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May 14, 2015
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June 21, 2015Warsaw Chopin Airport – Spotting Guide
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- last modified on August 4, 2022
The biggest airport in Poland with the largest traffic, Warsaw Chopin Airport, is home for LOT Polish Airlines. LOT has it’s entire fleet based in WAW. Wizzair also has a base in Warsaw and is the second largest operator. When spotting in Warsaw you won’t get usually any unusual machines . From the bigger ones you get the 777-300ER from Emirates, LOTs B787, UPS B767, Qatar Airways B787. Cargo operations: mainly during early morning hours (~6-7am) and late afternoon (~9pm). For details about the current situation don’t hesitate to send a question to the author.
During/Prior to LOT Rushhours, it is always nice to see whether/which special livery is leaving. During our visits we used THIS website, which shows departures in UTC times 2h prior to their departure. It is quite reliable, but cannot predict technical problems, which lead to registration/aircraft changes in Warsaw regularly.
Written by Konstanty Dobrzyński, Clive Grant, Severin Hackenberger and Martin Rogosz. Last Update: August 2022
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 15/33 | 3.690 m (12.106 ft) |
| 11/29 | 2.800 m (9.240 ft) |
| Terminals | Just one which is named Terminal A and used by every airline. |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Might be helpful at some spots for some shots but you can make it without one. Spotting holes available in the fence at some spots. See description of the spot if available or not. |
| Car/Public Transport | Car is not necessary, but it is faster to get around with one. But at some parking a car or getting there via the bumpy field roads is a bit tricky. For valid public transport timetable check the ztm page. |
| Restrooms | Not at the spots! Inside the terminal and restaurants (BK is nearest) |
| Drinks/Food | Small shops at the terminal, a gas station near the terminal. Fast food restaurants close to Al.Krakowska (BK and McD), a couple of gas stations at Al.Krakowska. No way to starve when in the right region. |
| Hotels | Hotels at the airport, but none a special spotter hotel. |
| Season | All year is fine, however best are times in late spring, summer and early autumn. Nevertheless winter gives an opportunity for some nice lit photos and de-icing pictures. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 11 | Mainly arrivals. |
| 29 | Mainly departures. Landings only in heavy crosswind for rwy33 |
| 15 | Mainly departures. Landings only in heavy crosswind for rwy11 and good visibility, or when the wind is calm and visibility very good. Usually only departures |
| 33 | Mainly used for landings, sometimes the heavier planes depart from it. |
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Terminal viewing terrace - ramp and taxiway movements
| WHERE | This spot is located in the southern part of the terminal, is free of charge. The sole entrance is located near the railway station entrance, between Terminal A and the coach terminal. You can get here with any public transport arriving to the airport. The only place to park a car is the airport parking (with a fee). |
| WHAT | Good for watching operations. Photos of planes taxiing off the runway and/or to the runway, planes at their stands. You can not see the planes standing near the terminal. |
| TIME | From sunrise till 10:00 a.m. |
| MISC. | There is a thick, glass wall (tends to be dirty) which also isn’t perpendicular to the floor. There is a gift shop, a bar, a radar screen and the current timetable available. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-300mm depending on whether the subject is on the near taxiway, the far taxiway or Runway 15/33. Smaller bizjets and commuterliners will need a larger magnification. |
Coach terminal glass walls - stands 25R/L area
| WHERE | Just beside the coach station and the new cargo terminal. There is a couple of glass walls through which you can look at planes and perhaps take some shots. No place to leave your car for long. |
| WHAT | Planes taxiing and standing at their stop. Possible looking on departing and arriving planes, not really a place to shoot them |
| TIME | Night, morning (to around noon) |
| MISC. | Usually there are vehicles, stairs, planes, containers blocking the way. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-200mm |
Car dealer - 15 arrivals, 33 heavy departures
| WHERE | This spot is just beside a used car dealer. There is a bus and tram stop “Lipowczana” just beside. Also a petrol station and a McDonald is just couple of meters away if you need to go to a loo or get a snack. Easily accessible by foot. Not much space to park a car. |
