Lucknow to Venice Flights

  About Lucknow

Lucknow, the land of Nawabs, is the capital of Uttar Pradesh. There is a certain royalty, elegance and regality in Lucknow that you will not find elsewhere. The people here are quite polite and talk with what you call 'Tehzeeb' in Urdu. Lucknow is famous for its food, handcrafted artefacts and more importantly, clothes. Lucknowi kurtas, lehengas and dupattas attract a lot of tourists in Lucknow. The Chikan embroidery on kurtas is a speciality in Lucknow. It's also known for its culture, arts, music and poetry. You must experience the warm hospitality that the city has to offer, at least once in your life. Lucknow, like most cities in the country, was also ruled by the Mughals. However, the Nawabs of Awadh took over in the 18th century.

The city has a lot of architectural wonders that you cannot miss. It is also quite popular for its variety of biryanis and kebabs. In fact, the city is like a paradise for everyone who is a fan of chicken or mutton biryanis and kebabs. The Lucknowi chaat is also quite popular and something that you must not miss when you visit Lucknow. Since the city is known for its elegant and Nawabi architecture, you'll find some of it incorporated in hotel rooms as well. You can find and book a hotel room in Lucknow according to your budget, and you'll experience the Lucknowi hospitality everywhere.

Hazratganj Market is like paradise for shopaholics, and if you are good at bargaining, you're going to need another suitcase to pack everything that you shopped for. The Bara Imambara and the Chota Imambara are two famous monuments in the city. It is also an important place of worship for Muslims, who also celebrate Muharram here. Lucknow also has a Marine Drive that is inspired by the Marine Drive that you have in Mumbai. It's adjacent to the Gomti River and is a beautiful and romantic stretch of road. It's also a famous place for couples to spend some romantic time with each other.

The Indira Gandhi Planetarium is yet another place to visit if you are in the city with your kids. Lucknow also has a bird sanctuary that you can visit with your family or alone. The Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary which is also called the Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary is a dense forest in Unnao. You will find approximately 250 species of birds in the sanctuary. The Qaisar Bagh Palace, which was constructed in the 1850s, is the perfect example of the exotic Mughal architecture and elegance. You'll find a lot of monuments and palaces that were made by the Mughals and the Nawabs of Lucknow. The city is developing at a swift pace and has also managed to maintain the charm and elegance of the Nawabs. Well, it is one of their specialities,

Best Time To Visit Lucknow

The summers can get quite hot in Lucknow as the temperature rises to 40 degree Celsius. It starts from April through July. It's not the best time to plan a visit to Lucknow during summer. The city experiences monsoon pretty late, from July through September. The weather is quite humid, and it might affect a lot of your sightseeing and shopping plans. Winter, however, is the best time to visit Lucknow, which is from October to March. The temperature drops to 7 degree Celsius at night and the evenings are just perfect to go boating or for a fancy dinner. You can even plan all of your sightseeing during the day during winter. Since it is the peak season, the hotel prices are also likely to spike up.

Places to Visit in Lucknow

The Bara Imambara and Chota Imambara are two popular monuments in Lucknow. Since the Muslims also value the Bara Imambara as a place of worship, they celebrate Muharram here on a very grand scale. Festivals in Lucknow are a grand affair. The Chota Imambara was built by Muhammad Ali Shah, the third Nawab of Awadh in 1838, for Shia Muslims. It is located on the west of the Bara Imambara.

The Lucknow Zoo is another place you can visit if you are an animal lover. The Zoo houses approximately 447 mammals, 348 birds, 57 reptiles, royal Bengal tigers, bears, Indian rhinoceros and a lot of wild animals, too. Your kids will surely love visiting the zoo. You have to pay a nominal fee to get into the zoo, though, which is not a lot.

British Residency is one of the famous historical landmarks that marks the first stage of the fall of British Raj. It had served as a refuge place for 3000 British inhabitants during the uprising of 1857, which was India's first revolt for Independence against the Britishers. The Indira Gandhi Planetarium is yet another place that your kids will love and you will, too, if you can't get enough of the stars, planets and the cosmic wonders. The planetarium also puts on shows that will transport you to another dimension.

