Abuja to Houston Flights

  About Abuja

The city of Abuja, overlooked by the dominating Aso Rock, is the capital city of Nigeria. Located right in the middle of the country, Abuja is a planned city that was developed in the 1980s. It actually managed to replace Lagos to be the new capital of Nigeria.

Best time to visit Abuja

Due to its proximity to the equator, the city of Abuja is hot through most of the year. However, out of the heat that you do face, they are pleasant and mild in some months in Abuja. The city also witnesses some moderate rainfall which adds to the humidity you might face. You will have to prepare yourself mentally concerning the heat as you will face a lot of it. The months January through July though, are pleasant. In fact, January to March is recognised as the best time to visit Abuja. The temperature is at a friendly 26 degree Celsius, and the humidity in the air is quite mild. This helps the tourism industry to attract more crowds. You will actually see a slew of tourists during these months as the mild temperatures are easy on the senses. Due to the peak season though, there is a surge in the hotel prices. You will find cheap hotels also spike up their rates during the peak season. Hence, it would be ideal for making prior hotel bookings to Abuja to avoid the last-minute surge in prices. The good thing is, the flight tickets are quite decent, irrespective of the peak season.

From May through August, you will witness a rise in the humidity level in the air. Even though the temperature is slightly mild, the humidity will make things a little difficult. Travelling within the city or engaging in tourist activities might become tough. You will have to constantly carry bottles of water and ensure that you stay hydrated throughout the day. The humidity will sap out all your energy. Avoiding these months would be the best choice. Unless you're okay with the excess heat, you should at all cost, not plan a trip to Abuja during these months. Instead, you can opt for the months of September through November. These months also see a moderate temperature where the humidity is also not too much. It would be nice to carry equipment such as moisturisers and bottles of water to survive in Abuja. But these mild months would be refreshing and paint a new colour to the vibe of Abuja. You can make prior bookings of flight tickets and accommodations in Abuja to avoid any excess cost. You might even receive some online deals.

Places to visit in Abuja

As part of your Abuja rendezvous, you can start your exploring by checking out the famous Zuma Rock. The rock is composed of gabbro and granodiorite. In the past, the Gbagyi tribe people used the rock to defend themselves from invasions and attacks from neighbouring tribes. You can take up trekking and hiking as an activity to reach the peak of the rock. You should also visit the National Mosque of Abuja. The beautiful structure has a golden dome and boasts Islamic architecture. It is Nigeria's national mosque and holds tremendous religious significance. It was constructed back in 1984 and is open to non-Muslims as well. Aso Rock is another interesting natural granitic rock that is situated on the outskirts of the capital city. Important buildings such as the Supreme Court and the Nigerian National Assembly are both located close by. Another beautiful mosque that you can visit is the An Noor Mosque. The place is quaint and quiet.

Things to do in Abuja

One of the best ways for you to spend your time in Abuja would be to hang out at the Millennium Park. The park is in proximity with the former Presidential Palace. It is beautiful and has the Zuma Rock in the background too. You can actually take a picnic basket and spend your time in leisure at the park. You can also indulge in a boating rendezvous at the Jabi Lake. The scenic landscape is sure to marvel you. You should also visit the National Children's Park and Zoo Abuja. It has some basic animals, including turtles, jackals and more. The IBB International Golf & Country Club is definitely another place that you should visit. The vast expanse is certainly a spectacular sight, plus you can also explore the golf course. Pack yourselves a nice lunch basket and head to Usuma Lower Dam for a lovely afternoon. The place is gorgeous and soothing to the senses, especially since it is not surrounded by the city's noise and bustle. You can also indulge in some waterfalls excursions. The Gurara Falls is one such place that you simply cannot miss. You also should go exploring at the Pedam Lake.

Food and restaurants in Abuja

Abuja's food culture is heavily influenced by the tribal traditions of Nigeria. You would majorly find a lot of dishes that celebrate the Nigerian cuisine and style of cooking. It would actually be a good opportunity for you to try out some exquisite authentic Nigerian cuisine. Their tribal dishes are a rage in the city of Abuja. Over the years though, they have managed to infuse much of their traditional cuisines with European flavours to promote tourism. You will find some lovely African meals favouring European-style cooking. The food culture is a trip on its own and you can make the most of it in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. You can start your culinary excursion in Abuja from the Salamander Café. It is recognised for its cool vibe and manages to attract a slew of native crowds. The quaint cafe offers not just extraordinary coffee but also books to indulge in while you sip on the beverage. The menu is also curated to serve the natives as well as the international crowd. You will find Indian cuisine also in Abuja as the city has the famous Wakkis, a restaurant that boasts Indian cuisine.

