Buon giorno! From ordering calamari in Venice to making new friends in Tuscan hill towns, it helps to speak some of the native tongue. Rick Steves, bestselling author of travel guides to Europe, offers well-tested phrases and key words to cover every situation a traveler is likely to encounter. This handy guide provides key phrases for use in everyday circumstances, complete with phonetic spelling; an English-Italian and Italian-English dictionary; the latest information on European currency and rail transportation, and even a tear-out cheat sheet for continued language practice as you wait in line at the Sistine Chapel. Informative, concise, and practical, Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book and Dictionary is an essential item for any traveler's zainetto.

Now updated to include newer maps and photos—and lighter in weight to support carefree traveling—this comprehensive guidebook to the Camino de Santiago and its offshoots contains all the information needed by modern-day pilgrims wishing to walk the sacred Way of St. James. Overview route planners plus daily stage maps and detailed town plans help sojourners with all the advance preparation they need. The maps feature contour guides to help distinguish the terrain that will be crossed each day, while full information on all pilgrim hostels, as well as details for alternative accommodation, allow travelers to plot adequate nightly stopping points. All reference information is accompanied by helpful spiritual guidelines to support the seeker's inner journey as well as the outer pilgrimage. Otherwise known as the Camino Francés, the main route covered in this volume is the most popular sacred route through Spain, from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago.

You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in France.With this guide, you’ll explore sleepy villages, romantic hill towns, and cosmopolitan cities, including Paris, Avignon, and Nice. Climb the Eiffel Tower, wander world-renowned museums, and dine at sidewalk cafés. Then escape to the sunny countryside, where you can explore castles of all shapes and sizes or pedal your way from village to vineyard. With its Swiss-like Alps, Italian-style Riviera, and Germanic Alsace, France offers Europe’s greatest variety. A good vin rouge is never more than a stroll away.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.

You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in Spain.In this guide, you’ll find an inviting mix of exciting cities and cozy towns. Explore the lively cities of Madrid, Barcelona, and Sevilla, and follow the Route of the White Hill Towns in Andalucía’s sun-drenched countryside. Experience the works of the great masters—from El Greco to Picasso to Dalí—and learn how to avoid the lines at the most popular museums. Self-guided walks lead you through the castles, cathedrals, and villages of this ancient but modern land. End your day with a glass of Rioja wine and a plate of tapas—then join the locals for an evening of flamenco.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.

Like so many others, David Lebovitz dreamed about living in Paris ever since he first visited the city in the 1980s. Finally, after a nearly two-decade career as a pastry chef and cookbook author, he moved to Paris to start a new life. Having crammed all his worldly belongings into three suitcases, he arrived, hopes high, at his new apartment in the lively Bastille neighborhood. But he soon discovered it's a different world en France.From learning the ironclad rules of social conduct to the mysteries of men's footwear, from shopkeepers who work so hard not to sell you anything to the etiquette of working the right way around the cheese plate, here is David's story of how he came to fall in love with—and even understand—this glorious, yet sometimes maddening, city.When did he realize he had morphed into un vrai parisien? It might have been when he found himself considering a purchase of men's dress socks with cartoon characters on them. Or perhaps the time he went to a bank with 135 euros in hand to make a 134-euro payment, was told the bank had no change that day, and thought it was completely normal. Or when he found himself dressing up to take out the garbage because he had come to accept that in Paris appearances and image mean everything. The more than fifty original recipes, for dishes both savory and sweet, such as Pork Loin with Brown Sugar–Bourbon Glaze, Braised Turkey in Beaujolais Nouveau with Prunes, Bacon and Bleu Cheese Cake, Chocolate-Coconut Marshmallows, Chocolate Spice Bread, Lemon-Glazed Madeleines, and Mocha–Crème Fraîche Cake, will have readers running to the kitchen once they stop laughing. The Sweet Life in Paris is a deliciously funny, offbeat, and irreverent look at the city of lights, cheese, chocolate, and other confections.

