Best Norway Travel Guides
With this guide, you'll set sail to Europe's most prosperous cornera smorgasbord of Viking ships, deep green fjords, stave churches, brooding castles, and colorful farmhouses. Delve deep into Norway's scenic Sognefjord and bike through the idyllic Danish countryside on the castaway island of Aero. Rick Steves has spent 100 days every year since 1973 exploring Europe.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Since it focusses on a couple of places extensively, with handy, informative city walks and lots of info about eating, sleeping and transportation, but skips entire parts of the Scandinavic countries, this guide is very good, and perhaps even more useful than the Lonely Planet, if you only visit those places described in the book and not the rest."
"It even has tips and locations for all types of budgets to get the quality and price you want for meals."
"It can't, of course, cover everything, and a few bits were already slightly out of date, but that's only natural with a tour book."
"Great summary of different areas with good detail on activities to do."
"So many good pointers for travel in this book."
"Very fast service."
"The book itself is very good, it is the e book version that is terrible and almost impossible to use as a reference."
Visit Norway's cultural capital, Oslo; hike to breathtaking Pulpit Rock; or savour the high Arctic in Svalbard - all with your trusted travel companion. Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, landscapes, wildlife, environmental issues, Sami people, arts, architecture, cuisine Over 54 maps Covers Oslo, Geirangerfjord, Lofoten Islands, Bergen, Svalbard, Tromso, Kristiansand, Kongsberg, Rjukan, Finse, Hardangervidda Plateau, Roros, Jotunheimen National Park, Voss, Trondheim, Nordland, Senja, Longyearbyen and more.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We ended up skipping on Norwegian SIM cards for our phones since we had GPS in the car and this guide book... but we quickly realized it was best to just do some research when we found wifi and screenshot business info for later."
"It's not as informative as other Lonely Planet guidebooks that we've purchased."
"Good coverage of Norway......plenty of ideas.....use along with DK Eyewitness Travel Guide:Norway and Rick Steves' Snapshot Norway."
"I will definitely get Rick Steves book next time."
"Covers all areas--great maps, descriptions of excursions, public transportation, etc."
"Excellent top to bottom of Norway guide."
"helped SO much with our recent trip to norway!"
"Buy the paper book unless you are pushed for luggage weight and cannot take the paper version with you."
A salty story of friendship, adventure, and the explosive life that teems beneath the ocean The Lofoten archipelago, just North of the Arctic Circle, is a place of unsurpassed beauty—the skyline spikes with dramatic peaks; the radiant greens and purples of the Northern Lights follow summers where the sun never sets. Morten Strøksnes’s clever trick is to remind us for one last time that the catching of the big fish is the least important part of the story.” — The Wall Street Journal. The end result reads a bit as if Geoff Dyer had written ‘Jaws.’” — The New York Times “Its beauty, undemanding science and soothing, musing qualities have made [ Shark Drunk ] a bestseller in Norway and beyond. There is [a] wonderful radiance [to] these two gents out chasing their curiosity [and] that romantic mingling of terror and beauty, the sublime.” — San Francisco Chronicle “Accomplished Norwegian historian, journalist, and photographer Strøksnes invites readers into the fantastical ocean environment of his quest to capture a Greenland shark. Make room for a fish tale, wry and fantastical, weird and melancholy, that must now take its rightful place among our classic existential stories about the denizens of the deep.” — Hampton Sides, author of In the Kingdom of Ice. Strøksnes weaves his tale from a dense wool of close observation, fishing yarns, erudition lightly worn, and a helpless, consuming love of the ocean.” — William Finnegan, author of Barbarian Days. With the open-minded inquisitiveness of Charles Darwin and the obsession of Captain Ahab, Strøksnes heads out to sea, chasing a monster of the deep known as the Greenland shark. The author ponders everything related to the ocean, including bizarre luminous squids of the inky depths, frolicking orca pods and sperm whales, ancient disquisitions on maritime monsters, flinty islanders who live off the sea, and the close, testy relationships between fishing friends. Strøksnes’s erudition, salty humor, and unfussy prose yield a fresh, engrossing natural history.” — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review). “Accomplished Norwegian historian, journalist, and photographer Strøksnes invites readers into the fantastical ocean environment of his quest to capture a Greenland shark.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"What a great read!"
"A magical book about a mythical fish and the durability of friendship."
"I thought 8+ hours of audiobook was a bit long to listen about someone catching a shark but this endeavor is only the background music to what ended up being a plethora of perspective and education about the sea and all the life that inhabits it. Ongoing attempts at scouting out the elusive Greenland shark were scattered throughout this book, but it wasn't until the final five minutes via audio that any progress was made. In the form of rain they have washed over dry land; there they have been lapped up thousands of times by animals, people, and plants, only to evaporate, transpire, or run back out to sea, again and again."
"The Norwegian title is "Havboka" which means "Sea Book" or "Book of the Sea" which is a better title, and the Norwegian book cover art is awesome."
"The story is not only about the author and Hugo's long time friendship and their joint quest to catch this shark, but it became a wonderful history lesson in just about everything. I may have a bit more respect for the the sea, but still have maybe a bit more fear for what I cannot see beneath the water, at least now I know a bit more of the fascinating life that goes on down below."
"If you decide to read this book don’t expect to be blown out of the water as if you were hit by a pilot whale (now I can make that reference) just go into every page enjoying the random but somehow connected experiences, stories and enriching facts that the author is sharing with you as part of the adventure."
