Date: October 17, 2015
These five airports are, according to voters in our 2015 survey, the best airports for catching some shuteye. Whether you find yourself sleeping or cat-napping in a terminal intentionally or unintentionally, these terminals have a solid “ZZZ Factor”, appreciated by weary travellers worldwide. Features likely to help boost an airport’s sleep-ability factor include things like designated rest zones, comfortable couches, courtesy blankets and quiet corners in the post-security section. That, and staff sympathetic to the sleeper’s cause. Congratulations to these terminals for providing such a soothing transit experience.
These are the Top 10 Best Airports for Sleeping based on the “sleepability” scores given by voters in our 2015 Airport Survey:
1. Singapore Changi International Airport, Singapore (SIN)
Singapore Changi is truly the world’s ultimate airport. Ranked the best airport in the world for both sleeping and overall experience, it is an airport that truly caters to the traveller. Some of SIN’s most sleep-friendly features include free lounge chairs, low-lit relaxation zones, armrest-free seating at the gates, free massage chairs and easy chairs with handy mobile charging outlets. For those with cash to spare, you can also access a transit hotel and lounges with sleep rooms. No matter where you snooze, almost all voters agree that the terminals are safe, comfortable and quiet for sleeping in – and that finding a cozy corner is never a difficult ordeal. See also Best Airports in Asia and Best Airports in the World.
Photo courtesy of Changi Airport Group
2. Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea (ICN)
The race for world’s most sleep-able airport was a close one, with Seoul Incheon falling into second place by only a handful of votes. This sleep-friendly terminal scores huge points for offering up comfortable and free features such as padded lounge chairs, rest and relaxation zones, padded benches in TV lounges and rows of wonderful armrest free seating. Like SIN, it also has a transit hotel accessed for a moderate fee. The “Spa on Air” rounds off the napping experience, providing those who visit with a warm shower where you can refresh yourself after a long flight and a snooze. See also Best Airports in Asia and Best Airports in the World.
Photo courtesy of evie_five0 / Instagram
3. Helsinki Airport, Finland (HEL)
Sleep-friendly airports are hardly limited to the Asian giants. In Helsinki, travellers are treated to a sprinkling of free reclining lounge chairs, areas with armrest free seating and the delightful, free and quiet Kainuu relaxation room, complete with ergonomic seats and soft carpeting. Those features aside, the terminal’s crowning glory according to our voters is definitely the GoSleep pods, which are available for free and for a cost depending on the location within the terminal. Tiny, efficient and a little futuristic, these 19 pods give travellers a comfortable place without any worry of theft or battery drainage. And of course, if you have a little more cash to spend, you can also check into the attached hotel terminal, which offers up full hotel rooms for a pretty penny. See also Best Airports in Europe and Best Airports in the World.
Photo courtesy of tarasovalera on Instagram
4. Munich International Airport, Germany (MUC)
Munich International Airport follows Helsinki’s lead when it comes to providing passengers with sleep-friendly features. This terminal boasts 3 rest and relaxation zones – called recreation areas – that offer lounge seating and a quiet enough environment. There are also a number of armrest free benches located throughout the gates, which work as a decent alternative. For those willing to pay for some privacy, the third option at MUC is the Nap Cabs – tiny private rooms complete with a workstation and bed, for a pricey 15€ per hour! See also Best Airports in Europe and Best Airports in the World.
5. Vienna International Airport, Austria (VIE)
Vienna International Airport is a surprisingly fifth place winner for the title of world’s most sleepable airport. Boosting this airport’s ranking are the lounge style seating options and the armrest-free benches, and semi-recliners with foot rests for ultra-relaxation. Both of these seating options are located airside in areas of the airport that remain relatively quiet and private overnight, giving sleepers a good chance at a full night’s rest. Better yet? There is rarely steep competition for these gloriously sleep-able sections of the airport! See also Best Airports in Europe and Best Airports in the World.
Top 50 Best Airports for Sleeping
We are often asked how other airports ranked in the survey, so below you will find a list of the Top 50 Best Airports for Sleeping as voted by travellers in our 2015 Airport Survey:
- Singapore Changi International Airport, Singapore (SIN)
- Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea (ICN)
- Helsinki International Airport, Finland (HEL)
- Munich International Airport, Germany (MUC)
- Vienna International Airport, Austria (VIE)
- Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, Portugal (OPO)
- Tokyo Haneda International Airport, Japan (HND)
- Tallinn International Airport, Estonia (TLL)
- Stockholm Arlanda International Airport, Sweden (ARN)
- Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan (TPE)
- Vancouver International Airport, Canada (YVR)
- Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong (HKG)
- Tampa International Airport, USA (TPA)
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia (KUL)
- Oslo Gardermoen Airport, Norway (OSL)
- Zurich Kloten International Airport, Switzerland (ZRH)
- Portland International Airport, USA (PDX)
- Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates (DXB)
- Osaka Kansai International Airport, Japan (KIX)
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Netherlands (AMS)
- New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, India (DEL)
- Frankfurt International Airport, Germany (FRA)
- Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, Greece (ATH)
- Dublin International Airport, Ireland (DUB)
- Doha Hamad International Airport, Qatar (DOH)
- Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport, Algeria (ALG)
- Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, India (BOM)
- Copenhagen Kastrup Airport, Denmark (CPH)
- Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, India (HYD)
- Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport, USA (MSP)
- Calgary International Airport, Canada (YYC)
- San Francisco International Airport, USA (SFO)
- Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, Ecuador (GYE)
- Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel (TLV)
- Orlando International Airport, USA (MCO)
- Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport, Lebanon (BEY)
- Tokyo Narita International Airport, Japan (NRT)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, USA (PHX)
- Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, USA (FLL)
- Brisbane International Airport, Australia (BNE)
- Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport, South Africa (JNB)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, USA (DTW)
- Kolkata Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, India (CCU)
- Warsaw Chopin International Airport, Poland (WAW)
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok (BKK)
- London Gatwick International Airport, United Kingdom (LGW)
- Bogota El Dorado International Airport, Colombia (BOG)
- Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, USA (DFW)
- Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport, USA (ATL)
- Auckland International Airport, New Zealand (AKL)