Which side of the plane
London Heathrow ⇄ Lisbon: which side should you sit on?
Lisbon has one of Europe's great city landings, low over the Tagus and the old town. Which side gets it depends on the wind.
London Heathrow → Lisbon · 1565 km · about 160 min gate to gate
Right for the Lisbon landing
Landing towards the north, you cross the Tagus beside the 25 de Abril Bridge with the bridge, Cristo Rei, the Baixa and the castle on the right. At cruise, Spain's mountains (Picos de Europa, Serra da Estrela) are on the left in clear weather, if the flight crosses Spain rather than the Bay of Biscay.
Possible Clear-weather estimate from the usual path. Actual routes vary by tens of kilometres.
What you will see
- take-off London EyeDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Windsor CastleDepends on the runway in use either
- ~13 min The Needles, Isle of WightProbably this side; depends on the exact path · about 26 km from the path R
- ~79 min Torre de Cerredo (Picos de Europa)Likely on this side · about 127 km from the path L
- ~108 min Torre (Serra da Estrela)Likely on this side · about 52 km from the path L
- landing Lisbon Baixa / Castelo de Sao JorgeDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Pena Palace, SintraDepends on the runway in use either
- landing 25 de Abril BridgeDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Belem TowerDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Cristo ReiDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Cabo da RocaDepends on the runway in use either
Take-off and landing
Leaving London Heathrow
Most days (about 70%) Heathrow takes off towards the west, with Windsor Castle just ahead and to the right. On easterly days you take off towards London. After that the turn decides which side sees the city.
Arriving at Lisbon
Landing towards the north is the famous one: you cross the Tagus beside the 25 de Abril Bridge and fly low over the city. The bridge, Cristo Rei, the Baixa and the castle are on the RIGHT, and Belém Tower is on the LEFT. Landing towards the south, you come in over the northern suburbs, with the estuary and the Vasco da Gama Bridge on the LEFT.
Sun side
| Departing | 08:00 | 13:00 | 17:00 | 20:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | left | ahead | dark | dark |
| Summer | left | ahead | right | right, low |
Where the sun is at mid-flight, by local departure time. “Low” means sunrise or sunset light on that side; the other side then gets the soft colours without the glare.
Lisbon → London Heathrow · 1565 km · about 160 min gate to gate
Sit on the right · seat F
The Serra da Estrela and the Picos de Europa at cruise (if the flight crosses Spain), and central London on the usual westerly landing at Heathrow.
Possible Clear-weather estimate from the usual path. Actual routes vary by tens of kilometres.
What you will see
- take-off Cabo da RocaDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Belem TowerDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Cristo ReiDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off 25 de Abril BridgeDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Pena Palace, SintraDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Lisbon Baixa / Castelo de Sao JorgeDepends on the runway in use either
- ~22 min Torre (Serra da Estrela)Likely on this side · about 52 km from the path R
- ~51 min Torre de Cerredo (Picos de Europa)Likely on this side · about 127 km from the path R
- ~119 min The Needles, Isle of WightProbably this side; depends on the exact path · about 26 km from the path L
- landing Windsor CastleDepends on the runway in use either
- landing London EyeDepends on the runway in use either
Take-off and landing
Leaving Lisbon
Lisbon prefers taking off towards the north (runway 02), away from the city, with the Tagus estuary on the RIGHT. In a southerly wind you take off over the city towards the river.
Arriving at London Heathrow
About 70% of landings come in from the east along the Thames, and the London Eye, Tower Bridge, the Shard and Canary Wharf are on the RIGHT on the final straight. Before that, the holding pattern can show the city on either side. On easterly days (about 30%) you land over Berkshire, with Windsor Castle close below on the LEFT.
Sun side
| Departing | 08:00 | 13:00 | 17:00 | 20:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | right | behind | dark | dark |
| Summer | right | behind | left | left, low |
Where the sun is at mid-flight, by local departure time. “Low” means sunrise or sunset light on that side; the other side then gets the soft colours without the glare.