Happy Memorial Day! We just got back from our trip to Southern California and I’ll start posting on our lovely weekend there shortly, but as we get back into another week ahead, this is a post I’ve been wanting to do for a long time and have had a few requests for it over the previous months.
As we travel around the world, we spend a lot of time in airports. And while there are some great ones, there are also some not so great ones, so today and tomorrow, I’m going to be sharing some of the best and some of the worst that we’ve traveled through and that have made an impression on us.
Today, these are some of my favorite airports around the globe. While there are an endless list of airports to fly in and out of, these have ended up being my favorites for various reasons as I show below.
I’m really lucky to have a fantastic airport out of my home city. PDX wins awards every year for the best airports in the country and it’s a fantastic hub of airlines in the Pacific NW. The Portland airport not only is easy to navigate and quick to get to from anywhere in the Portland area, it also offers the fantastic light rail service direct to the airport via MAX throughout the Portland metro area and boasts a great grouping of in-airport services and restaurants including a Powell’s satellite as well as a Rose’s bakery (2 Portland favorites).
Heathrow got a major renovation a few years back due to London hosting the Olympics last year and I got the chance to fly through before and after the renovations a few different times to see the differences and they really did do a splendid job. To deal with the massive amounts of people flowing throughout the airport for the Olympics, the airport is now better equipped to manage large groups of travelers on a daily basis through this European hub. The renovation is beautiful and the terminals are full of light, lots of seating and fantastic shopping and restaurants like Giraffe, one of our favorite London chains. The efficient kiosk check in systems at security checkpoints makes it quick and efficient to get through quickly without having to go to counters and wait in lines and the efficient tray systems at security checkpoints are a couple of my favorite new features from the renovation at Heathrow.
Heathrow also has great options to get into London quickly. Our favorite option is the Heathrow Express that puts into the London city center in about 30 minutes.
Whenever we’re flying intra-Europe flights out of London, we try to fly out of Gatwick. It’s smaller than Heathrow and offers a more intimate airport experience, especially when flying budget airlines throughout Europe like EasyJet who flies out of Gatwick rather than Heathrow. The check in area at Gatwick is easy and efficient and though there are some long terminals to walk to flights, I think overall the layout is fairly easy to navigate. The transportation to get to the airport via Victoria Station on train is also easy and convenient from central London.
While I have mixed feelings on Charles de Gaulle (Paris’ main airport), Orly is a nice alternative. It’s Paris’ smaller airport, home to budget airlines like Easy Jet and Ryan Air but offers a great assortment of destinations to fly to. It’s super easy to get to from central Paris via the metro lines and takes less time to manage through than CDG, I love flying through Orly.
Sea-Tac is one of those airports that seems smaller than it actually is. While a fairly large airport hub for the Pacific NW, it always seems easy to navigate and is convenient and quick to get from one terminal to another. We fly out of Seattle a lot for both international and domestic trips and it’s always a favorite of ours. With lots of light from large windows throughout, good restaurant options and lots of great destinations on the list of where you can fly to, it’s an airport we enjoy.
When I was flying back and forth to Seoul for work a few years ago, I always loved my time at Incheon. Located about 45 minutes outside of Seoul, Incheon Airport is a dream when it comes to airports. As it’s trying to become more of a major hub in Asia, the airport is new and clean, with amazing food, flight options and comfortable lounges. Everything from spas to rooms to rest, Incheon has it all.
Kiki says
I love flying out of PDX. Always makes me feel less stressed since it is a smaller airport and easier to navigate.
Casey Martin says
I know, it’s such a low stress easy airport!
Amy Hayes says
I love the London airports!! They have a sense of home for me too, as my very first overseas trip was there and I ended up living there later on in life. I’d have to add the airport in Singapore to this list – best long layover I ever had there! 🙂
Casey Martin says
Totally! I agree, the London airports are great and both make you really feel like, “wow, I’m in London” 🙂
Kelley Matney says
I had a 5 hour layover in Heathrow one time, which was too short to head out to see the city. But, it was a great place to be stuck for 5 hours so many restaurant options and great seating (actual couches to take a nap on!)
Casey Martin says
Yea, it’s a great airport for a layover!!!!
