Lengthy airport layovers are not only a total brain drain, but a wasted opportunity to explore. If you thought that all airport layovers have to be this way, this article may just change your mind!

Some airports now offer tours and other great distractions such as in-airport movie theatres, museums, musical performances, and tropical gardens. The best part? These are available for FREE, and no visa is required as you’re considered an “in transit” passenger. Just be sure to bring all your travel documents with you (see end of article).

Needless to say, layovers can now be turned into thrifty travel experiences. Here’s 3 airports with free tours!

#1 Istanbul, Turkey  (Ataturk Intl Airport)

Free Tours

• Important note(s): to qualify for the free Istanbultours, you must be flying with Turkish Airlines.
• Layover time needed: 6 to 24 hours max.
• What to see: Blue Mosque (pictured above), Hippodrome Square, Aya Triada Church, Taksim Square, Grand Covered Bazaar, Serpentine Column, Topkapı Palace, and Obelisk of Thedosius.
• Where to register: the Hotel Desk in the International Arrival Hall,  which is located after passport and customs control next to Starbucks. Arrive at least half an hour before a tour starts. Location is viewable here.
• Tour schedule & info: There are 3 tours which each cover various highlights. Tours begin at 09:00 and 12:00. Further tour details can be found here.

Doha, Qatar (Doha Intl Airport)

Free Tours

• Layover time needed: 5 to 12 hours max.
• What to see: the Museum of Islamic Art, the Souq Waqif, the Pearl-Qatar, and the Katara Cultural Village.
• Where to register: the Doha City Tour desk (marked as “City Tours”) located between the departures board, the Chanel/Dior duty-free shop and a store called Marmelade.
• Tour schedule & more info: Tours are available to anyone arriving between 4:00AM-7:00PM with the minimum layover time. Further tour details can be found here.
• Important note(s): the Museum of Islamic Art is closed on Tuesdays.

Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake City Intl Airport)

Free Tours

• Layover time needed: 2 hours
• What to see: Temple Square in Salt Lake city
• Where to register: The airport information desk in Terminal 1 or 2 (or ask any ticket counter for a brochure which has times).
• Tour schedule & more info: Tours leave every hour from 11:00-16:00. More information can be found here.

P/S: Must Knows

• You don’t need a visa to take airport layover tours as you’re considered an “in-transit” passenger. Often you may need to hand over your passport for the length of the tour. But you should always ensure beforehand that your passport is not anexempt country, as some countries are not allowed to have in-transit passengers.
• Double check for extra costs such as museum entries which may not be covered.
• Consider bringing a packed meal e.g. it may be cheaper to buy a sandwich at an airport food court chain than a museum. Alternatively if seeing a market, you may wish to hold out for stall food.
• Check what documents you need to board a tour. Commonly you may need to show the airline ticket of your previous andupcoming flight.
• Consider where to store your luggage if applicable (some tours may not have room or allow you to bring your luggage with you).
• Take note of when you need to arrive for tours – some require you to show up 30 minutes to an hour beforehand.

(content & images source: Thrifty Nomad)