The walking distance at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, with almost 1,5 kilometres between the departure hall and the boarding gate, has been declared one of the longest in Europe by airport comparison site Parkos. 

Ranking of longest walking distances at European airports

Using Google Earth to measure the walking distance from the departure hall to the boarding gate, Parkos has compiled a list of the airports in Europe with the longest walking distances. 

If you’re running late for your flight and hoping for a quick dash to the boarding gate, you’ll have the most trouble at Madrid Barajas Airport in Spain. At just over 2,5 kilometres, the Spanish airport has the longest walking distance in Europe, according to Parkos. Athens International Airport follows close behind with 2,490 metres and Charles de Gaulle Airport rounds out the top three with 2,346 metres. 

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has eighth-longest walking distance

To walk from the entrance to the furthest boarding gate at Schiphol you have to cover 1,460 metres. This lands the Dutch airport in eighth position in the ranking. 

While Schiphol Airport receives many compliments from worldwide travellers for its efficient layout, it is still considered the second most stressful airport in Europe. Walking distance may not have been a factor in that, but it surely doesn’t help.

Other Dutch airports did not have such long walking distances, with the airport in Eindhoven measuring the second longest in the Netherlands at 485 metres and the shortest distance measured in Groningen at 143 metres.

Top 10 longest walking distances at airports in Europe

According to Parkos, these are the European airports where you’ll hit the most steps (in metres):

1. Madrid Barajas Airport, Spain (2,503)
2. Athens International Airport, Greece (2,490)
3. Charles de Gaulle Airport, France (2,346)
4. Frankfurt Airport, Germany (1,835)
5. London Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom (1,798)
6. Manchester Airport, United Kingdom (1,779)
7. Lisbon Portela Airport, Portugal (1,609)
8. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (1,460)
9. Vienna International Airport (1,409)
10. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Finland (1,343)

To see the full ranking, visit the Parkos website.

Thumb image credit: Jacqueline van Kerkhof / Shutterstock.com