These are the 10 best airports in Europe

With demand for air travel in Europe growing at an impressive rate, the need for world-class airports is at an all-time high. Leading aviation reviewer Skytrax recently released the results of its annual World Airport Awards, which includes a list of the best in Europe.

10. Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)

Yearly passengers: 10.3 million

Previous rank: 8

Why it's awesome: Located just 15 kilometers (9 miles) southeast of Cologne, Germany, CGN is a major hub for the budget carrier Germanwings.

Skytrax reviewers praised the airport for its modern architecture and its clean and efficient terminal buildings.

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2015, .

9. Hamburg Airport (HAM)

Yearly passengers: 16.2 million

Previous rank: N/A

Why it's awesome

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, .

8. Vienna International Airport (VIE)

Yearly passengers: 22.8 million

Previous rank: 10

Why it's awesome: Located just 12 miles from the heart of Austria's capital and largest city, Skytrax reviewers praised the airport for its cleanliness, compact size, and speedy wi-fi connectivity.

Vienna International Airport's largest tenants include Austrian Airlines, NIKI, and Eurowings.

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2015, provided by Vienna International Airport.

7. Helsinki Airport (HEL)

Yearly passengers: 20.1 million

Previous rank: 6

Why it's awesome: Located 20 kilometers north of the Finish capital, Helsinki Airport is home to Finnair and is a major hub for Norwegian Air Shuttle.

Travelers moving through the airport can pass their time in a variety of ways, whether by visiting an art gallery or an aviation museum, engaging in a book swap, or viewing a scenic terrace.

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2015, .

6. Copenhagen Airport (CPH)

Yearly passengers: 26.6 million

Previous rank: 7

Why it's awesome: Copenhagen is one of the busiest hubs in Northern Europe and is a major base of operations for Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle.

Skytrax reviewers lauded the airport for its clearly placed signs and the efficient, though sometimes crowded, facilities.

Source: . Yearly passenger figure is for 2015, .

5. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)

Yearly passengers: 63.6 million

Previous rank: 5

Why it's awesome: Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe and serves as a hub for KLM, Transavia, and Delta.

Opened in 1916, Schiphol is noted for its wide variety of leisure activities and has a library in which fliers can cozy up with a good book while waiting for their flights.

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, .

4. Frankfurt Airport (FRA)

Yearly passengers: 60.8 million

Previous rank: 4

Why it's awesome: Frankfurt Airport is the fourth-busiest airport in Europe and one of the most important transit hubs in the world. FRA is home base to Lufthansa's fleet of more than 270 jets.

Skytrax reviewers praised the airport for the ease of transit between terminals and the abundant shopping and dining options. Some, however, have complained of the lengthy immigration lines.

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, .

3. London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Yearly passengers: 75.7 million

Previous rank: 3

Why it's awesome: Heathrow is Europe's busiest airport and the largest of the five primary airports serving London.

Heathrow is in the midst of a major renovation with the addition of a brand-new Terminal 2 building. Its eight-year-old Terminal 5 building was once again named the best airport terminal in the world by Skytrax.

Heathrow serves as the main hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, .

2. Zurich Airport (ZRH)

Yearly passengers: 27.7 million

Previous rank: 2

Why it's awesome: Just 8 miles from the heart of Zurich, the airport serves as the home for Swiss International Air Lines and as a hub linking Switzerland's largest city with the rest of the country.

For passengers with an extended layover, Zurich Airport offers bicycle and inline skate rentals and excursions to the Swiss Museum of Transport Lucerne.

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, provided by .

1. Munich Airport (MUC)

Yearly passengers: 42.3 million

Previous rank: 1

Why it's awesome: Once again, MUC has been rated the best airport in Europe by Skytrax. Located northeast of downtown Munich, MUC is one of the busiest airports in Europe and the second-busiest in Germany, after Frankfurt.

Munich serves as a major hub for Air Berlin, Lufthansa, and Condor, and it features airy, glass-heavy architecture. A nearby visitors park features mini golf and a display of historic aircraft.

Source: . Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, .