Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to Newark. Left side wins both ends of the flight. Over Istanbul you get the Bosphorus and historic city, and into Newark you get the full Manhattan skyline approach. The transatlantic cruise over the North Atlantic offers little to see regardless of side, so the departure and arrival views are the deciding factor.

During takeoff from Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. IST departures heading west on runway 35L/35R or 06 typically swing northwest over the Sea of Marmara. Left side gives you the Istanbul city center, the Bosphorus strait, and the historic peninsula with Topkapi and the old city skyline before climbing out over the Marmara. Right side faces inland toward suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Bosphorus Strait, Sea of Marmara, Istanbul historic peninsula (Sultanahmet/Topkapi area), Prince's Islands (Adalar) in the Marmara.

When landing at Newark Liberty International (EWR), sit on the Left side for the best views. EWR arrivals from the east typically use runway 22L/22R or 29, approaching from over the Atlantic and New York Harbor. Left side gives you Lower Manhattan, the Hudson River, and the New York skyline on approach. Right side faces south toward Staten Island and New Jersey suburbs. Notable sights include: Lower Manhattan skyline, Hudson River, New York Harbor, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Newark Liberty International (EWR) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

After leaving Turkey the route tracks northwest over Bulgaria and Romania, then crosses the Carpathian Mountains, passes over Poland and Germany or the Netherlands, exits Europe over the British Isles or northern France, then crosses the North Atlantic on a great circle arc passing south of Greenland and Iceland, before descending over Atlantic Canada and the northeastern US seaboard toward New York.