All You Need to Know About Stopovers
In today’s fast-paced world, travelers are looking for ways to extract more value, more adventure, and more memories from every trip. One of the most underused yet incredibly effective travel hacks is the strategic stopover. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, adding a well-planned stopover can transform a routine flight into a multifaceted journey.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about planning and enjoying a strategic stopover—from how to book one to where the best cities are for a meaningful layover experience. With a bit of foresight, your travel days can become travel highlights.
About Stopovers
Traveling is about more than just reaching your destination — it’s about the experience along the way. One of the most exciting ways to enrich your journey is by incorporating a stopover into your flight plan. Whether you’re eager to explore a new city, enjoy a break from long flights, or maximize your travel budget, understanding stopovers can open up a world of possibilities. Here’s everything you need to know about stopovers on a flight trip.
What Is a Stopover?
A stopover is a planned, extended stay at an intermediate city on a journey, typically lasting more than 24 hours (or more than 4 hours for domestic flights). Unlike a layover, which is usually brief and intended for connecting flights, a stopover allows travelers to step out of the airport and explore a new destination before continuing to their final destination.
Why Consider a Stopover?
- Explore a New City or Country: Turn a connecting flight into an adventure. Spend a day or more discovering local sights, cuisine, and culture.
- Maximize Travel Value: Use stopovers to visit multiple destinations within one trip without extra airfare.
- Break Up Long Flights: Reduce fatigue by stretching your legs, resting, or sightseeing during layovers.
- Create Unique Travel Experiences: Turn a routine flight into a memorable multi-city vacation.
- Discounted Hotels: Many airlines offers discounted hotels for a stopover, even complimentrary hotels stays for up to 3 nights (like Etihad in Abu Dhabi)
Types of Stopovers
- Official (or Allowed) Stopovers: Some airlines and routes actively promote stopover programs, offering special deals or packages to encourage travelers to explore intermediate cities.
- Unplanned or Opportunistic Stopovers: Sometimes, due to delays or schedule changes, travelers may find themselves with extra time in a city.
- Self-Designed Stopovers: Travelers plan multi-leg journeys, intentionally choosing to stay in certain cities along their route.
How Do Stopovers Work?
- Booking: When purchasing your ticket, especially for multi-leg journeys or with airlines that promote stopover programs, you can specify or inquire about stopover options.
- Duration: A stopover typically lasts more than 24 hours internationally, or more than 4 hours domestically.
- Visiting the City: During your stopover, you can leave the airport, explore local attractions, sample cuisine, or simply rest.
Airlines That Promote Stopover Programs
Several airlines have dedicated stopover programs or offer special fares for multi-city travel, including:
- Icelandair: Famous for its Stopover in Iceland program, allowing travelers to explore Iceland for up to 7 nights at no extra airfare.
- Qatar Airways: Offers stopover packages in Doha, with hotel and city tour options.
- Emirates: Provides stopover deals in Dubai, including hotel discounts.
- Singapore Airlines: Promotes stopovers in Singapore with hotel packages and city tours.
- Air Canada: Allows stopovers in select cities like Vancouver and Toronto.
- TAP Air Portugal: Offers a nice stopover program in Lisbon
- Etihad: Offers up to 3 nights for free (in selected hotels) in Abu Dhabi. See more.
- Turkish Airlines: Offers also a nice stopover program in Istanbul. See more
- Finnair: Provides stopovers in Helsinki.
- Air Canada: Allows stopovers in various cities, with the option to add one for an additional cost.
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Copa Airlines: Offers stopover programs in Panama.
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Iberia: Offers “Hola Madrid” stopovers with discounts on experiences and accommodation.
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Oman Air: Offers stopover programs in Oman.
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Ethiopian Airlines: Offers stopover programs in Addis Ababa.
- and more….
Note: Always check with your airline or booking platform for available stopover options, as they vary by carrier and route.
Benefits of Booking a Stopover
- Cost-Effective: Some airlines offer free or discounted stopover nights, making multi-city trips affordable.
- Enhanced Travel Experience: Discover new destinations without extra airfare or complicated planning.
