Istanbul

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and plays a key role in the country's economy, culture, and history. With over 15 million people, it is one of the biggest cities in Europe and the world. The city sits on two continents—about two-thirds in Europe and the rest in Asia—spanning the Bosphorus, a very busy waterway between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea.

Istanbul has a rich history, developing from the ancient city of Byzantium, later known as Constantinople. Over nearly 16 centuries, it served as the capital of four major empires: the Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, the Latin Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. Even though Turkey's capital is now Ankara, Istanbul still holds many important historic sites, including palaces and mosques, and its old center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today, Istanbul is a busy global city. It is a major economic center, helping drive about thirty percent of Turkey's economy. The city is also very popular with visitors, ranking as the second most visited city in the world. Istanbul has many universities, airports, and ports, and it is known for its sports teams like Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş. However, the city faces challenges because of its closeness to the North Anatolian Fault, making it vulnerable to earthquakes.

Names

Main article: Names of Istanbul

The city now called Istanbul has had many names throughout history. The first known name was Byzantium, given by ancient settlers around 657 BCE. Later, after the Roman emperor Constantine refounded the city in 324 CE, it was named Constantinople, meaning "Constantine's City." Over time, especially during the Ottoman rule, the city became commonly known as Istanbul. The name Istanbul is believed to come from a Greek phrase meaning "to the city," reflecting its importance as the main city in the area. Today, people from Istanbul are called İstanbullu in Turkish.

History

Main article: History of Istanbul

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Istanbul history.

Istanbul's history goes back thousands of years. Early settlements were found on the city's historic peninsula as far back as the 6th millennium BCE. These early people helped spread important changes from the Near East to Europe. The first settlement on the Asian side dates back to the Copper Age, between 5500 and 3500 BCE. On the European side, near the point of the peninsula, there was a settlement during the early 1st millennium BCE.

The city's history truly began around 660 BCE, when Greek settlers from Megara established Byzantium on the European side of the Bosporus. The city grew and changed hands many times over the centuries. It was ruled by Persians, Greeks, and later became part of the Roman Empire in 73 CE. After a difficult time during a siege in 195 CE, the city was rebuilt and continued to grow.

Byzantine era

Constantine the Great made the city the capital of the Roman Empire in 330 CE, renaming it Constantinople. It became a major center for Greek culture and Christianity. Many important churches were built, including Hagia Sophia, which was the world's largest cathedral for a thousand years. The city was protected by strong walls and became very wealthy and important during the Middle Ages.

Ottoman Empire

In 1453, the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II captured Constantinople and made it the new capital of the Ottoman Empire. He brought people from many places to repopulate the city and started many building projects, including a huge new palace, the Grand Bazaar, and many mosques. The city became a mix of different cultures and peoples.

Later Ottoman rulers continued to build and improve the city. During the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 1500s, great artists and architects worked in Istanbul. The city grew and changed with new bridges, modern facilities, and transportation.

Turkish Republic

In 1923, the Turkish Republic was established, and the capital was moved to Ankara. The city's name was officially changed from Constantinople to Istanbul in 1930. Over the following decades, Istanbul grew rapidly as people moved there from other parts of Turkey looking for jobs. New roads, bridges, and public transportation were built to support the growing city. Today, Istanbul remains a major center of culture, history, and business in Turkey.

Geography and environment

Further information: Geography of Turkey and Geology of Turkey

Istanbul is located in north-western Turkey and spans across the Bosporus Strait, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. This special position has made the city important for trade and defense throughout history. The city also includes several beautiful islands such as Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada, Kınalıada, and five smaller islands. Over time, the city's shoreline has expanded, and parts of Caddebostan are built on areas that were once underwater, making the city larger than it naturally was.

Istanbul sits on more than 50 hills, with its highest hill, Aydos, reaching 537 meters tall.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Istanbul

Istanbul has a mild climate influenced by its location near the sea. Summers are warm, with temperatures around 28 °C, while winters are cool, ranging from 5 to 10 °C. The city gets more rain in winter than in summer, and snow sometimes falls, which can cause problems for the city.

Flora and fauna

The natural plants around Istanbul include trees like chestnut, oak, and elm, along with bushes such as laurel and broom. The city's waters are home to many types of fish and dolphins, although some species have become rare due to pollution and overfishing. Istanbul also has many stray cats, which are well-known symbols of the city.

Pollution

Air pollution in Turkey is acute in İstanbul with cars, buses and taxis causing frequent urban smog.

