Budapest to Philadelphia Emirates Flights

  About Budapest

Budapest, in Hungary, is one of the most beautiful places to go on vacation. You can head to Budapest with your family, your friends or even on a solo backpacking trip. The city has nightclubs for the party animal in you, and it also has architectural marvels that date back to the Renaissance, neo-Gothic, Ottoman and Roman times. Not to mention, you also have a lot of castles to visit and learn all about Budapest's history. The city is also known for its Jewish heritage and Danube river. It is an exciting European destination to visit, and the city does not bore you one bit. You will constantly find yourself admiring the beautiful buildings or learning more about the city without burying yourself in books or the internet. There is always something you can do in Budapest, and you will never want your holiday to end.

Best Time to Visit Budapest

March to May and May September to November are considered to be the best months to plan a trip to Budapest. March to May is the spring season, and the weather remains quite pleasant. You will get cheap flight tickets to Budapest during this time as compared to the rates in summer. You can also book a hotel in Budapest at a minimal price. The temperature ranges from 2 to 21 degree Celsius during these months. There are chances of mild rains at the end of spring, though. If you are planning a spring vacation to Budapest, you can also attend a lot of events and festivals held in the city like the Budapest Dance Festival, Budapest Spring Festival, Rosalia Festival and Budapest Beer Week. There will be a lesser tourist crowd during this time, making it ideal to go sightseeing or take up other activities that you might find restrictive otherwise, owing to a larger tourist crowd.

September to November is fall season, and it is ideal because it is right after summer. The number of tourists reduces, and hotel prices drop yet again. There are quite a few interesting festivals and events during this time that make it the best time to go to Budapest. You can attend events like the Jewish Cultural Festival, Budapest Wine Festival, Oktoberfest Budapest, Design Week Budapest and a ton of Christmassy things that happen before the big day.

Summer hits Budapest from June through August, and it is also a popular time for tourists to head to the city. You might want to book your flight tickets to Budapest in advance along with your accommodations since the prices increase in summer. Not to mention, do check the hotel facilities before booking one because not every hotel has air conditioning. It is also expected to rain in summer in Budapest. If you are taking off to Budapest in summer, you can attend a couple of festivals and events during this time like the Budapest Summer Festival, Danube Carnival, Budapest Pride (highly recommended), Sziget Festival and Festival of Folk Arts. The temperature ranges from 13 to 26 degree Celsius in summer. The climate will not be intolerable, but the increase in tourists will only make your plans difficult to execute.

The city sees snowfall from December to February and though it's not the worst times to take a trip to Budapest, the other seasons are much better. Budapest sees a major dip in the number of tourists during this time.

Places to Visit in Budapest

Buda Castles is one of the most important tourist attractions in the city. It is the perfect blend of Gothic, Roman and Baroque architectures. The castle looks far beautiful and spectacular at night. It is also a UNESCO Heritage site. Underneath the castle, you will find Hospital In The Rock, which was created during World War 2 and the Cold War as a shelter. It is recommended that you hire a guide for this one to know more about the hardships faced by people of that era. This section only opened to the public in 2008 and is one of the many exceptional places to visit in the city. Matthias Church is another popular tourist spot in Budapest and dates back to 1014. You will find peace here and be marvelled at the stunning architecture. The Hungarian State Opera is another masterpiece in the city that you must visit, even for sightseeing. Fisherman Bastion, near Matthias Church, is another place in Budapest rich with history. The complex has seven towers, several courtyards and colonnades that represent the Magyar tribes. It is named after the group of fishermen since they were the ones who saved Buda Castle from this part of the city during the middle ages. Not to mention, you will also catch a scenic view of the Danube river from up top.

Gellert Spa is one of the most popular thermal spas in the city. Spending some time here will only help you rejuvenate your body, and water also has healing properties. This is a highly recommended place in the city and a very relaxing one, too. Heroes Square was built in 1896 to celebrate Hungary's 1000th anniversary and is one of the most popular places in Budapest.

