Budapest to St Louis Brussel Airline 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 St. Louis

Nestled along the sparkling Mississippi River in Missouri, is the beautiful city of St. Louis. The city is iconic in many ways as it has a rich history and also the cultural hub of the place. From barbecued meat to pubs playing blues, the city is lovely and was named after Louis IX of France.

Best time to visit St. Louis

Missouri's summers can be pretty hot and winters, just as cold. However, their spring and fall seasons are just perfect with balanced weather that attracts a lot of tourists. St. Louis enjoys great springs and autumns as the city turns into lovely foliage of orange. Although the two-season is quite short compared to winters and summers, spring and autumn's quaint vibe does good for the city of St. Louis. The city witnesses fall between September to October. During this time, the weathers transition from hot to cold, giving the city just the perfect setting for events and other activities. The autumn months actually open gateways to a plethora of events and festivals hosted by the city to entertain the locals as well as tourists. Events such as Big Muddy Blues Festival, Great Forest Park Balloon Race, Taste of St. Louis, Best of Missouri Market, Saint Louis Art Fair, LouFest, to name a few, are celebrated between September and October.

The hotel prices do get a little steep during autumn as the festivals bring in a lot of action in the tourism industry. Many tourists from within the state as well as from other states in the US, flock over to St. Louis to indulge in these events and celebrations. Hence, finding hotel reservations in St. Louis could get challenging. But if you do plan beforehand, you might not have to worry about these issues. November through March might not be a good time to visit St. Louis as the temperatures are quite unfavourable. However, do not miss their Mardi Gras celebrations which take place in March. It is the second-best in the country after New Orleans. You will also get a good deal on hotel bookings in St. Louis during this time. Besides, the month also sees a drop in temperatures as the city starts to make room for spring. Speaking of which, April and May are also a good time to visit the city as the weather is very tourist-friendly and the city rings in various interesting festivals that cater to audiences with multitudes of interests.

Places to visit in St. Louis

The city of St. Louis has a diverse range of places that you can visit. They start from beautiful museums to amazing parks. The first place that you can start with is the Gateway Arch. It is the pride of St. Louis as it takes tourists through the history of the city. Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis is another lovely structure that you would like to visit. It has a very neo-Byzantine Roman Catholic architecture. The Saint Louis Zoo is another lovely place where you can hang out and check out the plethora of wild animals such as sloths, tarantulas, gators, armadillos, penguins and more. The Saint Louis Art Museum is a good place to be marvelled by the art exhibits. There are over 34,000 works of artefacts that will amaze you. Saint Louis Science Centre is another fun place where you can revel in the exhibits of animals, skyscrapers, space and more. The Missouri Civil War Museum is an important place that you should visit as it retells the history of the Civil War and St. Louis' role in the conflict.

Things to do in St. Louis

The Forest Park of St. Louis gives New York City's Central Park a fierce competition for being a gigantic green estate. The place has many recreational activities such as fishing, museums, trekking trails and more. Since the garden is over 500 acres in area, there are too many things that can be done. Trekking, fishing, boating, a golf course, zoo, attending concerts, are some of the things that can be done in the park. You would not be bored here. In case it is all too much of work to do, you can simply lay on the grass and enjoy the St. Louis sun. Grant's Farm has historical significance as it was built by Civil War general Ulysses S. Grant. The farm has alpacas and more such cattle. The Missouri Botanical Garden is a fun place where you can check out the limestone cave as well as sit atop a treehouse. The place certainly stands tall as one of the attractions in the city. The Bush Stadium is very famous as you will get to experience St. Louisians cheer for their favourite baseball team. Indulging in the food culture of St. Louis is a must-try.

Food and restaurants in St. Louis

St. Louis is a multicultural haven with a vibrant and thriving food culture. From Bosnian delicacies to Italian treats, you will find many styles and cuisines of multiethnic backgrounds. In fact, it is actually recommended that you peruse through the Explore St. Louis Neighbourhoods page before stepping out for chow time. It would also help to ask around to get some good recommendations for food in the city. Because of its plethora of options, it is essential that you find the ideal establishment that works with your sensibilities. Since the city does have famous dishes including their own rendition of St. Louis-style barbeque and ribs, it would be nice to first list out what you want to eat and what your options are. You can start your food rendezvous in the city by opting for a classic deli sandwich from Blues City Deli. It is located in Benton Park and makes the most sumptuous and succulent sandwiches. You can also check out Adriana's on the Hill for variety in the sandwich business

Stacked STL also has a good recipe of American food that would cater to your gastronomical needs. To indulge in the classic St. Louis style food, including barbecued meat and ribs, Bogart's Smokehouse and Pappy's Smokehouse would be the best. They do know how to grill their meat and serve a generous spread. The city also has an interesting melange of Italian and Bosnian cuisine that has often caught the fancy of tourists. For a traditional Italian food rendezvous, you can visit Charlie Gitto's and Zia's on the Hill, both located in the Hill District. They are recognised for their exquisite ravioli with a twist of toast. The meat-filled pastas that are panfried make for a wholesome meal. The city's Bosnian food establishments are located five miles outside the centre. At the Grbic Restaurant & Events, you can sink your teeth in their celebrated grilled beef sausages and rolls. Other places that are a must-visit in St. Louis include Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Gioia's Deli, Roberto's Trattoria and Chophouse, The Crossing and Eleven Eleven Mississippi.

