Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Vienna to Istanbul. The left side wins overall. While the right side has the Neusiedler See at departure, the left side captures the Balkan mountain ranges over Bulgaria in the cruise, and delivers the spectacular Istanbul approach with the Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara, and the historic peninsula — the most visually dramatic sequence of the flight.

During takeoff from Schwechat (VIE), sit on the Right side for the best views. VIE typically departs eastward on runway 11/16. A right-side seat gives you views south over the Vienna Basin and the Leitha Hills, with the Neusiedler See (Lake Neusiedl) visible as a large shallow lake on the Hungarian border — one of the most distinctive features near Vienna from the air. Notable sights include: Neusiedler See (Lake Neusiedl), Vienna city center and Danube bend to the northwest, Leitha Hills, Hungarian plains stretching southeast.

When landing at Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. Istanbul Ataturk airport sits on the European side of the city. Arrivals typically come in from the west or northwest over the Sea of Marmara. A left-side seat gives you the best view of the Bosphorus strait, the Golden Horn, and the historic peninsula of old Istanbul with its distinctive skyline. Notable sights include: Bosphorus strait, Sea of Marmara, historic Istanbul peninsula (Sultanahmet/Hagia Sophia skyline), Golden Horn inlet.

The flight from Schwechat (VIE) to Ataturk (IST) takes Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.

The flight tracks southeast over Hungary's flat Great Plain, then crosses into Serbia near Belgrade where the Danube and Sava confluence is visible. Over Bulgaria, the Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina range) cross the flight path as a clear east-west ridge. The flight then descends over Thrace toward the Sea of Marmara, with the Turkish coast and Marmara islands becoming visible on approach.