Get subterranean in the cavernous underground cities of Cappadocia, laze on white-sand beaches, pamper yourself in a steamy hamam or enjoy the buzz of cosmopolitan Istanbul - discover Turkey's treasures and pleasures with Lonely Planet. Whether you want to worship the sun, climb Mt Ararat or muse on ancient ruins, this guidebook is your ultimate companion.

As perfect holiday destinations go, Turkey is hard to beat. The country has everything - a climate that guarantees summer sunshine, beautiful beaches, dramatic scenery, more clas-sical ruins than Greece or Italy, fantastic cuisine, matchless public transport and a resort nightlife that is second to none. But hospitality has always played a starring role in Turkish culture, and for most people what will probably linger longest in the memory is the incred- ible friendliness of the Turks themselves.

Turkey can be whatever you want it to be. Take istanbul: the old city centre is as romantic- ally exotic as you could hope for, its skyline a parade of graceful domes and minarets, its bazaars awash with the sights, sounds and smells of the East. An evening stroll down istiklal Caddesi, however, presents an Istanbul that is ready to take its place at the European table,an Istanbul of pavement cafes, trendy bars and modern clothes shops.

Straddling two continents, Turkey can seem comfortingly familiar provided you stick to the western coast. Strike out east, though, and you're quickly into territory where adven-ture waits around every corner. Even today not many people make it to Sanhurfa, Van or Dogubayazit, which means that for those who do it's still possible to capture that marvellous sense of discovery. But you don't even need to go as far as that, since there are still parts of western Anatolia that rarely see a foreign visitor.

Hos geldiniz! (Welcome!) Sit down, have a glass of cay (tea), listen to the call to prayer and prepare to have a wonderful time.

Highlights

Getting Started

Itineraries

The Authors

Snapshot

History

The Culture

Environment

Food & Drink

istanbul

Thrace & Marmara

North Aegean

South Aegean

Western Anatolia

Western Mediterranean

Eastern Mediterranean

Central Anatolia

Cappadocia

Black Sea Coast & the

Kackar Mountains

Northeastern Anatolia

Southeastern Anatolia

Directory

Transport

Health

World Time Zones

Language

Glossary

Behind the Scenes

Index

Legend