I’m yet to meet anyone who actually enjoys a long-haul flight. Hours in a cramped seat, recycled air and questionable aeroplane meals are enough to test even the biggest travel addicts. But there’s an easy way to make your journey more enjoyable: a stopover. Instead of slogging it from point A to B, you can turn a layover into a mini mid-trip holiday – and Sydney is one of the very best spots to do just that.
To determine the world’s top layover destinations, AllClear Travel Insurance analysed more than 80 major international transit hubs, scoring each on six key factors: walkability, airport-city transfer times, cost of a one-night stay, proximity of top tourist attractions, onward flight connections and average daily spend.
With a ‘Stopover Score’ of 78.3, Frankfurt soared into first place as the world’s ultimate city for a 24-hour stopover. Travellers can get from Germany’s busiest airport to the city centre in just 15 minutes, and its compact layout makes exploring iconic sights and medieval architecture a breeze. Frankfurt isn’t exactly a halfway point between Australia and Europe, but it could make a cheeky layover if you’re ever flying to Iceland or hopping between Greece and the UK.
According to the study, Sydney is Australia’s top destination for a layover, landing 13th overall with a score of 72. Travellers can get from the airport to the city in just 13 minutes, with all of Sydney’s top tourist attractions sitting within a 15-kilometre radius. Compared to other major airports analysed, daily expenses are lower than average at $49.68, and a four-star hotel costs a reasonable $229.60 per night.
While you’d be doing yourself a disservice by spending just 24 hours in Sydney, there’s plenty you can accomplish. After touching down, we recommend catching a train straight to Circular Quay to tick off our two biggest landmarks – the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. If it’s a weekend, swing by The Rocks Market for a bite, then take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront and soak in the sparkling harbour views.
Next, hop on a 25-minute ferry to Manly. Wander the shops, walk along the coast to Shelly Beach, go for a swim, and grab fish and chips for a sunny seaside picnic. You can ferry back to the city in the afternoon for a dose of culture – perhaps the Museum of Contemporary Art or the Art Gallery of NSW. As evening falls, venture to neon-lit Chinatown for cheap and cheerful dumplings or Surry Hills for trendy eateries. Wrap up the night with a cocktail at Henry Deane or Aster Rooftop Bar, where you can see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge in a new light. Before flying off the next morning, save time to pick up a world-class croissant from Lune in Martin Place and a coffee from Diggy Doo's – then you’re all set for your next adventure!
The only other Aussie destination to rank in the top 25 stopover cities was Perth, which edged out Sydney in one category: distance between top tourist attractions, at 3.2 kilometres to Sydney’s 14.6 kilometres. You can check out the full rankings here.