Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Zurich to Washington. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. The Alpine departure view is genuinely spectacular, and the D.C. approach gives you the Potomac and the capital's layout. Over the Atlantic the views are symmetric, so the departure and arrival tips are what matter most.

During takeoff from Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Left side for the best views. Zurich typically departs westbound on runway 16/28, and a left-side seat gives you a clear view south toward the Alps as you climb out. You'll see Lake Zurich stretching southeast and the Glarus Alps beyond. Right side faces north toward the Zurich urban sprawl with far less drama. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich, Glarus Alps, Uetliberg ridge, Lake Greifen.

When landing at Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Dulles typically lands on runways 01L/01R or 19L/19R depending on winds. On a westbound transatlantic arrival, aircraft generally approach from the east. A left-side seat gives you the view toward Washington D.C. proper — the Potomac River, the National Mall corridor, and the Virginia suburbs as you descend. Right side faces north toward Maryland with less distinctive geography. Notable sights include: Potomac River, Washington D.C. skyline and Mall corridor, Shenandoah Valley foothills, Dulles Access Road corridor.

The flight from Zurich (ZRH) to Washington Dulles International (IAD) takes Approximately 9 to 9.5 hours.

The flight tracks northwest over France, crosses the English Channel near the Thames Estuary or southern England, then heads out over the North Atlantic via Ireland's west coast. Mid-flight passes over the Labrador Sea and southern Greenland's ice sheet edge may be visible on the northern routing. Descent crosses Nova Scotia, New England coastline, and the mid-Atlantic states of New York and New Jersey before Virginia.