TLV to EWR: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Tel Aviv (TLV) to Newark (EWR) is a 9,141 km (5,680 mi), roughly 11h 15m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime TLV to EWR departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Left | Left | Night |
| June solstice | Both | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views do not settle this route, so follow the shade side: the right side wins. You still get useful scenery on both sides, especially on the long cruise.
This route is a shade-first choice, with views too split to pick a side. Sit right for the lighter cabin, and enjoy the landmarks as they come and go on both sides.
Takeoff
On departure from TLV, depending on the runway in use, the Dead Sea and the Judaean Mountains can sit off the left side as you climb. You may also see Mount Gerizim, Mount Herzl, and Mount Nebo off the right, but the first climb is quick.
En route
- 1h 37m inRight →Mount Athos
About 1 hour 40 minutes in, Mount Athos appears on the right. It is a sharp mountain profile, not a broad landscape.
- 1h 46m in← LeftMount Olympus
About 1 hour 45 minutes in, Mount Olympus shows on the left. It is another mountain hit, with the Alps-style views still to come later in the cruise.
- 3h 06m inRight →Dolomites
Around 3 hours 5 minutes in, the Dolomites sit off the right side. Expect a long mountain range view rather than a close pass.
- 3h 10m in← LeftLake Garda
Just after that, Lake Garda is on the left. It reads as a clear lake shape from above, smaller in the frame than the mountain runs around it.
- 4h 28m inRight →English Channel
About 4 and a half hours in, the English Channel comes in on the right. The crossing is brief, with water and coastline detail split across the window view.
- 10h 13m inRight →Bay of Fundy
Near 10 hours in, the Bay of Fundy is on the right. It is a late-cruise water landmark, so this one is more about spotting shape than lingering on it.
Landing
On arrival into EWR, depending on the runway in use, Long Island comes into view on the left about a minute before the final stretch. Then the East River, Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, and New York City stack up on the left as you descend, with Brooklyn Bridge and the city nearly under you.
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 TLV to EWR?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on TLV to EWR 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 TLV to EWR?
The great-circle distance is 9,141 km (5,680 mi), which works out to roughly 11h 15m in the air on this westbound 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 for TLV to EWR?
Pick the right side for shade. The view side is split, so the shade call matters more than the scenery call here.
What do you see on descent into EWR?
You get Long Island first, then the East River, Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, and New York City on the left. Several of those are nearly overhead as you come down.