Stuck on a Dubai layover in the United Arab Emirates? Dubai is the fastest-growing transit hub in the world, and has one of the nicest airports. The Dubai International Airport is located roughly 3 miles outside Dubai, which makes the city an accessible destination for those stuck on long layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your layover in Dubai, click here for useful tips.

The Dubai airport is lined with palm trees and offers upscale shopping and restaurants. For the tired traveler, inside the hotel is the five-star, Dubai International Airport Hotel. You can pay by the hour (starting at $40) or the entire night (from $200) and offers a health club, business center, 24 hour laundry and room service. For additional Dubai hotels of varying price points, click here.

The Dubai International Airport also has many services including a Women’s Lounge & Children’s Play Area located between gates 12 and 14, internet kiosks near Gate 9 and Gate 23, a medical center on the ground level of the Concourse, post office near Gate 18 (open 24 hours), four prayer rooms in Arrivals and the main Concourse, and banking and currency exchange located near Gates 8, 18 and 22.

There are also many lounges to keep you occupied during your Dubai layover. There’s an International First Class Lounge between Gates 114 and 112, a Business Class Lounge beside Gate 108, and lounges for the following airlines: Air France, Gulf Air, Emirates, British Airways, KLM and Star Alliance between Gates 21 and 26. In addition there are two Quiet Lounges in the Sheikh Rashid Terminal near Gates 9 and 23 free of charge.

If you’re planning on seeing some sights during your Dubai layover, keep in mind that Dubai has some strict laws. The slightest amount of any illegal substance can land you in jail for many years, even life. In addition, don’t walk in front of somebody when they are praying, don’t drink alcohol in the street or in any public place (alcohol is only allowed in hotels or private clubs), avoid passionate displays of affection in public, and women should not dress suggestively to avoid any hassle.

Also, immigration can be long, as well as taxi lines. Give yourself plenty of time for delays. Depending on what city you’re coming from, you may also need to get a visa, and pay permissions to enter the country. (You can check out Visa Requirements in the widget on the right hand column of this page.)

Tickets for Big Bus Tours are valid for 24 hours and you can hop on and off whenever you’d like. One ticket covers both routes, which includes the Red Route (Dubai Creek, Al Fahidi Fort & Dubai Museum, the Souks (bazaars) and a few shopping malls) and The Blue Route (5-star hotels & the fanciest shopping malls.) Both tours offer live commentary or a choice of eight digitally recorded languages. See website for more info.

Old Souqs
Although many people head straight to the modern mall, check out the Old Souqs along the creek in the older part of town that is what made Dubai the trading capital it is. On the Deira side of the Creek, don’t miss the Gold Souq which has over 300 outlets including all the gold jewelry you can imagine seeing as well as drain covers with diamonds on them. Also on this side is the Spice Souq which has spices from all over the Middle East. On the other side, check out the Bur Dubai Souq with textile and souvenir shops.

Shopping & Skiing
The Mall of the Emirates is a shoppers’ paradise, and for those who prefer to hit the slopes, the mall features the first indoor ski slope in the Middle East. For $40 per person you can get a lift ticket good for 2 hours, ski rentals, ski pants and jackets and even socks (gloves and hats are not provided). You can ski, snowboard and toboggan here, down the over 1300 foot slope. The mall is open 7 days a week from 10am to 10pm.

Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab looks like a giant sail and claims to be “The Best Hotel in the World” with a rating of 7 stars. It is the world’s tallest dedicated hotel, with all the rooms hosting incredible views. The inside of the hotel has a dancing fountain, two massive fish-tank walls, and a soaring atrium. To visit the Burj Al Arab, you need to be staying there, or have advance reservations to eat at one of the restaurants or to have a drink at one of the bars (tip – the most budget friendly option is to book afternoon tea). Photos are only allowed in the lobby area.

Desert Safari & Camel Racing
If you have a very lengthy layover in Dubai, you might want to check out the camel racing and desert safaris offered outside Abu Dhabi city. Camel races are usually held early on Fridays or on national holidays. Safaris are half a day, and offer overnight options to stay in a Bedouin tent. Wadi-Driving explores the wadis or dry beds of streams that flow from the Hajar mountains. Dune driving allows you to try your hand at sand driving, with four-wheel-drive vehicles provided, and an expert guide. Or, try Sand-Skiing down the dunes of the Dubai desert. You can also sign on for a Desert Feasts which follow the safari with evening with an Arab barbecue under the stars.

Have a suggestion for a Dubai Layover? Leave a comment below!

Stuck on an Uzbekistan layover at Tashkent International Airport (TAS)? The airport is the largest in Central Asia and the hub of Uzbekistan Airways. It’s located roughly 8 miles from Tashkent city center, which makes the city an accessible destination to those stuck on long layovers.

