Paris to Istanbul: which side to sit for the view
A window-seat guide for the Paris – Istanbul flight: where the sun is, which side sees the sunset, and what you can spot along the way.
Quick answer
In daylight the sun is mostly on the right side, so the left side has less glare and a clearer view of the ground.
Sunsets are usually seen from the right side.
Sunrises are usually seen from the left side.
Left = window seat A. Right = the last letter in the row (F on most single-aisle jets, K or L on wide-bodies).
Sun by departure time
Calculated for a departure at the local time shown, in mid-January and mid-July, along the shortest (great-circle) route. +2:10 means 2 h 10 min after takeoff.
| Departure | January | July |
|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | Sun on the rightSunrise ahead · +1:01 | Sun on the left |
| 12:00 | Sun on the right | Sun on the right |
| 17:00 | Sun on the rightSunset on the right · +0:10 | Sun on the rightSunset behind · +2:47 |
| 22:00 | Dark the whole way | Dark the whole way |
What you can see on the way
Landmarks close to the shortest route and the side they appear on. Real flight paths change with winds and air traffic control, so treat this as a guide.
- Lake Constanceon the right · +0:46
- The Zugspitzebelow · +0:56
- Belgradeon the left · +2:03