travel guidebooks for turkey

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Lonely Planet’s  Turkey  is our most comprehensive guide that extensively covers all the country has to offer, with recommendations for both popular and lesser-known experiences. See the minarets of Istanbul’s Old City, hot-air balloon over Cappadocia, gaze at the magnificent Aya Sofya; all with your trusted travel companion.  

Inside  Lonely Planet’s  Turkey  Travel Guide: 

Up-to-date information -  all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreak

NEW top experiences feature  - a visually inspiring collection of Turkey’s best experiences and where to have them

What's NEW feature  taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas 

Planning tools for family travellers  - where to go, how to save money, plus fun stuff just for kids

NEW pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card*  with wi-fi, ATM and transport info - all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotel

Highlights   and itineraries  help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests

Eating & drinking in Turkey  -  we reveal the dishes and drinks you have to try

Colour  maps and images throughout

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  give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics

Covers  Istanbul, Thrace, Marmara, Gallipoli Peninsula, Troy, Izmir, North Aegean, Ephesus, Bodrum, South Aegean, Ankara, Cappadocia, Black Sea Coast, Antalya, Eastern Mediterranean and more

eBook is available in ePub, MOBI and PDF.

ISBN: 9781786578006

Edition: 16th

Publication Date: May 2022

Writers: Jessica Lee, Brett Atkinson, Mark Elliott, Steve Fallon, Virginia Maxwell, Iain Stewart

640 pages, 640pp color, 110 maps | Dimensions: 128mm × 197mm

Next edition due: December 2024

Which guidebook is right for me?

Country, city & regional guides.

• Top experience collections
• Regional itineraries recommended by experts (from a couple of days to multi-week)
• 3D illustrations and guided tours of key sights
• Extensive coverage of history and culture
• Detailed maps throughout - includes walking maps and a pull-out planning map

EXPERIENCE guides

(country, city & regional).

• Led by local experts that reveal their favorite experiences and hidden gems
• Personal itinerary building tools
• Seasonal planning calendars
• QR codes unlock additional online content

POCKET guides

(city & regional).

• Special features cover most popular sights
• Content organized by neighborhhod
• Recommended 1, 2, 3 and 4-day itineraries
• Guided walking tours

Travel Guide Turkey

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A mesmerizing mix of the exotic and the familiar, Turkey is much more than its clichéd image of a “bridge between East and West”. Invaded and settled from every direction since the start of recorded history, it combines influences from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Central Asia. Mosques coexist with churches, Roman theatres and temples crumble near ancient Hittite cities, and dervish ceremonies and gypsy festivals are as much a part of the social landscape as classical music concerts or football matches.

Where to go in Turkey

Who are the turks, tailor-made travel itineraries for turkey, created by local experts.

4 days  / from 1050 USD

Sensational landscapes of Cappadocia

3 different modes of transportation to explore Cappadocia - by hot air balloon, on the back of a camel as well as on an ATV quad. Why choose if you can have it all? Four days filled with fun and adventure in the volcanic valleys around Cappadocia make an unforgettable trip.

5 days  / from 1100 USD

City & culture - Istanbul and Cappadocia

Explore two absolute highlights in Turkey - Istanbul, the former capital of the Ottoman Empire with its many landmarks. After a few days in the city, fly to Cappadocia and explore the surreal surroundings, either on day tours or from above in a hot air balloon.

9 days  / from 2500 USD

Magical Turkey

Visit Gobekli Tepe and Mount Nemrut in Southeastern Anatolia before proceeding to Cappadocia with its volcanic scenery. After a few days in the valleys, continue to Pamukkale and the ancient city of Ephesus. Your tour starts and ends in Istanbul.

The friendliness of the Turkish people makes visiting a pleasure; indeed you risk causing offence by declining invitations, and find yourself making friends through the simplest of transactions. At the big resorts and tourist spots, of course, this can merely be an excuse to sell you something, but elsewhere, despite a history in which outsiders have so often brought trouble, the warmth and generosity are genuine.

Politically, modern Turkey was a grand experiment, largely the creation of one man – Kemal Atatürk. With superhuman energy, he salvaged the Turkish state from the wreckage of the Ottoman Empire and defined it as a modern, secular nation. Following 2011’s record-breaking third successive election victory by the AKP (Justice and Development Party), largely supported by conservative Muslims, some secular Turks fear an Iranian-style Islamic theocracy. This seems most unlikely, however, in a country that has been a multi-party democracy for over sixty years, and successfully blended secularism, parliamentary democracy and global capitalism with Islam.

Despite official efforts to enforce a uniform Turkish identity, the population is remarkably heterogeneous. When the Ottoman Empire imploded, refugees streamed into Anatolia, including Muslim Slavs, Greeks, Albanians, Crimean Tatars, Daghestanlis, Abkhazians and Circassians. There they joined an already mixed population that included a very sizeable minority of Kurds. Thanks to recent arrivals from former Soviet or Eastern Bloc territories, that diversity endures. Another surprise may be Turkey’s sheer youthfulness: more than half the population is under thirty, with legions of young people working in coastal resorts, and shoals of schoolkids surging through the city streets.

A huge part of Turkey’s appeal lies in its archeological sites, a legacy of the bewildering succession of states – Hittite, Urartian, Phrygian, Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Armeno-Georgian – that held sway here before the twelfth century. From grand Classical cities to hilltop fortresses and remote churches, some still produce exciting new finds today. In addition, Turkey holds a vast number of graceful Islamic monuments, as well as intriguing city bazaars, still hanging on amid the chain stores and shopping malls. Sadly, ugly modern architecture spoils most coastal resorts, where it’s often hard to find a beach that matches the tourist-board hype. Inland Turkey, with its Asiatic expanses of mountain, steppe, lake, and even cloud-forest, may leave a more vivid memory, especially when accented by some crumbling kervansaray , mosque or castle.

Western Turkey is the most economically developed, and most visited, part of the country. It would take weeks even to scratch the surface of the old imperial capital, İstanbul, straddling the straits linking the Black and Marmara seas, and still Turkey’s cultural and commercial hub. Flanking it on opposite sides of the Sea of Marmara, the two prior seats of the Ottoman Empire, Bursa and Edirne, abound in monumental attractions and regal atmosphere. Beyond the Dardanelles and its World War I battlefields lie Turkey’s two Aegean islands, Gökçeada and Bozcaada, popular for their excellent beaches, lingering Greek-ethnic identity and (except in midsummer) tranquillity.

Further south, the olive-swathed landscapes around Bergama and Ayvalık epitomize the Classical character of the North Aegean. Ancient Sardis, and the old Ottoman princely training-ground of Manisa, also make a fine pair, although İzmir serves merely as a functional introduction to the central and southern Aegean. Celebrated Ephesus tends to overshadow the equally deserving ancient Ionian sites of Priene and Didyma, or the intriguing ruins of Aphrodisias and Labranda – and don’t overlook evocative hill towns like Şirince or Birgi. Also inland are tranquil, islet-dotted Bafa Gölü, the architectural showcase town of Muğla, and the compelling geological oddity of Pamukkale, where travertine formations abut Roman Hierapolis. While the coast itself is heavily developed, its star resorts – Datça is the quietest, Bodrum the most characterful – make comfortable bases.

