The Best Travel Guides (Online and Books)
Even in the digital age, travel guide books are an important part of my travel planning journey. I have read and tried many different travel books and online travel guides. And I pulled together a list of what I think are the best travel guides (books and online resources).
I return to my favorite travel guides again and again with each trip that we plan. Once you find a travel guide series that you know and trust, it can really speed up the travel planning process.
But which travel guides are the best? Keep reading for the full list!
Need help with planning your trip? Check out our guide to the best travel planning resources.
This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See disclaimer.
Are travel guidebooks still used now?
Absolutely! Although you can find a wealth of travel planning help online, the good old-fashioned travel guidebooks are still very much available and in use.
Some people prefer to use paper travel guidebooks. You can flag important sections and highlight things you want to remember. We’ve even ripped our books up (they’re meant to be used!) and traveled only with the sections covering the cities and sites we visited.
E-books are also a great option for travel guides. If you use e-books, you can easily travel with several guides without adding a single ounce to your luggage. It’s a perfect option for those who travel carry-on only.
Rick Steves: best travel guides for Europe
Rick Steves guidebooks
Some seasoned travelers look down their noses a bit at Rick Steves guide books. There’s no reason for that. Rick Steves knows Europe inside and out from decades of traveling, leading tours, writing books, and producing episodes of his wonderful series Rick Steves’ Europe.
Rick Steves books are excellent guides and well worth the money. I highly recommend them, especially for travel planning beginners or for anxious travelers who are looking for an expert to tell them where to visit and how.
His books are kept up to date and quite detailed, even to the point of including full guided walking tours (often several) and detailed guided tours through major sites.
- Now more than ever, you can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in Rome
- Explore ancient ruins and view Renaissance masterpieces in this truly modern Eternal City
- Inside Rick Steves Rome you’ll find:Fully updated, comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring Rome Rick’s strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites Top sights and hidden gems, from the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel to corner trattorias, cozy wine bars, and the perfect scoop of gelato How to connect with local culture: Indulge in the Italian happy hour tradition of aperitivo, savor a plate of cacio e pepe, or chat with fans about the latest soccer match Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick’s candid, humorous insight The best places to eat, sleep, and experience la dolce far nienteSelf-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and sights like the Roman Forum, St
Rick Steves online
You can also get a lot of good free travel tips and help on the Rick Steves website, including the forums. There are forums specifically for countries, reviews, and several forums about general travel tips topics.
They’re a great way to get insight and tips from other experienced travelers…even those who disagree with Rick Steves itinerary suggestions. (Shocked face.)
Rick Steves Audio Europe Travel App
I also highly recommend the Rick Steves Audio Europe Travel App. It’s loaded with audio guides for walking tours and top travel destination sites like the Colosseum in Rome and The Louvre Museum in Paris.
Download the audio tours for your destination so you can listen to them on your mobile device as you explore your destination.
TIP: Keep track of all of your important travel details with a digital travel planner like this.
Rough Guides: my favorite travel guidebooks overall
Super practical and easy to read, Rough Guides are my top choice for any destination that isn’t in Europe (for which I prefer Rick Steves guide books).
The UK-based company was founded in 1982 with the Rough Guide to Greece. Since then, they have published travel guidebooks for well over 100 destinations all over the world.
In addition to their main guidebook series, they also offer Pocket Rough Guides, On a Budget, Snapshots, phrasebooks, and inspirational guides like “Make the Most of Your Time on Earth.”
- Practical travel guide to Greece with a free eBook featuring points-of-interest structured lists of all sights and off-the-beaten-track treasures, with detailed colour-coded maps, practical details about what to see and to do in Greece, how to get there and around, pre-departure information, as well as top time-saving tips, like a visual list of things not to miss in Greece, expert author picks and itineraries to help you plan your trip
- This guide book has been fully updated post-COVID-19
- The Rough Guide to Greece covers: Athens and Around, the Peloponnese, the Central Mainland, the Northern Mainland, the Argo-Saronic Islands, the Cyclades, Crete, the Dodecanese, the East and North Aegean, the Sporades and Evvia, and the Ionian IslandsInside this travel guide you’ll find:RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLERExperiences selected for every kind of trip to Greece, from off-the-beaten-track adventures in the Dodecanese to family activities in child-friendly places, like Crete or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like Athens
Rough Guides website
Rough Guides isn’t just a guidebook publisher though. Since 2017 they have offered tailor-made trips to over 70 destinations. created by local travel experts. Their website provides some basic itineraries, travel recommendations, and basic destination information for free that can help get you started on planning your travel itinerary.
Fodor’s
The great travel writer Eugene Fodor once said “You don’t need to be rich to travel well.” And that’s been kind of my mantra for the last several years.
