Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Zurich to Sao Paulo. The left side wins overall. The Zurich departure on the left delivers the most dramatic scenery of the flight — Lake Zurich and the Swiss Alps — which is genuinely world-class. The landing view advantage on the right is real but less spectacular. For the bulk of the flight over the Atlantic there is no meaningful difference, so the Alpine departure view is the deciding factor.

During takeoff from Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Left side for the best views. Zurich typically departs on runway 16 (southbound) or 28 (westbound). On a southbound departure toward GRU, the left side gives you the city of Zurich and Lake Zurich stretching southeast, then the Alps rising dramatically ahead. The right side faces industrial areas and the Glatt valley with little of interest. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich (Zürichsee), the Swiss Alps (Glarus and Bernese Alps), the Limmat river valley, and the city center of Zurich.

When landing at Guarulhos (GRU), sit on the Right side for the best views. Guarulhos typically lands on runways 09R/27L or 09L/27R oriented east-west. On a westbound approach from the Atlantic, the right side faces south toward the São Paulo metropolitan sprawl, including the dense urban core and the Serra do Mar escarpment behind it. The left side faces north toward less distinctive terrain. Notable sights include: São Paulo city center skyline, Serra do Mar coastal escarpment, Tietê River valley, Guarulhos urban area.

The flight from Zurich (ZRH) to Guarulhos (GRU) takes Approximately 12 to 13 hours.

After crossing the Alps, the route tracks southwest over the Mediterranean near the Balearic Islands, then crosses the Strait of Gibraltar or the Moroccan coast. The long overwater Atlantic crossing follows, passing near the Cape Verde Islands. The Brazilian coast is crossed near Recife or Natal, then the route heads southwest over the Brazilian interior plateau (cerrado) before descending into São Paulo.