Budapest to Sydney Finnair 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 Sydney

Located in New South Wales is the city of Sydney, one of the largest cities in Australia. The city is famously known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, originally designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. The structure was eventually finished by an Australian team of architects. The city has massive harbours that connect with many Asian and Oceania countries.

Best time to visit Sydney

Sydney has two diverse seasons which are perfect for a trip. From September to November and March through May, the temperatures are very amiable, especially for tourists. For Sydney, the peak tourist season is between December to February as the temperature ranges between25 degree Celsius to 26 degree Celsius. Not only is the summer pleasant but also tourist-friendly. However, it does come with a cost, that being the expensive flight and hotel costs in Sydney. The temperatures are warm enough for Australians to flock over to the continent's capital, but for an outsider, the prices could be quite steep. Hence, the months leading up to the summer and the ones leading up to winter are ideal for tourists with a budget constraint. Between September and November, the number of tourists in the city is considerably less, giving you ample time and space to soak in the beautiful city's spirits. Plus, the season also brings some amazing festivities such as Sydney Fringe Festival, Night Noodle Markets, Taste of Sydney, Sculpture by the Sea and Festival of the Winds. The events are undoubtedly perfect for invoking the foodie in you.

Similarly, even March through May sees alluring weather with decent temperatures and fewer tourists. With less crowd, the city certainly brings a whole new vibe that would go well with tourists who prefer solitude. Not just the temperatures but even the number of tourists starts to drop during these months while the city prepares to welcome the winters. For those who wish to make the most of the season and have a liking towards the wildlife, you will also enjoy this time. It is known to be the start of the whale-watching season in Sydney, and if you're interested in something like this, then you should plan your trip according to this time. Sydney also rings in some lovely events and festivals such as Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia, Sydney Royal Easter Show, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival and Vivid Sydney, to name a few. The city bustles with vivacity during this period, and you would thoroughly enjoy being part of all the fanfare. Plus, the additional perk of choosing this season is a drop in the hotel and flight ticket prices. You can book your flights to Sydney as well as accommodations without worrying about exorbitant costs.

Places to visit in Sydney

Sydney's primary location for tourists to head is either the Sydney Harbour or the Bondi beach, but there are far too many things that should also be explored in the city. You can actually start with the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which is quite close to the Opera House. Since the area brims with many tourist attractions, it is the best way to kick off the tour. From the bridge, you can further head to check out the harbour. It is touted to be the most beautiful harbour in the entire world right now. Through the harbour, you can swing past the Sydney Opera House. It would be something to actually get tickets to a show at the Opera House. For the beach bums, beaches such as Manly Beach, Bondi Beach and Coogee Beach are big highlights. These places are always packed with tourists or even the locals who cannot do without water. Aside from the Sydney Harbour, the Darling Harbour is just as alluring and is located close to the Australian National Maritime Museum. Do not miss out the Royal Botanic Garden, which spews fresh air to the city.

Things to do in Sydney

The best way to spend time in Sydney would be not just to indulge in visiting new places but also to engage in some cruising fun. You can make some prior bookings for a cruise and set off from the Sydney Harbour. The cruise can even take you to the Blue Mountains, which is one of the natural wonders of the world. Further, you can actually book a hotel in the vast green mountains and complete the trip. You can also take up various activities at the beaches from surfing to strolling to sunbathing. Most importantly, do a little gallivanting around the city and find some impeccable food establishments as well as watering holes. If everything seems too much for you to do or if you need a day off to just relax, you can visit The Rocks and opt for a leisure stroll instead of the heart-thumping adventure fun. You can do the same at the Royal Botanic Garden as well.

Food and restaurants in Sydney

Sydney's cuisine is majorly influenced by European and Asian cuisine. Since the country does have many immigrants residing from these continents, the food also celebrates their cultures. The elements from these cultures have brought forth some of the finest food establishments in the city. You will find a sizeable galore of Asian and European dishes in places such as Fortune Village Chinese Restaurant, The Spice Room and Medusa Greek Taverna. These places bring about the finest culinary classics which would definitely be the best to go on your trip. Aside from these, you can also visit more ethnic cuisines that are district specifics, and these include, Little Saigon and Cabramatta in the Italian-rich region of Leichhardt and the famous Chinatown area. While these places do favour international cuisine, you can also go in deep to explore some of the rich and traditional Australian meals.

Despite some of the classic Australian dishes that will be at your perusal, they all do have influences in terms of cooking styles and flavours that go back to the international cultures. You will notice that meat is the base of every dish. The Aussies like to involve meat in all their dishes. It reflects perfectly well with their meals. If you do enjoy variations in meat, you will be happy to know that they have such provisions made. In fact, the cattle business is high in this region due to the constant demand for cattle meat of all kind. Sydney is also high on seafood as it is located close to the harbour. In fact, you can visit Darling Harbour's Cargo Bar, Sydney Opera House's Opera Bar and to get some amazing breakfast at Pancakes on the Rocks. You can further extend your food expedition by visiting the city during their food festivals. From Sydney's Night Noodles Markets to Taste of Sydney, these festivals celebrate food, and you will get to savour the most.