You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in the Eternal City of Rome.With the self-guided tours in this book, you’ll walk the same streets as the Caesars and discover the secrets of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Learn how to avoid the lines at the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica. Take a night walk across the city and enjoy floodlit fountains and piazzas. Then grab a sidewalk table at the locals’ favorite trattoria and watch the world go by.Rick’s candid, humorous advice will guide you to good-value hotels and restaurants. You’ll learn how to navigate the Rome Metro and which sights are worth your time and money. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves guidebook is a tour guide in your pocket.

The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Europe; Literary Criticism / American / General; Sports

In this guide, Rick Steves focuses on some of the grandest sights in Europe. As always, he has a plan to help you have a meaningful cultural experience while you’re there—even with just a few hours in port.Inside you'll find one-day itineraries for sightseeing at or near the major Mediterranean ports of call, including:Barcelona, Marseille, Toulon, Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and MonacoFlorence, Rome, Naples, and VeniceDubrovnik, Split, Athens, Mykonos, and SantoriniIstanbul and EphesusRick Steves' Mediterranean Cruise Ports explains how to get into town from the cruise terminal, shares sightseeing tips, and includes self-guided walks and tours. You'll learn which destinations are best for an excursion—and which you can confidently visit on your own. You'll also get tips on booking a cruise, plus hints for saving time and money on the ship and in port.You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when cruising the Mediterranean.

Full-color throughout.Free full-color, foldout map.Completely updated every year.Insider advice on avoiding the crowds as you explore some of Paris's greatest gems, from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower. Plus tips for exploring some of Paris's more offbeat sights, from the eerie Catacombs to the avant-garde Palais de Tokyo museum.Where to find everything from the coolest neo-bistros to the most gourmet Michelin-starred French restaurants. Plus, recommendations for the hippest wine bars and the best food markets, from the Marché d'Aligre to the grand, upscale food halls of Fauchon.Insightful commentary on Paris's dazzling array of art and architectural masterpieces, from the Cathedrale de Notre-Dame to the Arc de Triomphe, and from Rodin's The Thinker to Da Vinci's Mona Lisa.Opinionated reviews. No bland descriptions and lukewarm recommendations. Our expert writers are passionate about their destinations--they tell it like it is in an engaging and helpful way.Exact prices listed for every establishment and activity--no other guides offer such detailed, candid reviews of hotels and restaurants. We include the very best, but also emphasize moderately priced choices for real people.User-friendly features including star ratings and special icons to point readers to great finds, excellent values, insider tips, best bets for kids, special moments, and overrated experiences. From the Book: Street Food in Paris Falafel stands line Rue de Rosiers in Paris. Photo by Maarten (Superchango)/Flickr.com As appealing as it is to indulge in a three-course meal at a Paris bistro, you can also savor many French specialties on the street. Where to Eat: By day, sidewalks in the Left Bank's Latin Quarter around Saint Michel get crowded with sandwich vendors selling baguettes. In the Marais, you'll want to try the falafel stands on Rue de Rosiers. At night, the air is filled with the aroma of freshly prepared crepes, especially around Montparnasse, in the Latin Quarter, and near the nightclub areas. How Much: A Nutella or chestnut-puree crepe will cost about 4 Euro; a jambon et fromage baguette is around 6 Euro.

You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in Ireland.With this guide, you can explore lively Dublin, quaint Kilkenny, and the moss-draped ruins of the Ring of Kerry. Navigate meandering back roads that lead to windswept crags on the dramatic Dingle Peninsula. Explore Ireland’s revered past by following St. Patrick’s footsteps to the Rock of Cashel. Marvel at Newgrange, the mysterious mound older than the pyramids; then connect with today’s Irish culture by grabbing a pint at the local pub, enjoying the fiddle music, and jumping into conversations that buzz with brogue.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 on what is worth your time and money. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves guidebook is a tour guide in your pocket.