Seattle to Berlin flight pathSEABER

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Flight time9h 30m
Distance5,065
Heading026° → 151°

Seattle to Berlin is 5,065 miles (8,152 km), a flight of about 9 hours 30 minutes.

Best side
Left

Left side wins both departure and arrival. Over the Pacific and polar route there is little to differentiate sides at cruise altitude, but the bookend views — Puget Sound and the Seattle skyline on departure, and Berlin's urban layout on approach — are both on the left.

Takeoff · SEALEFTElliott Bay and downtown Seattle skyline, Mount Rainier to the southeast, Puget Sound waterways
Landing · BERLEFTSpree River bends through central Berlin, Tempelhof field, Müggelsee lake to the east

Flight Path

Flight path overview

The great circle route tracks north over British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies, then across the southern tip of Greenland or Iceland depending on winds, over the Norwegian Sea, across Scandinavia (likely southern Norway and Sweden), then south through Denmark and northern Germany into Berlin. At cruise altitude over Greenland the ice sheet is visible as a vast white expanse; over Scandinavia forested terrain and fjords are visible in clear conditions.

Great circle distance and headings ›

Phase by phase

Aerial window seat view during takeoff from Seattle (left side) — Elliott Bay and downtown Seattle skyline, Mount Rainier to the southeast, Puget Sound waterways, Olympic Mountains across the water

Takeoff from SEA

LEFT

SEA primarily uses runways 16L/16R for southbound departures, then aircraft turn northward. A left-side seat gives you the best view of Elliott Bay, downtown Seattle, and the Olympic Mountains across Puget Sound. Right side gets suburban sprawl toward Renton.

Elliott Bay and downtown Seattle skylineMount Rainier to the southeastPuget Sound waterwaysOlympic Mountains across the water
Aerial window seat view during landing at Berlin (left side) — Spree River bends through central Berlin, Tempelhof field (large open oval), Müggelsee lake to the east, Berlin urban grid of Mitte district

Landing at BER

LEFT

BER's primary approach on runway 25L/25R comes in from the east heading west, putting the left side facing south toward central Berlin. Left-seat passengers get a clear view of the city center, the Spree river bends, and the urban fabric of Mitte and Tempelhof. Right side faces north toward suburban Brandenburg.

Spree River bends through central BerlinTempelhof fieldMüggelsee lake to the eastBerlin urban grid of Mitte district

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About This Route

Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) to Berlin Brandenburg (BER)?

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Seattle to Berlin. Left side wins both departure and arrival. Over the Pacific and polar route there is little to differentiate sides at cruise altitude, but the bookend views — Puget Sound and the Seattle skyline on departure, and Berlin's urban layout on approach — are both on the left.

What can I see during takeoff from Seattle Tacoma International in Seattle?

During takeoff from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Left side for the best views. SEA primarily uses runways 16L/16R for southbound departures, then aircraft turn northward. A left-side seat gives you the best view of Elliott Bay, downtown Seattle, and the Olympic Mountains across Puget Sound. Right side gets suburban sprawl toward Renton. Notable sights include: Elliott Bay and downtown Seattle skyline, Mount Rainier to the southeast, Puget Sound waterways, Olympic Mountains across the water.

What can I see when landing at Berlin Brandenburg in Berlin?

When landing at Berlin Brandenburg (BER), sit on the Left side for the best views. BER's primary approach on runway 25L/25R comes in from the east heading west, putting the left side facing south toward central Berlin. Left-seat passengers get a clear view of the city center, the Spree river bends, and the urban fabric of Mitte and Tempelhof. Right side faces north toward suburban Brandenburg. Notable sights include: Spree River bends through central Berlin, Tempelhof field (large open oval), Müggelsee lake to the east, Berlin urban grid of Mitte district.

How long is the flight from Seattle to Berlin?

The flight from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) to Berlin Brandenburg (BER) takes about 9 hours 30 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 5,065 miles (8,152 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

What does the Seattle to Berlin flight path pass over?

The great circle route tracks north over British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies, then across the southern tip of Greenland or Iceland depending on winds, over the Norwegian Sea, across Scandinavia (likely southern Norway and Sweden), then south through Denmark and northern Germany into Berlin. At cruise altitude over Greenland the ice sheet is visible as a vast white expanse; over Scandinavia forested terrain and fjords are visible in clear conditions.