Beyond the huge natural harbour at Marmaris, the Aegean gradually becomes the Mediterranean. Coastal cruises make popular pastimes in brazen Marmaris or more manageable Fethiye, the principal town of the Turquoise Coast, while fine beaches stretch at Dalyan and Patara, near eerie ancient Lycian tombs. Further east, Kaş and Kalkan are busy resorts, good for resting up between explorations of the mountainous hinterland. Beyond relatively untouched Çıralı beach, at ancient Olympos, fast-growing Antalya sprawls at the start of the Mediterranean Coast proper.

This is graced by extensive sands and archeological sites – most notably Termessos, Perge, Side and Aspendos – though its western parts get swamped in season. Beyond castle-topped Alanya, however, tourist numbers diminish; points of interest between Silifke and Adana include Roman Uzuncaburç and the romantic offshore fortress at Kızkalesi. Further east, Arab-influenced Antakya is the heart of the Hatay, culturally part of Syria.

Inland in South Central Anatolia, the rock-hewn churches, subterranean cities and tuff-pinnacle landscapes of Cappadocia await you. The dry, salubrious climate, excellent wine, artistic and architectural treasures, plus horseriding or hot-air ballooning could occupy you for ten days, including a stop in Kayseri on the way north. You might also pause at the historic lakefront towns of Eğirdir or Beyşehir, or in Konya, renowned for its Selçuk architecture and associations with the Mevlevi dervishes.

Ankara, Turkey’s capital, is a planned city whose contrived Western feel indicates the priorities of the Turkish Republic; it also features the outstanding Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Highlights of surrounding North Central Anatolia include the bizarre temple of Aezani, near Kütahya; the Ottoman museum-town of Safranbolu; exquisitely decorated early Turkish monuments in Divriği; and remarkable Hittite sites at Hattuşaş and Alacahöyük. As you travel north, pause in the Yeşilırmak valley towns of Sivas, Tokat and Amasya. The lush shoreline of the Black Sea beyond holds little more than a chain of Byzantine-Genoese castles; the oldest, most interesting towns are Sinop, Anatolia’s northernmost point, and Amasra. Fabled Trabzon, east of Sinop and once the seat of a Byzantine sub-empire, is now convenient for Aya Sofya and Sumela monasteries.

The Ankara–Sivas route positions you to head along the Euphrates River into the “back half” of Turkey. First stop in Northeastern Anatolia is likely to be Erzurum, Turkey’s highest and bleakest major city, a base for visits to the temperate, church-studded valleys of southern medieval Georgia, or treks in the Kaçkar mountains. Kars is mainly visited for the sake of nearby Ani, the ruined medieval Armenian capital.

The Euphrates and Tigris basin have a real Middle Eastern flavour. Booming Gaziantep, offers world-class Roman mosaics, an atmospheric old quarter and Turkey’s spiciest cuisine. Further east, biblical Urfa is distinguished by its colourful bazaar and sacred pool, while cosmopolitan Mardin overlooks the vast Mesopotamian Plain.

The major attraction, however, is a dawn or sunset trip to Nemrut Dağı’s colossal ancient statues. Between Mardin and Nemrut Dağı, teeming, ethnically Kurdish Diyarbakır nestles inside medieval basalt walls. The terrain becomes increasingly mountainous towards the Iranian frontier, an area dominated by the unearthly blue, alkaline expanse of Lake Van. Urartian, Selçuk and Armenian monuments abound within sight of the water, in particular the exquisite, restored Armenian church on Akdamar islet.

The east-shore city of Van is notable for its massive camel-shaped rock punctured with ancient tombs. Beyond Van looms the fairy-tale Kurdish castle of Hoşap, while just outside Doğubeyazit, another isolated folly, the İshak Paşa Sarayı, stands in the shadow of Mount Ararat at the very end of Turkey.

Top image: Aerial view of Bodrum on Turkish Riviera © monticello/Shutterstock

Discover more places in Turkey

• The North Aegean Travel Guide
• North Central Anatolia Travel Guide
• Northeastern Anatolia Travel Guide
• The Turquoise Coast Travel Guide
• Around the Sea of Marmara Travel Guide
• The Black Sea coast Travel Guide
• The Mediterranean coast and the Hatay Travel Guide
• South Central Anatolia Travel Guide
• İzmir Travel Guide
• Pamukkale Travel Guide
• The Turkish Aegean islands Travel Guide
• Ankara Travel Guide

Most camels in Turkey are simply tourist attractions, used for pleasure rides or as photo props in places like Pamukkale and Side. It wasn’t always so, however. Camel caravans once crisscrossed Anatolia, transporting gemstones, spices and woven finery. Before the Balkan Wars of 1912–13, they extended northwest as far as Bosnia, beyond which the beasts fell ill due to the damp central European climate.

In Muslim folklore the perceived haughty demeanour of the animals is attributed to their knowledge of the hundredth, mystical epithet of Allah – humans only know the conventional ninety-nine.

The sport of camel wrestling is a quintessentially Turkish spectacle. The bizarre sight of male camels in rut, butting and leaning on each other (their mouths are bound to prevent biting) draws vast crowds across the western Aegean region; there’s even a camel wrestling league.

• Turkey covers a vast 814,578 sq km (97 percent in Asia, 3 percent in Europe). Four seas lap its 8333-km coastline : the Mediterranean, the Aegean, the Marmara and the Black Sea. Numerous peaks exceed 3000m, the highest being Ararat (Ağrı Dağı; 5165m). Turkey’s three longest rivers – the Kızılırmak, Yeşilırmak and Sakarya – flow into the Black Sea, while its largest lakes is Lake Van (3713 sq km).

• The population of over 70 million is 98 percent Muslim (Sunni or Alevi), with dwindling minorities of the Armenian Apostolic or Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox and Jewish faiths. Besides standard Turkish, two dialects of Kurdish are widely spoken; other languages include Arabic, Laz, Circassian, Albanian, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Romany and Greek. Well over half the inhabitants live in cities; the four largest are İstanbul, Ankara (the capital), İzmir and Adana.

• Turkey’s economy , rated sixteenth in the world in 2011, has undergone sustained growth in recent years. Inflation has fallen to single digits, inward investment rocketed, major infrastructure projects have been realised at an astonishing rate, and the Turkish lira has more than held its own with the major currencies.

• Since 1922 Turkey has been a republic . The single-chamber Grand National Assembly (Büyük Meclis) in Ankara has 550 seats, and elects the president.

Find out more facts about Turkey.

Between April and September, storks are a common sight across Turkey, which forms a stopover between the birds’ winter quarters in Africa and their summer habitat in the Balkans and central Europe. The clattering of their beaks is an equally common sound. Storks mate for life, and around thirty thousand breeding pairs are believed to visit Turkey, often returning to the same nest year after year to raise new chicks.

Considered lucky in both Christian and Islamic belief, and dubbed “pilgrim birds” in Turkish, they are rarely harmed. Some municipalities even build special platforms to augment the storks’ favourite nesting perches, which range from chimneys and minarets to utility poles.

Today’s Turks are descended from nomadic pastoralist Turkic tribal groups that originated in Siberia, China and Central Asia, went on to conquer the Anatolian landmass, and have subsequently intermarried on a large scale with the region’s already extremely heterogeneous population. Although historical records can trace them as a readily identifiable people as far back as the sixth century BC, only during the sixth century AD were they first recorded (by the Chinese) as “Tu-keh” or, to the west, Turks .

From around 1000 AD onwards, the Turks gradually migrated southwards and westwards. By the time they reached Anatolia, which would eventually become the heartland of the mighty Ottoman Turkish empire, most had converted to Islam . Turks still maintain ethnic, linguistic and cultural links with Turkic peoples in Central Asia, the Caucasus, northwest Iran, northern Iraq, southern Russia, and Xinjiang in western China.

