Cheap flights to Maastricht

Flights to Groningen

Whether they are students heading on exchange courses, football fans catching some Eredivisie action or holidaymakers just looking to explore the historic city of Groningen, travellers won't struggle to find convenient flights. And with journey times of just over an hour, this charming part of the Netherlands is always easy to visit.

Which is the main airport in Groningen?

The major airport in Groningen is Groningen Airport Eelde, which is only about six miles south of the city. Eelde has excellent transport links, with QBuzz buses 9 and 100 shuttling passengers to Groningen Station in 20 minutes. From there, travellers can easily walk to most accommodation, or switch to trains to Amsterdam , which is around two hours away by train.

Which airlines offer flights to Groningen?

UK travellers can book direct flights to Groningen all year-round thanks to Flybe, who operate services from London-Southend. The journey won't take long, with a total flight time of one hour 15 minutes in the vast majority of cases.

Why travel by plane to Groningen?

Anyone who wants to visit Groningen or the northern Netherlands should consider booking flights. Flying is easily the quickest route to the city, with direct services from London taking just over an hour. That compares with at least five hours for trains, and even longer for bus and ferry combinations. So if travellers are in a hurry, or want more time to explore, flights make sense. Moreover, Flybe offers low cost connections, keeping the cost of flying affordable, and the airport at Groningen is very close to the town itself. So there's no need for awkward transfers. Visitors can be at their accommodation in no time.

Before you travel to Groningen by plane - good to know!

Groningen is easy to get around, thanks to extensive bus connections and low-cost cycle hire services. Everyone in town seems to cycle to work or classes, and tourists can do the same. When they get in the saddle, there's a lot to explore.  For starters, the Martinikerk is a must-see, with its 13th-century Gothic tower, and the University Museum is crammed with interesting exhibits (including pioneering electric vehicles and Egyptian mummies). The Groninger Museum is an artistic delight, and is complemented brilliantly by the neighbouring Graphic Design Museum. After that, there's nothing better than a stroll in Noorderplantsoen, a beautiful park which traces parts of the old city walls.

How to Get to Maastricht by Plane

Flybe operate one flight a day from Southend Airport to Maastricht-Aachen Airport. The morning flight takes approximately 2.45 hours. From the airport regular buses run to the city of Maastricht, which is around 9 kilometres away. Other airlines with flights into Maastricht from various European cities are Ryanair, Wizz Air, Transavia and Corendon Airlines.

Maastricht

Maastricht, on the River Maas, is the oldest city in the Netherlands and still retains the historic character of its city centre with old buildings, narrow cobbled streets and beautiful cathedrals. The River Maas runs through the centre and taking a boat trip is a pleasant way to get a sense of the city. Maastricht is a pleasure to explore on foot and a good starting point is in one of the two town squares. St Jan's Cathedral is on Vrijthof Square and the Town Hall and weekly markets are on The Markt. There are several excellent museums in the town. The Derlon Museum Cellar, under The Derlon Hotel, exhibits Roman archaeological finds from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th century. The main museum and art gallery is the Bonnefantenmuseum which houses collections of Old Masters, including the works of van Dyck and Rubens, as well as contemporary art. Another interesting tourist attraction is the Saint Pietersberg Cave complex, where over the centuries 20,000 or more passages have been dug out to provide shelter during times of war.