Hazratganj is a popular shopping area for tourists and residents of Lucknow, too. You'll find the best kurtas, shararas and lehengas with beautiful Chikan embroidery. Of course, make sure that you bargain well. The street food at Hazratganj is also quite delicious. Qaisar Bagh Palace was constructed in the 1850s by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and is a masterpiece that showcases the Mughal architecture. Do visit the palace when you are in Lucknow to experience the lavish lifestyles of the Nawabs.

Things to do in Lucknow

Monument hopping is not a widely used term, but we are hoping it catches on. You plan a day just to visit the monuments and end it with an authentic Lucknowi dinner. Take a tour of the Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary. You can walk around and spot birds you've never seen before. Tour guides also organise Heritage Walks in the city for tourists. You can either get in touch with a local tour guide through a travel agent, find one online or enquire at your hotel desk.

The mutton biryani, different types of kebabs, shawarma and a variety of chaats is what is popular in the city. Whether you are a vegetarian or crave for meat, Lucknow does not disappoint you at all, when it comes to food. But the place is quite the paradise for non-vegetarians. Catch the shows put up at the Indira Gandhi Planetarium. After the show, you can spend some time at the Gomti River to admire the sheer beauty of the city.

Go on a shopping spree at Hazratganj. This is one of the most popular areas to shop at in Lucknow. Make sure you pick the right shops and have good bargaining skills.

Food and Restaurants in Lucknow

There is a lot of hype over Lucknowi food and for a reason. You'll know why it is famous in the country once you try it for yourself. Moti Mahal Restaurant and Royal Cafe are two places in Hazratganj that you must eat at when you are in Lucknow. End your shopping spree or stop for a break at one of the two or both the eateries. They are popular for their North-Indian and Mughlai cuisines. You can also try out Oudhyana at Vivanta By Taj for authentic Mughlai food. Don't forget to try out the meat delicacies, kebabs and roomali rotis at this eatery. It won't burn a hole in your pocket at all. Have breakfast at Rati Lal's Khasta Kachori. The barras, pooris and the chickpea sabzi will satiate you and how!

Prakash Ki Kulfi is a popular dessert store in Lucknow that specialises in kulfi. Treat yourself to the best kulfi you'll ever have. While you are visiting Gomti Nagar, make sure you stop to have some basket chaat. It's a popular chaat in the city and one of a kind. You can't not have biryani in Lucknow. Have the mouth-smacking Awadhi biryani at Wahid's Biryani.

How to reach Lucknow

By Air

The nearest airport to Lucknow is the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. Lucknow airport is about 14 km away from the city, but the flight connectivity is pretty good. Domestic flights from Lucknow are well-connected with cities like Mumbai, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Patna and other important cities. It's easy to reach Lucknow by air from any other city in India. Look for good flight deals and cheap flight tickets. If you are visiting the city during its offseason, the fares might even drop.

By Rail

The Lucknow Railway Station at Charbagh connects the city with all the other cities and is also the main station. You'll also find rickshaws or taxis from outside the station quite easily. The city has also introduced a metro, but it has only fewer stations within the city so far.

By Road

Buses from domestic routes like Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Agra, Delhi and other cities run quite frequently to Lucknow. The city is also connected to major highways like the NH25, NH28 and NH56.

  About Venice 

Nestled close to the Adriatic Sea, the alluring city of Venice is a famous tourist spot. Situated at the northern regions of Italy's Veneto region, the city is renowned for being one of the top attractions with architecture inspired by the Renaissance and Gothic era. You will find some of the palaces in lines with the architecture. The beautiful city is gifted with the gorgeous Grand Canal which passes through the city. The flourishing tourism and food culture of Venice brings together many tourists together. Venice is also recognised for its international film and fashion festivals.

Best time to visit Venice

Vienna's alluring weather interspersed with the breeze from the Adriatic Sea is just too good for words. But, when it comes to visiting Venice, September through November is undoubtedly the best time to travel to the city. The temperature during this time is between 23 degree Celsius to 11 degree Celsius, which is perfect for the coastal city. It is easier to book hotels in Venice during this season as the prices see a tremendous drop. Most of the tourists visit the city in summer and are on their way back by the time September arrives. This only makes the city less crowded and noisy. You can easily walk the streets of Venice without bumping into another stranger or stand in long queues while visiting the city's top attractions. You should note that the city faces acqua alta from September to April, especially during November and December. This phenomenon basically means there will be rain in the city. Hence, if your plans coincide with these days, then you should ensure to carry some rain boots and an umbrella. The good thing is the city is lit with a plethora of festivities such as Venice International Film Festival, La Biennale di Venezia and Regata Storica, to name a few. These fests do bring some crowd to the city but only art and literature enthusiasts.

