Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Izmir to Istanbul. Left wins at takeoff for the Gulf of Izmir views, but right side delivers more consistently throughout — it picks up the Aegean coastline during cruise, and the Istanbul approach on the right is genuinely spectacular with the historic peninsula and Bosphorus. On a short flight like this, the landing view often matters most.

During takeoff from Adnan Menderes (ADB), sit on the Left side for the best views. Adnan Menderes typically departs on runway 16R/34L. A northbound departure on 34L puts the left side facing west over the Gulf of Izmir, giving a clear view of the bay, the city of Izmir spread along its eastern shore, and the Karaburun Peninsula extending into the Aegean. The right side faces inland toward unremarkable terrain. Notable sights include: Gulf of Izmir (İzmir Körfezi), Izmir city waterfront and Kordon district, Karaburun Peninsula, Çeşme Peninsula to the southwest.

When landing at Ataturk (IST), sit on the Right side for the best views. Ataturk Airport's primary arrival runway for traffic from the south is 06, meaning the aircraft approaches from the west over the Sea of Marmara and touches down heading northeast. The right side faces southeast, giving views over the historic Istanbul peninsula — Sultanahmet, the Bosphorus, and the Asian shore. The left side faces north toward the relatively featureless northern suburbs. Notable sights include: Sea of Marmara on approach, historic Istanbul peninsula with Sultanahmet skyline, the Bosphorus strait, Prince's Islands (Adalar) in the Marmara.

The flight from Adnan Menderes (ADB) to Ataturk (IST) takes Approximately 55–70 minutes.

The flight tracks northeast over the northern Aegean coast, crossing the Gulf of Edremit and the Biga Peninsula (Troad region). Mount Ida (Kaz Dağları, 1,774m) is visible to the east during the mid-flight segment. The route then crosses the Sea of Marmara's southern approaches near Bandırma before descending toward Istanbul. The Marmara coastline and the low hills of Thrace appear in the final descent phase.