Dusseldorf to San Francisco Flights

  About Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf is a beautiful city in Germany that is constantly seen competing with two other cities in the country, Rhine and Cologne. Though these cities are approximately 40 km away from each other, they are well-connected and popular among tourists, too. It is one of the best vacation destinations in Germany, and you must add it to your itinerary if you are planning a trip to Germany. The city is known for housing the longest bar in the world. There are approximately 300 bars, pubs and breweries in Dusseldorf. It is obvious by this that the city has a vibrant nightlife and even if you wake up with a nasty hangover, it would be completely worth it. Dusseldorf also has a popular tourist attraction, Rheinturm, that promises an aerial view of the city, and it is completely worth it. You can book a hotel in Dusseldorf that has a magnificent view of the lush green surroundings. It also boasts one of the most beautiful and glamorous shopping streets in all of Europe. You will also find a blend of Japanese culture in certain parts of the city.

Best Time to Visit Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf sees a lot of tourists during winter for its Christmas markets and Carnival celebrations. December to February is winter, and the temperature ranges from 0 to 32 degree Celsius. While the days are mildly cold, the nights are freezing, and you might want to put on all of your warm clothes before stepping out. The Christmas market is one of the main reasons why people love visiting the city during winter. You will find a lot of stalls in the market that sell wooden trinkets, Christmas decor and mulled wine. The market adds all the charm to your festive spirit and makes you want to step out in your best attire. The Germans celebrate Christmas with such grandeur that they have fewer events planned in January so that they can recover from the Christmas hangover. Make sure you book a hotel in Dusseldorf well in advance. Since this is not a high tourist season, you will find the best and luxurious accommodation at the most affordable prices. The snowfall and the well-lit city promise to make your Christmas holiday far more special.

Spring season is from March to May, and the weather is quite pleasant in the city. The temperature ranges from 10 to 25 degree Celsius, and while it is slightly chilly with occasional snowfalls in March, it gets pleasant over time. You can expect to see the flowers bloom and lush greenery take over the snow-clad city. May sees a spike in tourists since there are a lot of long weekends in the month. The local Japanese community here celebrates Japan Day in May. You will get to see a marvellous firework display over the Rhine. Summer hits Dusseldorf from June to August. It is also an ideal time to visit the city. The scorching heat makes it difficult for you to step out during the day. It is not an ideal time to plan a trip to Dusseldorf. In fact, even travelling by the local trams and buses can get quite troublesome if they do not have the central air conditioning system. But if you do plan a visit to the city, you can attend a lot of movie screenings and outdoor concerts. You can also head over to the pubs and gulp down the best German beer.

September to November is autumn season in Dusseldorf. The weather remains pleasant, and visiting the city in the first half of September is also highly recommended. The first frost of winter usually occurs in November, but sometimes, it might even occur in October. Make sure you attend the Oktobeerfest if you are visiting during this time. You will surely find a lot of offers at pubs and get to go on a beer tasting tour.

Places to Visit in Dusseldorf

Altstadt in Dusseldorf's Old Town is a sight for sore eyes. With stunning views of the Rhine, housing the world's longest bar, churches and museums, the architecture of which will leave you mesmerized. Your trip to Dusseldorf will not be complete without visiting the Rhine River. It is the lifeline of the city. You can either take a stroll alongside the banks of the river, on the promenade or sign up for a cruise on the river. You will also find museums near the river that are worth a visit. The Rheinturm is the highlight of the city. It offers an aerial view of the city from its observation deck that is 240.5-meters high. You can even dine at the revolving restaurant here in Rheinturm. Visiting the local Farmer's Market is yet another popular thing to do. You can spend half a day here, and you will leave with a bag full of fresh produce and snacks, too. Nordpark is one of the most beautiful parks in Dusseldorf. You will find lots of meadows, flowerbeds, ponds, fountains, walkways and old trees here. The Japanese Garden here is quite popular.

