Rick Steves' Istanbul

by Lale Surmen Aran, Rick Steves, Tankut Aran

Book Overview

You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in Istanbul. Following Rick's self-guided tours, you'll experience the wonders of East and West in this fascinating city--the capital of two great empires. Explore one of the world's largest domed churches, haggle with merchants in the exotic Grand Bazaar, and discover the secrets of the sultan's harem in Topkapi Palace. Wander through monumental mosques, shop along...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1612387675
• ISBN13: 9781612387673
• Release Date: March 2014
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing
• Length: 437 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.4" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

I did not think I liked it until I was in Istanbul

I bought 4 books - (can you tell that it was my first trip abroad). This book was the book that I thought I would like the least. It seems wordy and the pictures are not so good... That was until I was in Istanbul. In the first few days, we traveled with other books. But at the end of day 2 - I sat in the hotel room and began reading this book. Once I had a good idea of the city -this book was invaluable especially the walks in different regions. On day 2 (at night) I found out that I was about 100 feet from some place I had wanted to go.. but did not get the spatial relationship of different sights. I began using this book religiously. I really liked the short historical descriptions of different sights and the way it grouped sights that were near each other together. It made my sight seeing more efficient. The index was well organized so I could look up things that we were considering going to quickly. The directions were very good. The only place we had problem was a trip we took to Kirkakoy on the Asian side.. (but there was a huge construction project that made it hard for us to orient with the book's directions). I would highly recommend this book. I thought their recommendations on must see, should see, and see if you are nearby were very good.. They also used Turkish and English names for places - so I was able to point in book for cab drivers on occasion when necessary. The maps it had were clear but not flashy - but allowed me to use to public transportation on several occasions. The only thing I wish it had done better was talk about Turkish food.. I also bought a Just Enough Turkish for deciphering menus and they made an excellent pairing.

BEST Istanbul travel guide BY FAR

My husband recommended the purchase of this book after reading multiple reviews on this and other travel guides. We bought this one as well as one two others and were given two additional travel guides. Rick Steves' guide is clearly the best out there! The book gives practical advice regarding culture, safety, places to stay, where to find decent restrooms, how to navigate the city, prices of taxis, food and hotels, and much much more! The book is updated every year or two to ensure accuracy of the data. The book adheres to the needs of those traveling from the U.S. The key sites are outlined thoroughly so you do not need to hire a tour guide if you do not want to spend the money. I would (and have) highly suggest this book to anyone going to Istanbul.

Best travel book ever

I've bought the Rick Steves phrase books (which are the best, by the way) but this was my first of his guide books and, I have to say, I'm hooked. I absolutely love his list of the top sights. Not only does he rank order them from the must-see to the could-probably-miss, but he includes a very brief description of the site, the days and hours it's open (great for planning!), and the page number you can go to for more in-depth information. I put a post-it note on this page and was constantly referring back to it. There's really great information on each site you visit and my friends started out our first day in Istanbul making fun of me for always referring back to the book for the fun facts he includes. By the end of the first day there they were coming up to me asking what Rick Steves had to say about where we were at :) I love that he includes lots of budget and mid-range options. Europe isn't cheap and Rick Steves helped me stay within my budget. After using this book, I've now purchased Rick Steves Rome, Paris, and London books as well. I know they're going to be worth every penny!

Excellent city guide

This useful guidebook is compact in size, concise in descriptions, and colorful in discoveries. Husband-and-wife authors Lale and Tankut Aran love Istanbul with such passion, enthusiastically guiding readers through the back doors, back streets, and back stories of their beloved city. They single out Turks you can track down for a chat; don't miss their picks of several Grand Bazaar shopkeepers who happily share their stories and, of course, their wares. I especially like the self-guided walking tours; museum must-sees; and money-saving transportation tips. Although I've been to Turkey six times, this little guidebook helped me rediscover Istanbul with fresh eyes and a renewed sense of appreciation for this complex, appealing country.

indispensable guide to Istanbul

This has all the things that make Rick Steves' guides great. The clear maps, the insider tips, the historical back-story. The Authors are Rick's guides who live there, and know their city forward and back. This gives you the indispensible knowledge to make a visit to Istanbul safe and rewarding.