From city tours to naps in sleep pods—our best tips for making the most of long layovers while full-time traveling
We’ve had our fair share of long layovers. I’m talking about the kind that stretch past eight hours, often overnight, where you’re stuck in an airport somewhere between “I need a nap” and “Should we explore the city?”
When you’re full-time travelers like us—and especially when you’re traveling on a budget—you learn pretty quickly how to make these layovers work for you, not against you. The good news? A long layover can actually become one of the best parts of your trip.
Here’s how Shelly and I handle long layovers without losing our minds—or our money.
Why Long Layovers Don’t Have to Be the Worst
We used to dread them. Now, we see long layovers as mini-adventures. It’s a chance to slow down, explore, recharge, or even catch up on work if we’re in a groove.
Instead of twiddling our thumbs for hours, we’ve learned how to turn layovers into opportunities. Here’s how we break it down:
1. Take a City Tour During Your Long Layover If Time Allows
If we’ve got a long layover that’s longer than 6 hours and the airport is near a city, we’re outta there.
Most international airports offer transit tours or city day passes, and we’ve done everything from wandering the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul to taking a desert safari in Qatar to visiting the Louvre in Paris during long layovers.
Our Tips:
- Check visa requirements before you leave the airport.
- Use the airport luggage storage if you don’t want to lug your carry-on around, or consider checking your luggage.
- Hop-on-hop-off buses are great if you want to see highlights quickly.
- Set an alarm or two—you don’t want to miss that connecting flight.
Stopover Programs, And Why They’re Great for Long Layovers
Stopover programs are special travel offers that are provided by airlines or tourism boards that let you spend one or more nights in a layover city—often with discounted or even free hotel stays, tours, or perks—before continuing to your final destination.
They’re perfect for long layovers because instead of sitting in an airport for 10+ hours, you can actually explore a new city, rest in a hotel, and make the most of your travel time.
Check out THIS info-packed article for more detail on where and what airlines are providing these program.
2. Relax and Recharge with an Airport Massage During Your Long Layover
Some airports are surprisingly spa-friendly. If we’re not up for leaving the airport, a massage is the next best thing. On a long layover in Beijing a few years ago, we treated ourselves to an amazing massage that made the time fly and was so relaxing!
We’ve found everything from quick shoulder rub stations to full-on spa lounges where you can unwind before boarding again.
Favorite Airport Spas:
- Changi Airport, Singapore – You can even get a fish pedicure!
- Incheon, Seoul – Offers full-body massages and sauna rooms.
- Doha, Qatar – Luxurious massage chairs and quiet treatment rooms.
3. Scope Out Food Spots Beyond the Gate During Your Long Layover
Let’s be real: airport food courts are hit-or-miss. But when we dig a little deeper, we often find hidden gems.
Shelly always checks out food blogs or Google Maps in advance to see if the airport has any local eateries, celebrity chef restaurants, or even healthy grab-and-go options.
If we’re in Asia, we always go on the hunt for a steaming bowl of noodles. In Europe? A buttery croissant or a yummy baguette.
Quick Tips:
- Walk the whole terminal before settling for fast food.
- Look for priority dining perks with your airline status or credit card.
- Ask an airport staff member where they eat. We’ve scored gold this way.
4. Lounge Like a Pro On Your Long Layover Even Without First-Class Tickets
Airline lounges aren’t just for the elite. If we have a long layover, we almost always spend some time in an airport lounge.
Why? Because access to Wi-Fi, comfy chairs, hot food, and clean bathrooms makes a huge difference. Some even have shower rooms, nap pods, and movies.
How We Get In:
- Priority Pass membership (worth every penny)
- Premium travel credit cards (like the Amex Platinum)
- Day passes purchased directly at the lounge desk
Pro Tip:
Many lounges have quiet zones or nap areas, perfect if you need to catch up on sleep or just escape the noise.
5. Rent a Sleep Room or Nap Pod for a Relaxing Long Layover
When the layover stretches into overnight territory, we often look for airport sleep rooms or nap pods.
These can be lifesavers—especially if we’ve just come off a red-eye or have an early flight the next morning. You’ll often find them in major international hubs.
Best Sleep Pod Airports:
- Dubai International – Sleep ‘n Fly pods are cozy and private.
- Tokyo Haneda – Capsule hotel-style rooms right in the terminal.
- Munich Airport – Napcabs with charging ports and blackout blinds.
Prices vary, but we’ve paid as little as $25 for a few hours of much-needed rest.
6. Find Strong Wi-Fi and Get Some Work Done During Your Long Layover
Since we run our travel blog and do remote work on the go, layovers are actually a great time to catch up on emails, plan content, or edit videos.
We look for airports with reliable free Wi-Fi (hello, Seoul!) or check into a lounge for more stable service.
Pro Tip:
- Bring a portable hotspot or VPN for security and access to U.S. sites/content.
- Carry a universal power adapter and a backup battery—you never know when outlets will be full.
7. Stretch and Move a Little
Sitting for hours on end isn’t ideal, so we like to walk the terminal or even do some stretches in a quiet corner (no shame—we’ve got a whole routine now!).
Some airports offer:
- Yoga rooms (like in San Francisco and Chicago O’Hare)
- Walking trails (Munich has a guided terminal path)
- Rooftop or outdoor gardens (we love the cactus garden in Dubai!)
What We Always Pack for a Long Layover
Having the right stuff makes all the difference. Here’s what’s in our “long layover survival kit”:
- Refillable water bottle
- Travel pillow and eye mask
- Earplugs or noise-canceling headphones
- Healthy snacks
- Chargers and power bank
- Travel blanket, sweater or shawl for chilly airports
Long Layovers Are What You Make of Them
The key to surviving—and even enjoying—a long layover is to be flexible, prepared, and a little bit adventurous. Whether we’re grabbing a diet coke in an airport café, sneaking in a nap, or exploring a new city for a few hours, we’ve learned that layovers don’t have to be wasted time.
They can be a chance to slow down, try something new, or just breathe in the middle of a hectic travel day. How have you made the most of a long layover? Let us know in the comments below.
