| Region | Marmara Region, Turkey (Europe & Asia) |
| Population | approx. 16 million (metropolitan area) |
| Language | Turkish |
| Currency | Turkish Lira (TRY) — highly volatile |
| Time Zone | TRT (UTC+3) — no time change |
| Electricity | 230V, Type C/F — German plugs fit |
| Drinking Water | Tap water not recommended — use bottled water |
| Phone Code | +90 (212 Europe, 216 Asia) |
| Internet TLD | .tr |
| Visa | Not required for German citizens (up to 90 days) |
| Area | 5,343 km² (huge!) |
| Bosphorus | approx. 30 km long, 700 m to 3.3 km wide |
| Mosques | Over 3,000 in the city |