Airports don’t have to be the bane of your travelling experience. Some can even put you in the holiday mood before you reach your destination, with art galleries, rooftop pools, cinemas and live music all airside. Here, we reveal the coolest airports around the world (that you might not want to leave).

Any long-haul traveller will tell you that Changi Airport Singapore is a pretty awesome place to be in transit. It's got it all, including a butterfly garden with around a thousand butterflies, a sunflower garden, a rare orchid garden and a rooftop cactus garden with more than one hundred species of cacti and succulents. And the fun doesn't stop there...

Jewel, which opened in 2019, is a complex home to a forest and the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. It has canopy mazes, foggy clouds and sky nets for clambering through the treetops. The kids will forget they’re even in an airport – it’s a destination in itself.

Not a nature-lover? Head to the rooftop swimming pool in terminal one for a splash around or the 24-hour free movie theatres in terminal three (pictured) to catch a new release. Alternatively, enjoy some art: the stunning Kinetic Rain centrepiece in terminal one is purportedly the world's largest kinetic sculpture.

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Vancouver’s vast airport has plenty to keep its waiting passengers busy – not least two giant marine exhibits, managed by the city’s aquarium. The largest – a 30,115-gallon (114,000-litre) tank – is home to a host of sea creatures native to British Columbia, including wolf eels, sea urchins and orange cup corals. The smaller of the two is a habitat for Pacific sea nettle jellyfish.

Beyond this tribute to Canada’s sealife, the airport acts as a gallery, showcasing work from some of the nation’s lauded artists. Highlights include 'The Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe' by the late Canadian painter and sculptor Bill Reid. A bronze sculpture, it depicts a traditional Haida canoe filled with characters from Haida legend.

Plenty of holidaymakers are itching to get to the beach once their plane touches down – and if you’re headed to the little Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, you’ll not have long to wait at all. This modest airport is situated on Traigh Mhòr, which translates as Big Beach, so the sand is between your toes as soon as you’ve stepped off the aircraft.

The beach's sandy ridges mean landing is a bumpy affair and at high tide, the three runways are entirely submerged. The airport building is tiny with just the essential amenities – but the astonishing ocean views will keep you occupied while you await your flight.

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Heavily upgraded in 2006, this Madrid airport is one for architecture lovers. Gazing at the undulating ceiling, brilliant yellow beams and bold contemporary art is a perfect pastime, while natural light floods in from the circular skylights.

Architects Richard Rogers and Antonio Lamela won the Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize in 2006 for the airport’s calming design. There’s more beyond the striking building, with a range of designer shops and Spanish restaurants serving Iberian ham, manchego and Rioja wines.

Few airports can claim they’re home to a jungle, but Kuala Lumpur’s International Airport has exactly that. A wooden boardwalk stretches into lush rainforest right in the middle of the terminal and there’s even a misty waterfall along the trail. Detailed plaques en route teach passengers about the Malaysian tropical flora that grows here.

Beyond the mighty jungle, pockets of green are dotted throughout the terminals. To find some extra zen, passengers can head to the airport spa for a massage or a treatment. Future pilots will adore the plane-themed playground on level five, while adult aviation enthusiasts will also delight: a 'Spotter's Deck', with perfect views of aircraft arriving on the runway, was opened in 2019. 

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The holiday feeling starts as soon as you touch down on the beautiful isle of Koh Samui, just off the east coast of Thailand. An open-air bus painted with tropical flowers greets the plane and there's a pretty, wood-panelled terminal which passengers can relax in pre-departure.

In fact, the gateway to one of Thailand’s most popular destinations is almost as beautiful as the island itself. The airport's entrance is marked by this decorative control tower, and once you're through security, most of the airport is open-air: there's even an outside play area for children. There's no doubt you'll find it very hard to board the plane home from here.

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There's lots to like about this vast air hub in Dubai including many shops, the indoor 'Zen' gardens (pictured) and a health club where you can pay to use the pool, sauna and gym. There's a reason it's the world's third largest and busiest airport for international passengers.

Located in terminal three of Dubai Airport, Dubai International Hotel is a 5-star hotel reserved only for travellers checked into a flight. With a choice of rooms and suites, plus this gorgeous oval-shaped indoor pool, it’s ideally situated for those early morning wake-up calls or long layovers when you need a nap.

Leave this stylish Finnish airport more refreshed than when you arrived by catching a few hour's kip in the sleep pods located in terminal one. Once suitably rested, head to the Finnair lounge for a hot stone massage, sauna experience or beauty treatment.

Helsinki's airport incorporates some core principles of Finnish design, from minimalistic pine-covered walls to plenty of nooks you can curl up in with a book (or laptop). In autumn 2023, another cosy wooden offering will appear at the departure gates: Relove, a coffee shop with an eco-conscious twist. It offers travellers a caffeine fix and the world's first second-hand store located inside an airport.

