Stuck on a layover at Paris Orly Airport (ORY)? The airport is France’s second busiest airport, and is located roughly 8 miles from Paris’ city center which makes the city an accessible destination for 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.

If you’re stuck in the airport during your layover, there’s plenty of shops and services to help you bide your time. There’s a number of bars and restaurants (listed here by terminal) as well as lots of duty free and regular shopping (a shopping guide can be found here).

CLICK HERE for the full Layover Guide to Paris’ Charles De Gaulle Airport

For kids, there are Gulli play areas with games and a TV area (click here for locations), Playstation areas, coin-operated arcade games including piball, pool, foosball and more, located in terminal 3 in terminal West in the public area. There are also additional play areas where kids can climb, slide and burn off energy before the flight in the boarding lounges of halls D, E, and G of Orly South.

For adults looks to relax, the Orly airport hosts the Be Relax spa in the South Terminal and the West Terminal (beyond passport control). Here you can get a number of services including massages, acupressure, reflexology, manicures and pedicures, and facials. Click here for pricing. Appointments are not necessary, customers will be attended to based on arrival time. For more information call +33 144 13 76 94 or email info@berelax.xom.

There is also Internet access available in the airport and Multimedia Terminals that allow a number of various operations including downloading music, web phone, web cam, digital photo printing and more. Click here for pricing. There is also WiFi hotspots in all the terminals, and Business Workstations located in Terminal C in the boarding lounges.

CLICK HERE for the ten best restaurants in Paris!

The airport also has a number of additional services including a Post Office, multi-faith Prayer Area, Banks, and pharmacies.

If you’re looking to store your bags while you explore, Paris-Orly Airport offers baggage storage in terminal Sud public area near Gate G departures hall. Bagages du Monde will ship, store (short term or long term) or wrap your luggage. Click here for pricing, location and more information.

If you’re layover is at night or you’re looking to get some rest, there are many hotels of varying price points located near the airport. The Hilton Paris Orly Hotel is located 3 minutes from the airport by a free shuttle. Here’s an additional list of hotels near the Orly Paris airport.

If you’re leaving the airport, there’s a number of transportation options. Taxis are located outside the arrivals terminal and a general fare to the Paris center costs €35 (click here for fare rates and taxi contact information). If you choose to travel by rail, Paris-Orly is linked to the RER C by the bus service (Paris par le train). Click here for additional information on rail and bus travel from the Paris-Orly.

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

Sightseeing

Have a suggestion or advice for Paris-Orly layovers? Leave a comment below!

The following five restaurants are Layover Guide’s favorites in Reykjavik, Iceland and great spots to get some nordic cuisine during an Iceland layover. If you’re looking for the full Layover Guide to Iceland, click here.

3 Frakkar

www.3frakkar.com/

With a homey, intimate feel like you’re a guest in someone’s home, 3 Frakkar has an eclectic menu that includes a variety of fish, and even more unusual dishes including shark and whale meat. The dishes can be rich, with cream sauces and cheese, but the menu has something for everyone and unusual dishes that won’t be easily forgotten.

Humarhusid – The Lobster House

www.humarhusid.is/

If lobster is your fare, you will not be disappointed with the Humarhusid Lobster House, located in the heart of Reykjavik. While the menu is definitely on the pricier side, it is arguably the best lobster experience in Iceland, with delectable lobster tails, garlic lobster, and unusual dishes with Jerusalem artichokes, bacon and other surprising treats.

Dill Restaurant

www.dillrestaurant.is/EN/Location.html

A 15 minute walk from downtown Reykjavik, across from the University, you’ll find this delightful, delicious restaurant. With a spectacular view of the city, here you can enjoy a three, five or seven course meal that is hand-selected by the chef with complimentary wines. The menu changes weekly, based on what the freshest ingredients are, and which herbs have grown in their own garden. With only a handful of tables, the restaurant fills up quickly especially on Friday and Saturday nights so book a reservation ahead of time to make sure you have a table.

