DK Eyewitness Istanbul (DK Eyewitness Travel Guides) Paperback – 19 May 2014

Went to Istanbul for 3 days in November 2016, went with the Lonely Planet Pocket Guide as it was all I could find in a local bookshop at the last minute (as my Amazon order of the DK book actually got lost in delivery by UPS). Hated the LP (hard to navigate, very little info to read) and was very happy to find the DK book in a bookshop in Istanbu l itself. For a short and/or city break, DK books are the best. Area by area, there is a clear map with numbered places of interest, followed by drawings of key buildings and areas of streets. This makes it very easy to navigate without needing to spend a long time reading the book in advance. We also followed a couple of the walking routes in the back of the book, so we could start seeing historical things right away with no advance planning of the day. Despite its ease in picking up and dipping into, it still manages to cover more buildings / detail than other guide books, so you can read little bits about buildings you pass on the way, not just the top 5 sights as other "weekend break" guide books cover. The book also covers the Asian side (in the 'further afield' section), and some more far flung places of interest that would make nice half day or full day trips out from the city - although we didn't have time in our short stay. DK books aren't great on how to get around, how to holiday on a budget, restaurants listings for the backpacker minded, etc but we had already pre-booked our hotel and enjoyed stumbling across restaurants (which are plentiful in Istanbul). I generally find these things change fast and the internet is the best source anyway. Nevertheless we did find a couple of good suggestions for bars in the evening using the DK book.

Used this when planning and visiting guess where. Really useful - I find the DK guides much better than other well-known brands. I like the way they are set out - very clear with decent pictures, and easy to find what you’re looking for. If I have a criticism it’s that the sections on Fener and Balat could be bigger - but the DK coverage is, again, better than other guidebooks I consulted.

Light on historical detail but heavy on facts and practical information, I found this guide really useful during a short trip to Istanbul. It neatly divides the city into four main areas with about a dozen pages dedicated to each one. There are also sections on the Bosphorus [its coastal towns and resorts] and the outlying districts of the city. Additionally, there are ideas for days out from Istanbul and three guided walks which weave their way through most of the city's main sights.There is also a very useful Istanbul Transit Map in the back cover [duplicated on the pull-out map] which shows the main bus, tram, ferry and metro routes to the main points of interest. Combined with hundreds of photographs and Eyewitness's trademark 3-D cutaways of major sights, floorplans of prominent buildings and 3-D aerial views, this colourful guide is the perfect companion for a trip to a city as visually stunning as Istanbul.

Great guide book, handy map, loved it and used it extensively

Good guide, accurate and very informative. The pull out maps are great - allowed us to walk around the city with ease. Istanbul is a must visit city - I would put it up there with the bet I have seen anywhere in the world

Istanbul keeps changing and a guide needs to change to keep up with it. The Dorling-Kindersley series is a reliable one and this is an excellent guidebook. Anyone who has been before will look up to see what it says about "favourite" things, and what the DK guide says pretty much matches my memory. Thee are a few things left out, but overall, this is probably the best all-round guide for anyone to use in a short visit to the city.

Bought this prior to a visit to Istanbul. The book gives good info and is easy to navigate. The map is useful and I found it to be a useful guide while travelling around Istanbul

Used Dk guides in Poland,Israel,Berlin and as useual this is an excellent book with lots of detail and information on all the major places sites etc, The one thing i do like is the guided walks in these books which really give you the confidence to go out and explore areas you might not come across. In short a must for anyone who likes to explore.