The stopover sourcebook
Stopover guides, official sources & reports
An extra city starts with the right information. Compare airline programs, check the conditions and find the official answers before you book.
Start with the program’s own rules. The name “stopover” does not create a universal 24-hour eligibility cutoff. Qatar advertises packages for 12 to 96 hours, while Turkish Airlines starts at 20 hours. Check the official sources below for your route and ticket.
Find your airline’s offer
06 OFFICIAL PROGRAMSA waived airfare charge, a hotel benefit and a paid package offer different kinds of value.
Iceland
Icelandair
Most fares: up to 7 nights
Explore the airline’s stopover booking flow, short itineraries and fare-specific stay limits.
Check first: Compare the final price for your dates. Hotels and activities are separate costs. Flex fares may permit longer stays.
Official program ↗Portugal
TAP Air Portugal
Up to 10 days
Add Lisbon or Porto to an eligible journey and browse the program’s hotel, dining and activity offers.
Check first: Use the dedicated stopover booking option. Partner discounts do not mean accommodation is free.
Official program ↗Istanbul
Turkish Airlines
20 hours to 7 days
Check eligible round-trip routes, included hotel nights and the application process for Stopover in Istanbul.
Check first: Apply at least 72 hours ahead. Origin-country rules and cabin affect benefits. Airport transfers are not included.
Official program ↗Doha
Discover Qatar
12 to 96 hours
Compare official hotel packages and confirm that your ticket qualifies before reserving a room.
Check first: Entry-level advertised rates are per person, based on two sharing. Check the room total, dates and extras.
Official program ↗Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways
Up to 2 hotel nights free
Review participating stays in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain and follow the airline’s stopover booking steps.
Check first: Check direct-booking eligibility and secure your hotel voucher. Allowed transit time and included hotel nights are different things.
Official program ↗Dubai
Emirates
Build a stay around your flights
Use the Dubai Experience planner for hotels, activities and short-stay itineraries on your outbound or return journey.
Check first: Compare the complete package price. Dubai Connect has separate eligibility rules for connection accommodation.
Official program ↗Get the practical details right
04 PLANNING GUIDESUse these sources for the questions that a flight search does not answer.
Connection hotels
Dubai Connect eligibility
Emirates official terms
Check the shortest available connection, ticketing and fare requirements before expecting a complimentary hotel. Deliberately choosing a longer connection can make you ineligible.
Read official guide ↗Short transit visits
Free Singapore Tour
Changi Airport guide
For eligible transit passengers with 5.5 to 24 hours between flights. Check tour timings and registration instructions before clearing arrival immigration.
Read official guide ↗Entry requirements
Entering Singapore
Singapore ICA
Use the immigration authority’s guide to check passport, visa and arrival-card requirements before leaving the airport. An airline offer does not grant entry permission.
Read official guide ↗Entry requirements
Qatar visa checker
Visit Qatar
Review the entry route for your nationality and residency, then confirm the documents and conditions that apply to your stopover.
Read official guide ↗What the published reports show
02 INDUSTRY REPORTSHistorical participation data shows how travelers have used these programs.
more stopover visitors
January–April 2025 versus January–April 2024
The program reported 44,000 visitors, up from 25,000 in the same four-month period a year earlier.
Source: Etihad + Abu Dhabi tourism authority
Read original report ↗growth in program visitors
April 2024–January 2025 versus the same prior-year period
The airline reported this increase in stopover participation following the program’s 2021 relaunch.
Source: Qatar Airways / Discover Qatar
Read original report ↗These are operator-reported historical figures, not independent audits, current availability or forecasts. The reporting periods differ, so the percentages should not be used to rank the programs.
Three checks before you commit
What does “free stopover” actually cover?
Read the benefit carefully. Icelandair and TAP advertise stopovers without an additional stopover airfare charge. Your dates can still change the quoted ticket price, and hotels, transfers, meals and activities may cost extra. Compare the complete trip total before paying.
Does a stopover offer include permission to enter?
Check entry requirements separately for your passport and circumstances. The Singapore ICA and Visit Qatar guides above are useful starting points for those destinations. For other countries, check the relevant immigration authority and your airline before booking.
What needs a separate confirmation?
Confirm the hotel or voucher, baggage collection, airport transfers, check-in and check-out times, and the deadline to return for your next flight. Keep written confirmations. Follow your airline’s application instructions rather than assuming benefits are added automatically.
Turn the research into a plan
Use EpicLayover’s toolkit to choose your next planning step, then save the official conditions for your booking.