Washington to Beijing Flights

  About Washington

Washington DC, is the capital city of the United States of America. The city reflects the rich history of the United States with its neoclassical monuments and iconic locations. The place will keep you engaged with its compelling slew of tourist attractions. As the capital of the United States of America, Washington DC has many traditional attractions with important museums and monuments. Make sure to visit all the Smithsonian American museums as they shed light on various cultural and historical significance of America.

Best time to visit Washington DC

Washington DC's summers are the peak season for travel. However, to steer clear off all the touristy crowd and to engage in some real fun, it is best to opt for spring and autumn. Summers in Washington DC are from June to August when the city experiences sweltering heat and a tremendous tourist crowd. Some of the fun events and festivals hosted by the city during this period include Capital Pride Parade, National Mall Fourth of July Celebration and Summerfest DC. While they may seem like enjoyable activities to participate in, the exorbitant prices of surviving a trip might pull you back. Although many locals ring in summers in other parts of the US, tourists might find Washington DC to be a tad bit expensive during peak season. Even hotel rooms in Washington DC are expensive. The months leading up to summer, though, are quite pleasant and even easy on the pockets. Spring brings with it the season of blossoms as the month of March begins with the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Watching the cherry blossoms bloom is a trip and definitely worth experiencing. The city also witnesses the National Memorial Day Parade, another interesting festival to be a part of.

Maybe not summer but the season following summer in Washington DC is just as favourable for tourists. The autumn season is just next to perfection and definitely something all tourists would enjoy. The weather is exquisite and calm as the brisk winter air starts to slowly take over the city. Booking a hotel in Washington DC becomes cheap and affordable too as the summer crowd takes away the expensive tags. However, as many business travellers make their way into the city, the hotel deals might still be a hard snag unless you make prior hotel bookings in Washington DC. The city witnesses the H Street festival and Library of Congress National Book Festival during autumn. The cultural festivals with their historical significance only add to the experience one might take in during a trip to Washington DC. If you want to downscale your budget further, then winter is the best time to visit for you. The city streets freeze up while the temperature ranges between 5 degree Celsius to 7 degree Celsius. The perks, though, are the slash in hotel room prices, which is a sweet deal if you want to experience winter in the city.

Places to visit in Washington DC

The first thing to check out would undoubtedly be the Lincoln Memorial. The location would make quite a postcard-worthy click with Honest Abe's memorial in the background. Next, you can visit Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans Memorials, popularly referred to as 'the Wall', which has names of all the Americans who succumbed to the Vietnam War. Just around the Lincoln Memorial is the beautiful Tidal Basin, a must-visit, especially during spring. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is a treasure trove which celebrates exquisite aircraft, including Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega 5B and Wilbur and Orville Wright's 1903 Wright Flyer, to name a few. It is a fascinating place and would certainly pique your interest. The city also has the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum which showcases the atrocities faced during the World War II. Do not miss the National Gallery of Art and The White House and the Washington Monument.

Things to do in Washington DC

Majority of the things that you can do in the city pertain to some of the sightseeing. Washington DC is recognised to be the city with a plethora of historical monuments and a haven for American history. The city offers a peek into the country's history as well as important events. Aside from indulging in the past of the country, one of the things you should definitely do is get tickets to a show at The John F Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts. You can explore the US Capitol's Library of Congress to get more understanding of the politics. A picture next to Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial also sounds like a good thing to do. You can also take a break from all the history lessons and head to 9:30 Club to relish some live music. The club has hosted many big bands, including RHCP and Nirvana.

Food and Restaurants in Washington DC

Washington DC's food culture is as diverse as the capital can get. There is an abundance of succulent eateries spread across the city. From piquant Spanish delicacies to oyster shots, there are many ethnic and global restaurants that will get your attention. Check out H Street Northeast, in the Atlas District to get some of the ethnic action as there are Belgian, Japanese and many more cultural kitchens. To get the sophisticated gourmet experience at an upscale restaurant, you can visit José Andrés' hotels such as Zaytinya and Oyamel Cocina Mexicana. Old Ebbitt grill and 1789 are also some lovely places where you will get the high-end fine dining experience. However, if you are on a budget, then opt for some eateries such as Ben's Chili Bowl and Good Stuff Eatery. These places have some signature dishes that you shouldn't miss at any cost. From lip-smacking burgers to rice bowls, the two joints offer an interesting palette of flavours in their meals that is worth all the money shelled out. Good Stuff Eatery's burgers are famous as they have been curated by chef Spike Mendelsohn.