Things to do in Budapest

Take a walking tour at Castle Hill that is right above the Danube river. You can also visit Buda Castle, an activity that is not to be missed in the city. A lot of tourists also take a cruise at the Danube river, which you won't regret one bit. Try to go for a cruise around sunset and the beautiful view will leave an imprint in your mind. Budapest has a lot of different tours that you can take. You can opt for a guided historical tour or just plain sightseeing. You can also take up hiking or other activities in the city. Thermal baths are a rage in Budapest, and it would be a shame not to experience it here. The city is also known for its nightlife and has several nightclubs. You can also spend a day or two to just party till you drop. It will not burn a hole in your pocket at all. If you are taking a cruise, make it romantic by opting for a candlelit dinner cruise. You can visit the Museum of Fine Arts if you want to take a break from exploring the old parts of the city. Head over to Hungarian State Opera House, and while you are at it, you can also book tickets to a show and enjoy the musical experience.

Food and Restaurants in Budapest

While Budapest has a place for all different kinds of taste buds, you can also give Hungarian food and the local street food a try. Cupákos is popular among meat lovers and is quite affordable, too. A lot of food critics recommend that you use your hands to eat instead of a fork and knife. Be it sausages, ribs, pork or duck, and this restaurant serves the best of everything. Bable is known for its Romanian and Hungarian cuisine. It's a Michelin-star restaurant and a popular one, so you might have to reserve a table before entering. The restaurant also has a seven-course meal for vegans. Két Szerecsen is a great place for a cup of coffee or breakfast. The bistro is open all day and has a great ambience. TOPRUM Rooftop Bar, which is on the seventh floor of Hotel Rum Budapest, is where you go for a couple of drinks and food, of course. You will also experience the best views of the city from the bar. Mazel Tov is known for its Israeli and Mediterranean cuisine. It is a glass-roof restaurant that also has a huge courtyard. Do try the chicken shawarma here. You will find a lot of restaurants and cafes here that serve delectable Hungarian food.

How to reach Budapest (Transportation)

The Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is the largest one in Hungary and is well-connected to the rest of the world as much as to Europe. The flight connectivity to Budapest from India is excellent. While there are no direct flights to Budapest, there are several airlines that fly to the city and have layovers in their home cities. Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Lufthansa fly to Budapest quite frequently with layovers at Istanbul, Doha and Munich. Cheap flight tickets to Budapest are available from Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai as compared to Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi or Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Budapest is also connected to other international cities like Paris, Dubai, Zurich, Ibiza, Vienna, Cairo and so on. However, if you are travelling to Budapest during winter, there are possibilities of flight delays and cancellations since the city experiences high snowfall during this time. December and January see the most snowfall in Budapest. Like most airports, Budapest airport also has VIP lounges, children's play areas, shopping areas, a prayer room, smoking room and restaurants. If you have to wait some more to board your flight, you won't get bored here.

  About Philadelphia

The city of Philadelphia, located in Pennsylvania, is the largest city in the state and has a rich and prominent history. Known to be the place where the Independence Declaration was signed, and the country was freed from the colonial rule. Many other revolutionary incidents have also taken place in the city. It is the sixth most populated city in the US. The city is also noted for its plethora of prominent universities and colleges. The city is also the centre for Pennsylvania's economic activities. Travelling to Philadelphia is convenient and traversing within the city is also quite comfortable. With various historical locations and places to visit, the city easily becomes one of the top destinations to check out in the United States.

Best time to visit Philadelphia

Philadelphia enjoys a fancy spring season from March to May. Not only is this time good for nature enthusiasts to soak in all the beauty of the place but also for photographers to indulge in postcard-worthy grabs. Spring brings along with it, a refreshing air while the brisk temperatures start to subside. Usually, the temperatures range between 10 degree Celsius to 22 degree Celsius, which means you will have to carry your winter jackets. The comfortable weather will only make you want to stay outdoors all day. One of the biggest highlights of the spring season is to watch the cherry blossoms in Philadelphia bloom in Fairmount Park. This is a sight your photography skills can try to capture but wouldn't be able to bring out its absolute beauty. It's an experience, and that is incomparable to the pictures taken. Plus, during this time, the city also rings in amazing festivals and events such as St. Patrick's Day Parade, Philadelphia Flower Show, Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, Philly Craft Beer Festival, Philly Black Pride, Philadelphia Children's Festival, Philadelphia Antiques & Art Show, to name a few. Not only the weather but even the hotel prices in Philadelphia are cheap and affordable.

