Bangkok
1,569 km²
Istanbul
5,461 km²
Thailand
Turkey
Area Comparison
Bangkok is 3.5x smaller than Istanbul
Population Comparison
Bangkok has 1.5x fewer people than Istanbul
Yes — Istanbul is 3.5x larger than Bangkok by area. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Bangkok covers 1,569 km² (606 mi²) — a difference of 3,892 km². You could fit Bangkok inside Istanbul approximately 3 times.
To put Bangkok's size in perspective, its area of 1,569 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.
In more relatable units, Bangkok's 1,569 km² is about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris. Istanbul, by comparison, equals about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris.
Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi) in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated population of 11.4 million people as of 2024, 15.9% of the country's population.
Known as "City of Angels", Bangkok covers 1,569 km² with a population of 10.5 million. The city was established in 1782. Bangkok is known for Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the BTS Skytrain & MRT.
Bangkok's official Thai name is Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, with the full ceremonial name being one of the longest place names in the world.
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.
Often called "City on Two Continents", Istanbul has an area of 5,461 km² and is home to 15.5 million people. The city dates back to 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 Bangkok metropolitan area covers 7,762 km², which is 1.4x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Bangkok metro area is also more populous, with 16.2 million people compared to 15.5 million.
Bangkok has a population density of 6,718 people per km² — a densely populated city. Istanbul, with 2,831 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Bangkok is noticeably denser, packing 2.4 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Bangkok in Asia versus Istanbul in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Bangkok has a tropical savanna climate while Istanbul experiences oceanic conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Bangkok stays around 26°C while Istanbul drops to 6°C. When it's noon in Bangkok, it's 8:00 AM in Istanbul — a 4-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Bangkok fits inside Istanbul ~3 times
Density Gap
Bangkok is 2.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
4 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~2,442 years older
Bangkok covers 1,569 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include London (1,572 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 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 Bangkok to Istanbul is 7,467 km (4,640 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 17m.
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