Leaving the Airport on a Layover

If you’re stuck with a lengthy layover, it might be worth trying to leave the airport to do some exploring. Layovers can be anywhere from a few hours to an entire day, and with some careful planning you can easily spend that time anywhere but the departure lounge.

Before your first flight, ask if you can check your luggage through to your final destination. If you have to pick up your luggage and re-check it after going through Customs, factor that into your timing. Many airports even have a left luggage storage area so that you won’t have to take your luggage along with you. The airport’s website should contain all of the information you’ll need to plan.

Before planning to leave the airport on a layover, there are a few things other you should research.

First, see if your plane ticket allows you to leave the transit area. Some tickets and airlines don’t allow passengers to leave the transit area, so check with the airline before making any extravagant layover plans. Next, if traveling internationally, will you need a visa to enter the country? Many countries offer visas on arrival, but this isn’t always the case.

A simple Google search can also be extremely helpful. Try to see if other travelers have left the airport to visit a city within the time you’ll have for your layover. This firsthand advice is typically far more effective than attempting to figure everything out on your own.

Regardless, always budget for some extra time. You never know if security lines will be long when you return!