Abuja to Stockholm British Airways Flights

  About Abuja

The city of Abuja, overlooked by the dominating Aso Rock, is the capital city of Nigeria. Located right in the middle of the country, Abuja is a planned city that was developed in the 1980s. It actually managed to replace Lagos to be the new capital of Nigeria.

Best time to visit Abuja

Due to its proximity to the equator, the city of Abuja is hot through most of the year. However, out of the heat that you do face, they are pleasant and mild in some months in Abuja. The city also witnesses some moderate rainfall which adds to the humidity you might face. You will have to prepare yourself mentally concerning the heat as you will face a lot of it. The months January through July though, are pleasant. In fact, January to March is recognised as the best time to visit Abuja. The temperature is at a friendly 26 degree Celsius, and the humidity in the air is quite mild. This helps the tourism industry to attract more crowds. You will actually see a slew of tourists during these months as the mild temperatures are easy on the senses. Due to the peak season though, there is a surge in the hotel prices. You will find cheap hotels also spike up their rates during the peak season. Hence, it would be ideal for making prior hotel bookings to Abuja to avoid the last-minute surge in prices. The good thing is, the flight tickets are quite decent, irrespective of the peak season.

From May through August, you will witness a rise in the humidity level in the air. Even though the temperature is slightly mild, the humidity will make things a little difficult. Travelling within the city or engaging in tourist activities might become tough. You will have to constantly carry bottles of water and ensure that you stay hydrated throughout the day. The humidity will sap out all your energy. Avoiding these months would be the best choice. Unless you're okay with the excess heat, you should at all cost, not plan a trip to Abuja during these months. Instead, you can opt for the months of September through November. These months also see a moderate temperature where the humidity is also not too much. It would be nice to carry equipment such as moisturisers and bottles of water to survive in Abuja. But these mild months would be refreshing and paint a new colour to the vibe of Abuja. You can make prior bookings of flight tickets and accommodations in Abuja to avoid any excess cost. You might even receive some online deals.

Places to visit in Abuja

As part of your Abuja rendezvous, you can start your exploring by checking out the famous Zuma Rock. The rock is composed of gabbro and granodiorite. In the past, the Gbagyi tribe people used the rock to defend themselves from invasions and attacks from neighbouring tribes. You can take up trekking and hiking as an activity to reach the peak of the rock. You should also visit the National Mosque of Abuja. The beautiful structure has a golden dome and boasts Islamic architecture. It is Nigeria's national mosque and holds tremendous religious significance. It was constructed back in 1984 and is open to non-Muslims as well. Aso Rock is another interesting natural granitic rock that is situated on the outskirts of the capital city. Important buildings such as the Supreme Court and the Nigerian National Assembly are both located close by. Another beautiful mosque that you can visit is the An Noor Mosque. The place is quaint and quiet.

Things to do in Abuja

One of the best ways for you to spend your time in Abuja would be to hang out at the Millennium Park. The park is in proximity with the former Presidential Palace. It is beautiful and has the Zuma Rock in the background too. You can actually take a picnic basket and spend your time in leisure at the park. You can also indulge in a boating rendezvous at the Jabi Lake. The scenic landscape is sure to marvel you. You should also visit the National Children's Park and Zoo Abuja. It has some basic animals, including turtles, jackals and more. The IBB International Golf & Country Club is definitely another place that you should visit. The vast expanse is certainly a spectacular sight, plus you can also explore the golf course. Pack yourselves a nice lunch basket and head to Usuma Lower Dam for a lovely afternoon. The place is gorgeous and soothing to the senses, especially since it is not surrounded by the city's noise and bustle. You can also indulge in some waterfalls excursions. The Gurara Falls is one such place that you simply cannot miss. You also should go exploring at the Pedam Lake.

Food and restaurants in Abuja

Abuja's food culture is heavily influenced by the tribal traditions of Nigeria. You would majorly find a lot of dishes that celebrate the Nigerian cuisine and style of cooking. It would actually be a good opportunity for you to try out some exquisite authentic Nigerian cuisine. Their tribal dishes are a rage in the city of Abuja. Over the years though, they have managed to infuse much of their traditional cuisines with European flavours to promote tourism. You will find some lovely African meals favouring European-style cooking. The food culture is a trip on its own and you can make the most of it in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. You can start your culinary excursion in Abuja from the Salamander Café. It is recognised for its cool vibe and manages to attract a slew of native crowds. The quaint cafe offers not just extraordinary coffee but also books to indulge in while you sip on the beverage. The menu is also curated to serve the natives as well as the international crowd. You will find Indian cuisine also in Abuja as the city has the famous Wakkis, a restaurant that boasts Indian cuisine.

