Rick Steves Rome, Florence & Venice

by Rick Steves, Gene Openshaw

Explore ancient ruins, sip aperitivi, and visit Renaissance with Rick Steves as your guide, Rome, Florence, and Venice are yours to discover! Inside Rick Steves Rome, Florence & Venice you'll Comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring Rome, Florence, and Venice Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites Top sights and hidden gems, from the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo to cozy corner trattorias and where to find the perfect scoop of gelato How to connect with  Say "buongiorno" to the fishmongers at the morning market, savor a plate of cacio e pepe, or chat with fans about the latest soccer match Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight The best places to eat, sleep, and relax with a glass of chianti Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods, incredible museums, and historic sites Detailed maps for exploring on the go Over 400 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down Complete, up-to-date information on the best places to visit in Rome, Florence, and Venice, including Trastevere, the Vatican, Ponte Vecchio, and St. Mark's Square, plus day trips to Ostia Antica, Siena, Pisa, Padua, Verona, and more Exploring more of Italy? Try Rick Steves Italy.

Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Rome, Florence & Venice. 

818 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 14, 2025

About the author

Rick Steves is an American travel writer, television personality, and activist known for encouraging meaningful travel that emphasizes cultural immersion and thoughtful global citizenship. Born in California and raised in Edmonds, Washington, he began traveling in his teens, inspired by a family trip to Europe. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in European history and business, Steves started teaching travel classes, which led to his first guidebook, Europe Through the Back Door, self-published in 1980.
Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large.
Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups.
Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.

Reviews

[Alex O’Connor]

Essentially ditto my Paris rating.

This book was more brief on each city due to combining 3 major tourist attractions, but still left me with plenty of great material and information. Impressed my wife with all the tidbits I could talk about at each major place and definitely made the trip much more rewarding.