travel – Page 10 – The Wknd Travel

Flight Report: EMIRATES EK 332 – Dubai to Manila – Underwhelming Inflight Meals on a Busy & Full Flight Back to Manila [December 2022]

Late last year, my friends and I went on a 3.5-week holiday around France, Italy and Spain. We visited and went around the cities of Paris, Rome, Florence, Milan and Barcelona. We took different flights to and from Europe.

I flew with Emirates from Manila to Dubai and Dubai to Paris to Europe and Barcelona to Dubai and Dubai to Manila (this flight) back to the Philippines. I have shared with you in the past on how the first 3 flights went in previous flight reports.

To complete the flights on this trip, allow me to share with you details about the last sector – Emirates Flight EK 332 from Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Manila, Philippines. Read on below to know why I believe this flight was the only underwhelming flight among all 4 sectors I took with the airline last year.

Emirates

Emirates commenced operations in 1985 from its home hub in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 37 years after, the airline is now one of the world’s biggest airlines. The airline is a subsidiary of the state-owned The Emirates Group. Most, if not all, of its flights depart & arrive from the massive Dubai International Airport Terminal 3.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Singapore Airlines & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

The airline flies to over 80 countries & 150 destinations in the 6 habitable continents. It has a fleet of over 250 wide body aircraft with 200 more on order. The airline currently operates only Boeing 777 & Airbus A380 aircraft in their fleet; it is also the largest operator of both aircraft types. It makes use of Dubai’s strategic location in connecting people from all over the world.

Apart from its commercial division, the airline also has its cargo & corporate subsidiaries. Its cargo division is called Emirates SkyCargo, while its corporate & private subsidiary is called Emirates Executive. Emirates’ frequent flyer program is called Emirates Skywards. The airline is not part of an airline alliance but has codeshare & partnership agreements with airlines like flydubai, Qantas, United, Air Canada & a lot more.

Emirates is a full-service airline. This means that the airline offers services & amenities such as inflight meals & snacks & personal entertainment screens on every flight. All Emirates tickets also include check-in baggage allowance depending on the booking / ticket class where the passengers are booked.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Airfare

I booked my Emirates ticket in January 2020 before all borders closed due to the pandemic. Back then, my ticket was from Hong Kong to Munich, Germany via Dubai & back to Hong Kong via Dubai from Budapest, Hungary. I wasn’t able to use this 2020 ticket, but I was so pleased that Emirates offered the most flexible airline ticket option.

Basically, they extended the ticket validity for 3 years & allowed passengers to rebook the ticket when they are ready to fly as long as there are seats available. The flights tickets should be used within the validity period. On top of this, they also allowed the passengers to change the airports of origin & destination as long as the airports are within the same Emirates region. Emirates also waived all fare difference, rebooking & change fees.

Fast forward to 2022, my friends & I decided to fly to Europe for a 3.5-week holiday. After getting my tourist visa from VIA Italy, I called the Emirates hotline & requested for my ticket to be issued. I changed the airport of origin from Hong Kong to Manila (both in the Far East) & the airport of destination from Munich to Paris (both in Europe). My return flights were also changed from Budapest to Barcelona (both in Europe) & then back to Manila. I got my new ticket in less than 2 minutes after the Emirates agent confirmed my preferred flight schedules & details. The best thing was this new ticket didn’t cost me anything – no additional fees, change fees or airport taxes or whatever. It even included a 20-25 kilograms check-in baggage allowance from previously 15 kilograms.

Believe it or not, I only paid HK$4,039 or ₱27,072.73 for this return ticket. This ticket includes inflight meals, personal entertainment screens & even baggage allowance both ways. Compared to the usual tickets to Europe, this one didn’t cost much. Thank you, Emirates, for this flexible ticket. I know I’ve booked tons of cheap tickets in the past, but I believe this was probably the best-valued to date.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

At the time of the flight, the Philippine government still required proof of vaccination or negative test result (for those unvaccinated) for all incoming international passengers. On top of this, they also required the E-Travel QR Code which can be obtained from the E-Travel website.

As of July 2023, the government has removed all pandemic-related entry requirements. They retained the E-Travel QR code requirement to replace the previously required physical arrival forms.

Before The Flight

Emirates sent an e-mail and mobile application check-in reminder 48 hours before my scheduled flight to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The airline offers free standard seat selection during web or mobile check-in.

I already had my seats pre-booked at the time of getting this ticket so I did not bother checking or changing them during web check-in. I checked in for the flights to Manila immediately I received the check-in reminder. Take note that you will need your passport information and other necessary details to complete this early check-in.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Dubai to Manila Emirates flight was operated by a 10.6-year-old Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. This plane, delivered to Emirates back in May 2012 has 3 cabin classes – first class, business class and economy class. The first class section has 8 enclosed private suites. The business class cabin has 42 lie-flat seats on a 2-3-2 configuration while the economy class area has 310 seats arranged in a 3-4-3 layout.

The flight took off from Dubai International Airport at 4:17am, flew around 6,900 kilometers, cruised an altitude of 35,000 to 37,000 feet and landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 3:47pm. The whole flight took 7 hours and 30 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

Emirates fly out of Dubai International Airport Terminal 3.

CHECK-IN

I completed the check-in process for this flight in Barcelona, Spain when I checked in for the first flight to Dubai. I was only in Dubai for a quick 3-hour transit or layover. If you want to know how my Barcelona Airport check-in process went, feel free to check out my previous flight report about EK 256 flight from Barcelona to Dubai.

DUBAI TRANSIT & MARHABA LOUNGE EXPERIENCE

Upon disembarkation from my Barcelona to Dubai flight, I immediately went to the Connections Area, went through security check, took the airport train to Terminal 3 Concourse C and located the assigned boarding gate for this Emirates flight to Manila.

After checking out the gate, I went to the Concourse C Marhaba Lounge to get some rest and have some snack. My newly-acquired (that time) Security Bank Platinum Credit Card (not sponsored) came with 2 complimentary airport lounge access per year at any LoungeKey-affiliated lounge around the world. This is on top of the unlimited Marhaba Lounge access I have in NAIA Terminals 1 and 3 here in the Philippines. I used the 1^st complimentary access during my Dubai Layover on the way to Paris; I used the 2^nd free access during this layover on the way back to Manila.

