Lisbon to San Francisco flight path: LIS to SFO

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Lisbon to San Francisco. While the Lisbon departure offers a nice river-and-bridge view, the SFO arrival's Golden Gate and bay approach is more visually striking and iconic, giving the right side the edge over the course of the flight.

During takeoff from Lisboa (LIS), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing Lisbon on runway 02 under typical northerly winds, the aircraft climbs north over the city before banking west toward the Atlantic. Passengers on the left get a sweeping view of the Tagus estuary, the 25 de Abril Bridge, and the Belém waterfront before the coastline recedes behind. Notable sights include: Tagus River estuary, 25 de Abril Bridge, Belém district, Lisbon coastline near Cascais.

When landing at San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Right side for the best views. On the descent into SFO, arrivals crossing the coast typically align with the north-south runways, tracking down the peninsula past the Golden Gate and the city skyline. The right side offers a clear view of San Francisco Bay, the bridge, and the urban shoreline just before touchdown. Notable sights include: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco skyline, San Francisco Bay, Marin Headlands.

The flight from Lisboa (LIS) to San Francisco International (SFO) takes about 11 hours 35 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 5,668 miles (9,121 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Mid-Atlantic open ocean, Canadian Maritimes and Newfoundland coastline, Great Lakes region, and the Rocky Mountains before descent toward the Sierra Nevada and California coast