Turkish , the official language of the modern Republic of Turkey, is neither Indo-European nor Semitic in origin, but Altaic , a language group that includes Japanese, Korean and Mongolian as well as the Turkic languages. Turkish Turks can still communicate with their ethnic and linguistic cousins in places like Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, even if centuries of isolation from them, and the language reforms instituted by Atatürk in the early years of the Turkish Republic, make the task difficult. Nonetheless, Turks today still feel an affinity with their Turkic kin, and the Turkish government is the first to kick up a fuss at, for example, Chinese mistreatment of its Uigur Turkish minority.

Travel advice for Turkey

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Turkey

• Culture and Etiquette in Turkey
• Eating and drinking in Turkey
• Getting around Turkey: Transportation Tips
• Shopping tips for Turkey
• Sports and Outdoor activities in Turkey
• Travel Tips Turkey for planning and on the go
• How to get to Turkey
• Travel Health Turkey
• Travelling with children in Turkey
• Best time to visit Turkey

The Rough Guides to Turkey and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

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written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 26.04.2021

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5 Best Turkey Travel Guides & Travel Books

• Post author: Avoid Crowds
• Post published: December 27, 2020
• Post category: Travel Guides
• Post comments: 3 Comments

Updated: March 13, 2024

Istanbul, the cultural and historical hub of Turkey, attracts millions of travelers every year. To make the most of your trip, it’s important to properly plan your itinerary and familiarize yourself with the local customs and norms. Our handpicked selection of the best travel guides for Istanbul can help you do just that. These books are full of insider tips, practical information, and recommendations for the top tourist attractions, restaurants, and experiences. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, these travel guides are an essential tool for exploring this vibrant and bustling city.

With so many things to see and do in Istanbul, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. But with the help of a good travel guide, you can navigate the city with confidence and make the most of your time. From the stunning architecture of the Hagia Sophia to the colorful bazaars of the Grand Bazaar, there’s something for everyone in Istanbul. Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in history and culture, or simply relax and enjoy the local cuisine, these travel guides will help you make the most of your visit to this incredible city.

• All books have been handpicked by us!
• Books with bad reviews are left out.
• This post includes affiliate marketing links on which we can earn a commission.

Lonely Planet Turkey

Lonely Planet’s Turkey 16 is the ultimate travel guide for anyone planning a trip to this fascinating country. From the bustling city of Istanbul to the breathtaking landscapes of Cappadocia, this guide covers it all. With up-to-date information, insider tips, and cultural insights, you’ll have everything you need to make the most of your trip.

What sets this guide apart from the rest is its focus on providing travelers with the best possible experience. With its NEW top experiences feature, you’ll get a visually inspiring collection of Turkey’s must-see sights, as well as recommendations for lesser-known hidden gems. And with its NEW pull-out “Just Landed” card, you’ll have all the essential information you need to make your journey from the airport to your hotel a smooth one.

Whether you’re traveling solo or with your family, Lonely Planet’s Turkey has something for everyone. From its detailed planning tools for family travelers to its honest reviews for all budgets, this guide is the perfect choice for anyone looking to discover the beauty and diversity of Turkey. So don’t miss out on this comprehensive guide, start planning your trip to Turkey today!

Rick Steves Istanbul: With Ephesus & Cappadocia

If you’re looking for an insider’s guide to Istanbul, look no further than Rick Steves’ Istanbul: With Ephesus & Cappadocia. This guidebook provides comprehensive coverage for a week-long stay in Istanbul and beyond, with top sights and hidden gems, recommendations on how to connect with local culture, tips on avoiding crowds and tourist traps, and more. With self-guided walking tours, detailed neighborhood maps, and strategic advice from Rick Steves Europe tour guides, you’ll have everything you need to fully immerse yourself in the wonders of East and West.

Whether you’re interested in visiting world-famous monuments, shopping in the lively Grand Bazaar, or relaxing in a traditional Turkish bath, Rick Steves’ Istanbul has got you covered. The guidebook is also packed with practical resources, such as a packing list, a Turkish phrase book, and a historical overview, to help make your travels as smooth and stress-free as possible. With over 400 pages of in-depth information, this guidebook is the perfect companion for your trip to Istanbul, Ephesus, and Cappadocia.

Fodor's Essential Turkey

Fodor’s Essential Turkey is a comprehensive travel guidebook that provides in-depth information and recommendations to help you plan your trip to Turkey. It features multiple itineraries, detailed maps, colorful photos, honest recommendations on sights, restaurants, hotels, shopping, and more. The guidebook also provides historical and cultural insights, special features, and a Turkish language primer. It covers destinations such as Istanbul, the Sea of Marmara, Ephesus, Izmir, Bodrum, the Turquoise Coast, Cappadocia, and the Black Sea Coast. The guidebook is written by local writers to help you find hidden gems, and is part of Fodor’s Essential series, which includes guides for other countries such as Greece, Spain, France, Israel, and Morocco.

A Traveller's History of Turkey

A Traveller’s History of Turkey is a comprehensive guide that takes you through the rich and diverse history of this fascinating country. From prehistory to the present day, this book covers the civilizations that have shaped the cultural and historical landscape of Turkey. With its concise and readable style, A Traveller’s History of Turkey delves into the legends and treasures of the region, including the Flood of Noah, early civilization of Catal Huyuk, Alexander the Great, Romans, Seljuks, Byzantines, and the Golden Age of the Sultans. It also explores the impact of the great changes brought about by Kemal Ataturk in the 20th century and the strong position Turkey holds in the world today. Get ready for a journey through time with A Traveller’s History of Turkey!

The Rough Guide to Turkey

“The Rough Guide to Turkey” is a comprehensive and updated travel companion that brings to life the vast and diverse landscapes of Turkey, from the bustling streets of Istanbul to the serene beaches of the Turquoise Coast. Designed for travelers seeking both iconic sights and hidden gems, this guide is filled with expert recommendations, practical travel tips, and detailed itineraries that cater to all types of adventurers. Whether you’re exploring ancient ruins, savoring local cuisine, or embarking on outdoor adventures, this guide ensures a richer and more authentic experience.

Who Should Consider This Guide and Why:

• 🌍 Culture Enthusiasts: For those eager to dive into Turkey’s rich history and vibrant cultural tapestry.
• 🏞️ Nature Lovers: Ideal for adventurers wanting to explore Turkey’s natural wonders, from the Kackar Mountains to Cappadocia.
• 🍴 Foodies: A treasure trove for culinary explorers seeking the flavors of Turkish cuisine, from street food to gourmet dining.
• 🛤️ Off-the-Beaten-Path Travelers: Perfect for those looking to venture beyond tourist hotspots and discover Turkey’s lesser-known locales.

Turkey - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

The Culture Smart! Turkey guidebook provides a comprehensive look at the cultural norms and customs of Turkey. With a mix of Western and Eastern influences, the Turkish culture can be complex and difficult to navigate for travelers. This guidebook offers a historical background of the country, highlights key values and attitudes, and provides practical tips for communicating and avoiding cultural missteps. The book also emphasizes the hospitable nature of the Turkish people and stresses the importance of showing interest in their culture for a more meaningful travel experience. Get to know the locals and have a more authentic trip by using Culture Smart! Turkey as your essential guide to Turkish customs and culture.

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This post has 3 comments.

Please review/revise your descriptions of the travel guides. On more than one occasion you reference Italy instead of Turkey.

Thank you very much for letting us know. This mistake has been fixed.

