Can you leave the airport during a layover?

Can I leave the airport during a layover?

Short answer: yes, you can leave the airport during a layover. However, there are a few things to keep in mind before you decide to explore your layover city. Firstly (and probably most important), is the destination of your layover. 

Layovers in Europe

With most European countries being part of the Schengen area, many European countries are easy to access without a travel visa. Indeed, If your flight originated from a Schengen country, you will probably not have to go through passport control when leaving the airport during your layover. You will however need to scan your passport on your way back in. This easy access to Schengen countries is a perfect way to make your layover into an adventure. Although it may be easy to leave, please make sure that your layover is long enough to make the most of your time and not stress. Keep reading for some tips and tricks about maximising your layover. 

Layovers in the United States

If you are flying through the United States and are a non-US citizen, you can leave the airport, but you will need a visa-free entry pass (such as an ESTA form) to leave the airport, or a valid visa. When you re-enter the airport, you will need to go through passport control again. With the recent political developments in the US, immigration laws may risk getting more strict so please also consider this if you have a long layover in the US! 

If you are a US citizen, and both of your flights are domestic US flights, you can exit the airport during your layover, but you will need to go through security when re-entering the airport. 

If you are a US citizen and your departing flight originated outside the US, and you have a US destination, you can exit the airport, but you will need to pick up your checked bags, and re-check them upon reentry to the airport.You will also need to go through immigration and customs. You can re-enter without going through immigration or passport control though. Please be mindful that picking up checked bags and going through customs can be a lengthy process, which could cut into your sightseeing time. 

Layovers in the rest of the world

Most other countries may require a travel visa if you wish to leave the airport during your layover. This is very country-dependent, as some countries require a travel visa prior to your arrival in the country, and some allow you to obtain travel visas at the airport. 

How long should my layover be for it to be worth leaving?

As a general rule, a minimum of 5 to 7 hour layover should be required to warrant leaving the airport. However, there are several factors to consider. Although the long layover may have been your choice, sometimes you will get a flight cancellation, and therefore have to spend extended periods of time at the airport. If this has happened to you, you may be entitled to compensation for your flight (up to 600€ !). Click below to check your flight !

Location of layover

To leave the airport, your layover depends on its location. Indeed, certain airports are much closer to their city centre, and therefore you can spend more time actually sightseeing.

Here are a few examples:

• Amsterdam: Schiphol Airport - Amsterdam Central Station: 16 minutes (direct train)
• Rome: Rome Fiumicino Airport - Roma Termini Station: 32 minutes (direct train)
• London: London Heathrow Airport - King’s Cross St Pancras: 57 minutes (direct tube)
• Paris: Charles de Gaulle - Louvre - Rivoli station: 45 minutes (direct train)
• Lisbon: Lisbon Airport - Baixa de Lisboa: 35 minutes (2 metros)
• Tokyo: Tokyo Haneda Airport - Tokyo Station: 25 minutes (2 trains)
• New York: JFK Airport - Grand Central Station: 30 minutes (car)
• Cape Town: Cape Town International Airport - City Bowl: 23 minutes (car)
• Sydney: Sydney International Airport - Center Business District: 15 minutes (car)
• Dubai: Dubai International Airport - Dubai City Centre: 16 minutes (car)

You can see that some places have more accessible city-centres than others, meaning you may have to cut your sightseeing short in certain locations (for example London).

You should also take a look at different transport options, as Ubers or taxis may not always be the fastest route. For example, travelling from Paris Charles de Gaulle to the city centre will take you around 45 minutes using public transport, but can take you more than an hour by car, depending on the traffic.

Furthermore, depending on whether you require a travel visa or are immigrating into your layover country will determine how long your layover should be. You should plan for enough time to commute to and from the city, consider rush hour periods, consider time for passport control and immigration (if needed), and bag check-in and out (specifically in the US). A quick tip is to always plan for more time than necessary on the way back, but this really depends on how risk-averse you are.