Please note: All travelers, even those simply on a layover for less than 72 hours, must obtain an Uzbek visa before traveling to Uzbekistan. If you plan an overnight stay or have a long layover, you will need a visa to exit the transit lounge of the airport. For more information on obtaining a Uzbekistan visa,  including times, countries and rates, click here.

In addition to obtaining a visa, if you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your Uzbekistan layover, click here for useful tips.

If you’re stuck in the airport during your Uzbekistan layover, you can find a number of services within the airport including banks, ATMs and currency exchange, left luggage in case you’d like to drop off your bags while you explore, shopping, restaurants, bars, and airline lounges. There is also a CIP Hall for passengers of all airlines on the left wing  of the first floor, and right wing of second floor in the International terminal.

If you arrive at night or are looking for a place to rest, there are a number of hotels near the airport, and in Tashkent. For a comprehensive list of nearby hotels of varying price points, click here.

If you’re planning on leaving the airport during your Uzbekistan layover, taxis are located outside of arrivals. Travelers are advised that if you don’t speak Russian, to have your address written down and handed to the driver. Some taxis are a fixed rate – if not, select a price before getting inside the taxi. Express buses also travel from the airport to the metro station roughly every 10 minutes.

For layover packages available in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, click here.

Layover Guide’s Suggestions Of Things To Do In Tashkent, Uzbekistan:

TV Tower

The Tashkent TV Tower is 220 meters high and has an observation deck that looks out over the city. There are restaurants and a platform that revolves around the tower.

Kukeldash Madrassah

Built in 1570, the Kukeldash Madrassah is located in the historic, religios section of Tashkent. Originally used a fortress, it is now a place where students live and train.

Navoi Opera Theater

The Navoi Opera Theater is the largest theater in Central Asia where you’ll find international and Uzbek musical culture including operas, ballet and orchestras.

Mustakillik Independence Square

You can stretch your legs in Tashkent’s Mustakillik Independence Square where you can check out monuments of independence, and see where the Cabinet of Ministers and Senate is located.

Barak Khan Madrasa

Barak Khan Madrasa is a complex located in Khast Imom, the religious center of Uzbekistan. Decorated ornately with mosaics, calligraphy and intricate carvings, it is unique to Tashkent. For photos, click here.

Have a suggestion for an Uzbekistan layover? Leave a comment below!

Stuck on a Jakarta layover at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Indonesia? Located on the island of Java, the airport is roughly 20 km (12.5 miles) from Jakarta city center which makes the city an accessible destination for those stuck on long layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your Jakarta layover, click here for useful tips.

If you’re stuck in the airport during your Jakarta layover, there’s a number of services available. To help you get situated, here is a map of the airport.

Shopping and restaurants are located in all terminals (including Duty Free in terminal 2), and there is also banking and currency exchange, a post office, a pharmacy, baby facilities and interfaith prayer rooms. In addition, business lounges and airline lounges are available.

You can find the location and names of specific shops, restaurants and services, here for Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3.

If you arrive at night or are looking for a place to rest, the airport has a hotel located in the terminal building on the second floor in Terminal 2E. The Jakarta International Hotel has a restaurant, bar, spa and meeting room, as well as 82 rooms with full baths. For an additional list of hotels nearby in Jakarta of varying price points, click here.

Left Luggage facilities are located in Hall D of Terminal 2 for those looking to ditch your bags while you explore on your Indonesia layover.

As for transportation, metered taxis can be booked at the taxi counter in the arrival area of each terminal (the Official Airport Taxi company is Blue Bird : 021 7941234), and rental car facilities are also located in the Arrivals Area. Buses are also available, operating from 6am to 7pm.

If you did not get a visa before arriving and are in need of one (check the widget to the right for visa requirements from your departing country), there are visa counters near the arrival gates, for roughly $10USD for 7 days. You need to buy a visa before going through immigration.

Layover Guide’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On A Jakarta Layover:

Fatahillah Square

In the Old Jakarta Kota area, Fatahillah Square is a picturesque square that is home to three museums – the history Museum, the Puppet Museum and the Fine Arts Museum.

Indonesia In Miniature Park

If you’re limited for time during your Jakarta layover, the Indonesia In Miniature Park is a fun way to see the very different provinces and architecture of the country. There is also a museum of Indonesian fauna, a swimming pool and restaurants.

Istiqlal Mosque

Considered Indonesia’s largest mosque (and the largest in Southeast Asia), the Istiqlal Mosque is covered by a huge dome supported by 12 columns. More than 120,000 can pray in the mosque at the same time.

Sunda Kelapa

This fish market is located at the old port of Jakarta along the Ciliwung River. Check out the stalls and shops selling all sorts of seafood from lobsters to dehydrated turtles.

None of these interest you? Here’s an additional list of additional things to do on your Jakarta layover!

