City Comparison
Compare two incredible cities side by side — culture, food, local tips, and immersive 4K virtual walks.
Take a free virtual walk through both Varanasi and Istanbul without leaving your screen.Varanasi is known for varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world — over 3,000 years old. Istanbul is famous for istanbul is the only city in the world that straddles two continents — europe and asia. Compare culture, food, best seasons, and local tips — then explore both on Nearaway's 4K virtual walking tours.
Country
🇮🇳 Varanasi
India
🇹🇷 Istanbul
Turkey
Continent
🇮🇳 Varanasi
Asia
🇹🇷 Istanbul
Europe
Population
🇮🇳 Varanasi
1,201,696
🇹🇷 Istanbul
15,460,000
Best Season
🇮🇳 Varanasi
Winter (November–February) — avoid monsoon for ghat walks
🇹🇷 Istanbul
Spring (April–May) or Autumn (September–October)
Currency
🇮🇳 Varanasi
Indian Rupee (₹)
🇹🇷 Istanbul
Turkish Lira (₺)
Greeting
🇮🇳 Varanasi
Namaste / Jai Shri Ram
🇹🇷 Istanbul
Merhaba
Hire a boat at dawn to witness the Ganga Aarti from the water — watching from the ghats is crowded. Negotiate the price before boarding.
Bargaining is expected in the Grand Bazaar. Always accept the tea offered by shopkeepers.
🇮🇳 Varanasi Fun Fact
Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world — over 3,000 years old. Mark Twain wrote: 'Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend.'
🇹🇷 Istanbul Fun Fact
Istanbul is the only city in the world that straddles two continents — Europe and Asia.
Try the live side-by-side comparison in the app
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