SFO (San Francisco) window seat guide

At San Francisco International in San Francisco: for takeoff, sit on the Left side; for landing, sit on the Right side. Notable views include: San Francisco skyline, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate Bridge (distant).

When taking off from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. On departure from SFO's eastern runways, aircraft climb out heading east-southeast over San Francisco Bay before turning toward their destination. Passengers on the left side get a clear view north toward the San Francisco skyline, Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz Island, with the Golden Gate Bridge visible further in the distance. Notable sights include: San Francisco skyline, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate Bridge (distant).

When landing at San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Right side for the best views. On the typical southbound-to-northbound final into SFO's western runways, the right side of the aircraft faces east over San Francisco Bay, giving you a great view of the city skyline, the Bay Bridge, and the water traffic below. The left side mostly looks toward the Pacific side and the peninsula hills, which are less distinctive at this stage of approach. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay, San Francisco skyline, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz Island (distant).

The best window seat at San Francisco International (SFO) depends on several factors: the typical runway used for your departure or arrival, the geographic features around San Francisco (mountains, coastlines, city skylines), weather conditions, and time of day. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting for scenic views.