| WHAT | Runway 15 arrivals. Sometimes heavy 33 departures might go out nicely. |
| TIME | You can find something during the entire day. |
| MISC. | The dealership is now permanently closed and a parking is to be built. You can still spot from beside the street but no access to the fence. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Aegean at 300mm, UPS at 78mm |
Wirażowa - Taxiing to 29
| WHERE | Just north of the arrival lights, there is a small dead end road to the west off the main road (Wirażowa street). You can park your car there and then walk along the fence to the corner. Due to the new noise reduction wall airside, you have to walk up to this corner, you cannot see the taxiway properly earlier. You can also take a bus to either “Terminal Cargo” or “PKP Okęcie” stop. Both are on demand stops. |
| WHAT | Planes taxiing to 29 for departures – but everything smaller or equaling a Dash 8 in size will line-up earlier normally. |
| TIME | Only useable in summer as you cannot see the aircraft turning anymore only on the taxiway towards threshold. So from sunrise till ~9 am only. |
| MISC. | Ladder useful, but the space between fence and barbed wire is really small. You can also shoot thru the fence with small lenses (~55mm e.g.). Nothing around. Can be muddy on wet days. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 24-300mm B737-800MAX close-up = 350mm / Parked Global = 310mm / E170 side on = 55mm |
Sidewalk - 29 arrivals
| WHERE | This spot is located on the sidewalk of the main road, possibly at a small bridge. Just beside the turn to spot 4. Easy to find from the “Terminal Cargo” bus stop. If by car, proceed to spot 4. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on runway 29 |
| TIME | After ~11am [summer] ~10am [winter] |
| MISC. | Light poles may be disruptive. Park your car in the region of spot 4. No ladder needed |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18+ [from photos below: Emirates at 195mm, Merlin at 70mm, the 737 at 125mm] |
Al.Krakowska - 11 final approach
| WHERE | At Al.Krakowska, near the approach lights to runway 11. In between bus stops “P+R Al.Krakowska” and “Szyszkowa”. Easily accessible by foot, hard to park a car. |
| WHAT | Runway 11 arrivals |
| TIME | Basically all day. Spring/fall best around 6-7pm with the sun in the background |
| MISC. | The road is a bit busy. There is grass you can sit on. In winter, snow can nicely reflect the light to the bottom of the planes. Hard to park your car in the area so better leave it at spot 15. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Rather short. The long ones only for far away approach shots [Q400 at 30mm, Aegean at 300mm, Emirates at 78mm] |
Express road overpass - 29 arrivals
| WHERE | A sidewalk on the overpass of Poleczki road over the express road and train rails. Near the bus stop “Osmańska”. Nearest place to leave your car at is spot 8. |
| WHAT | Planes landing on runway 29 |
| TIME | After ~11am [summer] ~10am [winter] |
| MISC. | Sand on the sidewalk. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 135mm for 767, 185mm for A320 |
Cargo - 33 arrivals/Apron 12 action
| WHERE | Located near the Cargo terminal and apron 12. When traveling by car proceed all the way south beside the cargo terminal, you may park your car at the side of the road, then you must walk on foot. By bus: hop off at “Terminal Cargo” stop and walk south. Only stands 64 and 65L available for spotting through the fence/lens holes. If you walk around the newer cargo terminal buildings and walk beside the fence you’ll arrive at the turn of TWY A8, from where some heavy departures happen from 33 |
| WHAT | Morning arrivals on runway 33 and planes standing at apron 12/nearby taxiways. |
| TIME | Mornings and nights. |
| MISC. | After rain the ground likes to get muddy. Some holes around, but ladder can be used to clear the fence as well at some points. If you so some steps back, you do not even need a ladder for arrival shots. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-300mm A: 787 Face to face = 20mm / Taxiing 734 side on = 90mm / Landing Dash 8 = 280mm B: A124 = 66mm / Polish AF 737 = 125mm |
Northern option at ramp:
Southern option at line-up:
Fence at northern option:
Technical road - 33 arrivals
| WHERE | At a side, technical road (extension of Wirażowa street) near the express road. Southern part of the airport. You may park your car at the side of the road and leave it there. By bus: hop off at “Terminal Cargo” stop and walk south. Walking north down the fence will get you to TWY A8 area from where some heavy departures happen – part of spot 8) |
| WHAT | Morning landings on runway 33 |
| TIME | From sunrise till 10:00 a.m. |
