Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Richmond to Madrid. While left offers better Richmond departure views, right side dominates the longer transatlantic portion and provides superior scenery on approach to Madrid, including the Guadarrama Mountains and the dramatic transition from plateau to urban landscape.

During takeoff from Richmond International (RIC), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left side offers views of the James River winding through Richmond and the Piedmont terrain rolling eastward toward the Atlantic coastal plain. Right side faces inland toward the Blue Ridge foothills with less distinctive visual contrast during climb-out. Notable sights include: James River (serpentine through downtown Richmond), Piedmont plateau transitioning to coastal plain, Atlantic coastline 100+ miles distant on horizon.

When landing at Barajas (MAD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right side provides views of the Iberian Plateau, the Guadarrama Mountains southwest of Madrid, and the approach into the Madrid metropolitan area. Left side faces toward the interior meseta with fewer distinctive landmarks during descent. Notable sights include: Guadarrama Mountains (snow-capped peaks visible from distance), Madrid urban sprawl and airport infrastructure, Iberian Plateau terrain, Tagus River valley.

The flight from Richmond International (RIC) to Barajas (MAD) takes 7h 15m.

North Atlantic Ocean (6+ hours of open water with occasional ship traffic and weather systems), Azores archipelago (if visible on southern routing), Irish coast and Celtic Sea (if northern routing used), Bay of Biscay, Iberian Peninsula coastline approaching Spain