Airports don’t have to be the bane of your travelling experience. Some can even put you in the holiday mood before you reach your destination, with art galleries, rooftop pools, cinemas and live music all airside. Here, we reveal the coolest airports around the world (that you might not want to leave).
Click through the gallery to see our pick of the world's most amazing airports...
Any long-haul traveller will tell you that Singapore's Changi Airport is a pretty awesome place to be in transit. It's got it all, including a butterfly garden with over a thousand butterflies, a sunflower garden, a rare orchid garden and a rooftop cactus garden with more than one hundred species of cacti and succulents. And the fun doesn't stop there...
Jewel, which opened in 2019, is a complex home to a forest and the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. It has canopy mazes, foggy clouds and sky nets for clambering through the treetops. The kids will forget they’re even in an airport – it’s a destination in itself.
Not a nature lover? Head to the rooftop swimming pool in Terminal 1 for a splash around or the 24-hour free movie theatres in Terminal 3 to catch a film. Alternatively, enjoy some art: the stunning Kinetic Rain centrepiece in Terminal 1 is purportedly the world's largest kinetic sculpture. Changi is also home to Singapore's tallest slide (pictured), which can be found in Terminal 3.
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Vancouver’s vast airport has plenty to keep its waiting passengers busy – not least two giant marine exhibits, managed by the city’s aquarium. The largest – a 30,115-gallon (114,000l) tank – is home to a host of sea creatures native to British Columbia, including wolf eels, sea urchins and orange cup corals. The smaller of the two is a habitat for Pacific sea nettle jellyfish.
Beyond this tribute to Canada’s sea life, the airport acts as a gallery, showcasing work from some of the nation’s lauded artists. Highlights include The Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe (pictured) by the late Canadian painter and sculptor Bill Reid. A bronze sculpture, it depicts a traditional Haida canoe filled with characters from Haida legend.
Plenty of holidaymakers are itching to get to the beach once their plane touches down – and if you’re headed to the little Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, you’ll not have long to wait at all. This modest airport is situated on Traigh Mhor, which translates as Big Beach. The sand is between your toes as soon as you’ve stepped off the aircraft.
The beach's sandy ridges mean landing is a bumpy affair. At high tide, the three runways are entirely submerged. The airport building is tiny with just the essential amenities – but the astonishing ocean views will keep you occupied while you await your flight.
Heavily upgraded in 2006, this Madrid airport is one for architecture lovers. Gazing at the undulating ceiling, brilliant yellow beams and bold contemporary art is a perfect pastime. Enjoy the natural light as it floods in from the circular skylights.
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Architects Richard Rogers and Antonio Lamela won the Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize in 2006 for the airport’s calming design. There’s more to this place than just the striking building though. Check out the range of designer shops and Spanish restaurants serving Iberian ham, manchego and Rioja wines.
Few airports can claim they’re home to a jungle, but Kuala Lumpur’s International Airport has exactly that. A wooden boardwalk stretches into lush rainforest right in the middle of the terminal and there’s even a misty waterfall along the trail. Detailed plaques en route teach passengers about the Malaysian tropical flora that grows here.
Beyond the mighty jungle, pockets of green are dotted throughout the terminals. To find some extra zen, passengers can head to the airport spa for a massage or a treatment. Future pilots will adore the plane-themed playground on level five, while adult aviation enthusiasts will also delight: a 'Spotter's Deck', with perfect views of aircraft arriving on the runway, was opened in 2019.
The holiday feeling starts as soon as you touch down on the beautiful isle of Koh Samui, just off the east coast of Thailand. An open-air bus painted with tropical flowers greets the plane and there's a pretty, wood-panelled terminal where passengers can relax in pre-departure.
In fact, the gateway to one of Thailand’s most popular destinations is almost as beautiful as the island itself. The airport's entrance is marked by this decorative clock tower (pictured) and, once you're through security, most of the airport is open-air: there's even an outside play area for children. There's no doubt you'll find it very hard to board the plane home from here.
There's lots to like about this vast air hub in Dubai including many shops, the indoor 'Zen' gardens (pictured) and a health club where you can pay to use the pool, sauna and gym. It's one of the world's largest and busiest airports for international passengers.
Located in Terminal 3 of Dubai Airport, Dubai International Hotel is a 5-star hotel reserved only for travellers checked onto a flight. With a choice of rooms and suites, plus this gorgeous oval-shaped indoor pool (pictured), it’s ideally situated for those early morning wake-up calls or long layovers when you need a nap.
Leave this stylish Finnish airport more refreshed than when you arrived by catching a few hours' kip in the sleep pods located in Terminal 1. Once suitably rested, head to the Finnair lounge. It's the place to be for a hot stone massage, sauna experience or beauty treatment.
Helsinki's airport incorporates some core principles of Finnish design, from minimalistic pine-covered walls to plenty of nooks you can curl up in with a book (or laptop). In 2023, another cosy wooden offering appeared at the departure gates: Relove, a coffee shop with an eco-conscious twist. It offers travellers a caffeine fix and the world's first second-hand store located inside an airport.
Numerous artworks and sculptures are dotted throughout the airport, meaning there’s always something interesting to look at. The dragonfly sculpture Concorde, by the talented artist Stefan Lindfors, can be found in the south pier for long-haul flights.
