Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Washington to Madrid. The left side wins both the departure over Washington DC and the arrival over central Madrid with the Sierra de Guadarrama backdrop. During the transatlantic cruise at 35,000 feet heading northeast, the left side also faces north toward the southern tip of Greenland and Iceland if the routing goes that way, though at cruise altitude both sides see only ocean.

During takeoff from Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Dulles typically departs eastbound on runway 01R/19L or 01C/19C. A left-side seat during an eastbound departure gives you a view south toward the DC skyline, the Potomac River, and the National Mall monuments as the aircraft climbs and turns northeast. The Capitol dome and Washington Monument are clearly distinguishable at low altitude on a clear day. Notable sights include: Washington Monument and National Mall, Potomac River, Capitol Hill dome, Reagan National Airport (DCA) visible to the southeast.

When landing at Barajas (MAD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Madrid Barajas typically lands from the east on runways 32L/32R (heading northwest) or from the west on 18L/18R. On the common northwest approach over the city, the left side looks southwest over central Madrid, giving clear views of the urban grid, the Casa de Campo park, and the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains rising behind the city to the northwest. The right side faces away toward open meseta. Notable sights include: Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range, central Madrid urban grid, Casa de Campo park, Manzanares River.

The flight from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to Barajas (MAD) takes Approximately 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours.

The flight typically tracks northeast from Virginia, crossing the Mid-Atlantic coast near New England, then over the North Atlantic. Depending on the jet stream routing, the path may pass south of Newfoundland and the Grand Banks, then across the open North Atlantic. The British Isles or Bay of Biscay may be visible on the descent into Spain. The Iberian Peninsula's brown meseta plateau is distinctive on approach from the north.