Istanbul
5,461 km²
Lisbon
100 km²
Turkey
Portugal
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 54.6x larger than Lisbon
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 28.1x more people than Lisbon
Yes — Istanbul is 54.6x larger than Lisbon by area. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Lisbon covers 100 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 5,361 km². You could fit Lisbon inside Istanbul approximately 54 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Lisbon at 100 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper).
Picture Istanbul another way: its area is large enough to fit about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris. Lisbon works out to about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 29 times the area of Central Park.
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.
Known as "City on Two Continents", Istanbul covers 5,461 km² with a population of 15.5 million. The city was founded around 660 BC. Istanbul is known for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is 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.
Lisbon is the capital and most populous city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 575,739 as of 2024, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city, and the only one along the Atlantic coast, the others being on islands. The city lies in the western portion of the Iberian Peninsula, on the northern shore of the River Tagus.
Often called "City of Seven Hills", Lisbon has an area of 100 km² and is home to 0.6 million people. Its history stretches back to 1200 BC. Visitors come for Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Tram 28, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Lisbon Metro.
Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only European capital along the Atlantic coast.
Looking beyond city limits, the Istanbul metropolitan area covers 5,461 km², which is 1.8x larger than greater Lisbon at 3,015 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 2.9 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Lisbon, with 5,500 people per km², is a densely populated city. Lisbon is noticeably denser, packing 1.9 times more people per square kilometer.
Both cities are in Europe, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Istanbul (Turkey) and Lisbon (Portugal) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Lisbon experiences Mediterranean conditions. When it's noon in Istanbul, it's 9:00 AM in Lisbon — a 3-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Lisbon fits inside Istanbul ~54 times
Density Gap
Lisbon is 1.9x more densely populated
Time Difference
3 hours apart
History
Lisbon is ~540 years older
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).
Lisbon covers 100 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), Zurich (88 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Lisbon is 3,237 km (2,012 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~4h 19m.
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