Photo: Hansvandervliet · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
The narrow strait separating Europe from Africa — just 14 km wide at its narrowest — is one of the most dramatic geographic bottlenecks visible from altitude on Europe-to-Africa routes.
183Flight Routes
OverheadClosest Pass
🌍 WaterType
Routes that pass it183
AGP → BUD
Both Sides
BUD → AGP
Both Sides
AGP → TNG
Both Sides
TNG → AGP
Both Sides
TNG → VLC
Both Sides
VLC → TNG
Both Sides
AGP → VCE
Both Sides
VCE → AGP
Both Sides
AGP → TSF
Both Sides
AGP → ZAG
Both Sides
TSF → AGP
Both Sides
ZAG → AGP
Both Sides
CMN → FRA
Both Sides
FRA → CMN
Both Sides
MAD → AKL
Both Sides
LCY → AKL
Both Sides
ORK → SVQ
Both Sides
SVQ → ORK
Both Sides
AGP → VIE
Both Sides
VIE → AGP
Both Sides
AMS → AKL
Right
LHR → AKL
Left
LIS → SFO
Left
SFO → LIS
Right
SAW → TNG
Right
TNG → SAW
Left
DUS → TNG
Left
TNG → DUS
Right
CDG → RBA
Left
CDG → TNG
Left
GIB → LGW
Left
LGW → GIB
Right
ORY → TNG
Left
RBA → CDG
Right
TNG → CDG
Right
TNG → ORY
Right
GIB → LHR
Left
LHR → GIB
Right
MAD → TNG
Left
TNG → WRE
Right
BRS → GIB
Right
CAS → FRA
Right
EZE → MUC
Right
FRA → CAS
Left
GIB → BRS
Left
MUC → EZE
Left
CNS → FCO
Right
FCO → CNS
Left
MAD → RBA
Left
RBA → MAD
Right
AGP → MUC
Left
MUC → AGP
Right
AGP → WRO
Left
CMN → ZRH
Left
ORY → RAK
Left
RAK → ORY
Right
WRO → AGP
Right
ZRH → CMN
Right
CDG → RAK
Left
RAK → CDG
Right
LBG → RAK
Left
RAK → LBG
Right
AGP → CMN
Right
CMN → AGP
Left
AGP → ZRH
Left
ZRH → AGP
Right
AGP → NUE
Left
MAD → RAK
Left
NUE → AGP
Right
RAK → MAD
Right
GRU → MUC
Left
MUC → GRU
Right
AGP → STR
Left
LGW → OZP
Left
OZP → LGW
Right
STR → AGP
Right
AMS → RAK
Left
LIS → VBG
Left
MAD → TTU
Right
RAK → AMS
Right
TTU → MAD
Left
VBG → LIS
Right
LIS → PDX
Right
PDX → LIS
Left
NAP → AGP
Left
BCN → SHA
Left
CMN → MUC
Left
MUC → CMN
Right
SHA → BCN
Right
AGP → BER
Left
CAS → DKR
Left
CMN → GRU
Right
DKR → CAS
Right
GRU → CMN
Left
LIS → YYC
Right
YYC → LIS
Left
BCN → PVG
Left
GRU → ZRH
Right
PVG → BCN
Right
ZRH → GRU
Left
AGP → FRA
Left
AGP → RAK
Right
FRA → AGP
Right
FRA → RAK
Right
RAK → AGP
Left
RAK → FRA
Left
AGP → HEL
Left
AGP → HEM
Left
AGP → HHN
Left
HEL → AGP
Right
HEM → AGP
Right
HHN → AGP
Right
MAN → SVQ
Left
SVQ → MAN
Right
IST → LTM
Left
LAX → LIS
Right
LIS → LAX
Left
LTM → IST
Right
CMN → BRU
Right
CMN → MAD
Right
LGW → RBA
Left
MAD → CMN
Left
RBA → LGW
Right
AGP → CGN
Left
BCN → SCL
Left
CDG → CMN
Left
CGN → AGP
Right
CMN → CDG
Right
SCL → BCN
Right
AGP → ARN
Left
ARN → AGP
Right
BCN → CMN
Right
CMN → BCN
Left
AAR → AGP
Right
AGP → AAR
Left
AMS → CMN
Left
CMN → AMS
Right
MXP → RBA
Right
AGP → BRU
Left
BRU → AGP
Right
LPA → MXP
Right
LTN → SVQ
Left
MXP → LPA
Left
SVQ → LTN
Right
VIE → AKL
Right
AGP → CDG
Left
AGP → ORY
Left
CAS → CDG
Right
CDG → AGP
Right
CDG → CAS
Left
ORY → AGP
Right
AGP → AMS
Left
AMS → AGP
Right
LCY → SVQ
Left
LGW → SVQ
Left
STN → SVQ
Left
SVQ → LCY
Right
SVQ → LGW
Right
SVQ → STN
Right
MVD → WAW
Left
WAW → MVD
Right
BCN → TFN
Left
CMN → NCE
Left
NCE → CMN
Right
TFN → BCN
Right
AGP → AUH
Right
AUH → AGP
Left
RAK → STR
Left
RAK → SVQ
Right
STR → RAK
Right
SVQ → RAK
Left
BJL → BRU
Right
BRU → BJL
Left
EZE → MXP
Left
MXP → EZE
Right
MAD → XRY
Left
XRY → MAD
Right
LIS → PHX
Left
PHX → LIS
Right
HND → TLS
Right
MAD → NRT
Right
NRT → MAD
Left
TLS → HND
Left
Tip: Visibility depends on cloud cover, time of day, and how close the flight path comes. Sit on the listed side for the best chance of a view. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see Strait of Gibraltar from a plane?
Yes — 183 flight routes pass within 80 km of Strait of Gibraltar. The closest routes include Malaga to Budapest, Budapest to Malaga, Malaga to Tanger. The landmark is visible from both sides, passing directly overhead.
Which side of the plane is best for viewing Strait of Gibraltar?
The best side varies by route. For the most common routes near Strait of Gibraltar: on a Malaga to Budapest flight, visible from both sides; on a Budapest to Malaga flight, visible from both sides; on a Malaga to Tanger flight, visible from both sides.