Every major guidebook company from Lonely Planet to Let's Go makes at least one Turkey guidebook.
Most guidebook companies make a book on Turkey as a whole, but the country's territory and diversity of places to visit make for enough material for a full guidebook on specific regions and cities like Istanbul.
If you're only planning on visiting one city, getting a specific guidebook for the city is a good idea. For example, Lonely Planet's book on Istanbul gives good in-depth coverage of Istanbul and the surrounding area.
If you'll be visiting lots of places in Turkey, getting a larger guidebook like The Rough Guide to Turkey is a good idea. If you're handy with scissors, you can cut out the chapters you need and leave the rest of the guidebook at home to save room as you pack your bags.
Once you know what size Turkey guidebook you need, shop around for a guidebook that fits your travel style. If you're backpacking, Lonely Planet, Let's Go, and the Rough Guide are some of the best Turkey guidebooks.
If you're going upscale, look into guides like the Hg2 Istanbul (A Hedonist's Guide to Istanbul), the Wallpaper Guide to Istanbul, or the LUXE guide to Istanbul that offer more high-end suggestions for hotels, restaurants, and shopping.
If you love sightseeing, consider picking up the Eyewitness Travel Guide to Turkey. With photos and illustrations on every page, the Eyewitness Turkey guidebook is great for explaining the details of Turkey's many historic buildings and landmarks.
On a budget? A lot of the best deals on Turkey guidebooks can be found on websites where travelers that have just returned from Turkey are selling their books. If you're lucky you can get a copy with good notes and suggestions written in!
One last tip on finding the best Turkey guidebooks: check the date the guidebook was published. If it is more than a year old, don't buy it. Things change so quickly in Turkey that an old guidebook will be of little use to you today.
Labels: Istanbul
