Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Duesseldorf to Heraklion. While takeoff favors the right for Rhine Valley views, the landing approach—which occupies the final 45 minutes and provides the most memorable visuals—strongly favors left seats for the Cretan coastline, Sea of Crete, and mountain backdrop. The landing experience outweighs the takeoff advantage.

During takeoff from Dusseldorf (DUS), sit on the Right side for the best views. DUS typically departs northbound (runways 05L/05R or 23L/23R depending on wind). Right-side seats offer views of the Rhine River valley and the industrial Ruhr region spreading south and east. Left seats face away from the most distinctive terrain. Notable sights include: Rhine River (meandering south below), Ruhr Valley industrial corridor, Cologne Cathedral visible ~40km south on clear days, North German Plain extending northward.

When landing at Nikos Kazantzakis (HER), sit on the Left side for the best views. Heraklion typically uses runway 09/27 depending on wind. Approaching from the northwest (standard routing from Europe), left-side seats capture the Cretan coastline, the Sea of Crete, and the island's dramatic topography. Right seats face inland toward the Psiloritis mountain range but miss the sea approach. Notable sights include: Sea of Crete (turquoise waters), Cretan north coast with beaches and small harbors, Psiloritis mountain range (2,456m, snow-capped in winter, visible inland), Heraklion city sprawl along the coast.

The flight from Dusseldorf (DUS) to Nikos Kazantzakis (HER) takes Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes.

The flight path crosses the Alps (visible around 1.5 hours out, with Mont Blanc and the main Alpine chain appearing as a white ridge on the horizon if weather permits), then descends over the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea. The Balkans (Albania, Greece) pass beneath around 2.5 hours into the flight. The Peloponnese and Gulf of Corinth become visible in the final hour before reaching Crete.