Everything you need to know to go out during your layover.

Often, yes. Leaving the airport means entering the country of your layover: it all depends on your nationality, your documents, the country you’re stopping in and where your flights come from.

LAYOVO shows you the simple cases for the chosen airport and points to official sources for the others. Always check your situation before you go.

If the country of your layover requires a visa for your nationality, yes: the length of the outing changes nothing, even for two hours. Some countries offer exemptions or specific transit visas for connecting passengers: check the official visa website of the country concerned.

Some countries require, for certain nationalities, a transit visa even to stay in the international area during a connection. This visa does not let you leave the airport: to visit the city, you need the right to enter the country (visa or exemption).

More and more countries ask for an electronic authorisation, even from visa-exempt travellers: for example the ESTA for the United States, the eTA for Canada or the ETA for the United Kingdom. Depending on the country, it may be required even for a simple connection.

Always apply on the country’s official website, in advance: beware of intermediary sites that charge extra fees.

Usually two immigration checks: when entering the country to leave the airport, then when leaving it on your way back, if your next flight is international. Security checks before reaching the gate come on top. LAYOVO counts these steps in the time available, with times specific to each airport.

Your passport (or your ID card if it is enough to enter the country), the visa or electronic authorisation if you need one, and your boarding pass for the next flight. Many countries require a passport valid for several months after your stay: check the rule of your layover country.

Between two Schengen countries there is in principle no border check. If you arrive from a non-Schengen country, you go through border police when leaving the airport, with a Schengen visa or an exemption depending on your nationality.

The European Entry/Exit System (EES) registers non-European travellers at the border (passport, fingerprints, photo): it has been in place everywhere since 10 April 2026, and the first crossing takes longer. The ETIAS authorisation, for visa-exempt travellers, is not yet in service as of 25 October 2026: the European Union announces it for the end of 2026, with no fixed date.

Entry/Exit System (EES) ↗ETIAS — official EU website ↗

It starts from your arrival time and the boarding start time of your next flight. It subtracts deplaning, walking, border checks, baggage reclaim if needed, the return trip, security on the way back and the walk to the gate, using times specific to the airport.

What’s left is your time in town. The “Your layover hour by hour” timeline details each step.

It’s LAYOVO’s safety margin: you are at the gate 30 minutes before boarding starts, to absorb a longer check, a gate change or a transport delay. The time to leave the city already takes it into account.

The boarding start time, shown on your boarding pass or in the airline’s app. Take-off is optional: it only completes the timeline.

All times are entered and shown in the local time of your layover airport. If you change time zone, remember to check your phone’s time when you land.

Change your arrival time: the time available, the time to head back and the plan are recalculated. If the time becomes too short, LAYOVO tells you and suggests enjoying the airport.

Once checks, journeys and the margin are taken out, there isn’t enough time left for a relaxed outing. LAYOVO then suggests enjoying the airport: restaurants, shops, lounges and quiet corners.

With a single ticket, checked bags usually travel through to your destination: you go out light and the calculation doesn’t count any reclaim. If you have to collect your bags (separate tickets, some airlines or some countries), LAYOVO adds reclaim and check-in again. Check the bag drop deadline with the airline: it may mean coming back earlier.

With separate tickets, the second airline doesn’t have to wait for you or rebook you if you miss the flight. You often have to collect and re-check your bags. LAYOVO adds this time: keep a wider margin.

Many airports have a left-luggage service, often charged by the hour or the day. Check on the airport’s website where it is, its opening hours and prices before you go.

For each airport, LAYOVO compares the transport available to the city centre — train, metro, bus, taxi or ride-hailing — with its duration, indicative price and first and last departures. You choose the ones that suit you in the form; your time in town changes with your choice.

LAYOVO only shows the transport you chose, and removes options that don’t allow the round trip in time: service closed at that hour, last departure too early or journey too long.

They are indicative prices, checked regularly, which can change. Buy your ticket from the official operator or in its app, and check the exact fare for the airport: in some cities, an ordinary ticket isn’t enough.