The Fish Market

http://fiskmarkadurinn.is/

Located in downtown Reykjavik, just near the main square, you’ll find Fishmarkadurinn, The Fish Market. It’s a modern space with bamboo and stone sinks in the bathroom, and a fun waiting room where you can order a pre-dinner drink.  Here you can get an assortment of seafood, including sushi as well as other unusual dishes including a refreshing watermelon salad with avocado.

Fjalakotturinn

http://www.fjalakotturinn.is/english/

In an intimate room, just steps away from the main square in downtown Reykjavik, you’ll find Fjalakotturinn, a fine dining restaurant. Ranging from an assortment of meat and fish, the cuisine has a strong Nordic influence with a modern flare.

Stuck on a London layover at Heathrow International airport? London’s Heathrow airport is one of the busiest airports in the world and is located roughly 15 miles from London’s city center, making it an accessible destination for those who are stuck on long layovers. If you’re trying to decide whether you can leave the airport on your Heathrow layover, click here for useful tips.

If you’re stuck inside the airport during your London layover, Heathrow provides a number of services and activities that can help your layover become a short vacation in itself. Here are some of the various shops and facilities available, listed by terminal, to keep you busy during your wait. To aid with shopping, passengers can hire Personal Shopping Consultants, who can be distinguished by their green uniforms (to book a shopping consultant, call 0870 850 2825 (UK) or +44 (0)121 410 5105). In addition to duty free and regular shopping, there are also many restaurants ranging from fine dining to quick snacks to choose from during your Heathrow layover. Here are the various bars and restaurants options at the airport.

CLICK HERE for London Layover Tours (straight from the airport)!

A number of executive lounges are available at the Heathrow airport (at Terminal 1,3,4,5). The lounges offer a range of beers, complimentary Wi-Fi and other standard facilities. You can book these lounges from here. The price starts from £17.95. In case you need special care assistance, contact +44 (0)844 335 1801 for general advice and information.

The Molton Brown Travel Spa is located in British Airways Terminal 1 and Terminal 4 Departures Lounges at Heathrow Airport. The spa offers a variety of services including massages, hydrotherapy showers, circulation and reflex therapies, and is an ideal way to relax during your Heathrow layover.

If you are looking to exchange the currency, Foreign Exchanges and ATMs are available at all the terminals (click here for their locations). In addition, the airport has many prayer rooms available including Catholic, Free Church, Anglican, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh chaplains. They can all be contacted through the airport information desks within the terminals and you can find more information here.

For passengers who arrive at night or are looking to relax, the Hilton London Heathrow Airport hotel is located across the covered walkway linked to Terminal Four, and the Sofitel London Heathrow is also connected via a covered walkway to Terminal Five. In addition there are many hotels near the Heathrow airport. Click here for London hotels at varying price points.

CLICK HERE for London’s Best Restaurants!

A number of companies offer Layover Tours that can pick you up directly from the airport, hassle free, take you where you’re interested in visiting and return you to the airport in time to catch your connecting flight. Find out more information on these London Layover Tours here.

If you’re looking to ditch your luggage during your Heathrow layover, Left Luggage facilities are available at all the terminals. The Left Luggage service charges £4 per item for 24 hours. For their hours of operation and location, click here.

Taxis are available outside the airport for quick transport, and there are also car rental companies onsite. Direct booking can be found here. Heathrow airport is also well connected with public transportation. While taking the London Underground is the cheapest way to get into London, it can take up to an hour each way. If you’re strapped for time, the London Heathrow Express train can get you into London for as little as 15 minutes. Click here to figure out the best way to travel into the city during your London layover.

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

Sightseeing Bus

The hop-on, hop-off bus gives a commentary of the sights as you pass them. Tickets can be purchased right on the bus or online. You can “hop on” at Paddington station, and “hop off” wherever you choose. It swings back around to Paddington, if that’s all the time you have, to get back to the airport.

