Believe it or not, there are airports around the world where you might actually wish you could stay longer. Activities from fine dining, snooze lounges, gardens, spa’s, free showers, movie theatres, and even full 9-hole golf courses are available for travelers in transit. Not that bad to get stuck right?
Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN)
The Changi Airport was named World’s Best Airport, according to Skytrax, in 2019. There are so many things to see and do at Changi Airport, you risk missing your flight because you’re having so much fun at the airport.
Bounce or snooze
Take a dip in a rooftop pool or wander around in the butterfly, cactus, water lily, or sunflower garden. Bored? Visit the bouncing or walking sky nets or get lost in the Hedge Maze or Mirror Maze. Need a nap? Enter one of the Snooze Lounges for the best nap you ever had at an airport. If you have a layover for at least six hours till your connecting flight, you can join one of the free 2.5 hours guided tours. The Heritage Tour runs four times daily, and the City Sights Tour runs two times daily.
A beautiful waterfall
The eyecatcher of the airport is Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. If you visit at night, you’ll enjoy the spectacular light and sound show (the show is presented every hour from 8.30 pm to midnight). Forest Valley is a large garden surrounding Rain Vortex. It has multiple trails with thousands of trees, plants, and flowers. Don’t you wish you could stay longer to wander around?
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Hong Kong International Airport is the world’s second busiest airport, and it can keep you entertained for hours.
Time to kill
If you want to explore the city and you’ve got a layover of more than six hours, you can take a tour and head into town. Not that much time? You can watch a movie on IMAX in a proper theatre. The IMAX theatre can seat up to 350 customers and has the most giant cinema screen in all Hong Kong. If you want to learn more about Aviation, you can hit the Aviation Discovery Centre, an in-airport museum dedicated to local flight history, complete with a flight simulator.
Virtual sports
i-Sports offers a bunch of simulators that make you feel like you’re playing soccer, basketball, golf, boxing, skiing, car racing, and more. Fancy a golfing session? GreenLive Air is an indoor golf club that offers entertaining golf simulation games that allow you to practice your putting techniques or drives.
Get pampered
The airport has free shower facilities available 24-hours. If you want even more wellness than a shower, you can go to Terminal 1’s Wellness Spa & Salon. This spa offers a range of services from beauty treatments, massages, and manicures/pedicures for all your relaxation needs.
Dubai International Airport (DXB)
Dubai Airport takes the city state’s luxury extremes to even further heights. Visit the many shops at Dubai International Airport; all the usual duty-free goods are there. If you want a fancy dinner, you can eat at the Moet Le Lounge or the Seafood Bar Caviar House.
Arrive flawless
Are you tense and tight from your long flight? Visit the G-Force health club inside the five-star Dubai International Airport hotel. It has a swimming pool, jacuzzi and a steam room for afterward. If you want to get pampered, you can head to the spa. There are three options: Xpress Spa, Be Relax, and the Timeless Spa (in the Dubai International Hotel). Book a treatment to make sure you look perfect when you arrive at your next destination.
Ultimate relaxation
Take a refreshing break in the airport’s Zen Garden with its fish ponds, shrubs, bushes, and palm trees. The natural surroundings are perfect for seeking a bit of peace before you board your next flight. Or have a nap at the Snooze Cubes in Terminals 1 and 3, they allow you to book a mini-hotel room consisting of a sound-proof cubicle with a bed, TV, storage, and Wi-Fi.
Incheon International Airport (ICN)
The Incheon International Airport is proud of its national identity. You don’t even have to leave the terminal, to get a feel for Korean culture for free.
Experience Korean culture
Visit the traditional culture experience zones where you can make Korean crafts such as fans and lucky bags. Watch a traditional performance, or try on traditional Korean clothes. Visit the Korean Culture Museum, which provides a look into the past through exhibits on traditional art, royal clothing, and hangul (the Korean alphabet). You can even taste the flavors of Korea’s most famous street foods at K-STREET FOOD.
Stretch your legs
The airport has several Kids Zones that offer indoor play areas for children like an Ice Forest, an artificial ice-skating rink, and a movie theater. If you want to work out, you can stretch your legs at one of the airport’s Digital Gyms. Do you prefer a relaxing walk? Visit the cactus, flower, and rock gardens.
One thing is sure, at these airports, your layover will fly by.
Did you like this blog about airports? Check out this blog about ‘How to visit Hollywood without even leaving LAX’.
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