For far too long, I’d plan my flights to try to get to my destination as fast as possible. But over the years, I’ve come to realize that having a long layover can actually be a sweet bonus to my trips. On one occasion, I stayed over in Paris for a couple of days while on my way back from a trip to Italy. During another, I spent the day eating and watching a Broadway show (The Radio City Rockettes!) in New York City while on a full-day layover on my way to Nashville. Both were great times and I realized that it was the best way to get more out of traveling. Now I try to do it more often than not.
This is the best way to turn one trip into two! Long layovers used to feel like wasted time. Now, some airlines have turned them into a travel perk. Instead of spending hours in an airport, you can sometimes stop for a day, a few nights, or even more than a week in the airline’s home country or hub city. In some cases, the airline simply lets you build the stop into your itinerary at no additional airfare. In other cases, it may help with hotels, tours, transfers, or special rates. The rules vary a lot, so always check the airline’s current stopover conditions before booking. But if you plan it properly, a stopover really can turn one trip into two.
For the options below, you can save time and money but again, check the details on your own as they may change over time.
Icelandair
Cities you can stop in: Reykjavik area, usually via Keflavik Airport
How long: 1 to 7 days
Why it’s worth considering: Icelandair is one of the classic stopover airlines. If you’re flying between North America and Europe, you can add time in Iceland without adding extra airfare on many itineraries.
Warnings and things to know: The international airport is a little far from Reykjavik, so factor in transfer time. Iceland can also be expensive, especially for food, hotels, tours, and car rentals. A stopover may be “free” in airfare terms, but the visit itself will not necessarily be cheap. That’s one of the “hooks” on this stopover or even for those just wanting to visit Iceland. It’s cheap to get there but the supply versus demand for everything once you’re there makes the prices high.
TAP Air Portugal
Cities you can stop in: Lisbon or Porto
How long: Up to 10 days
Why it’s worth considering: TAP’s Portugal Stopover is one of the best options for travellers heading to Europe, Africa, or other TAP destinations. Lisbon and Porto are both strong stopover cities, with food, wine, architecture, ocean views, walkable neighbourhoods, and easy day-trip options.
Warnings and things to know: The stopover may be available on the outbound or return leg, but you need to book it properly. Also watch the total ticket price. A stopover can be a great deal, but it’s not always cheaper than every alternative route.
Fiji Airways
Cities you can stop in: Nadi and nearby Fiji resort areas
How long: Often works well for 2 to 3 days, especially on routes between North America and Australia or New Zealand
Why it’s worth considering: Fiji is one of the most appealing stopover ideas because it turns a long South Pacific trip into a beach break. Instead of just connecting on the way to Australia or New Zealand, you can spend a couple of days by the water.
Warnings and things to know: Fiji Airways promotes stopover options, but this is usually more about building Fiji into your itinerary than getting a guaranteed free hotel. Resorts, transfers, and meals can add up quickly. If you only have one night, the logistics may not be worth it.
Singapore Airlines
Cities you can stop in: Singapore
How long: Flexible through the airline’s stopover or multi-city booking options
Why it’s worth considering: Singapore is one of the best stopover cities in the world because it is clean, organized, compact, and easy to navigate. You can eat well, visit Gardens by the Bay, take a walk in Marina Bay, explore hawker centres (food options), see Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam, or use the stopover as a break on the way to Southeast Asia, Australia, or New Zealand.
Warnings and things to know: Singapore Airlines’ stopover options are not always a “free hotel” deal. Think of it more as an easy way to build Singapore into your trip. Hotels in Singapore can be expensive, so compare the total cost.
Lufthansa
Cities you can stop in: Munich
How long: 24 hours to 7 days
Why it’s worth considering: Lufthansa’s stopover program lets travellers add time in Munich on certain routes. Munich is a strong stopover city because it is clean, historic, easy to explore, and close to Bavarian day trips. It can be a good option for travellers heading between North America, Europe, and Asia.
Warnings and things to know: The program started with Munich and selected routes, so check whether your itinerary qualifies. Also remember that Germany is in the Schengen Area, so visa rules may apply depending on your passport.
Japan Airlines
Cities you can stop in: Tokyo, Osaka, and other Japanese cities depending on routing
How long: Flexible through multi-city booking
Why it’s worth considering: Japan Airlines is useful if you want to break up a long Asia trip with time in Japan. Tokyo and Osaka are obvious choices, but JAL also supports multi-city itineraries that can help visitors add other Japanese destinations.
Warnings and things to know: This isn’t the same as a simple free hotel stopover program. You may need to use multi-city booking, and pricing can change depending on the itinerary. It’s best for travellers who already want Japan as part of the trip, not people looking for a no-effort free hotel perk. Also, if you’re looking to get the best out of Tokyo, you need a long stay (at least a week would be ideal), and given that the airports are far from Tokyo, you need to factor that in.
Turkish Airlines
Cities you can stop in: Istanbul
How long: Usually requires a stopover of at least 20 hours. Eligible passengers may receive hotel accommodation, with the number of nights depending on route, cabin class, and special conditions.