The fact that the city's temperatures are calm and appealing during this time makes it ideal for travelling. The winters do get a little cold here as the temperatures range between 6 degree Celsius to 12 degree Celsius. However, the city does witness some crowd who wish to celebrate the winters in the city. One of the big events that draw many tourists to the city is the Venice Carnival. The city streets are packed with mask-wearing attendants. Interestingly, the hotel prices in Venice are low even during the carnival. In fact, it actually would be a good time to experience the city's spirits. Despite the carnival festival, the hotels are low priced, as are the flight tickets to Venice.

Places to visit in Venice

Venetian tourism is a treat to the eyes and the soul. There are many beautiful locales in the city that continue to attract many tourists. You can start your tour from St Mark's Basilica, built to honour St Mark, the evangelist. Another big highlight of Venice is the lovely Grand Canal. Taking a gondolier to row through the canal is the most romantic thing you can take up in Venice. You should also visit Campanile di San Marco, a structure famous for being the setting to Galileo Galilei's demonstration of the telescope. At the heart of Venice is the famous St Mark's Square which is also called Piazza San Marco. From this space, you can further explore the famous cathedrals and historical structures, including Doge's Palace. Bridge of Sighs is another interesting place to visit which was once used to transfer prisoners to prisons from the courtroom. The legend is definitely worth the excursion. Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is a gorgeous goth-styled church which was constructed in the 14th century. You can also check out the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a lovely museum with many artistic contributions.

Things to do in Venice

The most fun thing to do would be to explore the city via its canals. You can opt for some free Tours La Bussola as part of your day's itinerary. To indulge in some shopping and sightseeing, you can visit T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi, a space dedicated to Venetian shopping artefacts. You should definitely catch a show at the Musica A Palazzo. The Italians love music and are ardent performers too. From the coast of Venice, you can take up a tour of Murano and Burano Islands by booking a private boat. You should also visit the Jewish Ghetto, a section in the north-western section of Venice where the Jews were once forced to move. A gondola ride along the beautiful canals of Venice is something you should definitely opt for as part of your Venetian rendezvous. It is also recommended to indulge in their food culture. Plus, a wine expedition is a must as are known to come up with the best wines of the world.

Food and restaurants in Venice

As it is on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, the staple food automatically becomes fish for Venice. The Venetian diet mainly consists of cuttlefish, sea bass and clams, which can be found in a majority of food establishments in the city. In fact, much of the menu and even dishes have these fish as the base. There is a specific seafood salad known as frutti di mare, which is well-known for the fact that it has these as ingredients. Interestingly, the Venetian street food called Tramezzini is also popular for being a type of sandwich which comprises of a series of meats and cheese. The popular dish can be found in most of the cafes within the city. The best way to down the sandwich is by drinking a lovely sparkling white wine called prosecco, a big hit in the Veneto region. One of the biggest recommendations is to stick to the street food as they have a range as well as flavours that the big establishments might charge ten times. One such that is a favourite among tourists is the Ristorante La Caravella, known to serve some of the best Venetian food in the city.

Along with Ristorante La Caravella, you should also head to Paradiso Perduto, specifically known for its ambience. The establishment is located close to the Jewish Ghetto and is recognised for its long wooden tables. The area's vibe is also quite lively and full of vigour. It certainly brings more colour to the trip as does the famous Ostaria Boccardoro, a farm-to-table restaurant that offers only the freshest picks from their gardens. For the sake of experience, you can dine at the bacaro, which is basically a smaller bar that is easy on the pockets and favours authentic Venetian cuisine. The food and even the establishments have a character which only helps uplift the enthusiasm to check the places out. You can visit Cantina Do Mori, Alla Ciurma and Cantina Do Spade, to get the best meals and experience.

