Girona Costa Brava Airport (GRO/LEGE) was opened in 1967 and is among Spains buesist 20 airports with a bit lees than 2 million passengers a year. The traffic is a mixture between low-cost (Ryanair), charter flights (Jet2, TUI, Tranavia.), as well as some cargo (Flightline or rarely CAVOK) and executive (Vistajet, Netjets) movements. In addition, GRO is home to quiet a bit general aviation and small prop traffic. Especially during the F1 weekend in Barcelona, the airport gets busy with some special guests/business jets.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Pau Moya and Clinton J Down Photography. Last Update: September 2024 (Spot 5 updated)

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
01/19	2400 x 45m
Terminals
T1	One terminal handling all operations.
Spotting Information
Ladder	A small ladder is useful at the evening spots.
Car/Public Transport	The airport itsself can be reached by public transport (bus and taxi), but most of the spotting locations require a car. Be careful with your car after rain/showers as most paths around the airport are unpaved and can be very dirty then.
Drinks/Food	In the terminal or nearby restaurants like the Restaurant El Mirador.
Hotels	No specific spotter hotels around.
Season	Highly seasonal with peaks of traffic specially during the weekends of July and August due to the Costa brava touristic area next door. The airport is alsow always quite busy during the F1 weekend in Barcelona.
Security	Spotting is no issue here, just be respectful, do not lean the ladder on the fence and do not leave trash behind.
Runway Usage
General Info	Runway 01/19 is mostly used in 19 direction.

	Spot #1 – Crash gate Northwest – 19 Movements
WHERE	This spot is located by the fence west of the airport and can be reached only by car as you have to pass some unpaved but well maintained roads. Turn of Gl-534 and take Camí ral de Girona towards a small forest area till you reach the curve shown below, where you have to drive in on the small path towards the fence (way is marked on the map as well).
WHAT	This spot offers a good view onto all 19 Movements.
TIME	Noon till sunset.
MISC.	Ladder needed if you stand right by the fence, but you can go some steps back/around to some higher places clearing the view over the fence. Nothing around.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm

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	Spot #2 – Antiga Carreterra de Riudellots – 01/19 Movements
WHERE	This spot is located at the end of Antiga Carreterra de Riudellots: take this small road/path till you reach the crash gate and fence at the end. Park your car by the roadside and search your favourite position along the fence.
WHAT	This spot offers views onto all 01/19 movements.
TIME	From noon till sunset.
MISC.	Ladder needed and nothing around. Take care not to stand on the surrounding fields destroying any plants of the local farmers! High grass and haze can make spotting very tough here!
FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm

Unluckily, we cannot provide any example pictures yet. Please contact us if you can do so!

	Spot #3 – Bus stop/Car park – Southern Apron
WHERE	Make your way to the terminal and then either head for the bus stop south of the terminal or head some meters more south: pass the big gas tanks and you will reach a big car park, from the northwestern corner you can also see the apron
WHAT	From here you can see the southern apron.
TIME	Depends on the exact angle, but best in the morning hours.
MISC.	Take your picture thru the fence if possible and keep a low profile due to the high police presence here. Ground stuff like APUs might be a problem though. Everything you need can be found in the terminal
FOCAL LENGTH	24-200mm

Bus stop:

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	Spot #4 – El Mirador Restaurant – Northern Apron
WHERE	This spot is located right along “Camí al Mas Turull” in front of the El Mirador Restaurant. You can either take pictures from the roadside or from the restaurants terrace as well.
WHAT	From here you can spot the apron in front and parts of the taxiway/runway behind.
TIME	From sunrise till noon.
MISC.	Haze might be an issue and the aircraft on the apron may disturb your view onto the runway behind. The restaurant right here offers nice food and also restrooms.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm An26 = 125mm / B738 on runway = 205mm

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	Spot #5 – Agricultural field – 19 Movements
WHERE	Head with your car towards the northeastern end of the airport/runway and try to get rid of your car. You can’t really leave your car by the side of the road anymore, as a walking/cycling path has since been built here, with guard rails separating it from the road. At the entrance of both “routes” to Spot 5, you can leave your car, which should just about be out of the way of the path. The driveway to the construction company has a little extra piece of pavement just next to the walking/cycling path, where you can park your car, as to not block the driveway (big trucks drive in and out of there). When you have find a good parking spot, walk along the forest/fieldside to the position just next to the fence (exactly marked on the map) – DO NOT CROSS THE FIELDS DIRECTLY!
WHAT	Good view onto taxiway T2 in front and all 19 movements on the runway in the back.
TIME	Sunrise till noon.
MISC.	Nothing around, no ladder needed as the terrain is a bit higher than the runway and fence. Haze can be an issue on the runway Take care not to stand or walk on the surrounding fields destroying any plants of the local farmers!
FOCAL LENGTH	18-300mm Runway >200mm

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	Spot #6 – Landing lights – 19 Arrival path
WHERE	The last position is located along the arrival lights, either directly along GlV5331 at the northern end of the lights or at the southern end on some unpaved dirty paths. For both options, a car is needed: just drive up to the locations described/marked on the map and park somewhere nearby by the roadside.
WHAT	These two spots offer some interesting views onto the arrival path onto runway 19 where you can take some creative shots like long exposures at night.
TIME	Depending on what you are on the hunt for, but can work all day.
MISC.	Take care NOT to park on the road as police passes by quite often and will tell you to leave then. Nothing around, nothing needed.
FOCAL LENGTH	24-400mm, depending on what you wanna take a picture of

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