Istanbul

Istanbul ()   link
Turkey's economic, cultural and historic center and a world metropolis

Istanbul, historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople, is the largest city in Turkey and the country's economic, cultural and historic center (but not capital). The city straddles the highly strategic Bosphorus strait, and lies in both Europe and Asia, with a population of over 15 million residents, comprising 19% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul had the eleventh-largest economy among the world's urban areas in 2018, and is responsible for 30 percent of Turkey's industrial output, 31 percent of GDP, and 47 percent of tax revenues.

Politically, Istanbul is seen as the most important administrative region in Turkey. Many politicians, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, are of the view that a political party's performance in Istanbul is more significant than its general performance overall. This is due to the city's role as Turkey's financial center, its large electorate and the fact that Erdoğan himself was elected Mayor of Istanbul in 1994.

The city has long been a center for significant intelligence activities, from the hectic days of the Cold War to being base for British intelligence services' propaganda effort for the war in Syria, the White Helmets.

Istanbul Airport was Europe’s most connected airport in terms of direct connectivity in 2024 and 2025.