Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Beirut to Istanbul. Right side wins both takeoff and landing. During the cruise portion heading northwest over Turkey, the right side also faces generally toward the Turkish interior and the Taurus and central Anatolian plateau, while the left side looks toward the open Black Sea approaches. Right is the clear choice for the full flight.

During takeoff from Beirut International (BEY), sit on the Right side for the best views. Beirut's primary departure runway 17 sends aircraft southward before turning north, and runway 03 departures head northeast. On either departure, the right side captures the Lebanese coast curving northward, the city of Beirut spreading across its peninsula, and the dramatic rise of Mount Lebanon directly inland. The left side faces the open Mediterranean with little to see. Notable sights include: Beirut city center and port district, Mount Lebanon range (peaks above 3,000m), Jounieh Bay to the north, Beirut River valley cutting into the mountains.

When landing at Ataturk (IST), sit on the Right side for the best views. Ataturk Airport's primary landing runway 06 brings aircraft in from the west over the Sea of Marmara, meaning the right side faces north toward Istanbul's European city center, the Bosphorus strait, and the Golden Horn. The left side looks south over open water and the Marmara islands with less urban detail. Notable sights include: Bosphorus strait and its bridges, Golden Horn inlet, Istanbul's historic peninsula with dense rooftop cityscape, Prince's Islands (Adalar) in the Sea of Marmara.

The flight from Beirut International (BEY) to Ataturk (IST) takes Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.

The flight tracks northwest over southern Turkey, crossing the Taurus Mountains in Cilicia, then the central Anatolian plateau around Konya, before crossing the Sea of Marmara on descent. The Taurus range is the most dramatic midpoint feature, with rugged ridgelines and deep valleys visible at cruising altitude. The flat Anatolian steppe follows, then the Marmara coastline on approach.