Istanbul
5,461 km²
London
1,572 km²
Turkey
UK
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 3.5x larger than London
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 1.7x more people than London
Yes — Istanbul is 3.5x larger than London by area. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while London covers 1,572 km² (607 mi²) — a difference of 3,889 km². You could fit London inside Istanbul approximately 3 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, London at 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (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. London works out to about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris.
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.
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.1 million. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) tidal estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years.
Often called "The Big Smoke", London has an area of 1,572 km² and is home to 9.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 43. Visitors come for Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the London Underground.
London has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years, tracing its roots back to Roman times around 47 AD.
Looking beyond city limits, the London metropolitan area covers 8,382 km², which is 1.5x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 14.3 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. London, with 5,712 people per km², is a densely populated city. London is noticeably denser, packing 2.0 times more people per square kilometer.
Both cities are in Europe, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Istanbul (Turkey) and London (UK) 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 9:00 AM in London — a 3-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
London fits inside Istanbul ~3 times
Density Gap
London is 2.0x more densely populated
Time Difference
3 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~703 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).
London covers 1,572 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bangkok (1,569 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to London is 2,501 km (1,554 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 27m.
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