Tower of London

At The Tower of London, you’ll find torture exhibits as well as the famous Crown Jewels which including 530 carat Star at the Jewel House. Beefeaters, who are the walking tour guides, lead the hour-long tours every hour until 3:30p.m.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, home to the British monarch, is another favorite sightseeing spot for those with only a short time in London. Victoria, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner are the closest Tube stations. Also, you can catch the changing of the guard, but should check ahead for the schedule as it does not happen every day.

Westminster Abbey and Big Ben

Exit the tube at the Westminster stop. You will first see Big Ben and further down the street Westminster Abbey, where Chaucer, Samuel Johnson, Tennyson, Browning, and Dickens are all buried here.

Cabinet War Rooms

Close to the Abby, you can see the actual underground bunker Winston Churchill used during World War II. Everything there from the wall maps, to Churchill’s cot are authentic.

Windsor Castle

Take a taxi or bus 77 from Heathrow to Windsor Castle in about 40 minutes. The 900-year-old castle is an official residence of The Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world.

Thorpe Palace

Thorpe Park is London’s most popular attractions and theme parks. It opened as a water park in 1970 however more thrill rides were added later. The park is around 5.1 miles from the airport and thus, close for a quick trip during a London layover.

None of these activities interest you? Here’s a list of more suggestions of places you can visit during London layover at the Heathrow airport.

Have a suggestion for a London Heathrow layover? Leave a comment below!

Stuck on an Amsterdam layover at the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) in the Netherlands? Amsterdam is a common layover point between the United States and many European cities, especially on Northwest and KLM. The airport is located roughly 5.6 miles from downtown Amsterdam which makes the city a very accessible destination to those stuck on long layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your Amsterdam layover, click here for useful tips.

If you are stuck in Schiphol airport during your layover in Amsterdam, you’ll find that the airport can be a vacation in itself. There is plenty to do while you wait for your connecting flight. The airport has dozens of regular and duty free shopping, a large selection of restaurants and bars, and even the Holland Casino which is located in Departure Hall 2 between Gates E and F. Additional services at the airport include a prayer and meditation room, the Riksmuseum which has a permanent exhibition of Dutch artwork is between E and F Pier on Holland Boulevard, banking and ATMs, business services, and facilities for kids and infants.

If you’re looking for some relaxation, the Amsterdam Schiphol airport is home to the Express Spa, which is a great way to unwind during a layover. Here you can get a number of services including massages, manicure and pedicures, facials and much more. In addition, there is the Back To Life chair massages where you can choose between a 10-minute (EUR 16,50) or a 20-minute (EUR 27,50) massage. The airport also has a huge list of airline passenger lounges.

WATCH THE VIDEO – Tour of the Express Spa at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport

If you arrive at night or are looking for a place to rest, the airport hosts the Hotel Mercure Schiphol hotel in the Terminal Building. The hotel has 33 rooms, and the hotel also offers shower rooms to passengers who would like to freshen up before their next flight. The

airport also Yotels, small and affordable rooms with electric pull out beds where you can catch some shuteye. Yotels are located on the 2nd floor behind Passport Control at the beginning of Pier D.  In addition, if you’re looking for hotels nearby the hotel in Amsterdam, click here for a comprehensive list of hotels of varying price points and for budget accommodation, check out Amsterdam Hostels.

WATCH THE VIDEO – A tour of a Yotel

If you plan on leaving the Schiphol Airport during your Amsterdam layover, there are a number of transportation options.Taxis and shared taxis are located in front of arrivals (click here to reserve a private taxi online). There is also a train, which is located beneath the airport. The Central Station stop places you in downtown Amsterdam. There are also buses and courtesy buses.

Layover Guide’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On An Amsterdam Layover:

Canal Tours

This is a perfect city to be seen by water. Many canal cruise companies offer 60-minute basic canal tours of the city. Tours are usually less than $20 per person, and docks can be seen to the right as you exit the train station. You can find more information on canal cruises here.

