The Best Airports in the World: 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards

If there’s one thing you value above all else, it’s the international airport lounge.GettyTrends come and go, but here at Condé Nast Traveler, one thing never changes: your insatiable appetite for seeing the world. This year our readers cast an almighty 798,867 votes in our 39th Readers’ Choice Awards to tell us about the planet’s best travel experiences: You fell hard for palace hotels in Morocco, cruised down the Amazon, and got swept up in New York City’s exhilarating energy. Now, read on to find out where your favorites fall among the winners—and get inspired for where to go next, whether it's to a top-rated hotel or resort, or centered around a worthy cruise, spa, or island. These are the best airports in the world as voted by you, our readers.View the Readers' Choice Award winners for best airports in the US here.Getty10. Munich International Airport (MUC)The Bavarian spirit of innovation is alive and well at the German state's principal airport. Munich stands out for its top-ranked airport VIP terminal and its hotel, which has consistently ranked over the years as one of the world's best airport hotels. Don't miss the on-site restaurant Sportalm, where diners can be seated inside a decommissioned ski lift gondola. If you find yourself traveling in the winter, the airport is also something of a wonderland with its annual Christmas market which lays claim to two ice rinks and nearly 500 real trees.benedek/Getty9. Vancouver International Airport (YVR)Also ranked one of the top airports for accessibility this year, Vancouver International is the gateway to the British Columbia hub's ski slopes and diverse culinary scene. Reflecting the city itself is the dining options inside the airport, like YVR's Japadog on Terminal Level 3—a celebrated hot dog stand where travelers line up for the Kurobuta Terimayo, or #1, topped with seaweed. Beyond the worthy snacking scene, the airport also recently boosted its connections to the southern United States for increased service to Nashville, Tampa, and Raleigh airports during the summer months.Getty8. Zurich Airport (ZRH)As Switzerland’s largest international airport, Zurich is also the main hub for Swiss, which operates business-class and first-class lounges—and those clubs are no joke, thanks to Champagne and whiskey bars. Looking for a place to buy some duty-free chocolate? There are dozens of shops here to browse. Readers also like the variety of restaurants and bars, and if the weather cooperates, there’s an outdoor observation deck with sweeping views of the action on the runways.Peter Tsai Photography / Alamy Stock Photo7. Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)Seoul’s main international airport opened in 2003 on reclaimed land in the port city of Incheon, and has been expanding ever since: A second passenger terminal debuted in 2018, part of the airport’s aim to double its capacity to 100 million passengers annually. Primarily serving the country’s two main airlines, Korean and Asiana, Incheon International also earns points for its spacious VIP lounges and amenities, including an indoor skating rink, a spa, and a “Cultural Street” with local cuisine and dance performances. While it’s 30 miles from the capital, a high-speed rail link makes the trip from terminal to city center in 43 minutes.Saha Entertainment/Getty6. Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)For years, Tokyo’s Haneda was primarily a domestic airport, but it's gaining long-distance flights—and a strong international following. What accounts for its popularity? Simply put, it’s not Narita, the country's bustling international hub that's a 45-mile drive from the capital's center, notorious for, among other things, the $200 cab fare it takes to get there. Haneda, by contrast, is just ten miles from the city center, but it's not just proximity that wins over fliers: Haneda gets high marks for the comfort and cleanliness of its terminals, a wide array of shopping and dining options, and fast and efficient transportation links to downtown Tokyo.Getty5. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)Hong Kong’s international airport offers fast connections to the city from its island aerie, via an Airport Express that whisks travelers from terminal to city center in 24 minutes. It’s also one of the region’s top connecting hubs, with service to dozens of destinations in mainland China alone. Passengers on a layover appreciate the wide array of premium class lounges, amenities like nap rooms, and the Regal Airport Hotel, which Skytrax consistently ranks as one of the world’s best airport hotels. Beyond mere convenience, the Regal includes seven bars, restaurants, and patisseries and the Thai-inspired OM Spa, which offers treatments like an aromatherapy massage with blue chamomile, ylang ylang, and rosemary.Getty4. Dubai International Airport (DXB)Dubai International Airport is so staggeringly enormous that its Terminal 3 alone covers 18.4 million square feet, ranking it the second-largest building in the world by floor space. Unsurprisingly for a city that loves luxury, the airport also houses one of the world’s biggest duty-free shopping centers, and over the years it’s hosted such attention-grabbing amenities as a resident DJ program. As the base for flag carrier Emirates, a Readers’ Choice favorite, it is also served by scores of international airlines, and it’s long been a popular stopover destination for North American travelers heading to East Asia or the South Pacific. Amenities like zen gardens and nap pods help pass the time on a layover of any length.Alamy3. Hamad International Airport (DOH)Doha’s airport is a major connecting hub for Qatar’s eponymous home airline (also a Readers’ Choice pick), and in many ways it feels more like a resort hotel than a bustling transportation hub, with amenities that include a fitness center, squash courts, and an indoor swimming pool. It’s gotten high marks for its premium amenities, with a wide choice of lounges, plus quiet rooms and child’s entertainment zones for passengers in any airline class. For those on longer layovers, there’s the upscale Oryx Airport Hotel right inside the terminal, with half- or full-day rates available, and if your shoulders are feeling a little tense after that long-haul flight, you can stretch your muscles at the hotel’s golf simulator.Istanbul Airport2. Istanbul Airport (IST)For centuries, Istanbul has sat at the crossroads of international trade and travel, so it’s only natural that the Turkish city has stepped into its position as a global transport hub in the age of air travel. Opened in 2018 amid great fanfare—and bold ambitions to become the world’s biggest airport—the new IST reaps praise for its modern design by Grimshaw Architects, which has netted awards for its emphasis on efficiency and sustainability. With high-tech touches like a fleet of robots to direct passengers through the 818-million-square-foot hub and runway capacity to move a total of 90 flights per hour, IST has been cemented as a major global player, and this year dethroned Singapore for top international airport.Getty1. Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)Changi is also home to your favorite international carrier, Singapore Airlines. In addition to being an ideal gateway to dozens of locations in the region, Changi has emerged as a destination in its own right: In 2019, the airport debuted the Moshe Safdie-designed Jewel, which includes indoor forests and waterfalls and the 14,000-square-foot Canopy Park, all under a massive glass dome. Elsewhere, you’ll find open-air decks, the world’s first airport butterfly garden, a free 24-hour movie theater, and even a rooftop pool and hot tub overlooking the runways.This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.