Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel

The Half Day Tour: The World’s Best Layover Cities

Matt Payne
By

layover cities
It’s 8:30am, you’re flying Icelandic Air to Paris for business and you’ve just touched down in Reykjavik’s spectacular Keflavik airport. You slept most of the flight from Denver, so there’s gas in your tank, you’re up to speed for Monday’s meeting and you’ve got an eight-hour layover to kill before your next flight. Thanks to some crafty spending, you’ve accrued more than enough miles to eat and drink all you like in an exclusive airport lounge, but why do that when, in roughly an hour, for around a hundred bucks, you could be relaxing in the other-worldly blue lagoon or exploring the colorful streets and shoreline of Reykjavik until your Paris-bound flight takes off later in the afternoon.

If given the choice between a half day eating peanuts, sucking down soda, and scrolling Facebook with spotty airport internet access or picking up another stamp on the ole passport, it’s always best to set out to see the local sites. Here are three outstanding layover cities that make a half day visit more accessible than a solid airport WiFi connection.

Related Videos

Reykjavik, Iceland

Distance from the airport-  30 miles

Best transportation- There is no public transportation, but Gray Line Airport Express runs to and from Reykjavik’s city center hourly in the winter and every half hour in the summer. Cost: $32 round trip.

Things to see- Upon arriving to Reykjavik, one must first make their way to Hallgrímskirkja – or the Church of Hallgrímur. This church, which is part of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Iceland rises well above the rest of the city and, for a couple of dollars, offers visitors access to the bell tower. From here, take in sweeping views of Reykjavik’s colorful streets and alleyways and the bay and mountaintops beyond the city. From there, explore Laugavegur Street, the city’s main shopping drag and once to the water, check out the Harpa Opera House.

If you’re hungry, can wait in line, and don’t mind withstanding the elements, stop by Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. The hot dogs at this tiny little stand, with their brown mustard and sweet ketchup, are enough to make you return to Iceland (the waterfalls are great, too).  If relaxing and nature is more your thing, rather than head to Reykjavik, catch the shuttle to the Blue Lagoon where you can spend the day relaxing in the warm, healing waters of one of the world’s natural wonders.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Distance from the airport –Eight miles

Best transportation- For roughly ten dollars, a direct train runs every ten minutes from Schiphol International Airport to Amsterdam’s Central Station and is by far the easiest way to explore the city. Taxis are also available for a reasonable fee.

What to do- The quickest way to see Amsterdam is to hop onto one of their popular canal tours. I, for one, typically like to avoid such methods of mass tourist transit, but in this fair city, Blue Boat Amsterdam Canal Cruises is the best way to see the key sites in a time efficient manner. The charming boat ride through Amsterdam’s vibrant canals have drop-offs at the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House.

If you’d rather set out on foot, you can walk the streets of the Red-Light District where there are museums in honor of both Amsterdam’s sex trade and the hemp and hash industry. Checking out the sites by boat is fun, but if there were a secondary way to see the city, a bike tour is the way to go. No matter how you see the town, if you decide to stop in one of Amsterdam’s famed “cafes,” just make sure your head is clear enough to get back through customs when you return to the airport.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Distance from the airport – Three miles

Best Transportation- Metro tickets can be purchased at the airport and trains run from terminals one and three every ten minutes from 5:50 am to midnight.

What to do- When presented with the opportunity to go to the top of the highest building in the world, you take it. That’s why, if you’re stuck in Dubai, you go straight to Burj Khalifa. It takes around an hour to get to the top of this 148-story building, with viewing decks on floor 125 and 148, where you look out over the ultra-modern city clear out to the ocean. In the spirit of superlatives, Dubai is not only home to the world’s tallest building, but also to the world’s largest fountain. Stop by the Dubai Fountain which runs along the edge of Burj Khalifa Lake, is visible from anywhere in the city, and shoots water more than 400 feet in the air.

With the remainder of your time, check out the Dubai mall, which is like a pulsing, frenzied city unto itself. Or, if you want to see A LOT of gold jewelry, head to The Gold Souk in Dubai’s old town commercial district. If all that gold builds up an appetite before your flight, Dubai has lots of restaurants to choose from. Thousands. The cuisine in Dubai is most aptly described as an amalgamation of cultures across the globe. That said, Al Mallah Dhiyafha a tasty outdoor shawarma and falafel venue, features some of Dubai’s best Arabic and Lebanese food.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
You Still Have Time to Plan a Labor Day Weekend Trip: 10 Fantastic Spots
Make Labor Day Travel Fun With These Stellar Destinations
The beach at Pismo Beach, California.

It’s wild to think of how summer has flown by this year. Yet while the summer travel season may be winding down, we still have Labor Day Weekend to plan one more exciting and refreshing summer trip. We know that 2022 hasn’t been the easiest year for everyone, so we’re going out of our way to point out the destinations where you can escape the most maddening Labor Day Weekend crowds without completely breaking the bank.

Now that summer is about to come to a close, here are some great ideas on where you can go to enjoy one last gasp of summer warmth. Here's your last chance to discover your new favorite beaches, explore some great outdoor markets, sport your warm-weather hiking attire, find your perfect spot on the lake, and simply soak up the extra hours of sunshine.
Wait, Summer’s Almost Over?!

Read more
Best U.S. Towns and Cities for Young Professionals
A generic cityscape lit up at night

As a young professional, you’re often asked, "What do you want to do?" Not as often, though, are you asked, "Where do you want to live?" This is just as integral, if not more, to your vocation. After all, you might want to be a deep-sea welder, but you’re likely to find more openings in Houston than in Indianapolis.

There are also so many cultural, economic, and social considerations when trying to figure out where to go to plant your first stake. Today’s young professionals generally want to live in a city with good jobs, people their age, and things to do. They also want to live in a place they can afford and afford to grow wealth.

Read more
8 Fun Places to Celebrate Father’s Day
Eastwind Hotel

It's hard to believe we are almost halfway through the year! It's even harder to believe that Father's Day is just around the corner! Dads might appreciate a new tie or a barbecue accessory this Father’s Day, but for those looking to give the gift of an unforgettable experience, we’ve rounded up a list of fun things and places to travel with Dad on Father's Day. From off-roading in Vermont’s scenic Green Mountains to horseback riding through agave fields in Tequila, Mexico, see below for some meaningful activities we recommend you highly consider.
For the Oenophile Dad

Located in the heart of Napa Valley, The Estate Yountville offers wine-loving dads an array of exciting activities to enjoy during a Father’s Day getaway. The 22-acre village-within-a-village features the following activities:

Read more