I appreciate your Turkey itinerary article post. I look forward to your new informative travel blog posts.

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Turkey Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Welcome to the Crossroads of Civilizations: Your Ultimate Turkey Travel Guide

Turkey stands as a sentinel at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, a mosaic of cultures, histories, and landscapes that beckon travelers from around the globe. This guide is your key to unlocking the treasures of Turkey, from the bustling bazaars of Istanbul to the lunar landscapes of Cappadocia, the azure waters of the Aegean to the rugged peaks of the Taurus Mountains.

One Nation Travel specializes in Turkey tours , featuring trips to Istanbul, Cappadocia tours , Pamukkale, and Antalya for cultural and scenic experiences.

Exploring Turkey’s Diverse Landscapes and Climate Zones

Turkey’s geography is as varied as its history, with each region offering a distinct climate and terrain. The Black Sea region boasts lush greenery and a mild climate, while the central Anatolian plateau challenges visitors with its steppe climate and hot summers. Understanding these variations is crucial for planning your travel wardrobe and activities.

Journey Through Time: Turkey’s Rich Tapestry of History

The Hittites, Byzantines, Ottomans, and many others have left their indelible marks on Turkey. Each city is a living museum, with layers of history waiting to be discovered. From the ancient ruins of Ephesus to the iconic Hagia Sophia, Turkey’s historical sites are not just attractions; they are portals to the past.

The Melting Pot of Cultures: Understanding Turkey’s Social Fabric

Turkish culture is a vibrant tapestry woven from the many civilizations that have thrived here. This section delves into the customs, traditions, and daily life that create the country’s unique cultural identity. Learn about the importance of hospitality, the nuances of Turkish tea culture, and the significance of family in Turkish society.

Essential Pre-Travel Tips for a Hassle-Free Turkish Adventure

Before you embark on your Turkish journey, there are practicalities to consider. This section covers everything from packing essentials to cultural dos and don’ts, ensuring you are fully prepared for your adventure.

Navigating Visa Policies for a Smooth Entry into Turkey

Understanding Turkey’s visa requirements is essential for a smooth travel experience. This section provides up-to-date information on visa processes, fees, and exemptions, helping you to plan your entry into Turkey with confidence.

Prioritizing Health and Safety While Traveling in Turkey

Your well-being is paramount when traveling. Here, we discuss health precautions, insurance, and safety tips for various Turkish locales, so you can enjoy your trip with peace of mind.

Bridging the Language Gap: Communicating in Turkey

While Turkish is the official language, this guide offers practical advice on overcoming language barriers, from useful phrases to language apps, ensuring clear communication throughout your travels.

Managing Your Liras: A Guide to Turkish Currency and Budgeting

Budgeting for your trip is made easier with insights into the Turkish Lira, cost of living, and tips for keeping your finances in check while enjoying all that Turkey has to offer.

Mastering Movement: Turkey’s Transportation Network

Navigate Turkey’s extensive transportation network with ease, from domestic flights to intercity buses and ferries, ensuring you can traverse the country’s vast landscapes efficiently.

From Ottoman Mansions to Boutique Hotels: Finding Your Perfect Stay in Turkey

Turkey’s accommodation options are as diverse as its regions. Whether you’re looking for luxury, comfort, or a touch of history, this section helps you find the perfect place to rest your head.

A Culinary Odyssey: Sampling Turkey’s Gastronomic Delights

Turkish cuisine is a feast for the senses. Explore the country’s culinary offerings, from street food to fine dining, and learn about the dishes that must not be missed.

The Art of Bargaining: Shopping for Authentic Turkish Souvenirs

Shopping in Turkey is an experience in itself. Discover the best markets and shops for authentic souvenirs and learn the art of bargaining to get the best deals.

Celebrating with the Locals: Turkey’s Festivals and Events Calendar

Turkey’s calendar is packed with festivals and events that offer a glimpse into its cultural heart. This section guides you through the most significant and vibrant celebrations across the country.

Embracing the Great Outdoors: Turkey’s Natural Wonders

From hiking in the Kaçkar Mountains to hot air ballooning in Cappadocia, Turkey’s natural attractions are a playground for the adventurous. Learn about the best outdoor activities and how to experience them responsibly.

Sun, Sea, and Sand: Turkey’s Best Beaches and Coastal Retreats

Turkey’s coastline is dotted with stunning beaches and seaside towns. This section highlights the best spots for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports.

After Dark: Experiencing Turkey’s Vibrant Nightlife Scene

As the sun sets, Turkey’s cities come alive with a vibrant nightlife. From rooftop bars in Istanbul to beach parties in Bodrum, discover the best spots for an unforgettable night out.

Hidden Gems: Exploring Turkey’s Lesser-Known Locales

Go beyond the tourist trail with recommendations for off-the-beaten-path destinations that offer unique experiences and breathtaking beauty.

Creating Memories: A Guide to Family-Friendly Travel in Turkey

Traveling with family? This section provides tips for making your trip enjoyable for all ages, with suggestions for family-friendly attractions and activities.

Love in the Land of the Crescent Moon: Romantic Escapes in Turkey

For those seeking a romantic getaway, Turkey offers enchanting experiences, from sunset cruises to intimate cave hotels. Discover the most romantic destinations and activities.

Tailored Journeys: Crafting Your Ideal Turkey Travel Itinerary

Whether you have a week or a month, this section helps you create an itinerary that suits your interests, time frame, and budget, ensuring you make the most of your time in Turkey.

Respect and Understanding: Navigating Turkey’s Laws and Social Etiquette

Understanding local laws and etiquette is essential for a respectful and enjoyable visit. This section covers the essentials of Turkish customs and legalities.

Staying Connected: Tech Tips for Travelers in Turkey

Stay connected with tips on SIM cards, internet access, and navigating technology in Turkey, ensuring you can share your experiences with friends and family back home.

Traveling Responsibly: Embracing Sustainable Practices in Turkey

Sustainable travel is more important than ever. Learn how to minimize your footprint and contribute positively to the communities you visit in Turkey.

Heading Home: A Smooth Departure from Turkey

As your journey comes to an end, this section offers advice for a hassle-free departure, from airport transfers to duty-free shopping.

Frequently Asked Questions: Turkey Travel Guide

This section addresses common queries travelers have about visiting Turkey, providing clear, concise answers to help with trip planning.

Reflecting on Your Turkish Odyssey: The Journey Continues

As you reflect on your travels through Turkey, this conclusion offers a moment to consider the lasting impact of your experiences and the memories you’ll carry with you.

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10 of the best places to visit in Türkiye

Dec 14, 2023 • 6 min read

Plan your visit to Türkiye with these top places to see © rudi_suardi / Getty Images

The eclectic city of Istanbul, the fantastical rock forms of Cappadocia, the ancient ruins of Ephesus, and the glimmering Mediterranean and Aegean coastlines are Türkiye ’s biggest draws, but each region of the country has something distinct to offer.

The diversity of landscapes, heritage and culinary culture will surprise those who have never ventured beyond holiday resorts and the beach. Even though it’s easy to get around Türkiye , the country has too much to see and do to tackle it all on one trip. Because most domestic flights route through Istanbul, spend at least a few days in this dynamic global metropolis before heading out to one of our other top places to visit in Türkiye.

1. Istanbul

Best for ancient sites and modern neighborhoods

One of the world’s greatest cities, Istanbul should be on every traveler’s must-visit list. Highlight sights like the grand Byzantine basilica Aya Sofya , often called Hagia Sophia in English, and the Ottoman sultans’ lavish Topkapı Palace attest to the city’s centuries-long history as the capital of powerful empires.