- Flexible Itineraries: Customize your trip to include multiple cities.
- Cultural Enrichment: Immerse yourself in different cultures and landscapes.
Tips for Planning a Stopover
- Check Airline Policies: Not all airlines support long stopovers; verify options and policies when booking.
- Plan Your Activities: Research attractions, transportation, and accommodations in the stopover city.
- Visa Requirements: Ensure you understand visa policies for the stopover destination, especially if you plan to leave the airport.
- Pack Accordingly: Be prepared for different climates, cultures, and luggage restrictions.
- Allow Extra Time: Make sure your connection times are sufficient to explore and return to the airport comfortably.
- Use Multi-City Booking Tools: Many airline websites and travel agencies offer multi-city search options to facilitate planning.
What is a Stopover, and Why Does It Matter?
A stopover is a planned layover in a connecting city, typically lasting over 24 hours (or over 4 hours for domestic flights), before continuing to your final destination. It’s different from a layover, which is usually shorter and doesn’t allow time to leave the airport.
Strategic stopovers are a brilliant way to explore two destinations for the price of one—with minimal impact on your travel costs. Many airlines even encourage this, offering extended stopovers at no extra airfare.
Why Plan a Strategic Stopover?
Here are some reasons why you should consider incorporating a stopover into your itinerary:
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Maximize your time off: Squeeze more experiences into one trip without booking a separate vacation.
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Add a new destination on the cheap: Many stopovers can be added with zero or minimal added cost.
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Beat jet lag: Breaking up a long-haul flight helps your body adjust to time zones gradually.
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Sample a city you’ve never seen: Maybe you’ve always wanted to see Amsterdam or Dubai—now you can, even if only for a day or two.
The 2-in-1 Trip Advantage: One Ticket, Two Destinations
One of the biggest and most exciting benefits of planning a stopover is the opportunity to turn a single trip into a 2-in-1 adventure—essentially visiting two destinations for the price of one plane ticket.
Imagine flying from New York to Bangkok with a 48-hour stopover in Abu Dhabi, or heading from Toronto to Paris with a few days in Reykjavík in between. Without paying for separate flights or making a completely new booking, you’re experiencing an entirely new country, culture, and cuisine.
Here’s why this makes strategic sense for travelers:
1. Cost-Effective Exploration
Because many airlines don’t charge extra for a stopover on their home turf, you’re getting a second city (sometimes even a second continent) without a rise in airfare. Add to that stopover-specific hotel deals and you’ve got serious value.
2. Better ROI on Your Time Off
Time off is a precious commodity. Why not get more out of your PTO or holiday time? A two-destination itinerary makes your vacation feel twice as rewarding.
3. A Taste Before a Full Trip
Not sure if a city is worth a full week’s vacation? A stopover offers a short, low-commitment way to preview a destination. If you fall in love with it, you can come back for more.
4. A More Enjoyable Journey
Breaking up long-haul flights into manageable legs helps reduce jet lag and makes travel less exhausting. Instead of suffering through a 16-hour haul, you can turn it into two comfortable 8-hour flights with a relaxing break in between.
5. A Gateway to the Unexpected
Many travelers have discovered lifelong favorite cities by accident—thanks to a stopover. What was meant to be a simple connection turns into a surprise love affair with a new place, whether it’s Abu Dhabi’s golden mosques, Iceland’s volcanic landscapes, or Singapore’s futuristic skyline.
Pro Tip: When booking a stopover, always compare the total cost of a standard itinerary versus a multi-city or stopover-inclusive one. In many cases, the stopover can be added for free—or even at a lower fare due to routing incentives.
How to Book a Stopover
Booking a stopover can be simple or tricky, depending on how you go about it. Here are the most common methods:
1. Use an Airline’s Stopover Program
Some airlines offer structured stopover programs, often including hotel discounts or guided tours:
- Icelandair Stopover – Spend up to 7 days in Iceland at no extra airfare when traveling between North America and Europe.
- Turkish Airlines Stopover in Istanbul – Offers a free hotel night for business class passengers and up to two nights for economy class travelers.
- Singapore Airlines’ Stopover Holiday – Discounted hotel stays and attraction passes in Singapore.
