Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Barcelona to Istanbul. While the left side wins at takeoff with Barcelona's coastline, the right side delivers the more dramatic payoff on approach into Istanbul — the Sea of Marmara, the historic peninsula, and the Bosphorus all at once is one of the great urban aerial approaches in Europe. Right side also captures the Greek islands and Aegean coastline during the cruise portion of the flight.

During takeoff from Barcelona (BCN), sit on the Left side for the best views. Barcelona El Prat typically departs on runway 07R/25L or 06R/24L heading northeast or southwest. On an eastbound departure toward Istanbul, aircraft often climb out over the sea then turn east, giving left-side passengers a clear view back over the Barcelona city grid, Montjuïc hill, and the coastline stretching north toward Badalona. Right side faces inland toward the Llobregat delta and flat agricultural land. Notable sights include: Barcelona city grid and Eixample district, Montjuïc hill, Mediterranean coastline north toward Badalona, Port of Barcelona.

When landing at Ataturk (IST), sit on the Right side for the best views. Istanbul Atatürk Airport (now used for cargo/general aviation, but historically and for this routing context) typically received aircraft from the west over the Sea of Marmara, with final approach over water from the west on runway 06. Right-side passengers get the Sea of Marmara, the Istanbul city skyline including the historic peninsula with Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, the Bosphorus strait, and the European and Asian sides of the city laid out clearly. Notable sights include: Sea of Marmara, Istanbul historic peninsula with Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque silhouettes, Bosphorus strait, Galata and Beyoğlu districts.

The flight from Barcelona (BCN) to Ataturk (IST) takes Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes.

The flight crosses the Balearic Sea east of Ibiza, then tracks over Sardinia or just north of it, crosses the Tyrrhenian Sea, overflies southern Italy or the toe of the Italian boot, crosses the Ionian Sea, passes over northern Greece including Thessaloniki or the Macedonian highlands, then descends over Thrace toward Istanbul. Right-side passengers see the Aegean Sea and Greek island chains; left side sees the Adriatic and Apennine spine of Italy.