Best General Norway Travel Guides
With this guide, you'll set sail to Europe's most prosperous cornera smorgasbord of Viking ships, deep green fjords, stave churches, brooding castles, and colorful farmhouses. Delve deep into Norway's scenic Sognefjord and bike through the idyllic Danish countryside on the castaway island of Aero. Rick Steves has spent 100 days every year since 1973 exploring Europe.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Since it focusses on a couple of places extensively, with handy, informative city walks and lots of info about eating, sleeping and transportation, but skips entire parts of the Scandinavic countries, this guide is very good, and perhaps even more useful than the Lonely Planet, if you only visit those places described in the book and not the rest."
"It even has tips and locations for all types of budgets to get the quality and price you want for meals."
"It can't, of course, cover everything, and a few bits were already slightly out of date, but that's only natural with a tour book."
"Great summary of different areas with good detail on activities to do."
"So many good pointers for travel in this book."
"Very fast service."
"The book itself is very good, it is the e book version that is terrible and almost impossible to use as a reference."
Best Oslo Travel Guides
Street map of Oslo and Bergen, scale 1:10,000, includes insets with the Oslo-Bergen public transit connection, Oslo's environs and the Public Transit map. ITMB Publishing (International Travel Maps and Books) of Vancouver, Canada, has published detailed reference and travel maps of countries, regions, and cities around the world since 1985.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I personally like a large paper map instead of the teeny slice of land I can call up on my iPhone and besides, I didn't use my iPhone, wary of the excessive overseas charges."
"Also has a small area map of Oslo showing main roads in and out of an area about ten times that of the detailed map."
"Many high lighted features noted on the map.Looking forward to our trip to Norway next month."
"These maps will be very helpful."
"Each city tourist info center gives you a map of the city center, but nothing matches these maps for a true overview of the cities."
"We had been to Oslo before and walked to Frogner park from the city center w/o the aide of a map."
"It's a good street map to Oslo; less so for Bergen."
"Better than a map in a guide-book, larger scale than the Norway country map, this is a must for travelers in an unfamiliar country."
Best Poland Travel Guides
Part memoir and part travelogue, this unique cookbook that the story of Beata Zatorska's childhood in rural Poland, mixing stories of her youth and her grandmother’s handwritten recipes with stunning photos of Poland in summer. From fold-out endpapers featuring colorful, folksy textiles, to the lace overprint on the front cover, the textures are so rich they almost render the experience three dimensional. "In addition to being a serious cookbook with more than 50 Polish recipes (from pierogi to poppy-seed cake) taken from Beata's grandmother's handwritten notes, as miraculously preserved as preserves, Rose Petal Jam is also part memoir and part travelogue, the story of Beata's idyllic childhood in the rural Karkonosze Mountains and her later day adventurous travels with Simon in Poland today.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I left Poland at the age of seven but my roots will always be there and the spirit of my homeland flows in my veins. I give it four stars because sometimes the timing and instructions to the cooking process needs to be modified slightly but all round a gem!!!"
"And, it is very much a “coffee table book”: It is artistically laid out; there are very many photographs, both new and old; the writing is thoughtful and thought-provoking, with the stories, history and information very interesting to read; the content of the book—the combination of the pictures and the words—is often very poignant. About the recipes: As an example of the flexible instructions: The recipe for rose petal jam is to gather 3-4 large handfuls of the wild rose “Rosa canina” and place them in a stone mortar, slowly pour in about a pound of sugar and crush with the pestle to create a paste. In a way, that “loose”, open attitude is exactly what’s wonderful about Babcia’s (Grandma’s) recipes, but in another way, it won’t be helpful to a new cook."
"Beautiful pictures and her writing paints a picture of the unforgettable landscape, people and food of a beloved country that still remains a hidden gem to western cultures."
"I'm looking forward to Beata's next book and also the publication of this book in the Polish language."
"This book is not only beautiful but it tells such a heart-felt story about childhood memories and the loss of leaving your homeland."
"The format and photography is as lovely as you could find in an art book."
"If anyone wants to read why your heart never leaves Poland no matter what part of the world life takes you to, this book is for you."
"The book was much larger and weightier than I expected, but it was the size that encouraged me to slow down, and sit and enjoy the stories and pictures."
Best Monaco Travel Guides
This sumptuous, illustrated history tells the story of the rise of modern ballet and its popularity through the life story of one of ballet’s most glamorous stars, Irina Baronova (1919–2008), prima ballerina for the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo and later for Ballet Theatre in New York. “My friend Irina Baronova was a legendary Baby Ballerina of the Ballets Russes and an ambassador of classical ballet in America, but this book shows us the kind, funny, and hardworking woman behind the legend. These pages made me realize how lucky we are now, we American dancers, because of the pioneering energy and sheer strength of Baronova and the other great dancers of the Ballets Russes who performed tirelessly night after night, stirring and thrilling hearts in every tiny pocket of America. (Anjelica Huston). “Photograph by photograph, Tennant touches on some of the most celebrated moments of Baronova’s career as a professional ballerina, while providing an unprecedented look into the Golden Age of ballet. Although most know Baronova for her grace on the ballet floor, Tennant chronicles her mother’s life from humble and difficult beginnings to her days as a world-renowned dancer.”. ( DuJour ). “Written by Baronova’s daughter, this lavishly illustrated book depicts the life of one of ballet’s most glamorous stars, Irina Baronova, whose outstanding talent and beauty led her to become prima ballerina of the Ballets Russes and later New York’s Ballet Theatre.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Baronova's life was extraordinary, as the treasure trove of photographs attests."
