The right side wins overall because it captures the flight's two most dramatic stretches: the southern Greenland ice cap and Canadian Arctic terrain during cruise, and the San Francisco Bay Area skyline and Golden Gate Bridge on approach, while the left side sees mostly open ocean and flat prairie for the bulk of the flight.
Flight Path
Southern Greenland's ice cap and coastal fjords, the Davis Strait, Baffin Island, Hudson Bay, the Canadian Shield's lake-dotted terrain, and the northern Rocky Mountains over Alberta and Montana before descent toward the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Great circle distance and headings ›
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from AMS
LEFTDeparting Schiphol and turning northwest toward the North Sea, the left side offers a brief but clear look back at Amsterdam's canal rings, the IJsselmeer, and the flat patchwork of Dutch polders before the aircraft climbs into cloud over open water. The right side mostly just shows featureless farmland receding during the turn.
Landing at SFO
RIGHTOn the approach into SFO from over the Pacific, the right side faces north toward the city, giving passengers a clear view of the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin Headlands as the aircraft banks toward final approach. The left side during this turn faces mostly open ocean with little to distinguish it.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Schiphol (AMS) to San Francisco International (SFO)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Amsterdam to San Francisco. The right side wins overall because it captures the flight's two most dramatic stretches: the southern Greenland ice cap and Canadian Arctic terrain during cruise, and the San Francisco Bay Area skyline and Golden Gate Bridge on approach, while the left side sees mostly open ocean and flat prairie for the bulk of the flight.
What can I see during takeoff from Schiphol in Amsterdam?
During takeoff from Schiphol (AMS), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing Schiphol and turning northwest toward the North Sea, the left side offers a brief but clear look back at Amsterdam's canal rings, the IJsselmeer, and the flat patchwork of Dutch polders before the aircraft climbs into cloud over open water. The right side mostly just shows featureless farmland receding during the turn. Notable sights include: Amsterdam canal district, IJsselmeer lake, Dutch polder farmland, North Sea coastline.
What can I see when landing at San Francisco International in San Francisco?
When landing at San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Right side for the best views. On the approach into SFO from over the Pacific, the right side faces north toward the city, giving passengers a clear view of the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin Headlands as the aircraft banks toward final approach. The left side during this turn faces mostly open ocean with little to distinguish it. Notable sights include: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco skyline, Marin Headlands, Pacific coastline.
How long is the flight from Amsterdam to San Francisco?
The flight from Schiphol (AMS) to San Francisco International (SFO) takes 11h 05m.
What does the Amsterdam to San Francisco flight path pass over?
Southern Greenland's ice cap and coastal fjords, the Davis Strait, Baffin Island, Hudson Bay, the Canadian Shield's lake-dotted terrain, and the northern Rocky Mountains over Alberta and Montana before descent toward the Sierra Nevada foothills.