Top 10 Cities for Long Layovers

Squeezing Every Last Drop:

Traveling often comes with long layovers, but instead of just waiting at the airport, why not explore the city? Here's a guide to the top 10 cities where you can make the most of your layover, complete with must-see sights, food recommendations, tips for navigating the local transport, and how to spend the perfect layover.

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10. LAS VEGAS HARRY REID AIRPORT (LAS)

THE PERFECT LAYOVER

As far as killing time goes, and if you make it past the legions of slot machines outside your arrival gate, there is nary a more distracting layover than a tumbleweeds visit through Vegas. About $20US for a taxi or an uber will bring you to the heart of the Strip. Between hands at the tables, mix in a wander through the luxury shops of Caesars Palace and a viewing of the Water Show at The Bellagio Fountains. Perfect as a daytime layover or an overnight stay, the most tricky aspect of a Vegas Layover is knowing when to leave, and abiding that knowledge.

More Time? Danger, danger, danger.

9. SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT (SIN)

THE PERFECT LAYOVER

As one of the “World’s Best Airports” there are plenty of reasons to just stay and enjoy the splendor of Singapore’s Changi Airport. To those of a more adventurous bent, and that is likely why you are reading this article, a foray into the fascinating country of Singapore is just too much to pass up.

While it can be visited as a daytime layover, the real magic of Singapore delivers in the evening. The perfect Singapore layover, would deliver you to the Airport in mid-afternoon, with 8+ hours of exploration. Ditch those bags at the Changi Baggage Storage area, take some time to gawk at the unmissable Jewel (link), and then take the 45 min Metro route from the Airport to Bayshore Station. Visit the fantastical Gardens By The Bay complex before scaling the Marina Bay Sands building and enjoying dinner and drinks high above the bay and the twice nightly, thrice on weekends, Spectra Light and Water Show.

Alternatively, for those on a tighter layover budget and a greater interest in the local scene, after gorging on the beauty of the Gardens, enjoy the Spectra show from ground level in front of Marina Bay Sands, before taking the Metro to Lau Pa Sat; a historic market (hawker center) filled to the brim with food stalls of any cuisine you desire. Locals and savvy travelers alike, mingle here enjoying the food, the music and the atmosphere of a perfect Singaporean evening.

Less Time? There is not a better airport in the world to while away the hours than Changi.

8. ISTANBUL ISTANBUL AIRPORT (IST)

THE PERFECT LAYOVER

With an early morning arrival, and full slate of daylight hours at your disposal (8hrs +), a cursory visit to Istanbul’s highlights is at hand. Drop your bags at IST’s convenient luggage drop, grab the M11 and begin your hour's journey to Sultanahmet, the heart of Istanbul's tourist hub. After hopping off the T1, stop into a cafe and caffeine up before taking in the sites. (You can also hire a private transfer to make things easier) With 3 hours of time, you can easily wander amongst the squares in front of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. A visit inside either, or to the Basilica Cistern will occupy a significant portion of your time and so should be attempted either early morning, with a Skip-the-Line tour or if you have more than an 8 hr layover. Between sites, grab a Kebab lunch. Before heading back to the airport, poke into one of the many dessert shops next to the Tram line and grab a baklava to savor on the return journey, and replay the perfect layover in Istanbul.

Less Time? Touristanbul, a tour offered by Turkish Airlines for passengers with a minimum of 6 hour connection makes for the easiest, and most stress-free visit to the city.

More Time? An overnight trip in Istanbul offers a completely different, though wholly intoxicating, experience. With 18 hours (min) at your disposal, head to Taksim square (M11 to Gayatreppe, to Taksim via the yellow line) and drop those bags at a hotel near the square before wandering out and down Istiklal Avenue towards the Galata Tower. A stroll past the seemingly endless line of sweet shops and brightly lit gift shops will take you to the well lit Galata Tower at night (there is also a tourist tram that runs along this way). After doing your touristic duty, about-face and take the streets less traveled to the west of Istiklal, meandering and nearly losing yourself until you arrive at the bustling, restaurant lined street of Nevisad. Finish the night at Istanbul’s best, (and one of the world’s best), Irish Pubs: The James Joyce. Crash into bed, an evening fulfilled and recharged for the next leg of your travels.