In 1936 Fodor wrote the first modern travel guide book. It was for British audiences and he wrote all 1200 pages himself. The book was On the Continent: An Entertaining Travel Annual.
According to Fodors.com, “The guide went beyond reporting on the sights and for the first time included information about Europe’s culture and people, practical information like how to tip, and was the first to be annually updated.”
Since On the Continent was first published, Fodor’s has been a trusted name in travel guides. They now claim that their travel writers have covered more than 8,000 destinations around the world.
In addition to the Signature Guides, their other series include Fodor’s Inside, In Focus, and 25 Best. Fodor’s says that Fodor’s Italy is the company’s top-selling guidebook.
- Whether you want to visit the Colosseum in Rome, go designer shopping in Milan, or hike the Cinque Terre, the local Fodor’s travel experts in Italy are here to help! Fodor’s Essential Italy 2023 guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time
- This new edition has an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos
- Fodor’s “Essential” guides were named by Booklist as the Best Travel Guide Series of 2020!Fodor’s Essential Italy 2023 travel guide includes:AN ILLUSTRATED ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES GUIDE to the top things to see and doMULTIPLE ITINERARIES to effectively organize your days and maximize your timeMORE THAN 78 DETAILED MAPS and a FREE PULL-OUT MAP to help you navigate confidentlyCOLOR PHOTOS throughout to spark your wanderlust!HONEST RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LOCALS on the best sights, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, shopping, performing arts, activities, and morePHOTO-FILLED “BEST OF” FEATURES on “The Best Ancient Sites in Rome,” “Italy’s Best Beaches,” “Architectural Wonders in Venice,” “Hilltop Villages in Tuscany,” and moreTRIP-PLANNING TOOLS AND PRACTICAL TIPS including when to go, getting around, beating the crowds, and saving time and moneyHISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INSIGHTS providing rich context on the local people, art, architecture, cuisine, wine, music, geography and moreSPECIAL FEATURES on “The Sistine Chapel,” “Cruising the Grand Canal,” and “Who’s Who in Renaissance Art” LOCAL WRITERS to help you find the under-the-radar gemsITALIAN LANGUAGE PRIMERS with useful words and essential phrasesUP-TO-DATE COVERAGE ON: Rome, Vatican City, Venice, Milan, Lake Como, Florence, Tuscany, Pisa, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Sicily, and more Planning on visiting nearby European countries? Check out Fodor’s Essential France, Fodor’s Essential Spain, and Fodor’s Essential Switzerland
Fodor’s website
Fodors.com was one of the first travel websites when it launched in 1996. Today the site offers destination guides, general travel content, and forums about specific destinations or general travel topics such as air travel.
Frommer’s
The venerated Frommer’s travel guides were launched by Arthur Frommer in 1957 with a guide to visiting Europe on $5 a day (yup. $5.). That guide followed his book about how to travel Europe as a GI (Frommer was in the Army at the time).
Frommer’s quickly grew to become one of the most trusted names in travel guidebooks.
Several years ago, Frommer’s was acquired by Google, which pulled the plug on their print books in the spring of 2013.
Arthur Frommer reacquired the company shortly thereafter and then quickly made a deal to get the books back in distribution. Frommer’s then started emphasizing their Easy Guides and Day by Day series, which were smaller and easier to read and carry than the typical large guidebooks they saw on the market.
- An indispensable guide, Frommer’s Ireland is a comprehensive and photo-filled look at one of the world’s most beloved destinations
- Written by leading Emerald Isle expert Yvonne Gordon, it takes you to many places only locals know, along with giving tips and tricks for seeing the iconic sights…without having to hassle with crowds
- Frommer’s Ireland is: • Completely updated printed in large, easy-to-read type • Packed with colorful photos and helpful maps, including a full-color fold-out map • Precise about pricing, with Euro and British Pound (for Northern Ireland) amounts listed for every attraction, restaurant, hotel, nightspot and shop in the guide―so there aren’t any nasty surprises • Insightful about the culture and history of Ireland, so you’ll better understand the places you visit • Also filled with no-holds-barred reviews, which will introduce you to the country’s most authentic lodgings (hotels, B&B’s, castles), eateries, museums, historic and nature sights • Savvy about saving money, with tips that work for everyone from luxury-seekers to backpackers • Mindful that your vacation time is limited, the book includes smart strategies for trips of differing lengths and for travelers with varying interestsAbout Frommer’s: There’s a reason that Frommer’s has been the most trusted name in travel for more than sixty years
Frommer’s website
Frommers.com is a fine place to start planning for a trip for free. Destination information includes city layouts, how to get around, and their top picks for hotels and dining. They also provide other general travel content and feature articles plus trip ideas for honeymoons, arts and cultural travel, national parks, family travel, road trips, and more.
