Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Athens to Zurich. The left side delivers the more dramatic takeoff experience with Athens, the Acropolis, and the Saronic Gulf clearly visible. During the cruise northward over the Balkans, the left side also faces west, keeping the Adriatic coast and Ionian islands in view during the earlier portion of the flight. The right side wins at landing but the Athens departure is the highlight of this route.

During takeoff from Athinai (HEW), sit on the Left side for the best views. Athens airport (LGAV) typically departs on runway 03L/03R heading northeast, which puts the left side facing northwest toward Athens city center, the Acropolis, and the Saronic Gulf. You get a clear view of the urban sprawl and the peninsula as the aircraft banks left toward its northbound routing. Notable sights include: Acropolis and Athens city center, Saronic Gulf and Aegina island, Mount Hymettus ridge, Piraeus port.

When landing at Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Right side for the best views. Zurich airport (LSZH) predominantly uses runway 14 for arrivals from the south, meaning the aircraft approaches from the south-southeast. The right side faces west and southwest, giving views of the Zurich city center, Lake Zurich, and the distant Alps on the horizon. The left side faces east toward less dramatic terrain. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich, Zurich city center and old town, Uetliberg ridge, distant Alps on the southern horizon.

The flight from Athinai (HEW) to Zurich (ZRH) takes Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours.

The flight tracks north-northwest from Athens over central Greece and the Thessaly plain, crossing the Pindus mountain range, then over North Macedonia and Serbia. Over the former Yugoslavia the terrain is hilly and forested with river valleys. Crossing into Austria the Alps begin to appear, with the eastern Alps visible before descent into Zurich. The Adriatic Sea is visible to the west during the Greek and Balkan portions of the flight.