Short Breaks from Norwich Airport
When you look at the departure board for Norwich airport, the list of destinations for a short city break look slim. Two flights before 10am to Amsterdam and a flight to Aberdeen with Loganair are the direct options for a short break. Both offer return flights the following day in the evening. However, with Amsterdam through KLM flights return from AMS after 9pm which really does offer you the maximum time in the Dutch capital for a short city break.
However, if you are willing to push the boundaries and consider Amsterdam as a connecting gateway, the onward destinations you can fly to are significant and open up a plethora of weekend break ideas from Norwich Airport. Taking KLM’s earliest departure from NWI at 6am, you can connect to ten European cities and arrive before 11am. That is our guiding rule for a Nano break but stretch that arrival time to before 11:30am and a further eleven short break destinations are achievable. Keep reading below for a list of relevant connecting flights and also the railway connections that open up more Dutch mini break options from Norwich.
Short Breaks to Amsterdam from Norwich Airport
Amsterdam itself as a city break from Norwich should not be ignored. A year round holiday destination with plenty on offer, Holland’s largest city offers great museums, strolls along canals and of course it’s famous café culture. As we mention above the flights from Norwich to Amsterdam really make it possible to have a quick break away and there is wide range of accommodation with short breaks in mind. The rail connection to the airport takes just under 20 minutes so pack light and maximise your time in Amsterdam. We would recommend booking flights and hotel separately to give the most flexibility. Also, consider a hotel close to the main rail station and speak to the concierge about leaving your bags with them. Explore iconic landmarks such as the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, and Rijksmuseum, or simply wander the cobblestone streets lined with charming cafes and boutique shops.
See more about One Night Breaks in Amsterdam
Short Breaks to Scotland from Norwich Airport
A break in Scotland, is another option when departing from Norwich. Daily flights with Loganair makes a Nano trip to Aberdeen feasible. There is a connecting bus service into the city centre which takes you to the main rail station. Consider booking a walking tour or another guided activity beforehand to get the most out of the region.
Other City Breaks from Norwich Airport
If you are willing to fly indirect, the list of Norwich airport city breaks widens significantly. Amsterdam is a major airline hub in continental Europe and with KLM you can connect from Norwich to open up a number of European city break opportunities. Those cities reachable before 11am include Florence, Venice, Porto, Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels (consider the better rail option mentioned below), Toulouse, Luxembourg, Graz and Budapest.
Those destinations with connecting KLM flights arriving just after 11am include Copenhagen, Oslo, Krakow, Nice, Gothenburg, Nantes, Zurich, Geneva, Stavanger, Gdansk and Turin. All of these destinations have return connecting flights to Norwich airport the following afternoon.
When purchasing connecting flights from Norwich for a nano trip we recommend travelling light without checking luggage into the hold. Connecting flights are tight and luggage might not lost in transit. Amsterdam is a large airport so when connecting don’t hang around. Depart the aircraft promptly and find your next gate quickly to get a status on your next flight.
Amsterdam Schiphol also has a railway station directly under the airport. Not only does it offer a fast connecting service into the city centre, it opens up a wide variety of connecting city break destinations by rail. Taking the earliest flight from Norwich at 6am, you can easily connect via rail to Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague and Eindhoven. You can also connect quickly into Belgium with direct rail links to Antwerp and Brussels. Although we highlight a connecting flight to Brussels above, we advocate the train connection simply as it is the fastest route into the city centre and the environmental impact is lower.
Norwich to Rotterdam – an alternative Dutch City Break
Let’s face it Amsterdam is an obvious spot for a weekend break. If you are looking for something different consider Rotterdam which is under one hour from Schiphol airport by intercity train. You could be strolling around Delfshaven by midday. Spend a night in this Holland’s second largest city and take the train back the next day to AMS for your late night flight back to Norwich.
Short Breaks to Florence from Norwich
Enjoy a weekend break in Florence, connecting via Amsterdam with KLM. As with many trips taking the early morning flight is a necessity here to ensure you maximise your Nano Break. Florence airport is in close proximity to the city centre by tram or taxi so you can be looking up at the Duomo by lunch time. Flight times are late afternoon the following day or choose to extend your short break in Tuscany’s capital by a further day.
Short Breaks to Copenhagen from Norwich
The connections via Amsterdam make Copenhagen an extremely attractive weekend city break destination from Norwich. Flying out on the first flight from NWI you can take a second flight and be in Copenhagen airport for just after 11am. With a short train into the centre you can ensure you have a full afternoon in the Danish capital. The connecting return flight does not leave until after 7pm which gives you plenty of time to explore on your second day.
Day Trips from Norwich Airport
Exploring Holland in a day can be done with the KLM flight timetable from NWI. Taking the first flight to Amsterdam at 6:05am requires getting to the airport early and with limited public transport to the airport, driving is the sensible option. Norwich airport offers three types of car parking. The Nanotrip team have done some price checks and the standard short stay option looks the best value. Frustratingly, the official airport website car parking website does not allow you to book a single day but this is possible with all the leading airport car parking brands – look for discount codes with these businesses as well.
The obvious day trip destination is Amsterdam which is under 20 minutes from Schiphol airport meaning it is possible to be in the centre of the city by 10am. To get the most out of a day trip to Amsterdam do plan ahead and book attractions or activities ahead of time so you can maximise your time.
For other Dutch day trip ideas, consider Utrecht, Rotterdam or The Hague as alternatives. As mentioned above all connect via the airport on intercity services that take less than an hour. Look to pre-purchase the Holland Travel Ticket which gives you unlimited travel throughout Holland for one day. The timing of late night flight back to Norwich fluctuates but should easily give you a full day and you will be sleeping well on the return flight!
One other popular day trip is to visit Lapland for a Santa Day Experience. Norwich Airport has limited flights to Finland in December. They day trip just before Christmas is sold out but you can still book on the 6th December 2024 with Newmarket Holidays.
Weekend Breaks from Norwich Airport
Unless you can get Friday afternoon off work, your best bet for a weekend break from Norwich is to take the early Saturday 6am departure flight to Amsterdam. We have covered all the different destinations you can reach earlier in this article and all we can do is to again encourage you to think of the multiple connecting destinations from Norwich airport, both by air and rail, that can be unlocked for a weekend break. Why not create a bucket list for those destinations you’ve always wanted to visit? Travel light and maximise your time abroad and then take the last flight back from Amsterdam on the Sunday night. You can be back at work on Monday morning with no annual leave taken but with tales of an enjoyable weekend away to share.
Image by Norbert
