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There are a few hills that I will die on:
- Paying for a checked bag isn’t worth it. Carry-on for life!
- Traveling during peak season is overrated (if you can help it, of course).
- Long layovers can actually be the best thing to happen to your trip.
No, not those awkward 3- or 4-hour layovers, where you don’t really have time to leave the airport, nor the ones that fall in the middle of the night so not only is there no reason to leave the airport, but you also have to sleep on the airport floor (been there, done that, won’t do it again).
I’m talking broad daylight, lots of hours to hit the pavement and see a new city that you otherwise wouldn’t have considered. That layover.
I’ve used long layovers to venture into San Francisco, soak up some sun at Mission Dolores Park, and sample delightful little treats at Dandelion Chocolate on my way to Hawaii. I’ve seen the most epic, electric-orange sunrise of my life above Lake Zurich in Switzerland on my way home from South Africa. I’ve even walked on the Great Wall of China on my way back from Thailand. The Great Wall of China. Who’d’ve thought you could fit that into a layover?!
Long layovers aren’t for everyone, and that’s okay! Sometimes a travel day is just that—an opportunity to post up at the airport with a family-sized bag of peanut M&M’s and a good book until your next flight is ready to board.
But, if you've decided that leaving the airport is worth the effort, there are a couple of things you should ask yourself to ensure you make the most of your long layover—because, while flying by the seat of your pants can be fun, leaving the airport on a layover can require a bit of structure.
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Hydrate while you wait
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How much time do you need?
Not every airport—nor every city—is treated equally. If you are transiting through a smaller airport with few passengers and planes, or if the airport is really close to the city center, you might not need much time to venture out.
However, larger airports or airports that are slightly more removed from the city center will require that you have more time. For example, you could leave the Zürich airport with as little as a 4.5-hour layover, while Istanbul would require 8–12 hours.
Check out our layover guides or do a quick Google search to determine the appropriate amount of time that you’d need to leave the airport and explore for part of the day at major hubs around the world.
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Are you traveling at the right time of day?
This one’s easier: If your layover falls during the day, most businesses and shops around the city will be open and accessible if you were to leave the airport. But if your layover falls overnight, things will be closed, rendering your layover excursion virtually useless.
At that point your decision just becomes: Do you leave the airport to get a good night’s sleep at a hotel, or are you chill sleeping on the airport floor?
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What will you do with your luggage while you explore?
Light travelers, rejoice! If you’ve traveled with just a carry-on or a duffel, it might not be much of a hassle to take that into town with you (just make sure all of your personal identification documents and valuables are secure).
However, if you’re traveling with a rollaboard suitcase, chances are you won’t want to lug that with you. Most airports have luggage lockers where you can store your suitcase if you’re jetting out for the day. These lockers run as low as $6 per day and enable you to store things for a couple of hours or even a few days.
You can also look into luggage storage outside of the airport with companies like Radical Storage and Bounce, which are similarly cost-effective and have locations all over the world.
Just don’t forget to pick up your luggage for the next leg of your journey. And be sure to give yourself plenty of time if you need to check it back in at the check-in counter and get through security.
Fun fact: With a Going Premium or Elite membership, you can get 10% off luggage storage with Radical Storage and 50% off storage with Bounce. Head to your Going Perks portal to see all offers.
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Will you need a visa to leave the airport?
Don’t let this one catch you off guard. Not every airport will let you leave the airport to explore without applying for a visa (if one is needed for the destination). Sometimes you can do this online ahead of time, which allows you to get out of the airport quicker. But sometimes you have to queue at the airport and answer questions from an agent in order to get the visa (this is what I had to do in China). It’s not difficult, per se, but it does eat into your layover time, so make sure you’re aware of the process and potential time commitment needed to get a visa like this—and if you can get it ahead of time, do it.
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How will you get around on your layover?
Depending on where your layover is, you may be able to take advantage of public transportation to get to and from the airport. Metros, subways, and buses can get you into city centers in a jiffy; better yet, they often run on schedules so you know when the next one is coming and when the last train leaves the station (pay attention to this to ensure you get back to the airport in time for your connecting flight).
You can also use rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, or if you’re in a place that doesn’t support rideshare services, you may need to hire a private driver, especially if you want to venture out from the main attractions. If you do this, just make sure that the driver you hire is reputable and that you factor in any traffic getting to and from the airport.
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What will you do on your layover?
Now comes the fun part! Planning a layover is at the confluence of a science and an art: a science in that you’ve gotta square away all the logistics that we’ve talked about above and an art in that, once you decide that it is worth the hassle to leave the airport, you get to decide what your day will actually look like.
Some cities have tours dedicated to travelers on a layover. They’re efficient, packed with information, often led by locals, and include the sides of the city that you’re most excited to see—whether that’s food, history, sightseeing, or something else.
Of course, you can go the self-guided route and design the day with only the things you want to see and do most. Check out our Travel Guides to see the latest and greatest in big cities and layover spots around the world—whether you want to hit the top attractions, take a page out of a local’s book, eat and drink your way through the city, or track down the filming locations of your favorite TV shows and movies.
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Popular cities for layovers
Some airports around the world have become popular layover hubs thanks to their strategic locations, efficient infrastructure, and strong airline networks. These transit-friendly airports tend to offer seamless connections, competitive fares, and a plethora of passenger amenities that make long layovers more comfortable—dare I say enjoyable, turning long layovers into part of the experience.
Here are our guides for some of the most popular airports for layovers:
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With expert:
Brooke Vaughan
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Brooke Vaughan is a St. Louis-born, Portland-based writer and editor. She graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism with a master's degree and has contributed to publications including AFAR, Tripadvisor, Time Out Barcelona, and Huckberry.
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