If you can’t bear the thought of a marathon long-haul plane journey, breaking the trip into two sections with a stopover might just be the way forward. Pick the right airline, and you can get a city break tagged on to the main trip – and these are ten of the best options.
Dubai
On the way to? Asia, Indian Ocean and Australasia with Emirates.
Do: It’s not just the beaches that are sandy – 4WD tours of the desert sand dunes offer plenty of excitement. Alternatively, Frying Pan Adventures runs superb food tours through the authentic parts of Dubai few tourists see.
See: Oh alright, go full bling – take a trip up the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, then splurge in the shops of the Dubai Mall, which also has an aquarium and ice rink.
Singapore
On the way to? South-East Asia or Australasia with Singapore Airlines.
Do: Singapore’s food culture is phenomenal, with scores of hawker courts selling cheap, delicious feeds. Narrow it down to some of the best with a food tour. Chinatown provides the markets and temples fix.
See: Cleverly-designed Singapore Zoo is arguably the best in the world, but if plants rather than animals are your thing, then either the more traditional Botanical Gardens or the futuristic Gardens By The Bay fit the bill.
Abu Dhabi
On the way to? Asia, Indian Ocean and Australasia with Etihad.
Do: Want to make it all about fun stuff? Then try the Ferrari World theme park with the world’s fastest rollercoaster, followed by cycling around the Yas Marina Formula One circuit.
See: Alternatively, plunge into Abu Dhabi’s cultural heavyweights, visiting the enormous Sheikh Zayed Mosque, then the Louvre’s first overseas outpost on Saadiyat Island.
Madrid, Spain
On the way to? Latin America with Iberia.
Do: The capital of Spain is a mighty fine city to graze in – keep the evenings free for tapas crawling. Calle Cava Baja is the longstanding favourite gorging street. Those with even richer tastes can ogle the lavish state rooms of the Royal Palace.
See: Football fans can make their pilgrimage to Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium. Tours include a very hagiographic museum. On a more cultural tip, the Prado is one of the world’s great art museums.
Reykjavik, Iceland
On the way to? North America with Icelandair.
Do: Stop for a dip in thermal waters amidst a volcanic landscape at the Blue Lagoon – it’s handily between Keflavik Airport and the city. Then snorkel the Silfra Fissure – the gap between two continents.
See: In the winter months, take an evening cruise out to sea in search of the Northern Lights. In summer, Iceland’s Golden Circle – taking in the furious Gullfoss waterfall, the lavascape of Thingvellir National Park and explosive geysers – is a better bet.
Miami, USA
On the way to? Latin America with American Airlines.
Do: Strut along South Beach, enjoying the freak show of posers and the pink lifeguard huts. Then turn your attention to the world’s greatest collection of art deco buildings. The Miami Design Preservation League runs excellent tours.
See: Calle Ocho in Miami’s Little Havana gives a taste of Cuba, with fab murals and cafés full of old-timers playing dominoes. The Everglades are a short detour away – go gator-spotting on the Shark Valley tram tour.
Perth
On the way to? Australasia with Qantas.
Do: Take the Rottnest Express out to Rottnest Island, then cycle round to find a magical Indian Ocean Beach to yourself, while stopping for pics with the ultra-cute quokkas that inhabit the island. Then take a jaunt round the wineries of the Swan Valley.
See: Kings Park, high above Perth’s city centre, is a tremendous place to amble and learn about Aussie plants in the Western Australian Botanic Garden. The Northbridge neighbourhood, meanwhile, combines nightlife, hip dining and several cultural heavyweights – including the Western Australian Museum.
Lisbon, Portugal
On the way to? Brazil with TAP Portugal.
Do: Visit the Belém neighbourhood, home to several of Lisbon‘s historic buildings including the Monument to the Discoveries and the implausibly lavish Jerónimos Monastery. Then hit the Bairro Alto district, which becomes one giant bar with people drinking and mingling in the streets at night.
See: The capital of Portugal is covered in gorgeous tile art – with some particularly marvellous examples in the Metro stations and the Beer Museum. But the Museu Nacional do Azulejo is the nirvana on this front.
Atlanta
On the way to? Latin America, smaller US cities with Delta
Do: Walk the Beltline, a former train line that now has dozens of hip bars and restaurants popping up alongside it. The Martin Luther King Jr National
Historical Park – superb for understanding the Civil Rights struggle – is nearby and the highlight of Atlanta’s Civil Rights Trail.
See: At the 1996 Olympic Park, the World of Coca-Cola is cheesy but quite well done – and involves sampling dozens of weird global Coca-Cola drinks at the end.
Hong Kong
On the way to? East Asia or Australasia with Cathay Pacific
Do: Get active, taking ferries out to Hong Kong’s massively underrated islands. Peng Chau has cute beaches, while Lantau is home to hiking trails, the 34-metre tall Tian Tan Buddha and the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car.
See: The night-time Symphony of Lights light show takes over the harbour, and is best seen from a boat cruise. But the best people-watching comes in the numerous bars of hipster-focused Sheung Wan.
