Guide to Frankfurt Main Airport

The official viewing area is a good area for photography at certain times of the day and gives great views across the airport. You are right in front of Terminal 1 and you can get very close to aircraft on those stands. The runways are a little more distant, 25R / 07L is easily reachable with a 300mm lens but 25L / 07R is much more difficult. The arrivals tend to take it in turns with regard runway usage so you can get action shots of at least half of the movements. Departures are either on 25R or on the crosswind runway, anything from Terminal 2 will taxi straight past the observation deck on the way to the cross runway and so you will be very unlucky not to get a picture from the deck of anything that arrives.

The sun can be a problem from here. If they are using the 25's then the deck is good for action shots from about 1700 onwards, you just need to keep the aircraft on your left! We were never at the deck with the 07's in use but I would say shooting that way that morning was probably best, keeping aircraft on your right.

Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)

Latitude: N50° 2' 53" (N50° 2.88')
Longitude: E8° 34' 25" (E8° 34.42')

Photos

View more photos taken at this location

A car is needed for this spot, which is basically just a layby off the road. Allows you to be under the approaching aircraft if they use the 07's. Once the car is parked you can walk up the road and pic a spot for your shots. Only approach shots from here though as trees and a mound block any view of the airfield.

Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)

Latitude: N50° 1' 37" (N50° 1.608')
Longitude: E8° 31' 10" (E8° 31.168')

Photos

View more photos taken at this location

The recreation area on the eastern end of the airport offers some good views across the airport and the chance of some good photos if the 25's are in use. You'll be able to get some good approach shots of aircraft using 25L. Some aircraft also taxi past quite close to the area, as did the Styrian Spirit in the picture above but this is quite rare in terms of the number of aircraft that actually fly in and out of the airport. Aircrafts which are pushed to the remote stands in the south of the airport (e.g. Qantas, South African, Vietnam Airlines) will also be very close to the area.

Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)

Latitude: N50° 2' 25" (N50° 2.413')
Longitude: E8° 35' 51" (E8° 35.844')

Photos

View more photos taken at this location

Frankfurt has four runways, three parallel runways 25R / 07L, 25C/07C and 25L / 07R plus one crosswind runway 18 / 36. While most movements are on the parallel runways the cross runway does get a good few departures and this area is the closest you can get to departing aircraft.
We didn't find this area till late on our visit and the sun was never in the right position but if you were to visit early - late evening I am sure some good shots can be acheived.

Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)

Latitude: N50° 1' 18" (N50° 1.297')
Longitude: E8° 31' 24" (E8° 31.392')

Photos

View more photos taken at this location