If you have a long layover, don’t just resign yourself to hours at a gate or overpriced airport restaurant. Check to see if the airport offers their own managed and arranged city tours so you pass the time sightseeing instead.
Image from o_0.
By going on a tour that’s associated with the airport, you reduce the risk of having to deal with the usual hassles of leaving the airport during a layover. You’ll be whisked out and back through security in enough time to make your connecting flight, and there’s less chance you’ll be stuck somewhere with no way back into the airport. Check out the airport’s website or city’s tourism office to find out if they have a city tour, or stop by an information desk when you arrive for your layover and see if there are any tours available. Here are a couple of major airports that offer city tours:
- Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan
- Changi Airport in Singapore
- Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan
- Atatürk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey
Since these tours are meant to take place during a layover, they’re likely to be “mini” versions of the normal city tour and may only hit a couple of highlights so you can make it back for your next flight. But, at least you’ll get out of the airport, see some of what the city has to offer and feel like you made the most of your layover.
Make the Most of Your Layover with Free City Tours [Conde Nast Traveller]
Comments
One response to “Make The Most Of Long Layovers With Airport ‘City Tours’”
Reasonable idea. Though bear in mind this means having to pass through immigration/customs on the way out and back in again. So make sure you can leave baggage checked especially since some countries have greater restrictions than others.
Another option is to buy access to a lounge. Changi certainly has one (and perhaps more) available to transit passengers. The opportunity to have a shower, change clothes and relax can be a great way to break up a gruelling long-haul.