Istanbul: Surprising Facts About the Turkish Metropolis

About 15 million tourists pack their bags each year to dive into a very special world in Istanbul . And they are not disappointed, as the Turkish metropolis greets visitors with a vast cultural diversity, an unfathomable historical heritage, and a liveliness and atmosphere unmatched in intensity.

Although it is one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide and countless travel guides cover every highlight of the city in detail, Istanbul can surprise you with some intriguing facts here and there. Discover interesting insights beyond the Blue Mosque, Bosphorus, and vibrant markets about the largest city in Turkey below.

Let's start with a fact that may not be entirely surprising but is surprisingly unknown: Istanbul, although by far the largest city in the country, is not the capital of Turkey! That title has belonged to the city of Ankara, located about 280 miles east of Istanbul, since the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923. The reason is Ankara's more central location, which was meant to simplify bureaucratic structures and mark a significant new beginning after the Ottoman Empire.

Since Istanbul's population exceeds Ankara's by approximately three times, it has remained the economic, cultural, and partly political center of Turkey over the decades and is also the clear number one for tourists!

This unique feature may already be known to some, yet it certainly deserves a spot in this list. Istanbul is roughly equally situated in Europe and Asia - divided by the Bosporus Strait - making it the only transcontinental city in the world. Thanks to its geographical location on a waterway that connects the Black Sea with the Mediterranean, the region on both sides of the Bosporus has long attracted settlers, traders, and merchants, establishing Istanbul as a significant trade center between East and West.

To this day, this world metropolis acts as a link and a literal bridge between Europe and Asia. Speaking of bridges: a total of three bridges connect the western and eastern sides - the Bosporus Bridge, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, and the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, located a bit to the north of the city. Additionally, there is an underground road tunnel, an underground railway line, and a plethora of ferries crossing the Bosporus.

Istanbul's history is rich with significant historical events, political upheavals, conquests, rulers, and migrations. Hence, it's no surprise that since its founding in 330 AD, the city has served as the capital of four major empires: the Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires.

It's also less surprising that Istanbul has been known by various names over the millennia. Early Greek colonists called the settlement Byzantion before the Roman Emperor Constantine made it the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and promptly renamed it Constantinople. The city maintained this name, with minor deviations, until the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the founding of the Republic of Turkey. In 1930, it officially received its current name.

By the way: The current name derives from the Greek 'Is Tin Bolin', meaning 'Into the city', which legend has it, was a common inscription on signposts around the city of Constantinople.

The city on seven hills - you've heard it before, right?! The location of today's Istanbul on seven hills is no geographical accident, but a deliberate decision by Emperor Constantine the Great. With the establishment of the new capital there, he could compete with Rome's legendary seven hills and proclaim a 'new Rome' in the Byzantine Empire. Like its Italian counterpart, these hills were surrounded by thick city walls.

Rome's city model still serves as a blueprint for various cities worldwide to this day. Lisbon in Portugal, Kiev in Ukraine, Tehran in Iran, and Washington, D.C., in the USA claim to be built on seven hills as well.

When the Ottoman Empire was established at the end of the 13th century, Europe was still entrenched in the Middle Ages, along with all the everyday disadvantages for the common population, such as poverty, hunger, and especially poor hygiene. However, while sewage ran through the streets in many European cities and even kings and emperors didn't have regular access to a toilet, Constantinople was far ahead of its time: in the 14th century, there were around 1,400 public toilets in the city. As a result, hygiene practices contributed to a higher standard of living for the populace, while communal sanitary facilities in Istanbul made diseases like the plague, typhus, and tuberculosis less deadly.

Istanbul is booming-and not just in tourism! Since the 1950s, the population has exploded from about 900,000 to 15.5 million today. For comparison: in the same period, Berlin's population has only increased from 3.3 to 3.6 million.

The main cause of this development is urban migration, particularly from the 1960s, drawing many people from rural areas of Turkey (including Anatolia and the Black Sea region) to Istanbul. The city offered better living conditions, economic opportunities, and a more modern infrastructure. Today, it's estimated that approximately 86 percent of Istanbul's residents moved there due to urban migration.

Think of Istanbul, and colorful, bustling markets immediately come to mind, where all your senses are stimulated to the max. And in the city on the Bosporus, that's exactly what you'll find! The Grand Bazaar, first opened in the mid-15th century, is not only one of the oldest but also the largest covered market in the world! A total of 61 streets are overbuilt with typical Ottoman architecture of arcades and domes, adorned with intricate mosaics.

Originally founded as a trading center for gemstones and silks, today's visitors will find over 4,000 shops selling everything imaginable-carpets, spices, jewelry, textiles, household goods, and all kinds of souvenirs. No wonder that around 300,000 people immerse themselves in the bustling chaos daily!

According to the Turkish government, 99 percent of Istanbul's residents are Muslims and nearly everyone can recite a saying: 'In Istanbul, there's a mosque on every street.' While this might be a slight exaggeration, the sheer number of mosques is indeed overwhelming. The last count recorded 3,113!

Beyond classic tourist highlights like the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, or the Sultanahmet Mosque, there is an incredible variety of other Islamic places of worship from various eras to explore. Just a few years ago, another was added on Istanbul's Asian side: the Çamlıca Mosque was a prestige project of President Erdogan and, accommodating 63,000 believers, it's currently the largest mosque in Turkey.

A particularly unique sight in Istanbul is the Tünel funicular located in the Beyoğlu district. This underground cable car, opened in 1875, is the second oldest subway in the world (after London's, which opened in 1863). For hundreds of years, it was the only underground rail line in the metropolis and is just 573 meters long with a single track.

It connects the Beyoğlu and Karaköy districts and has no other stations. Even though it no longer counts towards the city's subway network, it still plays a crucial role in managing increasing traffic and is now a popular tourist attraction.

Sure, many cities would love to claim the title 'City of Cats', but Istanbul likely tops them all. Especially in the historic districts, it's almost impossible to find an alley without the furry companions. This phenomenon even has a name, 'sokak kedisi', and has become the unofficial symbol of the city.

Residents have built countless houses for the cats in parks and streets, and there is a 'No kill, no capture' policy. This has led to an estimated 125,000 stray cats roaming the streets of Istanbul today. Some have become quite famous, like 'Gli', who lives in the Hagia Sophia, or the plump, laidback 'Tombili', who even had a sculpture dedicated to him after his passing.

Identifying terms that capture the essence of a region or even an entire country is familiar across the globe, whether it's 'Hygge' in Danish, 'Ubuntu' in southern Africa, or 'Joie de Vivre' in France. Istanbul has its own expression, and it's surprising what it conveys. 'Hüzün' is a deep, melancholic feeling said to envelop the city and its residents.

Associated with a blend of melancholy, nostalgia, and sorrow, the people of Istanbul see 'Hüzün' as part of the city's complex history, uniting everyone. Fortunately, these otherwise spirited individuals always find ways to look forward positively-be it with a cup of tea, a stroll through the bazaars, or meditative fishing at the Galata Bridge.

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