"This is a wonderful portrait of a woman and a view of both an era and the world of ballet when America knew almost nothing about this art form."
"For enthusiast of beauty and excellence, an exciting read for both its rare transformative ability to bring you to an historical place and an immediate present."
"Beautiful photos."
"A superb book and a must for all who are interested in the history of ballet."
"A collection of wonderful images and moments."
"Victoria Tennant should be highly commended for the significant effort she has put into further contextualising why the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo made history at such an important and amazing time in history."
Best Andorra Travel Guides
This unique book examines the history, culture, and inner workings of the seven smallest independent countries in Europe.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is a delightful tour of the micro-states of Europe: The Principality of Andorra (a unitary semi-elective parliamentary diarchy), the Principality of Liechtenstein (a monarchy), the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy), the Republic of Malta (a unitary parliamentary republic), the Principality of Monaco (unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy), the Most Serene Republic of San Marino (a unitary parliamentary directorial republic), and the State of the Vatican City (an absolute monarchy, ecclesiastical and elective theocracy)."
"The author has good basic knowledge of all of them, and although brief in history and sights, this book is a good introduction to all of them with a useful, if now somewhat dated bibliography for further reading."
"insightful, well written, and on point."
"Excelent!"
"Had great information on counties that do not have a lot of published information about them."
"Excellent and well researched book that deals with the history and geography of the seven smallest states of Europe."
"I liked the book, thematic interesting and easy to understand."
Best German Travel Guides
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Germany takes you by the hand, leading you straight to the best attractions this country has to offer, from its beautiful castles and cathedrals to its popular beer halls, festivals, and Christmas markets to walks and hikes through the countryside. • Detailed city maps of Berlin and Munich include street finder indexes for easy navigation. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Germany truly shows you this country as no one else can. "Known… for its four-color maps, photos and illustrations, the [DK] Eyewitness Guides are extremely user-friendly for travelers who want their information delivered in a concise, visual way."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In good condition."
"It's a great book, but heavy to carry."
"By then, I was choke full of history and my shoulder couldn't handle the extra weight."
"This arrived quickly and I have been reading the history and similar sections; it follows the format of all DK Eyewitness Guides."
"This book came highly recommended by my seasoned traveler friends."
"This is a great guide with all the information anyone could ever need when traveling to Germany."
"We always look at the 4 or 5 standard guides for each country we visit and as usual this time we decided DK Eyewitness the best one."
Best Malta Travel Guides
Inside Lonely Planet Malta & Gozo Travel Guide: Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - including customs, history, art, music, architecture, politics, cuisine, and wine Over 36 local maps Covers Valletta, Marsaxlokk Victoria, Mdina, Dwerja, the Blue Lagoon, San Blas Bay, Gozo, Comino, Sliema, St. Julian's, Paceville, the Dingli Cliffs, and more.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It might be nice to have a little more in depth information, particularly about the ancient history of the island nation."
"Very helpful book, describing locations to see, good restaurants and general information about Malta and Gozo."
"This guide is almost as great as our visit to Malta."
"Great guide."
"Excellent guide to this fabulous / small country."
"My wife and I are spending a week in Malta over Christmas, it will be our second visit and this time we decided to buy the Lonely Planet guide (we already own LPGs for many other countries) to ensure we maximise the value of our holiday."
"There is not a ton of info on Malta and this book does a good job in giving you an overview."
"Handy tool for planning a trip to Malta and Gozo and seeing what there is to see."
Best Spain Travel Guides
Now updated to include newer maps and photos - and lighter in weight to support carefree traveling - this comprehensive guidebook to the Camino de Santiago and its offshoots contains all the information needed by modern-day pilgrims wishing to walk the sacred Way of St. James. John Brierley is a former chartered surveyor and the author of A Pilgrim’s Guide to Camino de Santiago , A Pilgrim’s Guide to Camino Finisterre , and A Pilgrim’s Guide to Camino Portugués .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have only one reservation to make with respect to Mr. Brierley's recommendations: His placing the " Route de Napoleon" as the recommended route for crossing the Pyrenees on the first day from St. Jean Pied de Port. The authentic pilgrims route had always been the Valcarlos/Arneguy route with its connections with the Charlemagne saga and its numerous villages are well equipped to cater to the needs of pilgrims."
"Have just returned from 3 weeks on the Camino and this book was fantastic."
"I read through about 1/2 of this in detail in preparation for making the Camino with 2 of my young-adult kids."
"I really like Brierley's stage maps & his step by step description of the trail especially when signage is sparse."
"Quick shipping, great product, painless transaction - highly recommended."
"Good info."
"We have a friend about to embark on the trek."
"Love the book, lost it, buying again."
Best Cyprus Travel Guides
In Bitter Lemons, Durrell tells the perceptive, often humorous, story of his experiences on Cyprus between 1953 and 1956-first as a visitor, then as a householder and teacher, and finally as Press Advisor to a government coping with armed rebellion.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Interesting experiences and fascinating information on the events and attitudes that led up to the divided Cyprus we have today."
"An excellent story setting the scene for the troubles of the 1950s that is even more poignant right now since the new memorial stones in the British Cemetery in Kyrenia list all the military personnel killed in those troubles. Most of the soldiers, air personnel, sailors and police were under 25 when they died."
"I originally got this book because I had spent some time on Crete and wanted to recapture the feeling of being on such an island -- I got that beautifully in the first half of the book."
"I first read this some years ago, but rereading it gave me new insights into a country I have visited frequently."
