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VIE → SAW
Which side of the plane to sit from Vienna International Airport (Vienna) to Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (Istanbul)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers a superior view of Budapest's historic architecture and the scenic transition from the Black Sea to the Bosphorus during the SAW approach.
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Vienna Basin
Lush wetlands of the Donau-Auen National Park immediately after takeoff.
Budapest Skyline
Iconic views of the Parliament Building and the bridges spanning the Danube river.
Transylvanian Alps
Distant views of the rugged Southern Carpathian mountain range in Romania.
Black Sea Coast
The dramatic meeting point of the Balkan mountains and the deep blue sea.
Northern Bosphorus
The northernmost bridge connecting Europe and Asia seen during the final descent.
Book an 'A' seat for morning flights to keep the sun behind you. Budapest appears approximately 25 minutes after departure. On the final approach to SAW, the left side usually glimpses the Black Sea and the northern Bosphorus forests before turning inland toward the runway.
Get eSIMs for Austria
Get eSIMs for TurkeyAustrian Alps
The easternmost reaches of the snow-capped Alps visible shortly after leaving Vienna.
Lake Balaton
The vast, shallow turquoise waters of Central Europe's largest lake in Hungary.
Belgrade
The Serbian capital situated at the meeting of the Danube and Sava rivers.
Balkan Mountains
The high ridges and deep valleys of the Stara Planina range in Bulgaria.
Princes' Islands
A group of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara visible just before touchdown.
Choose an 'F' seat for late afternoon flights to witness the sunset over the Balkan interior. Look out for Belgrade roughly halfway through the flight. During the final approach to SAW, the plane often banks over the Sea of Marmara, offering clear views of the islands and the Asian side's coastline.
Book Hotels in IstanbulDistance: 1,287 km (800 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 43 min
Departure: VIE (48.110298156738, 16.569700241089002)
Arrival: SAW (40.898601532, 29.3092002869)
Route Type: International
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