MIA to MAD: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Miami (MIA) to Madrid (MAD) is a 7,106 km (4,415 mi), roughly 8h 52m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime MIA to MAD departures the sun favors the right side — sit on the left (an A seat) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Both | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins for views, but it is also the sunny side. Pick it for the scenery; pick the left if you want more shade.
You want the right side for this one. It also gets the sun, so you trade shade for the better views on a daytime flight.
Takeoff
After takeoff from MIA, depending on the runway in use, the right side can catch Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park as the climb starts. Hialeah sits close on the left, and it can slip by almost under you.
En route
- 8h 20m inRight →Porto · passes underneath
About eight hours in, Porto comes up on the right and very close. You get a brief, steep look rather than a long sweep.
- 8h 21m in← LeftPeneda-Gerês National Park
Peneda-Gerês National Park stays on the left, so it is not your main view pick on this route.
- 8h 27m inRight →Serra da Estrela
Later on, the right side gets Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range in Continental Portugal. It sits off to that side as you descend.
- 8h 42m inRight →Pico Almanzor
Near the end, Pico Almanzor appears on the right during descent, with the Sistema Central on the same side too.
Landing
On approach to MAD, depending on the runway in use, the right side keeps the stronger views. You can see the Iberian Peninsula, then Móstoles, and Madrid itself slides by very close on the right. The left side gets the Aqueduct of Segovia and the Sierra de Guadarrama instead.
Sides and timings are computed from this route’s geometry. What you actually see depends on weather, air-traffic routing, and the runway in use on the day.
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from MIA to MAD?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the right side of the aircraft, so the left side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose an A seat.
Which side has the sunset views on MIA to MAD flights?
For sunrise or sunset views, sit on the side the table marks as the sun side for your departure time — that is where the light is.
How long is the flight from MIA to MAD?
The great-circle distance is 7,106 km (4,415 mi), which works out to roughly 8h 52m in the air on this eastbound routing. Winds and routing move the real block time around that estimate.
Does the date or departure time change the answer?
Yes — that is why the table shows both. The sun's path shifts with the season, and a morning departure can put the glare on the opposite side compared to an evening one. For a specific flight, the calculator samples the sun along the whole route for your exact date and time.
Which side should I sit on from Miami to Madrid?
Sit on the right. It has the stronger views, but it is also the sunny side on this daytime flight.
What can I see after takeoff from MIA?
On the right, you can catch Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park during the climb. Hialeah is close on the left and may pass almost under you.