Barcelona to Baku Lufthansa Airways Flights

  About Barcelona

Snuggled up by the Mediterranean Sea on the coast of Spain is the beautiful city of Barcelona. The Mediterranean metropolis is one of the largest in Spain and has global recognition as one of the best cities to vacation at. Barcelona is a world leader in the tourism, financial and cultural industries with a tremendous contribution towards fields of sports, entertainment, arts, fashion and science. Barcelona has excellent connectivity with various other European cities via domestic and international routes. In fact, through the port, many cities can actually reach Barcelona, in style.

The bustling energy of the city is something that can only be experienced in person and not just in movies. Barcelona's fervent atmosphere will marvel you, as will the enthusiasm of the locals.

Best time to visit Barcelona

Barcelona is a town of celebration which sees lovely hues and carnivals irrespective of the sticky humidity. The months from May to June are when the temperatures act extra favourable to the tourists and even the residents of the city. With temperatures close to 22 degree Celsius, the summers certainly add more charm to the place. Witness a flurry of festivities that envelop the city as the onset of summer brings varied hues with it. For people travelling from hotter countries, the weather would certainly be a treat. Thanks to the numerous carnivals that take place in the city during springtime, it definitely adds more reasons to visit Barcelona in the said season. Events such as Verbene de Sant Joan and Sonar are some of the festivals that you would enjoy during spring. Although the tourism activities drop come September, the temperature is quite pleasant as it ranges from 20 degree Celsius to 23 degree Celsius. With rains taking over the city, not many tourists are able to visit the beach. Being a coastal delight to many, the lack of beach time automatically reduces the tourist potential.

The summers easily become a high point in Barcelona's tourism. The months July and August especially see a throng of tourists relishing the Mediterranean sun while they hit the lush beaches. Due to this being the peak season, it is obviously going to come with some expensive flight tickets and accommodations. Events such as El Grec and Festa Major de Gracia further attract more tourists to the city. If you want a relaxing vacation which also falls under a good budget, spring is the time for you to fly to Barcelona. The city has exquisite accommodations and even Bnbs. You can book hotels in Barcelona's luxury hotels such as Almanac, W, Mandarin Oriental, The Serras, etc., or go for backpacking and check in to hostels. Either way, you will receive excellent treatment as the staff in Barcelona are quite friendly and happy-to-go.

Places to visit in Barcelona

Barcelona's beaches and coasts might take up most of your attention but do give the city's Catalan-styled infrastructure a peek too. The city has ornate churches, parks, museums and of course, sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea will marvel you. You can simply walk through the beautiful streets of Barcelona and check out some of their whimsical structures. Some of the flamboyant places to visit in the city include Park Güell, La Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló. While you're venturing out to check out the city, do not miss Barri Gótic, which translates to the Gothic Quarter. These are the oldest parts of the city. The scenic city streets with alfresco cafes and clubs will definitely get your attention. To see the works of famed artist Pablo Picasso, visit the famed museum Museu Picasso, also located in the city. For the tourists who love the sport football and have a soft spot for FC Barcelona, visiting Camo Nu Stadium should be on your list of places to visit. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Barcelona's Palau de la Música Catalana (Palace of Catalan Music) will amaze you with stellar acoustics and architectural features.

Things to do in Barcelona

La Barceloneta Beach is undoubtedly the best and the most popular beach in Barcelona that you should check out. There are various water sport activities that take place on the beach, which would entertain you. You can even take surfing sessions or parasailing, to name a few activities. The beach also has some amazing restaurants and food establishments where you will find lip-smacking seafood. While you're having fun at the beach, you should also sign up for a wine tour, especially if it's harvest season. Not only will you get to relish some of the finest wines made in the country, but you'll also get to interact with people from different parts of the world. The city also has a great nightlife with pubs and parties, some even held at the beach. A walk down Las Ramblas will be a fun experience for you since they have some amazing shops for souvenirs and local artworks.

Food and restaurants in Barcelona

Barcelona's cuisine is a perfect melange of traditional Spanish and Mediterranean dishes. From delicious gazpachos to Catalonian classics, you will get the best food experience in Barcelona. There is a lot of history infused in their cuisine which makes their food, a trip of its own. While the rest of Spain is big on dishes made from meat, the Catalonian food has more fish as the base for meals. It would help you tremendously to know what to expect in terms of food in Barcelona. With heavy investment in meat, you should make sure that you have enough room to try their varied cuisine. Catalans have a thing for mixing meat and experimenting with the flavours of diverse meat. It shouldn't surprise you to see chicken and prawns being served to you on a platter. That is just the way they roll. Paella is, of course, the biggest seller in terms of Spanish food in Barcelona. In fact, even Fideuà, a type of paella, is a rage in Barcelona and something you should try. The food culture is another reason why Barcelona stands at a high rank in the list of best places to visit in the world.

