Plan the Turkey trip you actually want
Honest, up-to-date guides to Istanbul, Cappadocia and the Turkish coast — written for travelers coming from the US.
Start with the highlights
Start here
~30 min of reading, in order- Sort your entryThe e-visa question, answered in 2 minutesRead the guide
- Pick your seasonWhen the weather and crowds work for youRead the guide
- Choose a routeThe classic first-timer week, day by dayRead the guide
- Master IstanbulWhere to stay and what not to missRead the guide
- Handle moneyLira, cards and tipping, without the stressRead the guide
- Know before you goThe honest safety picture for AmericansRead the guide
Turkey, Worked Out.
Turkey's highest-stakes decisions all share a property nobody mentions: the number you would look up does not exist. This book does the reasoning the lookup can't.
Turkey at a glance
The big picture before you plan: Istanbul up north, Cappadocia in the center, and the ruins and beaches strung along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Tap any pin to open its guide.
The best months to visit Turkey
Spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) are ideal nearly everywhere — warm, dry, and far fewer crowds than peak summer.
Latest guides
How Turkey's Holiday Calendar Is Actually Set
Three authorities set Turkish holiday dates. Which ones you can plan against years ahead, which stay provisional, and which don't exist until announced.
The Two Bayram Holidays and How Turkey Travels
Turkey's two Bayram holidays, how long each officially lasts, why the dates move about eleven days earlier every year, and what legally closes.
What Closes on a Turkish Public Holiday
Turkey's fixed national holidays, the half-day rule that catches visitors out, and the short list of what actually closes by law.
Ramadan in Turkey: What Actually Changes for Visitors
What actually changes in Turkey during Ramadan: almost nothing closes, daytime dining varies by region, and what a non-Muslim visitor is really expected to do.
Iftar and Ramadan Dining in Turkey
How Turkish restaurants and bakeries run during Ramadan: the sunset clock, set iftar menus, the bread queues, and what appears only in that month.
What a Standard US Travel Policy Pays For in Turkey
A US travel policy is four separate promises. What each one does in Turkey, how primary vs secondary changes the claim, and the documents you can only collect there.