These are the best and worst European airports to get stuck in
Flight troubles got you down?
Although the end of summer is marked by a massive influx of travellers returning from their holidays, the travel experience is not limited to the destination. The airport of departure and arrival plays a crucial role in the overall travelling experience.
To help travellers anticipate and plan their trips as effectively as possible, Holidu, the booking portal for holiday homes, has analysed data from Google Maps to draw up a ranking of the best and worst airports in Europe for the year 2024. Based on thousands of comments and ratings, the guide indicates which airports offer exceptional experiences, as well as those that need to be improved. From the efficiency of the Nordic airports to the frequent delays at the central Mediterranean airports, this guide provides valuable information for travellers looking to optimise their transit time.
Scroll further down to see the 2024 results.
Top 5 best rated airports in Europe according to Google
1. Istanbul Airport, Turkey – Avg. 4.4 stars, 101,956 reviews
For the second year running, Istanbul Airport has risen to the top of the list of Europe’s best airports, according to Google reviews. With an impressive score of 4.4, based on 101,956 reviews, it continues to win the admiration of travellers from all over the world. Istanbul Airport thus confirms its leading position, combining efficiency, comfort and quality services. A remarkable achievement that underlines the excellence of Turkey’s infrastructure, a source of national and international pride.
Mehrnaz Taghavishavazi via Unsplash
2. Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport, Portugal – Avg. 4.4 stars, 26,608 reviews
In a remarkable development, Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport has moved up a notch to become the second-best airport in Europe, according to Google reviews. With an impressive 4.4 rating on Google Maps and more than 26,608 reviews, the airport has seen a significant improvement on the previous year. This is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the airport’s continued commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. Congratulations to the team at Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport for this well-deserved recognition!
Maurice Pehle via Unsplash
3. Athens International Airport, Greece – Avg. 4.3 stars, 42,920 reviews
Athens International Airport has taken third place in the ranking of Europe’s best airports, according to Google reviews. With a rating of 4.3 on Google Maps, based on 42,920 reviews, the airport continues to shine in the travel sector. Despite a slight drop from first place in 2022 and second place in 2023, Athens’ performance remains outstanding. This achievement confirms the airport’s ongoing commitment to providing an exceptional travelling experience for its passengers.
Fotis via Unsplash
4. Václav Havel Airport Prague, Czech Republic – Avg. 4.3 stars, 26,441 reviews
Prague Airport is the fourth best-rated airport in Europe. It offers a wide range of services and facilities for customers, such as shopping facilities, restaurants, showers, rest areas, workplaces and family-friendly areas. Passengers also praise the high standard of cleanliness and comfort. A special feature here is the unique-covered bridge connecting Terminals 1 and 2, which makes transfers easier for passengers. It is also well-connected to the city centre and other destinations by various means of transport such as underground, bus, taxi, and hire car.
Ondrej Bocek via Unsplash
5. Zurich Airport, Switzerland – Avg. 4.3 stars, 26,317 reviews
Zurich is in fifth place in the study with 26,317 reviews and an overall rating of 4.3 stars. But what characterises the Swiss airport? The 250-metre-long spectator terrace, for example, offers a spectacular 360-degree view. Travellers will find over 80 shops in the ‘Airside Center’, including the largest selection of Swiss chocolate at any airport in the world. The SBB railway station under the airport provides connections to Zurich main station in 10-minute intervals. The airport is committed to sustainability, with the aim of becoming climate-neutral by 2050.
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Who rounds off the top 10 best?
6. Alicante International Airport, Spain– Avg. 4.3 stars, 19,755 reviews
7. Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, Norway– Avg. 4.3 stars, 17,075 reviews
8. Helsinki Airport, Finland – Avg. 4.3 stars, 15,526 reviews
9. Malta International Airport, Malta– Avg. 4.3 stars, 15,364 reviews
10. Airport Thessaloniki ‘Makedonia’, Greece– Avg. 4.3 stars, 14,055 reviews
Top 5 worst rated airports in Europe according to Google
1. Heraklion International Airport, Greece – Avg. 2.6 stars, 21,202 reviews
Heraklion International Airport has been named the worst airport in Europe, following an analysis of the comments left by users on Google Maps. With a disappointing average score of 2.6, based on more than 21,000 comments, it’s clear that travellers encountered a number of problems when using this airport. Despite its privileged location as the gateway to the island of Crete, Heraklion Airport failed to meet travellers’ expectations. However, this unflattering recognition could serve as a trigger for a major overhaul and modernisation of the airport, improving the overall experience for travellers in the future.
Arno Senoner via Unsplash
2. Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport – Avg. 2.8 stars, 12,603 reviews
Bordeaux-Mérignac airport has seen a slight improvement in its ranking of the worst airports in Europe, moving from first to second place, according to Google reviews. With a score of 2.8 on Google Maps, based on 12,603 reviews, the airport seems to be making efforts to improve the quality of its services. Despite its unenviable position, this improvement is a positive sign. Bordeaux-Mérignac airport is constantly working to improve its services and offer its users a more pleasant experience.
Anna gru via Unsplash
3. Manchester Airport, United Kingdom – Avg. 3.1 stars, 27,202 reviews
According to the latest figures, Manchester Airport has been categorised as the third worst airport in Europe, based on Google reviews. With an average rating of 3.1 on Google Maps, based on 27,202 reviews, the British airport finds itself in a tricky position. However, it’s important to note that every experience is subjective. Despite this rating, thousands of passengers use the airport every day to travel all over the world, demonstrating its continued functionality.
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Methodology
This ranking was created by extracting the average score from Google Maps and the number of reviews for the 100 busiest airports in Europe based on the number of passengers. Using this data from Google Maps, we ranked each airport from highest to lowest, prioritising those with the most reviews. All airports in Russia, Ukraine and non-operational airports have been removed from this ranking.