Why it’s worth considering: Turkish Airlines has one of the strongest stopover programs because Istanbul is a major destination on its own. The city has history, food, mosques, markets, waterfront views, nightlife, and enough to fill several days.
Warnings and things to know: You must apply in advance, and eligibility depends on your route, ticket, cabin class, and country of departure. The hotel nights are not something to automatically assume. Also check the visa rules before you travel.
Copa Airlines
Cities you can stop in: Panama City
How long: 24 hours to 15 days
Why it’s worth considering: Copa Airlines has one of the strongest stopover programs in the Americas. Its Panama Stopover lets eligible travellers stop in Panama City at no additional airfare on either the outbound or return trip. Panama City works well for a short visit because you can see the Panama Canal, explore Casco Viejo (old town section), walk the waterfront, visit restaurants and cafés, or even add nature and beach time if you stay longer.
Warnings and things to know: The stopover usually needs to be selected when you book the ticket, and it generally applies to one stopover per itinerary. Hotels, tours, transfers, and meals are not automatically included, so budget for the actual visit.
Iberia
Cities you can stop in: Madrid
How long: 24 hours to 10 days
Why it’s worth considering: Iberia’s Stopover Hola Madrid program lets travellers add time in Madrid without paying extra airfare on many eligible itineraries. Madrid is an excellent stopover city because it’s easy to fill a few days with museums, tapas, plazas, parks, shopping, nightlife, and day trips. You can take the subway to the centre of Madrid and then walk around. This is a particularly good option if you’re flying between the Americas and Europe or connecting onward through Spain.
Warnings and things to know: This is not a free hotel program. The main value is being able to add Madrid to your trip without extra airfare, plus access to some discounts and partner offers. Check the fare carefully, because not every routing or ticket will be the best deal.
Emirates
Cities you can stop in: Dubai
How long: Flexible depending on the Dubai Stopover package. Emirates also has Dubai Connect for some eligible long connections.
Why it’s worth considering: Dubai is one of the easiest stopover cities to understand: Big hotels, beaches, malls, desert tours, restaurants, skyscrapers, and very developed tourism infrastructure. It works well for people travelling between North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, or the Middle East.
Warnings and things to know: Emirates Dubai Stopover and Dubai Connect are different things. Dubai Stopover is a package you can arrange with hotels, visas, and transfers. Dubai Connect is complimentary only for eligible long connections under specific rules. Don’t assume every Dubai layover includes a free hotel.
Avianca
Cities you can stop in: Bogotá
How long: Up to 24 hours
Why it’s worth considering: Avianca’s Bogotá stopover lets eligible travellers spend time in Colombia’s capital during an international connection at no additional airfare. Bogotá can work well for a short stop if you plan carefully. You can visit La Candelaria (historic area), Monserrate (the famous mountain), museums, cafés, restaurants, and other historic areas without needing a full week.
Warnings and things to know: Keep the timing realistic. Bogotá traffic can be heavy, and 24 hours is not much once you include immigration, transport, hotel check-in, sleep, and getting back to the airport. This is best for travellers who are comfortable with a short, tightly planned city visit.
Ethiopian Airlines
Cities you can stop in: Addis Ababa
How long: Short layovers and stopovers vary by itinerary. Some eligible long transits may include hotel, meals, transfers, or city tour options.
Why it’s worth considering: Ethiopian Airlines is one of the more interesting options because it can let travellers experience Addis Ababa while connecting between Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America. The airline promotes Addis Ababa stopovers with tours, transfers, and cultural experiences.
Warnings and things to know: Rules can be very specific. Don’t assume you automatically get a hotel or tour. Check your exact connection time, ticket type, visa requirements, and whether the program applies to your route.
Bonus: Air Canada (and Aeroplan)
Cities you can stop in: Depends on your route
How long: Stopovers on eligible international Aeroplan award itineraries can last more than 24 hours and up to 45 days
Why it’s worth knowing: Air Canada doesn’t have the same kind of simple tourism stopover program as Icelandair, TAP, or Copa. But Aeroplan can be useful for points travellers because it allows stopovers on many eligible international award itineraries for 5,000 extra points. This can be a good way to build a second destination into a trip if you understand award-based travel.
Warnings and things to know: This is more of an Aeroplan booking strategy than a casual airline stopover package. It isn’t ideal for beginners, and the rules depend on award availability, routing, partners, and fare logic. That’s why I added it as a bonus mention, not as one of the main easy stopover programs. Air Canada also tends to be expensive for nothing, in money and points, so keep that in mind as well.
Final Tips Before Booking a Stopover
A good stopover can make a long trip more enjoyable, but the details matter. Before booking, check whether the stopover must be added during the original booking, whether you need to use a multi-city search, if the airline covers anything, and if you need a visa. Also compare the final fare against a normal connection. “Free stopover” usually means no extra airfare, not a free trip. Still, when it works, it is one of the best travel tricks around. You can see Iceland on the way to Europe, Istanbul on the way to Asia, Portugal before another European destination, Fiji before Australia or New Zealand, Singapore before Southeast Asia, Panama on the way to Latin America, or Madrid before continuing through Europe. Instead of treating a layover like dead time, the right airline can turn it into a bonus trip.
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