But set aside some time to experience Istanbul as it is today, too. Go cafe- or bar-hopping in the hip Kadıköy neighborhood, wander the backstreets of more conservative Fatih or peruse contemporary art in Beyoğlu . Don’t forget the simple pleasure of drinking çay (tea) on the ferry while taking in spectacular views of the city.

Planning tip:  You could easily spend your entire vacation in Istanbul, but if you have the time, it's worth venturing further afield in search of other Turkish delights.

2. Cappadocia

Best for its unique landscape

Cappadocia is a geological wonderland in the center of Türkiye. The history of early Christians in Anatolia comes alive at the Göreme Open-Air Museum and the other cave churches and underground cities scattered around the valley. Romance blossoms in the area’s cozy cave hotels and restaurants, not to mention sunrise balloon rides complete with a champagne toast. Adventure awaits amid the green valleys and undulating rocks for hikers, mountain bikers and trail runners .

3. Turquoise Coast

Best for history lovers and beaches

Yes, Türkiye's  Mediterranean coastline between Fethiye and Antalya is full of beautiful places for sun, sea and sand vacations , but it’s also dappled with evidence of the ancient civilizations that once populated the area. The seaside ruins of Patara (which boasts one of Türkiye's best beaches too) and Phaselis are particularly picturesque, and the rock tombs of Myra are especially impressive. The Antalya Museum offers good insights into the region’s history. Explore by sea on a gület cruise, on foot along the Lycian Way hiking path or by driving the scenic (but winding!) coastal roads.

4. Eastern Black Sea and Kaçkar Mountains

Best for rural traditions

The rough, cold waters of the Black Sea aren’t particularly inviting, but turn your gaze inland, where lush green valleys spill down to the coast from high peaks, to see the region’s appeal. The lower elevations are home to most of Türkiye's tea and hazelnut production, while the high plateaus ( yaylalar ) like Pokut , that were once used as summer pastures for livestock, are becoming popular with tourists seeking out scenic views and a taste of traditional Black Sea culture and cuisine. Further above, the Kaçkar Mountains offer spectacular trekking in summer for experienced hikers.

Planning tip:  Trabzon, home to the cliff-side Sumela Monastery , is the area’s main hub for air travel.

5. Southeastern Anatolia

Best for culture and food

The often-overlooked southeastern Anatolia region is one of Türkiye's cultural – and culinary – stars. The cities of Gaziantep and Antakya (Hatay) are famed for their food, and both also boast museums with incredible collections of Roman mosaics. Mardin ’s picturesque, well-preserved old town also makes a great base for exploring the monasteries and Roman ruins in the surrounding area. The world’s oldest religious site, Göbeklitepe , lies just outside of Şanlıurfa, which has its own fine archaeology museum and bazaar .

6. Datça and Bozburun peninsulas

Best for relaxation

Chilling out and getting back to nature is the order of the day on the remote  Datça and Bozburun peninsulas in the south Aegean. In place of the boisterous nightlife of nearby Bodrum and Marmaris, you’ll find miles of dramatic rocky coastline, scenic rural villages, and small, quiet beach resorts and seaside towns.

Planning tip:  The Carian Trail long-distance hiking path encircles both peninsulas. Check before setting out as some sections of the route were inaccessible following wildfire damage in the summer of 2021.

7. Türkiye's far east

Best for rugged beauty

The vast landscapes of Türkiye's far east have a remote ruggedness unmatched elsewhere in the country. Perhaps best known to travelers as the terminus of the Doğu Ekpresi (Eastern Express) , a popular and scenic overnight train trip from Ankara , the border city of Kars retains striking architecture from its years as a Russian outpost in the 1800s. Nearby are the extensive and evocative UNESCO-listed ruins of Ani , an ancient Armenian capital.

A three-hour drive south will take you to the remote İshak Paşa Palace , passing by the fabled Mt Ararat (Ağrı Dağı) en route. Continue on to Van , where you can fuel up on one of the city’s famously elaborate breakfast spreads before visiting the fine museum in town and taking a day excursion to Akdamar Kilisesi , a masterfully decorated Armenian church and monastery complex on a small island in Lake Van.

8. Gallipoli and the North Aegean

Best for WWI history and ancient Troy

Cemeteries devoted to the tens of thousands of soldiers who died in bloody battles on the Gallipoli Peninsula during WWI are scattered around bucolic rolling hills, all the more poignant amidst such serenely beautiful landscapes.

The area is also the gateway to Türkiye's North Aegean coast, a more relaxed alternative to the Mediterranean where you can take a leisurely tour of pleasant seaside towns like Ayvalık and Foça, the island wineries of Bozcaada, the ancient city of Troy (with its standout museum ) and the spectacularly sited hilltop acropolis of Bergama .

9. Safranbolu

Best for Ottoman atmosphere

Named for the saffron that was grown and traded here for centuries, Safranbolu is today popular with visitors who come to soak in its old Ottoman atmosphere. Many of the town’s historic wood-framed mansions have been restored and converted into picture-perfect boutique hotels, cafes and restaurants.

Planning tip:  If it all starts to seem a little too cutesy, the canyons, waterfalls and woods of the nearby Yenice Forest are a natural tonic.

10. Pamukkale

Best for its ancient spa

The bright-white terraces of Pamukkale are surely one of the most photographed sites in Türkiye, incongruously gleaming above the rural town like freshly fallen snow. The warm mineral water that flows through them was the basis for the ancient spa city of Hierapolis , whose extensive remains sprawl out along the hilltop next to the famous travertines.

Planning tip:  Pamukkale also makes a good base for visiting other nearby ancient sites like Laodicea , Tripolis and – most notably – the gorgeous ruins of Afrodisias with its impressive collection of Roman marble sculptures.

This article was first published September 2021 and updated December 2023

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DK Eyewitness Turkey

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DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Turkey will lead you straight to the best attractions this beautiful part of the world has to offer. Visit Hagia Sophia, experience the hot springs of Pamukkale, and explore the country region-by-region - from local festivals and markets to day trips around the countryside. Discover DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Turkey . + Detailed itineraries and "don't-miss" destination highlights at a glance. + Illustrated cutaway 3-D drawings of important sights. + Floor plans and guided visitor information for major museums. + Guided walking tours, local drink and dining specialties to try, things to do, and places to eat, drink, and shop by area. + Area maps marked with sights. + Detailed city maps include street finder indexes for easy navigation. + Insights into history and culture to help you understand the stories behind the sights. + Hotel and restaurant listings highlight DK Choice special recommendations. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Turkey truly shows you this country as no one else can. Recommended: For a pocket guidebook to Istanbul, check out DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Top 10 Istanbul , which is packed with dozens of top 10 lists, ensuring you make the most of your time in the city. Series Overview: For more than two decades, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides have helped travelers experience the world through the history, art, architecture, and culture of their destinations. Expert travel writers and researchers provide independent editorial advice, recommendations, and reviews. With guidebooks to hundreds of places around the globe available in print and digital formats, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides show travelers how they can discover more. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides: the most maps, photographs, and illustrations of any guide. Reviews: "Known... for its four-color maps, photos and illustrations, the [DK] Eyewitness Guides are extremely user-friendly for travelers who want their information delivered in a concise, visual way." - Chicago Tribune "The best option... Color photos, maps, and diagrams bring the place to life." - The Philadelphia Inquirer Awards: Wanderlust Travel Awards 2009 - 2015

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Private Tours & Guides in Turkey

Last Updated on March 13, 2023

I wrote travel guidebooks for 35 years, so I think it's fine to find your way around Istanbul and Turkey with a book and a map . Turkey is not the kind of place where a personal guide is essential to protect you and lead you through chaos every day. That having been said, there's no denying that seeing the sights with your own private guide is the best way to fully appreciate the richness of Turkey's history, culture, and cuisine. Unlike a guidebook, a private guide can answer any question that may pop into your head, explain what you're seeing right at that moment, and provide far more information than can fit in a book.

