Lonely Planet Istanbul

I really liked reading the ideas that the locals have for some offbeat sightseeing, also liked the basic instructions for the hamams (which I'd love to do, but need instructions like this in order to feel comfortable enough to try.) I also liked the locals ideas regarding the best place to try for lokum, art, dining, etc.

I love Istanbul, having lived there in the early 1990s. In 2005 I made my first return visit since then, and although I feel confident I know the city well, much has changed. This guide contained information which locals I stayed with weren't aware of, particularly public transport info. My main criticism of LP books is that the maps are pretty useless, and this is once again the case. You really need to get a separate map f you are going to venture beyond the really well trodden path. (There are a couple of bookshops on Istiklal Cadessi that sell good maps). I found the tone of the book suited me - it is enthusiastic about an amazing city, and the author certainly knows the place well. I don;t usually follow guide book suggestions for places to eat, preferring to discover those on my own. I am gald I allowed Maxwell to lead me to a couple of cafes and bars, however, as they were excellent. I recommend this book for both the novice and experienced traveller to the city (which I don;t with all LP City Guides - some, like Paris, I think reather too basic for the experienced visitor to that city).

I am going back to Istanbul and Turkey for the fourth time. I am buying a copy of this after seeing the library copy. Istanbul is fun! and this will help with a few details, like the ferry's up the Bospherus. Ignore the review saying Istanbul is not a cool place to go.

We found this book to be very useful before and during our first trip to Istanbul. It was a wonderful resource for hotels, museums, restaurants and other typical "touristy" stuff as well as cultural differences that we may encounter... maps were helpful as well.

This book was easy to use and effective when planning my trip. Good overview of the key places to see, thus easy to select the key things to do. The hotel lists allowed me to e-mail the hotels, get prices, and make my reservations, along with using Yahoo/Excite/Fodors sites/listings to get hotel info. Small size and inexpensive price make it 1st of a core set of books to have. Start with this one then get an expanded one for more details.