13 Best Quotes About Istanbul
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When it comes to quotes, Istanbul is a treasure trove for the talkative traveller.
Having lived in Istanbul for several years we can certainly see what all the fuss is about and would love to help you find the words to capture your own feelings about the city.
With that in mind, we’ve scoured through the centuries, looked up the luminaries and collected together our favourite Istanbul quotes for you to use.
Whether you’re looking for the ideal phrase to sum up your experience or are looking to inspire your future Turkey travel plans, we’ve got you covered.
A skyline composed of a thousand domes and spires.
For almost two millennia, people have been talking about Istanbul. Centuries of visitors have been dazzled and amazed by this magical city.
They were not stunned into silence.
Whilst they might not have known they were coming up with quotations that would still be discussed and reused centuries later, they clearly all felt the need to say something.
A desire to capture and share even a glimpse of their awe for this remarkable place.
It’s no wonder then that these inspired visitors left behind them a wealth of poetic, carefully crafted and meaningful quotes, filled with superlatives, affection, admiration and awe.
Quotes that Istanbul can more than live up to.
Here are a few of our favourite famous quotes about Istanbul.
Istanbul is just as beautiful at night.
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Quotes About Istanbul
Napoleon Bonaparte: A Capital Idea
First up on our list of quotes about Istanbul is one from French Emperor and military general Napoleon Bonaparte, who said of the city:
"If the earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.”
- Napoleon Bonaparte
Certainly for a time Istanbul, or Constantinople as it was then known, was a capital. Of the Roman Empire no less, which apparently means some uber-bro type men will think about it multiple times a day.
Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, landmarks known the world over.
With its central location as a bridge between Europe and Asia and striking skyline, it’s easy to see why Istanbul could suggest itself as the ‘capital of the world’.
Even to a man who had seen and indeed conquered great swathes of it.
With the call to prayer echoing out over the water, Istanbul is magical at dusk.
Interestingly, despite his admiration for the city, Istanbul was not one of the places that Napoleon ever attempted to conquer or invade.
Some historians put this down to the strength of the Ottoman Empire at the time and the fact that it would have meant dividing his forces and spreading himself too thin.
However, I can’t help thinking that Napoleon's rumoured fear of cats might have had something to do with it.
Picnic after fasting during Ramadan in Istanbul.
With its multitudinous moggies, Istanbul (affectionately referred to by some as Catstanbul) isn’t really the best place for ailurophobes, of which Napoleon was said to have been a notable example.
Oddly, his fear of cats is something he shares with a list of other famous dictators and tyrannical rulers, including Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Mussolini and Hitler.
Apparently there’s just something about being a colonising tw*t that doesn’t sit well with cats.
The stuff of Sasha’s dreams and Napoleon’s nightmares.
On a more positive note, another of Old Napper’s habits was said to be disguising himself so that he could wander freely through a city without being recognised.
Whilst there would be no need for a disguise (unless you just enjoy a bit of dress up) this kind of backstreet city exploration is something we would encourage.
In Istanbul there’s always something new to discover around the corner.
READ NEXT: Explore the backstreets yourself and uncover some of the less seen areas of the city with a guided food tour! Check out our post about the best Istanbul food tours.
Wandering the backstreets of Istanbul is often a rewarding experience.
It is also worth noting that whilst the words above are attributed to Napoleon there is some debate as to whether he ever actually said them.
What isn’t in doubt is that they do reflect strong sentiments about the city that he expressed elsewhere.
Maybe he said them whilst in disguise or running scared from a particularly terrifying puss?
Joseph Heller: No Catch
Napolean was not the only one to think that Istanbul had the history and grandeur to present itself as a capital of the world.
Centuries later, the American novelist and author of Catch 22 Joseph Heller would express a similar sentiment.
He echoes Napoleon's assertion that Istanbul should be regarded as the real centre or capital of the world with this quote:
“Istanbul is the real capital of the world. Regarding geographical location, there is no rival in the world.”
- Joseph Heller
At sunset the city is ablaze with colour.
Incidentally, the actual ‘centre of the world’ is supposedly in Turkey.
Or at least it is according to the people of the city of Çorum in northwestern Turkey, who proudly make the claim and even have a monument in the town square declaring as much.
Our friends in the city insist that this fact was determined by Google and some notable physicists. How true that actually is, is up for debate, but not a debate we’ll be getting involved in.
A bridge fit for the capital of the world.
Alphonse De Lamartine: A Single Glance
Moving on to a less feline afeard Frenchman.
When looking for great quotes, it makes sense that you can probably rely on a famed Romantic poet to come up with something beautiful and memorable. Especially, if it happens to be a beautiful and memorable city they are describing.
Sure enough, Alphonse De Lamartine does not disappoint, saying of Istanbul:
“If one had but a single glance to give the world one should gaze on Istanbul.”