The months from June to August are also quite favourable as they are peak summer for Philadelphia. The city bustles with tourists as the temperatures rise to an agreeable 30 degree Celsius, which is quite pleasant. The city also sees more festivities such as Philadelphia Folk Festival, Philly Beer Week, Philly Pride Parade and Festival and Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest, to name a few. With so much happening, the prices to book hotels in Philadelphia also takes a surge. Finding a decent hotel room in Philadelphia for cheap during summer is next to impossible. However, if you don't mind the winter rush of the city, December to February is your time to shine. The city witnesses cold winters with the temperatures dropping to negatives too, sometimes. However, that only means there is snow on the streets and cheap and affordable hotels in Philadelphia. The locals manage to spruce up the frigid weather by ringing in new festivities such as Philadelphia Auto Show, Christmas Light Show, Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest and Mummer's Parade, to name a few. These activities certainly help keep the spirits up.

Places to visit in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has some great historical significance as it is recognised to be the place where the American founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. The event took place in the city's Liberty Bell Centre, which automatically becomes one of the famous tourist sites to visit. It is located in the Independence National Historical Park and witnesses tourists all-round the year, especially during the peak season. Opposite the Liberty Bell Centre is the Independence Hall, another important Gregorian-style structure that has contributed to American history. While you're engaged in some historical and educational tour, do visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art which has works of artists such as Matisse, Picasso, Van Gogh and more. John F Kennedy Plaza, famously recognised as the LOVE Park, is an alluring stretch of green expanse that boasts the beauty of the city. You also have the National Museum of American Jewish History as one of the establishments to visit.

Things to do in Philadelphia

The city has far too many things that should be done by a traveller. Aside from taking pictures at the LOVE Park or visiting the Philadelphia Zoo, you can also go on a food tour to the Reading Terminal Market. Further, you can stroll through the posh and swanky lanes of Rittenhouse Square, where you will find top-notch restaurants, a thriving lifestyle and the Mutter Museum. To satiate the adrenaline rush that you wish to experience, visit the Wissahickon Valley Park and go on a horseback riding expedition. You can further take up mountain biking and hiking as other activities in the park.

Food and restaurants in Philadelphia

Over the years, the culinary scene of Philadelphia has evolved with a slew of up and coming food establishments taking over the streets. You will notice some new and amazing restaurants and dining establishments that are classy and pricey. Much of these establishments can be found at Old City and Rittenhouse Square. So if you plan to enjoy a lovely fancy evening in Philly, you can find some of those in these areas. Restaurants such as Parc, The Love and The Dandelion are some of the places that promise to give you a dining experience of a lifetime. Of course, it is important that you make prior reservations as you might not get tables here. At the city centre, you can find some more places that would satiate your culinary desires. From French to Indian to Japanese, you will be able to taste the world cuisine in Philadelphia. Of course, the list of cuisines doesn't end there. You can further explore good food and go for an Italian rendezvous at the Talula's Garden. What makes this place exceptional is how the ingredients and vegetables used are very fresh and delicious.

Philadelphia's highlights in terms of culinary are pretzels and cheesesteak. A cheesesteak is basically a hoagie-like sandwich where thin slices of steak are placed between the slices of bread while some cheese, onions, peppers and mushrooms are added to bring about a magnificent flavour. South of Philadelphia is the best place to get your hands on these sandwiches. In fact, the Italian Market is the perfect place for you to find the cheesesteak. You can also customise these sandwiches. If you wish to go to the popular ones, Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks are the two popular shops where you can find the best cheesesteaks. Reading Terminal Market is another establishment where you will find a plethora of tasty dishes. Philly's BYOB (bring your own bottle) is also good if you are running on a budget. But do learn about the policies of the place before visiting the place as they have their own set of rules that you must abide by. Some more names for your perusal are Beiler's Bakery, Cafe La Maude, Bistro Romano and Ristorante Pesto.

How to reach Philadelphia

Flight connectivity to Philadelphia from India is excellent as there are many connecting flights to the city. Despite being one of the largest cities in the US, there are no direct flights to Philadelphia from India. Cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. Out of the mentioned Indian cities, Mumbai and Delhi are the only two metros which have the most number of flights flying to Philadelphia. There are regular flights to Philadelphia which fly every day from India. Airlines such as American Airlines, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Swiss, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, have flights to Philadelphia. Since there are no direct flights to Philadelphia, often much of these airlines have layovers and connecting flights to reach the city from India. These airlines have layovers in international cities such as Doha, London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, to name a few falling in this international route to Philadelphia. Sometimes if there are more than one stops, connecting flights can be found in the US at cities such as Chicago, Boston, etc. There are flights that connect from London as well if you pick British Airways as your airlines for travel.