How to reach Venice

Venice lacks a direct flight availability from India. However, the flight connectivity to Venice via other international routes from India, make it excellent. There are dedicated airlines that have regular flights flying to Venice from India. Airlines such as Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Vistara, LOT Polish Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, KLM Royal Dutch, Air France, Alitalia, to name a few, have excellent flight connectivity to Venice from India. The layovers usually take place in cities such as Munich, Istanbul, Warsaw, Frankfurt, Dubai, Rome, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Paris, to name a few. If you are taking Air France or Lufthansa, you will have to apply for a Schengen transit visa. It is essential that you apply for one as these cities expect travellers from India to hold the transit visa. These visas are only applicable to be within the airport premise to catch a connecting flight. You cannot step out into the city with the transit visa. The availability of flights to Venice from Mumbai is aplenty as it is a recognised vacation destination.

The concept of cheap flight tickets to Venice does exist, and if you get lucky, then you will be able to snag a really good travel deal. As one of the prominent travel destinations in Italy, the booking flights to Venice would be quite steep. However, thanks to the plethora of Mediterranean cities that also have the same demand, the prices are balanced. You will be able to snag cheap flight tickets to Venice and at the same time, might even get some really sweet accommodation deals. As long as you keep all your options open, you wouldn't have to worry much about the travel and accommodation in Venice. Prior bookings of flights and hotels in Venice is recommended as it would help you save up all the money to spend within the city on vineyard excursions and sailing expeditions. In fact, you can further upscale your Italian rendezvous in Venice by making reservations at high-priced dining establishments. You will be able to make it a trip with excess luxe, provided you've already got your travel and accommodation in Venice sorted.

  About Lucknow Airport

Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport or better known as Lucknow Airport is an international airport that serves Lucknow, the state capital of Uttar Pradesh. The airport was previously called the Amausi Airport as it is located in the Amausi area of Lucknow. However, it was later renamed as Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, after the fifth Prime Minister of India, by the Government of India. The main idea behind constructing the airport in 1986 was to expedite aid for government and corporate officials in the state. As the number of passengers and air traffic increased with time, the Airports Authority of India worked around upgrading the structure to accommodate passenger footfall. The airport received international stature in 2012 and witnesses airlines catering to international cities such as Dubai, Riyadh, Muscat, Jeddah, Bangkok and Sharjah. The Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport introduced the concept of private sectors to operate the airport to get better management and funds. The latest terminal has been constructed in such a way to accommodate about 2000 passengers at once.

About Lucknow Airport Terminals

Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport has two operational terminals while the third one is in the planning stage. T1 is the original airport that was built to complement the architecture of the Charbagh Railway Station. It is currently being used for international operations and flights. There are three departing gates and two arrival ones at the international terminal with two dedicated immigration counters. Terminal 2, on the other hand, has been allocated for domestic flights and activities. Terminal 2 has five boarding gates and witnesses high passenger traffic each year. Due to the heavy activities as well as air traffic, there has been some pressure on the aerodromes. Hence, an expansion plan to develop and enhance the terminal building has been proposed. The Minister of State for Civil Aviation has granted permission to expand the existing terminal building along with some allocated funds. The project management consultant would be focussed on catering to the extension of the terminal. The domestic terminal was inaugurated in 2012 by the then civil aviation minister Ajit Singh. The extension project's funds have been estimated at INR 880 crore.

About airport authority

The Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport is owned by the Airports Authority of India. Much recently though, they have passed the baton of operations to the Adani Group. All expansion and management operations are now being handled by the Adani Group. The airport is also undergoing extension plans with a proposition to build a new terminal, T3, by the Adani Group. Lucknow Airport received Best Airport under the Airports Authority of India (AAI) along with Rajasthan's Jodhpur Airport, in 2012. It has also been recognized as the second-best with respect to small airports that can accommodate about 5-10 million passengers in a year. The same was awarded by the Airports Council International, which is a global non-profit organization that works for airport operators.

Facilities at the Lucknow Airport

ATMs and currency exchange: The Lucknow airport has dedicated counters and desks for foreign exchange. Lucknow sees a lot of international tourists and travellers. Hence, it is essential to have forex counters to make the currency exchange done. Also, airports are known to have better rates compared to forex firms outside in the city. ATM kiosks are also available at regular intervals in the airport.

VIP lounge: VIP lounges and guestrooms are available at the Lucknow airport. The airport has witnessed infrastructural development with provisions for lounge and rooms for upscaled experiences. The VIP lounge in the airport has an excellent ambience and hospitality services. As long as you have first-class tickets or premium access to the lounge, you wouldn't be allowed to enter.

