12 Best Duty-Free Airport Shops

Duty-free airport shops are one of the perks of traveling. You can find everything from perfume to liquor for less than you’d pay at a retail store because of an international tax loophole that exempts you from paying tax at the airport.

But not all duty-free shops are created equal. Here are the 12 best duty-free airport shops you should visit the next time you’re looking to save money on travel.

London Heathrow has 14 duty-free stores across four terminals, offering everything from beauty to liquor to sunglasses. For an idea of pricing, you can get Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick, an iconic product for decades, for $19.55, less than its $25 price in the U.S.

Singapore’s Changi Airport makes it easy to shop duty-free. You can even purchase ahead online and pick up while you’re traveling. Expect to find cosmetics, electronics, liquor, and more in its duty-free shops in all four terminals.

The airport is known for being one of the cheapest duty-free airports, and it also offers rotating deals on its website where you can save even more on the duty-free prices.

Dubai is the land of luxury, so it’s no surprise that the airport lives up to those expectations. You’ll find luxury purses, luxury skincare, and even gold bars. This is the place for sparkling variety, not necessarily deals.

But you’ll save a few dollars here, like on Kiehl's Retinol Skin Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum 50ml, which is about $6 less than U.S. prices at just over $88.

Of course, Paris would have some of the best shopping in the world, even duty-free. You’ll find all the fanciest French perfumes, clothes with a certain je ne sais quoi, and fine French Bordeaux.

Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is known for being one of the most affordable duty-free airports, but you can only shop there if you are flying internationally. Flying within the U.S. does not qualify you to take advantage of the deals. 

You’ll find alcohol, purses, sunglasses, luggage, and more in the duty-free shops in paradise.

South Korea is known for being an incredibly efficient, clean, stylish place, so it’s no surprise its duty-free shopping lives up to the same expectations. 

This is where you go to stock up on beauty products — Korean skincare is known around the world as some of the best available, and getting it tax-free is a double win.

Hong Kong is known as a shopping destination, and its airport is no exception. You’ll find electronics, liquor, and beauty within its duty-free section.

The selection is excellent, though prices are just a few dollars less than in the US. For example, Tom Ford’s Fleur De Portofino 50ml is HK$2,275.00 or just over $291, while it’s $300 in the U.S.

If you want to visit a duty-free airport shop that gives you the true experience of being in the country, then it’s time to visit the Dutch.

The Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands gives travelers an authentic taste of their country with tulips, cheese, and chocolate, all of which are local to the region. You can get a bottle of Jack Daniels anywhere — but where else can you get authentic blooms from Holland?

Again, you can only shop in duty-free shops if you’re flying internationally, but you can find brands as diverse as Clinique and Cartier. There’s also a large selection of alcohol and tobacco.

If you’re flying back into the country through LA, treat yourself to its duty-free shops. While they have a wide array of luxury brands, they also have California wines. You can pick up a pinot, regardless of whether you spent time in Sonoma.

Bring back a shimmering souvenir from the Land Down Under by picking up an opal from the duty-free shops in Australia. You’ll also find Australian wines, which are gaining traction and popularity in the U.S.

There’s more wine at the duty-free shop in San Francisco. This is a great place to find handcrafted chocolates, California wine, some luxury brands like Hermes and Montblanc, and cosmetics.

Eager to shop duty-free but also feeling anxious about making your flight? Many airports now offer click-and-collect options for duty-free shopping that let you pick out your items ahead of time, pay for them online, and then pick them up.

You’ll get all the tax-free perks of duty-free shopping but with the ease of browsing and buying online. Just make sure to use one of the top travel credit cards.