Terminal 3 Concourse C’s Marhaba Lounge has almost the same size as that of Concourse A’s. The lounge was packed with people when I arrived a few minutes after midnight. Most of the lounge guests left after 2:00 am. The lounge served a wide range of food options; they have salad, bread, mains, desserts and fruits. They also have coffee, tea, juices, beers and some cocktails free of charge. The lounge had clean and well-maintained amenities. I left the Marhaba Lounge full, relaxed and ready for my 7.5-hour flight back home.

PRE-DEPARTURE

While at the lounge, Emirates notified me via the mobile application of the assigned boarding gate for my flight to Manila. The notification also included what time boarding will start and what time the doors will close. After about an hour, I got another notification advising that boarding is about to commence at our assigned gate. I finished my food, packed my stuff, left the lounge and walked to Gate C5.

Upon arrival at Gate C5, I saw a big bunch of people waiting to go inside the pre-departure area. Apparently, our flight was assigned to a smaller boarding gate which could barely accommodate a full Boeing 777 flight. I stayed outside the boarding gate and waited for our turn to board.

BOARDING

Boarding commenced at 3:10am. First class, business class and Skywards status holders boarded the plane first. Economy class passengers flocked the boarding area and started lining up even if their boarding class and zone has not been called.

Economy class passengers seated at the rear part of the plane boarded the plane next. They were followed by those seated in the middle economy section. Our boarding group, seated in the front economy section, boarded the plane last. The cabin crew gave out masks and hand sanitizers to all passengers once everyone was seated. The aircraft doors closed at 3:54am – 4 minutes behind schedule.

The boarding process was chaotic and disorganized. The ground staff were not able to control the influx of passengers wanting to enter the pre-departure area and wanting to board the plane first.

INFLIGHT HARD & SOFT PRODUCT

SEAT FEATURES

This Dubai to Manila Emirates flight was operated by 3-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The first class section has 8 seats in fully-enclosed suites. According to SeatMaps, the first class seats on this plane has a seat pitch of 86 inches, a seat width of 23 inches and a 180 degree recline. The business class section has 42 lie-flat seats with 60 inches of seat pitch and 20.5 inches of seat width. The economy class has 310 seats on 3 (front, middle and rear) cabins. Each economy class seat has a pitch of 32 to 33 inches, a width of 17 inches and recline of 6 inches.

Economy class seats feature a touch-screen personal entertainment screen, a big tray table, a cup holder, a coat hook, a USB charging port, a seat pocket with Duty Free magazines and aircraft safety card, shared universal power outlets (2 in a row of 3 seats), a pillow, a blanket, a pair of headphones and an adjustable headrest. Every economy class passenger also has access to spacious overhead cabins, individual reading lights and air vents.

I got aisle seat 18C in the front economy class cabin for this 7.5-hour journey to Manila, Philippines. I found the seat features to be complete and comfortable for a long-haul flight like this.

INFLIGHT MEALS

Emirates provides complimentary meals on all their flights. Passengers can access the inflight menu from the airline’s website as early as a week before the flight. They also have the option for passengers to request for or book special meals up to 24 hours before the scheduled flight. The airline does not provide physical menus; instead, they ask passengers to access and browse the menus through their on-board portal.

The crew served a breakfast meal and a light meal on this 7.5-hour flight. 40 minutes after leaving Dubai, they started the breakfast service. They offered 2 breakfast options – scrambled eggs with creamed spinach, turkey rashers and rosti and dori yakisoba with vegetables and soy sauce. The meal came with fresh fruits, croissant with butter and jam, a granola bar and coconut mouse for dessert. It also came with a small glass of water and a drink of choice – coffee, tea, juice, soda, wine or alcoholic beverage. I went for the dori yakisoba and paired it with a glass of apple juice. After meal service, the crew went around for another round of drinks.

2 hours and 20 minutes before landing, the crew went around to distribute the light meals. They only had one option for the meal – chicken adobo with vegetables and rice. It came with a chocolate mousse for dessert, a small glass of water and a drink of choice – same options as above. The crew went for another round of coffee and tea after all meals were served.

Emirates made sure that passengers are well-fed on this 7.5-hour flight. In my opinion, both meals were underwhelming. The food portions were great but the food taste was not to my liking. I found the dory yakisoba too salty and the coconut mousse too sweet. The chicken adobo was alright but it was nothing compared to the superb breakfast tapa served in my Manila to Dubai Emirates flight. The meals on this flight were the least favorite ones of all the meals I took on 4 flights to and from Europe.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Emirates is known for its excellent inflight entertainment system called ICE. The entertainment system offers thousands of options ranging from movies, television shows and series, documentaries, songs and even games which you can play together with your seat neighbor. It even has region-specific movies and television shows. ICE also offers live television coverage of news channels like BBC World News, CNN International, Sports 24 and Sky News Arabia.

ICE also offers access to 2 aircraft cameras installed in the front of and under this Boeing aircraft. It also shows the complete flight and aircraft details and even has 2 kinds of moving flight maps. The airline indeed offers the best entertainment system in the skies – a system every airline in the world should copy.

The entertainment system on seat 16C worked well throughout the flight. I slept most of the flight and was not able to use it apart from the flight map shown in the screen. I noticed that the entertainment system on this aircraft was modern compared to the ones on my Manila to Dubai and Barcelona to Dubai flights but a bit outdated compared to the Airbus A380 inflight system on my Dubai to Paris flight.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Emirates offers paid inflight wi-fi connectivity on their flights. Rates range from $2.99 – $19.99 depending on the type of use the passengers need. The cheapest onboard internet plan costs $3.99 & is only limited to messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc.

I did not try this service during this flight; I did not use it because I was mostly asleep in the flight. I think it would be nice if the airline offered complimentary but limited connectivity / data allowance at least for Emirates Skywards members like how Singapore Airlines offers to their Krisflyer members.

LAVATORY

The middle section lavatories on this flight were alright; they were not dirty but also not super clean. The lavatories had the right size; it also had the usual moisturizing lotion, perfume and loads of toilet paper. I did not find dental kits inside; I believe it would have been nicer if they provided some.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight felt normal and relaxed. The crew did not rush in distributing meals and giving away the second drink service. They catered to the needs of the passengers, helped them during boarding and served the passengers with their best smiles.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

Disembarkation was quick and organized. The first class and business class passengers left the plane first. Economy class passengers followed. I was seated in the forward economy section so I was one of the first economy class passengers to leave the plane.

