Chicago to Munich Swiss Flights

  About Chicago

Located on the West coast of Gujarat is the quaint little city of Porbandar. The city is highly regarded for its pilgrimage as it has a strong mythological relevance. Many pivotal incidences from the tales of Mahabharat and Ramayana have taken place in the city, or so says the folklore. As the city is on the Saurashtra's coastal side, the city is blessed with a brilliant climate and geography. There are hills, coasts, rivers, lakes and more such geographical benefits that make Porbandar a beautiful city. Historically, the city adds another feather to its illustrious cap by being the birthplace of freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi. With such intriguing stories that the city has to tell, it easily becomes one of the most visited places in Gujarat.

The flight connectivity to Porbandar from other major cities is also excellent. The coastal town connects with the rest of India through popular routes, making travel easy and convenient. Booking hotels in Porbandar are also useful as the city comes with exciting accommodations.

Best time to visit Chicago

Porbandar enjoys fair weather throughout the year. The temperature is mostly at a pleasant range between 23 degree Celsius to 36 degree Celsius. Depending on the year and the humidity, the temperatures do see some changes, but mostly, it's sunny positive. The winters in Porbandar are quite enchanting as the cold breezy air adds quite a romantic charm to the place. The temperatures usually range from 10 degree Celsius to 36 degree Celsius. When you do plan for your Porbandar trip, try to choose this season. The pleasant weather will make sightseeing more comfortable. Not to mention how the flight tickets to Porbandar are also cheap and affordable, irrespective of the peak season. December and January are considered as best months to visit Porbandar.

The monsoon months in Porbandar are just as enjoyable as the winters. Between July to September, the monsoon drenches the city with a cool but humid atmosphere. While the humidity does increase during monsoon, the strong winds that pass through the city during the season help normalise the temperature to a pleasant level. You can book a hotel in Porbandar during this time and take in all the monsoon magic. You certainly wouldn't regret it.

Summers, though, could be a little hot. In comparison to the pleasant weather the city experiences throughout the year, the summer winds come with high temperatures that sometimes reach 40 degree Celsius. While it is not ideal for visiting Porbandar during summers, if you are already used to such temperatures and climate, you wouldn't have much trouble. Not to mention how the flight tickets to Porbandar during summers see a drop in prices.

Places to visit in Chicago

Porbandar does not have many tourist attractions as such. The place is a pilgrimage with many temples and shrines. During your trip, you can visit some of the temples, namely, Sri Hari temple, Krishna-Sudama temple, Kirti temple, to name a few. These temples have strong connections with the Hindu mythology tale Mahabharat. The city also has some relics from the Harappan civilisation which could add to a good historical venture.

One of the big highlights of Porbandar's tourism is the Huzoor Palace, built in the early 20th century by Rana Natwarsinhji, the last Maharaja of Porbandar. The structure has derived architectural inspiration from European styles and is quite beautiful. The vicinity also has fancy fountains and well-maintained gardens.

Things to do in Chicago

The city might have only pilgrimage as the most prominent tourist attraction, but you can tweak your itinerary and add some personal excursions of your own. Located a little away from the city are the Jambuvan Caves, known to be the resting place of the famous warrior Jambuvan, who has played an essential role in the mythological tales of Mahabharat. The caves are also known to have Ramayana relevance with Hanuman spending time in the caves. You can also visit the Porbandar Bird Sanctuary and indulge in some photography. The sanctuary has a scenic setting which adds to the charm and beauty of the place. The biggest attraction of the bird sanctuary is how it inhabits migratory birds such as jacanas, little cormorants, whistling teals, avocets, coots, grebes, pelicans, terns, to name a few.

