Top Stopover Cities

TAP's stopover program recently upgraded so you can explore Lisbon or Porto for up to five days (versus the former three days). The airline also offers hotel discounts and free bottles of Portuguese wine at partner restaurants.

These waterside cities are full of colorful buildings, rich history and delicious food. When you go -- whether it's for a stopover or longer -- be sure to pack good walking shoes.

When flying on Finnair, take a pit stop in Helsinki for up to five days on your way to Europe or Asia.

No matter how much time you have, don't use your hours in Helsinki looking for things to do -- instead, look for things to experience. Warm up at Cafe Regatta to experience the city's cafe culture. Then head to Loyly spa for a Finnish sauna.

Air Canada will let you spend a night or more in Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver at no additional airfare. And many Air Canada tickets with extended stopovers include a complimentary night's stay. Take advantage by routing through one city on the way out, and another on the return, allowing you to see two top Canadian destinations.

Each stopover city has its own personality. Want to pretend you're in Europe for a few hours? Check out Montreal. Love exploring a city's street art scene? Toronto is your jam. Want to get outside and stretch your legs? Vancouver's greenery is where it's at.

Japan Airlines' stopover options vary depending on your destination. For North American travelers, the primary option is to stopover in Tokyo. Travelers that are part of the JMB Partner Airlines Awards program are eligible for additional stopovers in the US.

The best way to reach the center of Tokyo from the airport is by subway or train. You can take the Keisei Narita Limited Express train from Terminals 1 or 2 to downtown. This is the most affordable option (around $12 one way). If you decide to extend your stopover for several days, invest in the Pasmo or Suica prepaid cards for public transportation.

Since February, Alitalia's stopover has offered passengers up to three days in Rome, which they supplement with hotel discounts if you need a place to crash.

Check out the St. Clement Basilica, which is a church built over a church built over another church. Explore this 3-tiered structure just steps from the Colosseum, and see how modern Romans to early Christians used the space.

Enjoy a free night in a hotel and take in the city of Doha when flying with Qatar Airways, thanks to the Qatar+ Stopover program. Nationals of 80 countries are able to take advantage of visa-free transit in Qatar.

For those looking for a more down-to-earth, traditional shopping experience, the Souq Waqif is a bustling market filled with smaller shops that offer an array of Middle Eastern crafts. From spices and food to perfume, clothing, jewelry, textiles and souvenirs, you'll be sure to find something unique to take home.

The Panama Tourism Authority and Copa Airlines have partnered to allow passengers transiting through Panama to stop and spend a few days on the way to their final destination.

With a few hours to spare, head to Casco Viejo to check out the beautiful, old-world Spanish architecture. Just don't take off for your next destination without trying Panama's famous Geisha coffee.

In June 2018, Ethiopian Airlines launched the very first nonstop flight from Chicago to Africa. But, the airline flies on from Addis Ababa all over the continent from Cape Town to Windhoek to Namibia to Madagascar. And as of August 2018, you can stopover to explore Addis Ababa and get a complimentary hotel room if you've got an 8- to 24-hour layover.

Besides trying Ethiopia's famous coffee, use your time in "Africa's capital" exploring its vibrant energy and culture. Check out the National Museum of Ethiopia to gain a greater understanding of what makes this city so special.

One potential headache when visiting mainland China is filling out visa paperwork. But you can sidestep that process by booking an Air China stopover. Travel visa-free for up to 24 hours in either Shanghai, Chengdu or Beijing. The airline will even coordinate a free one-night hotel stay, a free airport shuttle and complimentary breakfast.

Whether you have hours or days to spend in each of these cities, don't miss out on indulging in local cuisine. Try hot pot in Chengdu, dumplings or Peking duck in Beijing and xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) in Shanghai.

Thanks to a collaboration between SWISS Air Lines, Switzerland Tourism and Switzerland Travel Centre, it's now easier and cheaper to explore Switzerland. Dubbed "Stopover Switzerland," the program lets travelers flying on SWISS stop for up to four nights, on either inbound or outbound flights. Travelers can elect to plan their own trip or choose from a number of available packages.

With the city only a 10-minute ride from the airport, it's easy to get a lot in before you have to head back for your next flight. Beyond grabbing a piece of chocolate, head to the Kunsthaus to check out its massive art collection and grab a brat or pretzel from a street vendor for sustenance.