Cairo to Vadodara Flights

  About Cairo

Egypt's capital and one of the largest cities in Africa, Cairo, is a favourite among tourists. The country of Egypt, with its deserts, might not attract a lot of tourists. However, the rich backstory and culture of Cairo ensure to keep the tourism industry thriving. Some of the famous and finest attractions of Egypt, such as the Great Sphinx and Giza Pyramids, are all located in Cairo. This automatically brings tourists to the capital city. While the city has some exquisite highlights, it suffers from the perils of pollution caused by excess population. It is one of the busiest cities in Egypt as it caters to the financial, economic and cultural sectors. Throughout the city, Cairo invites tourists to visit their beautiful city and drown in its serenity.

Despite all the chaos of the city and its culture, a traveller can find solace in some of its quaint cafes. Finding these cafes and restaurants would be a task as the city is always bustling with barely any corners to hide for tranquillity. The city streets are always bombarded with tourists and street vendors keeping the vibe as vibrant as possible. The city is surrounded by desert but has a rich history which intrigues many travellers. In fact, Cairo also has gorgeous bars and restaurants that could get a tourist's attention.

Best time to visit Cairo

As a desert, it is essential to know the months when the temperatures would be inviting for a tourist. In Cairo, March and April are a great time to visit the archaic city. The winter clouds start to evaporate while the city is blessed with springtime. The temperatures are also quite decent between 23 degree Celsius to 28 degree Celsius. With such temperatures, the winter breeze continues to traverse within the city, adding more charm to the trip. Although the hotel prices don't drop while the temperatures rise in the city, you can still afford them. As long as you book your hotel rooms in Cairo, three to four weeks in advance, you will be able to get some nice deals on hotels. The same goes for flight tickets to Cairo as well. The city does witness a good number of tourists during springtime because of some of the festivals that are held in the city. From the Ismailia International Film Festival to Cairo Fashion Week, these events are significant tourist attractions.

Another good stretch of months that you can opt for is the fall, between October and November. The weather goes through an interesting transition where the summer heat starts to cower while the cold winter atmosphere starts to take over. The desert city is wonderful during this time, and it also hosts more festivals that would appeal to the likes of tourists. Events namely, Cairo International Film Festival and 100 Kilometer Pharaonic Race, are some highlights that the city witnesses. This is definitely one of the ideal times to visit Cairo as everything about the city would be appealing to you.

Between December and February, the city engages more tourists within the city. The weather is ideal for those who wish to experience the desert weather. The days are hot, while the nights are cool. Due to these months being peak season, some of Cairo's tourist attractions see long queues and surge in the hotel prices. Best way to deal with this and the exorbitant hotel prices would be to make hotel reservations to Cairo in advance. A month or two in advance would be ideal as the chances of availability are high.

Place to visit in Cairo

At Cairo, the two tourist attractions that take the cake are Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. However, don't limit yourself to just two of those monuments. The city is literally a treasure trove of archaeological sites, ruins and relics. You will not be bored by any of their highlights as they all have some really intriguing tales. Sites such as Dahshur, Saqqara and Memphis are a few that you can explore, maybe not excavate. There are many religious sites too that add more charm to the city's archaic vibe. Coptic Cairo or Old City is one such neighbourhood that will pique your interest. As will Islamic Cairo, again a neighbourhood with a labyrinth of twisted alleyways and jaw-dropping architecture. The Egyptian Museum will actually be a good place for you to start before exploring the rest of Cairo. Much of the country's history and cultural insights are all locked up in the museum, which will further help you understand their monuments better. Saqqara is also an interesting site where you will get to see the Step Pyramid of Djoser, known to be the oldest pyramid made of stone.

Things to do in Cairo

Stepping away from all the historical sites, you can take a day off and relax at Al Azhar Park. It's quite the oasis of Cairo with lush green grasses and a beautiful sight of the city. The best thing you can do in Cairo is to learn more about their history. Camel safaris and relishing good food are also some of the other things that you can do. While the city is noisy and crowded, you should still opt to take a stroll around it. You will be surprised by the beautiful architecture and quaint segments. The Bazaar is another place you should hang out at for souvenirs, spices, artefacts and more. It will be quite an experience to make way through the bustling marketplace.

