Istanbul
5,461 km²
Taipei
272 km²
Turkey
Taiwan
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 20.1x larger than Taipei
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 5.8x more people than Taipei
Istanbul is significantly larger, covering 20.1 times the area of Taipei. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Taipei covers 272 km² (105 mi²) — a difference of 5,189 km². You could fit Taipei inside Istanbul approximately 20 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Taipei at 272 km² is about 1.2x the size of Amsterdam.
In more relatable units, Istanbul's 5,461 km² is about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris. For Taipei, that's about 38,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Monaco, or 80 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.
Taipei, officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of Taiwan. Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about 25 kilometres (16 mi) southwest of the northern port city of Keelung. Most of the city rests on the Taipei Basin, an ancient lakebed. The basin is bounded by the relatively narrow valleys of the Keelung and Xindian rivers, which join to form the Tamsui River along the city's western border.
Taipei has an area of 272 km² and is home to 2.6 million people. The city dates back to 1709. Visitors come for Taipei 101 tower, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial, Shilin Night Market, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Taipei Metro (MRT).
Most of Taipei rests on the Taipei Basin, an ancient lakebed bounded by narrow river valleys.
Looking beyond city limits, the Istanbul metropolitan area covers 5,461 km², which is 2.2x larger than greater Taipei at 2,458 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 7.0 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Taipei, with 9,743 people per km², is a densely populated city. Taipei is dramatically more crowded, with 3.4x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Istanbul in Europe versus Taipei in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Taipei experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Taipei, it's 7:00 AM in Istanbul — a 5-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Taipei fits inside Istanbul ~20 times
Density Gap
Taipei is 3.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
5 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~2,369 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).
Taipei covers 272 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Edinburgh (259 km²), Kuala Lumpur (243 km²), Munich (311 km²), Boston (232 km²), or Osaka (225 km²).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Taipei is 8,419 km (5,231 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 24m.
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