Cape Town to Hong Kong Flights

  About Cape Town

Located on the west of South Africa is the second-most populous city and culturally diverse Cape Town. The city is particularly famous for its diverse habitants and a thriving culture. Its urban setting close to the harbour makes it one of the most important cities in South Africa. Tourist spots such as Table Mountain and Cape of Good Hope tend to take up all the attention of tourists for the right reasons. Aside from the beautiful locales that the city is blessed with, the food and lifestyle of the city are exquisite. You will find delectable dishes from all over the world in the best possible global fusion scenario. The city further stands in the frontline as an advocate of climate change mitigation. The city sees an excellent footfall of travellers coming over from various parts of the world.

Best time to visit Cape Town

Cape Town's seasons are a contrast from the Indian months. Unlike how India witnesses summers between March to June, Cape Town sees summer from December to February. The same goes for most of their seasons. Although the summers of Cape Town sees tremendous tourists, it is the autumn month from March to May that is considered to be the best time for tourism. The season comes with several events and festivals, including the wine harvest month. The city easily turns its streets into a carnivalesque theme. During this season, the wineries around Cape Town allow tours and events for tourists to engage in. It is quite the gathering as you get to interact with wine connoisseurs from around the world.

You can also indulge in some of the fun activities by participating in the ones that take place during these tours. The temperature is also at an agreeable 20 degree Celsius to 25 degree Celsius. In the second half of the fall, the hotels start to drop their prices, making accommodation affordable. Festivals and events such as Cape Town Carnival, Infecting the City, Cape Town International Jazz Festival and Constantia Food and Wine Festival are some highlights that take place in March and May. This could be a good time for you to book hotels in Cape Town and relish the vibrant environment.

Not just the fall but even the springtime in Cape Town is quite beautiful. The popular attraction of Cape Town, Table Mountain blooms during this season and the temperature is also very favourable. For budget-travellers, this is the best time to visit the city. The hotel deals in Cape Town during this time is worth nabbing as they come at an affordable rate. Plus, festivals like Cape Town Diwali Festival and Cape Town International Kite Festival also adds to the city's vibrant atmosphere.

Places to visit in Cape Town

Cape Town has an audience for literally everything the city in the city! The biggest attraction in the city, though it has got to be Table Mountain. Towering over the gorgeous city of Cape Town, this place attracts tourists like fire does to moth. It's nestled within the Table Mountain National Park, which also encompasses Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope as some other tourist attractions. You shouldn't miss any of those three as they each possess an interesting backdrop. You also have Camps Bay, which lies on the we3stern edge of Table Mountain. The quaint spot is perfect for soaking in all the cool breeze that the city boasts. In the city, you should walk around the District Six Museum and take a look at the city's compelling history. Bo-Kaap is known for its colourful street and indeed a sight for sore eyes. It is predominantly acquired by descendants of Cape Malays (slaves brought in from Malaysia, Indonesia, parts of African, by the Dutch). In the city, you also have Two Oceans Aquarium, located close to the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The aquarium will blow your mind with the plethora of marine creatures it hosts.

Things to do in Cape Town

Cape Town has far too many things to do as it is quite a vibrant city. However, you can start with a small tour to the Constantia Valley and explore the exquisite vineyard. From crisp whites to robust reds, you will get to witness how some of the finest wines are made in the city. Plus, the mansions where the wine is preserved in barrels is another lovely trip. After some wine tasting, you should also check out some of their restaurants with their abundance of cuisines, styles and flavours at your perusal. The Cape of Good Hope also houses adorable penguins that you can check out. They simply walk the shores of Cape Point and have a good time. As for the ardent shoppers, Greenmarket Square can be your source of entertainment.

Food and Restaurants in Cape Town

The city of Cape Town is a haven for global cuisine and a food-enthusiast. Not only does it entertain the plethora of dishes from around the globe but also caters to the varied tourists who flock over for wanderlust. Cape Town's unique food culture is popular and probably one of the highlights of the city. While there are some dishes that manage to stand out as Cape Town's classic dishes, much of the food is a global fusion. Since Cape Town was under the colonial rule of the Dutch and British, their menu reflects the same in terms of flavours, styles and techniques. Interestingly, Cape Town is also big on Indian food and has reserved a special spot for Indian cuisine. The best part about the city is how it brings together food from around the world and makes for rich food culture. The classic food includes fish and chips, grilled meat (your regular chicken, pork and beef), gatsby (a large sandwich stuffed with an array of meats, sauces and chips), bunny chow (classic South African delicacy made from chicken or beef), bobotie (minced beef mixed with milk and eggs custard) and more. Interestingly, the city also has the best sushi that won't disappoint you.

