You might have walked through the Orchid Garden in Singapore’s Changi Airport or shopped in Heathrow’s duty-free boutiques, but there’s more to these places than their airports. Rather than dashing on to your next destination, a layover en route can enrich your experience and help you see more of the world in a single trip.
In a couple of nights you can explore the eclectic cultural landscape of Hong Kong or taste your way through cosmopolitan Cape Town. Our specialists have chosen their top recommendations for a layover that offers far more than an airport lounge.
Flying via Singapore? Relax & explore by the water
By Southeast Asia specialist Ross
Singapore’s Changi Airport has received its fair share of awards — the free 24-hour cinema, rooftop swimming pool, and butterfly garden make it an appealing stop between flights. But Singapore deserves to be a destination in its own right. The city boasts a concentrated wealth of sights, so you can pack a lot into a brief stay.
I can pair you with a private guide to help you make the most of your first day here. In the cool of the morning, you’ll board a traditional bumboat to navigate along the Singapore River towards the quay, where old warehouses have been transformed into vibrant entertainment venues and gourmet restaurants. Here, you’ll spend a while learning about the island country’s colonial past, before heading to Chinatown to browse its eclectic array of shophouses that sell books, herbal teas, and Chinese lanterns.
Later, you’ll visit Little India, one of the oldest parts of the city. Indian migrants settled here to raise and trade cattle, and, while the livestock are long gone, Hindu temples, tandoori restaurants, and incense-scented shops remain. Together with your guide, you can sample Indian sweets, explore the markets, and meet some of the local shopkeepers.
Singapore is warm year-round, so to escape the heat and humidity of the afternoon, you’ll head to the Gardens by the Bay after a Singaporean lunch nearby. Here, two futuristic, air-conditioned conservatories have been built on reclaimed land and filled with plants from across the world. An aerial walkway cuts through the outdoor space, with views across the Marina Bay skyline. Your guide will then lead you back to your hotel using the city’s ultra-modern public transportation system so you can relax for a while before dinner.
In the evening, I like to eat at Newton Food Centre, a quick metro ride to the north of the city. Singaporeans usually work late and then meet friends in this huge food court. You can choose from Chinese, Indian, Malay, or Peranakan dishes that have been influenced by the city’s multicultural history. The chicken satay is a particularly popular delicacy.
If you’re eager to continue, head to Fullerton Hotel for a nightcap. This neoclassical building was once home to Singapore’s General Post Office and government offices, but it’s now a luxurious heritage hotel with an infinity pool overlooking Singapore River.
Fly onward to Borneo
You can’t catch a long-haul flight direct to Borneo, so you’ll need to stop en route — and Singapore is only a two-hour flight away. The futuristic, high-rise cityscape of Singapore is a stark contrast to the tangled jungles and rugged mountains of Borneo.
Once on the island, you can cruise along the Kinabatangan River to spot orangutans, macaques, and gibbons, hike deep into primary rainforest with skilled naturalists, and enjoy a traditional homestay in an Iban longhouse.
Flights
It’s a 21-hour flight from New York to Singapore with Singapore Airlines. From Singapore, it’s then a one-and-a-half-hour flight onward to Kuching with Air Asia.
Flying via London? See its storied landmarks & uncover its literary history
By UK specialist Melissa
If your flight has a layover in London and you want a whirlwind tour, just two days can give you a sampling of the best the city has to offer. Whenever I come into Heathrow, I like to take the express train from the airport to Paddington Station, which gets you into the heart of the city in just 15 minutes.
A 20-minute cab ride away from Paddington is Bloomsbury. The area offers a central location that’s quiet but close to the key sights, including the British Museum, which I can arrange for you to visit with a private guide. This vast 19th-century building stores cultural treasures from around the world, including the Rosetta Stone, huge Assyrian lamassu (human-headed winged bulls), and the Mummy of Katebet (one of the most studied Egyptian mummies in the world).
For a taste of more local history, I always like to visit the empty-eyed helmet and heavy golden cloak clasps that were found in the Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo, just a couple of hours from London.
Once you’ve seen the spoils of empire, you can pause for lunch at one of the traditional cafés that are common in Bloomsbury. Or, if you’d like to delve into Britain’s literary heritage, I can pair you with a guide who’ll take you to nearby sites related to authors like George Orwell and Charles Dickens.
Later, make your way through Covent Garden — being sure to check out the street performers at the covered market — and on through Leicester Square and Chinatown to Trafalgar Square. If you wander past 10 Downing Street, keep an eye out for Larry, the official Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, before you continue on to Westminster Abbey. The cathedral’s vast interior is sometimes overwhelming, so I suggest going with a private guide to help you focus your attention.
In the evening, a well-timed stroll down the South Bank of the Thames provides photogenic views of Parliament and Big Ben lit by the setting sun. From here, you can take the Tube from Lambeth North to Oxford Circus and enjoy dinner in Soho or a show in the West End.
The next morning, I suggest climbing to the gleaming white dome of St Paul’s Cathedral to take in one of the best views in London. Ornately covered, Leadenhall Market makes a convenient and elegant spot for lunch before you walk to the fabled Tower of London for a tour. End the day by walking across London Bridge to the distinctive Shard skyscraper, where you can fortify yourself for your next flight with afternoon tea or evening cocktails.
Fly onward to almost anywhere
Just as it was once the hub of a world-spanning empire, London remains a crossroads of the world and you can fly almost anywhere from here. It’s just a two-and-a-half-hour flight to Rome, where you can visit masterworks of art and architecture spanning more than two millennia.
