Long layovers? Here are the 8 best free city tours

Taipei

If you have at least eight hours in your hand while at the Taipei airport, you can hop on a city tour organised by the airport.

There are two tours; Tour A ferries guests to the gorgeous Zushih Temple and a pottery shopping afterward while Tour B takes people to Taiwan's Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Taipei 101, the country's tallest building.

You can book your tours at the Tourist Service Centre in the main arrivals hall at the airport where tours are offered twice a day.

Singapore

Singapore's Changi airport features a butterfly garden, video gaming rooms, free massage chairs, cinema halls and free Wifi which make it one of the best airports in the world. You can also take a city tour if your layover is a long one.

The two-hour long tour trips are themed. The heritage tour explores the Colonial District, Chinatown and Marina Bay Sands, while the city of lights tour departs in the evening and shows the best of the city after dark.

You can book your tours in the Transfer Lounge F in Terminal 2 or Transfer Lounge A in Terminal 3. There are four Heritage and two City Sights tours per day.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam's city tour is by far the most unique one.

If you're flying with the national carrier KLM and have a layover of six hours or more, you can sign up for the airline's 'layover with a local' program.

All you have to do is fill out a questionnaire about your interests in fashion, food, tech, etc and the Dutch airline will pair you with an English speaking local and hand over free bus tickets to the city and back.

What's better? They will pay for your first round of drinks with your new Dutch pal at a bar in central Amsterdam!

Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City in Utah is a major layover point for transcontinental US flights.

If you have more than two hours to spare you can get a tour of the Temple Square area of downtown SLC.

You can also take a walk to the City Creek Park and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.

Booking the tours aren't a big hassle, you can get a brochure for the day's pickup and dropoff schedule and where to catch the shuttle at the information desk.

Seoul

Seoul's Incheon Airport have city tours for as little as one hour, allowing you to squeeze in your layover time exploring the wonderful city.

Travellers can choose between temple-focused or city-focused tours and if you even want an airport tour, you can! 

Istanbul

At Istanbul's Ataturk Airport you can sign up for the free 'touristanbul' program which gives travelers a tour of the city and some of its iconic landmarks, including Hippodrome Square, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace.

You can sign up for one of the five daily tour departures at the Hotel Desk in the international arrivals hall.

Tokyo

City tours at Tokyo's Narita Airport are divided into two groups: sightseeing and shopping.

If you opt to go sightseeing, you can explore the towns of Tako or Shibayama, go on a forest walk or visit the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences.

Travellers who want to shop can take the train from the airport to one of the two malls.

Doha

If you have six hours between flights in Doha's International Airport you can avail free tours that cover all the major attractions like the Zaha Hadid-designed Museum of Islamic Art, the Souk Watif and the Katara Cultural Village.

What's more, you get a complimentary visa for your tour.