Depending on preference, some visitors will choose to employ a guide for a day or two (particularly in Istanbul ), and others may choose to have a guide accompany them throughout their entire trip.

Why You Want a Tour Guide

• Guides have priority to buy tickets to touristic sites. Your guide will go right up to the ticket window, buy your tickets, and lead you in ahead of the crowds.
• Guides know how to use your precious travel time most efficiently —no need for backtracking or waiting needlessly in traffic when a better itinerary would have spared you.
• Guides know the tricks of the trade and the current situation. They'd know that Bosphorus cruise boats departing from Eminönü this week are very crowded, but that identical boats departing from Kadıköy are not.
• Guides know all the best photography angles and locations. Want good souvenir shots without the hassle? Want to know if it's culturally appropriate to take that shot? Ask your guide.

5. Guides can find the café, restaurant, or shop that is just right for your taste because they know them all. Tell them what you like, and they'll take you there.

Choosing a Guide

Turkey has thousands of licensed tour guides. If you want a private guide, how do you choose? My Turkish Tour Guide List includes the tour guides I know personally. It is in no way a complete list, but it represents the connections I have made in my many years traveling throughout Turkey.

Tourist guides in Turkey are required by law to complete a rigorous training program of several years and to obtain an official government tour guide's license . It is against the law for anyone who has not been trained and licensed to function as a tourist guide in Turkey. As anyone who has ever employed a guide knows, it is not just a guide's knowledge that makes a tour successful, but also his or her personality and sensitivity to your needs and wants.

Important Considerations

• Note that professional guides provide their services for a fee . Although they welcome inquiries about scheduling and availability of their services, they expect to be paid when they provide tourism information. If you contact them for information and trip-planning help, you may be asked to arrange payment by credit card before questions are answered, and before their time is scheduled—just as with other travel services such as hotels and flights.
• Also be aware that guides are not travel agents , and are not licensed to make reservations or other travel agency services. (For those services, contact one of my recommended travel agencies. ) In addition, note that guides cannot be drivers . The two professions are separate in Turkey, with separate licenses. In fact, guides are prohibited by law from driving clients.
• I cannot guarantee that any particular guide will be successful for any particular tour or location(s), or that a guide will have the right "chemistry" with your personality to make your tour 100% successful. I can only say that the guides on my list have great reputations from previous travelers who personally have told me so.

Turkey's professional tourist guide organization is the Tourist Guides Union (Turist Rehberleri Birliği, or TUREB) , of which the affiliated Chamber of Istanbul Tourist Guide s (İstanbul Turist Rehberleri Esnaf Odası, or İRO) . Each important tourism destination in Turkey also has its local organization. By employing a guide who is a member of one of these organizations, you are more likely to have a good tour experience, and you will have recourse to the organization if there is a problem. If you employ a guide for a private tour in Turkey, you may want to send a report to TUREB on your experience. This will help the organization maintain high standards of quality among their member guides.

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Planning your Turkey trip? Whether you’re looking for things to do in Turkey such as events and attractions, key traveller information to make your Turkey visit run smoothly or are planning where to stay in Turkey, you’ll find everything you need for your Turkey holiday on visitTurkey.in. Our what’s on Turkey guide has the latest events not to miss while you visit Turkey – there’s always something going on, so don’t miss out on the latest exhibitions, shows and more on your trip to Turkey by checking out our Turkey tickets and offers. Make sure to discover Turkey’s diverse neighbourhoods, from tranquil suburbs to central areas full of shopping, entertainment and dining options. Discover the best day trips from Turkey or try one of the best Turkey tours. If you’re here as a family, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Turkey with kids and find suitable accommodation such as Turkey holiday apartments. Whether you’re looking for the best weekend breaks in Turkey or planning a longer holiday in Turkey, you can be sure you’ll find all the information you need.

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A local’s travel guide to Austin: what to eat, see and do in three days

Standout spots include food truck parks, honky-tonk hangouts and Lady Bird’s wildflower sanctuary

A ustin has become one of the most popular places in the US to move to, and also to visit. Droves of people descend on the city in March for the South by Southwest tech, film and music festival and in the fall for the Austin City Limits music festival. And Austin is one of the top five destinations in the US for bachelorette parties. Don’t let the bachelorettes scare you away, though. Austin is a great place to spend a few days, so long as you do it like a local.

My family and I moved to Austin 12 years ago, after living in New York for many years. I’ve also lived in Washington DC , the San Francisco Bay Area and Philadelphia. Austin has a feel all of its own: it has a world-class music scene, great food that now goes well beyond Tex-Mex and barbecue, Texas history and fun shopping and museums – all with less hassle than bigger cities in the US.

Here’s my guide to a long weekend there. In addition to picks for adults, I’ve included some recommendations for families that our kids (now teenagers) have loved through the years. And I’m vegetarian, so I’ve chosen some of the city’s best veggie eats options. Don’t worry, my meat-eating wife made sure that I included great barbecue choices, too.

Day 1: Pool party & pickles

Start your day with a walk or run on the trail at Town Lake (it’s officially labeled on maps as Lady Bird Lake, but locals refer to it as Town Lake). This 10-mile (16km) trail on both sides of a dammed portion of Texas’s Colorado River (a different Colorado River than the bigger and more famous one) is tree-shaded, beautiful and one of Austinites’ favorite places to exercise. If you have time, walk through Zilker Park, which is right next to the trail. If you have kids, go to the new and very fun playground at Butler Park, complete with a splash pad just up the path from the playground.

Austin was one of the cities that started the food truck scene in the US several decades ago, and now there are more than 2,000 food trucks in the city. Some are located in trailer parks that have multiple truck options and picnic table seating. After your morning at Town Lake and Zilker Park, have lunch at the Picnic food truck park, or the nearby original location of local favorite Chuy’s (the Tex-Mex chain is now expanding throughout the US). Other great lunch options include Green Mesquite and Carpenters Hall .

In the afternoon, go for a swim at Barton Springs Pool . Open year-round, this massive basin measures three acres and is fed by underground natural springs. It’s open throughout the day, and it’s free before 8am and after 9pm.

Head back to your hotel or Airbnb for a rest, and then get ready for dinner. Tonight is casual: barbecue at Terry Black’s , or if you’re vegan, the food truck Rollin Smoke for a fantastic vegan barbecue sandwich made with baby portobello mushrooms, spicy slaw, barbecue sauce and pickles. It’s my favorite vegan barbecue sandwich in Austin (who says you can’t have barbecue if you’re veggie?), and it’s located in a food truck park with beautiful old trees shading the tables. Rollin Smoke has very good meat options, too (I’m told).

If you have young children, head to Phil’s Icehouse . They have burgers and a full playground where the kids can play before or after dinner. Just don’t put them on the spinning flower after the meal. And be sure to get some ice-cream after dinner at Amy’s Ice Creams , a longtime favorite of Austinites. Amy’s is located next to Phil’s, and it’s so good we had an Amy’s truck serve dessert at our wedding.