Red Light District

Known for the prostitutes adorning red-lit windows, the Red Light District is one of the oldest and most historic neighborhoods in Amsterdam. Just steps from the train station, the canals are beautiful, there are famous churches and frequent outdoor markets here.

Museums

The main museums in Amsterdam include the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House, but are only recommended for more than 5 hours layovers. Also, until the end of 2009, the Stedelijk Museum of art is temporarily in a former postal building to the left of the train station. There’s a bar on the 11th floor of the building that has great views of the city.

Shopping
Just to the right of the train station is a huge walking-only shopping district of Kalverstraat. There’s lots of trendy clothing stores, but you can find a little bit of everything. It goes on for nearly a mile until you hit Rembrandtplein, which is a popular nightlife locale.

Coffeeshops
One of the main attractions is Amsterdam “coffeeshops” where people go not only for coffee, but for marijuana or hash. Standing in front of Centraal Station there are about 40 coffeeshops within a 10-minute walk, and the closest can be reached in minutes. But unless you’ve got to race back on the train, you may want to take your time to find one that best suits you. If you have any questions, you may want to visit Amsterdam coffee shops FAQ or Amsterdam Coffeeshop page.

Restaurants

Bird – Thai food in The Red Light District
This authentic Thai restaurant is known for huge portions at very affordable prices. (Zeedijk 72-74, Amsterdam 1012 BA)

Proeflokaal Janvier – French food in Eastern Canal Ring
This restaurant is located a little further from the center, and is only for those with some time. Located in an historic 17th-century wooden church, the Amstelkerk, the chef is known for his tasty French dishes. (Amstelveld 12, Amsterdam 1017 JD)

Supperclub – Set five course meals in The Red Light District
Lounging on beds while eating unusual courses is part of the fun in this Red District restaurant. Most nights also have live entertainment and DJs. (Jonge Roelensteeg 21, Amsterdam 1012 PL)

Have a suggestion for an Amsterdam layover? Leave a suggestion below!

Stuck on a Madrid layover at the Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD)? Madrid Barajas airport is Spain’s busiest airport, with over 40 million passengers passing through each year. The airport is located roughly 8 miles from central Madrid, which makes it an accessible destination if you have a long layover. If you’re trying to figure out if you are able to leave the airport on your Madrid layover, click here for useful tips.

If you’re stuck in the airport during your Madrid layover, the airport offers a few things to do to help you spend your stopover. There’s some shopping that you can check out in the various terminals, including a cigar outlet, and a variety of cafes and bars. The airport lists the shops here, grouped by terminal. There are also business facilities, airline lounges, and if necessary medical services.

If you arrive at night or are looking for a place to rest during your Madrid layover, there are a number of hotels in the area for varying price points. For a comprehensive list of Madrid hotels, click here.

If you’re looking to explore Madrid during your layover, you can leave luggage for short term in lockers at terminal 4, 2 and 1. You can click here on the airport site for more information (on the bottom of the page, under “Left Luggage.”)

Taxis are a great option in Madrid, especially for those tight on time and may not be familiar with the public transportation system in Madrid. Travel time by taxi to the center of Madrid is under 30 minutes, but of course depends on traffic. The Madrid Metro system is also a great option and covers almost the entire city. Trains run from the airport between 6:00am and 1:45am. The Airport metro stop is in Terminal 2, on the lower floor. You can find a metro map here. Metro Line 8 travels towards central Madrid (direction Nuevos Ministerios), but you’ll have to change trains at Mar de Cristal (Line 4) to reach the most central destinations.

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

Puerta Del Sol
Puerta del Sol is a great place to check out the bustle of Madrid, and to do some shopping or grab a bite to eat. This plaza is the junction of eight street, and at night, the plaza lights up and comes to life. The Metro station Sol is underneath the square.

Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor is Madrid’s main square and is lined by impressive buildings and outdoor cafes. Plaza Mayor is only a few blocks away from Puerta Del Sol. It is a fun place to grab a bite to eat and watch the people walk by. Nearest Metro stops are Metro Sol and Opera.

Prado Museum
The Prado features one of the world’s best collections of 12th to 19th century European art. It contains over 1,300 paintings as well as thousands of drawings, prints, coins and medals. You can take a taxi, or by Metro (Banco de Espana stop on the Red Line, L2)

The Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is an impressive building where the King and the Queen meet with foreign diplomats. It is usually open every day of the week except on occasion, for functions. The closest Metro station is Opera.

Bullfighting – Plaza de Toros “Las Ventas”
Plaza de Toros “Las Ventas” seats 50,000 people and is the most popular bullring in Spain. The bullfighting season starts in March and ends in December and bullfights are held every Sunday or holiday during the season. Bullfights start at 6 or 7pm and last for two to three hours.

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

Stuck on a layover at Vienna International Airport (VIE) in Austria? You’ll find that there’s plenty to do to keep you busy, both inside and outside the airport. The airport is located 12 kms from downtown Vienna which makes the city an accessible destination for those on long layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your layover in Vienna, click here for useful tips.

The Vienna airport offers a number of services that will help bide the layover wait. You can find an interactive airport map here (Macromedia Flash required) to help you get situated. There are more than 70 shops, as well as a number of restaurants and cafés. On Level 1, there’s a supermarket. In addition, you can find two post offices, 10 lounges, and you can also take advantage of the VIP and Business Services. Wireless Internet access is available for free in the lounges and within certain ranges.

If you’re looking to ditch your bags, the airport offers luggage storage at the Baggage Claim in the Arrivals Hall.  Luggage storage at the Vienna Airport is open from 5:30am to 11:20pm, as well as safe deposit boxes for smaller items.

For overnight layovers, the NH Vienna Airport Hotel is located close to the terminals. For a full list of Vienna hotels of varying price ranges, click here.

For those looking to leave the airport during your Vienna layover, there are a few different options for transportation into Vienna. You can take the city airport train which leaves every half hour and takes 16 minutes from the airport to the city. Bus services through Vienna Airport Lines take roughly 20 minutes and there are also bus routes available to nearby countries including Slovakia and Hungary.  In addition, car rentals, taxi and limousine services are also available at the airport.

Layover Guide’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On A Vienna Layover

Sightseeing tours
From free walking tours to city segway tours, there’s tons of options depending on your interests and time limitations. Click here for a good list of the various tours you can take.

Schonbrunn Palace (Schloss Schonbrunn)
The Schonbrunn Palace is one of Vienna’s main attractions and a royal residence in the city. The palace, surrounded by expansive gardens with sculptures, also contains the Tiergarten Schonbrunn zoo which is considered the world’s oldest zoo.

Naschmarkt
The Nanschmarkt is a huge outdoor market which sells everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, to seafood. On Saturdays, you can find antiques and other goodies. The market dates back to the 16th century and is a great place to people watch and get a sense of the city, as well as a bite for lunch.

State Oprah House (Staatsoper)
The State Oprah House is the main theater in Vienna and considered one of the top eight opera houses in the world. You can take a tour of the Opera House, or can purchase a ticket and attend a show.

Donauturm
If you’re looking for a good view of the city, and to grab a bite, check out the Donauturm Observation Tower and Restaurant. The express elevator takes you up to the 150m above the ground where you can get a panoramic view of Vienna.

For some more ideas of things to do in Vienna during your layover, click here. Have any suggestions for a Vienna layover? Leave a comment below!

Stuck on a layover at Paris Charles De Gaulle International Airport (CDG)? The airport is the hub of Air France and France’s main airport, located roughly 15 miles from Paris’ city center which makes the city an accessible destination for 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.

If you’re stuck in the airport during your layover, there’s plenty of shops and services to help you bide your time. There’s a number of bars and restaurants (listed here by terminal) as well as lots of duty free and regular shopping. A shopping guide can be found here.

