The short answer
Sit on the left side of the plane for the best chance of seeing Mount Teide as you land at Tenerife South. On most UK holiday flights, that means a window seat lettered A.
It isn't a guarantee. The view depends on which way the plane lands, which depends on the wind, and Teide is sometimes hidden in cloud. But the left side is the better bet on most days, for reasons that are easy to understand.
Why the left side usually wins
Tenerife South Airport has one runway, running roughly south-west to north-east along the island's southern coast. Planes land into the wind, and Tenerife's usual trade winds blow from the north-east. So most of the time, planes land heading north-east, coming in over the sea from the south-west.
Teide sits in the middle of the island, north-west of the airport. On that usual approach, the island and the mountain rise up on your left, while the right side looks out over the sea, sometimes towards Gran Canaria in the distance.
At 3,715 metres, Teide is the highest mountain in Spain. On a clear day you can see its summit from far out at sea, often sticking up above a layer of cloud.
When the right side is better
Now and then the wind changes direction, and planes land the other way, heading south-west and coming in from the east. On those days the mountain is on your right.
There's no way to know which way you'll land when you book your seat. Some of the flight before the final approach may also show the island on the right as the plane lines up, so it's worth looking out of both sides as you descend.
If you're flying into Tenerife North instead, this advice doesn't apply. Most UK holiday flights use Tenerife South, but check your booking.
Which seats to choose
Most UK holiday flights to Tenerife use narrow-body aircraft like the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, with seats lettered A to F:
- A is the left window, and F is the right window.
- Avoid seats over the wing, roughly rows 10 to 20 on most of these planes. The wing blocks much of the view of the ground.
- Seats near the front have the clearest view and are first off the plane, but often cost more.
- Seats behind the wing are usually cheaper and give a good view, though the engine can be in the way.
If you'd rather not pay to choose a seat, try asking at bag drop. Window seats on the left are sometimes still free.
On the way home
Planes usually take off heading north-east too, for the same reason. As you climb away from the coast, the island is on your left, and you may get a final look at Teide before the plane turns north for the UK.
It's less predictable than the landing, though, because the plane can turn quite quickly. If you sat on the left on the way out, it's worth trying the right on the way home for a different view, perhaps of Gran Canaria.
What else you might see
UK flights to Tenerife take about four to four and a half hours. Much of that is over the Atlantic, but on a clear day you may spot the coast of Portugal or Spain early on, and later Madeira or the other Canary Islands as you head south.
La Gomera, Tenerife's small, steep neighbour to the west, is often visible as you come in to land from the south-west. If you're staying on the island, it's an easy day trip by ferry from Los Cristianos.
Where could you go from Tenerife?
Tenerife is one of the most reliable places in Europe for winter sun. Our Tenerife guide covers where to stay and when it's warmest. If you're still choosing an island, our Madeira or Tenerife post compares the two, and our guides to Gran Canaria and Lanzarote cover the alternatives. For more ideas, see winter sun with no jet lag.
If your group can't agree where to go, our guide to how to decide where to go on holiday shows a fair way to pick. For seats on other routes, read which side of the plane to sit on.
