VCE-Spot1
Venice Marco Polo Intl. Airport – Spotting Guide
- last modified on June 29, 2026
Venice Tessera Airport (VCE/LIPZ) is the main hub for aviation in the northeast of Italy. Located about 7 km north of the historical city of Venice. It was built in the late 50s in a swampy area in the northern Venetian lagoon.
In 2025, the airport handled almost 12 million passengers. Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air and Volotea have a base at Venice. Because of its popularity, Venice is being served by almost all major European carriers and plenty of seasonal flights taking place, bringing tourists from Asia, Africa, Middle East and North America to the Venetian Lagoon.
Generally, military movements are quite rare, except for the test flights of the new NH90s from a military hangar of Agusta Westland on the north side of the airport. For security reasons, is better to avoid taking photos of these facilities.
Venice is not a spotter-friendly airport. The southern side of the field is surrounded by water and there is just one photo location for taking pictures. Second, most of the listed spotting locations are quite far and is not easy to take good photos in the morning and during the winter.
Written by Andrea Spoladore (local spotter). Last change: January 2025 – Spot 3 removed
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety |  |
| Photo Locations |  |
| Weather | |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 04R/22L | 3300 m (10827 ft) |
| 04L/22R | decommissioned – used as taxiway |
| Terminals | One Terminal that serves all traffic |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | There is no need for a ladder. |
| Car/Public Transport | Car is useful but not really necessary (except for spot 7). You can move between the spotting locations using only public transport, but it requires a longer walk. |
| Restrooms | None directly at the spots. |
| Drinks/Food | Only a restaurant close to spot 4, but there are other bars in Tessera. |
| Hotels | “Titian Inn” and “Courtyard” are the two hotels in Tessera. Close to locations 5 and 7 are two B&B, but you can find many others in the area around the airport. |
| Season | Summer is definitely the best season. During winter it is really difficult to take nice pictures. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 04R/22L | Runway 04R/22L is the only active runway in VCE. Due to the predominant wind direction runway 04R is in use for most of the time. |
| 04L/22R | Runway 04L/22R is inactive and only used as the main taxiway. |
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Spot #1 – Barena – RWY 04R movements |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Drive to the village of Tessera (2 minutes from the terminal) and park the car there. Then walk along Via Bazzera until reaching a small bridge with a red and white gate on the left. Continue to walk on the dirt road for 350 meters and, if the tide is low, go down from the embankment and stop wherever you want. For some line up shots it is better to walk along the road for another 600 meters. |
| WHAT | All the landings on runway 04R. From here there is a fence and other small obstacles that hide the bottom of the aircraft while taxiing. Walk along the road until it is possible to take some “clean” shots of the aircraft lining up on the runway. |
| TIME | In the summer after 4pm only. In winter, only airplanes lining up after 1pm. |
| MISC. | Heat haze can be a problem in the summer. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150-300 mm |
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Spot #2 – Beach – RWY 04R arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | From the spotting location #1, walk along the road and after 700 meters turn left until reaching a small sandy beach. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on runway 04R. |
| TIME | After 4pm during summer only. |
| MISC. | There is absolutely nothing around here, so bring what you need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A332: 135 mm A319: 240 mm |
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Spot #4 – Casino – Runway 04R Departures |
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| WHERE | Park your car on the right side of Via Paliaga, about 100 meters after passing the casino. From there walk back towards the casino, and after 150 meters you will find a small bridge. Position yourself on the grassy area on the left just before the bridge. |
| WHAT | All departures from runway 04R, but very distant for narrow-body aircraft. |
| TIME | After 4pm in the summer. In the winter it is backlit all day. |
| MISC. | Best spotting location for heavy departures from runway 04R. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | B77W: 210mm |
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Spot #5 – Field – Runway 04R Departures |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Drive along Via Triestina (SS14) and turn onto Via Paliaghetta. Park your car on the side of the road and walk until reaching a gate. |
| WHAT | All departures from runway 04R. This is a good alternative to spot #4. |
| TIME | After 4pm in the summer. |
| MISC. | There is a B&B at the top of the road. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | B748: 135mm B738: 250mm |
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Spot #6 – VOR – Runway 04R Departures / Runway 22L Arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Park the car on Via Paliaga, exactly as for the previous spot. Then, walk eastbound along the road until reaching Via Cà Vallesina, turn right and walk to the end of the road. After a gate, continue on the right along the embankment. In the case that runway 22L is in use during the morning (really unusual), after the red-white colored gate walk left for about 500 meters. Position yourself wherever you like. |
