What to do on a long layover: practical, safe and fun ideas from a seasoned traveller

When the airport is your springboard, not your prison

Oddly enough, some of my best travel stories began with an accidental detour. Take Istanbul: a ten-hour stopover became a dawn stroll through Sultanahmet, sipping thick coffee as the Blue Mosque glowed under a November sky. The trick is knowing when to seize the opportunity and how to do it safely, especially at busy hubs like JFK, Singapore Changi, or Dubai’s Terminal 3. Thanksgiving week is notorious for snarled connections and overbooked flights, but it’s also a prime chance to snag a Black Friday deal or sneak out for an autumn city walk (Central Park in late November has a quiet, golden beauty that defies expectations). The key is to plan, but stay flexible.

Local insight: what makes each layover unique

No two airports—or cities—present the same opportunities. Here’s what you should really know:

New York (JFK): Expect crowded terminals, patchy Wi-Fi, and slow security lines if you’re venturing out. Taxis are quick, but the AirTrain plus subway is more reliable during peak traffic. Mobile data is essential (New York’s public Wi-Fi is famously unreliable, especially if you’re trying to hail an Uber at 5pm).

Singapore Changi: You’ll find showers, gardens, and even a rooftop pool inside the terminal. But if you have more than five hours, hop on the MRT and soak up some hawker food at Maxwell Food Centre. eSIM coverage here is excellent, but data speeds can dip at lunchtime—locals stream TV on their breaks!

Tokyo Haneda/Narita: Leaving the airport for a bowl of ramen? Haneda is closer to the city, but you’ll want a fast data connection for train schedules—Japanese station Wi-Fi drops out as soon as the platform gets crowded. I’ve seen more than one tourist stranded at Shibuya scrambling for a signal.

Dubai: The airport is practically a city, but desert humidity wreaks havoc on phone batteries (especially in autumn when the air-con is cranked up). Bring a power bank and double-check your digital SIM’s signal—coverage can shift rapidly between terminals.

Why a digital SIM is the traveller’s best friend

Ask any frequent flyer: staying online abroad is no longer optional. Ride-hailing, real-time translation, last-minute bookings, even finding the best espresso within a kilometre—it all requires reliable connectivity. Roaming charges can be eye-watering (I’ve seen bills north of £50/$65 for a single long layover), and airport Wi-Fi is often slow or overloaded. That’s where eSIMs genuinely shine. With Graba SIM, you land, scan a QR code, and activate your plan—often before your luggage even appears on the carousel. No fiddling with plastic SIM cards or queuing at airport kiosks. Data Pulse, Graba SIM’s real-time usage tracker, helps you avoid nasty surprises (and quietly reassures the obsessive budgeter in me). The home screen widget is ideal for quick glances between sightseeing stops, and if something goes wrong, live chat is a godsend—especially at 2am in a transit lounge.

For those wondering about device compatibility, it’s worth a quick check here. Not every phone supports eSIM just yet (although the list grows every year).

Making the most of your layover: step-by-step

Here’s how I approach a long layover when there’s a city just beyond the exit doors:

Quick look: eSIM vs. airport Wi-Fi vs. physical SIM cards

Real-world scenarios: who benefits from an eSIM on a layover?

Frequently Asked Questions

When a layover becomes a travel story