How to reach Sydney

Flight connectivity to Sydney from India is quite good with multitudes of flights flying in and out of the country regularly. However, there are no direct flights that fly to Sydney and requires changing of routes. The most popular route to Sydney from India is via Hong Kong. Airlines such as Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific use the Hong Kong international route to reach Sydney. By flying from these airlines, you will have only one flight to change to reach Sydney. From Hong Kong, you can change flights to Sydney and make it in about 18 hours. The layover in Hong Kong is usually for two hours. There are airlines that take the Singapore route as well to reach Sydney. Airlines such as Qantas Airways and Singapore Airlines use this international route to reach Sydney and have layovers of about an hour or two before they fly from Singapore. The flight duration to Sydney from Mumbai, via the Singapore route, would take approximately 15 to 18 hours to reach. However, sometimes, due to unavailability of direct flights to Sydney from Singapore or Hong Kong could lead the airlines to take a second layover at Melbourne so they can connect to the country's capital.

Travelling to Sydney is rather time-consuming, but the flight tickets are decently priced. If you book your flight tickets to Sydney well in advance, you will be able to enjoy some amazing online flight deals. There might be some discounts for tickets to Sydney, which you can avail as long as you make the right choice of flights and airlines. Make sure that you also book your hotels in Sydney while you're getting your travel sorted. There are a plethora of cheap flights to Sydney that you will find if you peruse through thoroughly. Depending on the season and peak time, the ticket costs will see a spike and drop. You will have to ensure that you make a note of these things before you make your flight bookings. The city has multitudes of options for hotel accommodations. It ranges from ultra-exquisite to cheap and decent, for you to choose from. Again, booking your hotels in Sydney, well in advance will only be beneficial to you as that would give you many offers and deals to enjoy.

  About Finnair

Finnair is the national flag carrier and one of the largest airlines of Finland. The airline's headquarters is at Vantaa, located on the grounds of the Helsinki Airport, which is also the hub of the airline. Finnair, along with its regional subsidiaries, has a monopoly in both, the domestic route and international route travel in the country. The government of Finland is the biggest shareholder in the airline and holds about 55.8 percent of its stakes. Finnair is also one of the members of the Oneworld airline alliance, along with British Airways and American Airlines. In 2017, the airline transported about 11.9 million passengers across 100 European, 7 North American and 20 Asian destinations. By the end of the same year, the airline also employed about 5,918 individuals to join their crew. Finnair is recognised as the sixth oldest airline to continue its operation since its inception. The airline has not witnessed fatal accidents or hull-loss incidents since 1963 and has consistently been listed to be one of the safest airlines in the world for travelling. In 2018, Hamburg aviation security office JACDEC, as well as the aviation magazine Aero International, announced Finnair to be one of the safest airlines in the world.

The airline was founded in 1923 by consul Bruno Lucander. It was started as Aero O/Y, and the company used the code AY. Lucander struck a deal with Junkers Flugzeugwerke AG to provide the airline with a fleet and technical support for the aircraft in return for 50 percent of shares in the airline. In the 1960s, Finnair also joined the jet age bandwagon by accommodating Rolls-Royce Avon-engined aircraft Caravelles to be part of its fleet. They were later exchanged for Pratt and Whitney's JT8D-engined Super Caravelles. Eventually, Finnair managed to get hold of its first US-manufactured jet aircraft, Douglas DC-8. With this, the airline managed to service its first international route with a transatlantic connection to New York in 1969. In 1975, the airline also accommodated its first wide-body aircraft with two DC-10-30 planes. In 1981, Finnair commenced its new international routes to Seattle and Los Angeles. The airline also became the first carrier to fly a non-stop flight from Western Europe to Japan. They used a modified McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30ER in 1983. Before this new route, all flights were required to travel via Moscow to reach Japan as the Soviet airspace had some restrictions. To avoid passing through the Soviet airspace, Finnair actually circumvented the flight route by flying directly from over the North Pole and back through the Bering Strait. The trip took nearly 13 hours.

By 1988, the airline also launched a few more routes such as the Helsinki-Beijing route, making it the first Western European airline to fly non-stop from Europe to China. In 1997, Finnair along with its subsidiaries Kar-Air and Finnaviation became carriers wholly owned by Finnair company. The subsidiaries were integrated with the mainline operations of Finnair, and the airline's company name was officially renamed to Finnair Oyj. Two years later, Finnair became part of the Oneworld airline alliance. In 2003, Finnair also acquired ownership of the Swedish low-cost carrier, FlyNordic, to mainly cater to the Scandinavian belt. Four years later though, the airline sold FlyNordic to the Norwegian Air Shuttle. In the same year, Finnair also became the first airline in the world to order the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft by placing an order for 11 of them. Over the years, the airline has transformed tremendously with additional routes and destinations added to their list. They have also partnered with several companies and airlines, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Chinese JD.com, Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Marimekko.

