TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Changi Airport in Singapore is known for the tallest indoor waterfall, and Hamad International Airport in Qatar features a forest, but neither is the most beautiful airport in the world. The winner of the Prix Versailles 2025 for the Most Beautiful Airport category is Terminal 1 Harvey Milk at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), United States.
Harvey Milk Terminal 1, opened in 2024, is considered a transformation that provides a calming environment for travelers, according to Travel and Leisure on Wednesday, January 14, 2025. Judges presented the award in December 2025, praising the 79% reduction in carbon emissions and a 59% decrease in energy usage, according to a press release from Gensler, the architecture and design firm.
Among the features making the Harvey Milk terminal stand out are spaces filled with natural light and decorations honoring the Bay Area. There are 30 pieces of art throughout the terminal.
This sustainable terminal is designed to reduce stress and prioritize well-being with gender-neutral restrooms, wellness zones, and accessible directions. The terminal is a silent facility, where most announcements appear on boards rather than through loudspeakers.
"We are truly honored to be named the top airport in the world by Prix Versailles," said Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet, according to a press release shared by SFO.
Presented at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, Prix Versailles recognizes the most beautiful airports, campuses, passenger stations, hotels, museums, restaurants, and shopping centers globally.
Recognition for Other Airports
In addition to SFO, Terminal 2 at Yantai Penglai International Airport in China, the arrival terminal at Roland Garros Airport on Reunion Island, France, and Terminal 1 at Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, received recognition.
Furthermore, Terminal 1 at Marseille Provence Airport in Marignane, France, won a special award for its interior. Portland International Airport in Oregon, known for its carpet, received a special award for its main terminal exterior.
Several airports that frequently receive "best airport" titles were not included in the list of winners.
The President of the Prix Versailles jury said in a press release that the award challenges everyone to look beyond aesthetics and evaluate architecture and design as a force. "It invites us to measure creativity not only by its boldness, but by its integrity – its ability to respond to cultural context, to uplift communities, and to contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future," she said, as reported by People.
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