Getting cheap flight tickets to Philadelphia would be tough since the round trip always surpasses more than a lakh INR. However, if you book your tickets to Philadelphia in advance, you might be able to snag some cheap flight deals online. In fact, as long as you're able to book your hotels in Philadelphia, months in advance, even that would help you ease down splurging extra bucks. There are often many flights and hotels combo deals online that you can probably take up, depending on how you time your plans and if you get lucky. Often people choose to get a ticket to a cheaper city in the United States to fly out. From there, options of rental cars, taxi cabs and other such provisions are available which make travelling to Philadelphia cheaper and experiential. One of the popular routes to Philadelphia is from Mumbai and Ahmedabad as these cities have more flights, plus they are better connected.

  About Emirates Airlines

Emirates, based in Garhoud, Dubai, is a state-owned carrier airline of United Arab Emirates. It is a subsidiary of the Emirates Group, wholly owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai. Emirates is undoubtedly the largest airline in the Middle East which has operations of more than 3,600 flights in a week from Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport, the hub of the airlines. It connects to over 150 international cities spread across 80 countries and has flights to six continents. With a fleet carrying about 300 aircraft along with cargo activities that fall under Emirates SkyCargo, it easily becomes one of the biggest and important airlines in the world.

The airline came into existence in 1985 after Gulf Air decreased the flight services to Dubai. Emirates was originally backed by Dubai's royal family as well as two flight services from Pakistan International Airlines on wet-lease. The start-up capital of the airlines was $10 million and operated independently from the government. Further on this, Pakistan International Airlines also enabled training services to help Emirates' cabin crew. The following years saw some tremendous expansion and put Emirates on the map of the top airlines in the world. This has been possible thanks to the leadership of their current chairman, Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The airlines have managed to expand their fleet size as well as the number of destinations.

Dubai International Airport even constructed a new terminal building dedicated to Emirates in 2008. All operations concerning the airport have since been moved to Terminal 3 of the airport. Emirates currently operates a mixed fleet which includes Boeing wide-body aircraft along with Airbus among them. It has been recorded that Emirates is the largest operator of Airbus A380, as of 2019, with about 115 aircraft service. The airlines plan to add eight more to its fleet. Ever since the introduction of Airbus A380, it has become an indispensable part of the Emirates fleet. It is perfect for long-haul international routes. Along with Airbus A380, Emirates is also known to be the largest operator of Boeing 777 in the world with 144 aircraft functioning from under the airlines.

Fleet size of Emirates

The fleet size of Emirates currently stands at 259 aircraft. The airline is the only one in the world to operate the largest fleet of massive aircraft, Boeing 777 and Airbus A380. The two aircraft are known for their gigantic sizes. Along with the two major aircraft, Emirates also accommodates A319, which flies as an executive jet. Since 1995, the airlines have not accommodated single-aisle aircraft as part of its mainline fleet.

Back in February 2019, Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to add 40 A330-900s and 30 A350-900s to their fleet. Simultaneously, they also plan to reduce the total number of Airbus A380 aircraft to 123. Post this, Airbus plans to cease production for A380. However, the same year, the airlines announced to order 50 instead of 30 A350-900s for a sum of USD16 billion. In the same year, Emirates also ordered 30 787-9s which values at USD8.8 billion. Deliveries of the same will commence in 2023 as the fleet further plans to reduce the order of 777Xs from a total of 150 to 126.

The livery on all Emirates flights features the flag of United Arab Emirates painted on the vertical stabilizer along with a white fuselage and the word Emirates etched in golden. The same design was introduced in 1999 and was first featured on the Boeing 777-300 as well as on all the Airbus A330 aircraft. The complete repainting of the fleet to the said design happened in 2005. An Arabic version of Emirates is also painted on the livery but has been etched in a smaller size.

Inflight services

First-class cabin services - In the first-class cabin, it has been segregated into two types of seating, one that is fully enclosed suite with a floor door extended to the ceiling and the second, also with doors but not the kind that extends up to the ceiling. The suite ensures complete privacy with in-flight services such as a coat rack, mini-bar and ample storage space. An ICE entertainment system has also been installed with a 23-inch wide LCD screen. The seat can be converted into a fully flat bed too. Interestingly, Emirates' in-flight services for first-class and business-class cabins also include lounge areas with a bar, shower-equipped lavatories and a spa. A 13-inch tablet to communicate with the cabin crew or call for room service is also available to upscale the first-class scenes for travellers.