Hofgarten is Düsseldorf's oldest public garden, and you will also find River Dussel flowing through the park. You will also come across Schloss Jagerhof here, which is a historic former hunting lodge that is now a museum. It flaunts the work of the famous German poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Kaiserpfalz is the ruins of Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa's royal palace. If you are a history buff, you will certainly love this place. Konigsallee is one of the most charming streets in Europe to shop, and you can also go window-shopping if you don't want to spend a lot of money. Apart from all the high-end fashion brands, you will also find luxury restaurants here that you can try. Eko Haus is a small place in the city that is dedicated to the Japanese population in the city. You will love the Buddhist temple and the beautiful Japanese gardens here. Head over to the Neanderthal Museum to look at human fossils and re-learn everything about evolution.

Things to do in Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf might not be one of your top holiday destinations, but the city does not disappoint its tourists. If you think Japan is out of your budget at the moment, you can head to Dusseldorf in May or June to celebrate Japan Day. The Rhine Promenade turns into a part of Japan as the locals pay tribute to the culture with traditional Japanese food, kimono fittings, Manga comics, spectacular fireworks and performances. The Rhine River is one of the major attractions in the city. You can go on a cruise at the river and catch a beautiful sunset while admiring the beautiful city and everything it has to offer. Climb on top of the Rheinturm, which is 240.5 metre-high. It offers a beautiful view of the Dusseldorf skyline and the entire city. Make sure you also dine at the revolving restaurant on top as you enjoy the view. You can also head to Altstadt which houses one of the longest bars, pubs and breweries in the world. It is one of the most happening spots in the city.

Food and Restaurants in Dusseldorf

While Dusseldorf boasts of a variety of cuisines from all over the world, you must also try the traditional dishes here like Halve Hahn, Rheinischer Sauerbraten, Himmel und Erde, Blutwurst and so on. You will also find a lot of Japanese restaurants in the city since a small part of the city is dedicated to Japanese culture. Sansibar is a popular restaurant in the city that serves not only German food but also European, Contemporary and fusion food. The sushi and oysters in the restaurant are also quite popular. If you want to try authentic Japanese cuisine, head over to DOX Restaurant. Bob & Mary and Nagaya are also popular restaurants that serve German and Japanese food. Grab a cup of refreshing coffee at Toykio Coffee and Gallery. The Victorian restaurant is ideal for a delicious German dinner with cocktails of your choice. Uerige is a pub that serves the best craft beers in the city along with delicious food.

How to reach Dusseldorf (Transportation)

Dusseldorf International Airport is the third-largest airport in Germany after Munich and Frankfurt. The flight connectivity to Dusseldorf from India is quite good. Turkish Airlines, KLM, Vistara, Air France are some popular flights to Dusseldorf that take off from India. The flights have a certain layover at Istanbul, Amsterdam, Paris and so on. If you book in advance, you will get cheap flight tickets to Dusseldorf. If you are travelling during the off-season, you might come across great flight deals to Dusseldorf online. The airport in Dusseldorf makes sure it has everything for the convenience of its passengers from lounges and waiting areas to restaurants, cafes and shopping areas. The airport also has an airport shuttle and car rental facilities that you can opt for if you haven't pre-booked your taxi already. The airport is not very far from the tourist attractions in the city.

  About San Francisco

Located on the coast of Northern California is the culturally rich city of San Francisco. The city has been christened with an array of colloquial names such as SF, The City, San Fran and Frisco. The city is a cultural haven and also the commercial and financial hub of Northern California. With attractions such as Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Golden Gate Bridge, the city of San Francisco is one of the best in the United States as a tourist destination.

Best time to visit San Francisco

March through May can be quite the time to visit San Francisco if you wish to avoid the tourist rush. The temperatures are quite comfortable as they range between 10 degree Celsius to 17 degree Celsius. With the temperatures slowly inching towards summer, it is definitely an excellent time to visit San Francisco. This doesn't mean you will get to take a dip in the Pacific. However, you can still take lovely strolls within the city and savour all the beautiful locales of San Francisco. Plus, these months come with exciting festivals such as San Francisco International Film Festival, Carnaval San Francisco, Bay to Breakers, International Beer Festival and St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival.

