Airports in Europe

Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH), otherwise known as Athens International, is a two-terminal airport, gateway to a country rich with history and tourism options. It is just 12 miles (20km) east of Athens’ city center, the perfect destination for travelers who want to discover popular ancient Greek sites such as the Acropolis and Plaka, or for those using the city as a stop-off point before exploring the islands of Greece.

There’s plenty to do at Athens Airport, which offers a range of world-class shopping opportunities as well as a host of local souvenirs and mementos. The airport has won two awards for best airport in Southern Europe and is an important link between Europe and Asia.

Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport is a major hub for Greece’s national carrier Olympic Air as well as Aegean Airlines. With austerity measures being the catchphrase across Greece and much of Europe it’s good to know that there are many low-cost carriers and budget airlines that offer cheap flights to Athens International Airport, including Blue1, easyJet, Fly Hellas, Aer Lingus and IZair.

Athens International Airport is well-connected to central Athens by rail and road networks and is the perfect start to a fun vacation in Greece. This Greek airport has also been awarded two Green Building Awards for energy efficiency and awareness, so travelers wanting to reduce their carbon footprint can sleep easy knowing Athens International Airport is doing its bit.

Strasbourg International Airport (SXB), known locally as Aeroport de Strasbourg, is approximately 6 miles (10 km) southwest of the city of Strasbourg, France. It serves about 1 million passengers per year.

Comprising one terminal building with adjacent parking lots P1-P5, Strasbourg International is a compact and efficient airport. Staff are friendly and helpful, making procedures like checking in and claiming baggage a breeze. 

This is a quick in-and-out airport, so there isn’t much in the way of amenities. However, the nine-minute shuttle-train journey, or the slightly longer but equally efficient bus or taxi ride, will ensure that you’re soon enjoying the charms of historic Strasbourg and the surrounding Alsatian countryside. 

EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL) is 3.7 miles (6km) northwest of Basel, Switzerland. It's also 14 miles (22km) southeast of Mulhouse, France and 43 miles (70km) south of Freiburg, Germany – very much at the crossroads of these three countries. Flights to EuroAiport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg can be confusing as some airlines will list it as BSL (Basel), while flights from France will list it as MLH (Mulhouse). The airport also has a third code, EAP, although it's used less often. It can be confusing, but don't worry – all three codes really do refer to the same airport.

The airport is run jointly by France and Switzerland. Although technically in France, Swiss International Airlines has headquarters here, and all three countries access the airport without customs or border restrictions. The arrivals, departures and parking terminals are divided into two – the Swiss side is to the south and the French side to the north. On arrival you go through either Swiss or French customs.

Basel, the closest town to the airport, shares its borders with France and Germany. It is rich in medieval architecture and has several art museums, and also hosts an art fair and a world-class carnival. The airport also acts as a gateway to the Alsace region from the French side.

The airport is generally well-run and well-equipped to handle the four million passengers who arrive on flights to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg each year.

Located 10 miles (16km) east of Budapest, Budapest Franz Liszt International Airport (BUD) is the largest of Hungary's five international airports. Renamed in 2011 for the famous Hungarian composer and pianist on the 200^th anniversary of his birth, the airport is still popularly known as Budapest Ferihegy International Airport.

The airport is an important hub in Eastern Europe, and flights to Budapest International Airport come from destinations all over the world, including New York, Paris, London, Prague, Berlin, Cairo, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, Beijing, St Petersburg and Doha. This gateway to Budapest is known for its efficiency, if not its friendliness. If you want fast processing times and short queues, you’ll love the airport – just don’t expect the staff to smile much.

The brand-new SkyCourt provides much-needed entertainment for waiting passengers, and further expansion is on the cards for Budapest Ferihegy, including a business park and hotel with conference facilities, and additional car parks and cargo facilities.

Frankfurt International (FRA) is one of the busiest airports in Europe, a continental hub for many major airlines. More than 50 million passengers arrive on flights to Frankfurt Airport each year. The stylish terminals have plenty to keep travelers occupied on long stopovers - restaurants, shops, slots or video games, sightseeing tours and a Visitors' Terrace with views of the runways.

In 2009, the beautiful Shopping Plaza was added to Terminal 2, and construction is underway on a third terminal and fourth runway.

Located 17.7 miles (28.5 km) north-east of the center of Munich, Munich International Airport (MUC) is officially known as Franz Josef Strauss. It is Germany’s second-busiest airport and the seventh-busiest in Europe. In 2010, it handled almost 35 million passengers. In 2011 the airport was awarded the title of “Europe’s Best Airport” (for the sixth time since 2005) and ranked fourth best in the world by air transport research company Skytrax.

The airport comprises two terminals connected by the Munich Airport Center, a large outdoor tent-type area that accommodates most of the facilities, including a vast array of retail, business and recreational establishments. There is also a Visitors Park which features a Visitors Hill from which sightseers may view Terminal 1 and the westerly aircraft apron. Plans to expand Terminal 2, approved in 2010, will see Munich International’s handling capacity increase by 11 million passengers per year.

With a combination of world-class facilities and efficient services, it’s no surprise that Munich International is ranked among the finest in the world. Clean and modern – it even has its own brewery – with friendly and helpful staff, visitors may look forward to experiencing nothing less than the best from Munich International.

Located 5.3 miles (8.5km) north of the city center, Hamburg Airport – also known as Hamburg-Fuhlsbuttel Airport (HAM) – is the fifth-busiest airport in Germany, serving approximately 13 million passengers per year. In total, 60 airlines operate regular flights from Hamburg-Fuhlsbuttel Airport to 125 destinations around the world.

With completely modernized terminal buildings, state-of-the-art facilities and a host of excellent retail outlets and places to eat and drink, Hamburg Airport is a pleasure to visit. Always clean and well maintained, with friendly and helpful staff to match, you’ll relish your experience at the airport and look forward to returning to it.

The wonderful thing about Hamburg Airport is that it has features designed purely for passengers’ enjoyment, such as viewing decks and lounges that overlook the pier and the apron. Better yet, transport to and from the airport is highly accessible and efficient.