Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to Oslo. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. During cruise the route tracks northwest over Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, and the Baltic Sea coast — the left side also catches more of the Baltic coastline and Scandinavian lake country on descent. Right side has little to distinguish it at either end.

During takeoff from Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. IST typically departs westbound on runway 06/24 or 17/35. A westbound departure on 06 puts the left side facing south toward the Marmara Sea and the Istanbul city center. You get a clear view of the Bosphorus strait, the historic peninsula with its dense urban fabric, and the Sea of Marmara stretching to the horizon. Notable sights include: Bosphorus Strait, Sea of Marmara, Istanbul historic peninsula (Sultanahmet area), Prince's Islands (Adalar).

When landing at Oslo Gardermoen (OSL), sit on the Left side for the best views. Oslo Gardermoen typically lands from the south on runway 01L/01R, meaning the aircraft approaches from the south-southwest heading north. The left side faces west, giving views over the Mjøsa lake — Norway's largest — and the forested Hedmarken plateau. The right side faces east toward open farmland with less visual interest. Notable sights include: Lake Mjøsa (Norway's largest lake), Hedmarken forested plateau, Eidsvoll town near the lake's southern tip, Romerike agricultural plain.

The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) takes Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes.

The route passes over Bulgaria and the Danube plain, crosses Romania and the Carpathian foothills, transits southern Poland over the Vistula basin, crosses the Baltic Sea between Poland and Sweden, then descends over the Swedish lake district and into Norway's Romerike plain. The Baltic Sea crossing is the most visually distinctive midpoint feature — a wide expanse of open grey-blue water with occasional ship traffic visible on clear days.