Berlin
892 km²
Istanbul
5,461 km²
Germany
Turkey
Area Comparison
Berlin is 6.1x smaller than Istanbul
Population Comparison
Berlin has 4.2x fewer people than Istanbul
In terms of area, Istanbul is 6.1x the size of Berlin. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Berlin covers 892 km² (344 mi²) — a difference of 4,569 km². You could fit Berlin inside Istanbul approximately 6 times.
To put Berlin's size in perspective, its area of 892 km² is about 1.1x the size of New York City. Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.
Berlin's footprint is roughly about 125,000 American football fields, 15 times the area of Manhattan, or 8 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Istanbul, by comparison, equals about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris.
Berlin is the capital of Germany, as well as its largest city by both area and population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the highest population within its city limits of any city in the European Union. The city is also one of the states of Germany, being the third-smallest state in the country by area. Berlin is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg, bordering Brandenburg's capital Potsdam to the southwest.
Berlin covers 892 km² with a population of 3.6 million. The city was established in 1237. Berlin is known for Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, Reichstag Building, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the BVG (U-Bahn & S-Bahn).
Berlin holds the highest population within city limits of any city in the European Union, with 3.7 million inhabitants.
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. 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 Istanbul metropolitan area covers 5,461 km², which is 1.5x larger than greater Berlin at 3,743 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 6.1 million.
Berlin has a population density of 4,092 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 Berlin is slightly more compact.
Both cities are in Europe, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Berlin (Germany) 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 Berlin — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Berlin fits inside Istanbul ~6 times
Density Gap
Berlin is 1.4x more densely populated
History
Istanbul is ~1,897 years older
Berlin covers 892 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Santiago (838 km²), Kyoto (828 km²), San Diego (964 km²), Abu Dhabi (972 km²), or Dallas (997 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 Berlin to Istanbul is 1,738 km (1,080 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 33m.
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