Kraków John Paul II Intl. Airport (KRK/EPKK) is the second largest airport in Poland and carries the name of John Paul II and is also called „Kraków-Balice” by local people. In 2018 it served 6,76 million passengers with 51.777 movements. At the moment 24 airlines serving 112 routes to 91 airports in 28 countries. The airport is growing very fast and aiming to finish more than 8 million passengers with 39 new connections and the opening of new Wizzair base in 2019.
Most of the traffic is generated by Ryanair followed by Lot, Wizzair, EasyJet, Lufthansa and Norwegian. One or two flights per day are operated by Austrian Airlines, British Airways, KLM, Jet2.com, Ukraine International Airlines. Few flights per week are operated by Aegean, Air France (summer 2020), Brussels Airlines, El Al, Eurowings, Finnair, Flydubai, Laudamotion, SAS, Swiss, Transavia and American Airlines with 787 in summer 2020. Charters include Enter Air, Onur Air, Corendon and Travel Service. Summer night flights by Iberia Express and Vueling Airlines.

Aircraft types are mostly a mix of B737/A320/E95/DH4. FlyDubai is always using 737MAX (737-800 during grounding), Lufthansa sometimes uses CRJ and Swiss is frequently on CS100/300. The highlight of the summer are Dreamliners operating for LOT and American Airlines to the USA, eleven times per week (on Sunday three 787 in a few hours).

The airport is sharing its single runway with a military transport base, so you can count on Casa C-295, PZL M-28 and Mil Mi-8 performing scheduled flights or multiple landings during training session. Military visitors also includes Polish Goverment jets, Helicopters, C-130, Mig-29, F-16 (fighters are very rare). Foreign military visits are frequently, usually with UH-60, C-130, C-17 (American/NATO) and goverment jets/props. All of this traffic is using the military apron. There is also rescue helicopter based near the control tower, but they helps usually departs straight from the helipad to north/south and lands with visual approach over TWY B.

Approach 121,075 MHZ
Director: 123.800 MHz
Tower 123.250 MHz
Ground 118.100 MHz
ATIS 126.125 MHz or +48 12 639 7557

Airport information: +48 12 295 5800 Airport security: +48 12 639 3328

Written by Łukasz Stawiarz (local spotter). Last Update December 2019.

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Airport Information
Runways
07/25	2550m concrete
Terminals	One for all movements
Spotting Information
Ladder	Depends on the location, but mostly not needed. If you use one (4-5 steps minimum), do not touch the fence, as there is electromagnetic wire causing silent alarm every time you touch the fence.
Car/Public Transport	You can reach the nearest locations on foot. For longer spotting or while RWY07 is in use a car is recommended as the most locations in the north (summer only) and west are difficult to reach by public transport and they requires long walking times too. Terminal can be reached easily from city by train (9PLN) or bus (5PLN). Taxi from city center costs about 50PLN. Uber is also an option.
Restrooms	Only at the Terminal or gas stations nearby.
Drinks/Food	There are some restaurants in the terminal and some small grocery stores around the airport.
Hotels	There is one hotel directly at airport (no apron or approach view), others are 3km away and further.
Season	In terms of weather we strongly recommend summer season, as in winter there can be dense clouds for many days or a lot of fog in autumn/spring. Krakow traffic is almost the same throughout the entire year with only a few summer charters and summer season connections. One noticeable exception will be new service by American Airlines on 787 operating from summer 2020. Bussines traffic can slightly increase on first week of September (Krynica Summit). Goverment jets can be seen at the end of Januray for celebration of the liberation of “Auschwitz- Birkenau” and during summits (rarely announced).
Runway Usage
General Information	RWY25 is mostly used as the wind blows from west and all ILS approaches are made from east. RWY07 is used only few days per month when noticeable winds are from east and for occasional straight-in landings.

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Observation deck - taxiway, ramp

WHERE	The official observation deck is located landside on level 2 above the check-in area.
WHAT	You can see almost all taxing-in aicrafts (RWY25 in use) or taxing-out (RWY07). Ramp view is obstructed by airbridge, only stand 1 is clearly visible.
TIME	Best light conditions from 09:00 to 17:00 and by night.
MISC.	You have to shoot through dimmed glass (finding a sharp spot is very hard). Entrance fee is 2PLN.
FOCAL LENGTH	24-70 mm for closest stand, 50-150 mm for taxiway, 400 mm for runway.

