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Turkey
From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globetrotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years, and as a result has experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money.
This bestselling guide is the ticket to no-nonsense travel in Turkey. Far-reaching coverage of the sights--from the modern to the ancient--is complemented by a Turkish food guide, useful language section and glossary, and thorough accommodation coverage (from hostels to hotels). A section devoted to Turkish carpets explains everything from traditional patterns to making a good buy.
760 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1985
487 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Tom Brosnahan
68 booksIn 1968, Tom Brosnahan wrote the first budget guidebook to Turkey as a Peace Corps project. Instead of completing work on a Ph.D. in History, he turned to travel writing and authored dozens of best-selling guidebooks for Frommer's, Lonely Planet and Berlitz. In 2000 he described it all in his humorous travel memoir, "Turkey: Bright Sun, Strong Tea" (2005).
In 2000 he transitioned to the Web, where his websites guided millions of travelers from 230+ countries.
In 2016, standing in Istanbul's Sultan Ahmet Square, he remembered how it looked in 1968 during the hippy era. Characters appeared in his imagination, he wrote down their antics, and within a week he had 30,000 words of a humorous novel: "Istanbul Love Bus" (2018).
"Paris Girls Secret Society" (2017) was to be a sequel, but new characters appeared instead. Some of the Istanbul characters reappear on a Greek island in "Alexandros - the island" (2024). Fascinated by the similarities between today's world and the Gilded Age, he wrote "Serene - a novel of the Belle Époque" (2022).
Another humorous travel memoir centered on food is in the works (2025), as is another novel.
In 2000 he transitioned to the Web, where his websites guided millions of travelers from 230+ countries.
In 2016, standing in Istanbul's Sultan Ahmet Square, he remembered how it looked in 1968 during the hippy era. Characters appeared in his imagination, he wrote down their antics, and within a week he had 30,000 words of a humorous novel: "Istanbul Love Bus" (2018).
"Paris Girls Secret Society" (2017) was to be a sequel, but new characters appeared instead. Some of the Istanbul characters reappear on a Greek island in "Alexandros - the island" (2024). Fascinated by the similarities between today's world and the Gilded Age, he wrote "Serene - a novel of the Belle Époque" (2022).
Another humorous travel memoir centered on food is in the works (2025), as is another novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
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June 18, 2021Great book. Provides a comprehensive guide of most of the cities in Turkey and tourist attractions. A must read if you are travelling to Turkey!
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September 10, 2024Inmiddels drie keer van voor tot achter gelezen. Veel aan gehad!
January 24, 2017
Having a spent a month in Turkey in 2011 (primarily travelling off the beaten path) with this book as my main reference, I feel that I am more than qualified to review it. While this guide has a number of problems, it also has its merits. Much of the general information is quite accurate and their general advice proved itself to be extremely useful. For example, their description of the apple tea carpet salesman routine was freakishly accurate, and the entire time some guy was trying to sell me a carpet I couldn't help but note just how similar it was to what the book described. The environmental descriptions were quite accurate most of the way. By describing a lot of stuff off the beaten track in Turkey the book really encourages the traveller to actually experience authentic Turkey (which, as another reviewed noted, is not anything like Kusadashi or Kas.)
