13 airports in the world where you can have a good time
The modern lifestyle and love of travel make many of us spend a lot of time in airports. Often, passengers have to make long transfers when they cannot leave the airport building and have to look for entertainment on the spot. Until quite recently, few people were able to somehow take advantage of this time of endless waiting and, moreover, enjoy it. But, fortunately, recently airports are trying in every possible way to brighten up the life of "connecting" passengers.
KAYAK, one of the leading travel planning services, conducted a survey of Russian travelers to find out what they miss most at airports. It turned out that compatriots are frustrated by the lack of free internet, recreation areas, vegetation and art projects. In the meantime, Russian airports, unfortunately, are far from ideal, we will tell you about the world's airports, where all these wishes have already been taken into account and where it is easiest to spend your waiting time with benefit and pleasure. Well, tell us in the comments what unusual things you have already managed or would like to see at the airport!
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1. Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Holland
Amsterdam Airport - one of the largest transfer hubs in Europe - has everything or almost everything. Here is the world's first permanent library, and the world's first museum at the airport - a branch of the Museum of Dutch History and Culture Rijksmuseum, which opened 11 years ago - December 9, 2002, and a casino, and a cheese and tulip market, and much more ...
But, perhaps, the main feature of the airport is that you can get married in it! The airport's own wedding planners offer 4 options for ceremonies, each with its own characteristics - from views of the airfield and renting a vintage plane, to immediate departure for a honeymoon trip.
How to get to Amsterdam
2. Frankfurt Airport, Germany
If you're stuck at Frankfurt Airport and you're over 18, you can pass the time at Germany's only airport casino. Blackjack, American roulette and slot machines await you from 7 am to 10 pm. The main thing is not to lose your ticket!
How to get to Frankfurt
3. Vancouver Airport, Canada
Since 2007, Vancouver Airport has been pleasing its passengers with not even one, but two aquariums at once, where you can spend an infinite amount of “extra” time. About 70,000 different marine creatures, invertebrates and fish live in the main aquarium with a volume of 114 thousand liters. In addition, there is also a small separate aquarium with jellyfish. Is it worth mentioning that the aquarium has its own souvenir shop where you can buy yourself a new friend on the way to the plane - a whale or a shark.
How to get to Vancouver
4. Hong Kong Airport
Hong Kong International Airport provides a unique opportunity to prepare for a flight, being in the cockpit yourself. The most popular object of the Aviation Discovery Center located here is a real flight simulator.
And having flown enough, you can watch a movie in 4-D format, where, in addition to a three-dimensional image, you will get a "presence effect" in the frame due to special effects - wind, water splashes and fog.
How to get to Hong Kong
5. Abu Dhabi Airport, UAE
This eastern airport offers passengers a chance to pass the time between flights playing golf on the sand. By the way, the Al Ghazal Golf Club course is considered one of the best in the world in this category, and in 2004 the World Sand Golf Championship was held here.
How to get to Abu Dhabi
6. Munich Airport, Germany
Here, in German, you can practically combine waiting with going to the doctor. There is a whole medical center at the airport, with an extensive selection of specialists - an ophthalmologist, a dentist, a physiotherapist, an ENT and even a plastic surgeon are waiting for you.
How to get to Munich
7. Sao Paulo Airport, Brazil
In Sao Paulo, you can also “brighten up” your stay at the airport with a visit to the dentist. A good way to start your vacation with a snow-white smile!
How to get to Sao Paulo
8. Ataturk Airport, Istanbul, Türkiye
Istanbul offers to start getting acquainted with the national cuisine, namely sweets, without leaving the airport. Here you can taste the viscous Turkish dondurma ice cream, the sellers of which often tease potential buyers by pulling a long viscous strip to a decent height with a stick, and then lowering it back into the container. And you can eat dondurma with a knife and fork.
How to get to Istanbul
9. Incheon Airport, Seoul, South Korea
The Korean airport is even more serious about the first acquaintance of passengers with national traditions. There is an entire "Street of Korean Culture" with traditional pavilions, gardens, restaurants, shops and even chamber music concerts.
And in Incheon there is an "Ice Forest", where you can go ice skating. It is the first airport skating rink in the world to feature artificial synthetic turf that you can ride without fear of freezing or injury from a fall.
How to get to Seoul
10. Heathrow Airport, London, UK
Rooms for meditation and prayer are now available in many airports, and you will not surprise anyone with them. But London even has its own church - the interfaith chapel of St. George, which opened back in 1968.
How to get to London
11. San Francisco Airport, California, USA
The San Francisco Airport has its own aviation museum, which demonstrates the development of commercial aviation and its role in everyday life. As well as the Museum of Art, located, by the way, in one of the most environmentally friendly terminals in the world, with a wide variety of expositions. For example, in November, the museum opened an exhibition of stunning Japanese toys, representing their evolution from the 17th century to the present day.
How to get to San Francisco
12. Wellington Airport, New Zealand
New Zealand airport is different from many others both outside and inside. A year ago, a huge sculpture of Gollum from the Lord of the Rings trilogy appeared in it, diving for fish right above the heads of amazed passengers who love to spend time looking at the details of this amazing structure. The airport even renamed one of its terminals, welcoming its guests to the "Center of Middle-earth".
How to get to Wellington
13. Changi Airport, Singapore
While waiting for a flight, you can literally unwind here by sliding down the largest slide in the world installed at the airport. Well, if you are not ready to fly about 4 floors, there is a smaller slide nearby. You can ride a small hill for free, and to access a large one you need to spend about $10 at the airport.
For lovers of a more relaxing pastime at Singapore Airport, in addition to numerous gardens and even waterfalls, they also opened the world's first Butterfly Garden at the airport - a tropical oasis where you can watch the numerous species of butterflies that live in Singapore and Malaysia. Butterflies fly freely around and even land on the shoulders of travelers. It's hard to imagine a more peaceful environment for waiting for your flight, especially if you suffer from aerophobia.
How to get to Singapore