Summers start from June through August. Tourism is at its peak with many folks flocking over to the city from various parts of the country and worldwide. The summer temperatures range from 11 degree Celsius to 20 degree Celsius. It is perfect to put on your swimming trunks and head straight to the ocean. The hotel rates do get high in San Francisco as it is peak season. For budget-travellers, this might not be the best time to visit the port city. To ensure that you do find a decent accommodation, you can make prior hotel bookings in San Francisco and let the rest follow. Even the flight tickets to San Francisco sees a surge. Not to mention how the city beams with joy to be entertained by a bevy of festivals such as North Beach Festival, Outside Land Music Festival, San Francisco Pride and more.

Fall is undoubtedly the perfect time to visit if you want to enjoy the warm temperatures and to get a good flight and hotel deals in San Francisco. The fall is warmer than summer, and the temperature is comfortably ranging from 12 degree Celsius to 21 degree Celsius. The sunny skies do feel good on the skin, and the brisk breeze is perfect to have a good time. Plus, the flight tickets and hotel bookings in San Francisco are also cheap and easy on the pockets. You will thoroughly have a good time during your trip to the city. Not to mention how there are some festivals too hosted by the city such as the San Francisco Fringe Festival, Castro Street Fair and Treasure Island Music Festival. You will have to pack your clothes that fit the weather's features. A little layer in terms of clothing would do you good. Try to avoid winters in San Francisco. Even though the hotel prices in San Francisco are cheap, the weather might be unfavourable for tourist activities.

Places to see in San Francisco

San Francisco might be a small city in terms of area, but with the packed tourist attractions, food and living culture and much more, it's tourism easily skyrockets. The assortment of outdoor activities that the city has to offer is mind-blowing. The first thing for you to do in San Francisco as part of your tourist endeavour would be to visit the Golden Gate Bridge. The legendary bridge cannot be missed for the view it offers as it faces the San Francisco Bay. The structure was originally constructed to bridge the gap between San Francisco and Marin County. Of course, Alcatraz Island is also a trip that you shouldn't miss. You will need to take a ferry ride to reach the island of Alcatraz, known for its reputation as a federal prison which housed some of the biggest offenders in the US history. They also had mob boss Al Capone in custody at Alcatraz.

Fisherman's Wharf is another lovely place that would be a fun expedition. The pier is often crowded with tourists as it has a slew of interesting attractions such as San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park as well as the Maritime Museum. More places that should be on your list include Lands End, Muir Woods National Monument, Ferry Building Marketplace, The Castro, Yerba Buena Gardens and more.

Things to do in San Francisco

The best part about a trip to San Francisco is the covey of cool activities that can be undertaken. Right from climbing the popular Twin Peaks to riding the cable cars, you have a lot of interesting things you can take up. In fact, divulging in their food culture would be the best of things to do when in San Francisco.

Food and Restaurants in San Francisco

San Francisco's casual lifestyle brings forth a lovely melange of cuisines and flavours that range from budget to upscale. Thanks to the perfect balance of cuisines and Michelin-starred food establishments, the city has easily turned into one of the best food destinations of the US. It is easily one of the most recognised cities in the country with exquisite food. There are quaint coffee shops, steakhouses, Italian trattorias and of course, Chinatown too. You name a cuisine, and San Francisco has it for you. Their commitment towards encouraging diversity in international cuisine is what makes their food culture so popular. You will be surprised to know that the Bay Area alone has over 50 farmers market experiences in store for you. You should definitely visit the farm-to-table styled food establishment called Chez Panisse. The place brings out flavours with fresh ingredients that would certainly go down well with your system. You should also check out the Ferry Building Marketplace. There are many culinary treats that you will be able to find here.

It will take you more than one trip to San Francisco to cover up all the food establishments in the city. Some of the classics include Boudin's, which has clam chowder as its big seller. You should also visit Tartine Bakery to relish some sweet treats. Speaking of the same, you should also check out Bi-Rite Creamery. The ice cream parlour manages to bring forth some exquisite sweet flavours in a cup with sprinklers and other fun toppings. Golden Gate Bakery is another good establishment for sweet and savoury food. They are known for their egg tarts in the city. Geoff of Ichido is also a good place where you can indulge in some Japanese and Asian seafood. Know that the city is on the Pacific coast and hence, has seafood as its top big seller. At the cafe De Casa, you can revel in some exquisite Brazillian cuisine. At Tacorea, you can find a good array of Mexican dishes. As stated, the city has an array of international cuisine, including Greek and Mediterranean. You can actually find this at the Kokkari Estiatorio. Of course, do not miss their breweries and roasteries at Anchor Brewing Company and Philz Coffee respectively.

