Stuck for ideas on how to fill time at an airport? Propping up a bar, duty-free shopping and people-watching can only take you so far. So we’ve come up with five activities at different airports that will help make boarding time roll around a little faster.
Take a dip
Why not take a refreshing dip during your transfer? At Changi Airport in Singapore, you can watch planes taking off and landing while you cool off in an outdoor pool. At Terminal One, the swimming pool offers a refreshing break from the stresses of travel. It overlooks the runway and aircraft parking bays, and has a poolside bar serving light refreshments and drinks. Dubai International Airport also has a pool you can use for a small fee.
Head out on the ice
Check out the “Ice Forest” skating rink at Seoul’s Incheon Airport (Seoul/Incheon). It was the first rink to open inside an airport. It’s open year-round, thanks to its synthetic ice, which also means you’ll stay dry if you fall – there’s no fear of boarding your flight in wet clothes.
Lose yourself in art or books
You can dream away the day surrounded by magnificent works of art at various airports, including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and San Francisco International. Or escape the hustle and bustle at the airport libraries in Tallinn, Estonia, and at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport even has an eBook library.
Explore the natural world
Dubai International Airport has a relaxing Zen garden perfect for chilling out in before your flight. In Singapore, Changi Airport has a superb Butterfly Garden, where you will find hordes of the colourful species flitting around. There’s even an indoor waterfall. You’ll be wowed at Vancouver International Airport, where two aquarium marine exhibits are home to more than 5,000 sea creatures. Kuala Lumpur International airport has its own Jungle Boardwalk.
Tee time
If you’re feeling active, play a round of golf at Hong Kong International Airport. The SkyCity Nine Eagles Golf Course is near Terminal Two and is the first nine-hole golf course in Hong Kong created to US Golf Association standards. Play here and you’ll be challenged with the course’s signature Island Green hole. As the name suggests, it’s on an island in the middle of an artificial lake. Need a few tips? The course also boasts a golfing academy with expert instructors. Just watch out for planes overhead if you’re a big hitter.
