Find the Right Guidebook
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Rick and his co-authors have written a wide range of guidebooks covering Europe from Portugal to Poland, and from Ireland to Istanbul. But trying to choose which book(s) best suit your trip can be confusing.
The series has a mix of country, regional and city guides listing sights, hotels, and restaurants for the destinations they cover. Both the country and city/regional guides also include practical tips on trip planning, transportation, phoning, the accommodations and cuisine scene, and more. The skinny Snapshot guides are chapters taken directly from our country guides focusing on just the essentials you need to know for a particular destination. Here's a quick rundown of your options, and a list of titles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose the Best Rick Steves Guidebook for You
| If you are... | Consider... | |
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| Planning your first trip to Europe? Start with these books to help you get the most out of your trip. | Read-Before-You-Go Books:
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| Embarking on a whirlwind tour across Europe? These big books suit wider trips, whether you're hitting Europe's "greatest hits" or blitzing its southern coast by sea. | Grand-Tour Books: | |
| Visiting several destinations within a country? Find thorough coverage of Rick's favorite places in a single country. | Country Guidebooks: | |
| Spending four or more days in a major city or region? Get in-depth coverage and illustrated tours of the top sights. | ||
| City/Regional Guidebooks: | ||
| Taking a shorter trip — or a return trip — to one of Europe's top cities? Grab one of these colorful city guides, distilled for maximum portability. | Pocket Guides: | |
| Focusing on specific destinations not covered by a city or region guide? Try these slim books, containing selected chapters excerpted from Rick's country guides. | ||
Snapshots:
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| Interested in learning a few foreign phrases? Pick up a pocket-sized book filled with fun and practical phrases, a dictionary and menu decoder. | Phrase Books: |
More Books
Postcards from Europe is a fun memoir of Rick's travels, European Christmas is a festive celebration of holiday traditions and Travel As A Political Act shows how thoughtful travel can broaden your perspective.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you explain your "read-before-you-go" books?
These books are designed to help you prepare for your trip. The best starting point is Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door, our travel-skills handbook that teaches you to travel like a seasoned pro, and shares Rick's all-time favorite discoveries...his "Back Doors." For an enjoyable, colorfully illustrated lesson on history and art, pick up Europe 101. Geared to travelers, this book gives meaning to the sights you'll see.
Do I need a city-specific book (such as Venice) or a country guidebook (Italy)?
For a trip that includes several destinations in one country, a country guidebook is best. But if you're staying in one city for four or more days, you'll enjoy the illustrated tours (of museums and neighborhoods) our city guidebooks offer.
Many travelers take along a combination of country and city/regional guidebooks. For example, if you're visiting several destinations in Italy with a lengthy stay in Rome, we'd recommend taking along the Italy country guidebook and the Rome city guide (but not the Venice or Florence & Tuscany guides).
If you have specific questions about what book is best for you, look at the description (and table of contents) offered for each book at our Travel Store.
What's the difference between Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door, Rick Steves' Europe 101, and Rick Steves' Best of Europe?
They're completely different books. Europe Through the Back Door is a travel-skills handbook, designed to be read before you go. Europe 101 is a fun, informative survey of Europe's art and history. Best of Europe is a take-along book with specifics on sights, hotels, and restaurants in Europe's top destinations.
Should I buy the Best of Europe book or a combination of country and city guides?
Each country guide covers about a dozen select destinations within the featured country or region. The 20-some most important chapters from these 100+ destinations are excerpted to make up Rick Steves' Best of Europe, ideal if you want to visit the highlights in several countries. If you plan a longer trip through a specific region or country, you'll prefer the city/regional or country guides.
Are the books available in e-format?
Yes, most of Rick's books are available electronically. We also offer free audio tours of Europe's top sights, hours of travel interviews, and lots more via our free Rick Steves Audio Europe app.