Stuck on a layover at Doha International Airport (DOH) in Qatar? As the only commercial airport in Qatar, it is located roughly 2.5 miles southeast of the city center, which makes Doha an accessible destination to those stuck on a long layover. If you’re trying to figure out if you can leave the airport during your layover, click here for useful tips.

As far as Visas, if you’re looking to leave the airport and explore Doha on a long layover, due to changes in Visa on May 1, 2010, it is recommended that all passengers get a Visa prior to arrival. (Depending on your country of residence, you may still be able to purchase a Visa on arrival for a tour around Doha for 100 QR per passport – click here for more information). For Visa application, you can contact the Qatar Airways stations in your country to get more information. Only citizens of Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, Saudi Arabia and the residents in the Gulf Cooperation Council of Arab States who are businessmen, medical doctors, engineers and similar prestigious positions and transit passengers do not need visa. Visas and their cost differ depending on nationality.

If you’re stuck in the airport during your layover, you’ll find that there is plenty to do to keep you occupied during your wait. The airport offers restaurants and cafés in the departure halls, duty free shopping in the arrival and departure halls and the premium building on a1500 SM, and a kids playarea in the departure hall, child care in the ground and first floor of the transit hall. There are three mosques in the airport – a mosque for men in the departure and arrival halls and a mosque with adjacent prayer room for women in the departure hall.

WiFi with high speed on your personal computer and digital personal assistance is available in all places of the airport. After the recent expansion of the airport two sites equipped with a number of computers have been opened to provide free of charge net services.

Banking and currency exchange are available at the airport (click here for more information and locations). In addition, medical advice and medical care is available at the airport – click here for more information.

The airport hosts a number of lounges. A Gold Lounge is available for Privilege Club Gold members in the Main terminal, a Silver Lounge is available for Privilege Club Silver members in the Main terminal, and the Oryx Lounge is available for First and Business Class passengers for free, and for all other passengers admission is available for QAR 140 (USD 39).

If you’re looking for a hotel room to spend your layover, there are a number of hotels of varying price ranges close the airport. For a list of hotels in Doha, click here.

If you plan to leave the airport during a long layover in Oman, there are a number of transportation options. Orange and white taxis that operate on a meter are located in front of the airport. A number of luxury hotels in Doha such as the Sheraton, Marriott, Ritz, Carlton, Intercontinental and the Four Seasons provide airport shuttles. Limousine cars are available from the airport to any place in Doha for charges that range between 30 and 75 QR. You can also rent a car (most international licenses are good for up to 7 days). There are also public buses available that travel to different stops in Doha – click here for a listing of bus times.

LayoverGuide.com’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On A Qatar Layover:

Doha City Tour
If you have limited time but want to get a good scope of the city, a tour might be your best bet. There’s many to choose from – click here for a list of tour companies in Qatar. And you can also take a dhows boat trip/tour around the bay.

Shop Til You Drop!
Doha is a great place to shop, with large malls and everything is tax free! Popular shopping malls in Doha include City Center, Landmark, Hyatt Plaza, and the Royal Plaza.

The Islamic Museum
Open since 2008, The Islamic Museum showcases Islamic art, artifacts and history. In particular there are many artifacts that Al Thanis (Qatar’s royal family) has been collecting for years.

For more suggestions of things to do on a Doha, Qatar layover, click here!

Stuck on a layover at the Bahrain International Airport (BAH)? As one of the major hub airports in the Middle East, you can find plenty to do both inside and outside of the airport while on a Bahrain layover.

If you have questions about Visa and Entry requirements, click here (or take a look at the widget to the right of this page). To obtain a visa online, the airport suggests this page. Visa on arriving at the airport is granted to nationals of the following countries (Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vatican City and also GCC nationals and residents.) Transit visa will be issued to passengers subject to Bahrain Immigration rules. Refer to www.evisa.gov.bh. Transit visa is also issued to passengers who hold hotel voucher to stay in Bahrain. For more information, contact your airline directly.

Within the airport, you can find a number of services including banking and foreign exchange (including ATMs), a prayer room in both the departures and arrivals level, renowned duty free shopping and restaurants (located between gates 14 and 15 on the departures concourse). You can even do shopping before your arrival at Bahrain International Airport via at the Bahrain duty free website. There are also airport lounges, post office, and Vodafone.

There are many hotel options for those who arrive looking for some rest. The Movenpick Hotel is located opposite the airport and overlooks a sprawling lagoon. For a list of other hotels (from five stars to three stars) click here.

If you’re looking to explore the area on a long layover, the Bahrain International Airport unfortunately does not have a Left Luggage facility. If you cannot pack lightly or are unable to check your luggage through to your final destination, you can always rent a hotel room to stow your bags.

