Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to Sao Paulo. The left side wins overall due to the spectacular Istanbul departure view over the Bosphorus and Sea of Marmara, which is one of the most visually dramatic urban waterway departures in the world. The landing views at Guarulhos are more industrial and less scenic on both sides, so the departure experience tips the balance to the left seat.

During takeoff from Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. Istanbul Ataturk typically departs westward on runway 06/24 or uses runway 35L/17R. Departing west or northwest, the left side gives you the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus strait, and the historic peninsula with the Old City skyline. The right side faces inland toward suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Sea of Marmara, Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul Old City peninsula (Sultanahmet/Hagia Sophia area), Prince's Islands in Marmara.

When landing at Guarulhos (GRU), sit on the Right side for the best views. Guarulhos typically lands on runways 09R/27L or 09L/27R oriented east-west. On approach from the east or northeast, the right side faces south toward the Serra da Mantiqueira foothills and the urban sprawl of greater Sao Paulo, giving a better view of the city mass and surrounding terrain. The left side faces north toward less populated industrial zones. Notable sights include: Greater Sao Paulo urban sprawl, Serra da Mantiqueira foothills to the north, Tiete River valley, Guarulhos industrial zone.

The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Guarulhos (GRU) takes Approximately 14 to 15 hours nonstop.

The route tracks southwest over the Mediterranean Sea past Crete, then crosses the North African coast near Libya or Tunisia, traverses the Sahara Desert with its vast sand seas and ergs visible in daylight, crosses the equatorial Atlantic Ocean, and approaches Brazil over the northeastern coast near Recife or Natal before tracking south along the Brazilian interior plateau toward Sao Paulo. The Sahara crossing in daylight offers extraordinary views of dune fields and rocky hamada terrain. The Atlantic crossing is mostly featureless open ocean. The Brazilian approach may show the cerrado savanna landscape and the Serra da Mantiqueira range.