Schiphol Spotting Areas
Many Amsterdam Airport spotting hotels can be found in the central area, some giving views, whilst others are only a short walk from the central Amsterdam Airport Viewing deck on the terminal roof top. There are however numerous viewing points around the perimeter which offer excellent photo points, the most popular been at the side of the new Runway 18R/36L (Polderbaan). A great way to get to the Polderbaan from your hotel is by using the UBER taxi app on your mobile phone. The ‘spotters spot Polderbaan’ is available drop off and pick up point in the App therefore you do not have to worry about trying to find a taxi in a remote area. If you are new to UBER use our invite a friend code of andrewb71552ue to get a discount off your first journey.
Amsterdam Plane Spotting Hotels
| The Sheraton Amsterdam Airport | ||
| is conveniently located at the Amsterdam Terminal Complex, just a short walk from the spotting terraces | ||
| Location: | *** | Ideal, only a 5 minute walk from the viewing terraces on the airport roof |
| Spotting: | *** | An airport facing room will give the excellent vies demonstrated on the video below. Ask for an exterior room, high level facing the airport. |
| Photos: | * | Distant shots can be taken but a long telephoto lend is required. |
| Value: | * | The convenience will cost you ! Prices from £150-200 a room |
| Book: | Click here for latest rates or try out Booking.com who offer the opportunity to book an airport facing room in order to guarantee your view. | |
| Comment! | If you want to add or update anything, please use the comment form at the bottom of the page! | |
Great views can be had from an airport facing room at The Sheraton.
| The Hilton Hotel Amsterdam Airport | ||
| is conveniently located at the Amsterdam Terminal Complex, just a short walk from the spotting terraces | ||
| Location: | *** | Ideal, only a 5 minute walk from the viewing terraces on the airport roof, the hotel is connected to the airport by a covered walkway |
| Spotting: | ** | Good views from airport facing rooms although binoculars and flight tracking software is required for some movements, especially at night. |
| Photos: | * | A little distant for photos. |
| Value: | * | The convenience will cost you ! Prices from £150-200 a room |
| Book: | If you are looking to make your own travel arrangements please click on AGODA or Booking.com to be taken directly to the hotel information page. Please help support our site. We are constantly checking the links for hotels to find the best price offered for our readers. If the price on this site is the best quote you receive, please help us by booking your hotel from the link provided as we receive a small commission payment from the hotel. This helps contribute to the running costs of this site enabling us to continue to offer a great service. | |
| Comment! | If you want to add or update anything, please use the comment form at the bottom of the page! | |
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| View from an airport facing room at The Hilton (click to expand)
Above Photo’s Credit www.tripadvisor.co.uk |
| The Citizen M Amsterdam Airport | ||
| Will probably become the favourite hotel at Amsterdam due to it’s excellent location across from the terminal building. The spectators area on the roof top is only a 10 minute walk away. Rooms are very compact but do the job well. Check in is automated although there are staff present if required. You are offered as part of the automated check in a city view or airport view, go for the latter. People have reported that they have checked in early at 1200 with no extra charge. Subject availability a late check out of 1500 can be arranged for a 20 euros fee. | ||
| Location: | *** | Excellent, just a short walk from the terminal |
| Spotting: | *** | Get a high level room facing airport. View is over the H gates from the hotel window. If you are lucky and traffic stays on 36L/18R or 36C/18C you will see nearly everything without leaving the room, and read off the vast majority. If traffic is using other runways you would only see a limited amount which use the above runways, are taxi in front of the hotel routing to the G or H gates. That said the hotel offers free wifi, so with any of the tracking websites you get an overall picture of what is happening and you can always take the 10 minute walk to the terminal in the event of a runway change. Room 536 has confirmed views of the low cost carrier terminal and far runway.
Another update from Beech Lad: Citizen M Hotel – Amsterdam Schipol. Airport view rooms are not available to book but when I made my booking I requested a high floor overlooking the airport & that is exactly what I was allocated (Room 566/Floor 5). I paid approx. £490 for 3 nights including breakfast (June 2022). The windows were spotless thus making photography easy (heat haze is an issue), aircraft on runways 29/07 & 36C/18C can be read off as they pass by. Aircraft using the Polderban runway are way too distant to read off but they usually pass close by on the way to/from landing or departure so you shouldn’t have any problems, however the wi-fi in the hotel is excellent, thus enabling good use of my laptop & a flight tracking app. All rooms have a king sized bed (no single or twin options) with the bed against the window, this makes for very comfortable spotting I have to say.. After exiting the terminal the hotel is an easy two minute walk away with the Panorama Terrace approx. a ten minute walk away through the shopping arcade beneath the terminal (perfect for picking up food & drink for your day on the terrace). |
| Photos: | ** | No good from the room but the terrace is only a short walk away |
| Value: | ** | From around £83 a night |
| Book: | If you are looking to make your own travel arrangements please click on AGODA or Booking.com to be taken directly to the hotel information page. Please help support our site. We are constantly checking the links for hotels to find the best price offered for our readers. If the price on this site is the best quote you receive, please help us by booking your hotel from the link provided as we receive a small commission payment from the hotel. This helps contribute to the running costs of this site enabling us to continue to offer a great service. |
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| Comment! | If you want to add or update anything, please use the comment form at the bottom of the page! | |
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| View from airport facing room at the Citizen M |
| The Ibis Hotel Schiphol Airport Last update May 2023 | ||
| is conveniently located just a 5 minute walk from McDonalds and the outdoor viewing deck overlooking runway 27/09 described on the Scramble website (point 10). The hotel provides a free shuttle bus to and from the airport and is a cost effective hotel to use for a night stop, with the opportunity to view a lot of the airport from the McDonalds area.
Hint: whilst the McDonalds viewing area is open 24 hours, the actual McDonalds itself only opens at 0900, so do not make the walk accross early in the morning expecting breakfast! |
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| Location: | ** | On the perimeter to the north of the airport |
| Spotting: | ** | Ask for a top floor room facing the airport. Certain rooms have a limited view of runway 27/09 as well as a distant view of the terminal complex (SBS required). A 5 minute walk takes you to the McDonalds viewing deck where around half of the airport complex can be seen as well as movements on 27/09.
2013 Update : Ibis has now built a suite to the right of he 3200 rooms which blocks seeing the right hand side of the airport |
| Photos: | ** |
From McDonald’s photos can be had of movements on 09/27 although you are into sun for the majority of the day. |
| Value: | ** | Very good value, rooms in the region of £50-£75 a night |
| Book: | The hotel can be booked through any of the following links Booking.com or AGODA Please help support our site. We are constantly checking the links for hotels to find the best price offered for our readers. If the price on this site is the best quote you receive, please help us by booking your hotel from the link provided as we receive a small commission payment from the hotel. This helps contribute to the running costs of this site enabling us to continue to offer a great service. | |
| Comment! | If you want to add or update anything, please use the comment form at the bottom of the page! | |
Above : View from an airport facing room at the Ibis
The Bastion Hotel Amsterdam Airport
Good prices, free parking, good breakfast, friendly personnel, free airport shuttle and the rooms have aviation wallpapers.
Ask for a room on the top floor ( 5th ). From room 553 I took the 777 landing on the Kaagbaan Runway. It is not confirmed if the hotel has any airport views
Great light in the evening, but when you’re up early light isn’t that bad at all. Both windows open so you don’t have to shoot through glass.
This hotel can be booked through the AGODA website
For a listing of other hotels in the Amsterdam Airport area please click here
