Lonely Planet Italy

by Duncan Garwood, Julia Buckley, Stefania D'Ignoti

Lonely Planet's Italy is our most comprehensive guide that extensively covers all the country has to offer, with recommendations for both popular and lesser-known experiences. Relive the past at Pompeii, take a world-class Tuscan wine tour and explore the unspoilt wilderness of Sardinia; all with your trusted travel companion.

Inside Lonely Planet's Italy Travel Guide:



What's NEW in this edition?


Up-to-date information - all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020's COVID-19 outbreak

Top experiences feature - a visually inspiring collection of Italy's best experiences and where to have them

What's NEW feature taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas

Accommodation feature gathers all the information you need to plan your accommodation

Planning tools for family travellers - where to go, how to save money, plus fun stuff just for kids

Highlightsand itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests

Eating and drinking in Italy - we reveal the dishes and drinks you have to try

Italy'sbeaches - whether you're looking for relaxation or activities, we break down the best beaches to visit and provide safety information

Colour maps and images throughout

Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots

Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss

Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, politics

Covers Rome, Turin, the Cinque Terre, Genoa, Milan, Venice, Verona, Bologna, Parma, Florence, Pisa, Naples, Bari, Sicily, Sardinia and more!

The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Italy , our most comprehensive guide to Italy, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled.

Visiting Rome for a week or less? Lonely Planet's Pocket Rome is a handy-sized guide focused on the city's can't-miss experiences.

Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet's Western Europe for a comprehensive look at all the region has to offer.

About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day.

'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' New York Times

'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' Fairfax Media (Australia)

Authors

Coordinating Author

Top Authors

Brett Atkinson, Alexis Averbuck, Cristian Bonetto, Gregor Clark, Peter Dragicevich, Duncan Garwood, Paula Hardy, Virginia Maxwell, Stephanie Ong, Kevin Raub, Brendan Sainsbury, Regis St Louis, Nicola Williams





Curator





Keywords

;abruzzo; campania; dolomites; emilia-romagna; florence; italy; milan; naples; piedmont; puglia; rome; sardinia; sicily; the italian lakes; the italian riviera; turin; tuscany; umbria; venice;

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference, Italy, Guidebook, Collections, Guides

800 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1993

Reviews

[Kirsty]

Absolutely wonderful. My boyfriend and I used this on our trip to Naples, and were able to slot in trips to Rome, Capri, and Pompeii, and make the most of all of them in limited time. The tips and tricks here are great, and the section on Italy's history makes for very interesting reading. I shall never go back to other travel guides now.

[Benjamin Rubenstein]

Lonely Planet guides are THE BEST

[Stuart Aken]

Until I’ve been to Italy, I can’t know the true value of this book. However, having read it in preparation, I can comment on what I’ve so far found.
I’m off to Italy soon, visiting Rome, Naples and Pompeii, Florence, and Lake Maggiore, which is why I bought the general travel book rather than a city-specific volume.
This is a comprehensive tome, and includes lots of very informative maps, including a removeable folding map of Rome.
There are sections on all the regions and cities of this fascinating country. You’ll find advice on the many interesting places to visit in each location, and there are links for the websites that provide more detailed information, as well as those where prospective visitors can obtain tickets to various museums, galleries and other tourist offerings in advance, thereby avoiding the queues.
The authors – there are fourteen – have each visited the regions/cities they write about, and readily give their specialist knowledge to enhance the visitor’s experience.
Packed with tips and knowledge of the customs, traditions, habits and mannerisms of the country, this is a book that prepares travellers for an immersive holiday or trip so they can enjoy the place to the full.
You’ll also find advice on transport, including car hire, air, train and bus travel, ferries and walking.
And the last section of the book gives useful and entertaining information on the country’s history, art and architecture, way of life, food and drink, and on how Italy has been portrayed in fiction and on film, as well as about the place as it is today.
A very worthwhile purchase and, for me, a must-have prior to the planned visit.

[Chaiyong Ragkhitwetsagul]

A comprehensive guide to Italy. I bought this because I'm going to Milan, Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Rome (in 6 days! so insane, right?). I found that the book was very useful and had to keep it around with me all the time. Especially when in a museum because it highlighted the major artworks that we had to see. However, I found that it's not attractive much to read before travelling since there's so few pictures and loads of information. Maybe I should be a more specific book for each city.

[Vassilena]

I love Lonely Planet guides not only because of the quality information, but also because of the humor and writing style. When the author lets you know that Giordano Bruno's statue in Rome looks like Obi-Wan and at the same time gives you much appreciated advice how to cut the queue at the Colosseum, then you have really stumbled upon a gem of tourist literature!