"a perfect buying experience in every way."
"love the author's writing."
"The author paints a wonderful picture of what life on Cyprus was like just before and then during the beginning of the fight to free the island from control by the British."
"I had forgotten how convoluted were the travel books I used to read when young."
Best Latvia Travel Guides
Inside the Lonely Planet Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania Travel Guide: About Lonely Planet: Since 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel media company with guidebooks to every destination, an award-winning website, mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It was a great way to plan ahead part of our tip."
"Had a great time in Estonia, and I even took the recommended weekend retreat to Helsinki from there that it suggested."
"Lots of great information about each country, including sightseeing information and general traveler information."
"Always use Lonely planet when travelling."
"It covers the interest in these 3 countries, very helpful to firm up the travel schedule."
"We learn the histories of countries before we go, we get ideas for hostels, we have the basic dictionary of phrases, we know the currencies, we learn the signs for men's rooms and ladies' rooms....we never travel without a Lonely Planet guide."
"The book was informative and was helpful in planning my trip to the Baltic States."
"A comprehensive and fairly useful guide book to help you plan your trip to the Baltic states."
Best Portugal Travel Guides
Tour Lisbon's cobbled lanes and grand squares, reminders of Portugal's seafaring glory days. When evening comes, enjoy a dinner of fresh seafood stew, and raise a glass of port wine in a toast. Connect with Rick: facebook: Rick Steves. twitter: @RickSteves. instagram: ricksteveseurope.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have read other travel review guides and the one I use now is Rick Steve's ."
"This is the 5th trip we've planned with Rick Steves as our guide."
"very good book...Love all of Rick's books...worth the time and $$$$."
"ok, hard to read and find things."
"Rick Steves is the king of European guidebooks for Americans and is an indispensable resource for another travelling to Europe."
"It is a typical (great!)."
"I didn't realize The Azores we're not included."
"I wish there was a version where I could find the information without all the "expert BS"."
Best Estonia Travel Guides
From top restaurants, bars, and clubs to standout scenic sites and walks, our insider tips are sure to make your trip outstanding. Whether you're looking for unique and interesting shops and markets, or seeking the best venues for music and nightlife, we have entertainment and hotel recommendations for every budget covered in our Eyewitness Travel Guide. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania truly shows you the country as no one else can. About DK Eyewitness Travel Guides : For more than two decades, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides have helped travelers experience the world through the history, art, architecture, and culture of their destinations.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"DK eyewitness guides are the best."
"You can't beat the KD books."
"This is the latest edition I was looking for (2015)."
"This book offers wonderful historical and cultural notes and helped us see many museums, enjoy the good life of summer, and also understand a little bit of the strength of the people through time!"
"Lots of pictures and information, good for preparing for trip ."
"Received promptly, product as described."
Best Greece Travel Guides
The tales of a naturalist and his family, who left England for the Greek island of Corfu—where they interacted with fascinating locals of both human and animal varieties—these memoirs have become beloved bestsellers and inspired the delightful series that aired on PBS television. Included in this three-book collection are: My Family and Other Animals : Ten-year-old Gerald Durrell arrives on sun-drenched Corfu with this family and pursues his interest in natural history, making friends with the island’s fauna—from toads and tortoises to scorpions and geckos—while reveling in the joyous chaos of growing up in an unconventional household. Praise for the Corfu Trilogy “A most enjoyable idyll.” — The New Yorker on My Family and Other Animals “A lot of frolic, fun, and charming ribaldry, as well as the warm feeling of having been transported to a lovely spot where worry is unknown and anything is believable.” — The New York Times on My Family and Other Animals “A delightful book full of simple, well-known things: cicadas in the olive groves, lamp fishing at night, the complexities of fish and animals—but above all, childhood molded by these things and intimately recalled in middle age.” — The New York Times Book Review on Birds, Beasts and Relatives.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I heard about 'My family and other animals' a few times before, but finaly took it to read upon an acquaintance' recommendation. There's also a faint child-like feel to the first book, to the stories about first encounters with earthly creatures and the family's reactions to young Gerald's growing "managerie". The stories are hillarious, made me want to learn more about some of the animals (I knew only a few of them, like dogs and a donkey, but I had to search the web for geckos, spiders and various beetles)."
"You will fall in love with the adventure-driven, sun-seeking, shenanigans-planning Durrell Family as they leave their cold, dreary English home and follow their hearts to the Greek isle of Corfu."
"The Corfu Trilogy is wonderful ..If you loved the The Darrell's of Corfu PBS Series You will love the three book trilogy even more .Gerald Djurrell is a wonderful loving and humorous writer .This is one of my favorite reads in Years ."
"A wonderful story of a single British mother raising 4 kids on the island of Corfu."
"I watched the PBS series and loved it, so it prompted me to purchase and read this trilogy."
"This is a great Bildungsroman, which views the trials and vicissitudes of a family coming to grips with life in an exotic locale."
"The family dynamics are so realistically drawn even in the likely hyperbole; the animal observations are also fascinating."
"Great tv series on PBS so I thought I’d buy the books."
Best French Travel Guides
Explore every centimeter of Paris, from the top of the Eiffel tower to the ancient catacombs below the city: with Rick Steves on your side, Paris can be yours! Rick Steves, author of 21 guidebooks and host of the television series Travels in Europe with Rick Steves, has spent 100 days a year traveling Europe, every year, since 1973.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"super helpfull to make a itinerary and make the most of Paris."