How to reach San Francisco (Transportation)

San Francisco has brilliant flight connectivity. In fact, the city does see a lot of demand from Indians as it does have some of the finest universities, including UC Berkeley. Flight connectivity to San Francisco from major Indian metropolitan cities is immaculate. Although there are no direct flights to San Francisco from India, they usually have layovers in international cities. Airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, Swiss, to name a few, have dedicated flights flying to San Francisco. The most popular route chosen to fly to San Francisco from India is from cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong. In fact, Cathay Pacific is the most popular airline to take this international route to San Francisco. The flight is perfectly connected to San Francisco and reaches the city in close to 21 hours. Singapore Airlines also has excellent connectivity and stops at Singapore to reach San Francisco. For this route though, you will need a transit visa.

With Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, you wouldn't have to worry about changing flights in international cities. In fact, the flight simply has layovers in these cities before reaching the destination. Other airlines mentioned also have flights that directly connect to San Francisco with layovers in their respective cities. The flight tickets to San Francisco are quite reasonable. If you do make prior flight bookings to San Francisco, you might be able to get some discounts. There are innumerable online flight deals to San Francisco that you might be able to avail. Depending on the airlines you choose, the ticket price to San Francisco might vary. It would be best to book your flight and hotels in advance. Often it is recommended that you book your flight and hotels in San Francisco together. When you combine the two bookings, you might be in for some fantastic online deals. Even airlines have their own flight deals to San Francisco that you can avail.

  About San Francisco Airport

San Francisco International Airport is located in the San Mateo County of California. It is 21 km away from downtown San Francisco and is located close to San Bruno. The international airport is one of the major getaways for airlines connecting Europe and Asia. After Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport is the second busiest airport in California. The airport is also recognised to be the largest in the Bay Area. It stands at the 24th level on the global list of busiest airports. San Francisco International Airport is also the fifth-largest hub for United Airlines. It operates as a transpacific getaway to the country. The second big airlines that it serves base to is Alaska Airlines. Much recently, the airport started serving Virgin America airlines as the base for operations. The airport has four runways made of asphalt and is arranged in parallel intersections. It has been recorded that SFO witnesses about 1,287 flight operations in a day with approximately 470,164 taking place in a year.

About Airport Terminals

San Francisco International Airport has four functioning terminals namely, 1, 2, 3 and international. These are followed by seven concourses of boarding areas and has 115 gates in total. Terminal 1 caters to boarding areas arranged in alphabetical orders of B and D. Terminal 2 accommodates boarding area D and Terminal 3 takes care of boarding areas E and F. This terminal also handles operations of domestic flights. Meanwhile, the international terminal has boarding A and G with the majority of international flight operations along with a handful of domestic flights. Terminal 1 is also referred to as Harvey Milk Terminal 1 which works predominantly for domestic flight operations. Terminal 2 also caters to domestic flights and hosts airlines such as Virgin America and American Airlines. Terminal 2 has been constructed to cater to sustainability. It is considered to be eco-friendly with respect to paper ticketing and parking bays. Level 2 is reserved for domestic boarding and is in area D. Terminal 3 is also domestic but is directly connected to the International Terminal. It has exclusive functions of inbound and outbound flights by United Airlines and flies within the US. International Terminal is divided into level 2 for arrival and baggage claim and level 3 for departures. Level 2 also has check-in and boarding area.

About Airport Authority

Despite its location in the San Mateo County, San Francisco International Airport is owned and managed by the City and County of San Francisco. The airport is an enterprise that falls under the wing of City and County of San Francisco which strives to bring about a safe and secure travel expedition. The management is responsible for the expansion and infrastructural design and development of San Francisco International Airport. The airport authority recently announced plans to switch to sustainable fuels and have already signed agreements with agencies, fuel suppliers and airlines to enable the same. Following the same, the agreement brought together Shell and NkyNGR to supply sustainable fuels for aviation to KLM, Finnair and SAS flights that operate out of San Francisco International Airport. The airport's body has also been working on enhancing the runway structures' sturdiness as well as that of the terminals and buildings to withstand natural calamities, following an earthquake that took place in the county. Plans to expand Terminal 1 is also being conducted and is scheduled to complete by 2024.

