Rome Guidebook

Should I get this Rome book in addition to either Rick's complete Italy guidebook or his Best of Italy guidebook?

Probably not. If you're only spending a few days in Rome, as part of a longer trip in Italy, the Rome chapter of either Italy guidebook is all you're likely to need.

If, however, you're spending four days or more in Rome, the extra information in Rick Steves Rome can be worthwhile. It offers more in-depth sightseeing information, several additional self-guided city walks and museum/sight tours, and more specifics on shopping and nightlife, plus suggestions for kids. Other information is generally the same, especially compared to the complete Rick Steves Italy guidebook, which includes nearly all the hotels, restaurants, and nitty-gritty practical advice for Rome and its day trips that you'll find in the city book. (But compared to Rick Steves Best of Italy, the Rome guidebook does have a few more hotel and restaurant listings, as well as more comprehensive coverage of day-trip options.)

What's the difference between this Rome guidebook and Rick's Pocket Rome guide?

Rick Steves Pocket Rome works best for people taking a short trip, or perhaps a return trip, to Rome. Like our other Pocket guides, Pocket Rome is smaller than the complete guidebook and in full color (but still offers our best sightseeing advice and a handful of self-guided city walks and museum tours, plus a foldout map).

For travelers who want to delve deep into Rome, the full-size guidebook is a better option. It offers more substantial (and more frequently updated) advice on every front: practicalities, sightseeing, self-guided tours, hotels, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, kids' activities, and the city's history and culture, plus chapters on the best day trips.