Food and Restaurants in Chicago

Porbandar is famous for its Gujarati cuisine. The city, much like the rest of the state, is rich in vegetarian Gujarati delicacies. From lip-smacking dhokla with green chutney to divine khandwas, one can never get tired of these dishes. Porbandar also follows the Jain-style cuisine by eliminating potatoes, onions, etc. from their dishes. They substitute potatoes with bananas which manage to do the job perfectly well. In fact, Jain cuisine is just as tasty as a regular vegetarian cuisine. You should probably give Jain food a try when in Porbander.

Travellers with a taste for vegan and vegetarian food can head to Flavours. The restaurant is famous for its take on vegan-friendly dishes as well as a slew of global cuisine. You will definitely be happy and satiated with their take on international cuisine. The place is extremely healthy and something worth considering. If exquisite fine dine is in your itinerary then you should head to Blue Coriander and book a table. The place with its classy interiors has great food reviews. You can get some lovely Gujarati thalis here or even the sweet daal that they're fans of. The food is known to be fresh and tasty with a plethora of choices for vegetarians. You can also get a spicy vada pav at Goli Vada Pav. Mumbaikars know their vada pavs well, and they sure love Goli Vada Pav.

Finding a non-vegetarian restaurant in Porbandar might be challenging as the city primarily has a vegetarian population. However, there is one place where you can get some lovely Indian spin on dishes, including seafood. SaltWater, located on the Dwarka Porbandar highway, has the best seafood that you should certainly try. As for those who are tired of all the spices and want something savoury, you should check out Shiva Baker's Point and Midday Munchies.

How to reach Chicago(Transportation)

By Air

Porbandar Airport is located along the coast of the state of Gujarat. The airport is open for commercial use but also has a military presence. The city's airport is well-connected with some of the big cities in India such as Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, June, Jaipur and Bangalore, to name a few. Thanks to the consistent infrastructural development, the city has managed to find great connectivity with other cities in India. The flight connectivity to Porbandar is excellent as many flights from big cities have direct flights. SpiceJet and TruJet are the two airlines with dedicated flights flying to Porbandar. Even though it is a domestic airport, there are provisions of duty-free shops within the airport that one can avail goods from at a reasonable cost.

The airport also provisions a slew of restaurant chains and fast food shops to keep the passengers entertained. The most popular route to Porbandar is from Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi as these three cities have regular flights flying in and out. The location of the airport is also convenient, enabling easy access to the city centre. You can hire a taxi cab from outside the airport, or if you have booked a hotel in Porbandar, they will probably send the airport shuttle, if you request it.

By Rail

Porbandar Railway Station is perfectly connected with major cities within Gujarat. There are dedicated daily trains to and from Porbandar to Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Somnath and more. The railway also connects well with other domestic routes from Porbandar to big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Jaipur. Weekly trains to cities in the South such as Hyderabad and Kochi are also available. It is essential to know the train schedule before booking the tickets. Specific express trains are not reserved for Porbandar so you might end up spending a lot of your time in transit. The station is around 5 km from the city centre.

As frequent trains are entering and leaving the city regularly, transport via train is also considered to be a good and affordable option. Flight tickets to Porbandar could be expensive sometimes depending on the season in which you are booking your flights.

By Road

Major cities are connected to Porbandar through the domestic route of NH 8B. The national highway brings cities such as Ahmedabad and Rajkot closer to Porbandar. Public buses are also available to connect Porbandar to the rest of the cities in Gujarat. You can find them at the bus station where buses to Vadodara, Jamnagar, Surat and even Mumbai are available. Many travellers opt for roadways to reach Porbandar, especially if they are travelling from the coastal areas of Maharashtra. Tourists even drive down to Porbandar from Jaipur and other cities in Rajasthan as it is a good drive. From the bus station, rickshaws and buses are also available that can take you to the hotel you have booked in Porbandar. Taxi cabs are also present in the city, so transportation in the city is extremely convenient for travellers.

  About Munich

Bavaria's capital and an important city in Germany, Munich is home to some of the finest locations as well as landmarks from the German history. The city boasts a fancy and relaxed culture where food and beer are given equal amounts of love and attention. Even the automobiles are considered as equals aside from all the gastronomy.

