For friends of aviation

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Welcome friends of aviation! Here you can find interesting spots at Helsinki Airport and other useful tips.

 

Plane spotting & viewing terrace

A viewing terrace for the public is located on the roof of the office building located next to the Terminal 2. It has a great view of Runway 1 and 2 as well as of the apron area where the parking lots for airplanes are located. The indoor part of the terrace has a vending machine and a photo exhibition featuring the history and the present of Helsinki Airport.

  • Location: Lentäjäntie 1 C (the office building next to Terminal 2)
  • Open every day from 7 am to 10 pm
  • Free entrance for everyone
  • Nearest parking areas are P1, P2 and the short-term parking area at T2. Nearest bus stops are located in front of Terminal 2

 See a 360°panoramic picture of the terrace.

Passengers can marvel at airplanes and airport activity from almost all cafés, restaurants and waiting areas of the terminal's gate area. Photographing airplanes from the terminal is allowed and no separate permit is required.

An extremely good vantage point is the lounge above the Fly Inn Restaurant & Deli, where all passengers are welcome, free of charge. The panorama lounge is located above Gate 27.

Outside the airport perimeter fence are numerous locations excellent for spotting planes. For example, the rocks at Tullimies and Ruskeasannantie (near the old cemetery chapel) offer excellent views over Runway 2. Good views over Runway 1 can be found at the northeast end of the runway from Sammonmäki (intersection of Puusepäntie and Kulomäentie). Traffic on Runway 3 can be seen from Katriinantie, just opposite DHL.

The Finnish Aviation Photography association (FAP ry) has produced a map, which shows the best vantage points around the airport.

Junkers A 50 Junior

Under the ceiling of the terminal flies a Junkers A 50 Junior, designed in Germany in the late 1920s. It ended up in the hands of legendary Finnish aviation record-holder, Väinö Bremer in 1931. He flew the plane not only the length and breadth of Europe, but also made a round trip from Finland to Cape Town, South Africa. The plane is a  part of the Finnish Aviation Museum collection. Read more

  • Location: gate 28 (open to all passengers)

Twin-row radial engine

If you want to find out what the engine of an airplane looks like, head to the corridor between terminal 1 and 2. There you can find a Convair twin-row radial engine (Pratti and Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp). The 2,500-horsepower engine weighs 1,085 kilograms and belongs to the collections of Finnish Aviation Museum.

  • Location: the corridor between terminal 1 and 2 (open to all airport visitors)

Aviation exhibition

Helsinki Airport has a permanent aviation exhibition featuring the work of Finnish and foreign photographers. The exhibition changes every six months.

  • Location: Terminal 2, arrivals 2A (open to all airport visitors)

Airport tours

Visitors can get to know Helsinki Airport operations on guided terminal tours. The guided tours are offered for a charge for groups up to 30 persons. For more information, email opastukset.efhk@finavia.fi.

Visit the Finnish Aviation Museum

The Finnish Aviation Museum is located just outside Helsinki Airport, in approximately a 15-minute walking distance from the terminals. Its collection boasts some 80 planes and countless other items related to the world of aviation.

At the Finnish Aviation Museum, you can also try out piloting an airplane! Visitors can book 30-minute and 1-hour experience packages in the museum simulators.

For more information, visit: www.ilmailumuseo.fi.