"Anyway, buy the book before you go but also buy Dixon Long's "Markets of Paris" - there is so much about Paris, it's impossible to overdo the preparation!"
"I can't say enough good things about this book."
"The book comes with a few pre-planned itineraries for a short 3 day trip and a longer trip, which with a little thought, can be customized to fit your schedule and desires. The guidebook covered common tourist scams, two of which were attempted on me which I easily avoided (friendship bracelet and found ring)."
"I read it over before going and it has lots of good information like when to go where, what days time etc. The only thing that I would double check before leaving for Paris or when in Paris is if the days certain places are open. at least 3 hours of waiting!"
"I did my best to read the book before leaving and plan the trip out ahead of time, but it was also extremely useful at the hotel to help finalize the next day's plans, and even once in awhile to have it out with me during the day in case my memory failed me or we changed our plans on-the-fly."
"Rick Steves is a real-live "regular" traveler, who understands that most of us don't stay at the Ritz Carlton, don't eat at 3-star Michelin restaurants, and that we crave authentic travel experiences."
"But it is terrible--bare minumum of info, often misleading or missing info (for instance not mentioning the existence, let alone whereabouts, of a famous restaurant in Paris, but only its satellite location out at Versailles)."
Best Vatican Travel Guides
The front side of each card shows a full-size photograph of the art while the back side provides a 200-word discussion by art historian Anja Grebe on the key attributes of the work; what to look for when viewing it; the artist's inspirations, techniques, and biographical information; the artist's impact on art history; and more. She is taking part in numerous international research projects and exhibitions and has published extensively on medieval and modern art history.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Just visited the Vatican this past summer, so was excited to see this set."
"Great way to introduce Rome and the incredible artists."
"I love the size of this set."
"GOT THIS FOR MY BEST FRIENDS BIRTHDAY, SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED WITH IT."
"I want more;moma, Guggenheim, bmfa?"
Best Austria Travel Guides
Beyond Vienna, stroll the Baroque street of Salzburg, home to Mozart and The Sound of Music for a taste of the Alpine living, head to the snowy peaks and green valleys of Tirol. Connect with Rick: facebook: Rick Steves. twitter: @RickSteves. instagram: ricksteveseurope.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We just finished using this book for a trip to Vienna (but not anywhere else covered in this book), and it was well worth having!"
"This very useful guide includes information on Linz, Melk, and Durenstein Austria as well as Vienna and Salzburg, In addition there was a nice section on Bratislava, Slovakia which made it a very helpful companion on our Viking Danube River cruise which stopped at all these cities."
"I've learned my lesson and won't buy another travel guide electronically."
"I used this book to plan our trip to Vienna, Salzburg, and Tirol (Tyrol)."
"Rick gives his opinion on which sites to say to help you decide on what it's worth spending time on and what can be skipped."
"As always an excellent travel guide."
"It was so nice to just carry a light weight kindle--that I could also use for reading novels on the train or at cafes."
"We were totally satisfied with the information in the book and what it did in the way of helping us plan the trip to Austria."
Best Sweden Travel Guides
With this guide, you'll set sail to Europe's most prosperous cornera smorgasbord of Viking ships, deep green fjords, stave churches, brooding castles, and colorful farmhouses. Delve deep into Norway's scenic Sognefjord and bike through the idyllic Danish countryside on the castaway island of Aero. Rick Steves has spent 100 days every year since 1973 exploring Europe.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Since it focusses on a couple of places extensively, with handy, informative city walks and lots of info about eating, sleeping and transportation, but skips entire parts of the Scandinavic countries, this guide is very good, and perhaps even more useful than the Lonely Planet, if you only visit those places described in the book and not the rest."
"It even has tips and locations for all types of budgets to get the quality and price you want for meals."
"It can't, of course, cover everything, and a few bits were already slightly out of date, but that's only natural with a tour book."
"Great summary of different areas with good detail on activities to do."
"So many good pointers for travel in this book."
"Very fast service."
"The book itself is very good, it is the e book version that is terrible and almost impossible to use as a reference."
Best Ireland Travel Guides
Wander rustic towns, emerald valleys, lively cities, and moss-draped ruins: with Rick Steves on your side, Ireland can be yours! Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great guide with wonderful suggestions to any of the major cities we visited."
"Found this guide helpful in planning my trip."
"A good source of information about some more popular sites in Ireland."
"Very useful as all Rick's publications."
"We like Rick's books; only disappointing thing is when you want or have to go somewhere in the country that he doesn't cover."
"Helpful for novice (and maybe not so novice) international travelers because he goes to enough pains to explain currency, driving rules, tipping, reservations, telephones, internet use, car rentals, and a myriad of other everyday issues that are different in a foreign country."
"I appreciate what he's trying to do - expose the reader to the culture of Irish folks versus seeing the checklist of Ireland tourist traps."