Best time to visit Munich

Spring in Munich is considered to be the best time to visit the gorgeous city. These months bringing in summers to the Bavarian city do quite a good job. The winters thaw, and the summers begin to beckon more tourist activities. Late spring with its amiable temperatures, would be an ideal time to check out the best of the city. The winds are calm and relaxing, plus the cafes are quaint and pretty. Plus, the first Auer Dult also takes place in April (a traditional market setting which is set up thrice in a year). With fewer summer tourists in the city, you can book hotels in Munich for cheap. This is followed by the summers from June to August. As the city witnesses a spike in its tourism with higher temperatures, you might have a tough time finding cheap and comfortable accommodations. The best thing to do to be on the safe side would be to book a hotel in Munich a few months in advance. That way, you wouldn't have to deal with the sudden price surge. The summers see events such as Munich Film Festival, Christopher Street Day, Tollwood, Opera Festival and Munich Summer of Music. These key events certainly are fun to indulge in.

Winter months don't see a lot of tourists for obvious reasons. The city is too cold to venture out or engage in tourist activities. This is also the time when the hotel prices drop, and the flight tickets are easily available. If you are unfazed by the cold and snow during these months, you should visit Munich for the Christmas festivities. Of course, don't think we've forgotten the famous Oktoberfest. The celebrations of Oktoberfest starts from late September to early October, the city's beer festival means excess crowd and exuberant demand for hotels and hostels. To visit Munich during Oktober Fest, you will have to book your hotels and accommodations well in advance. The demand is too high and for the right reasons.

Places to visit in Munich

Munich, as a cosmopolitan city, has far too many beautiful structures and historical settings to offer for tourists. They have a pretty exciting list of tourist attractions that range from historic palaces to their automobile world. What manages to keep the tourists hooked to their culture and historical significance is how well they have all been preserved. Don't just be content by their BMW World, which is a stunning setting for petrolheads, something you should know. The English Garden (Englischer Garten) is a lovely expanse of a public park which is located within the city centre. As the name suggests, the park is very English-styled with famous Biergarten, eclectic monuments within the premises, sparkling lakes flowing and perfect paths to jog or bike on. Frauenkirche or Church of our Lady is another intriguing setting that you will find in Munich. The two dome-topped towers have historical significance as they were used during World War II by the Allied for bombing purposes. The observation platform of the structure is exquisite. For a religious tour, head to St. Peter's Church (Peterskirche) which is one of the most ancient and tiniest churches. Give a small payment fee, and you will get to go to the top of the church's tower to witness the view of the gorgeous Bavaria.

Deutsches Museum is undoubtedly one of the more interesting places to visit. Thanks to their collection of brilliance from the science and technology spheres, it has easily become a favourite among tourists. It has exhibitions of many scientific discoveries ranging from transportation to musical instruments and their genesis. Another interesting park within the English Garden is the Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm (Chinese Tower). It is basically a tower nestled within the English Garden that offers a splendid view of the park. For the automobile enthusiasts out there, who are on a trip to Munich, you should definitely not miss out their prized jewel, the BMW Welt. The vast space is dedicated to Germany's top exports, BMW automobiles and parts. Along with the cars, the architecture will surely take your breath away. From the history of BMW to their latest work, information about everything related to the automobile company can be found here in the gallery. To add more regal to your sightseeing list, there is the Residenz Royal Palace where you can go. The palace has been converted into a State-owned small museum and also has concert halls and theatres to entertain the people who visit the space. While we're on the subject, the Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg) is also a place worth visiting thanks to the lovely lake view it has that connects with the palatial grounds.

