European City Trivia (Istanbul, Moscow, & London) | Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast

Get ready for a whirlwind trivia tour across three of the world’s most iconic cities. This week on the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast, we’re diving into Istanbul, Moscow, and London—three cities packed with history, culture, and wonderfully weird facts. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler, a geography buff, or just love testing your knowledge, this episode delivers fast‑paced questions about famous landmarks, legendary rulers, surprising traditions, and the stories that shaped these global giants. Sharpen your mind, grab your passport, and let’s see how well you really know Istanbul, Moscow, and London.

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Episode Transcript/Quiz

Episode Intro

Got your passports ready? Well, you should because we’re heading to Europe for some trivia. I’ve got three cities lined up for our European Tour: Istanbul, Moscow, and London. These represent the three largest cities in Europe by population.

Each city is getting its own round with ten questions each. Need more geography trivia? Visit the show’s website DorkyGeekyNerdy.com.

I’m your tour guide and host, Brian Rollins. This is episode 385 of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy trivia podcast. Let’s get walking.

The Dorky Round

Istanbul Trivia

Istanbul straddles what two continents?
a. Europe and Asia
What strait divides the European and Asian sides of Istanbul?
a. The Bosphorus Strait.
Prior to 1930, what was the name for Istanbul?
a. Like They Might Be Giants taught us, Istanbul was Constantinople
Istanbul has been the capital for how many empires?
a. Three. The Roman, the Byzantine, and the Ottoman Empires
Istanbul is the largest city in what country?
a. Turkey. It’s not the capital. That’s Ankara.
What was the city’s first name?
a. Byzantium. It was founded around 657 BCE
What body of water is immediately South of Istanbul?
a. The Sea of Marmara. The Black Sea is north of the city (though Istanbul technically doesn’t border it)
There are over 3000 of what type of house of worship in Istanbul?
a. Mosques
What is the name of Istanbul’s enormous 15thcentury covered market?
a. The Grand Bazaar
Which 2012 James Bond movie kicks off in Istanbul?
a. Skyfall

The Geeky Round

Moscow Trivia

Moscow is the capital of which country?
a. Russia
What iconic fortress serves as the official residence of the President of Russia?
a. The Kremlin
What is the demonym or the name for residents of Moscow?
a. Muscovite
From 1922 to 1991, Moscow was the capital of what country?
a. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or Soviet Union
The city is thought to be named for what?
a. The Moskva River, which flows through the city of Moscow
Which historic theater in Moscow is globally renowned for ballet and opera?
a. The Bolshoi Theater
What famous cathedral with colorful onion domes stands on Red Square?
a. St. Basil’s Cathedral
What 2002 book and 2010 video game are set beneath Moscow following a nuclear war?
a. Metro 2033
Which invading army occupied Moscow in 1812 before the city burned?
a. The French Army under Napoleon Bonaparte
Though he died over 100 years ago, what former Soviet leader’s body was embalmed and is still on display in Moscow?
a. Vladimir Lenin. He died in January 1924.

The Nerdy Round

London Trivia

What ancient name did the Romans give to the early settlement that became London?
a. Londinium. It was founded in the year 43.
London is the capital of what country?
a. This is a bit of a trick question. I’ll accept either England or the United Kingdom
What river makes its way through London?
a. The River Thames
What devastating event destroyed more than 70,000 buildings in London between 1940–41?
a. The Blitz during World War 2
London has eight airports, making it one of the busiest airspaces in the world. What are the two largest airports serving London?
a. Heathrow and Gatwick Airports
What famous clock tower is commonly called “Big Ben,” even though that name refers to the bell?
a. Elizabeth Tower
What iconic Ferris wheel on the Thames was once the tallest in the world for two years?
a. The London Eye
What famous royal residence is the official London home of the monarch?
a. Buckingham Palace. King Charles III is the current reigning monarch.
The fictional Platform 9 3/4 would be found in what real-life London train station?
a. King’s Cross Station
Traditionally, who resides at 10 Downing Street in London?
a. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Currently, that position is held by Keir Starmer.

Episode Conclusion

And that’s it for this week’s trivia. How did you do? Let me know on social media or the show’s website. If you’re feeling chatty, you can join us on Discord, too.

Next week, it’s Entertainment trivia. Here’s a hint:

What do Tim Taylor, George Banks, and Tevye all have in common?

Bonus clue: Think about what holiday will happen next week. Good luck and see you back here on Wednesday. In the meantime, take a little time for yourself. Take a walk. Take a nap. Take time.

This was the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. If you’d like to help support the show and get extra stuff, consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/dorkygeekynerdy.

This podcast is written, produced, and hosted by Brian Rollins. If you love audiobooks or are looking to have a book turned into an audiobook, contact me at TheVoicesInMyHead.com.

The theme music is Punchfunk by the band, Punchfunk. Listen to all their music on Spotify.

Thanks for listening.