade de France, France's national stadium

Val-de-Marne

 * – riverside residential town famous for its guinguettes - restaurants and bars lining the river Marne.
 * – former industrial suburb now home to a modest street art scene and some art galleries.

Val d'Oise

 * , former residence of Vincent van Gogh.
 * – A historic city just outside its gates of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. It retains its small-town charm, and has several points of interest if you're staying near the airport overnight, or just have a long layover.
 * – A historic city just outside its gates of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. It retains its small-town charm, and has several points of interest if you're staying near the airport overnight, or just have a long layover.

By plane

 * Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
 * Paris Orly Airport

By train
There are seven main stations in Paris, and most of them welcome trains from bordering countries. They are connected through the métro and RER system only (no special shuttle).
 * Gare du Nord, (10th), Métro: Gare du Nord - TGV trains from Belgium, the Netherlands, west Germany (Aachen, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Essen) (Thalys), and the United Kingdom (Eurostar from London and Kent) and regular trains from Hauts-de-France.
 * Gare d'Austerlitz, (13th), Métro: Gare d'Austerlitz - regular trains from the centre and southwest of France (Orléans, Limoges, Toulouse the long way) and the majority of night trains.
 * Gare de l'Est, (10th), Métro: Gare de l'Est - TGV to and from Luxembourg, ICE/TGV from south Germany (Saarbrücken, Kaiserslautern, Mannheim, Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Augsburg, and Munich), ÖBB night train from Austria (Wien, Sankt Pölten, Linz, Salzburg) and Germany (Rosenheim, Munich, Karlsruhe).
 * Gare de Lyon, (12th), Métro: Gare de Lyon - regular and TGV trains from southern and eastern France: French Alps, Marseille, Lyon, Dijon, Switzerland (Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, Zurich) and southwest Germany (Müllheim, Freiburg im Breisgau). You can also catch trains to Italy (Turin, Milan).
 * Gare de Bercy, (12th), Métro: Bercy. Regular trains to Auvergne and Burgundy.
 * Gare St Lazare, (8th) Métro: St-Lazare - trains from Normandie.
 * Gare Montparnasse, (15th), Métro: Montparnasse-Bienvenüe - TGV and regular trains from the west and south-west of France (Tours, Brest, Rennes, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulouse the fastest way and Hendaye near the Spanish border. Gare Vaugirard is an extension of Gare Montparnasse.

There are also three peripheral stations located on the outskirts of the Paris conurbation which welcome national and some international high speed trains:

 * Gare Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV, Paris CDG Airport, RER: Line B - Welcomes TGV trains from all over France and Belgium, all of which avoid central Paris. Helpful if you're visiting northern Île-de-France.
 * Gare de Marne-la-Vallée — Chessy, Marne-la-Vallée, RER: Line A - Adjacent to Disneyland Paris, it receives TGVs travelling across France avoiding Paris, mainly on a northeast - southwest (e.g. Strasbourg to Bordeaux) or north to southeast (e.g. Lille to Lyon) route. Helpful if you're visiting eastern Île-de-France.

By bike
There are many cycle lanes on routes into Paris, but be careful as you also share the road with motorists who can be inconsiderate.

By car
There are several free autoroutes and 4-lane roads for getting round Île-de-France, however on weekdays there is a lot of congestion between the hours 08:00-09:30 and 17:30-19:30, and it is really not advisable to travel then. This congestion becomes a lot less worse the further away from Paris you are.

 * Le Boulevard Périphérique: a ring road which marks the limit of "Paris intra muros" (essentially the central city as distinct from its suburbs). This is essentially a motorway as there are no roundabouts or intersections, however it is famous for its traffic jams. Be careful though, as the cars entering onto the road from the right have priority over vehicles already on the Périphérique.
 * A13: (direction Rouen) Western Autoroute
 * A6: (direction Lyon) Southern Autoroute
 * A5: (direction Lyon) South eastern Autoroute
 * A86: Very useful road that nearly completely circles Paris. The tunnel between Rueil-Malmaison and Versailles is tolled (fairly expensive) and is open to cars only (trucks and motorcycles prohibited).
 * A14: Toll road, fairly expensive.
 * N104 La Francilienne: A half-circular road around the eastern side of Paris. As it is further out than the A86, there is considerably less congestion.
 * N118: Connect western Paris to A10 and N104.

By train
A network of regional trains (RER) takes you in and out of Paris. The RER has 256 stops in and around Paris, and runs on over 587 km (365 mi) of track. There are 5 lines, (A, B, C, D and E) that cross Paris, connecting suburbs on opposite sides. The stations are marked with blue signs with a white RER. The rest of the regional network, called "Transilien", departs from the main train stations (Lyon for line R, Est for line P, Nord for lines H and K, St-Lazare for lines J and L, Montparnasse for line N) and La Défense (line U). Trains can run up to every 5 minutes during rush hour, and you will never have to wait for more than 1 hour between two trains, even on the least served lines in the evening or on the weekend.

Tickets are only valid for the trip purchased, while passes use a 5-zone system. Check when purchasing, timetables, fare information, and maps for both systems can be found in on the English version of the Transilien website.

If you arrive on Thursday or before is may be worth investigating the Navigo Découverte card which can be loaded with a weekly pass valid for all Île-de-France (inc Paris) travel zones on almost all methods of public transport, see Paris "Using the métro and the suburban train" section

Trains run from 04:45 to 01:30. Smoking is not allowed in the stations or on the trains.

See

The suburbs and countryside around Paris are filled with wonderful palaces, gardens and parks that are almost unknown to tourists outside France. Although the palace of Versailles is by far the best-known, other palaces offer a similar experience and draw far fewer crowds, including the Parc de Saint-Cloud, the Parc de Sceaux and the Châteaus of Malmaison, Fontainebleau and Rambouillet. Head over to Saint-Germain-en-Laye and walk along the Grande Terrasse for a great view of the West of Paris.

Although there are a number of traditional scenic villages and towns to explore in the countryside, including the mediaeval towns of Provins and Montfort l'Amaury as well as the 18th- and 19th-century garden cities of Maisons-Laffitte and Le Vésinet, the suburbs and new towns around Paris also offer a whole host of more modern architectural gems. The suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt is well-known for its Art Deco architecture from the 1930s, while the new towns of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and Noisy-le-Grand/Val d'Europe host an array of surreal postmodern architecture from the 80s to the present day that may be of interest to some, not to mention the transport and economic hub of La Défense.

Some of the best museums outside the périphérique ring road include the Albert Kahn Museum, the Museum of aviation and spaceflight, the MAC VAC Museum of Contemporary Art and the Musée Fragonard.

For the kids, there's the France Miniature theme park and, of course, Disneyland Paris.

Do
The region is filled with nice parks and forests with some pleasant and easy hiking/cycling trails, including the Coulée Verte and the Ceinture Verte (Green Belt).

Stay safe
Most of the roughest suburbs of Paris are located in the northern departments of Seine Saint-Denis and Val d'Oise as well as in some suburbs in the south-east along the Seine. Examples of suburbs with a particularly bad reputation are Saint-Denis, Bobigny, Grigny and Sarcelles. By contrast, the western departments are generally more affluent and very safe, with the main exceptions being Trappes, as well as some of the post-industrial towns downstream of the Seine (e.g. Mantes-la-Jolie, Les Mureaux) and in the extreme north of Hauts-de-Seine (e.g. Gennevilliers and parts of Nanterre).

Within the confines of the Périphérique, tourists should be wary in parts of the 18th and the 19th arrondissements and generally stay clear of areas close to the Périphérique and the Petite Ceinture at night, particularly around Stalingrad and Porte de la Chapelle.

title: Île-de-France


text:
Île-des-Chênes

Île-des-Chênes is an unincorporated settlement of about 1500 people (2016) in Eastern Manitoba. It is a bedroom community for Winnipeg.

Understand
It's in an area prolific with oak trees -- the town's name translates to Oak Island.

It is the home of the Île-des-Chênes North Stars senior ice hockey team.

Get in
It is 28 km from Downtown Winnipeg on Highway 59.

You can take a Winnipeg Transit bus #14 or #60 ($4 as of June 2019) as far as Dafoe at U of M station, and then take a taxi from there.

title: Île-des-Chênes


text:
Isle of Pines

The Isle of Pines (French: Île des Pins; Kwênyii: Kunyié) is in New Caledonia.

Understand
The Isle of Pines has been nicknamed L'île la plus proche du Paradis ("the closest island to Paradise"). It is also rich with animal life and is home to the world's largest gecko species.

