The World’s 3 Best Airports 2026 – AirAdvisor’s Ranking of Performance and Passenger Experience

Allotted the same weighting as punctuality, Google reviews are the perfect indication of the complete passenger experience at an airport from people who’ve actually been there. The group’s average is 3.81 out of 5, so these airports are a cut above according to passengers.

Athens tops the list with an average of 4.3 from 53,861 reviews. Rome Fiumicino follows with 4.2 from 60,567 reviews, and it’s the only airport out of 23 with a 5-star Skytrax rating. Orlando takes 3rd place with 4.1 from 63,191 reviews – tied with Palma de Mallorca, which also averages 4.1 from 41,765 reviews.

There’s nothing worse than losing a big portion of your travel budget to something boring like airport transfers. Here are the top options at current prices if you want to keep your transfer costs low: Orlando’s #11 bus to Downtown Orlando costs $2 (about €1.85), the Bordeaux Merignac tram into the city costs €1.90, and the standard bus fare from Dublin Airport to the centre is €2.60.

Compare this to some of the priciest options, and you’ll see that the costs can quickly add up, especially if you’re travelling in a larger group:

• London Gatwick – While the National Express bus is the cheapest at £10.50 (€12.15), it takes 2 hours. Using Thameslink trains, you can get to central London in 35 minutes for fares starting at £14.40 (€16.67), and the Gatwick Express train costs £21.50 (€24.89).
• LAX – The cheapest option is the FlyAway bus for US$12.75 (€11.80).
• Paris Charles de Gaulle – Using the RER-B train, the fare from CDG to central Paris is also €11.80.

Portugal’s Faro Airport is the closest airport to the city centre of any that we evaluated – it’s only 6.5 km (4 miles) to the Faro Marina from the airport. From Nice Côte d’Azur to the city centre, it’s less than 8 km (5 miles), so you can enjoy your Mediterranean vacation almost instantly. Venice Marco Polo rounds out the top 3 – the total distance from the airport to the Venice Mestre Train Station on the edge of the tourist centre is 10 km (6.2 miles).

Airport shopping is a fun pastime for some people and a means to an end for others. If you like shopping (or dining), this category will definitely be of interest. And even if you don’t, it’s a good indicator of the service you’ll get if you need to pick up something you forgot to pack.

Here are the top 4 (due to a 1st place tie):

• London Heathrow (22 points) – Enjoy over 60 shopping options, including Louis Vuitton, WH Smith, and Tiffany. Add more than 30 dining options to that, and passing a long layover isn’t too treacherous.
• Rome Fiumicino (22 points) – The duty-free shopping at Terminal 3 is highly rated, and you’ll find everything from Fendi and Prada to pharmacies and souvenir shops. The dining scene skews Italian for obvious reasons, with highlights like Eataly, Sophia Loren Restaurant, and Farinella for Neapolitan pizza.
• Frankfurt (21 points) – At terminals 1 and 3 at Frankfurt Airport, find a fabulous selection of German and international shops and restaurants. Choose from high-end shops like Hermès and Burberry, and more affordable options like Burger King and Victoria’s Secret.
• Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (20 points) – Across the single terminal building, you’ll find 55 shops and 56 restaurants/bars. From pharmacies to designer clothing to specialty foods and souvenirs, the shops have what you need. The restaurant scene is equally as varied, with fast food options like McDonald’s and Burger King, café-style spots, and eateries serving Dutch specialties.