196. Why I like one-day layovers
Traveling doesn’t always have to mean a week-long itinerary or a meticulously planned list of attractions. Sometimes, it’s about passing through a place, letting yourself experience just enough to feel its pulse, and moving on. That’s why I love one-day layovers. Sometimes I plan it, sometimes I happen to get a cancelled or delayed flight and the next one is scheduled hours later. I enjoy it. On top of being some kind of "love guru" among my friends, I also fill the role of "travel advisor" and I really like that part. The best part of having a bunch of international friends around the world is that when you're in a tight spot, I know a guy, who knows a guy, ~who knows a guy~ and so on.
A friend of mine so happened to be in a tight spot today and wanted some advice on what to do, stuck in a new city. Whenever I'm in a new place for more than 8 hours and less than 24 hours, I like to take a little day trip and explore the sights.
There’s something freeing about having just one day. With limited time, you focus on what feels most essential rather than trying to see everything. You’re not weighed down by the pressure of doing it all “properly” or trying to uncover every hidden gem. Instead, you lean into the experience that’s right in front of you, however incomplete or fleeting it might be.
When I’m on a stopover, the choices are simple: one or two key places, a meal or two that feels representative, and time to wander- no overthinking allowed. It’s a pace that suits me. Rather than trying to fit my experience into someone else’s idea of what “should” be done, I focus on what I’m curious about.
One memorable stopover I had was in Seoul. I had just a few hours before my next flight, and I decided to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace. I didn’t rush through the entire park, trying to tick off every corner. I spent my time inside the palace grounds, marveling at the blend of nature and admiring everyone's traditional garb. I went took the bus and went to the climbing gym. After crushing some routes and making small talk with a couple of local girls at the gym, I decided to get tofu soup, eating in the humid evening air surrounded by strangers. That was enough.
Me in Seoul for a day in 2022
Stopovers also give you permission to skip things. There’s no expectation to check every box or exhaust yourself in the name of thoroughness. You don’t have to justify why you didn’t make it to the museum everyone raves about or why you skipped the guided tour. You’re there for what feels right in the moment.
On a brief visit to Taipei, I chose to spend my time walking through another temple/palace park, sampling food from the food market, and ending the day at the Taipei 101. I knew there were famous temples I hadn’t seen and neighborhoods I didn’t explore. But rather than feeling like I missed out, I appreciated what I did experience.
Me in Taipei in 2023
One-day stopovers are not about mastery; they’re about discovery. You step into a place knowing you’ll only get a snapshot, but sometimes that’s all you need. It’s enough to pique your interest, to let you imagine what it would be like to return one day and dig deeper.
There’s also something humbling about spending only a day in a place. It reminds you of how vast the world is and how much there is to see and learn. A single day in a city can’t give you the full picture, but it can leave you with a feeling, like a small sense of connection to somewhere new. Stopovers are for the curious, not the committed. One-day layovers aren’t for everyone, but they’re perfect for travelers who value curiosity over commitment. You don’t need a deep dive into every place you visit. Sometimes, a glimpse is enough to spark something meaningful- a moment, a taste, a view that stays with you longer than you’d expect.
~ a red-eye,
<3 K