| WHAT | Departures from runway 04R, however, smaller aircraft will already quite high, and arrivals on runway 22L, but which are rare. |
| TIME | After 4pm, during the summer. |
| MISC. | It is quite a long walk from Via Paliaga (more than 2Km) and there is literally nothing nearby this spot, so bring what you need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300 mm |
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Spot #7 – Runway 04R Departures |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Drive along SS14 until a locality called “Montiron” (about 6 km from the airport terminal), then turn right towards a B&B. Park your car on the side of the road near there. Cross the gate located in front of the hotel, and after 100 meters turn left until reaching the top of the embankment. Stop wherever you prefer. In case of left turn takeoffs, continue to walk for 1 km southbound until reaching the mouth of a river. |
| WHAT | Departures and right banking from runway 04R. Narrow-body aircraft can already be too high from here. |
| TIME | From sunrise until noon. |
| MISC. | Although it is the only location at VCE where it is possible to take some pictures in the morning, is not used much for several reasons. In the summer almost all the heavy departures are after midday and in the early afternoon, when the sun is already too high for good photos. Also, due to the considerable distance, low clouds and mist make it impossible to use this spotting location during bad weather conditions. There is nothing around here and also no shelter and no shade. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A332: 400 mm |
Buongiorno! Tempo fa con un amico sono andato a vedere gli aerei… però volevamo trovare un’altra postazione rispetto al punto 1 e al punto 2, quindi guardando su maps abbiamo scoperto una strada per arrivare al punto 6… però arrivando in auto, all’ingresso di via Ca vallesina, c’è un cartello con scritto proprietà privata, perciò per non rischiare abbiamo deciso di lasciar perdere, però leggendo qui mi sembra che si possa passare tranquillamente a piedi
You need to update movements and airlines variation. I just checked split airport and it has more than Venice, how is it even possible? I mean it’s clear that Venice has more airlines and movements
yes it was pretty outdated. I have changed it.
-Julian
Thank you
There’s an amazing spot after the security!
After the security control, turn left (opposite direction of extra Schengen flights) and walk to a restaurant at the final part of the restaurant that you reach by escalators and there you can exit and go to an open area where you can see a good part of the ramp and takeoffs and landings.
If there’s someone at the entrance just ask if you can go and they will let you go
Hahah Onni I found you
You cant get a clear shot for line ups and departs at spot 1 since it will be obstructed by fence or long grass
Is there any possibility to take photos at the top of the rental car parking next to the cargo terminal?
Hi Thomas,
nope, unfortunately all around the top floor there is high wall, so it’s impossible to take pics from there. And don’t even think about using a ladder because security will come right away!
Jesolo beach it’s a good location, but sadly the planes are too high so you will need binoculars to see them, but it’s a way to enjoy a day at the beach and at the same time do some plane spotting. It’s in the landing and takeoffs path. On the aircraft it’s possible to see the beach during the climb or the descent. From the beach it’s impossible to take pictures because the airplanes are too high but you can watch them with binoculars and see the model of aircraft and the company operating the flight time between each flight in summer time it’s between 5 to 10 minutes, depends on the day. If someone it’s interested in going to the beach I suggest Jesolo centro beach, Pineta and Cavallino are way too far from the VCE airport routes and in the Jesolo Centro beach infrastructure and commercial development it’s way more friendly and easy to access. It’s not necessary to pay for a beach place “ombrellone and seats” there’re free beach areas. There’s also a moving bar where you can buy ice creams, water bottles, or foods.
Hi,
there is also a nice terrace at Venice, however only airside (with boarding pass). After passing security, walk to the 2nd floor to the east of the terminal building.You can take nice and sunny pictures in the afternoon on an open balcony, access is free. I visited the spot on 25/FEB/2020.
Anyway, thanks very much for all spotting information worldwide, I appreciate it very much!
Kind regards,
Stephan.
hi,
when in the second floor, facing the runway, have I to go left or right? thx bye.
Lionello
Search for “Marco Polo lounge”, Mile and More lounge or a similar name (the lounge have changed names a couple of times). The terrace it’s in the lounge for passengers with boarding card and card of a frequent flyer program. The personnel at the entrance it’s very nice and understanding, if you explain them that you just wish to see the runway and the aircraft from the terrace, they will let you in and show you where it’s the terrace, even if you don’t have the frequent flyer card, or a ticket of a company member of a frequent flyer club, like a low cost ticket. I don’t know if they have changed policy with COVID-19 tightening up protocols to avoid the spreading of the pandemic.