Popular Airport | Antwerp International Airport |
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Popular Airlines | |
Approximate Flight Duration | 1 hour 30 min |
Approximate Travel Distance | 454 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.
Antwerp, one of Belgium's most important cities, is home to Europe's second largest port. Thanks to the Schelde River flowing through the city of Antwerp, even big ships can travel into the city. No bridge has ever been built on the river so far as not to obstruct the voyage of ships in order not to lose this geographical distinction which is extremely important for trade. Antwerp is also famous for its diamonds and is considered as the heart of diamond trading.
Trains, trams and buses are the means of public transportation used in Antwerp. The public transportation system in the city is very developed and it is possible to reach almost every point of the city with these means. The stations and stops of public transport are usually close to each other; so it is very easy to transfer. You can purchase your ticket at stations and stops, as well as at supermarkets and buffets.
One way non-reduced ticket price is 3 Euros, while daily tickets cost 5 Euros. If you plan to stay in the city for a long time and use public transport throughout your trip, you can get a 3-day ticket for 10 Euros, a 5-day ticket for 15 Euros and a 10-day ticket for 14 Euros. With these tickets you can get unlimited access to all public transport for the specified period. If you like to walk to the city center of the not so big city of Antwerp, you can go for long walks comfortably. On the other hand, the use of bicycles is also very common in the city, as most of the local people use them as their main means of transport. Both flat terrain and bicycle paths make cycling pleasant and you can explore this little city on wheels. Thanks to the many bicycle parking lots on the roadside, you can stop by without fear. There are bicycle rental stations of Velo Company at many different points in the city. You can rent bicycles in a practical way by using your credit card at the machines located at these stations and then you can finalize your rental period by parking the bike at a desired station. Moreover, bicycle rentals are very economical with prices starting from just 50 cents. Daily bike rental costs 3.80 Euros, while weekly rental costs 9 Euros. Taxis are also frequently used in the city.
Since the distance to be traveled in this small city is usually short, taxi fares are not very costly. Taxis are also preferred because they are more comfortable than means of public transport. Antwerp really has a very spectacular train station. From here you can get to different cities in Belgium as well as to other European cities with trains. You can get to Brussels from Antwerp by train in only 45 minutes at a cost of 10 Euros. It takes about 1.5 hours to Brugge and 75 minutes to Amsterdam. At the train station there are explanatory displays showing travel times and routes, and an English language option is also available. You can get your ticket from the vending machines or from the booths. There is also free Wi-Fi service at the train station.
Antwerp is only 40 kilometers from Brussels, the capital city of Belgium. You can make a pleasant trip to Brussels in a short time by renting a car. Brugge is 107 kilometers and Amsterdam is 157 kilometers from Antwerp. You must remember that you must have an international driver's license to be able to rent a car. Antwerp also has an airport serving international flights. But because the two cities are so close to each other, you can also choose to travel to Brussels International Airport. In addition to direct buses from the airport, it is also possible to take a train from Brussels city center. From Antwerp International Airport you can reach the city center by bus, tram or train. You can also rent a car at the airport. A more practical alternative is the taxis. Some hotels offer airport shuttle service for their guests.
It is possible to reach the city center by buses number 51, 52 and 53 from the bus stop at the terminal exit of the airport and the train station within 10 minutes by bus number 21 or 32. You can get your ticket inside the terminal. The one way fare is 3 Euros but if you are considering using public transport throughout your trip, you can choose one of daily, 3-day or weekly ticket options.
You can easily get to the city center by taking a train from Antwerpen-Berchem Station, which is very close to the airport. It is also possible to reach other European cities by transferring from here.
You can reach the Antwerpen-Berchem Station by buses 51, 52 or 53 from the bus stops at the airport exit. You can get to the city center in just 5 minutes if you take the tram line 9 or 11 which depart frequently from here.
You can see the taxis waiting right in front of the airport terminal exit. Taxi transfer to the city center costs about 15 Euros. The journey lasts about 20 minutes.
At the airport you can see the car rental offices of Hertz and Sixt companies. You can make your rental car transactions online before your flight. So when you arrive at Antwerp International Airport, your car will be ready for you. You can follow the N184 motorway to reach the city center in about 20 minutes after driving for 6 kilometers. You must remember that you must have an international driver's license to rent a car. If your driver's license is not suitable, it is also possible to rent a car with driver.
Although there are sufficient alternatives to reach the city center from the airport, some accommodation centers offer airport shuttle service for guests who are looking for their comfort. You will need to make a reservation with your hotel beforehand and share some information, such as how many people you will be with or when you will arrive at the airport. You should remember that hotel shuttles are usually a little more expensive than taxis.