The world’s best airport is now in Europe – its cost an incredible £9bn to build

An airport in Europe has been hailed as the best in the world and boasts its own library and museum – but best of all, it connects via cheap flights to Britain.

Istanbul Airport was named in Conde Nast Traveller‘s The Best Airports in the World: 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, noting its world-class dining. The international airport had also previously been named the best by Travel + Leisure.

The Turkish airport, which opened in 2018 and started welcoming passengers the following year, offers flights to over 300 destinations including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Among the cheapest are Wizz Air flights from London Stansted with returns for as little as £47, as per The Sun.

You also won’t have to face long waits milling around in departure lounges, as the airport has all manner of cultural artefacts and entertainment.

This includes the Istanbul Airport Museum which showcases 316 Turkish artefacts from across 29 museums and the Istanbul Airport Library which has around 2,000 books.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking to kick back and relax, there’s a designated Youth Lounge area – aimed at 15 and 30-year-olds – with snacks and drinks, games consoles, board games, a foosball table and projectors.

There are also 11 children’s playgrounds some of which are themed, including Cigaland Forest, Cigaland Space, Cigaland Sea, Cigaland Sky and Cigaland Ice, meaning there’s plenty to keep the whole family occupied ahead of a flight.

If you’re looking to freshen up for a big meeting or event at your destination, you can get a massage at the on-site spa, get a manicure, a shower, or even a haircut.

And if you need kip, you won’t have to curl up on a bench as there are private sleeping pods, and “business pods” if you need to get some work done.

Yotel, the airport‘s hotel, is the biggest in Europe, with 451 rooms to choose from. Downstairs you’ll find over 100 restaurants, with Skytrax naming the site as having the World’s Best Airport Dining.

But Istanbul Airport has even loftier ambitions to become the biggest aviation hub globally, with a four-phase expansion in the works to up capacity from 90 million to 120 million.

The construction work is set to be complete by 2025, followed by a further expansion to 200 million by 2028. The total cost of the project has been marked at $12bn (£9.15bn), as per New Civil Engineer.