Madrid to Hong Kong Flights

  About Madrid

Madrid is one of the hottest holiday destinations in Spain and no, and we are not talking about the weather here. It's not as popular as Barcelona, but it is definitely a city that you must visit. Spain is one of the cheapest holiday destinations in Europe compared to other countries and is worth every penny spent. Madrid is an architectural marvel and is also known for its rich culture. You will occasionally run into an old Spanish Grandma or another local who is all excited to help you with directions or hand you a list of the best attractions to visit in the city. There are high chances of you befriending a lot of locals and staying in touch with them later on through social media. Not to mention, the city is musically inclined, and you will find yourself attending quite a few music festivals here. Of course, Madrid is also popular for its food, and you will want to visit the city again just for the gastronomic experience.

Best Time to Visit Madrid

Summer is one of the most popular times for tourists to plan a vacation to Madrid. However, a lot of local shops are shut during this time since the owners also take a vacation. If you don't mind the scorching heat, this is the best time to fly to Madrid. The temperature ranges from 15 to 31 degree Celsius in summer. You might also want to book your hotel in Madrid well in advance if you are planning to visit the city in summer. You can attend quite a few festivals and events during summers like the International Gay Pride, Mad Cool Festival, Feria del Libro and Veranos de la Villa. Tourists also prefer taking a taxi to get around the city instead of walking around to avoid the heat.

September to November is the autumn season in Madrid and quite pleasant, too. The temperature ranges from 6 to 26 degree Celsius, and this is also when most locals return from their vacations. The shops remain open, and you get to enjoy the highlights of the city at its best. You can also attend the Autumn Festival that happens in October and November. December to February are the coldest months in Madrid. The temperature ranges from 2 to 12 degree Celsius, January being the coldest month. This is also the best time to book a hotel in Madrid or get cheap flight tickets to Madrid since it is not a high season.

Spring season is from March to May and is a pleasant time to head to Madrid. It is right before the high season, so the locals are preparing to welcome a lot of tourists. The hotel prices are low this season and flight tickets are also pretty cheap. The temperature ranges from 5 to 21 degree Celsius and a lot of tourist spots are also open. The best part is that you get to hog the city to yourself since it is not very crowded.

Places to Visit in Madrid

Plaza Mayor, originally called Plaza del Arrabal, is a major tourist attraction in Madrid. You will find yourself admiring the architecture of the place and take lots of pictures. Royal Palace of Madrid is yet another tourist spot that has a lot of historical importance. It was built right where the Moorish Castle was destroyed in 1734 after a tragic fire broke out. It is one of the most important tourist spots in the city. You can also visit the National Museum of History, called the Museo Nacional Del Prado. It houses some of the best masterpieces by renowned artists like Van Dyck, Goya, El Greco, Rembrandt and so on. You will find paintings that date back to the 11th and 18th century. The Temple of Debod was a gift to the city by former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser. Catch the best of artist Francisco Goya's paintings at the Royal Chapel of St Anthony of La Florida. The church also has the remains of the artist who was buried in front of the altar.

Teatro Real, or the Royal Theatre, is considered to be one of the best opera houses in all of Europe. It has a seating capacity of 1745 people, and you can even get a guide to take you through the theatre. You can also visit the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, a monument that took approximately 20 years to construct. Watch some of the most beautiful fountains at the Plaza de Cibeles. It is also home to the bank of Spain, Linares Palace and Buenavista Palace. Madrid also has a happening nightlife scene. You can head to Barrio de La Latina for some delectable tapas, go dancing and have some amazing beer. However, if crowded places are a deal-breaker for you, you might want to steer clear of visiting the place on weekends.

Things to do in Madrid

You can go on a guided tour of the city. Reserve a day for museums, another day for art tours and a few days to sit back, relax and party. Madrid's nightlife scene is quite exciting. Make sure you visit museums like Museo del Prado, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Museo Sorolla and Museo Reina Sofia. It would be advisable to hire a guide for your museum tour. You'll get to know a lot more interesting facts about the city. You will find yourself appreciating the architecture, and you will be amazed at everything that you see in the museums. If you want to spend your evening relaxing at El Retiro, one of the most beautiful parks in Madrid. You can either plan a picnic on the grass or go boating around the lake in the park. If you are at Plaza Mayor, make sure you try the squid roll here. You will find a lot of restaurants here that serve delicious squid rolls. It is one of the most popular dishes to try here. You can head to Gran Via for a shopping spree and to La Latina for some tapas. Madrid is also easily accessible to other cities in Spain, and you can also cover other major cities in Spain like Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Ibiza and more. Madrid is a place you can visit with your family or your friends. You can also pack your bags and head for a solo trip to Madrid.

Food and Restaurants in Madrid

Traditional Madrid food consists of meat, bread and cheese. It's best tasted in tapas, samples of small plates of Spanish dishes. They come free with the drinks that you order at the bars. Mercado de San Miguel, a popular market that is located right outside Plaza Mayor, offers tapas along with cocktails, dessert, coffee and produce stalls. You can head over to El Tigre if you want to try some complimentary tapas along with your favourite cocktail. The restaurant serves a large plate of tapas, and even though the place is quite loud, you will enjoy your time here. You can also try paella (which is rice with fish), croquetas (fried breadcrumb rolls dish that is filled with mashed potatoes, meat and cheese), Espanola (potato omelette that you will fall in love with) and gazpacho, which is cold soup. You cannot leave Madrid without trying the famous jamón Iberico, one of the most expensive hams in the world. You will also find a lot of Indian, Asian, Chinese and Latin American cuisine in Madrid. Kathmandu Tandoori House Nepali serves the best Indian and Nepali cuisine. You can head to Antonio of Italia a Tavola for authentic Italian food. If you want to try street food that's also healthy, you can try Azotea Forus Barcelo and to Empanadas Malvon Retiro for Argentinean cuisine. Gramabar is a popular spot for everyone who is in the mood for American, Caribbean and Venezuelan cuisine.

How to reach Madrid (Transportation)

Madrid International Airport is called Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport and is situated in the Barajas district. It is about 12 km away from the city centre. The flight connectivity to Madrid from India is excellent. Turkish Airlines, EgyptAir, Lufthansa, Air France are some of the airlines that fly to Madrid quite frequently with layovers at Istanbul, Cairo, Munich and Paris; these are the most popular routes to Madrid by air. If you book in advance, there are high chances that you get cheap flight tickets to Madrid. You will also come across decent flight deals to Madrid online. Madrid Airport is well-equipped with WiFi, lounges and also has a sleeping room in case you want to reach the airport early and wait for your flight. There are lots of taxi and bus services from the airport to your hotel. If you are on a Europe trip and Madrid is on your itinerary, you can also take the Eurail that connects to France and Italy as well. Though you can reach Madrid by rail and road from any other European country, taking a flight to Madrid is one of the most convenient ways to travel.

  About Hong Kong

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

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

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

Best time to visit Hong Kong

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

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

Places to visit in Hong Kong

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

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

Things to do in Hong Kong

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

Food and Restaurants in Hong Kong

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

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

How to reach Hong Kong (Transportation)

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

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

  About Hong Kong Airport

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

About Airport Terminals

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

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

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

About Airport Authority

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

Top airlines flying from Hong Kong International Airport

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

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

Facilities at Hong Kong International Airport

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to reach Hong Kong International Airport

Airport Express

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

Public transport

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

Taxicabs and rentals

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