10 global cities that seem like a capital - but they're not

If you thought these famous cities were the official capitals, you were wrong. Test your geography knowledge…

Here are 10 countries where famous cities are regularly mistaken for the capital while the low-key number-ones go quietly about their business.

1. Istanbul, Turkey

Real deal: Ankara, whose population is only around one-third of Istanbul’s, cannot match the beauty of Turkey’s most famous city. Ankara is, however, renowned for its long-haired (Angora) goats and cats.

Ankara is much smaller than Istanbul.

2. Geneva, Switzerland

Real deal: Bern. Geneva is headquarters to the Swiss branch of the UN and the Red Cross, but Bern (the fifth largest city in the country) is the capital. Zurich is also often mistakenly crowned number one.

The Old Town comes to life around the Aare river, Bern, Switzerland.

3. Marrakesh, Morocco

Real deal: Many people even put Morocco’s other well-known city Casablanca (thanks to Bogie and Bergman) before the country’s actual number one, Rabat.

The historical Medina of the city of Rabat, capital of Morocco.

4. Auckland, New Zealand

Real deal: Unless you are from the Southern Hemisphere, you probably assume New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland, is head honcho. It seems Windy Wellington suffers from a version of the ‘Canberra Complex’.

Wellington is nicknamed Windy Wellington.

5. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Real deal: Whenever Brazil hits our television screens (Olympics and the Soccer World Cup) clichéd pictures of the statute of Christ surveying Rio de Janeiro are the focus so it’s no wonder people don’t even know what real capital Brasília even looks like, let alone that it houses the country’s parliament.

Brasília is the capital of Brazil.

6. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Real deal: It’s the gateway to Zanzibar and has been a major trading port for centuries (spices and slaves), but Dar, as the locals know it, is not the full-blown capital. Yet while Dodoma houses the government, Dar es Salaam is considered the ‘commercial’ capital.

7. Johannesburg, South Africa

Real deal: The largest city in South Africa is presumed to be the capital by many, followed by Cape Town. Strangely, in fact, the capital duties for SA are shared between Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein (executive, judicial and legislative).

Beachhouses at Muizenberg Beach, Cape Town.

8. Toronto, Canada

Real deal: Canada’s capital Ottawa (complete with bilingual parliament) is sometimes at number four on people’s lists. Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and even Quebec City may overshadow their little brother in publicity, tourism and beauty – if not political might.

Ottowa is not often on people’s bucket lists – but look how nice it is!

9. La Paz, Bolivia

Real deal: While the 3,000-metre-above-sea-level city is the administrative capital of this land-locked South American country, the much smaller city of Sucre takes the power by being the constitutional capital.

Sucre is only small, but is the capital of Bolivia

10. Tel Aviv, Israel

Real deal: It’s the financial capital, substantially larger in size, and a thriving sea-side metropolis, but Tel Aviv actually plays second fiddle to one of the most ancient cities in the world, Jerusalem – home to three of the world’s main religions.

The many ancient wonders of Jerusalem.