Originally Posted by
lsquare
Does it matter whether I sit on the left or right side of the plane?
It depends on the wind. In winter, the winds can vary. Check wind conditions on windguru and/or flight paths on FR24. That can obviously change around sunrise/sunset and at other times during the day.
Normal traffic pattern - you approach to land from the south, and you get nicer views from the right side of the plane (though the left side isn't all that bad either, depending on where you're coming from). Of course, the best view is from the cockpit

but the pilots are busy working with a heavy crosswind, so they don't have time to pay attention.
On takeoff north - you get a great view of Oriente and that area. If your flight is heading south or west (Africa, S. America, N. America), then you get a great view of the city as the plane makes a right turn over the river.
Southerly wind traffic pattern - you approach to land from the north and then you get no view. On takeoff you get an awesome view from the left side of the window as you take off. The right side is not bad, but nothing to write home about.