Flights with Long Layovers? Make it a Playover at these Airports

Flights with long layovers need not be painful, especially with this list of best airports for long layovers. You don’t have to feel “stuck at the airport” with these veritable cities of entertainment, edification and shopping. Travel-Intel has done the research and come up with recommendations for travelers who may be looking at many hours between flights. Here are some of the best airports for long layovers to target and turn a layover into a “playover” at these long-haul destination gateways. 

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, in Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS): 

Because Schiphol has always put passengers who have flights with long layovers at front and center, starting with the train they can catch below the arrival terminal to whisk off to Amsterdam’s Central Station in 15 minutes. But if there is too little time to visit the Rijksmuseum in town, get your tastes for Dutch Masters met any time at the airport. While It’s located in the Schiphol terminal behind the passport control and between piers E and F. Need some green? Airport Park has the trees the loungers, even the (pre-recorded) birdsong. 

Specifically Get your exercise by peddling away on stationary bikes that will also charge up your digital accessories. Shopping will bring cheeses, tulips and chocolates in creative packaging, while those needing some kneading can head to one of the XpresSpa locations. 

Nashville International Airport, Tenn (BNA): 

The city known for the Grand Ole Opry is capitalizing on its country music fame by bringing free concerts to the airport. Live concerts happen daily between noon and 4 pm featuring up and coming singer/songwriters and bands. Find them on stages at the C/D Concourse exit and A/B Rotunda. Check the schedule within the official BNA website. Hungry travelers will want to get their BBQ fix at such airport concessions as 400 Degrees Hot Chicken, Bar-B-Cutie SmokeHouse, Pig Star by Peg Leg Porker and Swett’s BBQ. Wash it all down with local crafts from Tennessee Brew Works. 

Dubai International Airport, UAE (DXB): 

Particularly Dubai practically invented the airport-as-destination concept when it launched the first phase of its DXB masterplan in 1998 with a multitude of luxury services and the best airport shopping on the planet. Today, for travelers that have flights with long layovers, it continues to hit new bars with adds duty free designer boutiques, unusual international dining finds and a sizable gold bazaar where the precious metal can be bought by the gram, ounce or kilo. 

Prices tend to be lower at this airport, reflecting Dubai’s duty-free destination designation and Dubai’s renown as a must-visit shopping stopover. Dubai’s citywide annual shopping festival (upcoming: 12/15/22 to 01/29/23) is one the destination’s key attractions. Notwithstanding And when you drop from all the browsing, head to the Timeless Spa for some delicious treatments – facials, massages, manicures … whatever your wish is the command and for rates you only wish you could find in the U.S. Longer layovers may require the airport’s inside hotel for a private room or suite, and gym access. 

Or consider one of several health clubs available in different terminals – where you can lounge at an indoor pool, immerse in a Jacuzzi, steam room or sauna, and even get your body composition analyzed. For those who simply want a private place to catch some zzz’s, Sleep ‘n Fly sleeping pods – smartly designed Scandinavian bunking spaces – can be found in all terminals. The decked-out pods run around $28 for two hours.

Incheon International Airport, Seoul, Korea (ICN): Long Layovers

The airport here is clean and orderly and replete with cultural immersion. Find museums dedicated to traditional crafts of HanjI, Dancheong, Najeon, and folk paintings. Adults and children can sit at the same table with brushes and papers and get hands-on lessons in the skills behind these rituals. Dress up like a noble in grand flowing robes for some unusual selfies. However Relax and take in a classical music concert or traditional music performance happening in various terminals and concourses. 

A patchwork of small museums showcase ancient Korean relics and artifacts. Visit a digital recreation of Gyeongbokgung Palace and a life-scale recreation of a traditional 19^th century street, both in Terminal 1. Passengers with plenty of time between flights can pre-book free 1- to 5-hour roundtrip tours into Incheon and Seoul through Incheon Transit Tours.

John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK): Long Layovers

Delays at JFK can be counted upon these days, whether your layover is intentional or not. Those with time to kill can explore some worthy avenues of diversion rather than sit transfixed to the boarding screen. Following For those on flights with long layovers and who may not be in the premium class of flyers, it may be worth considering the purchasing of a day pass to Aer Lingus, Air France, Alaska, American, Prime Class Lounge, and Wing Tips Lounge. As JFK is the sixth-busiest airport in the country (some 61 million passengers swing through annually), some plush privacy can make all the difference in smoothing travel.

Terminal 4 now offers Minute Suites — somewhat barebones cells, but quiet places to catch rest by the hour, starting at $48 an hour, linens and TV access included. More adventurous passengers can head the TWA hotel by Terminal 5 and book rooms for a half-day or overnight, each option starting at around $300. Once checked in you can loll the day away watching planes from the TWA Hotel rooftop pool, and get your Peloton on at the 24-hour fitness center. Better yet, expend calories trying to stay vertical on skates at the hotel’s Roll-a-Rama runway rink. 

Keflavik International Airport, Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF): Long Layovers

This airport is a good place to get acquainted with fresh Scandinavian fare such as smoked salmon open faced sandwiches, pylsa – Nordic hotdogs, and Kleina – fried donut twists. But the best thing about KEF is not the airport, nor the food, but the natural beauty right nearby: The Blue Lagoon. This geothermal visitor hotspot is worth a trip to Iceland in itself. 

Reykjavik Excursions allows for a quick soak and scene. Catch the bus outside the main terminal building and allow at least four hours for the total excursion to these warm, milky-blue waters. The trip will set you back around $144 and include towel, mud mask and beverage. Bring your own bathing suit – these are not optional.  

Changi International Airport in Singapore (SIN): Long Layovers

Meanwhile Changi comes up with ways to attract visitors even if they are not taking a flight – whether for special haute cuisine programs that fly in the world’s top chefs for newsworthy events, or a visit to the Jewel, a 24-hour gem connected to the Arrival Hall in Terminal 1. The five-story, jungle-themed recreation and retail complex contains the world’s tallest indoor waterfall: The Rain Vortex, which becomes the backdrop for sound and light shows at night. 

Bouncy nets, slides, fog bowls create other unusual engagement experiences. The airport also offers an intriguing indoor butterfly garden, a four-story tube slide, exotic dining options, free massage chairs, by-the-day amenity lounges for economy passengers, even a movie theater. Thereafter Antsy travelers will love the airport hotel with options to use the rooftop pool or gym with a day pass. Or they may choose to take a free four-hour city tour available through the airport or Singapore Airlines.

Vancouver International Airport, in Vancouver, BC (YVR): Long Layovers

Whenever For those on flights with long layovers, a centerpiece of the sky-sweeping international terminal here is a colorful, 30,000-gallon aquarium with a kelp forest and wolf eels and hundreds, if not thousands, of sea urchins and anemones – all providing plenty of moments for ogling entertainment. In Terminal 4, a smaller tank of Pacific sea nettle jellies keeps watchers mesmerized. 

With hours to kill, head to the mall – the McArthurGlen  Designer Outlet Centre – just a five-minute hop on the airport skytrain. Generally The adjacent outdoor mall is a bit of a find with some 80 retailers, many with big names such as Coach, Calvin Klein, Fossil, Furla … and most of the merchandise at 70 percent off retail. Finally For even longer layovers, a stay at the Fairmont, located inside the international terminal, will banish all ills.