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 2026 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 2026 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 NEWLY IMPROVED AND UPDATED FREE PULL-OUT MAP FOR ROME 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, the Amalfi Coast, Sicily, and more Planning on visiting nearby European countries? Check out Fodor's Essential France, Fodor's Essential England, Fodor's Essential Spain, and Fodor's Essential Switzerland. *Important note for digital editions: The digital edition of this guide does not contain all the images or text included in the physical edition.ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts. Fodor's has been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for over 80 years. For more travel inspiration, you can sign up for our travel newsletter at fodors.com/newsletter/signup, or follow us @FodorsTravel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We invite you to join our friendly community of travel experts at fodors.com/community to ask any other questions and share your experience with us!