With so many dishes to try, don't forget to leave room for some dessert. Traditional sweets such as milk tart, koeksisters, malva pudding, etc., deserve your attention. These recipes are quite famous and definitely a good way to end a wholesome meal. To enjoy the best food in Cape Town, you should head to Kalky's, Snnoekies, The Golden Dish, Cosy Corner, Mzoli's Chef's Warehouse, Mzansi, to name a few. You will not run out of restaurants and food joints. Don't just spend time in the fancy restaurants but also check out some of the food joints by the corner of every street. They make just as amazing and delicious food that you'll probably not find elsewhere.

How to reach Cape Town (Transportation)

By Air

After Johannesburg, Cape Town is noted to be the second most popular city in South Africa which sees a great turnout of tourists from around the world. The best way to reach South Africa's Cape Town from India is easily by air. Major cities in India such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore have flights that fly to and from Cape Town. Although there are no direct or nonstop flights that fly from India to Cape Town, these flights mostly have layovers and travellers would often have to rush for connecting flights in the airport terminal. Airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Emirates and South African Airways, Kenya Airways are a few that directly connect to Cape Town. In terms of flight connectivity to Cape Town from India, it is quite decent as there are frequent flights available to the city.

Often the layovers or connecting flights would have to be taken from cities such as Istanbul, Addis Ababa, Dubai Johannesburg and more. The travel duration of flights to Cape Town is quite a lot depending on the international route that you pick. Since there are various options for layovers and routes to Cape Town, often people go for the cheap tickets. From India to Cape Town, flight tickets would be less expensive with more duration. Similarly, for shorter flight duration, the ticket cost of flights to Cape Town would be high-priced. Hence, you will have to be very mindful about your trip to Cape Town. Cheap flight tickets to Cape Town would come at the cost of flight duration.

By Rail

Many travellers often opt for flights to Johannesburg to reach Cape Town. Not only does this enable them to visit two cities during the trip but also check out the famous luxury train from Pretoria. Known to be one of the most opulent rails, Pretoria's domestic rail route connects to Cape Town, but it's a 27 hours long journey. The views through the trip though, along with the luxury of the train's services, is definitely worth the time. You will be pampered by the coach's posh treatment, not to mention how it will also be a good way to meet new people from other nationalities.

  About Hong Kong

Hong Kong is officially a part of the People's Republic of China. The metropolitan city is located on the South China Sea with the eastern Pearl River Delta flowing within the city. Hong Kong is one of the biggest and influential cities in the world for its stupendous stand in the global finance list. In fact, the city stands at the sixth position in the list of Global Financial Centres Index. Adorned with exquisite skyscrapers and lush lifestyle, the prosperous city is also a hub for tourism.

Various tourists flock over from different parts of the world to indulge in the fancy lifestyle of the city. Hong Kong was once part of the British Empire as a colony. However, after breaking away from its colonial rule, the city managed to flourish and has now become one of the top international cities. Many important flights are connected with Hong Kong. Travelling to Hong Kong via air is quite convenient as the city is well-connected with some of the major international cities.

Tourism in Hong Kong is exuberant, and you need to carry enough notes to ensure that you can afford the luxe lifestyle. Also, it would be beneficial to book flight tickets and accommodations to Hong Kong in advance. With the city's expensive taste, the prices of tickets and hotels continue to fluctuate.

