Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Budapest to Istanbul. While left is better at takeoff over Budapest's city center, the right side wins overall. After the initial climb the route heads southeast over the Hungarian plain, then crosses northern Bulgaria and the Balkan ranges — the right side faces south giving better views of the Rhodope and Balkan mountain terrain. The Istanbul arrival on the right delivers the most dramatic view of the entire flight: the Sea of Marmara, the Princes' Islands, and the Bosphorus approach.

During takeoff from Ferihegy (BUD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Budapest's main departure runway 31L/31R sends aircraft northwest before turning south toward Istanbul, putting the left side over central Budapest including the Danube bend, Buda Castle, and the Chain Bridge. The city's historic core is clearly visible during the climbing turn. Notable sights include: Danube River and its characteristic bend through the city, Buda Castle Hill, Chain Bridge and Margaret Island, Lake Velence to the southwest.

When landing at Ataturk (IST), sit on the Right side for the best views. Istanbul Ataturk's primary arrival runway 06 brings aircraft in from the west over the Sea of Marmara, and the right side faces south giving a clear view of the Marmara coastline, the Princes' Islands, and the city's European shore. Runway 24 arrivals from the east put the right side over the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. Notable sights include: Sea of Marmara and its northern coastline, Princes' Islands (Adalar) visible as small wooded islands in the Marmara, Bosphorus strait entrance, Istanbul's European waterfront and old city peninsula.

The flight from Ferihegy (BUD) to Ataturk (IST) takes Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.

Hungarian Great Plain (Alföld) south of Budapest, crossing into Serbia near Novi Sad, the Danube again near Belgrade visible as a wide river, northern Bulgaria's rolling terrain, the Balkan mountain range (Stara Planina) crossing into central Bulgaria, Thrace flatlands of northwestern Turkey, and the Sea of Marmara appearing on descent into Istanbul