Tivat Airport - Spotting Guide

Tivat Airport – Spotting Guide

November 9, 2015 - last modified on October 21, 2024

Tivat is a small town in Montenegro, new country formed from the separation of Yugoslavia. Adriatic sea is bordering the city with the Balkans mountains, it is a small seaside town that for many years attracts people from neighboring countries and Russia.

The airport is south of the small town and consists of a runway oriented 32-14. The small terminal being located to the west. Usually traffic is not important in Tivat and only a few scheduled flights operated by local airlines Air Montenegro or Air Serbia. But in summer, high traffic peak is observed with many charter flights mainly from Europe. There are no military or cargo activity in this field. The airport is located on the seafront, with small roads that pass close to the runway threshold, which can allow fans to see the planes up close!

Between two airplanes, enjoy the beach and the bar with view on the runway! Tivat is a geat place to spend holidays at the beach and include spotting in very easy conditions. Traffic is a « copy paste » everydays with just a few change. City is also wonderfull to go out and visiting.

Written by Cédric Valence and Sebastian Arndt. Last Update: September 2024 (Spot 4)

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
14/32	2.500 m (8.202 ft)
Terminals	One for all operations
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not very necessary but better. You may buy a cheap garden chair along the street from Apartments Božinović to the city.
Car/Public Transport	Car is not very necessary but better to join the east spotting points.
Restrooms	Available at the beach’s restaurant and gas station.
Drinks/Food	There is a restaurant at the beach, a shop at the gas station and a big shop front of appartement close of spotting places
Hotels	There are not many hotels nearby the airport, i recommend the Apartments Božinović only 10min walk from the terminal and the spotting point.
Season	Tivat is busiest during summer seasons as many vacationers spend their holidays here. During the summer season, heat haze is not a problem because you’re close of the airplanes.
Security	No problems reported. Only if there are flights from Israel you will be send away by airport security if you stay at the fence.
Runway Usage
14/32	Runway 32 is mainly used for arrivals and departures. All big airplanes (737, 320…) makes a backtrack from the end of the runway till the holding point 32, so you get lot of opportunities to take pictures of your favorite airplane!

	Spot #1 – Gas Station Parking
WHERE	Coming from the city of Tivat, pass the airports terminal and drive all along the runway. At the roundabout take the third exit and drive to the gas station to your left hand side. Easy to park here and you may buy food and drinks here. You’ll take about 45 minutes to reach the gas station by foot from the apartment, 40 minutes from the terminal.

WHAT	You can take pictures of runway 32 approach only.

TIME	Light is good from sunrise till 10AM.

MISC.	Everything you need within the gas station.

FOCAL LENGTH	Use +- 170mm for a A320.

	Spot #2 – Main Road
WHERE	Thi spot is along the main road to the roundabout for spot #1 at the threshold for runway 32. It’s possible to park along the street but it’s safer to park at gaz station and walk to this point.

WHAT	It’s possible to catch arrivals on runway 32 but the airplanes are litte bit high and the angle is worse. But you can shot over the fence here for the 32 lineup! If you don’t want to get the fence on your picture use a chair or a ladder. There can be some heat haze, depends of the wind conditions and the temperature.

TIME	Light is good from 8AM till 1PM.

MISC.	Everything you need within the gas station spot #1.

FOCAL LENGTH	Approach A320 <18mm line up +- 250mm

	Spot #3 – Parking and taxiway
WHERE	The spot is next to the Bizjet Ramp. Don’t park your car there or security’s airport will ask you to go away. It’s possible to park the car at 100m direction the terminal, there is a large field. You need a chair or a ladder to take pictures over the fence.

WHAT	Take pictures of taxi and traffic on the runway, backtrack arrivals and departures.

TIME	Light is good from sunrise till 11am.

MISC.	Nothing but terminal is not far

FOCAL LENGTH	210mm for a A320 on the runway and 50mm on the taxi.

	Spot #4 – Beach Bar
WHERE	At the end of the runway is a Restaurant and Beach Bar, the most famous location at Tivat. It is very close to the terminal and you can even walk from there. By car turn from the main road into Aerodromska and follow it until you see the end of runway 14 to your left and the restaurant to your right. Park by the roadside and find your preferred position along the fence. It is not very high but 1-2 steps or a chair are useful to clear it. Otherwise you can spot through gaps or mesh.

WHAT	Arrivals 14 and 32 when they turn around. Departure shots of RWY32.

TIME	Depends where you stay but the light should be good from noon till sunset.

MISC.	~~You may use toilets and find drink and meals at the beach restaurant.~~ Closed as of Oct 2024

FOCAL LENGTH	Very close to the runway so expect 20-100 mm for the most time.

	Spot #5 – Perimeter Fence
WHERE	Continue from spot #5 for a few minutes until the road makes a right turn. There you are. You need a ladder or a chair here to shot over the fence.

WHAT	Arrivals 14/32, departures 14/32, backtrack

TIME	The light is good from 3PM till sunset.

MISC.	You may buy chairs at the main street for cheap and it’ll help you a lot!

FOCAL LENGTH	B767 @ 25mm