This is a good general guidebook and it got me around Turkey for a month. Do not be discouraged by the fact that I am now going to list a number of faults. Instead, use other resources to make up for these faults lest you get stuck somewhere. For one, the maps in the book are not always great. They are typically fine for more popular areas. The maps for Sultanahmet, for example, are just fine and you can find your way around without any trouble. However, the further you get from main tourist sites, the worse the maps get. The western sections of Istanbul inside the Theodosian Walls were nigh-unnavigable with the Lonely Planet maps because there were so many streets that simply did not show appear. I spent a lot of time lost in this part of town and was forced to resort to other maps and asking the locals. Another thing the book never mentioned were the obnoxious hucksters in the main tourist areas. While this is hardly a Turkish phenomenon, I did find them to be a lot more aggressive and irritating than anywhere else. Of course, once you're outside of any of the main tourist places you'll never see anyone like that other than children who seem to only know the word "money," and want some from you. Considering how often these things came up, the book's failure to mention them is notable. The book occasionally misrepresents historical sites as well. It claims that Perge, one of the most spectacular Roman cities I've ever seen (complete with a large theater, stadion, and Byzantine ruins on the hill at the end of the collondaded street) can be explored in an hour, whereas a day is more realistic. In a similar manner (and on the facing page) the book praises the ruins of Termessos. Termessos is in a spectacular location and is as easily accessible from Antalya as Perge, but the ruins at the site are unimpressive on their own, badly overgrown, and almost completely un-excavated. The book could also use better driving directions, information on parking, and general information on Turkish highways. I rented a car and learned as I went, leaning heavily on the GPS device the rental car company gave me. Some better general road maps and driving information could have alleviated a lot of stress, although I still managed to get around without too much trouble from the information in the book.
This is a good book. Although this review may seem overwhelmingly negative, I am merely pointing out some flaws so that anyone wishing to travel to Turkey with this book can make up for its defects with other materials. Other than these few caveats, this is an excellent book.
This is a good general guidebook and it got me around Turkey for a month. Do not be discouraged by the fact that I am now going to list a number of faults. Instead, use other resources to make up for these faults lest you get stuck somewhere. For one, the maps in the book are not always great. They are typically fine for more popular areas. The maps for Sultanahmet, for example, are just fine and you can find your way around without any trouble. However, the further you get from main tourist sites, the worse the maps get. The western sections of Istanbul inside the Theodosian Walls were nigh-unnavigable with the Lonely Planet maps because there were so many streets that simply did not show appear. I spent a lot of time lost in this part of town and was forced to resort to other maps and asking the locals. Another thing the book never mentioned were the obnoxious hucksters in the main tourist areas. While this is hardly a Turkish phenomenon, I did find them to be a lot more aggressive and irritating than anywhere else. Of course, once you're outside of any of the main tourist places you'll never see anyone like that other than children who seem to only know the word "money," and want some from you. Considering how often these things came up, the book's failure to mention them is notable. The book occasionally misrepresents historical sites as well. It claims that Perge, one of the most spectacular Roman cities I've ever seen (complete with a large theater, stadion, and Byzantine ruins on the hill at the end of the collondaded street) can be explored in an hour, whereas a day is more realistic. In a similar manner (and on the facing page) the book praises the ruins of Termessos. Termessos is in a spectacular location and is as easily accessible from Antalya as Perge, but the ruins at the site are unimpressive on their own, badly overgrown, and almost completely un-excavated. The book could also use better driving directions, information on parking, and general information on Turkish highways. I rented a car and learned as I went, leaning heavily on the GPS device the rental car company gave me. Some better general road maps and driving information could have alleviated a lot of stress, although I still managed to get around without too much trouble from the information in the book.
This is a good book. Although this review may seem overwhelmingly negative, I am merely pointing out some flaws so that anyone wishing to travel to Turkey with this book can make up for its defects with other materials. Other than these few caveats, this is an excellent book.
September 25, 2012
It's hard to give a definitive review of this guide. You have to remember that Turkey is a fairly large country and there were EIGHT authors who worked on this book. So depending on which region of Turkey you read up the most about, your impression of the book may vary. Having said that, my itinerary took me through Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, and bits along the Aegean coast - which is what I expect MANY travellers would be doing. With that in mind, here's what I think of this particular Lonely Planet guide/edition:
- Maps and listings seemed accurate for most part, which is THE most important thing for me in a travel guide. (Some of the ones for Cappadocia are off though.) However, the maps mostly stick to busiest parts of touristy neighbourhoods - don't expect a working map of the full city. Then again, you'll probably stick mostly the must-see bits anyway.
- I was impressed by the comprehensive bus timing information from all major bus terminals around Turkey. This was actually quite handy for me in planning my itinerary on the fly.
