Istanbul is more than just a metropolis – it is a transition, a contradiction, a poem of stone and water.

Here Europe and Asia meet, history and the present.

Many cyclists also meet here on their way to or from Asia, as well as those for whom Istanbul is simply the destination of a journey.

When we planned to end our trip in Istanbul, our goal from the outset was to arrive at Sultanahmet Square (Sultanahmet Meydanı).

Many stories have been told about how dangerous it is to cycle in Istanbul. But we didn't want to be put off our idea.

This is why we are documenting our journey and the routes others have taken here:

• The Western Route (blue) by Friederike and Lutz

• The Southern route (red) by Mareike and David