When weighing the merits of a long layover at a seemingly out-of-the-way airport (say, 18 hours at Istanbul’s Atatürk when you’re flying from Washington, D.C. to Bordeaux), consider whether it offers a free layover tour for in-transit passengers. Major hubs in Asia and the Middle East now provide connecting travelers with a glimpse of the city beyond the airport, on free tours that are easily booked on arrival or reserved in advance. The well-run programs are so robust, it’s like getting a mini-vacation tacked onto your real vacation.
Changi Airport (SIN): Singapore
Singapore’s Changi Airport is often ranked the best in the world. While there’s plenty to see right within its walls, it’s also conveniently located for exploration. If you have a 5.5-hour layover (or longer) at Changi, you have a choice of three city bus tours, each of them lasting 2.5 hours. The Heritage Tour runs twice a day (1 p.m. and 6 p.m.) and includes ultra-modern Marina Bay, the Central Business District, and the Singapore River, with 30-minute stopovers in Chinatown and the Malay Arab–influenced Kampong Gelam district, dense with fabric shops, old-world perfumeries, and restaurants specializing in murtabak (a folded, stuffed flatbread). The City Sights Tour, meanwhile, is offered three times a day (12 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m.) and includes 30-minute stopovers at Merlion Park (home of the Lion City’s famed fish-lion fountain) and Gardens by the Bay, with its Avatar-esque Supertrees. And, finally, the once-daily Changi Precinct Tour (10 a.m.) focuses on the hidden gems of the residential town just outside the airport, with 30-minute stopovers in Tampines Central Park and Changi Beach Park, a sandy spot for picnics and plane-spotting. To participate, visitors must drop their bulky bags at a storage location and be prepared to show their passport, boarding passes, entry visa (if required), and booking confirmation.
How to sign up
You can book a tour up to 50 days in advance on the Changi Airport website. But if you’re more of a last-minute planner, you can still make a tour happen. Upon arrival, stay in the transit area, don’t go through Arrival immigration, and stop by one of the Free Singapore Tour booths in Terminal 2, Level 2 (near Gate F50) or Terminal 3, Level 2 (near Gates A1-A8).
Istanbul Airport (IST): Istanbul, Türkiye
Turkish Airlines passengers with international transfer flights and at least six hours to kill have access to a series of seven different complimentary Touristanbul tours. The shortest lasts for 3.5 hours and is densely packed with sights of historical and cultural significance, including Taksim Square and the Aqueduct of Valens, with a stop for photos on the Galata Bridge. The 9.5-hour full-day tour, on the other hand, includes breakfast and lunch and visits to the Ottoman-era Blue Mosque, the bustling Grand Bazaar, the Topkapı Palace (the former main residence of sultans), and more. Between May 1 and October 31, you can even opt for a seasonal Bosphorus cruise and dinner in the courtyard of the Baroque Revival Dolmabahçe Palace, which was built in the 1850s and served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. Each of the seven tours is offered once per day, with the earliest (Sightseeing Tour) setting off at 8 a.m. and the latest (Old City Tour) running from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.—check the website for the complete schedule.
How to sign up
Ticketed passengers can check their eligibility by entering their ticket number or reservation code on the Touristanbul website and then make advanced reservations. If you didn’t plan ahead of time, you can still check availability at the Touristanbul desk, after you pass through passport and customs controls.
Incheon International Airport (ICN): Seoul, South Korea
ICN offers 13 tours and in-airport experiences, eight of which are free. Among the complimentary options for exploring this part of South Korea: take a ferry ride from the nearby Gu-eup Ferry Terminal to Wolmi Park in the heart of Incheon’s old town, stop into the futuristic INSPIRE Entertainment Resort (which has a casino, mall, and immersive media art exhibition), dive into Korean youth culture on Hongdae Street, or sample street food at Sinpo International Market, which is especially known for its Sinpo Dakgangjeong (crispy fried chicken in spicy sauce). History buffs can instead opt to visit such sites as Cheong Wa Dae, which served as the presidential residence from 1948 to 2022, or the Jeondeungsa Temple, whose current incarnation celebrates its 600th anniversary in 2025.
How to sign up
You can reserve a spot for a tour online, but even if your selection is listed as sold out, more than half of the slots are reserved for walk-ups. Arriving passengers must take the shuttle train to Terminals 1 or 2, where registration desks can be found on the first floor.
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE): Taipei, Taiwan
Transit passengers must have at least seven hours (and no more than 24) before their connecting flight to take advantage of one of Taipei’s three free half-day tours. The morning outing (which leaves Terminal 2 at 8:15 a.m. and Terminal 1 at 8:30 a.m.) covers the 286-year-old Bangka Lungshan Temple, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, and hip Yongkang Street. Afternoon tours (which leave Terminal 2 at 1:45 p.m. and Terminal 1 at 2 p.m.) stop at Daxi Old Street, known for its Baroque architecture and historic shophouses; the 1902 Daxi Puji Temple; and the Musical Note Wall of Fong Fei-fei, dedicated to the late pop singer. Finally, evening tours depart between 5:50 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. and begin at the 33-story observation deck at the New Taipei City Hall, before continuing with stops at the Jieyun Temple and Nanya Night Market, which is known for such specialties as herbal catfish soup, oyster omelets, and the better-than-it-sounds stinky tofu.
How to sign up
There are only 18 spots per tour, so if you want to guarantee a spot, you can book online 5 to 90 days prior to arrival. If there are still slots available day of, travelers can register at the Tourist Service Centers in the arrival lobbies of Terminals 1 and 2.
This article was originally published in 2017 and most recently updated on December 13, 2024 with current information.