From murgh malai to tandoori chicken, if you are in no mood to experiment with the traditional Nigerian cuisine, then you can simply make regular visits to Wakkis. The staff is friendly, and the cooking styles are very indigenous to the raw Indian culture. BluCabana is an interesting restaurant that doesn't just limit to African food but also expands to Middle Eastern cuisine. You will find some exquisite Lebanese food as well as global cuisine such as sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, salads and more. The fish suya is a big seller which basically consists of grilled skewered meat that has been perfectly coated with aromatic spices. At the Bukka at the Hilton, you will find traditional African spread. The dining hall is a vast and beautiful spot which leaves enough room for the fresh breeze to pass through. Not to mention how the classic dishes such as oha soup, pounded yam, jollof rice, egusi soup, to name a few, can be found here. Other restaurants that you can check out are The Charcoal, Vanilla, Jevinik, Dunes Continental and Chez Victor.

How to reach Abuja

As the capital of Nigeria, Abuja enjoys great flight connectivity with other international cities. Abuja does witness some flight action as it is an important city. Although there are no direct flights to Abuja from Indian cities, they do have international airlines that accommodate flights to Abuja. There are many international routes connected to Abuja, such as from Addis Ababa, Kigali, Dubai and Cairo. However, Addis Ababa and Dubai are recognised as the most popular routes to Abuja. Airlines such as RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Air France and British Airways have flight services to Abuja. Most of these airlines have layovers in their domestic cities. You do not need a specific transit visa when travelling to Abuja. A transit visa is only required when you are travelling from European cities. If you do pick Air France as your airlines to travel to Abuja, then you will need a Schengen transit visa. Similarly, the only other route to Abuja where you would require a transit visa is if you travel by Emirates.

The flight duration of Abuja is quite decent. It takes about 12 hours to 15 hours to reach the city. Flying to Abuja is the only way to reach the Nigerian capital. The flight tickets are a little steep. In fact, they actually start from INR 35,000 and from here, the graph only goes up. Since the flight tickets to Abuja are so pricey, the best way to go about booking a ticket would be to search for online deals. It comes in handy to find great flight deals online to Abuja. You will be surprised by the drastic drop in the ticket prices to Abuja with the addition of discounts. This means you will actually have to invest a lot of time to ensure that you get some good flight deals. You can also use this time to make hotel reservations as that would further reduce the total cost of the trip. These can be found online as various platforms and airlines have sale and discounts. Another way to go about this would be to use up your miles if you are collecting them. You might be eligible for some more discounts depending on the program.

  About Houston

Houston is one of the large cities in the Texas state of the US. The city extends to the Galveston Bay and is home to NASA's Space Center. Much of the training that astronauts undergo to prepare them for their space venture takes place at the Space Center Houston. The city of Houston is known for its vibrant lifestyle and a slew of educational complexes. Houston is blessed with some immaculate museums and art galleries that celebrate the history of North America and Native Americans.

Due to its proximity with Mexico, the culture of Houston is interspersed with Texan as well as Mexican vibe. In fact, Tex-Mex is a famous term thrown around in the city for the confluence of cultures. Flight connectivity to Houston from major international cities is excellent. However, there are no direct flights to the city from India. Connecting flights and layovers are some of the things a traveller will have to prepare oneself with before boarding the flight. Booking hotels in Houston before the scheduled trip is recommended.

Best time to visit Houston

Houston's proximity with the Gulf of Mexico brings in all the heat while the winters are pleasant too. February to April and September to November, basically the springtime and fall are the best seasons to plan for a trip to Houston. Most of the year, Houston sees a temperature ranging between 26 degree Celsius to 34 degree Celsius. With a warm climate throughout the year, springtime and fall are the only seasons where it blends a balance between warm and cold climates. May to August can be quite hot and humid, which is not the most pleasant time to visit. During this time, though, the hotel prices drop as there are barely any tourists visiting the city. For those coming from hot climates wouldn't want to stick around for long as the humid and stickiness in the air would be quite annoying if anything. Cheap and affordable flight deals to Houston will also be available specifically for the summer months. Luckily, there are events and festivals during this time that will keep you entertained if the heat is bothering your zen mode. Events such as Pasadena Strawberry Festival, Pride Houston, Dragon Boat Festival, Juneteenth Celebration and CITGO Freedom Over Texas.

These festivals basically reflect the culture and lifestyle of Houston. As you participate or play a spectator to them, you will learn a lot about the city as well as its cultural heritage and history. The months from September to November witness pleasant weather and numerous carnivalesque festivals. This could actually be a good time for you to don some fancy costumes and attend the Texas Renaissance Festival. The habitants also celebrate a Native American Pow Wow, which basically honours the tribe and their colourful life. The 2-day fair has a series of events taking place to engage the festival goers.

