Did you know that Helsinki-Vantaa Airport has an excellent spot for watching planes up close at the end of the runway?
There are several places around Helsinki-Vantaa Airport where you can comfortably watch landing and departing planes, but one stands out above the rest. Although this spot is a bit hidden, it is still easily accessible.
Viewing Spot on the Rock
The best place for plane spotting at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport can be found on Google Maps under the name Lemminkäisen kallio. This spot is ideal for watching landing planes.
You get the best views from here when runway 1, the one closer to the airport among the two parallel runways, is in use, and planes are landing from the direction of Tuusula. In this case, planes are almost within arm’s reach and look truly impressive. If the planes are taking off towards Tuusula, they are relatively high above the rock and not quite as breathtaking.
There aren’t any official parking spots here, but you can find a few places to park along the nearby road. From the road, it’s just a short walk to the top of the rock, where the best views are.
Important Considerations and Tools for Tracking Flights
The runway in use depends on the wind direction. The best tool for tracking flights is the website flightradar24.com, which shows which runway is in use at the airport and the direction planes are taking off and landing.
Another important tool is the Helsinki-Vantaa flight schedule. The busiest times, when there are generally the most flights, are in the morning from 6-9 AM, in the afternoon from 2-5 PM, and later in the evening.
Therefore, it is recommended to check which runway is in use and the direction of flights before your visit. Time your visit for a period when planes are landing from the direction of Tuusula onto runway 1, and naturally during rush hours, when planes are landing frequently, minimizing waiting time.