Things to do in Munich

A tour down Alstadt (Old Town) and Marienplatz should be enough to give you a taste of the hip Munich. From a plethora of engaging street meat and sausages to performers taking over the crowded lanes to entertain you, these places in Munich certainly do bring the house down with their lively atmosphere. One interesting activity that you can take up is to visit the Viktualienmarkt, it is Munich's oldest market and dates back to 1807. There are around 140 booths and various sellers bringing their fresh goods to be sold at the market. In case the idea of surfing on a river never crossed your mind, you might be able to witness it or even take it up at the Eisbach River. Plenty of tourists and locals engage in river surfing or Eisbachwelle at the base of the Eisbach River. Indulging in Bavarian beer is undoubtedly one of the top things to do. You simply cannot finish your trip without downing some craft beer and sausages in Munich.

Food and Restaurants in Munich

Germans like their food as they like their beer, crafted to perfection and made in quantity. They like to have heavy, hearty meals with a creamy melange of flavourful sauces and buttery rolls. Of course, all this goes along with a pint or maybe even a jug of beer. Meat plays an essential addition in their cuisine, and so do sausages. When you're in Munich, you should definitely try their Sauerbraten, which is basically roast beef stew. The pot roast usually mixes tender beef with aromatic flavours and spices. It is always accompanied with potato dumplings (also called kartoffelklöße) and red cabbage. The meat is actually marinated for days before finally being cooked, which makes it perfect. Some other famous meat dishes include Schweinshaxe (typically resonated with a peasant's meal), Rinderroulade (beef slices rolled perfectly around bacon and onions), Hasenpfeffer (rabbit stew), to name a few. Special mention to the famous German sausages that have been part of their culinary world for a really long time. A Munich speciality, going by the name Münchner weißwurst, is definitely worth a try.

Of course, talking about German food, we simply cannot miss Schnitzel, which is basically bread cutlet and from the Austrian culinary heritage. IT is the perfect small meal one can ask for in Munich. Werneckhof by Geisel, Tantris, Weinhaus Neuner, Esszimmer, are some top restaurants in the city that will give you a fine dining experience. Plus, they also celebrate the German cuisine. However, if you are on a tight budget, head to Schmalznudel, Fraunhofer, Weisses Brauhaus, Wirtshaus in der Au, etc., for a tavern-like feel and German-sized meals. The city also houses some international cuisine such as Japanese, Mediterranean, Italian, Asian, that you can indulge in. They also have special steakhouses for meat lovers.

How to reach Munich (Transportation)

As an international business hub, Munich's flight connectivity is world-class. The Munich International Airport witnesses an exuberant number of flights and tourists from around the world. Many flights to other cities of Europe also connect at the airport, making it an important city in Europe as well as the world. The city connects with a majority of popular cities in Germany as well as other European countries. In fact, Munich is also a popular route considered to reach countries like Luxembourg, Belgian, the Netherlands and France, Switzerland, to name a few. Major metropolitan cities in India service flights to Munich on a regular basis. Certain flights heading to the European countries also have layovers in Munich, making travelling to the city easier. Cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, to name a few, have regular flights flying in and out of Munich. The major airlines connecting Munich to cities in India include Lufthansa and Star Alliance. There are other partners too such as Air China, All Nippon Airways, South African Airways, Swiss, Egypt Air, United Airlines, Turkish Airlines, to name a few.

Ticket prices for flights to Munich range from cheap and affordable to expensive. Depending on the availability of direct flights to the peak season. The accommodations in Munich are also varied with options for hostels as well as swanky hotels. Even if you are unable to book your accommodation in advance, there will be options to choose from in Munich.

