7 German cities you can fly to from Manchester Airport for a long weekend
Germany. It is a country known for its rich history, great beer, and magnificent architecture. The nation is full of amazing cities you can check out and are about to explore.
The proximity to the UK means it’s never difficult to spend a few days in Germany. From Manchester Airport, at least seven German cities can be reached via direct flights.
One such city is Munich, and around this time of year people from all over Europe head to the city’s famous Oktoberfest. Despite its name, the festival will start next weekend (September 16) and end in October.
Thousands of people make the journey from Manchester Airport to Munich to attend Oktoberfest. However, there is much more to Munich and other German cities than beer and sausages.
Manchester Airport has compiled a list of the seven German destinations you can fly to directly from our region. The German capital, Berlin, joins Munich on the list, and each city has plenty of things to do on your next trip.
Munich is served directly by easyJet and Lufthansa, with 205,000 passengers arriving from Manchester so far this year. Munich is the largest city in the Bavaria region of Germany. It is home to a rich culture, a culture that includes the famous Oktoberfest where more than 5.5 million liters of beer will be consumed in the coming weeks. Neuschwanstein Castle, located less than two hours’ drive from the city, is believed to be the inspiration behind Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Berlin is served directly by easyJet and Ryanair, and 155,000 passengers have flown to Berlin from Manchester so far this year. Berlin, the country’s capital, sees some of the biggest celebrations, with street parties centered around some of the city’s most famous landmarks, including the Reichstag (parliament building), the Brandenburg Gate and the remains of the Berlin Wall. The celebrations last for three days and many of the city’s museums and cultural institutions open their doors to visitors for free.
Hamburg is served directly by easyJet, and 30,000 passengers have flown to Hamburg from Manchester so far this year. Hamburg began life as an industrial port but has become an increasingly popular city break destination. The Beatles connection is unlikely to be a link to the North West – the newly formed group played a number of small gigs here in the early 1960s before becoming world famous and the street was named after them – ‘Beatles-Platz’ – complete with steel statues of the band. Miniatur Wunderland recreates some of the world’s most famous sights in miniature and boasts the world’s largest model railway.
Frankfurt is served directly by Lufthansa and 260,000 passengers have traveled to the city from Manchester. The Frankfurter Buchmessee (Frankfurt Book Fair) is the world’s largest book trade fair and takes place in mid-October. On the weekend of October 21-22, it opens its doors to the general public.
Other cultural landmarks in Frankfurt include its Old Town (Altstadt) with its medieval central square, and the Main Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the European Union, with sweeping views from its restaurant and observation deck on the 53rd floor.
Direct flights to Cologne are operated by Ryanair and 70,000 passengers have flown to Cologne from Manchester so far this year. The majestic 800-year-old Cologne Cathedral is the tallest double-spired church on the planet and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting tens of thousands of visitors daily. Its medieval walls and old town are well preserved and the city is very popular for a weekend getaway.
Served directly by Eurowings, 75,000 people arrived from Manchester this year. Düsseldorf is the gateway to the Rhine-Ruhr region, where it and a number of other major German cities (including Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, Bochum, Essen, and Duisburg) have grown together over the years to form Germany’s largest continuous urban area.
The well-connected cities are well connected by public transport and offer a wealth of things to see and do, from the German Football Museum in Dortmund to the Folkwang Gallery in Essen displaying works by Picasso and Matisse.
Freiburg is served directly by easyJet and 55,000 passengers have flown to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg from Manchester so far this year. The largest city in southwestern Germany is less than an hour away by public transport from its nearest airport, EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, which lies where the borders of Germany, France and Switzerland meet. The Colombischlössle Museum displays some of the world’s oldest archaeological finds, including Stone Age artefacts. Wine lovers will be keen to visit Freiburg, as the area surrounding the city is one of Germany’s largest wine regions, and many local wineries offer tours.