Best time to visit Hong Kong

Hong Kong enjoys agreeable weather, especially during the months of October and December. As a city located on the coasts of the South China Sea, every weather is met with some humidity in the air, making tourism a little tedious. During these months, the temperatures would range between 20 to 27 degree Celsius, which is quite favourable, especially if you're coming from a hotter country. It would be ideal for you to stay away from Chinese national holidays or even large conventions as the hotel prices would see a tremendous surge. The long and hot summers of Hong Kong will be quite tough to deal with and hence, should be avoided at all cost. Meanwhile, the onset of winter with summer waning would be a nice and pleasant time to visit the smart city. The daytime temperatures would also be pleasant to step out and explore the city. Avoid the first week of October though as many Chinese travellers would flock over to Hong Kong for National Day. If you manage to get your plans fixed around the dates for Hong Kong WinterFest, that would be some experience. The city would be bustling with festivities, and the temperatures would also be bearable.

The peak season for Hong Kong is winter, which can be experienced from January to March. This period is also the time when the city, much like the rest of China, celebrates New Year's, Chinese New Year and such festivals. As it is the holiday season for the Chinese, travellers often take this time to head to the coastal city of Hong Kong and make the most of their time there. The two New Year celebrations also pave the way to a spike in the hotel charges. Booking a hotel room in Hong Kong during the months of December and January would be quite expensive. Even flight tickets to Hong Kong would come at an exorbitant cost. Hence, to opt for a cheap travel deal to Hong Kong, the season and month you choose is important.

Places to visit in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's plethora of places will amaze the tourist in you. The city truly matches the expectations of a traveller when it comes to entertaining them thoroughly with fascinating attractions. From the Symphony of the Stars light show that you can witness at the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade to Disneyland, Hong Kong has places that cater to the entertainment and happiness of everyone. The city is vibrant with hues of shimmering skyscrapers, sparkling waters of the South China Sea and the fervour of tourists from around the world. No matter what you expect from Hong Kong, they will have what you need and do you even better. One of the first things to do when you visit Hong Kong should be to take the Star Ferry to Hong Kong Island from the Kowloon Peninsula. The stretch is scenic and certainly the kind to attract your attention. Victoria Peak is the second famous attraction that you should check out in Hong Kong. Located at the highest point on Hong Kong Island, the peak towers over the prodigious city with views of blue waters passing through the city, with its hues reflecting on the skyscrapers.

If the peak is too much for you to traverse then don't worry, Hong Kong's got you covered. You can visit the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade located at the Victoria Harbour. The promenade gives a wholesome view of the entire Hong Kong Island without any obstruction. The Nan Lian Garden is a lovely place to unwind and relax after a long day of indulging in touristy activities. For some historical relevance on your trip, you should visit Lantau Island. The popular island has preserved historical sites, sunny beaches and amusement parks for tourists. It would certainly keep you busy the whole day. Of course, missing Hong Kong Disneyland would be a shame. A trip to the magical kingdom would surely uplift your spirits.

Things to do in Hong Kong

Giving Disneyland a fierce competition is Hong Kong's Ocean Park. From roller coasters and carnival rides to accommodating an entire zoo, the Ocean Park certainly manages to have it all. If you feel like opting for a legal gambling session, you can go to Happy Valley Racecourse and bet on one of the horses. What would make the day even better would be to dress up in classy ensembles too. The street markets need no introduction as they are basically the one hub where tourists cannot resist from visiting. The marketplace is a bustling space in the city as frenzied tourists flock over to indulge in some street shopping. From Hong Kong, you can actually take a boat ride and skip over to Macau, to continue your wanderlusting.

Food and Restaurants in Hong Kong

Raking up the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, Hong Kong easily becomes a paradisiacal excursion for a food lover. The city is touted to entertain some of the best fine dining establishments as well as boast a flourishing street food culture. The Hong Kong food culture stands next to big cities of the world, such as New York, Paris, and Tokyo, when it comes to thriving food culture. While the city's cuisine is heavily clouted by popular Chinese cuisine, the city also has influences of western food cuisines. Various fusion kitchens and teahouses have cropped up and serve the traditional Chinese barbeque, congee, stir-fries mixed with soy-sauce Western. Barbecued meat is a big seller in Hong Kong which caters to both kinds of audience, the ones who relish ritzy ambience and the ones who find street food comforting. For the traditional Hong Kong dishes such as steamed fish, head to dai pai dong-style stalls (street stalls) where they serve fish with stir-fries. Some of the other dishes that should be on your list of must-haves are put chai ko (rice pudding), egg tarts, pineapple buns, to name a few.