- Lacking in budget accommodation options throughout. Most of the accommodation entries are for rooms that are 50 liras or more a day - you can definitely go cheaper than that and I was disappointed that they did not have definitive recommendations on that.
- Descriptions of places to visit are bare minimum - and often copied from signs or audio guides from those places. Don't expect to use this as an in-depth guide on understanding things, but for basics it's okay.
Overall, I'd recommend buying it. Bus timings and maps are my two main needs in a travel guide and I figure out the rest myself. This book fulfils those two criteria well-enough.
- Maps and listings seemed accurate for most part, which is THE most important thing for me in a travel guide. (Some of the ones for Cappadocia are off though.) However, the maps mostly stick to busiest parts of touristy neighbourhoods - don't expect a working map of the full city. Then again, you'll probably stick mostly the must-see bits anyway.
- I was impressed by the comprehensive bus timing information from all major bus terminals around Turkey. This was actually quite handy for me in planning my itinerary on the fly.
- Lacking in budget accommodation options throughout. Most of the accommodation entries are for rooms that are 50 liras or more a day - you can definitely go cheaper than that and I was disappointed that they did not have definitive recommendations on that.
- Descriptions of places to visit are bare minimum - and often copied from signs or audio guides from those places. Don't expect to use this as an in-depth guide on understanding things, but for basics it's okay.
Overall, I'd recommend buying it. Bus timings and maps are my two main needs in a travel guide and I figure out the rest myself. This book fulfils those two criteria well-enough.
August 31, 2011
Interesting stuff as always. I could enjoy reading anything from this series, just for some focused history and a bit of armchair traveling. I wonder how much has changed in the half-dozen years since this edition came out... Certainly, I'll need to consult another source for the most up-to-date history.
I've borrowed the 2007 edition, and for some reason the writing is painfully chummy, including editorial scabs along the lines of "helluva," "kinda," etc. Attention LonelyPlanet: if I want super-colloquial writing, I'll read a blog. Also the maps are seriously lacking: the map at the chapter head for Cappadocia is a grey square, peppered with a handful of location dots. If I refer to the top of the page, I can see where this grey square was punched out of Turkey's outline, but that's still not very useful.
I've borrowed the 2007 edition, and for some reason the writing is painfully chummy, including editorial scabs along the lines of "helluva," "kinda," etc. Attention LonelyPlanet: if I want super-colloquial writing, I'll read a blog. Also the maps are seriously lacking: the map at the chapter head for Cappadocia is a grey square, peppered with a handful of location dots. If I refer to the top of the page, I can see where this grey square was punched out of Turkey's outline, but that's still not very useful.
May 10, 2013
Dear Lonely Planet,
Your maps are awful. Really, really bad. Why did you choose a gray background, and why can't you number your locations on said gray maps in any kind of a coherent pattern? God forbid you're trying to look at the map on a Kindle, then you truly are doomed.
Of course, everyone loves reading a travel guide and daydreaming about their upcoming vacation. This guide is good for that; enough background information to give context, realistic descriptions of the sights, etc. I basically ignore all the food and hotel info (that's what the internet is for, right?), but for a novice traveler it's probably comforting to have it in print as well.
Seriously though, you need to fix the maps.
Your maps are awful. Really, really bad. Why did you choose a gray background, and why can't you number your locations on said gray maps in any kind of a coherent pattern? God forbid you're trying to look at the map on a Kindle, then you truly are doomed.
Of course, everyone loves reading a travel guide and daydreaming about their upcoming vacation. This guide is good for that; enough background information to give context, realistic descriptions of the sights, etc. I basically ignore all the food and hotel info (that's what the internet is for, right?), but for a novice traveler it's probably comforting to have it in print as well.
Seriously though, you need to fix the maps.
April 9, 2019
Not as many options of where to stay and eat in various locations as I am used to in the old Lonely Planet Guide series. This edition I read is dated (2011) and even when they are two years old they are dated. It does provide information on what can be seen and a little bit of how to reach different destinations. Prices seem high (even for being eight years old) compared to what people who have recently been there told me. The section at the back on scams to avoid is helpful and having to pay $60US for a Visa (maybe more now) seems high. I will photocopy the page (380) on language tips to take with me.
