Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Munich to Chicago. Left side wins at both ends of the flight — the Bavarian Alps and lakes on departure, and the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan on approach. Over the Atlantic and Canadian Shield the views are broadly similar on both sides, so the bookend scenery makes left the clear overall choice.

During takeoff from Munich (MUC), sit on the Left side for the best views. Munich departures on runway 26L/26R head westward, and the left (south) side gives you a clear view of the Bavarian Alps including the Zugspitze and the Bavarian foothills. The Ammersee and Starnberger See lakes are also visible to the south shortly after takeoff. Notable sights include: Zugspitze and Wetterstein massif, Starnberger See, Ammersee, Munich city center to the north.

When landing at Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Chicago O'Hare arrivals from the east typically use runways oriented east-west (10L/10R), meaning the aircraft approaches from the east over Lake Michigan. The left (south) side gives the best view of the Chicago downtown skyline, the lakefront, and Grant Park as you descend over the southern part of the metro area. Notable sights include: Chicago downtown skyline (Willis Tower, John Hancock), Lake Michigan shoreline, Grant Park and Museum Campus, suburban grid of the North Shore.

The flight from Munich (MUC) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours.

The route tracks northwest over southern Germany, crosses the Rhine near Strasbourg, passes over Belgium and the English Channel near the Thames Estuary, then crosses the North Atlantic via southern Greenland or Iceland depending on the jet stream. Over Canada the route passes over Labrador, Quebec, and the Great Lakes region before descending into Chicago. Greenland's ice sheet and southern tip are often visible mid-flight, and the St. Lawrence River and Lake Huron may be visible on descent.