Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Rome. Left side wins both the departure over San Francisco Bay and the arrival over central Rome. During the transatlantic cruise at 35,000 feet the views are largely ocean and cloud cover, so the bookend city views at each end are what define this flight — and left delivers both.

During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO typically departs northwest on runways 28L/28R, then turns north over the Bay. Left side gives you San Francisco city, the Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate as you climb out over the water. Right side faces the East Bay hills and Oakland, which is less dramatic. Notable sights include: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco downtown skyline, Bay Bridge, Marin Headlands.

When landing at Ciampino (CIA), sit on the Left side for the best views. CIA is southeast of Rome city center. Aircraft typically approach from the northwest on runway 15, meaning the left side looks directly over central Rome — the Colosseum, Tiber River bends, and Vatican are all visible on the left during descent. Right side faces the Castelli Romani hills and open countryside. Notable sights include: Colosseum and Roman Forum, Tiber River bends, Vatican and St. Peter's dome, Castelli Romani volcanic hills.

The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Ciampino (CIA) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours nonstop, though most routings connect through a European hub making total travel time 14 to 17 hours.

The great circle route from SFO to CIA tracks northeast over Nevada and Utah, then across Canada over the Hudson Bay region, then across the North Atlantic near Greenland and Iceland, crossing into Europe over the British Isles or northern France, then south across the Alps and into Italy. Notable features include the Sierra Nevada during initial climb, the Canadian Rockies if routing goes that way, Greenland ice sheet visible as a vast white expanse at cruise altitude, the British Isles coastline, and the Alps as a wrinkled white mountain barrier visible from high altitude on the descent into Italy.