Food and restaurants in Cairo

As the city centre, Cairo does cater to various franchises of the world, including Pizza Hut, Burger King and McDonald's. The city also offers some of the finest cuisines from around the world such as Thai food, European and Mediterranean and Japanese, to name a few. However, they also have their own cuisine to boast. The Egyptian cuisine is very similar to the Middle East, comprising of bread, rice, vegetables and meat. However, thanks to the Nile River, they also indulge in adding fish in their cuisine. Typical restaurants in Cairo that follow the Egyptian cuisine have dishes such as aish baladi (pita bread ft. Egypt), hamam mahshi (pigeon stuffed with rice or wheat), mouloukhiya (rabbit stew or chicken stew with flavours of garlic and mallow), kushari (a wholesome mix of rice, macaroni, vermicelli, spaghetti, black lentils topped with tomato, garlic and chilli sauce), etc. Wholesome is the word to describe their meals as they do make you feel happy and satiated. While you're in the city, do not miss Ta'meya, which is basically Egyptian falafel made from fava beans.

To experience the best of Egyptian food, you should head to Abou El Sid, Sequoia, Felfela, Sabya and more. Al Khal Egyptian restaurant, Osmanly, Bab Al Qasr are also some restaurants in the city where you will find flavours of Egyptian culture. Since the city also has popular cuisine from around the world, you won't have to gorge down Egyptian meals. Even in Egypt, thanks to the river Nile, you can get the best of Japanese sushi at Shogun or Thai delicacies at Birdcage. As the city also has Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine to offer, overall, the food culture is quite impressive. You certainly wouldn't be bored with the food here as they cater to much of your moods.

How to reach Cairo

By Air

From India, the best way to reach Egypt would be to fly to Cairo. Major cities in India, such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, have flights to Cairo. There are two international airports in Egypt, in Cairo as well as Luxor. Before making your Egypt trip, it is essential for you to first list out your itinerary. Once you know what your trip's going to look like, accordingly, you can book your round trip flight tickets to Cairo or Luxor. In terms of flight deals to Cairo, it would be best to book round trips as that would give you a plethora of cheap flight ticket options. International airlines such as Lufthansa, Swiss, Singapore Airlines, Etihad and more are available and fly from India.

From the metro cities in India, there are regular flights to Cairo. However, for nonstop flights to Cairo without layovers or connecting flights, you should travel from Mumbai. There are three dedicated nonstop flights flying to Cairo from Mumbai. The flight duration to Cairo from Mumbai is comparatively less too, making travelling convenient. While you are finding the best international routes to Cairo from India, you should also take a peek at the accommodations. Since there are some lavish settings and basic but decent hotels in Cairo, you should book a room in Cairo while booking your flights.

By Road

Although there are road routes connecting Cairo and India, they come with some political concerns. The international route to Cairo from India passes through Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, parts of Jordan and Israel to reach Egypt eventually. While a road trip is possible, passing through these countries would be next to impossible. Hence, this is not a viable or recommended way to reach Cairo. Instead, flying to Cairo is ideal and comes with fewer concerns.

  About Vadodara

Vadodara, earlier known as Baroda, is a flourishing city in the state of Gujarat. The city is nestled on the banks of the river Vishwamitri and close to NH 48 (renumbered from 8) which connects Mumbai and Delhi. Over the years, Vadodara has seen extreme infrastructural growth. Be it their extensive airport or the tourist attractions within the city, Vadodara has managed to climb up the ranks to be one of the cleanest cities in India. In fact, after Kochi, Vadodara is the second airport in India to have acquired a sustainable energy source, which makes it a green airport. Travelling to the city is quite easy as the flight connectivity to Vadodara or even rail and roadway has an excellent network.

The city is quite famous and sees tremendous tourists flocking over during weekends for a break. Aside from the beautiful structures and tourist attractions, the city also has great staycation options. You can book hotels in Vadodara for reasonable costs and benefit from their top-notch hospitality and services. The food culture of Vadodara is something that is worth talking about as it brings together a global fusion cuisine.

Best time to visit in Vadodara

Vadodara witnesses the hottest summers. In fact, it is said that the summers in Vadodara are the hottest in the entire country. Knowing this should be enough for you to contemplate whether to visit Vadodara during summer or to avoid it. The temperatures sometimes go up to 42 degree Celsius which could be too much for some people to handle. The months between April to July see the hottest temperatures. Often people are unable to leave their houses too because of the heat and the health problems that follow. It is not surprising that the flight tickets to Vadodara are quite cheap and affordable during this season. Even the accommodation scenes are affordable with hotel bookings in Vadodara dropping room charges. Unless you have the strength to deal with the harsh rays of the sun, venturing to the city is not a good option.

