Manchester to Nice Flights

  About Manchester

After London, Manchester is the second most important city in England. The city boasts a rich industrial history since the 18th century and continues to flourish as a textile fortitude. The city also hosts a good footfall of tourist crowd thanks to its association with the football club Manchester United as well as Manchester City. Aside from the same, the city also has a slew of museums that bring back ancient history. There are traditional museums as well as interactive ones that continue to engage the tourists.

Manchester enjoys a good population as well as a thriving food and drinks culture. The city is bombarded with lovely distilleries and food joints too, which further elevate a tourist's experience. Plus, it is well-connected with the rest of the UK. The city's charm comes from its lush green expanses, and even though the weather could be a little too cold, the experience of being in Manchester is worth all the frostbites.

Best time to visit Manchester

Manchester is its best between June to August, especially if you're planning a fun trip. Although Manchester is predominantly a cold city with barely good sunlight to keep people's spirits up. However, between June and August, when the city witnesses lovely sun's rays and summer heat, there is a vibrant vibe that envelopes the spirit of Manchester. In fact, even the city calendar is packed with intriguing events. Festivals such as Greater Manchester Fringe Festival, Parklife Festival, Manchester Pride, RHS Flower Festival are some of the fun events that take place. Many performers and musicians flock over to participate while the markets are erected to attract tourists. Although the temperatures are a decent 18 degree Celsius to 20 degree Celsius, it is pleasant and beautiful. Just make sure to carry an umbrella during your trip as the city might see some erratic showers amid summer. Since it is the peak season, it is highly recommended that you make your hotel reservations in advance. Booking a hotel in Manchester a few months before the peak season is the only way to gain some great deals.

It's easier to get flight tickets to Manchester for cheap too, provided you book a few months in advance. Another highlight of Manchester that should be mentioned is the football season that kicks off from August. If catching a match of your favourite (well, everybody's favourite), FC Manchester United is on your list of things to do, this is definitely a good time. Make sure that you have prior flight tickets to Manchester booked to avoid complications later. The months from September through December is also favourable in terms of the weather. Even though the fall is quite cold in Manchester, the fervour of football season that starts from September and continues through these months is enough to keep you fuelled. Plus, the city also honours its culture with festivals such as Manchester Food and Drink Festival, Manchester Literature Festival and of course, Manchester Christmas Markets.

Places to visit in Manchester

For a football fan, Manchester is like a haven, especially if you're a fan of either FC Manchester United or FC Manchester City. For United fans, at the Old Trafford, you'll find fervent fans sharing the same enthusiasm towards the team and their game. It will surely be the icing on the cake if you can watch a United match which you're at the stadium. As for City fans, the Etihad Stadium would give the same zealous vibe. The stadium is known to be one of the UK's biggest stadiums with a massive capacity of 55,000 seats for fervent spectators. From here, you will be thrilled to visit the National Football Museum, which is a six-storey glass structure that celebrates the sport and exhibits a plethora of collections from whatever has been retrieved. From trophies to exhibits on stadiums, there are many interesting collections that will marvel you. Once the football fanfare subsides, you might want to check out some of the other tourist attractions in Manchester. These include The Lowry (an amalgam of art gallery and theatre), Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester Museum, Whitworth Art Gallery, People's History Museum, Museum of Transport, to name a few.

Things to do in Manchester

The first and foremost thing for you to do in Manchester after all the sightseeing would be to indulge in some brewery and distillery hopping. Manchester has a plethora of options where you can hang out and enjoy the food and liquor culture. Chinatown is the second-best place to be in to explore more in the said zone. You will be amazed by the lively atmosphere of the streets here. John Rylands Library is another amazing place where you can get lost amid books and documents. They are interesting and will keep you engaged with their compelling collection. A fun and satiating retail therapy at Afflecks is also something that would be of interest to you. You can also opt for a Manchester Hop-On bus tour to sightsee some more of the locales and interact with fellow tourists.

Food and Restaurants in Manchester

Manchester's food culture is quite thriving and something worth indulging in, when in the city. their food halls and market places are a trip that will pique your interest. In fact, you should head to Altrincham Market to get the best of food hall experiences. At Altrincham, you can find some amazing purveyors. You can further elevate your experience at the GRUB Food Fair where you will be blessed with some eccentric but astounding street food as well as craft beer. During your food excursion, do not miss out The Corn Exchange. The establishment basically holds multitudes of restaurants from around the world. The city also has lip-smacking Indian cuisine that you simply cannot miss. Manchester has a soft spot for Indian curry and delicacies and celebrates the same. Curry Mile is one such place where you will find the highest cluster of Asian restaurants. It is for being one of the only places in all of the United Kingdom to have so many Asian establishments concentrated in one spot.