| MISC. | No need for a ladder, plenty room to park. In winter, snow can nicely reflect the light to the bottom of the planes. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70+ [170mm for 737 from the road, Kalitta at 100mm] |
Field - 33 arrivals
| WHERE | A field near runway 33 threshold. Continue driving/walking down the technical road until you pass the approach lights and make a 180 turn. By bus: hop off at “Terminal Cargo” stop and walk south. You may either park your car at the side of the field, near the approach lights or there is a spot on the field itself to which a path leads. |
| WHAT | Evening 33 arrivals |
| TIME | From 1:30pm till sunset |
| MISC. | Take our photos from the road, the farmer is not happy when you are walking on the field |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Depending on where you shoot from. [Ryanair 737 at 115mm, Emirates 777 at 210mm (front) and 135mm (rear)] |
Fence - 33 arrivals and departures
| WHERE | A spot located in the area of taxiway B8 and the end of runway 33. After arriving at spot 10 or 9 continue together with the airport fence. Can’t get there by car, Leave your car at spot 10 or 9. |
| WHAT | Runway 33 arrivals and full lenght 33 departures |
| TIME | After 12pm [summer] or 11am [winter] |
| MISC. | Might get muddy, no shops nearby. B8 is now rarely used after completion of A8 |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 40+ [MD11 shot at 50mm, Aerosvit at 92mm, landing SAS at 135mm, Brussels 737 at 90mm] |
Fence - 33 arrivals and departures
| WHERE | This is a spot between some summer houses. Near the fences. To get there simply take bus #124 to “Ogrody Działkowe Paluch”, there should be a entry gate to the houses, get through it and continue towards the airport fence.By car: while driving al.Krakowska south, turn left at the first intersection after you have passed the freeway (it will be over you), turn left into Na Skraju street. Continue with the street until you pass the animal shelter (to your left) and then after the turn right look for a gate to the summer houses (also to your left) and turn there. Continue up to the fence. |
| WHAT | 33 arrivals and departures. |
| TIME | After 1pm [summer] or 12pm [winter], best in the afternoon |
| MISC. | You might need a high ladder to pass over the fence, if not you must shoot through the holes in the fence |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50+ [landing 737 at 130mm, Wizz photo at 220mm] |
Paluch - Almost all runway movements
| WHERE | Along Paluch street there is a bus stop for bus #124 called “Schronisko dla zwierząt” which is a on demand stop so you need to press the stop button on the bus or wave on it for it to stop. You can either take the bus and then walk in to the east till you reach the fence and then up north the front or proceed from the bus stop to the east by car on the bumpy road. You can park by the roadside now and again walk till you reach the fencefront, turn left and continue to the spot you desire along the front.
There are official holes in the fence; there are two at the south end, two in the middle and six facing east at the north end. There are about four more at the north end facing north towards Runway 11/29, but there are piles of sand blocking the view sometimes, so these are not always useable at the moment. Otherwise there was a mound at the northern end of this forest (a bit tricky to find in the forest). |
| WHAT | Almost everything. RWY33 arrivals and depatures, RWY15 departures, in some way RWY11 arrivals and RWY29 departures (but heat haze a big problem). Best for RWY15/33 movements though. |
| TIME | From 1:30 p.m. till sunset |
| MISC. | Nearest shops are far. Take what you need. You might need to walk through some bushes, don’t worry or fear. Spotting holes available in the fence, but limited amount. Heat haze can be a harsh problem from ~15 degrees celsius on when using the holes! Plus in summer this spot is hell as there are millions of insects! Once you move to the hill, a ladder (3 steps or more) might be useful to get out the fence of your pictures totally – although there are some wodden obstacles and stones you could stand on. Heat haze on the runway is not that big problem from the mound. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-400mm ATR72 side on = 220mm / B737 side on = 170mm / B788 side on = 120mm / B773 side on = 100mm |
Northern holes:
Southern holes:
Reaching fence at the front’s southern end…
…start walking northwards and you will pass the southernmost photoholes (view southwards)…
At the northern end you will reach the mound nearly on the end on your left (a bit tricky to find in the forest), a ladder (3 steps or more) is recommend to watch over bushes and to have less fence on the bottom of the image.
