Does your US-India itinerary have a significant layover in a third country? Turning it into a pleasant sightseeing spree is easier and better than lazing around at a transit airport. With airlines offering transit stopovers and city tours, you can gift a mini vacation to yourself or your family during your upcoming trip to India this summer. While stopovers extend over 24 hours or more, transit city tours come in various packages at subsidized rates during a layover of 5 to 10 hours.
Some airlines like Turkish Airlines offer it as a free add-on, whereas some airlines like Emirates and Qatar Airways offer it for less. Some airlines like Singapore Airlines offer guided trips to popular tourist sites within the easily commutable radius of transit airports. What makes major airlines’ transit city tours more tempting to Indians and US citizens is the visa-free entry or visa waiver or visa on arrival or easy-to-obtain e-visa to the countries that US-India flights of those airlines transit through.
Fly Emirates and Explore Dubai during a layover
Dubai International Airport is the best of all transit hubs with layover tours for Indians booking Emirates flights tickets to India/USA. Dubai, a most happening city offering the Arabian hospitality, luxury activities, and desert safaris, can best be explored during a stopover of up to 48 hours. With a customized tour package of Dubai Experience from Emirates Airlines or its air-ticketing partners including IndianEagle.com, you can turn your stopover into an amazing mini holiday en route to India or USA. A stopover package offers hotel accommodation with 24-hr check-in and check-out, and exclusive deals for theme parks, water parks, desert safari, etc.
If a Dubai stopover does not fit into your US-India travel plans, you can go out for a short sightseeing tour given minimum 8 hours of connection time at Dubai Airport in your itinerary. You can visit the world’s tallest skyscraper Burj Khalifa and the nearby Dubai Fountain in the downtown that Dubai Metro provides seamless connection to from the airport every 10 minutes. Or, you can head to Dubai Miracle Garden, one of the most popular tourist places in Dubai, during a short airport layover.
Indians need a visa to tour Dubai, whereas US citizens can have a visa-free stopover in Dubai. Check our details of Emirates Airlines’ pre-approved visa on arrival facility for Indians with a valid US visa or Green Card.
Fly Turkish Airlines and Tour Istanbul for Free
Planning your travel to India or USA via Istanbul? You may be eligible for Turkish Airlines’ free Istanbul City tour or stopover program depending on the layover duration in your itinerary. Irrespective of your economy or business class travel on Turkish Airlines flights to India/USA, you can explore Istanbul during a layover of at least 6 hours. Those with a 20-hour layover are eligible for a complimentary hotel stay in Istanbul. Considering your layover in Istanbul, you can choose one of the eight packages of the Touristanbul program.
Notably, Türkiye is a visa-free destination for US Citizens. Check out our exclusive guide on Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul stopover program to know how to apply for it, what documents are required, what tourist sites to visit, perks of the program, details of free hotel accommodation, etc.
Turn Your Changi Airport Layover into a Free Singapore Tour
You can make the most of a layover at Changi International Airport, and that too for free while flying with Singapore Airlines. Changi Airport offers free transit tours to travelers with at least 5.5 hours of layover. If you have more than 24 hours of layover time to kill, you might want to consider signing up for one of the Changi Stopover Packages. Changi Airport offers you free transit tours in three different categories: Heritage tour (runs twice a day); City Sights Tour (runs three times a day) and Changi Precinct Tour (runs two times a day). Any tour lasts 2.5 hours.
Each of the tours is unique in some or the other way. The heritage tour walks you through the history and architecture of the colonial era in Chinatown and Little India. Meanwhile, the City Sights Tour offers a much contemporary experience of the city and its modern ‘Singaporean’ architecture comprising magnificent sites like the Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands among others. And the Changi Precinct Tour takes you to the heart of the city, immersing you in a unique experience of the local lifestyle. It also includes a visit to the quaint Changi village, which is a favorite getaway for the locals.
Our exclusive guide on free Singapore City tours for Indian travelers comes in handy with such details as eligibility norms, how to register, transit visa requirement, etc.