The airport is located in Muharraq, an island in the north of Bahrain, and is approximately 4 miles from the capital Manama. For travel to and from the airport you can take taxis and rental cars. Taxis are located in the front of the airport. The approximate costs of taxis, as well as all the contact information on rental cars can be found here.

LayoverGuide.com’s Suggestions For Things To Do In Bahrain:

Bahrain Fort (Qal’at al-Bahrain)
Named a World Heritage Site, this historic fort offers a great history of the area and a look into the Porteguese invasion of Bahrain. The fort offers a great view and a wonderful place to watch the sunset in Manama.

Shopping at Bab el-Bahrain Souk and Gold City
For the ultimate Bahrain shopping experience, visit the Bab el-Bahrain Souk district where you can wander through stall after stall of everything including crafts, fruits, spices, clothing and souvenirs. In addition you can find high quality and well-priced gold and pearls. Haggling is welcome (and usually expected). Also visit Gold City where you can wander among a collection of gold shops.

Al-Fatih Mosque
Also known as the Great Mosque, the Al-Fatih Mosque is well known for containing the world’s lagest fiberglass dome. It is currently considered to be one of the largest mosques in the world, accommodating over 7,000 worshippers.

Bahrain National Museum
The Bahrain National Museum is considered to be one of the largest museums in the Middle East. Located at the junction of Al-Fatih Highway and Shaikh Hamad Bridge leading to Muharraq, the Museum was officially opened in December 1988 and focuses on life and history of the island of Bahrain. The museum is air conditioned, the entry fee is very low and parking is free.

Have a suggestion for a Bahrain layover? Leave a comment below!

Stuck on a Kuwait City layover? Within the last five years, the Kuwait International Airport has gotten a $60 million dollar expansion and facelift, including new state of the art facilities. Make sure, before you venture out of the airport, that you have a pre-arranged visa, if needed. (For a quick check of visa requirements, check the widget on the right hand column of this page.) The airport is located roughly 10 miles from downtown Kuwait City, which makes it an accessible destination for those stuck on long layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your Kuwait City layover, click here for useful tips.

If you’re stuck in the Kuwait airport, there is now a Kids Zone, as well duty free shopping. There are also a few prayer areas, a nursery and restaurants and cafes, and a medical center. In addition, there is also an Airport Mall, designed in the shape of an aircraft, linked to the main terminals’ Arrival and Departure Halls, that can help you pass the time.

The Safir Airport Hotel located a hundred meters from the main terminal, which you can email for more information at safirairport@safirhotels.com. Passengers who have an 8+ hours wait for their connecting flight, are entitled to a free room, courtesy of the airline.

Taxis into Kuwait City are available on the ground floor, outside Arrivals and are the most practical form of travel in Kuwait (fares are negotiable). There are also buses outside arrivals that take you into the city. Travel time is roughly 30 minutes to the city (keep in mind at times there can be traffic).

Layover Guide’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On A Kuwait City Layover:

Kuwait Towers
One of Kuwait’s top tourist attractions, the three Kuwait Towers are located on the Arabian Gulf in the Sharq Souk area. The first tower features a Viewing Sphere with great views, as well as a rotating platform. The bottom of the staircase in the second sphere displays photos of the destruction done by the Iraqis, and in the lower sphere you can find the Ofok restaurant.

Liberation Tower
The Liberation Tower is the tallest structure in Kuwait and one of the tallest telecommunications towers in the world. Tourists can visit the revolving observation tower and restaurant at 492ft up, and get a great view (check ahead – recently the platform and restaurant were closed due to security reasons).

Elysium Health Spa
Elysium Health Spa is located next to the Sharq Souk on Arabian Gulf Road, and is the epitome of luxury spa treatments in Kuwait City. Perfect for rejuvenation from a long layover, the spa mixes of eastern and western treatment options, as well as a fitness room and a temperature controlled pool. The spa caters to Kuwaiti culture, with prayer areas and separation of the sexes. (Tel: +965 245 3930)

Villa Moda
This 100,000 square foot mall is Kuwait City’s new shopping emporium for the well-to-do. Made of all glass, this isn’t for the bargain hunters, but for those who have some serious money to spend (or just want the experience). The mall carries many major name brands and also is known to display art exhibitions.

Tareq Rajab Museum
The Tareq Rajab Museum has a collection of over thirty thousand items including ceramics, manuscripts, metalwork, musical instruments, textiles, costumes and silver jewelry made in the Islamic world over the last 250 years.

Have a suggestion for a Kuwait City layover? Leave a comment below!

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.”

For a quick idea of whether you’d need a Visa to be allowed foreign entry into a specific airport, try layoverguide’s right hand widget.

To get more specific information on U.S. entry into foreign countries, check out The U.S. Department Of State Travel Site.

The website covers:

Location of the U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country, unusual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties.