Flying to Australia or New Zealand? These are the layover cities worth leaving the airport for

Layovers worth the stop while flying to Australia or New Zealand as recommended by seasoned circumnavigator, Sarah Rodrigues 

The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; Bukcheon Hanok village, Seoul; The Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi; 

Whether you’re seeking an escape from the chill of an Irish winter or heading to the Southern Hemisphere to visit friends and family over the festive season, there’s no getting away from the fact that it takes an entire day to fly from Ireland to Australia or New Zealand. Sure, it’s worth it when you get there, but it’s a long and exhausting slog — not to mention the time difference and resulting jet lag.

By making the most of a necessary stopover, however, you’ll not only reduce the fatigue, but also experience a destination beyond its airport (yes, Singapore Changi is amazing, but there’s a great deal to see beyond it!) As someone born in Sydney, living in London, and still calling Australia home, I’ve done the trip countless times — with my partner, with kids, with the whole family, and on my own — and in aiming for the best fares each time, I’ve spent time in just about every layover city en route.

While this started as a way of breaking up the journey for young children, it has since become a key part of the trip — because why wouldn’t you want a short break tacked on to your ‘main’ holiday?

Here are some of my favourites and a handful of suggestions with which to fill your time on an extended stopover.

Emirates Transit through Dubai, UAE

The Palm Jumeirah, Duba

Emirates is one of the major carriers from Ireland to the Southern Hemisphere, and Dubai has far more going for it in stopover terms than its famously glittering architecture.

Indeed, it’s sometimes easy to forget that anything existed here prior to 1979’s World Trade Centre, but long before Dubai Creek was dredged, the area was a quiet fishing and pearling village. You can still catch glimpses of this past in the Al Fahidi Historical neighbourhood: while some of the buildings are restored, rather than preserved, they largely adhere to the area’s original footprint, and some of the surviving wind towers and constructions date back to the 1890s.

Take an abra — a traditional wooden vessel — across the creek and explore the fragrant Deira souks. It makes for an interesting contrast with downtown Dubai and the audacious expanse of the Dubai Mall which, depending on your interest in shopping, you could possibly lose several hours in. Given that the desert is less than an hour’s drive from the city, it’s entirely possible to slot in a half-day adventure tour, too, with activities such as dune bashing and sandboarding to get stuck into.

• Must try: Dubai’s street food is every bit as enticing as its fine dining, but where the latter is concerned, don’t miss the manakish, a Middle Eastern version of pizza, commonly eaten for breakfast.
• Top tip: There’s no need to apply for a visa in advance; provided you have six months validity on your passport, you’ll get a stamp on arrival, permitting a 30-day stay.

Etihad Transit through Abu Dhabi, UAE

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Etihad is another popular option for travellers heading from Ireland towards Australia and New Zealand and, while Abu Dhabi shares some of Dubai’s futuristic skyline and desert setting, the pace feels far less frenetic. The city also has the advantage of making it easy to linger for a few days, not least because the airport is close enough for you to check into a hotel and start exploring without losing tedious hours to transfers.

Start with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: its white marble domes and vast courtyard make it one of the capital’s most impressive sights, even before taking its spiritual significance into account. Next, head to Saadiyat Island, home of the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Designed by Jean Nouvel, the “rain of light” beneath its vast geometric dome is as worth the visit as the art inside.

For something that feels a world away from the city’s modernity, take to the water in the Mangrove National Park, where kayaking trips offer the chance to see another, unexpectedly green side of the city. And, as with Dubai, the desert landscapes are within easy reach — so there might still be time to fit in some dune bashing or a sunset desert dinner before boarding your next flight.

• Must try: Dig into machboos, a fragrant dish of spiced rice, meat or fish with a lemony kick.
• Top tip: Etihad offers stopover packages for connections of between 24 hours and four days, including complimentary stays of up to two nights at selected hotels.