For kids, there are Gulli play areas with games and a TV area (click here for locations), Playstation areas, coin-operated arcade games including pinball, pool, foosball and more, located in terminal 3 in the Schengen boarding lounge and in the international lounge. There are also additional play areas where kids can climb, slide and burn off energy before the flight in the boarding lounges of terminals 2C, 2D and 2E (in the boarding lounge in the remote area).

CLICK HERE for the Layover Guide to Paris’ Orly Airport

For adults looks to relax, the Charles De Gaulle airport hosts the Be Relax spa in Terminal 2E near desk E69 and in kiosks throughout Terminal 2. Here you can get a number of services including massages, acupressure, reflexology, manicures and pedicures, and facials. Click here for pricing. Appointments are not necessary, customers will be attended to based on arrival time. For more information call +33 144 13 76 94 or email info@berelax.xom. In addition to the spa, there is also a Men’s lounge salon in Paris-Charles de Gaulle terminal 2D.

There is also Internet access available in the airport. There is the Atlanteam Cyber Café with four locations in the airport (click here for more info) as well as Multimedia Terminals that allow a number of various operations including downloading music, web phone, web cam, digital photo printing and more. Click here for pricing and locations. There is also WiFi hotspots in all the terminals, and business workstations.

CLICK HERE for the ten best restaurants in Paris!

The airport also has a number of additional services including a post office, multi-faith prayer area, banks, and pharmacies.

If you’re looking to store your bags while you explore, Charles De Gaulle offers baggage storage. Bagages du Monde will ship, store (short term or long term) or wrap your luggage. Click here for pricing, location and more information.

If you’re layover is at night or you’re looking to get some rest, there are many hotels of varying price points located near the airport. Directly inside the airport you can find the Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel & Conference Center located in Terminal 2. Here’s an additional list of hotels near the airport.

If you’re leaving the airport, there’s a number of transportation options. Taxis are located outside the arrivals terminal and a general fare to the Paris center costs €50 (click here for fare rates and taxi contact information). If you choose to travel by rail, the Paris-Charles de Gaulle SNCF station is located between terminals 2C-2D and 2E-2F. Click here for additional information on rail and bus travel in Paris.

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

Sightseeing

Eiffel Tower

Transfer at St. Michel to the yellow RER line, and go to the Eiffel Tower at Champ Des Mars stop. Take trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower. On a clear day, there’s no other view that compares. Check the site for hours of operation and rates.

Notre Dame

Take the train to St. Michel and visit Notre Dame and tour the cathedral. If you get hungry, there are great Parisian cafes and restaurants nearby, along the Seine, or in St. Germain des Pres area.

Seine River Cruise

Also a great way to see the city quickly is to take a Bateaux-Mouches Cruise, and take a leisurely trip down the Seine for an hour. (They also offer sunset cruises, if the timing works for your layover.) You’ll get a wonderful view of the city and Notre Dame.

Museums

Orsay Museum

Transfer at St. Michel to the yellow RER line, and go to the Orsay Museum at the Musee d’Orsay stop. It exhibits French art from 1848 to 1915 and is best known for its Monet, Degas, Renoir, and Cezanne.

Louvre

A trip to Paris isn’t complete without a visit to the famed Louvre, but skip the lines and order tickets by phone in advance (08-92-68-46-94), pick them up at any FNAC store and enter via the Passage Richelieu, 93 rue de Rivoli.

Restaurants

Hotel Plaza Athenee
Well known as a top breakfast hotspot “power breakfast” spot, the Hotel Plaza Athenee‘s pastry chef, Christophe Michalak, won the 2005 World Pastry Cup.

La Coupole
Join the ranks of Salvador Dali, Josephine Baker, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway and have lunch at La Coupole, a classic bistro, on the left bank of the Seine.

