Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to Sofia. Left side wins at both ends of this short flight. You get the Marmara and Bosphorus on departure and the dramatic Vitosha massif on approach into Sofia. The right side offers comparatively little at either airport.

During takeoff from Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. Istanbul's main runways at Ataturk run roughly east-west. Departing westbound toward Sofia, the left (south) side gives you a clear view back over the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus strait, and the dense urban sprawl of European Istanbul including the historic peninsula. The right side faces north toward the Black Sea coast with less dramatic scenery. Notable sights include: Sea of Marmara, Bosphorus strait, historic Istanbul peninsula (Sultanahmet area visible as dense urban core), Prince's Islands in the Marmara.

When landing at Sofia (SOF), sit on the Left side for the best views. Sofia Airport sits in the Sofia Basin with the Vitosha massif rising sharply to the south. Aircraft typically approach from the east on runway 09/27. On a westward approach, the left (south) side faces directly toward Vitosha Mountain, a visually dominant flat-topped massif rising to 2,290 meters immediately south of the city. The right side looks north toward flatter terrain. Notable sights include: Vitosha Mountain massif, Sofia city center grid, Sofia Basin plain, Lyulin Hills to the west.

The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Sofia (SOF) takes Approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes.

The flight crosses the Bulgarian Thracian Plain and the Rhodope and Balkan mountain ranges. Shortly after leaving Turkish airspace, the terrain rises into the Eastern Rhodopes, a broad plateau of forested ridges. The Balkan Range (Stara Planina) crosses the flight path roughly 80-100 km south of Sofia, visible as a continuous east-west ridge system. The Maritsa River valley may be visible as a flat agricultural corridor in the early portion over Bulgaria.