The Rough Guide to Sicily travel guide

In full-colour The Rough Guide to Sicily is the ultimate travel guide to the Mediterranean’s most intoxicating island. Get under the skin of Sicily with inspiring photos, colour-coded maps and up-to-date reviews of hotels, B&Bs, campsites, restaurants, cafés and bars, all fully revised for this tenth edition by our Sicily expert.

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The Rough Guide to Sicily is jam-packed with practical and honest advice about the best things to see and do. From climbing Mount Etna, scuba diving off Ustica and exploring Greek and Roman relics, to sinking into mud baths on Vulcano and eating your way around Palermo, there’s no end of choice – we’ll help you make up your mind, and recommend the best beaches to hit while you do so.

Make the most of your time on Earth with The Rough Guide to Sicily.

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Brand NEW Panama Lonely Planet travel guide - 8th edition. Download Today!

From clear turquoise seas to the coffee farms and cloud forests of Chiriquí, Panama can be as chilled out or as thrilling as you wish.

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Kayak on the Panama Canal, enjoy the easygoing vibe in Panama City’s Casco Viejo, or dive with whale sharks; all with your trusted travel companion.

Coverage includes: Panama City, Panamá Province, Coclé Province, Península de Azuero, Veraguas Province, Chiriquí Province, Bocas del Toro Province, Colón Province, Comarca de Guna Yala, Darién Province, and more

Get to the heart of Panama and begin your journey now!

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Peru - Cuzco & the Sacred Valley (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

For Incas, Cuzco was the belly button of the world. Beyond lies the Sacred Valley, Andean countryside dotted with villages, high-altitude hamlets and ruins linked by trail and railway tracks to the continent’s biggest draw – Machu Picchu.

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- drink in the sublime grandeur of Machu Picchu, South America’s signature ruin

- explore the cobblestone streets of Cuzco’s San Blas, attend street festivals and sample the diverse culinary offerings

- wander the Sacred Valley’s ancient ruins and stay in the charming lodgings in stunning settings throughout the region

Coverage includes: Cuzco & Around, Saqsaywamán, Q’enqo, Pukapu-kara, Tambomachay, The Sacred Valley, Pisac & Around, Urubamba & Around, Salineras de Maras, Chinchero, Moray & Maras, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, The Inca Trail, Puno, Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, Ivochote, Puerto Maldonado, Abancay, Cachora, Choque-quirao, Abancay.

Hotels in Cuzco >>

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Rio de Janeiro - Botafogo, Humaita & Urca (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

The traditional, middle-class neighborhood of Botafogo, and neighboring Humaitá, may not have the beaches of their southern neighbors, but they don’t lack for much else, with intriguing museums, movie theaters, quaint bookshops, a shopping center, and festive, open-air bars on tree-lined backstreets.

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- glide up to the top of Pão de Açúcar by cable car for the awe-inspiring view of Rio at your feet

- bask on the sands at one of Rio’s prettiest little beaches, Praia Vermelha, taking in great vistas of the rocky coastline

- walk between forest and sea on the peaceful, winding Pista Cláudio Coutinho

Coverage includes: Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping, Sports & Activities.

Bolivia - Santa Cruz & Gran Chiquitania (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

The Bolivian Oriente is not what you generally see in Bolivian tourist brochures. This tropical region, the country’s most prosperous, has a palpable desire to differentiate itself from Bolivia’s traditional highland image.

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- traverse dusty roads and explore beautifully restored churches on the Jesuit Mission Cir-cuit

- follow in the footsteps of a legendary revolutionary on the Che Trail around Valle-grande

- savor the international cuisine in Santa Cruz, a modern city with a small-town feel

Coverage includes: Santa Cruz & Around, Buena Vista, Parque Nacional & Área de Uso Múltiple Amboró, Samaipata, Vallegrande, La Higuera, Gran Chiquitania, Jesuit Mission Circuit.

Peru - Central Highlands (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

If it’s breathtaking ancient ruins or immersion in uninterrupted wilderness that you crave during your journey, listen up. The rocky, remote Central Highlands can match Peru’s better known destinations for these things and more – with the almost absolute absence of other travelers.

