As a travel enthusiast, one of the most important aspects of your trip planning is choosing the right travel guide to help you make the most out of your destination. Istanbul, the vibrant and historical city where Europe meets Asia, is no exception. With so many travel guides available for Istanbul, it can be overwhelming to pick the best one for your needs. That’s why we’ve done the work for you and compiled a list of the top travel guides for Istanbul to make your trip planning easier.
If you’re also interested in traveling to other parts of Turkey, be sure to check out our previous blog post about the best travel guides for Turkey. There, you will find a comprehensive list of travel guides covering the entire country, making your trip planning a breeze. So, let’s dive into the best travel guides for Istanbul.
- All books have been handpicked by us!
- Books with bad reviews are left out.
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Lonely Planet’s Istanbul 10 is the perfect travel guide for anyone looking to explore the vibrant city of Istanbul. This comprehensive guide offers travelers up-to-date information on all the best sights and experiences, along with insider tips on how to save time, money and avoid crowds. With a focus on cultural insights and local knowledge, Lonely Planet’s Istanbul will help you get the most out of your trip and immerse yourself in the history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, and politics of this fascinating city.
With maps, images, and detailed highlights and itineraries, you can easily tailor your trip to suit your personal needs and interests. Whether you’re looking to shop in the colorful bazaars, visit the majestic Aya Sofya basilica, or take a ferry to the Black Sea, this guide has you covered. With honest reviews for all budgets and over 30 maps, you’ll have all the essential information you need at your fingertips to make your trip a success.
So if you’re looking for a travel guide that will help you travel smart and avoid crowds, Lonely Planet’s Istanbul is the perfect choice. And for those looking for a more extensive coverage of Turkey, the company also offers a comprehensive guide to the country.
Rick Steves Istanbul is an all-in-one guidebook that offers a comprehensive look at the city and its surroundings, making it the perfect companion for tourists who want to explore everything the city has to offer. From its historical monuments to its lively neighborhoods and shopping areas, Rick Steves Istanbul has got you covered.
With its in-depth coverage, this guidebook is perfect for travelers who want to spend a week or more exploring Istanbul, giving you the flexibility to tailor your itinerary to your personal preferences. Whether you’re looking to admire the world’s largest domed churches and monumental mosques or relax in a traditional Turkish bath, Rick Steves Istanbul will help you find what you’re looking for.
The guidebook also offers valuable insights from trusted Rick Steves Europe tour guides Lale and Tankut Aran on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of their must-see favorites. You’ll also find useful resources, such as a packing list, a Turkish phrase book, a historical overview, and recommended reading, making it an invaluable resource for tourists of all levels of experience.
With its up-to-date information, self-guided walking tours, and detailed maps, Rick Steves Istanbul is the perfect guidebook for tourists who want to explore the city like a local and avoid the crowds. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, Rick Steves Istanbul will help you make the most of your time in Istanbul!
This book offers unique travel insights from a local perspective, providing you with tips and knowledge that you won’t find in other traditional guidebooks. With a focus on helping you travel like a local, the book provides advice on how to slow down, immerse yourself in the culture, and make meaningful connections with the people and places you visit. The author, Daiana M. Altinay, shares her own personal experiences and tips for exploring Istanbul, offering a unique perspective on the city that you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re looking to try new things, experience the city like a local, or simply want to make the most of your trip, this book is the perfect companion for your travels in Istanbul.
Istanbul Turkey Travel Handbook 2023 is the ultimate resource for travelers planning a trip to Istanbul. This comprehensive guide covers all the essential information you need to know about the city, including its history, culture, top attractions, and recommendations for dining, entertainment, and accommodation.
The guide begins with an introduction to Istanbul, including its history and culture, and a brief overview of the city’s neighborhoods and districts. From there, it delves into the city’s top attractions, including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace. The guide also includes ideas for unique and lesser-known experiences in Istanbul, including hidden neighborhoods, local festivals, and outdoor activities. In addition to exploring the city’s top attractions, the guide also covers the city’s rich culinary scene, with recommendations for local restaurants and food specialties. It also includes a guide to the city’s vibrant nightlife scene, with recommendations for live music, clubs, and cultural events. The guide includes practical information on getting around the city, including transportation options and tips for navigating the city’s public transportation system. It also includes recommendations for day trips from Istanbul, and a list of resources for learning more about the city and its culture.
National Geographic Walking Istanbul: The Best of the City is the perfect guide for travelers who want to experience the city on foot. The guidebook offers step-by-step itineraries and maps to help visitors explore the city like a local. It is written by a seasoned travel writer who brings the city to life through elegant text and stunning photography. This handy, take-along format guidebook is not just a simple guide, but also a comprehensive resource that provides a deep understanding of the city and its people.
DK Eyewitness Top 10 Istanbul is a compact travel guide for travelers visiting Istanbul. This guide includes 8 itineraries, top 10 lists of the best attractions, a laminated pull-out map of the city, in-depth neighborhood guides, color-coded chapters, and essential travel tips. The guide covers key neighborhoods such as Sultanahmet, Bazaar Quarter, Golden Horn, Fatih, and Asian Istanbul, providing information on shopping, dining, sightseeing, and more. With color maps and expert advice, the guide makes it easy to navigate the city and plan your trip.
Strolling Through Istanbul is a classic guidebook to the city, first published 37 years ago and now updated with revisions. Written by Hilary Summer-Boyd and John Freely, it’s a guide that combines practical information and historical context with personal anecdotes and hidden gems. The authors take the reader on a walking tour of the city, exploring its monuments, sites, and places of interest and describing the rich history of what was once Constantinople and the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. This guidebook is the definitive guide to Istanbul, written by those who know it best, and has been described as the “best travel guide to Istanbul” by The Times and “a guide book that reads like a novel” by the New York Times.
Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World” is a comprehensive biography of the iconic city. Written by Thomas F. Madden, the book covers the rich and astounding history of Istanbul, from its founding by the Greeks to its present status as a cultural hub. The book delves into the city’s past, exploring its role as a center for trade and a target for various empires throughout history, including Alexander the Great, the Romans, and the Ottomans. The book also examines the city’s walls, built by Emperor Constantine I, which have preserved its power, wealth, and splendor to this day.
The book also focuses on the people who have shaped the city, including ordinary citizens like Jews, Muslims, Italians, Greeks, and Russians, and rulers who built it up and then destroyed it, such as Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Drawing on a lifetime of study and the latest scholarship, Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World” transports readers to this city of unparalleled importance and majesty and provides a key to understanding modern civilization. In the words of Napoleon Bonaparte, “If the Earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.
