Airport landings are to vacations what apps are to a main meal. That is to say, they are an all-important preview of your destination, and will either arouse or flatten your expectations accordingly. Take a look at our rundown of the world’s most scenic airport landings, and be inspired to see them for yourself.
LaGuardia Airport, United States
Flight attendants swear by the approach to New York’s LaGuardia Airport as one of the best in the world. Planes descend over the majestic Hudson River and glittering skyscrapers, so that passengers can observe one of the most iconic city-scapes in the world.
Queenstown Airport, New Zealand
Situated in the Wakatipu Basin, the descent to Queenstown Airport is a real showstopper. Boasting spectacular views of deep blue lakes, snow-capped mountains and lush green terrain, airport landings don’t get more beautiful than this.
Barra Airport, Scotland
It’s no surprise the remote island of Barra was voted as having the most scenic airport landing in the world. This miniature runway is located on the sand and you can see the whole island on approach.
Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten
You won’t believe how close to the beach the planes land here until one skims over your head. With the runway located immediately behind the beach, topless sunbathers might want to beware.
Jackson Hole Airport, United States
No list of this nature would be complete without Jackson Hole. It is the only airport in the U.S. located inside a national park. Consistently ranked among the most scenic airport landings in the world, this approach features the majestic Teton Range in all its glory.
London Heathrow, England
It may not have the rugged mountainous expanse of Queenstown, nor the glitz and glamor of New York, but flying into London bright and early on a clear spring morning is awesome. Watch the majestic capital unfurl beneath you and touch down to meet it as it wakes.
Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, Maldives
Offering the best birdseye view of this 26-nation archipelago, the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport is one-of-a-kind. It’s also the only active international airport here, but definitely makes a good first impression.
L.F. Wade International Airport, Bermuda
Bermuda is a beautiful island whichever way you look at it – but from the air you can see it all at once: wide vistas of tropical beaches bordered with turquoise shallows, and verdant hills scattered with pastel-colored homes. So beautiful it hurts.
Featured image: © VitalyEdush/iStock/Thinkstock
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to… whose guides cover all the best hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, sights, shops and spas.
