Do you have to go through airport security again if you leave the airport if you have a layover?

Yes.

Yes.

Even if you step outside the gate just for a minute and in full view of the security person, or turn around on your way out because you forgot something, they won’t let you back. You have to go to the end of the security line and start over.

Yes – some airports have extensive lounges and shops past security where you can waste time though.

How much time do you have in your layover city? Depending on where you’re going, and the amount of time, it might well be worth the hassle.

For example: once i was flying from the US to the middle east, through Amsterdam. I had about 14 hours in Amsterdam. That was enough for me to leave the airport, catch the train into town, have a great lunch (or maybe it was dinner), do some walking on the canals, catch the train back, and make my flight.

So… tell us more.

Yes.

Thanks all. The airport wasn’t that big, I was just worried about finding my way back to security. There was literally no line when I went through again. I survived.