If you mostly travel to various parts of the world, you can easily attest to the fact that the experience you get at a specific airport influences your trip in a big way, regardless of the airline or flight class. In Europe, there are some airports that have made headlines as being the best airports across the globe, while others are not so good.
Before you start your trip, it is important that you have a mental note of the kind of airport you will be going through, whether arrival or departure. With that, you will be able to at least prepare yourself for whatever might be coming your way. It would be more frustrating if you had no expectations of a particular place and you had a terrible experience than if you had some bit of prior knowledge.
This article, based on new research from Holidu, the holiday rental platform, will be mentioning some of the best and worst rated airports in Europe. You just get to understand where you can get exceptional services as well as the ones that could be improved.
Good times at Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport, Portugal
Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (Porto Airport) has been considered among the most excellent airports in Europe, receiving high praise for its modernity, efficiency, accessibility and numerous destinations. In the 2025 study by Holidu, Porto Airport earned a 4.4-star rating based on 30,000 reviews on Google Maps. But why such a high rating?
Time is of the essence, and Porto Airport has been applauded for short wait times for check-ins and security. The new terminal that opened in 2006, a fast track security line and several self-service counters help alleviate the problem of waiting and ensure a smooth journey. Also, the staff is known for offering fast check-ins, which makes everything so smooth.
For the infrastructure and amenities, Porto Airport is often described as modern, spacious and well organised. You are also introduced to ample dining, shopping and seating options as you wait for your flight. All these have made the airport a top contender for various awards over the last couple of years.
You can’t miss it with Helsinki Airport
Helsinki Airport has consistently ranked as one of the best airports in the world. In an interview, Ulla Serlenius, director at airport operator Finavia, stated that the rating of Helsinki Airport has even increased Finland’s attractiveness as a destination. In the study by Holidu, 17k reviews on Google Maps gave the airport an average rating of 4.4 stars, and the reasons behind it just make sense.
For starters, Helsinki Airport is famous for its user-friendly single-terminal operation, where everything from check-in to arrivals happens under one roof. This has made everything easy, with passengers being reported to change planes in as little as 35 minutes. The whole design is focused on a smooth and seamless experience for travellers.
Finavia has done a great job of making complete renovations to the airport, including the departure and arrival halls, security control areas, shops and restaurants. Also, shopping and dining experience offers many options, leaving travellers spoilt for choice.
Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport is rated really low
According to Google Maps rating, Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport is rated as the second-worst airport in Europe in 2025. This comes out of over 16,000 reviews that were made. The airport has been under heavy fire because of issues with organisation, outdated facilities and construction.
The Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport has the potential to be better, but one of the things pushing its back might be the current construction of Billi terminal. Because of this, there are fewer toilets, facilities and even space. Around this area, the airport can be quite disorganised, including the drop-off parking.
However, there have also been other complaints from reviewers stating that facilities are old, dirty and in need of upgrades. Additionally, the lounges are uncomfortable, the WiFi unreliable and there are also a limited selection of food and shopping options. However, there are plans to invest in the infrastructure of the place, which would make it comfortably accommodate over 10 million passengers in a year.
Manchester Airport is still struggling with low ratings
In the UK, Manchester Airport has been categorised as the worst-rated airport according to Google Maps. In over 31k reviews on Google Maps, the airport got an average rating of 3.1 stars.
Many visitors to the airport have complained about the dated terminals 1 and 3, and the lack of general cleanliness throughout the airport. The facilities are lacking and services are not the best. For example, there have been many complaints about high parking prices, poor quality of food outlets and shops. All these contribute to the negative feedback.
When it comes to security queues, many surveys have consistently given a one-star rating. Reviewers always state that the queues are often long and slow-moving, making the experience negative. Also, passengers often report being overwhelmed by the huge number of people being served. It also makes a lot of sense why the airport has a reputation for significant delays. Even though the airport offers direct flights to nearly 200 destinations globally, it could do a bit better to improve the customer experience.
Whenever you want to travel, it is important that you know the airports you will be dealing with. This helps you to prepare in advance to deal with any uncertainty that might come up when at the airport. Nevertheless, whether an airport is the best-rated or worst-rated, there is always a way to make your experience even better, with proper knowledge.