While they do love their meat, the food served in Barcelona also sees a nice balance of grilled vegetables nestled against marinated meat. Vegetarians need not worry as there are dishes for your taste buds as well. One traditional dish that you should definitely check out is the escalivada, grilled eggplant tossed with red peppers, olive oil and garlic. Another recipe for the vegetarian folks is the pa amb tomàquet snack, which is basically a bread topped with crushed tomatoes, olive oil and garlic. Make sure to save some room for desserts as well. Savouries such as Mel i mató (extracted from goat cheese) to Cava (Catalan sparkling wine), these dishes complement the classic Catalan rendition of creme brulee, also known as crema Catalana. Some of the best places to indulge in the Catalan and Spanish cuisine are La Patsa Lab, The Coffee House Barcelona, BelleBuon, Billy Brunch. You can further explore more taste at Pizzeria Da Nanni Barcelona, Manna Gelats, Chaka Khan, La Cava Cakery, Don Kilo Restaurant, Teoric Taverna Gastronomica, to name a few.

How to reach Barcelona

By Air

Located on the South coast of Spain, the city can best be reached via air. There are many international routes connected to Barcelona via air, making travelling convenient. Barcelona El Prat International airport has brilliant flight connectivity from Barcelona to major international cities, including India. Although there are no direct flights to Barcelona from India, many flights connecting to the Spanish city with layovers in London, Zurich, Munich, Singapore, to name a few. As one of the biggest tourist attractions in Spain, the city of Barcelona sees a good number of tourists throughout the year. Flight tickets to Barcelona from India are a little expensive, especially round trips. However, if you manage to book your flight tickets beforehand, you might find some great online flight deals to Barcelona. This might even help you cover your accommodation expenses. As a city catering to tourists, often the hospitality and accommodation prices are quite steep. However, as long as you make prior hotel bookings in Barcelona, you will not have much to worry about. You can either opt for luxury stays or go for hostels and homestays.

By Rail

Flight tickets to Barcelona from India could be expensive since it is a high-priced city, to begin with. However, the flight tickets to Madrid from India are comparatively very cheap and affordable. What you can do as a substitute to save up on some euros and get the best of both cities would be to fly to Madrid and use Madrid's domestic rail route to Barcelona. There are many trains to Barcelona from Madrid, Malaga, Zaragoza, Seville and Valencia. Not to mention how Barcelona also has impeccable train connectivity to French cities such as Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and more.

By Sea

Considering how it is of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona has great connectivity from the sea as well. There are many ships and cruises that connect the city with other European cities such as Rome, Nice, Marseilles, Corsica, Sardinia and more. If you are planning to backpack across Western Europe, then taking a boat or ferry ride to Barcelona from one of these city ports would be a fun voyage. Not to mention how you'll have a good time cruising the Mediterranean Sea.

  About Baku

Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan and is definitely a city you should add to your travel list. Baku is one of the most underrated vacation destinations. The city has welcomed modernity while preserving its rich heritage simultaneously. The city is also known for its promenade, also called Baku Boulevard. It extends a few kilometres along the Caspian Sea and promises a beautiful sunset as you take a stroll on the promenade. The city also boasts of world-class amusement parks, cafes, Baku Eye Ferris Wheel and a shopping mall. One of the main reasons to visit the city is that it is quite safe for solo travellers. Of course, you must be cautious irrespective of how safe a destination is but you will be pleased to know that Baku is a safe city. It is also an ideal place for families to go on a vacation. In addition to this, it is extremely budget=-friendly, and it is easy to get around the city. You can walk up to your hotel room, or you can take the public transport. Make sure that you book a hotel in Baku with a view of the Caspian Sea. Waking up to the scenic sea view will make your vacation worth it.

