This Classy Airport With A Mountain-Inspired Design Is The Most Beautiful In The World

The Prix Versailles' World Architecture and Design Awards for the most beautiful airports of 2025 were announced, and the winners may not be what you'd expect. You probably imagine Qatar's Hamad International Airport, famous as a great stopover destination, or Singapore's stunning Changi Airport with its reputation as the most luxurious in the world — but think again. Topping the list in 2025 is China's Yantai Penglai International Airport (YNT), Terminal 2. The airport recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, welcoming the news that it topped the world's best airport chart with the opening of its new 1.8 million-square-foot terminal.

"Orientated towards operational, ecological and aesthetic excellence, these hubs also convey shared values, culture or even a tribute to the past, out of respect for the legacies left behind by earlier generations," The Secretary General of Prix Versailles, Jérôme Gouadain, explained in a statement. Inspired by the Kunyu Mountains, YNT's design features dramatically curved exteriors with a rounded, almost hilly roofline and sky lights that radiate natural sun into the terminal. Also said to draw inspiration from the Maritime Silk Road, the interiors of the terminal feature sculptural elements reminiscent of wooden ships' hulls. The crown jewel of the terminal design is a domed, multi-level atrium meant to evoke a sense of openness and brightness that's often lacking inside airports.

In addition to stunning architectural features that draw from the local seascape, culture, and history, YNT's terminal was chosen for Prix Versailles' top accolades for the airport's operational achievements and environmentally conscious blueprint. Designed by Aedas along with the Shanghai New Era Airport Design and Research Institute, the terminal's "E"-shaped structure was designed to maximize passenger flow and minimize influence on the existing terrain by working around the environment where possible rather than disrupting it with unnecessary excavation. The "E" shape creates more space for aircraft parking and carrier flow to optimize logistics. Areas within the terminal are also convertible and adaptable spaces that can change to meet operational needs. 

Now able to service more than 23 million passengers a year, YNT is primed to serve as an international hub for the Shandong province in China, aiming to accommodate upwards of 30 million passengers by 2040. With careful consideration about how the building balances environmental concerns and airport efficiency, YNT fit the Prix Versailles criteria for world's most beautiful airport perfectly.

Second behind YNT on the Prix Versailles rankings was Marseille Provence Airport's Terminal 1 in France, followed by the arrivals terminal at Réunion's Roland Garros Airport. Japan's Osaka Kansai International Airport came in fourth for Terminal 1, while two U.S. airports rounded out the rest of the list. Portland International Airport's (PDX) brand new main terminal and San Francisco International Airport's (SFO) Harvey Milk Terminal 1 were recognized for their thoughtful sustainable designs. SFO, in particular, was highlighted for its brilliant use of art work within the terminal's re-imagining, creating a space filled with vibrant displays of local artwork curated in collaboration with the SFO Museum. Crafted by architectural firm Gensler, SFO's Terminal 1 was also an effort in sustainability. The terminal's revamped design reduced the space's energy usage by almost 60%. SFO, thus joins the ranks of the coolest airports around the world that are destinations in and of themselves.

Meanwhile, PDX is wowing travelers with therapy animals and a growing forest plus sustainable design efforts that honor Oregon's nature. The airport's new main terminal, which opened in August 2024, was a five-year project that focused on environmentally friendly and area-specific construction. Designed by ZGR Architects, the terminal has a sculptural, wooden accented roof, with materials sourced from forests within a 300-mile radius of the airport, minimizing environmental impact. It's an ode to the Oregonian landscape, filling the terminal with the same tranquility as the state's forests. Given the elaborate design and yet thoughtful deployment of art, architecture, and environmentally-friendly ideations, it's no wonder these airports and their terminals achieved Prix Versailles' top rankings.