European Countries Without Commercial Airports
While most countries have commercial airports, a few European microstates do not. These countries include Andorra, Vatican City, San Marino, Monaco, and Liechtenstein. Despite their lack of airports, they possess heliports and have nearby international airports in neighboring countries.
Monaco
Monaco, the world's second-smallest sovereign state, covers just 510 acres. It lacks a commercial airport, but the Nice Cote d'Azur Airport (NCE) in France, 19 miles away, serves as the closest major airport. Monaco is accessible from NCE by bus, train, or car in about 45 minutes. Other nearby airports include Genoa Airport (GOA) and Turin Airport (TRN) in Italy.
Andorra
Andorra, a landlocked microstate in the eastern Pyrenees, covers 181 square miles of mostly mountainous terrain. It has no airports for fixed-wing aircraft but hosts three heliports offering commercial helicopter services. The Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport (LEU), 8 miles south of the Andorran-Spanish border, started flights to Madrid and Palma de Mallorca in 2015. Major nearby airports include Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) in Spain and Toulouse–Blagnac Airport (TLS) in France.
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein, nestled in the Alps between Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, covers 62 square miles. It has no airport but features a heliport in the southern town of Balzers. Nearby airports include St. Gallen–Altenrhein Airport (ACH) in Switzerland and Friedrichshafen Airport (FDH) in Germany, which offer limited scheduled flights. The more significant Zürich Airport (ZRH) in Switzerland provides rail connections to Buchs and Sargans.
San Marino
San Marino, situated on the northeastern flank of the Apennine Mountains, spans 23 square miles. It has no commercial airport but maintains a heliport and an airfield with a 680-meter grass runway. The main airport for San Marino is Federico Fellini International Airport in Rimini, Italy. Buses connect San Marino with Rimini's main train station.
Vatican City
Vatican City, covering 121 acres, lacks an airport but has a heliport used by visiting dignitaries and Vatican officials. The nearest significant airport is Ciampino–G, Rome's secondary international airport. The larger Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) serves Rome and is connected to the city by train.
Despite the lack of commercial airports, these microstates are well-connected to major international airports in neighboring countries, ensuring accessibility for travelers.