Visiting XFW Airbus HQ at Finkenwerder and hoping to spot some planes?
Making the trip to Airbus is well worth it for the factory tour and peek behind the curtain of all things Airbus. But outside, there are a few great spots to watch magnificent Beluga take-offs, see landings over the river Elbe, and catch a test-flight of a new model.
The ElbAir
Opened mid-2025 this complex of new buildings is where you will find the Factory Tour, the Pilot Simulator, the Moxy Hotel, a bakery, a gym, and Rewe (a supermarket.) The buildings are in the shape of a turbine, and are the main hub for this part of Finkenwerder.
Getting Around
If you want to visit more than one of these spots you are likely to need either a car or a bike. The good news is that there is both parking at the ElbAir and bike-hire at the Moxy - so there are ways of getting around from spot to spot. I also recommend you download Flight Radar as this is not an airport with a regular schedule. There can be big gaps between planes, and last minute changes. Equally there are very few planes on weekends, so be sure to plan your trip wisely if you are coming to Plane Spot.
1.The Airbus Factory Tour
The tour is well worth it if you are an Aviation enthusiast. The new centre has some nice exhibition spaces and then you'll be taken on a bus tour around the Aircraft hangers.
A few tips for the tour:
- Book in advance.
- When you book you will need to give them your passport details as Aerospace is a critical industry for Germany and security is tight. You will need to take your passport with you when you Check-In on the day.
- The gift shop is nice and even if your don't have a ticket for the tour you can still visit the shop.
- You can take photos in the ElbAir building but after that you can't take any photos on the tour so be forewarned.
- There is a bakery nextdoor serving breakfast, tea, coffee, etc.
- The Rewe has a salad bar if you get stuck for lunch and there is also a pizza restaurant.
2. The Viewing Platform at XFW
Ideally you rent a bike or drive - there's plenty of parking. If you walk, allow about twenty minutes and take water.
This is the best spot to watch take-offs and landings. You'll see Belugas up-close as they taxi back to the hanger and almost be able to smell the fresh paint on the new planes being taken for a test-drive.
Whilst the Viewing Tower (3) is also a great spot, it only really works if the planes are landing from the North. If not, you won't see much, so if you have limited time it's best to head to the Viewing Platform.
3. The Viewing Tower
The viewing tower can be a bit tricky to find, but head for the river and you should be ok. It's a really great spot as it's right next to the end of the runway and the river. You can watch the cargo ships on their way up the Elbe or take in a sunset with the yacht harbour in the background.
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