These 7 airports have such stunning artwork, they're like museums
An airport that doubles as a showcase for fine art may strike you as unlikely but then you might say a place defined by clocks and schedules -- but that also embodies taking off and freedom -- is equal parts transport node and work of art itself. As if to underscore that, there's a growing number of airports where actual artworks are very much on display, and that's by design.
There are many instances where airports install items that are somehow representative of the destinations they actually serve: sections of ancient mosaics at Rome's Fiumicino International Airport and a sampling of Dutch Masters' paintings at Amsterdam's Schiphol come to mind. Then there are times when airports go into full-on art gallery/modern art museum mode. Qatar's Hamad International Airport in Doha, with monumental-sized works by the likes of Urs Fischer and Tom Otterness alongside works by more local artists, is a prominent example.
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Simply put, airport art is pretty cool. Here are some airports around the world where you'll find inspiring art on display.
1. Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar (DOH)
If there's one thing Qatar's Hamad International Airport in Doha isn't about when it comes to art, it's minimalism. The airport's artworks, curated by Qatar Museums, lean to the cutting edge and often to the very large as well. Consider the jumbo-sized and very yellow Lamp Bear by Urs Fischer (after departures, security and passport control at the South Node) or the cheekily named Small Lie by artist Kaws, a wooden "toy" which looms 32 feet over busy passersby in the North Node.
The variety of Hamad's art is truly impressive. The larger-than-life sculptural Playground by Tom Otterness is another example, as are Tom Classen's "herd" of metal oryxes, a nice treat for when you do get off the plane, in arrivals. The airport is also the place to see inspiring works by more regionally-based artists, such as Iraqi artist Ahmed Al Bahrani's Message of Peace to the World, a cube-shaped sculpture that's been installed at the South Node's passenger train station.
2. Rome-Fiumicino International Airport, Italy (FCO)
The Eternal City is a treasure trove of ancient art, so it's no surprise that at least some part of Rome's main international airport should serve as an ambassador of sorts of its artistic heritage. And that place is in the newish Terminal 3, on the upper level of shops and restaurants after passport control. You'll find a small but well-curated selection of Roman statues, as well as a beautiful array of mosaics like this one, part of a mythological depiction of signs of the Zodiac and the four time zones, or the four seasons.
Of course, when you're stuck in an airport for any length of time it's easy to forget what time or even season it is, and in fact, a recent installation here juxtaposed philosophical considerations like that with an audiovisual show of the ancient Roman sites located between the city centre and the sea.
3. Larnaca International Airport, Cyprus (LCA)
Cyprus' largest international airport showcases modern installations of artworks like this one after customs and immigration.
But what's really cool is this chunk of an artsy wall decoration that was somehow salvaged and relocated from the now-defunct zombie airport near Nicosia, the capital. Nicosia International was the island's main international airport before Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974, and now that disused airport sits in the middle of a UN-monitored buffer zone.
As for this well-preserved relic, it was specially commissioned back in the early 1970s. New information panels explain the meaning behind the different mosaics that make up the wall segment, which is prominently located in the departures hall before security.
Read more: 10 things no one tells you about Cyprus
4. Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel (TLV)
According to its website, the Israel Airports Authority "views art as an indispensable part of the history and culture of the Jewish people", and at Tel Aviv's busy Ben Gurion International Airport, that commitment manifests itself in various ways. Perhaps most iconically there's the beautiful and large ancient "bird mosaic" from the historic Israeli city of Beit She'an. It's set in a cement mould that is itself affixed high atop a portion of the wall under which every arriving passenger at Terminal 3 (the airport's main terminal) must pass before passport control.
But that's not all. Since 2008, the elongated left wall of the sloping corridor in Terminal 3 that leads to the main departures hall has been home to temporary photo exhibitions that focus on different aspects of Israel. It's not uncommon for passengers to stop in their hurried tracks to check out the oversized and often quite gorgeous photos before heading to their gate.
5. San Francisco International Airport, U.S.A. (SFO)
Even more so than famously unloved LAX, San Francisco International Airport steps right up to the plate on the creative front. There are contemporary works of art sprinkled throughout the main terminals, such as recent head-turning show on "The Modern Consumer -- 1950s Products and Style" in Terminal 3.
At SFO as one might expect, art is never an afterthought but rather, is compellingly curated. In fact, the airport's public art is selected by the prestigious San Francisco Arts Commission. And to appeal to the AvGeeks out there, as well as California travel history buffs, there's the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, which has on display everything from vintage flight attendant uniforms to floral-print aeroplane seats from the 1970s. Admission is free to the museum, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located before security on the departures level of the International Terminal Main Hall.
6. Athens International Airport, Greece (ATH)
Like many spots in and around the Greek capital, the area around Athens International Airport (called Mesogaia) is rich with antiquities, and many discoveries actually came to light during the process of building the airport. Happily some of these have found a home in a small museum located inside the airport. While many people who find themselves on the upper level of the main departures hall (before security) are making a beeline to Burger King, some pause to inspect upwards of 172 authentic artefacts dating from the Neolithic and Early Hellenic eras to the post-Byzantine period.
The museum is open daily, for free, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. A smaller dedicated space reserved for interesting rotating exhibits of Greek contemporary art is located adjacent to it.
7. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, the Netherlands (AMS)
Didn't have time to gawk at the art at the Rijksmuseum during your visit to Amsterdam? No worries, because thanks to some artsy interventions at Schiphol you can pretend that you did and maybe even fool your Instagram followers. We're talking about the busy airport's pared-down but very lovely nonetheless version of the famous museum, and it's tucked into a glass pavilion after security. The curated selection of 17th-century Dutch paintings rotates with the Rijkmuseum's main collection on a regular basis.
Bottom line
Airports are functional places to be but they are also places where the relevant authorities increasingly look to optimise the totality of the airport experience. Big-name artists not only lend to cachet to some major international airports, but they also make passengers' time in the terminal -- whether rushing through or lingering longer because of a missed connection -- more enjoyable. Some airports are following the lead of artsy trailblazers like Qatar -- for example, busy Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX is now home to numerous changing site-specific installations and Miami International Airport has a strong art programme, too. More than ever and around the globe, when it comes to ground-level art experiences at many airports, the sky truly is the limit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.