Rick Steves’ Istanbul
$11.56
Product Description
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 Topkapı Palace. Wander through monumental mosques, shop along sophisticate… More >>
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Rick Steves’ Istanbul
Steves’ Istanbul guide made planning & enjoying our trip to Istanbul a breeze. I was slightly hesitant when I saw that he’d “outsourced” this book to other writers, but the guide lives up to the standard of his other books. Easy and entertaining to read, full of interesting and practical information, well-organized, full of maps and sample walks & itineraries, this guide was all my wife and I needed for our 4 day stay in Istanbul. My only quibble: especially knowing how much Steves loves Turkey, why limit this guide book only to Istanbul? I have to think that at sometime in the future, a “Rick Steves’ Turkey” will become a reality, introducing even more people to this beautiful country.
If you’re familiar with Rick’s guides you know they’re the best, and this Istanbul guide is no different. If you’re not familiar with Rick, now you are! Go out and get this guide if you’re going to Istanbul.
Rating: 5 / 5
Are the maps visible? I’ve looked at the sample, but no maps are included. Just learning to use my Kindle, and am having difficulty with guidebooks.I find it difficult to navigate Let’s Go Turkey, and impossible to read its maps. Can maps be enlarged on Kindle as on a computer? If not, I don’t see much use in guidebooks on Kindle.
PS I know this is not a review, but how else can I get help?
Rating: 3 / 5
I love Rick Steves books. His travel philosophy matches mine, and I find his books incredibly useful. His Istanbul guide has a wealth of useful info – but also many weaknesses compared to his other books… Sights and walking tours are great; history information and trivia is great and entertaining; many restaurant recommendations are also good. However, the hotels recommended are all way more expensive than what I managed to find. Many restaurants recommended were dissappointing. Also, there is practically no info on Asian part of Istanbul – which is surprising knowing Rick’s philosophy of travelling as ‘temporary local’… In the Old Town one can never feel like temporary local – only like a moving target… while in the Asian part of Istanbul I and my family felt way more pleasant, and in a way easier to blend…
This book is still better than the other books offered – just some areas are not up to the standards of other Rick’s books, in my opinion.
Rating: 3 / 5
We recieved the Book 3 days before we left and did an intense study, found that the book allowed us not to waste time seeking. We were there for one week and had the book at all times .It guided us to begin and from there we could adjust our trip accordingly.I would recomend as A must have if You are going to Istanbul
Rating: 5 / 5
Rick Steve made an excellent decision to have guides Lale Surmen Aran and Tankut Aran write this book. They clearly know and love their city, know what is helpful and interesting to tourists, and wrote a very thorough, informative, and user-friendly guide.
I appreciated the format of the concise Sights and Experiences sections, followed by chapters offering more in-depth information on the self-guided walks and tours. This format was extremely useful as I planned my days and then toured the city. Simple, useful maps are included in each walk and tour section.
I would like to have seen the chapters on Turkish History and Culture and Understanding Islam at the beginning of the book rather than the end, as I think they are of great importance to westerners visiting this amazing city.
Another book I highly recommend to supplement this book is Istanbul’s Bazaar Quarter: Backstreet Walking Tours. This book is written in the same spirit as the Old Town Back Streets Walk chapter in Rick Steve’s book, but offers four separate walking tours, and goes into much more detail about the bazaar quarter and the people you will meet there. Istanbul’s Bazaar Quarter: Backstreet Walking Tours
Rick Steve’s Istanbul was my first Rick Steve guidebook, and overall I was very pleased. I highly recommend Istanbul, and I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 5 / 5