Best Denmark Travel Guides
When she was suddenly given the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, journalist and archetypal Londoner Helen Russell discovered a startling statistic: the happiest place on earth isn’t Disneyland, but Denmark, a land often thought of by foreigners as consisting entirely of long dark winters, cured herring, Lego and pastries. -- Sandi Toksvig 'Russell is possessed of a razor-sharp wit and a winning self-deprecation - two of the things that make this book such a delight.'. * The Independent * 'A hugely enjoyable romp through the pleasures and pitfalls of setting up home in a foreign land' -- PD Smith * Guardian * 'A wryly amusing account of a new life in a strange land.'. Helen Russell was a high-flying glossy magazine editor before moving to rural Jutland in Denmark which, despite its long dark winters, is also statistically the happiest nation on earth.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When her husband was offered the chance to move to Denmark and work for Lego, Russell went from initially skeptical to seriously intrigued once she learned that Denmark has routinely been named as the happiest country in the world. In this memoir, Russell captures the adventure of moving to a new country and setting up a new life, while providing lots of interesting insight into what might make Denmark such an ideal place to live in. The cast of characters that make up Russell and her husband’s social life in Denmark – like the neighbors Mr. Russell divides the book into 12 chapters (one per month for her first 12 months in Denmark), with each chapter having a loose focus on one of the aspects of society/culture/economics that may contribute to the country’s status as happiest on Earth. Russell could have written this book as a straight up guide to what life is like in Denmark, but I think her personal story and perspective really contributed to the narrative. Some of the studies cited by Russell about different aspects of life in Denmark sounded more rigorous or believable than others, and I wished I had the time to investigate them further – which was impossible because to her credit Russell mentions many different studies throughout the book."
"And this is A Good Thing.”. I wanted a light and fun, but deeply interesting read to bring on a summer trip, and this book turned out to be the perfect choice. It offered a pretty entertaining look at Danish culture and society, all through the lens of why they continually rank among the highest countries in terms of happiness. After a while you get the formula of each chapter: an anecdote, a few statistics, an interview with a randomly found “expert,” and the constant questioning of various Danes about how happy they are on a scale of 1 to 10."
"And mostly, the Danish way of life this book reveals is just refreshing."
"You can feel the author’s joy about her experience flow from the pages as you vicariously experience her year in Denmark."
"It's currently the holidays and my place is trashed, but I know my next cleanup will be with Danish style in mind."
"As a freelance journalist and her husband decide to move to Denmark for a year, she decides to find out why the Danish people are listed as having the highest ratings for happiness in their lives."
Best Italian Travel Guides
Check out Fodor's travel guides to Rome; Venice; Florence & Tuscany; and The Amalfi Coast, Capri & Naples. “Fodor’s is pitched a few notches higher….aimed at a fairly discerning traveler with an appetite for background and the occasional surprise.” – New York Times.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I prefer this over other popular guide as it gives more information."
"Going to Italy in September."
"(It's amusing to read, for instance, "Florence's popularity with tourists means that, unfortunately, there's a higher percentage of mediocre restaurants here," before Fodor goes on with an insider's tips on which restaurants a visitor should try). The book is well-organized, colorful, well-illustrated with maps and pictures, has a nice pull-out map of Rome in back, and has readable and interesting prose."
"We used an older Fodors Essential Italy travel guide for our last trip to Italy and found it to be an excellent resource. We then take our itinerary and clip the relevant pages from the guide book to the area we are exploring along with any other resources we have for that area."
"I have gotten through the Rome section thus far, and I feel like I have a great handle on what I can expect to budget for a trip there next spring or fall (the best times to visit, according to the guide) and what neighborhoods and attractions are the absolute musts for a visit."
"I also want to have a guideBOOK to consult, not an e-guide book. But if you DO want an actual guideBOOK, Fodor's guides are often a good option."
"It's too overwhelming of a book."
Best England Travel Guides
Rick Steves Pocket London.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"informative well laid out."
"I found this publication by researching on Amazon and it is exactly what I am after to help me navigate London and all there is to see there."
"As always with Rick Steves books on Kindle - I found it very easy to navigate."
"Very good information."
"This is a great guide."
"I visited Abbey Road, Paul McCartney's current home, Sherlock Holmes Pub, and several other places that tourists don't usually go to."
Best Finland Travel Guides
With this guide, you'll set sail to Europe's most prosperous cornera smorgasbord of Viking ships, deep green fjords, stave churches, brooding castles, and colorful farmhouses. Delve deep into Norway's scenic Sognefjord and bike through the idyllic Danish countryside on the castaway island of Aero. Rick Steves has spent 100 days every year since 1973 exploring Europe.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Since it focusses on a couple of places extensively, with handy, informative city walks and lots of info about eating, sleeping and transportation, but skips entire parts of the Scandinavic countries, this guide is very good, and perhaps even more useful than the Lonely Planet, if you only visit those places described in the book and not the rest."
"We skipped the expensive, shorter excursion offered by the cruise ship and saved enough to pay for all of our tour books."
"It even has tips and locations for all types of budgets to get the quality and price you want for meals."
"It can't, of course, cover everything, and a few bits were already slightly out of date, but that's only natural with a tour book."
"I like the writing style and of the places we chose to visit from the book, most were good."
"If you're looking for a book with limited scope to just the largest cities and one or two other options, this book can be very helpful, including many practical suggestions and recommendations on how to travel economically."
"The book itself is very good, it is the e book version that is terrible and almost impossible to use as a reference."
Best Iceland Travel Guides
Splash around in the Blue Lagoon's geothermal water, catch a glimpse of the celestial Northern Lights, or take a boat trip among the icebergs; all with your trusted travel companion. Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, politics, landscapes, wildlife, literature, music, cinema, art, architecture, customs, cuisine. Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing. Looking for more extensive coverage?
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Full color photos, multiple maps of villages, cities and notable landmarks throughout Iceland, make this book engaging to anyone."
"Their advice on travel to and from the airport by Flybus saved anxiety, time and money. As usual, their advice helped guide us to the sights and trips that we were most interested in."