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- gawk at the uncannily lifelike rock formations of the Santuario Nacional Huayllay

- savor bygone farming lifestyles by staying at one of Tarma’s colonial haciendas

- browse 25,000 colonial-era books in Santa Rosa de Ocopa near Concepción

Coverage includes: The North, Canta & Obrajillo, Cerro de Pasco, Huánuco, La Unión, Tingo María, San Pedro de Casta & Marcahuasi, Tarma, Río Mantaro Valley, Jauja, Concepción, Huancayo, The Southern Valleys, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Andahuaylas.

Hong Kong - Day Trips from Hong Kong (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Want to escape the city? This chapter includes the very best excursions from Hong Kong and they can each be completed in a day. Must-sees include the monasteries of Tsuen Wan, the live-ly markets of Tai Po, Lamma and the unmissable Big Buddha on Lantau.

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- explore volcanic rock formations on a boat tour in Hong Kong Global Geopark

- escape from the crowds of downtown Hong Kong to laid-back, bohemian Lamma

- hop across the border to mainland China to the skyscraping metropolis of Sh?nzhèn, with its thriving shopping, arts and nightlife scene

Coverage includes: New Territories, Outlying Islands, Shenzhen.

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Washington, DC - Dupont Circle & Kalorama (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Dupont is city life at its best. Here you’ll find flash restaurants, hip bars and nifty bookstores. A combination of diplomatic scene and strong gay and lesbian community sets the social rhythm for young professionals of all stripes and persuasions.

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- search for Tunisia, Chile, Turkmenistan, Togo or Haiti on Embassy Row – flags flutter above heavy doors and mark the nations inside, while dark-windowed sedans ease out of driveways ferrying diplomats to and fro

- stand face to face with Renoirs, Gauguins and Picassos at the Phillips Collection, in the intimate rooms of a restored mansion

- browse the stacks in big, sunny Kramerbooks, then head into its cafe to sip cocktails and stuff your face

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping.

Barcelona - La Sagrada Familia & L’Eixample (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

The elegant, if traffic-filled, district of L’Eixample is a showcase for Modernista architecture, including Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Família. L’Eixample also has a celebrated dining scene, along with high-end boutiques and wildly diverse nightlife.

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- see history being made at Spain’s most visited monument and Gaudí’s greatest legacy, la Sagrada Família

- wander through the superbly preserved early 20th-century apartment inside the wavy Gau-dí edifice of la Pedrera

- marvel at the swirling, almost-alive facade of the Gaudí-designed Casa Batlló, with its wave-shaped window frames and balconies

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping, Sports & Activities.

Spain - Basque Country, Navarra & La Rioja (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

This land of exceptional beauty and diversity is home to mountains that are watched over by almost forgotten gods, cultural museums and art galleries, street parties a million people strong and, arguably, the best food in Spain.

Click HERE to buy Lonely Planet Spain - Basque Country, Navarra & La Rioja (PDF Chapter)

- play on a perfect beach, gorge on fabulous cuisine and explore the cobblestone lanes at stylish San Sebastián

- find artistic inspiration at the Guggenheim, one of Europe’s great architectural treasures, in Bilbao

- stroll at low tide out to a scenic island just offshore of picture-perfect Lekeitio

Coverage includes: Basque Country, Bilbao & Around, Central Basque Coast, San Sebastián & Around, Oñati, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Navarra, Pamplona, Navarran Pyrenees, Southern Navarra, La Rioja, Logroño, San Millán de Cogolla, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, La Rioja Wine Region.

Paris - Le Marais, Menilmontant & Belleville (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Sublime place des Vosges is a perfect starting point – the city square is a triumph of architec-tural symmetry and of that understated bon goût Paris does so well. Meander west along rue de Rivoli or rue du Roi de Sicile.

