When talking about Osaka, it’s nearly impossible not to mention the culinary culture that’s made the city a destination for food lovers. But to focus solely on Osaka’s famous okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes) and takoyaki (battered octopus balls) would do a great disservice to Japan’s third-largest city. It may be a sprawling metropolis but Osaka has the feel of an easygoing European coastal city, with a sense of openness and a slower pace than its big brother, Tokyo. First-time visitors tend to make a beeline for Osaka Castle, browse the food stalls on a walk through Kuromon Ichiba Market and later venture out to Universal Studios on the edge of the city. But another great way to get a true taste of Osaka is to dive into its diverse neighbourhoods.
These Are the World’s Biggest Airports—and More Than Half Are in the USA
12.09.2023 - 12:49 / afar.com
When people refer to “big” airports, they typically think of large hubs with huge numbers of passengers transiting through. But bigger doesn’t always mean busier. The biggest airports in the world are those that occupy the highest total acreage of land. And yes, some of the biggest are also some of the world’s busiest—but not always. Some are hubs that have big hopes for future growth, while others have interesting stories behind how and why they acquired and maintain such a large footprint.
And frequent travelers may be surprised by who’s in and who’s not. Take Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, which for most of the past quarter-century has held the title of world’s busiest airport by passenger count, but—with 4,700 acres or about 7.5 square miles of land—doesn’t come close to getting in the top 10 in terms of area. Chicago O’Hare, also one of the most heavily traveled hubs, occupies less than a quarter of Denver International Airport’s property, which, at 53 square miles, is the biggest airport in the United States.
There are many reasons some airports are really big in land space—the most obvious being the old real estate mantra: “location, location, location.” Six of the ten largest airfields are in the U.S.—perhaps unsurprisingly, two are in Texas—and, more specifically in the south and the west, where airport developers were able to grab more land than they needed initially in case they wanted to expand, or simply to serve as a buffer zone. (Once an airport is built and is situated within a surrounding community, it’s almost impossible to expand its footprint given the local opposition this would incur.)
So, what are the airport behemoths that make up the list of world’s largest hubs? Since there’s no single, authoritative source for this data, here is our ranking based on the airports’ own published dimensions, local government data, and other sources, such as Guinness World Records.
The world’s largest airport is King Fahd International Airport, in Damman, Saudi Arabia. The gargantuan hub improbably tops the list, a status bestowed by the Guinness World Records, but its purported size is so mind-boggling that it begs some additional research—its 300-square-mile girth would be the equivalent of an entire country, in fact it is larger than neighboring Bahrain. One possible explanation: during the Gulf War in the late 1990s the desert airfield vastly expanded its land holdings to accommodate American military operations, and an air base is still situated on that land, according to militarybases.com. The site is also home to a mosque, which is located over a parking garage, and a school, according to other published reports.
Off the coast of the Persian Gulf in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, lies the world’s
Bicycle Friendly Businesses Across U.S. Now Top More Than 1,450
A new crop of businesses nationwide has been recognized for demonstrating commitment and work “to build better places to bike” by making cycling safer, easier and more accessible as a means of transportation and recreation.
These Are The Ideal Resorts For Improving Your Tennis Game
If you are a tennis fan now is the season to get some quality time with some of the world’s best players. The Grand Slam season is over for 2023 but you can still find excellent training experiences, clinics and drills with players such World No. 3 Danil Medvedev in far-flung places such as the Maldives. Look to sharpen both your tennis and pickleball skills with Sam Querrey in Turks & Caicos or tune into a new wellness regimen with Maria Sharapova in Thailand. Here’s the latest on where to go for the ultimate tennis training experience.
These Are The Best Resorts For Improving Your Tennis Game
If you are a tennis fan now is the season to get some quality time with some of the world’s best players. The Grand Slam season is over for 2023 but you can still find excellent training experiences, clinics and drills with players such World No. 3 Danil Medvedev in far-flung places such as the Maldives. Look to sharpen both your tennis and pickleball skills with Sam Querrey in Turks & Caicos or tune into a new wellness regimen with Maria Sharapova in Thailand. Here’s the latest on where to go for the ultimate tennis training experience.
I had a scary experience the first time I traveled solo. Now I always do these 4 things to feel safe and prepared.
Almost fifteen years ago, I was in Florence, Italy, on my first solo travel trip. I was lost trying to find the apartment that I was staying in, and a man walked up to me, asking if I needed help. I was panicked and not thinking clearly, so I told him the address, and he offered to help me find the building.
These are the 50 best hotels in the world
From harbor-front Hong Kong glam to old-school European luxury, a just-released list of the best hotels on the planet offers a handy guide to traveling the world in high style – or at least assembling a list of dream accommodations.
Top Caribbean Getaways, Powder Mountain’s New Billionaire Owner And More Travel News
As high season in the Caribbean approaches, it’s never too early to start planning a winter getaway. From Cancun to Aruba, here are five luxurious Caribbean resorts for families, foodies, adventurers and more.
Japan Welcomes More Than 2 Million Visitors for the Third Straight Month
Japan welcomed more than 2 million visitors for a third straight month in August, recovering to more than 80% of pre-pandemic levels for the first time, official data showed on Wednesday.
Lufthansa Is Adding These New North America Routes for 2024
Lufthansa, the largest air carrier in Europe, is betting demand for European holidays will still be high next year with its latest expansion announcement.
I worked at Disney World. Here are the only 9 souvenirs that are worth your money.
I loved participating in the Disney College Program — where students and recent grads can work at the theme parks for a semester — so much that I did it twice.
Here Are the Top Cities for Cheap Fall Getaways, According to Hopper
As the temperatures dip in the transition to fall from summer, airfare prices are also cooling down with deals available within the United States and around the world. Travel booking site Hopper recently shared its “Fall Shoulder Season Report,” providing insight into discounts as we head into fall. Domestic flights to New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Orlando all average under $200. Each city is seeing prices at least 24 percent lower than the same ticket over the summer.
I tried Clear Plus but canceled my membership after the free trial because it didn't eliminate my biggest airport gripe
Have you ever made awkward eye contact with someone in a blue vest in front of the Clear line? Maybe you mistakenly entered the line and even signed up.