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ARN → IST
Which side of the plane to sit from Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (Stockholm) to Istanbul Airport (Istanbul)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers a superior perspective of the Stockholm Archipelago at departure and provides the highest probability of seeing the Bosphorus and the Black Sea coastline during the descent into Istanbul.
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Stockholm Archipelago
Thousands of granite islands and forested islets visible immediately after takeoff from Arlanda.
Gotland and Baltic Sea
Aerial views of Sweden's largest island and the deep blue expanse of the central Baltic.
Gdansk Bay
The historic Polish coastline and the Hel Peninsula stretching into the sea.
Eastern Carpathian Mountains
The rugged, forested ridges of the Romanian mountains as the flight heads south.
Bucharest
The expansive urban grid of the Romanian capital, including the massive Palace of the Parliament.
Bosphorus Strait
On clear days during northern approaches, the iconic waterway connecting Europe and Asia is visible.
Secure a window seat on the left for the best sunrise views on morning flights. During the descent into Istanbul, keep your camera ready for the Black Sea coastline. If the flight path approaches IST from the east, you will get an unparalleled view of the bridges spanning the Bosphorus.
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Södermanland Forests
The lush green interior of southern Sweden and the various lakes dotting the landscape.
Warsaw Skyline
A distant view of Poland's capital, marked by its mixture of historic and modern skyscrapers.
Tatra Mountains
The highest range in the Carpathians, often snow-capped, forming the border of Poland and Slovakia.
Danube River
The winding blue ribbon of Europe's second-longest river as it snakes through Hungary and Bulgaria.
Balkan Mountains
The dramatic ridges of the Stara Planina range stretching across central Bulgaria.
Istanbul Airport Complex
A massive aerial perspective of one of the world's largest airport terminals during the final approach.
The right side is perfect for evening flights to catch the sunset over continental Europe. It offers a more consistent view of the high mountain peaks like the Tatras. Be aware that midday flights may suffer from direct sun glare on this side.
Book Hotels in IstanbulDistance: 2,176 km (1,352 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 2 hrs 54 min
Departure: ARN (59.65190124511699, 17.918600082397)
Arrival: IST (41.275278, 28.751944)
Route Type: International
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