Istanbul
Is the largest city in Turkey and the cultural and economic heart of the country. It is also one of the largest metropolitan areas in Europe and ranks as the fifth-largest city in the world by population within city limits. Uniquely, Istanbul is a transcontinental city, straddling the Bosphorus Strait in northwest Turkey, positioned between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. This geographical feature means that while the commercial center lies in the European part, the rest of the city extends into Asia.