One day, I was lucky enough to have a layover and ended up at the Heydar Aliyev Airport in Baku. It turned out to be unusually calm and beautiful with its trees all over the territory and wooden beehive kiosks. I was finally won over by the free sleep capsules.
This airport has been awarded the prestigious “five-star airport” status by Skytrax. The organization also creates the most authoritative ranking of airports in the world.
Top 10 airports in the world
Skytrax’s airport ranking was first compiled back in 1999. Since then, it has been updated annually. It is important that the compiling organization is not affiliated with any company, does not represent the interests of any airport and does not gather
In 2024, 570 applicants competed for the title of the best airport. The winners were determined by an online poll that ran from August 2023 to March 2024. Voting was international, with passengers of about a hundred nationalities participating.
The top 10 airports look like this:
- Hamad in Doha
- Changi in Singapore
- Incheon in Seoul
- Haneda to Tokyo
- Narita in Tokyo
- Charles de Gaulle in Paris
- Dubai
- Munich
- Zurich
- Istanbul
Interestingly, the top ten remained almost the same as last year. Only Madrid’s Barajas dropped out of the list, while Dubai Airport rose in the ranking to 7th place. Seoul Incheon joined the top three, while Changi ceded the lead. It turns out that the assessments are quite objective.
Hamad
Where is it located: Doha, Qatar
The airport opened in 2014 and since then it has regularly made it to the world top. It is at the same time an exhibition space for contemporary art objects. For example, the large foyer is decorated with a huge yellow bear with a lamp at its head. It is a bronze sculpture by Swiss artist Urs Fischer. This bear used to stand at one of the skyscrapers in New York. In 2013, the sculpture was sold at Christie’s auction for 6.8 million dollars to a member of the royal family of Qatar. Now all passengers in Hamad can look at the bear.
After the bear, the sculpture “Little Lies” by American sculptor KAWS appeared at the airport. It was donated to the airport by a local museum. And the playgrounds in Hamad were created by another famous sculptor from New York, Tom Otterness.
After viewing the art objects at the airport, you can relax: there are sleeping rooms with sunbeds, spas and a park with several levels for walking.
If time permits, you can book a tour right at the airport. Tours with access to the city are recommended for those who have a transit time of 8 hours or more. It is better to sign up in advance so that there are enough seats. The cost starts from 31 dollars. Independent passengers can get to the city by metro.
Changi
Where is it located: Singapore
This airport has been ranked number one by Skytrax multiple times in the last 10 years. The first terminal opened in 1981. In 40 years of operation, Changi has received more than 300 international awards.
In the five-level hall, visitors can walk on special bridges among live trees.
Four terminals are now accepting flights, and a fifth terminal is due to open in the mid-2030s. In 2019*, more than 68 million passengers visited the airport.
The Jewel shopping and entertainment complex has been the airport’s calling card since 2019. It is there that one of the highest artificial waterfalls in the world is located. There are pedestrian walkways around it at different levels, and the Skytrain, which connects the different airport terminals, runs alongside the water flows.
On the top floor is the canopy park – Changi Canopy Park. There are several rides and activities. The most notable one is a walk on a net stretched at the fifth floor level. The park at Jewel is not the only one at Changi Airport. There is a cactus and water lily garden, an orchid garden and Japanese carp pond, a sunflower garden and even a butterfly garden.
Hotels and spas are located in the transit area. Sleeping areas with free cushioned sun beds are available in each of the four terminals.
Compatriots who have been to Changi write that the airport itself is one of the most interesting sights of Singapore. And they also note that thanks to the carpeting, which is almost everywhere here, sounds are muffled, and there is no usual airport hum.
A subway line runs from Changi to the city. You can also get to Singapore by bus.
Incheon
Where is it: Seoul
In 2023, Incheon served more than 56 million passengers. The airport is known for its lightning-fast operations, which originates from Korea’s “fast-fast” culture. Typical customs clearance times for arriving passengers are just 12 minutes and for departing passengers only 19 minutes (for comparison, the global averages are 45 and 60 minutes, respectively).
Travelers praise both airport terminals for their cleanliness: the waxed floors are always spotless, and any debris is quickly picked up. Staff are friendly and speak several languages.
The airport also has an elaborate entertainment system: there are seven themed gardens, an ice rink, a golf course, a casino, two cinemas, a video game center and a museum of Korean culture. Passengers can use free showers, beauty salons or spend time in one of 90 duty free stores.
Seoul can be reached from the airport by train or buses.
Haneda
Where is it: Tokyo
One of the two international airports in Tokyo, which opened back in 1931. The second one, Narita, is also in the top, in 5th place. In 2023, Haneda Airport served more than 78 million passengers.
Each of the three airport terminals has spas, hairdressing and laundry services, massage chairs, and in two of the three terminals even shoe shine and shoe repair kiosks. Those who wish can rent conference rooms at the airport. Aircraft takeoff and landing can be watched through binoculars from several specially equipped platforms.
Although the first terminal of the airport has an exhibition about its long history, the most interesting terminal for passengers is the third. Here, various objects introduce the culture of Japan:
- Edo-koji street is a special street with restaurants and stores that recreates the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese city as it might have been a couple hundred years ago;
- The wooden bridge is a scaled-down replica of Tokyo’s Nihonbashi Bridge;
- a special area for wishes – a vending machine sells traditional wooden plaques. Airport visitors from all over the world write their dreams and wishes on them. You can study them as a spectator or add your own.
Passengers travel between terminals using free buses and trains. There are subway trains, shuttle buses and boats to the city from the airport. There is also a special bus and train to get from Haneda to Narita Airport.
