Have you heard the phrase – to kill two birds with one stone! Well, this might be true the next time you travel abroad! One visa and two destinations to view. Hers a list of cities across the world which offer you free sightseeing during your layovers. So, move out of the boring lounges and explore as you wait for your next flight.
Taipei
Next time you stop by in Taipei for more than eight hours, join one of the two free city tours organized by the airport. One takes you to the magnificent Zushih Temple, 14 miles out of town and the other touches upon the famous sites within the city. This includes the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Taipei 101, the country’s tallest building.
Register at the Tourist Service Centre in the main arrivals hall. They are offered twice a day.
Singapore
Changi airport is one of the most stylist across the world. Avail the free city tour options (if you have six or more hours in hand). The City Sights tour hits all the downtown highlights like the Merlion and Gardens by the Bay, while the Heritage Tour focuses on exploring neighbourhoods like Little India and Kampong Glam.
Instead of clearing immigration, head to either the Transfer Lounge F/Terminal 2 or Transfer Lounge A/Terminal 3. There are four Heritage and two City Sights tours per day.
Salt Lake City
Anyone with more than two-hours layover can get a free tour of the Temple Square area of downtown SLC. You can also walk to the City Creek Park and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.
Head to the information desks and get a schedule for the day’s pickup and dropoff.
Istanbul
Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport is one of the world’s busiest. Sign up for the free “touristanbul” program, which gives travelers a tour of the Hippodrome Square, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace.
Look for the Hotel Desk in the international arrivals hall. Sign up for one of the five daily tour departures.
Tokyo
A guide takes you on a cultural tour to visit the towns of Tako or Shibayama, a forest walk the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences.
Head to the Narita Transit Program Counter in Terminal 1F of the Central Building.
Seoul
You can avail their tour facilities for an hour also. Travelers can spend from one to five hours on either a temple or city-focused tour with English-speaking guides. Head to either the desk between gates 25 and 29 or the “Hana Tour” desk at gate 8.
Amsterdam
If you’re flying KLM and have a layover of six hours or more, you can sign up for the airline’s “layover with a local” program. Fill out a quick questionnaire about your interests and KLM will pair you up with an English-speaking local with similar likes, give you free bus tickets into town and back to the airport and pay for the first round of drinks when you meet your new pal at a bar in central Amsterdam.
Once you’ve booked a KLM itinerary that includes an Amsterdam layover, you will get an automated email from the airline asking if you want to sign up for the program.
Doha
The national airline has free tours of Doha. The tours come with a complimentary visa.
Make a reservation at the Doha City Tour desk, which is in Concourse B.