"Pros: - Highlights all the must-sees and should-dos. - Like all other Lonely Planet guides I've used, this is very thorough, has up-to-date and accurate information on a wide variety of destinations. - Prices and opening hours are largely accurate, but travelers should still try to confirm info online when possible (i.e., the Blue Lagoon opening hours, that sort of thing). Cons: - Hypes up less exciting destinations... can be hard to pick out exactly where to go, though the essentials are mentioned. - Spends too much time on places no tourist should bother visiting (such as tiny towns with <1k population). - Not exactly geared for photographers; i.e., does not attempt to highlight some of the cool waterfalls, viewpoints, or hikes that are so worth going to."
"This book has the topical "getting started" and "suggested loops" sections, then delves pretty deeply into each region."
"You might find a paper map more useful outside of the capital city, in more remote places where you might not have a GPS signal."
"I loved this book because it had so much valuable and informative facts and history about the various towns and areas we visited."
Best Slovakia Travel Guides
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Czech and Slovak Republics is the ultimate companion to this magnificent region. About DK Eyewitness Travel Guides : For more than two decades, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides have helped travelers experience the world through the history, art, architecture, and culture of their destinations.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The DK guides to the Czech Republic and the separate on for Prague have been indispensable."
"Only thing I would have liked to see added is a sort of scale of what's actually a "must-see" vs "if you have time" as all feels equally weighted."
"I bought this for my friend to help them plan a trip, they said it was amazing."
"My cousin and I do not do organized tours, so we travel all over Europe in a rental car with our photocopied pages of the DK books (carrying each country's book gets a little heavy) and these pages fit nicely in our carry-on luggage ... next to our maps."
"I bought this because I am considering going to Slovakia in the near future, my Grandparent are from there and I would love to see where they are from."
"Excellent travel guide for points of interest."
"This is the book one takes if they have space and are traveling through a country, through small towns."
"If you buy the book, CHECK THE PAGES! If it weren't for the pages in German, I would recommend this book for someone who wanted background information on sites to see in a country, but I would not recommend it as a guidebook to take along on a trip."
Best Bulgaria Travel Guides
Border is a scintillating, immersive travel narrative that is also a shadow history of the Cold War, a sideways look at the migration crisis troubling Europe, and a deep, witchy descent into interior and exterior geographies. But she also possesses a gift that’s bestowed on only the best of travel writers: an ability to zero in on characters who illuminate the condition of a place in time.” ― The New York Times Book Review. Kassabova’s gifts as a poet shine when she describes the mystical, powerful landscape, the book’s true protagonist.” ― Newsday. “Rich with a profound sense of the region’s political and cultural history, this travelogue moves at an often meandering pace, its narrative broken up by condensed musings on personal conflict, historical ephemera or folklore. Kassabova devotes herself to intimate vignettes that sparkle with the dark charm of fairy tales and mystical fables. Kassabova’s gifts as a poet shine when she describes the mystical, powerful landscape, the book’s true protagonist. “An ethereal siren’s song woven from the myths, legends, and languages that converge in the borderland. The result is a portrait of a place out of time, separate from the countries the speakers inhabit―a distinctive space that the reader can enter too after falling under Kassabova’s spell. Reading Border is a dizzying reminder of the common humanity found on either side of any border.” ― The Christian Century. Kassabova proves to be a penetrating and contemplative guide through rough terrain.” ― Publishers Weekly , starred review. Border offers a dark look at a world of smugglers and spies, where the past maintains its hold even as people struggle to reach a brighter future." “A dreamlike account that subtly draws readers into the author’s ambivalent experience of a homeland that has changed almost beyond recognition.” ― Kirkus Reviews. “This is an exceptional book, a tale of travelling and listening closely, and it brings something altogether new to the mounting literature on the story of modern migration. [At a moment] when asylum-seekers are adrift from one end of the world to the other, Border makes for timely reading.” ― New Statesman (UK) “Riveting, beautifully written. Kassabova, a poet and novelist as well as an essayist, is ideally placed to take us on a journey to a corner of Europe that even today seems exotic and little known. In this region nearly everyone is at only one or two generational removes from exile and displacement, scattered among three alphabets and several nations; and along the way Kassabova meets treasure-hunters, refugees, retired spies, smugglers, hunters, botanists, healers, artists, Gypsies (Roma), forest rangers and -border guards. This is travel writing with lexical precision (“transhumance”, “karst”) and a sense of adventure, but with a distinctively female slant. With the best of travel writers, Kapka Kassabova is an explorer, viewing everything with the eyes of discovery, even as she uncovers strata of history and legend. She makes us long to peer closely at the map, and see these wondrous places for ourselves.” ― The Times Literary Supplement (UK).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This read was a fascinating journey indeed!"
"Beautifully written."
"Beautifully written, and conveyed all of the suffering this region has endured throughout the centuries because of political, religious and ideological differences."
"Fascinating tale of past and present borders in a little-discussed corner of Europe."
Best Belgium Travel Guides
With this guide, you'll ride bikes over cobblestone streets and embark on cruises through charming canals. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves guidebook is a tour guide in your pocket. Connect with Rick: facebook: Rick Steves. twitter: @RickSteves. instagram: ricksteveseurope.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My journeys were planned using the always-reliable guidance; my travels were enhanced by information that helped me be a bolder adventurer; and my experiences were richer for the treasures revealed by entering "Through the Back Door"."
"For the history lovers, there are beautifully written sections to educate you about what you're seeing, which makes your experience measurably more meaningful. The information is so detailed that Rick tells you things like, "When exiting the front of the train station, turn to your left and walk 20 yards to the bus stop. And of course, there are simplified city maps to help you navigate once you get there, usually marked with his suggested walking tour route. But one of my favorite parts of Rick's books is that he tells you how to really see a place by becoming what he calls a "temporary local.""
