30+ Biggest Airports in the World That Feel Like Entire Cities

Airports are the places between places, and most people have been inside one at least once in their lives. Depending on where you live and where you’re going, most airports are relatively small and uninteresting, with a few terminals, restaurants, convenience stores, and clothing shops. However, there are airports that are so large they almost feel like cities, with lavish decor, unique features, and more. Let’s take a look at some of the largest and busiest airports in the world.

Incheon ICN

The Incheon International Airport is also called the Seoul-Incheon International Airport. It is South Korea’s busiest airport and the 23rd-busiest airport on the planet. About 47.7 million flyers made their way through the airport in 2014.

Passengers can fly nonstop locally and to other destinations around the world, including North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceana. There are dining establishments, several banks, a spa, children’s play areas, and even a golf course for passengers to enjoy.

Istanbul IST

Istanbul Airport is the city’s, as well as Turkey’s, new ultramodern aviation center. The airport opened with limited service in 2018. A year later, full operations were moved from Istanbul Ataturk Airport. The main passenger terminal is one of the world’s largest indoor structures.

The airport’s design incorporates Turkish architectural characteristics derived from arches, domes, mosques, Turkish baths, and even the Istanbul symbol, the tulip. There are plenty of amenities to enjoy, like cafes, airline lounges, prayer rooms, hotels, and more.

San Francisco SFO

The second-busiest airport in California and the busiest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Francisco International Airport can be found about 13 miles south of downtown.

Over 47 million passengers walked through the airport in 2014, and there are about 40 carriers operating from SFO, including Virgin America and United Airlines. All in all, airlines at SFO operate nonstop flights to about 115 destinations around the world.

Singapore SIN

As the primary airport of the country, about 54.1 million passengers passed through the Singapore Changi Airport in 2014. It serves as a hub for Singapore Airlines, Jetstar Asia Airways, And Tigerair, and more than 100 carriers in total operate from the airport.

Some of the more memorable amenities in the airport are its restaurants, retail stores, a transit hotel, a butterfly garden (yes, you heard that right), free tours for transiting passengers, movie theatres, swimming pools, arcades, spas, and more.