Information desk: The airport also has several information desks. The information desk holds all necessary details about the flights that are departing, arriving, schedules, airlines, connecting flights and more. You can further learn more about the layout of the airport too at the information desk. You can get a guide and map to the airport as well as details about the city of Lucknow.

Luggage storage: Lucknow airport's luggage services are also quite good. There are dedicated storage areas where one can keep their luggage while they wait to board their flights. There are locker facilities available that could be very beneficial to you if you want to safeguard some of your essentials. Not to mention, the airport also has baggage packing facilities available so you can safeguard your bags from theft and other concerns.

Child care room: A devoted child care centre is available at the Lucknow airport. The space is perfect for new mothers with infants. Since they require privacy for feeding and changing of the diapers, space has been reserved for mothers and their kids. The centre is also well-maintained and regularly sanitized to avoid health hazards. The place is kept hygienic by the airport officials.

Restaurants and cafes: Lucknow airport also has some good food establishments. There are famous joints such as KFC, Burger King, Subway, to name a few. The place also has some Mughlai-themed restaurants that glorify the city's flourishing culture. Although there are no roasteries available at the airport, they do have cafes and coffeehouses with quick bites and refreshments.

Medical aid: The airport also has provisions for medical aid. To ensure that medical emergencies are treated immediately, the airport has medical services stationed at proper intervals. Plus, they also have ambulances, in case the patient needs to be taken to the hospital for better services. You can also ask for medical kits at the information desk or the security.

WiFi: The Lucknow airport has WiFi services available as well. As long as you have your Indian phone numbers, you can get access to the WiFi services. The services of WiFi can be availed for approximately 45 minutes after which you will have to pay for it. You can get premium paid packs of WiFi connection from the information desk.

Entertainment centre: Interestingly, the airport has an entertainment centre with a big TV too. Although the channels cannot be changed as it is for all the public, there are Indian TV shows and movies that play on the gigantic TV at all times. You can keep your kids engaged and distracted, so they do not cause a ruckus at the airport.

Local calls facilities: In case you have network issues or do not have enough balance in your mobile phone, you can make use of the free phone that is available at the airport. You can use to this connect with families or people who will be picking you up from the airport. It only caters to local calls so you will not be able to make STD or ISD calls from the phone.

Top airlines flying from the Lucknow Airport

The Lucknow Airport lacks impeccable connection as fewer domestic and international airlines operate from the city. Very few flights even connect the domestic cities from Lucknow airport. Major Indian metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad, to name a few. Lucknow airport does have better connectivity with cities of North India thanks to its geographical location. However, only fewer domestic airlines operate from the city, considering how it is one of the big cities in India. Domestic airlines such as Air India, Alliance Air, GoAir, Air India Express, IndiGo and Vistara, operate from the Lucknow airport. The airport's connectivity with Southern cities is fewer and only caters to Bangalore, Chennai, Goa and Hyderabad. For other cities, connecting flights would be required.

In terms of international airlines, the city again only caters to a handful of airlines. Airlines only catering to cities such as Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, Muscat and Bangkok. Airlines such as flydubai, Flynas, Oman Air, Saudia and Thai Smile, are the few that operate from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. For better international airlines connection, people often fly to Delhi from Lucknow airport. Cities such as Mumbai and Bangalore are also considered to connect to a wider range of international airlines.

How to reach Lucknow Airport

The Lucknow Airport is brilliantly connected with the Lucknow Metro line. The best way to reach the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. There is a dedicated station called the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport metro station which falls on the Red Line stretch. It further connects to the Munshi Pulia metro station. The metro project is known to be the most expensive mode of the transport system in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Depending on how close you are to any of the stations on the Munshi Pulia and Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport stretch, the duration changes accordingly. However, the long stretch takes about 50 minutes to reach. The fare is also quite decent with the maximum fee going up to INR 60. Often travellers use the metro to reach Lucknow airport as it is the best and most convenient way to reach in the city.

Another way to reach Lucknow airport is to hail a taxi or rental. There are many prepaid taxi counters available at the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. All three of the terminals have taxi counters from which you can book your ride. There are no direct buses available from the city to the airport. Although reaching the Lucknow airport by vehicle will take some time, it is convenient as you can rest assured about the luggage's safety.