If you come from Essen/Duesseldorf/Duisburg you have to use the A40 in direction Dortmund.

If you come from direction Hannover/Kassel take the A44/B1 from junction Dortmund/Unna in direction Bochum/Essen.

From Cologne/Wuppertal you can choose the A45/B1 or the A1/A44/B1 (same from direction Bremen) to the Airport.

The airport is now signposted very well and should be easy to find. For a more detailed overview please use this or this map.  (both maps © Regionalverband Ruhrgebiet, Essen). You can also use these two maps for a comparison with the aerial views of the positions described below.

If you decide to travel by train, please use the bus shuttle from Dortmund Central Station (Hbf.) to the Airport. Here's a schedule (pdf). It costs 5,50€ and takes 22 minutes to travel.

The other possibility is to leave the train at Holzwickede and get a shuttle bus from there to the Airport (more here). It takes only 5-8 minutes and leaves every 20 minutes between 5:00 and 22:30. It costs you 1,50€.

Another possibility is the U47 from Central Station to Aplerbeck and then the bus 440. (see www.dsw.de/ )

1a-d These are several positions are along the "Zeche-Norm-Str." 

They are useful if RWY24 is in use for landing. 

You may take nice pics with the VOR for example. When take off on 06 is in use, planes are too high in the sky already. 

By car turn right before reaching the airport (-> Asseln/Wickede) if you come from Unna or left after passing by the airport. You can reach this points in about 20-25 minutes walking from terminal building.

No min. zoom needed, but high flexibility 50-400 would be fine.

Not necessary except around position d

You can vary your position along the street as you like and the light conditions allow. For departures sun isn't a great problem until afternoon. For approaches early morning hours lightning is less optimal.

- On the street there's a lot of traffic - so be careful. Sometimes trucks can keep you from a good picture...In parts (b&c) you have to walk across or along acres - please use paths without damaging the farmers cereals! And watch the ground (wet?).

Here you can see all planes taxiing by for take off if RWY24 is in use. If 06 is in use you can also see them taxiing to the terminal after the landing. Often you'll have movable equipment in your way!

Min. 70mm (for parked aircrafts less is better!)

A ladder is necessary.(old pic) 

- It's not a good position for take off because the landing gears aren't visible and planes are rarely rotating in front of you.

3 is the aiports observation deck on the top level of the airport terminal. Entry is free, but there is (minimal tinted) glass in front. You may step on two silver electricity pillars on the left and right side of the deck to get above it. Nice apron pictures, taxi-pictures and even runway photos are possible from here!

Min. 50mm, runway min. 150mm

A max. 4 step ladder is useful to get above the window glass. Don't use higher ones there! (Security!) 
- Through windows

! Please don't climb on the handrail! You may be punished by the staff of the restaurant or the security! Nice apron pics and pics of the runway. (pic)


4 was a point near an airbridge. You had to walk there from the arrival level. It was left of the main terminal building in direction car-park 3 through a gate (small lens) or beneath the fence (pic).  
Position is no longer available!

Max. 50mm

Not necessary, shots above fence with ladder not welcome!


4b is a nice possibility to take some shots of parked planes (guests, overnight stops sometimes) on pos. 0-2. Especially pushbacks are nice to photograph. But you may have a gangway or some lamp posts in your way. (pic)
Since the terminal enlargement in 2008 photographing is a little reduced there, but still possible.

Min. 50mm, depends on the position you want. After pushback you'll need min. 70mm depending on the plane.

Not necessary, may be used to get above a gangway etc.


5 is a little problem. You have to climb on a concrete wall to take a pic above the fence. Only for sportive and tall (>1,80m) people! (pic)

Min. 70mm, depends on the position you want.

Is fine here to get on the wall, 2 step is enough.


5b is in the stairway of P3. You have to take the pic through the windows of it. Position for "emergency" (heavy rain...)

- Through windows

Concerning light conditions all positions 2-5 are good from morning to middle afternoon (in winter late afternoon).

You can reach 6 and 6b by turning right (seen from the terminal) to the General Aviation Terminal (GAT). Afoot it will take you about 15 minutes walking from the main building.

Min. 150mm, 300mm for 06 line up.

A small ladder could be helpful.

Same conditions as 2-5

- There are some trees and the roof of the old terminal buildings in your pictures perhaps

6b is only interesting if you like helicopters. You can see the apron of the Police and HSD helicopters from here. How to reach 6b is described in pos. 6.

Min. 50mm, with small lense through fence

It's better not to use one, I guess...

Morning to midday light is better, because the gate is facing SW.

! Remember: Police-helicopters. So don't stay here too long.