Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Lisbon to San Francisco. Left side wins both departure and arrival. Over the Atlantic the views are largely featureless ocean regardless of side, but the left seat delivers Lisbon's iconic river and bridge on takeoff and San Francisco Bay with the city skyline on landing — the two most visually rewarding moments of the flight.

During takeoff from Lisboa (LIS), sit on the Left side for the best views. Lisbon's main departure runway 21 sends aircraft southwest over the Tagus estuary. Left side gives you the city center, Belém Tower area, and the 25 de Abril Bridge spanning the Tagus before the aircraft turns northwest toward the Atlantic. Notable sights include: 25 de Abril Bridge over the Tagus, Belém waterfront district, Lisbon city center and Alfama hillside, Tagus estuary widening toward the sea.

When landing at San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO's primary arrival runways 28L/28R bring aircraft in from the east over the Bay. Left side gives a clear view of the San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge, and the San Francisco city skyline as you descend over the water on final approach. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay, San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, San Francisco city skyline and downtown, San Mateo-Hayward Bridge to the south.

The flight from Lisboa (LIS) to San Francisco International (SFO) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours westbound.

The route tracks northwest from Lisbon across the North Atlantic, passing south of Iceland and Greenland's southern tip. The flight crosses the Davis Strait and enters Canadian airspace over Labrador or Newfoundland, then tracks across Quebec and Ontario before descending over the northern US Rockies and Sierra Nevada into California. Greenland's ice sheet edge may be distantly visible on clear days from very high altitude, and the Canadian Rockies and Sierra Nevada are the most dramatic terrain features in the final third of the flight.