Best Time to Visit Baku

Early September to November is considered to be the ideal time to visit Baki. The weather is quite pleasant. It's not too hot nor too cold, and it doesn't rain during these months. What can one ask for! While Baku's weather is mild all year round, it does get pretty random sometimes. You may end up having a really hot December or a snowy November. October, on the other hand, is quite pleasant. April to June is when the city experiences summer and this is also a high tourist season in Baku. Make sure you book your hotel in Baku several weeks in advance before the prices surge. You must also book your flight tickets to Baku well in advance. The temperature ranges from 35 to 40 degree Celsius during this time. This is the right time to explore the beaches of Baku and get sunburnt if you really want that. You can head to beaches like the Ramada beach, Crescent beach, etc. While some of these beaches are reserved only for guests staying in the hotel that it is connected to, you will also find beaches that are open for all. You can walk along the shore, go swimming or even jog. January and February are when the city experiences winter, and it is the best time to go skiing. You might get cheap flight tickets to Baku in winter since it is low tourist season for the city.

Places to Visit in Baku

Icheri Sheher is a historical landmark in Baku's Old Town. While the place has a rich history attached to it, it has also become one of the most happening places in the city. It has a lot of bars and restaurants that you can visit. Maiden Tower dates back to the 12th century and offers a scenic view of the city. A lot of historians believed that the cylindrical tower used to be a Zoroastrian temple before it became a watchtower in the 18th century. The Palace of Shirvanshahs can also be seen on the back of Azerbaijan's 10 manat banknote. The Shirvanshahs ruled the country for over 800 years. The architecture of the palaces, mausoleum and a breathtaking view of the city. You can also visit the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan. The Italian Renaissance-style mansion boasts of 300,000 artefacts and gives you a sneak peek into ancient Greek coins, too. Nizami Street is named after a poet, Nizami Ganjavi, and is one of the most popular places in the city to go shopping. You will also love the Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Gothic and Baroque styles of architecture. Fountain Square, near Nizami Street, has one of the most beautiful fountains. You can also head to the bars and cafes nearby.

Flame Towers is Baki's trio skyscrapers and is one of the major attractions of the city. It looks far better at night, and the place is illuminated, thanks to your Mom wearing fairy lights. Baku Boulevard is 3.75 km and right by the Caspian Sea. You can either just take a stroll by the promenade, or you can indulge in touristy things here. Haven't made up your mind about Venice? Head over to Baku's Mini-Venice for a special experience. Ismailiyyu Palace is a Venetian Gothic Palace that has a rather sad story attached to it. The Palace of Happiness, also called Palace of Marriage Registrations, is one of the most romantic buildings in the city. Murtuza Mukhtarov built it for his wife, Liza Khanum Tuganova. You can also spend an evening at Bilgah Beach.

Things to do in Baku

You can go bar hopping or drink at the plethora of bars here in the city. Sign up for a sightseeing tour of the city. You can go on a historical tour of the city or just admire the architecture. Spend the evening walking by the Baku Boulevard that is right next to the Caspian Sea. You can also head to the Caspian Beach later and indulge in some water activities like snorkelling, diving, surfing or just go swimming. You can also explore the city on your foot. Just walk around the neighbourhood and find new restaurants, cafes and shopping areas on your own. You can visit the different museums and art galleries in the city. Baku also has a lot of monuments in the city that are worth a visit and have a rich, heartbreaking piece of history attached to it. You can also head over to Dalga Beach Merdeka, it is the largest amusement park Azerbaijan, and you will simply love it here. You can also spend some time at the Seaside Boulevard. You can visit the nearby mall, old buildings, sit on the Ferris wheel and catch the beautiful sunset by the Caspian Sea. If you have nothing planned for the day, just pick your favourite book and head over to the beach or a quaint cafe to finish reading it. Nothing makes a vacation better than spending some alone time with yourself. If you are on a solo trip, you will love it even more. Sign up for a walking tour of the city, in the morning or the evening

Foods and Restaurants in Baku

Baku has a very diverse dining scene, and you will find everything you would want in the city. Head over to Exotic Asian ambience in Baku. It is a Buddha-Bar that serves some of the best Asian cuisines, and the decor puts you in a good mood instantly. If you want to go dancing while you binge on some delicious food, enjoy a sip of cocktail and groove to the music, head over to Enerji Club. Pacifico serves the best stakes and empanadas and the Peruvian ceviche. Suppose you want to shell out some money and be your fancy best, head over to SKY Bar and Lounge. You can also try the food at BURC - Museum restaurant. The place serves the best South Indian food. You can also head out to traditional art and cuisine. You can also head to OTTO club if you want to experience the nightlife here at its best. Eleven Restaurant and Lounge is yet another pub where you can enjoy dancing, good music, great food and all of this with a breathtaking view of the city. The lounge is on the eleventh floor of Park INN Hotel, which is how it got its name. Pakhlava is another popular eatery in the city that serves the delicious Azerbaijani dessert with assorted tea. If you are a tea person, you will definitely love this place and will want to come back.

