Hi, lovely readers; damn, I’m excited to be planning trips again, aren’t you? Not so enthusiastic about swapping out those tediously long lockdowns with tediously long flights, though. Nor exiting that winged baby looking like I’ve just gone 15 rounds in the Hadron Collider; an unfortunate side effect of long-haul flights.

If, like me, your budget and hard-won frequent flyer points don’t extend to turning left as you board, why not capitalise on your flight stopover?

Once viewed as the annoying but necessary fuelling pit-stop on the way to somewhere exciting, stopover cities are gaining popularity as the perfect place to enjoy a little restoration while minimising beginning and end-of-journey jet lag. As most have as much magic to share as your final destination, I’ve rounded up the top five and added a few culturally enriching gigs to your itinerary. 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates:

A tour of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, to give yourself a good dose of oxygen deprivation and, by night, the spectacular light show. Pop an antihistamine and check out the Dubai Miracle Garden, home to over 45 million flowers. Go ice skating at The Dubai Mall, followed by a spin around the underwater zoo. Try snow skiing in the Mall of the Emirates and reward yourself for emerging limbs intact with a spot of bling shopping. Face it, there’s something cool about saying you’ve been snow skiing in a desert, right? Speaking of the desert, take an extra day for a Desert Safari to experience the region’s unique landscape.

Singapore:

Changi Airport is one of the world’s best airports, and once you’ve sampled the delectable fare, enjoyed the shop-till-you-drop vibe, the Butterfly Garden and taken a dip in the rooftop swimming pool, it’s time to head out. Ideally, lock in a few days to marvel at The Gardens by the Bay, the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark and the Promenade. The Night Zoo, and the newly furbished pastel-toned Peranakan Museum celebrating Peranakan (orStraits Chinese) culture and history, fashion, architecture, homeware and more. Oh, and the freshly refurbished Raffles just to snap a selfie with an overpriced but iconic Singapore Sling.

Hong Kong:

Here, you can ride the famous Star Ferry and prepare to be struck by the sheer size of the lush mountains soaring behind the elegant towers. Take the ferry towards the city at night to see the mesmerising Symphony of Lights. Visit Victoria Peak for breathtaking city skyline views (provided it’s a smog-free day). Get lost in the Temple Street Night Market and dig into the traditional handmade crafts, admire the jade jewellery sparkling under the market’s neon lights, and chow down on the best cheap eats in the city while barely spending a cent.

Istanbul, Turkey:

The perfect stopover when flying between Europe and Asia, the Blue Mosque, famous for the intricate blue tile work covering the interior, is an excellent place to start. Pick the jaw off the floor from there and head over to the Hagia Sophia. Constructed in 537 AD and considered the most outstanding architectural achievement of the Byzantine Empire. Stroll through the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, and don’t exit before indulging in kebabs, baklava, and a smidge of Turkish delight.

Seoul, South Korea:

This place is positively pumping! Start with one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the Changdeokgung Palace, for the breathtaking secret garden, landscaped lawns, ornate pavilions and lotus pond. Continue getting your culture on by touring the traditional Bukchon Hanok Village and charming Jogyesa Temple. Check out the Gwangjang Market, a jolly convenient place to sample Korean food at its best. Tteokboki (sweet and spicy rice cakes), bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), and mayak gimbap (seaweed rolls) washed down with some makgeolli (rice wine). Avoid a food coma and take a break from all that sightseeing at the Insa-dong. While there, pick up some traditional Korean souvenirs – especially during the weekly Saturday market.  

Worth spending a few days at your layover spot, don’t you think? And you’ve just added an extra country to your travel repetoir Tell us about your favourite stopovers?