How to Kill Time on a Long Airport Layover

One of the biggest travel complaints is that flying long is boring. Travelling for hours and hours by yourself doesn’t have to be. Give it a shot and make the most of your long layover. Here are my top 5 tips on how to pass the time.

TRAVEL SOMEWHERE HOT

Have you been to New York lately? It is absolutely packed with options for food, drink, entertainment, shopping, and more. If your layover is going to be more than three hours, go ahead and plan an action-packed trip to New York. Grab a drink, check out a theatre production, or see a show at one of the many nearby venues. If you’ve got a little more time and you’re in Chicago, you can even go and see a baseball game, or even see the Presidential Exhibit at the Chicago History Museum. If you’re flying through Atlanta, give the Buford Highway or Downtown After 5 event a try!

HEED THE ADVICE OF TRAVEL BLOGGERS

Why not check out a book from one of the many available airport bookstores? You don’t want to be browsing through bookstores that you can get online anyways, with the free airport Wi-Fi you’ll have access to perhaps best used to try out your luck on some new online casinos. Grab a magazine or a book that you’ll be able to carry on your next flight and settle in. You’ll definitely have your flight time to yourself, but will also have something to keep you entertained.

BORING THINGS TO DO IN THE INTERNATIONAL LAYOVER

If your layover is about 4-5 hours long, you’ll want to book a hotel room. This is a fantastic idea, as you can get a little bit of shut eye, go for a walk, and spend the rest of your layover relaxing or exploring the city you’re in. If your layover is going to be even longer, you can rent a car or just catch a cab to a local hotel for the night. Plan for the long layover!

WHERE TO GET LOST

There is so much to do in this city, even if you don’t have a layover that long. When I arrived in New York from Canada, I was surprised by the amount of things to do around my layover. My layover was three hours and I didn’t have anything to do. I ended up getting lost, exploring, and had an amazing time. For my layover in Atlanta, I walked around the hostel and went for a run. I had enough time to run a couple of blocks and enjoy myself. The point is, don’t just sit at the airport!

DO SOME OF THE THINGS YOU’LL DO IN THE CITY

So, now that you’ve had some time to see what there is to do in the city, grab your travel bag, get to a cab, and go. Find a local coffee shop, visit a museum, go to a museum, check out the theatre, grab a drink, go to an art exhibit, check out an indoor farmer’s market, take a cooking class, hang out at a coffee shop, visit a rooftop bar, check out the Whole Foods, and so much more!

I honestly can’t wait to get on the plane and head to Toronto for the next layover. It’s a city I haven’t been to in three years and am excited to be in it again. If you have any more tips on what to do on a long layover, let me know in the comments below!