Although people can book tickets and travel virtually anywhere in the world, commercial airplanes cannot fly into 5 countries because they do not have airports. One of those countries has no hotel or resort properties, either.
These 5 Countries Do Not Have Airports. One Has No Hotels, Either.
To get to these countries via commercial airplane, you must fly into a neighboring country and then drive or use public transportation to get to it.
Without further ado, the five countries which do not have their own commercial airports are as follows:
1. Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is the sixth smallest nation in the world in terms of area, as it covers only approximately 62 square miles. Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the only two double-landlocked countries in the world. Sandwiched between the countries of Switzerland and Austria in Europe, Liechtenstein is the only country which is located entirely within the Alps, which is why much of the country is mountainous.
You can read more information pertaining to spending a day in Liechtenstein in this article — as well as view photographs of the Tunnel Gnalp-Steg — here at The Gate With Brian Cohen.
2. Monaco
Monaco has the distinction of having the shortest coastline in the world at only 12.4 miles. Squeezing in an international airport is not possible with its total area at approximately 0.78 square miles; but because it is packed with its high concentration of wealth in the French Riviera, its nickname is Billionaire’s Playground. The tiny country is one of the most densely populated locations on the planet — despite having a population of fewer than 40,000 citizens. The nearest airport is in France, as Côte d’Azur Airport in Nice is approximately 30 minutes away by motor vehicle. Côte d’Azur translates into English as Azure Coast because both the sky and the sea can be an intensely blue color.
3. Andorra
Andorra is a landlocked nation which is located high in the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France. Andorra la Vella is the highest capital city in Europe at 3,356 feet above sea level. Although it is a small country at approximately 180 square miles in area, it is approximately three times as large as Liechtenstein. Catalan is the official language to Andorra, in which approximately 85,000 people call home. The closest airports are in Toulouse in France and in Barcelona in Spain. Andorra is the sixteenth wealthiest country in the world in 2024.
You can view photographs of the Gran Valira River in this article; and read about my experience staying at the Holiday Inn Andorra hotel property here at The Gate With Brian Cohen. You can also view photographs of the Port d’Envalira pass between Andorra and France in this article.
4. San Marino
San Marino, Lesotho, and Vatican City are the only enclave countries in the world which are completely surrounded by another country. This tiny country is only approximately 24 square miles in area as it is nestled in the Apennine Mountains in the northeastern region of Italy. The population of San Marino — which is the oldest surviving constitutional republic in the world, as it was established in the year 301 — is slightly greater than 30,000 citizens. The closest airport to San Marino is Federico Fellini International Airport in Rimini in Italy, which is located approximately 70 miles away.
If you are unsure as to what is an enclave and an exclave, you can find out with the following articles here at The Gate With Brian Cohen:
- Fun With Enclaves and Exclaves: United Arab Emirates and Oman
- Fun With Enclaves and Exclaves: Baarle Hertog and Baarle Nassau
5. Vatican City
Speaking of Vatican City, it holds the title of the smallest country in the world at only 0.2 square miles; and like San Marino, it is also entirely surrounded by Italy. In fact, Vatican City is the only country in the world that is surrounded by a city: Rome. This city-state is home to the global headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, to the residence of the Pope, and to only approximately 800 people. Vatican City not only has no airport; but it also has no highways or hotel and resort properties. The closest lodging options for visitors are just outside its border in Rome. Several places where people can sleep free of charge are supposedly available in Vatican City — but they are intended for use by people who are homeless or down on their luck. The only way for visitors to reach Vatican City via commercial airplane is by flying into Rome-Ciampino Airport, which is only approximately nine miles away.
Final Boarding Call
Could you imagine living in a country which has no commercial airport? You would need to travel to the next country to be a passenger aboard an airplane to fly somewhere else.
One advantage is that you would likely not have to deal with the noise of airplanes near your home.
Have you been to any of the five aforementioned countries?
All photographs ©2009 and ©2018 by Brian Cohen.
