15 Reasons Istanbul And San Francisco Are Long-Lost Sister Cities

Two beautiful cities with a whole lot in common. See the similarities for yourself. Fly direct from SFO to IST with Turkish Airlines.

1. The street food is life-changing...

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Street taco in San Francisco.

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Kumpir (aka, a baked potato with literally EVERYTHING) in Istanbul.

2. ...and the seafood is always fresh.

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Fresh crab in San Francisco.

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Fresh seafood by the Galata Bridge, Istanbul.

3. Transportation is a tourist attraction all its own.

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Cable car in San Francisco.

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Vintage tram in Istanbul.

4. People come from far and wide to admire the architecture...

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Coit Tower arches in San Francisco.

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Valens Aqueducts in Istanbul.

5. ...and try the local flavor for themselves.

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Ferry Building farmer's market in San Francisco.

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Spice Bazaar in Istanbul.

6. It's hard not to fall in love with the colorful streets.

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Mural on Turk Street in San Francisco.

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Scenes from a street in Istanbul.

7. The greenery isn’t quite what you’d expect…

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The legendary Bushman on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco.

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Medusa head in Istanbul's Basilica Cistern.

8. ...and the melting pot of cultures and religions is even better than you could imagine.

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Chinatown, San Francisco.

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Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul.

9. There are must-see islands...

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Alcatraz in San Francisco.

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Heybeliada Island (Prince Islands) near Istanbul.

10. ...and must-shop shops.

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City Lights Books in San Francisco.

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Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.

11. The views are stunning in every direction...

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Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco.

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View of the Bosphorus Bridge, Istanbul

12. ...including up.

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The Palace of Fine Arts rotunda in San Francisco.

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Hagia Sofia in Istanbul.

13. A hiker's paradise, basically.

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The view from the Marin Headlands, just north of San Francisco city.

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The view from Büyükada, the largest of the nine Prince's Islands.

14. And the sunsets are truly unmatched...

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The view at a Giants game in San Francisco.

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View of the Maiden's Tower in Istanbul.

15. ...except, of course, by each other.

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Sunset view of San Francisco from Treasure Island.

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Sunset over the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

It's never been easier to get from one incredible city to another: Turkish Airlines has direct flights from San Francisco to Istanbul.

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