[3] He was born on 21 May 1947 in a refugee camp in Bregenz, Austria where his parents, Crimean Tatars, had fled to avoid Joseph Stalin's persecution.

[8][9] A key figure in Turkish public discourse, Ortaylı has appeared frequently on television programs, radio shows, and in the press, where he discusses historical issues, current events, and Turkey's place in the modern world.

His ability to make history relevant to contemporary discussions has made him a central figure in the intellectual life of Turkey.

Some examples are:[11] He also published articles on urban history including Latins of the Pera district of the Constantinople for Istanbul and various historical cities which were once under the Ottoman influence; history of provincial administration focusing on the transformation of institutions in the Ottoman Empire from the beginning to the 19th century.

[12] In 2007, he received the Medal of Pushkin for his "great contribution to the spread and study of the Russian language, the preservation of cultural heritage and the rapprochement and mutual enrichment of different nations’ and people's cultures" under a decree signed by Vladimir Putin and announced officially by the Kremlin, the ceremony took place at the Russian Consulate in Istanbul.

[15] He is a member of the Foundation for International Studies, the Societas Iranologica Europeae,[16] the Austrian and Turkish Academy of Sciences and Tarih Vakfı.