This California Airport Has Been Ranked The Most Beautiful In The World

While many airport terminals are designed purely for practicality and to keep passengers moving, not all of them got the memo. In fact, if you're flying through San Francisco International Airport's Terminal 1 — the Harvey Milk Terminal — you'll likely find yourself wanting to linger. The warm, inviting space looks more like a comfortable living room rather than a fast-paced trans-Pacific hub, brimming with greenery and natural light. In December 2025, the rebuilt terminal building was even crowned as the world's most beautiful airport by eight judges at the Prix Versailles World Ceremony in Paris, beating out Yantai Penglai International Airport in China, long considered one of the most beautiful airports in the world for its mountain-inspired architecture.

Judges voted on specific criteria, including innovation, creativity, environmental efficiency, and sustainable social impact of the airport structure, which was rebuilt in four phases from 2019 to 2024. The existing Terminal 1 building, originally constructed in 1960, was upgraded with a sustainable and planet-friendly future in mind — becoming the first airport in the world to earn both a LEED Platinum and WELL Certification. High ceilings, large windows, public art, and comfortable furniture, along with local food, were added throughout the terminal building to improve passengers' experience and cut down on the stresses of travel. Before security, the airport also memorializes the terminal's namesake, Harvey Milk, with a photo mural dedicated to Milk's life and work as an activist for LGBTQ+ and marginalized communities. 

This isn't the first time that the travel hub has won an award. In 2024, Ookla celebrated SFO for having the fastest airport Wi-Fi in the country. Moreover, San Francisco International Airport was also recognized as the best airport in North America by Business Traveller in 2024, based on passenger feedback from J.D. Power and Airports Council International.

Though San Francisco International Airport isn't one of the top airports in the United States by number of non-stop flights, the city is still a busy gateway to the world. Over 50 airlines fly to more than 140 cities on multiple continents from the airport — including destinations such as Christchurch, Adelaide, and Ho Chi Minh City. Fun fact: SFO is the only U.S. airport with nonstop service to all three of these cities. The airport is also a hub for United, as well as other Star Alliance partners, and has direct flights to many major cities across the world.

The airport's four terminal buildings are easy to get around, making changing planes a breeze. Simply hop on the AirTrain — an integrated people-mover train system connecting the four terminal buildings every four minutes — or stretch your legs and walk between them in minutes. As part of the second renovation phase, Terminal 1 and the airport's international terminal are now connected through a skybridge after the TSA checkpoint. And if you've got a longer layover and want to explore one of the most beautiful cities in the United States, BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) runs directly to the heart of San Francisco from outside the international terminal.

All around, SFO is a first-class experience — though it often comes with first-class prices. Food, coffee, and sundries can reach eye-watering levels, even for airports (think $18 for avocado toast). Adding to that, for years, locals have paid significantly more for domestic flights from the airport. So if you're looking to save a few bucks, bring a TSA-friendly appetizer that will keep you satisfied at the airport or at 30,000 feet in the sky.