Fleet size of Finnair

As of 2020, Finnair's fleet size stands at 84 aircraft in service with four orders that are awaiting delivery. Finnair's first narrow-body aircraft was delivered in 1999 by the manufacturer Airbus as Airbus A321 joined the fleet. As per current fleet, the airline has about 19 A321s. The same year, the airline also received its first Airbus A319 aircraft. Currently, the airline is equipped with 11 A319s out of which three have retired. The airline majorly uses its narrow-body fleet for domestic operations as well as for European flights. These include A319, A320 and A321. By 2009, Finnair welcomed its first A330-300 to join its fleet. With this, the airline has managed to accommodate eight Airbus A330-300s. The airline uses the A330s majorly for intercontinental flight operations from Helsinki to cities such as Delhi, New York, Miami, San Francisco, Xi'an, Chicago, Nanjing, Fukuoka, Chongqing, Nagoya and Puerto Plata.

They have also started using the flight for services to cities such as London, Brussels and Malaga. In 2007, the airline announced that it was confirming 11 Airbus A350 orders along with eight aircraft as optional. By 2014, they confirmed that they are extending their contract for additional Airbus A350 which needs to be delivered by 2018. The A350s were planned to be deployed for services to Bangkok, Shanghai and Beijing. As of 2019, along with the three cities mentioned, the airline uses its A350 fleet to connect to Ho Chi Minh City, Los Angeles, Seoul, Singapore, Krabi, Guangzhou, Osaka, Tokyo, Phuket and Puerto Vallarta. They also use it as morning flights to London for extra freight.

Baggage Allowance

Finnair's baggage allowance is pretty neat. For business class flights to or from Asia and intercontinental flights, the airline allows two pieces of baggage that should weigh no more than 32 kg. The dimensions of the baggage should also not extend beyond a total of 158 cm. This rule applies to the economy class cabin and all the ticket types. The economy class cabins allow a checked baggage weight of not more than 23 kg with passengers allowed to carry one piece of baggage. The rules apply to passengers who are travelling from economy flex and classic. Depending on whether you need to purchase extra baggage, the airline needs to be informed beforehand. You will need to purchase extra baggage allowance on their official website or at the check-in counter. Based on your ticket type, the airline would offer you the maximum weight that can be carried.

For hand luggage, Finnair allows two pieces which should be within the dimensions of 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm. One accessory bag is also allowed, which should be within the size of 40 cm x 30 cm x15 cm. The airline allows a maximum combined weight of 10 kg for the carry-on baggage for business class and premium passengers. Keeping the same dimensions in mind, the airline allows a maximum of 8 kg for economy class passengers.

In-flight services

Finnair's in-flight services are unmatched as they offer some of the best facilities onboard. This ranges from the exquisite seating structure to the in-flight entertainment and meals. Passengers can simply relax and enjoy the flight as the entertainment content, and friendly staff provide the best in-flight services.

Popular routes and top cities of Finnair

Finnair caters to a plethora of domestic routes and international routes from its hub in Helsinki. The airline connects with about 130 destinations across 40 countries that are spread out in Europe, Asia and North America. While a majority of big European airlines have developed their main-haul market to be in North America, Finnair has opted for the Asian market. The airline has about 20 destinations in Asia while it serves eight North American cities. Much of Finnair's destinations function on a seasonal basis. However, much recently, they have been switching the destinations to annual operations.

In the domestic route, Finnair has about ten destinations. Few of the domestic operations are undertaken in cooperation with or sometimes completely controlled by Finnair's subsidiary, Nordic Regional Airlines. The airline enjoys a monopoly in its long-haul route operations as there is no direct competition, except for the route to Tokyo. The airline has expressed its intentions to extend its Asian network and add new destinations to its list along with additional flights. The most popular route for Finnair is the Tokyo and Hong Kong international route.

Some of the top cities that Finnair operates to and from include Helsinki, Oulu, Stockholm, London, Paris, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Prague, Vaasa, Kokkola, Turku, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Athens, Santorini, Delhi, Dublin, Milan, Rome, Osaka, Amsterdam, Oslo, Warsaw, Lisbon, Moscow, Barcelona, Geneva, Bangkok, Phuket, Dubai, Los Angeles, New York City and Ho Chi Minh City.

Why travel by Finnair?

Finnair has not just expanded its routes and international destinations but also upgraded some of its in-flight services and facilities to enable a smooth transit for passengers. The airline's website is the perfect place to book a Finnair flight ticket. Further, on the website, services such as web check-ins, updates on flight status and Finnair's flight schedules are also available. Details about the baggage allowance that passengers can carry based on their ticket type are present on the website, but the airline separately explains on the confirmation email too. The airline's web portal has all the necessary information.