How to reach Baku

The Heydar Aliyev International Airport is one of the six international airports in Azerbaijan. It used to be called Bina International Airport but was re-christened in 2004 to its current name. The airport is about 20 km from Baku. The flight connectivity to Baku from India is excellent. Air Arabia and Etihad Airways have frequent flights to Baku from India with layovers at Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. If you book at the right time, you might come across great flight deals to Baku from India. You might even get cheap flight tickets to Baku from India if you are travelling during the offseason. The airport has all the facilities like a lounge, restaurants, cafes, duty-free shops, children's play areas, currency exchange and a lot more to make things more convenient for the passengers. You will also find it quite easy to get a car rental service from the airport to your hotel. You can also book a hotel in Baku that is closer to the airport towards the end of your vacation so you can reach the airport on time and avoid the commute.

  About Lufthansa Airlines

Deutsche Lufthansa or popularly referred to as Lufthansa is a German airline which, in combination with their subsidiaries, is the second largest airline in Europe, with respect to passenger traffic. The airline is the former flag carrier and is derived from German words Luft and Hansa which translates to air and Hanseatic leagues, respectively. Lufthansa is also a recognised founding member of Star Alliance, which is identified as one of the world's largest airline alliance. The airline alliance was formed in 1997. Lufthansa also has many subsidiary airlines such as Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines and Eurowings, to name a few. Along with this, Deutsche Lufthansa AG has also invested in a slew of aviation-related ventures, including LSG Sky Chefs and Lufthansa Technik, that are also part of Lufthansa Group. The airline's registered office, as well as corporate headquarters, is located in Cologne, Germany. Lufthansa majorly operates from Frankfurt Airport as it is the primary hub. The secondary hub for the airline is Munich Airport.

Until 1994, Lufthansa was a state-owned venture. The airline shares have been traded publicly as the company is listed on all German stock exchanges since 1966. Additionally, the shares of Deutsche Lufthansa AG stocks are also traded electronically with the use of the Xetra system. At the end of 2019, the airline's shareholder register revealed that the German investors have 67.3 per cent of ownership. Meanwhile, the second-largest group to hold a maximum number of shareholding is from Luxembourg, with 10.4 per cent stakes. Lufthansa also has shares from the US, which accounts for 8.1 per cent shares and is followed by Ireland and the United Kingdom with 3.6 per cent, respectively. The free float for the airline shares about 100 per cent, according to the definition of the Deutsche Börse. According to the reporting date, 58 per cent of Lufthansa's shares were previously held by institutional investors, while 42 per cent were taken up by private individuals. Lufthansa group also sees investment from Lansdowne Partners International Ltd. and BlackRock Inc. with 4.9 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively.

Even though Lufthansa's head office is located in Cologne, much of the departments are still not part of the headquarters. While part of the operations works from the Cologne office, the others continue to work from the Lufthansa Aviation Centre that is located in Frankfurt Airport. These departments include Media Relations, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations. Lufthansa's current livery is an encircled crane with the background of dark blue. The vertical stabiliser along with the rear fuselage are all painted in dark blue while the tail cone remains white. The main fuselage also has the name of the airlines etched above the windows, in dark blue.

Fleet size of Lufthansa

Lufthansa group currently owns over 700 aircraft. It is known to be one of the largest airline fleets in the world. Lufthansa follows a tradition of naming all the planes that is part of its fleet. Starting from the first flight name Berlin, which serves Frankfurt to New York intercontinental route, they have since named many other 707 planes Hamburg, Bonn, Frankfurt and Munchen. The tradition continued for quite a long time till 2010 when the airline made an exception with one of the aircraft. They named Airbus A340-300 registered as D-AIFC and named them Gander/Halifax, after two Canadian cities, Gander and Halifax. This actually became the first Lufthansa flight to have a non-German city name. The reason behind the aircraft name has been to celebrate the hospitality of the cities of Halifax and Gander. The two Canadian cities are known to be havens for passengers and crew members of many international aircraft. Aside from A340-300, the other German aircraft under Lufthansa airline that was not named after a German city was Airbus A321-100 registered as D-AIRA. The aircraft was named Finkenwerder, to honour the district of Hamburg-Finkenwerder.