Further in your food expedition, get yourself some lovely pints of beer at The Oakfield, located in Chester Zoo. You should also visit The Eagle Inn, situated in Salford, where they make delicious craft beer. It is close to the Victoria train station, so your transport after some drinks is also quite sorted. While these are basic bars and British pubs, for a posh experience, check out Cloud 23, located at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate. It has the city's coolest view as it sits on the 23rd floor of the Hilton hotel. The place offers appetizers and finger food that go well with alcohol. Manchester has nearly 30 breweries so you can imagine the number of places you need to check off your list to cover them. As an expansion to your brewery-hopping expedition, you can check out Dunham Massey Brewing Company and Martland Mill Brewery. For some British feels interspersed with international cuisine, head to The Laundrette Chorlton. As for some tasty steak, visit Dakota Bar and Grill. The city also has seafood kitchens that would add to your food experiences. The Hip Hop Chip Shop is one such place to serve the classic fish and chips with good beer.

How to reach Manchester (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to Manchester from India is excellent with a lew of flights flying regularly. After London, Manchester is the second city in the UK that sees a high demand from India. Metropolitan Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore have regular flights to Manchester. Although usually, there are regular direct flights reaching Manchester from India, sometimes due to their unavailability, connecting flights are considered. There are connecting flights from London to Manchester, which is quite convenient. Many people tend to take direct flights to London, and from here, they opt for rental cars or other local transport. Manchester Airport has great connectivity to the city as there are express trains networking between the airport and the city. Aside from London, many also choose to fly to Liverpool's John Lennon Airport and take a taxi cab from there to reach Manchester. These methods are usually taken up by budget-travellers. Some of the airlines that fly from India to Manchester include British Airways, Thomas Chook Airlines, Condor and Thomson Airways.

These flights to Manchester usually take the popular air route via Europe to reach the city. Since that is the most viable option, plus comes with airports where you can acquire connecting flights. Cities such as Paris, Munich, Zurich, Dubai, etc., have flights connecting to Manchester or London. The accommodation options in Manchester are extravagant. If you do want to experience the fancy living, you should book your hotels in one of Manchester's swanky choices such as Crowne Plaza Hotel or The Edwardian Manchester, a Radisson Collection Hotel, to name a few. You will be overwhelmed and amazed by the exquisite rooms and their services. They don't come cheap though so booking hotels in Manchester way before the trip would be ideal.

  About Nice

Located on the coast of Baie des Anges and the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department on the French Riviera is the alluring city of Nice. The jewel of French Riviera, Nice boasts not just a sparkling shoreline but also historical monuments and artistic architecture.

Best time to visit Nice

For Nice, it is important that you visit the lovely coastal city in a season where the temperatures are balanced, and the hotel rooms are cheap. You need to make sure to capitalise on the hotel room rate that usually happens between March and April. The Mediterranean vibe of the city is prevalent all-round the year. Still, it is from mid-March to April and September to October when the accommodations are also pocket-friendly. The months from May to August see a multitude of crowds who wish to soak in the Mediterranean bliss and hot temperatures. It is also the time when the hotel prices surge to an exorbitant level. You will need to fill your pockets with some heavy euros to make it through summer in Nice. Perks of the season are some of the beautiful festivals that take place including, Nice International Film Festival, Nice Jazz Festival, Crossover Festival and Festival du Livre. It is recommended that you make prior bookings of hotels and flights to Nice if you're rooting for summer. If you're opting for September and October, you don't have to worry much about the excess crowd as well as accommodation prices.

Tourists can visit some of the famous attractions but expect a little crowd. However, it won't be as crowded as how the summers are in Nice. In fact, you will be able to soak in the Mediterranean sun as well as enjoy sightseeing. There are no major festivals that take place during this time of the year, so you'll probably not be able to indulge in the exciting ambience of it. But for solitude and happy vibes, the place remains open. Mid-March to April are also good months to hang out in Nice. The French Riviera bustles with fewer crowds but beautiful weather. The spring season is actually quite pleasant in Nice as the temperature ranges from 14 degree Celsius to 16 degree Celsius. The weather remains calm, but the warm sun adds to the experience. Plus, there is an interesting event that the city hosts, International Dog Show. If you are someone who loves canines, you should definitely check this event out. Plus, during spring, the hotel bookings in Nice continue to remain low-priced, giving way to a comfortable stay, maybe even facing the sea.

Places to visit in Nice

Place Masséna is the first place you can start. It is the city's main square and has a bunch of interesting things to do around the vicinity. The next could be a visit to the Promenade des Anglais (English Walk). The pebbly shore with a beachfront is a sight for the sore eyes. Castle Hill (Colline du Chateau) with its scenic location is highly recommended. You shouldn't miss Nice Beaches because they are eccentric and too gorgeous. If you are an art patron, then you should pay a visit to the Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain, popularly known as Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art. To make things a little religious, you can also check out St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral. Garden of the Cimiez Monastery is another lovely locale that would marvel you. It is basically an orchard and vegetable garden that was used by monks in the old times. To make your experience more luxe, you can visit Palais Lascaris, which once belonged to the first noble families of the city.