From murgh malai to tandoori chicken, if you are in no mood to experiment with the traditional Nigerian cuisine, then you can simply make regular visits to Wakkis. The staff is friendly, and the cooking styles are very indigenous to the raw Indian culture. BluCabana is an interesting restaurant that doesn't just limit to African food but also expands to Middle Eastern cuisine. You will find some exquisite Lebanese food as well as global cuisine such as sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, salads and more. The fish suya is a big seller which basically consists of grilled skewered meat that has been perfectly coated with aromatic spices. At the Bukka at the Hilton, you will find traditional African spread. The dining hall is a vast and beautiful spot which leaves enough room for the fresh breeze to pass through. Not to mention how the classic dishes such as oha soup, pounded yam, jollof rice, egusi soup, to name a few, can be found here. Other restaurants that you can check out are The Charcoal, Vanilla, Jevinik, Dunes Continental and Chez Victor.

How to reach Abuja

As the capital of Nigeria, Abuja enjoys great flight connectivity with other international cities. Abuja does witness some flight action as it is an important city. Although there are no direct flights to Abuja from Indian cities, they do have international airlines that accommodate flights to Abuja. There are many international routes connected to Abuja, such as from Addis Ababa, Kigali, Dubai and Cairo. However, Addis Ababa and Dubai are recognised as the most popular routes to Abuja. Airlines such as RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Air France and British Airways have flight services to Abuja. Most of these airlines have layovers in their domestic cities. You do not need a specific transit visa when travelling to Abuja. A transit visa is only required when you are travelling from European cities. If you do pick Air France as your airlines to travel to Abuja, then you will need a Schengen transit visa. Similarly, the only other route to Abuja where you would require a transit visa is if you travel by Emirates.

The flight duration of Abuja is quite decent. It takes about 12 hours to 15 hours to reach the city. Flying to Abuja is the only way to reach the Nigerian capital. The flight tickets are a little steep. In fact, they actually start from INR 35,000 and from here, the graph only goes up. Since the flight tickets to Abuja are so pricey, the best way to go about booking a ticket would be to search for online deals. It comes in handy to find great flight deals online to Abuja. You will be surprised by the drastic drop in the ticket prices to Abuja with the addition of discounts. This means you will actually have to invest a lot of time to ensure that you get some good flight deals. You can also use this time to make hotel reservations as that would further reduce the total cost of the trip. These can be found online as various platforms and airlines have sale and discounts. Another way to go about this would be to use up your miles if you are collecting them. You might be eligible for some more discounts depending on the program.

  About Stockholm 

The Scandinavian city of Stockholm is the capital of the country, Sweden. Located on the coast touching the Baltic Sea, Stockholm is part of the archipelago which also connects the city to 14 more islands. The islands are brilliantly connected with more than 50 bridges. The city of Stockholm is a known political, cultural, economic and media hub of Sweden. In fact, over the years, they have also found prominence to contribute to the climate change movement with staunch leaders and innovative methods. The city thrives with lively streets, nightlife and food establishments.

Best time to visit Stockholm

As a Scandinavian city, the summers in Stockholm are pleasant and alluring. The city witnesses cold winters almost throughout the year with summer temperatures reaching a maximum 22 degree Celsius. You can imagine how the place is cold for most of the year. The summers also mean a call for celebration for the locals, which brings about a massive crowd on the streets. Mid-July sees the hottest days in Stockholm and is quite pleasant, especially if you're travelling from a hot region. June to August is undoubtedly the best time to visit Stockholm as the city witnesses its summer peak. The temperatures might be hot for the locals, but to travellers, it is nothing short of pleasant. Summers do bring a surge in their hotel accommodations though. Even flight bookings to Stockholm turn expensive as the city springs up to life. During this season, there are many festivals celebrated in the city such as A Taste of Stockholm, Popaganda, Stockholm Pride and the most famous, Midsummer Festival. The festival takes place in the June month every year and brings all the Swedes together to create fancy wreaths, drink up to the heart's content under the bright sun and dance by around the maypole.