Numerous artworks and sculptures are dotted throughout the airport, meaning there’s always something interesting to look at. The dragonfly sculpture 'Concorde', by the talented artist Stefan Lindfors, can be found in the south pier for long-haul flights.

Chicago O’Hare was purportedly the first airport in the world to begin an aeroponic garden (a plot in which plants grow without soil). Swiss chard, habanero peppers, oregano and basil are among the herbs and vegetables that grow here, sprouting from great white towers dotted around the space. Passengers can visit the garden and also feast on the fresh produce grown here in some of the airport’s restaurants.

This unusual garden is not the airport’s only attraction. Psychedelic artworks adorn the walls and colourful, neon-lit passageways give travellers something to look at. There's also a tranquil yoga room so passengers can de-stress before their flight.

The Maldives' main international hub isn't that exciting on the inside, but the location more than makes up for that. One of the most scenic airports in the world, it's surrounded entirely by water. Bag yourself a window seat to make the most of the view.

The Maldives' main international hub isn't that exciting on the inside, but its paradisiacal location more than makes up for that. One of the most scenic airports in the world, it's surrounded entirely by water. Many travellers reach the airport via a small ferry, so there's a jetty directly in front of the departures hall (pictured).

The adventure starts as soon as you hit the runway of this Indian Ocean paradise. Take a picturesque seaplane or an adrenaline-pumping speedboat ride to get to your resort – just hold on to your luggage.

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As you'd expect in Nashville, there's music as soon as you land. Travellers have been able to enjoy live music at Nashville International Airport since 1988. There are multiple performance areas in the terminal and there's usually a musical performance every day: the airport even has its own 'house band'. There's country music, naturally, but also rhythm and blues, jazz, pop, gospel and bluegrass.

You can also take in art exhibitions at this creative hub before boarding your flight. As part of its award-winning Arts at the Airport programme, enjoy works by local, regional and national artists, which rotate on a seasonal basis. Past exhibitions include 'Spectacle Butterfly' by the Boston-based artist Hilary Zelson, made from around 500 pairs of sunglasses.

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Known as the gateway to Mount Everest, this tiny airport in Nepal is one of the best in the world for its dramatic views on landing and take-off. Its terrifyingly small 1,729-foot (527m) runway is perched on a cliff, with a 2,000-foot (609m) drop to the bottom.

As the airport doesn't have a control tower or radar, it’s also considered one of the world’s most dangerous. Weather can also be unpredictable in the area. In 2011, hundreds of Mount Everest trekkers were stuck for a week due to continual fog.

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Enter Wellington’s main international terminal and you’ll be greeted by a fearsome dragon. An enormous model of Smaug the Magnificent from local film director Peter Jackson's The Hobbit series is hidden away in a rocky facade, keeping a beady eye on passengers as they check in.

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Opened in 2010, The Rock international terminal has received numerous awards for its innovative design, which was inspired by the geology of Wellington’s rugged south coast.

Hong Kong's airport is an impressive place, from its sheer vastness and ambitious architecture to its efficiency. Yes, you’ll have to do lots of walking, but there’s plenty to entertain you along the way, including ever-changing art exhibitions and a virtual golf course.

Terminal one has had a makeover in recent years, introducing themed breakout zones including an interactive children's area, a workspace with reclining chairs, plus a zone for meditation and movie-watching. No one should miss the SkyDeck roof terrace with its fantastic views over the artificial island of Chek Lap Kok, where the airport is located.

A honesty library is one of the charming features of Tallinn Airport. Enjoy the comfy chairs and read as you wait or borrow a book for your travels. Just be sure to return it when you're next in town. The self-service library welcomes donations and encourages people to leave little notes in the books for the next reader or a list of destinations where the book has been.

Tallinn will never be the biggest airport in the world, but it’s certainly up there with the cosiest. Stop by KOHVer café to pick up a coffee and fresh pastry, then stay for the Estonian handicrafts and knick-knacks on display. This hygge place is sure to keep you entertained for a while.

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Where else but Munich would you find the world’s only airport brewery? The beers, served in Europe’s largest covered beer garden, include regulars such as Fliegerquell, a bitter lager, and seasonal specials. Oktoberfest is all year round at this phenomenal airport.

Munich has a lot going for it, including an impressive food and beverage offering. Sportalm serves hearty Bavarian food in a log cabin-style setting (complete with ski lift and all). A menu filled with sausage, stews and fondue will certainly get you in the mood for a trip up the Bavarian Alps.

You don't need to leave the confines of the airport to experience some Bavarian culture. The airport hosts its own Christmas market from mid-November and throughout December. Admire the towering Christmas tree, pick up some handmade gifts from the 50-odd stalls, sip a glühwein or take a spin on one of two ice rinks before boarding your plane.

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