How to reach St. Louis

St. Louis is much in the interiors of the United States and hence, requires some layovers and flight changes. There are no direct flights to St. Louis from India, and it requires a bunch of flight changes and even layovers with long durations. However, the good news is that flight connectivity to St. Louis from Indian cities is quite good. There are a bunch of airlines that offer services to connect Indian cities to St. Louis. Airlines such as Lufthansa, United Airlines, British Airways, Air France, Delta Air Lines, to name a few, have flights to St. Louis from India. The best part about these airlines is that they only have layovers and there is no change of flights required. The most popular route to St. Louis is from Germany. Many of these airlines have layovers in Munich and Frankfurt. Since the layovers are in European cities, they require Schengen transit visas. Applying for a transit visa is very easy as you need to get in touch with the embassy or fill up an online form. It is easy to get hold of a transit visa. Often the layovers in the European airports are quite long.

The flight duration to St. Louis from India is a little time-consuming as the city is in Central America. Due to this, airlines require a second layover in cities within the US. Domestic routes are used to connect flights to St. Louis. The flight duration is close to 26 hours, and the flight tickets are also quite expensive. Finding a cheap flight ticket to St. Louis would be the dream. However, due to the distance and the multiple layovers, the ticket prices to St. Louis from India are often very expensive. You could always opt for making advance booking of flights to St. Louis to be eligible for an online discount. It would be best to use this method as you will have plenty of time to find flights and deals too that would give you discounts on flights to St. Louis. You can also make your hotel reservations in St. Louis while booking flights. Combining the two might help you snag some decent deals online. You could also use up some miles, if you have been collecting them, as a trip to St. Louis could use some miles to save on money.

  About Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airlines, popularly stylised as brussels airlines, is the flag carrier as well as the largest airline of Belgium. The airline has its headquarters at Brussels Airport and is part of the Star Alliance and International Air Transport Association. Brussels Airlines came into existence in 2006, following a merger between SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express. Prior to the merger, Belgium had the Societé Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne or SABENA which functioned as the flag carrier. However, after filing for bankruptcy in 2001, the airlines gave birth to SN Brussels Airlines, which took over parts of the shares from SABENA's assets in 2002. However, after yet another merger with Virgin Express, the airlines transformed into Brussels Airlines, the official flag carrier for the country. Operations of Brussels Airlines commenced in 2007 from Brussels Airport. In 2008, Lufthansa announced that it plans to acquire about 45 per cent stakes in the airlines. With the deal signed, Lufthansa also added a clause to make Brussels Airlines join the airline alliance, Star Alliance.

Soon in 2008, the International Civil Aviation Organization code for Brussels Airlines also changed from DAT to BEL. Lufthansa's proposal to acquire 45 per cent shares in the company went through in 2009 and eventually took up the rest 55 per cent in 2017. Brussels Airlines has expressed much of social interest towards African countries. They have even undertaken a few projects as part of their venture to enable uplifting the lives of people from the third-world nations. In 2009, the airlines stated that they would be working on coming up with a new airline called Korongo at Lubumbashi in Congo. The project kicked off in 2012 but soon shut down in 2015. This was a result of disagreement with Hewa Bora, the national airline for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Brussels Airlines has its registered office located at Elsene-Ixelles, Brussels. The airline is almost wholly owned by SN Air holding, a Belgian holding company. Meanwhile, Lufthansa holds 100 per cent shares of SN Air holding since 2017. According to the original deal formed between the airlines and Lufthansa, the German company would hold 45 per cent in the genesis of the airline while the remaining 55 per cent shall be acquired later. The same was implemented in 2017. After taking over all the shares in the airlines, Lufthansa also appointed Dieter Vranckx to take over roles and responsibilities from Christina Foerster as the CEO of Brussels Airlines. The airlines launched a few special liveries with Belgian Icon on its Airbus A320 fleet, representing a Rackham (a Tintin-themed aircraft), Magritte (an ode to the artist René Magritte), Trident (dedicated to the national football team of Belgian) and Amare (Tomorrowland Festival). In 2018, the airline also introduced a peppy aircraft with The Smurfs as its theme. Additionally, they also added an aircraft reserved for Flemish painter Bruegel.

