It’s late, you’re scrolling through Instagram, and your travel FOMO is kicking in hard. There are so many places to see and barely enough PTO, how are you supposed to choose just one?! Well, I’ve got some good news and a killer travel hack for you. Book a stopover flight!
Stopover flights are a genius way to sneak in an extra city during your trip without spending extra cash. When booking a long-haul flight (especially if you’re flying overseas from the United States), you can often find stopover options that let you spend a day or night exploring a new destination before continuing on to your final stop. It’s a whirlwind adventure that lets you check another spot off your bucket list and test whether or not it’s worth a full trip later.
Today, I’m breaking down exactly how to find and book stopover flights, so you can see more of the world on a budget. Pack your bags we’re diving in!
Photos courtesy of Canva Stock
How to Book Stopover Flights
If you’ve never heard of stopover flights but love the idea of squeezing even more adventure into your travels, you’re in the right place! By the time you finish this post, you’ll know exactly what a stopover flight is, how to book one, and why they’re one of my favorite travel hacks.
What is a Stopover Flight and How Do Stopover Flights Work?
A stopover flight is basically a long layover that lets you sneak in an extra destination along the way. Instead of rushing to your connection, you get anywhere from 12 hours to 48 hours to leave the airport and explore a whole new city before hopping on your next flight. It’s a clever way to break up a long-haul trip and cross another place off your bucket list!
There are a couple of ways to do a stopovers. Some airlines like Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Icelandair intentionally offer stopover programs. They’ll stop in their hub cities for a night or two, sometimes even covering hotel stays and city tours to make your layover feel like a mini vacation.
Then, there are unintentional stopovers, which is when your flight itinerary just happens to have a long layover. Say you’re flying from Milan to Philly your itinerary might include a stop in London. If you’ve got enough time, why not hop on the train, explore the city, and grab some fish and chips before catching your next flight?
Here’s a little-known travel hack booking a flight with a long layover or stopover can actually lower your ticket price. Yep, you read that right! Not only do you get to explore an extra city for free, but you might even save money on your original flight. It’s a total win-win!
How Do You Book a Flight with a Stopover?
Step 1: Choose your stopover destination.
First things first when planning your trip, start by checking out flight options based on where you’re flying to and from. Look for itineraries with layovers to see if any of them line up with stopover destinations you’d love to explore, and then check the layover time. Make sure it’s long enough to leave the airport, explore, and get back with plenty of time to catch your next flight.
Step 2: Look for stopover programs.
As previously mentioned, another awesome way to score a stopover is by booking directly with airlines that offer free stopovers in their hub cities. Some airlines have special programs for long-haul flights that let you break up your trip, stay in a hotel, and explore a new city before catching your next flight no extra ticket needed!
Here are some airlines that hook you up with stopover cities:
- Icelandair – stop in Reykavik
- Turkish Airlines – stop in Istanbul
- Singapore Airlines – stop in Singapore
- Emirates – stop in Dubai
- Qatar Airways – stop in Doha
- Finnair – stop in Helsinki
If any of these cities are on your travel bucket list, this is the perfect way to see them!
Step 3: Book your flight and plan your stopover.
Once you’ve locked in your flight itinerary and stopover city, it’s go time! Grab your credit card and passport, and start booking your extra mini adventure is officially happening!
Now, let’s talk game plan. Remember, you’re not spending a whole week in this city—just a few hours so you’ve got to be intentional about what you see and do. Focus on the major hotspots, but also make sure you have plenty of time to get back to the airport and through security stress-free.
Here’s what to consider:
- How to get to and from the airport quickly
- Must-see sights you can realistically hit
- Restaurants or cafes worth stopping by
A little planning goes a long way with stopovers, so make every minute count!
How to Find Flights with Long Stopovers
Step 1: Use flight search engines with the right filters.
My go-to trick for finding long layover flights? Using flight search engines like Google Flights and Skyscanner! These make it so easy to filter for flights with the perfect stopover length. You can set your search to find layovers that are 12+ hours or even close to 24 hours, giving you plenty of time for a mini city adventure.
Step 2: Create a custom stopover with multi-city searches.
Not seeing many stopover options in your flight search? No worries there’s another trick! If you have a specific stopover city in mind, try using the Multi-City Search instead. This lets you manually add a stop and make sure you have enough time to actually explore. You can keep it short around 24 hours or stretch it into a weekend getaway if your schedule allows.
Just keep in mind that this means booking two separate flight legs, sometimes with different airlines. But honestly? Totally worth it if it means getting to experience a whole new city along the way!
Step 3: Check airlines offering free stopovers.
Don’t feel like hunting down and organizing your own stopover? No problem. The easiest way to squeeze in an extra destination without the extra stress is by booking with an airline that already offers free stopovers. It’s the ultimate hassle-free way to add another city to your itinerary, no extra planning required. Just book your flight, take advantage of the stopover perks, and enjoy an effortless mini-adventure before heading to your final destination.
Make the most out of your travels with tried and true travel hacks.
It’s time to see more of the world! Consider planning a stopover flights during your next vacation so you can visit unexpected cities and destinations without shelling out the extra cash.
If you’re interested in more resources to help you plan your trip, check out my blog, where you’ll find posts like Airport Tips and How to Plan a Trip to Europe. For even more inspo, be sure to follow me on Instagram at @sierrainthecity!
