While long waits between flights are often seen as the worst part of long-haul travel, it doesn’t have to be. Worldwide, airports are investing heavily in lounges, dining, sleep zones and more to provide more facilities to make these extended stops more enjoyable.[1]
To help identify the best airports for layovers, we’ve created an index that scores the top 50 busiest airports around the world across several comfort factors. We assessed each airport on twelve equally weighted criteria:
- The number of lounges and their average cost
- The number of flights daily
- The airport’s sleepability rating from Sleeping in Airport Reviews
- The number of shower rooms
- Number of ATMs available
- Sleeping pod availability
- Wi-Fi access
- Total number of restaurants and cafes
- The overall airport rating
- The average rating of restaurants
- The average price for food
Together, these combined to create a final Layover Score out of 10, highlighting the airports that offer the most comfortable all-round stopover experience.
Key findings:
- Singapore Changi Airport ranks as the world’s best layover airport with the highest score of 7.3/10 thanks to excellent sleepability, dining options and strong facilities.
- Dubai International Airport offers the second highest number of lounges in the index, with 23 lounges, helping it secure second place overall.
- Asia leads globally for layover experience, with airports in Singapore, China, India, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia consistently ranking highly across food, sleepability and lounge affordability.
- Beijing Daxing International Airport is the best airport for sleeping, with the highest sleepability score of 5.0, ahead of Singapore Changi (4.9) and Incheon (4.8).
- Singapore Changi Airport ranks best for food choice, offering an unmatched 247 restaurants and cafés, giving travellers the widest range of dining options of any airport in the study.
Best layover airports in the world
Our index reveals the world’s best airports for layovers, taking into account the key factors that help make waiting for your next flight more comfortable and enjoyable. The top results were the ones who scored high across the board.
| Top 20 Layover Airports in the World | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | City | Airport Full Name | Country | Overall score out of 10 |
| 1 | Singapore | Singapore Changi Airport | Singapore | 7.3 |
| 2 | Dubai | Dubai International Airport | UAE | 6.4 |
| 3 | Atlanta | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport | USA | 6.2 |
| =4 | Tokyo | Tokyo Haneda Airport | Japan | 6.1 |
| =4 | Seoul | Incheon International Airport | South Korea | 6.1 |
| =4 | Shanghai | Shanghai Pudong International Airport | China | 6.1 |
| =7 | Delhi | Indira Gandhi International Airport | India | 6.0 |
| =7 | Hangzhou | Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport | China | 6.0 |
| =7 | Bogota | El Dorado International Airport | Colombia | 6.0 |
| =10 | Bangalore | Kempegowda International Airport | India | 5.9 |
| =10 | Bombay | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport | India | 5.9 |
| 12 | Bangkok | Suvarnabhumi Airport | Thailand | 5.8 |
| 13 | San Francisco | San Francisco International Airport | USA | 5.7 |
| 14 | Xi’an | Xi’an Xianyang International Airport | China | 5.6 |
| 15 | Chicago | O’Hare International Airport | USA | 5.5 |
| 16 | Jakarta | Soekarno-Hatta International Airport | Indonesia | 5.3 |
| =17 | Dallas | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport | USA | 5.2 |
| =17 | London | London Heathrow Airport | UK | 5.2 |
| =17 | Amsterdam | Amsterdam Airport Schiphol | Netherlands | 5.2 |
| 20 | Kuala Lumpur | Kuala Lumpur International Airport | Malaysia | 5.1 |
- Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore
The index reveals Singapore Changi Airport as the best layover airport, scoring a total of 7.3/10. Its high score is due to its combination of excellent sleepability rating of 4.9/5, huge dining choice with 247 restaurants and cafes, 16 lounges and available wifi and shower rooms. Changi performs well across most metrics, making it the most well-rounded stopover airport in the world.
- Dubai International Airport, Dubai
Dubai International Airport ranks second with a score of 6.4/10, driven largely by its impressive 23 lounges available, the highest number of any airport in the top 20 list. Passengers also benefit from some of the most affordable food options in the index, with an average price of approximately £7.70 and over 50 restaurants or cafes to choose from. Combined with a strong sleepability score of 3.0/5, Dubai offers an excellent balance of comfort and convenience for those waiting for their next flight.
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, USA
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport takes third place with a score of 6.2/10, and is the only North American airport to rank in the top 10. The airport has a strong food offering with 165 restaurants and cafes, 18 lounges, available wifi and two shower rooms to help keep passengers feeling fresh while travelling. With a sleepability rating of 3.4/5 ATL provides a surprisingly comfortable layover experience for such a busy hub, making it an appealing option for passengers who want both variety and convenience during their stopover.
