The world’s best airports for a long layover

Singapore Changi Airport is the world’s best for a lengthy layover, scoring a flawless 100 out of 100 on Club Med’s index. The epic transportation hub is not only home to the world’s largest indoor waterfall but some 250 retailers and more than 150 different restaurants. What’s more, the airport’s staff scored 5 out of 5 for friendliness while terminal facilities earned a 92 percent customer satisfaction score.

Travelers will be hard-pressed to complain about a layover inside of South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, which boasts a plethora of exceptional amenities including a digital gym, indoor forest and as many as 268 food outlets. Incheon scores 97.45 out of 100 overall and earns a traveler satisfaction rating of 91 percent.

Hong Kong International Airport is home to a whopping 129 shops and nearly 90 restaurants, helping it to an overall score of 86.6 out of 100. It also scored a perfect 5 out of 5 for staff friendliness, 83 percent for lounges and 86 percent for Wi-Fi. At 110,600 hectares, the airport is the largest in Club Med’s study.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is an experience more than a stop. Earning a solid 83.62 out of 100 for its layover potential, Amsterdam Schiphol offers travelers plenty of comfortable sleeping facilities, including eight hotels as well as a street food market, an on-site library, spa and meditation center. Travelers will also be met by museums and exhibitions highlighting Dutch culture.

Located just three miles from the city, Dubai International Airport boasts the most convenient location of any airport in the top 10. DXB is also home to 40 shops and 67 restaurants and turned in a Wi-Fi score of 79 percent and a lounge score of 80 percent. Visitors with extra time on their hands can look forward to spa facilities offering treatments such as facials, manicures and pedicures in addition to a swimming pool, jacuzzi and steam room.

An elite airport experience awaits travelers to Turkey’s Istanbul Airport, which features a library, museums and even art exhibitions among its impressive list of amenities. A robust selection of beauty services also help place this airport high on the list of the best for a long layover. While it’s the farthest from its city among the airports in the top 10, its 86 percent lounge score is the second-highest.

Qatar’s Hamad International Airport in Doha earns an overall score of 77.66 out of 100 for layover experience, earning the highest marks possible for customer service experience and staff friendliness. In addition to fascinating art installations, the seven-year-old airport features a Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre complete with a gym, swimming pool, squash court and hydrotherapy tub.

Like Europe, Asia is well-represented among the world’s top 10 airports for layovers. Tokyo’s Haneda Airport ranks eighth-best, based on Club Med’s analysis. The airport not only entertains but pampers waiting passengers with services and amenities like on-site salons. There’s even a pet hotel to rejuvenate travelers’ four-legged friends ahead of their next trip.

Elsewhere in Europe, Zurich Airport in Switzerland ranks ninth worldwide for the best layover experience. In addition to a convenient location close to its namesake city, the airport is home to more than 860,000 square feet of green space and even offers an on-site nature discovery tour for families and younger travelers. Home to 70-plus shops, the airport scored 74 percent or better for both Wi-Fi and lounges.

Offering travelers some of the most sleeping facilities of any airport Club Med examined, Germany’s Frankfurt Airport ranks 10th-best globally for layovers. Earning an overall score of 69.36 out of 100, Frankfurt also features a handful of inviting lounges, over 40 shops and even multilingual personal shopper services, turning it into a destination for travelers awaiting their next flight.