N o one likes flight delays or long layovers, particularly in identikit airports with a smattering of retail outlets and miserable cafes.
Thankfully, in recent years, more airports have begun to incorporate improvements that really lift the passenger experience. From fine dining to spas and rooftop gardens, airports are starting to go a lot further than simply being a basic transport hub. Here we highlight some of the standout offerings around the world to turn your waiting time into an enriching experience.
CULTURAL HEIGHTS
Airports are increasingly seeking to transport minds as well as people, with some great cultural initiatives available. Athens International Airport, for example, is home to a museum showcasing an impressive collection of nearly 200 archaeological artefacts dating from the Neolithic era to the post-Byzantine period. The free exhibit is located on the relatively quiet mezzanine of the Departures area (open 6am-11pm). Passengers will also find a small art gallery with temporary rotating exhibitions.
Like Athens, Rome is a hotbed of ancient culture and Rome-Fiumicino International Airport always has an invigorating selection of artworks for passengers to enjoy. Available until September 2024 are ancient stained glass windows attributed to Giotto (circa 1305-1310) alongside seven Roman sculptures., a tribute to Picasso’s famous dove with colours reminiscent of the flag of peace, and by Marcantonio, depicting a life-size white rhinoceros with a screen embedded in the horn, to raise awareness of the illegal trade in wild animals. San Francisco International Airport is another go-to destination for contemporary art buffs, with rotating exhibitions of some stunning art peppered around the terminals. It is also home to the Louis A Turpen Aviation Museum, with displays showcasing the development of commercial aviation – open daily from 10am-4.30pm in the International Terminal Departures level.
