A lengthy layover in a city like Amsterdam or Hong Kong is a special kind of torment. You desperately want to get out and explore… but what if you miss your connecting flight? Is it worth leaving the airport during a layover, or should you pass the time in the lounge instead?

Here’s how to decide, step by step. And don’t forget: For unexpected long layovers, travel insurance is your best friend. Get a quote now.

1. Find out if you’ll be able to leave the airport.

Are you allowed to leave the airport during a layover? That depends on where you are. For U.S. travelers on domestic flights, there’s nothing stopping you from walking out of the airport. For international travel, you may need a visa or travel authorization, even if you’re just visiting a country for a few hours. Check the U.S. Department of State’s entry requirements for your destination first.

If you can leave the airport, and you’re passing through a city you’ve always wanted to visit, you may be able to plan your stopover there. To have a long layover on purpose, try booking a multi-city flight itinerary, or simply choose the flight option with the longest pause between flights.

Some airlines even encourage you to linger with stopover programs, also called “stopovers paid by carrier.” Sometimes this means you get a long layover without paying additional airfare, like the Panama stopover program offered by Copa Airlines. Sometimes you get major freebies. Etihad Airways offers up to two free hotel nights with its Abu Dhabi stopover program.

2. Calculate the time you need to leave the airport during your layover.

A 6-hour layover sounds like an eternity… but it’s pretty short for planning an excursion. Remember, you’ll have to:

• Pass through immigration and customs
• Collect your baggage (and find a place to stash it, if possible)
• Catch a cab or take public transport (Check the timetables, so you don’t miss your ride back.)

Once you’re done sightseeing, you’ll have to do it all again:

• Travel back to the airport (Get there at least two hours before your flight departs, or longer if it’s a busy time of year.)
• Collect and re-check bags
• Pass through security
• Get to your gate

There are risks of leaving during a layover. You might spend way more than you’d planned on transportation and sightseeing. You could get stuck in traffic or a super-long security line. If you miss your connecting flight, booking a new flight will be your responsibility. And if you’re an anxious traveler, you might not be able to enjoy yourself if you’re worried about getting back to the airport on time.

3. Have a plan for layover sightseeing.

You can’t see all the sights in a major city in a single afternoon. And that’s OK! When you’re leaving the airport during a layover, it’s best to have a specific, attainable goal. For instance, you might want to catch a special exhibition at a local museum, or stroll through a famous park, or sample some street food. Here are a few suggested itineraries:

• Have a 6-hour layover in Amsterdam? That should be enough time to explore. First, check Schiphol’s expected crowd levels that day. Book a time slot to breeze through security screening (yes, it’s free!) Then, hop on the train right from the airport: it runs eight times an hour between Amsterdam and Schiphol and takes just 17 minutes. You can stroll around the lovely Jordaan neighborhood, have coffee or lunch, then head back.

• Have a 7-hour layover in Taipei? Good news: You may be able to take a free half-day tour. International, visa-exempt passengers with a layover of at least 7 hours at Taoyuan International Airport can sign up for a free sightseeing tour. One tour visits Lungshan Temple, the National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, and picturesque Yongkang Street. The weekend walking tour highlights architectural sights and includes food tastings.

• Have an 8-hour layover in Doha? See some spectacular artwork in the Museum of Islamic Art, then head to the Souq Waqif for snacks and shopping. If you’re flying Qatar Airways and you have a layover in Doha of 8 hours or more, the airline may provide you with a discounted or free hotel room, free airport transfer, and a free temporary entry visa.

4. Get help planning your layover mini-adventure.

You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Going.com has a collection of guides for layovers in cities like Singapore, Guangzhou, and Frankfurt. Free layover tours for travelers are offered in several cities, including Incheon, Hong Kong, and Istanbul.

You can also use the complimentary concierge services included with many Allianz Travel Insurance plans. Our travel concierges are happy to answer questions about your destination and assist with aspects of your trip planning. They can help you plan the logistics of your layover tour:

• The time required to reach city center and the best way to get there
• Recommendations for things to see (and help booking tickets or making reservations)
• Suggestions for places to eat and shop

While there’s no extra charge for our concierge services, the traveler is responsible for the cost of any purchases.

5. Unexpected long layover? Travel insurance can make it better.

It’s one thing to plan a leisurely afternoon of sightseeing during a layover. It’s quite another to find out that a 90-minute layover is now a 12-hour wait due to a flight delay.

Whether you decide to stay in the airport or spend a night on the town, the travel delay benefit in your insurance plan can help you enjoy your delay. Yes, we said enjoy! That’s because travel insurance can reimburse you for additional eligible expenses for meals, accommodation, communication, and transportation during a covered delay. Your Uber into town can be reimbursed. So can your hotel stay, and a delightful dinner.

(Prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses lost because of a covered delay may also be reimbursed. Check your plan’s maximum dollar limit (per person and per day) for travel delay benefits, as well as the minimum required delay and the covered reasons for a travel delay.)

If you have OneTrip Prime or OneTrip Premier, you can get paid for an eligible travel delay even if you don’t have extra expenses. Both these plans include SmartBenefits®, which can give you an automatic payment of $100 per insured person, per day, for a covered flight delay. No need to submit receipts for reimbursement—you just get the money, whether by direct payment to your debit card or direct deposit.

If you end up spending more than $100 on covered expenses during the delay, then you can submit a claim with receipts for the remaining expenses (up to the maximum benefit limit specified in your plan.) Please note that SmartBenefits are not available in all states.

Read more: How to Deal With Long Flight Delays (and When to Cancel Your Trip)

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