About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Lester B Pearson International (YYZ) to Schiphol (AMS)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Toronto to Amsterdam. Left side wins both the departure over Toronto and the arrival over Amsterdam, making it the clear choice for the full journey. During the cruise over the North Atlantic, left side also faces slightly more southward toward Greenland's ice sheet and Labrador coast depending on routing, though both sides see similar ocean views at altitude.
What can I see during takeoff from Lester B Pearson International in Toronto?
During takeoff from Lester B Pearson International (YYZ), sit on the Left side for the best views. YYZ departures on runway 23 (the most common westerly departure) swing left and northbound, putting the left side over downtown Toronto and Lake Ontario. You get a clear view of the CN Tower, the downtown core, and the lake stretching east toward Scarborough. Right side faces suburban sprawl toward Brampton. Notable sights include: CN Tower and downtown Toronto skyline, Lake Ontario shoreline, Toronto Islands, Scarborough Bluffs visible to the east along the lakeshore.
What can I see when landing at Schiphol in Amsterdam?
When landing at Schiphol (AMS), sit on the Left side for the best views. Schiphol's most common landing approach is from the east on runway 18R or 06, which positions the left side over central Amsterdam and the IJ waterway. You get a direct view of the canal ring, the Amstel River, and the distinctive concentric semicircle of Amsterdam's historic center. Right side faces flat agricultural polder land. Notable sights include: Amsterdam canal ring (UNESCO World Heritage grachtengordel), IJ waterway and Amsterdam Centraal station area, Amstel River, Keukenhof-area flower fields (spring only) visible as colored patchwork to the southwest.
How long is the flight from Toronto to Amsterdam?
The flight from Lester B Pearson International (YYZ) to Schiphol (AMS) takes Approximately 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes.
What does the Toronto to Amsterdam flight path pass over?
The flight typically tracks northeast over Quebec and Labrador, then crosses the Labrador Sea before arcing over southern Greenland or just south of it depending on the jet stream. The southern tip of Greenland (Kap Farvel) may be visible as a dark rocky coastline with glacial ice. The route then crosses Iceland's airspace or just south of it before descending over Scotland and the North Sea toward the Netherlands. The Irish coast and northern Scotland may be briefly visible on descent.