Maximize Layover Adventures With These Flight Attendant Tips

For many travelers, layovers are pockets of lost time destined for snacking, doomscrolling, and waiting it out. But given enough time, a layover can be a new adventure, turning otherwise wasted time into a mini trip, whether it’s a food crawl, skyline view, local game, or a quick pop into a museum.

If the timing works and the transit is easy, it’s fun to go see something. We interviewed Robb Zipp, a domestic flight attendant who frequently explores cities during layovers, to learn how he plans his time, what he prioritizes, and his recommendations for cities where a short stop can feel like a real visit.

How Zipp Makes the Most of Layovers

Zipp flies domestic routes and often lands with half days or overnights between flights. He documents his layover adventures on his YouTube channel, “The Robb Zipp Show.” His approach is practical, weighing his layover time, hotel location, and transit options to choose a few stops (often food) with enough buffer time to get back before his next flight.

These are some of his best tips for enjoying layovers:

• Set a minimum time. If you’ve got about 12 hours total and it’s mostly overnight, rest. If you have more than 12 hours or a free afternoon, go for it.
• Let your location dictate your plans. Staying downtown at a walkable hotel? That’s a great opportunity explore. But it’s probably best to rest and get food delivered if you’re sleeping at an airport hotel with no sidewalks or transit nearby.
• Start with food, picking an iconic local dish and searching for the best place to enjoy it.
• Compare transportation options, and don’t default to ride-sharing apps. Use public transportation whenever possible.
• Find events with apps. Search Bandsintown for concerts and team apps, StubHub for games, and SeatGeek for tickets. Just be aware that you can lose money with nonrefundable tickets if your plans change.
• Check tour platforms such as Viator, Groupon, and Tripadvisor for ideas and price benchmarks, then check the operator’s site to see if you can get a better deal by booking directly.
• Favor flexible tickets and day-of choices, avoiding nonrefundable time-specific tours if your schedule could change.
• Travel light and pack a day bag with essentials, such as an external battery pack, snacks, and a refillable water bottle.
• Leave enough buffer time to get back at least 2 to 3 hours before your flight or transportation pickup.

How Long Do You Need To Make a Layover Count?

Turning a layover into an adventure is all about timing. Try to do too much on a short layover and you’ll sacrifice much-needed rest time. In that case, make peace with doing less. But if you’ll be in town all day, it’s probably worth it to venture out.

“I’ve had layovers as short as 12 hours and as long as 32,” Zipp explains.

If it’s 12 hours, he’ll probably rest, getting some food and sleep so he can be ready for the next flight. But if he has an afternoon or more available time in a layover city, Zipp starts planning. Anything more than 12 hours is probably fair game for a layover adventure.

For example, Zipp is arriving late at night on an upcoming layover in Newark, but he has most of the next day free before his next flight. His agenda is a train to Penn Station and a New York City pizza tour. He’s hitting NY Pizza Suprema by Penn Station, then Joe’s Pizza from “Spider-Man 2,” and finishing with a Neapolitan-style place that’s Michelin-rated, if he can get a reservation.

Balancing Rest and Exploration

Trying to do it all is tempting, but Zipp emphasizes knowing your limits.

He’s quick to point out that having more time doesn’t necessarily mean you should try to find activities for every moment.

“I’ve definitely overexerted myself on layovers,” he says.

In Las Vegas, for example, he went to Red Rock Canyon, walked all over Vegas’ downtown, ate a lot, then had to nap before his flight. He’s learned instead to strike a balance. If he only has a night at an airport hotel with no sidewalks or transit, that’s clearly a rest layover, and he’ll order food and call it a night. But give him a downtown hotel with nearby transit or walkability, and he’s out the door.

Finding Cool Things To Do Fast

Zipp is big on booking tours and unique experiences. He often starts with Groupon, Viator, and Tripadvisor as he plans a layover. Checking out tours gives him ideas for the experiences available where he’s visiting, even if he doesn’t book with the platform.

“I’ll look at the deals they have, and then I’ll go on the business websites and see if they can give me a better deal,” he says.