I passed by immigration quickly and headed to the baggage claim area. I waited for an hour before I got my luggage. I do not know what happened but I heard that Emirates conducted an additional security check before releasing all the checked bags to the passengers.

Flight Experience

This pretty much sums up my flight with Emirates on their Boeing 777-300ER service from Dubai to Manila. It was not the excellent and ideal Emirates economy class flight experience but it was still a good one.

Some details of the flight stood out to me. First, the cost of this return flight to and from Europe is incomparable. This pandemic ticket, which had the best pandemic flexibility terms, only cost me HK$ 4,039 or ₱27,072.73 for all 4 sectors. It included a generous 25-kilogram baggage allowance, inflight meals and entertainment. This ticket was definitely a steal. It will take some time before we see Europe-bound tickets go low as this one.

Second, Emirates knows how to spoil their passengers. The seats onboard their planes are clean and comfortable. They have everything a passenger needs in a long-haul flight. The entertainment system is modern and has thousands of options to choose from. It is surely one of the best in the world right now. Third, the airline provides real-time flight updates through their mobile application. They notify passengers once the bags are checked in for flights, once boarding gates are assigned and every time boarding starts for flights.

Fourth, the cabin crew service on this flight was warmer and more relaxed. The service did not feel rushed like my experience on the outward flight to Dubai on EK 335. Lastly, Emirates hard and soft product is consistent even with different aircraft types. The seats types, entertainment system, lavatories and even onboard offerings are almost the same in all the aircraft types I flew with them – Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR and the Airbus A380-800.

Moving to the flight disappointments, this Emirates flight was probably the least favorite all 4 I took with them last year. First, the boarding process was chaotic. The ground staff announced boarding by class and groups but they were unable to control the crowd of passengers in the pre-boarding gate. The waiting area was hot, suffocating and was a mess. Everything came back to normal after most of the passengers have boarded the plane.

Second, the meals served on this flight were underwhelming. The meal portions were great but the taste was not to my liking. The dory yakisoba was salty, the coconut mousse was too sweet while the chicken adobo was alright. A friend who flew with Emirates to Manila weeks before my flight agreed with the underwhelming meals on the DXB to MNL flights.

Third, Emirates did not offer complimentary Wi-Fi access to their passengers. Maybe the airline can offer limited access to Skywards members like how Singapore Airlines offered it to their Krisflyer members. Just a few months ago, Singapore Airlines started offering unlimited complimentary internet access to all Krisflyer members onboard their flights. I hope Emirates provide the same perk in the future.

Despite all of these let downs, I still had a good flight with Emirates on their EK 332 service from Dubai to Manila. Will I fly them again? For sure! I will grab every opportunity to fly with them in the next few years. I cannot wait for the next one!

Allow me to share with you some details of this flight:

Airline: Emirates
Flight Date: 8 December 2022
Flight Number: EK 332
Route: Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Duration: 7 hours & 30 minutes
Seat Numebr: 18C (aisle seat)
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Aircraft Registration: A6-EGP
Engines: 2 x GE GE90-115B Engines
Age (at the time of the flight): 10.6 years old
Delivered: May 2012

And that’s 4 out of 4 flights with Emirates in 2022. Have you flown Emirates in the past? How was your experience? Will you fly Emirates soon & or by any chance have questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to share your experiences or post your questions in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Emirates flight report. In case you missed it, I also flew with Emirates on their Manila to Dubai, Dubai to Paris CDG and Barcelona to Dubai routes. I hope you can also check out these flight reports as well as my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Air France. All other previous flight reports can be found under the Flight Reports category. Feel free to check them out. Please look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: EMIRATES EK 256 – Barcelona to Dubai – Impressive Intercontinental Flight on a Rare Long-Range Aircraft [December 2022]

After spending 3.5 weeks around France, Italy and Spain, my time in Europe came to an end. I eventually left the continent and flew back to my home country – the Philippines. My journey back to Manila started at Barcelona El Prat (BCN) Airport, Spain where I took an Emirates flight to Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Flight EK 256.

This BCN to DXB flight is the subject of today’s flight report. Join me as I share with you the details of this impressive intercontinental Emirates flight on a rare long-range aircraft.

Emirates

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

AIRFARE

I booked this Emirates ticket back in January 2020 with an original departure from Hong Kong to Munich, Germany and back to Hong Kong from Budapest, Hungary. The pandemic happened and it has restricted me from using this ticket on its initial schedule. This ticket from and back to Hong Kong back then cost me HK$ 4,039 or ₱27,072.73 in Philippine peso.

Luckily, Emirates offered the most flexible options for passengers who booked their tickets in 2020. The airline offered a ‘keep the ticket’ option, extended the validity of the ticket to 3 years from the time of booking (in my case up to 3 February 2023) and offered a ‘book when ready’ scheme where the passenger can just call the airline when he/she is ready to use the ticket and fly. On top of that, the airline also allowed passengers to change the airports of origin and destination as long as both airports are within the same region – in my case, Far East Region and Europe. All these options were offered free of charge – no additional cancellation, fare difference and change fees charged.

Fast forward to 2022, my college friends and I planned to fly to Europe for 3.5 weeks. Borders have been opened and pandemic-related requirements have been removed; traveling to another country was easier compared to how it was in 2020 and early 2021. After getting my visa from the Italian Embassy through VIA Italy, I called the Emirates hotline and requested for my ticket to be issued. I changed the airport of origin from Hong Kong to Manila (both in the Far East) and the airport of destination from Munich to Paris (both in Europe). My return flights were changed from Budapest to Barcelona (both in Europe) and then back to Manila. The ticket got issued in less than 2 minutes after the Emirates agent confirmed my preferred flight schedules and details. It even included a 20-25 kilograms check-in baggage allowance from previously 15 kilograms.

A massive thank you to Emirates for providing such generous options for pre-pandemic booked tickets. I never imagined I could fly to Europe and back to Manila for such an affordable flight ticket. I do not think that will ever happen again in the foreseeable future.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

At the time of the flight, it was only the Philippines that required pandemic-related requirements upon entry into the country. The E-travel QR code was required for all incoming passengers. At that time, the E-travel page still asked for the passenger’s vaccination status. This pandemic-specific requirement has recently been removed. The E-travel QR code is still required but only with the usual details. Additionally, my transit country, United Arab Emirates, did not require anything during this flight to Manila via Dubai DXB.

