Barcelona to Brisbane Swiss 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 Brisbane

If you are planning a vacation to Australia, Brisbane is a city that must be on your itinerary. It is a popular tourist attraction in Australia after Sydney and Melbourne. It is also the capital of Queensland, which is also called Sunshine State. The city is known for its music, art, food and a very happening nightlife. Brisbane is also popular for its wildlife. From hugging Koalas to swimming with the dolphins, you can spend an entire day with animals and never get tired of it. The city also houses some of the best rooftop bars with a stunning view overlooking the beaches. You can catch a rugby match at the Suncorp Stadium if you are a sports fanatic or you can also opt for activities like climbing the Story Bridge and much more. The city gives you a ton of options to choose from that makes your vacation worth every penny spent. It is an ideal holiday destination if you want to spend it outdoors and not indoors.

Best Time to Visit Brisbane

One thing is certain, no matter what time of the year it is when you visit Brisbane, you will find yourself walking into more than one event. March to May is one of the best times to visit Brisbane. It is not a high tourist season, but the city does get relief from the heavy monsoon showers and heads towards the high season. The temperature ranges from 13 to 27 degree Celsius. You will come across some excellent flight deals to Brisbane, along with accommodations during this time. While you are here, you can attend the Brisbane Comedy Festival, World Science Festival Brisbane, Redcliffe Festival of Sails and Bike Week. The weather is quite pleasant, and you will also get to indulge in all of the outdoor activities that you plan to try. Flight tickets to Brisbane are also comparatively cheaper. If you don't like a crowded place, this is the perfect time to visit Brisbane.

June to August is winter in Brisbane, and the temperature ranges from 10 to 23 degree Celsius. Even though it is winter in the city, the days remain quite warm. This is the best time to indulge in outdoor activities and attend events that are hosted here. This is high season in Brisbane, and you will even spot tourists from Sydney and Melbourne. Royal Queensland Show or Ekka is a very popular event that takes place in August. You can also attend the Queensland Music Festival and Out of the Box Festival in June-July. If you are in Brisbane in August, make sure you also attend the Redcliffe KiteFest. Make sure you book your hotel in Brisbane well in advance, along with your flight tickets to Brisbane because the rates spike up during this season.

Brisbane experiences springtime from September to November. The days are warm and the nights are quite breezy. The weather sets quite a romantic mood in the evenings. The temperature ranges from 13 to 28 degree Celsius. It is also a very busy time in Brisbane. You attend events like the Brisbane Writers Festival and Brisbane Festival in September, Valley Fiesta and Oktoberfest in October. The weather is perfect for trying any outdoor activity. You can even go for a swim in the lake or to the beaches. Make sure you book your accommodation well in advance since hotels fill up pretty quickly during this season.

December to February are the wettest months in Brisbane. The temperature ranges from 20 to 30 degree Celsius. The heavy showers even lead to floods sometimes. Not to mention, you will also witness a lot of thunderstorms. Hotel prices drop and so do flight fares, since there are very few tourists in the city. The heavy showers might even put a damper on your outdoor plans. But you can, however, enjoy a lot of events and festivals in the city during this time. You can attend the Brisbane Comedy Festival in February and March or the BrisAsia Festival in January and February. You can also head to the Woodford Folk Festival in December-January.

Places to Visit in Brisbane

Whether you like beaches or mountains or both, Brisbane has both of it. You can either hit the beach over the weekend or go on a hike to the mountains. You will never get bored in Brisbane, and that is certain. The city also has museums and gardens for you to explore. Australia is known for its wildlife, and you can experience it in Brisbane, too. The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is one of the oldest and largest Koala sanctuaries in the world. But apart from Koalas, you will also find kangaroos, wombats, emus, Tasmanian devils, cockatoos, Australian parrots and so on. You can even hug a Koala here and take loads of pictures. Glass House Mountains on the coastal plains of Queensland and a group of thirteen volcanic hills. The native flora and fauna, along with a picturesque landscape, is what attracts tourists to this place. You can also go mountain climbing at Tibrogargan and Ngungun mountains. Story Bridge is an iconic structure in the city that connects Kangaroo Point, Brisbane CBD and Fortitude Valley. You can either explore the area on foot or rent a bicycle.

Bussink Ferris wheel is one of the most magnificent places to go to in Brisbane. It is 60-meters tall and offers you a 360-degree view of the city. The Ferris wheel stops when you reach the top, and you get to hear audio that reveals all the major attractions in Brisbane that you can visit. Roma Street Parkland is yet another popular attraction that you can head to on a sunny day. There are quite a few gardens in there, and they also have an amphitheatre. Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, or GOMA, is where you head to if you are an art lover. The museum houses a lot of modern and contemporary arts. South Bank is one of the most relaxing tourist attractions in Brisbane. Some eateries offer delicious foods, a scenic view from the river and it is also closer to other tourist attractions like the Wheel of Brisbane, Streets Beach, Grand Arbour and Nepal Peace Pagoda. If you are planning to head to the South Bank, make sure you pack your sunscreen and beach clothes. Streets Beach is right near the South Bank, and you can spend a gorgeous evening here.