The city does experience monsoon as well, but it is quite moderate. However, because of the rains, the terrain becomes cool and the atmosphere, a lot more bearable. The months from July to September see temperatures ranging from 24 degree Celsius to 38 degree Celsius. While it is still on the hotter side, the air and vibe turn more agreeable. The city does not see excess rainfall so that the moderate showers wouldn't affect your travel plans.

Winters are the best in Vadodara. The city is comparatively colder and has a very refreshing environment. With temperatures between 15 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius, the city air turns pleasant. Even the winter sun is soothing and manages to put a smile on everyone's faces. October to March undoubtedly have the best weather in Vadodara. Not to mention how the months also come with festivals. From Navratri to Diwali, the festivities make the city vibrant with decorations and lit ambience. You can indulge in wearing Navratri clothes and perform Garba in the city. Also, you can taste undhiyu, a dish popularly made only during the winter season by Gujaratis. Overall, the place certainly turns into a lovely carnival. The flight to Vadodara and hotel bookings in the city automatically spike up with the peak season. However, with a little more scouting on the internet, you will be able to find some amazing online flight deals to Vadodara.

Places to visit in Vadodara

With its agreeable temperatures during winter, Vadodara has some lovely places that should be checked out. There are green gardens in the city that would definitely blow your mind. You can check out the Makarpura Palace, Sayaji Garden, Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery, Sur Sagar Lake, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Nyaya Mandir, Laxmi Vilas Palace, Jambughoda Wild Life Sanctuary, Champaner and Kirti Mandir. As a city that is constantly rooting towards expansion and development, Vadodara is also acknowledged as one of the cleanest cities in India.

Things to do in Vadodara

Vadodara has some of the best gardens and parks in the city. From the famous Kabirwad to the colourful Ajwa Nimeta Dam Garden, these places are lit with exquisite maintenance. Theme parks such as Ajwa Fun World and S Cube Water Park are also cool places to unwind with the family. As for those who wish to be close to nature, you can head to the Zarwani and Hathini Waterfalls. When in the city, you must check out the Narmada Canal, which is an impressive structure.

Food and Restaurants in Vadodara

One can never go to Gujarat and not have their celebrated cuisine. Gujarati food is known to be one of the best and the Gujaratis, food connoisseurs. The state's city Vadodara is no different to this idea. Aside from catering to the diverse range of tourists and visitors, Vadodara also propagates their vegetarian food, Gujarati thalis and fascinating delicacies. Most of Gujarat follows a vegetarian diet and hence, is tough to find non-vegetarian food joints. However, here in Vadodara, you will find a handful of restaurants that serve mouth-watering non-vegetarian dishes that would make you a happy person.

At the city's barbecue junction, The Barbeque Grill, you will find some well-cooked Mughlai cuisine with kebabs, biryanis and other such dishes. Plus, they do have a buffet system too. Sasumaa's Gujarati thali is famous across the state. This chain of restaurants only have Gujarati thalis, and they are all you need to get the best of the cuisine. Not to mention how hospitable the staff is that it would further enhance your experience. Vadodara also has provision for global cuisine such as Mexican, Chinese and more. You should visit Salsa Habanero to get the best of Mexican flavours in the city. The chef of the restaurant was raised in California and surrounded by Mexican cuisine, which brought about this institution.

Some of the other places in Vadodara that should be visited include Azure, Mandap, Peshawari, Kai Asia, 22nd Parallel and San's Sizzlers. If you do manage to get time aside from checking out these restaurants, it is recommended that you also check out the street food culture of Vadodara. You will be surprised by their active food scenes on the streets.

How to reach Vadodara (Transportation)

By Air

Vadodara Airport is located 6.2 km away from the main city of Vadodara. After Ahmedabad and Surat, Vadodara is the third busiest airport in the state. The airport is touted to be the cleanest in the whole country. Interestingly, the airport recently inaugurated its international terminal and has since been witnessing a tremendous surge in passenger footfall. The flight connectivity to Vadodara is excellent as various major cities have dedicated flights flying in and out of the city. Flying to Vadodara easily becomes the best option as there are many flights to Vadodara from cities like Mumbai and Delhi. Not to mention how the flight connectivity to and from Vadodara enables easier transportation for travellers. Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo have designated flights to Vadodara from Bangalore, Delhi, Indore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and more. The fact that the airport is clean and has top-notch facilities further makes it a favoured option. You can book flight tickets to Vadodara at a reasonable price, irrespective of whether it is peak season or off-season. Plus, the city has exquisite accommodation too. You can book fancy hotels in Vadodara and enhance your trip experience.