[Julia]

Great when used in combination with the rough guide. This one was best for planning both the overall trip (lodging, etc.) and day by day for attractions, walks, etc. Rough guide gave more detailed information about each individual site, etc. but was more difficult to use as an overview.

[Carole]

A beautiful travel book with a lot of great advice, vibrant, alluring photos, and stories upon stories! Great book!

[Mark Latchford]

I have relied on Lonely Planet for three decades now to explore the world and must have 40 editions sitting in my study. However, the latest version on popular destination, Italy, is rubbish. No longer a well constructed reference book that would be central to your planning for sights; for beds and for food. It is if the various authors are competing to run for the travel section of the Sunday papers. Full of gush; personal and irrelevant anecdotes and an absence of useful data. The biases or interests of the writers come through with the absence of many significant towns or places to visit. Modern history seems to be completely ignored for example. I do hope the editors revert to the tried and trusted model of the past, namely a travel guide not a long-winded attempt to emulate Gourmet Traveller.

[Lori]

Wasn't of this travel guide, which managed to be both too broad and too specific at the same time. I really wish the last several chapters had been at the beginning rather than the end of the book, as they contained information on what the budget range meant. Overall, this was not the travel guide for someone like me, I think I'll skip Lonely Planet next time. I found Rick Steves to be far more useful.

[Tri Le]

Large and incredibly comprehensive travel guide. This book was a great foundation for planning our Italy trip. The book provides a fantastic overview of Italy and gives huge amounts of information. Lots of small articles and background information was included. Useful and up-to-date. Lonely Planet offers another solid travel companion.

[snowmoonelk]

Brilliant. I haven't finished reading it yet, but when we last stayed in Tuscany, we visited some of the recommended cafes and restaurants (as well as the usual monuments!) and they didn't disappoint. Lovely to have somewhere to head to, rather than wonder where the locals go to eat and drink.

[Jdetrick]

It can be difficult to evaluate travel books, but I usually consider how well the information is organized and how easy it will be to find information that's relevant to my travels. In both of those cases, this book succeeds admirably.

[Maria Teresa]

Utile per avere una panoramica di quello che si può vedere in Italia, ma per ovvi motivi di spazio è molto superficiale. È utile per avere delle indicazioni di massima, ma poi le varie località devono essere approfondite con altri strumenti.

[Sheri-lee]

I like the lay out and standardization of Lonely Planet books. They are thorough and informative. They are always a good starting point when researching/planning a trip.

I’m old school. I like to have a book I can mark up, dog ear, and pack for quick reference.

[Liz C]

Good

Good travel guide., covers all of the main places. Handy maps. I would recommend this book to anyone going to Italy.

[Mary Prigioni]

I want to live there

Beautiful pics and a world of information. I wish this book was around when I went to Italy. My hats off to the authors.

[Becky]

Read in preparation for my first trip to Europe; it seems great. My son and I enjoyed looking through the sections on Rome and Vatican City.

[Andrew Mcconville]

Pretty useful. A bit light on in some areas. Good maps. Left it behind somewhere near lake Como:(

[Kyle Montgomery]

Very helpful on our trip to Italy - visiting Tuscany, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast.

I did not read cover-to-cover but would recommend for trip prep and in-trip nosh recommendations.

[Andi J]

My second trip reading a Lonely Planet book. They are the best!

[Mohini Singh]

Very useful

[Jossalyn]

read for trip to Rome/ Campagnia/ Amalfi Coast with Caitie

[Steve Whitworth]

Appears very thorough and informative. I will look at this more closely when planning a visit to Italy.

[Steve Brock]

This book was a Best of the Best for July 2020, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet and Stevo's Novel Ideas. Find more reviews and recommendations by searching for me on Google.

[Sharon F. Knight]

Was a wonderful guide to read prior to my trip to Italy. Gave me several wonderful out of the way places to see and insights into well known areas.

Easy to read, small enough to take on your trip!

[RJ]

VERY CONCISE travel book on all parts of Italy... it taught me I should read these books BEFORE the trip, not after.

[Sandro Helmann]

É impossível contemplar em um único livro tudo o que a Itália tem a oferecer. Mas esse guia chega perto.

[Barbara]

I usually really like Lonely Planet books, In comparison to Rick Steves Italy guide book, this book gives very little information.

[Peter]

Was good, useful.
Nmkt library.

[mio]

Really Helpful. Might reread again when needed.