The Frommer’s Travel Show (podcast)
Pauline Frommer, daughter of Frommer’s founder Arthur Frommer, hosts The Frommer’s Travel Show podcast. New episodes come out approximately once per week or several times a month.
Bradt Guides
Known for publishing guides for lesser-traveled destinations (though certainly not less deserving), Bradt bills itself as “the world’s leading independent travel publisher.”
Bradt guides are the go-to for destinations not covered by other publishers. They say that “over two-thirds of Bradt guides still have no direct competition from other publishers.”
The Bradts’ first book, Backpacking Along Ancient Ways Peru & Bolivia, was the first to detail the Inca Trail. Later they became known for writing guides to destinations “post-conflict.” These included Rwanda, Kosovo, and the Baltic States after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
In addition to their destination guidebooks, Bradt also publishes a Slow Travel series of UK destinations, a Wildlife series, and general travel literature.
- This new tenth edition of Bradt’s Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia remains the most in-depth guide available to these exotic and alluring islands
- Thoroughly updated following extensive on-the-ground research, accommodation listings are near comprehensive, with over 300 properties spanning all budget levels featured, many newly built and the vast majority not featured in other guides
- Bradt’s Zanzibar also offers for more detailed coverage of the islands’ cultural, historic and environmental status than other guides, and the authors make a point of featuring more ethically-minded hotels, tour operators and activities, from fair-trade shopping opportunities to marine awareness guidelines
Bradt Guides Travel Club
Avid travelers can support Bradt by joining their Travel Club through Patreon. There are three tiers: Bradtpacker, Globetrotter, and First-Class Traveller. Each tier offers differing levels of subscriber benefits including things like e-books and access to their bespoke travel planning service.
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet books for a long time were quite popular especially with younger backpackers looking to travel on a budget. The books can be light on the details that certain travelers (beginners, anxious travelers) might wish for when making good decisions about where to spend their travel dollars.
Lonely Planet books are good for independent and adventurous travelers. Or for those who just want some recommendations but not a prescribed itinerary with a ton of detail. In addition to their popular guidebooks, Lonely Planet also publishes phrasebooks, general travel books, food books, and children’s books.
- Lonely Planet’sYellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you
- Paddle alpine lakes, watch wildlife, and ski at Big Sky; all with your trusted travel companion
- Get to the heart of Yellowstone & Grand Teton and begin your journey now! Inside the Lonely Planet’s Yellowstone & Grand Teton National ParksTravel Guide: Up-to-date information – all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreakUser-friendly highlightsand itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interestsInsider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spotsEssential infoat your fingertips – hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices, emergency information, park seasonality, hiking trail junctions, viewpoints, landscapes, elevations, distances, difficulty levels, and durationsFocused on the best – hikes, drives, and cycling toursHonest reviews for all budgets – eating, sleeping, camping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, summer and winter activities, and hidden gems that most guidebooks missContextual insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience – history, geology, wildlife, and conservationOver45 full-color trail and park maps and full-color images throughout Useful features – Travel with Children, Clothing and Equipment, and Day and Overnight HikesCovers Yellowstone National Park area, Mammoth Country, Roosevelt Country, Canyon Country, Lake Country, Norris, Geyser Country, Bechler Region, Grand Teton National Park area, JacksonThe Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet’s Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, our most comprehensive guide to these US national parks, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less traveled
Lonely Planet website
You can get some basic, inspirational travel information to start your travel planning from the Lonely Planet website. Sadly, they set their forums to “read-only” some time ago. In my opinion, the forums were the best (and most valuable) part of the website.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo is best known for its compact and colorful pocket travel guides. They also offer spiral-bound itinerary-based guides, phrasebooks, folding maps, travel handbooks, travel journals, city maps, and road atlases.
- Let Marco Polo Santorini guide you around this beautiful Greek island
- Explore Santorini with this handy, pocket-sized, authoritative guide, packed with Insider Tips
- Discover boutique hotels, authentic restaurants, the island’s trendiest places, and get tips on shopping and what to do on a limited budget
Marco Polo Discovery Tours App
The free Marco Polo Discovery Tours app offers travelers a variety of guided itineraries through many destinations. For example, you can download a 23-day driving tour of New Zealand with a step-by-step driving tour over both islands.
DK Eyewitness: among best travel books for visuals
I enjoy reading DK Eyewitness guides, especially when I’m looking for information about the history and culture of my destination. The glossy full-color books feature beautiful photographs and illustrations perfect for inspiring your travel itinerary. They cover more than 100 destinations.
