Download or read book Insight Guides: Explore Istanbul written by Insight Guides and published by Apa Publications (UK) Limited. This book was released on 2014-02-03 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explore Istanbul is a brand new guide and the ideal pocket companion for your trip: a full-colour guide containing easy-to-follow routes that will take you from the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque to contemporary art at Istanbul Modern or the hagglers' paradise that is the Grand Bazaar. The gateway to Asia, Istanbul is Europe's largest and most exotic city, where remnants of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires are fused with the dynamic buzz of a modern-day metropolis. Introductory chapters on Istanbul's cuisine, shopping opportunities and Turkish baths set the routes in context and feature Insight's trademark cultural coverage. The walks through the city are full of variety and each one guides you through an interesting neighbourhood with clear directions, a detailed map and suggestions for reliable, authentic cafs and restaurants where you can take a break and sample the local cuisine. All routes are also plotted on the useful pull-out map, and evocative photography captures the atmosphere of this exciting city. Whether you are new to the city or a repeat visitor, and however long your stay, Explore Istanbul will help you discover the very best of what's on offer.