KRK-Spot1

Terminal Airsidey - taxiway, ramp

WHERE	Some gates have access to windows – you have to search for the best ones and try not pass the security tapes. Schengen gates 1-12 almost exclusively after boarding, non-schengen gates 13 (S or NS), 14 and 18 have waiting areas near windows.
WHAT	You can see stands close to terminal and a taxiway. A lot of obstructions on ramp disturbs further view. Ryanair below taken from gate 3.
TIME	Best light conditions from 09:00 to 17:00 and by night.
MISC.	Some arrivals and departures are handled without buses and you can take photos on the way to/from terminal. Bus drivers are friendly and do not prohibit photos if you stay close to other passengers and not try to hide 🙂
FOCAL LENGTH	XXX

KRK-Spot2

Multistorey carpark - ramp

WHERE	There is a multistorey carpark in front of terminal. Just get out of it and get on the uppermost level.
WHAT	It used to be good photo location for ramp shots, but expansion of terminal made it almost obsolete. You can still see runway operations from here, but ramp is highly obstructed.
TIME	Best light conditions from 09:00 to 17:00.
MISC.	Safety net prevents from making good photos – there a few holes between segments. Security checks are possible.
FOCAL LENGTH	400 mm for runway, ramp obstructed.

KRK-Spot3

Aviation Education Centre - ramp, taxiway, 25 departures

WHERE	If you go out of theterminal, turn left and walk east, then north. You will reach the end of airport buildings. The last one is the “CEL – Centrum Edukacji Lotniczej” where you can use its parking (line 4A) or move slightly north by the fence (line 4B). There is no car access to the company parking, but you can leave your car outside on the other side of the road for short while.
WHAT	View over the ramp and taxiway with almost all departures (RWY25) taxing nearby.
TIME	Best light conditions from sunrise to 12:00.
MISC.	Ladder required if you don’t want to shoot through fence. This is the one available point for night shots.
FOCAL LENGTH	24-105 mm for ramp, 70-200 mm for taxiway, 100-400 mm for bizjets and stands further away.

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Gate 25 - 25 arrivals, 07 departures, taxiway A

WHERE	If you go north from point 4 you will reach an open area under RWY25 approach along road 774 “Na Lotinsko” which is parallel to the motorway. This is the last location with easy access on foot from the terminal. Parking for a while is possible at the nearby bus stop (on the side of the road it is forbidden).
WHAT	RWY25 landings, RWY07 departures (easyJet) and TWY A (Detur, Lufthansa).
TIME	All time but best light conditions from 09:00 to 17:00. After that you have to move north of the approach (OLT Express). For TWY shots best light conditions from sunrise to 11:00.
MISC.	Ladder required if you don’t want to shoot TWY through fence (Lufthansa is made through the crash gate).
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200 mm for approach, 100-200 mm for taxiway, depends on angle and place.

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Spotting hill - 25 arrivals, 07 departures

WHERE	The most famous spotting point is located on the other side of the motorway and spot 5. You can reach it from the previous spot by walking north, then turning right below the highway to reach the other side and then go back down. Car access to the small Spacerowa Street next to the spot is not possible – you have to leave it at commercial parkings or nearby. Bus stop is at Krakowska/Spacerowa crossing. There is a lot of space to move around and pick your best angle. We recommend moving by “line 6” up to top of the hill – view is really nice from there and there is no highway noise.
WHAT	View over the whole airport. RWY25/07 landings/departures, TWY A/B, part of civil and military apron.
TIME	Best light conditions from 09:00 to 17:00. After that you have to move north of the approach. For TWY from sunrise to 11:00.
MISC.	Do not cross “Airport property” signs as police is a frequent visitor here. Twice a year, sun is setting directly over the runway creating amazing light conditions. For a week around that, you can find here a lot of photographers trying to catch the best shot.
FOCAL LENGTH	24-200 mm for approach, 100-400 mm for taxiway, depends on angle and place.

