When booking international flights, you might come across the terms layover and stopover, but many travelers aren’t sure what sets them apart. Both involve a break between connecting flights, yet the length of time and what you can do during that break make a big difference. A layover is usually a quick connection, while a stopover gives you the chance to explore a new destination before continuing your journey.
And if you’re flying with TAP Air Portugal, you can even turn that longer break into a mini-vacation through the airline’s popular TAP Portugal Stopover Program.
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Stopover vs Layover: What’s the Difference?
What Is a Layover?
A layover is a short stop between flights, usually lasting less than 24 hours for international travel. It’s the time you spend waiting to connect to your next flight.
During a layover, you typically stay inside the airport, relax in the lounge, or grab a quick meal before your next flight.
In other words, a layover is simply a short pause in your journey — not usually a chance to explore the city, unless it lasts more than 10 hours and you can easily get into town.
What Is a Stopover?
A stopover is a longer break — usually more than 24 hours — between connecting flights.
Instead of spending your entire connection time at the airport, you can leave and explore the destination before continuing your journey.
If your stopover takes place in a third country outside the European Union, make sure to check visa requirements before travelling. Some nationalities may need a transit or short-stay visa to leave the airport and explore the city, even for a brief period.
For TAP passengers, a stopover means you can spend up to 10 days in Portugal — at no extra cost to your airfare — thanks to the airline’s unique TAP Portugal Stopover Program.
Layover vs Stopover: Baggage
When you have a layover, your baggage is usually checked through to your final destination, especially if both flights are booked under the same ticket and airline. This means you don’t need to collect your luggage during your short connection — you simply go through security and board your next flight.
In contrast, during a stopover, your journey includes a longer break, often over 24 hours. Depending on your airline and booking type, you may need to collect your bags and recheck them for your onward flight.
Layover vs Stopover: Visa
Visa requirements differ significantly between a layover and a stopover.
During a layover, you generally stay within the airport’s international transit zone, so a visa is not required as long as you don’t pass through immigration. However, if you plan to leave the airport during a long layover, you may need a transit or entry visa, depending on the country and your nationality.
Even if you’re only transiting through a country for a short layover, some destinations still require electronic travel authorization. For example, travelers passing through the United States must have an approved ESTA, while those connecting in Canada need an eTA, even if they don’t leave the airport. Other countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, also require travelers from visa-exempt nations to complete online registration before departure.
For a stopover, where you spend more than 24 hours in the connecting country, you’ll typically need to pass through immigration, which means visa requirements apply. Many destinations offer visa-free entry for European citizens with confirmed onward flights, though some may require online registration or an electronic travel authorization (ETA).
To avoid any issues, always check the visa rules for your stopover destination well in advance — it’s the best way to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey.
What Is the TAP Portugal Stopover Program?
The TAP Portugal Stopover Program is a free service from TAP that lets passengers spend up to 10 days in Lisbon or Porto when flying with TAP to another destination. It allows travelers to turn a long connection into a short visit without paying extra for their airfare. You can add the stopover when booking your flight on flytap.com and even enjoy discounts on hotels, restaurants, and local experiences in Portugal.
Key benefits of the TAP Portugal Stopover program:
- Up to 10 days in Porto or Lisbon with no added flight cost.
- Choose Lisbon or Porto as your stopover city on either the outbound or return journey.
- Exclusive discounts on hotels, tours, and local experiences through TAP’s partners.
- Opportunity to explore iconic Portuguese attractions — from Lisbon’s historic Alfama district to Porto’s riverside wine cellars.
- A promo code for 25% off a domestic TAP flight within Portugal. This allows you to explore another Portuguese destination, such as Porto, Faro, Madeira, or the Azores, during your stopover.
- Allows you to break up a long journey into shorter, more comfortable flights, giving you time to rest and explore Portugal in between.
You can easily add a stopover when booking directly on flytap.com. Just select the “TAP Stopover” option when searching for flights.
When booking an eligible international flight with TAP, you can choose to add a stopover of 1 to 10 days in either Lisbon or Porto, without paying a higher fare.
How to Book a TAP Portugal Stopover?
- Visit the official TAP Air Portugal website.
- Search for your long-haul flight.
- In the pop-up window, select the “TAP Stopover” option.
- Choose Lisbon or Porto as your stopover city.
- Select how long you’d like to stay — from 1 to 10 days.
- Confirm your booking.
Layover vs Stopover: Comparison
| Feature | Layover | Stopover |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Usually less than 24 hours (international) | More than 24 hours (international) |
| Purpose | Short connection between flights | Extended break between connecting flights |
| Can You Leave the Airport? | Usually not recommended, especially for short connections | Yes — travelers often explore the city or stay overnight |
| Common for | Tight flight connections | Long-haul or multi-city itineraries |
| Baggage Handling | Typically checked through to final destination | May need to collect and recheck depending on airline and booking |
| Visa Requirements | Usually not required if staying in the airport transit zone | May require a visa, depending on nationality and country |
| Experience | Quick transit | Opportunity to explore a new destination |
Passenger Rights in Case of a Flight Disruption
If your flight with TAP is delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, you are protected under EU Regulation 261/2004, which outlines your passenger rights.
Under this law, you are entitled to:
- The right to care: If you experience a long delay or cancellation, TAP must provide meals, refreshments, and, if necessary, hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and hotel.
- The right to compensation: If your flight is delayed by more than 3 hours, cancelled at short notice, or you’re denied boarding — and the reason is within TAP’s control — you may be eligible for compensation of €250 to €600, depending on flight distance.
- The right to refund. If your flight is cancelled, you’re entitled to a refund if you choose not to take the alternative flight offered by the airline.
If the disruption is caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, or security risks, compensation may not apply — but your right to care always does.
You can easily submit a refund or compensation request through TAP’s official website.
If you don’t want to manage your compensation claim yourself, work with a flight compensation company. Our partners offer such services.
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Featured photo by Tanathip Rattanatum from Pexels