While the left side offers a good Paris departure view, the right side delivers the superior Sydney arrival — one of the most visually dramatic urban approaches in the world with the harbour, bridge, and Opera House all visible simultaneously. Over the long flight path, the right side also faces north across Central Asia and Southeast Asia, giving better views of the Himalayas from a distance and the Indonesian archipelago.
Flown CDG to SYD? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Paris to Sydney is 10,529 miles (16,944 km), a flight of about 21 hours.
Alps and Mediterranean coast departing Europe, Aegean Sea and Turkey, overfly Iraq and Iran, Himalayas visible as a distant white wall to the north over India, Bay of Bengal, Malay Peninsula and Singapore Strait, Sumatra and Java coastlines, Timor Sea, and the Australian outback desert before the Great Dividing Range approaching Sydney
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from CDG
LEFTCDG departures on runway 27L/27R head westward, and a left-side seat gives you a clear view south over Paris as you climb out. You'll see the Seine snaking through the city, the Eiffel Tower, and the dense urban grid of central Paris before the aircraft turns southeast toward the route.
Landing at SYD
RIGHTSydney Airport sits on Botany Bay, and aircraft typically land on runway 34L/34R from the north or runway 16 from the south depending on wind. On the common northerly approach (runway 34), right-side seats get the iconic Sydney Harbour, the Harbour Bridge, and the Opera House clearly visible to the northwest as you descend over the southern suburbs.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Charles De Gaulle (CDG) to Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Paris to Sydney. While the left side offers a good Paris departure view, the right side delivers the superior Sydney arrival — one of the most visually dramatic urban approaches in the world with the harbour, bridge, and Opera House all visible simultaneously. Over the long flight path, the right side also faces north across Central Asia and Southeast Asia, giving better views of the Himalayas from a distance and the Indonesian archipelago.
What can I see during takeoff from Charles De Gaulle in Paris?
During takeoff from Charles De Gaulle (CDG), sit on the Left side for the best views. CDG departures on runway 27L/27R head westward, and a left-side seat gives you a clear view south over Paris as you climb out. You'll see the Seine snaking through the city, the Eiffel Tower, and the dense urban grid of central Paris before the aircraft turns southeast toward the route. Notable sights include: Seine river bends through central Paris, Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars, La Défense business district towers to the west, Bois de Boulogne parkland.
What can I see when landing at Kingsford Smith International Airport in Sydney?
When landing at Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Sydney Airport sits on Botany Bay, and aircraft typically land on runway 34L/34R from the north or runway 16 from the south depending on wind. On the common northerly approach (runway 34), right-side seats get the iconic Sydney Harbour, the Harbour Bridge, and the Opera House clearly visible to the northwest as you descend over the southern suburbs. Notable sights include: Sydney Harbour and Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House on Bennelong Point, Botany Bay directly below on final approach, Royal National Park coastline to the south.
How long is the flight from Paris to Sydney?
The flight from Charles De Gaulle (CDG) to Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) takes about 21 hours. The shortest flight path between them is 10,529 miles (16,944 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Paris to Sydney flight path pass over?
Alps and Mediterranean coast departing Europe, Aegean Sea and Turkey, overfly Iraq and Iran, Himalayas visible as a distant white wall to the north over India, Bay of Bengal, Malay Peninsula and Singapore Strait, Sumatra and Java coastlines, Timor Sea, and the Australian outback desert before the Great Dividing Range approaching Sydney