Before The Flight

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Barcelona to Dubai Emirates flight was operated by a 13.9-year-old rare Boeing 777-200LR (long range) aircraft. The aircraft, delivered to Emirates in January 2009, has 2 cabin classes. The business class section has 38 lie-flat seats on a 2-2-2 configuration while the economy class section has 264 regular seats on a 3-4-3 arrangement.

The flight took off from Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport at 3:24pm local time. It travelled 3,333 miles and cruised an altitude of 39,000 feet to Dubai. The flight touched down at Dubai International Airport 12:10am local time ahead of the 12:40am schedule. The flight only took 5 hours and 46 minutes.

This daily Emirates service EK 256 flight originates from Mexico City (MEX) on the same flight number. The flight leaves Mexico (MEX) at night, takes a 12-hour flight to Barcelona (BCN), makes a 1 hour and 45 minute-stop to refuel, unload and pick-up passengers and continues another 6-hour flight to its destination – Dubai (DXB). Its counterpart EK 255 departs Dubai daily, lands in Barcelona to refuel, unload and pick-up passengers and takes another 12-hour flight to Mexico City. The long flight duration is one of the reasons why Emirates always assigns its Boeing 777-200LR aircraft on this route.

Ground & Airport Experience

Emirates flights depart from Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport Terminal 1.

CHECK-IN

Emirates check-in counters are in the far-left section of the terminal. Its check-in counters are classified according to flight classes. First class, business class and Skywards status passengers have dedicated check-in lanes while economy class passengers are divided into 3 check-in lanes – regular check-in, online check-in and those needing special assistance. Economy class passengers who have completed online check-in have a separate and faster queue.

I arrived in the airport exactly 3 hours before the flight and went straight to check-in. The check-in counters did not have people checking in – no queues! I completed online check-in before going to the airport and went to the online check-in counter. The ground staff, who happened to be a Filipina, checked my E-Travel QR code and vaccination details and checked me in for the flight. The whole process took less than 5 minutes.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, I passed by final security check and immigration. I also dropped by Duty Free and spent all my remaining Euro cash before leaving Spain. I walked to our assigned gate – Gate 18 – and waited for the boarding announcement.

BOARDING

Boarding by groups commenced at 2:39pm. Business class passengers and Skywards status holders were asked to board the plane first. Passengers with special assistance boarded the plane next. Economy class passengers boarded the plane by group. Our group, the forward economy class passengers, boarded the plane last.

The whole boarding process only took 23 minutes; the aircraft doors closed at 3:02pm. The aircraft pushed back after 7 minutes at 3:09pm.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Barcelona to Dubai Emirates flight was operated by a rare 2-class Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. The aircraft has 38 lie-flat business class seats arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration and 264 regular economy class seats in a 3-4-3 configuration. According to SeatMaps, each business class seat has a seat pitch of 72 inches and a seat width of 22.5 inches. The seat can be converted into a lie flat bed during cruising altitude. On the other hand, each economy class seat has a seat pitch of 32 to 33 inches and a seat width of 17 inches.

Economy class seats on this aircraft feature a touch-screen personal entertainment screen with remote, a foldable table, a cup holder, a coat hook, a USB charging port, a seat pocket with Duty Free magazines and aircraft safety card, a universal power outlet, a pillow, a blanket, a pair of headphones and an adjustable headrest. Every economy class passenger also has access to spacious overhead cabins, individual reading lights and air vents. The seats are almost identical with the Boeing 777-300ER we flew to Dubai from Manila last November 2022.

This Emirates economy class seat is very comfortable for a mid to long-haul route. The airline knows what the passengers want and need for such flights.

INFLIGHT MEALS

Emirates offered 2 meals on this 6-hour flight to Barcelona. The lunch service started an hour after take-off. The lunch meal had 2 choices – beef meatballs with roasted potatoes and chicken and mushroom pasta. The mains came with quinoa salad as appetizer, chocolate mousse as dessert, cheese and cracker, bread roll with butter, chocolate chip cookie and a small chocolate bar. It also came with water and a drink of choice. I went for the beef option and got orange juice as my drink. After the meal service, the crew went around for a second round of drink service.

1 hour and 45 minutes before landing, the crew handed out warm gouda pastry, a slice of lemon cake and a drink of choice for snack. The crew also offered another round of drinks after giving out the snacks. Emirates made sure that passengers are well-fed and satisfied meals-wise on this intercontinental journey.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

No doubt, Emirates’ entertainment system is one of the best in the world. Passengers will never get bored and will never run out of choices during the flight. I encountered a minor issue with the entertainment system in Seat 16A. I found it too slow to load and unresponsive at times. I will give it a pass considering how old the aircraft is.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Emirates offers paid inflight wi-fi connectivity on their flights. Rates range from $2.99 – $19.99 depending on the type of use the passengers need. The cheapest onboard internet plan costs $4.99 & is only limited to messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc.

I didn’t try this service during this flight; I don’t need to use the internet during this overnight flight. I think it would be nice if the airline offered complimentary but limited connectivity / data allowance at least for Emirates Skywards members like how Singapore Airlines offers to their Krisflyer members.

LAVATORY

The middle lavatories in the economy class section were kept clean and tidy throughout the flight. It had amenities such as moisturizing hand lotion, perfume and tissues in it. I expected the lavatories to have toothbrush and toothpaste but I did not find any. It would have been nice to have them for flights like this.

CABIN CREW SERVICE

The cabin crew assigned on this flight was great. They catered to the needs of the passengers, served them with their best smiles and made sure everyone had a pleasant flying experience. They made sure announcements were played in English, Arabic and Spanish.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

Our landing gate was changed from Gate C1 to Gate B24 upon arrival at Dubai International Airport. Business class passengers deplaned first. Forward economy class passengers, including myself, came next and those seated at the rear section followed.

I did not claim my baggage in Dubai because I had a connecting flight to Manila on the same day. I went through the Connections area and immediately checked the assigned gate of my Manila flight.

Flight Experience

I had an impressive intercontinental flight with Emirates on this Barcelona (BCN) to Dubai (DXB) flight – EK 256. I am on my 3^rd flight with them and I am delighted to see the consistency in their product in the Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

Allow me to share with you the positive points of this flight. First, I got an affordable and rare deal with these tickets to Europe. I only paid ₱27,072.73 for an all-inclusive return ticket from Manila to Europe. I do not think we will get this price level in a long while so I would like to thank Emirates for the most flexible Covid-19 ticket options.

