Best Airports for Sleeping 2016

Date: October 15, 2016

In our annual survey, we asked travellers to rate airports worldwide based on their comfort and sleep-ability. Most often, voters end up sleeping at these terminals because of jet lag during long layovers, flight delays, or just to take a quick cat nap before a flight.

Factors that might help to determine an airport’s sleep-ability include:

Designated rest and quiet zones where tired travellers can relax and enjoy some stress-free time before their flight.
Availability of transit hotels and sleep pods
Plentiful, comfortable, arm-rest free seating
Cots, blankets and pillows provided to travellers stuck in the airport overnight due to flight cancellations

What we love about the terminals that top this list is that they make a concerted effort to provide options for tired travellers. It’s not that they just happen to have a quiet strip of carpet available – they’ve actually installed fixtures and features that help travellers rest. It’s worth noting that since these sleep enhancers are located airside, not landside, travellers need to pass through security if they’re hoping for a decent snooze.

Whether it’s a designated sleeping zone, long padded benches, or just a free cup of coffee in the morning, here are the 10 airports that travellers voted to be most sleep-friendly!

1. Singapore Changi International Airport, Singapore (SIN)

If you have to be stuck at any airport in the world you would hope that it is Singapore. – survey respondent

Singapore Changi Airport keeps cleaning up on awards. In addition to being the Best Airport in the World, it is also the Best Airport for Sleeping. As a hub for Asian travel, SIN is frequented by transit passengers bouncing between regional and international flights. Desperate to stretch out their legs and relax, these voters wrote in praising a few budget-conscious and sleep-friendly factors. Rest-zones with reclining loungers, armrest-free seating at gates and complimentary massage chairs are all great freebies – though there appears to be one less rest zone this year than there was last. And, for those who need a little added boost, you can also splurge for a room at the transit hotel or a nap room at one of the pay-per-use lounges. Just be careful you don’t oversleep and miss your connecting flight! ( Photo courtesy of Changi Airport Group )

2. Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea (ICN)

The reclining chairs/bed in a quiet area made a 7 hour layover a breeze. Wake up other airports!! – survey respondent

Once again, Seoul Incheon Airport is hot on Singapore’s heels in terms of sleep-ability as well. As another major Asian transit hub, travellers love the rest zones, complete with reclining chairs in designated quiet areas. For those in need of a shorter snooze, ample armrest-free seating scattered throughout will likely do the trick. Like SIN, if you need a more heavy duty rest, you might consider spending a bit of money on the airport’s transit hotel or pay-per-use lounges with sleep facilities. No matter what you choose, wrap up your stay with a rinse in a free shower, and you’ll feel good as new for your next flight! ( Photo courtesy of master__psy / Instagram )

3. Tallinn International Airport, Estonia (TLL)

Thank you for the sleep pod. It was a comforting knowing that they accommodate passengers whose flights got messed up and needed to stay overnight. – survey respondent

As the self-proclaimed “coziest airport in the world”, Tallinn Airport has figured out how to help travellers relax. Most travellers here took a quick catnap before their flight, or a longer snooze thanks to a flight delay – and a few slept during layovers. What voters loved most were the sleep-friendly seating options, including armrest-free benches, bean bag chairs, free sleep pods and a few excellent couches and armchairs. As travellers often describe the airport to feel like home – we’re not surprised it was easy for them to doze off! ( Photo courtesy of potaninakatya / Instagram )

4. Tokyo Haneda International Airport, Japan (HND)

The benches are abundant and perfect to lie down on if you need some rest. – survey respondent

As with our other global best airports lists, Asian airports continue to dominate the top spots. Tokyo Haneda Airport has been voted as the fourth most sleepable airport, thanks to ample padded seats and benches, and a lack of armrests. Travellers often dozed here thanks to a layover, or because of an evening arrival for an early morning flight departure. Like the terminal more broadly, what HND lacks in flashy amenities, it makes up for in excellent quality essentials. ( Photo courtesy of foxzzz / Instagram )

5. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Finland (HEL)

Very comfortable airport to sleep. Found a quiet gate with long padded seats. Slept better than in some hotels – survey respondent

Airport sleepers caught some shuteye in Helsinki Airport before a flight, during a layover, or because they’d arrived the night before an early morning departure. Those who snoozed here sung loud praises for the sleep pods, where travellers were able to sleep peacefully knowing their valuables were stored safely in their pod. Long padded benches and reclining seats were also appreciated by the weary, who reported generally quiet surroundings and ample space. ( Photo courtesy of bunny_badger_ / Instagram )

6. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan (TPE)

Awesome lounge at transfer counter A. The lounge is open 24 hrs for layover passengers. Nice and roomy sofa to sleep in. – survey respondent

Taipei Taoyuan Airport’s selling sleep feature are the rest zones with flat couches, and the recliners near the gates. The new resting area is by far the crowning glory, given that it’s open 24-hours and houses a shower, a breastfeeding room, and a number of comfortable surfaces. The free Wi-Fi and outlets are just another perk. The only catch? The terminal goes heavy on the air-conditioning meaning that a few extra layers are always appreciated. ( Photo courtesy of Taipei Taoyuan Airport )

7. Osaka Kansai International Airport, Japan (KIX)

They have one large hall solely dedicated to sleepers with full of bench seats with free blanket loan service. – survey respondent