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- admire incredible sculptures and tomb art while paying your respects to the rich, famous and infamous buried in the world’s most visited cemetery, Cimetière du Père Lachaise

- visit Victor Hugo’s former home overlooking beautiful place des Vosges

- immerse yourself in the life and art of one of the world’s most eccentric modern artists, Pablo Picasso, and admire the Musée National Picasso’s exquisitely grand, 17th-century home

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping, Sports & Activities.

Cape Town & the Garden Route - Cape Town (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet Cape Town & the Garden Route - Cape Town (PDF Chapter)

Cape Town & the Garden Route - Cape Town (PDF Chapter)

Known as the ‘Mother City’ for its historical role in modern South Africa, Cape Town is dominated by Table Mountain. This magnificent rock is often draped with cascading clouds, while at its base are sun-kissed beaches.

- ride the cableway to the top of magnificent Table Mountain and look down on the city

- sail out to infamous Robben Island and ponder the country’s past and present

- saunter through historic Company’s Garden in the city centre and admire the surrounding architecture

Coverage includes: Sights, Activities, Tours, Festivals & Events, Sleeping, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping.

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Review: The Rough Guide to Ireland

Review: The Rough Guide to Ireland

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The emerald isle's riches just keep on coming. Perhaps that's why driving routes such as the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East and the Ring of Kerry have proved such hits. But Ireland demands you take your foot off the gas, too - Belfast and Dublin's cultural heritage are to be savoured, while landscapes such as Connemara, the Arans and the Mourne Mountains will stop you in your tracks. Wherever the road takes you, this expertly revised twelfth edition is the perfect travelling companion.

Over the past three decades, Ireland has transformed itself with quiet determination. Gone - or certainly on its way out - is the image of a conservative, introspective, dourly rural nation, while infamous unrest and violence have, mercifully, faded away. It's not called the Emerald Isle for nothing and Ireland's physical appeal endures clear and true as a jewel. Discover this evergreen destination with the most incisive and entertaining guidebook on the market. Whether you plan to ride the length of the wonderful Wild Atlantic Way, take a foodie tour of the southwest or discover a city reborn in Belfast, The Rough Guide to Ireland will show you the ideal places to sleep, eat, drink, shop and visit along the way.

Wild Atlantic Way is #1 on the Rough Guide list of things to see and do.

Inside the Rough Guide to Ireland

– Independent, trusted reviews written with Rough Guides’ trademark blend of humour, honesty and insight, to help you get the most out of your visit, with options to suit every budget.

– Full-colour maps throughout – navigate the backstreets of Dublin’s Temple Bar or Derry’s famous city walls without needing to get online.

– Stunning images – a rich collection of inspiring colour photography.

– Things not to miss – Rough Guides’ rundown of Ireland’s best sights and experiences.

– Itineraries – carefully planned routes to help you organize your trip.

– Detailed regional coverage – whether off the beaten track or in more mainstream tourist destinations, this travel guide has in-depth practical advice for every step of the way. Areas covered (all Ireland’s counties) include: Dublin; the Midlands; Cavan; Mayo; Galway; Clare; Limerick; Kerry; Cork; Kilkenny; Kildare; Meath; Belfast; Antrim and Derry. Attractions include: The Giant’s Causeway; Dublin’s Trinity College; Titanic Belfast; the Wild Atlantic Way; Brúna Bóinne; Skellig Michael; Kylemore Abbey; Bantry House; the Burren and Croagh Patrick.

– Basics – essential pre-departure practical information including getting there, local transport, accommodation, food and drink, health, festivals, sports and outdoor activities, culture and etiquette, the media and more.

– Background information – a Contexts chapter devoted to history, traditional music and literature,plus a handy language section and glossary.

Authors: Paul Clements, Paul Gray, Ciara Kenny, Norm Longley, Ally Thompson

Make the Most of Your Time on Earth with The Rough Guide to Ireland.

Review: NEW Lonely Planet Southern Africa travel guide

Review: NEW Lonely Planet Southern Africa travel guide

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An astonishingly diverse region fused by its prolific wildlife, breathtaking landscapes and remnants of ancient culture, Southern Africa is Africa at its most memorable.