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Bridge Mostek - all runway movements

WHERE	From spot 5 go north and then take the next left after you are on the other side of the airport. This one is the furthest you can walk from terminal and it is located near a bridge over highway. You can use bridge and its bank or the mound which is left after some construction works. This is the first point with easy access by car – you can park on dirt nearby or on the old road ahead (near mound).
WHAT	View over the whole airport – runway, taxiways and aprons. It is the best point for just watching movements, as you can see everything. On clear days even with the Tatra Mountains as backdrop.
TIME	Best light conditions from sunrise to 08:30 and from 17:30 to sunset as this is north side of the runway. This means, that from mid October to mid March you do not have sun at all.
MISC.	Be careful of the traffic and stay behind metal barrier or on the mound.
FOCAL LENGTH	200mm for B737/A321

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Motorway Parking Kibel - all runway movements

WHERE	There is a parking on the south side of the motorway A4. Access to the parking is only by car if coming from the west after the toll station. It is possible to climb over the fence from point 7 but not recomended.
WHAT	Similar as point 7 but with different angles on landings RWY25. View over whole airport – runway, taxiways and aprons.
TIME	Best light conditions from sunrise to 08:30 and from 17:30 to sunset as this is north side of the runway. This means that from mid October to mid March you do not have sun at all.
MISC.	A car is recommended to reach this position. Restrooms at the parking available.
FOCAL LENGTH	200mm for B737/A321

KRK-Spot8

Dirt Road - 07 arrivals, 25 departures

WHERE	Easiest access is by car by using the road from the terminal where you will pass positions 5 and 7. Don’t use the motorway as there is no exit to this location. In Aleksandrowice turn south and turn left after you have passed the highway. There is a dirt road parallel to highway – you can drive up the hill (high suppension or 4×4 only) or leave car at bottom as marked on the map.
WHAT	View over end of runway and military apron. Best for departures from 25 or landings on 07.
TIME	Best light conditions from sunrise to 08:30 and from 17:30 to sunset as this is north side of the runway. This means that from mid October to mid March you do not have sun at all.
MISC.	A car is recommended to reach this position. Ladder necessary, you have about 1km of fence to pick your best spot. Stay away from fence and do not touch it (as it is a bit lower than ground few meters away and has alarm cable installed).
FOCAL LENGTH	200mm for B737/A321

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Billboard - 07 arrivals, 25 departures

WHERE	UNGENAU Old spotting point and alternative to previous location if you don´t have much time. Can be used as emergency point if traffic is on final or already departing and you do not have time to go somewhere else.From road in Aleksandrowice you have to turn into dirt road to nothing. Park at the end and go up near the billboard.
WHAT	Best for departures from 25 or landings on 07 (but view can be obscured by growing trees).
TIME	Best light conditions from sunrise to 08:30 and from 17:30 to sunset as this is north side of the runway. This means that from mid October to mid March you do not have sun at all.
MISC.	A car is recommended to reach this position.Vegetation can block the sight.
FOCAL LENGTH	250mm for B737/A321

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Approach Parth - 07 arrivals, 25 departures

WHERE	There is a dirt road parallel to wester perimeter fence of the airport. Park your car at north or south end of it and pick your position depending on sun position and focal length. Same way to the location like to number 9.
WHAT	Best for departures from 25 or landings on 07. Taxiways/apron not visible.
TIME	All day, as you can move south/north of the approach line.
MISC.	A car is recommended to reach this position. Nothing nearby.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300 depending on angle and position.

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Logistik Centre - 07 arrivals, 25 departures

WHERE	There is an industrial area near 07 approach and the previous location, just a little bit more to the east on the next road. Just park your car here and find your prefered position.
WHAT	Best for “face to face” departures from 25 or landings on 07 in evening. Taxiways/apron not visible.
TIME	Face 2 face almost all day, landing/departures after 18:00.
MISC.	A car is recommended to reach this position. There are some “no park” areas.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-200 departures/landings, 100-400 for departures

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Cementary - 07 arrivals, 25 departures

WHERE	Driving further east to Morawica and park near the cementary and climb up the hill with the monument.
WHAT	Nice view but planes are too far for good photos. Best for departures from 25 or landings on 07 in evening. Taxiways visible in distance, apron too far away.
TIME	Best after 18:00.
MISC.	A car is recommended to reach this position.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400 recommended

No sample photos available.

U Jędrusia - 07 arrivals

WHERE	If you pass through Morawica in direction of Cholerzyn, turn left at the end of buildings into a farm road to the airport (see line on the map). Park on the left or right on the whole road and find a suitable place to take your pictures along this road.
WHAT	Only for arrivals on 07. Departures from 25 can be to high here – point 11 is better)
TIME	best light conditions from 09:00 to 17:00.
MISC.	A car is recommended to reach this position. Good point for a quick spotting, as you can sit in a car and go out just for photos. Better than point 16 for arrivals on 07 – no heat haze here. There is a tree/bush line between road and field, but you can find clear passage and take photos from the shadow of them.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-150 depending on position and aircraft – if you move to left you are closer to aircraft. In the middle you get B737 on 100mm. More to the right, further they are.

