For all the headaches of the construction at Denver International Airport, travelers continue to appreciate the nation’s largest airport.
That was demonstrated clearly in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for airports released this month. Denver was honored for its artwork, dining, drinks, shopping and overall quality by experts and travelers. In all, it ranked in the top four in six categories.
On the hospitality side, Modern Market was chosen as the best grab-and-go dining option in the country, while the airport ranked second overall for dining; and Williams & Graham rated as the third-best airport bar.
Separate from the bites and beverages, readers voted Denver second for shopping, third in overall quality among large airports and fourth for best airport art.
Here’s a look at what readers and experts loved about Denver International Airport:
A flyer checks the electronic departure boards at Denver International Airport during the summer 2024 travel season.
Modern Market ranked No. 1 for grab-and-go food
Many Coloradans are familiar with Modern Market’s offerings, including freshly made sandwiches, wraps, salads and pizzas. For travelers looking for something healthier than fast food, the spot is becoming a popular and environmentally friendly option to run through when racing to a gate.
DEN ranked No. 2 for best airport for dining
If you’re traveling through Denver and want to skip the national chains, you have plenty of options to get local flavor. The airport is dotted with outposts of familiar Denver staples such as Elway’s, Etai’s and Root Down, along with airport-only concepts such as Tapas Sky Bar and Timberline Steaks & Grille to squash your hunger.
DEN ranked No. 2 for shopping
Denver International Airport has several unique shops for travelers looking for gifts or mementos. Experts at 10BEST recommended looking for stores with Colorado-themed or Colorado-made products, such as Björn’s Colorado Honey, which makes and sells its own beeswax and honey-infused goods.
Williams & Graham ranked No. 3 among airport bars
The original Williams & Graham — a speakeasy masquerading as a bookstore in Denver’s Highlands — now has a second location in DEN, complete with the hidden door in a bookcase that hides the bar from passersby. It has a broad selection of craft cocktails, along with small plates and snacks.
DEN ranked No. 3 among large airports
Denver is the country’s largest airport by land area but gets credit from 10BEST experts and readers for its visual appeal, art collection and restaurant choices. Even with the heavy passenger count, they said it does not feel as congested as other large airports, and all of its amenities feel easily accessible, regardless of which concourse they are in.
DEN ranked No. 4 in best airports for art
Denver has a large selection of permanent installations, including sculptures and murals throughout the airport. But Denver also has rotating Colorado-themed exhibitions that give its frequent visitors something new on a regular basis.
How are USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards decided?
USA TODAY 10BEST says a panel of experts nominated airports in each award category, with the final nominees selected via editorial review by its editors. Once the nominees in an award category were announced, the public had four weeks to vote online for their favorites. People could vote for one nominee in each category each calendar day.
Nate Trela covers trending news in Colorado and Utah for the USA TODAY Network.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: DEN ranks among nation’s best airports with USA TODAY 10BEST readers
