Summary
- Doha Hamad International Airport was rated the top airport for shopping in the Skytrax awards.
- Istanbul Airport came in second place in the Skytrax awards and offers a large selection of luxury stores.
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport is known for its low-priced duty-free shopping compared to other airports.
Like it or not, shopping has become a significant part of the airport and travel experience. The concept of duty-free was introduced as international travel expanded, and passengers could take advantage of buying certain goods without paying certain taxes and duties (as the goods are heading out of the country).
There are plenty of great duty-free shopping opportunities in airports around the world. The five below have been chosen as they have been well-rated in some way. Feel free to point out and discuss others in the comments section.
1 Doha Hamad International Airport
Placed top in Skytrax awards
There are many great airports around the world for shopping. Most major hub airports offer a wide range of standard duty-free shopping, with alcohol, cosmetics, tobacco products, perfumes, and electronics. They also attract a number of exclusive and luxury brands eager to market to an international set of customers.
It is difficult to set such airports apart – as they all differ on the range of standard products, availability of luxury items, prices, and shopping environment/experience. The Skytrax Awards is an annual award process that rates airlines and airports in many different categories. This is a passenger-voted awards system, so it implicitly incorporates all these factors. In 2023, Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) was placed top for shopping.
Photo: GagliardiPhotography | Shutterstock
Doha Hamad International Airport is a massive facility with one main passenger terminal. This setup makes shopping easier, with all shops and brands accessible to all passengers. A multiple terminal airport (such as London Heathrow) can struggle with this, as not all brands will be available to all passengers.
The main terminal offers 40,000 square meters of shopping and dining space. As well as extensive standard duty-free options, there is a dedicated luxury area located underneath the Qatar Airways first class lounge. This houses brands including Chloe, Dolce & Gabbana, Emporio Armani, Jimmy Choo, and Fendi.
2 Istanbul Airport
Second in Skytrax awards
Sticking with the Skytrax awards, passengers voted Istanbul Airport as the second best for shopping worldwide. This is impressive for such a new airport. Like Doha Hamad International Airport, the new Istanbul airport offers one large main terminal. This again makes all shopping options available to all passengers – a real bonus if you like shopping.
The new airport offers a tremendous amount of space in the terminal. According to the airport, the main duty-free areas (operated by Unifree Duty Free) have a sales area of 55,000 square meters. This includes 18,000 square meters dedicated to boutique luxury stores. International luxury retailers include Bulgari, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Gucci.
There is also a large (3,000 square meters) Bazaar-styled area that features traditional and luxurious Turkish products, gifts, and souvenir options.
3 Singapore Changi Aiport
Third-placed airport in the Skytrax awards, and an amazing airport experience
Singapore Changi Airport frequently comes up in any discussion of the best airports to spend time in. It offers an exceptional airport experience with greenery, leisure facilities, and of course, plenty of shopping opportunities.
Changi is a multiple-terminal airport, so shopping options will depend on which terminal you are using. Unlike some airports, though, it is usually possible to move between terminals (if you have the time) regardless of which terminal your flight departs from. To assist with personalized chopping, Changi is one of many airports that offer shopping assistance – known as Shopping Concierge.
The airport also offers the amazing Jewel – a new building opened in 2019. This is a separate facility from the departure terminals, so it can be accessed by anyone. As such, it will not have duty-free offerings but still offers extensive and unusual shopping options. It’s not just shopping in the Jewel – it is a beautiful facility featuring a range of cafes and restaurants, a hotel, extensive indoor gardens, and the ‘Rain Vortex’ – the world’s largest indoor waterfall.
As well as extensive duty-free and luxury brands offering, Changi has some unusual shopping extras, such as:
- The Pokémon Center – as you would expect, it offers Pokémon-related products.
- In Good Company, offering luxurious Singaporean couture.
- Sift & Pick offers clothing, bags, and other accessories from popular Korean fashion K-style.
4 London Heathrow Airport
Fourth with Skytrax, and with plenty of ‘British’ shopping options
Moving to Europe, it is not surprising that the busiest airport in the region is also one of the best for shopping. London Heathrow has long been a major hub airport, as well as an important destination in itself. As such, it has attracted some of the leading brands.
Photo: Alexandre Rotenberg | Shutterstock
Heathrow is the first airport on this list to be a real, separated multiple-terminal airport. As such, passengers will only be able to access shops in the terminal they are departing from (there is no option to enter other terminals when departing or when transferring flights). In Terminal 5, the flagship terminal for British Airways, you will find many luxury retail brands, including Burberry, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton.
Heathrow offers some good ‘British’ shopping options as well – including an outlet from the famous Harrods store, a Fortnum & Mason shop, a Harry Potter store, and plenty of options to buy London-themed souvenirs.
5 Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Rated as the lowest-priced duty-free shopping
For our final shopping choice, we move away from the Skytrax awards and present one other airport. Kuala Lumpur International Airport does not feature in Skytrax’s top 10 airports for shopping in 2023, but it has been acknowledged as among the lowest priced. This is important – the idea of duty-free shopping is that it should be cheaper than shopping elsewhere.
A 2019 study by the travel website The Points Guy (with results quoted in Forbes) compared the prices for 13 items at 50 airports worldwide. It found that the same item could vary in price by up to 30% between airports.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport came in as the lowest-priced airport (the most expensive, if you are wondering, was Santorini Airport in Greece). Luxury brands on offer include Bulgari, Coach, and Michael Kors.
This has been an introduction to five top airport shopping experiences. Feel free to discuss others in the comments section below. Everyone has their own favorites!