Getting to These Airports is Way Easy, with Trains, Trams and Buses instead of Cars

By Sarah Arksey
Associate Writer

Whether you’re an occasional or seasoned traveler, you can likely tell a “good” airport from a “bad” one. You may evaluate this based on the quality of their airport lounges, the conciseness of their security area, or the availability of fairly-priced coffee and beer.

However, one of the most critical ways an airport leaves an impression on travelers, is how straightforward it is to get there in the first place.  And how much the parking costs and how long the trip to get there is. 

It’s in a city’s best interest to have easy links between major airports and downtown, as it encourages both airport traffic and city tourism. Here are ten airports with easy-to-use transport systems linking them with their respective cities!

Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)

AMS is one of Europe’s busiest airports, welcoming roughly 40 million passengers each year.

In 2021, it was the third busiest airport in the world! Because of this, it’s quite a popular stopover destination– many flights in and out of Europe on airlines such as Air Transat will land you here for several hours.

It’s a good thing, then, that all you need to do to experience the famous sights of downtown Amsterdam is step onto a gently sloping moving walkway that takes you straight from the terminal to a direct metro line to downtown! The cost is around $19 roundtrip.

Singapore Changi (SIN)

Changi has been consistently ranked one of the best in the world– in fact, it’s won more awards than any other in the world!

Travelers frequently book long layovers in Singapore to spend a day at Changi– which boasts an indoor forest known as The Jewel which hosts yoga classes.

Changi has an airport shuttle system which runs directly to the heart of the small– yet populous, at nearly 6 million people– city-state. The airport’s 24-hour Ground Transport Concierges offer private shuttles starting at $42 for up to four people, or a single traveller can hop a shared shuttle for just over $7.50.

Many other pleasant surprises await travelers to Changi, including seemingly endless dining and shopping options and Singapore’s tallest slide, located in Terminal 3– which is also the tallest slide of any airport in the world.

Changi facilitates the travel of nearly 70 million passengers per year and is the main air travel hub for Southeast Asia– as well as the busiest airport on this list!

Stockholm Arlanda (ARL)

Sweden’s largest travel hub services well over 20 million passengers per year and is located halfway between Stockholm and Uppsala. Though their airport-city link, the Arlanda Express, is on the pricier side at USD $30 for a one-way ticket, it offers an alarmingly fast route to downtown Stockholm– just 18 minutes to traverse 25 miles! 

Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP)

Minneapolis-St. Paul International not only offers light rail trains every 15 minutes (costing just $2.50 during rush hour and $2 at all other times), it also offers a bike path that connects terminal 2 straight to downtown Minneapolis!

Quite fitting, considering that the twin cities were voted America’s healthiest city in 2017. Over 30 million people pass through MSP each year, making it one of the hubs of the Midwest!

MSP was voted the best airport in the United States in Travel + Leisure’s 2024 World’s Best Awards, and Midwestern hospitality definitely contributes to this airport’s high ranking. In addition to over 20,000 friendly employees, you’re likely to run into hundreds of welcoming volunteers– and even nearly one hundred animal ambassadors (registered therapy dogs and cats!)

Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta (ATL)

Averaging nearly 300,000 passengers every single day, ATL was once again crowned the busiest airport in the world in 2023, during which over 100 million people transited the airport. To reach downtown from ATL in less than 20 minutes, walk roughly 200 yards from baggage claim and take a seat on the MARTA train (either the Red or Gold line). A one-way ticket costs just $2.50. If you’re arriving internationally, you’ll have the added step of taking a free bus from the arrivals terminal to the MARTA station, but the trip will still take no longer than a half hour!

Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

This airport in Vancouver, Canada is the second busiest airport in Canada, and you can access it easily via the Canada line, which is part of metro Vancouver rapid transit. Not only does it get riders from YVR to downtown Waterfront Station (which has direct connections to ferries that cross the harbour and trains to nearby municipalities like Surrey) in 27 minutes, it also includes several stops in between– such as Yaletown, Vancouver City Centre, and Olympic Village. A one-way ticket will run you $6.80.

Chicago O’Hare (ORD)

One of the busiest airports in America, O’Hare sees a whopping 35 million passengers per year– and has a concise city link to match this high demand! The L train has direct trains from the heart of downtown to O’Hare, which cost less than $5 and take 45 minutes. Coming from the city, you’ll land nearly right in the departures terminal! 

Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)

DCA Airport, which services Washington, D.C. as well as Arlington, Virginia, boasts a metro line that connects to downtown in just 15 minutes (costing roughly $3 each way). In addition, they have a bike path (including bike rental stations!) Soon, the airport will be adding a pedestrian bridge that leads to the nearest town, Crystal City, known for its infrastructural support of the Pentagon.

DCA services upwards of 25 million passengers per year. “I am home door to gate or gate to home in 10-20 minutes almost every time. It’s amazing,” says one D.C. local.

“A great airport-city transport system must include reliable ways to get there – drive, Metro transit, rideshare– that gives passengers the option to pick the method of transportation that works best for them,” says Emily McGee of DCA Media Relations.

Brisbane Australia (BNE)

Step off your flight at BNE- one of Australia’s most well-connected airports, which facilitates the travel of more than 20 million people per year– and on to the Airtrain, which connects travelers with downtown Brisbane in just 20 minutes. More than 20,000 people are

employed at Australia’s third busiest travel hub! The Airtain costs $13.50 and runs every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes during off-peak.

Toronto Pearson (YYZ)

While Pearson itself is generally chaotic– arrive as early as possible for your flight!– the UP Express offers travelers a fantastic way of connecting with downtown Toronto. Walk less than ten minutes, following the clear signs leading to trains, and tap your credit card as you board North America’s first established air-rail link system, which takes you to the heart of downtown in 25 minutes. A one-way ticket costs $9. Roughly 50 million people pass through Pearson each year, making it the busiest flight hub in Canada!

Bonus for those who’d like to avoid the crowds– Toronto has a second, smaller airport which is even easier to reach. Billy Bishop Toronto City is just 11 minutes by car from Toronto Union Station, the downtown hub where the UP Express drops you off. A free shuttle is available to pick you up here!