Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Oslo to Istanbul. While the takeoff from Oslo favors the right side, the landing approach into Istanbul strongly favors the left, and the landing experience is typically more memorable for passengers. The Golden Horn and Bosphorus views from the left side during descent outweigh the fjord views on departure.

During takeoff from Oslo Gardermoen (OSL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats offer views of the Oslo Fjord and surrounding forested terrain immediately after departure. The aircraft climbs southeast over water and archipelago before turning south toward the continent, giving right-side passengers the best perspective of the fjord system and coastal geography. Notable sights include: Oslo Fjord (narrow inlet with islands), Oslomark forest belt (dense coniferous woodland surrounding the city), Bunnefjorden (southeastern arm of the fjord system), scattered skerries and small islands dotting the fjord.

When landing at Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats provide views during the approach to Istanbul Ataturk (now closed, but historically the primary airport). The standard approach from the north brings aircraft over the European side of the Bosphorus, with left-side passengers seeing the Golden Horn, the historic peninsula, and the Marmara Sea. This offers superior urban and water views compared to the right side. Notable sights include: Golden Horn (distinctive curved inlet in central Istanbul), Bosphorus Strait (narrow water passage separating Europe and Asia), Marmara Sea (large body of water south of the city), European Istanbul urban sprawl with visible street grid and buildings.

The flight from Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) to Ataturk (IST) takes Approximately 4 hours 15 minutes.

The flight path crosses central Europe heading southeast. Notable visible features include the Carpathian Mountains (eastern Romania, visible as a distant ridge on the horizon around the 2-hour mark), the Danube River valley (southern Romania and Bulgaria, appearing as a winding ribbon of lighter terrain), and the Black Sea coast (Bulgaria, visible as a dark water body on the eastern horizon before turning toward Istanbul). The flight passes over the Balkans with rolling forested terrain, then descends toward the Marmara region with increasingly visible urban development as it approaches Istanbul.