Two for the price of one!

Turn your long layover into a mini vacation with short layover tours offered by airports throughout the world, suggests Preeti Verma Lal

Kill two birds with one stone — the wise man propounds. Killing birds sounds like a bad idea, so how about killing two cities with one ticket. Not killing, but seeing. Using a layover to see a city on the way.

Layover tourism buzzes now, but it is actually an old hack. It all started in 1948 when IcelandAir launched its stopover programme. It wasn’t a smart move, it was a necessity. The airline did not have a license to travel directly from North America to Europe and the only solution for the carrier was to offer a layover in Reykjavik. By 1955, the airline allowed travellers to see Iceland and that’s when ‘free stopover’ was officially born. Today, several countries/airports offer free/paid layover packages. Here’s a quick pick of some of the best layover cities:

Doha

Qatar Airways is a popular choice for long hauls into the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. Layover options at Doha range from a quick day trip to a longer 72-hour on-way Doha visit. National Museum of Qatar, a must-do, lies barely 10 minutes away from Hamad International Airport. Pack a quick lunch at The Pearl-Qatar or dine in one of the city’s many fine dining restaurants — Doha is home to the world’s largest Nobu, two Gordon Ramsay restaurants as well as the hip STK lounge and steakhouse at the newly renovated Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The best breakfast is at Shay Al Shoomos Restaurant in the heart of the Souq Waqif which serves Middle Eastern cuisine and traditional Arabic coffee. Walk through the souq before running back to the airport.

If you have longer than a day, include dhow cruise in Doha Bay, city sights on a ‘Hop on, Hop off’ Doha Bus Tour, UNESCO-listed heritage sites, Khor Al Adaid (Inland Sea) natural reserve, Katara Cultural Village, and the world’s first Angry Birds Theme Park.

Tip: Several tour operators (including Cox & Kings & SOTC) offer twin-centre packages with a stopover in Doha. Or, book directly on Qatar Airways (www.qatarairways.com).

Helsinki

Finland’s location at the crossroads of west and east provides a great opportunity for travellers to experience Finland en route Europe. Visit Finland’s StopOver programme provides passengers time to explore Finland from five hours to five days. Known for its natural beauty and design, a layover at Helsinki is a brilliant way to see the capital of Finland.

Visit Finland’s StopOver Programme includes countless options — city tour, a day trip to Lapland, the home of Santa Claus, snowmobiling safari, midnight sun (in June), Northern Lights, archipelago tours, smoke sauna, ande ven a day trip to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.

Tip: You must have a valid Schengen visa. For details, visit www.visitfinland.com/stopover/. You can also book layover tours at www.getyourguide.com.

Taipei

Stopovers in Taiwan are the perfect way not only to break your journey, but also discover a unique and exciting destination. From the airport, you can get to the Taipei centre in 35 minutes on MRT. A one-day city tour of Taipei should include exploring 5,000 years of Chinese art, history and culture at the National Palace Museum, enjoying a bird’s-eye view of the city from the top of Taipei 101, world’s tallest skyscraper until 2010 and some of the fastest lifts in the world at 37.7 mph, Japanese architecture from Taiwan’s colonial era at the Presidential Office Building, learning about Taiwan’s history at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, sampling street food and shopping for souvenirs at a night market. If you have 48 hours, take a day trip to Taroko Gorge in Toroko National Park, which is easily accessible by train (two hours).

Tip: Book your tour at the Tourist Service Centre in the Arrival Lobby of Terminal 1 and 2. Check Taipei Airport website for more details.

Istanbul

Spices & teas for sale in Spice Bazaar, Istanbul

If you have a connecting international flight in Istanbul with a layover between 6-24 hours, you can make use of Turkish Airlines’s free Touristanbul service to discover Istanbul. There are several tour options that you can sign up for at the Hotel Desk in the International Arrivals Terminal of Istanbul Airport. Touristanbul offers three extensive tours which last for six or nine hours. The three different tours cover the city’s most famous sights, such as Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern.

Tip: To be eligible for free Istanbul tours from the airport, you should be flying Turkish Airlines. You don’t need a listing or booking to join their free tour. For more information, send an e-mail to [e-mail] or visit www.turkishairlines.com. Before visiting Turkey, you can get an e-visa from www.evisa.gov.tr/en website.

Singapore

Singapore Changi Airport has so much to offer that just looking, eating, shopping around at the airport itself can be a layover trip. But if you really want to step into the city, look at the Changi Stopovers package. If you have more than 5.5 hours layover, join one of the free 2.5-hour guided tours of popular attractions in Singapore. Visit the tour booth in the transit area of Terminal 2 or 3 to enquire about availability. Make sure to do so at least an hour before the tour starts. If you have less then five hours, go on a Nature Trail. A long layover begins with a 2-day-1-night stay in a hotel of your choice, including a free SIM card and a free one-way airport transfer from as little as S$63.

Tip: Check layover tour options at www.changiairport.com. For more things to do and reasons to stop over in Singapore, visit www.VisitSingapore.com.

Bangkok

On the must-visit list of every traveller, Bangkok is the getaway to several Southeast Asian countries. If there aren’t enough days in hand to sink your toes in its silken sands, book the Bangkok Airport Layover Special: Best of Thailand in 4 Hours. The guide will meet you at the Arrival Hall, second floor at Suvarnabhumi Airport or Terminal 1 at Don Muang Airport (Arrival Hall) and escort you to Bangkok City. Bus tour operators take travellers into the city centre for city highlights or a focused theme (temples, shopping or cultural experiences).

A food vendor at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Thailand

Book ahead of time or visit the booking desk at the Arrivals Floor where Concourses C, D and E intersect. If you’d rather do it yourself, metered taxis are located at Level 2 Arrivals, entrances 3-4, 7-8.

Tip: You can book tours with expedia.com, www.getyourguide.com, among several available options. You can opt for e-visa or visa on arrival (check waiver of visa on arrival fee).