Shopping

Galeries Lafayette & Printemps

If you visit one of les grands magasins, Paris’ huge department stores, you will not leave empty handed. The massive stores of Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, along the Boulevard Haussmann in the 9ème arrondissement, have virtually everything you can imagine, and more.

Have a suggestion or advice for Charles Du Gaulle layovers in Paris? Leave a comment below!

Stuck on a layover at Zagreb International Airport (ZAG) in Croatia? Zagreb is the capital and largest city in Croatia, and the city center is located roughly 10 miles (17 km) from the airport, making it 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.

If you’re stuck in the airport during your layover, there are plenty of services to keep you entertained. To help you get situated, here’s an interactive map of the airport. There are café and bar options including the Restaurant “Faust Vrančić” situated on the first floor of the passenger’s terminal with sit-down waiter service. Shopping is available with a handful of shops in the Transit Area. A Post Office is located in the Passenger Terminal, open from Monday – Saturday (open 08.00 – 19.00) and closed on Sundays and holidays. A bank, Zagrebačka banka, is located in the Passenger Terminal and can assist with currency exchanges.

In addition, a baggage wrapping service is available in the Passenger Terminal and costs 6 Euros. Due to the security reasons, the Zagreb Airport does not have any lockers or any other left luggage facilities.

The airport hosts three lounges for passengers including the Zrinjevac Lounge (tel: ++385 1 45 62 114) for business class passengers, a VIP Lounge (tel: ++385 1 45 62 133) which allows for special all-inclusive rates for daily rental or special events on request, and the Diners Club International Lounge (tel: ++385 1 62 19 244) is located in the east wing of the Passenger Terminal Building.

If you arrive at night or are looking to catch some rest during your layover, there are many hotels of varying price points close to the airport. The airport gives these hotel suggestions here. When reserving a room, you may want to inquire on whether they offer a free hotel shuttle to pick you up at the airport. The closest hotels to the airport are Hotel Aristos and Hotel Stella.

If you’re looking to leave the airport and explore Zagreb during a long layover, taxis are available outside the terminal, however, the airport recommends pre-booking your taxi with Radio Taksi Zagreb, a taxi company (tel. +385 1 66 00 671, E-mail: info@radio-taksi-zagreb.hr). The scheduled bus shuttle “Pleso prijevoz” travels in both directions between Zagreb’s main bus station and the airport. For more information click here. Average travel time is 25 minutes. In addition, rental cars and car hire Croatia are also available.

LayoverGuide.com’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On A Zagreb, Crotia Layover:

Segway Tour
If you’re limited for time and want a fun, active way to see the sights, Segway City Tour Zagreb is a great way to see the city. Travel along the city streets, sidewalks and parks to get a feel for the city.

Dolac Market
Considered the most well known and most visited farmer’s market in Zagreb, this open-air market is made up of stalls selling all sorts of food including fruits and cheese, as well as souvenirs. Dolac Market is located next to the main city square, Ban Jelačić.

Jelacic Square (Ban Jelačić)
Considered to be the main city square of Zagreb, Jelacic Square is located between Gradec and Kaptol and has been around since the 17th century. It is a popular place in Zagreb for people to meet up, and has bars, restaurants and shopping.

The Mimara Gallery
Home to one of the most impressive collections of art in Croatia, The Mimara Gallery is located in a neo-Renaissance palace dating back to the 19th century. The gallery showcases world-class artwork by many famous artists including Da Vinci, Rembrandt and Van Gogh.

Zagreb Cathedral
The third largest church in Croatia, the Zagreb Cathedral is the tallest building in Zagreb. The building is one of the most famous structures in Zagreb, and has an interesting history of nearly being destroyed by invasion and earthquake.

None of these interest you? For more suggestions of things to do on your Croatia layover, click here!

Stuck on a Lisbon layover at the Lisbon Portela International Airport in Portugal? The airport is located 5 miles north of Lisbon, which makes the city very accessible to those on long layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your Lisbon layover, click here for useful tips.