Cityscape

See also: Historic Areas of Istanbul and List of urban centers in Istanbul

Districts and neighborhoods

Rumeli, meaning "Rumelia," is a local name for the European side of Istanbul.

The Fatih district, named after Mehmed II, makes up what was once all of Constantinople before the Ottoman conquest. Today, it is called the historic peninsula of Istanbul on the southern shore of the Golden Horn, across from the medieval Genoese citadel of Galata on the northern shore. The Genoese buildings in Galata were mostly torn down in the 1800s, leaving only the Galata Tower. Galata (Karaköy) is now a part of the Beyoğlu district, which is Istanbul's main shopping and entertainment area and includes İstiklal Avenue and Taksim Square.

Dolmabahçe Palace, where leaders worked during the later Ottoman times, is in the Beşiktaş district on the European side of the Bosporus, north of Beyoğlu. The old village of Ortaköy is in Beşiktaş and is known for the Ortaköy Mosque on the Bosporus, near the Bosporus Bridge. Along both sides of the Bosporus are beautiful summer homes called yalıs that Ottoman leaders built. North of Taksim Square is the Istanbul Central Business District, filled with offices, homes, shops, and schools, including over 2,000,000 m² (22,000,000 sq ft) of office space. Maslak, Levent, and Bomonti are important parts of this business area.

The Atatürk Airport area is another busy place with over 900,000 m² (9,700,000 sq ft) of office space.

Asian side

During Ottoman times, Üsküdar and Kadıköy were quiet places with seaside homes and gardens. But in the late 1900s, the Asian side grew a lot. This part of the city was built later, so it has better roads and planning than many other areas. Much of the Asian side acts like a neighborhood away from the busy centers on the European side, holding a third of the city's people but only a quarter of its jobs. But places like Kozyatağı–Ataşehir, Altunizade, Kavacık and Ümraniye have become important business and shopping spots with tall buildings and lots of offices.

Expansion

Because Istanbul grew very fast in the 1900s, much of the city has buildings called gecekondus that were built quickly without permission. Now, some of these areas are being torn down and replaced with new homes. The government also plans to build more of the city to the west and north on the European side near the new Istanbul Airport, opened in 2019. These new parts will have homes for 1.5 million people.

A wide view of Istanbul from the south of the historical peninsula and above the Sea of Marmara. The Golden Horn and the Bosporus strait can be seen far away. Many business areas are also visible, such as Levent, Şişli and Maslak on the European side (near the center of the picture), and Ataşehir on the Asian side (on the right).

Parks

Istanbul does not have one big main park, but it has several green spaces. Gülhane Park and Yıldız Park were once part of two palaces – Topkapı Palace and Yıldız Palace – but they were turned into public parks in the early years of Turkey. Another park, Fethi Paşa Korusu, is on a hill next to the Bosphorus Bridge in Anatolia, across from Yıldız Palace in Europe.

Near the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge on the European side is Emirgan Park, which was called the Kyparades ('Cypress Forest') during Byzantine times. In the Ottoman period, it was given to different leaders. The 47-hectare (120-acre) park is famous for its many plants and holds a tulip festival every year since 2005.

The government's choice to replace Taksim Gezi Park with a copy of an old Ottoman building caused big protests across the country in 2013 about many different problems.

Popular in the summer is Belgrad Forest, covering 5,500 hectares (14,000 acres) at the north edge of the city. The forest once provided water to the city, and old water storage areas from Byzantine and Ottoman times can still be found there.

Architecture

See also: Architecture of Istanbul, Ottoman architecture, and Architecture of Turkey

Istanbul is famous for its Byzantine and Ottoman buildings, but its structures show the many peoples and empires that ruled the city. You can still see buildings from the Genoese and Romans along with Ottoman styles. Though nothing from the time of ancient Greece remains, Roman buildings have lasted better. Obelisks from the Hippodrome of Constantinople are still in Sultanahmet Square, and part of the Valens Aqueduct, built in the late 300s, stands almost whole at the west edge of Fatih district. The Column of Constantine, put up in 330 AD to mark the new Roman capital, is still standing not far from the Hippodrome.

Early Byzantine architecture used domes and arches like the Romans but improved them, as seen in the Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus. The oldest surviving Byzantine church in Istanbul, though now ruined, is the Monastery of Stoudios (later turned into the Imrahor Mosque), built in 454. After Constantinople was taken back in 1261, the Byzantines made two important churches bigger, the Chora Church and Pammakaristos Church. But the most famous Byzantine building, and one of Istanbul's most known landmarks, is the Hagia Sophia. With a dome 31 meters (102 ft) wide, the Hagia Sophia was the world's biggest cathedral for over 1,000 years, then became a mosque, and now is a museum.

