20 July 2015
| Last updated on 20 July 2015
Top 5 Airports for the Best Layovers
With many of us traveling far and wide this summer for holidays or trips back home, we often spend a lot of time at airports.
Due to distance many of us will have a layover in a transiting airport. Some airlines even offer cheaper tickets if you take a non-direct flight so it’s always worth investigating. Whether you are traveling with family or alone it’s always best to know what an airport can offer you. Airports vary from being a one hut terminal to a modern metropolis. EW have complied a list of the best airports for a layover. These airports offer many attractions that will make you wish you had a longer waiting time!
Changi International Airport, Singapore
Airport code: SIN
Distance from city center: 18.8km
Free Wi-Fi: Yes plus 550 free Internet terminals.
Showers: Yes (in lounges)
Outdoor area: Yes
Smoking Area: Yes
Features: A roof top Balinese theme pool, where you can relax in the pool watching planes take off and order light refreshments. If you have stay over of 5 hours plus you can take advantage of the airport's free, two-hour city tours. Free movie theaters to enjoy. This airport really does have it all with a butterfly garden, access to gaming (Including Xbox and PlayStation) in the entertainment area, abundant gardens and children’s play areas across all terminals. For the art lovers out there you can visits the Kinetic rain sculpture in Terminal 2. For those adults who still like to let the child out of them you can even enjoy the airport’s indoor 40ft slide! SIN almost becomes a destination itself.
San Francisco International Airport, USA
Airport code: SFO
Distance from city center: 22.5 km
Free Wi-Fi: Yes
Showers: Yes (at a fee)
Outdoor area: No
Smoking Area: No
Features: The world’s first yoga room at an airport complete with a reflection room. Spend an hour exploring the museums with over 40 exhibitions showcasing cultural, art, historical and scientific topics. You can enjoy the airports 24 hour aquarium in T1. There are plenty of water refilling stations and mobile charging areas. There is also an Xpress Spa to help loosen up those stiff muscles before your next flight.
You might also be interested in:
Zurich Airport, Switzerland
Airport code: ZRH
Distance from city center: 13 km
Free Wi-Fi: Yes, free for 60 minutes Internet kiosks are available both landside and airside, once again the first 60 minutes are free.
Showers: Yes (at a fee)
Outdoor area: Yes
Smoking Area: Yes
Features: This airport is the best of both worlds. It’s small and easy to navigate but also has lots to do and see. There are two observation decks. The newly renovated Observation Deck has multimedia binoculars and a miniature airport for children to play. The airport offers a behind the scene sightseeing tour, in case you always wonder how it all works! It takes just over one hour and you can purchase tickets at the observation deck. If you are on longer stopover you can even rent bicycles or inline skates and grab some fresh air in-between flights.
Seoul Incheon Airport, South Korea
Airport code: ICN
Distance from city center: 48.8 km
Free Wi-Fi: Free
Showers: Free showers in the Rest & Relax Zone
Outdoor area: Yes
Smoking Area: Yes
Features: This is another airport that has plenty to offer. There are multiple gardens for you to walk around and enjoy. You even perfect your swing with the Sky72 Golf Club that’s host a 330-yard driving range and 18-hole putting course in the international business area. Lots of things to keep the whole family entertain with 2 movie theatres showing films from around the globe, The Korean Culture Museum and Traditional Culture Experience. These are great places to visit as they have free shows and interactive sessions.
Munich Airport, Germany
Airport code: MUC
Distance from city center: 40 km
Free Wi-Fi: Yes
Showers: Yes
Outdoor area: Yes
Smoking Area: No
Features: What to do, what to do! Maybe have some fun playing mini golf? Or visit the aircraft museum? Or just relax and catch a film in the 60-seater cinema. If you are on a longer layover there are many tourist attractions within easy reach of the airport you can even climb up the 28m high viewing platform and plan spot!