Korean Air Transit through Seoul, South Korea

Bukcheon Hanok Village, Seoul

If budget allows, I’ll always book a flight that incorporates a stop in Seoul: it’s my personal favourite. Even before the K-Wave swept through our collective consciousness, Seoul was intoxicating; an alluring mix of centuries-old palaces, glittering glass skyscrapers and traditional hanok houses repurposed into boutiques and cafés.

Start your adventures in the city’s historic heart, where you’ll find grand palace complexes and the lanes of Bukchon Hanok Village.

Where the latter is concerned, come early to beat the Insta-crowds, and be mindful of the fact that this is a residential neighbourhood. Insadong and Ikseon-dong also house tea rooms and contemporary bars within traditional architecture.

Skip your hotel breakfast and arrive ravenous at the centuries-old Gwangjang Market. It’s packed with stalls selling dishes such as bindaetteok — crisp mung bean pancakes – alongside noodles, dumplings and other Korean specialities. Be sure to spend at least one evening seeing Seoul at its most contemporary, flitting between rooftop bars and neon-lit streets.

• Must try: Korean fried chicken is everywhere now, but there’s nothing like having it at the source, preferably accompanied by an ice-cold beer.
• Top tip: Ireland is among the countries covered by the K-ETA system, but South Korea’s arrangements for visa-exempt nationalities have changed several times in recent years. Check before you travel.

Qatar Airways Transit through Doha, Qatar

Museum of Islamic Art, Doha

Qatar Airways has long made Doha a convenient gateway to Australia and New Zealand, but the city deserves more than a few hours between flights. Not only is it easy to navigate, but its compactness also makes the collision of tradition and modernity all the more striking.

The best place to begin is Souq Waqif, with its narrow alleyways housing spice stalls, fabric merchants and cafés. Nearby, Falcon Souq demonstrates — albeit sometimes uncomfortably — how prized these birds of prey are in Arabian culture. From here, it’s an easy walk to the Corniche, or to the Museum of Islamic Art, with its collection spanning 14 centuries; its setting also offers some of the best views back across Doha Bay. The National Museum of Qatar is also worth the visit: Jean Nouvel’s remarkable building was inspired by the naturally occurring formations of the desert rose and tells the story of the country from its earliest history to its rapid-fire modern development, which was accelerated in advance of the 2022 World Cup.

• Must try: Karak is a sweet, spicy milk tea, best accompanied by regag, a thin, crispy, crepe-like bread.
• Top tip: Irish passport holders are eligible for visa-free entry to Qatar. Entry requirements can change, so check the latest rules before travelling.

Singapore Airlines Transit through Singapore

The Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Singapore is perhaps one of the most obvious stops on the journey to Australia or New Zealand, but it’s actually far more than a convenient place to break the long flight. It ticks boxes of being small enough to explore without spending hours going from A to B, but it’s also culturally diverse enough to seem as though several destinations have been compressed into one easy-to-manage city.

Spend a morning exploring the old shophouses, mosques and cafés of Kampong Gelam or Chinatown, but be sure to make lunch the main event at one of the city’s hawker centres: a plate of chicken rice or laksa eaten from a plastic tray is an experience as essential as a cocktail with a view of Marina Bay. If the skyscrapers – or indeed, the heat — start to feel a little oppressive head to the Botanic Gardens – or, for a complete change of scenery, take a bumboat (a long-slung wooden vessel) from the mainland to Pulau Ubin, to explore old granite quarries, forests and cycling trails.

• Must try: Chilli crab is, deservedly, Singapore’s most famous dish — but since most seafood is imported, it can be a pricey — not to mention messy — option. If it’s not for you, opt for a breakfast of coconutty kaya toast with soft-boiled eggs and kopi.
• Top tip: Irish citizens don’t generally require an entry visa for a short tourist stay, but all travellers should check the current entry requirements and complete the SG Arrival Card, where required, before travel.