Get in
As an island, there are only two ways into the Isle of Pines; by air and by sea.

Air Calédonie, the country's domestic flag carrier, operates three to five flights each day of the week between Nouméa's Magenta domestic airport and Isle of Pines' airport in the island's interior. Flights take only half an hour but are quite expensive, generally costing 18 600 CFP return if they aren't on promotion. As there is no public transport on the island, you will need to arrange transfers from the airport in advance; most places of accommodation will be able to arrange this. At the airport, facilities include a small gift shop, an information desk and some opportunities for car rental.

Betico operates the ferry between Nouméa and the island, taking about 2½ hours. The cheapest adult day return fare costs 10 700 CFP, with more expensive 'VIP' options. The ferry does a day return trip on Wednesday, along with a trip to the island on Saturday morning and the return on Sunday evening. The is located on the Kuto peninsula, but lacking facilities is little more than a slab of concrete. There are plans to expand the wharf. It is within walking distance of Kuto hotels, but for anywhere else on the island, you will need to arrange transfers in advance.

Do

Eat and drink

Eating options on the island are extremely limited. Most visitors eat at their lodgings, and advance reservations are typically required even then.

One local delicacy worth sampling is giant snails (bulime), typically served cooked in the French style with garlic butter. The snail in question, Placostylus fibratus, is listed as an endangered species, but they're now so lucrative that they're locally grown on farms. Expect to pay up to 3000 CFP for a half-dozen.

title: Isle of Pines


text:
Île Saint-Paul

Île Saint-Paul is a small, volcanic outcrop in the deep Indian Ocean, located at approximately 38'42" and 77'32", about 85 km south-west of Île Amsterdam. It is notable for being a rare example of a "volcanic lagoon" - an almost totally submerged volcanic caldera, thereby allowing small landing craft to travel into the crater of the volcano.

Get in

You may not land here except as part of a French scientific team. There is no air service, and only a small hazardous landing area within the flooded crater. The support ship Marion Dufresne sails four times a year from Réunion via Crozet Islands and Kerguelen towards Île Saint-Paul, but only calls here if there is a specific need. Often it sails on by to Île Amsterdam before returning to Réunion.

Vessels such as cruise boats may anchor to the east. Small craft should approach under motor as the winds inshore are too violent and turbulent for sail. The entrance over the lip of the crater is only a few metres deep.

Talk
The French Government lays claim to the island and there is a cabin on the shores of the lagoon which is occasionally visited by their weather scientists from Ile Amsterdam. This is infrequent, and in the event you end up stuck on the island you should not count on seeing anyone for quite some time.

See and do
For such a lonely place, Saint-Paul has acquired a surprisingly eventful history. The HMS Megaera was wrecked at Saint-Paul (more accurately, its crew gave up in disgust at the poor quality hull of the ship and scuttled it in the lagoon). An ill-fated lobster cannery was started on the island and then abandoned. Its employees were stuck on the island and all but two of them starved before they could be rescued. The ruins of the old stone cottages are still there.

You can see evidence of this human activity as well as the rock with the original French inscription laying claim to the island on the shores of the lagoon.

There are always seals and seabirds about. Penguins can also be found.

Buy
If you are in need of emergency supplies, you are far better off going to Ile Amsterdam and throwing yourself at the mercy of the French weather scientists. You won't find anything here.

Eat
There is little vegetation on the island except for grass. You could try fishing but results may vary.

Drink
There is no permanent water on the island.

Sleep
This is an uninhabited island.

Stay safe
Strong westerly winds predominate. Like all destinations in the deep Indian Ocean, only accomplished sailors should apply.

Respect
You may wish to consider obtaining permission from the French government before landing, although it's doubtful that they'd grant it. There is a company that offers cruises past the island on their way to Heard Island, although the French apparently don't allow them to land: Heritage Expeditions

As with visiting any isolated island, you should take a great care to avoid inadvertently introducing any noxious vegetation. Do not take any foodstuffs ashore that may contain seeds, and make sure you carefully brush your clothes to remove any seeds that may have collected there.

Go next
Île Amsterdam is the next usual port-of-call on the way north back to Réunion.

title: Île Saint-Paul


text:
Îles-de-la-Madeleine

Quebec's Îles-de-la-Madeleine (occasionally Magdalen Islands) are an island chain in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, off the coast of Prince Edward Island and the Gaspé Peninsula. Acadian culture is strong and vibrant in this mostly-francophone region.

Understand

The Magdalen Islands or Îles-de-la-Madeleine are a windswept chain of islands connected by sand dunes and beautiful cold water beaches. Lagoons, caps, green valleys, red cliffs and brightly coloured houses form the panorama of this archipelago in the heart of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Havre-Aubert, on the island of the same name, is a member of "Les plus beaux villages du Québec".

All of the dozen islands of the archipelago are connected to each other by land with the exception of l'île d'Entrée which can be reached by local ferry. The population of the archipelago is about 12,600. Although part of Quebec, Acadian culture is very much alive in the Magdalen Islands ("mon île, mon pays"). The islanders are known for having retained their unique accent and for their warm hospitality.

There is one small town, Cap-aux-Meules, where most services are located; the rest of this isolated group of islands is rural, with a few tiny villages.

Accommodation is often in rented cabins. Bed and breakfasts are also available and often cheaper for 2 persons. Camping is possible; however, exposure to wind (given the lack of trees and proximity to the ocean) can make this unpleasant.

Prices for excursions and various tourist activities are variable but generally expensive, something to consider for the budget traveller. During the high tourist season (July-August) lodging can be expensive and booked out. Early September would be a wonderful time to visit this region.

The Îles-de-la-Madeleine use the Atlantic time zone (UTC-4 in winter), an hour ahead of the rest of Québec but the same time zone as the three Maritime provinces.

If you have only one full day (and a car) you can easily drive from Cap-aux-Meules to each end of the islands and back, but it would be rushed, and wouldn't leave you much time for exploring the dunes or walking on the beaches. Two days will give you a much better experience. With a third day, you could take the ferry to Île d'Entrée to roam its trails, or lie on the beach or spend more time exploring the dunes. The islands would be an ideal place to "get away from it all" for a week or months.

Municipalities and villages
The amalgamated Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine municipality covers most of the archipelago. Created in 2002 by the fusion of all former municipalities on the archipelago, Cap-aux-Meules, Fatima, Grande-Entrée, Grosse-Île, Havre-aux-Maisons, L'Étang-du-Nord and L'Île-du-Havre-Aubert, it holds both "municipality" and "municipal regional county" status.

The municipality of Grosse-Île regained its independence in 2006, so Grosse-Île (or Grosse Isle in English) is the only municipality on the islands not part of "la municipalité des Îles-de-la-Madeleine".

Talk
94% of residents are francophone and 6% anglophone. When visiting Îles-de-la-Madeleine, if you speak even just a little bit of French everyone will be a lot more friendly and go out of their way to help.

The anglophone communities are Grosse-Île, Old Harry and l'île d'Entrée.

Get in
Îles-de-la-Madeleine is not the easiest place to visit, but there are a few options:
 * Ferry from Souris, PEI, via CTMA, reservation required
 * Weekly boat from Montréal, Québec and Chandler, Québec, via CTMA, reservation required
 * Flights from Québec City, Montreal, and other cities (Air Canada Express)

Airport

 * Direct flights available from Quebec City (1.75-2 hours).

Get around
While each island is quite small, the distances between them along the connecting dunes are greater and these areas are isolated. Cycling is possible, scooters can be rented, as can automobiles. Bus tours are available during the summer, and taxis are quite expensive. There is no separate bike trail; the one "Route Verte" is a paved shoulder along most of the main highway, Route 199.

Gasoline is expensive: about 18¢/litre more than in PEI (May 2017), so you may want to fill up before you leave Souris.

Do
The Îles-de-la-Madeleine may be explored by bicycle, on horseback or on foot; one may follow the coast by canoe, zodiac boat or kayak. Strong winds and shallow bays make a fine coastline of long, sandy beaches for windsurfing.