By Rail

Vadodara railway station is just as well-connected as the flights to Vadodara. You can simply travel to the city in Gujarat from anywhere in India. The railway station is known to be the biggest one in the western railways belt. The city's railway station has excellent connectivity with several domestic routes connected to Vadodara. The railway station witnesses various express trains from corners of India. Some of the regular express trains include the Howrah-Ahmedabad Express and Navjivan Express. However, it is best to book tickets to Vadodara well in advance, owing to the popularity of the place. From the railway station, you can easily venture around in the city, which is perfectly connected thanks to the auto-rickshaw, buses and cab services. You can even book a hotel in Vadodara's city centre area and be assured that transit would be convenient.

By Road

Many tourists opt for roadways to travel to Vadodara. The highways and domestic routes connecting Vadodara to other big cities are extremely immaculate. The highways and roads are regularly maintained to ensure that the aesthetic beauty remains intact. This has given many travellers the option to take up road trips to the city. Even bus rides to Vadodara are good as the scenic views, and travel duration is decent. If you do have a budget issue and need to save enough money to book a hotel in Vadodara, then you should opt for bus travel. They are comfortable and will lead you directly to the city centre. Here, close to the bus stand, you will find many accommodation options that would help with your wallet.

  About Vadodara Airport

Vadodara Airport, also known by the name, Civil Airport Harni, is situated in the suburb of Harni, which is in the north-east of Vadodara, Gujarat. The city is the third largest in the state of Gujarat in terms of population. The city follows Ahmedabad and Surat in the list of populated cities in the state. Vadodara was originally a domestic airport which recently received the stature of an international airport. Vadodara Airport has started operations of international flights. Additionally, the airport also has its state-of-the-art Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) facility.

About Vadodara Airport terminals

Vadodara Airport has one domestic terminal which has been named after the Maharaja of Baroda State. The terminal's decor has been inspired by the architectural nuances of mixed styles ranging from Gujarati to dome-shaped roofs, etc. As the airport is small, so is the terminal. It cannot accommodate a large throng of passengers and barely manages 250 in an hour. Hence, to expand the capacity of the terminal and to incorporate international flight operations, the airport announced to construct a new integrated terminal building in the vicinity. A competition to design the new terminal was introduced on an international scale. Following this, a US-based consortium Gensler, Frederic Schwartz Architects and Creative Group from India bagged the project to design the new terminal. Works to accommodate the new integrated terminal commenced in 2009 as the foundation was laid.

After nearly seven years of construction work, the terminal was completed and inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, in the same year. The new integrated terminal sprawls across an area of 18,120 square metres and can accommodate about 700 passengers in an hour. Other features of the terminal include 18 check-in counters as well as a night parking facility. The parking bay can accommodate close to nine Airbus A320s and Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This has enabled a reduction in the burden at Mumbai Airport (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) and Ahmedabad Airport (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport). It has also made it economical for several airlines. Presently, Vadodara Airport does not accommodate cargo. It is also recognised as the second airport in the country, after Cochin International Airport, to be a green airport. In fact, the airport's new integrated terminal also holds a global record for being the only airport with the longest single sheet rooftop which measures about 164.2 metres.

About Airport Authority

The airport is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India. The statutory body, which functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, has been founded to cater to the upgradations, maintenance and management of various civil aviation infrastructure in the country. It is thanks to the work of the Airports Authority of India that Vadodara Airport has managed to expand its airport terminals and to accommodate both domestic and international flights. In fact, the exemplary work of the AAI has enabled Vadodara Airport to bag the Swachh Bharat Award for being one of the cleanest and safest airports in the category of airports that can accommodate passenger capacity of 1.5 million. As part of the expansion plans, Airports Authority of India has brought Vadodara Airport in the maps of one of the most accomplished and well-developed airports in India.

Facilities at the Vadodara Airport

Wheelchair accessibility – You can request for a wheelchair with your airline, and the airport would cater to the same.

