This airport has become a tourist attraction in its own right, appealing to adventurous travellers eager to cross an active runway and hoping to score a selfie in front of the famous Rock of Gibraltar

There are quite a few contenders for most interesting airport, many of which have become tourist landmarks in their own right. The slowly sinking Kansai International Airport built on an artificial island is one such example, and Singapore Changi Airport – which recently won the 2025 award for World’s Best Airport – is another.

High on the list of unusual airports is one other that deserves to be spotlighted: the Gibraltar International Airport. The airport has one of the most well-known runways in the world and has been described as one of the most scenic and scary airports to fly into.

Until recent years, the major road – Winston Churchill Avenue – connecting Gibraltar to Spain ran straight across the airport’s runway. The unique layout meant that planes and cars shared the same space, which naturally led to significant congestion.

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Every time a plane landed or took off, traffic reportedly had to come to a halt. Cars, cyclists and even pedestrians had to wait as barriers lowered and aircrafts taxied across the tarmac. Delays could happen up to 15 times a day, before new measures were put in place.

The reason for the unusual layout is due to Gibraltar’s miniscule size. Located on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory that is one of the smallest in the world.

The territory measures in at approximately 6.8 square kilometres, still larger than Vatican City for reference. However, given that it overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar, land for the airport’s runway was in short supply.

Thus, the decision was made to build the runway alongside the city’s busiest road. But the airport has embraced its atypical design and even calls itself “one of the many unusual tourist attractions in Gibraltar” on its official website.

The airport, previously known as North Front Airport, is operated by the Royal Air Force but still services commercial flights for locals and tourists. The airfield is on land that was originally home to Gibraltar’s Horse Racing track.

The airport plays up its unusual location to draw in tourists, spotlighting the unique photo opportunity near its Air Traffic Control centre and boasting the best views of the Rock of Gibraltar. The official website even encourages visitors to tag @visit_gibraltar and @visitGibraltar in their runway photos on Instagram.

The airport also highlights the unique experience of crossing an active airport runway. That said, it also shares explicit guidelines for how to cross safely, including keeping valuable close at hand, complying with lanes and warning signs and keeping pets under control.

In recent years, congestion and delays have ebbed at the airport thanks to a new bypass tunnel opening. The Kingsway Tunnel now separates road traffic from runway traffic – though pedestrians can still cross the runway to take advantage of the picture-perfect selfie spot.

Given its proximity to the Spanish border and many coastal resorts, Gibraltar International Airport is a choice hub for travellers visiting the Costa del Sol. The airport is also within walking distance of Gibraltar’s town centre and is walking distance to the Spanish border.