Viewing Platforms at Pyrzowice Airport

The plane-spotting platforms at Katowice Airport in Pyrzowice (say: pih-zho-VEE-tseh) are two free, purpose-built viewing decks where you can watch and photograph airliners taking off, landing and taxiing at close range. The airport built them in 2015, together with its new runway, in a publicly accessible area outside the fence. If you love aviation, are traveling with plane-mad kids or simply have time to kill before a flight, they are among the best free things to do near Katowice.

Where is Katowice Airport?

Katowice Wojciech Korfanty Airport (KTW) lies in the village of Pyrzowice in Silesia, southern Poland, about 30 km (19 miles) north of Katowice and roughly an hour's drive from Kraków via the A1/S1 expressways. It is Poland's fourth-busiest airport, with more than 7.2 million passengers in 2025, a base for Wizz Air, plus Ryanair and LOT flights, and lots of summer charters and cargo traffic. Its runway is 3,200 m (10,500 ft) long and 45 m wide and opened in May 2015.

Platform 09 vs. platform 27

Both platforms are steel structures 9 m (30 ft) long and 2.5 m wide and high, holding up to 25 people each. They are monitored by CCTV, and rules are posted at each one.

• Platform 09 is on Boczna Street in Ożarowice, beyond the western end of the runway. It overlooks the apron in front of the terminals plus takeoffs, landings and taxiing. It works best when planes land from the west (with an easterly wind), and for photos in the late afternoon in spring and summer.
• Platform 27 sits in the south-eastern part of the airport, by the de-icing pad and taxiways near the runway 27 threshold. According to the airport, the sun is behind photographers for almost the whole day here, which makes it the spotters' favorite.

How to plan your visit

Check the arrivals and departures board on the airport website before you go, and look at the wind forecast – landing direction depends on it. A flight-tracking app helps you know what's coming in. Bring a telephoto lens or binoculars, ear protection for small children and a warm layer, as the platforms are exposed. The airport occasionally holds Spotter Days, when photographers can shoot from inside the restricted zone with staff supervision – watch its announcements.

Practical information

As of October 2026, access to both platforms is free and no booking is needed. The airport does not publish official access hours; the platforms stand in a public area, but there is little point in visiting after dark. Follow the posted rules and never enter fenced airport land. Signs are in Polish.

Getting there and parking

A car is by far the easiest option. For platform 09, follow the road to Boczna Street in Ożarowice, where you can park right next to the structure. For platform 27, the airport recommends parking on Leśna Street in Zadzień and walking a few hundred meters. Is it worth visiting? For aviation fans, absolutely; for a casual visitor, it's a fun one-hour stop on the way to or from the airport.

Nearby

Combine your visit with the historic Silver Mine in Tarnowskie Góry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or a walk in the landscaped park at Świerklaniec, both within a short drive.