With skyrocketing hotel prices in Stockholm, the trip might get super expensive. However, if you can handle the winters or even the fall season in Stockholm, you should definitely opt to go between September to November. The brisk wind might give you chills, but the city is pleasant. In fact, flights to Stockholm during this season is quite cheap, as are the accommodations. You can book your hotel in Stockholm without having to worry about the exorbitant rates of the peak season. Plus, the city also celebrates Stockholm Beer and Whiskey Festival in these months, much like the rest of the world. If not Germany, you can ring in the OktoberFest right here in Stockholm. To snag the best of flight and hotel deals to Stockholm will need you to plan a trip in their winters. Despite the cold winters, the Christmas celebrations and a trip from the city to witness the Aurora Borealis views are some of the highlights. You can make the most of their snow and cool weather. Stockholm does close up early in winters because not many people step out and it might get a tad bit boring.

Places to visit in Stockholm

Stockholm is a haven for an urban tourist to relax and unwind. The whole vibe of the city is calm and composed, adding to one's need to escape from the noise. Some of the fun touristy things that you can do in the city are to visit Gamla Stan. It is basically an old neighbourhood which gave birth to Stockholm. The area is windy and has a lovely landscape that matches perfectly with the weather. You can take a trip to Djurgården island, which is located very close to the city. Just take up a ferry ride to the island and soak in all the traditional Swedish countryside without having to venture to the interiors. You should also check out Vasa Museum, Rosendals Garden, Fotografiska and the Royal Palace (also known as Kungliga Slottet). These places are classic tourist destinations. For the real fun in Stockholm, though, go for the outdoorsy activities.

Things to do in Stockholm 

As part of an archipelago, the Swedes of Stockholm are very much invested in sailing and cruising. You can actually take up a cruise ride to island-hop and check out the surroundings of Stockholm. You can further visit the Djurgården island and indulge in various activities such as biking, strolling, going on a picnic, visiting more than 21 museums and chilling at an amusement park. The air of Stockholm is so clean that you would want to settle forever to enjoy the tranquillity. Do not miss out on engaging in the city's nightlife. It certainly is a vibrant kind that would help you meet new people. The Swedes are really sweet and friendly people so on your way back from the city, you will have some beautiful memories to look back at.

Food and Restaurants in Stockholm

The city of Stockholm has international cuisine for all kinds of travellers. Thanks to the same, you wouldn't feel like you're stranded in a place where you cannot eat what you want. While they do have variety, it is recommended that you try the Swedish cuisine. Their cuisine mostly has meat and potato in abundance as well as proteins and starches. Basically, theirs is a wholesome food that is rich in proteins and starch. Stockholm also has a lot of focus on seafood as it is in proximity to the Baltic coast. With so much variety available in the Swedish cuisine alone, you wouldn't need to check out other international meals. From herring to Jansson's Temptation, you should try some of the traditional Swedish meals. In seafood, you could also give crayfish a try. They are popular, especially among the upper-class citizens and come at an expensive price. If you do wish to make some exorbitant indulgence, you should order for this scrumptious meal. While you're at it, do not miss out the marinated salmon which comes with dill potatoes as sides.

You should know that the Swedish love meatball and you will find many variations to the same. They make sure to add them in all their dishes from spaghetti to macaroni, the meatballs go with all. The side with their meals is always mashed potatoes, which only accentuate the flavours. Chives and sour cream also play a pivotal role in adding more colours and texture to the meal. Not just the spread of meals but even their desserts and savouries are lip-smacking. From the delectable cinnamon buns to the princess cake, these items would be the best way to round up wholesome dining experience. You should visit Frantzen, Gastrologik, Tapas 28, Glashuset, Stockholms Gastabud and Agrikultur, to name a few. These places serve the best meals, and they also have an amazing service. You will be happy with the way the Swedes treat their customers. Since they are soft-spoken people, to begin with, they often have a very polite way of communicating with people.

How to reach Stockholm (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to Stockholm from India is quite decent as there are many available airlines offering services. However, there are no direct flights to Sweden, and often, you will need to either deal with extended layovers or will have to run for connecting flights in foreign airports. There are a few airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Finnair, Vistara, Lufthansa, that have regular flights connecting with Stockholm. You will be met with at least one layover or require to opt for one connecting flight from international cities to Stockholm. As a Scandinavian country, much of the international route to Stockholm is via Europe. A majority of the flights to Stockholm actually require you to take a connecting flight from European countries. Out of these, the most popular route to Stockholm is from Germany, Munich and Frankfurt, to be specific. There are stops at Helsinki and Zurich as well, however, those require changing of multiple flights as opposed to the one you can get from the German cities. It takes approximately 11 hours to 14 hours to travel from Mumbai to Stockholm.