Medical facility – Vadodara Airport has a designated team of medical professionals to deal with emergency cases that might crop up at the airport premise. They are trained doctors and professionals. Medical rooms are also present as are pharmacies.

Restaurants and cafes – There are quaint cafes and restaurants installed in the airport premise. They can be found in the departure sections of the airport. Smaller joints and food establishments can also be found in the arrivals section. For tea, coffee and other such beverages, you can check out some joints located in the airport.

Baggage – The baggage services at the airport include trolleys and porter systems. You can ask for a porter service, wherein an airport staff would escort your trolley of luggage and even get the security checks done on your behalf. Trolleys are available outside the airport as well as in the airport premise.

Shops – There are small shops also present at the airport premise. You can find some impeccable paintings, books, magazines, artefacts and souvenirs at these shops. They basically glorify the culture of Gujarat and also have exquisite ethnic items that you could purchase. In fact, for passengers who need to pass their time at the airport can actually visit these shops and be entertained by the lovely collection of items that they have for sale.

Lounge – The airport has a luxury lounge present in the departure section of the terminal. The lounge can be accessed by passengers who have special passes or a certain ticket type. As for others who wish to spend time in the lounge and enjoy their benefits, the airport has tariffs that the passengers will need to pay to get access to the space. There are TV sets, WiFi services, good hospitality and great lounge seats available in the lounge.

Special assistance – There are special assistance services that have been reserved for senior citizens and passengers with disabilities. These services can be availed at the airport. It is recommended that the passenger inform the airlines prior to the journey. The airport will be able to accommodate the necessary services and trained staff to cater to the same.

Smoking zones – Vadodara Airport has strict laws against smoking and to make sure that the protocols to not smoke in public are followed, they have installed zones in the premise. The airport has designated smoking zones for passengers to avail. These spaces also have cigarettes for sale. The smoking lounges are kept clean and sanitised with fresh air being pumped at every interval.

Top airlines flying from Vadodara Airport

Vadodara is a big city within the borders of Gujarat. However, it does not have excellent connectivity with other Indian cities. As an airport that only caters to domestic flights, Vadodara Airport accommodates operations of airlines namely Air India and IndiGo. These airlines fly to cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore, to name a few.

How to reach Vadodara Airport

By Bus and taxi

Vadodara as a city is perfectly connected with several modes of transportation. The airport is also just as well-connected as it is very close to the city centre. You can opt for buses to reach Vadodara Airport. There are designated bus stops available in proximity to the airport. These buses can be taken from anywhere around the city. As one of the important cities in Gujarat, Vadodara's bus services are handled by the state government. Hence, the connectivity is immaculate. Aside from the buses, you can also reach Vadodara Airport by hailing a taxi cab. There are provisions of the same in the city. In fact, you can also opt for car rentals and travel in the same to reach Vadodara Airport.

By Rail

Baroda Railway Station is barely five kilometres from Vadodara Airport. Hence, if you are travelling from neighbouring towns by train and have a flight to catch from Vadodara Airport, the best way to reach would be by getting a rickshaw or taxi ride from the railway station. As it is in the city centre, you can easily find taxi cabs and rickshaws at the Baroda Railway Station to reach Vadodara Airport. It would take you about 15 minutes to reach Vadodara Airport from the railway station. Hopefully, if there is not much traffic on the street, the travel duration would further be reduced. The road conditions are rather conducive.

About Vadodara

Vadodara, popularly known as Baroda, is the third-most populous city in the state of Gujarat. The city is named after the presence of Banyan (Vad), that grow and flourish in the city. Vadodara is perched atop the banks of the Vishwamitri River and is roughly 120 km away from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Vadodara's proximity to the Tropic of Cancer has enabled the city to have a tropical climate at all times. It is extremely hot and often deals with scorching summers too. Although the city witnesses tremendous passenger traffic owing to the industrial establishments, there are dedicated peak months when you can visit Vadodara.

The best time to visit the city is from March to April. It is considerably hot and humid, but the heat is bearable. The city is blessed with lovely temples and exquisite palaces and historic structures. In fact, it is even recognised as the cultural capital of Gujarat. Thanks to these attractions, the city witnesses tremendous tourist action. Some of the highlights of the city include the Lakshmi Vilas Palace which is the residence of Baroda Stat's Maratha regal family, the Gaekwads, from the Gaekwad Dynasty. Vadodara is home to the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. The city is heavily invested in various power and oil and gas corporations.