 * Beaches: Several long sand dune beaches connect the islands; swim. sunbathe, walk and explore. Water temperature reaches 18°C (64°F) by mid-August.
 * Birdwatching: Excursions are available, for example by boat to nearby Ile Brion.
 * Windsurfing, kitesurfing equipment rental and lessons are available.
 * Sea kayaking: Explore coastal cliffs, bays, and tunnels. Aerosport, Istorlet and Parc du Gros Cap provide equipment rental.
 * Cycling. Some roads have a paved shoulder and bikes may be rented, but local wind speed typically varies from 17 to 40 km/h (9 to 22 knots).
 * Hiking along the shore. If hiking near cliff-lined areas of the coast, the cliff edges are often eroded, dangerous and can collapse.
 * In winter, a popular activity is to observe young seals on the ice floes.

Buy
ATMs are available at credit unions (caisses populates Desjardins) around the islands, and at the National Bank at 425 Chemin Principal in Cap-aux-Meules.

Local fare

 * Seafood
 * Fresh lobster is available in early summer (June-July).
 * Smoked fish: herring, scallops, mackerel.
 * Pot-en-pot: seafood pie.
 * Loup-marin: seal (very strong tasting, similar to liver or wild game).

Drink
There is a local brewery near Cap aux Meules which can be visited:

Their local beers are on tap at these establishments, which also serve food:

Sleep
In addition to Québec's ~15% sales taxes, a $3/night accommodation tax is applied to lodging throughout the region.

Stay safe
All of Îles-de-la-Madeleine is pretty safe. Do not walk near the edges of cliffs as they are subject to erosion and collapse. Certain beaches can have strong and dangerous currents which may pull you away from shore.

Connect
There is no Rogers signal (and therefore no GSM); Bell mobile telephones will find a 3G (UMTS) signal in the area.

Go next

 * Souris, Prince Edward Island via CTMA ferry
 * CTMA offers a week-long cruise from Montreal along the St. Lawrence River to Îles de la Madeleine. After a stay of a couple of days on the island with local tours (can overnight on the ship or at local accommodation), there is a return trip to Montreal, with stopovers made on the Gaspé Peninsula and Quebec City.
 * Another tour option is to fly into Charlottetown, PEI and bike the Confederation Trail, or tour the island by car. Then take the CTMA ferry from Souris, PEI to Îles de la Madeleine. Bike or tour on the islands for a couple of days and then, as a short cruise in the Gulf and along the St. Lawrence River, book one-way passage from Îles de la Madeleine to Montreal.

title: Îles-de-la-Madeleine


text:
Óbidos

Óbidos is a town of 12,000 people (2015) in the Oeste region of Portugal. It's a popular destination due to its walled hilltop medieval centre. Óbidos has a large concentration of bookshops and golf resorts.

Understand

Óbidos (/ˈɔ.bi.duʃ/, AW-bee-doozh) was added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2015 in recognition of its literary connections.

The municipality of Óbidos is divided into seven freguesias (civil parishes):
 * — containing the town of Óbidos itself
 * — containing the town of Óbidos itself
 * — containing the town of Óbidos itself
 * — containing the town of Óbidos itself
 * — containing the town of Óbidos itself

By car
Óbidos town lies on both the A8 and A15 motorways. The N8 national road passes right by the castle walls and entryway. Paid parking is available outside the walls.

Get around
Most sights in Óbidos are within or near the castle walls, so walking should suffice for most travellers.

See

Do

 * Walk along the walls of the fortress.
 * Óbidos offers a number of golf courses and resorts:
 * Bom Sucesso Resort
 * Praia D'El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort
 * Royal Obidos Spa & Golf Resort
 * West Cliffs

Buy

 * Ginja de Óbidos (or Ginjinha de Óbidos), a typical cherry liquor with a strong taste. You can buy small or medium bottles to drink or take home.

Go next

 * Alcobaça — monastery and excellent conventual sweets and pastries
 * Batalha — near Fátima is located the beautiful Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory of the Battle
 * Caldas da Rainha – charming, unassuming city to experience authentic daily Portuguese life
 * Fátima — the city and the Marian shrine of the worldwide famous apparitions of the Virgin Mary
 * Nazaré — a lovely village that became an international surf spot and entered into the Guinness World Records for its gigantic sea waves
 * Peniche and the Berlengas islands
 * Tomar — the city of the Knights Templar: it is highly recommended to visit the medieval castle and the Convent of Christ

title: Óbidos


text:
Öland

Öland is Sweden's second largest island, only Gotland is larger and of more importance. It lies in the Baltic Sea just off the coast of Småland, connected to the mainland by a bridge from Kalmar. Öland is popular among domestic tourists, many Swedes have had a summer cottage here for generations. Öland can be crowded by vacationers from Midsummer to mid-August.

Understand
Öland is rather sparsely populated, with most of the land consisting of farm land or in the north woods. Much of the southern cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland. The island is also popular for summer vacations and among bird watchers.

Settlements

 * — Historically the major settlement on the island, with the castle and Solliden palace.
 * — With some 6,000 inhabitants this is the largest community on Öland. It's on the western shore of the island, facing Kalmar on the other side of the straight.
 * — A tiny community with less than 2,000 inhabitants.

Talk
While English is widely known by most Swedes, the level of English spoken in the country side (including Öland) is noticeably lower than, for example, the level of English spoken in Stockholm.

Most tourist information signs will be in Swedish, English, German and in rare cases Dutch and/or French.

By plane or train
The nearest airport and railway is in Kalmar, see that page.

By car, bike or bus
You get in by car or bus (Kalmar Länstrafik) from Kalmar over the Ölandsbron bridge, the longest bridge in Sweden. Biking over the bridge is prohibited, instead take your bike on the special bike buses summertime or ordinary buses otherwise, or take the ferry.

By ferry
In summertime, there's a ferry from Kalmar to Färjestaden and back, on which you can bring your bike. It runs from mid-April to mid-August, from around seven in the morning until six in the evening during weekdays. Check Ressel Rederi for current schedule. It costs 50 kr for adults and takes about half an hour.

There is a ferry from Oskarshamn to Byxelkrok (northern part of the island).

By yacht
Öland is a good destination for small craft.

Get around
Public transport is limited. There is no railway on Öland. and the bus routes and bus departures are relatively few, even though the situation gets a lot better during the tourist season from the beginning of June to the middle of August. Taking the bus, however, remains the most convenient way to get around on the island, since they cover most of the island and can get you within biking distance of interesting sights and beautiful beaches. Bringing a bike would be great and convenient, as passengers are allowed to bring bikes on the buses. It's also the best way to experience the unique landscape of Öland. There are very nice biking trails along the long coast of Öland.

By car
It is possible to travel by car on Öland and in large parts of the island it is the only means of transport during the non-tourist season. However, the roads are narrow and busy during the tourist season. In the middle of the 20th century, local politicians decided that many small roads should be paved, as the autumn rains, combined with the harvest season and heavy transport, turned the roads into real seas of mud and consequently into completely worn-out roads. Today, most of the roads are in very good condition. As the roads follow centuries-old routes, they pass through many villages of the terraced type and it is important to slow down. Visibility is poor and active farming contributes to the roads becoming easily blocked, especially at harvest time. When parking, it is particularly important to be considerate of other traffic because of the narrowness of the roads.

The main roads often have little side extensions where tourists can park briefly to admire the farming countryside (which can be a brilliant yellow in early May when the rapeseed blooms occur) or the occasional wooden windmill used to power the farm.

By bus
Kalmar länstrafik is responsible for transport on the island. On northern Öland (counting from Färjestaden) there are lines 101, 103, 104 and 106. On southern Öland, but furthest to Mörbylånga, there are lines 103 and 105. South of Mörbylånga there is no bus service according to the winter timetable. 1 June-31 July you can buy a summer card that is valid for an unlimited number of journeys. Please note that many of the bus routes only run on school days.

By bike
Those who want to cycle on Öland have plenty of opportunities to do so. Bicycles can be rented and packages can be booked through the tourist office. During the summer, traffic on road 136 is very heavy, so those who want to cycle would be well advised to choose other, smaller roads. There are three main cycling routes on the island:

 * Ölandsleden is a 45-mile long signposted cycle route across the island. There are plenty of options for those wanting longer or shorter rides.
 * Ekoparkcykleden runs through Böda Kronopark on the north of the island and is about 6.5 km (4 miles) long.
 * Sweden Trail is administered by the Swedish Cycling Society. The island part of this trail runs between Ölands Turistbyrå at the bridgehead up to Grankullavik.