Second, the catering on this flight was superb. The food quality and huge serving sizes made me full on this 6-hour flight. The airline even offered a light snack before landing – something other airlines do not provide. Third, the ICE (Emirates’ entertainment system) content spread and choices are the best in the world. They have thousands of entertainment options to choose from.

Fourth, the aircraft seat amenities are comfortable and complete. The aircraft may be a bit old but the seat features are still at par with the current industry standards. Fifth, the lavatory was kept clean and tidy throughout the flight. It even had extra amenities such as hand lotion and perfume. Sixth, the airline is provided real-time flight updates (boarding gate information, boarding details, etc.) in the flight’s mobile application.

Seventh, Emirates’ inflight hard and soft products are consistent across various aircraft types. I have flown their Boeing 777-300ER, Airbus A380-800 and now their Boeing 777-200LR and I noticed that the quality of product offering is almost the same in all these aircraft types. Kudos to Emirates for providing an excellent product quality regardless of aircraft type.

This flight is not all praises; it also has some areas where Emirates can further improve. First, it would be nice if the airline will provide a limited complimentary Wi-Fi access to its Skywards Members. It does not have to be the whole flight; even complimentary 30 minutes to 1 hour will make a big difference. Second, the entertainment system hardware in Seat 16A is starting to show its age. It is unresponsive at times and it even took some time to load.

Nevertheless, it was still a great experience flying Emirates from Barcelona, Spain to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I will grab every opportunity to fly the airline in the future – specially their flagship Airbus A380 aircraft. Thank you, Emirates, for this memorable flight!

Allow me to share with you the geeky details of this flight:

Airline: Emirates
Flight Date: 7 December 2022
Flight Number: EK 256
Route: Barcelona, Spain (BCN) to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB)
Duration: 5 hours & 46 minutes
Seat Numebr: 16A (window seat)
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200LR (Long Range)
Aircraft Registration: A6-EWI
Engines: 2 x GE GE90-110B1L Engines
Age (at the time of the flight): 13.9 years old
Delivered: January 2009

This practically sums up my Emirates experience on EK 256 from Barcelona, Spain to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Have you flown Emirates in the past? How was your experience? Will you fly Emirates soon & have questions? Feel free to share your experiences or post your questions in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Emirates flight report. I hope you can also check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Air France. All previous flight reports can be found under the Flight Reports category. Feel free to check them out. Please look forward to more flight reports in the future.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: BARCELONA – 4 Lazy Days Around the Bustling Spanish City

My friends and I parted ways after visiting France and Italy. They all left Milan and flew back to Manila while I stayed for 4 more days and flew to my next destination – Barcelona, Spain. I was supposed to fly to either Copenhagen (again) or Berlin but I decided to fly to Spain (with Vueling on flight VY 6333) to spend some time with friends. I met with Nico, a friend who I met in Prague in 2019, and spent the last 4 days of this trip in the bustling city of Barcelona. I also met with my Barcelona-based friends who I met in Komodo, Indonesia back in 2017.

I intentionally did not go all out in exploring Barcelona. I had a hectic schedule around France and Italy in the last 2 weeks; I decided to just take it slow, be lazy and enjoy the city without any pressure of seeing everything. I missed a lot of spots; I did not go inside the beautiful museums and buildings. At least I have a reason to go back to the city in the future. For now, allow me to share some details plus photos I took during these 4 days in Barcelona.

Barcelona

Barcelona (the city) is the capital of Barcelona province and the autonomous community of Catalonia. This port city and commercial center is the 2^nd most populous city next to the capital Madrid. The city is known for its iconic structures such as La Sagrada Família, Park Güell, La Pedrera-Casa Milà and Casa Batlló – all designed by the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí.

Aside from the beautiful architecture, the city is also known for its world-class cuisine, lively night scene, distinct history and culture and of course, its outstanding football team – FC Barcelona.

Paella – one of the best known Spanish dish. Had this in Vinitus – one of my best meals in BCN 😋

Accommodation

I noticed that Barcelona has cheaper accommodation prices compared to Florence, Milan and Paris but I still decided to stay in a hostel. I booked my 4 nights with Yeah Hostel Barcelona – a multi-awarded large hostel in the middle of the city in Eixample area.

I booked my stay with Agoda and paid ₱5,589.42 – that is ₱1,397.36 per night in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. I recently wrote about my solid and memorable hostel experience with Yeah Hostel Barcelona. Check out the hostel of the day feature here.

Going Around Barcelona

Going around the city of Barcelona is easy and convenient. The important and famous places to visit are all connected by the city’s wide metro / subway network. These places are also connected by a more extensive local bus network. The city’s main train station is Barcelona Sants, locally known as Sants Estación. This station connects Barcelona to the rest of the country and internationally.

I purchased the T-casual Individual Ticket for €11.35 and got 10 single journey trips of up to 75 minutes each within Zone 1 (city center area). I ended up only using 4 trips out of the 10 allowed because I walked around the city most of the time. Barcelona is a walkable city; its sidewalks and streets are pedestrian friendly.

Places Visited in Barcelona

As mentioned above, I did not bother to go around and visit as many places as I can. I still saw a few ones in these 4 days.

Basílica de la Sagrada Família – The Sagrada Família is the world’s largest unfinished Catholic church. Designed by Antoni Gaudí, the church started construction back in the 1882 and is still under construction as of writing. According to the latest reports, it is set to be completed in 2026. Entry tickets cost €26 per person.

Park Güell – Park Güell is a park located on Carmel Hill in Barcelona. The park houses unique masterpieces created by Antoni Gaudí. It also offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Park entry tickets cost €10 per person.

La Pedrera-Casa Milà – Casa Milà is a private residence designed by Antoni Gaudí for the Milà Family. The building is also one of Gaudí’s last masterpieces. Entry tickets to the building cost €25 per person.

Casa Batlló – Casa Batlló is masterpiece made by Antoni Gaudí for Lluís Sala Sánchez. A few decades after, the property was bought by the Batlló Family. The house was passed on to several owners and has been refurbished a few times to what it is now. Entry tickets to the building cost from €29 per person

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia – Commonly known as the Barcelona Cathedral, this church is famous for its gothic and neo-gothic architectural style. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona.