Among the oldest surviving Ottoman architecture in Istanbul are the Anadoluhisarı and Rumelihisarı fortresses, built to help the Ottomans when they tried to capture the city. Over the next four hundred years, the Ottomans built many tall mosques and fancy palaces that shaped the city's look. The biggest palace, Topkapı, has many different styles, from Baroque inside the Harem to Neoclassical in the Enderûn Library. The main mosques include Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the Blue Mosque), Süleymaniye Mosque, and Yeni Mosque, all built when the Ottoman Empire was strongest, in the 1500s and 1600s. Later, especially after reforms called the Tanzimat, Ottoman buildings were replaced by European styles. Areas around İstiklal Avenue have big European embassies and rows of buildings in Neoclassical and Renaissance Revival styles, which also influenced buildings in Beyoğlu – including churches, shops, theaters – and important buildings such as Dolmabahçe Palace.

Government and politics

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is the main local government body for the city. Established in 1930, it handles public works, water, transportation, and cultural services. It employs over 80,000 people, making it a major employer in Turkey. The current structure of the city dates back to reforms in the 1800s.

District municipalities

Main articles: List of districts of Istanbul and List of neighbourhoods of Istanbul

District municipalities manage waste and construction within their areas. They work independently from the main city government and have their own budgets. Each neighborhood has a Muhtar, an elected official who helps citizens with government matters.

Civil administration

Civil administration in Istanbul refers to officials appointed by the central government. They handle local affairs for national agencies and coordinate public safety. The Vali oversees safety for the whole province, while the Kaymakam manages district-level tasks.

Politics

Istanbul is very important in Turkish politics. In recent years, the city has shifted away from the government's right-wing views. In 2019, Ekrem İmamoğlu won the mayoral election after a re-run, marking a change in leadership. This trend continued in 2024 when he was re-elected. Istanbul also sends many representatives to Turkey's parliament.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Istanbul

See also: Demographics of Turkey

Istanbul has been one of the world's biggest cities for a very long time. By the year 500 CE, Constantinople (an old name for Istanbul) had between 400,000 and 500,000 people, making it the largest city in the world at the time. It stayed among the biggest cities for many years, competing with places like Baghdad, Chang'an, Kaifeng and Merv.

Today, Istanbul is a huge city with over 15 million people. Most of these people live on the European side of the city. Istanbul is one of the largest cities in the world and has been growing quickly, especially in the last 50 years. Many people have moved to Istanbul from other parts of Turkey and from other countries.

Ethnic and religious groups

Main article: Religion in Istanbul

See also: Assyrians in Turkey, Kurds in Istanbul, Bosniaks in Turkey, Greeks in Turkey, Armenians in Turkey, Jews in Turkey, and Albanians in Turkey

Istanbul has had people from many different backgrounds living together for a long time. Today, most people in Istanbul are Turkish people. There are also many people from the Kurdish and Arab communities.

Most people in Istanbul follow the Sunni Muslim faith. There are also smaller groups of people who follow other religions, such as Christian and Jewish traditions.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Istanbul

Istanbul has a very important economy. In 2018, it had the eleventh-largest economy among world's cities. The city makes up a big part of Turkey's industry, money, and taxes. Many things are made and sold there, and the city is very good at creating wealth.

Istanbul is a key place for ships and trade because it sits on the Bosporus strait, which connects Europe and Asia. This narrow waterway is very busy with ships, including those carrying oil. The city has several big ports where ships load and unload goods. It is also a center for banking and money, with many banks and the country's only stock exchange. Tall buildings and modern offices show how busy the city is with money and business.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Istanbul

Istanbul was once a center for culture, but it slowed down when Turkey’s capital became Ankara. Later, Turkey focused more on European music and arts, mostly in Ankara.

But Istanbul still held much of Turkey’s culture. By the 1980s and 1990s, Istanbul became important again for culture, not just for its past.

By the late 1800s, Istanbul was a place where artists from Turkey, Europe, and the Middle East gathered. Even though Ankara tried to be Turkey’s cultural heart, Istanbul kept the main art institutions until the 1970s. In the 1980s, new schools and art magazines opened in Istanbul, and artists from Ankara moved there.

