Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Toronto to Toronto. The left side during landing delivers the most visually rewarding moment of this very short flight — the downtown Toronto skyline with the CN Tower and Lake Ontario on approach to Pearson is genuinely spectacular and outweighs the modest suburban views on takeoff from either side.

During takeoff from Downsview (YZD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Downsview's runway 15/33 is the primary orientation. Departing southbound (runway 33 heading roughly south), the right side faces west toward the Humber River valley and the suburban sprawl of Etobicoke. However, given the extremely short distance to YYZ, aircraft rarely climb above 3,000-4,000 feet, so the right side gives a cleaner look at the low-rise industrial and residential grid of northwest Toronto without obstruction. Notable sights include: Downsview Park (former military airfield grounds directly below), Humber River corridor to the west, Highway 400/401 interchange visible as a large cloverleaf, Black Creek ravine system.

When landing at Lester B Pearson International (YYZ), sit on the Left side for the best views. YYZ's most common arrival is from the east on runways 05/06L/06R, meaning the aircraft approaches from the east heading westward. The left side faces south toward downtown Toronto, Lake Ontario, and the CN Tower during the approach descent, offering the most iconic urban skyline view of the flight. Notable sights include: CN Tower and downtown Toronto skyline to the south, Lake Ontario stretching to the southern horizon, Etobicoke Creek corridor below the final approach path, Highway 427 running north-south beneath the flight path.

The flight from Downsview (YZD) to Lester B Pearson International (YYZ) takes Approximately 8-12 minutes in the air, though taxi and ground time often exceeds flight time on this ultra-short hop.

The flight path crosses northwest Toronto's residential grid, the Humber River valley, and the Highway 400/427 corridor — all flat urban and suburban terrain with no significant natural elevation changes. At peak altitude of roughly 4,000-5,000 feet, the entire Greater Toronto Area is visible as a continuous urban fabric.