Festivals in the city continue throughout the year, but it is only during the spring and fall that locals or tourists actually get to enjoy them. The heat can be quite unbearable and especially when teamed with humidity. Spring, between February to April, is also a good time to visit the city. However, many tourists flock over to visit Houston right before the summers kick in. The hotel prices take a staggering hike, making accommodation tough. It would be best to be on the safe side, and book your hotel rooms in Houston, months ahead of the trip.

Places to visit in Houston

NASA's Space Centre in Houston is undoubtedly one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city. Well, you hear space, and you want to see how it works, right? Not to mention how the space centre does organise tours and events for tourists to indulge in as a means to educate them. Speaking of which, you should visit the Houston Museum District too. The complex literally has around 19 museums, including the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and the Menil Collection, to name a few highlights. If you're a space geek, you'll definitely have a good time at the Johnson Space Center House and Houston Museum of Natural Science as well. The city bustles with insightful structures and institutions that would be quite educational and entertaining too. The city also has a Holocaust Museum where you will find exhibits depicting incidents from World War II. There is a specific museum dedicated to motorheads called the Art Car Museum which basically comprises automobiles and derby racers designed artistically.

The city's Armand Bayou Nature Centre is also quite famous for the plethora of flora and fauna it inhabits. With over 370 species of diverse wildlife including alligators, deer, eagles, turtles and armadillos, the place would be quite an engaging expedition as will be the Houston Zoo which has over 6,000 animals including cheetahs, bats, albino reptiles, giraffes and more. If you are a bibliophile, the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum will pique your interest.

Things to do in Houston

Houston has far too many things to do for a tourist to get tired. A walk around Hermann Park would be a good way to relax after all the excess sightseeing. Starting with shopping, The Galleria in Houston is popular for being one of the biggest shopping malls. The 2.4 million square feet area of The Galleria houses premium brands such as Christian Louboutin, Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, to name a few. They have high-end brands like Gap and Forever 21 too. You can take up a walking tour of Haunted Houston Ghost. Located close to the Buffalo Bayou river, the haunted house tour basically takes you through the story of how the haunted house came into existence.

Food and restaurants in Houston

Houston has been holding the title as one of the best cities for foodies in the USA for quite some time now. It doesn't really come as a big shock since the city does have a lovely culinary spread featuring two major dishes, Tex-Mex and barbecued meat. In fact, as a city close to Mexico, the influence of the cuisine is quite strong here. From breakfast burritos to grilled meat, the city majorly favours these two dishes. You can even find some of the best restaurants that will elevate your senses and give you the beautiful blend of spices in Mexican food. Places such as Picos Restaurant, M&M Grill and Pappasito's Cantina have some lip-smacking fajitas and burritos that will make you a fan. In fact, Pappasito's fame also comes from the fact that Beyoncé was spotted in the vicinity. Houston's love for grilled meat is evident in the plethora of dishes that they serve. These also include roasted tender brisket, baby back ribs and more. The city does not fall short of BBQ establishments. In fact, some of the popular ones include Killen's Texas Barbecue, an establishment run by venerated chef Ronnie Killen. Along with the famed BBQ joint is the Jackson Street BBQ, another sweet joint for exquisite meat.

Not just barbecue and Mexican flavours but Houston also hosts a plethora of cuisines ranging from the Mediterranean to Japanese. In fact, their food culture is quite elaborate with some brilliant bars and restaurants serving varied cuisines. You can indulge in some buffet at Aladdin's Mediterranean Cuisine, get some of the Cajun cuisine action at Brennan's of Houston, sip on Japanese whiskey at Izakaya, enjoy a luxe French spread at Etoile Cuisine et Bar and more. The nightlife of Houston is just as lively as the food culture. There are several hip-hop dance clubs with recognised DJs supplying endless beats to keep the city in high spirits.

How to reach Houston

Houston has three major airports that serve the city. However, George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the only airport with international routes connecting the city globally. As one of the major airports in Houston, the airport witnesses tremendous passenger footfall. Hence, it is also known to be the tenth busiest airport in the United States. The flight connectivity of Houston to other major international cities is excellent. Even with cities from India, Houston has flights flying in and out. However, there are no direct flights to Houston from India. Since there are no direct flights to Houston, layovers and even connecting flights need to be taken for the passenger. The major airlines that service flights and connect Houston and India are Japan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Swiss, United Airlines, Lufthansa, American Airlines, to name a few. Out of all the airlines, Turkish Airlines is the only one that directly connects with Houston with a layover in Istanbul. The flight to Houston takes the Middle Eastern international route to reach the United States.

One way flight tickets to Houston are decently priced. But if you wish to acquire cheap flight tickets to Houston for a round trip, you should ensure to book the ticket in advance and even look for online flight deals. Some of these online flight deals to Houston come as a package with hotel accommodations too. Try to get your hands on those to save as many greens as possible.