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U chłopa - all runway movements

WHERE	From point 14 continue to the east for just a few hundred meters and park as marked on the map at the corner of the airport perimeter fence. You can even park at point 11 and walk down to this area on a dirt road. Then go up the field to the fence. Do not go near the private houses and try to stay on airport ground near the fence.
WHAT	All runway action is visible (only some landings at 25 can vacate via taxiway Delta). When RWY07 is in use, you get 90 degree landings in front of you and departing airplanes on taxiway Foxtrot (sun after 12:00). Landings on RWY25 are usually vacating via F. Departures from RWY25 can be taken without ladder.
TIME	Best light conditions from 09:00 to 17:00 (taxiway Foxtrot after 12:00).
MISC.	A car is recommended to reach this position. Ladder required if you don’t want to shoot through fence. Close to private property – watch your steps! Do not touch the fence (alarm cable). Security patrol can stop to ask you some questions. Beware of the annoying dog that can go out and bark.
FOCAL LENGTH	24-70 for taxiway, 70-300 for runway action.

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Foxtrot - all runway movements, taxiway F/B and B/F

WHERE	From the parking of point 15 continue further east. After passing three houses (do not park here) go about 100m and turn left on the grass behind the trees (you will see clear path made by our cars ). Park here and walk up the hill on right side of the field. You can’t reach this point from #15 by foot!
WHAT	All runway action visible (only some landings at 25 can vacate via taxiway Delta). Taxing F-B and B-F close to you.
TIME	Best light conditions from 09:00 to 17:00.
MISC.	A car is recommended to reach this position. Ladder required (minimum three steps) as there is double fence here. That was usedto be the second best spotting point until there was only meadow around this area. Now it is cultivated and you CAN NOT enter it when plants are growing. But you can use right side of the field or stay close to airport fence (five steps ladder required).
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200 for taxiway F, 100-300 for runway action.

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Balice hill - 25 arrivals

WHERE	This is a bit far away from the previous locations. From spot #6 donctinue northwards on 774 for approximate one kilometer (pass the motorway) and turn left at next bigger junction. Now you have to find the church in “Balice” (left side) and from there drive up Urocza Street. At top turn left and park.
WHAT	You will see approach for RWY25 over Kracow, civil apron and some runway. Everything will be in distance, but you have elevated view. With good visibility, Tatra Mountains as backdrop
TIME	Best light conditions from sunrise to 08:30 and from 17:30 to sunset as this is north side of the runway. This means that from mid October to mid March you do not have sun at all.
MISC.	This point is actually better for watching the amazing overview of airport and surroundings than taking photos, but if you have time it is worth visiting for a moment. Car is recommended. Ladder will help a bit. New houses are being buildt and will obscure the view a bit and generate heat haze.
FOCAL LENGTH	Minimum 400mm required.

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Colza fields - 25 departures

WHERE	On the road Balice-Aleksandrowice (between spots 7 and 10) turn right almost in the middle and then drive up on a tight road. Turn right at the end and park when you pass the trees. Behave well as there is “no entry” sign to this road.
WHAT	You will be elevated and see part of the runway with departing airplanes. On clear days even with the Tatra Mountains as backdrop.
TIME	Best light conditions from sunrise to 08:30 and from 17:30 to sunset as this is north side of the runway. This means that from mid October to mid March you do not have sun at all.
MISC.	This point is actually better for watching the amazing overview of airport and surroundings than taking photos, but if you have time it is worth visiting for a moment. Car neccessary.
FOCAL LENGTH	Minimum 300-400mm required.

No sample photos available.

Aleksandrowice hill - 07 arrivals

WHERE	On the road Balice-Aleksandrowice (between spots 7 and 10) turn right almost in the middle and then drive up on a tight road. Before the end turn left and park at the end of tarmac. Then you have to walk up the hill and to the high trees on the left.
WHAT	There are some free spaces in between the trees from where you can spot departing airplanes with a nice backdrop of villages, as you are high above the plane.
TIME	Best light conditions from sunrise to 08:30 and from 17:30 to sunset as this is north side of the runway. This means that from mid October to mid March you do not have sun at all.
MISC.	This point is hardest to reach but views from there in summer evenings are amazing. Car is neccessary to get there!
FOCAL LENGTH	Minimum 400mm required.

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