Abuja to Rochester 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 Rochester

Rochester is the third-largest city in the State of New York after New York City and Buffalo. It is also known as The Flower City and The World's Image Center. It is also known for its set of waterways. The city has Lake Ontario to its North and Genesee River flowing through the city. You will also find the Erie Canal that runs along Rochester's border. Rochester has given the world a lot of innovators and social reformers, something that the city is quite proud of and why not! Rochester is a city that welcomes the future with all its possibilities and believes in innovating. The city is called many things like The Flour City and The Flower City. The locals also celebrate the Lilac Festival every year in May. Rochester saw a decline in its population after World War II, but it still moves on hoping for a better tomorrow and working towards it. The city also made jazz music popular worldwide. It also houses the University of Rochester which has earned itself quite the reputation. The university boasts of being one of the top research centres in the US. Apart from these, the city also has a vibrant nightlife.

Best Time to Visit Rochester

Late spring and early fall are the best times to head to Rochester. You won't have to battle the scorching summer, and you won't have to fight the chilly winters. The city turns lush greens and beautiful during the spring season and the complete opposite during autumn. However, it does stay beautiful during both seasons. No matter when you go, you will have one event or another in the city. Rochester hosts over 140 festivals and events, has 60 public golf courses and over 100 distilleries, breweries and wineries. When it snows, it snows quite heavily, so much that even schools are forced to shut for a few days. Though the winter is quite fierce here, the other seasons only make Rochester look magnificent. Make sure you book a hotel in Rochester that has a beautiful view. You might even get great flight deals to Rochester online if you book in advance. Cheap flight tickets to Rochester are only possible if it is low season, which is during winter. May to October is when the weather remains pleasant and makes you feel comfortable, too. If you are travelling to the city in winter, make sure you are also carrying extra lip balms and moisturisers. With the intensity of the snowfall in the city, there are high chances that all of your plans to head out will only end up getting cancelled. Make sure the weather is right when you plan a trip to Rochester.

Places to Visit in Rochester

Rochester is known for its parks and outdoors. Be it the Cobbs Hill Park or Genesee Valley Park, Highland Park or Maplewood Park, and you will definitely fall in love with the city. If you are planning on visiting the museums and historical sites, head over to Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse. You will even find a small museum on the first floor of the lighthouse. You can also visit The Strong - National Museum of Play which is dedicated to board games, dolls and toys. Rochester Museum and Science Center is one of the major highlights of the city, and the exhibits here will simply blow your mind. It might even spark a lifelong interest in science for your kid. Finger Lakes Wine Country is responsible for some of the best wines in the US, and this is where they make it. There are up to 35 wineries here that you can visit and be amazed. Head over to the Rochester City Ballet to catch an ongoing performance or to merely appreciate the place. The city also has a theatre that puts up plays for kids that they will certainly enjoy.

You can visit the Seneca Park Zoo that houses African Elephants, white rhinos, polar bears, sea lions and a lot of other animals. Eastman Theatre is another popular place that also organises orchestras and jazz concerts. Visit the art museums and galleries in the city if you are an art lover. You can also visit the Seabreeze Amusement Park, which opened in 1879 and still manages to keep the tourists entertained. Head to the Ontario Beach Park if you have no big sightseeing plans for the day. You can just relax and blow off some steam at the beach or go for a swim.

Things to do in Rochester

Rochester is known for its vibrant and diverse nightlife. You can either sway to the sweet sounds of jazz at a theatre, or you can get groovy and hit the nightclub. Catch a show at the RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, and you will be in awe of the universe. It is also a great place to take your kids. The city also has amusement parks and makes for a perfect vacation with your family. You can go biking around the city, join a group and go for a hike or paddle, whichever suits your mood. You will never get bored in Rochester and will always find something to do, even if it is winter and there is heavy snowfall.

The city offers an educational ride as well a fun ride that is just rides. You can sign up for a historical tour of the city and visit landmarks and places that are of historical importance or you can like-minded people who love adventures and head out for one. Even if you don't want to do any of these, you can always head to the beach and just chill there. Enjoy the gentle breeze and the calming waves of the ocean. Rochester is a city that has a lot of activities planned for you. Make the most of your free time and learn something new. You can also try the water activities here at the beach or volunteer at the zoo. Find something new to do every day instead of making or sticking to an itinerary. Rochester is just as busy and lively as New York City and Buffalo are, but you won't people compete for the title here. If you want to make a list of things that you want to do on holiday and have never done before, Rochester is the place for you, and you will definitely find a way to complete your wish list. If you are in the city with your kids, do take them to the museums and amusement parks.

Foods and Restaurants in Rochester

Rochester has a very diverse culinary scene, and you will know that once you visit the city. Lento is a new restaurant that farm-to-table eats and the food here is quite unique. If not the food, you must at least go to the place to experience it. The Owl House is yet another restaurant that serves delicious American food and craft beers. It also has vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options on its menu. If you are in the mood for some Italian food, you must visit Rocco. Tony D's is another restaurant in the city that serves signature pizzas and mind-blowing cocktails to go with it. You can also try Tapas 177 Lounge, where a street-level bar welcomes the guests inside the restaurant. You must try the Korean Bulgogi BBQ and game sausage plate here. It is not very difficult to find vegetarian food in the city, though it is not the most famously ordered cuisine from the menu. The city is quite welcoming and diverse in its own way. You can also enrol yourself in a temporary cooking class and learn a few techniques that you can show off later when you go back home. Burgers and fries are a staple among youngsters here, and you can't leave without trying one yourself. The food here will definitely make you take a break from your diet and treat yourself to anything and everything that you crave for on your holiday.

How to reach Rochester

The Greater Rochester International Airport is the fifth-busiest airport in New York State. The flight connectivity to Rochester from India is excellent. American Airlines and United Airlines have frequent flights to Rochester from India with layovers at London, Chicago, Newark and Zurich. If you book your tickets well in advance, you might get some exciting flight deals to Rochester online from India. In fact, if you are flying during the offseason, you might even get cheap flight tickets to Rochester. Getting a taxi from the airport is not that difficult at all. In any case, it would be best to hire or rent a car from the airport itself. The airport is well-equipped with WiFi, lounges, restaurants, cafes, shopping areas and much more. Even if you have to wait a long time to board your flight, you won't get bored here at all. You will also find book stores and shops that sell souvenirs at the airport, for any last-minute shopping.