Can I Leave The Airport During A Layover?
Mar 02, 2009 | Comments 10
A lot of people want to know: how do you know when you can leave the airport on a layover? For most layovers, you can leave the transit area in between flights, as long as you go through customs and immigration on the way out, and of course you’ll have to pass through security again on your way back into the airport. However, some tickets may not permit you to leave the airport. Always check beforehand with your airline to see if your ticket allows you to leave the transit area.
You will also check ahead of time to see if you’d need a visa to enter the destination that you’re arriving at. Check out our widget (right hand side of the blog) for a quick check to see if you’d need to apply for a visa.
Take into account that at many countries, you will have to go through Customs and Immigration upon your first point of entry, regardless of whether you’re connecting.
Another thing to be aware of is your luggage. If you have a layover, always check beforehand with your airline to see if you can check your luggage through to your final destination. Many lengthy layovers (often times up to 24 hours) are actually considered a connection, so often times you can check it all the way through. In a lot of airports, you will sometimes have to pick up and re-check your luggage. If you need to pick up or hold onto your luggage, you can always leave it in the airport at a locker or Left Luggage facility. You can find out where these facilities are at the airport’s website. If the airport does not offer storage for luggage, you can always leave them in a cheap hotel room while you explore the city.
Always check with the information desk about the best (and if applicable, least expensive way) to get out of the airport and around the city. If you are not familiar with the area, or the language, budget for plenty of extra time to get back to the airport, in case of delays or navigational errors. Also, take into account traffic, and distance when computing the time that you have to see the sights.
For additional layover tips, check out “How Much Time Do You Need To Leave The Airport,” Catching Connecting Flights: What You Need To Know and “Tips For Making The Most Out Of Your Layover.”
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Filed Under: airport • immigration • layover • luggage • security • travel • visa
Fantastic information. I’ve bookmarked this website.
i was born in england and hold a valid uk passport i am travelling to peru and have a
10 hour layover at new york , i would like to
visit the city just to grab a pizza slice and
have a quick look around i know by the time i get out from the flight and then back to tha airport for my connecting flight ill only have about 5 hours , is this possible or will i have to pre register for a visa beforehand
I would first check with your airline to make sure that your ticket allows you to leave the transit area.
Lovely article! Just curious — I have a 18 hour layover in Heathrow on my way from New Delhi to New York (I have a US visa).
I can’t seem to figure out whether I can exit the airport, have a look at the city — and be right back for my flight without a visa?
Thanks!
Of course you need no visa for the UK!
Hi,
I have a 15 hour overnight layover in Moscow’s Domodedovo International Airport travelling from Dubai to Kiev, Ukraine. I’ll arrive at 11pm and leave at 2pm the next day.
I am an Australian citizen, and have a visa to travel into Ukraine, but I am wondering if it will be worth it to try and leave the airport (for some fresh air at least)..
and if so, will I need a visa for the couple of hours? and is there a massive risk in trying to catch some shut-eye in the airport?
Also this website is amazing!
Hello,
I purchased a flight from Korea to US with a layover in Japan from United Airlines. But when I looked closer at the itinerary the flight from Korea to Japan is provided by a different airline but from Japan to US its provided by United even though I purchased the entire flight from one airline.
Which airline am I suppose to contact in order for me to know if I may travel outside the airport in Japan?
Thanks,
Ryan
I have a layover for 15 hours in Frankfurt Germany, I am a US citizen, can I leave the airport without getting a visa. What is required for me to leave and return the same day?
I have 6hrs layover at Santiago Chile airport.
I want to go check put the city if not too risky to come back for my next flight, domestic flight in Chile. Any recommendation? I have US passport. Thanks
I have a 4 hour layover in the heathrow from sfo. Then going to prague. Can I leave security and meet up with a friend on the other side of security for an hour or two and make it back through easily?