- Alphose De Lamartine
Which you have to say is a cracking line. (And other people know it too, hence the number of Istanbul Instagram captions with this quote!)
Whilst we can’t be precisely sure which view of the city the poet, politician and renowned pacifist was referring to, his favourite spot in the city was said to have been Çamlıca Hill on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Even today, this spot is well worth visiting for its stunning views over the city.
Çamlica Mosque and Çamlica Hill are well worth a trip.
Gerard De Nerval: Mad About the 'Bul
Another Romantic poet, with a high opinion of Istanbul was Gerard De Nerval.
A noted bohemian, I’m tempted to think De Nerval would have fit in perfectly in today’s Moda, Karaköy or Cihangir districts of Istanbul.
Though even there, his famed eccentricity would likely have made him stand out. A bit.
Amid the hustle and bustle life goes on in the traditional way in Istanbul.
Known for sleeping with a noose around his neck and reading in the evening hours with a candle attached to his head, De Nerval also famously kept a pet lobster that he would take for walks on a lead made of silk.
In short, De Nerval was what you might call ‘a bit of a character’.
Given the title ‘The Literary Madman,’ he was certainly mad about Istanbul, saying of the city that:
"Istanbul is a magical seal which unites Europe and Asia since the ancient times. Without a doubt, Istanbul is certainly the most beautiful place of the world."
- Gerard De Nerval
There are almost as many layers of buildings as there are layers of history in this place.
De Amicis & Chateaubriand: The Beauty of Istanbul
Mad or not, Nerval’s sentiment about the beauty of Istanbul is one we find it very hard to disagree with and one supported by a few of his compatriots. François-René de Chateaubriand for example, said:
"People were right when they say there is no other place on earth as beautiful looking as Istanbul."
- François-René de Chateaubriand
Edmondo De Amicis, another poet and travel writer who wrote a two volume book about the city, also agreed:
“Istanbul, a universal beauty where poet and archeologist, diplomat and merchant, princess and sailor, northerner and westerner screams with same admiration. The whole world thinks that this city is the most beautiful place on earth."
- Edmondo De Amicis
READ NEXT: If striking views, vibrant vistas and perfect panoramas are your thing, then check out our list of the Best Hotels in Istanbul with a View, all of which offer rooms with picturesque scenery and interesting angles from which to look upon the meeting point of continents.
The close of another glorious day.
Susan Moody: Perfect Placement
Speaking of that meeting point, Istanbul’s position as an intersection of East and West, straddling cultures and continents also features in the quote from suspense novelist Susan Moody, who described the city thus:
"Istanbul – the constant beating of the wave of the East against the rock of the West."
- Susan Moody
Not sure how Dwayne Johnson got mixed up in this, but it is hard to deny that it is partly the eclectic mix of histories and philosophies that makes Istanbul such a unique place.
Not to mention the ever churning dialogue between them.
Istanbul is truly the crossroads of cultures.
Orhan Pamuk: Sounds of the City
Have you have ever run across a group of wildly enthusiastic Istanbul football fans, (is there any other kind?) or seen a wedding car procession racing through the streets with horns blaring?
Perhaps you’ve been woken during Ramadan by the drummer moving street to street to wake worshippers for the first prayer, or heard the rakı soaked revellers stumbling home in the early hours.
If you’ve experienced any of these then you’ll know that much of the time Istanbul is not exactly a ‘quiet’ city.
Frenetic, energetic and endlessly vibrant. Just the way we like it.
From sirens to seagulls, shouts to serenades there seems always to be some sound winding itself up towards the ears, ready to grab your attention.
Not that we would ever complain.
(Okay, maybe sometimes when nursing a Bomonti hangover, or that time we stayed in a place where the mosque’s loudspeaker was about three feet from the bedroom window, but still…)
Overall, we love that frenetic din, the haunting Azan, the clatter and noise that is the city’s rhythmic heartbeat and it turns out we’re not alone.
A city on seven hills. This is just one of them.
For some, it is not just the visual beauty of Istanbul that captivates. It’s the sounds of the city too.
Take for example, Turkish novelist and famed Istanbulite Orhan Pamuk, who wrote a book-length love letter to the city and founded the ‘Museum of Innocence’ in Cihangir.
Whilst Parmuk does talk beautifully about the atmosphere and unique aesthetic of the city, particularly in winter:
"I have always preferred the winter to the summer in Istanbul. I love the early evenings when autumn is slipping into winter, when the leafless trees are trembling in the north wind and people in the black coats and jackets are rushing home through the darkening streets."
- Orhan Pamuk
He is also spellbound by the sounds of the place.
Pamuk particularly notes the holler of the street sellers as a wonderful characteristic of Istanbul.
"Street vendors are the songbirds of the streets, they are the life and soul of Istanbul, he said. Under no circumstances must they ever be banned".
