Dublin has no official spotting terrace; the terminal balconies closed to the public in the early 1970s [7]. What it does have is a ring of roads close to three runways, and a well-known mound on Old Airport Road. Where you should stand depends on which runway is in use, and that depends on the wind.
Runway in use now
Checking the live summary…
Usually 28L for arrivals
Westerly winds blow about 70% of the time, so on most days aircraft land on 28L and take off towards the west [1]. Try the Old Airport Road mound first.
With JavaScript on, this box shows the runway inferred from aircraft Skylark has seen on the ground in the last hour, and the aircraft tracked on final approach.
The three runways
| Runway | Length | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 10R/28L, south | 2,637 m [3] [5] | 24 hours [1] |
| 10L/28R, north | about 3.1 km [2] [3] | 07:00 to 23:00 [1] [2] |
| 16/34, crosswind | 2,072 m [3] [5] | occasional use [1] |
The numbers are headings: runway 28 points at 280°, just north of west, and runway 10 at 100° [5]. The two long runways are parallel, so they share a number and are told apart by L and R.
The north runway is the new one. It entered operation on 24 August 2022 [2], and the first flight to use it was a Ryanair departure to Eindhoven, FR1964, just after noon [4]. It is open from 07:00 to 23:00, and outside those hours everything uses the south runway, which is open around the clock [1] [2]. The hours can be extended or reduced for maintenance or safety [1].
Which runway, and when
Aircraft take off and land into the wind. At Dublin the wind is westerly about 70% of the time and easterly about 30% [1], so most days are 28 days.
- Westerly, most of the time. 28L is preferred for arrivals, and departures use 28L or 28R as air traffic control decides [1]. When both runways are fully open, the usual pattern is arrivals on 28L and departures on 28R [6].
- Easterly. Arrivals can use 10L or 10R, and 10R is preferred for departures [1]. With both runways fully open, spotters usually see arrivals on 10L and departures on 10R [6].
- Strong northerly or southerly winds. The crosswind runway, 16/34, comes into use occasionally [1].
- Late night and early morning. Before 07:00 and after 23:00 only the south runway is open [1].
Arrivals fly a 3° glide path to every one of the long runways, crossing the threshold about 51 to 54 feet up [3]. That works out at roughly 320 feet of height for each nautical mile from the runway, so an aircraft three miles out is about 1,000 feet up and still an easy target for a long lens.
Where to stand
Match the place to the runway in use. The live block at the top of this page does that for you when the data is there.
Old Airport Road and the mound
- Where
- Old Airport Road, which follows the airport perimeter [9]. The raised ground here is known to spotters as "The Mound" [10] [11].
- Runways
- 28L landings and aircraft lining up for departure [6]. It looks across the south runway and the crosswind runway [10].
- Light
- From about 09:30 in summer, and all day in winter. Early in the morning, move further east along the road [6].
- Lens
- 18 to 300 mm [6].
- Getting there
- On foot, follow the road on from the 28L approach lights, a 15 minute walk from Terminal 2; or take Dublin Bus 19 or 24 to the Ballymun Kickhams stop [6].
This is the best known place to watch at Dublin [6]. There is no shelter when it rains, a 3-step ladder helps you shoot between the fence and the barbed wire, and the road is busy, so do not walk along it more than you have to [6]. Closer to the terminal, the approach lights for 28L are a 15 minute walk from Terminal 2 and suit arrivals with an 18 to 200 mm lens [6].
A proper viewing area is coming. daa, the airport operator, got planning permission from Fingal County Council for an elevated, covered platform with seating, a car park with spaces for people with reduced mobility and families, bike parking and lighting, free to use [10]. An Coimisiún Pleanála gave final approval in October 2025 [11]. In December 2025 daa said it was still looking for a contractor, so there was no opening date [12].
The Blue long-term car park
- Where
- Beside the entrance to the Blue long-term car park, along the road next to the R108 [6].
- Runways
- Movements on the south runway, and the best place for 28L rotation shots [6]. When runway 10 is in use there are good views from the mounds here [7].
- Light
- From about 09:30 in summer, and all day in winter [6].
- Lens
- 70 to 200 mm [6].
- Getting there
- The Blue car park bus, or Dublin Bus 19 or 24 [6].
A few minutes further on, at the end of the grass embankment, is a spot for 10R line-ups and landings. By September 2025 the bushes had grown enough that you get only a few frames before the aircraft disappears behind them [6].
The Naul Road lay-bys, for the north runway
- Where
- The R108, which becomes the Naul Road further east, runs the length of the north runway, with two lay-bys that have parking spaces [8].
- Runways
- 10L arrivals and 28R departures and rotations, from the crash gates and low mounds along the road [6].
- Light
- From about 09:30 in summer, and all day in winter [6].
- Lens
- 70 to 200 mm; about 150 mm fills the frame with an A320 on 10L arrivals [6].
- Getting there
- By car. There is no public transport and it is a very long walk [6]. From the terminal, follow signs for the R132 and Swords, then take the first exit at the next roundabout, signposted M1 (M50) Dublin and Belfast [8].
