Christmas & New Year
1. Dulles International Airport Parking Garages
2. “Secret” Observation Deck, MSP(Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport)
3. Besucher Park, Munich Airport
4. Imperial Hill, Los Angeles International Airport
5. Gibraltar International Airport
6. Bayfront Park, San Francisco
7. The In-N-Out Burger By LAX
8. Maho Beach In St. Maarten
9. Founders’ Plaza, DFW(Dallas Fort Worth International Airport)
10. Gravelly Point, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport DCA
11. The Panorama Terrace, AMS (Amsterdam Schiphol Airport)
12. TWA Hotel’s Rooftop Pool At JFK
13. Skiathos Airport
14. Berlin Brandenburg Airport
15. Hamburg Airport
16. Tokyo Haneda Airport
17. Singapore Changi Airport
18. Phuket’s International Beaches
19. Vancouver Airport
20. Myrtle Avenue, London Heathrow Airport
21. Sheps Mound, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport
22. Manchester Airport Run Way Visitor Park
Frequently Asked Questions
22 Best Plane Spotting Places In The World
Aviation enthusiasts, get ready for the ultimate experience at the World’s most iconic planespotting locations! From exotic beaches to urban airports, the world is full of the best plane spotting places that will make your heart race with excitement. Whether you’re a casual traveller exploring International tour packages or a hardcore aircraft spotter, these best aircraft spotting locations offer something extraordinary.
Imagine watching massive jets fly closely over stunning landscapes like St. Maarten’s Maho Beach, or enjoying a cocktail at JFK’s TWA Hotel’s rooftop while watching the runway in action. These are just a few of the experiences from the World’s most iconic planespotting locations. So, grab your camera, and get ready to explore the complete list of the best aircraft spotting locations.
1. Dulles International Airport Parking Garages
Want to experience the World’s most iconic planespotting locations? Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C. is the best choice. It is very friendly to people who like watching planes. The best plane spotting places are in Parking Garages 1 and 2. You can even call the airport first to let them know you will be watching planes, so there won’t be any security issues. There are other good viewing places nearby, like a shopping centre, an air museum, and a hotel.
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2. “Secret” Observation Deck, MSP(Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport)
Among many top plane spotting places, MSP Airport stands out as the best! It has two great places to watch planes. The outdoor area with picnic tables near the runways that you can drive to through tunnels. And the 2nd one, the Secret deck ——
A hidden indoor viewing room( most people don’t realise) in Terminal D upstairs. While it takes some stairs to get there, it’s quiet and has windows all around with comfy chairs to sit and watch planes take off and land.
3. Besucher Park, Munich Airport
Munich Airport has a special park for visitors called Besucherpark which is one of the top plane spotting places. It is easy to reach by train. It is a fun place that offers more than just plane watching. You can see real planes up close, play mini-golf, and there’s even a playground for kids. If you want an even better view of planes taking off and landing, you can go up to Visitors Hill nearby —- it is one of the World’s most iconic planespotting locations.
4. Imperial Hill, Los Angeles International Airport
Imperial Hill is one of the top aircraft spotting locations at Los Angeles Airport (LAX)! Located on the south side of the airport, it gives you awesome views of planes taking off and landing on the south runways. It’s been a favourite spot among plane watchers for years, and you can see all the action on runways 7L, 7R, 25L, and 25R from here. Another location that is one of the best places for plane spotting in the world is In-N-Out Burger where you can view the aircraft of Los Angeles International Airport( explore below).
5. Gibraltar International Airport
Gibraltar’s Airport located in Gibraltar, a tiny British territory near Spain is one of the best plane spotting places. What makes it super interesting is that its runway goes right across the main road that connects Gibraltar to Spain.
Whenever a plane needs to take off or land, they have to stop all the cars and people walking on the road, just like a railroad crossing. This creates long lines of waiting traffic!
Making things even more exciting, pilots have to deal with strong winds coming off the famous Rock of Gibraltar, especially in winter. Since the runway is quite short, landing here can be quite tricky for pilots. It is definitely one of the top plane spotting places.
Suggested Read: Top Airports in Maldives: Hassle-Free Routes to Island
6. Bayfront Park, San Francisco
Sanfrancisco’s Bayfront Park is one of the World’s most iconic planespotting locations. It is a small free park right by San Francisco Airport where you can sit and get amazing views of airplanes taking off and landing on runways 1L and 1R. The park is situated along the bay, making it an ideal place to relax while watching aircraft activity.
7. The In-N-Out Burger By LAX
This is one of the top plane spotting places at Los Angeles Airport (LAX) on America’s west coast. While you eat a burger at the restaurant there, you can watch the many planes taking off and landing; there are about 1,500 flights! That’s a perfect combination. Enjoy good food and watch different types of aircraft at the same time.
8. Maho Beach In St. Maarten
Maho Beach in St Maarten is one of the best places for plane spotting in the World.
It’s amazing because airplanes fly very close to people’s heads before landing at the nearby airport. You can see all kinds of aircraft here from small planes to huge passenger jets. The beach is always full of people taking photos and watching planes, making it one of the World’s most iconic planespotting locations for anyone who loves aviation.
9. Founders’ Plaza, DFW(Dallas Fort Worth International Airport)
At Dallas Fort Worth Airport, there’s a special viewing area called Founders’ Plaza where anyone can watch planes. It is one of the best plane spotting places which has tables, telescopes, and even a radio where you can listen to pilots talking to the control tower.
It is one of the best places for plane spotting in the World, perfect for family picnics and if you come in late afternoon, you can see the biggest planes taking off for Europe.
10. Gravelly Point, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport DCA
Gravelly Point at DCA is one of the top plane spotting places. Gravelly Point is a park in Arlington, Virginia. Here, planes fly very low overhead, and while you’re watching them, you can also see famous landmarks like the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. It is a nice place for a walk or bike ride along the Potomac River, making it one of the best plane spotting places in the world with sightseeing.
Suggested Read: Guide to International Airports in India
11. The Panorama Terrace, AMS (Amsterdam Schiphol Airport)
Want to explore more best plane spotting places in the World? Head to “Panorama Terrace” at Amsterdam Airport. This viewing deck gives you great views of parked planes. The best part? You can also grab a meal at a restaurant and check out a real KLM Fokker 100 plane. It is perfect for travellers passing through or anyone who wants to spend time watching aircraft.
12. TWA Hotel’s Rooftop Pool At JFK
Want to watch airplanes while swimming? Visit one of the awesome planespotting locations around the world; TWA. The TWA Hotel at New York’s JFK Airport has something special —– a rooftop infinity pool with amazing views of planes taking off and landing. The pool opened in 2019, and you can see one of North America’s biggest runways while enjoying a drink poolside making it one of the best plane spotting places. If you’re staying at the hotel, you can use the pool for free. If not, you can book a spot at the pool bar online.
13. Skiathos Airport
The Greek island of Skiathos isn’t just famous for its pretty beaches but also for the best plane spotting places. Visitors can stand very close to the runway’s start, where planes from all over Europe fly extremely low before landing making it one of the best aircraft spotting locations. You can get really close to the action, but you need to stay alert because planes can arrive suddenly! Skiathos is among the best places for plane spotting in the World.
14. Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Berlin Airport is counted as one of the best plane spotting places too! You can enjoy plane spotting from the 4th floor of Terminal 1. The visit can last 90 minutes by paying €3. Though it is quite new since the airport itself opened recently, it’s ranked as one of the awesome planespotting locations around the world!
15. Hamburg Airport
Another one on the list of best plane spotting places is Hamburg Airport. Visitors can watch planes for free here. There are two outdoor viewing areas—- one at Terminal 1 and another at Terminal 2. Both have places to sit and telescopes to help you see the aircraft better. Hamburg Airport is one of the top plane spotting places you shouldn’t miss!
16. Tokyo Haneda Airport
Tokyo’s Haneda Airport is one of the awesome planespotting locations around the world! You can choose from three different viewing decks —– one in each terminal. While the decks in Terminals 1 and 2 close in the late evening, Terminal 3’s deck stays open all day and night (as long as the weather is good). It is surely one of the best plane spotting places.
17. Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport is one of the best plane spotting places you must visit, as it has not just one but 3 viewing areas to enjoy plane spotting. Yes, there’s a viewing area in each terminal (1, 2, and 3), and they’re all open day and night. From these spots, you can see planes parked at their gates. It is undoubtedly one of the awesome planespotting locations around the World.
18. Phuket’s International Beaches
Did you know you can find awesome planespotting locations around the world at the Phuket beaches? Phuket in Thailand is not just a beautiful beach holiday spot—– it’s also great for watching planes! Two beaches, Nai Yang and Mai Khao, are right next to Phuket Airport’s runway. From these beaches, you can watch planes from many different countries in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East landing and taking off over the blue water.
19. Vancouver Airport
Have you ever experienced plane spotting at Vancouver Airport? It has secured its place among the awesome planespotting locations around the world. Head to level 4 of the domestic terminal! There’s a public viewing area that faces the runway on the west side. Here’s the best part—– you can use free telescopes to get an even closer look at the planes!
20. Myrtle Avenue, London Heathrow Airport
Myrtle Avenue in London has a perfect grassy spot to watch planes! It is one of the best plane spotting places situated right before Heathrow Airport’s runway 27L, giving you amazing views of planes landing and taking off. Just remember, it’s in a neighbourhood where people live, so please be quiet and respectful when visiting. The viewing area is open to everyone, but be mindful of the local residents.
Suggested Read: 4 Airports in Bhutan: Make your Trip Easy!
21. Sheps Mound, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport
Sheps Mound is among the best plane spotting places in the world! It is a raised platform near the control tower that was just renovated. From here, you can get up-close views of planes moving on the ground. It has been one of the best aircraft spotting locations for years, and now it’s even better with more parking spaces and sheltered areas to protect you from the sun or rain.
22. Manchester Airport Run Way Visitor Park
Manchester Airport’s Runway Visitor Park is one of the best plane spotting places in the World. Aviation enthusiasts will surely enjoy an incredible viewing experience. As one of the best plane spotting places, you get amazing up-close views of aircraft taking off and landing, plus there’s a museum packed with historic British planes including a real Concorde. There are also two other great viewing spots nearby—– The Airport pub and “The Mount”, a raised hill with great views. Just make sure to drive there, as public transport options are limited.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Q:What is plane spotting?
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Q:Where is the best spot in an airplane?
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Q:What are the best types of locations for plane spotting?
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