A long layover? These European airports are close enough for a getaway
**You can make the most of a long layover by doing a little sightseeing.**Singapore Changi Airport resumes its free guided tours after a three-year hiatus during the pandemic.
The four daily guided tours, each lasting less than three hours, take transit passengers to see the city’s attractions such as the National Gallery, Arab Street and Chinatown.
The Jewel Tour also takes travelers past airport attractions such as Shiseido Forest Valley and HSBC Rain Vortex, and to sample Singaporean snacks.
And many travelers choose to take advantage of these tour packages, according to Flight Center UK. Justin Penny, Chief of Aviation, in A stay of 24 to 48 hours in the city can even save money even with the price of a hotel.
“It’s also an interesting way to keep prices lower, as it can often give travelers access to more flight options by not having to connect within a few hours,” explains Penny.
How to organize your own tourist stopover
If you are leaving your stopover airport, You should keep some tips in mind. First, make sure you are allowed to leave the airport and re-enter. If you can, find out in advance, especially about transportation.
Please allow enough time upon return for possible cancellations or delaysof public transport: There is no point in risking missing your flight to do a little sightseeing.
Don’t be too ambitious with your itinerary. Decide on a couple of main attractions and have a few in reserve in case the lines to get in are long. If it is too early to check in your luggage, leave it in a storage room at the airport.
Stopover in Amsterdam: Famous art and historic buildings
If you have a stopover at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, you’ll have plenty to entertain yourself without leaving the building.
If what you are looking for is culture, head to the branch of the famous Rijksmuseum at the mini airport. The exhibition changes regularly, so frequent visitors can see various masterpieces.
You can also bet at the casino, get a massage or try Dutch delicacies like sticky stroopwafels. If your layover is longer than five hours, you will have enough time to head downtown. Trains to Amsterdam CS, the city’s central station, take about 20 minutes.
From there You can walk to the barge-lined canals with gabled housesto the baroque Royal Palace and the red light district.
Stopover in Paris: Croissants and coffee
Stopovers in Paris must be planned carefully, as it’s easy to make mistakes on public transport. But if you take a RER B train from Charles De Gaulle airport to the Saint-Michel district, it will only take 40 minutes to reach the city center.
From here, you’re just a stone’s throw from the Gothic glory of Notre Dame Cathedral, currently under restoration and set to reopen in 2024. The neighborhood is also packed with chic cafes and patisseries, such as Odette Paris and A. Lacroix Patissier .
From Saint-Michel, you can take the yellow metro line to Champ Des Mars to see the Eiffel Tower.
Stopover in Venice: Canals and spritz
From Venice Marco Polo Airport, travelers can take the ACTV bus, which takes 20 minutes to reach Piazzale Roma, the bus and tram station located next to the historic center of the city of canals.
From here, it’s just a bridge or two to cross to get to the art, churches and spritzes. A ten-minute walk takes you to the Jewish ghetto, with kosher bakeries, canalside cafes and charming independent galleries.
Along the Fondamenta della Misericordia you can sunbathe while drinking a glass of wine with cicchetti – small sandwiches of fried fish, pieces of cheese or crusty bread full of ingredients.
If you are looking for cultural sustenance, visit the church of San Simeon Piccoloright in front of the train station, where you can see a creepy crypt, or the church of San Nicolás de Tolentino, where you can admire an impressive painting on the ceiling.
Stopover in Tallinn: Saunas and World Heritage Site
Tallinn airport is unot one of the closest in Europe to the city center, just 15 minutes by tram on line 4.
The compact city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is perfect for exploring on a short time. The capital of Estonia is surrounded by medieval walls that enclose a fairytale old town fairy tales with pastel palaces, onion-domed churches and lush green parks.
Look for the Masters’ Courtyard, a quiet corner that offers a glimpse of the Tallinn of another era. The cobbled courtyard is home to craft workshops and the famous Chocolaterie café.
If you have a few hours, head to one of the city’s saunas to relax before your next flight. In Tallinn’s oldest public bath, dating back to 1928, you can even rent a private sauna.
Image:Getty Images
