The left side wins both the departure and arrival phases with San Francisco Bay and the Bosphorus, and during cruise it faces north across Arctic Canada, Hudson Bay, and the Greenland ice cap near the route's high-latitude vertex — dramatic polar terrain the right side, facing mostly open ocean toward Iceland and the mid-Atlantic, does not match.
Flight Path
Hudson Bay and Baffin Island over Arctic Canada, the Greenland ice cap near the flight's northernmost point around 73°N, then the Norwegian Sea and Scandinavian coast before the descent into southeastern Europe toward Istanbul.
Great circle distance and headings ›
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from SFO
LEFTSFO departures to the northeast require a sweeping left turn right after takeoff, and during that turn the left side of the aircraft faces north across the bay, catching San Francisco's skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin headlands before the plane settles onto its northbound track. The right side mostly shows the South Bay and East Bay hills, which are far less distinctive.
Landing at IST
LEFTThe great-circle track from SFO curves down out of the north, so the aircraft approaches Istanbul Airport from over the Black Sea heading south. On that approach the Bosphorus Strait and the historic peninsula of Istanbul sit off to the left, while the right side mostly shows farmland and the airport's surrounding forest.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from San Francisco International (SFO) to İstanbul Airport (IST)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Istanbul. The left side wins both the departure and arrival phases with San Francisco Bay and the Bosphorus, and during cruise it faces north across Arctic Canada, Hudson Bay, and the Greenland ice cap near the route's high-latitude vertex — dramatic polar terrain the right side, facing mostly open ocean toward Iceland and the mid-Atlantic, does not match.
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 departures to the northeast require a sweeping left turn right after takeoff, and during that turn the left side of the aircraft faces north across the bay, catching San Francisco's skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin headlands before the plane settles onto its northbound track. The right side mostly shows the South Bay and East Bay hills, which are far less distinctive. Notable sights include: San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, San Francisco Bay.
What can I see when landing at İstanbul Airport in Istanbul?
When landing at İstanbul Airport (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. The great-circle track from SFO curves down out of the north, so the aircraft approaches Istanbul Airport from over the Black Sea heading south. On that approach the Bosphorus Strait and the historic peninsula of Istanbul sit off to the left, while the right side mostly shows farmland and the airport's surrounding forest. Notable sights include: Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul historic peninsula, Black Sea coastline, Sea of Marmara in the distance.
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Istanbul?
The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to İstanbul Airport (IST) takes 12h 45m.
What does the San Francisco to Istanbul flight path pass over?
Hudson Bay and Baffin Island over Arctic Canada, the Greenland ice cap near the flight's northernmost point around 73°N, then the Norwegian Sea and Scandinavian coast before the descent into southeastern Europe toward Istanbul.