Singapore’s Changi Airport Named the Best Airport for Foodies

Airport food doesn’t exactly have the best reputation. It’s usually a “whatever you can find” situation, especially if it’s an overnight layover in the middle of nowhere. But every once in a while, you happen to be landing or taking off from an airport filled with food you actually want to sit down and savor. 

In February, the research team at SEO for Restaurants released its report that analyzed the average rating and food prices for airports across the globe to rank the best airports for foodies. To figure out which ones are the tastiest, the team started with a seed list created in-house. Then, it ranked that list using a number of criteria, including the number of food establishments per one million passengers, the average rating of those food establishments, and the average food price. All the information was gathered via each airport’s official website, and pricing and rating data was sourced from Google Maps.

After digging into all that information, the team named Singapore’s Changi Airport (SIN) the best in the world with a score of 87.79 out of 100, noting it offers the highest number of unique food establishments per million passengers. 

“Singapore Changi Airport’s top ranking is a testament to its commitment to providing diverse dining options for travelers. With over 300 dining establishments available across its terminals, premium amenities, unique attractions, and efficient services, Changi Airport deserves to be ranked first in many airport lists,” Andrea Abbondanza, CEO and founder of SEO For Restaurants, shared in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure. 

Abbondanza also noted that airports in Asia had a strong showing on the list, reflecting the “region’s rich culinary heritage and the growing interest in food tourism. These airports have integrated local food culture into the travel experience, creating dining pit stops within their terminals.”

Zurich Airport (ZRH) in Switzerland came in second, followed by Tokyo International Airport (HND) and Narita International Airport (NRT) in Japan in third and fourth, respectively. They were followed by Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Qatar, Munich International Airport (MUC) in Germany, Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) in South Korea, Dubai International Airport (DXB) in the United Arab Emirates, Istanbul International Airport (IST) in Turkey, and Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in France, rounding out the top 10. 

“As airports evolve into lifestyle hubs, we expect to see even more emphasis on culinary offerings,” Abbondanza said. “This trend not only enhances the travel experience but also provides significant opportunities for local restaurants and food businesses to showcase their cuisine to a global audience.”