Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to Milano. The left side delivers the most dramatic single moment of the flight — the Bosphorus, Istanbul's historic peninsula, and the Sea of Marmara on departure. Mid-flight over the Balkans and northern Greece the left side also tracks closer to the Aegean coastline. The right side Alpine view on approach to MXP is excellent but shorter in duration. Left wins on total scenic value.

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. On a westbound routing to MXP, the aircraft turns left (south then west) after takeoff, putting the left side over the Sea of Marmara and the Istanbul city center including the Bosphorus strait. The right side faces inland Thrace with little of interest. Notable sights include: Bosphorus strait with its two suspension bridges, Sea of Marmara, Istanbul historic peninsula with Hagia Sophia and Topkapi visible, Prince's Islands (Adalar) in the Marmara.

When landing at Malpensa (MXP), sit on the Right side for the best views. Malpensa typically uses runway 35L/35R for northerly landings or runway 17 for southerly approaches. On arrival from the east, aircraft generally approach from the southeast over the Po Valley. The right side faces north toward the Alps, giving clear views of the Monte Rosa massif and the southern Alpine chain as the aircraft descends over the flat Lombardy plain. Notable sights include: Monte Rosa massif on the Swiss-Italian border, Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore) to the north of the airport, Po Valley flatlands, southern Alpine foothills.

The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Malpensa (MXP) takes Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours.

The route crosses northern Greece and the southern Balkans (Macedonia/North Macedonia region), passing over or near Thessaloniki and the northern Aegean coast on the left side. The aircraft then crosses over Albania or southern Serbia, the Adriatic Sea, and enters northern Italy over the Veneto or Lombardy plains. The Adriatic crossing is visible from both sides but more prominent on the left. The Dinaric Alps of the western Balkans are visible below during the mid-flight segment.