After dinner, head out to see some music at one of Austin’s many local music venues. One of our favorites is the Continental Club . There’s a main club downstairs and the intimate Continental Gallery upstairs, where you can see local musicians in a cozy space. Other great venues include C-Boy’s and the new Moody Amphitheater . For full local music listings on any night, check the Austin Chronicle . And if it’s summer, look to see if Blues on the Green has a free concert that night. If you have kids, take them to the free Rock the Park concert series, produced by local radio station KUTX.

Day 2: Breakfast tacos, books & bats

Start your day back at the lake with a rowing workout that’s almost, but not quite, on the lake. Rō Fitness is a local studio that has outdoor rowing classes by the water. It’s way more fun than working out at an indoor studio.

You’ll need fuel after your workout. Grab a breakfast taco at Veracruz or Tacodeli or Tamale House East . Breakfast tacos are an Austin staple (they are to Austin as bagels are to New York), and all three of these places have delicious options.

Today is a shopping day. Start out at BookPeople , one of the greatest bookstores in the US. It’s locally owned and independent, but the size of a superstore. BookPeople also dares to take a stand on issues, including being one of two bookstores that recently sued Texas state officials over a newly passed book ban law. It has an excellent kids section, and organizes live readings by kids’ authors.

After you’ve gotten your book fix, head across the street to Waterloo Records , one of the best record stores in the US. Waterloo carries new and used vinyl, CDs and merchandise from rock to jazz to local Texas music. For more shopping options, head over to the stores along South Congress Avenue and South First Street (including Roadhouse Relics , a neon art store and gallery that is one of our favorites), and if you want to go thrifting, our teens say Austin Pets Alive Thrift and Texas Thrift are the best.

After all of the shopping, it’s time for lunch. If you’re near BookPeople and Waterloo, head over to Soup Peddler, a local place for homemade soups, smoothies and fantastic grilled cheese sandwiches (trivia: Soup Peddler got its name because the founder started out delivering homemade soup by bike before opening full store locations). Or if you’re near South Congress and South First, go to the food trucks on South First or Underdog or Fresa’s .

As you’re heading back to rest up, grab an ice-cream at Amy’s, a gelato at Dolce Neve or cupcakes at Sugar Mama’s .

Some good dinner options for tonight include Loro , Suerte or Este . And if you’re looking for a vegetarian option, one of my favorite veggie restaurants is Bouldin Creek Cafe . It’s casual, with a great menu that includes vegan chips and queso. If it’s nice out, take a seat on the patio.

Tonight’s activity could be going to see the bats at the Congress Street Bridge. Austin has the largest urban bat colony in North America, and in season they live in one of the bridges that crosses the Colorado River (they migrate to Mexico in the cooler weather). Bat-watching is a lot more fun than you might imagine from horror movies (and these bats look more like birds than vampire bats). If you’re not in the mood for bats, head to the legendary Broken Spoke . Get there early for dance lessons, then hoof it at this classic Texas honky-tonk.

Day 3: Live oaks & Lady Bird wildflowers

It’s your last day in Austin, and it’s a good one for visiting a museum. Some of our favorites include the Bullock Museum to learn all about the history of our state (bonus fact: Texas was once its own country , and some people want it to be its own country again ). If you’re a fan of 1960s history, visit the excellent LBJ Presidential Library , which is the home of the 36th president’s papers. It has good exhibits on the US civil rights movement and 1960s US history in general. Another excellent museum option is the Blanton Museum of Art , or you could tour the Texas capitol (Austin is, after all, the capital of Texas). If you’re a nature fan, head to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center . And if you have kids, the Thinkery is an excellent children’s museum.

For lunch, it’s time for more barbecue (you’re in Austin, don’t fight it). Two terrific barbecue trucks are Mickelthwait and LeRoy and Lewis . And LeRoy and Lewis has another of my favorite vegetarian barbecue options: cauliflower burnt ends.

In the afternoon, head back to Town Lake. This time, get out on the water by renting a kayak, stand up paddleboard or paddle boat (a kid-friendly option). If you have time and energy for a drink, head over to the ABGB for happy hour. They have a great beer selection, lots of outdoor seating and local bands playing music.

For your farewell dinner, a few of our favorite restaurants that are a bit on the fancier end are Hestia , Uchi or the Lenoir wine garden, where dinner is served under live oak trees more than a hundred years old. And for a fantastic vegan option, go to Fabrik for a seven-course vegan tasting menu. You’ll need a reservation well in advance (they’re currently booking four to six weeks out). And for your final night in Austin, head out to another music venue. Or if you have kids, take them to the Austin favorite Peter Pan Mini Golf , which has been around for 75 years, or check Do512 Family for family events that are happening the dates you’re in town.

Question Time

When is the best time of year to visit austin.

There’s no dispute: it’s hot in the summer in Austin . A great time to visit is between October and May. From June through September, many days will be over 100F. If you’re here in the summer, spend lots of time at the Barton Springs pool.

Is Austin expensive?

Austin hotels can be expensive during big events like South by Southwest or the Formula One weekend. But for most dates, it’s less expensive than larger cities like New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Will I need a car to get around Austin?

Most of the places that I’ve recommended are within walking distance from downtown. You can also rent bikes and scooters to get around. Austin’s public transportation is primarily through local buses, which can take you further out if needed. And car-share options are easy as well.

Steve Sachs is managing director of the Guardian US. He has worked at large and startup media companies for more than 20 years. He loves all kinds of music, and his most recent favorite concert, the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame Show, featured a host of singer-songwriters including Lyle Lovett and Emmylou Harris

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Turkey and israel led heinemann’s travel shopping surge in 2023.

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Istanbul Airport with its luxury shopping (shown here) has become a $1 billion location for Gebr. ... [+] Heinemann and its partners.

Retail joint-venture operations at airports in Turkey and Israel topped $1.1 billion and $500 million respectively last year helping to push one of the world’s biggest duty-free operators to record annual revenue of $3.9 billion (€3.6 billion) in 2023.

Despite some considerable economic and geopolitical challenges, Hamburg-based travel retailer Gebr. Heinemann managed to slightly exceed 2019 sales for the first time since the pandemic, with year-over-year growth of 25%.

The fifth-generation family-owned company is now looking very positively at 2024 after a strong first quarter that was 24% ahead of the same period last year and above budget forecasts. On Thursday, co-CEO Raoul Spanger said that €4 billion was within sight. He told gathered media: “Strategic investments in the group’s business portfolio from 2023 will come into full effect this year (and) turnover should reach a new all-time high in 2024 and exceed €4 billion.”

Those investments included the buyout of its joint venture business in Israel—mainly at Tel Aviv Airport but also some border stores—to take 100% control, and the establishment of a regional office in Dubai from which to spearhead distribution, and eventually store operations, in the Middle East and Africa. One target will likely be Angola's new airport in the capital, Luanda.

The company also won a retail concession for the first time in Saudi Arabia at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport with joint venture partners Jordanian Duty Free Shops and the diversified Astra Group ; and signed the contract for stores aboard Aroya, the first vessel from newly established cruise company Cruise Saudi.

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“By entering into carefully selected new partnerships, expanding existing ones, and making strategic investments in other business segments and channels we continue to become more international,” said Heinemann’s other co-CEO Max Heinemann.

JV deals have long been a hallmark of Heinemann’s expansion strategy into new markets. With the global travel retail channel consolidating rapidly, as exemplified most recently by the huge Avolta/Dufry merger with Autogrill, Heinemann is taking steps to protect its market position.