Beyoğlu became the arts part of the city. Young and older Turkish artists found places to work there. Modern art museums opened in the 2000s, such as İstanbul State Art and Sculpture Museum, National Palaces Painting Museum, İstanbul Modern, Pera Museum, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Arter, and SantralIstanbul. These added to the city’s mix of cultures. Older museums, like the Istanbul Archaeology Museums and the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, are still very popular.

The first movie shown in Turkey was at Yıldız Palace in 1896, just after movies started in Paris. Soon, movie theaters appeared in Beyoğlu, especially on İstiklal Avenue. Istanbul became where many Turkish movies were made, especially dramas and comedies. Turkish movies started winning awards around the world after films like Uzak (2002) and My Father and My Son (2005). Istanbul has also been where many famous foreign movies were filmed, such as From Russia with Love (1963), Topkapi (1964), The World Is Not Enough (1999), and Mission Istaanbul (2008).

The Istanbul Festival started in 1973, showing many kinds of art from Turkey and the world. From this came the International Istanbul Film Festival and the Istanbul Jazz Festival in the 1980s. The Istanbul Festival now focuses on music and dance and is called the Istanbul International Music Festival. The Istanbul Biennial started in 1987 and happens every two years. It began with Turkish art but now includes artists from all over the world.

Abdi İpekçi Street in Nişantaşı, the Galataport Shopping Area in Karaköy, and Bağdat Avenue are fancy shopping places. Other popular spots for shopping, fun, and entertainment are Nişantaşı, Ortaköy, Bebek, and Kadıköy. Istanbul has many shopping centers, both old and new. The city also has a lively nightlife and historic taverns, which have been part of the city for a very long time.

The Grand Bazaar has been operating since 1461 and is one of the oldest and biggest covered markets in the world. Mahmutpasha Bazaar is an open market between the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, which has been Istanbul’s main spice market since 1660.

Galleria Ataköy started modern shopping malls in Turkey when it opened in 1987. Since then, malls have become important shopping places outside the old part of the city. Akmerkez was called the best mall in Europe and the world in 1995 and 1996. Istanbul Cevahir is one of the biggest malls in Europe since 2005. Kanyon won an award in 2006. Zorlu Center and İstinye Park are also fancy malls with stores from top fashion brands around the world.

On İstiklal Avenue is the Çiçek Pasajı (‘Flower Passage’), a 19th-century shopping area that now has winehouses, pubs, and restaurants. İstiklal Avenue used to be known for its taverns but now is more for shopping. Nearby, Nevizade Street still has many winehouses and pubs. Some areas around İstiklal Avenue have changed to have pubs, cafes, and restaurants with live music.

Istanbul is famous for its historic seafood restaurants. Many popular and fancy seafood restaurants are along the Bosporus, in places like Ortaköy, Bebek, Arnavutköy, Yeniköy, Beylerbeyi, and Çengelköy. Kumkapı by the Sea of Marmara has a walking area with about fifty fish restaurants.

The Princes' Islands, about 15 kilometers from the city center, are popular for their seafood restaurants, old summer homes, and quiet streets without cars. People from Istanbul and tourists love to visit these islands.

Istanbul is also known for its fancy Ottoman dishes. After people moved to Istanbul from southeastern and eastern Turkey starting in the 1960s, the city’s food changed a lot. Now, foods like kebab from the Middle East are common.

Restaurants with foods from other countries are mostly in the Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, Şişli, and Kadıköy areas.

Besides many sports places and concert halls, Istanbul has open-air spots for concerts and festivals, like the Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre in Harbiye, Paraf Kuruçeşme Open-Air on the Bosphorus shore in Kuruçeşme, and Parkorman in the forest of Maslak. The Istanbul Jazz Festival happens every year since 1994. Rock'n Coke was a big rock music festival held between 2003 and 2013 at the Hezarfen Airfield in Istanbul.

The Istanbul International Music Festival has been held every year since 1973, and the International Istanbul Film Festival since 1982. The Istanbul Biennial is a modern art show held every two years since 1987. The Istanbul Shopping Fest is an annual shopping event since 2011, and Teknofest is a yearly festival about aviation, space, and technology since 2018.

Sports

See also: List of sport facilities in Istanbul

Istanbul is home to some of Turkey's oldest sports clubs. Beşiktaş J.K., started in 1903, is one of the oldest clubs. Galatasaray S.K. and Fenerbahçe S.K. have done well in international competitions and have won many titles. They have a long rivalry, with Galatasaray in the European part and Fenerbahçe in the Anatolian part of the city. Istanbul has many basketball teams that play in the top league.