- Emirates Dubai Stopover – Offers hotel deals and visa assistance.
- Ethiad Stopover in Abu Dhabi – Ethiad even offers free hotel stays. Read more!
- Qatar Stopover in Doha – Somtimes up to 3 nights for free.
These are tailor-made for convenience and are especially useful for first-time visitors.
2. Use the Multi-City Search Feature
Instead of searching for a round-trip ticket, use the “multi-city” option on flight search engines. For example:
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Instead of flying New York → London, search for:
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New York → Reykjavik (2-3 day stop)
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Reykjavik → London
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Sometimes this adds no cost, especially with airlines that hub in the stopover city.
3. Speak with a Travel Agent
If your trip involves multiple legs or complex routing, a travel agent can often find creative ways to add stopovers at little cost using “open jaw” tickets or round-the-world fares.
Top Cities for a Strategic Stopover
Not all cities are created equal when it comes to stopovers. Great stopover cities tend to be compact, well-connected to the airport, rich in culture, and manageable in 1–3 days.
Here are some top picks:
Reykjavík, Iceland
- Best for: Natural wonders, Nordic culture, and hot springs
- Don’t miss: Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, downtown Reykjavík cafes
- Airline: Icelandair, Play
Istanbul, Turkey
- Best for: History lovers and foodies
- Don’t miss: Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus cruise
- Airline: Turkish Airlines
Singapore
- Best for: Urban exploration and Southeast Asian gateway
- Don’t miss: Gardens by the Bay, hawker centers, Marina Bay Sands
- Airline: Singapore Airlines
Doha, Qatar
- Best for: Luxe experiences and Arabian culture
- Don’t miss: Museum of Islamic Art, Souq Waqif, desert safaris
- Airline: Qatar Airways
Abu Dhabi, UAE, when fly with Etihad
- Best for: Modern luxury and desert-meets-coast experiences
- Don’t miss: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Yas Island
- Airline: Etihad Airways
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Pro tip: Etihad’s stopover program offers up to two free hotel nights for premium passengers and discounted luxury hotel rates for all travelers. This makes it easy to enjoy the city’s architectural marvels, cultural institutions, and beach resorts without straying far from your route.
Lisbon, Portugal (when fly with TAP)
- Best for: A relaxed European vibe with great food
- Don’t miss: Alfama district, Belém Tower, pastéis de nata
- Airline: TAP Air Portugal
Example Routes for Great Stopovers
Below are some real-world airline routes where stopovers are not only possible but often encouraged by the carrier. These routes offer the perfect chance to explore a secondary destination en route to your final stop, often at no additional cost.
1. Emirates: Dubai → Bali (DPS) → Auckland
- Stopover City: Bali, Indonesia
- Airline: Emirates
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Why it’s great: Break up a long journey to New Zealand with a few days of luxury in Bali, Indonesia. Etihad and Emirates both offer fantastic hotel deals for stopovers.
2. Icelandair: New York → Reykjavík → Amsterdam
- Stopover City: Reykjavík, Iceland
- Airline: Icelandair
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Why it’s great: Add Icelandic glaciers, waterfalls, and geothermal spas to your European getaway. Icelandair allows up to a 7-day stopover in Iceland at no extra charge.
3. Singapore Airlines: Los Angeles → Singapore → Bali
- Stopover City: Singapore
- Airline: Singapore Airlines
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Why it’s great: Get a taste of Southeast Asia’s most modern city before heading to the beaches of Bali. Their stopover program includes hotel + attraction bundles at discounted rates.
4. Qatar Airways: Chicago → Doha → Cape Town
- Stopover City: Doha, Qatar
- Airline: Qatar Airways
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Why it’s great: Before immersing in South Africa’s culture and wine country, explore the modern Arabian world—luxury malls, desert adventures, and world-class art museums.
5. Turkish Airlines: Boston → Istanbul → Athens
- Stopover City: Istanbul, Turkey
- Airline: Turkish Airlines
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Why it’s great: Why not explore two ancient civilizations in one trip? Turkish Airlines offers free hotel stays with many of their international stopovers.