- Tokyo Haneda Airport, Tokyo
Tokyo Haneda Airport ranks fourth with a score of 6.1/10, excelling in both affordability and passenger satisfaction. Its average food prices of £6.80 are among the most budget-friendly in the top five, complemented by 173 restaurants and cafes, wifi and two shower rooms. The airport also has a strong sleepability rating of 4.0/5, matching its impressive overall airport rating of 4.3/5.
- Incheon International Airport, Seoul<
Incheon International Airport is in joint fourth position with Tokyo, with a total score of 6.1/10. It stands out for customer satisfaction, boasting an overall airport rating of 4.5/5, and is recognised as an airport that facilitates a good night’s sleep, with a 4.8/5 sleepability rating. With 70 restaurants and cafes and 10 lounges for travellers to access, Incheon has a lot to offer for a layover stop off.
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China
Shanghai Pudong International was also in joint fourth place, scoring 6.1/10. The airport has a solid sleepability rating of 3.8/5, alongside a wide choice of 126 restaurants and cafés, giving travellers plenty of options during longer waits. With 6 lounges available, Wi-Fi access and shower facilities on site, Pudong performs consistently well across multiple comfort and convenience metrics, making it a reliable stopover option for international travellers.
Best layover airports for sleeping
For travellers with an overnight connection or facing a long delay, having somewhere to rest comfortably can make a huge difference to the journey. Using the sleepability rating from Sleeping in Airport Reviews, which reflects real-world sleeping reviews from passengers around the world, [2]these are the airports that offer the best environments for staying rested during a layover.
| Best Layover Airports for Sleeping | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | City | Airport Full Name | Country | Sleepability rating |
| 1 | Peking | Beijing Daxing International Airport | China | 5.0 |
| 2 | Singapore | Singapore Changi Airport | Singapore | 4.9 |
| 3 | Seoul | Incheon International Airport | South Korea | 4.8 |
| 4 | Munich | Munich Airport | Germany | 4.3 |
| =5 | Tokyo | Tokyo Haneda Airport | Japan | 4.0 |
| =5 | San Francisco | San Francisco International Airport | USA | 4.0 |
| =7 | Shanghai | Shanghai Pudong International Airport | China | 3.8 |
| =7 | Bangkok | Suvarnabhumi Airport | Thailand | 3.8 |
| =7 | Orlando | Orlando International Airport | USA | 3.8 |
| 10 | Denver | Denver International Airport | USA | 3.6 |
When it comes to finding a quiet place to switch off during a layover, the index places Beijing Daxing at the top with a 5/5 sleepability score, with reviewers commenting on the comfort of the armchairs and low lighting in the evening.[3]
This is followed closely by Singapore Changi (4.9/5), which has free-to-use rest areas [4]and Incheon (4.8/5).
European and North American airports also feature in the top ten, with Munich, San Francisco, Orlando and Denver providing a reasonable level of comfort for passengers needing a break between flights.
Most affordable airport lounges
For those looking to save their budget for the holiday, we’ve compiled the most affordable lounges in our index, allowing you to stay comfortable in style.
| Most Affordable Airport Lounges | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | City | Airport Full Name | Country | Avg Lounge price in £ |
| 1 | Xi’an | Xi’an Xianyang International Airport | China | £15.00 |
| 2 | Shenzhen | Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport | China | £15.80 |
| 3 | Hangzhou | Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport | China | £16.50 |
| 4 | Beijing | Beijing Capital International Airport | China | £17.30 |
| 5 | Guangzhou | Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport | China | £18.00 |
| 6 | Tokyo | Tokyo Haneda Airport | Japan | £18.80 |
| =6 | Manila | Ninoy Aquino International Airport | Philippines | £18.80 |
| 8 | Chongqing | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport | China | £20.30 |
| =9 | Bombay | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport | India | £21.00 |
| =9 | Peking | Beijing Daxing International Airport | China | £21.00 |
The findings show that China dominates the list of the world’s most affordable airport lounges, with Xi’an Xianyang International Airport offering the lowest average price at just £15 ($20).
Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Beijing Capital and Guangzhou also appear in the top five, reflecting consistently good value across major Chinese hubs. Tokyo Haneda provides the most affordable lounge access outside China at £18.80 ($25), alongside Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport at the same price point.
