Keflavik International Airport

The world is filled with airports of all kinds, shapes and sizes, but where is Europe's best airport? That's right, it's in Iceland. According to the 2009 Airports Council International passenger quality survey, the Keflavik International Airport is the best airport in Europe. You may ask yourself what's so great about this particular airport, the only international one in Iceland, and you'll get many answers. For example it features comfortable modern passenger and commercial facilities with extensive capasity on the North Atlantic and polar routes linking Europe and Asia with North America. It's an international hub of major importance for scheduled operations and technical stops.

The major attraction at the Keflavik Airport is, as it is at most other airports, the duty free shop. The Leifur Eiriksson Air Terminal, usually called 'Leifsstöð' is where you'll find a good selection of brands, services and shops, and the prices are very competitive compared to other European airports. You see, Iceland is one of the few countries in Western Europe allowed to sell goods and services tax- and duty free to all arriving and departing passengers. Making your way through the area, even on a busy day should be easy. The airport is quite small on an international scale and never too crowded. Both of the DutyFree stores are open 24 hours a day. The product selection is excellent and you can purchase cosmetics, alcohol, candy, tobacco and toys for a very low price.

Aside from the Duty Free Shop you'll find stores such as 10-11 grocery store, 66° North, Blue Lagoon, Duty Free Fashion, Elko, Epal Design, Eymundsson bookstore, Icelandic Giftstore Rammagerðin, Inspired by Iceland, Kaffitár, Leonard, Nord, Optical Studio and more. Hungry travellers can stuff their tummies with delicacies at Bistro Atlantic, Café Europe and Café International. For calming your nerves pre-flight, we recommend having a drink at Panorama Bar.

Keflavik International Airport is a lot more enjoyable than most airports you'll experience in your life, so relax! Have a bite, a drink, do some shopping and look at Icelandic art. Act like you're not even at the airport and you'll be on your way before you know it.

Not to be confused with Reykjavík Airport, which handles domestic flights as well as international flights to for instance Greenland and the Faroe Islands.