Plane spotters

Watch, film, photograph

Illustration: Visitor platform in the Dresden Airport Terminal
The visitor platform in the terminal affords the best view of the apron and the runway

Dresden International Airport is a popular destination for day trips for grown-ups and children alike. If you would like to watch, film and take pictures of planes, we can recommend the viewing platform (gallery level) in the Dresden Airport Terminal. It is open 24 hours a day and there is no charge for admission.
During private events the visitor platform is not open to the public. It may also be closed for setting-up before and dismantling after such events. You can check whether the visitor platform is open before your visit by phoning the airport information desk on +49 (0)351 881-3360.
You can also watch planes on the tarmac being handled between landing and take-off through the panoramic glass wall in the airport forecourt. The Customer Services department runs exciting guided tours which give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the airport.

Full details of guided tours

Our tip: Why not combine your trip to the airport with a stroll through the shops and Dresden’s biggest travel centre in the terminal.

Illustration: Panoramic glass wall at the entrance to the Dresden Airport Terminal

Impressive view of aircraft being handled through the panoramic glass wall



Dresden International on You Tube

Airport information desk

Telefonnummer

+49 (0)351 881-3360

Öffnungszeiten

07:00-23:00

Illustration: Lageplan

Click on the map to enlarge.

Watch and explore online

If you don’t have time to visit us in person, you can explore the airport on our informative and fun web pages:

Aircraft types at Dresden
Spotter service
Virtual tour
Airport webcam
Airport for kids

Picture gallery: impressive buildings and facilities at Dresden airport

Dresden Airport Terminal (built 1998-2001) with 83-metre Skywalk pedestrian bridge to the multi-storey car park
Multi-storey car park with Skywalk pedestrian bridge to Dresden Airport Terminal
The 2850-metre-long runway
The 25-metre-high German Air Traffic Control tower (opened in 2005)
The helicopter hangar for the Saxon police and German air rescue service (opened in 2007) with the old German Air Traffic Control tower (decommissioned in 2005) on the right
The airport fire station (opened in 2003)
Hangar 224 has housed the integrated operations office and apron vehicles since 1998
The German Meteorological Service radar tower is situated at the entrance to the terminal and scans the skies in a radius of 200 km
The hangar housing the winter service vehicles was opened in 1998
Aircraft vehicles have been washed in this washing hangar since 2000
Cargo is loaded in the air cargo hangar
Commissioned in 2006, Gate 14 is the main entrance to the aviation security area
The world’s biggest passenger airliner, the Airbus A380, is fatigue tested in this hangar operated jointly by IABG and IMA. (Picture: IABG)
This IABG hangar was built for fatigue testing the military Airbus A400M. (Picture: IABG)
IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik operates its services and undertakes research into material and component testing in this hangar
Nehlsen-BWB Flugzeuggalvanik specialises in surface protection for aircraft components
Opened in 2005, this hangar has space for six small aircraft
EADS Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EADS EFW) converts Airbus passenger airliners into freighters
EADS Elbe Flugzeugwerke’s Hangar 285
Forwarding company DB Schenker’s logistics warehouses (opened in 1999, 2003 and 2005)
The runway observation building and the German Meteorological Service’s weather station are situated right alongside the runway
The Customs dog kennels have been situated next to the Meteorological Service since 2007
  • Dresden Airport Terminal (built 1998-2001) with 83-metre Skywalk pedestrian bridge to the multi-storey car park
  • Multi-storey car park with Skywalk pedestrian bridge to Dresden Airport Terminal
  • The 2850-metre-long runway
  • The 25-metre-high German Air Traffic Control tower (opened in 2005)
  • The helicopter hangar for the Saxon police and German air rescue service (opened in 2007) with the old German Air Traffic Control tower (decommissioned in 2005) on the right
  • The airport fire station (opened in 2003)
  • Hangar 224 has housed the integrated operations office and apron vehicles since 1998
  • The German Meteorological Service radar tower is situated at the entrance to the terminal and scans the skies in a radius of 200 km
  • The hangar housing the winter service vehicles was opened in 1998
  • Aircraft vehicles have been washed in this washing hangar since 2000
  • Cargo is loaded in the air cargo hangar
  • Commissioned in 2006, Gate 14 is the main entrance to the aviation security area
  • The world’s biggest passenger airliner, the Airbus A380, is fatigue tested in this hangar operated jointly by IABG and IMA. (Picture: IABG)
  • This IABG hangar was built for fatigue testing the military Airbus A400M. (Picture: IABG)
  • IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik operates its services and undertakes research into material and component testing in this hangar
  • Nehlsen-BWB Flugzeuggalvanik specialises in surface protection for aircraft components
  • Opened in 2005, this hangar has space for six small aircraft
  • EADS Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EADS EFW) converts Airbus passenger airliners into freighters
  • EADS Elbe Flugzeugwerke’s Hangar 285
  • Forwarding company DB Schenker’s logistics warehouses (opened in 1999, 2003 and 2005)
  • The runway observation building and the German Meteorological Service’s weather station are situated right alongside the runway
  • The Customs dog kennels have been situated next to the Meteorological Service since 2007