DK was founded in 1974 by Christopher Dorling and Peter Kindersley. They published their first travel book in the early 1990’s promising to show you “what others only tell you.”
They also cover all the usual grounds for travel guidebooks: itineraries, maps, dining and accommodations recommendations, top sites, etc.
- Whether you want to go wild swimming in the Fairy Pools of Skye, take a windswept walk along the Jurassic Coast, or scale the heights of Snowdonia, your DK Eyewitness travel guide makes sure you experience all that Great Britain has to offer
- From the jagged peaks of the Scottish Highlands and dramatic moors of the Peak District, to the sweeping sands of Norfolk and Northumberland, Great Britain promises miles of spectacular terrain to hike, bike and explore
- Dotted across the landscape, cities like London, Edinburgh and Bristol surge with restless energy, showcasing some of the world’s most innovative art, music and culinary scenes
Insight Guides
For more than 40 years, Insight Guides have published guidebooks covering more than 200 destinations.
In my experience, they’re quite a bit heavier on destination history and culture than any other travel guide I’ve encountered. So, if that’s not something you enjoy, then these guidebooks might not be your top choice.
Insight Guides series include: Explore Guides, City Breaks, Pocket Guides, City Guides, and Experience Guides.
- This New Zealand guidebook, perfect for travellers planning longer trips, is written by Insight Guides’ destination experts
- It blends detailed coverage of local history, culture and places to visit with the visual appeal of an illustrated magazine, packed with enticing photos that will inspire excitement for your travels
- Printed on eco-friendly paper for sustainability
Insight Guides website
You will find some travel information on the Insight Guides website, making it a decent place to start if you’re unsure of your destination. The emphasis of their website seems to be on advertising their Insight Guides trip offerings…not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura book
Unlike all of the other travel guidebooks listed above, Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders is not a series of guidebooks but rather one book that details an incredible array of oddities and wonders around the world.
Here’s how the authors describe their book and website (more on that below):
“The site, and this book, are a kind of wunderkammer of places, a cabinet of curiosities that is meant to inspire wonderlust as much as wanderlust. In fact, many of the places in this book are in no way ‘tourist sites’ and should not be treated as such. Others are so out of the way, so treacherously situated, or (in at least one case) so deep beneath the surface, that few readers will ever be able to visit them. But here they are, sharing this marvelously strange planet with us.
Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras & Ella Morton, Atlas Obscura, revised second edition, (New York: Workman Publishing, 2019) vii
The revised second edition (published in 2019) added more than 100 new sites to the 2016 first edition. The book is delightful reading if you’re into oddities around the world. I definitely recommend picking up a copy.
- Discover wonder
- “A wanderlust-whetting cabinet of curiosities on paper
- ”— New York Times Inspiring equal parts wonder and wanderlust, Atlas Obscura is a phenomenon of a travel book that shot to the top of bestseller lists when it was first published and changed the way we think about the world, expanding our sense of how strange and marvelous it really is
Atlas Obscura website
Make sure you stop by the Atlas Obscura website during your travel planning if you like finding out-of-the-way sites, or unusual places to visit, or want to make it a priority to get off the beaten path.
You can even take Atlas Obscura trips to some pretty unusual places and even with some unusual activities…such as assisting biologists with bee research at Redwood National Park.
Atlas Obscura podcast
Atlas Obscura launched a podcast in March 2021, which I’ve really enjoyed listening to. Early episodes covered sites such as the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan, the Museum of Bad Art in Massachusetts, and the old Widow Jane cement mine in Rosendale, New York.
The bottom line
The best travel guides will be the ones that you use and that help you plan a trip that you truly love. I personally like to use a combination of travel guidebooks and online travel planning resources.
But don’t just follow my advice. Try these guidebook series and online travel guides for yourself and find the ones that you will like and use for your trip planning.
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Michelin guides (the green books) are great!
I used to use the “Let’s Go: Europe” guides, which were great. They were targeting college age students mostly, but they had lots of good information re: trip planning for everyone.
Which guidebooks (and/or websites) are best for planning train/plane travel while in Europe? Any standouts?
Thanks for your very helpful information!
You’re welcome, Wayne. The Man in Seat 61 is THE expert in European train travel. His website is: https://www.seat61.com/. He’s also pretty active on Twitter. I’d also recommend checking out https://www.rome2rio.com/ for helping with planning transportation for any trip. Thanks for reading!
My family had a great time in Paris. We had a wonderful time there and enjoyed the culture of the region. The nightlife was fantastic, and the city’s elegance is indescribable. We are in love with the place and explore so many places like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, Cruise on the Seine, etc. After reading your blog I would like to revisit there.
Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip. Thanks for reading!
Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.