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BGY → SAW
Which side of the plane to sit from Il Caravaggio International Airport (Bergamo) to Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (Istanbul)?
Left Side of the Plane
The Left Side offers a superior experience, combining the dramatic Orobic Alps at takeoff with a high probability of seeing the Bosphorus and European Istanbul during the final approach into Sabiha Gökçen.
Orobic Alps
Immediate views of the snow-capped Italian Alpine foothills surrounding Bergamo shortly after departure.
Venetian Lagoon
Clear views of the northern Adriatic coastline and the intricate networks of the Venetian islands from high altitude.
Balkan Interior
Rugged mountain ranges stretching across Serbia and Bulgaria, featuring deep river valleys and dense forests.
Black Sea Coastline
The flight often tracks the northern Turkish coast, offering views of the deep blue waters meeting the Thracian hills.
Bosphorus Strait
If the flight approaches from the north, passengers get a breathtaking view of the bridge-connected continents.
Choose a window seat forward of the wing for unobstructed views of the Alps. For morning flights, the sun is on the right, making the left side better for photography without glare. During the final 20 minutes, watch for the historic European side of Istanbul as the plane turns toward SAW.
Po Valley
The vast, fertile plains of Northern Italy and the distant silhouette of the Apennine Mountains.
Dalmatian Coast
Spectacular views of the Croatian archipelago with hundreds of islands scattered in the turquoise Adriatic.
Belgrade
Potential sightings of the Serbian capital where the Danube and Sava rivers meet, depending on the specific airway.
Sea of Marmara
A high-traffic maritime corridor filled with massive cargo ships waiting to enter the Bosphorus.
Princes' Islands
A beautiful cluster of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara seen during the final descent into Sabiha Gökçen.
The right side is excellent for afternoon flights to catch the sunset over the Adriatic. Keep a close eye out for the Croatian coastline about 45-60 minutes into the flight. On the approach to SAW, the right side often looks directly down onto the Asian side's dense urban sprawl and the Princes' Islands.
Distance: 1,668 km (1,036 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 2 hrs 13 min
Departure: BGY (45.673901, 9.70417)
Arrival: SAW (40.898601532, 29.3092002869)
Route Type: International
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