Rating: 
Summary: Even Turks like it!
Review: Even my native Turkish friend, who is originally from Istanbul and whom I visited this past spring (with this book in hand), was fascinated by this book! He was really impressed with the layout, all the detailed and pertinent (and sometimes unique/unusual) information, the photos/drawings, the maps, etc. It also has good info about places outside the city. I accidentally left the book behind after I put it down to pay for some things in a photo shop and didn't realize it was missing until a few hours later (I was with my own personal "tour guide," after all ;-)...my Turkish friend made his way back to the shop just to retrieve it for me (and thankfully the shop owner had kept it safe in hopes of the owner returning for it...and even he had looked through it and commented how good it looked)! Going to Istanbul? GET THIS BOOK!
Rating: 
Summary: Admit it, we love pictures!
Review: I brought the Eyewitness Travel Guides: Istanbul by Deni Brown with me to Istanbul last month, along with Freely's Istanbul, and I could not have chosen two better books. The Freely book provided me with the historical background I needed while the Eyewitness Travel Guide provided excellent maps, valuable travel information (the only book that warned me about the $40 visa fee at the airport), and of course those pictures we all love so much. The pictures, and especially the drawings, are excellent. If you are going to Istanbul, take this book and the Freely book with you.
Rating:
Summary: Admit it, we love pictures!
Review: I brought the Eyewitness Travel Guides: Istanbul by Deni Brown with me to Istanbul last month, along with Freely's Istanbul, and I could not have chosen two better books. The Freely book provided me with the historical background I needed while the Eyewitness Travel Guide provided excellent maps, valuable travel information (the only book that warned me about the $40 visa fee at the airport), and of course those pictures we all love so much. The pictures, and especially the drawings, are excellent. If you are going to Istanbul, take this book and the Freely book with you.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent guide to Istanbul
Review: I just got back from Istanbul and I can say that this book was one of the things that made this a memorable vacation. The information is complete and (mostly) up to date (visa costs had been increased) but otherwise I found it easy to use and informative. The only other book I would recommend is "Imperial Istanbul" for the true history buff traveler.
Rating:
Summary: invaluable!!!
Review: I just got back from Istanbul and I can say that this book was one of the things that made this a memorable vacation. The information is complete and (mostly) up to date (visa costs had been increased) but otherwise I found it easy to use and informative. The only other book I would recommend is "Imperial Istanbul" for the true history buff traveler.
Rating:
Summary: Eyewitness consistency
Review: Seriously good colour production, with great maps and cutaways. Hasn't got the historical depth of a Blue Guide, but this series exists for a different purpose, and this one hits the mark. It has information on just about everything the visitor would want to see and do, and it would be a useful companion for someone living in the city for a period of time. There is another, similar series called 'Everyman Guides' which do not appear to be available on amazon. The publisher is David campbell of London. I have their Istanbul guide as well. It does some things similarly to Eyewitness, and the colour is as good. It, however, takes a thematic approach, so there are chapters on things like Istanbul as seen by painters or writers. I think both volumes are excellent, and provide good reading in preparation for a trip, or armchair daydreaming! Having lived in Istanbul, I would have welcomed both these books.
Rating:
Summary: A must for the tourist to Istanbul
Review: The Eyewitness guides are all well-planned but the Istanbul guide is a traveler's treasure. Especially valuable are the features on top ten sites, top ten museums, and top ten mosques that prioritize sights for tourists with curiosity and a cultural interest. There is a useful checklist of sites within the geographic areas. This well-illustrated guide both provides quick reference capability and a listing of all the top sites that more informed tourists will wish to visit.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, Excellent
Review: The Eyewitness Travel Guides are all excellent. The Istanbul guide is no exception. It has everything a traveller needs, and it is presented in an easy, slick, fun package. The maps are great and are cross-referenced to the site descriptions, there are wonderful descriptions of neighborhoods, a layout of the Bosporus boat trip, blueprint breakouts of famous sites such as the Blue Mosque, a fantastic chart of the Topkapi palace. Food hints, restauant guide, hotel tips, etc. In short, this is a great guide. It's also lightweight and easy to take along in your daypack.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, Excellent
Review: The Eyewitness Travel Guides are all excellent. The Istanbul guide is no exception. It has everything a traveller needs, and it is presented in an easy, slick, fun package. The maps are great and are cross-referenced to the site descriptions, there are wonderful descriptions of neighborhoods, a layout of the Bosporus boat trip, blueprint breakouts of famous sites such as the Blue Mosque, a fantastic chart of the Topkapi palace. Food hints, restauant guide, hotel tips, etc. In short, this is a great guide. It's also lightweight and easy to take along in your daypack.
Rating:
Summary: the best on Istanbul
Review: The maps are the most useful of any of the Istanbul travel books I have seen; although this book gives history and analysis, it is not too in depth, as the Knopf book can be, so that you lose sight of where you are. The tours laid out in this book contain references to small cafes and shops and restaurants that none of the others do. It is a 1998 version so is very up-to-date. Excellent book.
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