3 Sep 2026 General

The best stopover cities that turn one holiday into two

Flying long-haul doesn’t have to be about getting from A to B as quickly as possible.

Instead of spending hours inside an airport waiting for your next flight, why not stay a night (or three) and explore somewhere completely different?

A cleverly planned stopover can break up a long journey, give you time to adjust to a new time zone and add an entirely new destination to your itinerary – sometimes without adding as much to the airfare as you might expect.

Suddenly, the journey isn’t just about getting there. It’s part of the holiday.

Here are some of our favourite cities for turning one holiday into a multi-city adventure…

Singapore – the effortless stopover

If you’ve never added a stopover to a long-haul journey before, Singapore is one of the easiest places to start.

Compact, incredibly easy to navigate and packed with things to see, eat and do, Singapore works brilliantly as a two or three-night addition to a larger itinerary. The airport is close to the city, public transport is simple, English is widely spoken and you can experience a surprising amount in just a couple of days.

Spend your first evening wandering around Marina Bay, where some of Singapore’s most recognisable landmarks light up after dark. Walk along the waterfront, take in the skyline and continue towards Gardens by the Bay to see the futuristic Supertrees illuminated at night.

The next day, explore some of the neighbourhoods that give Singapore its character. Wander between colourful shophouses and temples in Chinatown, discover the vibrant streets, markets and restaurants of Little India, or head to Kampong Glam for boutiques, cafés, street art and the striking golden dome of Sultan Mosque.

And then, of course, there’s the food…

Singapore is one of those destinations where eating can easily become the main event. Spend an afternoon working your way through the city’s famous hawker centres, sampling everything from chicken rice and laksa to satay, chilli crab and kaya toast. Lau Pa Sat is particularly atmospheric in the evening, when nearby Satay Street comes alive with outdoor tables, smoking grills and the unmistakable smell of skewers cooking over charcoal.

If you have another day, head across to Sentosa, wander the boutiques and restaurants of Orchard Road, explore the waterfront around Clarke Quay, or simply slow down and enjoy the rooftop pools, bars and restaurants that make Singapore such an easy place to settle into holiday mode.

For Australians travelling to Europe, Singapore is also perfectly positioned to break up the long journey. Rather than spending 20-plus hours travelling in one exhausting stretch, you can arrive, check into a hotel, have a proper night’s sleep and spend a couple of days exploring before continuing refreshed.

It transforms Singapore from somewhere you simply connect through into an entirely separate part of the holiday – and because the city is so compact, even a relatively short stay can feel worthwhile.

Perfect for: Europe, Asia and Round-the-World itineraries.

Ideal stopover: 2 – 3 nights.

Istanbul – where Europe meets Asia

Few cities make a stopover feel quite as adventurous as Istanbul.

Sitting between Europe and Asia, Istanbul gives you the chance to experience somewhere completely different without taking your journey too far off course. For Australians travelling to Europe, it can be an especially clever place to break up the trip – and two or three nights is enough to experience many of the city’s highlights.

Start in the historic Sultanahmet district, where some of Istanbul’s most famous landmarks sit within walking distance of one another. Step inside the magnificent Hagia Sophia, admire the domes and minarets of the Blue Mosque and descend beneath the streets into the atmospheric Basilica Cistern.

From there, lose yourself among the thousands of shops inside the Grand Bazaar, where colourful ceramics, carpets, jewellery, spices and Turkish lamps fill seemingly endless laneways.

But Istanbul isn’t just about ticking off landmarks.

One of the best ways to appreciate the city is from the water. Take a cruise along the Bosphorus, passing palaces, mosques and waterfront mansions as you sail between two continents. Afterwards, cross to the Asian side for dinner or find a rooftop terrace overlooking the city’s skyline as the call to prayer echoes across the rooftops.

And then there’s the food. Turkish breakfasts can become an event in themselves, while kebabs, pide, baklava and strong Turkish coffee provide plenty of reasons to arrive hungry.

Rather than simply changing planes in Istanbul, give yourself a few days and suddenly you’ve added an entirely different destination to your European holiday.

Perfect for: Europe, the Mediterranean and Round-the-World itineraries.

Ideal stopover: 2 – 3 nights.

Shanghai – the unexpected city break

For travellers looking for something a little less obvious, Shanghai can be one of the most rewarding stopovers between Australia and Europe.

It’s a city of extraordinary contrasts, where futuristic skyscrapers stand across the river from grand colonial architecture and traditional neighbourhoods hide behind some of the world’s busiest shopping streets.