Top airlines flying from San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport has only one Indian airline that operates from the city, Air India. Besides this, the rest of the airlines that operate from the airport are mostly international airlines. The airlines are well-connected to Europe and Asian continents. The domestic connectivity of SFO Airport is also quite good as it reaches almost all cities of the United States. The international airlines operating from San Francisco International Airport are Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, Alitalia, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. The airport also accommodates a decent number of cargo planes to operate from the vicinity. Carriers such as Asiana Cargo, DHL Aviation, FedEx Express, Korean Air Cargo, Nippon Cargo Airlines are some of the few prominent ones.

Facilities at the San Francisco International Airport

Airport Butler - Airport Butler is a customised concierge service that is available at the airport. You can avail these services as they include assistance with respect to check-in, personal shopping, translations for non-English speaking travellers, lounge reservations, business services and more. You can make prior bookings and customise the necessities that you might need.

In-transit hotel - The airport actually has a luxury hotel present in the proximity of the airport's terminals. With the views of the Bay, the rooms at SFO's Grand Hyatt are beautiful and accessible. You can take the AirTrain to reach the hotel from the airport. The features of the hotel cater to upscaled hospitality.

Medical services - There are dedicated pharmacies and medical rooms at the San Francisco International Airport. The medical rooms with professionals are stationed for emergency cases that would happen at the terminals. You can also make last-minute medical purchases at the airport pharmacy.

Pets and service animals - Travellers who are travelling with pets can avail some services as well. There are reserved areas where the pet can do their business. There are some experts at the airport too who can help you with your pet.

Spas and showers - There is accommodation for luxury services such as spas and showers. You might have to pay some nominal fee before you can get hold of the services. You can use the showers to refresh yourself if you need to go for a professional meeting. There are spas too where you can get a good massage.

A travel agency - There are specific travel agency booths that are present at the San Francisco International Airport. In case there are any last-minute bookings that you need to make, you can directly head to the airport. You can get your complete travel itinerary sorted along with accommodation bookings.

Yoga Room - San Francisco International Airport is the first airport in the world to have a Yoga Room. The room is located in terminal 2, and you can indulge in yoga while you wait for the connecting flight or for the layover period to be over.

SFO museum - The San Francisco International Airport has a museum and a few galleries installed for travellers' entertainment. There are public art, photography exhibits, student art and video arts that can be found at the San Francisco Museum.

AMTs and currency exchange - The airport has ATM kiosks located at convenient spots. The terminals also have a foreign exchange booth at the departure zones and arrivals. It would be very convenient for international travellers.

Airport lounges – The airport also caters to a slew of lounges located at various departure zones of all the terminals. There are first-class and business-class lounges for travellers holding the respective flight tickets. The airport also has a VIP lounge, meeting rooms and other spaces where one can avail luxury services and hospitality.

WiFi and internet – The airport provides free WiFi services for travellers. You can visit the information desk to get more details on how you can procure the service. Not to mention how the airport also has internet cafes where you can get your work done.

How to reach San Francisco International Airport

Bus

SamTrans, a transit agency of San Mateo County, has dedicated buses that connect to the San Francisco International Airport. You will have to check out their schedules and the routes to know which ones would reach you to the SFO Airport. They can be accessed from the arrivals or baggage counter of the airport.

Car and rentals

The airport sees good connectivity by road, and you can always use rentals or taxis to reach the San Francisco International Airport. You can actually find booths and counters to book transport from the airport itself. Apps such as Lyft and Uber are also available and would be perfect to use when at the airport terminal's arrival section. If you are driving down to SFO Airport, you should opt for the short freeway that links the US 101 with Interstate 280. As the airport is on the US Route 101, this is the most favourable route to reach the San Francisco International Airport. The airport also has short term and long term parking facilities available, in case you plan to do on a day tour.

Ferry

A favourable way to reach the San Francisco International Airport is to take the ferry. From the San Francisco Bay, there are ferry services that go to Oakland and Alameda. You can reach the ferry by taking SFO Airport's shuttle bus services. This can be found at the South San Francisco Ferry Terminal.