Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Rome to Newark. Left side wins both ends of the flight. At takeoff you get Rome's historic center and the Tiber; at landing you get the full Manhattan skyline and New York Harbor. During the transatlantic cruise, both sides see open ocean, though the left side may catch southern Greenland's ice sheet and coastline slightly better depending on the exact routing.

During takeoff from Fiumicino (FCO), sit on the Left side for the best views. FCO typically departs on runway 16R/34L or 16L/34R. Northbound departures (heading roughly 340°) on the left side give you a clear view east over central Rome — the Tiber River bend, the historic center, and the Alban Hills beyond. The right side faces the Tyrrhenian Sea and flat coastal plain, which is far less interesting. Notable sights include: Tiber River snaking through Rome, Vatican City and St. Peter's dome visible as a distinct dome shape, the Alban Hills (Castelli Romani) rising southeast of the city, the sprawling grid of EUR district.

When landing at Newark Liberty International (EWR), sit on the Left side for the best views. EWR typically lands on runway 22L/22R (southwest heading) or 04R/04L (northeast heading). On the common 22L approach from the northeast, left-side seats get the classic Manhattan skyline broadside view across the Hudson River, plus the Statue of Liberty and Upper New York Bay. Right side faces New Jersey's industrial waterfront and Newark Bay, which is far less scenic. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline with midtown and lower Manhattan skyscrapers, Hudson River, Statue of Liberty in Upper New York Bay, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge on the southern horizon.

The flight from Fiumicino (FCO) to Newark Liberty International (EWR) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours.

The flight typically tracks northwest over the Italian Alps or northern Apennines, crosses the French or Swiss Alps, then heads over southern England or Ireland before the long North Atlantic crossing. Depending on routing, the southern tip of Greenland (Cape Farewell) and its glaciated coastline may be visible, followed by the Labrador coast of Canada, then Nova Scotia, and finally the northeastern US seaboard descending into the New York area.