shortest

The airport in Greece has one of the shortest runways for passenger jets in Europe – but it can accommodate aircraft as large as a Boeing 767-200

For many jet-setters, the lengthy taxi down the airport runway before take-off can feel like an eternity. It often seems as though the plane will never lift off as it trundles along the tarmac before the engines roar into action and it ascends.

However, travellers to a small Greek island may be surprised to learn that it boasts the shortest runway for passenger jets in mainland Europe. The runway at Skiathos measures a mere 5,341 feet, significantly shorter than the norm.

To put it into perspective, London Heathrow’s northern runway stretches approximately 12,801 feet, Manchester’s runway spans 10,948 feet, and Birmingham’s runway is 10,013 feet long, reports the Express. Despite its relatively modest length, the airport can handle aircraft as large as a Boeing 767-200 and welcomes flights from across Europe.

These include routes from various UK airports, with numerous seasonal flights operating to this Aegean island. Due to the island’s rugged terrain, land had to be reclaimed from the sea to facilitate the construction of the airport, which opened its doors to passengers in 1972.

Now, hundreds of thousands of passengers pass through each year, with over 552,000 recorded in 2023 – including more than 192,000 travelling to or from the UK. Its proximity to a public road, coupled with its location and frequency of flights, makes Skiathos Airport a favourite spot for plane enthusiasts who often share snaps of massive aircrafts swooping in low for landing.

Despite having one of the shortest runways in Europe, it doesn’t hold the record for the shortest runway within a European nation. That distinction belongs to Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport on Saba, boasting a mere 1,312 feet long runway and being part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The twist is that Saba is actually an island located in the Caribbean, across the Atlantic.

Measuring in at just 6ft and nine inches in length (2.06m), the world’s shortest street is actually located in a UK seaside town known for its beautiful scenery, rich wildlife, and ubiquitous history

A quaint coastal town dripping with natural beauty and maritime history has one bizarre fame to claim – it is home to the world’s shortest street.

Situated in the far north of Scotland, in Caithness, lies the former Viking settlement of Wick. Once the busiest herring port in Europe, the tiny seaside town now attracts tourists from all over the globe thanks to its intricate castle ruins, rugged cliffs, and rich wildlife.

“Around three miles north from Wick the dramatic 15th to 17th century ruins of Sinclair and Girnigoe castles rise steeply from a needle-thin promontory,” hails Visit Scotland, the area’s official tourist board. “There is a good clifftop walk to the castle via Noss Head Lighthouse from the tiny fishing village of Staxigoe. Visitors will encounter a wide selection of wildlife along the way including various species of seabirds and puffins and a beautiful scenic beach, popular for windsurfing and sand-yachting, awaits them at the end of Sinclair Bay.”

For tourists wanting to visit something a little more unusual, head over to Ebenezer Place, the world’s shortest street. Measuring in at just 6ft and nine inches in length (2.06m) – the street is so tiny it can only fit one address, Mackay’s Hotel’s No. 1 Bistro.

The eatery, idyllically set next to the Wick River, serves up mouth-watering dishes based on local produce – as well as afternoon tea, cocktail masterclasses, and (of course) whisky. In 2006, the street – which is maintained by Highland Council as road authority – scooped a Guinness World Record on October 28, 2006, officially crowning it the shortest street on the planet.

“When Alexander Sinclair returned from America in 1883, after making his fortune, he built Mackays Hotel on the corner of Union Street and River Street,” Mackay’s Hotel’s website states. “The council instructed him to put a name on the short end of the building, as they deemed it a separate street. Ebenezer Place then appeared in the town’s records from 1887.”

Located more than 670 miles from central London, driving to Wick from the Big Smoke will take you almost 13 hours. If you’re not prepared for such a gruelling car journey, you can fly to Inverness, and then drive two and a half hours down to the town. Flights to Inverness take just one and a half hours, and depart from both London Luton and Heathrow Airport. If you’re flexible with dates, you can grab return fares for as little as £44 in July.

*Prices based on Skyscanner listings at the time of writing.

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