Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and also the capital of Turkey. Istanbul is like a bridge connecting Europe and Asia. Istanbul is a rich city in terms of history and culture, and has been ruled by different civilizations over the years.
It also attracts many tourists with its historical sites, museums, art galleries, parks, and beaches. Istanbul is also important as Turkey’s economic, commercial, and cultural center.
Short information: If you have a travel plan to Istanbul, you must definitely check out our list of Places to Visit in Istanbul.
The History of Istanbul
Istanbul has a history dating back to 6500 BC. Istanbul was first founded by the Byzantine Empire and later ruled by the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire chose Istanbul as its capital, and Istanbul became the capital of the Ottoman Empire when it was conquered by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1453.
Istanbul later became the most important cultural, economic, and commercial center of the Ottoman Empire. It is also one of the world’s oldest and largest metropolises, famous for its historical sites, museums, and Ottoman artifacts.
Where is Istanbul located?
Istanbul, which is a junction of Asia and Europe and is part of both continents, is located in the Marmara Region. The neighboring cities of Istanbul are Kocaeli and Tekirdağ.
There is the Black Sea to the north of Istanbul and the Marmara Sea to the south. Istanbul does not have many neighboring cities. Istanbul is only a neighbor to Kocaeli in the east and Tekirdağ in the west. In addition, Istanbul has borders with both the Marmara and Black Seas.
How many districts does Istanbul have?
Istanbul, which has a population of 15,462,452, has a total of 39 districts.
Zeytinburnu, Uskudar, Umraniye, Tuzla, Sultangazi, Sultanbeyli, Sisli, Silivri, Sile, Sariyer, Sancaktepe, Pendik, Maltepe, Kucukcekmece, Kartal, Kagithane, Kadikoy, Gungoren, Gaziosmanpasa, Fatih, Eyup Sultan, Esenyurt, Esenler, Cekmekoy, Catalca, Buyukcekmece, Beyoglu, Beylikduzu, Beykoz, Besiktas, Bayrampasa, Basaksehir, Bakirkoy, Bahcelievler, Bagcilar, Avcilar, Atasehir, Arnavutkoy, Adalar.
Where is Istanbul?
Located at the intersection of Asia and Europe and part of both continents, Istanbul is situated in the Marmara Region. The neighboring provinces to Istanbul are Kocaeli and Tekirdağ. The city is surrounded by the Black Sea to the north and the Marmara Sea to the south.
Istanbul does not share a border with many other provinces. It is only adjacent to Kocaeli on the east and Tekirdağ on the west. Additionally, Istanbul has a coastline on both the Marmara and Black Seas.
What is the Population of Istanbul?
As the city with the highest population density in Turkey, Istanbul ranks first with a total population of 15,462,452. Of this population, 7,711,616 are women and 7,750,836 are men.
In terms of area, Istanbul covers 5,461 square kilometers, with a population density of 2,982 people per square kilometer. According to the 2021 census, the total population of Istanbul is estimated to be 15,840,900.
The population of Istanbul has been growing rapidly compared to previous years. 50.08% of the population is male, while 49.92% is female. The population of Istanbul has increased by 2.45% (378,448) compared to previous years.
How to get to Istanbul?
You can choose air, road, sea, and rail transportation to get to Istanbul. You can travel to Istanbul from any city in Turkey by road, sea, air, and rail. If you love a fun and long journey, you can choose road, sea, and rail transportation. If you prefer a fast and easy journey, you can choose air transportation.
How to Get to Istanbul by Private Vehicle?
Traveling by private vehicle is always a fun and comfortable journey. Traveling from one place to another by a private vehicle while sightseeing is always a fun and enjoyable journey.
If you want to travel from Ankara to Istanbul by your private vehicle, you can use the Kuzey Marmara Highway, O-7 Highway, Anadolu Highway, and O-4 Highway. The journey from Ankara to Istanbul takes a total of 4 hours and 40 minutes.
