Frommer's Italy 2026 - (Complete Guide) 18th Edition by Elizabeth Heath & Donald Strachan & Stephen Brewer & Stephen Keeling & Michelle Schoenung

About the Book

"With helpful advice and honest recommendations from Frommer's expert authors, you'll walk among the ancient ruins of Pompeii, float along the canals of Venice, appreciate Renaissance masterworks in Florence, explore off-the-beaten-path Puglia and live la dolce vita in Rome as well as discover timeless wonders such as the vineyards of Tuscany and cliff-top towns perched along the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Frommer's books aren't written by committee, by A.I., or by travel writers who simply pop in briefly to a destination and then consider the job done. We use seasoned, locally-based journalists like Elizabeth Heath, Donald Strachan, and Michelle Schoenung, plus long-time Italy experts Stephen Brewer and Stephen Keeling to research our guides. They've checked out all of Italy's best hotels, attractions, shops, wineries, and restaurants in person, and offer authoritative, candid reviews that will help you find the venues that suit your tastes and budget, whether you're a backpacker or on a romantic honeymoon.

Most importantly, none of these journalists are shy about telling you what you should see...and what you can skip without regret. As well, no entity has paid to be in this guide--or any Frommer's guide. At Frommer's, we pride ourselves on decades of journalistic integrity.

With helpful advice and honest recommendations from Frommer's expert authors, you'll walk among the ancient ruins of Pompeii, float along the canals of Venice, appreciate Renaissance masterworks in Florence, explore off-the-beaten-path Puglia and live la dolce vita in Rome―as well as discover timeless wonders such as the vineyards of Tuscany and cliff-top towns perched along the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre.

Inside the guide:

Full-color photos and helpful maps throughout, including a detachable foldout map

• 6 Detailed itineraries for planning your trip to suit your schedule and interests (and help you avoid lines and crowds)
• Compelling cultural information so that you'll better understand the history, cuisine, and traditions of Italy
• Candid reviews of the best restaurants, historic sights, museums, tours, shops, and experiences―and no-punches-pulled info on the ones not worth your time and money. We also include star ratings, so you can scan the text quickly and see which options are most appealing.
• Accurate, up-to-date info on transportation, useful websites, telephone numbers, health care options and more
• Budget-planning help with exact pricing listed, so there's never any guessing, along with ways to save money, whether you're traveling on a shoestring or in the lap of luxury
• Helpful planning advice for getting to Italy, getting around, getting the best price on lodgings and attractions

About Frommer's: There's a reason Frommer's has been the most trusted name in travel for more than 65 years. Arthur Frommer created the best-selling guide series in 1957 to help American servicemen fulfill their dreams of travel in Europe, and since then, we have published thousands of titles, become a household name, and helped millions upon millions of people realize their own dreams of seeing our planet. Travel is easy with Frommer's.

Review Quotes

"Frommer's guides cut through influencer noise and AI-generated jargon to give genuine recommendations born from personal journeys and deep understanding. It's the trusted voice of someone who's truly been there, offering insights you won't find anywhere else." - Samantha Brown, Host of PBS' Places to Love

"Frommer's earnest prose, alternately lyrical and artless but always compulsively informative, convey a near-missionary zeal for travel and elevated "Frommer's" from the how-to genre to the kind of book that could change a person's worldview." - The New York Times

"Frommer's has now re-established themselves among the leading travel titles... These human-scale books, written and published by people who genuinely know and love their subject, are perfect for travel's post-pandemic recovery". - The Guardian

"One of the most recognized guidebook brands in the world, Frommer's influence on the traveling public over the past seven decades has been profound. More than 75 million guidebooks bearing the Frommer name have been sold since the mid-1950s." - Travel Weekly Magazine

"Amazingly easy to use. Very portable, very complete." - Booklist

"Detailed, accurate, and easy-to-read information for all price ranges." - Glamour Magazine

"Frommer's Guides have a way of giving you a real feel for a place." - McClatchy Media Company

"It has been decades since I got my start as a travel writer, writing for Frommer's during my years living in Florence, but in my eyes they remain an unwavering go-to source and last word for any of the countless destinations they cover today. I've consulted them more times than I can remember and have never once been disappointed. Am so happy to see that Pauline Frommer and her cracker-jack team continue the enduring legacy of her father Arthur Frommer." - Patricia Schultz, author "1000 Places to See Before You Die"

"If you are a budget-conscious traveler looking for value-for-money recommendations, which includes most family travelers, Frommer's guidebooks offer an excellent choice. Focusing on affordable travel, Frommer's offers practical advice, insider tips, and a reliable rating system. It assigns one to three stars to places and experiences worth your time and money.

Three factors that set Frommer's apart:

1. Budget-friendly recommendations: Frommer's guidebooks provide a wide range of budget-friendly recommendations. Expect information for affordable accommodations, dining options, and attractions. They also offer money-saving tips to help you stretch your travel budget.

2. Practical information: Frommer's guidebooks are known for their practical and detailed information. They contain everything you need to plan your trip efficiently, from transportation to multiple sample itinerary options.

3. Local insights: Frommer's guidebooks include insights and recommendations from local experts, helping you experience a destination like a local. This unique perspective will enhance your travel experience."

- Gather + Go Travel Magazine

About the Author

Stephen Brewer has been savoring Italian pleasures ever since he sipped his first cappuccino while a student in Rome many, many years ago (togas had just gone out of fashion). He has written about Italy for many magazines and guidebooks and remains transported in equal measure by Bolognese cooking, Tuscan hillsides, the Bay of Naples, and the streets of Palermo.

A longtime contributor to Frommer's guides, Elizabeth Heath writes about travel, lifestyle, and home improvement from a hilltop village in Umbria. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, and many other titles. Since moving here 16 years ago, she has written extensively about traveling and living in Italy.

Michelle Schoenung is an American journalist and translator in Milan who relocated to the Belpaese in 2000 for what was to be a yearlong adventure. More than 2 decades later she is pleased that Milan has evolved into a much more international and cosmopolitan city and has shed its image of merely being a foggy northern Italian business hub. Her writings and translations have appeared in magazines and books in the United States and Italy. In her free time, she likes to read, run, travel and explore the city with her two rambunctious Italian-American ragazzi.

Donald Strachan is a travel journalist who has written about Italy for publications worldwide, including National Geographic Traveller, The Guardian, Sunday Telegraph, and CNN.com. He has also written several guidebooks for Frommer's.

Stephen Keeling has been traveling to Italy since 1985 and covering his favorite nation for Frommer's since 2007. He has written for The Independent, Daily Telegraph, various magazines, and numerous travel guides as well as the award-winning Frommer's Florence, Tuscany & Umbria.