Many of Istanbul's sports places were built or improved since 2000 to support the city's tries to host the Summer Olympic Games. Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Turkey's largest stadium, was finished in 2002. It hosted big games like the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final. Other stadiums like Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Türk Telekom Arena, and Beşiktaş Stadium have also been built or updated.

The Sinan Erdem Dome is one of Europe's largest indoor arenas. It has hosted important basketball and track events. Before this, Abdi İpekçi Arena was the main indoor place for events.

Istanbul has also been a place for car and motorcycle racing. The Istanbul Park circuit hosted the Formula One Turkish Grand Prix for several years. It has also been used for other racing events.

Media

Most state-run radio and television stations are based in Ankara, but Istanbul is the main center for Turkish media. The industry started in the old Ottoman capital, where the first Turkish newspaper, Takvim-i Vekayi (Calendar of Affairs), was published in 1831. The street where the newspaper was printed quickly became the center of Turkish print media.

Today, Istanbul has many different newspapers. Most of the country's top newspapers, like Hürriyet, Sabah, Posta, and Sözcü, are based in Istanbul. Istanbul is also home to long-running Armenian language newspapers, such as Marmara and Jamanak.

Istanbul has many radio stations. TRT-Children is the only children's television station based in Istanbul. The city is also home to popular television stations like Star TV and Show TV, which air Turkish and American series. Other stations such as Kanal D and ATV offer news and series, while NTV is known mainly for its news coverage. The BBC has a regional office in Istanbul, and CNN licensed its brand to the Turkish-language CNN Türk in 1999.

Education

Further information: Education in Turkey

In 2019, more than 3.1 million students went to school in Istanbul. Many of these schools were private. The city has many different types of schools, including public high schools, vocational schools, and special science schools. Some of the oldest and most famous schools date back many years.

Istanbul is also home to many universities. As of 2019, the city had 61 universities with over 1.8 million students. These include both public and private universities, as well as special schools for the military and arts. Some of the most well-known universities were founded many years ago and are famous for their quality education.

Public services

Main article: Utilities in Istanbul

Further information: Telecommunications in Turkey and Health care in Turkey

Istanbul has a long history of providing clean water. In the past, water was brought to the city through special structures called aqueducts and stored in large underground tanks called cisterns. Today, the city has modern systems to clean and manage its water, making sure people have safe drinking water and proper sewage treatment.

The city also has a strong system for electricity, phones, and internet. Over the years, Istanbul has grown to include many hospitals, both public and private, offering good quality care. Some people from other countries even travel to Istanbul for medical treatments because of the advanced facilities available.

Transportation

Further information: Roads in Turkey, Rail transport in Turkey, and Aviation in Turkey

Roads

Istanbul has many big roads called motorways. Some important ones are the O-1, O-2, O-3, O-4, and O-7. These roads help cars move around the city and connect to other places. The O-1 is a ring road that goes around part of the city, and the O-2 is another ring road on the other side. These roads cross special bridges over water that connect different parts of the city.

Public transportation

Istanbul has many ways to get around without a car. There are trains, trams, underground trains called the metro, buses, and boats called ferries. All these different ways use the same tickets, which you can buy using a special card. Trams used to be pulled by horses a long time ago, but now there are modern trams that many people ride every day. The underground trains, or metro, have many lines that help people travel quickly across the city.

Ferries

There are special boats called ferries that cross the water between different parts of Istanbul. These ferries are very popular and run many times each day, stopping at many places along the water.

Railroads

Trains have been coming to Istanbul for a very long time. There used to be famous train services that went all the way to faraway places, but now most of these trains don’t run as much. Still, there are trains that help people travel between different parts of Turkey.

Airports

Istanbul has big airports where planes land and take off. The largest airport opened in 2018 and can handle very many passengers each year. There is also another airport on the other side of the city that is popular with budget airlines. Before 2019, there was an even bigger airport, but it closed and is now being torn down.

International relations

Further information: List of twin towns and sister cities of Istanbul

Istanbul has many friendships with cities around the world. These partnerships help the city grow and share ideas with other places. The city works together with towns and cities in many countries to support culture, education, and business.

List of notable people

Main article: List of people from Istanbul

Istanbul is home to many famous people who have made important contributions in different fields. While the full list is long, it includes individuals known for their work in arts, sciences, and more.