  About Swiss International Airlines

Swiss International Air Lines, also popularly known as Swiss or Swiss Air Lines, is the national flag carrier of Switzerland. The airline operates scheduled services across Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa. While Zurich Airport serves as the airline's single hub, Geneva Airport is the focus city for Swiss. The airline came into existence in 2002, after Swissair, Switzerland's former flag carrier, filed for bankruptcy. Swiss was built around Swissair's regional subsidiary Crossair. Hence, Swiss International Air Lines continues to retain Crossair's IATA code instead of Swissair's code. The airline is part of the Star Alliance and is also a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group. Originally, Swiss wished to be part of the Oneworld airline alliance. However, it was blocked by British Airways to which it played a competition with respect to long-haul routes. However, Swiss decided to go with Star Alliance instead as they didn't wish to integrate with the current frequent flyer program of British Airways' Executive Club. Further on this, Swiss also assumed the relationship to be one-sided with British Airways sapping out all the benefits with nothing left for Swiss.

With the revival of Swiss, the airlines managed to recover half the losses by recording a net profit of USD220 million. Further, the net profit more than doubled with the net profit turning USD570 million in 2007. In 2005, with the birth of the airlines, German-based Lufthansa Group announced that they would be taking over Swiss starting from 11 per cent of stake. Eventually, the operations of Swiss were integrated with Lufthansa's by the second half of 2005. A complete takeover took place in 2007. Following the takeover, Crossair's regional fleet Embraer ERJs and Saabs to Avro RJs that were owned by Swiss Global Air Lines. In 2010, Swiss and Lufthansa were announced in the European Commission investigation due to reports of price-fixing. However, they were not fined as they acted as a whistle-blower. Following the incident, in 2011, Swiss brought forth their new company logo, which resembled the original logo of the Swissair. Initially, Swiss International Air Lines' head office was the same as the head office of Crossair. But it has been moved to Zurich Airport for all operations.

Swiss' headquarters is located at EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg near Basel in Switzerland. Part of the office is at Zurich Airport in Kloten, Switzerland. Some of the subsidiaries of Swiss International Air Lines Group are Edelweiss Air, Swiss AviationSoftware, Swiss Aviation Training, Swiss WorldCargo and SWISStours.

Fleet size of Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines is currently handling a fleet size of 89. The aircraft are majorly Airbus variants with one 12 Boeing 777-300ERs. The highest number of aircraft include 20 Airbus A220-300 and 19 Airbus A320-200. Swiss International Air Lines' regional carrier, Helvetic Airways, majorly operates ten Embraer 190 aircraft on behalf of its parent company. Meanwhile, Adria Airways also operated under Swiss and had two Saab 2000s connecting the Zurich - Lugano route. However, the airline was suspended following them filing for bankruptcy in 2019. For the longest time, Swiss Global Air Lines also operated Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A220-100/300 as part of its fleet. The subsidiary was ceased in 2018 with a view to administer costs and to simplify the fleet structures of Swiss International Air Lines. The airline has brought together the aircraft in its fleet. The aircraft fleet of Swiss International Air Lines has been christened after the local towns and cities since 2007. The names feature on the fuselage of all the aircraft as the cabin interiors have the coat of arms of the town or city.

In 2010, on behalf of Swiss, Lufthansa announced that they would be ordering 48 new aircraft for both the airlines. Later in 2013, the airline ordered six Boeing 777-300ERs. Additionally, in 2015, Swiss confirmed that Lufthansa is ordering three more Boeing 777-300ERs on their behalf. The airline also announced that they would be upgrading their first-class cabins and install eight private suites along with a 32-inch TV, business class seats to be converted into full flatbeds and about 270 economy class seats with a 3-4-3 configuration. Swiss also plans to replace much of their Airbus A340 aircraft with Boeing aircraft.

Meanwhile, five of the A340s will be refurbished and carried by airline. Swiss International Air Lines recently completed refurbishing all the A320s of their fleet with newer interiors and top-class facilities. Before the fleet converted to Airbus and Boeing, Swiss also accommodated Avro RJs, McDonnell Douglas aircraft and Saab 2000. However, these lines have been passed on to the regional subsidiaries of the airline.