Things to do in Brisbane

You can either rent a taxi for the entire day to explore the city, hire a guide for the day or you can just explore the city on foot all by yourself. Brisbane is known for its botanical gardens, and you can just explore the lush green gardens for a day. You can visit the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mount Coot-tha or the City Botanic Gardens. Story Bridge is yet another popular tourist attraction in the city and mainly because it connects three other attractions. It is the link between Kangaroo Point, Fortitude Valley and central Brisbane. It also makes for a great place to take pictures. Head over to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary to hug a Koala and take pictures with it. Go on a hike at Mount Coot-tha, and you will get a spectacular view of the city from up there. You can also enjoy a ferry ride from the South Bank to explore the city better.

Food and Restaurants in Brisbane

Brisbane has a very eclectic dining scene and a vibrant nightlife. You will find everything from Turkish, Chinese and Spanish cuisine to Australian food. You must try the meat pies here with potato wedges and other types of meats that are coated with Piri Piri. These are some of the popular and traditional Australian dishes. You will also find a lot of seafood, oysters specifically since it is so close to the ocean. The downtown area in Brisbane boasts of some top-rated restaurants. Esquire and The EURO are some of the most popular eateries in the city. You must also try the Farmers markets in the city since it is a big part of the food culture in Brisbane. Head over to Betty's Burgers and Concrete Co or Rogue Bistro for authentic Australian food and lip-smacking burgers. You can also try La Cache a Vin for traditional French cuisine and a glass of wine.

How to reach Brisbane (Transportation)

Brisbane Airport is the nearest to the city and is also the primary international airport in the city. It is also a major hub for airlines like Virgin Australia and Qantas. The flight connectivity to Brisbane from India is excellent. However, the travel time ranges from 18 to 30 hours, and it can get a tad exhausting. Cathay Pacific Airways, Qantas Airways and Singapore Airlines have frequent flights to Brisbane from India with layovers at Hong Kong, Melbourne, Sydney or Singapore, depending on which flight you pick. The airport is well-equipped with WiFi, lounges, smoking areas, shopping areas, restaurants and cafes. You will also get a taxi from the airport to your hotel quite easily.

  About Swiss International Airlines

Swiss International Air Lines, also popularly known as Swiss or Swiss Air Lines, is the national flag carrier of Switzerland. The airline operates scheduled services across Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa. While Zurich Airport serves as the airline's single hub, Geneva Airport is the focus city for Swiss. The airline came into existence in 2002, after Swissair, Switzerland's former flag carrier, filed for bankruptcy. Swiss was built around Swissair's regional subsidiary Crossair. Hence, Swiss International Air Lines continues to retain Crossair's IATA code instead of Swissair's code. The airline is part of the Star Alliance and is also a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group. Originally, Swiss wished to be part of the Oneworld airline alliance. However, it was blocked by British Airways to which it played a competition with respect to long-haul routes. However, Swiss decided to go with Star Alliance instead as they didn't wish to integrate with the current frequent flyer program of British Airways' Executive Club. Further on this, Swiss also assumed the relationship to be one-sided with British Airways sapping out all the benefits with nothing left for Swiss.

With the revival of Swiss, the airlines managed to recover half the losses by recording a net profit of USD220 million. Further, the net profit more than doubled with the net profit turning USD570 million in 2007. In 2005, with the birth of the airlines, German-based Lufthansa Group announced that they would be taking over Swiss starting from 11 per cent of stake. Eventually, the operations of Swiss were integrated with Lufthansa's by the second half of 2005. A complete takeover took place in 2007. Following the takeover, Crossair's regional fleet Embraer ERJs and Saabs to Avro RJs that were owned by Swiss Global Air Lines. In 2010, Swiss and Lufthansa were announced in the European Commission investigation due to reports of price-fixing. However, they were not fined as they acted as a whistle-blower. Following the incident, in 2011, Swiss brought forth their new company logo, which resembled the original logo of the Swissair. Initially, Swiss International Air Lines' head office was the same as the head office of Crossair. But it has been moved to Zurich Airport for all operations.

Swiss' headquarters is located at EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg near Basel in Switzerland. Part of the office is at Zurich Airport in Kloten, Switzerland. Some of the subsidiaries of Swiss International Air Lines Group are Edelweiss Air, Swiss AviationSoftware, Swiss Aviation Training, Swiss WorldCargo and SWISStours.

Fleet size of Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines is currently handling a fleet size of 89. The aircraft are majorly Airbus variants with one 12 Boeing 777-300ERs. The highest number of aircraft include 20 Airbus A220-300 and 19 Airbus A320-200. Swiss International Air Lines' regional carrier, Helvetic Airways, majorly operates ten Embraer 190 aircraft on behalf of its parent company. Meanwhile, Adria Airways also operated under Swiss and had two Saab 2000s connecting the Zurich - Lugano route. However, the airline was suspended following them filing for bankruptcy in 2019. For the longest time, Swiss Global Air Lines also operated Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A220-100/300 as part of its fleet. The subsidiary was ceased in 2018 with a view to administer costs and to simplify the fleet structures of Swiss International Air Lines. The airline has brought together the aircraft in its fleet. The aircraft fleet of Swiss International Air Lines has been christened after the local towns and cities since 2007. The names feature on the fuselage of all the aircraft as the cabin interiors have the coat of arms of the town or city.

