Last Updated: August 18, 2022
Istanbul Fun Facts – Strange & Surprising (Especially #6)
The Eastern World meets the Western World and the ancient blends with the modern in the huge metropolis of Istanbul, Turkey. Divided by the Bosphorus strait, world travelers get the chance to set foot on two continents in one trip. Stretching across Asia and Europe, Istanbul is the world’s only transcontinental city. You’ll find historic sites, parks, and other attractions on the European side and charming residential districts on the Asian side. If that doesn’t get you packing for the City of Two Continents, this list of 10 Istanbul fun facts will.
1. Istanbul was once the world’s most crowded city.
The title was earned in 1502 and the city held it until 1840 when London surpassed Istanbul in population. Back then, cities in Eastern Asia weren’t included in any official rankings. With a staggering 15.1 million residents, the city is still the largest in Turkey and the 13th most populated on the planet. If Istanbul was a country, it would be Europe’s 10th most populated city and the 74th largest in the world.
With crowds comes more traffic, so it’s no surprise that Turkey ranks as one of the top 10 cities for traffic jams.
2. Istanbul has been the capital of empires
Istanbul has been the capital of empires but never the capital of Turkey.
Always a bridesmaid but never the bride? Throughout the history of the world, Istanbul has been the capital of four major empires. This includes the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. However, Istanbul has never once been the capital of Turkey. That title belongs to Ankara 456km to the east.
3. Istanbul was once called New Rome.
The Roman Emperor Constantine built the city that is now Istanbul between the years 326 and 330. He molded it after Rome going so far as to build it on seven hills. The city was called Constantinople and was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire Byzantium. The citizens of Byzantium called themselves Romans, and just like Old Rome, it was one of the world’s most significant cities.
4. The world’s first shopping malls in Istanbul.
You can shop at one of the world’s first shopping malls in Istanbul. Something Turkey is really famous for!
Bazaars are a big part of Istanbul’s culture. It all began in 1461 when specialized streets sold only one type of good. The site was one of the world’s most important trade hubs for centuries. The concept grew into the Grand Bazaar, and today, it’s the biggest covered market in the world. Travel & Leisure magazine reports that it’s the world’s most visited tourist attraction so you should definitely see and include it in your itinerary if you plan to visit Istanbul. The bazaar covers over 60 streets, around 4,000 shops, and greets as many as 400,000 customers per day. The nearby Spice Baazar is almost as huge.
5. Pipe smoking, Turkish tea, and Turkish baths are the city’s top three pastimes.
Called nargile or hookah, the Turkish water pipe is an old tradition that is still popular with the locals. Some places and restaurants you visit around the city will have the intense aroma of nargile tobacco flavors like peach, vanilla, or apple lingering in the air.
In recent times, Turkish tea has surpassed Turkish coffee as a favorite traditional drink in Istanbul. You are more likely to be greeted with a cup of tea instead of coffee in Istanbul. Perhaps it’s because tea bushes can grow in the Black Sea region and is less expensive than coffee.
Called Hammams, Turkish baths have become an international Spa. About 237 hammams exist in the city, but only around 60 are in use. The others are used for museums and shops, or for storage as is the case for the oldest Turkish bath in Istanbul.
6. Drinking coffee was once illegal in Istanbul.
Coffee lovers would not have been happy living in 17th-century Istanbul. The black brew first appeared in Turkey during the Ottoman Empire. But according to the Quran, it eas a stimulating drug, and drinking it was punishable with a death sentence. The Sultan walked the streets and chopped off the head of anyone caught drinking coffee! The macabre law was lifted at the end of the 17th century and coffee even went on to become the national drink.
7. Thanks to Istanbul, the Netherlands is known as the Land of Tulips.
Ask anyone what the tulip capital of the world is, and the answer will invariably be the Netherlands. What most people don’t know is that the Ottoman Empire sent the first tulip bulbs to Vienna in 1554, and they were later sent to the Netherlands. The Dutch fell in love with the flowers and started growing them everywhere.
The best place to see tulips in Istanbul is at the fountain between the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) and Hagia Sophia, a former mosque that is now a museum.
8. Thousands of stray cats roam the streets of Istanbul.
There are several “cat cities” around the world, but none are quite like Istanbul. They’re everywhere, and the locals adore them. It is thought that cats first arrived on ships docked in Constantinople back during the Ottoman Empire. They brought the cats to kill the rats, and they ended up living in the city. The neighborhood residents care for the stray cats collectively. A chubby cat named Tombibli is the most famous one, and a sculpture commemorates its life.
9. Istanbul provides feeding stations around the city for stray dogs and cats.
Along with all the cats, around 150,000 stray dogs roam the streets of Istanbul. An innovative Turkish company called Pugedon has helped alleviate the problem in an eco-friendly way. Recycling boxes around the city are machines that release water and food for the strays in exchange for popping in an empty plastic bottle. An ingenious idea and much-needed solution!
10. You could have a white Christmas in Istanbul.
One would expect mild winter weather in a place like that is located by the Sea of Marmara connected to the Aegean Sea. This is especially true for world travelers who have experienced the summer’s intense heat in Istanbul. But the winters can get quite cold with temperatures dipping dip down to around 20 degrees F in some parts of the city, so it’s possible to have a white Christmas in Istanbul.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
