Madrid to Rochester 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 Rochester

Rochester is the third-largest city in the State of New York after New York City and Buffalo. It is also known as The Flower City and The World's Image Center. It is also known for its set of waterways. The city has Lake Ontario to its North and Genesee River flowing through the city. You will also find the Erie Canal that runs along Rochester's border. Rochester has given the world a lot of innovators and social reformers, something that the city is quite proud of and why not! Rochester is a city that welcomes the future with all its possibilities and believes in innovating. The city is called many things like The Flour City and The Flower City. The locals also celebrate the Lilac Festival every year in May. Rochester saw a decline in its population after World War II, but it still moves on hoping for a better tomorrow and working towards it. The city also made jazz music popular worldwide. It also houses the University of Rochester which has earned itself quite the reputation. The university boasts of being one of the top research centres in the US. Apart from these, the city also has a vibrant nightlife.

Best Time to Visit Rochester

Late spring and early fall are the best times to head to Rochester. You won't have to battle the scorching summer, and you won't have to fight the chilly winters. The city turns lush greens and beautiful during the spring season and the complete opposite during autumn. However, it does stay beautiful during both seasons. No matter when you go, you will have one event or another in the city. Rochester hosts over 140 festivals and events, has 60 public golf courses and over 100 distilleries, breweries and wineries. When it snows, it snows quite heavily, so much that even schools are forced to shut for a few days. Though the winter is quite fierce here, the other seasons only make Rochester look magnificent. Make sure you book a hotel in Rochester that has a beautiful view. You might even get great flight deals to Rochester online if you book in advance. Cheap flight tickets to Rochester are only possible if it is low season, which is during winter. May to October is when the weather remains pleasant and makes you feel comfortable, too. If you are travelling to the city in winter, make sure you are also carrying extra lip balms and moisturisers. With the intensity of the snowfall in the city, there are high chances that all of your plans to head out will only end up getting cancelled. Make sure the weather is right when you plan a trip to Rochester.

Places to Visit in Rochester

Rochester is known for its parks and outdoors. Be it the Cobbs Hill Park or Genesee Valley Park, Highland Park or Maplewood Park, and you will definitely fall in love with the city. If you are planning on visiting the museums and historical sites, head over to Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse. You will even find a small museum on the first floor of the lighthouse. You can also visit The Strong - National Museum of Play which is dedicated to board games, dolls and toys. Rochester Museum and Science Center is one of the major highlights of the city, and the exhibits here will simply blow your mind. It might even spark a lifelong interest in science for your kid. Finger Lakes Wine Country is responsible for some of the best wines in the US, and this is where they make it. There are up to 35 wineries here that you can visit and be amazed. Head over to the Rochester City Ballet to catch an ongoing performance or to merely appreciate the place. The city also has a theatre that puts up plays for kids that they will certainly enjoy.

You can visit the Seneca Park Zoo that houses African Elephants, white rhinos, polar bears, sea lions and a lot of other animals. Eastman Theatre is another popular place that also organises orchestras and jazz concerts. Visit the art museums and galleries in the city if you are an art lover. You can also visit the Seabreeze Amusement Park, which opened in 1879 and still manages to keep the tourists entertained. Head to the Ontario Beach Park if you have no big sightseeing plans for the day. You can just relax and blow off some steam at the beach or go for a swim.

Things to do in Rochester

Rochester is known for its vibrant and diverse nightlife. You can either sway to the sweet sounds of jazz at a theatre, or you can get groovy and hit the nightclub. Catch a show at the RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, and you will be in awe of the universe. It is also a great place to take your kids. The city also has amusement parks and makes for a perfect vacation with your family. You can go biking around the city, join a group and go for a hike or paddle, whichever suits your mood. You will never get bored in Rochester and will always find something to do, even if it is winter and there is heavy snowfall.

The city offers an educational ride as well a fun ride that is just rides. You can sign up for a historical tour of the city and visit landmarks and places that are of historical importance or you can like-minded people who love adventures and head out for one. Even if you don't want to do any of these, you can always head to the beach and just chill there. Enjoy the gentle breeze and the calming waves of the ocean. Rochester is a city that has a lot of activities planned for you. Make the most of your free time and learn something new. You can also try the water activities here at the beach or volunteer at the zoo. Find something new to do every day instead of making or sticking to an itinerary. Rochester is just as busy and lively as New York City and Buffalo are, but you won't people compete for the title here. If you want to make a list of things that you want to do on holiday and have never done before, Rochester is the place for you, and you will definitely find a way to complete your wish list. If you are in the city with your kids, do take them to the museums and amusement parks.

Foods and Restaurants in Rochester

Rochester has a very diverse culinary scene, and you will know that once you visit the city. Lento is a new restaurant that farm-to-table eats and the food here is quite unique. If not the food, you must at least go to the place to experience it. The Owl House is yet another restaurant that serves delicious American food and craft beers. It also has vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options on its menu. If you are in the mood for some Italian food, you must visit Rocco. Tony D's is another restaurant in the city that serves signature pizzas and mind-blowing cocktails to go with it. You can also try Tapas 177 Lounge, where a street-level bar welcomes the guests inside the restaurant. You must try the Korean Bulgogi BBQ and game sausage plate here. It is not very difficult to find vegetarian food in the city, though it is not the most famously ordered cuisine from the menu. The city is quite welcoming and diverse in its own way. You can also enrol yourself in a temporary cooking class and learn a few techniques that you can show off later when you go back home. Burgers and fries are a staple among youngsters here, and you can't leave without trying one yourself. The food here will definitely make you take a break from your diet and treat yourself to anything and everything that you crave for on your holiday.

How to reach Rochester

The Greater Rochester International Airport is the fifth-busiest airport in New York State. The flight connectivity to Rochester from India is excellent. American Airlines and United Airlines have frequent flights to Rochester from India with layovers at London, Chicago, Newark and Zurich. If you book your tickets well in advance, you might get some exciting flight deals to Rochester online from India. In fact, if you are flying during the offseason, you might even get cheap flight tickets to Rochester. Getting a taxi from the airport is not that difficult at all. In any case, it would be best to hire or rent a car from the airport itself. The airport is well-equipped with WiFi, lounges, restaurants, cafes, shopping areas and much more. Even if you have to wait a long time to board your flight, you won't get bored here at all. You will also find book stores and shops that sell souvenirs at the airport, for any last-minute shopping.