6. Etihad Airways: Europe → Abu Dhabi → Bangkok
- Stopover City: Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Airline: Etihad Airways
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Why it’s great: From the serene temples of Thailand to the futuristic mosques and beaches of Abu Dhabi—all within the same itinerary. Etihad’s stopover package includes up to 2 free nights in a 4-star hotel.
7. TAP Air Portugal: Miami (or other US cities) → Lisbon → Barcelona
- Stopover City: Lisbon, Portugal
- Airline: TAP Air Portugal
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Why it’s great: Combine laid-back coastal charm in Lisbon with bustling urban Spain. TAP allows a stopover of up to 5 nights in Lisbon or Porto.
8. Finnair: Chicago → Helsinki → Tokyo
- Stopover City: Helsinki, Finland
- Airline: Finnair
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Why it’s great: Get a taste of Nordic design and culture before heading to Japan. Finland is perfect for a calm, scenic interlude between continents.
Pro Tip:
When planning these routes, use the airline’s multi-city booking tool or stopover-specific microsite to ensure the best rates and eligibility for bonus deals like free hotels, tours, or transit cards.
How Long Should a Stopover Be?
This depends on the destination and your interests, but here are some general tips:
- Under 24 hours: Stick to one neighborhood or a walking tour.
- 2–3 days: Great for a mini-vacation. Plan a few key experiences, but don’t overdo it.
- 4+ days: Treat it like a “part one” of your trip. Explore local culture, take a day trip, and try authentic dining.
Pro Tip: Don’t plan to see everything. Stopovers are best enjoyed at a relaxed pace. Think of it as an appetizer, not the main course.
Where to Stay
The best stopover hotels are either:
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Near the airport – if you’re short on time or have an early departure.
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Central/downtown – if you want easy access to tourist areas and restaurants.
Many airlines’ stopover programs partner with hotels to offer significant discounts. Always compare those deals with what you can find on hotel booking platforms.
Luggage Tips for Stopovers
Handling your luggage strategically can save a lot of hassle:
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Ask for a multi-stop baggage tag: Most airlines allow you to check bags through to your final destination, but that’s not ideal for stopovers. Request to collect your bags at the stopover.
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Pack a day bag: If collecting your bags isn’t possible, have essentials (a change of clothes, toiletries, medications) in your carry-on.
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Use storage services: Major airports (like Changi in Singapore or Keflavík in Iceland) offer secure baggage storage so you can explore hands-free.
Navigating the Stopover City
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Use airport express trains: Cities like London, Tokyo, and Amsterdam offer express services to downtown in under 30 minutes.
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Download offline maps and transit apps. This helps even if Wi-Fi or mobile data is unreliable.
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Pre-book popular attractions: For short stays, don’t waste time in ticket lines. Book in advance for museums, observation decks, and tours.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Too-tight layovers: Don’t try to squeeze a “stopover” into a 6-hour connection. You’ll likely waste it on customs and transit.
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Forgetting visa rules: Some stopovers require a transit or tourist visa. For example, U.S. passport holders need a visa for a stopover in China unless using special 72-hour transit programs.
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Booking separate tickets: This risks missed connections. Always book on a single itinerary unless you’re highly experienced.
Final Thoughts: Turn Travel Time into Travel Value
A stopover can dramatically enhance your travel experience, turning a simple flight into a memorable adventure. Whether you want to explore a new city, break up a long journey, or maximize your travel budget, understanding how stopovers work empowers you to plan smarter, more enjoyable trips.
Strategic stopovers are about more than saving money or checking another country off your list. They’re a smart way to elevate your entire travel experience. A well-chosen stopover can refresh your body after a long flight, spark new curiosity, and create unexpected memories—all within the timeframe of a regular journey.
Before booking, do your research: check airline policies, plan your activities, and ensure your travel documents are in order. With a little preparation, a stopover can be the highlight of your trip, opening doors to new cultures, landscapes, and memories.
So next time you’re booking a flight, pause before you hit “purchase.” Explore whether your journey can be broken into two rewarding experiences instead of one. With a bit of planning, your layover could become the best part of your trip. ✈️🌍
