Top 11 Guidebooks for Italy Travel

1. Italy: Instructions for Use

This is a great book to take to Italy! Nan McElroy shares her years of experience as a traveler in Italyas she covers common travel situations and answers questions about traveling in Italy that you might have before you go or when you are there.

2. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides Italy

The Eyewitness Travel Guides are known for their comprehensive and detailed pictures, drawings, floor plans, neighborhood maps, and illustrations. It's a great planning tool even though it's not updated yearly as some of the other guides are. My only complaint is that it is a little heavy to carry around.

3. Let's Go Italy 2009

The Let's Go books are aimed primarily at the budget traveler. I think they're top guides if you're planning to travel using public transportation even if you're not on a budget.

4. National Geographic Traveler Italy

National Geographic Traveler is full of beautiful photos and good information about Italy. The book is divided into sections by region and has maps, a section on history, and a travel wise section.

5. Fodor's 2009 Italy

Fodor's guide includes unique sections with insights from locals and recommendations from other travelers. It also includes tools for trip planning, tips, cultural background, photos, and maps in addition to descriptions of what to see.

6. Rough Guide Italy

Rough Guide Italy is a detailed guide book with maps, plans, and author's pick recommendations. Rough Guides have lots of historical background and are good for travel by public transportation.

7. Frommer's Italy's Best-Loved Driving Tours

Italy's Best Loved Driving Tours is a great book if you're traveling by car. It has 25 detailed itineraries, driving directions, suggested stops, and photos. Itineraries cover northern, central, and southern Italy.

8. Fodor's See It Italy

See It Italy includes lots of photos and maps. The bulk of the book covers the "Sights" broken down into 9 regions. The book also has sections on Understanding Italy, Getting Around, What to Do, Out and About, Eating and Staying, and Planning. It's a little heavy to carry around but a good resource for before you go.

9. Italy for the Gourmet Traveler

Here's a book I've used a lot on my travels in Italy. Fred Plotkin gives a culinary overview of each region with restaurant and food information for 300 towns and cities in Italy. Read it before you go and take note of places you want to visit.

10. Made in Italy

Laura Morelli's book is a shopper's guide to Italy's best artisanal traditions. A great book for shoppers as well as those interested in Italian traditions.

11. The Romantic's Guide to Italy

Gina Podesta writes about Italy's most romantic destinations with restaurant and lodging recommendations. There's also information about wedding planning.