Fly Qatar Airways and Add Doha Sightseeing to Your Itinerary
Among the best airline stopover programs, Qatar Airways’ Doha stopover will make your travel between USA and India more enjoyable at no additional airfare. More than 12 hours of connection time at Hamad International Airport makes you eligible for a Doha City tour; however, it requires one-night accommodation at a 4-star or 5-star hotel. Qatar Airways’ destination management wing, Discover Qatar offers cost-effective Doha stopover packages – Standard, Premium, and Luxury – at bundle rates starting from $14 per night for standard 4-star accommodation, $23 for premium 5-star accommodation, and $81 for 5-star luxury accommodation.
If your US-India trip with Qatar Airways cannot accommodate a Doha stopover, you can go for a short Doha sightseeing tour during a layover of 6-8 hours at Hamad Airport. Interestingly, both Indian nationals and US citizens can obtain a visa waiver on arrival at Hamad Airport if they have a passport valid for minimum 3 months and a confirmed flight ticket (s) for onward or return journey. Check out our exclusive guide on Doha stopover and transit tours, alongside our partner Qatar Airways’ best fare deals for India and USA.
Fly Japan Airlines and Enjoy a Multicity Stopover
Among the best international stopover-friendly airlines, JAL lets you book multicity itineraries from USA to Delhi and Bangalore so you can visit more than one transit city at no extra airfares. If your connecting flight is from Kansas International Airport, you can explore Osaka City, from where it takes 15-20 minutes to reach Kyoto by a high-speed train. With a Japan Explorer Pass, you can travel by air from one place to the other within JAL Airlines’ domestic network at much affordable fares.
If Tokyo Haneda or Narita is the connecting airport in your US-India itinerary of JAL Airlines, you can explore both Haneda and Narita City, during a long layover of 6 hours of more. Interestingly, Narita International Airport offers free tour English tour guides to travelers as part of the transit tour program. The English-speaking tour guides help you discover and experience the local culture and history within a budget. Though the tour guides are free, you need to pay transportation charges, entrance fees, and other expenses.
Check out whether Indians and US citizens need a visa for transit stopover in Tokyo/Narita and Japan Airlines’ best flight deals for India/USA.
Fly Etihad Airways and have Abu Dhabi Stopover for Less
Abu Dhabi is one of the best transit airports with stopovers in the Middle East for passengers of eligible Etihad itineraries for US to India travel. Interestingly, your boarding pass for Etihad flights doubles up as the Abu Dhabi pass loaded with deals and discounts on sightseeing and dining in the UAE capital city. Since itineraries with a layover of 24 hours or more at Zayed International Airport are eligible for the Abu Dhabi stopover, advance booking of stay at any of Etihad Airways’ partner hotels (available at discounted rates) is a must. A single-entry transit visa to Abu Dhabi costs US$ 10.
Indian nationals need a single-entry transit visa for a stopover of 8-48 hours in Abu Dhabi, whereas US citizens and those having a Canadian/Mexican/UK passport can obtain a free UAE visa on arrival at Zayed International Airport (AUH). Rather than booking the stopover, you can turn even an 8-hour layover in Abu Dhabi into an exciting trip to Yas Island spread over 25 square kms. The island has the world’s fastest rollercoaster and one of the world’s best waterparks. Ferrari World on Yas Island is the world’s first Ferrari-themed indoor park.
Traveling on Finnair? Explore Helsinki during a Layover
Booking Finnair flight tickets to India or USA is an opportunity to explore Helsinki City in Europe. A layover of 6 to 24 hours is ideal for a sightseeing tour in the Finnish capital. Indian passport holders may need a Schengen tourist visa (C category) to enter and tour Helsinki during a layover at Helsinki International Airport. A most happening destination for art connoisseurs, culture buffs, and foodies! Interestingly, Finland is adjudged as the happiest country in the world. Your passport must be valid for 90 days or more following your departure on the connecting flight from Helsinki.
Fly Saudi Arabian Airlines and Get a 96-hour stopover visa
Saudi Arabian Airlines, also known as Saudia, recently joined the ranks of airlines in offering a hassle-free stopover with a 96-hour visa to Indian nationals. Indian passport holders having a valid US visa or Green Card or a Schengen visa, are eligible for an electronic transit/stopover visa to Jeddah and Riyadh. The visa is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. Home to 6 UNESOC World Heritage Sites and the world’s tallest fountain, the Kingdom Saudi Arabia is a must-visit destination for history buffs, culture enthusiasts and art connoisseurs.