Popular Airport | Bole Intl. Airport |
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Popular Airlines | |
Approximate Flight Duration | 7 hour 30 min |
Approximate Travel Distance | 6059 Km |
The city of Birmingham is located in West Midlands, England, at the basin of the Severn and Trent rivers. It is the one of the biggest cities in the country and the second most populated city in the country, after London. Those who want to travel to Birmingham fly into Birmingham Airport. The city contains five main areas that are intertwined. The first zone covers the area known as New Street, which is the innermost part of the city and considered the city center.
When it comes to urban transportation most of the city is accessible by bicycle or on foot. Network West Midlands is the executive body responsible for the public transportation network in the city. This institution encourages citizens and visitors to use bicycles to get around in the city. Buses provide transportation to most parts of Birmingham as well. Many of these bus lines are run by National Express West Midlands. There are also Diamond Buses that operate throughout the city. If you are planning on riding multiple buses throughout the day we would recommend buying a day ticket, also referred to as a daysaver, because it is more economical than buying a single trip ticket.
Single fare or daysaver tickets for National Express West Midlands buses can be purchased on board from the driver but you must have the exact fare, the driver cannot give you change. Therefore we recommend that you have the exact fare ready before getting on the bus. You can also purchase different ticket options with longer validity from the Pavilion Shopping Centre, which is located in close proximity to the Moor Street Station.
There are many public transportation alternatives in the city that provide transportation to the airport. Most of these options provide transportation to the airport from the city center or from the main train station. Birmingham Airport is located about 10 km from the city center.
Train
The airport is accessible by train via the Birmingham International Station. The Air-Rail Link connects the Birmingham International Station with Birmingham Airport. The train from New Street Station to Birmingham International Station can take between 10 and 20 minutes. Trains on this route run every 5 to 10 minutes. These trains operate from 6:15 am to 11:15 pm. Trains are usually more expensive when compared to buses. The rail service is provided by London Midland and it has an extensive network throughout Birmingham. You can find maps detailing the train routes in tourist information offices located in various parts of the city.
The fare for the train can vary depending on the region you will be traveling to. There are 3 main train stations in Birmingham. New Street Station is considered the main station and is located in the city center. There are four different train lines that run throughout the city. The yellow line runs between Wolverhampton and Northampton, the green line runs between Hereford, Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa, the red line runs between Redditch and Lichfield Trent Valley, and the blue line runs between Rugeley Trent Valley and Walsall.
There are also longer lines that provide transportation to neighboring cities. The majority of the train lines intersect at certain points so passengers can easily transfer between lines. The Air-Rail Link is a people mover that provides transportation between Birmingham International Station and Birmingham Airport.
The Air-Rail Link operates from 5:15 am to 2 am and runs every 2 minutes. The Air-Rail Link takes no more than 2 minutes to get to the airport.
Bus
One of the buses that operates between the city center and the airport is bus number 900. This bus runs every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night and on Sundays. Another bus that provides transportation between the city center and the airport is bus number 97. This bus departs from the same location as bus number 900 but it goes along a longer route.
One advantage that bus number 97 has is that it operates 24 hours a day. Bus 97 runs every hour on the hour. Bus number 966 provides transportation to the airport from Solihull and Erdington. This bus runs every 30 minutes during the day and every hour, on the hour, at nights and on Sundays.
There is no central bus station in the city, instead buses depart from various parts of the city. The majority of the buses pass through Bull Street, Colmore Row, Moor Street, and Priory Queensway. Buses generally operate from 5 am to midnight.
There are two routes that buses follow, the Inner Circle, which runs through the city center and the Outer Circle, which avoids entering the city center and runs along the outskirts of the city center.
There are also bus services that provide transportation between the suburbs, hospitals, and shopping centers. However these services run less frequently at night and on Sundays.
There are also coach services that operate throughout the city and to the airport. These services depart from Birmingham’s Digbeth Coach Station and the fare is approximately the same as city buses. These coach services also operate at night.
Tram
The tram line in the city is known as the Midland Metro. So the word ‘metro’ is used to describe the light rail/tram line in Birmingham. However, the airport is not accessible by tram.
There is only one tram line that operates throughout the city. This line operates between Snow Hill Station, Wolverhampton, Jewellery Quarter, West Bornwich, Wednesbury and Bilston. The tram operates from 6:30 am to 11:30 pm on weekdays and on Saturdays. On Sundays the tram operates from 8 am to 11 pm.
Taxi
There are many taxi stops located throughout the city but the easiest place to find a cab is in the city center. However keep in mind that it can be hard to find an empty taxi during peak hours or on Saturdays. Taxi fares in Birmingham are quite high.
Ferry
Ferry boats in the Gas Street Basin offer public transportation services and sightseeing tours for tourists. However the airport is not accessible by ferry.
Rental Car
There are various rental car offices located throughout the city and Birmingham Airport works with seven different international car rental companies. Alternatively, you can book your vehicle in advance before your flight by making a reservation with one of these companies online.
