Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to Rome. The left side delivers the dramatic Istanbul departure with the Bosphorus and historic peninsula, and across the Aegean and Ionian seas the left side also tracks the Greek coastline and southern Italian boot. The Rome landing view on the right is good but shorter in duration. Left wins for the overall flight experience.

During takeoff from Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing IST, aircraft typically use runway 06 heading northeast or runway 35L/35R heading north before turning west toward Rome. A left-side seat gives you the Bosphorus strait, the historic peninsula of Sultanahmet, and the Sea of Marmara as the aircraft banks westward. The right side faces inland toward suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Bosphorus Strait, Sea of Marmara, Sultanahmet historic peninsula (Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque visible as distinct domes), Prince's Islands.

When landing at Fiumicino (FCO), sit on the Right side for the best views. FCO typically uses runways 16L/16R for southerly landings or 34L/34R for northerly approaches. On the common southbound approach over the Tyrrhenian Sea, the aircraft lines up from the northwest, and the right side faces inland toward Rome's city center, the Tiber River, and the Alban Hills. The left side looks out over open Tyrrhenian Sea water. Notable sights include: Tiber River mouth and delta, Rome city center and Vatican dome, Alban Hills (Castelli Romani), Fiumicino coastal lagoons.

The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Fiumicino (FCO) takes Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes.

The flight crosses the northern Aegean Sea, passing south of Thessaloniki and over the Greek mainland near Thessaly, then crosses the Ionian Sea. The heel of the Italian boot (Puglia) is visible before crossing the Apennine Mountains and descending toward the Tyrrhenian coast. The Adriatic Sea is visible to the left during the Italian crossing.