The tour companies sometimes work with him when he tells them he saw the tour platform deal but wants to book directly. He also uses Bandsintown to check for concerts and sporting events. A recent Detroit layover lined up perfectly with a soccer game, for example.

Of course, booking tours and experiences ahead of time isn’t without risk. He planned a Disneyland visit on an Orange County, California, layover, but the flight got canceled. Fortunately, Disney tickets are easy to rebook for a later date, but other experiences might not be as refundable or flexible.

Bottom Line:

Look for flexible bookings, day-of purchases, or low-commitment plans. For ticketed events or tours, consider your likelihood of making it, rebooking rules, and resale potential. When you book a tour, consider messaging the operator to confirm the tour will operate as scheduled.

Eating Through Layovers

Zipp has a simple formula for turning a short trip into a full experience: Find the food.

“Every city has 1 or 2 dishes they’re known for,” he says. “In Chicago, they’ve got the tavern style and deep dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches, and hot dogs.”

In Louisville, Kentucky? Try the hot brown sandwich. Time in San Juan, Puerto Rico? Drink a piña colada where it was invented.

One of Zipp’s most memorable meals was the whiskey grilled cheese at Killer PoBoys in New Orleans. Formerly known as the Jameson grilled cheese, it’s soaked in whiskey, stuffed with 3 kinds of cheese, buttered up, and grilled. “It’s served in quarters, so you can share, if you want,” he says.

Zipp is also quick to warn against the safe choice. “Don’t go to Olive Garden in Times Square,” he says. “I’ve had friends do that. Please don’t. Go out of your comfort zone.”

Even setbacks sometimes turn into stories. “In Las Vegas, I booked a secret food tour through Groupon,” he says. “They canceled the tour because I was the only one who booked that time.” He ultimately made his own tour and had an adventure.

Getting Around in a Layover City

Use public transportation whenever possible, and don’t assume ride-sharing apps are best, he says.

“I try to do free or public transportation as much as I can, because Lyft and Uber can get real expensive, especially if you’re staying right next to the airport,” Zipp says.

He says many cities have transportation that can take you from the airport to the city center. For example, Dallas and Fort Worth have the DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) system, and there’s the FlyAway bus in Los Angeles. In Oakland, you can use BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to get around within San Francisco, Oakland, and other parts of the Bay Area.

Best U.S. Layover Cities

If you can choose where you connect, some cities are better than others for quick layover trips. These are Zipp’s top picks for layovers.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas has the perfect combination of endless entertainment and easy transportation. Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is basically on the Strip, says Zipp, and you can be at your hotel or a show within 15 minutes of hitting baggage claim. He always takes a cab, because there are set rates and no surge pricing like you might get with a ride-sharing app.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Zipp loves visiting San Juan because it’s part of the U.S., but feels like another country.

“It’s on the Caribbean Sea, and the water is beautiful,” he says. “I was there on a day where there were no cruise ships, and it was perfect.”

He recommends walking around Old Town and exploring the fortresses.

Oakland, California

With BART, you can quickly go from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to San Francisco.

“Oakland itself has a lot of charm,” says Zipp.

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis has a small airport and tons of culture. Grab some ribs, walk through the National Civil Rights Museum, and be back in time for your flight, Zipp says.

San Antonio, Texas

If you’ve never been, hit the River Walk and eat Tex-Mex. It’s touristy, sure, but it’s iconic for a reason.

New Orleans

Food is the main draw of New Orleans for Zipp. You can take a streetcar to some of New Orleans’ top destinations, but pace yourself if you want to eat and drink everything.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

With an airport close to the beach, you can turn a layover into a beach day in Fort Lauderdale.

“Just sit at the beach for a couple of hours and get back,” Zipp says.

Hot Tip:

Need inspiration? See Zipp’s YouTube playlist, “Robb Zipp on a Layover Everywhere,” for highlights from cities he’s visited.

Final Thoughts

For Zipp, layovers aren’t an inconvenience but an outlet — a way to scratch the travel itch even on a tight schedule. His advice? Be curious and flexible, picking a local bite and a sight, then ensuring you have a big buffer to get back.

As Zipp puts it, “Every city has something to offer.”