Business-class cabin services - Emirates' in-flight services for business class cabins include a 2-meter long recliner that stretches up to 79 inches lie-flat bed. Some of the amenities present in the cabin include partitions for privacy, a winged headrest that has a six-way movement, individual reading lights, in-seat power supply, RCA socket to connect laptops and ICE entertainment system, to name a few. Business-class cabins of Airbus A380-800 aircraft accommodates flat-beds and personal mini-bars. However, due to the awkward layout of the cabin, some of the beds stretch only up to 70 inches instead of 79. Business-class travellers are also given access to the on-board bar which is located at the rear of the aircraft.

Premium economy class services - While no other aircraft of Emirates' fleet accommodates a Premium Economy Class, the same is available in their first Boeing 777X. The seats have been curated to fit the design of what can be found in Airbus A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs. These will be introduced in the aircraft that is slated to release in 2020-21. Details of the same are yet to be revealed by the airlines.

Economy class services - Emirates' economy class is not blessed with all the world-class features that their other cabins do, but it still has enough to keep the passengers comfortable. The seats offered on Airbus and Boeing 777 aircraft is approximately 34 inches. It has ten seats lined up in a row with adjustable headrests and an ICE entertainment system that offers 3000 channels. Not to mention how the seat also comes with a laptop power outlet in some of the newer aircraft. An additional recline is also available in A380 aircraft.

In-flight entertainment and dining services - Emirates prides itself on being the first airlines in the world to propose a personal entertainment system on commercial aircraft. The same was introduced in 1992, right after Virgin Atlantic brought forth similar ideation along with an entertainment system. Emirates' in-flight services include personal entertainment system which is of two types, ICE and ICE Digital Widescreen. Larger high definition screens have been installed in all classes of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 fleet. ICE is information, communication and entertainment and an in-flight service offered by Emirates. ICE also provides communication services which include sending and receiving emails for USD1 per message.

There are provisions to access mobile broadband services in flight as well. The same was introduced in 2008 and had been functioning well since. The airlines also offer scrumptious meals during the flight. Catering for the same is done by Emirates Flight Catering service, which operates one of the largest facility for airline catering in the world. Emirates strictly follows a halal dietary guideline and all meals are prepared accordingly. Much recently, Emirates also signed a million-dollar venture with Oakland-based Crop One Holding. The deal is to build and maintain the largest hydroponic growing facility that would provide yields to Emirates' fleet.

Baggage allowance

As long as you are able to meet the weight criteria, you can carry as many baggage on Emirates flights as possible. Depending on the class ticket that the traveller has purchased, the flight does have weight allowance segregated. As per the economy class' rules, the baggage on Emirates should not weigh beyond 32 kg. The weight concept applies to all international routes chosen by Emirates. As for first-class and business-class, the weight is 50 kg and 40 kg respectively. Emirates does not have baggage allowance with respect to numbers but requests passengers to adhere to the weight.

Popular routes and top cities for Emirates

Emirates has impeccable connectivity with respect to flights within the Middle East. Some of the domestic routes chosen by Emirates include countries such as Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Melbourne, Dhaka, Cambodia, Beijing, Hong Kong, Delhi, Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo-Haneda, Singapore, Seoul, Male, Karachi, Christchurch, Auckland, Seychelles, Colombo, Hanoi and Bangkok in Asia, are some of the top cities that the airlines have flight operations in.

In terms of global reach, Emirates flies to international routes such as Addis Ababa, Cairo, Lagos, Cape Town, London, Istanbul, Zurich, Moscow, Lisbon, Madrid, Amsterdam, Athens, Rome, Dublin, Frankfurt, Paris, Copenhagen, New York City, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Mexico City to name a few.

Why travel by Emirates?

On a global scale, Emirates is the fourth-largest airline in the world in terms of passenger-kilometres flown and the second with respect to freight tonne-kilometres flown. The airlines have over the years built a name for itself to be the best with respect to comfort and connectivity. You can book Emirates flights online on all travel websites as well as the official site. Plus, you can find Emirates' flight schedules and check flight status on the website as well.