Airports are a boon for any nation, boosting trade, tourism, and connectivity, which in turn spur economic growth, job creation, and enhanced living standards.
Yet, there are five European countries without an airport, known as microstates, but people are keen to visit. Due to their diminutive size, some can't even accommodate a runway, but each has at least one heliport.
Interestingly, except for one, these nations are landlocked.
Andorra
Andorra is the largest of these countries lacking an airport, both in population and area. Nestled on the Iberian Peninsula, it's flanked by France and Spain.
It boasts three private heliports, with one dedicated to hospital services. Plans for a "National Heliport" have been put on hold.
Travelers heading to Andorra typically fly into Barcelona–El Prat Airport in Spain or Toulouse–Blagnac Airport in France.
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein, a German-speaking microstate in the Central European Alps, is sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland. Notably, it's Europe's fourth smallest country and prides itself on having no national debt.
It doesn't have an airport but does boast a heliport in the southern town of Balzers.
The closest major airport is Zurich Airport (ZRH) in Switzerland, which offers rail services to Buch and Sargans, from where visitors can hop on a postal bus or train to reach Liechtenstein.
Monaco
Monaco, the famed microstate, also lacks an airport but compensates with the Monaco Heliport located in the district of Fontvieille. This semi-enclave is bordered by France on three sides and sits on the French Riviera, just a few miles west of Italy's Liguria region.
Known as one of the world's wealthiest and priciest places, Monaco houses around 39,000 residents, with approximately 9,500 being Monégasque nationals. The nearest major airport to Monaco is Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) in France.
San Marino
San Marino, the oldest existing representative republic and the smallest European state by population (excluding Vatican City), is situated on the northeastern side of the Apennine Mountains. Although it's a landlocked country, its northeastern end is within six miles of the Adriatic coast via the Italian city of Rimini.
San Marino doesn't have an airport but features a heliport and a small airfield, Torraccia airfield, with a 2,230-foot grass runway. The closest airports are in Italy - Federico Fellini International Airport (RMI) in Rimini and the larger Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ).
Vatican City
While Vatican City doesn't have an airport, it does have a heliport in its western corner for visiting dignitaries and Vatican officials. Given that the Holy See only spans 0.17 square miles, it's physically impossible to accommodate an airport within its boundaries.
The closest major airports in Italy are Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport (CIA) and Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO), both serving Rome.