Writer Anthony Ham tells us why he loves Southern Africa "Southern Africa ticks all my Africa boxes at once. This is one of the greatest wildlife shows on earth. I love the sight of lions on a kill or black rhinos communicating in secret at an Etosha watering hole. Or the possibility of seeing desert elephants and tracking rhinos on foot amid the stirring beauty of Damaraland. Or the chance to learn the wisdom of the ancients in a San community in the Kalahari. And I love the search for Lady Liuwa as hyenas stream across the plain at Liuwa Plain in Zambia. What's not to love?"

Lonely Planet Southern Africa has the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Clamber up the world’s oldest sand dunes in Sossusvlei, step back in time on Mozambique Island, or enjoy world-class wildlife-watching in Etosha National Park.

Victoria Falls is #1 on Lonely Planet's Top 17 list.

Inside Lonely Planet Southern Africa Travel Guide:

- Special features include: Colour wildlife guide, Safari planning feature, Music & culture, Victoria Falls coverage

- Colour maps and images throughout

- Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests

- Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots

- Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices

- Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss

- Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, art, cuisine, environment, wildlife, music, religion, literature, visual arts

- Over 115 maps

Coverage Includes: Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland and more

Curator: Anthony Ham

Writers: James Bainbridge, Lucy Corne, Mary Fitzpatrick, Trent Holden, Brendan Sainsbury

Lonely Planet will get you to the heart of Southern Africa, with amazing travel experiences and the best planning advice, all with your trusted travel companion. Begin your journey now!

Review: The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei

Review: The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei

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Tropical jungles, shiny megamalls, traditional longhouses and some of the best dive sites in the world: few places can beat Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei for sheer variety. Populated by a blend of Malays, Chinese, Indians and indigenous groups, there is a rich cultural heritage, from a huge variety of annual festivals and wonderful cuisines, to traditional architecture and rural crafts.

While some make a beeline for the colonial mansions of George Town or Kuala Lumpur's fashionable bars, others head off in search of orang-utans or take in the sunrise from Mount Kinabalu. Whatever yougo for, this fully revised Rough Guide will help you make the most of your trip, with in-depth travel advice, detailed maps and helpful insider reviews.

Discover these exciting destinations with the most incisive and entertaining guidebook on the market. Whether you plan to trek through the Taman Negara rainforest, kick-back on the idyllic Perhentian Islands or explore Singapore’s dynamic art scene, The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei will show you the ideal places to sleep, eat, drink, shop and visit along the way.

It's not possible to see everything in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, so inside there are the top 22 things not to miss. Rough Guide have picked Niah National Park as their #1 on the list.

Inside the travel guide

– Independent, trusted reviews written with Rough Guides’ trademark blend of humour, honesty and insight, to help you get the most out of your visit, with options to suit every budget.

– Full-colour maps throughout – navigate the backstreets of Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown or Singapore’s downtown shopping streets without needing to get online.

– Stunning images – a rich collection of inspiring colour photography.

– Things not to miss – Rough Guides’ rundown of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei’s best sights and experiences.

– Itineraries – carefully planned routes to help you organise your trip.

– Detailed regional coverage – whether off the beaten track or in more mainstream tourist destinations, this travel guide has in-depth practical advice for every step of the way. Areas covered include: Kuala Lumpur; Penang; George Town; Cameron Highlands; Langkawi; Perhentian Islands; Taman Negara; Sarawak; Sabah; Kota Kinabalu. Attractions include: Petronas Towers; Batu Caves; Gunung Mulu National Park; Ulu Temburong National Park; Mount Kinabalu; Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre; Little India; The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.

– Basics – essential pre-departure practical information including getting there, local transport, accommodation, food and drink, health, the media, festivals, sports and outdoor activities, culture and etiquette, shopping and more.

-Background information – a Contexts chapter devoted to history, religion, ethnic groups, environment, wildlife and books, plus a handy language section and glossary.

Authors: Marco Ferrarese, Richard Lim, Simon Willmore, Charles Young.