Airport Information
Birmingham Airport has a passenger terminal that contains various services you can enjoy while waiting for your flight. Passengers can go shopping at well-known stores such as Accessorize, Hugo Boss, Victoria’s Secret, and JD Sports or buy luxurious products at affordable prices at the World Duty Free shop.
Cafes and restaurants located in the terminal include Deli Hub, which offers delicious dishes from Indian cuisine, Frankie & Benny’s, where you can enjoy classic American dishes, Pret a Manger, where you can find homemade, natural meals, Giraffe, which serves a variety of international cuisine, and Wetherspoon, which reflects traditional British culture.
There is a Burger King for those who prefer fast food, those who want luxurious restaurants and bars can head to All Bar One or Blanc et Noir, and those who want to spend time at a café can go to Caffé Nero and Costa.
Addis Ababa, which is connected to Kenya, Somalia and Sudan by highways, connected to Djibouti, one of the important trade centers of Africa, by railways and has an international airport, is both a transfer point and an important trade center for the country. In the country where animal husbandry and agriculture are widespread and light industry is developed, the most important product of the city is coffee. The city is also an important education center thanks to the universities and colleges it hosts.
In the city, there are many coffee shops where you can drink and buy coffee. In Addis Ababa, urban transportation is provided with buses, minibuses and taxis. Public transportation isn’t very developed. Ticket prices of these means are affordable. However, bus routes don’t operate at regular intervals and there may sometimes be delays.
Blue - white colored minibuses that you can use as an alternative to buses are faster than buses and carry passengers with more affordable fares. The fare is about 1.5 Birr, which is less than 50 cents, depending on your destination. Minibuses that start operating at early hours in the morning generally offer service until 09:00 pm. You can also get on a taxi for your transportation in the city. It is not always easy to find a taxi here. You can find a taxi more easily in central parts of the city and in front of big hotels.
The vehicles used as taxi are generally old model automobiles. Despite of this, it can be said that taxis are the most comfortable means of transportation in Addis Ababa. However, before getting on a taxi you should agree on the fare and definitely bargain with the driver. If you are thinking of renting a car and having a comfortable means of transportation during your visit, you should be careful about the traffic. You should remember that there are no traffic lights on many roads and roundabouts and this situation negatively affects traffic flow. In addition, you can have trouble in buying gas. There can be long queues at gasoline stations. On the other hand, there is no problem about parking in the city and average parking fee is 0.50 Birr. Although there is a railway system in the city, trains are not a part of urban transportation.
Bole International Airport is located 6 km south of the city center on Bole Road. To get to the city center from the airport you can use minibuses as the means of public transportation or you can also choose to take a taxi. Renting a car is another alternative for your travel to the city center although it is generally not recommended due to traffic problems. If you are going to stay at a hotel, airport shuttle services offered by some hotel are one of the most comfortable and reliable transportation options.
If you are thinking of getting to the city center by using a means of public transportation, you can get on the minibuses departing from Bole Dild minibus stops located in front of the overpass found right across the terminal exit. Minibuses offer service from 06:00 am to 08:00 pm.
The fares are cheaper than taxis and vary according to your destination. The fares are 5 Birr on average. You should remember that tourists may be charged higher amounts. You can learn the amount you need to pay by talking to other passengers before getting on any minibus. You need to pay an additional amount for your baggage.
In addition to small hotels, accommodation centers of certain chain hotels like Radisson, Hilton and Sheraton are also located in the city center. Some hotels offer airport shuttle service. If you don’t prefer public transportation and don’t want to bargain with taxi drivers about the fare, you can take advantage of the airport shuttle service which will pick you up in front of the baggage claim area and leave you just in front of your hotel. To benefit from this service, you should contact your hotel in advance and agree on the price, make a reservation and give the necessary information such as the number of passengers and baggage.
There are two types of taxis that you can get on to reach the city center from the airport. At airport taxi stand, Mercedes taxis of the National Tour Operator (NTO) operate under a company and offer service with more comfortable vehicles. With their predetermined tariffs, they create a more reliable image in terms of the fares and offer private services. You can ask your hotel to call a NTO taxi for you or get in contact with the taxi desk located in the arriving passenger terminal. Tariffs are offered according to your destination. There is no taximeter in these taxis, so it is advised to agree on the fare before getting on. These taxis are approximately 10 times more expensive than blue-white taxis. You can also reach the city center in a short time with a blue-white taxi which you can get on at the exit of the airport. The average fare is between 80 and 100 Birr.
These taxis are managed by individuals. These taxis, which are larger than a standard automobile, operate just like a small bus. They have a standard route, pick up passengers from certain points and drop them off at certain points. There is no taximeter in blue-white taxis and the fares of the stops are predetermined. In addition, you shouldn’t forget that you may need to bargain on the fare.
You can rent a car from one of the car rental companies located at the airport. Since some roads have no name, there isn’t sufficient number of traffic signs throughout the city and there is no traffic light on many roundabouts, traffic flow isn’t in order. In order to reach the city center with the car you have rented, you should drive northwestward after leaving the airport. The road is about 6 kilometers.