Plaça de Catalunya – Known as Catalonia Square in English, Plaça de Catalunya is a large public square in the center of Barcelona. It is often regarded as the centermost part of the city. It is also the final stop of the Aerobus from BCN Airport.

Gothic Quarter – Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is the city’s historic old center. It is one of the oldest surviving parts of Barcelona that has some historical landmarks in it. These landmarks include the Barcelona Cathedral, Plaça del Rei, Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, the Roman and Medieval walls and a whole lot more. This is the place where you will see small pedestrian streets with higher walls and balconies.

La Rambla – La Rambla is a pedestrian-only tree-lined street that spans 1.2-kilometers from Plaça de Catalunya. The street is full of cafes, restaurants and shops which tourists love to visit.

Passeig de Gràcia – Passeig de Gràcia is Barcelona’s famous shopping street that leads to Gràcia. Think of a brand and this brand will most likely have a store or branch along this street. It is the shopaholic’s place-to-be.

Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia – Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia is a small public square in Gràcia that houses the iconic Clock Tower. This small square is mostly visited by locals and is surrounded by shops, bars and restaurants.

Ciutadella Park – Ciutadella Park is a 31-hectare public park found in the middle of the city. It is a famous picnic and leisure place among the locals and is the city’s largest green space.

Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar – The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar is a famous church known for its Catalan Gothic-style of architecture. It is uniquely-designed, not found in most medieval large structures.

Arc de Triomf – Arc de Triomf is a triumphal arch built by Spanish architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas in the 1880s. The arch leads to Ciutadella Park.

La Barceloneta – La Barceloneta is the seaside neighborhood of Barcelona. It is area full of restaurants, bars, hotels and even clubs; it is a famous destination every summer.

Missed Places

I stayed in Barcelona for 4 full lazy days and I have not been to many places. I have seen the usual ones but I have not explored them deeply. For one, I have not been inside the Sagrada Família, Casa Milà and Casa Batlló. I also have not been to FC Barcelona’s home turf and one of the biggest stadiums in Europe – Spotify Camp Nou.

I also missed out going to the beautiful mountain range of Montserrat and the Benedictine Monastery found on top of the mountain. These missed places are enough to convince me that I need to go back and explore Barcelona more in the future.

And that’s a wrap! This ends my quick 4-day stay in Barcelona. I know I did not go and explore that much but I still had a great time with friends.

Have you visited the city in the past? Did you like it? It has a different but more youthful vibe than the other cities I have been – I still like it! Which places did you enjoy most? If you have not been, which specific place are you looking forward to seeing? Share you thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s N9 in Europe post. n case you missed it, we have also been to Paris, Versailles, Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Lugano, Lake Como and Milan on this trip. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: MILAN – 4 Beautiful Days Around the Italian Business, Shopping & Fashion Capital

After going around Paris, Rome and Florence for almost 2 weeks, we headed to the capital of Italy’s Lombardy Region – Milan! We took Flixbus from Florence Villa Constanza Bus Station to Milan San Donato Station and only paid €8.99 per person. We found the travel experience to be comfortable, quick and affordable. We stayed in Milan for 4 full days, enjoyed the city and even took a day trip out to the nearby Lake Como and Lake Lugano. Know more about our adventures in today’s post about the beautiful city of Milan.

Before exploring Milan, we’ve been to other European cities such as Paris, Rome and Florence. Check out our itineraries in these 2 beautiful cities – Paris Part 1, Paris Part 2, Versailles, Rome Part 1, Rome Part 2, Rome Part 3, Florence & Tuscany Region!

Milan

Milan (Italian: Milano) is the capital of the Lombardy Region in the northern part of the country. It is the country’s financial, business and fashion capital. It is the home of the country’s stock exchange – Borsa Italiana. The city is also the home of many headquarters and offices of both national and international companies. The city is one of the world’s fashion capitals with many luxurious brands headquartered in the Italian metropolis; it also hosts the world-famous semi-annual Milan Fashion Week.

Milan is an important Italian city – it is the center of business, trade, finance, fashion and all other aspects.

Accommodation

Milan, like Florence and Rome, is a popular tourist destination to local and international visitors. The city’s profile and popularity led to surging accommodation costs anywhere in the city. The city’s accommodation options are far more expensive than Rome and Florence’s options.

My friend and I were travelling on a budget. We decided to go for a hostel and booked 4 nights at YellowSquare Milan. We stayed in a 4-bedroom mixed dormitory and paid €109.24 each (charged ₱6,644.92 by our local credit card) – the most we paid in an accommodation during our trip to Italy. We had a great stay with YellowSquare.

I recently wrote about YellowSquare Milan and our hostel experience for 4 nights; I hope you can check out YellowSquare Milan’s Hostel of the Day feature here.

Going Around Milan

Going around Milan is easy. The main and important parts of the city are connected by an extensive metro and bus network. The city’s main train stations are Milano Centrale and Milan Porta Garibaldi. The city’s main bus stations for intercity travel are Milan Lampugnano Bus Station in the north and Milan San Donato Bus Station in the south.

My friend and I purchased 10 single-journey tickets (carnet) each and used these tickets during our 4-day in Milan. These tickets are sold from €18 to €20 per 10 tickets, depending on the price the tabaccheria has.

Citywalkers Milan Free Tour

You might have noticed that I am a fan of free (tip-based) city walking tours. I consider this as the best way to learn about a city while not spending too much on private guides and tours. During our visit to Milan, my friend and I joined the 10:00am Citywalkers Milan Free Tour in English.

Our tour guide, Marco, shared the history of the city, its landmarks and the stories behind them for almost 3 hours. He literally walked us through the University of Milan, the Duomo Cathedral, the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, the Theatre and Square Alla Scala, the Merchant’s Square and the Business Square.

Lugano & Lake Como Day Tour

My friend and I took advantage of our stay in Milan and decided to go on a day tour to Lugano and Lake Como. We joined Citywonders’ 10.5-hour day tour that explored Lugano (in Switzerland), Bellagio and Como (in Italy) and traversed Lake Como by ferry and local boat. We paid €108.30 (November 2022 rate) each for the guided tour and all modes of transportation – lunch and snacks not included.

I wrote about this day trip in one of my recent posts; I hope you can check out our Lugano and Lake Como Day Tour Photoblog here.