"We don't pay much attention to his lodging and restaurant recommendations anymore but his descriptions of sites to see, choices of places to visit on a schedule and other basic information are very good."
"As a medically fragile traveler, this helped us decide what to do, what to spend my energy on."
"My brother and I have used his travel books on our trips to Europe and never been disappointed in room food recommendations."
"Rick Steves travel guides have lots of practical information, very useful for planning trips to Europe."
"Steve's books are always well organized and well written and it makes planning a trip very easy."
"Rick Steves is the best travel book out there."
Best Netherlands Travel Guides
You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in Amsterdam. Connect with Rick: facebook: Rick Steves. twitter: @RickSteves. instagram: ricksteveseurope.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We are mid-budget travelers; meaning we can splurge on certain things (nice dinner, personal tour, etc.). In particular, the Paris guide was very helpful for the metro system, walking tours, history lessons, and restaurant suggestions."
"In fact, you will have a great trip that is well-planned, without having to hire your own private tour guide, or waste time with the big tour groups if you have limited time or would like to just go about at your own leisure."
"First, the bad: many of the important maps are on two page spreads, which means they're useless."
"Rick Steven books are always top notch."
"I highly recommend this book if you are planning a vacation to London."
"The warnings about scams and pickpockets might be a bit overdone, but they're the kind of thing you can and should prepare for, so I don't regret listening to Rick's advice."
"I followed his previous guide last year in London... and am going back."
"I usually like Rick Steves books, but I was disappointed in this one."
Best Hungarian Travel Guides
You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in Budapest. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves guidebook is a tour guide in your pocket. To recharge, Rick plays piano, relaxes at his family cabin in the Cascade Mountains, and spends time with his partner Trish, son Andy, and daughter Jackie.Connect with Rick:facebook: Rick Stevestwitter: @RickStevesinstagram: ricksteveseurope.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As soon as I learned that I'd spend a week in Budapest (mostly on business), I went to the public library to take out a few guidebooks (DK's Top 10 Budapest, Rick Steves Budapest, and Fodor's 25 Best Budapest). I ended up buying the Kindle version of the Rick Steves book. I'm a bit surprised at how few of the Amazon reviews actually speak to the usefulness of the guidebooks; most of them seem to be written by people who read the books before the trip rather than reporting on the books' helpfulness on the city streets. Top 10 Budapest: As with the others in this series, the fits-in-your-purse book has plenty of pretty photos, lots of clear maps, walking tours ("a day in the Castle District and North Buda"), and the promised Top 10 lists, from overall sights (Parliament, St Stephen's Basilica, etc.). Fodor's 25 Best Budapest: This book, too, is a short-and-sweet overview to the city, emphasizing the most popular sights, with good maps and photos. Instead of trying to fit everything into a tiny book (which necessarily limits how many things to include and how much to say), Steves' book shares a lot of detail, with real storytelling -- as if you had a (semi)-local telling you about his city. If I had to do it again, I'd get both the Rick Steves book AND the Fodor's guide -- the latter, perhaps, in the paper version, as it's light enough to put in your day pack."
"The book does a great job of listing places to visit,where to sleep, eat, the exciting night life, cultural events and other attractions in Budapest by district."
"We used it extensively to get off the beaten path and see some interesting sites."
"I normally find that it takes more than one guidebook to get the info I want during my visits because I try to have a good predetermined sequence in mind of POI's so I can maximize my weekend time off."
"Rick Steve's books are an indispensable asset to any trip!"
"Another great Rick Steves travel book which provides all the detailed information you need to have a great trip to Budapest."
"Excellent and the supplements for places to see outside Budapest were especially helpful."
"Book was decent but i very much disliked the fact that it didn't include a map like the other books i have purchased from Rick Steves."
Best Greenland Travel Guides
Kayak past towering icebergs, dog-sled frozen tundra to picture-postcard villages, marvel at the midnight sun or dancing northern lights – Greenland and the Arctic are the perfect backdrop to an unforgettable experience. Lonely Planet guidebooks are, quite simply, like no others.'.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"At the time of purchase of this book (07), it wasn't as outdated and was extremely beneficial to me while I was traveling through Iceland and Greenland."
"I got the book two weeks ago, and now I have booked eight days in Greenland in June 2014, very useful to have the book."
"Very complete showing the diversity of the flora and fauna as well as the culture of Greenlanders."
"For example, charter flights between Canada (Iqaluit) and Greenland were terminated after the book went to press, so now it's impossible to fly from North America to Greenland without going through Europe. Also covered are Arctic Russia, northern Norway (town of Mo and north), and northern Finland (Rovaniemi and north)."
"I've enjoyed this book and it's a good travel guide on Greenland."
"It seems as if they just threw in a few sections just to say that they've covered it... But this LP guide has missed out so much...to mention a few: 1) Yukon - there's more to this territory than just Dawson and Dempster Hwy...such as Old Crow, Vuntut & Ivvavik Parks, and simply the rest of Yukon itself. Better do your planning online... though slightly southerly regarding its latitude and location, this place has nothing but Arctic landscapes and climate. 5) Northern Labrador - another beautiful Inuit region of Labrador completely forgotten on this so-called "Arctic" guide... 6) Scandinavia - Northern Norway is very beautiful, but this guide only gives you a vague idea of this fascinating region."