Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Munich. Left side wins both departure and arrival. Over the Pacific and polar route there is little to see at cruise altitude regardless of side, so the departure and arrival views are what matter — and left delivers San Francisco Bay on takeoff and the Bavarian Alps on landing.

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 Bridge as you climb out over the water. Right side faces south toward the peninsula with less dramatic scenery. Notable sights include: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, Bay Bridge, Marin Headlands.

When landing at Munich (MUC), sit on the Left side for the best views. MUC typically lands from the west on runway 26L/26R, approaching from over the Bavarian countryside. Left side gives you views south toward the Alps — the Zugspitze and the main Alpine ridge are clearly visible on clear days as a dramatic snow-capped wall on the southern horizon. Right side faces north toward flat farmland. Notable sights include: Bavarian Alps (Zugspitze massif), Ammersee lake, Starnberger See lake, Munich city sprawl.

The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Munich (MUC) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

The great circle route tracks northwest over the Pacific, crosses southern Alaska or the Aleutian Islands, then arcs over the Arctic, crossing Greenland or northern Canada depending on winds, before descending over the UK and northern Europe into Bavaria. At cruise altitude over the polar regions you may see sea ice and tundra, and on clear days the Greenland ice sheet is visible as a vast white expanse.