Rent a bike
There are a number of bicycle rental companies on the island:

 * Bengts Cykel och Motor, Mörbylånga, +46 73-993 30 30
 * Byxelkrok Bike Rental, Byxelkrok, +46 70-579 61 00
 * Degerhamns Cykelverkstad, Degerhamn, +46 485-66 04 52
 * Färjestadens Cykelaffär, Färjestaden, +46 485-300 74
 * Hallbergs hojar, Borgholm, +46 70-514 19 37
 * Hornsjön Pensionat & Restaurang, Löttorp, +46 485-210 09
 * ICA, Grönhögen, +46 485-66 10 09
 * Ottenby Vandrarhem o camping, Ottenby, +46 485-66 20 62
 * Preem, Köpingsvik, +46 485-720 27
 * Sahlbergs Cykel & Sport Eftr., Löttorp, +46 70-920 81 07
 * Sandviks Café/restaurant, Sandvik, +46 485-262 70
 * Solberga Gård, Köpingsvik, +46 485-726 46

See

 * The villas in Borgholm have a lot of character, and it is rather entertaining to walk around and look at them.
 * The rock formations, called raukar, on the beautiful Byerum beach. These formations have been created by natural erosion over thousands of years. If you're interested in seeing more of these 'raukar' they are in fact even more plentiful on Sweden's largest island, Gotland.
 * The only lake on Öland, Hornsjön
 * The villas in Borgholm have a lot of character, and it is rather entertaining to walk around and look at them.
 * The rock formations, called raukar, on the beautiful Byerum beach. These formations have been created by natural erosion over thousands of years. If you're interested in seeing more of these 'raukar' they are in fact even more plentiful on Sweden's largest island, Gotland.
 * The only lake on Öland, Hornsjön
 * The villas in Borgholm have a lot of character, and it is rather entertaining to walk around and look at them.
 * The rock formations, called raukar, on the beautiful Byerum beach. These formations have been created by natural erosion over thousands of years. If you're interested in seeing more of these 'raukar' they are in fact even more plentiful on Sweden's largest island, Gotland.
 * The only lake on Öland, Hornsjön
 * The only lake on Öland, Hornsjön
 * The only lake on Öland, Hornsjön

Do

 * Spend a day at one of Öland's many beaches
 * Bike along the Öland trail (Ölandsleden), or the shorter Sweden trail (the part that runs on Öland, that is)
 * Spend a day or two in the beautiful town of Borgholm with its charming villas and cosy cafés. Close to the town are also the Borgholm castle and the Solliden (royal residence), which are well worth a visit. The massive castle on a hill with a stunning view of the town of Borgholm and the sea and Solliden with its beautiful architecture and gardens.
 * Buy pottery and other ceramics from the many skilled potters. (Paradisverkstan is one of the big, between Färjestaden and the Öland bridge. Resmo krukmakeri is also worth a trip.)
 * Hike on southern Öland, where there are 110 km of marked trails, some which go through Stora Alvaret. Mörbylånga kommun has maps and information on the hikes (in Swedish).
 * Hike on southern Öland, where there are 110 km of marked trails, some which go through Stora Alvaret. Mörbylånga kommun has maps and information on the hikes (in Swedish).

Eat
Kroppkaka is a Småland/Öland speciality. Smoked fish is another one. Lufsa, a traditional dish on Öland, is an ovenbaked cake consisting of finely grated potatoes – added cream/milk, flour, egg; served with fried salt-cured bacon (fläsk) and lingonberry jam. Berries are usually abundant throughout the summer and early autumn. Mushrooms are plentiful in autumn. The restaurant in Hotel Borgholm has been awarded with a star in the Michelin Guide.

Drink
As for other vacation islands, Öland has more nightlife in summer. If you head into the larger towns, e.g. Borgholm (in particular), Färjestaden and Mörbylånga you will see a few nice restaurants and bars. The Strand Hotel in Borgholm has a great nightclub in the summer.

Stay safe
Öland is very safe, just like the rest of the Swedish countryside. Severe weather including storms and fog can be a concern.

Go next

 * Kalmar is just across the eponymous strait.

title: Öland


text:
Ölüdeniz

Ölüdeniz is a beach resort in Lycia on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, famous for its "Blue Lagoon". It was a tiny place until the 1990s, then Turkish tourism was boosted by direct flights from Europe, and the upgrade of Dalaman Airport put this stretch of coast within a one hour coach transfer. It was relentlessly marketed, and the Dead Sea - Ölüdeniz - of the flat calm lagoon was re-branded as "blue lagoon", and came to mean the entire resort strip. This has sprawled inland from the beach village of Belceğiz through Hisarönü and Ovacık, and in 2022 the combined resident population was 6132.

This population burgeons during the Mediterranean hot, dry summers. Winters are mild with occasional heavy rainstorms (see Lycia climate chart) and many businesses close up.

Get in
For long-distance travel see Fethiye. International visitors usually fly into Dalaman on package holidays and are bussed straight to their hotels.

Fethiye is 17 km north of Ölüdeniz by a good-enough road. Dolmuş minibuses take 30 min, running every 5 minutes at peak times. Look for them outside Carrefour supermarket on Ölüdeniz Cd, east flank of Fethiye bus station.

Dolmuşes also run from Faralya (for Butterfly Valley), Uzunyurt and Kabak to the south. That road is slow and lumpy, and dead-ends at Kabak beach.

Ölüdeniz is not a Port of Entry into Turkey, so if you arrive in your own boat from Greek waters, you need to clear immigration and customs in Fethiye.

Get around
Dolmuşes from Fethiye run through Ovacık, Ölüdeniz main village, Hisarönü, and Belceğiz beachfront at the start of Blue Lagoon peninsula.

Belceğiz beachfront is a pedestrianised mall.

See

 * is the one in all the brochures - usually photographed from a parachute, since frankly it looks better from a distance. It's the "Ölü deniz" - dead sea - that gives the resort its name, for its flat calm waters, which in the right light are turquoise and ultramarine, but indeed dead if skies are overcast. The lagoon is a nature reserve, with public access 07:00-18:00 to the 1 km peninsula separating it from the open sea. They no longer charge a park admission fee, but expect to pay again and again for parking, beach entrance, beach chair, parasol, and very overpriced food and drink. The peninsula beach and underwater are gravel and rocks, so you need beach shoes. Since this is a nature reserve Turkish-style there's lots of strewn trash, and a cluster of hotels on the north shore. These have small artificial sand beaches but are reserved for their own guests.
 * : see separate page for this "ghost village".
 * : see also Kayaköy for this islet with Byzantine ruins.

Do

 * Paragliding launches from the summit of nearby Mt Babadağ, about 1900 m above sea level. The parachute is already open on launch, and an experienced pilot can soar along the mountain updraughts for hours before landing on the beach. Beginners take a tandem-ride, strapped in front of an instructor, for a one hour flight - you need proper trainers, not flipflops or barefoot. Operators may pick up from hotels here and in Fethiye. They include Ölüdeniz Paragliding, Rota Fethiye, Sky Fethiye, Fly Infinity, Hanuman Travel, Fethiye Tours and a dozen more.
 * Belceğiz beach is sandy and the best area for kiddy-bathing, unlike the gravel peninsula of the lagoon. Paragliders also prefer to land here.
 * Boat trips putter along the coast west towards Gemiler island or south to Faralya. You'll find half a dozen operators touting along the beach.
 * Scuba diving: Bubbles and Lykia World are the two diving centres. Blue World has closed down.
 * Hiking: the Lycian Way is a 540-km marked hiking trail. Its western terminus is Fethiye, with the first stage 9 km to the ghost village of Kayaköy then a further 5 km into Ölüdeniz. The trail continues east to Faralya (allow 5 hours) and Kabak (another 5 hours), and eventually to Antalya. The views of the sea, the mountains and the beaches are great, but there is little shade, so try to avoid the noon heat, and bring enough sunscreen and water. The sections near Ölüdeniz can easily be done by hiking one way and taking a dolmuş back, or vice versa.

Buy

 * Lots and lots of little stores, open late daily. Ölüdeniz Shopping opposite Club Hotel Meri is open 24 hours.
 * If you're passing through Fethiye, Carrefour is next to the bus station.

Eat
The two main eating strips are along Belceğiz beachfront, and through Ölüdeniz / Hisarönü. Lots and lots of places, no standout, offering trad fare: typical Turkish / East Med, pizza, and "Full English All-Day Breakfast" and pub fare like a sunny version of Blackpool.

Other cuisines are harder to come by, but there's Saffron Indian plus a handful of Chinese in Hisarönü.

Drink
Cafes and restaurants serve alcohol. There are free-standing bars along the beach and in Hisarönü, where Paddy's Irish Pub (daily 09:00-04:00) completes the resemblance to Blackpool.

