Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to Palermo. While the left side has the better Istanbul departure view, the right side captures the Aegean Sea crossing, the southern Greek coastline, and the dramatic arrival over the Gulf of Palermo with Monte Pellegrino. The right side delivers more sustained visual interest across the full flight.

During takeoff from Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. IST typically departs westbound on runway 06/24 or 18/36. A westbound departure on runway 24 puts the left side facing south over the Marmara Sea and the Istanbul city center including the historic peninsula with Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. The Bosphorus strait is clearly visible as a narrow channel separating Europe from Asia. Notable sights include: Bosphorus Strait, Sea of Marmara, Istanbul Historic Peninsula (Sultanahmet), Princes Islands.

When landing at Boccadifalco (PMO), sit on the Right side for the best views. Palermo Boccadifalco airport sits inland on the northwestern edge of the Conca d'Oro plain. Approaches typically come in from the northwest or northeast. A right-side seat on approach from the north gives views over the Tyrrhenian Sea coastline, the Gulf of Palermo, and the city of Palermo itself spread along the coast before the runway. Notable sights include: Gulf of Palermo, Palermo city waterfront, Monte Pellegrino headland, Conca d'Oro plain.

The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Boccadifalco (PMO) takes Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.

The route crosses the northern Aegean Sea, passing south of Thessaloniki and over the Greek island chains including Thassos and Limnos visible as dark landmasses in blue water. The flight then crosses central Greece or the Ionian Sea depending on routing, with the heel of Italy's boot potentially visible before crossing the Strait of Messina and tracking along the northern Sicilian coast toward Palermo.