Fleet size of Brussels Airlines

As of 2020, Brussels Airlines operates an all-Airbus fleet with 52 aircraft. Currently, the airline's fleet is dominated by Airbus A310-100 with about 22 aircraft and 16 Airbus A320-200. Out of all the flights in Brussels Airlines' fleet, they also have one aircraft with Star Alliance livery painted on it. Meanwhile, six of them are painted with the Belgian Icons liveries. Earlier, Brussels Airlines operated six British Aerospace 146s. However, they were withdrawn in 2008. Later in 2010, the airline included two Airbus A319-100s in its fleet. Airbus A320-200 became the first aircraft to join in 2011 with its first commercial flight taking off the same year. Brussels Airlines' fleet continued to expand following 2011 as the revenue from flights increased while the airline did rapidly cut costs. They further added six Airbus A319s, four Airbus A320s and two Airbus A330-200s. With this, they managed to get Boeing aircraft out of the fleet completely. In 2016, Brussels Airlines also started phasing out Avro RJ100 to replace them with more Airbus aircraft.

Brussels Airlines Baggage Allowance

Brussels Airlines follows a strict baggage allowance protocol. The airline makes sure to carry the set number of baggage for checked as well as hand luggage. For checked baggage, the airline requires the passenger to carry not more than 32 kg, which is a standard allowance that includes 23 kg for checked baggage and 9 kg of possible overweight. This is also the standard weight for business class travellers' luggage. The maximum dimensions should be no more than 158 cm and include wheels, pockets and handles. The checked baggage counter will help the passengers with their excess baggage woes if that does happen. The same can be found on their airline's baggage calculator that is present on their website. Some of the restrictions that one needs to adhere to while packing the checked baggage includes not carrying power banks, e-bikes, spare batteries, segways, hoverboards, drones and cameras and smart bags. You might also need to carry some of the fragile and perishable items along with you on board. These would include musical instruments, sports equipment, medical equipment and more.

There is a total of 2 hand baggage that are allowed for business class travellers. Out of this, the airline also allows an additional small bag that can carry a laptop or accessories in the handbag. The weight of the hand luggage cannot exceed 16 kg for business class travellers. As for the economy class, the airline allows one hand baggage and one personal accessory bag. The weight of these two bags collectively cannot exceed 12 kg. The airline's website also has a baggage calculator to help the passengers figure out how they can reduce the weight of their baggage. The maximum dimension of the bag for the overhead bin cannot exceed 55cm x 40cm x 23cm. The personal accessory bag should not exceed 40cm x 30cm x 10cm. The airline has limited space in the overhead bin, and hence all passenger should follow the protocol. Also, the size of the hand accessory should fit under the seat. Valuable items such as identity documents, medication and travel details should be carried in it.

Brussels Airlines In-flight services

Frequent-flyer programmes - Brussels Airlines is recognised to follow Miles & More programme which is a frequent flyer programme by Lufthansa. Miles can be earned on specific flights that are operated by the airlines and who are also part of the programme. Additionally, the flights that are operated under Star Alliance airlines can also earn the frequent flyer miles. Part of Brussels Airlines' deal is that the passengers can earn miles with non-airline partners too. The miles programme commenced in 2009, and since then, there have been many passengers and members who have raked in tremendous perks and in-flight benefits from Brussels Airlines. Their miles programme is quite beneficial as travellers can upgrade their cabin class and even rake in complimentary meals and lounge access at various international airports. Not to mention how some of the in-flight services at Brussels Airlines that economy class passengers cannot avail concerning baggage allowance and more become easier to access. Along with this, the airlines also provide perks through their customer programme called LOOP.

In-flight entertainment - The airlines offers two in-flight magazines that cater to the European network as well as the African network. Since the airline majorly caters to these two continents, the magazine's audience is predominantly European and African. The two magazines are called b-there! and B Spirit Magazine. They can be availed via PDF format on their respective websites but can also be downloaded on Apple iPad.

Other in-flight services - Brussels Airlines has some impeccable in-flight services to ensure the journey of travellers is comfortable. Flights that are North American or sub-Sahara African bound have exquisite movies, music and other entertainment available on the flight. The airline also offers a slew of good leather seating that caters to the comfort of the travellers. The legroom is also quite decent and perfect for those who have travelling woes, owing to the lack of leg space. The recline of the seats are also quite decent to help the passenger feel comfortable. There are provisions of USB ports on the seat for passengers to charge their phones, tablets and other electronic devices. There are meals onboard where the passengers are blessed with some traditional Belgian delicacies courtesy some of the star chefs from the country. There are light meal menus available such as a muffin and coffee.

Popular routes and top cities for Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airlines majorly caters to domestic routes in Europe with an immaculate network. However, the airline also connects to international routes in the African and parts of Middle East cities. Some of the top cities include Toronto, Prague, Parsi, Nice, Lyon, Berlin, Athens, Mykonos, Rome, Nairobi, Riga, Oslo, Saint Petersburg, Madrid, Stockholm, London, New York City and Washington DC.

Why travel by Brussels Airlines?

Brussels Airlines is ideal for travelling in Europe. If you do plan to reach some of the cities in the EU Union, Brussels Airlines is perfect. You can book a Brussels Airlines flight on all travel platforms, even in their codeshare airlines. Further, you can find out updates on the flight status and Brussels Airlines' flight schedule on their website. Web check-in is also a provision available on their site that makes it ideal.