11 min

The Best Cities in the World for a Layover

Long-haul travel offers people around the world the chance to visit far-flung destinations – but with long flights comes an unavoidable companion – a layover.

Written by:

Letitia Smith

Last Updated:

September 24, 2025

Long-haul travel offers people around the world the chance to visit far-flung destinations – but with long flights comes an unavoidable companion – a layover. Instead of wasting hours away in an uninspiring airport hotel, or wandering the same duty-free aisles sampling the same perfumes, what if you turned a single destination trip into a two-in-one holiday?

Many of the world’s busiest transit hubs happen to be nestled within a stone’s throw of travel gems - where you can spend 24-hours experiencing the culture, sampling local cuisine and even ticking off bucket list attractions. And with our Annual Multi Trip Travel Insurance, you can get covered for multiple destinations.

So, we’ve crunched the numbers to reveal the best cities in the world for a layover in 2025. Whether you’re travelling across Europe or making the long journey from Australia to somewhere else on the globe – here's a rundown of the best cities to choose from when booking your next connecting flight.

What makes a city a great stopover destination?

To rank the world’s top layover destinations, we considered the features that turn a city from a simple airport pit stop into a memorable short break. From walkability to affordability, these are the factors that help make a quick visit easy, enjoyable, and unforgettable.

To calculate a ‘Stopover Score’ for each destination, we analysed major international transit hubs based on:

Walkability – total elevation changes in metres across the city
Time it takes to reach the city centre from the busiest airport
Average cost of a one-night stay in a central hotel
Distance between the top tourist attractions
Number of onward flight routes available from the airport
Typical daily costs for tourists (e.g. meals, drinks, public transport)

The world’s top 25 stopover cities, ranked

Rank	City	Country	Walkability (m)	Travel Time to City Centre (Minutes)	Cost of a 4* Hotel (AUD)	Distance Between Top Tourist Attractions (km)	Number of Onwards Destinations	Average Daily Spend (AUD)	Total Score
1	Frankfurt	Germany	394	15	151.7	2.2	497	52.87	78.3
2	Doha	Qatar	81	15	92.25	16.3	189	38.94	75.4
3	Atlanta	United States	133	18	334.15	4.3	915	56.47	74.5
4	Copenhagen	Denmark	91	13	541.2	2.3	229	70.78	74.2
5	Warsaw	Poland	75	20	176.3	5.3	120	34.08	74.2
6	Dublin	Ireland	133	14	463.3	4.1	207	61.79	73.1
7	Vienna	Austria	485	16	243.95	4.9	308	51.46	72.9
8	Baltimore	United States	154	15	350.55	6.4	142	52.48	72.8
9	Amsterdam	Netherlands	10	17	375.15	2.6	453	66.37	72.7
10	Zurich	Switzerland	466	10	578.1	7.2	247	86.13	72.7
11	London	United Kingdom	271	15	381.3	4.3	527	72.87	72.5
12	Stockholm	Sweden	101	18	325.95	2.9	219	53.62	72.0
13	Sydney	Australia	452	13	229.6	14.6	208	49.68	72.0
14	Brussels	Belgium	112	17	235.75	6.2	316	70.37	71.8
15	Delhi	India	123	23	34.85	19.9	264	14.96	71.7
16	Perth	Australia	83	18	389.5	3.2	92	51.13	71.2
17	Boston	United States	189	15	635.5	5.6	212	65.08	69.6
18	Madrid	Spain	865	20	227.55	2.4	330	42.99	69.6
19	Tampa	United States	48	15	391.55	15.2	138	54.21	68.5
20	Philadelphia	United States	195	20	360.8	4.5	289	53.44	68.3
21	Barcelona	Spain	509	20	348.5	3.9	391	47.02	68.2
22	Mexico City	Mexico	1496	20	178.35	7	243	28.26	67.6
23	Bangkok	Thailand	303	30	96.35	10.9	326	16.26	67.0
24	Lisbon	Portugal	219	20	289.05	14.7	214	39.08	66.1
25	Minneapolis	United States	107	20	381.3	10.9	218	51.57	65.4

1. Frankfurt, Germany
Stopover Score: 78.3/100
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Topping our list is Frankfurt, Germany’s busiest airport and undoubtedly an excellent spot for a stopover. Despite having one of the highest daily tourist costs of $52.87, its compact layout and ease of both sightseeing and airport access send it straight to first place. Filled with interesting medieval architecture, you can be amongst the incredible city skyline and sipping on an Apfelwein in just 15 minutes.