Make the Most of Your Time on Earth with The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

London - The South Bank (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet London - The South Bank (PDF Chapter)

London - The South Bank (PDF Chapter)

The drawcard sights on the South Bank stretch west–east in a manageable riverside me-lange, so exploring on foot is best. Allocate a day to walk from the London Eye to London Bridge, with sightseeing stops along the way.

- find out what all the fuss is about by exploring magnificent, and now extended, Tate Modern

- revolve in leisurely fashion above London’s panoramic cityscape in the iconic London Eye

- stimulate your taste buds on a gastronomic tour of discovery at gourmet Borough Mar-ket

Coverage includes: Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping.

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Coastal Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef - Brisbane & Around (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet Coastal Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef - Brisbane & Around (PDF Chapter)

Coastal Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef - Brisbane & Around (PDF Chapter)

Sophisticated city galleries and rooftop bars, desolate subtropical beaches, cool-climate vineyards: the greater Brisbane region deals in Queensland’s most gasp-inducing contrasts. Star of the show is Brisbane itself, a lush, sultry metropolis with flourishing restaurant, bar and cultural scenes.

- find your modern muse at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art, one of Australia’s hottest galleries of contemporary art

- picnic, stroll or simply soak up the sun by an inner-city beach at South Bank Parklands, Brisbane’s best-loved riverside hangout

- roam bookshops, microbreweries and band venues in West End, Brisbane’s boho heart-land

Coverage includes: Brisbane & Around, North Stradbroke Island, Moreton Island.

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Bangkok - Chinatown (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet Bangkok - Chinatown (PDF Chapter)

Bangkok - Chinatown (PDF Chapter)

Chinatown embodies everything that’s hectic, noisy and polluted about Bangkok, but that’s what makes it such a fascinating area to explore. Hit the area’s big sights – Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha) and the street markets – but be sure to do some map-free wandering as well.

- dine alfresco at Nay Hong and the dozens of other decades-old street-food stalls that define this neighbourhood

- feast your eyes on 5.5 tonnes of solid gold Buddha at Wat Traimit, one of the country’s grandest and most famous temples

- watch chaos and commerce battle it out in Chinatown’s frenetic, photogenic fresh-food market, Talat Mai

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Entertainment.

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New Zealand - Christchuch & Canterbury (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet New Zealand - Christchuch & Canterbury (PDF Chapter)

New Zealand - Christchuch & Canterbury

Nowhere in New Zealand is changing and developing as fast as post-quake Christchurch. The scaffolding is coming down, the hospitality scene is flourishing and the central city is once again drawing visitors to its pedestrian-friendly streets.

- experience the dynamic rebuilding and re-emergence of post-earthquake Christchurch

- meander through Christchurch’s beautiful green heart, the Botanic Gardens

- marvel at the otherworldly views of Mackenzie Country and the surreal azure blue of Lake Tekapo from the top of Mt John

Coverage includes: Christchurch & Around, Lyttelton, Banks Peninsula, North Canterbury, Lewis Pass, Hanmer Springs, Waipara Valley, Central Canterbury, Selwyn District, Arthur’s Pass, Methven, Mt Somers, South Canterbury, Timaru, Inland & Mackenzie Country, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.

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Costa Rica - Northwestern Costa Rica (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet Costa Rica - Northwestern Costa Rica (PDF Chapter)

Costa Rica - Northwestern Costa Rica (PDF Chapter)

Why come to Costa Rica? To lounge on pristine beaches and ride glorious waves? To hike up volcanoes and soak in geothermal springs? To spy on birds and monkeys and get lost among ancient trees? The northwest has all this and more.

- spot the resplendent quetzal through the mist near Monteverde

- zip and swing through the canopy on a Cloud Forest canopy tours

- check off your bird list at Costa Rica’s largest wetland sanctuary, Parque Nacional Palo Verde

Coverage includes: Monteverde & Around, Monteverde & Santa Elena, Bosque Nuboso Monteverde, InterAmericana Norte, Montes de Oro, Volcán Tenorio Area, Volcán Miravalles Area, Parque Nacional Palo Verde, Liberia, Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja, Sec-tor Santa Rosa, Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Bahía Junquillal, La Cruz, Bahía Salin-as.

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