Inside the high-flying world of VIP city-center aviation
Helicopters are changing how people move through Europe’s busiest cities. For business travelers, VIPs, or anyone short on time, a heliport offers something priceless, the freedom to skip traffic and fly straight to the destination.
Across Europe, these sky gateways connect airports, skyscrapers, and coastlines in minutes. From London to Monaco, they’re not just transport hubs, they’re symbols of speed, style, and innovation.
1. London Heliport (Battersea, UK)
Location: South Bank, River Thames, London
Opened: 1959 | Operator: Edmiston London Heliport
London’s only licensed city-center heliport is a marvel of urban aviation. Nestled on the Thames, the Battersea Heliport provides direct access to London’s financial and luxury districts — Mayfair, Knightsbridge, and the City — in minutes. Used by royalty, CEOs, and celebrities, it’s a familiar sight in James Bond films and business headlines alike.
Why it stands out: London’s dense airspace makes this single heliport one of the most exclusive and tightly managed in Europe.
2. Héliport de Paris – Issy-les-Moulineaux (France)
Location: 15th Arrondissement, Paris
Opened: 1956 | Operator: Aéroports de Paris
Tucked along the Seine, just minutes from the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Heliport is the beating heart of France’s urban rotorcraft scene. Used by VIPs, government officials, and luxury transfers, it offers direct flights to Le Bourget Airport, the Loire Valley, and beyond.
Why it stands out: It’s one of the few major heliports inside a European capital — complete with a terminal, hangars, and strict Parisian noise limits.
3. Monaco Heliport (Fontvieille, Monaco)
Location: Fontvieille district, Monaco
Transfer time to Nice: ~7 minutes
Nowhere does helicopter travel feel more glamorous than in Monaco. The sleek waterfront heliport handles over 40,000 movements per year, connecting the Principality to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. Operated by Monacair, flights run every 15 minutes — proof that in Monaco, even commuting comes with sea views.
Why it stands out: The densest concentration of helicopter transfers per square kilometer anywhere in Europe.
4. Amsterdam Heliport (Netherlands)
Location: Westpoort, Amsterdam
Opened: 2005
Compact, modern, and highly efficient, Amsterdam Heliport serves as the Netherlands’ primary urban helicopter hub. Used for VIP transport, media, police, and medical missions, it offers quick access to the capital’s business districts and port zones.
Why it stands out: The heliport sits just 6 km from the city center — the perfect link between Amsterdam’s historic canals and its global commerce.
5. Greek Air Athens Heliport (Greece)
Location: Koropi, near Athens International Airport
The Athens Heliport is a gateway to Greece’s islands. Used heavily for luxury tourism, charters, and corporate travel, it offers connections to Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, and all the Greek islands
Why it stands out: It’s southern Europe’s busiest private heliport during summer — the main hub for luxury travel across the Greek islands.
6. Nice Côte d’Azur Heliport (France)
Location: Adjacent to Nice Airport
Serving as the Riviera’s rotary hub, this heliport facilitates transfers to Monaco, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez. It’s where private jet meets private rotor, seamlessly linking sky and sea.
Why it stands out: Europe’s most active heliport for luxury tourism and VIP events (think Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix).
7. Geneva City Heliport (Switzerland)
Location: Geneva, near the international airport
A prime base for diplomatic, corporate, and private operations, Geneva’s heliport connects the UN’s global hub to ski resorts in minutes. Courchevel, Verbier, and Zermatt are a quick flight away.
Why it stands out: Serves one of the world’s most international cities — a crossroads for finance, diplomacy, and Alpine leisure.
8. Milan Heliport (Italy)
Location: Milan, Lombardy Region
The financial and fashion capital of Italy wouldn’t be complete without its own heliport infrastructure. From Linate and Malpensa airports, helicopters connect executives directly to Milan’s downtown helipads, as well as Lake Como and the Alps.
Why it stands out: It’s the main heliport for Italy’s business leaders and top designers.
9. Zurich City Heliport (Switzerland)
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich’s heliport services banking executives and tech entrepreneurs looking to leapfrog Alpine terrain. It’s a key link between Zurich Airport, city HQs, and Swiss mountain resorts.
Why it stands out: Swiss precision meets helicopter efficiency — perfectly synchronized transfers for Europe’s most punctual travelers.
10. Düsseldorf Heliport (Germany)
Location: Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia
Germany’s business powerhouse maintains one of the country’s busiest corporate heliports. Used by air ambulances, executives, and luxury charters, it connects the industrial Ruhr region to the rest of Europe.
Why it stands out: A vital hub for Germany’s corporate aviation and one of the most developed heli-infrastructures in the EU.
The Future of Urban Heliports
With electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology on the horizon, these heliports may soon evolve into “vertiports” — accommodating quiet, zero-emission air taxis. Cities like Paris and London are already planning for the shift.
Until then, Europe’s heliports remain an elite, airborne alternative to the traffic below — flying proof that in the modern city, the sky is the fastest road.
