Istanbul

Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city and one of the world’s major urban centres. It lies on both sides of the Bosphorus, a narrow strait that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara and separates the European and Asian parts of the city. Its position has given Istanbul great importance for trade, transport and communication between different regions. The city has a transitional climate influenced by both the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, with warm, humid summers and relatively cool winters.

Rainfall occurs throughout the year, although its amount varies by season. Istanbul’s location is also closely connected to its long history. The historic peninsula is surrounded by the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara, creating a naturally protected setting that favoured the development of a major settlement. Today, the metropolitan area extends far beyond this historic core and includes densely populated districts on both continents.

The city has been an important centre for more than two thousand years. Founded as Byzantium, it later became Constantinople and served as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and, after 1453, the Ottoman Empire. In 1923, following the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye, Ankara became the national capital, while Istanbul remained the country’s largest city and a major economic and cultural centre.

Its historical heritage includes monuments from Byzantine and Ottoman periods, such as Hagia Sophia, the Topkapı Palace, the Süleymaniye Mosque and the Blue Mosque. The Historic Areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. Modern Istanbul combines historic neighbourhoods with universities, business districts, busy transport networks and large residential areas, making it a city where layers of history and contemporary urban life exist side by side.