Interesting Facts About Istanbul

November 6, 2022

Turkey is one of the fascinating countries that beckons millions of visitors every year. No trip to this striking nation is complete without visiting its bustling city – Istanbul. Tourists apply for a Turkey visit visa just to experience this melting pot of different cultures. Located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, this cosmopolitan city is brimming with crowded bazaars, majestic mosques, impressive historic spots, breathtaking architecture, and lip-smacking cuisine. With its rich history spanning over 2,000 years and playing host to different civilizations, here is a list of interesting facts you may not know about this sprawling metropolis.

Istanbul is the only transcontinental city spanning two continents, Europe, and Asia.
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, with a population of more than 15 million, of which 99% are Muslims.
Istanbul has a strategic geographical location, with the Bosphorus Strait being the only passage from the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea.
The Golden Horn is an iconic point and a large estuary that connects the Bosphorus, where it meets the Sea of Marmara. It divides Old Istanbul (Constantinople) from Beyoğlu district, the northern section of European Istanbul.
The two sides of the Bosphorus Strait are usually called the “Asian side” and “European side” of Istanbul.
Istanbul was the last capital city of the mighty Ottoman Empire. In fact, contrary to popular belief, Istanbul is not the capital of Turkey; it is Ankara. Istanbul was the capital of the Roman and Latin Empires in the past.
Istanbul is home to the magnificent Hagia Sophia mosque, one of the city’s iconic landmarks and one of the best examples of architecture in the world. It has a highly complex history and changed from a cathedral to a mosque, to a museum, and again into a mosque.
Istanbul is one of the ancient cities in the world and is believed to be inhabited for more than 8,000 years.
Grand Bazaar is the largest covered market globally. It has more than 5,000 shops spanning 61 streets and is visited by 250,000 to 400,000 visitors daily.
For the longest time, Istanbul was known as Constantinople. The city was named after Constantine the Great, the ruler who first made it his capital. It was officially named Istanbul in 1930.
When you think of the beautiful flower tulip, you think of the Netherlands. However, these lovely flowers were cultivated widely by the Ottomans in Turkey. These flowers were later sent to the Netherlands and other parts of Europe.
With over 3,110 mosques, Istanbul has the most mosques in Turkey, including the famous Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Süleymaniye Mosque.
Once the city was renamed Istanbul in 1930, the Turkish post office stopped delivering mail addressed to Constantinople to ensure that people got used to the name Istanbul.
Istanbul has a stunning coastline stretching over 450 kilometers. Even then, the city experiences winter snow, with the average temperature between 3-9 degrees Celsius.
Princes’ Islands is a popular getaway from the city and an archipelago of nine car-free islands.
Istanbul has been known by many names – Lygos, Byzantium, New Rome, Augusta Antonina, Stamboul, Tsarigrad, and Constantinople.
Like Rome, Istanbul is fondly nicknamed the “City of Seven Hills,” even though there are more than fifty hills in the city.
Hammams (Turkish baths) are an integral part of Turkish culture, and there are 237 baths in Istanbul. However, only 60 baths, constructed during the Ottoman Empire, are used today. The most popular ones are the Historical Galatasaray Bath, Cağaloğlu Bath, and Çemberlitaş Bath.
The famous Tunnel metro is the second oldest metro in the world and runs between Şişhane and Karaköy. It was built in 1875, 12 years after the London subway, and is frequented by many tourists today.
The imposing Galata Tower was built in 1348 at the top of fortified walls and was used to house prisoners of war. It was the tallest structure in the city when built and later became an observatory. Today millions of tourists visit the tower to enjoy a 360-degree view of the city.
The iconic British author Agatha Christie wrote her bestseller novel “Murder on the Orient Express” at Pera Palas Hotel in Istanbul.
The Historic Area of Istanbul includes four districts that span an area of 765.5 ha. They comprise several ancient structures and are declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Sultanahmet, also known as the Old City, is where most of the celebrated historical sights of Istanbul are situated.
Cisterns were used to store water in ancient times, and Istanbul has hundreds of underground water cisterns. The largest and most well-known is the Basilica Cistern, dating to the 6th century. It is also one of the most famous attractions in the city.
The Topkapı Palace is another important attraction and used to be the former residence of the Ottoman sultans. At any given time, around 300 concubines lived in Topkapı Palace’s harems, one of the highlights of the tour today.
Istanbul had 1400 public toilets during the times of the Ottoman Empire, while the rest of Europe had none.
The nargile, or Turkish water pipe, was the center of Istanbul’s social and political life. It is a kind of hookah and is still popular with the locals.
Despite being the European Cultural Capital City in 2010, Istanbul has never hosted the Olympics.
Istanbul’s cuisine has various influences, including Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Eastern European, Central Asian, Balkan, Armenian, and Georgian. The most popular dishes are koftes (meatballs), dolmas (grape leaves or other vegetables stuffed with rice or meat), türlü (vegetable stews), menemen (eggs with tomato and onion), İmam bayıldı (an eggplant dish), stewed beans, and lahmacun (Turkish pizza).
Çay (tea) is the most popular drink in Istanbul. Turkey has the highest tea consumption globally, at 2.5 kg per person per year.