Places Visited in Milan

Like any other city, Milan has a long list of places to visit and check out while in the city. However, my friend and I decided to relax during this leg of the trip and just went to the usual ones. We spent a considerable amount of time shopping and looking for stuff to bring home since Milan was the last stop of my friend’s trip. We still visited a few notable places within the city.

Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano) – Duomo di Milano is a cathedral in the center of Milan dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Milan. The cathedral took 6 centuries to finish and has witnessed different rulers and leaders throughout the period.

Today, this Duomo is the most famous landmark in Milan. Millions of people visit the cathedral every year. The cathedral can be accessed for a fee from its interiors to the rooftop. My friend and I decided not to go inside the Duomo but basically went to the place everyday during our stay in the city.

Cathedral Square (Italian: Piazza del Duomo) – The cathedral square is the largest public square in Milan bounded by the Milan Cathedral and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It is also the famous meeting spot / area in Milan.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the oldest shopping arcade and gallery in all of Italy. Named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy, the galleria opened in 1877 and is shaped like a cross covered by glass dome and roofing. The shopping arcade also houses luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and the likes.

Quadrilatero d’Oro – Dubbed as the Golden Rectangle of Fashion in Milan, Quadrilatero d’Oro is Milan’s main shopping district. Think of a worldwide fashion brand and you will certainly find it here. My friend and I walked around the shopping district for days and we still have not been to all shops. Milan is the place to go for shopping.

The Last Supper Museum (Italian: Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano) – One of the most interesting places we went to in Milan is the Last Supper Museum. The museum houses the Last Supper Mural painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the last 15^th century.

People go inside the museum and the mural area by groups. Each group is given around 30 minutes to look at the mural. Tickets to the museum cost €15 per person and are pre-booked online. Tickets usually sell out fast; it is best to book tickets months before your intended visit.

The Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie – Right beside the Last Supper Museum is the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The Last Supper Mural is part of the heritage-listed church complex since the 1400s.

Merchant’s Square (Italian: Piazza Meranti) – The Merchant’s Square is an important hub of commerce and politics in Milan since the Middle Ages. It is the place for trade and business for most locals during that time.

Serravalle Designer Outlet Day Trip

While in Milan, my friend and I decided to check out one of the biggest designer outlets in the country – Serravalle Designer Outlet. Located a little over an hour away from Milan in the commune of Serravalle Scrivia, this village-type outlet has over 180 specialty stores offering designer-branded items at big discounts.

We took the timed Autostradale Viaggi shuttle bus from Milan to the outlet and back for €20 (November 2022 price) per person. We only went to selected stores and did not have the chance to go around everything. We managed to find some good stuff for ourselves and our families back here in the Philippines. It was a successful day at the outlet village.

Missed Places

As mentioned in the start of this blog, we took our time going around the city and focused more on getting stuff to bring back to the Philippines. We had to miss some notable places to visit like Sforzesco Castle, Teatro alla Scala (from the inside), Pinacoteca Di Brera, Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest), Cimitero Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery) and Navigli Lombardi. These places are already enough to lure us back to Milan in the future.

Milan may not be everyone’s favorite city but it surely has its own charm. Yes, it is the best shopping destination in Italy but it offers more beyond that image. The city has interesting museums and landmarks that are unique in the world.

Have you been to Milan? How did you find the city? Which places were your favorites and which places did you regret going to? Feel free to share your Milan adventures and experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Milan or anything mentioned above? You may also send it via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I will try to answer them as soon as possible.

Thank you for joining me in today’s run-through of our time in Milan last year. Milan was my friend Leng’s final European city on this trip. We spent most of our time just enjoying the city’s vibe and the cold weather, going around supermarkets for food finds and shopping for our friends and loved ones back home. We will surely go back to Milan to explore more.

In case you missed it, we have also been to Paris, Versailles, Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Lugano and Lake Como on this trip. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category. Please look forward to the next one because I am taking you to my last destination on this trip – Barcelona, Spain!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: FLORENCE – The Cradle of Renaissance | 4 Wonderful Days Around the Historic Italian City

After spending almost 2 weeks around Paris and Rome, my friend and I moved to a new Italian city where the Renaissance period started – Florence (Italian: Firenze). We explored the Tuscan capital and the nearby cities (and towns) for 4 full days and 4 nights.

Allow me to share with you what we did on these 4 full days and know why this beautiful city became our favorite of all the cities we visited in this trip.

Before exploring Florence, we’ve been to other European cities such as Paris and Rome. Check out our itineraries in these 2 beautiful cities – Paris Part 1, Paris Part 2, Versailles, Rome Part 1, Rome Part 2 & Rome Part 3!

Florence

Florence (Italian: Firenze) is a city located in the center of Italy. It is the capital of the Tuscan Region and is known for its architecture, culture and iconic monuments and buildings. The city is known as the Cradle of Renaissance. The Florentines had a strong influence in the world’s transition from the Middle Ages to the period of rebirth or renaissance. Influential people such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello and Dante Alighieri all came from Florence.

Accommodation

Florence is a popular Italian destination to millions of people from all over the world. This popularity led to high accommodation costs – even higher than Rome’s. My friend and I were travelling on a budget and decided to book with a high-rated but affordable shared accommodation.

We booked our 4-night stay with a recently-opened, lively and social hostel named YellowSquare Florence. We got a bed each in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room and were able to rest well after long walks during the day.

I wrote about our YellowSquare Florence hostel experience and posted it in the recent Hostel of the Day Feature. I hope you can check that out.

Going Around Florence

Going around Florence is easy. Most of the spots to visit are all within the city center. The best way to explore the city center is by foot. There are no trains or trams within the center; the nearest tram stop to the city center is Unità on the Tram Line 2 Vespucci.

The city’s main train station, Florence Santa Maria Novella Station (Italian: Firenze Santa Maria Novella or Stazione di Santa Maria Novella), is 1 stop away from Unità. It is 10 minutes away by foot (850 meters) from the Duomo, 13 minutes away by foot (1.1 kilometers) from the Accademia Gallery and 15 minutes away by foot (1.3 kilometers) from the Uffizi Gallery.