For those stuck in the airport, services include ATMs, bureaux de change, showers, a post office, Internet access, photo machine, baby care facilities, meeting rooms and a help desk in both Arrivals and Departures. There are a wide variety of restaurants and shops, including a duty-free.

A Baggage Storage Area is open 24/7 to leave your luggage while you explore Lisbon on your layover. It is located in the arrivals area, next to car park area P2. Telephone (+351) 218 413 594

For those on a long layover with time to explore Lisbon there are a few transportation options. Taxi stands are located outside of arrivals and departures, and the Carris Aerobus #91 travels to the city center. You can also rent a car at the airport.

Layover Guide’s Suggestions Of Things To Do In Lisbon:

The World Heritage Belem Tower
It has been said that The World Heritage Belem Tower is to Lisbon what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris or Big Ben is to London. Built in 1515 as a fortress, now UNESCO has listed it as a World Heritage monument. It is the city’s most photographed landmark, which along with the Jeronimos Monasteryis a must-see monument.

The Oceanarium
The Oceanarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world and one of the best facilities of its type. Check out over 25,000 fish, seabirds, and mammals in an enormous world oceans habitat, and a central tank bigger than four Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Bairro Alto
The Bairro Alto, by day, is relatively quiet with restaurants and shopping but by night, it transforms into packed narrow streets of endless clubbing and bar hopping. Great place to visit for a night layover.

St. George’s Castle
On top of the highest hill in Lisbon, the famous St. George’s Castle can be seen from throughout Lisbon. Originally a small fortified town, the castle, the original parts date back to the 6th century.

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

Stuck on a Russia layover at the Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg (LED)? The airport is has two terminals – Pulkovo 1 for domestic flights and Pulkovo 2 for international flights, and is located roughly 12 miles from downtown Saint Petersburg which makes the city an accessible destination for those on long layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your Saint Petersburg layover, click here for useful tips.

In your stuck inside the Pulkovo airport during your Saint Petersburg layover, there’s plenty to do. To help you get situated, here you can find maps of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 which shows where different amenities and services are located. The airport offers inquiry desks inside each terminal to help with questions. In addition, here are some useful phone numbers.

CLICK HERE for the Layover Guide to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport

Pulkovo airport offers a number of services including VIP halls and business lounges (which cater to holders of PriorityPass, CitiGold, and Diners Club International), cafes, bars and restaurants, free Wi-Fi access, duty free shopping, a number of banking services and ATMs, baby care rooms, and a post office.

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

If you’re planning on leaving the Pulkovo airport to explore Saint Petersburg during your layover, there are a number of transportation options from airport to downtown including taxis which are located in the arrival halls of both airports, city buses, shuttle buses, and car hire.

Layover Guide’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On A St. Petersburg Layover:

State Hermitage Museum

With over three million exhibits including world-renown artwork including paintings, graphic works, sculpture and more, the State Hermitage Museum is considered to be one of the most famous museums in the world.

Peterhof Palace

The palace and park at Peterhof (also known as Petrodvorets) is one of the most popular attractions in Saint Petersburg and was built to be “the Russian Versaille.” The park, complete with fountains, and the Cottage Palace is a great place to visit during your Saint Petersburg layover.

Peter and Paul Fortress

The Peter and Paul Fortress was built in 1703 and is located along the Neva River, and served as a high security political jail (parts of the former jail are open to the public). In the middle of the fortress, you’ll find the towering Peter and Paul Cathedral which is the burial place of many Russian Emperors and Empresses.

Mariinsky Theatre

If you arrive in the evening, or are available to check out a show, the historic Mariinsky Theatre offers incredible ballet and orchestra performances. Click here for tickets and showtimes.

Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood

Located on the Griboedova Canal, the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood is a spectacularly stunning gold-topped church with intricate mosaic interiors, and marks the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in 1881 (where it was later decided to build a church in his honor).

None of these interest you? Here are more suggestions of things to do on your Saint Petersburg, Russia layover.