LHR to IST: which side of the plane should you sit on?
London (LHR) to Istanbul (IST) is a 2,487 km (1,546 mi), roughly 3h 26m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LHR to IST departures the sun favors the right side — sit on the left (an A seat) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Both |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are fairly even, so let shade decide. The left side is the better pick for sun on this eastbound flight.
You do not get a clear view winner on this route. The left side is the shade side, so that is the safer pick overall. Views are mixed, with a few early landmarks on the left and a stronger run of scenery later on the right.
Takeoff
Soon after takeoff, depending on the runway in use, you can catch London close in on the left as you climb. A little later, Brighton and Hove and Beachy Head sit off the right, with Portsmouth farther right as well.
En route
- 27m in← LeftAntwerp
About half an hour in, Antwerp sits off the left, a compact city shape in the lowlands.
- 43m in← LeftEifel
A bit later, the Eifel stays on the left as a broad low range, with Signal de Botrange and Laacher See nearby in the same stretch.
- 1h 17m inRight →Zugspitze
Around an hour and 15 minutes in, Zugspitze comes up on the right, then Hoher Dachstein follows on the right a few minutes later.
- 1h 57m in← LeftLake Balaton
Just before two hours in, Lake Balaton appears on the left as a long, pale water shape.
- 2h 57m inRight →Balkan Mountains
Later on, the Balkan Mountains sit on the right, a final ridge line before descent.
Landing
On descent, depending on the runway in use, the Bosporus Strait is on the left while Istanbul, the Bosphorus Bridge, and the Princes' Islands fall to the right. That gives the right side the cleaner arrival view.
Sides and timings are computed from this route’s geometry. What you actually see depends on weather, air-traffic routing, and the runway in use on the day.
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from LHR to IST?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the right side of the aircraft, so the left side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose an A seat.
Which side has the sunset views on LHR to IST flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from LHR to IST?
The great-circle distance is 2,487 km (1,546 mi), which works out to roughly 3h 26m in the air on this eastbound routing. Winds and routing move the real block time around that estimate.
Does the date or departure time change the answer?
Yes — that is why the table shows both. The sun's path shifts with the season, and a morning departure can put the glare on the opposite side compared to an evening one. For a specific flight, the calculator samples the sun along the whole route for your exact date and time.
Which side should I sit on for LHR to IST?
Pick the left side for shade. Views are mixed on this route, so the sun call is the clearer choice.
What do you see near landing into Istanbul?
Near landing, the Bosporus Strait is on the left. Istanbul, the Bosphorus Bridge, and the Princes' Islands are on the right.