Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Washington to Venice. While the right side wins at takeoff for the DC views, the left side delivers the more dramatic and sustained scenery. Over the Atlantic and approaching Europe, the left side picks up the southern coast of Ireland, the English Channel, and then the spectacular Alpine crossing with the Swiss and Italian Alps visible as a long mountain wall. The Venice lagoon arrival on the left is one of the most distinctive airport approaches in Europe.

During takeoff from Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Right side for the best views. IAD's primary departure runway 01R/19L means northbound departures climb out heading north, then turn east. The right side gets a clear view of the Washington DC skyline, the Potomac River, and the National Mall as the aircraft banks eastward. The left side faces away toward the Virginia suburbs with little of note. Notable sights include: Washington DC skyline and National Mall, Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay (as altitude increases), Baltimore harbor in the distance.

When landing at Venezia Tessera (VCE), sit on the Left side for the best views. VCE sits on the edge of the Venetian Lagoon, and aircraft typically approach from the west or northwest over the mainland. On a standard approach to runway 04R, the left side looks south directly over the Venetian Lagoon, Venice's historic island center, and the Adriatic Sea beyond. The right side faces inland toward the Veneto plain. Notable sights include: Venice historic island center and Grand Canal, Venetian Lagoon, Adriatic Sea, Ponte della Libertà causeway connecting Venice to the mainland.

The flight from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to Venezia Tessera (VCE) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours.

The flight tracks northeast over the North Atlantic, crossing southern Ireland and the Celtic Sea, then over southern England or northern France, crossing the English Channel. Over continental Europe the route passes over or near the Alps — the Swiss Alps and northern Italian Alps are visible as a dramatic east-west mountain wall. The Po Valley in northern Italy is a broad flat agricultural plain visible on descent before the Venetian Lagoon comes into view.