DIY → IST

Tigris River & Hevsel Gardens

Immediately after takeoff from Diyarbakir, view the ancient Tigris river and the UNESCO-listed fertile gardens below the city walls.

Mount Erciyes

Mid-flight, look for the towering snow-capped peak of this dormant stratovolcano near Kayseri rising above the clouds.

Tuz Gölü (Salt Lake)

Observe the vast, shimmering white surface of Turkey's second-largest lake, which often turns pink during the summer months.

Istanbul Historic Peninsula

On many approach paths, you can spot the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace where the Bosphorus meets the Marmara Sea.

Princes' Islands

A cluster of islands in the Sea of Marmara visible during the descent into the Istanbul region.

Euphrates River Reservoirs

View the massive blue expanses of the Karakaya and Atatürk Dam reservoirs as you cross the mountainous Eastern Anatolia.

Pontic Mountains

The rugged, green-covered North Anatolian mountains provide a dramatic backdrop as you head toward the Black Sea region.

Black Sea Coastline

As the flight nears Istanbul, you will see the deep blue of the Black Sea meeting the rocky northern coast of Turkey.

Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge

The third and northernmost Bosphorus bridge is often visible as the plane aligns with the northern runways of IST.

Belgrade Forest

The dense green canopy of Istanbul's northern forests is a primary feature just before touchdown at Istanbul Airport.