Another major highlight to add to Washington DC's food culture are the farmer's markets in the city. Located in the District, a group of farmers huddle up to sell their fresh goods which come in all forms, colours and shapes. You'll find organic vegetables, healthy fruits and a colourful spread of goods at the market. It is a good place to get some of the fruity and healthy veggies action. Columbia Heights Farmers Market and FRESHFARM are two recognised markets that you should check out when in the city. Interestingly, the city also has lovely breweries and brewpubs, which came into existence in the recent past. However, the best way to enjoy the DC spirit would be to indulge in some brunch options. Tabard Inn, Kafe Leopold, Equinox, Cava Mezze, Juniper, Cafe Milano, to name a few, would be the best places to start your brunch rendezvous

How to reach Washington DC

Flight connectivity to Washington DC from India is quite decent but overpriced. There are no direct flights to Washington DC from India and layovers are the only way to reach the capital city. The demand for flights to Washington DC are not as much as for New York City or Chicago. Hence, the connectivity is also quite poor. There are only a handful of airlines that operate from India to Washington. Airlines such as United Airlines, Air Canada, Emirates, All Nippon Airways, to name a few, are the only ones that have flight services to Washington DC from India. There are no nonstop or flights to Washington DC from India, and usually, a layover or connecting flight is the only way to go. The United Airlines has flight connectivity to Washington DC from Newark. Many of the flights use the international route of Newark to reach Washington DC. Emirates is the only other airline that stops at Dubai for a layover before flying to Washington DC. Cathay Pacific also has flights to Washington DC from Delhi. Mostly, the connectivity is only from the Dubai and Newark international routes to reach Washington DC. The popular route to Washington DC often chosen by travellers is from Newark

Travellers require a transit visa to enter the USA and to reach Washington DC. Since the flights have connectivity from Newark, the non-immigrants are required to show a transit visa to let the authorities know that you are just taking a connecting flight to a different destination. A transit visa is a type 'C' visa where basically, you need to show at the Newark airport that you are just taking a connecting flight to Washington DC. To acquire these, you could apply for them at the American embassy, or you can do it online. The provisions are faster online and would be beneficial to you. The flight duration to Washington DC from India is approximately 17 hours, which is subject to change depending on the availability of flights. Do not expect cheap flight tickets to Washington DC. Not only is the capital expensive but even flight tickets to Washington DC is quite exorbitant. Even the accommodation is high-priced, and it would be best to make flight and hotel bookings to Washington DC well in advance to avoid expensive rates.

  About Beijing

Beijing is China's political and cultural hub with a lot of tourist attractions. It is also where the famous Great Wall of China is. It is one of the most important tourist spots in China. The city also boasts of a very happening nightlife that will give you nasty hangovers but fun night. Imperial Palace, Coal Hill Park, Beihai Park and Heavenly Temple are some of the popular tourist attractions. It also has amazing places to go shopping and dining. Beijing also has a rich history and historical sites that you just cannot miss when you visit the city. You can also head to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the National Museum of China to get to know the city better. While you are at it, you can even learn a few words in Mandarin. It will certainly spice things up during your vacation. China is also known for its diverse and unique cuisines, although it will be quite a task to find restaurants that serve vegetarian food.

Best Time to Visit Beijing

It would be best if you kept a lot of things in mind before you plan a trip to Beijing. If you are on a budget, it is best to avoid festival days and national holidays since booking a hotel in Beijing during this time will only burn a hole in your pocket. However, summer is the most popular tourist season in the city. June to August is the summer and peak season for travellers to fly to Beijing. The flight tickets to Beijing will be considerably higher if not booked in advance. The city also experiences heavy rainfall in July and August so make sure you also carry an umbrella with you. If you are planning your trip to Beijing in June, do not miss the Dragon Boat Festival. The temperature ranges from 18 to 31 degree Celsius during summer. If you are ready to bear with the scorching heat along with the rains, you can choose to travel to the city in summer.

September and October are also great months to plan your trip to Beijing. The hotel prices drop a little bit, and the weather is quite pleasant, owing to the disappearing humidity. You might want to steer clear of travelling to Beijing on the National Day if you are on a budget. But if you are already in the city, head over to the Great Wall of China to catch the festivities and celebration. The temperature ranges from 7 to 26 degree Celsius.

