Flying from Australia to Europe is a long, LONG journey, and bar an experimental flight from Perth to Europe (London I think) you need to change planes at some point in the Middle East or Asia. There are many options – off the top of my head Doha, Abu Dhabi, Delhi, Colombo, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore and even a few farther flung cities such as Seoul and Tokyo. And if you’re there, you might as well have a few nights there to help break up the journey. So, here are three I’d recommend.

1. Dubai

Dubai is a great city, different, with an awesome water park, amazing architecture and great shopping. As a stopover coming from Australia you get the long flight over and done with first, being around 14 hours from Melbourne or Sydney. Then it’s around 6 hours or less to the European city of your choice. Emirates is one of the best connected airlines in the world and so you can get to pretty much any place you like from Dubai.

2. Tokyo

Tokyo is a great city, it’s huge and has so much to see and do. You could easily spend a week in Tokyo, visiting temples, museums (including the Miraikan Museum which is full of science and you can meet the robot Asimo), towers and of course, two Disneylands. Now, this will take longer over all as you are going further out of your way. It’s 9 to 10 hours between Melbourne and Tokyo, and around 12 and half hours Tokyo to London (less time to other European capitals). But the extra journey time is worth it for such a great city.

3. Singapore

This is the option that speeds things up a bit – as it’s the most direct route. It’s only 7 or so hours between Melbourne and Singapore, but the crossing to Europe becomes seriously long – at around 13 and a half hours. However, Singapore is a great city for a stopover with shopping, food, Universal Studios, and so much more to see and do. It is pretty expensive these days, but well worth the stop.

In conclusion I’d actually recommend stopping each way if you can work it – can be tough although I think Emirates have a an Australia – Dubai flight that stops in Singapore. Stop in Dubai one way and Singapore the other if at all possible. Might take some organising but breaking the trip is almost essential in my book!

Thanks for reading – what are your favourite stop over cities and why? Please comment below! May the Journey Never End!