Lonely Planet Best of Europe (Travel Guide)

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Some of my favorite travel books are based on other people’s travel adventures, while travel how-to guides taught me that international travel is accessible to everyone, not just wealthy & retired people.

A deep travel book, and an interesting love story, Illyrian Spring is one of the best books to read before traveling to Europe. What do you do when your town’s most prized possession goes missing? Or, better yet, what do you do when your town’s prized relic is…the foreskin of Jesus? Written in a rambling diary style, and a bit hard to follow at times, Kerouac takes to the road looking for adventure, sex, drugs, and mischief. A great read for those who would like to escape the real world for a while and just go where the wind blows them. Norton accompanies Gethers on filmmaking trips and helps convince the love of his life that he is the one. After years of adventuring the three settle in New York, Norton is one of the city’s most well-traveled felines.Daniel Klein takes off to the small Greek island of Hydra. Here, he hopes to discover the secrets of old age by following the teachings of his friends, ancient philosophers, and more. A tale of Irish émigrés in Barcelona a decade after the Spanish Civil War, Tóibín's stunning novel is full of rich descriptions that put you amidst Spain's hard light, its plazas and midday heat, on train excursions to San Sebastian, trips to the Pyrenees, and dining at the Hotel Colon across from the famed La Catedral. The main character is an aspiring painter who's drawn to both an Irishman and a Spanish anarchist who fought in the war – relationships that illuminate how places and people evolve, and what it means to from somewhere. Russia Theroux earned his reputation as one of the all-time great travelogue writers because he lives every word that he writes. Dark Star Safari takes readers through his voyage from the top of Africa to the bottom. Interested in visiting Tuscany? Allow Frances Mayes to transport you there with his look at the traditions, cuisine, and daily life of the region.

Francis Tapon is an intriguing world explorer. His The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us is one of those rare books that challenge stereotypes albeit from a strongly biased perspective which doesn’t bother at all because the voice of the author is honest and the experience is genuine. This is Tapon’s personal journey and view, so take his tales with the necessary grain of salt. Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes Did you say you wanted double Spanish Civil War? This historical fiction book was written by none other than Ernest Hemingway. Beginning in Hammerfest (the northernmost point in Europe), he makes his way to Istanbul; across the entire continent of Europe.Who: Want to be more like Marco Polo? The pioneering 13th-century Venetian explorer has inspired many adventurers – Columbus, for one – as well as these handy little guides.

In A Sunburned Country follows Bill’s hilarious journey through the sunbaked deserts and endless coastlines of Australia, trying not to get killed by the deadly wildlife. It’s full of fun & interesting facts about the country. Well written travel books like these have helped inspire my own personal travel goals over the years — and will continue to do so.Along with all the challenges and wonder they experience on the trip, the book takes you on a beautiful, romantic and deeply personal journey of self-discovery. It’s very entertaining and funny, I couldn’t put it down. Chasing dreams is always scary, but usually worth it.

On The Road is a classic American travel book. It’s the semi-autobiographical story of Sal Paradise (based on Kerouac himself) & Dean Moriarty’s cross-country hitchhiking and train-hopping journey across rural America in the 1940’s. Want one of the most important events in Spanish history based on someone’s real life? Homage to Catalonia is that book. Part travelogue, part guide, this book is excellent before any trips to Europe, especially if you’re looking for books set in Greece. Who: Another perennial favourite, Bradt guides are pretty much the gold standard when it comes to independent travel guides.From his near-death from a bullet to being betrayed by his allies, this true story is excellent from start to finish. It's a common enough experience to fantasize about living in another country, but not everyone actually makes the leap. Sarah Moss falls into the latter group, moving her small family from Kent in the UK to Reykjavík. She finds herself immersed not only in a completely different language and landscape, but a disorienting mix of stark reality and folkloric fantasy, catching the tail end of Iceland's economic depression and the recent eruption Eyjafjallajokull in an otherworldly place that still believes in elves. Bosnia & Hercegovina The Food Traveler’s Handbook is an extension of Jodi Ettenberg’s excellent travel blog Legal Nomads, a go-to for all things street food (and eating while traveling in general). So it’s no wonder she’s got a top book on the subject. If you like to get away from France’s big city and head out into les provences (the provinces), you’ll enjoy this lovely photography book. One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in France takes you on a pictorial tour through fishing villages in Normandy and Brittany, towns nestled into the Pyrenees, and medieval villages throughout the Provence region.Informative sidebars give insights on local artisanal products, historical tidbits, and must-see views and attractions. This would make a wonderful gift or a nice addition to your coffee table collection . Following a foreskin trail that blamed Satanists, priests, and even the Vatican for the foreskin’s disappearance, Farley learns more about the history and culture of this small town.