How to make the most of a stopover in Dubai, Singapore, Miami and more

The airport stopover is generally dismissed as an inconvenience but with a little planning, it can add significantly to the travel experience.

Dubai has announced itself as a global hub in the last 20 years , and has become one of the key halfway houses en route to Australia .

The Burj Khalifa rears dramatically as the world’s tallest building ( 2,722ft/830 m) The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is as epic as any cathedral; the Louvre Abu Dhabi is a superb off-shoot of the Paris art museum.

For Singapore , see Kuala Lumpur International as one of Asia ’s largest airports.

Admire the traditional Bangkok at the Grand Palace (home to Thai royalty since 1782 ) and its neighbour, the Wat Pho temple complex, with its vast reclining buddha.

For a dash of Southeast Asian culture, enjoy the many paintings of the National Gallery .

Mumbai is alive with landmarks, from the Victorian rail relic of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to Mahatma Gandhi’s former home.

Air India ( 0800 048 9254 ; airindia.in) will carry you to the likes of Amritsar (Punjab), Kochi ( Kerala ), Udaipur (Rajasthan ), and Varanasi ( Uttar Pradesh ) Transfer into town You can get a train, but a taxi ( 90 minutes ; 700 Rupees/7) is easier.