Old photos of Istanbul
14 photographs of Istanbul, from 1890 to 2025 — each pinned to the exact place it was taken.
Have an old photo of Istanbul?
A family album, a postcard, a print from the attic. Pin it to the map and it becomes part of the record.
Add your photo
What the photos show
The 14 photographs of Istanbul on PlaceWas span 4 decades, from 1890 to 2025. 2 of them were taken before 1980; the other 12 are recent views of the same streets and landmarks.2 spots were photographed more than once, so you can compare the same street, square or building across the years.12 of the photos carry a written caption explaining what is in the frame. Every picture is pinned to the place it was taken, so the map below shows where the photographers stood.
Places in Istanbul through time
Spots photographed more than once — compare the same place across the years.
Stories from Istanbul
What contributors wrote about these photographs.
1890s · 1 photo
1900s · 1 photo
2010s · 3 photos
2020s · 9 photos
