Chicago to Stockholm 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 Stockholm 

The Scandinavian city of Stockholm is the capital of the country, Sweden. Located on the coast touching the Baltic Sea, Stockholm is part of the archipelago which also connects the city to 14 more islands. The islands are brilliantly connected with more than 50 bridges. The city of Stockholm is a known political, cultural, economic and media hub of Sweden. In fact, over the years, they have also found prominence to contribute to the climate change movement with staunch leaders and innovative methods. The city thrives with lively streets, nightlife and food establishments.

Best time to visit Stockholm

As a Scandinavian city, the summers in Stockholm are pleasant and alluring. The city witnesses cold winters almost throughout the year with summer temperatures reaching a maximum 22 degree Celsius. You can imagine how the place is cold for most of the year. The summers also mean a call for celebration for the locals, which brings about a massive crowd on the streets. Mid-July sees the hottest days in Stockholm and is quite pleasant, especially if you're travelling from a hot region. June to August is undoubtedly the best time to visit Stockholm as the city witnesses its summer peak. The temperatures might be hot for the locals, but to travellers, it is nothing short of pleasant. Summers do bring a surge in their hotel accommodations though. Even flight bookings to Stockholm turn expensive as the city springs up to life. During this season, there are many festivals celebrated in the city such as A Taste of Stockholm, Popaganda, Stockholm Pride and the most famous, Midsummer Festival. The festival takes place in the June month every year and brings all the Swedes together to create fancy wreaths, drink up to the heart's content under the bright sun and dance by around the maypole.

With skyrocketing hotel prices in Stockholm, the trip might get super expensive. However, if you can handle the winters or even the fall season in Stockholm, you should definitely opt to go between September to November. The brisk wind might give you chills, but the city is pleasant. In fact, flights to Stockholm during this season is quite cheap, as are the accommodations. You can book your hotel in Stockholm without having to worry about the exorbitant rates of the peak season. Plus, the city also celebrates Stockholm Beer and Whiskey Festival in these months, much like the rest of the world. If not Germany, you can ring in the OktoberFest right here in Stockholm. To snag the best of flight and hotel deals to Stockholm will need you to plan a trip in their winters. Despite the cold winters, the Christmas celebrations and a trip from the city to witness the Aurora Borealis views are some of the highlights. You can make the most of their snow and cool weather. Stockholm does close up early in winters because not many people step out and it might get a tad bit boring.

Places to visit in Stockholm

Stockholm is a haven for an urban tourist to relax and unwind. The whole vibe of the city is calm and composed, adding to one's need to escape from the noise. Some of the fun touristy things that you can do in the city are to visit Gamla Stan. It is basically an old neighbourhood which gave birth to Stockholm. The area is windy and has a lovely landscape that matches perfectly with the weather. You can take a trip to Djurgården island, which is located very close to the city. Just take up a ferry ride to the island and soak in all the traditional Swedish countryside without having to venture to the interiors. You should also check out Vasa Museum, Rosendals Garden, Fotografiska and the Royal Palace (also known as Kungliga Slottet). These places are classic tourist destinations. For the real fun in Stockholm, though, go for the outdoorsy activities.

Things to do in Stockholm 

As part of an archipelago, the Swedes of Stockholm are very much invested in sailing and cruising. You can actually take up a cruise ride to island-hop and check out the surroundings of Stockholm. You can further visit the Djurgården island and indulge in various activities such as biking, strolling, going on a picnic, visiting more than 21 museums and chilling at an amusement park. The air of Stockholm is so clean that you would want to settle forever to enjoy the tranquillity. Do not miss out on engaging in the city's nightlife. It certainly is a vibrant kind that would help you meet new people. The Swedes are really sweet and friendly people so on your way back from the city, you will have some beautiful memories to look back at.

Food and Restaurants in Stockholm

The city of Stockholm has international cuisine for all kinds of travellers. Thanks to the same, you wouldn't feel like you're stranded in a place where you cannot eat what you want. While they do have variety, it is recommended that you try the Swedish cuisine. Their cuisine mostly has meat and potato in abundance as well as proteins and starches. Basically, theirs is a wholesome food that is rich in proteins and starch. Stockholm also has a lot of focus on seafood as it is in proximity to the Baltic coast. With so much variety available in the Swedish cuisine alone, you wouldn't need to check out other international meals. From herring to Jansson's Temptation, you should try some of the traditional Swedish meals. In seafood, you could also give crayfish a try. They are popular, especially among the upper-class citizens and come at an expensive price. If you do wish to make some exorbitant indulgence, you should order for this scrumptious meal. While you're at it, do not miss out the marinated salmon which comes with dill potatoes as sides.

You should know that the Swedish love meatball and you will find many variations to the same. They make sure to add them in all their dishes from spaghetti to macaroni, the meatballs go with all. The side with their meals is always mashed potatoes, which only accentuate the flavours. Chives and sour cream also play a pivotal role in adding more colours and texture to the meal. Not just the spread of meals but even their desserts and savouries are lip-smacking. From the delectable cinnamon buns to the princess cake, these items would be the best way to round up wholesome dining experience. You should visit Frantzen, Gastrologik, Tapas 28, Glashuset, Stockholms Gastabud and Agrikultur, to name a few. These places serve the best meals, and they also have an amazing service. You will be happy with the way the Swedes treat their customers. Since they are soft-spoken people, to begin with, they often have a very polite way of communicating with people.

How to reach Stockholm (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to Stockholm from India is quite decent as there are many available airlines offering services. However, there are no direct flights to Sweden, and often, you will need to either deal with extended layovers or will have to run for connecting flights in foreign airports. There are a few airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Finnair, Vistara, Lufthansa, that have regular flights connecting with Stockholm. You will be met with at least one layover or require to opt for one connecting flight from international cities to Stockholm. As a Scandinavian country, much of the international route to Stockholm is via Europe. A majority of the flights to Stockholm actually require you to take a connecting flight from European countries. Out of these, the most popular route to Stockholm is from Germany, Munich and Frankfurt, to be specific. There are stops at Helsinki and Zurich as well, however, those require changing of multiple flights as opposed to the one you can get from the German cities. It takes approximately 11 hours to 14 hours to travel from Mumbai to Stockholm.

You should make note of applying for a Transit Schengen Visa when travelling to Stockholm from Mumbai. The visa basically gives you permission to enter the Schengen territory, basically to wait at the airports and change flights. The visa only allows you to be in the airport premise and you cannot step outside to the main city. If you've chosen the international route to Stockholm from Germany or France, you will need a Transit Schengen Visa. The flight tickets to Stockholm from India are quite cheap and affordable. Even round trips would amount to a cheaper deal. It is recommended that you book round trip tickets to Stockholm. Also, you'll get bonus deals for booking your flight and hotels in Stockholm together. Various online flight deals also have accommodation offers. However, if you want to wing it and book a hostel or do couch-surfing, make sure to book these in advance. It would be essential for a traveller to make prior bookings for everything as it would only help reduce the cost of the trip. You will have enough kronas to splurge on sailing trips.