Popular Airport | Antwerp International Airport |
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Popular Airlines | |
Approximate Flight Duration | 7 hour |
Approximate Travel Distance | 5640 Km |
The airport, which is approximately 6 kilometers of the city center, is located on Bole Road. In the city where public transportation is not very developed, you can use minibuses to reach the airport. Taxi is another transportation alternative that is frequently preferred by visitors. In addition to these, you can get to the airport from the city center by renting a car or by benefitting from the airport shuttle service in case your hotel offers this service.
You can reach the airport by getting on a minibus from the minibus stops located in the city center. Minibuses generally carry passengers to the airport from 5:30 am to 09:00 pm. Although it is relatively cheaper compared to taxi, you should remember that drivers may demand higher amounts from tourists. The fare is about 5 Birr. They may also charge extra amount for each baggage.
Hotel shuttle service is the most comfortable alternative for your travel to the airport. In Addis Ababa city center, there are both small hotels and accommodation centers of chain hotels such as Hilton, Radisson and Sheraton. Some of these hotels offer airport shuttle service. If your hotel offers this service and you want to benefit from this service for your travel to the airport, you should definitely make a reservation in advance.
There are two types of taxis that you can get on to reach the airport. Mercedes taxis of the National Tour Operator (NTO) operate under a company and offer service with more comfortable vehicles. With their predetermined tariffs, they create a more reliable image in terms of the fares. You can ask your hotel to call a NTO taxi for you.
There is no taximeter in the taxis operating in Addis Ababa, so it is advised to agree on the fare before getting on. These yellow taxis are approximately 10 times more expensive than blue-white taxis. You can also reach the airport in a short time with a blue-white taxi which you can find in the city center or waiting in front of hotels. The average fare is between 80 and 100 Birr. The owners of these taxis aren’t companies but individuals. Since there is also no taximeter in blue-white taxis and fares are not standardized by a company, they are more flexible in terms of fares and you should definitely bargain.
You can rent a car from one of the car rental companies that you can find in the city center or from the offices of tour operators. You can also get help from your hotel about renting a car.
Since some roads in Addis Ababa have no name, there isn’t sufficient number of traffic signs throughout the city and there is no traffic light on many roundabouts, traffic flow isn’t in order. For this reason, renting a car during your visit may not be a good option. If you want to rent a car only for travelling to the airport from the city center, you should prefer a company which has an office at the airport.
In order to get to the airport with the car you have rented, connect to Bole Road in the city center, drive southeastward and follow the airport signs.
There are 2 terminals at the airport. Terminal 1, which offers service for domestic flights, is located in the old building. Terminal 2 offers service for international passenger transportation in the new building.
At Bole International Airport, there are many restaurants and cafes in addition to stores and a duty-free shop where you can do some shopping before your flight.
At the airport, there is also a lounge for passengers looking for a comfortable environment and a much larger lounge is now being constructed. Although there is no left luggage service at the airport, you can find other standard airport services such as pharmacy, currency exchange office and ATM.
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.