Sleep
Ölüdeniz and Ovacık are cluttered with hotels, most of which have an online presence and can be found through various hotel-booking websites.

Connect
Ölüdeniz and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of June 2023, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Fethiye has Lycian rock tombs gazing down upon town.
 * Kayaköy is a ghost village. Its Greek population was deported in 1923, and unlike others it was not re-settled by Turks deported from Greek territory.
 * Faralya to the south is at the foot of Butterfly Valley, a scenic canyon. Kabak is further south but its canyon is easier to access.

title: Ölüdeniz


text:
Ölgii

Ölgii is the capital of Bayan-Ölgii province and is also known as Olgii, Ulgy, or Ulgii.

Understand

Nestled in the Altai mountains in western Mongolia, this small city was established in the 1840s by Kazakhs fleeing the expanding Russian Empire. Though what is now Bayan-Ölgii was likely a wintering grounds for nomadic Kazakh herders living in what is now Xinjiang Province of China, more Kazakhs came after Stalin started suppressing traditional cultures and religion and during the Chinese Civil War in the 1930s. During this time Ölgii became a staging point for a Soviet-supported rebellion against the Nationalists in the western Muslim region of China. After the Chinese Communists won, Kazakh rebels and religious leaders were purged, about 500 arrested and 100 murdered in Bayan-Ölgii alone. The region was largely ignored since then, allowing the Kazakhs' unique culture based on nomadic herding, vibrant art and music, and large, close families to flouriah. Nowhere else on earth has the traditional practice of hunting with eagles been so well preserved, with 250 active Kazakh eagle hunters in this small remote province.

Ölgii serves as the starting off point for visiting Altai Tavan Bogd National Park and Tsambagarav National Park and the beautiful snow-capped mountains, glaciers, plentiful wildlife, nomadic herders who live in felt tents called gers, and eagle hunters just outside the city.

Climate
Ölgii experiences a desert climate with long, very dry, very cold winters and short, warm summers.

Get in
Routes to enter include coming by plane to the Ölgii Airport, usually from either Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia or from Kazakhstan; routes can also include biking in, driving in by bus (from Ulaanbaatar or the Altai region of Russia), or by private taxi/transit.

By plane

Local air ticket agents:

Agents speak moderate to advanced English.

Phone: 976-11-313131, 976-11-323232 976-11-323232, 976-11-333333 976-11-303030, 976-11-330101 976-11-331390 Email: info@airtrans.mn http://www.airtrans.mn
 * Air trans:

Phone: +976-70105050 Email: info@airmarket.mn http://www.airmarket.mn
 * Air market:

Phone: 976-18001818, 976-70141818, 976-70131818, 976-11-311818, 976-70121818, 976-70161818, 976-70151818, 976-70101818 Fax: 976-11-322350 Email: info@airlink.mn http://www.airlink.mn
 * Air link:

Phone: 976-11-311001, 976-11-311002, 976-11-311193, 976-70141001 976-70113313 Email: info@monairtour.com http://www.monairtour.com
 * Mon Air tour:

Phone: 976-11-320910, 976-11-310910 Email: info@airexpert.mn                                                                                Fax: 976-11-330910 Phone: +976-77114466 Email: info@airexpress.mn http://www.airexpress.mn facebook.com/AirExpressTravel
 * Air expert:
 * Air express travel:

By bus
There is a daily bus from Ulaanbaatar (at least 30 hours on mostly paved roads) costing 80,000 ₮. It leaves from UB from the Dragon Center in UB, and to UB from a lot south of the city center on the road to Hovd in Ölgii. Bus to Kazakhstan leaves every 10 days, and cost US$100 to Astana. You need to get a visa in UB first. Tickets can be bought in the basement of the west wing of the theater building. Buses leave for UB daily at exactly 15:00. There are shared jeeps daily to and from Hovd. These are cheap, but very overcrowded. They leave from the Bazaar in Ölgii and Black Market in Hovd. Times depend on the driver. Travel time is roughly 8 hours, with a stop around halfway for dinner of buuz and hoshuur (steamed mutton dumplings and fried mutton pancakes). Price of shared jeep to Hovd is 20,000 ₮.

Get around

Taxis cost 700 ₮ per km.

Ölgii is not a large town so you should be able to get most places by walking, 30-40 minutes at the most. There are no addresses. Business cards usually provide directions from a nearby landmark. For example, an office might be "2nd floor of Altai Cashmere Building next to Post Office." Unofficial taxis are cheap and can be found alongside major roads or in/near the city square. You can signal for a taxi by sticking your hand out waste high and flicking your wrist. As of 2013 it cost 700-2100 ₮, depending where you're going, more if you don't speak Kazakh. Most drivers will speak Kazakh, but can speak Mongolian; bring a pencil and paper to write down numbers (in ₮) if you don't speak either.

By going to the bazaar you can also hire a shared taxi which is going further away into nearby towns. The bazaar is closed on Mondays. Most taxis leave around 15:00 or 16:00. The Tourist Visitor Center can help arrange jeeps for getting out into the countryside and permits for various parks. Shared jeeps typically have at least 10 and up to 15 passengers for a 5-seat jeep.

To the Soums
There are shared jeeps on most days, except Monday, to the various Soums (villages) in Bayan-Ölgii. Jeeps leave the soums in the morning for Ölgii and return in the afternoon. Below are approximate prices in togrogs of transport to each Soum;
 * Altai, 10,000 ₮
 * Altantsogts, 4,000 ₮
 * Bayannuur, 12,000 ₮
 * Bugat, 500 ₮ (For shared jeep, taxi is 3,500 ₮)
 * Buyant, 7,000 ₮
 * Deluun, 15,000 ₮
 * Nogoonnuur, 6,000 ₮
 * Sagsay, 4,000 ₮
 * Tolbo, 7,000 ₮ (paved road) - 60 km
 * Tsaagannuur, 5,000 ₮ (paved road)
 * Tsengel, 6,000 ₮
 * Ulaankhus, 5,000 ₮

See
Ölgii is the capital of the Kazakh homeland of Mongolia. It has a unique traditional Kazakh culture and is the cultural, religious, and economic center of the region.
 * Kazakh National Theater in Mongolia.JPG

It's also worth experiencing Kazakh hospitality in a ger, or white felt round-house. Many people set up gers in their yards in the summer, but you can also go outside of town to see gers in their "natural setting."

Do
Most people come to see the surrounding areas and don't spend a lot of time in Ölgii itself. It really helps to know someone local who can introduce you to other people! Learning at least a few words of Kazakh will also be helpful and people will really appreciate it.

Eagle festivals

Other events

Tours
There is not a lot of infrastructure in Mongolia in general, and Bayan-Ölgii especially. There are no paved roads or many places to stay or eat or even buy food outside of the city. The parks are completely pristine, often without even border fences between Mongolia, Russia and China. Therefore most visitors use one of the several tour groups located in Ölgii for transportation, camping equipment, food, and guides. The largest companies offer unguided tour options to the main National Parks with only transportation and supplies, but no guide, cook, or other services. While other activities like mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, or going with an eagle hunter on a hunt will require a guide for most people.

Buy
Bayan-Ölgii has developed a reputation around Mongolia and Kazakhstan for its unique craft production that is not found anywhere else. Local artisans export brightly colored embroideries with elaborate curving designs. The Kazakh designs have been used for handbags, wallets, computer bags, pillow cases, place-mats, and a wide range of products. Before the end of communism, the designs were used primarily for wall hangings on gers, traditional clothing, and the takiyat (Muslim prayer cap). Tourists visiting in the 1990s started buying wall hangings (tuskies), some 40 or 50 years old, and created a demand for new wall hangings and other items. Local artisans also make fox fur hats, dombras (traditional instruments), chee (painted straw panels, and many other crafts that are used everyday by locals.

Like much of Mongolia, the number and quality of shops have grown exponentially. There used to be a few small general stores selling candy, flour, and cheap vodka. Today there are several supermarkets, cashmere shops, specialty stores for computers, home appliances, and fashionable clothing. The availability of particular items can still be inconsistent, but is still good considering the isolation.

Most prices are in Mongolian Togrogs (₮), though tour guides and tourist activities will be priced in US dollars.