Swiss International Air Lines Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance in Swiss International Air Lines is segregated as per the domestic routes and international routes where the carrier connects. For the European routes, the airline allows a total weight of 23 kg that can be carried in checked baggage. This is strictly reserved for classic and flex cabin of the economy class. You can only carry one bag with you that can be checked. Meanwhile, the business class allows 32 kg, which rounds up to a total of 64 kg for two bags that can be checked. One of the big benefits of business class is that you can carry more luggage with you. While the weight capacity is diverse for different ticket types, the dimension of the baggage cannot exceed 158 cm, including handles, wheels and pockets. However, the maximum for a business class passenger's baggage would be 292 cm and cannot exceed the same. For additional baggage, you will be charged a certain fee that you might have to pay at the airport. Again, the baggage allowance on Swiss International Air Lines does tweak a little if you are a frequent flyer member or a Star Gold member.

International route flights have some additions with respect to the baggage limits. Since the international aircraft are equipped with the economy, business and first-class, the allowance for passengers to carry bags also vary accordingly. Swiss Economy allows a maximum of one luggage which should weigh no more than 23 kg and cannot exceed 158 cm dimension. Passengers flying from Swiss Business are allowed to carry two maximum baggage which should weigh no more than 32 kg each. The bags should also not exceed the dimension of 292 cm, inclusive of height, width and length. As for Swiss First, the airline allows three bags to weigh 32 kg each. The airline allows a total of 96 kg for first-class passengers. The hand baggage allowed are one for the Swiss Economy, two for Swiss Business and Swiss First respectively. The dimensions of all the bags should not exceed 55 x 40 x 23 cm. Along with the carry-on baggage, the passenger is also allowed to take a personal piece to the cabin, which could be a handbag, a laptop bag or a briefcase.

Swiss International Air Lines In-flight services

Swiss First - Swiss First class' in-flight services are exemplary as they offer personal space with armchairs that can be converted into full flatbeds. Along with the comfortable seating, the airline also has a gourmet meal that can be availed on long-haul flights. The dishes are mostly inspired by Swiss cuisine and is always accompanied by fine wine of your choice. The seats are also equipped with entertainment systems and magazines. Along with the exquisite services and hospitality, the airline further offers a pillow and blankets by La Prairie and amenity kit by fashion brand Bally.

Swiss Business - Although Swiss Business lacks the comfort of privacy that the first-class allows, the in-flight services are exemplary. The business seats are spacious and have a dedicated workspace for the passengers. One can easily convert the seats into a 2-metre long flatbed and also has massage facilities. The dining is exquisite as the airline is recognised for its award-winning in-flight meals. Not to mention how the business and first-class also have entertainment facilities such as adjustable screens and a magazine. Swiss also offers a travel kit to the passengers, which contain high-end products for the passenger's comfort.

Swiss Economy - The economy class of Swiss International Air Lines has comfortable seating with adjustable headrest and availability of extra legroom. The airline also has personalised entertainment systems attached on each seat for the passengers. They have TV shows, blockbuster movies and many award-winning documentaries. You will need to book for meals in advance and get the best of Swiss' in-flight services.

Popular routes and top cities for Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines is known for its excellent connectivity with a majority of international hubs. The airline's strong domestic route and international route connectivity are what makes it stand out. Top cities for the airline include Beijing, Shanghai, Montreal, Brussels, Paris, Nice, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Delhi, Mumbai, Dublin, Rome, Venice, Florence, Tokyo, Nairobi, Luxembourg City, Amsterdam, Oslo, Warsaw, Singapore, Barcelona, Stockholm, Bangkok, London, Los Angel/es, Newark, New York City and San Francisco, to name a few.

Why travel by Swiss International Air Lines?

What makes Swiss International Air Lines one of the most sought-after airlines in the world is its world-class in-flight services as well as extensive network. The airline caters to the comfort of the passengers by offering web check-ins, intimations of the flight status, flight schedules of Swiss and convenient booking of a Swiss flight. It is practically perfect and also enables comfort and affordability.