Amsterdam
219 km²
Istanbul
5,461 km²
Netherlands
Turkey
Area Comparison
Amsterdam is 24.9x smaller than Istanbul
Population Comparison
Amsterdam has 16.8x fewer people than Istanbul
Yes — Istanbul is 24.9x larger than Amsterdam by area. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Amsterdam covers 219 km² (85 mi²) — a difference of 5,242 km². You could fit Amsterdam inside Istanbul approximately 24 times.
To put Amsterdam's size in perspective, its area of 219 km² is about 1.2x the size of Washington D.C.. Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.
Amsterdam's footprint is roughly about 31,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Monaco, or 64 times the area of Central Park — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For Istanbul, that's about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris.
Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the urban area and 2,480,394 in the metropolitan area. Located in the Dutch province of North Holland, Amsterdam is colloquially referred to as the "Venice of the North", for its large number of canals, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Known as "Venice of the North", Amsterdam covers 219 km² with a population of 0.9 million. The city was established in 1275. Amsterdam is known for Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the GVB (Metro & Tram).
Amsterdam's historic canal ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, earning it the nickname Venice of the North
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Nicknamed "City on Two Continents", Istanbul has an area of 5,461 km² and is home to 15.5 million people. It was founded around 660 BC. Visitors come for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Istanbul Metro.
Istanbul is one of the only major cities to span two continents, with about two-thirds of its population living in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Looking beyond city limits, the Istanbul metropolitan area covers 5,461 km², which is 2.1x larger than greater Amsterdam at 2,580 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 2.5 million.
Amsterdam has a population density of 4,201 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Istanbul, with 2,831 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Amsterdam is slightly more compact.
Both cities are in Europe, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Istanbul (Turkey) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Both cities share a oceanic climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Istanbul, it's 10:00 AM in Amsterdam — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Amsterdam fits inside Istanbul ~24 times
Density Gap
Amsterdam is 1.5x more densely populated
History
Istanbul is ~1,935 years older
Amsterdam covers 219 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Helsinki (214 km²), Osaka (225 km²), Boston (232 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), or Kuala Lumpur (243 km²).
Istanbul covers 5,461 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Shanghai (6,341 km²), Perth (6,417 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Karachi (3,527 km²).
The straight-line distance from Amsterdam to Istanbul is 2,212 km (1,374 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 6m.
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