Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Zurich to Vienna. The left side wins at both ends of this short flight. Over Zurich you get Lake Zurich and the Alps, and over Vienna you get the Danube and the city center. The flight is too short and too low for dramatic mid-flight scenery, so the departure and arrival views are what matter most.

During takeoff from Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Left side for the best views. Zurich typically departs eastbound on runway 28/10 or 16/34. On an eastbound departure toward Vienna, a left-side seat gives you views over Lake Zurich stretching southeast and the city center, while the right side faces north toward less dramatic terrain. The Glarus Alps and Lake Zurich are the standout features from the left. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich (Zürichsee), Zurich city center and old town, Glarus Alps to the southeast, Lake Greifen (Greifensee) just east of the city.

When landing at Schwechat (VIE), sit on the Left side for the best views. Vienna Schwechat typically lands from the west on runway 29, meaning the aircraft approaches from the west-southwest. A left-side seat on approach gives a clear view over the Danube River, Vienna's historic city center, and the Prater district. The right side faces south toward flat agricultural land with little of interest. Notable sights include: Danube River and Danube Canal, Vienna historic center and Ringstrasse, Prater park and Riesenrad area, Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) on the western horizon.

The flight from Zurich (ZRH) to Schwechat (VIE) takes Approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes.

The flight crosses the Austrian Alps briefly near Innsbruck/Salzburg corridor, then traverses the flat Bavarian and Upper Austrian plains. The Inn River valley and Salzburg may be faintly visible depending on routing. Much of the cruise is over the flat agricultural Danube basin of Upper Austria.