6 Books Based On Turkey You Need To Read

From its rich history to its amazing cuisine, there’s plenty of reading to do in order to get to know Turkey from all of its angles. Check out some of the best books about Turkey and all the facets of its culture and history.

Turkey: A Short History

Written by the first-class historian Norman Stone, this book is a great introduction to Turkey’s history from a very insightful perspective. Going way back to the early Turks of Central Asia, Stone approaches Turkish history from a very different angle, always focusing on the past’s role in the current republic.

If you’re interested in the history of Istanbul, then this book by Philip Mansel is quite the fascinating read, as it’s a definitive history of the city once called Constantinople. Written by one of the most respected historians, the book delves deep into the details of empires past.

Constantinople City of the World’s Desire

Classical Turkish Cooking

If you’re a fan of Turkish cooking, then this lovely cookbook, written by Ayla Algar, should allow you to bring the basics of Turkish cuisine into your own kitchen. The cookbook features easy-to-follow recipes on everything from meze, soups, meat, and fish dishes, along with the history regarding Turkey’s amazing food culture.

A Short History of Byzantium

What became Constantinople and then Istanbul was once known as Byzantium, and this excellent book travels back to the roots of an ancient empire that stood strong for more than 1,000 years. From the details of Byzantine art and all the emperors and their individual triumphs, this book is a condensed version of a study that spans three volumes.

Turkish Letters

If you really want to travel back in time to the Ottoman Empire during its heyday, or during the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent, then there’s nothing better than reading the letters written by a Flemish nobleman who was in Istanbul between 1554 and 1562. These amazing accounts of the nobleman’s ambassadorial mission paint a very detailed picture of what the empire was really like in its glorious golden age.

Strolling Through Istanbul

One of the best guides to Istanbul ever published, this book, written by Hilary Sumner-Boyd and John Freely, takes readers on a stroll through Istanbul and all of its most exceptional sights. Every historic monument and site is given its due, as well as tidbits of its secret history, anecdotes, and hidden corners.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.