9 ridiculously fun airport attractions

Many of us don’t associate airports with things like relaxation or recreation, much less enjoying a craft ale beneath shady chestnut trees in an on-site beer garden (following a tour of the airport brewery, of course!). Yet airports around the globe are increasingly boasting an impressive range of fun activities and luxe amenities to help ease the stresses of travel—or at least entertain us while we’re in transit. Here’s a sampling of things you can do that we think will prove way more fun than sudoku.

1. Appreciate exciting art at Changi International Airport in Singapore
Spend a meditative moment at Kinetic Rain in Terminal 1. Created by German design firm Art+Com and billed as the world’s largest kinetic sculpture, the beautiful moving piece features copper-plated aluminum raindrops, suspended from a thin wire, that are programmed to form different shapes such as kites and planes.

2. Skate by at Incheon International Airport in Seoul, Korea
ICN offers a slew of amenities but one of the most unique (for an airport, anyway) is Ice Forest, an indoor ice skating rink that’s ideal for kids, families and Kim Yuna wannabes. Didn’t pack your skates? You can rent those, as well as gloves and a helmet, at the rink.

3. Or lace up in-line skates at the Zurich Airport in Zurich, Switzerland
Idyllic nature conservation areas don’t typically abut an airport, but in fact, grassy meadows, woodlands, and marshes surround ZRH, plus 12 miles of paths to explore. Have some time to kill on a layover? For a small fee, the Service Center opposite the parking 2 elevators rents out bikes and in-line skates (including helmets and protective gear) and Nordic walking poles.

4. Stroll through a rainforest at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia
You don’t have to go outside the airport to experience nature at Kuala Lumpur Airport. In Satellite Terminal A, the KLIA Jungle Boardwalk cuts through a patch of natural rainforest where weary travelers in need of some fresh air will find shady trees, lush greenery, a waterfall and (recorded) soundtrack of wild bird calls.

5. Get some R&R at Helsinki International Airport in Vantaa, Finland
There are plenty of ways to unwind in HEL, but we recommend making a beeline for the modern, Finnair Premium lounge, where you’ll find private shower rooms and a real Finnish sauna. Just sit back, steam up and wait for the stress and fatigue to evaporate.

 

6. Find a cure for what “ales” you at Munich International Airport in Munich, Germany
Airbräu, a well-regarded microbrewery inside the Munich airport, isn’t messing around. It brews its beer in accordance with 1516 Purity Decree tandards, offers brewmaster-led tours and even sells party kegs. And let’s not forget the aforementioned beer garden, replete with trees and amaypole. Prost!

7. Curl up with a book at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in Schiphol, Netherlands
More airports should take a page out of AMS’s book: The busy European airport not only carved out space for rotating exhibitions of masterpiece paintings from the Rijksmuseum, but it also established a library in the international terminal. The collection features about 1,200 books translated into 29 languages that travelers to read while they wait.

8. Experience marine life at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Wolf eels, sea stars, tiger fish, anemones… Not the typical population you’d expect to find at an airport, but these creatures (and more) can be encountered at YVR terminal. The international terminal is home to two satellite exhibits from the Vancouver Aquarium.

9. Cuddle up with a pup at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California
Several airports have established therapy dog programs to help calm the nerves of anxious travelers, but LAX’s PUP (Pets Unstressing Passengers) program is the largest of its kind, featuring 30 trained dogs and handlers who roam the gate areas, interacting with passengers and providing ample comfort (and cuteness).

Tagged: California, Europe, Top 10 Lists