Layover time of day

You also should consider what time your layover is. If it takes place entirely during the daytime, it will be easier to plan activities, as it is likely that most facilities and attractions will be open (such as museums and shops). However, if your layover takes place at night, it might be more difficult to find entertainment in the city. On the other hand, if you are a fan of bars and nightlife in general, this may be the perfect opportunity for you to discover local nightlife customs.

Another option for an overnight layover is a transit hotel. These are hotels that you can find near the airport that don’t require you to leave the airport premises, and therefore do not require you to go through immigration. This is a good option for those who would like to get some sleep during their overnight layover.

Luggage during your layover

If you are travelling long distances, chances are that you are carrying a suitcase or a bag with you, not to mention your checked luggage. This means that unless you want to carry around a suitcase with you all day, you have to find a locker to store your bags in, which can be a hassle, and then make sure you have enough time to pick them up before you need to leave. This is especially frustrating if, for example, you are laying over in the US and need to pick up your checked luggage. This adds big bags to the equation, which can be a logistical nightmare. 

Please be mindful of this element before embarking on your layover trip. 

Summary of layover time

To conclude this section, we suggest that after considering where your layover is (including visa requirements), commute time to the city-centre, the time of day of your layover, and also the luggage problem, the possibility of immigration and passport control, to give yourself a minimum of 5 to 7 hours for your layover.

Tips and tricks for travelling with a long layover

Stopover programme

To make the most of your layover without planning anything yourself, we recommend stopover programmes. These are extended layovers that are organised with the airline that you are flying, allowing you to visit the place you are stopping at. These are designed to boost local economies whilst simultaneously making short trips available to those who don’t necessarily plan on visiting that city on another occasion.

There are different deals available with different airlines: 

• Free hotel stays (e.g., Turkish Airlines), 
• Cheaper hotel stays (e.g., Qatar Airways) 
• No extra charge for flights (e.g., IcelandAir). 

Some airlines have specific requirements to be eligible for their stopover programme. However, for others, you can just select the option when booking your trip. For example, to be eligible for the Qatar Airways Doha stopover package, your layover must be between 12 and 96 hours. On the other hand, Tap Air Portugal offers stopover programmes with no eligibility criteria. You only need to select the option when booking your trip.

These stopover programmes are a great way to do a trip within a trip, making the most of your long layover. 

Transit hotels

As mentioned earlier in the blog, if you have a long (usually) overnight layover, you could stay at one of the airport’s transit hotels. To recap, transit hotels are hotels located in an airport terminal, so that you don’t have to leave the airport premises to check in, and therefore do not have to go through immigration. These are a great option if you opt to get some rest during your layover.

Plan your layover trip

If you choose not to opt for a layover programme, it is recommended to plan ahead slightly. Indeed, it is important to look up commuting times, what transport options are optimal between the airport and the city, and look up what the opening times for certain activities are. It would also be beneficial to check what the local customs are. For example, if you would like to grab lunch during your layover in Barcelona, you should be aware that their eating times tend to be later than the average, and therefore restaurants may not be open when you feel hungry.

Conclusion

Ultimately, yes it is possible to leave the airport during your layover. However, certain critical elements should be considered before you decide to do so. Firstly, make sure your layover is long enough to catch your outbound flight. Then, it would be wise to check the visa requirements. If you are departing from a Schengen country with a Schengen layover city, it should be relatively simple to exit and reenter the airport. However, if you are travelling to places with stricter rules, be mindful of those. Finally, it is important to plan activities, or at least look up what activities are possible to do during your layover. If you have these details ironed out though, you can be sure to have a great layover, and discover great places without having to plan a whole trip. Another tip would be to consider stopover programmes, if your airline provides such a service.

If your layover was not planned due to a flight delay or cancellation, make sure to check whether your flight is eligible for compensation with our claim calculator. With that in mind, enjoy your layover !