Edinburgh
259 km²
Istanbul
5,461 km²
United Kingdom
Turkey
Area Comparison
Edinburgh is 21.1x smaller than Istanbul
Population Comparison
Edinburgh has 31.6x fewer people than Istanbul
Istanbul is significantly larger, covering 21.1 times the area of Edinburgh. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Edinburgh covers 259 km² (100 mi²) — a difference of 5,202 km². You could fit Edinburgh inside Istanbul approximately 21 times.
To put Edinburgh's size in perspective, its area of 259 km² is about 1.2x the size of Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.
In more relatable units, Edinburgh's 259 km² is about 36,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Monaco, or 76 times the area of Central Park. Istanbul, by comparison, equals about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris.
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. It is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh had a population of 506,520 in 2020, making it the second-most-populous city in Scotland and the seventh-most-populous in the United Kingdom. The wider metropolitan area had a population of 912,490 in the same year.
Known as "Auld Reekie", Edinburgh covers 259 km² with a population of 0.5 million. The city was established in 601. Edinburgh is known for Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Arthur's Seat, among other attractions.
Edinburgh is bounded by the Firth of Forth to the north and the Pentland Hills to the south.
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.
Also known as "City on Two Continents", Istanbul has an area of 5,461 km² and is home to 15.5 million people. Its history stretches 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.
Edinburgh has a population density of 1,892 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Istanbul, with 2,831 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Istanbul is slightly more compact.
Size Ratio
Edinburgh fits inside Istanbul ~21 times
Density Gap
Istanbul is 1.5x more densely populated
History
Istanbul is ~1,261 years older
Edinburgh covers 259 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Taipei (272 km²), Kuala Lumpur (243 km²), Boston (232 km²), Osaka (225 km²), or Amsterdam (219 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 Edinburgh to Istanbul is 2,854 km (1,773 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 51m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.