Which major city lies on both sides of the Bosporus?

Istanbul is the major city that lies on both sides of the Bosporus. The strait divides the city’s European and Asian sections while connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara.

Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city and a historic crossroads between southeastern Europe and western Asia. Its position helped make it a major center of trade, politics, religion, and culture for centuries. The city was known as Byzantium in antiquity and Constantinople from the fourth century until the early modern period.

The Bosporus is crossed by several bridges and by the Eurasia Tunnel, which carries road traffic beneath the strait. Ferries and other vessels also connect the two sides. The city’s historic peninsula, including Hagia Sophia and the former imperial center, lies on the European side.

Ankara is Turkey’s capital, but it is inland and does not straddle the Bosporus. Istanbul is also sometimes described as a transcontinental city, although the boundary between Europe and Asia is a geographic convention rather than a political border within the city.