Hong Kong already boasts the fifth cleanest airport in the world, according to Skytrax, but the international air transport rating organisation is far from done when it comes to recognising airport excellence. In the inaugural World’s Best Airport Washrooms 2025 awards – yes, you read that right – Skytrax has honoured Hong Kong International Airport with fifth place for its bathrooms, trailing behind Bahrain International Airport (number four), Seoul Incheon International Airport (number three), Tokyo Haneda Airport (number two), and this year’s winner, Singapore Changi Airport. Who knew airport bathrooms could be an experience?
Aside from the cleanliness – which we can now brag is award-winning – what’s special about the public bathrooms at HKIA is that they are generously spacious, both in cubicle size and waiting areas, since schlepping our carry-ons with us is a common scenario. Wash basins are designed as ultra-modern all-in-one stations where you can rinse, soap, and dry your hands in one place – no more dripping water all over the floor to get to the tissue paper dispenser. Plus, there’s a smart noticeboard system at the entrance of the bathroom informing you of the current occupancy rate and how many bathroom stalls are unoccupied, as well as red and green LED lights by each cubicle to indicate if the stall is already occupied. No more guesswork and hesitant knocking! In the men’s bathroom, some urinals even have small screens that emulate airplane windows installed on the wall above, so you have something interesting to look at when you’re relieving yourself.
Skytrax assessed 235 airports around the world to deliver these results, and because this is the organisation’s first year rating airport bathrooms, the 2025 awards are based on feedback from the Skytrax audit office. For future awards, feedback from travellers will be incorporated into the rankings. What’s remarkable is that all of the 10 airport bathrooms honoured as the best in the world are based across Asia. Japan alone has five airports represented in the top 10, and in the land of smart toilets, we simply can’t complain.
Personally, we’re huge fans of the New Chitose Airport (number seven) in Hokkaido. Where else are you going to find Japanese onsen bathing facilities inside an airport terminal?
Best airport bathrooms in the world 2025:
- Singapore Changi Airport
- Tokyo Haneda Airport
- Seoul Incheon International Airport
- Bahrain International Airport
- Hong Kong International Airport
- Kansai International Airport
- New Chitose Airport
- Tokyo Narita Airport
- Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
- Fukuoka Airport
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