Manchester to Riyadh 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 Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital of the desert country of Saudi Arabia. It is the financial hub of the city and has been recognised to play a pivotal role in contributing to the country's economy. The city is also famous for its religious heritage.

Best time to visit Riyadh

For a desert city, the only time that would be pleasant is during the winters. Riyadh too enjoys pleasant winters as it welcomes a quaint and cool air. Winter months in Riyadh are from November to March. However, it is from December to February that the city enjoys the best winter breeze and cool air. The temperatures during winters range from 9 degree Celsius to 26 degree Celsius. As the temperature is capable of dropping to such lows, it is best to pack appropriate clothes for the trip. The days might not be as cold as the nights, but they will have brisk winter wind passing through the city streets. A light jacket is recommended when planning for a vacation in Riyadh during winters. The season does see a peak in tourists too as it is one of the most favourable weathers for Riyadh. The city is packed with tourists who wish to explore the desert capital of Saudi Arabia. Hence, the hotel prices also skyrocket during this time. It would be difficult for you even to get reservations at restaurants owing to the excess crowd in the city.

You will be amazed by how the city has very favourable winter temperatures in contrast to their unbearable summers. As Riyadh is quite close to the Tropic of Cancer, much of the temperature is hot and dry. Add the desert fact and the summers can be next to impossible to deal with. The temperatures during summer cross 44 degree Celsius. You will not be able to step out in the city as the summer heat would lead to health perils. From dehydration to heat strokes, your body might be susceptible to such health concerns during summer. Avoid summers at all cost. Even though the hotel and other prices in the city drop during the offseason, the heat is not worth it. The summers are from late March to October. Interestingly, the city does witness thunderstorms and monsoon between May to September. The storms are not ideal for engaging in tourist activities. Out of these months, April and October are the only favourable ones when you can enjoy the cool breeze of the desert without having to spend exorbitantly on the hotel and other services.

Places to visit in Riyadh

Center Point is a colossal skyscraper that is located in Riyadh. It is the fifth tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia while being the third-towering building with a void, after the Shanghai World Financial Centre and 85 Sky Tower in Taiwan. The second famous tourist attraction is the Masmak Fortress. The structure is created by clay and mud-brick. It once played a pivotal role in safeguarding the city of Riyadh from attacks. You should also visit the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, which is basically the National Museum of the country. It is the largest in Saudi Arabia and was established back in 1999. Not just the exhibits within the museum premise but even the architecture of the building is quite exquisite. The Riyadh Zoo is also recognised in the neighbourhood for inhabiting a slew of desert animals, including desert elephants and tigers. The setting has a very cool vibe with brown structures and green lawns. Adding to your historical excursion would be to visit the Murabba Historical Palace. It is a historic building and has been strategically built.

Things to do in Riyadh

Riyadh has a handful of things that can be done in the city. Indulging in some fun sheesha bar scenes and nightlife is something the city raves. Riyadh does have some of the finest restaurants and food establishments. You can actually make reservations for some luxe restaurants and indulge in their fusion food and international cuisine. You can further engage in some shopping too as the city does have a plethora of options available. Aside from this, you can enjoy a walk in Salam Park. It has an artificial waterbody built within the park to give it a serene vibe. Visiting the Wadi Hanifah valley would also be quite a treat. You can actually dip your feed in the waterbody that flows in the valley. Many people flock over to this spot to get some impeccable social media-worthy pictures. To add to your delight, you can further explore the cuisine and authentic Arab food that you'll find in the Najd region's village. Al Hokair Land is also an option that you can check out in Riyadh. It is basically a fun amusement park that has rides and make-believe castles.

Food and restaurants in Riyadh

Once known to be a barren desert with nothing interesting to do, Riyadh has now managed to transform into a thriving capital city of Saudi Arabia. The city has managed to bring forth a new image, that of a flourishing city which has equal tourist opportunities as its other Middle East counterparts. Over the years, Riyadh's food culture has seen a tremendous change from being traditionally strict to Western. It has acquired the taste of Western food culture and has incorporated the same in its own streets. There are many authentic Arabic food establishments. Simultaneously, the city also has room for international cuisine with many Asian, Mediterranean and European cuisine. To start your Riyadh rendezvous, you should visit The Globe. It is the most famous and expensive establishment that caters to an exclusive fine-dining experience. It is nestled atop the Al Faisaliah Tower and overlooks the exquisite city. The place serves a lovely melange of European and Arab dishes. However, it is their High Tea that attracts the most attention.

Elements, which is associated with Four Seasons chain of hotels, is a perfect place to indulge in breakfast and brunch meals. The place has dedicated cuisine for each day. Spazio, in Riyadh, has a fan in the royal family. Prince Waleed bin Tala has a soft spot for Spazio, and once you visit the Italian setting with its fancy art deco, you will realise why the place is so good. To get to the roots of the traditional Saudi dishes, you should head to Najd Village. Prevalent in the food industry since 1996, the establishment offers authentic Saudi meals such as moqalqal (a peppered lamb dish) and matazzez (Saudi dumplings). The place also offers vegetarian food as well as caters to the meat-loving crowd. The area can accommodate up to 1000 guests and offer exemplary services. Do not miss Set Al Sham too. The place is well-known in Riyadh for its slew of dishes inspired by the Syrian, Egyptian and Lebanese cuisine. The decor is also quite fancy while the buffet spread is perfect if you wish to go back with a full tummy and a happy soul.

How to reach Riyadh

Flight connectivity to Riyadh from India is quite good. Much of the Middle Eastern countries are well-connected with Indian cities. Riyadh too, has good connectivity with Indian cities such as Mumbai, Kochi, Goa, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, to name a few. Delhi is probably the only city in India with nonstop direct flights to Riyadh. Most of the other cities have flight layovers before reaching Riyadh. Airlines such as Srilankan, Air Arabia, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Emirates, Oman Air, Saudia, IndiGo, have excellent flight connectivity to Riyadh. These airlines ensure to keep dedicated flights flying to Riyadh. The most popular routes often picked to reach Riyadh are from Dubai, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi. As for other international routes to Riyadh, they are connected by Middle Eastern cities such as Sharjah, Bahrain, Muscat, to name a few. International cities such as Cairo and Colombo also have flight connectivity to Riyadh. The layovers do take some time and extend the flight duration to Riyadh. Ideally, you can reach Riyadh in approximately six hours and ten minutes.

Flight tickets to Riyadh are comparatively pricey than its other Middle-Eastern counterparts. The ticket prices to Riyadh range from INR 24,000 to INR 30,000. This could be steep if you look at the ticket prices of other Middle-East cities. However, depending on where you get your flight from in India as well as the airlines you choose, the ticket prices could vary. Riyadh is also a popular city and much-visited by the Indian crowd. Hence, you can make your flight bookings to Riyadh online and even earn some discounts or cheap deals. It is essential that you first check which season you are booking your ticket for. That factors a major chunk of your flight ticket price to Riyadh. Depending on the same, you will be able to further receive more online flight deals and discounts to Riyadh. It is recommended that you book your flight tickets and make hotel reservations to Riyadh together. When you combine the two bookings, you might receive some good online flight and hotel deals to Riyadh. This would also enable you to bring down the cost of your trip.