Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Zurich to Cologne. The left side wins at both ends of this short flight. You get Lake Zurich and the Alps on departure, and the Rhine River with Cologne's city center on approach. The right side offers less distinctive terrain throughout — mostly the Black Forest foothills and flat Rhine plain.

During takeoff from Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Left side for the best views. Zurich typically departs on runway 16 (heading south) or runway 28 (heading west). On a northwestbound flight to Cologne, expect a departure toward the northwest after initial climb. The left side gives you a view back over Lake Zurich and the city center as the aircraft turns north, with the Glarus Alps visible to the southeast. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich stretching southeast, Zurich city center and the Limmat river corridor, the Glarus Alps on the southeastern horizon, Lake Greifen to the east.

When landing at Koln Bonn (CGN), sit on the Left side for the best views. Cologne Bonn Airport typically lands on runway 14L/14R (heading southeast) or 32L/32R (heading northwest). On approach from the south, aircraft generally come in from the southwest. The left side offers a view over the Rhine River and Cologne's city center including the Cathedral, which is highly visible from the air. Notable sights include: Rhine River winding through Cologne, Cologne Cathedral and the old city center, the Cologne-Bonn motorway interchange network, the Siebengebirge hills to the southeast.

The flight from Zurich (ZRH) to Koln Bonn (CGN) takes Approximately 55-70 minutes.

The flight tracks northwest over the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) in Baden-Württemberg, then crosses the Rhine near Karlsruhe or Mannheim, continues over the flat Rhine-Main lowlands and the Taunus hills north of Frankfurt, before descending into the Cologne-Bonn basin. The Rhine River may be visible multiple times as it meanders northward below.