Which side of the plane to sit on for the view, the sunrise or the sunset
It depends on which way the plane is flying and where the sun is at that time. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west: flying north, sunrise is on your right and sunset on your left; flying south, it's the other way around. To see the landscape without the sun in your eyes, pick the side away from the sun. Each route page on mdavion.com works out the sun for your flight.
The basic rule: heading plus sun
Facing forward in the plane, the right window points 90 degrees to the right of your heading, and the left one 90 degrees to the left. That's all you need to reason it out:
- Flying north: east is on your right, west on your left.
- Flying south: east is on your left, west on your right.
- Flying east: the morning sun is ahead and the afternoon sun behind. What decides it is which side the midday sun is on (see below).
- Flying west: the opposite of flying east.
Sunrise is toward the east and sunset toward the west, but not exactly: depending on the season and latitude, the sun rises and sets shifted north or south of due east and due west.
The hemisphere matters
At midday, outside the tropics, the sun is to the north if you're in the southern hemisphere (Argentina, Chile, Australia) and to the south if you're in the northern hemisphere (Europe, the United States). Between the tropics it can be on either side depending on the time of year.
A general example: on a daytime flight heading east or west across the northern hemisphere, the sun will be on the south side of the plane most of the time. If you don't want the sun in your face, or you want photos without glare, sit on the north side.
Landscape, sunrise or sunset: what suits you
- For the landscape: the side away from the sun. The ground is lit from the front, with more color and less glare on the window.
- For sunrise or sunset: the sun side, at the right time. Check your departure and arrival times and the general heading of the flight.
- For mountains, a coastline or a city: check which side of the route they're on. Sometimes that matters more than the sun.
What nobody can promise
This is a guide, not a guarantee. The actual route on the day depends on winds, air traffic control and the runway in use: the plane may take off one way and turn, or follow a different path than usual. There may be clouds, the wing may block part of the view, and your row's window may not line up with your seat. Treat it as your best bet, not a certainty.
How to work it out for your flight
You can do the math by hand, but it's easier to see it done. In mdavion.com routes you look up your origin and destination and we show where the plane goes and which side the sun is on.
And during the flight, knowing what you're looking at
Once you're on the right side, the question changes: what's that down there? Modo Avión is an Android app that, with your phone in airplane mode and no signal, uses GPS to show where you are, which city, river or mountain is below, nearby airports, how much is left, which airspace you're in, and the weather you downloaded before leaving. Free, no accounts, no ads. It requires Android 8 or newer; it isn't on Play Store yet and you get it from mdavion.com/bajar.
A window seat also helps GPS lock on: we explain why in how to see where you are on a plane. It is not a flight instrument.
Follow the route offline in airplane mode
All of this on board and with no signal: with your phone in airplane mode, Modo Avión shows where you are, what's below and how long is left. GPS still works, because it only listens to satellites.
Free · no account · no ads · 28.4 MB · Android 8 or newer
FAQ
Which side do I see sunrise on if I fly north?
The right side, because east is on your right. Flying south, the left side.
Which side is best for landscape photos?
The side away from the sun: the ground is better lit and there's less glare on the glass.
Will the plane definitely follow that route?
No. The route on the day depends on winds, air traffic control and the runway in use. It's a good bet, not a guarantee.
Where can I see the sun for my flight?
On your route page at mdavion.com/en/route, which works out where the plane goes and which side the sun is on.
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Sources
Checked on 19/09/2026 against these sources.