Chicago O’Hare was purportedly the first airport in the world to begin an aeroponic garden (a plot in which plants grow without soil). Swiss chard, habanero peppers, oregano and basil are among the herbs and vegetables that grow here, sprouting from great white towers dotted around the space. Passengers can visit the garden and also feast on the fresh produce grown here in some of the airport’s restaurants.
This unusual garden is not the airport’s only attraction. Psychedelic artworks adorn the walls and colourful, neon-lit passageways give travellers something to look at. There's also a tranquil yoga room so passengers can de-stress before their flight.
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The Maldives' main international hub isn't that exciting on the inside, but the location more than makes up for that. One of the most scenic airports in the world, it's surrounded entirely by water. Bag yourself a window seat to make the most of the view.
Many travellers reach the airport via a small ferry, so there's a jetty directly in front of the departures hall (pictured).
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The adventure starts as soon as you hit the runway of this Indian Ocean paradise. Take a picturesque seaplane or an adrenaline-pumping speedboat ride to get to your resort – just make sure you hold on to your luggage.
As you'd expect in Nashville, there's music as soon as you land. Travellers have been able to enjoy live music at Nashville International Airport since 1988. There are multiple performance areas in the terminal and there's usually a musical performance every day: the airport even has its own 'house band'. There's country music, naturally, but also rhythm and blues, jazz, pop, gospel and bluegrass.
You can also take in art exhibitions at this creative hub before boarding your flight. Its award-winning Arts at the Airport programme features work by local, regional and nationalist artists that rotates on a seasonal basis. Past exhibitions include Spectacle Butterfly (pictured) by the Boston-based artist Hilary Zelson, made from around 500 pairs of sunglasses.
Known as the gateway to Mount Everest, this tiny airport in Nepal is one of the most famous in the world thanks to its dramatic views on landing and take-off. Its terrifyingly small 1,729-foot (527m) runway is perched on a cliff, with a 2,000-foot (609m) drop to the bottom.
As the airport doesn't have a control tower or radar, it’s also considered one of the world’s most dangerous. Weather can also be unpredictable in the area. In 2011, hundreds of Mount Everest trekkers were stuck for a week due to continual fog.
Enter Wellington’s main international terminal and you’ll be greeted by a fearsome dragon. An enormous model of Smaug the Magnificent from local film director Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy is hidden away in a rocky facade, keeping a beady eye on passengers as they check in.
Opened in 2010, The Rock international terminal has received numerous awards for its innovative design, which was inspired by the geology of Wellington’s rugged south coast.
Hong Kong's airport is an impressive place to catch a flight from. Everything from its sheer vastness and ambitious architecture to its efficiency helps to make your time here a memorable experience. You'll have to do plenty of walking but there’s lots to entertain you as you stroll around, including ever-changing art exhibitions and a virtual golf course.
Terminal 1 at Hong Kong International Airport has had a makeover in recent years. Themed breakout zones including an interactive children's area, a workspace with reclining chairs, plus a zone for meditation and movie-watching have all been introduced. No one should miss the SkyDeck roof terrace with its fantastic views over the artificial island of Chek Lap Kok, where the airport is located.
Tallinn will never be the biggest airport in the world, but it’s certainly up there with the cosiest. Stop by Cafe KOHVer to pick up a coffee and fresh pastry, then stay for the Estonian handicrafts and knick-knacks on display. This lovely spot, with its hygge very much on show, is sure to keep you entertained for a while.
Where else but Munich would you find the world’s only airport brewery? The beers, served in Europe’s largest covered beer garden, include regulars such as FliegerQuell, a bitter lager, and seasonal specials. Oktoberfest is year-round at this phenomenal airport.
Munich has a lot going for it, including an impressive food and beverage offering. Sportalm serves hearty Bavarian food in a log cabin-style setting (complete with ski lift). A menu filled with sausage, stews and fondue will certainly get you in the mood for a trip up the Bavarian Alps (or bring back memories, if you're on your way back).
You don't need to leave the confines of the airport to experience some Bavarian culture. The airport hosts its own Christmas market from mid-November and throughout December. Admire the towering Christmas tree, pick up some handmade gifts from the 50-odd stalls, sip a gluhwein or take a spin on the large ice rink before boarding your plane.
The Japanese capital's main air transport hub consistently ranks highly among travellers for its thoughtful design, accessibility and cleanliness. Its shiny atriums and corridors are decorated with bright artwork, while anxious passengers and those with sensory issues can find a little respite at Haneda's signature 'calm down, cool down' spaces.
In between taking in the views from the airport's observation decks and reclining in one of the many massage chairs, be sure to head to the Edo-themed entertainment area if you're transiting through Terminal 3. Modelled on the lantern-lit streets and architecture of 17th-century Japan, you'll find a selection of shops and restaurants that might have you wishing for a delayed flight so you have longer to spend here.
Freshly expanded thanks to Doha hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022, Hamad International Airport is a palatial labyrinth of indoor exotic gardens, big-name designer boutiques and lavish dining spots. More than 50 million travellers pass under its latticed glass canopy every year.
It has everything to make long layovers as comfortable as possible, from hotels, spas and shower facilities to pay-by-the-hour sleep lounges and – if you feel the need to move your body in between flights – even a pay-to-use fitness centre (free for guests of the Oryx Airport Hotel).
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