This story will highlight the best-rated airports in Europe that you wouldn't mind getting stuck in. We'll also highlight some airports where you may want to find alternatives based on reviewers' experiences.
Holidu, the search engine for holiday rentals, sought out the airports with the best reviews. Using data from Google Maps, this study used the average Google rating and the number of reviews to create the ultimate European airport ranking.
Read on to discover these top-notch airports to book your next flight and some insider tips, including amenities and delay information. Click here to view an interactive map and data table ranking the complete list of the best airports in Europe.
Table of Contents
5 Best-Rated Airports in Europe
1. Athens International Airport, Greece
Avg. 4.4 stars, 24,467 reviews
It's official: Athens Airport is the best airport in Europe! As Greece's biggest and most well-known airport, ATH is 20 miles (33 kilometers) from the city center. Greece has largely escaped the European flight mania, with most delays experienced at the departing airports for inbound flights to Greece.
Have a layover? Athens Airport has many amenities for travelers, including baggage storage options, airport lounges, archaeological artifact exhibitions, and a wide selection of restaurants and cafes.
2. Zürich Airport, Switzerland
Avg. 4.4 stars, 14,267 reviews
Although facing backlash from the recent air traffic control glitch, Zürich Airport is one you wouldn't mind getting stuck in, and it hasn't seemed to affect its reputation. Plus, Zürich Airport has everything you could need to kill time at the airport. Starting August 1, 2022, they will have live music on the weekends and a games lounge complete with table tennis, darts, and a mini-golf course.
You can also check their website for upcoming events, including brunch on the Observation Deck, BBQs, and more. Who wouldn't want to have a layover in this adventure land?
Related: Travel Switzerland on a Budget
3. Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport, Portugal
Avg. 4.4 stars, 11,904 reviews
The third spot is Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport, also known as Porto Airport. Porto may be an excellent option to avoid the delays plaguing Portugal's largest airport, Lisbon, since mid-June. Bloomberg reported 65% delayed and 4.8% canceled flights there since the beginning of July.
Porto Airport has an app that tracks real-time arrival and departure times and flight status, so communication is direct and real-time. Don't want to waste time in queues?
They also have a Fast Track option, a priority channel that allows you to get through security faster. Plus, there are options for family travel, such as a space for children with a library, videos, and other activities to keep them entertained.
4. Alicante International Airport, Spain
Avg. 4.3 stars, 10,547 reviews
Next on our list is Alicante International Airport in Spain, the primary airport serving the Valencian Community and Murcia area. Travelers praise its organized layout and bright, spacious design, so who wouldn't want to use this airport?
5. Malta International Airport, Malta
Avg. 4.3 stars, 6,279 reviews
Malta International Airport is in fifth place, with an average Google Ranking of 4.3. It's a quaint but well-maintained airport. Although the airport and hub airline Air Malta got caught up in all the London Heathrow flight delays, its facilities still match those of the larger European airports.
The airport's facilities include restaurants, duty-free shops, VIP Lounges, hairdressers, and dental clinics. It also boasts a freshly renovated food court with a comprehensive food section and an upscale aesthetic.
See the other airports that made it into the Top 10 best ranking.
5 Worst-Rated Airports in Europe
1. Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, France
Avg. 2.7 stars, 5,700 reviews
Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport in France is our top choice, with an average Google rating of 2.7. The main complaints about this airport were its small size and lack of seating. In addition, staff strikes have recently canceled many flights, so you may want to consider some alternatives if you are planning to fly through Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport.
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (3.9 stars / 5,041 reviews) is only 3-4 hours by train and 2-3 hours by car. Plenty of train and bus options are available if you can't fly.
2. Heraklion International Airport, Greece
Avg. 2.8 stars, 10,791 reviews
Next on our list is Heraklion International Airport, which has an average Google Maps rating of 2.8. Most complaints are about its crowdedness and inadequate equipment for its traffic volume. However, it may be worth checking out Chania International Airport (4 stars / 3,678 reviews), rated much higher and just a 2-hour drive from Heraklion.
3. Luton Airport, United Kingdom
Avg. 3 stars, 10,665 reviews
Luton Airport in London has been hit with the summer flight pandemonium, with Bloomberg reporting 66% delayed and 2.7% canceled flights since the start of July, compared with London Heathrow's 51%.
To top that off, it only has an average rating of 3 on Google, with most complaints seeming to be the lack of public transport connections to the airport and the massive queues resulting from its small size despite the high volume of travelers.
If you absolutely need to fly, it may still be worth choosing Heathrow (4 stars / 32,095 reviews) or Gatwick (3.8 stars / 12,953 reviews) as they are larger and have more capacity and facilities if your flight gets delayed.
However, we recommend scouting other possible travel options, such as trains or buses, before booking. If there are no other options, remember to arrive early at the airport and only carry hand luggage to save yourself a headache.
Related: How to Choose the Right London Airport
4. Manchester Airport, United Kingdom
Avg. 3 stars, 15,192 reviews
Manchester Airport in the UK is next on our list. Most complaints refer to rude staff and a lack of organization, which results in long queues. For a better airport experience, it may be worth your time to go to the Liverpool John Lennon Airport (3.9 stars / 3,087 reviews), about a 45-minute drive from Manchester Airport.
5. Berlin Willy-Brandt International Airport
Avg. 3.2 stars, 16,959 reviews
The Berlin Willy-Brandt International Airport is rounding off our top five worst European airports. Plagued from the start with a delay of nearly a decade from its planned opening date and costing 4 billion euros over budget, Berlin Willy-Brandt International Airport comes in with only a 3.2 average Google rating.
While praised for clean and modern facilities, most complaints center around unorganized and slow security processing, resulting in long lines. It may be worth the time to look into alternatives, such as Dresden Airport (4 stars / 1,295 reviews), which is only an hour-and-a-half drive from Berlin.
Methodology:
This ranking was made by extracting the average Google Maps rating and number of reviews from the top 100 busiest airports in Europe based on the number of passengers in 2019. With this data from Google Maps, we ranked each airport from highest to lowest, prioritizing those with more reviews. All Russian, Ukrainian, and non-operational airports were removed from this ranking.
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This story is provided in collaboration with Holidu.