You can also get a similar or maybe even more elevated experience at Temple Street, again an open-air street food stalls and carts. Maxim's MX, Fairwood and Café de Coral are recognised food court chains in Hong Kong. For a luxury setting, head to Mandarin Grill + Bar, Tosca di Angelo, The Oyster House, to name a few places. The meat prepared by the kitchens across Hong Kong are succulent and marinated to perfection. All the dishes will leave a lasting impact on you.

How to reach Hong Kong (Transportation)

Hong Kong airport sees tremendous action as it is one of the busiest airports in the world. Even from India, there is a high demand for flights to Hong Kong. Many opt for the city as an ideal vacation destination. Flight connectivity to Hong Kong from India is excellent. There are many flights that fly to Hong Kong from India. Airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Air India have direct flights to Hong Kong from India. Metro cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, have direct flights flying to Hong Kong. Various flights with layovers in Indian cities take international routes to fly to Hong Kong, resulting in excellent connectivity. The Hong Kong airport also has great domestic route connectivity as it runs bullet trains from the airport to other parts of the city.

Flight tickets to Hong Kong from India are not very expensive, especially if you book it beforehand. Also, if you get lucky, you might even be able to get some sweet online flight deals to Hong Kong along with hotel accommodations. Hong Kong is not very far from India and takes approximately five hours to reach from the capital. From other parts of the country, depending on the flight connectivity, the ticket prices and duration would vary.

  About Hong Kong Airport

Hong Kong International Airport is situated on the island of Chek Lap Kok. It serves as the main airport to the city of Hong Kong. Hong Kong International Airport is also called Chek Lap Kok International Airport. It is one of the biggest hubs in China with respect to flight connectivity, cargo carriers and more. The airport is the busiest cargo getaway in the world. Not to mention, it is also known to have one of the largest passenger terminal buildings. The airport plays an important role in Hong Kong's economy as it employs over 65,000 staff. It is also the world's busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic.

About Airport Terminals

Hong Kong International Airport plays an important role in contributing to Hong Kong city's economy. The airport is capable of accommodating over 100 airlines with flights connecting to more than 180 international cities. Not to mention how it also is the world's busiest airport with respect to cargo traffic. There is a total of 90 boarding gates that the airport has along with 77 jet bridge gates and 12 virtual gates. The gates are used as assembly points for domestic as well as international travellers. Apron buses are available that ferry the passengers to the aircraft.

Terminal 1 of Hong Kong International Airport is sprawled across 6,100,000 sq ft and is recognized worldwide as one of the largest passenger airport terminal. The airport joins Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3 and Beijing Capital International Airport's Terminal 3. Initially, the airport's Terminal 1 faced competition with Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport with respect to the largest passenger terminal. However, with the expansion of East Hall, Hong Kong International Airport managed to take back its spot on the list. Terminal 1 is blessed with world-class decor and facilities such as check-in counters, airline lounges, departures, arrivals and more. Terminal 1 is capable of accommodating Airbus A380 of airlines Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Asiana Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, China Southern Airlines, Thai Airways, British Airways, Air France and Emirates.

Terminal 2 is sprawled across 1,500,000 sq ft, including the SkyPlaza, is just as exquisite as Terminal 1 with respect to the interiors. Although the terminal has dedicated gates, check-in and other processing facilities for passengers departing do not have gates. Terminal 2 also lacks arrival facilities. Hence, designated underground transportation facilities have been put in place for passengers to reach Terminal 1 too. Much of terminal 2 sees low-cost carriers with check-in options operation also available. SkyPlaza is also situated in Terminal 2. The terminal has been shut for expansion and maintenance purposes. With the excess flight traffic that the third runway witnesses, the authorities body has opted to add departures and arrivals along with immigrations sections too. Terminal 2 is scheduled to reopen in 2024.

About Airport Authority

Hong Kong International Airport is owned and operated by Airport Authority Hong Kong and functions on a 24 hours-basis. The airport is the primary hub for the airlines Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, Air Hong Kong, Cathay Dragon and HK Express. The statutory body falls directly under the government and was formed in 1995. It is an independent body which does not receive any financial assistance from the government. The headquarters of Airport Authority Hong Kong is at the Hong Kong International Airport Tower and employs 2,602 staff. They are currently working towards expansion plans of Terminal 2. The body's aim aside from bringing forth excellent airport experience and financial growth is to bolster its position to be the leading international aviation focal point. Further on their agenda is to excel the management system in terms of operations and development of Hong Kong International Airport.