Only take a taxi at the airport’s official rank, and turn down offers in the arrivals hall. Some airports apply a fixed fare to the city: LAYOVO shows it when it exists. A ride-hailing app (Uber, etc.) shows its price before you book; it varies with the time and demand.

Check the traffic before going and before coming back, and keep a backup option, such as a taxi. The 30-minute margin is there for these surprises: if the way back looks difficult, head back earlier.

Ready-made plans — “The must-sees”, “Off the beaten track” and “Easy break” — and “My plan”, which you build yourself. Each one is calculated to bring you back on time.

“Just a look” means passing by, getting some air and taking a few photos. “Visit” means going in: longer, sometimes paid. The plan and times are recalculated with each choice.

It can’t fit into your layover, and the reason is shown: closed that day, last entry already past, opening too late, or a visit too long for the time you have. Try the “Just a look” version if there is one.

Yes. In “Add more places”, search for a café, a museum or an address: LAYOVO adds it to your plan with the time you want to spend there. You can also reorder your visits.

We check them regularly, but they can change, especially on public holidays. Before you go, check the day’s opening hours on the place’s official website.

From public forecasts for the city of your layover, on the day of your layover. It’s indicative: take something warm or waterproof if in doubt.

Choose “Stay at the airport”: LAYOVO shows the airport’s restaurants, shops, lounges and rest areas, terminal by terminal.

Not to calculate your layover. An account lets you save your layovers, validate your trip, share your plan with your companions and keep your travel log. You sign in by email; Google and Apple are coming soon.

“Save my layover” keeps it in your profile: you can still change it. “Confirm my trip” means you’re doing this plan: you give your layover a name, choose a reminder and find it in “My layover”. Confirming also saves the layover.

LAYOVO prepares a calendar event with two alerts: 15 minutes before the time to leave the city, then at the exact time. On Android, the phone alarm can also open already set; on iPhone, LAYOVO explains how to create it in the Clock app.

It’s your layover of the day: the validated plan, the times, the weather and the links to book a ride or open the route. The “Edit my plan” button still lets you change it.

From “My layover” or the validation window, tap the “+” next to your photo: send the layover link by WhatsApp, email or message, or copy it. Companions with an account can also join a group from your profile.

Tap “I’ve finished my layover”: keep the places you really visited, add the ones you discovered, enter the time spent, the timing, your rating and, if you like, a review. Your summary joins your travel log.

One stamp per city discovered, when you finish a layover with a review. Badges reward your finished layovers, your reviews, the cities and countries discovered and the time spent exploring. A notification tells you about each new stamp or badge.

In your profile, open Account settings to change your details and preferences or delete your account after confirmation. To request a copy of your data, contact hello@layovo.com.

Yes. In “Account settings”, the “Accessibility” section lets you reduce animations, enlarge text, increase contrast and underline links. These settings apply across the whole site.

Your account details (first name, email, photo if you add one), your saved layovers and your summaries. LAYOVO never asks for your passport number or bank details. Reviews are not published without your consent.

LAYOVO turns a long connection into a little getaway: you enter your layover, and LAYOVO tells you whether you can go out, how much time you’ll have in town, what to do and when to head back. Land. Explore. Fly.

The available airports appear in the calculator form. New airports are added regularly: each one is added only after its check times, transport and places to visit have been verified.

LAYOVO’s interface is available in 14 languages: French, English, Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, Bengali, Portuguese, Russian, German, Japanese, Turkish, Tamil, Vietnamese and Indonesian. Choose yours with the globe at the top of the page.

In the currency of the layover country, the one you’ll pay with there. Prices are indicative: check them with the operator or the place.

LAYOVO helps you decide and get organised, but doesn’t replace official information or your airline’s. Entry rules, opening hours and transport can change: check them before you go out, and always follow airport announcements.

No, LAYOVO is an independent service. Links to transport apps, maps or official websites are there to save you time.

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