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VCE β IST
Which side of the plane to sit from Venice Marco Polo Airport (Venice) to Istanbul Airport (Istanbul)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side offers a spectacular vantage point over the Dalmatian Coast, the rugged Balkan mountain ranges, and the iconic approach into the Bosphorus region.
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Dalmatian Archipelago
An incredible view of the thousands of limestone islands dotting the Croatian coast, including Hvar and BraΔ.
Dubrovnik and Montenegro
The walled city of Dubrovnik and the dramatic, fjord-like Bay of Kotor visible along the coastline.
Dinaric Alps
The rugged karst topography of the Balkans, featuring deep canyons and limestone plateaus.
Bosphorus Bridges
On the final approach to IST, you can often see the bridges connecting Europe and Asia and the dense urban sprawl of Istanbul.
The right side is superior for maritime scenery. To avoid harsh sun glare over the Adriatic, choose an afternoon flight when the sun is behind the aircraft. Keep a camera ready about 20-30 minutes after takeoff for the most dense island views near Split and Zadar.
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Venice Historic Center
Aerial views of the Piazza San Marco and the winding Grand Canal immediately after departure from VCE.
Julian Alps
To the north, the snow-capped peaks of the Italian and Slovenian Alps are visible on clear days.
Sofia Metropolitan Area
The capital of Bulgaria and the surrounding Vitosha Mountain range during the mid-flight cruise.
Black Sea Coastline
As the plane descends towards Istanbul, the vast northern coastline of Turkey meets the deep blue Black Sea.
Sit on the left for the best chance to see the city of Venice during a standard eastbound takeoff. For photography, morning flights provide softer light on the European landmass, while evening flights may suffer from glare when looking north toward the Alps.
Get eSIMs for Italy
Get eSIMs for TurkeyDistance: 1,403 km (872 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 52 min
Departure: VCE (45.505299, 12.3519)
Arrival: IST (41.275278, 28.751944)
Route Type: International
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