About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from San Francisco International (SFO) to Fiumicino (FCO)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Rome. Left side wins both departure and arrival. At SFO you get the iconic San Francisco Bay panorama, and descending into Rome you face the city and the Tiber rather than the featureless Tyrrhenian coast. The right side offers little of note at either end of this flight.
What can I see during takeoff from San Francisco International in San Francisco?
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 aircraft turn north over the Bay. The left side gets San Francisco city, the Bay Bridge, and the downtown skyline as you climb out over the water. The right side faces the Peninsula suburbs and hills with far less visual interest. Notable sights include: San Francisco downtown skyline, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Marin Headlands and Golden Gate Bridge visible to the northwest.
What can I see when landing at Fiumicino in Rome?
When landing at Fiumicino (FCO), sit on the Left side for the best views. FCO typically lands on runways 16L/16R or 25, approaching from the northwest or west. On the common 16 approach from the northwest, the left side looks east toward central Rome — you get a clear view of the Tiber River snaking toward the city, the Vatican dome, and the urban sprawl of Rome proper. The right side faces the Tyrrhenian Sea and flat coastal plain with little of interest. Notable sights include: Tiber River winding toward Rome, Vatican City dome of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome urban sprawl, Castelli Romani hills to the southeast.
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Rome?
The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Fiumicino (FCO) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours nonstop.
What does the San Francisco to Rome flight path pass over?
The polar great circle route tracks northeast over the Sierra Nevada, then across Canada over the Canadian Rockies and Hudson Bay region, crosses Greenland's ice sheet and the Denmark Strait, passes over Iceland or just south of it, then crosses the UK and northern France before descending over the Alps and into Italy. The Greenland ice cap and the Alps are the two most visually dramatic features en route, both visible from either side depending on exact routing.