In 2010, on behalf of Swiss, Lufthansa announced that they would be ordering 48 new aircraft for both the airlines. Later in 2013, the airline ordered six Boeing 777-300ERs. Additionally, in 2015, Swiss confirmed that Lufthansa is ordering three more Boeing 777-300ERs on their behalf. The airline also announced that they would be upgrading their first-class cabins and install eight private suites along with a 32-inch TV, business class seats to be converted into full flatbeds and about 270 economy class seats with a 3-4-3 configuration. Swiss also plans to replace much of their Airbus A340 aircraft with Boeing aircraft.

Meanwhile, five of the A340s will be refurbished and carried by airline. Swiss International Air Lines recently completed refurbishing all the A320s of their fleet with newer interiors and top-class facilities. Before the fleet converted to Airbus and Boeing, Swiss also accommodated Avro RJs, McDonnell Douglas aircraft and Saab 2000. However, these lines have been passed on to the regional subsidiaries of the airline.

Swiss International Air Lines Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance in Swiss International Air Lines is segregated as per the domestic routes and international routes where the carrier connects. For the European routes, the airline allows a total weight of 23 kg that can be carried in checked baggage. This is strictly reserved for classic and flex cabin of the economy class. You can only carry one bag with you that can be checked. Meanwhile, the business class allows 32 kg, which rounds up to a total of 64 kg for two bags that can be checked. One of the big benefits of business class is that you can carry more luggage with you. While the weight capacity is diverse for different ticket types, the dimension of the baggage cannot exceed 158 cm, including handles, wheels and pockets. However, the maximum for a business class passenger's baggage would be 292 cm and cannot exceed the same. For additional baggage, you will be charged a certain fee that you might have to pay at the airport. Again, the baggage allowance on Swiss International Air Lines does tweak a little if you are a frequent flyer member or a Star Gold member.

International route flights have some additions with respect to the baggage limits. Since the international aircraft are equipped with the economy, business and first-class, the allowance for passengers to carry bags also vary accordingly. Swiss Economy allows a maximum of one luggage which should weigh no more than 23 kg and cannot exceed 158 cm dimension. Passengers flying from Swiss Business are allowed to carry two maximum baggage which should weigh no more than 32 kg each. The bags should also not exceed the dimension of 292 cm, inclusive of height, width and length. As for Swiss First, the airline allows three bags to weigh 32 kg each. The airline allows a total of 96 kg for first-class passengers. The hand baggage allowed are one for the Swiss Economy, two for Swiss Business and Swiss First respectively. The dimensions of all the bags should not exceed 55 x 40 x 23 cm. Along with the carry-on baggage, the passenger is also allowed to take a personal piece to the cabin, which could be a handbag, a laptop bag or a briefcase.

Swiss International Air Lines In-flight services

Swiss First - Swiss First class' in-flight services are exemplary as they offer personal space with armchairs that can be converted into full flatbeds. Along with the comfortable seating, the airline also has a gourmet meal that can be availed on long-haul flights. The dishes are mostly inspired by Swiss cuisine and is always accompanied by fine wine of your choice. The seats are also equipped with entertainment systems and magazines. Along with the exquisite services and hospitality, the airline further offers a pillow and blankets by La Prairie and amenity kit by fashion brand Bally.

Swiss Business - Although Swiss Business lacks the comfort of privacy that the first-class allows, the in-flight services are exemplary. The business seats are spacious and have a dedicated workspace for the passengers. One can easily convert the seats into a 2-metre long flatbed and also has massage facilities. The dining is exquisite as the airline is recognised for its award-winning in-flight meals. Not to mention how the business and first-class also have entertainment facilities such as adjustable screens and a magazine. Swiss also offers a travel kit to the passengers, which contain high-end products for the passenger's comfort.

Swiss Economy - The economy class of Swiss International Air Lines has comfortable seating with adjustable headrest and availability of extra legroom. The airline also has personalised entertainment systems attached on each seat for the passengers. They have TV shows, blockbuster movies and many award-winning documentaries. You will need to book for meals in advance and get the best of Swiss' in-flight services.

Popular routes and top cities for Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines is known for its excellent connectivity with a majority of international hubs. The airline's strong domestic route and international route connectivity are what makes it stand out. Top cities for the airline include Beijing, Shanghai, Montreal, Brussels, Paris, Nice, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Delhi, Mumbai, Dublin, Rome, Venice, Florence, Tokyo, Nairobi, Luxembourg City, Amsterdam, Oslo, Warsaw, Singapore, Barcelona, Stockholm, Bangkok, London, Los Angel/es, Newark, New York City and San Francisco, to name a few.

Why travel by Swiss International Air Lines?

What makes Swiss International Air Lines one of the most sought-after airlines in the world is its world-class in-flight services as well as extensive network. The airline caters to the comfort of the passengers by offering web check-ins, intimations of the flight status, flight schedules of Swiss and convenient booking of a Swiss flight. It is practically perfect and also enables comfort and affordability.