Osaka Kansai Airport earned some serious airport sleeper points this year, thanks to the opening of an area devoted entirely to airport sleepers. Here, sleepers are typically transit passengers or individuals who have arrived early for an early morning departure. With long benches and a free blanket lending service (and a luggage storage system nearby), you’re likely to get an especially good airport snooze in here! If you can’t make it to the lounge, you’re also likely to secure a padded bench of comfortable chair elsewhere in the terminals – they’re plentiful and rarely entirely occupied! ( Photo courtesy of shaktii / Instagram )

8. Munich International Airport, Germany (MUC)

I really like the Nap zones and the free unlimited Wi-Fi – survey respondent

As a major European travel hub, Munich Airport appeals to its fair share of layover passengers desperate to stretch out and relax. The rest zones and sleep cabins are by far your best bets for a nap, while the free coffee offered by Lufthansa is an excellent way to wake up. If you’re not able to snag one of those spots, there are also a good number of armrest free benches at the moment. That said, travellers report that it seems like armrests are appearing at a worrying rate. ( Photo courtesy of ashleayale / Instagram )

9. Vancouver International Airport, Canada (YVR)

In the International terminal you’ll find some nice seats to stretch out and catch some zzz’s – survey respondent

Vancouver International Airport is a major gateway between North America and Asia. As a result, travellers here look for a snooze either between flights, or sometimes because they showed up early for an early morning departure. No matter the reason, sleepers are delighted by the ample amount of armrest free seating with generous padding. Your best options for a nap are most definitely airside in the international area, where you can find three-seater armrest free benches, TV lounges and high-back chairs with foot rests set up along the windows.

See also: Best Airports in the World • Best Airports in North America • Best Airports for Layovers

10. Vienna International Airport, Austria (VIE)

There are many big, comfortable couches where you can lay down. Maybe a little short for someone over 180cm (6’0″) to completely stretch out, but still quite big. – survey respondent

Vienna Airport rounds off our list of Top Ten Best Airports for Sleeping thanks to its sleep-friendly rest zones. Transit passengers and cat-napping passengers loved the big comfortable couches in terminals G and F. Others said that there was a good amount of comfortable seats without armrests, if the couches are too far away or in use. The downside to sleeping here is that many of the best benches are located in open areas, making noise a problem at certain times of day and night. ( Photo courtesy of giuseppeluisiph / Instagram )

See also: Best Airports in Europe

Top 70 Best Airports for Sleeping

Below is a list of the Top 70 Best Airports for Sleeping as voted by travellers in our 2016 Airport Survey:

Singapore Changi International Airport, Singapore (SIN)
Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea (ICN)
Tallinn Lennart Meri Airport, Estonia (TLL)
Tokyo Haneda Airport, Japan (HND)
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Finland (HEL)
Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan (TPE)
Osaka Kansai International Airport, Japan (KIX)
Munich Airport, Germany (MUC)
Vancouver International Airport, Canada (YVR)
Vienna International Airport, Austria (VIE)
Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, Portugal (OPO)
Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, USA (MSP)
New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, India (DEL)
Doha Hamad International Airport, Qatar (DOH)
Zürich Airport, Switzerland (ZRH)
Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates (DXB)
Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, India (BOM)
Warsaw Chopin Airport, Poland (WAW)
Portland International Airport, USA (PDX)
Indianapolis International Airport, USA (IND)
Hong Kong International Airport, China (HKG)
Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia (KUL)
Athens International Airport, Greece (ATH)
Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport, Lebanon (BEY)
Oslo Gardermoen Airport, Norway (OSL)
Tokyo Narita International Airport, Japan (NRT)
Amsterdam Schipol Airport, Netherlands (AMS)
Bogota El Dorado International Airport, Colombia (BOG)
Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport, France (LYS)
Brisbane Airport, Australia (BNE)
Copenhagen Kastrup Airport, Denmark (CPH)
Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam (HAN)
Wellington International Airport, New Zealand (WLG)
Denver International Airport, USA (DEN)
Lima Jorge Chávez International Airport, Peru (LIM)
San Francisco International Airport, USA (SFO)
Prague Václav Havel Airport, Czech Republic (PRG)
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand (BKK)
Brussels Zaventem Airport, Belgium (BRU)
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, USA (DFW)
Dublin Airport, Ireland (DUB)
Salt Lake City International Airport, USA (SLC)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, USA (PHX)
Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport, France (NCE)
Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden (ARN)
Frankfurt am Main Airport, Germany (FRA)
Orlando International Airport, USA (MCO)
Auckland Airport, New Zealand (AKL)
Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport, Argentina (EZE)
London Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom (LHR)
Lisbon Portela Airport, Portugal (LIS)
Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada (YYZ)
Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Ecuador (UIO)
Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport, USA (ATL)
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, France (CDG)
Charlotte Douglas International Airport, USA (CLT)
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, USA (SEA)
Manchester Airport, United Kingdom (MAN)
Madrid Barajas Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, Spain (MAD)
Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport, Russia (SVO)
Panama City Tocumen International Airport, Panama (PTY)
São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport, Brazil (GRU)
Abu Dhabi International Airport, United Arab Emirates (AUH)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China (PVG)
Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport, Thailand (DMK)
Milan Malpensa Airport, Italy (MXP)
San Diego International Airport, USA (SAN)
London Gatwick Airport, United Kingdom (LGW)
Istanbul Atatürk Airport, Turkey (IST)
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, Australia (MEL)

The airports on this list make us a bit drowsy just thinking of them. Wake up by reading about the Worst Airports for Sleeping.