7. HONG KONG HONG KONG AIRPORT (HKG)

THE PERFECT LAYOVER

While a 6 hour layover in HK can definitely get you into the city and get you fed, to really get a feel for the Pearl of the Orient, 10+ hours is recommended.

Start off by grabbing a 7 min taxi from the airport to the Ngong Ping Cable Car Tung Chung Station, from which you will ride the longest cable car in Asia up to the Tian Tan (Big) Buddha statue, the largest sitting Buddha statue in the world. The immensity of the statue and the stunning views of Lantau Island are well worth the trip.

Descending the way you came, you can either take a 24 min taxi or ride the Orange Line to Hong Kong Central (45 min). Time for some Dim Sum! Options are aplenty in the Central area, so fill up before heading down to the docks to take the historic Star Ferry across Victoria Harbor. Operating since 1888, National Geographic Traveler named the ferry crossing as one of “50 Places of a Lifetime”.

Head east after exiting the ferry and stroll along the Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong’s Walk of Fame, before arriving at Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade in time for the 8pm nightly Symphony of Lights Show over the harbor.

Lastly, and if your senses can still handle more, make your way to Temple Street (20 min by foot and metro). Here you will feel the controlled chaos that is Hong Kong and have one last Dim Sum helping before, still buzzing, beginning the commute back to the Airport (metro 42 min/taxi 24 min).

Less Time? Trim off the trip to the Tian Tan Buddha (which you can see from the plane as well) and you’ll be good to go.

6. LONDON HEATHROW (LHR) OR GATWICK (LGW)

THE PERFECT LAYOVER

A transport hub, blessed with two well-connected airports and an easily navigable public transport system, London offers a particularly rewarding layover experience best accomplished during a daytime visit, and most pleasantly enjoyed during the sunnier months.

Both Heathrow and Gatwick offer easy luggage storage options, and quick rail connections will deposit you within a short stroll of Buckingham Palace (Heathrow - 45 min to Green Park Station. Gatwick - 30 min to Victoria Station). Following the changing of the guard, wander 15 min down Birdcage Walk/Great George Road to Westminster Abbey, the British Parliament and Big Ben. After Instagramming on the Westminster Bridge, take the Underground to London Bridge, the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, in succession. Quality planning will allow you to tour one of these sites at your leisure or join a guided tour if time allows.

Make sure to pop into a Pub and feast on fish & chips, washed down with a couple of pints, before hopping back on the rail to the airport (From Tower Bridge: Heathrow - 1 hr with one connection. Gatwick - 30 min direct).

More time? On your way back to Heathrow, take the District Line to the beautiful town of Richmond-on-Thames where you can BELIEVE the Ted Lasso magic; grabbing a pint at The Prince’s Head to sip on Richmond Green. A 26 min Uber will take you back to Heathrow.

5. PARIS CHARLES-DE-GAULLE AIRPORT (CDG)

THE PERFECT LAYOVER

Let’s get right to it: is an 8 hour layover enough time to really “see” Paris? Nope, certainly not. Is it better than scrunching yourself into an airport chair at the sub-par Charles de Gaulle International Airport? Yep! And is it enough time to see Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower and catch a wine buzz? DOUBLE YEP!

With an ideal arrival time in mid-afternoon, 45 minutes on the B-Line will deposit you just across the Seine from the fabled Notre Dame. Take a tour, search its dark corners for Quasimodo, and appreciate one of the world’s most ethereal buildings before catching the C-Line to another one (that’s Paris for you!).

