Rick Steves' Italy 2011

You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in Italy. From the beaches to the Alps, from fine art to fine pasta, Italy has it all. With this book, you’ll trace Italian culture from Rome’s Colosseum to Michelangelo’s David to the bustling elegance of Milan. Experience the art-drenched cities of Venice and Florence, explore the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum, and learn how to avoid the lines at the most popular museums. Discover the villages of Tuscany and Umbria and the lazy rhythms of the Cinque Terre. Shop at local market stalls, sip a cappuccino at an outdoor café, and pick up a picknic lunch at an allimentari. Relax and enjoy the life of Bella Italia! Rick’s candid, humorous advice will guide you to good-value hotels and restaurants. He’ll help you plan where to go and what to see, depending on the length of your trip. You’ll get up-to-date recommendations about what is worth your time and money. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves guidebook is a tour guide in your pocket.

 (56 customer reviews)

I went on my honeymoon to Italy and this book was the only thing I used to guide me around Rome. Rick Steves is simply AWESOME! One example I remember was following his tip about buying the Colosseum tickets on the Colina Palatina booth, in order to skip the HUGE lines on the Colosseum! I did just that and me and my wife went laughing ALL the way from the back of a 200 person line to the entrance and into the Colosseum! AMAZING! This book is filled with MANY, MANY secrets like this and I couldn't find any situation on which Mr. Steves was wrong. If you are going to Italy, take this book with you and SAVE a TON of money! Highly Recommended!

I don't know how to rate this, since I can't find a place to review only the Kindle version.

I've been using Rick Steves' guidebooks for many years, and feel as if he's one of my favorite travel companions. So as I'm planning a trip with some friends, I bought them the "dead tree book" version of the 2011 guide. I bought myself the kindle version. And the books are not the same! There are big hunks of restaurant and sleeping versions that are missing in the Kindle version. And unlike the Frommer's kindle versions of travel guides, there's no place to go online that allows you to print out the maps.

Quite a disappointment.

I took this book (and "Let's Go-Italy") on my 3-week solo cycling tour of Northern Italy and Tuscany. Rick has so much useful information for the independent traveller.
My itinerary was from Florence to Siena, then back up to San Gimignano, Volterra, back through Siena to Montepulciano, Pienza, and Montalcino. I then rode down to Orvieto and the short ride to Civita di Bagnoregio. A train to Venice, then my ride through the Dolomites and Alto Adige from Cortina d'Ampezzo to Brunico,Bressanone, and Bolzano. From there I went west to Passo di Tonale, the Gavia Pass (a couple of days before the Giro d'Italia), then to Bormio, Tirano, and over to Lake Como. I wrapped things up in Milano.
Rick's guide was invaluable, not only for the information about these places, but also for the fact that he opens up the wonders of the hill towns that most guidebooks ignore (you can't enjoy "discovering" places that you can't find in other guides!). The hill towns were definitely a...Read more