The first lay-by has a large embankment blocking part of the view, and the second is more open [8]. The perimeter fence and passing traffic get in the way of photos [8], and a ladder is recommended but not essential at the second crash gate [6]. Park on the verge or in the lay-bys, never on the carriageway.
The perimeter road, for runway 16
- Where
- Head north on the R132 towards Swords and park along the L3132 and the new R108 [6].
- Runways
- Runway 16 arrivals on the crosswind runway [6].
- Light
- East of the roundabout in the morning, then move west along the road from about 11:00 [6].
- Lens
- 70 to 300 mm [6].
- Getting there
- Very hard to reach without a car [6].
Check the live block above before you set out. The crosswind runway is only used occasionally, when strong northerly or southerly winds make it the safer choice [1].
The Park2Travel shelter, for 28 arrivals
- Where
- On the right of the Swords Road, continuing on from the 28L approach lights [6].
- Runways
- Runway 28 arrivals [6].
- Lens
- 120 mm for an A330-300, up to 300 mm [6].
- Getting there
- A shuttle bus from the terminals every 12 minutes, and parking has a 24 hour minimum stay [6].
The shuttle stop waiting area has walls and a roof, which makes it the one sheltered spot on this list [6]. It suits someone already parked there for a trip more than a day out.
Light and lenses
- Keep the sun behind you. Shooting into the sun is usually something to avoid unless you want a silhouette [13]. The long runways run roughly east and west [5], so the side of the airfield matters: the gate spot on the north side of the south runway is a summer-only place, backlit all day in winter [6].
- Morning and evening. Most of the south-side places above are best from about 09:30 in summer and all day in winter [6]. For 28L arrivals early in the morning, stay on the terminal side, then cross over after about 09:30 as the light moves round [6].
- Lenses. A 70 to 300 mm zoom is the usual place to start [13]. At Dublin, 70 to 200 mm covers most of the fence-line spots, and an A320 on 10L arrivals fills the frame at about 150 mm [6].
- Shutter speed. Freeze a jet at 1/800 s or faster; slow down for propeller aircraft so the blades do not look frozen still [13].
- Height. Bring a small step ladder for the fence and barbed wire on Old Airport Road [6].
Stay safe and legal
- Stay on public land. Stick to established places along the fence line so you do not draw the attention of airport security [13]. Some older guides describe getting through a gap in a fence; do not. Everything on this page is a public road, a lay-by or a car park.
- Mind the traffic. Old Airport Road is busy and walking along it is dangerous [6]. Never stop on the carriageway or a junction; use the lay-bys and verges [6] [8].
- No drones. Drone operators must check the Irish Aviation Authority's UAS geographical zones map before flying and, in the open category, must not fly above 400 ft [14]. Around a busy airport, leave the drone at home.
- Dress for it. None of the roadside places has facilities, and most have no shelter [6].
What you will see
Dublin is home to two big fleets. Aer Lingus flies around 60 Airbus aircraft in 2026: about 27 A320s, around 8 A320neos, about 8 A321LRs, around 6 A321XLRs, about 10 A330-300s and around 3 A330-200s [15]. Read up on the A320, the A320neo and A321neo and the A330 before you go.
Ryanair's home base is Dublin, and its first Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 arrived there on 16 June 2021 as EI-HEN [17]. On 2 September 2026 the group listed 411 Boeing 737 Next Generation jets and 210 737-8200 "Gamechangers" [16]. The 737-800 and 737 MAX articles show how to tell the two apart at a glance.
At the fence
Get the sharp photo and know exactly what it is. Hold up the Skylark iPhone app and every aircraft on approach gets a label with its flight, airline, type and height. Tap I saw it and the sighting goes in your logbook with your own photo.
Sources
Facts checked against these sources on 29 September 2026. Places and access change; the fleet numbers are as of the date given beside them.
- Runway operationsdaa
- North Runway: frequently asked questionsdaa
- AIP Ireland, AD 2.EIDW Dublin, valid from 6 August 2026AirNav Ireland
- First flight departs from new €321m runway at Dublin AirportThe Irish Times
- Dublin Airport runwaysOurAirports
- Dublin Intl. Airport spotting guide (updated December 2025)spotterguide.net
- Dublin AirportSpottersWiki
- Dublin's new North Runway opensAirport Spotting
- Dublin's best spotting locationAirport Spotting
- New Dublin Airport viewing area cleared for take offdaa
- Dublin Airport gains approval for new plane spotting areaBizBrief
- Dublin Airport's plane spotting site is set for a major upgrade as the unique hobby growsUniversity Times
- Aviation Photography 101: a beginner's guide to shooting aircraftThe Aviationist
- Drones FAQ: geographical zonesIrish Aviation Authority
- A guide to the Aer Lingus fleet in 2026Airport Spotting
- Our fleetRyanair
- First Ryanair 737 MAX 8-200 arrives in IrelandMentour Pilot