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ORY → SAW
Which side of the plane to sit from Paris-Orly Airport (Paris) to Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (Istanbul)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side offers a superior panorama of the high Alps, the winding Adriatic coastline of Croatia, and a stunning descent over the Sea of Marmara and the Princes' Islands before landing on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Central Alpine Peaks
Spectacular views of the highest snow-capped peaks in Europe, often passing near the Matterhorn or Mont Blanc massifs.
Dalmatian Coast
Stunning vistas of the turquoise Adriatic Sea and the thousands of islands along the Croatian coastline.
Dinaric Alps
The rugged, limestone mountain ranges of Montenegro and Albania provide a dramatic landscape transition.
Historical Peninsula
On clear days, see the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque in the distance as you cross the Marmara Sea.
Princes' Islands
A perfect view of the forested island cluster in the Sea of Marmara just minutes before touchdown.
Sea of Marmara
Watch the heavy maritime traffic of cargo ships waiting to enter the Bosphorus Strait below.
The right side is iconic for the 'Istanbul arrival.' To see the city lights and the Princes' Islands, book an afternoon flight when the sun is behind the plane. Be aware that winter flights may encounter heavy cloud cover over the Balkans.
Paris Suburbs
View the dense southern urban sprawl of the Ile-de-France region immediately after takeoff from Orly.
Northern Alps
Glance at the northern ridges of the Swiss and Austrian Alps, including views of Lake Geneva if the flight path stays north.
Danube River Basin
Spot the winding segments of the Danube as the aircraft traverses Central Europe towards the Balkans.
Black Sea Coastline
As you approach Istanbul from the northwest, the vast expanse of the Black Sea becomes visible on the horizon.
The Bosphorus
During the final descent, catch a glimpse of the northern bridges connecting Europe and Asia.
Sit on the left for morning flights to avoid direct sunlight and get the best lighting for photography of the Alps. This side is also better for spotting the northern reaches of the Bosphorus during the final approach to SAW.
Distance: 2,280 km (1,417 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 3 hrs 2 min
Departure: ORY (48.7233333, 2.3794444)
Arrival: SAW (40.898601532, 29.3092002869)
Route Type: International
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