2. Doha, Qatar
Stopover Score: 75.4/100

With a ‘stopover’ score of 75.4 of 100, Doha lands second place in our study. The luxurious city is well known worldwide for its opulence, and for having one of the world’s most luxurious airports. Hamad International Airport is the flagship hub of Qatar Airways, and the airline even offers free or discounted stopovers which are aimed at encouraging tourists to exit the airport and explore the city before catching the next leg of their flight. A quick 15-minute journey will get you into the city, where you can meander through the Souq Waqif, a traditional market full of treasures, or visit the Museum of Islamic Art - an impressive building which was designed by the same person who designed the Louvre Museum in Paris.

3. Atlanta, United States
Stopover Score: 74.5100

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the world’s busiest transit hubs. It sits within two hours of about 80% of the US population, and as such is a key connecting point for domestic routes across the US, as well as international routes connecting the USA to Latin America, Europe and Africa. With over 108 million visitors annually¹ and over 900 onwards destinations, this exciting city is brilliant for stopovers. Tourists adore the Georgia Aquarium, where they can wander through a 100-foot underwater tunnel and see whale sharks, as well as the World of Coca Cola - an homage to the beverage which was invented in Atlanta and houses the original Coca-Cola recipe in a high-security vault.

4. Copenhagen, Denmark
Stopover Score: 74.2/100

Copenhagen Airport acts as a gateway into Scandinavia and offers 229 onward connections as well as a super speedy 13-minute journey to reach the city centre. Ranking among the top five thanks to a total ‘stopover’ score of 74.2 out of 100, Copenhagen stands out for its top attractions – which are located within just 2.3km of each other. To kill time here between flights, travellers should hit up Tivoli Gardens, the second oldest amusement park in the world, and Nyhavn, the city’s 17^th century harbour which offers one of the most picturesque views in the city – wooden boats set against a backdrop of vibrant, colourful buildings.

‍5. Warsaw, Poland
Stopover Score: 74.2/100

The Polish capital, Warsaw, takes fifth place. Warsaw might not be a prominent global travel hub in the same way as the likes of Doha or Atlanta, but it’s a key stopover location for European routes. One of the continent’s best kept secrets – Warsaw is chock full of cosy cafes, delicious specialities like pierogi (Polish dumplings) and has a compact and highly walkable layout – making sightseeing incredibly straightforward. Don’t miss the Royal Castle which houses works of art from the likes of Rembrandt and be sure to take a stroll through the charming Market Square.

‍6. Dublin, Ireland
Stopover Score: 73.1/100

An incredibly quick 14-minute journey from Dublin Airport is one of the world’s most exciting cities. Dublin secured an impressive ‘stopover’ score of 73.1 out of 100 which is largely thanks to the ease of reaching the city centre itself, and the ease of sightseeing once there. Although typical tourist costs can be quite high, exploring on foot here makes a quick stopover extremely easy. Whether you’re trying a pint of Guinness at the Storehouse or learning about Ireland’s struggle for freedom in the Kilmainham Gaol Museum, you can pack a lot into a short stay in this Irish city.

7. Vienna, Austria
Stopover Score: 72.9/100

Vienna, like Warsaw, isn’t used as frequently as other cities as a layover spot for transatlantic travel – but it is a key point of connection between eastern and western Europe. A short and sweet 16-minute journey from the airport into the city takes travellers to the Austrian capital’s unmissable highlights. Renowned coffee houses serve rich the perfect pick me up in Viennese pastries, while a multitude of restaurants offer the chance to try the traditional Wiener Schnitzel, a thin veal cutlet, coated in breadcrumbs. Don’t miss the elegant Schönbrunn Palace or the historic St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

8. Baltimore, United States
Stopover Score: 72.8

With a solid overall ‘stopover’ score of 72.8/100, Baltimore earns its place among the top 10 global stopover cities. Just a 15-minute trip to the city centre, it’s easy for those visiting to dive into a day of sightseeing without losing too much time. With affordable hotel costs, averaging around $350 per night, and typical tourist costs sitting in the middle of the spectrum, the city is ideal for those travelling on a budget. Top attractions include the Inner Harbor, National Aquarium and historic neighbourhoods like Fells Point.

9. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Stopover Score: 72.7/100

One of the most well-connected and busiest transit hubs on the planet, Amsterdam is a popular stopover spot which connects almost every continent. The incredibly flat Dutch city had the lowest elevation change in the entire study (just 10m), making it exceptionally walkable – and within just 20 minutes of leaving the airport you’re slap bang amongst the scenic canals and coffee houses. Visit iconic spots like the Anne Frank House or Rijksmuseum during your time here, and after a day of exploring, you can unwind in one of the city’s cosy cafes, enjoying a stroopwafel and watching the world go by.

