Lonely Planet Middle East

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• Publisher: Lonely Planet
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN:
  9781788681339
• Print ISBN:
  9781786570710

Turkey

İstanbul

Aegean Coast

Çanakkale

Troy

Eceabat

Gallipoli Peninsula

Bursa

Bergama (Pergamum)

İzmır

Selçuk

Ephesus

Kuşadası

Pamukkale

Bodrum Town

Marmaris

Mediterranean Coast

Fethiye

Patara

Kalkan

Kaş

Olympos & Çıralı

Antalya

Side

Alanya

Central Anatolia

Ankara

Safranbolu

Konya

Cappadocia

Göreme

Avanos

Ürgüp

Kayseri

Black Sea Coast & Northeastern Anatolia

Trabzon

Erzurum

Kars

Doğubayazıt

Understand Turkey

Survival Guide

Turkey

Why Go?

Turkey is where Asia and Europe meet and meld together. The ‘bridge between continents’ tag may be a cliché, but this nation’s juxtaposition of modern sophistication and ancient tradition is a surprising and heady brew that turns many travellers’ first perceptions on their head. Steeped in age-old culture but imbued with a contemporary go-getting pulse, Turkey defies being pinned down and is the perfect introduction to the Middle East.

Every empire builder worth their salt has left their mark here. Stare in wonder at İstanbul’s deluge of Byzantine and Ottoman finery or explore the rambling ruins of Ephesus – actually just trip over a rock in Turkey and it’s probably going to be rubble from some long-gone empire’s era of glory. Afterwards, hike the lunarscape of Cappadocia or sunbake on a beach backed by lush Mediterranean coastline and you’ll discover a countryside just as mesmerising as its monuments.

When to Go

• Apr–May Spring is perfect for tackling Turkey’s long-distance Lycian Way.
• Jul–Sep Sun-sloth time. The Mediterranean coast sizzles and the sand beckons.
• Oct Prices drop but Turkish weather forgets it’s off season. Blue sky days without the crowds.

Best Places to Eat

A Antiochia

A Topdeck Cave Restaurant

A Ney

A Kalamaki Restaurant

A Vanilla

Best Places to Stay

A Sota Cappadocia

A Hideaway Hotel

A Hotel Empress Zoe

A Akay Pension

A Angora House Hotel

Turkey Highlights

1 İstanbul Craning your neck to gaze at Byzantine frescoes and Ottoman artistry.

2 Ephesus Channelling your inner Roman amid ...

Table of contents

• Table of Contents
• Welcome to the Middle East
• The Middle East’s Top 21
• Need to Know
• What’s New
• If You Like…
• Month by Month
• Itineraries
• Visas & Border Crossings
• Activities
• Travel with Children
• Countries at a Glance
• Egypt
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel & the Palestinian Territories
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Syria
• Turkey
• Understand the Middle East
• The Middle East Today
• History
• Religion
• Architecture
• Middle Eastern Cuisine
• The Arts
• Landscape & Environment
• Traveller Etiquette
• Safe Travel
• Women Travellers
• Directory A–Z
• Transport
• Health
• Language
• Behind the Scenes
• Our Writers