The Best Airports In Europe, According To Traveler Reviews

The European continent has hundreds of airports and boasts some of the busiest airfields in the world. From the small regional hubs for low-costers like Ryanair and Wizz Air to mega-facilities serving the whole world like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and London Heathrow, there is a lot to unpack when it comes to air travel in Europe. To provide a list of the best ones, we considered the convenience of getting to the airport, queue management, time at border checks, the clarity of wayfinding, the diversity and accessibility of food and drinks, as well as the overall looks of the terminals.

To determine the quality of these propositions, we're turning to traveler opinions and pulling from personal experience. Reviews on Google Maps are our primary source, as airports are traditionally points of interest that garner thousands of traveler reviews on Google, so it's the most objective source among review sites. Also, our personal experience of traveling through every single airport on the list is taken into account for more nuance. You can find out more about our methodology after first learning why these are the best airports in Europe. 

Istanbul Airport is enormous. Opened in 2018, it's a feat of engineering with five runways, and the 29.5 square-mile airport welcomed 76 million passengers in 2023. Also, it's very much loved by travelers, with a 4.4 Google Maps rating after a whopping 95,223 reviews. One of the primary reasons for its success is the fact that Istanbul Airport is brand new and built for modernity. You've also got a direct metro link to Kağıthane station in Istanbul, saving you time and nerves on the commute. In a city with 16 million inhabitants, it's a big relief.

Istanbul Airport is also among the most important air hubs in the world. Just like the city it serves, the facility stands as a bridge between Europe and Asia, providing hundreds of domestic connections, acting as a transfer point from European destinations to Asian ones, and operating long-haul flights to other continents. It's a "meeting place of the world," as one reviewer poetically described it. Judging from thousands of positive opinions and after great personal experiences using it, Istanbul Airport succeeds in being a convenient meeting place.

Sixty million passengers yearly is not a low number, but Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport handles it with grace. One of the major European gates for Latin American destinations, the Spanish capital's hub comes with four terminals, superb transportation, and the second-largest territorial cover in Europe at 7,500 acres. All that being said, you probably won't feel the weight of the numbers during a Madrid–Barajas Airport experience. It's a very well-organized place with effective queue management, a slick design, and plenty of shopping and dining options. On Google Maps, 25,316 reviewers give the airport a 4.1 rating. 

The size is evident, though. Be prepared to walk a lot, especially in the newly built Terminal 4. Still, the moving walkways make navigating it effortless, and there are various accessibility services for travelers who require special assistance. As a primary European point for Latin American routes, Madrid airport serves plenty of transatlantic flights, as well as many domestic and international connections with major airlines.

Maybe it's because of the charms of Costa Blanca, but people seem to really love Alicante Airport. It's a getaway to the resort towns of Benidorm, Altea, and Calp with only one terminal, convenient wayfinding, modern looks, and rapid queues. It's not as big as other entries on this list, but ALC comes with everything needed for a stress-free journey. On Google Maps, the 4.3 rating proves that, and the 18,000 reviews indicate how busy it is. Alicante Airport is very spacious, boasts big panoramic windows with mountain views, and comes with a variety of food joints and a great duty-free section.

It doesn't come without a downside though. There's no direct train link to either Alicante or Elche (another city the train serves). You can choose between the bus that goes to Alicante's city center or another bus that provides a ride to Luceros station, which serves as an important train-tram hub for trips to the coastal towns of Benidorm and Dénia. Still, the reviewers don't seem to be disappointed by the lack of train connection, as many praised the punctuality of the bus service and the rapid transit to the city center.

Let's be honest, Italian airports rarely make the list of the best. They are usually plagued with inconvenient transportation options, a lack of quick train links, and a chaotic boarding experience. But, according to nearly 40,000 reviews on Google Maps, Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport is a 4.2-rated exception, offering an express train to the Eternal City and classy, renovated looks. The capital also has Ciampino Airport, but a lower rating indicates passenger preference. Fiumicino provides an almost exemplary European airport experience, with spacious halls, polite and helpful staff, and straightforward signage.

But it's the train link that makes all the difference. Not only can you reach the stunning historic center of Rome in 32 minutes using the Leonardo Express train right upon exiting the terminals, but the airport station is also connected to the national railway system. Upon arriving in Fiumicino, you can go directly to Venice or Florence without the need to go to the city center and change trains. Another notable feature of the Rome airport is the prevalence of luxury shops. You're in the country of Gucci, Armani, and Salvatore Ferragamo, after all. Coming here, you can indulge in some fashionable shopping.

Vienna International Airport pairs a superb location in the heart of Europe with high-class, modern facilities. It's not on the mega-scale like Amsterdam or Paris, though. While there are four terminals, they are all interconnected and you can easily navigate from one to another. The airport serves as a hub for Austrian Airlines, which is Lufthansa's subsidiary, and operates many European and long-haul destinations, including flights to Asia and North America. On Google Maps, the airport receives a 4.2 rating from 35,000 reviewers, with many highlighting the ease of navigation, superb duty-free area, quick lines at the border control, and the great variety of shops and restaurants.

But what Vienna International does really well is transportation. First of all, there's the City Airport Train, a state-of-the-art railway link to Vienna's city center that only takes 16 minutes. Apart from that, there's a rail station with connections to the rest of Austria, where you can hop on the train to such popular destinations as Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Graz, as well as neighboring tourist superstars like Prague and Budapest. Moreover, right at the exit from the terminals, you find the bus station with international routes. In other words, Vienna International Airport is a go-to hub for central European travel.

In recent years, Athens International Airport has become one of the most exciting hubs in Southern Europe. The busiest in the Balkans and one of the 30 busiest in Europe, Athen Airport keeps growing, offering 172 domestic and international routes to  28 million passengers in 2023. It also went through a major renovation in 2017. As the gateway to the spectacular Greek islands, the airport receives a 4.4 rating from almost 40,000 reviewers, placing Athens International among the most highly rated among European airports. The reviewers noted how practical it was, loved the spacious halls, and praised the high level of service.

The presence of a metro station also makes a trip to Athens city center much more convenient. You will need only 40 minutes to reach Syntagma Square and start exploring all the ancient wonders of the Greek capital. There's also a suburban line to both Athens and the port town of Piraeus, where you can hop on a ferry to your particular Greek island.

With a 4.6 rating on Google Maps, Tallinn Airport receives the highest rating of any major capital airport in Europe. Although the rating is only based on 6,500 reviews, the airport wears its high rating with pride. Overall, it just knows the secret of delivering quality air travel from start to finish, and it's self-described as "The World's Coziest Airport," which is a nice principle to stand by. You definitely wouldn't think of an experience at, say, Heathrow or Schiphol as cozy. Here, it's about the feel-good part of travel. Judging from a plethora of positive reviews, Tallinn Airport succeeds in its mission.

Considering that the whole population of Estonia is about 1.3 million, Tallinn Airport doesn't break any records in size. However, it serves its country well with a single terminal and runway. A secondary base for airBaltic and an important Ryanair airport in Northern Europe, Tallinn Airport flies to mostly European destinations. The beautiful UNESCO-protected medieval center of Tallinn is less than four miles away. You can either take a direct bus for about 2 EUR or opt for a taxi. As a note, Bolt, the popular rideshare app and Europe's main Uber competitor, is from Tallinn. It should become your first transportation option while visiting.