In a quick 22 minutes, you’ll be at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, but before succumbing to its magnetic draw, grab some food to go from a cafe and a bottle of wine from Nicolas Champ de Mars Wine Shop. Now, fully equipped, find your own patch of grass and settle in for the magic of the Eiffel at night. Each evening, every hour on the hour, the Eiffel sparkles. It is a truly wondrous experience and will leave you in a smiling stupor (along with said wine buzz) as you ride the hour-long metro back to the airport. It’s just a taste of The City of Love, but it’s enough for the perfect layover.

More Time? 10+ hrs Take an Eiffel Tour, cruise the Seine, or visit the Louvre.

4. FRANKFURT FRANKFURT AIRPORT (FRA)

THE PERFECT LAYOVER

Sometimes our layovers are not long. Sometimes we just don’t have the energy for tricky logistics and intense exploration. Enter Frankfurt. With the airport a mere 11 minute (11 MINUTE!) commute to town, it just doesn’t get any easier. Leaving the Main station, stroll through post-WW2 rebuilt Frankfurt to Romerberg and the New Old Town. Enjoy a Bavarian Pretzel, a schnitzel, and a couple pints before ambling down to the greenspace along the Main river to nap it off. Don’t forget to set your alarm, the relaxation is real!

More time? Head an hour outside the city and visit the Heidelberg Castle or the Darmstadt (Frankenstein) Castle via tour.

3. DUBAI DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (DXB)

THE PERFECT LAYOVER

It’s not going to be a cheap layover, but it’ll be worth it! Take the Metro Red Line for 30 minutes to Burj Khalifa, the “World’s Tallest Building”, and instantly feast your eyes on all that is Dubai from the 154th floor. The visit can take up to an hour so plan your time carefully, but don’t rush, it is spectacular. Upon descending back to ground level, join the recently ant-sized humans, and make your way outside to the Dubai Fountain. After this you have a choice: Old or New?

New? Sitting adjacent to Burj Khalifa is the epic Dubai Mall, entering this shopping vortex will likely use up your remaining time before catching the Red Line back to DXB. Old? Jump back onto the Red Line and ride 38 min to the Al Ghubaiba Station where you can disembark and shop, snack, and drink tea through the Al Fahidi Historical District and the nearby Grand Souk before the 28 min return trip to DXB.

Glitz, glam, and 6 hours to burn…Dubai for the win!

More Time? An 8 hour layover allows a visit to the stunning Burj Al Arab, either from the inside or by gazing at its splendor from nearby Kite Beach. 12+ hours? Line up a tour to the Dubai Desert Conservation Center and see the beautiful, and increasing rare, desert fauna of the UAE

2. AMSTERDAM SCHIPHOL AIRPORT (AMS)

THE PERFECT LAYOVER

Day or night, Amsterdam makes for an energetic foray between flights. With Schiphol being one of the world’s easier airports to navigate, along with its equally accommodating 20 minute rail transit to Amsterdam Central, a layover in this city allows for maximum exploration.

Laid out like a spider's web, the pleasures of the city can easily be accessed on-foot, by bicycle or via canal boat; and tours of every type, style and duration are easily planned in advance.

During the daytime, visits to the Anne Frank House or the Rijksmuseum are highlights, while the nighttime visits are Red Lights and (multiple) alarms for your return trip are best set before leaving Schiphol and venturing into Amsterdam’s web. Either way, don’t forget your Stroopwafel!

More time? An overnight layover opens up Amsterdam’s legendary nightlife.

1. ROME LEONARDO DI VINCI FIUMICINO AIRPORT (FCO)

THE PERFECT LAYOVER

Rome may not have been built in a day, but you can certainly see it in one! Best accomplished in the daylight hours, with an early start, and 8-10 hours between flights.

A 30 min train will take you swiftly into the heart of the city and drop you at Roma Termini Station. Wonderfully connected by Metro, you now have 3+ hours to visit the Colosseum (advanced tickets are advised), the Roman Forum and Trevi Fountain. With some extra planning, and efficiency, a visit to Vatican City and St. Peter’s Square are possible. Finish things off with a hearty helping of pasta and a carafe of wine before catching the return train to FCO. A day full of memories that will have you snoring on the next leg of your travels.

More time? Rome could fill a week!