Istanbul’s Twin Towns and Sister Cities [Complete List]

Cities around the world form formal partnerships known as sister cities or twin towns, long-term relationships designed to promote cultural exchange, cooperation, and mutual understanding. These agreements often grow out of shared history, economic interests, or a desire to strengthen international ties. In Europe, they are commonly called twin towns or partner towns, while in the Americas and much of Asia, the term sister cities is more widely used. Whatever the name, the purpose is the same: to build bridges between communities. Below is the complete list of Istanbul’s sister cities or twin towns, reflecting the city’s global connections and diplomatic outreach.

List of Twin Towns and Sister Cities of Istanbul

In alphabetical order (and showing when each city became a sister city with Istanbul):

1. Almaty, Kazakhstan [April 2, 1998]
2. Amman, Jordan [November 28, 1997]
3. Bangkok, Thailand [July 6, 2009]
4. Barcelona, Spain [January 5, 1997]
5. Beirut, Lebanon [October 29, 2010]
6. Benghazi, Libya [February 20, 2013]
7. Berlin, Germany [November 17, 1989]
8. Busan, South Korea [June 04, 2002]
9. Cairo, Egypt [1988]
10. Cologne, Germany [March 15, 1997]
11. Constanţa, Romania [May 22, 2001]
12. Damascus, Syria [December 18, 2006]
13. Dubai, United Arab Emirates [January 5, 1997]
14. Durrës, Albania [February 6, 1998]
15. Gaza City, Palestine [October 16, 2025]
16. Giza, Egypt [December 12, 2012]
17. Guangzhou, China [July 18, 2012]
18. Houston, Texas, United States [1988]
19. Jakarta, Indonesia [October 30, 1998]
20. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia [1984]
21. Johor Bahru, Malaysia [1983]
22. Kazan, Russia [October 7, 2002]
23. Khartoum, Sudan [October 9, 2001]
24. Lahore, Pakistan [1975]
25. Mary, Turkmenistan [June 21, 1994]
26. Mexico City, Mexico [November 19, 2010]
27. N’Djamena, Chad [December 18, 2014]
28. Nicosia Turkish Municipality, Cyprus [December 10, 2020]
29. Odesa, Ukraine [November 2, 1997]
30. Osh, Kyrgyzstan [September 20, 1997]
31. Plovdiv, Bulgaria [January 23, 2021]
32. Rabat, Morocco [1991]
33. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [1965]
34. Saint Petersburg, Russia [November 22, 1990]
35. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina [December 25, 1997]
36. Shanghai, China [October 23, 1989]
37. Shimonoseki, Japan [May 16, 1972]
38. Skopje, North Macedonia [April 3, 2003]
39. Tabriz, Iran [October 29, 2010]
40. Tbilisi, Georgia [April 18, 2016]
41. Tunis, Tunisia [December 24, 2010]
42. Venice, Italy [June 8, 2007]

Sister Cities, Twin Towns, Friendship Cities: A World of Terminology Explained

Across the world, different regions use different terms for the same idea. In the United Kingdom, “twin towns” is the standard term, while “sister cities” is mostly used for partnerships with the Americas.

Mainland Europe prefers “twin towns,” “partner towns,” or “friendship towns,” and the European Commission officially uses “twinned towns” and “town twinning.” Individual countries have their own versions: Spain says ciudades hermanadas, France uses ville jumelée, Italy uses gemellaggio, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic use terms meaning “partner town,” and Greece uses a word meaning “fraternisation.” Iceland uses “friend towns/cities,” while Russia uses a term meaning “sworn brother cities.”

In the Americas, South Asia, and Australasia, “sister cities” or “twin cities” are standard, and in China, the term is friendly cities (友好城市). Sometimes regions or provinces also form twinning agreements, such as Hainan (China) and Jeju (South Korea). The Douzelage links one town from each EU member state.

Although “sister city” and “friendship city” are often used interchangeably, a friendship city agreement is generally lighter in scope and based on mayor-to-mayor cooperation, while a sister city partnership is typically broader and more formal.

Sister City [Twin Town] Origins: From WWII Tragedy to International Friendship

The first formally documented sister-city agreement was signed in 1931 between Toledo, Ohio, and Toledo, Spain, though many informal cultural exchanges existed earlier.

The modern idea of town twinning truly took shape during World War II, inspired by the devastating bombing of Coventry in 1940. Coventry’s mayor, Alfred Robert Grindlay, initiated a gesture of solidarity toward the people of Stalingrad in 1942, which evolved into an enduring relationship. This bond deepened during the Battle of Stalingrad, notably when 830 Coventry women sent a symbolic embroidered tablecloth and donations to the Soviet city. The partnership was made official in 1944.

After the war, twinning became a tool for peace, reconciliation, and rebuilding international friendships – particularly between former enemies. Coventry later established partnerships with Kiel (1947), Dresden (1956), and Belgrade (formalized in 1957). Over time, the purpose of town twinning expanded: first to promote friendship and cultural understanding, then to foster tourism, trade, migration links, and, in the 2000s, strategic international business cooperation.

Sources

• Istanbul’s Sister Cities on the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Foreign Relations Department’s website
• List of twin towns and sister cities in Turkey on Wikipedia
• Sister city on Wikipedia