Budapest
525 km²
Istanbul
5,461 km²
Hungary
Turkey
Area Comparison
Budapest is 10.4x smaller than Istanbul
Population Comparison
Budapest has 9.1x fewer people than Istanbul
Istanbul is significantly larger, covering 10.4 times the area of Budapest. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Budapest covers 525 km² (203 mi²) — a difference of 4,936 km². You could fit Budapest inside Istanbul approximately 10 times.
To put Budapest's size in perspective, its area of 525 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.
Budapest's footprint is roughly about 74,000 American football fields, 150 times the area of Central Park, or 9 times the area of Manhattan — 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.
Budapest is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is Hungary's primate city with 1.7 million inhabitants and its greater metro area has a population of about 3.3 million, representing one-third of the country's population and producing above 40% of the country's economic output. Budapest is the political, economic, and cultural center of the country, among the ten largest cities in the European Union and the second largest urban area in Central and Eastern Europe.
Known as "Pearl of the Danube", Budapest covers 525 km² with a population of 1.7 million. The city was established in 1873. Budapest is known for Buda Castle, Hungarian Parliament Building, Chain Bridge, among other attractions.
Budapest's metro area holds about 3.3 million people, roughly one-third of Hungary's entire population.
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.
Budapest has a population density of 3,219 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 Budapest is slightly more compact.
Size Ratio
Budapest fits inside Istanbul ~10 times
History
Istanbul is ~2,533 years older
Budapest covers 525 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Warsaw (517 km²), Montreal (498 km²), Prague (496 km²), Auckland (559 km²), or Mumbai (603 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 Budapest to Istanbul is 1,069 km (664 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 45m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.