In 2010, Lufthansa acquired its first Airbus A380 which would be named Frankfurt am Main and Munchen, both named after Lufthansa's two important hubs. Subsequently, other Airbus A380 aircrafts acquired by Lufthansa Group were named after some of the other hub airports such as Zurich, Brussels, Wien and Dusseldorf. Further, as Lufthansa Airlines joined forces with Star Alliance, the hub cities of the airline were also used as the names for their A380s, such as Tokyo, New York, Delhi, Beijing and Johannesburg. They also had a flight named San Francisco, but it was renamed to Deutschland. Lufthansa also has various short and long-haul flights without names.

Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance by Lufthansa meets with the standard size and weight that is followed by all the global airlines. With the height, weight and length falling within 158 cm, the cabin baggage is supposed to be not more than a certain kg. In case it does exceed the norm, then additional prices will be charged by the airlines. The rules for cabin baggage and check-in baggage allowance in Lufthansa vary depending on the ticket class purchased by the traveller. For additional baggage, heavier items and excess hand luggage carried by the passenger, the airline has reserved flat rates with details on their website. Further, baggage regulations also vary depending on the country that you are flying to with Lufthansa airlines.

In-flight services

First-class - Lufthansa's in-flight services include exquisite seating arrangement with tremendous facilities. The long haul flights such as Airbus A330-300, A340-600 as well as A380 and Boeing 747-8Is, all have first-class cabins. The leather seats convert to 6 ft 7 in bed and have spaces reserved for laptop power outlets and entertainment decks. The first-class facility also offers meals. You can inform the airlines about your dietary restrictions to ensure that they don't serve you what you don't want. There are shopping options also available as part of Lufthansa's in-flight services. Not to mention how the seats are extremely comfortable.

Business-class - Business class of Lufthansa airline also caters to a recliner that stretches up to 6 ft 7 in flat-beds. There are power outlets to charge gadgets as well as entertainment facilities. Plans to refurbish a new business class setting has also been proposed by Lufthansa for Boeing 777-9. They will roll out in 2020 as the airlines will start working on the same. Much like the first class, the business class also receives meal services as well as WiFi services.

Premium economy class - Back in 2014, Lufthansa announced to roll out long-haul premium economy designs which are similar to Air Canada and British Airways' premium economy cabins. The seat has a personal seat-back along with an entertainment screen as well as an armrest. The cabin lacks private spaces that are offered in first class and business class cabins.

Economy class - Long-haul flights of Lufthansa's economy class has a 31-inch seat pitch. In Airbus A380 though, the seat pitch is 33-inch. The perks of the economy class include meals along with free drinks. The entire fleet of Lufthansa has A/V on demand screens which are personal and attached to the passenger's seat.

Popular routes and top cities for Lufthansa

Lufthansa's domestic routes within Germany and Europe are the most popular routes for the airline. Many international routes are taken by Lufthansa also cater to a majority of American cities along with the United Kingdom. The top cities for the airline include Vienna, Brussels, Minsk, Rio de Janeiro, Toronto, Vancouver, Beijing, Prague, Copenhagen, Cairo, Addis Ababa, Paris, Nice, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich, Dusseldorf, Berlin, Athens, Hong Kong, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Dublin, Rome, Milan, Tokyo, Nairobi, Kuwait City, Amsterdam, Singapore, Seoul, Zurich, Bangkok, Dubai, London, New York City, San Francisco, Houston, Los Angeles, Seattle and more. Lufthansa is also a recognised cargo carrier that flies to all the six continents.

Why travel by Lufthansa?

Lufthansa is easily one of the largest carriers in the world with tremendous flight activity and excellent connectivity. The airlines are known to serve a plethora of international cities in the world. The airlines' strong domestic routes, as well as international routes, enable its ability to reach multitudes of continents and popular international cities. The baggage allowance of Lufthansa also matches the standards set by a majority of top airlines in the world. Not to mention how booking a Lufthansa flight is extremely easy and convenient. You can browse online to book a Lufthansa flight, and you will find many of those. The miles benefits and lounge services offered by the airline is also quite top-notch. This basically means that as a premium member, you will be able to avail the perks of Lufthansa lounge in Frankfurt Airport as well as some of the other lounges set in other international airports. The miles would help you purchase affordable tickets or even get an upgrade to first-class or business class. You can opt for web check-in on Lufthansa's website as well as learn about the flight status and flight schedule. Lufthansa's in-flight services are world-class and promise to offer the best hospitality and facilities to the passengers.