See list of 6 countries without airports worldwide

Despite the dominance of air travel in today’s world, a few countries still operate without commercial airports where planes can land.

These nations have adapted to their unique geography, land size and terrain by relying on neighbouring countries, road networks, rail systems, sea transport and helicopters.

Their experience shows that national access and mobility do not always depend on having an airport within a country’s borders.

According to Aviation A2Z, here are six countries where planes do not land directly, and how travellers still reach them.

1. Andorra

Andorra is a small country located between Spain and France in the Pyrenees mountains, covering about 468 square kilometres.

The rugged and mountainous landscape makes it difficult to build a commercial airport.

The country does not have a runway for planes but operates three private heliports mainly for medical emergencies and private flights.

Most visitors fly into nearby airports in Spain or France.

One of the closest is Andorra–La Seu d’Urgell Airport in Spain, roughly 12 kilometres from the border, after which travellers continue their journey by road through the mountains.

2. Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a landlocked country situated between Switzerland and Austria, with a total land area of about 160 square kilometres.

It has no airport but maintains a heliport in the town of Balzers. Visitors usually arrive through Zürich Airport in Switzerland, then travel by train to Buchs or Sargans before entering Liechtenstein by bus.

Other nearby airports in Switzerland and Germany, such as St. Gallen-Altenrhein and Friedrichshafen, also serve as entry points, although they offer fewer flight connections.

3. Monaco

Monaco lies along the French Riviera and is one of the smallest countries in the world, with a land area of just over two square kilometres.

Due to limited space, building an airport is not possible. Instead, Monaco operates a heliport in the Fontvieille district. Most international travellers fly into Nice Côte d’Azur Airport in France, located about 30 kilometres away.

From there, they reach Monaco by helicopter, road or train along the coastal route.

4. San Marino

San Marino, one of the world’s oldest republics, is completely surrounded by Italy and covers about 61 square kilometres.

The country has no commercial airport. It operates a heliport in Borgo Maggiore, while a small airstrip at Torraccia is used mainly by amateur pilots and emergency services.

Visitors typically fly into Federico Fellini International Airport in Rimini, Italy, which is about 16 kilometres away, or use Bologna’s airport for broader international access before travelling by road.

5. Vatican City

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world by both size and population, occupying only 0.44 square kilometres within Rome.

Its size makes the construction of an airport impossible. The Vatican has a heliport used mainly for official travel.

Most visitors arrive through Rome’s Ciampino or Fiumicino airports and then travel by road.

Due to its compact nature, Vatican City can be crossed on foot in less than 30 minutes, making air travel unnecessary.

6. Kiribati

Kiribati is an island nation made up of 33 atolls and reef islands spread across about 3.5 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean.

While Bonriki International Airport serves the capital, South Tarawa, most of the outer islands do not have airports.

As a result, sea transport remains the main means of movement between islands.

Ferries, cargo ships and private boats play a key role in connecting communities, as air access outside the capital is very limited.