You should make note of applying for a Transit Schengen Visa when travelling to Stockholm from Mumbai. The visa basically gives you permission to enter the Schengen territory, basically to wait at the airports and change flights. The visa only allows you to be in the airport premise and you cannot step outside to the main city. If you've chosen the international route to Stockholm from Germany or France, you will need a Transit Schengen Visa. The flight tickets to Stockholm from India are quite cheap and affordable. Even round trips would amount to a cheaper deal. It is recommended that you book round trip tickets to Stockholm. Also, you'll get bonus deals for booking your flight and hotels in Stockholm together. Various online flight deals also have accommodation offers. However, if you want to wing it and book a hostel or do couch-surfing, make sure to book these in advance. It would be essential for a traveller to make prior bookings for everything as it would only help reduce the cost of the trip. You will have enough kronas to splurge on sailing trips.

  About British Airways

British Airways is the United Kingdom's national flag carrier with its headquarters in London's Heathrow Airport. In fact, Heathrow Airport is the hub for British Airways. The airline is known to be the second largest in the United Kingdom with respect to fleet size and passenger traffic. The airline follows UK-based regional airline EasyJet, which is a low-cost airline with its headquarters at London Luton Airport. Back in 2011, British Airways and Iberia (Spain-based airline) formed a merger to create International Airlines Group (IAG), a holding company with its registration in Madrid, Spain. International Airlines Group is known to be the third-largest airline group in the world with respect to annual revenue. It stands at the second position in the Europe continent. IAG is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is also listed in the FTSE 100 Index (Financial Times Stock Exchange or Footsie). British Airways managed to become the first-ever airlines to generate a revenue of over USD 1 billion out of passenger traffic on a single route, in a year. The international route in question here is the New York-JFK - London-Heathrow route.

The airlines came into existence in 1974, after an aviation board called British Airways Board was established by the British Government. The main idea behind the genesis of the government body was to manage the two national airline corporations, British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways as well as two regional airlines namely, Cambrian Airways and Northeast Airlines. In 1974, the four airlines were merged to form a solo airline named British Airways. The airline was managed by the government for about 13 years following the merger but eventually was privatised in 1987. British Airways is also known as one of the founding members of the airline alliance, Oneworld, along with Cathay Pacific, American Airlines and Qantas.

Although British Airways' main hub is at Heathrow Airport, a major presence of the airlines can also be witnessed at Gatwick Airport. In fact, the airline also has a base in London City Airport, where its subsidiary, BA Cityflyer operates from. Major international routes are connected through British Airways and operated from Heathrow Airport. In fact, British Airways owns about 40 per cent of slots at the Heathrow Airport in London. After the formation of British Airways, following the merger of the former four airlines in the United Kingdom, the aircraft was given a new look with white, blue and red colour schemes. At the same time, a stylised version of Union Jack was painted on the tail fins. The same was designed by Negus and Negus. However, after many alterations and changes, the CEO of British Airways, Bob Ayling, in 1999, announced that the planes flying under the airlines would adopt the tailfin design of Chatham Dockyard Union Flag that was initially supposed to be used only on the Concorde aircraft. Since then, all the aircraft have been given the Chatham Dockyard Union flag livery.

Fleet size of British Airways

As of 2020, British Airways has a strong fleet of 276 aircraft. These include Airbus A318-100, Airbus A319-100, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A321-200, Airbus A350-1000, Airbus A380-800, Boing 747-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 777-300, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Embraer 170 and Embraer 190. British Airways was recognised to be the largest operator for Boeing 747-400s with 57 aircraft in its fleet.

British Airways Baggage Allowance

The limitations for baggage allowance in British Airways is divided into the weights and size for checked as well as hand luggage. The checked bag cannot exceed the dimension of 90 x 75 x 43cm. This also includes the handles, pockets and wheels. Interestingly, the airline does have diverse rules and protocols to be followed depending on the cities where the airline would be flying to. Not to mention how the mid-haul and long-haul flights would have different rules. The best thing about British Airways is that their website has all the answers regarding baggage allowances. Along with the checked and cabin baggage, the passenger is also allowed to carry sports equipment, musical instruments and other fragile items. A special procedure needs to be undertaken to carry the said items on the flight. If you are travelling with an infant, you will be allowed to carry strollers and a dedicated bag with baby products onboard. It would be best to know what you can carry for your cabin baggage.

