Can You Leave the Airport During a Layover?

In an ideal world, you'd be able to fly nonstop just about anywhere. But the reality is you'll probably have a layover on more than one trip in your life. And in some cases, those layovers might be really long. At that point, you're at a crossroads. Do you head for the airport lounge for hours upon hours? Do you post up at an airport bar and spend who knows how much cash on mediocre food and drinks? Or do you make a break for it and leave the airport?

Yes, you are usually allowed to leave an airport on a layover — and some airlines even encourage it with stopover programs — but there are a number of caveats to doing so. Here's everything you need to know about leaving an airport on a layover, from how long you actually need to how to participate in a stopover program.

Can you leave the airport during a layover?

Yes, you can, so long as you follow all the immigration rules of your layover destination. Domestically, American travelers can always leave the airport on their layovers. International travelers, however, will need to either have visa-free entry to the U.S. or a valid visa to enter — and that same rule applies to American travelers with international layovers, too.

Now, when it comes to leaving the airport, there are two types of layovers. First is a standard layover, when you have less than a day on the ground between flights. Second is a stopover program, in which you actually leave the airport for more than a day. Many airlines offer formal stopover programs that may include discounts on hotels and tours.

Take, for instance, the new Icelandic budget airline Play. “Play’s stayover feature enables passengers to stay up to 10 days in Iceland on their way to their final destination, on their returning flight, or both!” Play CEO Einar Örn Ólafsson tells Travel + Leisure. “Adding a stop in Iceland at no additional cost brings travelers two getaways for the price of one flight, so they can check two destinations off of their bucket list.”

Factors to Consider Before Leaving the Airport

If you're considering leaving the airport during a layover, you'll want to think about the following factors first.

Layover Duration

In order to leave the airport on a layover, you need time, and plenty of it.  At the bare minimum, you'll need enough time to go through security and make it to your gate before the boarding door closes. As you probably know, it's generally suggested that you get to the airport two to three hours before your flight. So if all you want to do is step outside to breathe some fresh air, you'll need a layover of at least two to three hours. And if you're traveling internationally, you'll also have to add time for customs and immigration — potentially both as you arrive to your destination and as you leave it.

If you have any aspirations of going somewhere or doing something outside the airport, you'll have to factor in transportation time. When you're estimating how long your plans will take, always give yourself a buffer. If you miss your flight because you've left the airport and didn't budget your time properly, you're completely out of luck and will likely have to buy a new plane ticket.

Customs and Immigration Requirements

If your layover is in an international destination, you must check the visa requirements in that country before leaving. You may have to go through customs and immigration, even if you only plan on spending 10 minutes outside the airport. You may need to get a visa before leaving the airport, but even if you don't need a visa, you'll probably still need a few blank pages in your passport for stamps.

If you do need a visa, make sure you're getting the right one. Transit visas may be available for layovers — these are usually less expensive than standard tourist visas. “For those who are not eligible for visa on arrival or visa-free travel, they can add a ‘transit visa' as an extra while completing their stopover booking on Qatar Airways Holidays website,” a Qatar Airways spokesperson tells T+L.

Carry-on Luggage

Traveling with carry-on bags? You may not want to (or be able to) bring them to certain attractions — rolling suitcases can be a bit of a nuisance. It's best to look for storage lockers to stash away your carry-on while you have fun on your layover. Sometimes these are available at airport terminals, or you could look for a third-party service in your layover destination. Another idea is to book a rental car for a few hours, so you can store your luggage in the trunk.

Time of Day

If your layover is during normal business hours, it might not be such a bad idea to go enjoy yourself for an afternoon. But if your layover is in the evening or overnight when everything is closed, there might not be much of a reason to leave. Overnight layovers might be long enough to warrant booking a hotel, and there's nothing better than a hot shower and getting some good sleep after a day of flying.

Tips for Planning Layover Excursions and Activities

If you leave the airport during your layover, it's a good idea to have a game plan to ensure you make it onto your next flight. Here are a few tips for planning a layover excursion.

Look at a map.

In many destinations, the airport is in the middle of nowhere. Start planning by looking at a map and seeing just how far away the airport is from the city center or the attractions you're hoping to visit.

Consider your transportation options.

How do you plan to get around? Look into the timing and cost of public transportation, taxis, and ride shares. If each of those is inconvenient, consider booking a rental car.

Check opening hours.

When planning any travel itinerary, you'll want to check the hours of operation for any attractions or restaurants you plan to visit. Many museums, for instance, are closed on certain weekdays (often Mondays or Tuesdays).

Stopover Programs

Many airlines offer formal stopover programs, where travelers can spend a day or two (or 10) in the layover destination for no additional flight fee. Some programs even provide discounts on hotels and attractions. But even if you don't choose a formal stopover program, you can always DIY — use an airline's multi-city function during booking to manually insert a stopover into your itinerary. But again, check immigration policies! To get the creative juices flowing for a future layover, here are three destinations (and their airlines) that have stopover programs.

Iceland: Icelandair and PLAY

Iceland is perfectly situated about halfway between the U.S. and Europe, so it's a logical stopover spot. Plus, who doesn't want to go to Iceland?! Both Icelandair and PLAY offer stopover programs; the former allows stays up to seven days, and the latter allows stays up to 10 days. “With the stayover feature, travelers can experience the island’s incredible cuisine, natural wonders, hot springs, and more before continuing on to their final destination or heading home,” says Ólafsson.

Qatar: Qatar Airways

Doha, Qatar, is a major international layover destination, particularly for those traveling to or from Asia or Africa on Qatar Airways, so the airline hosts a stopover program. Travelers can stay up to four days in Qatar, and the airline even offers major hotel discounts. Five-star hotels, for instance, cost as little as $81 per person per night. Plus, if travelers don't have time for a multi-day stopover, they can also explore Doha on a day tour, too. “Travelers who wish to take a transit tour can obtain a transit visa with assistance from the HIA transfer desks,” says a spokesperson for the airline.

Panama: Copa Airlines

Traveling between North America and South America? Copa Airlines has a stopover program in Panama that can last between 24 hours to six nights. You can choose from discounted tour options booked through the airline, or you can arrange your layover yourself. If you've ever wanted to see the Panama Canal, this is a great way to do it.