Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Faro. Left side wins overall because the Faro landing approach over the Ria Formosa is genuinely spectacular and unique. During the cruise, the left side also picks up the Bay of Biscay coastline of northern Spain and Portugal as the route tracks south, including the Portuguese coast near Porto and Lisbon in the far distance. The takeoff right-side advantage is good but shorter-lived.

During takeoff from Gatwick (LGW), sit on the Right side for the best views. Gatwick's main runway 08L/26R means westbound departures head roughly west then southwest. A right-side seat gives views south over the Surrey Hills and the English Channel coast as the aircraft turns toward France. You'll pick up the coastline around Worthing and Brighton clearly before crossing the Channel. Notable sights include: Brighton seafront and Palace Pier, the South Downs ridge, the English Channel coastline, Worthing and Littlehampton coastal towns.

When landing at Faro (FAO), sit on the Left side for the best views. Faro airport's runway 10/28 means westerly approaches come in from the east over the Ria Formosa lagoon system. A left-side seat on final approach gives a direct view over the Ria Formosa barrier islands, the lagoon, and Faro city itself just before touchdown. The contrast between the Atlantic, the lagoon channels, and the sandy barrier islands is visually striking. Notable sights include: Ria Formosa lagoon and barrier islands, Faro city and its old town peninsula, the Atlantic Ocean coastline, Ilha de Faro barrier island.

The flight from Gatwick (LGW) to Faro (FAO) takes Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.

The route crosses the English Channel near Cherbourg, then tracks over Brittany and the Loire Valley in France before crossing into northern Spain over the Cantabrian coast. The flight then follows the Portuguese coastline southward, with the Atlantic visible to the right and the Serra da Estrela mountains of central Portugal visible inland to the left. The Tagus estuary near Lisbon and the Alentejo plains appear before descent into the Algarve.