Narita
Where is it: Tokyo
Narita’s first terminal opened in 1978 and the most recent, the third, opened in 2015.
The airport from the first steps begins to familiarize the foreign visitor with Japanese culture:
- By 2025, all three Narita terminals have been promised to be decorated with Pokémon. The glass partitions have their images on them, and one of the terminals has a photo wall with cartoon characters;
- more than 100 digital displays have been installed in the three terminals. Some of them show pictures of the airport itself. In the departure areas, screens in 25 languages ask tourists to visit the country again;
- next to the images of nature are sprayed with fragrances based on natural oils of Japanese plants: fir, eucalyptus, cypress and others;
- all terminals have galleries and individual art objects. They allow you to learn more about traditional and contemporary Japanese art.
There are more than 80 restaurants in three terminals, mostly with Japanese and Chinese cuisine. There are shops with Japanese goods: you can buy local tea, sweets, kimonos, cosmetics and souvenirs.
There is a capsule hotel on the premises. There are also sleeping rooms and showers, but they all charge a fee. There are trains and a bus to the city.
Charles de Gaulle
Where is it located: Paris
Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport consists of three terminals located on an area of 32 km2, the first terminal was opened in 1974. In 2023, more than 67 million passengers used its services.
A distinctive feature of the airport is the presence of free zones with Playstation and gaming touchscreens in almost all terminals. In areas C and E of Terminal 2, arcade retro games such as Packman have been added.
Several playgrounds have been built for children at the airport. Buses and trains from the airport run not only to the city center, but also directly to Disneyland Paris.
For the large exhibition space in Terminal 2, Parisian museums provide some of their paintings and art objects, and the exhibition is renewed every six months.
Dubai
Where is it located: Dubai
One of the world’s busiest airports was visited by more than 87 million people in 2023. There are three terminals accessible to ordinary passengers, the first and the third can be traveled between without customs control, the second is located on the other side of the airport and can be reached by bus.
Dubai International Airport has luxurious inter0iors, plenty of brand-name stores, fast Wi-Fi and air-conditioning, under which it can get chilly (a sweatshirt won’t be out of place for long waits). The terminals have play spaces, several spa areas, a swimming pool, free showers and children’s areas.
Munich Airport
Where is it located: Munich
Munich Airport opened in 1992. In 2023, more than 37 million passengers visited it.
The inside and outside of Munich Airport are full of metal, glass, soaring structures and spot bright accents.
The airport has two terminals. They contain tourist services bureaus, hairdressers, children’s corners, a medical center, as well as sleeping areas and showers. There are 150 stores and more than 60 restaurants.
But the real gem of the airport is the park. It has a special zone where you can watch the takeoff, landing and refueling of airplanes. There is a playground for children. The park is also the starting point for airport tours, which allow you to see airplanes up close and see the inner workings of the airport terminal.
Trains from the airport to the center of Munich depart every 10 minutes. You can also get into the city by bus.
On the downside, travelers note long lines at passport control for arrivals if you are not an EU citizen.
Zurich Airport
Where is it located: Zurich
Zurich Airport is not just a terminal, but also a venue for cultural events. The air harbor has been the site of the Food Zurich gastronomic festival and hosts music concerts.
Zurich Airport was opened in 1948. In 2023, almost 29 million passengers visited it.
The airport offers 75-minute bus tours on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. During these, visitors can see the aircraft parking lots and drive through the tunnel under the runway.
There are stores of Swiss brands of sportswear (Mammut and Moncler), watches (Bucherer, Victorinox, Swatch), chocolate (Lindt) and cosmetics (La Prairie). There are also children’s playgrounds with mini planes and a control tower, outdoor areas for watching takeoffs and landings, and travel agencies.
If you can leave the transit zone, it’s worth visiting The Circle shopping and entertainment center, opening in late 2020. It is connected to the airport by an underground tunnel.
There are trains and buses to the city center from the airport.
Istanbul Airport
Where is it located: Istanbul
Shortly after opening in 2018, this airport won several awards at once:
- Best Infrastructure Award at Future IT Summit 2018;
- Digital Transformation Award from Airports Council International in 2020;
- the title of “World’s Best Airport” by Condé Nast Traveler magazine in 2024.
In 2023, the airport served more than 76 million passengers. Although it is already the main hub for Turkish Airlines and all foreign airlines, the facility continues to be completed. The work should be fully completed in 2028, at which point Istanbul should become the largest airport in the world, capable of handling 200 million passengers annually.
Travelers praise the beautiful interior with themed photo zones and Turkish bazaar areas. The airport is bright, clean and, with its large open areas, quite quiet. The queues for check-in and arrival are fast.
Passengers can use the shower rooms. The international terminal has special areas for sleeping. From the unexpected: there are special rooms for animals, where there are food dispensers.
Istanbul can be reached by the high-speed metro line or by bus. Although much of the road is on a toll highway, you may encounter traffic jams when entering the city.
Travel Tips
1. If it’s a long transit, it’s worth reading about the peculiarities and pluses of the airport in advance. I didn’t do that once, and Charles de Gaulle airport, one of the top ten in the world, was memorable for the fact that there were mice running around on the sofas of the cafes right under the miniature of the Eiffel Tower.
2. It is useful to check in advance on your airline’s website to find out how early they start check-in for flights. Some companies, such as Turkish Airlines, open check-in early. Many low-cost carriers open check-in two or three hours in advance, so there is no point in arriving at the airport too early.
3. Many airports do not have audible boarding announcements. If the surroundings are unusually quiet, keep an eye on the screens for updates so you don’t miss your plane.
4. Download the airport app in advance if the air harbor has such a service – there you can keep track of flight status, gate number and study an up-to-date map of the building.