Eat
The dining choices in Ölgii are limited, but generally more tasty than Mongolian food elsewhere in the country. Most of the food here is Kazakh or Mongolian, though Turkish, Uighur, and International options are available. The biggest difference between Kazakh and Mongolian is that Kazakh meals have Halal meat (without blood) and more spices. Kazakh food is delicious and usually slow cooked over several hours with lots of meat, potatoes, noodles, and spices. The best dishes are bisbarmak ("5 fingers", slow-boiled mutton), sirne (grilled mutton), and kaz (smoked fatty horse sausage).

Mongolians and Kazakhs rarely eat meals without meat. Vegetarians should stick to the large restaurants and tourist camps or patronize the bazaar and some supermarkets, which have decent selection of fruits and vegetables. There is a regular supply of bananas, apples, pineapples, carrots, bell peppers, cabbage, oranges, and watermelon throughout the summer and fall. A much more limited selection is available during the winter due to the nearby Chinese border closing.

All restaurants, other than those at tourist ger camps are located in the city center near the apartment blocks and the Bazaar.

Budget
There are several small guanz (or cafes serving 2 or 3 fast, greasy dishes) in the center of town, which have mutton pancakes (hoshuur) or manti (dumplings) for cheap, usually served only with milky tea.

Drink
Kazakhs, like Mongolians, drink milky tea, though Kazakhs use less salt and more tea. Shops carry Coke, Fanta, juices, instant coffee, and alcoholic drinks, usually at room temperature. A few stores sell wine, imported beer, and whiskey (at very high prices). Restaurants and bars usually serve beer and coke cold.

Friday is a dry day with no alcohol legally sold, out of respect for the Muslim majority. Bars and nightclubs are closed on Friday, though some restaurants and shops will still sell to foreigners. You should not openly carry alcohol on this day or be visibly drunk. Public drunkenness on any day is not common like in other parts of Mongolia, and could result in a visit by the police.

There are about a dozen bars and 3 or 4 nightclubs in the city. Bars typically include karaoke and VIP rooms with small selection of beers and hard liquors.

 * Kumiz is similar to Airag and is made from fermented mare's milk. Kazakhs drink it during the summer until it runs out in late winter. It has a fizzy sour taste and a small alcohol content. Several restaurants serve it, and there is one Kumizhana, or 'kumiz place.'

Sleep
There are several hotels and ger camps in Ölgii. Hotels are open year round and cater to locals most of the year, while ger camps are only open during the main tourist season from May to October.

Camping/ Homestay
It is possible to camp along the Hovd River flowing through town, though you will want to stay away from other homes or gers to avoid dogs that guard homes and livestock. Water from the river should be filtered before drinking since livestock graze near water during the summer months. Some families welcome travelers into their home for the night. Go to Ger-to-Ger to find families in Ölgii. Ger-to-Ger

For a longer stay, it's possible to rent a local apartment for 150,000-250,000 ₮ a month, if you can find someone to translate and advocate for you.

Cope
Getting money or using the internet is surprisingly easy for such an isolated place. There are around a dozen ATMs that take Visa, MasterCard, and UnionPay from foreign banks. There is also Western Union at XAAH Bank in the square, and MoneyGram south of the square at Capitron Bank. Additionally, all banks exchange major currencies and can do wire transfers. Some business accept payment by credit card.

Internet cafes are all over, including the ger district. Payment is usually around 500-600 ₮/hour and prints and faxes available. Internet quality isn't great, and viruses are common. WiFi is available in several hotels and Pamukkale Restaurant.

Public Shower House is west of Kazakh Theater in a fenced lot with trees (rare). Showers are 1500 ₮, haircuts start from 2000 ₮, and massages 10,000 ₮. Operating hours are 10AM to 10PM everyday, though Sundays are very crowded. Stalls aren't very clean, but they will wipe it down if you ask, and it is almost always hot.

Language
Kazakh is the primary language spoken, though everyone should understand Mongolian. Russian is also common especially among older people. Turkish and English are understood by many educated adults, but not usually conversationally. Children will say 'hello' to anyone that looks European, though that is often the only word they know. Most signs will be in Cyrillic Mongolian.
 * Kazakh Phrasebook
 * Mongolian Phrasebook

Go next
Nearby destinations include several-day excursions into other areas of Bayan-Ölgii province to see the beautiful mountain scenery, Kazakh herders, and ancient petroglyphs. There are around 60 deer stones, over 1,000 Turkic Stone Men and a million petroglyphs (pictures carved into stone) in the surrounding region. There are around 250 Kazakh eagle hunters living outside of the city that hunt for prized Corsac foxes with captured golden eagles released from horseback. These hunters are often followed by documentary film crews during the winter months.

National parks
Bayan-Ölgii is home to 5 national parks and protected areas. The most popular are Altai Tavan Bogd National Park and Tsambagarav National Park with lots of wildlife, mountains, glaciers, lakes, and archeology. Sillkemiin Nuruu National Park and Kokh Serkhiin Nuruu National Park have large populations of Argali Sheep and Ibex and archeological sites. Devliin Aral Strictly Protected Area and the nearby Achit Lake serve as an important rest stop for millions of migratory birds.

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park is a 630,000 hectare park on the border of Russia and China, containing the Tavan Bogd Mountains ('5 Saints', highest in Mongolia at 4374 m), the Pontuninii Glacier, the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai, and several large lakes. This is the most visited park in Western Mongolia, and famous for mountain climbing, fishing, archeological sites, and eagle hunters living inside the park. Park Permit is 3000 ₮ from the Visitor Center in Ölgii (southeast corner of square), and border permit (Chinese border permit at army barracks in Ölgii, Russian border permit at Tsagaannuur village north of Ölgii).

Shuttle services to the park are provided by 2 tour companies to the park on regular days to the base camp of Tavan Bogd Mountains. This is usually part of an unguided tour package with additional fees for tents, food, and extra services.
 * Blue Wolf Travel provides transfers to the Tavan Bogd on Wednesdays and Sundays and from the park on Mondays and Fridays.
 * Kazakh Tour has shuttles to the both sides of the park each Sunday, the Tavan Bogd Mountains Ranger Station and the bridge between Khoton and Khurgan Lakes (hiking or horse ride between these two places is a popular trek). The van is US$214 divided by each passenger (up to 8). Shuttle begins on June 22nd.

Tsambagarav National Park is a 110,960-ha park surrounding the sacred Tsambagarav Uul Mountains. The 4208m snow-capped mountain (2nd highest in Mongolia) towers over archeological sites, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, and beautiful lush valleys. The park is supports many rare and endangered species like the Argali Sheep, Ibex, Snow Leopard, Rock Ptarmigan, and Altai Snowcock. During the summer nomadic Kazakh and Uriankhai herders live inside the park. Blue Wolf has a shuttle to Tsambagarav is on Wednesday and Saturday and from the park on Wednesday and Sunday.

title: Ölgii


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Örebro

Örebro is a modern city located in the small province of Närke in Svealand in south central Sweden. It's on the flat Närke plains, surrounded by vast forest areas. It's Sweden's 7th largest municipality with a population of about 143,000 (2015).

Understand
Örebro is located along Svartån (Black river), which runs in a west-east direction before flowing into lake Hjälmaren in the eastern part of Örebro.

Örebro has an enormous castle in the middle of town, which started as a defensive fortress. A lot of people living here work for the public sector, for instance with statistics.

By train
Örebro is near Hallsberg, which is Sweden's premier train hub. Train connectivity is therefore excellent from all over Sweden.

By car
E20, E18 and riksväg 50 all connect in Örebro.

By bus
FlixBus and Vy Bus4You offer bus services to and from most major cities.

Get around
The city center is easily explored on foot. There is a well functioning network of city buses serving all parts of the city. Almost all regional and city buses stop at Resecenter (next to the train station). Järntorget also functions as a hub for the city buses. The municipality offers bicycles for rent if you wish to explore the city by bike. Enquire at the tourist agency in the castle.

Do

 * A few kilometers from the town center, you can follow a footpath that leads past a number of modern art sculptures. On one end there is a small nature reserve.
 * The Swedish Chamber Orchestra resides in Konserthuset and holds concerts year round.
 * Winter time, go skiing in Storstenshöjden.
 * The Swedish Chamber Orchestra resides in Konserthuset and holds concerts year round.
 * Winter time, go skiing in Storstenshöjden.
 * The Swedish Chamber Orchestra resides in Konserthuset and holds concerts year round.
 * Winter time, go skiing in Storstenshöjden.