- Orhan Pamuk
In short, the sounds are part of Istanbul’s charm. There is a vibrant musicality to this city that is intrinsic to its character.
If you’re interested in seeing Istanbul in the winter for yourself, check out our guide detailing the best things to see and do in the city when the colder months arrive.
And if you’re the kind of person that likes to escape from the din, check out our Best Areas to Stay in Istanbul guide which will help you find a less noisy place to stay with quieter evenings.
The simit cart, with its calling vendor, delicious smelling goods and bright red design seems to appeal to every sense at once. Just like Istanbul.
Roger Waters & Lou Barlow: Musical Musings
Another man who appreciated the sounds of Istanbul and especially its enthusiasm, was Roger Waters. A founding member of Pink Floyd and a man who knows a thing or two about sound, he said:
"I found that the loudest fans in the world are in Istanbul."
- Roger Waters.
I’m tempted to make a joke here about a neighbour with a broken air conditioning unit, but I’ll save it for another time.
Meanwhile, fellow musician Lou Barlow, a founding member of the lo-fi band Dinosaur Jr was impressed not so much by the noise but by the overwhelming ‘cool’ of the people enjoying those sounds, saying:
"Within Istanbul, there’s a ton of people who are totally hip – like, the hippest people you could ever meet."
- Lou Barlow
Clearly Mr Barlow must have seen Sasha and I sitting at a bar in Moda. Then looked past us to where the actually hip people were sitting.
Trying to look cool in the Balat neighbourhood.
Fuad Alakbarov: Food for Thought
Understandably, for others it is neither the sights or the sounds, but the tastes and smells of the city that embed themselves in the memory. Journalist, political commentator and campaigner Fuad Alakbarov noted:
"Nothing beats Istanbul when it comes to street food. The city’s sidewalks are a walkable sampler platter."
― Fuad Alakbarov
I have to say that this is one quote I definitely endorse wholeheartedly and ‘full-stomached-ly’ (yes it is a word, pedants. Dictionary schmictionary).
It seems you can’t pass a street corner or turn down a backstreet in Istanbul without running across some new form of deliciousness just waiting to be sampled and consumed.
In fact, one of our Turkish friends is convinced that the only reason Istanbul has so many hills is to allow its residents to work off at least some of the calories.
If you’d like to know exactly where to find some of the best street food in Istanbul or have a better idea of what you’ll find when you get here, check out our article on the best street food in Istanbul.
Spectacular views in every direction
Pierre Loti: Holy Istanbul
For our final quote we’ll hand over to a man so enamoured with the city (and one of its former residents) that he has an area of the city named after him, or at least after his pen name.
Pierre Loti, after whom Pierre Loti Hill is named, was a French Naval officer and novelist who adored Turkey and particularly its most populous city, saying of it:
"Holy Istanbul! Your name is the most enchanting one of all names which enchants me."
- Pierre Loti
We couldn’t agree more.
Istanbul is a city that looks magical.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, an assortment of aphorisms to help inspire your travels or encapsulate your experiences in this timeless city.These quotes are perfect if you’re looking for Istanbul captions for Instagram or seeking to add flair to your Pinterest posts.
If you prefer to keep them for yourself and do things in an old skool way, they’re great added to photos or scribbled in a journal for your later enjoyment.
Before you go, make sure to check out some of our other Istanbul guides and guides to the rest of Turkey/Türkiye:
🍲 The Best Istanbul Food Tours
🏠 Best Areas to Stay in Istanbul: Coolest Neighbourhoods & Top Hotels
🌟 22 Best Hotels in Istanbul With a View
🗓 The Ultimate Turkey Itinerary 10 Days
🇹🇷 The Best Places to Visit in Turkey
🛫 How to Get from Istanbul Airport to the City Centre
🌷 Visit the Istanbul Tulip Festival
🎪 18 Best Festivals in Istanbul
🚂 Sirkeci Station: Discover Istanbul's Orient Express Station
✈️ How to Get From SAW Airport to Istanbul City Center
🥦 Vegan Istanbul: The Best Under-the-Radar Restaurants
🏔 Cappadocia in Winter: 7 Reasons to Visit + 16 Amazing Things to Do
🎄 Christmas in Istanbul: All You Need to Know for a Magical Stay
⛄ 9 Awesome Reasons to Spend Winter in Istanbul
✅ 12 Things You Need To Do in Istanbul
🔎 Explore Balat Istanbul: An Insider's Guide to One of Istanbul's Most Unique Neighbourhoods
🍳 Best Breakfast in Istanbul- 16 Incredible Places to Try
🥑 Where to Find the Best Vegan Turkish Breakfast in Istanbul
🖼️ 14 Top Things To Do in Gaziantep
🍔 Off the Eaten Track: The Best Street Food in Istanbul
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