Istanbul
5,461 km²
Madrid
604 km²
Turkey
Spain
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 9.0x larger than Madrid
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 4.6x more people than Madrid
In terms of area, Istanbul is 9.0x the size of Madrid. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Madrid covers 604 km² (233 mi²) — a difference of 4,857 km². You could fit Madrid inside Istanbul approximately 9 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Madrid at 604 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.
Istanbul's footprint is roughly about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Madrid, by comparison, equals about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
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.
Madrid is the capital and most populous city of Spain. It had a population of over 3.4 million in the city proper in 2025, and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.8 million. Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), after Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU, after Paris. The municipality covers an area of 605.77 square kilometres (233.89 sq mi).
Nicknamed "La Villa y Corte", Madrid has an area of 604 km² and is home to 3.3 million people. The city dates back to 852. Visitors come for Royal Palace of Madrid, Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Madrid Metro.
Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union after Berlin, with over 3.4 million residents in the city proper
Looking beyond city limits, the Madrid metropolitan area covers 8,028 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 6.8 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Madrid, with 5,513 people per km², is a densely populated city. Madrid 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 Madrid (Spain) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Madrid experiences hot-summer Mediterranean conditions. When it's noon in Istanbul, it's 10:00 AM in Madrid — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Madrid fits inside Istanbul ~9 times
Density Gap
Madrid is 1.9x more densely populated
History
Istanbul is ~1,512 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).
Madrid covers 604 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seoul (605 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Chicago (606 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Madrid is 2,739 km (1,702 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 43m.
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