Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Zurich. The right side offers the Alpine approach into Zurich which is one of the most dramatic arrival views in European aviation. While the left side has Chicago's excellent skyline departure, the sustained Alpine panorama on descent into ZRH edges it out overall. Mid-flight over the North Atlantic and southern Greenland, both sides are equally featureless ocean.

During takeoff from Chicago Midway International (MDW), sit on the Left side for the best views. Midway typically departs northeast on runway 13C/31C or uses runway 22L/4R. On a transatlantic routing heading northeast, the left side gives you a clear view over downtown Chicago's skyline and Lake Michigan's shoreline. You'll see the grid of the city spreading south and the lakefront parks clearly. Notable sights include: Chicago downtown skyline (Willis Tower, John Hancock), Lake Michigan shoreline, Grant Park and Museum Campus, Chicago River grid.

When landing at Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Right side for the best views. Zurich typically lands on runway 14/28 or 16/34. On approach from the west or northwest, the right side faces south toward the Alps. You get a clear view of the Swiss Plateau, Lake Zurich stretching southeast, and on clear days the entire Alpine arc from the Bernese Oberland to the Glarus Alps on the horizon. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich, Swiss Alps arc on southern horizon, Zurich city center and Limmat River, Swiss Plateau farmland.

The flight from Chicago Midway International (MDW) to Zurich (ZRH) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours.

The route tracks northeast over Lake Michigan, across southern Ontario and Quebec, then over Newfoundland before crossing the North Atlantic. Mid-ocean you may see Greenland's southern ice cap and coastline if routing takes you that far north. Approaching Europe the route crosses Ireland or southern England, then tracks across France or Germany before descending into Switzerland. The Rhine Valley and Black Forest are sometimes visible on the German approach corridor.