Lonely Planet Middle East

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

Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher Lonely Planet's Middle East is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Wonder at the mighty Pyramids of Giza, the last surviving ancient wonder; watch the sun set over the honeycombed magic of Petra; and explore tree-lined boulevards and exquisite blue-tiled mosques in Esfahan, Iran. All with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Middle East and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet's Middle East: Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights provide a richer, more rewarding travel experience - covering history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics Covers Egypt, Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Middle East is our most comprehensive guide to the region, and is designed to immerse you in the culture and help you discover the best sights and get off the beaten track. Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet's Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Jordan and Israel & the Palestinian Territories guides for a comprehensive look at all these countries have to offer. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, video, 14 languages, nine international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more. 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves, it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' - Fairfax Media (Australia)eBook Features: (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones) Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the

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