Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Madrid to Istanbul. The right side wins overall because the takeoff view of the Sierra de Guadarrama and Madrid is genuinely spectacular, and during the cruise the right side tracks closer to the Turkish coastline and Aegean approaches. The landing view on the left is excellent, but the full-flight experience slightly favors the right seat.

During takeoff from Barajas (MAD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Barajas typically departs eastbound on runways 32L/32R or 18L/18R depending on wind. On the dominant eastbound departures heading toward Turkey, the right side gives you the Sierra de Guadarrama rising to the northwest as you climb out, with the snow-capped peaks of Peñalara and the Navacerrada massif clearly visible. The city of Madrid spreads out to the southwest on the right side during the initial turn. Notable sights include: Sierra de Guadarrama (Peñalara peak), Madrid city center and Gran Vía corridor, Manzanares River valley, Alcalá de Henares urban sprawl to the east.

When landing at Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. Istanbul Ataturk (now secondary but still used) and the approach from the west typically brings aircraft over the northern Marmara Sea before landing eastward on runway 06. The left side gives a clear view of the Bosphorus strait, the Golden Horn, and the historic peninsula with Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque visible as you descend over the European side of Istanbul. Notable sights include: Bosphorus Strait, Golden Horn inlet, Historic Peninsula (Sultanahmet district with Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque domes), Sea of Marmara.

The flight from Barajas (MAD) to Ataturk (IST) takes Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes.

The route crosses the Pyrenees foothills east of Madrid, then the Mediterranean coast near Valencia or Barcelona depending on routing, then the Balearic Islands (Mallorca and Menorca visible on clear days), followed by Sardinia or Corsica to the south, then the Italian peninsula or Adriatic depending on ATC routing, the Balkans (Greece or Bulgaria), and finally the Thracian plain before descending into Istanbul. The Aegean Sea with its scattered islands is often visible on the right side during descent.