Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to Tirana. The left side captures the most iconic moment of the flight — the sweeping view of Istanbul, the Bosphorus, and the Sea of Marmara on departure, which is genuinely one of the great urban aerial views in the world. The landing views on either side over the Albanian plain are comparatively modest, 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. IST typically departs westbound on runway 06/24 or 18/36. A westbound departure on runway 06 (heading roughly west-northwest toward Europe) puts the Sea of Marmara and the Istanbul city center on the left side. You get a clear view of the Bosphorus strait, the historic peninsula with Sultanahmet, and the Marmara coastline as the aircraft climbs and banks left toward the Balkans. Notable sights include: Bosphorus Strait, Sea of Marmara, Istanbul Historic Peninsula (Sultanahmet/Hagia Sophia area), Prince's Islands (Adalar) in the Marmara.

When landing at Tirana Rinas (TIA), sit on the Right side for the best views. Tirana Rinas Airport typically lands on runway 18 (southbound approach) or runway 36 (northbound). On the common runway 18 southbound approach, the aircraft tracks south over the Albanian lowlands. The right side faces west toward the Adriatic coast and the Karaburun Peninsula, while the left side looks east toward the interior mountains. Right side gives the more dramatic coastal and lagoon scenery including the Adriatic shoreline and the lagoons near Durrës. Notable sights include: Adriatic Sea coastline, Durrës lagoons and port area, Albanian lowland plain, Lake Tirana (small but visible near the city).

The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Tirana Rinas (TIA) takes Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes.

The flight tracks west-northwest across Thrace (European Turkey), crossing into Greece over the Evros/Maritsa River valley, then over northeastern Greece and Macedonia. The Aegean Sea may be briefly visible to the south depending on routing. The Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria/Greece appear to the north. Over North Macedonia and Albania the terrain rises into the Dinaric Alps foothills before descending into the Albanian coastal plain toward Tirana.