Things to do in Nice

French Riviera is known for its vineyards. A trip to the vineyard and learning more about how wine is made would be quite the experience. You will not regret this, especially since the wine produced in Nice is recognised worldwide for creating the best wines. You can also take up a stroll down the Old Town to savour all the lovely architecture and quaint streets. There are some cafes and restaurants nestled in the nook and corner of Vieille Ville that will marvel you. A hike up to the Parc du Mont Boron is also something that you can undertake. The 7 miles long hiking trails is blessed with some scenic beauty that eventually overlooks Nice. The panoramic views would certainly leave an impact on you. The best way to go through the city would be by renting a cycle. There are some cycle tours that takes place in Nice, which you can probably join.

Food and Restaurants in Nice

The cuisine of Nice slightly tweaks the traditional French cuisine and adds a bit of Mediterranean flavour to it. Hence, while you will find fresh cheese, vegetables and meat, they'll come with a refreshing twist of flavours inspired by the Mediterranean lifestyle. The Niçoise cuisine has seafood as their staple food. It is not surprising considering how the city is located on the coast, making fish and seafood easy to acquire. Expect tuna and anchovies tossed with fresh baby tomatoes, green leafy vegetables and green beans with a light olive oil dressing to complete the traditional Niçois salad. This is a famous local dish that you will get to taste and you must. There are Italian-inspired pissaladieres too which include anchovies and caramelised onions as the topping to small-sized pizzas. To make the most of the Niçoise cuisine, you should visit Vieux-Nice (Old Town) as well as Port District. These two places have a slew of restaurants and food establishments that glorify the Niçoise cuisine. One of the popular places to visit would be the Restaurant Le Frog. The place specialises in French and classic Mediterranean meals.

You should know that the French cuisine has a snail appetiser, prominently known as escargot. While you do have the option to try it out here at Nice, it can be clubbed with a lovely entree and drinks. For a less-expensive but wholesome food experience in Nice, you can visit some of the food establishments close to Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate in Vieux-Nice. Les Gaiçons is a famous establishment known for its gourmet French food. Many more restaurants are also available close to the Promenade des Anglais (Walk of the English). Places such as La Route Du Miam, Les Amourex, Cumin et Cannelle, Eden Garden, Polly and Cie, to name a few. These places will certainly upscale your French rendezvous with lip-smacking food. Expecting international or rather global cuisine in Nice is being very hopeful. The city celebrates French and Niçois cuisine and doesn't entertain any other global kitchen. In fact, at the most, you can find African and contemporary cuisine, but that is the extent.

How to reach Nice

Flight connectivity to Nice from India is immaculate. There are a plethora of flight options that take off from India to Nice. Although there are no direct flights to Nice from India, the flight connectivity to Nice is so good that travellers can reach without having to compromise on the duration and layovers. The international route to Nice, which goes from major European and Middle Eastern countries have connecting flights at a convenient time-frame. Airlines such as Aeroflot, Alitalia, Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch, Air France, Emirates, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Swiss, Lufthansa, to name a few, have regular flights to Nice. Both Mumbai and Delhi have excellent flight connectivity to Nice with a plethora of airlines servicing from the cities. The best thing about Nice is how the flight duration from the two major cities is also quite agreeable. Originally, it takes close to 10 hours to reach Nice from India. However, with the provision of some of the airlines and flights from Mumbai and Delhi, the duration to reach Nice is met with. There are layovers in international cities such as Dubai, Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Moscow, Rome, London, to name a few.

Flight tickets to Nice from Mumbai and Delhi are quite cheap and affordable. You will actually be able to round off your trip in as less as INR 50,000. As long as you make prior flight bookings to Nice, you will be eligible for cheap travel. It doesn't limit flights with long durations and layovers. You can reach Nice within 12 hours tops from Mumbai and Delhi on a cheap flight ticket. Travelling to Nice from India is very convenient. You might even be able to snag some flight deals to Nice online. Make sure that you book your accommodations in Nice well in advance. Flights to Nice might be cheap, but the accommodation is equally steep. A little snooping on the internet could get you some lovely deals for flights and accommodation too. If you are collecting miles for travel, this could be the right time to earn more or splurge the ones you have been saving. Nice is worth all the miles earned as one of the poshest cities not just in France but worldwide too. While you're travelling to the city, some airlines or layovers might require a transit Schengen visa. You can get the same at the embassy or online.