Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport receives recognition from many frequent travelers for its panorama of the French Riviera upon arrival. Mostly surrounded by the Mediterranean, the runway offers views of the region’s best, from the sea to the mountains.

Landing at Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten is as much fun for airline passengers as it is for the spectators below. As the landing gear nearly touches Maho Beach, travelers gather to tempt fate and enjoy jets flying dangerously close to sunbathers’ heads.

Gibraltar International Airport has a reputation as an unusual landing spot. Not only is the runway flanked by the sea as well as the mammoth Rock of Gibraltar, but it also intersects a busy highway. Cars, bikes and pedestrians are all frequently stopped to allow oncoming planes to cross the street.

The Nepali Tenzing-Hillary Airport has been called the world’s scariest, and for good reason, but the breathtaking views of the fog-covered mountains may make you forget your fear, at least momentarily. On landing, you’ll meet an uphill runway ending at a rock wall, and take off leaves the runway exactly where it falls to a 2,000-foot drop. The airport often greets climbers on their way to Mount Everest.

Love the snow? You can ski away from your plane almost immediately when you land at Courchevel Altiport in the French Alps. Most travelers reach this picturesque winter wonderland by private aircraft or helicopter, as the runway is too short for commercial aircraft.

Enjoy the tropical paradise of the Maldives before your feet even touch the ground, when you land at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport. The turquoise waters bump right up to the runway and some of the most beautiful beaches in the islands are just steps away. Many major, world-class airlines service the airport.

With views of Guanabara Bay and Sugarloaf Mountain, Santos Dumont Airport offers a gorgeous approach and the perfect start to your visit to Rio de Janeiro. However, your chances of flying into the airport is slim, as international flights land at the nearby Galeão International Airport. To experience the ride for yourself, fly Avianca or LATAM from Brasília or São Paulo for a quick leisure addition to another trip.