Istanbul is the largest and most populous city in Turkey. It is located northwest of Turkey and adjacent to the Sea of Marmara, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.
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This city is at 41 degrees north latitude and 28 degrees east longitude. It has an area of 1539 square kilometers, and about 18 million people lived in it in 2024.
According to the information I obtained, about 16 million tourists have traveled to Istanbul in 2022 and about 20 million people in 2023, which is very significant.
One significant factor that encouraged me to travel to Istanbul was the high number of tourists who visit this city every year. For this reason, I also decided to travel to this city, understand everything about it closely, and prepare different reports about it.
A city that is both in Asia and Europe
You may be shocked to see the title, but this is true! Istanbul is a city located half in Europe and half in Asia.
Istanbul is divided into two parts, European and Asian, by the Bosphorus Strait, which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea. The western part of the city is located in the Thrace Peninsula (Europe), and its eastern part is located in the Anatolian Peninsula (Asia).
The Asian and European parts of Istanbul are completely different in terms of natural attractions, building architecture, culture, shopping centers, etc., so when I entered the Asian part from the European part, it was as if I had entered another city.
To learn more about this topic, read the article “Is Istanbul in Europe or Asia.”
It may be a little hard to imagine, but you have to stand in the Asian part next to the Bosphorus Bridge and see the Golden Horn, which divides the European part into two parts, to realize how special this city is compared to other cities worldwide.
History of Istanbul
Istanbul was the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires in the past, and for this reason, it had different names, such as Constantinople, Byzantium, and Istambul.
From the Byzantine to the Ottoman eras, this city built many historical buildings, mosques, palaces, and museums, which created a rich cultural heritage.
This city has seen many wars from the past until today. According to information from Wikipedia, the last war in Istanbul dates back to the 19th decade when the Republic of Turkey was established by Atatürk, and from that date on, Istanbul was not the capital of Turkey. If you are interested in the history of Istanbul, I suggest you read the article “Why Is Istanbul Not The Capital Of Turkey?”
Tips you should know before traveling to Istanbul
Historical places: Hagia Sophia Mosque, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Galata Tower
- Important areas of Istanbul: Sultanahmet, Fatih, Besiktas, Uskudar
- Activities: sightseeing in the Grand Bazaar, boating in the Bosphorus, Turkish bath, tasting Turkish food
- Time zone: UTC+3 (EET)
- Language: Istanbul Turkish
- Currency: Turkish lira (TRY)
- Climate: Mediterranean with hot and dry summers and mild and rainy winters
At the end of the line
If I want to say where Istanbul is with details, it should be a 100-page book! Therefore, I introduced Istanbul in general in this article. If you plan to travel to this city, read the other articles on the Travelling Topic site to learn more about this city and Turkey.