Buy
There are lots of shopping opportunities in the shopping malls Krämaren and Vågen and on the streets Drottninggatan, Köpmangatan and Kungsgatan. Nothing that you can't buy everywhere else in Sweden though.

Bra & Begagnat (Standing on the major square, Järntorget, and looking directly west, on your right hand there is a brown building. Between the brown building and a Tex-Mex restaurant there is a small alley called "Gamla Gatan". Down the alley, 50 m on your right.) Open W 14:00-18:00, Sa 10:00-14:00. A second-hand store with a small café serving homemade cakes, buns and cookies. All who work there (wearing yellow shirts) are volunteers, they are friendly and it's very cheap. All profits from the store are donated to charity.

Budget

 * Sallad Inn, Järnvägsgatan 10. No-nonsense place that serves pizza, salads and meat dishes and does it well. Mains 50-89 kr.
 * Sushi Bar, Köpmangatan 27. Mains 50-160 kr.

Drink
Best days out are generally Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

You can pick up the free Nollnitton magazine in various stores to read more about Örebro's nightlife. It is only available in Swedish though.

Stay safe
Örebro is not a dangerous town, although that is no excuse to leave your common sense at home.

Go next

 * Nora - a historical city with many beautiful wooden buildings. It is an easy daytrip from Örebro with the help of public transportation. In the summer time, it is very pleasant to take a boat trip on Norasjön (Nora lake).
 * Karlskoga - Alfred Nobel moved to this town after he returned from his adventures around Europe.

title: Örebro


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Östergötland

Östergötland is a province in eastern Götaland. While the middle of the province is a flat plain with cities Linköping and Norrköping, the north and south are more hilly and forested, with borders to Södermanland and Småland respectively. The province largely coincides with Östergötland County, Östergötlands län.

The province contains much of Sweden's industrial heritage, with the eastern part of Göta Canal, and the SAAB airplane industry in Linköping.

Östgöta Plains

 * : the seat of Östergötland county, home to a university, Swedish aircraft industry, and a cathedral
 * : Ekenäs Palace and lake Roxen
 * : home to Motala Verkstad, and Sweden's first broadcast station
 * : the second city, home to SMHI; the Swedish weather institute, and Kolmården Zoo.
 * : home of Saint Bridget of Sweden, and the world's largest runestone
 * : the second city, home to SMHI; the Swedish weather institute, and Kolmården Zoo.
 * : home of Saint Bridget of Sweden, and the world's largest runestone
 * : home of Saint Bridget of Sweden, and the world's largest runestone

Holaveden
is the southern part of Östergötland, forested and scarcely populated, consisting of the Boxholm, Kinda, Valdemarsvik, Ydre and Åtvidaberg municipalities.

Other destinations

 * Borensberg
 * Rök Runestone near Ödeshög

Understand
During the Middle Ages, Östergötland was, besides Uppland and Västergötland, one of the few Swedish centres of population, with the 12th century Linköping Cathedral as Sweden's oldest Gothic building.

The province has a strong tradition of industrial engineering. The construction of Göta Kanal was a significant feat during the 19th century, with rise of mechanical industry in Motala. Norrköping is a diverse industrial city, and Linköping has a renowned tech university, and is the birthplace of Swedish aviation.

By plane

 * Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden's largest airport, 230 km away. Train connection. Prefer SJ trains over the expensive airport express.
 * Skavsta Airport in Nyköping - Used by Ryanair. 100 km north-east of Linköping. A shuttle bus overland link between the airport and central Norrköping and Linköping and Skavsta airport. Or local bus to Nyköping plus SJ train.
 * Linköping Airport - Flights mainly to Stockholm, Amsterdam, Riga and Copenhagen. There are no shuttles between the airport and the city centre and you need to take a taxi from the airport.
 * Norrköping Airport - Flights mainly to Helsinki, Visby, Munich and Copenhagen. Östgötatrafiken has a bus connection from the airport.

By train

 * SJ fast trains from Stockholm or Malmö.
 * Tåg i Bergslagen from Borlänge and Örebro.
 * Kustpilen from Kalmar.

By car

 * E4 between Stockholm and Malmö/Copenhagen. Very good road.

By bus
The local bus company is called Östgötatrafiken. They also run commuter trains in Östergötland and is the cheapest way to get around.

It's not possible to pay cash for a ticket on the bus. You can get ticket in Quickomats, some stores and at the Resecentrum. It's also possible to buy an SMS-ticket, information how to do that can be found at. The ticket is valid for a limited time (usually 1 hour) so you can use the same ticket for more than 1 trip.

You can also buy a bus card. It is a magnetic strip card and you can load money in it. The advantage is that each trip fare is cheaper than the normal fare. You'll find more info about tickets and fares at

Göta Kanal
Göta Kanal is a semi-artificial waterway passing through Östergötland, offering a great experience for the entire family. Rent a boat, canoe or bike or book a cruise on the canal. Regardless of mode of transport, a trip along the beautiful Göta Canal is a memory for life.

See

 *  Rejmyre Glassworks is Sweden's second oldest glassworks which is still in operation. Here, you can see, learn and experience how hand-blown glass is made. A factory shop and handicraft village lies nearby.
 * Östergötland's museums:
 * Motala Motor Museum,
 * Norrköping's Museum of Art,
 * Arbetetsmuseum (Museum of Work),
 * Östergötland's County Museum,
 * the Emigrant Museum in Kisa,
 * Linköping’s Castle and Cathedral museum,
 * the Åssa Museum in Åtvidaberg,
 * the Andrew Peterson Museum in Ydre,
 * the broadcasting museum in Motala, and
 * BP Nostalgia Station.
 * Kolmårdens Djurpark in Norrköping is one of Scandinavia's largest zoo and safari parks; here the whole family can enjoy wild animals from all over the world. Kolmården's animal park was awarded Stora Turistpriset (the tourism prize) in 2008.
 * The Toy Museum in Vadstena offers nostalgia for everyone who is still a child a heart. There are rows upon rows of toys dating back to the beginning of the 1900s until today.
 * The Open Air Museum in Old Linköping. Take a trip back in time and experience Swedish small-town life from a century ago.
 * At Trollegater, put on your helmet and robust clothes, bring your torch and climb down into Trollegater, one of Sweden's largest primary rock caves.
 * In the medieval towns of Vadstena, Skänninge or Söderköping, you can follow the footsteps of Birger Jarl and Saint Birgitta.
 * The Vadstena Abbey Museum is in an old palace of a king from the 13th century and is Sweden's only abbey museum.
 * Häfla Hammarsmedja is an industrial monument to Swedish iron processing from the 1600s until the 1900s; it is a unique tourist attraction in a beautiful, natural setting.
 * The industrial landscape right in the middle of central Norrköping is one Europe's most interesting industrial landscapes. The buildings remind us of a time when nearly all woolen material was manufactured in Norrköping. Also take the opportunity to visit two interesting museums Arbetetsmuseum (Museum of Work) and the City Museum of Norrköping which are both located within the industrial landscape.
 * Löfstad and Ekenäs Castles were built during the 1600s and are now open to the public. Wander around the beautiful castle grounds and take a guided tour through centuries of furnishings, art and furniture.
 * Vadstena Castle is one of many historical monuments in Vadstena. With its renaissance castle once inhabited by Gustav Wasa, among others, Vadstena is, together with its abbey area, alleys and shops, an exception tourist attraction well worth seeing.
 * Linköping's Cathedral is Sweden's best preserved medieval cathedral. The city castle dating from the same era lies just next door and houses the city's castle and cathedral museum which is filled with unique medieval objects.
 * Kisa to Boxholm following the Malexandermorden trail by car - if you wish to learn more of the killing of two policemen in Malexander in 1999.

Do

 * The Omberg Ecopark on the shores of Vättern is Sweden's first ecopark (nature reserve) with orchids, giant oak trees, caves and dramatically steep mountain slopes. Omberg proudly shows off its varied nature, unusually numerous threatened species and its forest countryside which is one of the richest in species in Sweden. A good starting point to explore this area is the main car park at Stocklycke. Leave the E4 at the Ödeshög exit and follow the road towards Vadstena. After some follow the minor road towards the Alvastra ruins. Here signage for Omberg and Stocklycke appears and after  you reach the car park. There is an information board with folders in a box which show a map of the hiking trails.
 * In Östergötland there are at least 21 golf courses within a radius of 100 km, of which 14 are 18-hole courses. Challenge your fellow travellers and plan your own golf tour through the county.
 * Medley can offer you four water parks, one in Finspång with a fully modern swimming, sports and health care facility where you can find everything you would wish for.
 * At Busfabriken (the fun factory) in Norrköping and Linköping, there is an indoor jungle-environment play park with lots of activities offering stimulation and movement. Free entrance for adults!
 * The Varamo beach, just outside of Motala, with its kilometer stretch of beaches attracts swimmers to cooling swims and lots of fun in the clean waters of Vättern.
 * Kinda Canal is a 90-km waterway with 15 sluices joining a string of lakes. Thickly wooded shores, beautiful meadows, churches, ancient castles and country estates welcome those travelling along the canal.
 * With the boat lines of the archipelago, you can easily make your way out to the most beautiful places in Östgöta's archipelago. Pack your lunch for a delightful day tour or the big knapsack for a few days of exciting island hopping among islets and cliff rocks.
 * Some of the country's best canoeing waters can be found in the area around Finspång where more than a 100 lakes are joined together by rivers and streams. There are tours for everyone - from calm waters for the beginner to demanding rapids for the more advanced.
 * Visit the event calendar at www.pagang.info (only in Swedish).

Buy

 * Take a shopping spree in Linköping's and Norrköping's shopping centres or visit one of the many handicraft artists throughout the county.
 * Björke Vävstuga (weaving mill) is a different kind of visitor's attraction. Woven linen of the best quality at good prices.
 * Boxholm's cheese is a winner of many cheese awards and has a genuine history reaching as far back as the beginning of the 1890s.

Eat

 * A favourite spot in Söderköping is Sweden's largest ice-cream restaurant with ice-cream creations you wouldn't believe existed! Relax in the café and choose among 60 fantastic ice-cream creations.

title: Östergötland


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Österlen

Österlen is a part of the Swedish historical province of Skåne. The town Simrishamn is in Österlen. It's well known in Sweden for its beautiful scenery and rich cultural life, being the home of a significant number of artists and writers.

By plane
You can get to Österlen via Malmö-Sturup Airport or Copenhagen International Airport.

By train
To get to Österlen by train you must first get to Malmö and then go by the trains called "pågatågen" (line 6). The train stops at several locations in Österlen. Some of them are:
 * Simrishamn
 * Gärsnäs
 * Smedstorp
 * Lunnarp
 * Tomelilla

Timetable can be found at Skånetrafiken's website.

Trains
The only trains which have regular lines are "pågatågen". For further information, see Get in - By train.

There is also a museum railway in the north of the region. The steam trains are active during Sundays in the summer, and also on Wednesdays and Thursdays in July.

Bicycle
Österlen has a well-maintained bike trail running just along the coast, making bicycle an excellent choice for getting around. It is possible to get from Skillinge to Kivik (a distance of about 30 km) without having to bike on the main road at all. The scenery varies between pretty and fantastic. Some of the highlights include the small fishing villages you may pass through on the way, namely Brantevik, Baskemölla, Vik (Österlen), in addition to Simrishamn and the villages Rörum and Svinaberga.

Hotels

 * Brantevik bykrog och hotell Hotel and village pub in a beautiful marine environment. A small hotel with seven doubles. You can hear the waves break against the shore. Prices start at 1150 kr for doubles and 850 kr for singles. Phone: +46-414-22069 Address: Mästergränd 2, 27238 Brantevik

title: Österlen


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Östersund

Östersund is the seat of Jämtland County in Norrland in Sweden. It was founded in 1786, as the only Swedish city founded during the 18th century.

Understand

Östersund is the economic and political centre of Jämtland and its only city. It is famous for its location near wild nature and for its winter activities. Östersund hosts many world cups in winter sports like biathlon and skiing. As of 2023, the municipality is home to roughly 65,000 inhabitants, 53,000 of whom live in the city.

Östersund (and Jämtland in general) have a long history with the Norwegian neighbours which is reflected in both tourism and trade. However most of the people living in Östersund are Swedish and of Jemtlandic descent. During both summer and winter there can be a lot of tourists in the city, especially during the annual Storsjöcupen (a football cup for youths) and the music festival Storsjöyran. Östersund is next to Storsjön, Sweden's 5th largest lake, and a lot of establishments and events are influenced by that name. The lake is excellent for swimming and bathing in the summer and ice skating or cross-country skiing in the winter – and of course fishing.

The city centre is filled with everything you would expect from a city, like bars and pubs, restaurants, shopping malls and stores. In the outskirts of the city you'll find the usual residential areas and industries. Östersund is also home to a lot of sights and museums, ranging from arts to cultural sites and activities. The weather in Östersund is very varying, from cold and dark winter nights with auroras and stars to sunny summer days where you'll spot most of the people bathing in the sun. However there is one more or less constant element which is the wind. Because of the location of the city (next to a big lake) it can be quite windy.

It is always interesting to learn about the sea monster "Storsjöodjuret", called Birger, which is said to lurk in the lake.

By plane

From Stockholm Arlanda:
 * Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)
 * BRA-flyg

From Umeå:
 * DirektFlyg

Transportation to and from the airport is very easy, with several bus lines and taxis providing shuttle services to the city centre.

By train
SJ has regular service to Östersund from many cities in Sweden, including daily night train service from Stockholm.

Buying less than a week before departure might be prohibitively expensive. If you wish to see the country it's a good option indeed. Expect times to and from Stockholm to run anywhere from 5 hours on the SJ 3000 (their high-speed train) to 6½ hours on a slightly slower train. Swedish rail traffic has often seen severe disruptions in winter due to snow, with trains being delayed for several hours and cancelled.

Another nice way to go to Östersund is by the Inlandsbanan. It's a slow diesel train that starts in Mora and ends in Gällivare. They make a stop in Östersund, so you can get on and off the train. The train is rather touristic, but it's a very special way to get to Östersund.

The main station is in the south part of the city centre. Some regional trains also calls at the much smaller.

By car
The route E14 connects Östersund to several cities in Norway and Sweden. You can reach E14 south and north from Sweden, and from the area around Trondheim (Norway). From Östersund you are also able to travel to most (if not all) major destinations and villages in Jämtland.

By bus
There are several buses that connect Östersund with the rest of the country. If you happen to be in the north of Sweden, you can use the buses operated by Länstrafiken i Västerbotten. From Stockholm and more southern parts there are several companies providing direct way travels, for example Swebus.

By boat
There are no boats connecting the city to other remote places in the country. However there are some boat traffic for travelling in Jämtland on the lake of Storsjön.

By bus
Östersund has a fairly extensive, inexpensive bus system, although you might have a long wait ahead of you if you plan to move about after 21:00, or on Sundays. You can buy single tickets on the bus, or pre-paid cards are a great deal if you plan on a longer stay. These can be purchased at the main bus station in town, located on Kyrkgatan, or in one of the many kiosks and shops around the city center.

By foot
During summertime the city is easy to get around in by foot, at least the city center and its surroundings. By winter the city is still very walkable, however due to heavy snow and the fact that Östersund is built upon a height (thereby tilting) it can be quite slippery. A good way to avoid any accidents are by equipping your boots with stud/nails during the winter months.

By bicycle
If you have a bicycle it's even better, and a great opportunity to explore the countryside outside the city. Most of Östersund have separate roads for bicycles, so watch out for them and keep in mind to use them while traveling by bike. Bikes can be rented on numerous locations or if you're staying for a longer time bought on flea markets.

By taxi
Taxi is quite expensive in Östersund like the rest of Sweden. However there are many companies providing taxi service in and around the city. To save some money you might want to share the cab with some friends. Expect to prebook your taxi as you will find it hard to wave a cab in from the street. Avoid going with unregistered taxi drivers asking you if you want a ride somewhere (which is common outside nightclubs and pubs after closing), instead use reputable companies like Taxi Östersund or Taxikurir.

Do

 * Take a walk along the lake with its beautiful view.

 * Take a boat trip around the lake - the 5th largest in Sweden.

Go next
Östersund is quite far from other major cities (as in a few hundred km). On the other hand, there's plenty of wilderness to explore around the city, free to access. Have a look at Hiking in the Nordic countries for some useful tips. If you travel around the lake Storsjön, keep your eyes open — you may see the Lake Monster!

 * Åre, Sweden's largest ski resort is about 50 km west. Double that to get to Storlien.
 * Trondheim, about 200 km west, one of Norway's largest cities with an impressive cathedral.
 * Sundsvall, about 200 km east, a city about the same size located at the Gulf of Bothnia — also the High Coast world heritage is accessible from there.

title: Östersund