‍10. Zurich, Switzerland
Stopover Score: 72.7/100

Rounding out the top 10 is Zurich, located in Switzerland, with a total ‘stopover’ score of 72.7/100. Despite a higher price tag, with eye-watering hotel costs of nearly $600 a night, Zurich is well worth a splurge if you want to tick off some Swiss sights as part of your adventure. Clean, walkable streets, world-class dining, the beautifully clean and swimmable Lake Zurich and charming old town, complete with scenic backdrop of the Alps all make this an epic layover adventure.

The world’s lowest-ranked cities for layovers

While many cities around the world shine as stopover destinations, many also fall short.

Perhaps prices are sky high, making it an unaffordable spot, or the time it takes to get from the airport into the city centre makes it untenable to attempt a whirlwind tour of the top sights - meaning they’re just less ideal for breaking up those long-haul journeys with a mini break.

Rank	City	Country	Elevation Change (m)	Travel Time to City Centre (Minutes)	Cost of a 4* Hotel (AUD)	Distance Between Top Tourist Attractions (km)	Number of Onwards Destinations	Average Daily Spend (AUD)	Total Score
1	Los Angeles	United States	2430	59	489.95	35.4	492	64.69	21.9
2	Houston	United States	101	35	313.65	47.7	243	52.06	40.6
3	Lima	Peru	4883	45	141.45	13.6	115	18.46	42.1
4	San Diego	United States	1103	30	543.25	25.1	119	66.27	42.4
5	Mumbai	India	487	65	141.45	26.5	227	17.41	43.8
6	Phoenix	United States	1243	31	241.9	28.6	251	54.12	44.7
7	Abu Dhabi	United Arab Emirates	54	40	178.35	32.34	241	44.47	45.7
8	Hong Kong	Hong Kong	944	24	178.35	61.8	355	35.78	47.0
9	Orlando	United States	47	45	446.9	9.8	237	53.59	47.2
10	Denver	United States	882	37	446.9	7.5	361	57.21	48.3

Although six different American cities landed in our global top 25, the USA also dominates the bottom rankings - with over six of the bottom 10 found on the continent. Los Angeles ranks as the worst overall due to its extremely low walkability, a long 59-minute travel time to the city centre and widely spread tourist attractions which span over 35 km - making it one of the least practical cities for short stopovers.

Houston follows closely scoring poorly across most categories. Despite a shorter travel time than Los Angeles, it has a long 47.7 km spread between attractions and lacks affordability and convenience for quick visits.

Four more US cities also make the worst layovers list. With hilly, sprawling cities which make traversing tourist attractions by foot tricky, expensive accommodation and typical tourist costs – San Diego, Phoenix, Orlando and Denver are among the cities where tourists might want to opt for remaining in the airport while they wait for their connecting flight.

Internationally, cities like Mumbai, Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi also make the list. Though these offer cheaper daily spending, their spread-out layouts and lengthy travel times make sightseeing difficult for people with only a day or two to spare. Even Hong Kong, with a reasonable travel time to the city, loses points for the 61.8 km distance between major attractions – a less practical setup for a short layover compared with other cities in our study.

If our research has encouraged you to turn your next long-haul flight into a 2-in-1 holiday, make sure to buy comprehensive Travel Insurance before you jet off, and ensure you're covered in any region you might stopover in.

Most of our top-ranking cities are straightforward to enter – especially for Australian passport holders. However, destinations like the United States and India may need a visa to be approved in advance of arrival, so be sure to check the rules before you fly.

The information provided is based on research conducted by the AllClear Group, travellers should conduct their own research when making travel decisions, for example SmartTraveller.gov.au.

Methodology

We selected a list of over 80 popular international travel hubs, before evaluating each city using the following criteria:

Walkability (topography and elevation changes)
Travel time from the most transited airport to the city centre
Cost of a one-night stay in a four-star hotel
Distance between the top three most popular tourist attractions
Number of onward destinations
Average daily costs (including a meal, a beer, a cappuccino, public transport ticket, and a taxi)

Each data point was assigned a weighted score out of 100 and we combined them to generate a final “Stopover Score”, revealing the cities where travellers are most likely to enjoy their layover.

Data correct as of August 2025.

Sources

1. Aviation Week ‍