The city sees a dip in the number of tourists during winter, from November to February. This is a great time to fly to Beijing if you are on a tight budget. You will get cheap flight tickets to Beijing, and you can also book a hotel in Beijing at a lower cost. Not to mention, since there are fewer tourists in the city, you won't have to wait in queues or suffer the inconveniences that you might get with a lot of tourists buzzing around. While the temperature is quite pleasant during the day, it drops considerably at night. January-February is also Chinese New Year, and the celebrations are grand in the city. The temperature ranges from -9.4 to 4 degree Celsius in winters so pack all of your warm clothes and some more to fight the cold weather.

The temperature ranges from 7 to 26 degree Celsius in April and May. It's quite the relief from the extremely cold winter in Beijing. The hotel prices also start increasing as the months are inching closer to summer. You can also catch the Beijing International Film Festival if you are planning to visit in April.

Places to Visit in Beijing

The Imperial Palace, also called Forbidden City, dates back to the Yuan dynasty of the 13th century and is one of the most important tourist attractions in Beijing. Until a long time, the palace was not open to ordinary citizens at all, which is how it got its name, Forbidden City. A guided tour of this beautiful palace is highly recommended on your trip to Beijing. The Great Wall of China is about an hour away from Beijing and a historical monument. It is a popular tourist destination in all of China. It was ideally built for military reasons and went on to become one of the most visited tourist attractions. Since it is not possible to cover the entire thing, it is recommended that you see certain parts of it, just for the experience. Summer Palace is another tourist attraction that you cannot miss at all. It has one of the biggest imperial gardens in China and is accessible to the Kunming Lake. Make sure you go early in the day to explore the palace before the tourist crowd kicks in.

Tiananmen Square is another tourist spot that sees a lot of tourists. It's closer to attractions like The Great Hall of the People, National Museum of China, Forbidden City and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. It was initially built to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Republic back in 1958. Don't miss the Gate of Heavenly Peace while you are here. Beihai Park is close to the Imperial Palace and a must-visit if you are here. It was created in 1166 AD. If you want to know more about China's history and culture, head over to the National Museum of China, which is quite close to Tiananmen Square. The Temple of Heaven is one of the most sacred buildings in Beijing that dates back to 1420. The rectangular and semi-circular shrines and temples together symbolise the earth, and you will find a lot of peace in the temples here. Beijing National Stadium is popular for hosting the Summer Olympics in 2008 and is also called Bird's Nest. You can opt for a guided tour of the stadium and everything near it. Beijing Zoo is another highlight of the city that houses approximately 15,000 animals of 1000 species. You will find pandas here along with snow leopards, South China tigers, red-crowned cranes and so on. The Zoo also has an aquarium if you want to witness marine life.

Things to do in Beijing

You can take a tour of the museums and palaces by going for one of the tour packages, or you can make your itinerary on your own. Beijing has quite a few palaces and Chinese temples of great significance that you must visit. It is recommended that you hire a guide to most of the palaces and museums so you can know more about the history and importance of the city. If you want to add a little bit of an adventure on your visit to the Great Wall of China, you can hike to the place. There are quite a few tourists and tour groups that can help you arrange for a hiking trip. Try to catch the sunset from the Great Wall of China. It will be the experience of a lifetime. Beijing is also known for its vibrant nightlife, and you can certainly go clubbing if you want to let loose and have fun a little bit.

Food and Restaurants in Beijing

Since Beijing is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, it offers a plethora of different kinds of cuisines for tourists. Peking Duck is a very popular dish in Beijing that you must try. You can also try the dumplings that are sold at local street stalls or fancy restaurants. Zhajiangmian is a Beijing speciality that is made with wheat noodles and has radish, cucumbers, a special sauce made of pork belly and sweet bean paste. The View 3912 is a popular restaurant that serves French, European and Fusion food. You can also try F Bistronome - FB or TRB Forbidden City for authentic French and European cuisines. Alice's Tea House also specialises in Asian and Beijing cuisine along with serving healthy fast food. Head over to King's Joy for some delicious Chinese food and The Lounge at Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel for the vibrant nightlife experience.

How to reach Beijing (Transportation)

Beijing Capital International Airport is one of the largest airports in China and 32 km away from the city centre. The flight connectivity to Beijing from India is excellent. Cathay Pacific and Dragonair fly quite frequently to and from Beijing with layovers in Beijing. If you book in advance, you might come across great flight deals to Beijing online. If you are lucky, you will even get cheap flight tickets to Beijing. The Beijing airport is well-equipped with lounges for passengers, decent waiting areas, dressing rooms, duty-free shopping areas, currency exchange, restaurants and cafes. You will also get taxis, buses and shuttle services right from the airport to your hotel and vice versa. The staff is quite helpful, and you will also find a couple of tour packages at the airport, in case you haven't made your itinerary or want to add more attractions to it.