List of Nations Without Airports: Doesn’t a nation without an airport seem strange? One of the most practical means of transportation that really links people worldwide is the airport. There are, nonetheless, a few nations without airports. Remarkably, the majority of these nations are European microstates that use the airports and other transportation facilities of their neighbors, such as heliports, railroads, and roadways. Let’s see the list of nations without airports throughout the globe.
Countries Without Airports: A List
| Country | Region | Alternative Access | Nearest Major Airport(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andorra | Europe | Heliports, roads | Barcelona (Spain), Toulouse (France) |
| Liechtenstein | Europe | Heliport, trains, roads | Zürich (Switzerland), St. Gallen, Friedrichshafen |
| Monaco | Europe | Heliport, roads, yachts | Nice Côte d’Azur (France) |
| San Marino | Europe | Heliport, roads | Rimini, Bologna (Italy) |
| Vatican City | Europe | Roads, public transport | Rome Fiumicino (Italy) |
Which Countries Don’t Have an Airport?
Andorra
The biggest nation without an airport in the world is Andorra. But the area is well-known for its shopping and skiing. It lacks infrastructure for fixed-wing aircraft and only has three heliports. The closest airports to Andorra are Toulouse-Blagnac in France and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat in Spain. Most travelers take a bus from these airports to Andorra.
Liechtenstein
Between Austria and Switzerland is Liechtenstein. The picturesque Alpine nation of Liechtenstein is well-known for its castles and alpinism. Liechtenstein has a heliport at Balzers but no airport. The nearest airports are Friedrichshafen in Germany, St. Gallen-Altenrhein in Switzerland, and the sizable Zürich Airport, from which visitors may travel to Liechtenstein by bus and rail.
Monaco
On the French Riviera sits the opulent city-state of Monaco. It is well-known for the Grand Prix, casinos, and luxury boats. Because of its tiny geographical area, the country lacks an airport. Monaco Heliport, however, is used by locals and tourists for quick trips. The city-state is just a short drive or helicopter ride from the nearest major airport, Nice Côte d’Azur in France.
San Marino
Located on the foothills of Mount Titano in northern Italy—the oldest republic in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site—is San Marino. It features a small grass airfield and a heliport but no airport. The closest airports are Bologna Guglielmo Marconi and Federico Fellini International (Rimini), both of which are in Italy. From these airports, travelers often take the road to this location.
Vatican City
Located in Rome, Italy, Vatican City is the spiritual seat of the Catholic Church and the smallest sovereign nation in the world. The area lacks a heliport and an airport, and its smallest land area is less than 0.5 square kilometers. However, the nearest airport is Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino in Rome, which makes it easy to get to Vatican City by taxi or other public transportation.
Why There Are No Airports in These Countries
These nations’ size and location are the main causes of their lack of airports. In general, microstates with little geographical area cannot afford runways. Furthermore, each of these nations is close to a major international airport that serves the neighboring nations. Some of them also have other transportation options, such as efficient rail and road networks and heliports.
Which Major Territories Do Not Have Airports?
Due to their extreme remoteness, several non-sovereign regions, such as Tokelau, the Pitcairn Islands, and Tristan da Cunha, also lack airports and rely on ships or boats.
These nations continue to welcome tourists with their beauty, history, and appeal despite the lack of airports, which in no way keeps them remote and inaccessible. Their reliance on nearby infrastructure emphasizes how interconnected modern travel is.
