5 Unique Airports Around the World

Some people see airports as glorified waiting rooms with overpriced snacks and endless hallways. Others think they’re fascinating spaces of human activity and hubs of excitement—part travel hub, part art gallery, part mall, and sometimes architectural masterpieces. Sure, airports have a purpose: to comfortably transport people from A to B. But some airports that manage to break the mold with jaw-dropping designs, indoor gardens, or breathtaking locations can transform a simple transit into an experience in its own right. Between security checks, passport control, and anticipations of turbulence, traveling can be stressful. These eleven unique airports will have you wondering why every travel hub isn’t this spectacular.

Madrid–Barajas Airport, Spain

Madrid’s Barajas Airport was first inaugurated in 1931 as the city’s main international airport. Designed by Richard Rogers and Antonio Lamela, this architectural gem showcases a stunning dome-shaped roof over Terminal 4.

The terminal is overflowing with natural light, which creates a relaxing ambiance for travelers. The wavy ceiling, supported by central pillars that resemble modern trees, not only adds beauty to the building but also helps reduce the airport’s energy consumption.

It’s Spain’s busiest airport, serving as a hub for the local Iberian Airlines. Passengers cruise through this sunny terminal en route across Europe and beyond.

Beijing Daxing International Airport, China

From a bird’s eye view (or a plane’s view), the Beijing Daxing International Airport looks like a six-pointed star. Opened in 2019, it is a masterpiece of modern architecture designed by the late Zaha Hadid. Its starfish-shaped terminal is both futuristic and functional, minimizing the usual long walking distances for passengers with a centralized atrium format.From inside, the ergonomically inspired space feels enormous. It has vast open spaces and, thanks to its many skylights, plenty of natural light.

It’s a major hub for Air China and Hainan Airlines, connecting Beijing with just about every domestic Chinese and international destination.

Denver International Airport

Denver International Airport is easily recognizable for its tent-shaped roof, designed to resemble the snow-capped mountains of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. The unique design pays homage to the region’s natural beauty (and the reason a bulk of passengers fly into this airport in the first place).

And the ceiling isn’t just impressive in the daylight. It’s illuminated at night to look like the warm light shining through the canvas of a tent.

The interior also has some impressive feats, with interesting art murals and rotating exhibitions covering the terminal walls.

Samui Airport, Thailand

The airport in Koh Samui, Thailand, looks more like the lobby of a tropical resort than an airport at all. Opened in 1989 and privately owned by Bangkok Airways, it’s a breath of fresh air compared to traditional stuffy airports—literally. It’s designed using traditional Thai building techniques, with an open-air terminal that makes you feel as if you’re sitting in a calming tropical garden.

It’s built using local natural materials like palm wood and rattan and is minimally furnished for extra effect. The lack of walls really lets passengers get into the tropical vibe from the moment they step off the plane.

Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Nepal

Sitting at an impressive elevation of 2845 meters above sea level, Nepal’s Tenzing-Hillary Airport (sometimes called Lukla Airport) is not for the faint of heart. It’s one of the world’s most dangerous airports to fly into, because of its incredibly short runway that ends with a steep cliff drop. On top of this, it often gets battered by extreme weather because of its high elevation.

It’s pretty much an airport on the edge of a mountain. But as the gateway to Everest, over 100 thousand people still fly into this airport every year. Only small aircraft can land here, and each flight usually carries less than twenty passengers.

Source : touropia