Melanie Fontaine says
You’re going to love the Airport in Copenhagen as well – modern, lots of great shopping and houses one of my favorite juice bars, Joe & The Juice. Just a little heads up in case you have any time to spend there on your upcoming trip! 😉 I’ve flown to and from Gatwick a lot lately as well and think it’s a good airport – especially now that there is a duty free in the South Terminal! 😉
Casey Martin says
Oh yay! I’m excited to try out Copehagen’s airport in October! 🙂
Courtney says
Thanks for the Sea-Tac shout out 😉 I may be a bit biased, but it’s certainly my favorite airport to spend time in! But I’m curious, what are some of your least favorite airports?
Casey Martin says
I love Sea-Tac!!! And I’ve got my least favorites up today 🙂
Melissa Williscroft says
I’m a huge fan of Gatwick — easy to get into central London, lots of places to eat and the International terminal is nice and new. I will confess, whenever I have to fly through SeaTac, I am happy when my layover is long enough to enjoy a flight at Vino Volo 🙂
Casey Martin says
Yea, I like Gatwick a lot! And yes, Sea-Tac is a lovely airport! We love flying through there!
Jane {In The Pink & Green} says
I’m biased, but I agree that Portland is the best! I love flying in and out of there and I’m thankful it’s my home airport! The Detroit airport is fairly nice from an aesthetic standpoint, but given the crazy winter that Michigan can get in the winter, it’s definitely not my favorite for that reason. I did really like Incheon though when we had a layover there after our trip to Thailand, and the fact that they offer free tours of Seoul for people on layovers is amazing!
Casey Martin says
It really is, isn’t it!??! Portland is a great airport!
Amanda @ Living in Another Language says
You forgot to mention Singapore! Most AMAZING airport I’ve ever been to! 🙂 An airport that has a Hard Rock, Butterfly Garden, and Showers? Can’t beat that! 😉
Casey Martin says
I haven’t flown through Singapore but I hear amazing things bout that airport!!! 🙂
Rachel @ Rainy Days & Rubber Ducks says
I am in complete agreement! I am also in Portland and am always delighted to come back to our fabulous airport!
Casey Martin says
It really is such a nice airport to come home to!
The Happy Type says
YAYYYY!!! Incheon made your list and that makes my heart happy because it’s seriously my favorite airport…EVER! Great list and thanks for sharing this for all the travelers out there!
Casey Martin says
I love Incheon!!!!!
Esther Ju*Lee says
great list! you should check out changi (singapore’s airport).. i love korea.. but i would say that one is really nice in comparison. 🙂 i want to check out portland’s now! i keep hearing about it.
Casey Martin says
That’s what I keep hearing! I’ll have to check out the Singapore airport sometime!
Bailey K. | Let Birds Fly says
While I loved the feel of Sea-Tac, I had a weird time with TSA and other staff there. For example, walking up to airport security, I was excited about the small line (like 10ish people), but it took about twice the amount of time I’ve seen at other comparably large airports with maybe 50 people in line. They made all the bags go in the scanner one at a time (like only one or two bags on the conveyor belt at a time), and since that was taking so long, they made us go before our bags. Which means that someone else in the line behind you had to push your bags on the conveyor belt, and then I had to wait a good 2-3 minutes after getting my shoes back on for my bags to show up. Anyway, sorry for the novel. Either they were new, very unorganized, or there are just weird policies there. Otherwise, the airport was good. And nothing can put a damper on my spirit when I’m traveling (unless I’m about to miss my flight)!
Casey Martin says
Hmm, that’s interesting to hear! I’ve never had that problem there, though TSA is so inconsistent and weird sometimes that you just never know with them!
Sarah says
As I live split between London and Philadelphia, I spend an excessive amount of time at Heathrow. It is a pretty great airport, although my complaints are that there isn’t unlimited free wifi and not enough outlets. I’m of the opinion that there should ALWAYS be free wifi in airports, and plenty of places to charge things before you get on your flight.
Casey Martin says
I agree, wifi and outlets should be standard. Though being in the design field I do know how hard it is to have outlets all over (from a design/install stand point), especially when renovating. But yes, I think wifi should be free everywhere, but sadly most airports haven’t embraced that yet!