Product Description

Your holiday starts the moment you open the guide … "The best guide available. Packed to the brim with colour photos, maps and essential information." Reader review Capture the essence of Istanbul. From watching dervishes perform their famous whirling dance to relaxing for the night in a Turkish bath. Photos, illustrations, unique 3D models and birds-eye-view maps of all the major sites ensure you don't miss a thing. Clue up on the basics, from the most comfortable places to stay (whatever your budget) to the best bars and restaurants. Discover where the locals go, enjoy relaxing entertainment, amazing sites and retail therapy, exciting sports, scenic walks or drives, thematic tours and colourful festivals. All you need for an unforgettable trip. Winner of the Guardian & Observer ‘Best Guide Books' and Wanderlust Magazine Silver Award for 'Top Guidebook'.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #211668 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 280 pages

Customer Reviews

Indispensable guide to a fascinating city ....
I had never visited Turkey before and set off for a week with a friend in Istanbul over New Year 2004. I cannot recommend this book highly enough - the clear maps saved us from many a sticky situation (be warned that the bus to Topkapi does not go to the main sightseeing spot of Topkapi Palace) and the sections on the various mosques and places to visit are highly informative. It also has a very helpful section on getting around Istanbul, which was invaluable for us as we wanted to explore the city by public transport as far as possible, without wasting money on taxis every minute as our hotel advised us, and so allowing for that extra Turkish bath and massage at Cemberlitas ... This book is all you need to get the most out of your stay in this fascinating city.

DK Eyewitness to Istanbul
On visiting Istanbul last November, I took the DK book as I've had great experiences with others in the series - this one lived up to my expectations!

We stayed primarily within the historic neighbourhood of Eminonu (where the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sofia and Topkapi Palace are). The streets are labyrinthine but the maps are accurate so we had no trouble finding our way around. At every location, the book gives excellent descriptions and the cut-away illustrations just add to the detail. In particular, we found the suggested walking routes very useful.

I highly recommend this book, but it wold be a good idea to read most of it before you go so that you can really look at the place as well as reading about it. The city is fantastic - I'm obsessed with the place now - nad intend to go back several times, armed with this book.

Some tips -
Our first problem was getting from the airport, as everything seems very vague. We ended up getting the bus into town and then a taxi to our hotel (he got lost!), but on the way back we took the airport shuttle from our hotel. In a city like this, USE THE AIRPORT SHUTTLE BOTH WAYS! Expedia give you the option, I'll definitely tick that box next time.
Take plenty of money - food is quite cheap but entries into places soon mount up. They aren't expenseive - 10 lira is about £4.50 ish, but you might pay four or five fares in a day, which quickly eats at your funds.
If you're shopping, only accept tea where you actually want to buy something (they're offended if you refuse tea, but even more offended if you drink it without buying anything), and HAGGLE all you can :-)

Have a great time!

Outstanding - Makes Istanbul come alive
I used this award-winning book in preparation for a one-week trip to Istanbul with a tour group. I also found it extremely useful to give context to the sights I was visiting once I was actually there.

I find Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness guidebooks to be in a league of their own when it comes to visual depictions of the sights. The full colour pictures really made Istanbul come alive. And the tourist and historical information was also very informative.

As the group accommodation was already booked, I did not need to use that section of the book, but I can wholeheartedly recommend the rest. Young and independent travellers might prefer Lonely Planet or Rough Guide for more in-depth coverage of budget accommodation.