Is Istanbul In Europe Or Asia?
This article is suitable for people looking for scientific research or who want to plan their trip to Istanbul.
If you need to learn about Istanbul’s location and the importance of its unique location during its history, read this article until the end.
Before my trip to Istanbul, I had read many books about its history and location. I understood that Istanbul is divided by the Bosphorus into two Asian and European parts, and for this reason, it can be said that Istanbul is simultaneously located in Europe and Asia.
I wanted to see what I read in the books up close, so I travelled to Istanbul to learn more about this city.
In the rest of the article, I will share all the experiences I gained from visiting this city so that you, like me, can completely get to know this historical city.
Is Istanbul in Europe or Asia?
Table of Contents
The Bosphorus Strait, which connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, has divided Istanbul into two parts and is the main reason for Istanbul’s location in Europe and Asia.
You must stand by the Golden Horn and watch the sunset to understand the beauty and importance of this city. While there, I saw many ships passing through this strait to transport themselves from Europe to Asia. In the past, this strait was one of the most important routes for traders who wanted to trade between Asia and Europe.
The influence of Istanbul’s location on people’s culture
Centuries ago, the Byzantines ruled Turkey and Istanbul, and since they were Europeans, they spread the Christian religion and European culture in Istanbul. After many years, people from Asia destroyed the Byzantine Empire, took over Turkey and Istanbul’s government, and established the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans were Muslim people, and for this reason, they imposed the Islamic religion and Asian culture on the people of Istanbul. From that date until today, the people of this city are Muslim.
Istanbul’s location in Asia and Europe made it weak against enemy attacks. Attacking and ruling the city made it easy to change the culture and religion of the people. For this reason, when Atatürk established the Republic of Turkey, he changed the capital from Istanbul to Ankara so that the enemies could not easily attack the Turkish capital and dominate the whole of Turkey.
For more information about this topic, read the article “Why Is Istanbul Not The Capital Of Turkey?”
Is the European part of Istanbul more important or the Asian part?
When I was walking on the European side, I saw many old buildings, such as Topkapi and Delmabaghche palaces. I realized that the European side was more important for the Ottoman kings in the past, and that’s why they built most of their palaces on this side.
Even today, the European side of the city has a larger population, and most tourists who travel to Istanbul visit this side more. There are more job opportunities on the European side than the Asian side, and most people living in Istanbul work on the European side.
The Asian side of the city is less crowded and attracts fewer tourists than the European part. Unlike the many towers built in the European part, the height of the houses on the Asian side is lower. Based on my experience, the main city centre is Taksim Square on the European side, but most of the population lives in Asia.
Both sides of this city have played different roles in people’s lives throughout history. The Asian side was the starting point for trade, and the European side has seen many wars. The story of this city is different from any other city in the world, and you will not be able to fully understand what I am talking about until you travel there.
In essence
Istanbul is a bridge between Europe and Asia that connects the two continents by different bridges such as the Bosphorus Bridge. This city has many surprises and I suggest you to travel there to see for yourself the things I said in this article.
If you are planning to visit this city, I suggest you to read the following articles:
But if you don’t plan to travel to Istanbul and want to research about this city, the following articles are more suitable for you and can guide you:
