Which city is located in both Asia and Europe?

The city that is uniquely situated in both Asia and Europe is Istanbul. This historic metropolis in Turkey is geographically divided by the Bosphorus Strait, a natural waterway that separates the European and Asian continents. The western part of the city lies on the European side, while the eastern part is on the Asian side. This transcontinental location has made Istanbul a strategic and cultural crossroads for millennia, serving as the capital of various empires, including the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. Its unique geography has profoundly shaped its history, architecture, and cultural identity.

• Option A, Cairo, is the capital of Egypt and is located entirely within the continent of Africa.
• Option C, Moscow, is the capital of Russia. While Russia is a transcontinental country spanning both Europe and Asia, Moscow itself is situated entirely within the European portion of Russia.
• Option D, Baku, is the capital of Azerbaijan. Although Azerbaijan is often considered a transcontinental country culturally and politically, the city of Baku is geographically located on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, which is typically considered part of Asia, and does not physically straddle the continental divide like Istanbul.