If you want to travel from Izmir to Istanbul by your private vehicle, you can use the Istanbul-Izmir Highway, D300, and E96 highways. The journey from Izmir to Istanbul takes a total of 4 to 4.5 hours.
How to Get to Istanbul by Bus?
People who do not have a private vehicle generally prefer buses. Bus travel is the choice of both those who love long journeys and those who love to travel while sightseeing. Traveling by bus is also quite enjoyable and fun outside of private vehicles.
If you want to travel from Ankara to Istanbul by bus, you can take the buses coming from Ankara AŞTİ to Istanbul and get off at Alibeyköy or Esenler bus stations. You can cover the 517 km journey from Ankara to Istanbul in approximately 4 hours and 59 minutes.
If you want to travel from Izmir to Istanbul by bus, you can board at the Izmir Intercity Bus Terminal and get off at Alibeyköy or Esenler bus station. You can cover the 525 km journey from Izmir to Istanbul in approximately 7 hours and 25 minutes.
How to Travel to Istanbul by Plane?
Air travel has always been a fast and convenient way of traveling. People who do not like long journeys or prefer not to travel by bus often prefer to travel by plane. Air travel has always been both a fast and practical way of traveling.
If you want to travel from Ankara to Istanbul by plane, you can board a plane from Ankara Esenboğa Airport and land at Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul. The total travel time from Ankara to Istanbul by plane is 1 hour and 5 minutes.
If you want to travel from Izmir to Istanbul by plane, you can board a plane from Adnan Menderes Airport in Izmir and land at Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul. The total travel time from Izmir to Istanbul by plane is 1 hour and 15 minutes.
How to Travel to Istanbul by Train?
Many people enjoy traveling by train. Most people prefer to travel by train instead of using a private car, bus, or plane. Train travel is also quite enjoyable and fun.
If you want to travel from Ankara to Istanbul by train, you need to take the Ankara-Istanbul High-Speed Train. When you board the train from Ankara, you can reach Istanbul via Eryaman, Polatlı, Eskişehir, Bozüyük, Bilecik, Arifiye, İzmit, Gebze, Pendik, Bostancı, Söğütlüçeşme, Bakırköy, and Pendik in a total of 4 hours and 20 minutes.
If you want to travel from Izmir to Istanbul by train, you need to take the Izmir-Istanbul High-Speed Train. The train journey from Izmir to Istanbul will take approximately 4 hours.
What is the Transportation Like in Istanbul?
If you want to travel within Istanbul, you can use public buses, minibusses, and taxis. Istanbul has a dense traffic due to being a metropolis and having a crowded population. Although minibusses do not go everywhere in Istanbul, public buses go everywhere.
If you want to go to your destination by public bus in Istanbul, you need to get on the bus belonging to the line of your destination. Although taxis are known to be a fast way to travel, they are not considered very fast due to the heavy traffic in Istanbul.
When to Go to Istanbul?
If you are considering traveling to Istanbul, it is better to choose the summer or spring months. Istanbul is mostly preferred in the summer and spring months due to the festivals held during these seasons.
Festivals You Can Participate in Istanbul:
Istanbul International Dance Festival, Istanbul Book Fair, Istanbul Design Biennial, International Istanbul Poetry and Literature Festival, Shopping Fest, Istanbul Jazz Festival, International Music Festival, Filmekimi, Istanbul Film Festival.
What to Eat in Istanbul?
There are many places to eat in Istanbul. Some of the places you can choose from include:
Vefa Bozacısı, Madre Street Food & Bar, Basta Street Food & Bar, Kumrucu Zeki Usta, Kanlıca İsmailağa Cafe, Valonia Cafe, The House Granola, The House Cafe, Nalia Karadeniz Mutfağı, Van Kahvaltı Evi.
We hope that our article on “Where is Istanbul, How to Get to Istanbul?” has been somewhat helpful to your questions. Don’t forget to check out our other articles about Istanbul. 🙂