March 9, 2009
I usually have to wait until I visit the country before I can really rate a book, but so far so good.
**Update: A lot of the opening and closing times are outdated, and we were unable to visit one place because of it. It was still over all a good book.
**Update: A lot of the opening and closing times are outdated, and we were unable to visit one place because of it. It was still over all a good book.
January 27, 2024
Great Overview of Turkey
A lot of details about Turkey, appreciated the background even if I had a pre/planned itinerary just to help me have context.
A lot of details about Turkey, appreciated the background even if I had a pre/planned itinerary just to help me have context.
November 8, 2025
If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring the stunning landscapes of Cappadocia, the vibrant streets of Istanbul, or the turquoise beaches of Antalya, getting a Turkey eVisa [ https://evisa.govt.tl/official/en-us/ ] is your first step — and it’s surprisingly easy! The Turkey eVisa process is fast, secure, and completely online. I applied from home, filled out the form, made the payment, and received my approved Turkey eVisa in my inbox within minutes. No embassy visits, no paperwork, just pure convenience.
The Turkey eVisa makes travel so much smoother for tourists, students, and business travelers alike. I loved how simple it was to track my application status, and the instructions were super clear. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with family, the Turkey eVisa saves time and stress, letting you focus on the exciting part — discovering Turkey’s history, food, and culture.
From ancient ruins to modern cities, Turkey has something for everyone — and thanks to the Turkey eVisa, planning your trip has never been this effortless. Highly recommended for anyone ready to experience the beauty of Turkey without visa hassles!
The Turkey eVisa makes travel so much smoother for tourists, students, and business travelers alike. I loved how simple it was to track my application status, and the instructions were super clear. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with family, the Turkey eVisa saves time and stress, letting you focus on the exciting part — discovering Turkey’s history, food, and culture.
From ancient ruins to modern cities, Turkey has something for everyone — and thanks to the Turkey eVisa, planning your trip has never been this effortless. Highly recommended for anyone ready to experience the beauty of Turkey without visa hassles!
August 4, 2021
I see two use-cases for this book. One, you're in Turkey, preferably with a car and all the time in the world, and you leisurely flick through the pages to see which village you want to visit next. Two, you already have an itinerary more or less in mind, and just need to join the dots here and there. As something to convince you to actually visit Turkey, it is useless. It covers too many locations in too little detail. You get a few paragraphs per town, basically telling you whether it has a mosque, castle, museum, and on to the next one. Very few pictures, almost no journey ideas. As an idea of what to do in Turkey, it is not much better -- due to the extreme brevity of the description of any one place.
There is some useful information at the back on history, food and whatever. I'd say more than half the book is dedicated to hotels, restaurants, and bars, which is of questionable utility in the internet age.
There is some useful information at the back on history, food and whatever. I'd say more than half the book is dedicated to hotels, restaurants, and bars, which is of questionable utility in the internet age.
December 8, 2018
"Turkey's diverse landscapes, from Aegean olive groves to eastern steppe, provide a lyrical setting for its many great ruins. The country's most magical scenery is to be found in Asian Anatolia, where beautiful vistas are provided by the vertiginous Mediterranean coastline, Cappadocia's otherworldly 'fairy chimney' rock formations and wavy valleys, the alpine pastures of the Kaçkar Mountains, and golden beaches such as 18km-long Patara. Whether you settle down with a çay to enjoy the view across mountain-ringed Lake Eğirdir or explore the hilly hinterland on the southwest coast's many peninsulas, Turkey's landscape will leave a lasting impression. "
May 17, 2023
The prices are way off even considering inflation. I think they should have quoted prices in euros considering they are aware of the inflation issues in Turkey.
They could do with mentioning difficult access to other sites like the Three Graces cannot be easily reached on foot as you would be walking along a highway.
They could do with mentioning difficult access to other sites like the Three Graces cannot be easily reached on foot as you would be walking along a highway.