Provisions to increase the checked baggage allowance at British Airways' flights are also available. You might even get good deals online if you try to add more to your allowance. The bags cannot weigh more than 32 kg, and if the weight does exceed, you will be asked to pay a nominal fee. Overweight bags can be carried, but an additional charge will need to be paid at the counter.

British Airways In-flight services

First-class - British Airways' in-flight services offered on the first-class include fourteen private cabins with 6 ft 6 in beds as well as 15-inch entertainment screen and in-seat power outlets. These facilities are available on some of their aircraft namely Boeing 777-200s, Airbus A380s, Boring 787-9s, Boeing 747-400s and Boeing 777-300ERs. The airline provides the first-class passengers with pre-flight dining experience along with the option to pick their seat ahead of the flight. There are intimate spaces available on the flight for comfortable legroom.

Club World - Club World is basically the business class cabin of British Airways. The same is present in various aircraft such as Airbus A380, Airbus A318, Boeing 777, Boeing 787 and Boeing 747-400. Some select aircraft of Airbus A321 also has a business class cabin which features recliner seats that can be converted into full flatbeds. To expand their business class seats, the airlines also launched the Next Generation New Club World. The Club World cabins have been designed in such a way that they share a similar design on all the widebody aircraft that have aisle seats facing forwards. In 2019, British Airways also introduced new business-class seats featuring a suite with a door in their new A350 aircraft.

World Traveller Plus - Also known as Premium Economy class, the World Traveller Plus cabin is available on all A380, B777, B787 and B747 aircraft. The seats on the premium economy class are wider with more legroom and additional seat comforts such as footrest and power sockets. The meal package can also be upgraded from what is being offered at the World Traveller bar. It is the ideal balance between business class and economy class in-flight services.

World Traveller - World Traveller is the mid-haul and long-haul economy class cabin which offers a slew of in-flight services. Some of them include a seat-back entertainment deck, complimentary food and drinks, blankets and pillows too. The recliner seats are quite comfortable with personal AVOD Tv systems installed. These are available on A321s, B787s, B747s, A380s and B777s. The economy class also offers power sockets and USB plug-in points. The outlets cater to the UK and the US plugs.

Popular routes and top cities for British Airways

British Airways is recognised to serve over 160 destinations which include about eight domestic routes and a whopping 26 international routes connecting to the United States. As one of the founding members of Oneworld airline alliance, British Airways caters to many popular international cities. Some of the popular cities include Paris, New York-JFK, San Francisco, Brussels, Calgary, Vancouver, Chengdu, Shanghai, San Jose Dubrovnik, Prague, Copenhagen, Cairo, Luxor, Addis Ababa, Marseille, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Mykonos, Hong Kong, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Tel Aviv, Milan, Naples, Rome, Tokyo, Osaka, Nairobi, Luxembourg City, Mexico City, Marrakech, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Auckland, LagosWarsaw, Lisbon, Moscow, Riyadh, Cape Town, Singapore, Seoul, Ibiza, Madrid, Valencia, Colombo, Stockholm, Zurich, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Plymouth, Detroit, Tampa, Seattle, Washington and Victoria Falls to name a few. These cities see flights from British Airways on a regular basis.

Why travel with British Airways?

British Airways has some of the best facilities available that make it one of the most sought-after airlines to travel. You can book British Airways flights at reasonable costs and find flexible fares. Plus, you can also upgrade your ticket to premium economy and business class, depending on what you want. For long-haul flights, there are complimentary in-flight services available on British Airways. You can opt for web check-in also on their portal or on their mobile app. Within 24 hours of departure, there is free seat selection available for passengers. The flight schedule of British Airways is always put up on its website with regular updates. Usually, the airline is known to be extremely punctual with respect to their short-haul carriers travelling within the United Kingdom. However, in case if there are any delays, they are all mentioned or notified to the passenger on their phone. Besides, you can always opt to know more about flight status through their apps and portals. British Airways' in-flight services are exquisite and offer world-class facilities to ensure a comfortable transit.