La Bussola Free Walking Tours

To get to know the city and its history more, my friend and I joined 2 free (tip-based) walking tours with a local company called La Bussola. We joined the morning Medici Free Tour with Katerina; we learned about the Medici Family, how they came into power and how Florence developed under their rule. We also joined the afternoon Genius Free Tour with Giachomo; we learned about the Florence icons named Dante, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Da Vinci and Galileo and how they influenced the people and the society during their time.

We had fun in these 2 tours. We knew a lot about the city and its influences and we even got local food recommendations. We encourage you to join these free tours during your visit to Florence. Please check out their website and book your tour slots with them.

Tuscany Experience Classic Day Tour

During our stay in Florence, my friend and I went on a day tour to check out a few places in the Tuscan Region. We joined Sightseeing Experience’ Tuscany Experience Classic Day Tour; we visited Pisa, the Pietraserena Wine Estate, San Gimignano and Siena. We paid €71.10 each for this 11.5-hour tour.

I wrote about this day trip in one of my recent posts. Check out the Tuscany Experience Classic Tour post here.

Places Visited in Florence

There are a lot of museums and places to visit in Florence. We spent 3 full days (not including the Tuscany Experience Day Tour) around the city and we still have not been to all. We chose the places we wanted to visit and took our time in each place.

Gallery of the Academy of Florence (Italian: Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze) – The Accademia Gallery is famous for Michelangelo’s masterpiece – the statue of David. Aside from this, the gallery also has paintings and sculptures of other great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Del Sarto. Another section that stood out to me is Lorenzo Bartolini’s Plaster Cast Gallery.

Entry tickets cost €16 (including online convenience fee) per person during our visit. These have been increased to €17 as per my recent check. Tip: Book your tickets in advance and get the earliest timeslot to have the statue of David to yourself.

Lorenzo Bartolini’s Plaster Cast Gallery

The Church of Orsanmichele – This church is one of the oldest in Florence. It was built by the guilds in the kitchen garden of Saint Michele Monastery.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Italian: Duomo di Firenze) – This cathedral is the city’s cathedral built in the 1200s to the 1400s and is one of the largest in the world. Designed by di Cambio, this Catholic church is known for its striking green, pink and white marble panels. A part of the cathedral is open to the public and is free to visit.

Cathedral Plaza (Italian: Piazza del Duomo) – The is a vibrant retail area outside the cathedral. Shops, restaurants and cafes mainly comprise this plaza.

The Bargello – Also known as Palazzo del Popolo, this old building was once the office of the city’s captain. It also served as barracks and a prison. The building has been converted to an art museum. Museum tickets cost €11 per person.

Basilica of the Holy Cross in Florence (Italian: Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze) – Dubbed as the Pantheon of Florence, this gothic minor cathedral has 16 chapels, tombs and funerary monuments of famous people such as Niccolò Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo, Bartolini and Vasari. Entry tickets cost €8 per person.

Piazza Santa Croce – This plaza is in front of the Basilica of the Holy Cross. During our visit last November 2022, this plaza hosted Florence’ Christmas Market.

Republic Square (Italian: Piazza della Repubblica) – Piazza della Repubblica is one of the city squares in Florence. It is believed to be the site of the city’s forum back in the days.

Palazzo Vecchio – Also known as Palazzo della Signoria, this building was and is still Florence’ town hall. A part of this medieval building was converted into a museum.

Signoria Square (Italian: Piazza della Signoria) – This square, located in front of Palazzo Vecchio, is the city’s main political square since the 14^th century. The square has notable sculptures and figures that are believed to be contradictory to what has happened in the area. These include the following: a replica of Michelangelo’s David, Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus, Ammanati’s Fountain of Neptune and Giambologna’s Statue of Cosimo I.

Loggia dei Lanzi – Found on the corner of Piazza della Signoria and beside Palazzo Vecchiio, this building is a public art gallery that houses statues such as Perseus and Medusa and The Rape of the Sabine Women.

Via del Neri – Via del Neri is a famous small street near Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio that is full of cafes, shops, galeterias and restaurants.

Uffizi Gallery (Italian: Galleria degli Uffizi) – The Uffizi Gallery is a gallery and museum that houses artworks from the Renaissance period. It has masterpieces of artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Rafaello, Botticelli, Giotto and a lot more.

Some notable artworks include ‘The Birth of Venus’ by Sandro Botticelli, ‘Annunciation’ and ‘Adoration of the Magi‘ by Leonardo da Vinci, ‘Medusa’ by Caravaggio, ‘Doni Tondo’ by Michelangelo, ‘Laocoön’ by Baccio Bandinelli and ‘The Venus of Urbino’ by Titian.

We bought our tickets on site and paid €12 each. Tickets are also available for purchase online.

Arno River – The Arno River divides Florence into 2 parts. The river originates from the Apennine Mountains and flows to the Tyrrhenian Sea. In the old times, the river became an important instrument for trade. It also became the transit or passageway for wood and all other materials needed during the Renaissance period.

Ponte Vecchio – This is a medieval stone bridge built over the Arno River during the 1300s. This bridge was used to be occupied by shops of farmers, butchers and businessmen. In the present time, the bridge is still occupied by shops selling artworks, jewelry and souvenirs.

Pitti Palace (Italian: Palazzo Pitti) – Previously owned by Florentine banker Lucca Pitti, the palace was bought by the Medici Family in 1549 and became the official residence of the family. This palace is located at the southern banks of the Arno River.

My friend and I only visited the palace from the outside. We did not have time to go in and explore the museum. Entry tickets cost €17 per person if purchased online.

Basilica of the Holy Spirit (Italian: Basilica di Santo Spirito) – This basilica is a Catholic church found in the Oltarno Quarter, south of the Arno River.

We missed one spot which we did not have time to visit – Michelangelo Square (Italian: Piazzale Michelangelo). It is a square that offers a beautiful and stunning panoramic view of Florence. I hope we can go back to visit this place in the future.

Have you been to Florence in Italy? If yes, which one is your favorite place to visit and why? If you have not been, which are you most looking forward to seeing in person? Feel free to share your experiences or plans in the comments section below. Do you have questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Florence easily became our favorite. The city is so beautiful and is something that should not be missed. We stayed for 4 full days and we still have not been to all places. We hope that people visit and stay in the city longer than most people usually do.

Thanks for joining me in sharing our Florence experience with you. In case you missed, we have been to Paris, Versailles and Rome before we visited Florence. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category. Please look forward to the next one because I am taking you to Milan!

Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.