Flights
Flights from New York to London take a little less than seven hours, and it’s ten and a half hours from Los Angeles.
Flying via Hong Kong? Visit night markets & fishing villages
By China specialist Chris
In Hong Kong, cosmopolitan bars and Michelin-star restaurants are found alongside traditional markets selling everything from electronics to jade good-luck charms. It draws from a real mix of Chinese and European influences.
The city is an excellent layover destination en route to Australia. I’ve found that it’s surprisingly compact and easy to get around, with the efficient, air-conditioned Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system able to zip you between different districts. The Airport Express line also means you can stay almost anywhere within Hong Kong and won’t have to travel far to catch your onward flight.
Three nights will give you enough time to explore both the neon-splattered city streets and take a one-hour ferry ride over to Cheung Chau, one of the 260 outer islands, with a local guide. On many of these islands, a more traditional way of life remains. You can visit tiny fishing villages, where people live in stilted houses over water. Forests provide hiking and wildlife-viewing opportunities, and you can dip your feet in the sea from quiet sandy beaches.
Back in the metropolis, you can browse the many shops and markets. Temple Street Night Market is one of the best, providing a vibrant snapshot of Chinese culture as you pass the stalls of traditional herbalists, fortune-tellers, and jewelers. I recommend going with a private guide, who’ll also take you to a traditional singing parlor, help you find the best food spots, and lead you to a banyan tree, where you can have your fortune told.
Another way to experience Hong Kong’s heritage is on a private tour around the New Territories area. Hidden among high-rise buildings are relics of the city’s past, shaped by the Five Great Clans of the New Territories — prominent families who settled here before the 17th century. Together with a private guide, you’ll visit ancestral halls, a 600-year-old pagoda, and a walled village, revealing a different side to the city and its culture.
On another day, I suggest taking the Peak Tram up to the island’s highest point, Victoria Peak. Not only will you get to travel on one of the world’s oldest funiculars, but, once at the top, you have panoramic views over the entire city and the surrounding forested hills.
Fly onward to Australia
If you’re planning a trip to Australia, you’re probably gearing yourself up for the long flight ahead. Stopping off at Hong Kong for a couple of nights makes the journey much more manageable.
Whether you’re flying to Sydney or Melbourne, you can easily travel on to anywhere else in the country. You could snorkel among clownfish in the Great Barrier Reef, spot Tasmanian devils at Cradle Mountain, or dine in the Outback overlooking the red monolith of Uluru.
Flights
It takes around 16 hours to fly from New York to Hong Kong. After spending two or three nights in the city, you can catch a nine-hour flight to Sydney or Melbourne with Cathay Pacific. Flights to other Australian cities are also available, with varying flight times.
Flying via Cape Town? Combine culture & nature in the city
By Africa safari specialist Philippa
A cosmopolitan city on the coast, backed by mountains, Cape Town merits at least a couple of days’ stay before you fly off to your next destination. There’s plenty to do and see here, whether you’d prefer to shake off the jet lag by relaxing on the beach, enjoying its multicultural food scene, or embarking on more active pursuits.
Table Mountain is one of the city’s focal points, and I can arrange for you to take a privately guided hike to its summit — that way, your Capetonian guide can lead you to the less-trodden trails, and you’ll also avoid the throngs of visitors who take the cable car. Pausing along the way, your guide will offer you South African snacks to try, from spiced biltong to subtly sweet rusks (biscuits). Then, at the top, your efforts will be rewarded with views across the city, mountains, and ocean.
For something less vigorous, you can join a private food tour to taste the city’s best cuisine — an experience that will also shed light on Cape Town’s multicultural heritage. With a local guide who knows the top food spots, you might try Indian bunny chow (a curry-filled bread bowl), South African braai (barbecue), and Dutch koeksisters (donuts), washed down with a fynbos-infused gin.
There’s also plenty of history to uncover in Cape Town, and a couple of days is more than enough to scratch beneath the surface. You could visit Robben Island to learn more about Nelson Mandela’s legacy, visiting the cell where he was imprisoned for many years. Or set off on a walking tour of the historic quarter, where you’ll find out more about the country’s fight for freedom against slavery, Dutch and British rule, and Apartheid. It’s not a lighted-hearted stroll, but I think it encapsulates the resilience and hope that you’ll encounter across the region.
Fly onward to Botswana, Namibia or Zambia
While there are plenty of wildlife reserves and parks to explore in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia each offer a different flavor of safari, and getting to each country without a layover can be complex.
For ultra-exclusive camps and the opportunity to see wildlife from the water, opt for Botswana’s Okavango Delta. If remote walking safaris interest you, Zambia has some of the best trained guides on the continent. A trip to Namibia, on the other hand, is more about soaking up dramatic landscapes. You can still spot the Big Five in some areas, but the country is best known for its desert-adapted elephants and dune-dwelling creatures.
Flights
You can fly direct from Atlanta or Newark to Cape Town in around 14 and a half hours. Once you’ve had your fill of the city’s culture, it takes just over two hours to fly to Maun in Botswana or Windhoek in Namibia.
In Maun, you can take a light aircraft to the Okavango Delta for a safari, while Windhoek is the ideal starting point for a road trip around Namibia. Meanwhile, it takes around five hours to fly from Cape Town to Lusaka in Zambia, followed by an hour in a light aircraft to Mfuwe, near South Luangwa Park.
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