Top airlines flying from Hong Kong International Airport

As one of the busiest airports in the world, Hong Kong International Airport sees tremendous flight traffic. The number of airlines that operate from the airport exceeds 100 and connects with more than 180 cities globally. The airport is also known to be a focus city for Air India. Aside from the operations of Air India, two more Indian airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet, operate from Hong Kong International Airport. The airlines connect to the top three cities of India, namely Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

There are many international airlines too that operate from Hong Kong International Airport. Thanks to the demand for Hong Kong as one of the financial and economic hubs of China, the city's airport sees tremendous flight traffic from international cities. Some of the airlines that operate from Hong Kong International Airport include Aeroflot, AirAsia, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Air Seoul, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cathay Dragon, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, Finnair, HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Nepal Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Scandinavian Airlines, Scoot, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

Facilities at Hong Kong International Airport

Airline lounges - There are about 18 exquisite airline lounges at the Hong Kong International Airport. Cathay Pacific alone has a slew of lounges called The Bridge, The Deck, The Pier and The Wing. They are business class and first-class lounges. Along with this, the airport also has dedicated airline lounges by Emirates, United and Qantas. Alliance airlines carrier SkyTeam also has a lounge that is present at the airport premise.

Postal services - One of the big perks of Hong Kong International Airport is the fact that they also have postal services. You can send documents and letters or even couriers from the airport's premise, especially if they are urgent and need to be delivered within Hong Kong too.

Baggage - You can apply for baggage delivery services at the airport. Prior intimation to the airlines for this kind of service would be beneficial. Along with this, there are baggage measuring gauge devices also available at the airport. Not to mention the luggage packing and wrapping facilities. You can also opt for baggage storage and porter services.

Charging facilities - Hong Kong International Airport has charging facilities as well as tables with battery recharge points as well. You can charge all your devices at these hubs.

Nursing stations - There are dedicated nursing stations and rooms at the airport for parents travelling with infants. The rooms have all the necessary amenities as well as baby products. You can also ask for infant and baby strollers at the airport.

Entertainment decks - Several entertainment decks are available at Hong Kong International Airport. They are perfect for kids, youngsters and adults as well. You can find them at various intervals within the terminals.

Medical services - Hong Kong International Airport has also ensured to keep devoted paramedic services as well as pharmacies. There are medical rooms also available at the airport. Not to mention how they also cater to emergency cases.

Special assistance - In case you require special assistance with respect to traversing within the airport. The airport has trained staff who can help with special assistance for senior citizens, pregnant women and disabled passengers.

WiFi and internet - The airport offers free WiFi which can be availed at all points. You can visit the airport's information desk to get more details on the same. There are internet booths and cafes also present at Hong Kong International Airport.

Smoking lounge - As per the Hong Kong law, you are not allowed to smoke in the public space at the Hong Kong International Airport. Hence, they have reserved smoking lounges as well as areas for the same.

How to reach Hong Kong International Airport

Airport Express

Devoted rail transport is prevalent in the city of Hong Kong that connects perfectly to the airport. In case you need to reach the Hong Kong International Airport, you can take the Airport Express. It'll take you just 24 minutes to reach the airport from the city centre. The frequency of the trains is also quite good and ideal for travelling. You can download the MTR Next Train app to get schedules of the train.

Public transport

The airport also offers bus services that are conveniently located close to the airport. On the official website of the airport, you can find the locations of the bus station. The bus is also considered to be a good way to reach Hong Kong International Airport.

Taxicabs and rentals

There are door-to-door services of taxicabs that you can get from the airport. The taxicabs are coloured in three distinct hues that take specific routes within the city of Hong Kong from the airport. Depending on which area you need to travel, you should accordingly go to the lane and take the coloured taxicab. Within the city, there are many options for hailing a taxicab to reach the Hong Kong International Airport. You can also opt for rentals which are available at the airport's arrivals. There are specific counters where you can book your rental services.