Announcing Heinemann's 2023 results on Thursday (from left): co-CEO Raoul Spanger, chief commercial ... [+] officer Inken Callsen, and co-CEO Max Heinemann.

The travel retailer’s business is dominated by Europe with 59% of turnover (€2.1 billion) last year. The region—where the retailer’s top airport locations are Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Oslo, and Vienna—also had the fastest growth (24%), largely on the back of rising passenger numbers.

However, Norway, historically one of Heinemann’s biggest sales hotspots, was negatively impacted by the imposition of much lower limits on tobacco allowances and the devaluation of the Norwegian krone.

Stability in geographical diversity

Geographical diversification offers greater resilience when it comes to country legislative shocks and currency volatility, and also regional impacts. For example, last year, the continuing fighting in Gaza, triggered by a deadly Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7, came out of the blue and hit travel and retail sales at Tel Aviv Airport in the final quarter.

Heinemann’s sales director for Middle East Africa, Bernard Schlafstein said that it would have been a record year at Tel Aviv had the war not started. Naturally, this impacted the growth for the whole Middle East & Africa business which ended the year up 18%, but would have been higher.

Bernard Schlafstein described the retail performance at Istanbul Airport as “unstoppable.”

On the plus side, the nature of the shopping at Israel's biggest airport means that revenue has picked up quickly. Depressed tourism is not a major factor for store sales as it is outbound Israelis doing most of the buying, and collecting their purchases on return.

That non-reliance on foreign tourism is borne out by results this year. Schlafstein commented: “Our numbers are almost back to last year at around 85% to 90%, even though the passenger figures are much lower.” One key purchase driver is that pricing at the airport is significantly lower than in the domestic market. This has led to very high average transaction values (ATVs) in the core duty-free shop where about 80 pay 9 bypoints are present to cater to the enormous demand.

However, the standout location was Istanbul Airport where Heinemann operates with its joint venture partners Unifree and ATU Duty Free. There, turnover surpassed €1 billion and Schlafstein described it as “unstoppable.”

With the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, rich Russians have been using the gateway—and also Dubai International (where they are the second most important nationality for Dubai Duty Free)—as a connecting route to other destinations. Their presence meant that last year at Istanbul, 40% of fashion turnover came from Russians. This year, so far, revenue at the Turkish Airlines hub is above budget for Heinemann.

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• Key Street: Michigan Ave. Leads to 7 Key Hotels in Chicago

A brief guide to all the MICHELIN Key hotels in Chicago.

Travel Hotels Chicago MICHELIN Keys

On April 24, 2024, the MICHELIN Guide announced its very first Key hotels in the United States — a brand new distinction recognizing the most outstanding hotels in the country. We're thrilled to report that in Chicago, eight hotels earned at least One Key. Of those, half make their home in the kinds of historic buildings that give this city its well-earned reputation as one of the most architecturally distinguished cities in the country. Follow Michigan Avenue north from the heart of the Loop to the Gold Coast and you’ll pass within two blocks of all but one of them. The Chicago Athletic Association sits within a Venetian Gothic landmark. The Gwen makes its home in a storied 1929 Art Deco skyscraper. The Pendry sets up shop in the masterpiece that is the 1929 Art Deco Carbide & Carbon Building. And the lower floors of the Viceroy make use of the meticulously-preserved, 1920s-vintage Cedar Hotel. There are Key hotels too in newer builds, among them the Peninsula (with uniformed bellboys and staffers who seem to know the name of each individual guest) and the Waldorf Astoria , its lobby a marble marvel. Below, explore the map and scroll down for more about each of the MICHELIN Guide’s eight hotels in Chicago.

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Things on Sale

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There are so many sitewide sales happening this weekend, including at Bathing Culture, Brooklinen, and Posh Peanut — and all of those end on Sunday night, so don’t dillydally. We’ve also been doing some deal-making of our own, because Parachute is offering our readers an exclusive discount on its Strategist-approved bedding for a limited time. As always, make sure to sign up for our  email newsletter  for even more sales coverage — including extra deals each Friday hand-selected by yours truly.

Kicking things off with an ultrarare, Strategist-only sale: Parachute is offering our readers 20 percent off all bedding inserts — meaning pillows, comforters, and mattress toppers — with the code STRAT20 this weekend only. You can’t go wrong with our best-selling down pillow , but you can also find everything on sale in my post here .

It’s been way too long since I’ve seen our best overall sunscreen go on sale, and right now you can nab the tinted version for 20 percent off at both Amazon (when you apply the on-site coupon) and Dermstore (with the code SKIN20).

Or if you prefer the non-tinted version, the discount applies to all of EltaMD’s products.

Here’s another oldie but goodie, just in time for summer. It comes in five colors, but it’s the cheapest when you buy it in pink.

Continuing with some hot-weather staples: Here’s a really good deal on some wear-everywhere Chacos .

And a dressier sandal for summer weddings.

I was shocked to find this handsome leather Dooney & Bourke bag for over half-off at Amazon, of all places. (Just make sure you apply the on-site coupon to get an extra $10 off.)

Also half-off is this braceletlike wristwatch from Anne Klein …

… and a leather option — for under $80 — from Fossil.

Skip the basic khaki cargos, because this blue pair is only $7.

A lovely essential-oil diffuser that would make a sweet (and inexpensive ) Mother’s Day gift .

Or go all-in for the photography-loving mom with this instant-camera bundle, which includes a photo printer and 60 photo sheets.

My noise-canceling Bose headphones — which are also beloved by busy  college students and  frequent fliers — are $100 off.

For bikini-area trimming, we recommend this  electric razor . It’s waterproof and made with ceramic blades that can be replaced every three to four months, so you can use it all summer without fear of nicks.

Use the code SKIN20 to take 20 percent off everything from PCA Skin. I recommend picking up this extra-strength  vitamin-C serum , which is powerful without causing irritation — even on  sensitive skin .

If you missed out on stocking up on Act+Acre during our Two-Day Sale, we’ve got good news: The brand is extending our exclusive discount through the end of April. Use the code STRAT to take 35 percent off its cold-pressed detox oil, which is a great weekly deep cleanser to remove buildup from products and oil, as well as stimulate the scalp to encourage hair growth.

Everything at Brooklinen is 25 percent off this weekend, which is the best deal we’ve ever seen the brand offer. This “breathable” linen sheet set feels like “an angel’s kiss,” according to former Strategist writer Lauren Levy, and have “an immediately worn-in feel that only gets softer over time.”

Amazon is price-matching a few of Brooklinen’s staples, including our best overall  duvet cover . (Note that you’ll find more pattern and color options at Brooklinen.)

If you’re in the market for an actually nice-looking work backpack or diaper bag , look no further than this $50 option from the Honest Company.

Everything at sustainable brand Bathing Culture is 20 percent off this weekend. (The discount will show up once you add items to your cart.) Our senior editor Simone Kitchens has been using this body wash for years, and it has a similar feel to Dr. Bronner’s and a lovely woodsy scent.

Bathing Culture’s organic-cotton towels are a thing of beauty; I’ve had this hand towel since 2020 and can attest that it both is lovely to look at and dries quickly (even in my unventilated bathroom).

Sale styles are an extra 25 percent off in-cart over at Vans. These are a nice upgrade from your checkered slip-ons.

Posh Peanut’s supersoft kids’ clothing rarely goes on sale, but you can get up to 75 percent off sitewide (even in the sale section) through the end of the weekend.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments , rolling luggage , pillows for side sleepers , natural anxiety remedies , and bath towels . We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

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Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

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