Spotting mound - 11 arrivals, 29 departures, taxiway
| WHERE | This spot is a spotting mound and is located near the airport firefighters station. To get there simply continue from spot 15 on with the road to the south and you will find a road like a path made of concrete parts leading into the field eastbound heading to the radar facility. Drive in, drive around the radar station on the dirt paths, continue till you reach the concrete road again. After a few meters you will end up at a holiday house settlement, turn left, drive up the street to the north and then you will end up at the spotting mound. Park your car around here and then you can either stay on the platform or go to the fence where spotting holes are available. |
| WHAT | Runway 11 arrivals and runway 29 departures. Taxiing to runway 11 (rare). |
| TIME | From 11:30 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. |
| MISC. | A bit of a walk to the nearest toilet or restaurant. Bring what you need. There is a hill with benches. You may park your car at the spot. Might be a little bumpy for the car but fear only after big rains when the field is not driveable. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-400mm Platform: E170 = 290mm / B738 = 180mm Fence: ATR72 on taxiway in front = 65mm / Runway movements = 100mm+ |
From the platform:
From the fence:
A hill near Al.Krakowska - 11 arrivals and departures, taxiway
| WHERE | When on foot simply go towards the runway from “P+R Al.Krakowska” or when taking the bus to “Szyszkowa” stop (which is just beside Burger King) simply cross the road and move towards the airport, there will be a road (poor quality) just beside the fence which will get you to the hill. The hill is now fenced but access is still available from the northern side, where you can also park by the roadside. |
| WHAT | All runway 11 arrivals and 11 departures. Plus 29 departures from the front. |
| TIME | From 11:30 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. |
| MISC. | There is a hill at this spot so you overlook the fence. Nearest facilities can be reached by foot as well, just a few steps to the west. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-250mm (E175 at about 135mm) |
HI, is spot 4 still unaviable?
Unfortunately still unavailable
Spot 4 is now available (sort of).
There is a sizable amount of space available but there are several caveats:
– Because Echo is now parallel to runway 29 all along, this severely limits the time after which the aircraft will be back lit (to around 9.45 CEST)
– most (but not all) aircraft will take off from reduced distance, which makes it next to impossible to take photos without a ladder and long focal length
– small size of chain-link fence mesh limits the size of lens that can be used without the mesh obstructing the view.
Thanks, funily enough I just tried the spot myself that day and added these information. Please check in the spot’s description now.
Do you know if the blocked holes in spot 8 are going to be available in the future?
Hi Alex, unfortunately the holes that have been ‘lost’ due to building of the additional cargo terminal are ‘lost’ and will not be made available. Only stands 64 (64L/R) and 65L (three northern ones) are possible to be photographed. That is the matter as of today.
Is Spot 14 easy to get to without a car?
It is accessible without a car, but you need to walk from the bus stop “szyszkowa” which is beside spot 15. Walk to spot 15 and go further towards spot 14. It’s easy to get, but the walk does take some time.
Thank you.
The spot #17 is out of date. The used car dealer was liquidated by “Polish Airports” State Enterprise (PPL) and the gate closed.
Indeed. Updated. Thanks for the feedback.
L.S,
Dear all,
I intend to visit Warschau airport next Month. Does one of you have names of Hotels (eventually transfershuttle) directly in the neighbourhood of the airport.
Kind regards,
Eef
Hi,
there are plenty of hotels in the vicinity of the airport. Starting with the Renaissance and Courtyard by Marriot that are just at the exit of the terminal to others like Sangate or Hampton by Hilton a little further. Most of the hotels offer shuttle services to/from the terminal. If you are looking for something closer to the spotting locations then those located at Aleja Krakowska would be your choice (mind that getting by public transport from Aleja Krakowska region to spots for landings from the south might be troubling. Examples of hotels at Aleja Krakowska: Hotel Lord, B&B Hotel Warszawa-Okęcie, Hotel Witkowski.
Regards,
Konstanty
Konstanty,
You just made me dream of returning to Warsaw some day. I remember it when it was communinst and the Taras Widokowy was great.
Dzienkuje!
Daniel
Hi Daniel,
unfortunately the viewing terrace nowadays isn’t as “free” as it was back then. There is a glass wall and you can’t see aircraft parked at the terminal because of the roof that blocks the view
Pozdrawiam 😉
Konstanty
I used to love the old open Teras especially for night shots
Have just returned from two days at Warsaw. I used spots 14 and 15 only, plus the observation deck. As the weather was sunless, the observation deck was very good, but open the elements.
Spot 15 was no more than OK. Spot 14 was a good location, particularly for the 788 take-offs. Adding to your report, the field that you walk in, past ‘Start Parking’, is being developed by them, and extending toward the path. It is still navigable, but is being churned up by the bulldozers. Hotel Gordon is a basic hotel, about a 15 minute walk from these spots.
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Lens holes are also available at spot 8 🙂
Great job Konstanty. Perfect guide.