Start at The Bund, Shanghai’s famous waterfront promenade, and look across the Huangpu River towards the skyscrapers of Pudong. It’s one of Asia’s great city views – particularly after dark when the skyline lights up.

From there, wander through the elegant streets of the Former French Concession, explore traditional gardens and laneways, visit temples or spend an afternoon discovering Shanghai’s restaurants, cafés and enormous shopping districts.

Food is another highlight. From delicate xiaolongbao soup dumplings to noodles, dumplings and regional Chinese dishes, you could easily plan an entire stopover around what to eat next.

Shanghai is also surprisingly easy to combine with a longer journey. High-speed trains connect the city with destinations across eastern China, meaning a longer stop could include nearby cities such as Hangzhou or Suzhou.

For Australians heading to Europe, Shanghai can also provide a clever alternative to the more traditional Southeast Asian or Middle Eastern transit points.

Rather than seeing your connection as simply part of the journey, spend a couple of nights exploring one of the world’s great megacities before continuing onwards.

Perfect for: Europe, China and Round-the-World itineraries.

Ideal stopover: 2 – 3 nights.

Tokyo – the stopover that feels like another world

If you’re travelling between Australia, Europe or North America, Tokyo can turn an ordinary flight itinerary into something far more interesting.

Few cities deliver such an immediate change of scenery. One moment you’re travelling long-haul; the next you’re surrounded by neon signs, tiny ramen bars, ancient shrines, immaculate train stations and some of the most exciting neighbourhoods in the world.

Even with only two or three nights, Tokyo offers plenty.

Start in Shibuya, cross the famous intersection and explore the surrounding shops, restaurants and hidden bars. Head to Shinjuku after dark for glowing streets, observation decks and tiny eateries squeezed into narrow alleyways, or experience the more traditional side of the city around Asakusa and Sensō-ji Temple.

Food alone can justify the stop. Sushi breakfasts, steaming bowls of ramen, yakitori, tempura, izakayas and convenience stores that somehow become attractions in their own right mean you’ll never be short of something new to try.

If you’d prefer a slower pace, wander through the grounds of Meiji Shrine, explore the fashionable streets around Harajuku and Omotesando or simply pick a neighbourhood and see where the day takes you.

Tokyo also works particularly well as part of a creative multi-city itinerary. Rather than flying directly between Australia and Europe or North America, a stop in Japan can add an entirely different culture, cuisine and experience to the same journey.

And there’s always the temptation to stay longer. Add a few extra days and Tokyo can become the starting point for Kyoto, Osaka, Hakone or even a journey aboard Japan’s famous bullet trains.

Perfect for: Europe, North America and Round-the-World itineraries.

Ideal stopover: 2 – 4 nights.

Vancouver – the stopover for nature lovers

Not every stopover needs to be about skyscrapers, shopping and city sightseeing.

Surrounded by mountains, forests and water, Vancouver combines all the convenience of an easy urban stop with some of Canada’s most spectacular scenery – often just minutes from downtown.

Spend your first day exploring the waterfront and Stanley Park, where walking and cycling paths wrap around forests, beaches and harbour views. Continue to Granville Island for its famous public market, food stalls, galleries and waterfront atmosphere before finishing the day in one of the restaurants around Gastown or Yaletown.

If you have another day, head into the mountains. Cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge, take the gondola up Grouse Mountain, or simply venture to North Vancouver for spectacular views back towards the city.

Depending on the season, your stopover could look completely different. Summer brings long days, hiking and waterfront dining, while winter can mean snow-covered mountains and the possibility of combining your journey with a few days of skiing.

Instead of treating Canada as somewhere you need to dedicate an entire separate holiday to, a clever routing can allow you to experience a taste of it along the way.

Perfect for: North America, Europe and Round-the-World itineraries.

Ideal stopover: 2 – 4 nights.

The Best Part

A stopover doesn’t necessarily mean buying another airfare. With the right Multi-City or Round-the-World ticket, additional destinations can sometimes be cleverly incorporated into your existing journey – and the difference in price may be far less than you’d expect.

That’s where thinking beyond a simple return airfare can become interesting.

Instead of: Sydney → London → Sydney

you could do: Sydney → Singapore → London // Paris → Istanbul → Sydney

Or perhaps: Sydney → Tokyo → London // Rome → Vancouver → Sydney

There are countless possibilities depending on where you want to go, how long you have and which airlines and fares are available.

At Airfare Geeks, we specialise in creating clever Multi-City, Round-the-World and complex international itineraries that go beyond the obvious route.

We’ll find smarter ways to get you where you’re going – and show you where else you could go along the way.

Travel smart. Go further.