Even among the higher-ranked airports, such as Beijing Daxing, average lounge entry remains under £30, demonstrating that comfortable, premium facilities are widely accessible to budget-conscious travellers across Asia.
Best airports for layover food
Having access to a good selection of food can make even the longest layovers a lot more enjoyable. To help, we’ve listed the airports with the most total number of restaurants and cafes.
| Best airports for layover food choices | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | City | Airport Full Name | Total number of restaurants and cafes |
| 1 | Singapore | Singapore Changi Airport | 247 |
| 2 | Chicago | O’Hare International Airport | 210 |
| 3 | Tokyo | Tokyo Haneda Airport | 173 |
| 4 | Atlanta | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport | 165 |
| 5 | New York | LaGuardia Airport | 142 |
| 6 | Jakarta | Soekarno-Hatta International Airport | 133 |
| 7 | Manila | Ninoy Aquino International Airport | 131 |
| 8 | New York | John F. Kennedy International Airport | 129 |
| 9 | Shanghai | Shanghai Pudong International Airport | 126 |
| 10 | Istanbul | Istanbul Airport | 118 |
The results show that large international hubs dominate when it comes to food variety.
Singapore Changi Airport ranks first overall, offering an unrivalled 247 restaurants and cafés, giving passengers the widest choice of dining options during a layover. Chicago O’Hare follows closely with 210 venues, while Tokyo Haneda ranks third with 173.
US airports feature prominently throughout the top 10, with Atlanta, LaGuardia, and John F. Kennedy all offering more than 125 dining options, while Asian hubs including Jakarta, Manila and Shanghai also perform strongly.
Overall, the findings highlight that travellers passing through the world’s busiest airports are most likely to benefit from extensive and diverse food choices during longer layovers.
How to make layovers more comfortable
Layovers aren’t ideal for everyone, but there are ways to make them a bit more comfortable, which our index will help with.
Choose the right layover airport
If you can plan ahead as early as possible and select flights with routes through airports at the top of our index list, like Singapore Changi, Incheon and Tokyo Haneda, with good lounges, sleep facilities and dining options, you’d already improve your layover experience. Long-haul flights from London Heathrow to Australia typically stop in Singapore as well as Doha, Hong Kong and more. [5]
Make the most of airport lounges
A lounge pass can upgrade your airport experience. Airport lounges typically offer more comfortable seating, food and drink, wifi and a much more relaxed setting, ideal for working or relaxing.
Check terminal facilities ahead of time
Airport layouts differ across the world. Before you book your flight, check whether your layover airport has shower facilities or sleep pods so that you can make the most of your time. A little preparation will help with the travel fatigue that may hit whilst you wait for your connection.
Eat well
Take advantage of airports that offer a lot of dining options. Use your layover to enjoy a proper meal, refill your water bottle for free and use our index to find the most affordable locations before you book.
Methodology
We created a list of 50 of the world’s busiest airports using data from FlightsFrom.com, based on the number of daily flights. Each airport was then assessed against 12 equally weighted factors that influence the comfort and convenience of a layover.
Data was gathered from official airport websites, third-party travel resources and publicly available platforms. Restaurant information, including average ratings and price ranges, was sourced through Google Maps, while airport ratings were taken from Google Reviews. Lounge pricing was collected from LoungePair, with additional verification carried out on individual airport websites where required. ATM data was scraped from airportbanking.com, and the availability of sleeping pods was from official airport sources, or Grrrl Traveler where not applicable. The sleepability score was from Sleeping in Airport Reviews.
The 12 metrics, which were each scored out of 10, included in the index were:
- Total number of restaurants and cafés
- Average rating of restaurants
- Average price range for food
- Number of shower rooms
- Availability of sleeping pods
- Sleepability rating, sourced from SleepingInAirports.net
- Wi-Fi availability
- Number of ATMs
- Number of lounges, verified through official airport sites and supplementary sources
- Average lounge prices
- Daily number of flights
- Overall airport rating based on Google Reviews
Each factor was equally weighted for a balanced comparison. After scoring each criteria, an overall Layover Score out of 10 was calculated for every airport.
Sources
- CNT Traveller, ‘2025 Air Travel Trends’, 2024
- Sleeping in Airports, ‘Sleeping in Airports Reviews’, 2025
- Daxing Airport, ‘Layover at Beijing Daxing’, 2025
- Changi Airport, ‘Facilities and Services’, 2025
- Australian Sky, ‘Australia Stopover Options’, 2025