DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Turkey

For the average tourist taking one guide book on their trip to Turkey, this book is a must! It is clearly laid out and easy to use. I have given it as a gift several times.

An excellent guide for an overall basic picture, beautifully presented. No in depth cultural coverage but excellent source of basic general information

This handy book is absolutely beautiful. I especially like the maps of the Mosques, Sultanahmet and the numerous colored photos and short synopses of the places we will visit. I'm tagging all of the cities we will visit on our tour. It makes our travel come alive. I'm very please at how prompt the delivery was

DK's Eyewitness Travel Guides are perfect for your next vacation or they can be illustrated journeys into new worlds you wish you could visit. These guides help me to understand the world and the 1,200 photographs, illustrations and maps in the Eyewitness Turkey Guide are stunning in beauty. I loved the two page spread of the Library of Celsus (one of the most famous Roman sites in Turkey) that is still standing after an earthquake. While reading you enter into a world of bathing pools with the remains of marble columns, Medieval castles, Turkish baths, old harbors with remnants of city walls, waterfalls, modern cities, underground cities, rock-cut monasteries, outdoor markets, Roman mosaics, cathedrals with unique architecture, mosques with beautiful gardens and palaces. I'd love to walk through the Topkapi Palace, which is now a public museum. The authors explain how you need to take guided tours through various sections, so that is helpful information to know before you plan a trip. If you are interested in Turkish music, you can read about the traditional instruments. I'm currently listening to "Art of the Turkish Ud" and the album "Ahenk Turkish Classical Music" has me intrigued. The main chapters: Introducing Turkey - This section paints a portrait of Turkey by exploring beguiling seascapes, brooding mountains and the tranquility of lakes. Pictures hint at the beauty of the sapphire water and ancient ruins. You will want to jump into these pictures and soak up the sun. You can read about the history of Turkey and read about the Hellenistic Age and The Byzantine Empire. Istanbul Area by Area - This section shows you how Turkey's largest city is divided into four sightseeing areas. There are street-by-street maps, story boxes to explore specific subjects in detail and suggested routes for walking through the city. Turkey Region by Region - The rest of the country is divided into seven regions and each has its own chapter. Pictorial maps, town maps, the top sights and detailed information makes this a fascinating study. Travelers' Needs - A section with information on where to stay, where to eat, shopping and entertainment. You can choose to stay in an opulent palace or a smaller summer house. You could even sleep out under the stars. The authors explain how you can get great deals by paying cash and explore a variety of exciting entertainment locations, like ski resorts, whitewater rafting, pony trekking or sailing. It sounds romantic to take a rail tour or to explore ruins. There is a survival guide section explaining customs, etiquette, currency and how to use a card phone. Perfect for the armchair traveler or for planning a trip to Turkey. This is one of my favorite DK guides. It truly awakens the traveling spirit and encourages you to think about journeying out into the world. ~The Rebecca Review

I'm a fan of DK publications in general, and their style is well suited for these 'big picture' Eyewitness travel guides. The maps, photos, illustrations and contexts excel at giving you the bird's eye view of what is outstanding in Turkey. My travels are mostly to Istanbul, but I wanted a pictorial that included the many other notable regions of Turkey. DK Turkey whet's my appetite and also serves as a good reference for showing others about my desination. It can't compare to being there, but it'll make you want to go.