Istanbul

cities · Turkey · two continents

Two continents at once. Istanbul is split by the Bosphorus, a famous waterway that divides Europe from Asia. About two-thirds of the city's people live on the European side, while the rest live on the Asian side.

Huge population. Over 15 million people live in Istanbul, making it one of the biggest cities in the whole world. That's almost one out of every five people in all of Turkey!

Super busy waterway. The Bosphorus is one of the world's busiest shipping routes, with boats constantly traveling between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Ships pass through carrying goods from all over the world.

Cultural heart of Turkey. Istanbul is the economic, cultural, and historical center of Turkey, meaning it's the most important city for money, art, and history in the entire country.