Rio Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport — Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Perched on Ilha do Governador in Guanabara Bay, GIG takes its formal name from Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos Jobim, the bossa nova pioneer behind "The Girl from Ipanema." Opened in 1977, the airport absorbed most long-haul international traffic that once concentrated at the smaller, downtown Santos Dumont field, which continues handling the São Paulo shuttle and other short domestic hops. Rio Galeão underwent a major renovation ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, when the city welcomed global visitors in unprecedented numbers. From its terminals, arriving travelers glimpse the bay's dramatic scenery, with Sugarloaf Mountain and the distant silhouette of Christ the Redeemer visible on clear approaches. The airport remains Rio de Janeiro's principal link to Europe, North America, and other South American capitals.