Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

Only London’s Heathrow and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle are busier than this airport, which saw almost 51 million passengers in 2010. HKIA opened in 1998, and Terminal 2 was inaugurated in 2007. Shaped like a “Y,” this two-runway space on Lantau Island is near the Pearl River Delta region. While some travelers only use it as a taking-off point, there is no excuse for layover boredom. Diversions include a “4-D” theatre, an adjacent golf course, an amusement park, shops like Giorgio Armani and Tiffany, and dining options ranging from traditional Asian to Burger King and Starbucks.