October 30, 2022
Excelente guía, super completa. Me ayudó y acompañó durante el mejor viaje de mi vida. Recomiendo 100%
October 4, 2023
A must-read book that's highly informative and useful. Definitely a great resource to help plan my wedding anniversary trip.
September 22, 2009
"Ataturk' zeal for modernization was unwavering, giving the Turkish state a makeover on micro and macro levels. Everything from headgear to spoken language was scrutinized and where necessary reformed. Throughout the 1920s and '30s Turkey adopted the Gregorian calendar (bringing it in line with the West, rather than the Middle Eat), reformed its alphabet (adopting the Roman alphabet and abandoning Arabic script) and standardised the Turkish language, outlawed the fez (seen as a reminder of the Ottoman era, hence backward), instituted universal suffrage, and decreed that Turks should take surnames, something they had previously got by without."
September 9, 2011
I worked off of several travel guides when I went to Turkey and they all filled separate purposes. This book was helpful in deciding where to go on a very macro level, and the region breakdown at the beginning of the book was gold. However, beyond that, it was not good for deciding where to go or what to do, but it was very good on the ground, answering questions like "what else is there to do here? what should I do first? how far are we from Kas and how much is the bus?". The restaurant suggestions, like every travel book, should be ignored.
February 16, 2012
Chalk full of information about Turkey - this tome (it is a tome folks) is hefty and all inclusive. The only negatives include its weight, size, and overall inclusivity. I found myself overwhelmed with information. However, I did appreciate the site suggestions as we ended up taking the exact route proposed on our two week excursion.
Definitely worth it, but if you can get it as a PDF on an e-reader, you would probably be happier.
Definitely worth it, but if you can get it as a PDF on an e-reader, you would probably be happier.
June 2, 2013
This was a handy, easy to use source of information. Descriptions were accurate and extensive. I didn't find the pullout maps too useful on the street as who wants to actually unfold a map from a book while sight seeing? This book was most useful while en route through Antolia to aid in planning adventures. And yes, the maps were quite useful then. Being released this year, it proved to be up to date.
February 26, 2008
I love you, Lonely Planet!
Very helpful guidebook. Lonely Planet really do seem to surpass all other guidebooks as far as accuracy and smooth, understandable writing. I do wish they would include a rating system like Frommers though, becuase sometimes it can be hard to tell if the writer is recommending the place or not.
Very helpful guidebook. Lonely Planet really do seem to surpass all other guidebooks as far as accuracy and smooth, understandable writing. I do wish they would include a rating system like Frommers though, becuase sometimes it can be hard to tell if the writer is recommending the place or not.
June 29, 2013
When I travel to a new location I always reach for Lonely Planet. Their off the beaten path activities and tips have brought some of the most memorable travel experiences to date. However I always find that I need to cross check their lodging and restaurant recommendations with Trip Advisor. But find that their pointers always get me moving in the right direction.
June 8, 2012
A little bit of the info was out of date, despite this being published in March 2011, and a lot of the phrases at that back were more formal than you need, but still a very useful guidebook with a ton of information about all things Turkey vacation-related.
July 22, 2014
I used this to supplement a group tour and it was extremely handy. The others in my group left their tour books and used mine as a reference. Reading the history and tips before I left gave good insight into how I should pack and what to expect. Thanks again, Lonely Planet!
February 15, 2024
Very interesting and in-depth information unlike other Turkey books that I have found from the library. I highly recommend it. My notebook is full of inspiration. Let's see where I will travel this year... 😌
March 5, 2007
I'm reading the English version but with this picture which I like better. Gotta be accurate!
June 5, 2008
Pretty good guide.
May 1, 2009
this is an on-going "read", ie, whenever I'm traveling :)
December 3, 2009
Used this book whilst backpacking through Turkey. Served its purpose well.
May 11, 2012
[2009.05] Helped us with planning our travels in the Cappadocia region and Ephesus/Selcuk (Spring-Summer 2009 Europe trip).
September 10, 2010
I'd be lost wıthout ıt!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews